Chapter 659 9.83
Chapter 659 83
The Byzantine Empire, which was born out of Rome, is very different from all the Western Continent countries of the same era. Google Search Reading
In this country, there is an openness and tolerance that is unheard of in other countries.
Pope Gregory and the Byzantine King live in the same city. It is difficult to say who has a stronger ability to rule Roman citizens.
The 220 senators in the Senate all have equal power and jointly vote to decide the kingdom's policies.
The Viking Princess Mehrandin can openly open a business in Constantinople, and can even enter the Senate as a foreigner, using the identity of a senator to fight for the interests of the Kingdom of Normandy.
This is incredible in the eyes of other emperors.
However, it is precisely by taking advantage of this unprecedented tolerance for business behavior that the Byzantine Empire has accumulated huge wealth with only a very small territory.
The Senate's response to the Illuminati is the same.
They have long known about the existence of the Illuminati, and they also understand that under that layer of human skin, this is a group of species that is completely different from humans.
But it is undeniable that the Illuminati is rich enough to rival a country.
They not only have gold and silver that ordinary people can hardly imagine, but also many ancient relics that do not belong to this era. Even the well-informed Roman nobles will also have great greed for the rare treasures in the hands of the Illuminati members.
What's more, they also know ancient secrets that ordinary mortal scholars can't imagine at all.
With money, huge resources that can be mobilized at any time, and an unfathomable network of relationships, for Roman nobles who make a living in business, the Illuminati is simply the friend they most want to make.
Many old nobles in the kingdom acquiesced to the existence of the Lizardmen, and even the Byzantine King's younger brother, Prince Dolanter, joined the Illuminati in an open identity.
All this is naturally not a secret that is difficult to understand for the Legalist secret agents.
The guards of merchants don't care about fairness and justice.
They always protect the party that pays money.
Before the operation began, Gu Huaian had already anticipated that when the war in the city escalated, the Roman sheriff would most likely become the umbrella of the Illuminati. The reinforcement Ge Lao anticipated the sudden appearance of the Roman sheriff.
But he never expected that they had already guessed the reinforcement route of the Legalist secret agents.
They even arranged rapid-fire crossbows in the surrounding area in advance.
The entire defense line was so well constructed that even if the huge rocks falling from the sky smashed the houses, it would not affect the crossbows from all directions.
(Could it be that they had already anticipated that Wang Ergulei would smash the arena and escape into the city, and even planned the escape route?
Bang Bang Bang
The rapid-fire crossbows continuously fired rapid arrows, and the Legalist secret agents who were suddenly attacked had no time to dodge. More than a dozen crossbows fired at the same time, quickly weaving a dense rain of arrows in front of everyone.
In this lightning moment, Ge Lao suddenly understood the entire action plan of the Illuminati.
Secretly crossing Chencang and making a feint to the east and attacking the west are all strategies of Donglu, but they were unexpectedly mastered quite well by the "Lord of Disaster" Betuge.
Sending the strongest thug around him into the Colosseum, his goal was not to please the king, nor to get rid of Loki's two subordinates.
Failed to use the "Inquisition" to expel Gu Huai'an from the city, this was the second strategy they came up with - using Wang Ergulei, the big fish, to catch all the Legalist secret agents.
Today, He wanted all the Legalists who came to help to die in the narrow streets of this city!
Including He Lao.
Also including Concubine Xue who came to help from another side.
**
Before entering Constantinople, Gu Huai'an Two sets of lurking plans have been prepared.
One group of people, led by Ge Lao, mingled in the streets and alleys as lower-class citizens, doing some underground work such as assassination, eavesdropping, and transferring intelligence.
The other group was led by Xue Fei, who used the alias "Li Xueyi". Their external identities were from the nobles of Donglu or the bosses and shopkeepers of large businesses. They appeared in the upper class of Constantinople every day, making friends with Roman nobles while spying on intelligence that was beneficial to the Tang Dynasty in the East.
Getting rid of the leader of the Illuminati was one of Gu Huaian's jobs, but it was by no means all.
At this time, the Tang Dynasty was in ruins, and it was equally important for a diplomat to obtain sufficient investment and build a more stable trade ecology.
And all of this could not be accomplished by wielding a sword.
A considerable number of the secret agents under Gu Huaian were businessmen who were powerless. They could not create killings and did not do anything for them. The empire expanded its territory. But personal values are much more noble than those of warriors.
After entering the arena, Concubine Xue's main job was to learn the etiquette of the nobles, think about deeper issues with the way of thinking of diplomats, and only use practical force to escort Tang merchants when necessary.
When Wang Ergulei stepped into the arena, Concubine Xue's subordinates did not lurk outside the gate with Ge Lao, but were inside the arena.
When the dragon fell from the sky and was ruthlessly cut by the silk flying blade. The Roman people had never seen such a bloody and exciting performance. The enthusiastic crowd shouted excitedly, but only Concubine Xue felt the cold murderous intent.
This murderous intent did not come from the arena, but from behind her.
Concubine Xue and a group of Donglu VIPs were on the right side of the viewing platform, and behind them was the Mikhail family's special work for the Holy Episcopal Church. Among the monks in plain white robes, Concubine Xue could see them standing up and leaving quickly.
While leaving the stage, he secretly drew out the sword hidden under his robe.
The Holy Lord Church is fundamentally different from the Buddhist monks active in the Tang Dynasty.
The monks are devoted to Buddhism, taking in homeless people and ordaining them, building temples and selling incense in good years, and giving porridge to the poor in bad years.
They do not have clear rules for joining the church, and do not force their disciples to spread the doctrine. In most cases, they even ask questions to test disciples who want to become monks to see if they can gain the favor of Buddha.
Most monks are a group of people who practice without distraction.
What the Holy Lord Church pursues is far more than that.
Under the leadership of the Pope, all the bishops are dependent on the management of the cardinals. Rather than saying that this is a religious belief, it is better to say that they are actually an imperial institution that is above all kingdoms.
All the believers throughout the Western Continent are dedicated to preaching all day long, and any will of the Pope can cover all countries in the Western Continent within three days.
The church has its own laws, its own army, and is responsible for the kingdom's right to judge criminals.
They have long infiltrated every aspect of the Byzantine Empire.
Even the king has to bow his head in many occasions compared to the pope.
The last step of the king's succession is to kneel before the pope and let the pope complete the coronation ceremony.
After taking the throne, the king is still unable to escape the pope's control. Whether it is marrying the queen or appointing the crown prince, all major events in life require the pope to stand by and bless him.
Without the pope's blessing, the king will be taken away by the torture monk within three days to check whether he has been bewitched by the evil god.
This is definitely not a pleasant experience for mortals.