Chapter 170 ·Count of Mediolanum (5)

Normally, pressing down with force, power, or authority was bound to cause backlash.

Was the city not established long ago by those who fled to breathe the air of freedom?

The city was, in a sense, a melting pot of rebellious spirits.

Therefore, governing such a place required more delicate adjustments than the typical management of a noble's fief.

For this reason, Shatien borrowed the methods often used by emperors during the ancient imperial era to manipulate the public opinion of their subjects.

Namely, agitation and manipulation!

-Did you hear? They say all the daily necessities brought in this time are going into the warehouse. Normally, they were supposed to be distributed fairly, but it seems the merchant guild opposed it strongly?

-No. From what I know, the merchant guild told the Count not to distribute to the citizens but to give it to them so they could sell it at a high price.

-Oh, surely they wouldn't do that?

-It is true. They even say the Count temporarily authorized other merchants to sell goods in the city to stabilize prices somehow, but the merchant guild opposed it, so he withdrew it.

He scattered the merchants and workers of the association borrowed from Branch Manager Marhen throughout city taverns, inns, and gathering places to spread these facts as rampant rumors.

At first, they passed it off as mere gossip, but the moment Shatien actually announced that he would stop the distribution, everyone's thoughts changed.

It was true!

-Does this make any sense!?

-The merchant guild has gone mad! We are hungry! Give us food!

-We are even short on clothes to wear! Your Excellency Count. Please, mercy.

-Our houses and property were all burned; how are we to buy those expensive goods?

-Work? Bread is more expensive than a daily wage! This is cursed. What on earth is the bakery doing! To take such windfall profits!

-I-It is a misunderstanding. Because the merchant guild raised the price of flour so much....

-What? You damnable bastards. Merchant guild. Are you even human!

-Boooooo!

It took only an instant for the city to begin boiling. Whenever people gathered, they vented their complaints and dissatisfaction toward the merchant guild, and the intensity grew with each passing day.

It reached the point where even the Holy See, which wanted to use this opportunity to reduce the influence of the guilds in Mediolanum, came to find Shatien in a state of horror.

“Your Excellency Count! The crowds are filling with rage. Even now, you should quickly resume the distribution....”

“Distribution? I decided to stop because it infringed on the rights of the merchant guild according to the decision of the autonomous committee. What can be done? Since the committee said so. Is this not exactly the autonomy they wanted? I am busy preparing for the upcoming war, so please withdraw.”

“B-But....!”

The envoy of the Holy See was restless at Shatien's words.

How could he be so leisurely when a problem was about to explode at any moment.

The city's right to autonomy was important, but was this not a situation where the foundation of the city would collapse? Sometimes, extra-legal movements were necessary.

However, Shatien did not waver despite the persistent persuasion of the Holy See's clergymen.

He simply repeated that he would not infringe on the rights of the merchant guild following the decision of the autonomous committee.

By this point, even the clergymen could not help but feel indignant.

-Just how much did they pressure the Count for him to act like this now?

-Those arrogant merchant bastards are abandoning humanity!

-Bastards with no morality or conscience. I cannot endure this. I shall report this to the Holy See. This is no different from a heretical act!

And as this news spread throughout the city once again through Shatien's secret instructions....

-Waaaaaaa!

-Pull down the autonomous committee!

-Abolish the merchant guild that plays with human lives!

-Smash them all to pieces!

It was the moment an untimely city uprising occurred.

*** *

At the same time.

“Hahahaha!”

The merchant guild, which was completely unaware of the current situation, was in a very good mood after a long time.

Everyone had bright smiles on their faces while imagining a radiant future.

“We have thwarted the attempt of the oppressor who tried to destroy the city's freedom!”

“We are the ones who protected the city's freedom! Hahahaha.”

“Based on this victory, let us reclaim the rights that were taken away one by one and finally return to how it was before. He should just take the money like the Emperor did; I don't know why he tried to intervene.”

The flushed officers of the merchant guild all thought so and let out cheers.

Because the new Count stopped the distribution and withdrew the market opening he intended to push, their struggle appeared to be a victory no matter how they looked at it.

“I saw that the anger of the poor was quite unusual; will it be alright?”

“That is right. Still, should we not take care of our own face? Why don't we do a distribution instead of the Count this time to gain the support of the citizens?”

Even so, a few officers suggested ideas that would hit Shatien's design, but it was no use.

“What are you saying!”

“Is it just a day or two that the urban poor are clamoring? If you give in to their demands, they will only grow bigger one by one! That is nonsense.”

“Correct. Besides, the anger of the poor? Ha! What will they do even if they are angry? Will they break through the city guard and stage a protest? There is no need to care about the public opinion of those who don't know their place.”

In a general situation, their words would have been correct.

Though called a collection of freemen, was the city not the place with the most primitive and ostentatious status gaps?

All people were naturally free, but some were naturally more free than others.

And the officers of the merchant guild did not doubt for a moment that they were the more free people.

However, there was something they overlooked.

First of all,

“We cannot live like this! Let us overturn it all!!! Punish the merchant guild bastards who sold their souls for money!”

The anger inside the city had expanded beyond just the poor to include the numerous middle class areas created by the recent great fire.

Once those who corresponded to the backbone of the city population began to sympathize, the situation became uncontrollable.

And secondly.

“God spoke long ago to stay away from greed and live diligently and frugally while showing mercy to those around you. The current situation in the city is quite abnormal. The Holy See will never stand by and watch this happen.”

As a result of the clergymen of Mediolanum reporting this matter to the Holy See, the Holy See finally mentioned that it could intervene.

In fact, the Holy See's intervention in the fief of another noble was a serious overstepping of authority, so it was naturally just a simple, non-binding threat that could not be carried out, but it sounded a bit different to the city people.

“Did you see! The Holy See warned of their corruption!”

“We must execute them! The clergymen, the Holy See has recognized it! Let us go!”

“P-Please calm down. Brothers! If you do this... if you. Argh!”

In the Apennine Peninsula, where the influence of the Holy See was deeply rooted, the words of the Holy See became a very strong justification.

Faith soon became fanaticism, making the protesters even more relentless.

And finally, the long awaited third point.

“How is the situation?”

“I have spread all the rumors as you commanded. I am infiltrating people here and there secretly to guide them in the direction you desire.”

“Excellent. I shall specially pull back the guards, so have a proper time playing.”

It was Shatien, the very person they never imagined.

Shatien had been secretly fanning the current situation from behind until now, manipulating it so that it could burn even larger and more fiercely.

And as a result.

“Hahaha!”

“Then shall we hold a party first? The council, no, the autonomous committee. Tsk... autonomous committee really does not roll off the tongue. Let us change the name back to the council later.”

“Yes, yes. Then let us invite all the people of the committee and hold a grand party!”

A massive disaster finally struck the merchant guild while they were laughing and talking, celebrating their victory.

Bang!

“T-There is big trouble!!”

“Hmm? What is it? Big trouble you say?”

“Is there anything to be in big trouble now?”

“Has the Emperor invaded by any chance? That would be a bit difficult. I wonder if the Emperor will forgive our betrayal?”

“You damnable fool, it is not something like that.”

The officer who opened the door and entered shouted in frustration.

“Right now, right now...!”

The moment he tried to continue while gasping for breath, he did not need to speak anymore.

“Waaaaaaa!”

Because through the window and the gap of the open door, a thunderous roar of the angry crowd was heard.

“Waaaaaaa!”

“Kill them! Kill them all!”

“Let us execute all the wicked bastards!”

“????????”

* * *

“Your Excellency! Your Excellency Count! Please save us.”

“Your Excellency Count. The rioters are running wild. Please call the guards quickly and drive them away.”

As the angry crowd attacked the merchant guild, burning and looting it, the startled committee members hurriedly ran to Shatien and pleaded for help.

However, Shatien did not care.

“Is this not something that happened in your city? If you are an au-to-no-mous committee, you should resolve it yourselves. Is that not so?”

Shatien spoke indifferently with a shrug.

‘Why should I?’

Are they not trying to give him everything only when they are desperate? Shatien intended to properly educate these stingy people of the city on this occasion.

“You handle your own affairs. There will be no interference in the future. Ah! Of course, don't even think about bringing in mercenaries to cause a bloodbath within the city. If I see blood in my city, I will not stand by.”

“…Understood. Your Excellency.”

At Shatien's clear order to leave, the committee members had no choice but to bow their heads and escape the palace as if fleeing.

They would have quite a headache trying to settle the angry public sentiment in the future.

“Hehe. You should help them a bit. If things go even slightly wrong, the protesters could become a full blown mob.”

“I am working hard to adjust things so that does not happen. The friends dispatched from the merchant group are doing their jobs very well. Is it not quite impressive that they only took daily necessities while attacking the merchant guild and did not touch anything else?”

“…….”

Shatien felt that Mage Agphiel was somehow looking at him as a madman.

It must be a misunderstanding.

Probably.

“If that is the case, it is a relief, but you are not planning to leave the city in an uncontrollable state indefinitely, right?”

“No way. It is just that our lords of the autonomous committee have not shown their sincerity yet. Tsk... they lack sincerity. Sincerity.”

He was going to accept if they made a somewhat innovative proposal, but they were still failing to snap out of it and were only testing the waters.

It meant they needed to be scolded more.

Thinking so, Shatien spoke to Mage Agphiel.

“Please help me and write one more letter to the Holy See.”

“A letter?”

“Yes. A letter asking to dispatch investigators regarding immoral and heretical acts. Hehehe.”

Once the Holy See, which had only been talking, began to step forward personally, only then would the autonomous committee be able to grasp the atmosphere immediately.

By that time, they would be able to share a proper conversation.

“Hm, alright.”

Shatien thought so and once again turned away from the city's problems to focus on other work.

As news that war was imminent continued to come in from all directions, it was necessary to prepare for war even more thoroughly.

The reason the outcome of war was fearful was because it was difficult to see even a single step ahead, like crossing through a dark fog.

The more various preparations there were, the more that fog would be cleared and the path would be clearly visible.

‘Emperor, wait for me.’