Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 383 The Whirlpool (Part 10)

[Guteng Village outside Steel Fortress]
[Legion Barracks, Colonel Bern's Office]
Three knocks, neither too loud nor too soft, were heard, and a loud, powerful baritone voice entered the room: "Report!"

"Enter."

The lieutenant on duty, having received permission, entered the colonel's office with a guard. Colonel Bern's gaze shifted from the scroll on the desk to the lieutenant, and he nodded slightly.

"Sir." The lieutenant snapped to attention and reported, "A young gentleman outside the camp requests an audience, claiming to be your friend."

Colonel Bern casually flipped through the calendar, confirmed there were no guests scheduled for today, and frowned as he asked, "What's their name?"

"He wouldn't say. He only said that the last time he drank with you was at a reception at the Este House."

"Oh...where is he?"

"Waiting at the guard post."

"Invite him in."

"Yes."

Shortly after, the lieutenant on duty led the visitor into the colonel's office, then excused himself and closed the door behind him. Only the colonel and the visitor remained in the office.

“Your stables are truly luxurious.” Winters gave a meticulous salute and broke the silence with a smile: “They even have fireplaces. They’re more comfortable than where I live.”

Colonel Bern removed his glasses and sleeves, and gestured for Winters to sit down: “Unlike your Palatine, Monta is too cold, and there’s hardly any cavalry, only officers ride horses. Officers’ mounts are treasures, so of course they’re well taken care of.”

Winters sat down at his desk, dragging his aching left leg: "When I get back, I'll pick out a few good horses and send them to you."

“Forget it, I can’t afford to raise him.” Colonel Bern looked Winters up and down, asking curiously, “Why is there such a big purple patch on your forehead?”

Winters remained unfazed: "I accidentally bumped into it while riding my horse."

"Apply some ice; it'll help the bruises fade faster." Colonel Bern, who had been casually expressing concern just moments before, suddenly narrowed his eyes and asked, "How did you find your way here?"

Winters placed the black wooden box, which he had been carrying under his arms, on the colonel's desk with both hands: "Who in Steel Fortress doesn't know your name? Why would you need to look for me?"

"What is this?" Colonel Bern raised an eyebrow at the wooden box.

Winters joked, "Bribery."

Colonel Bern laughed heartily and reached out to open the wooden box.

In the center of the wooden box, an exquisitely crafted pistol with a spring mechanism is surrounded by black velvet, a truly delightful sight.

The colonel took out his pistol, examined it with obvious delight, and asked Winters, "The Fuller family's?"

“Of course!” Winters replied confidently, “The best guns from Fuller’s workshop naturally deserve the best men.”

“Not bad.” The colonel reluctantly put the pistol back into its wooden case and pushed it back in front of Winters. “But bringing a gun into the camp, you’re incredibly audacious!”

Winters shrugged: "Your men have checked several times, but it's just a gun, not loaded. I was also searched repeatedly, inside and out, and even my cane was taken away."

"Is that so?" Colonel Bern did not reply. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze coldly scrutinizing the young man before him. "So, what is your purpose in coming to see me?"

A brief silence fell over the office.

Winters did not answer the question directly, but instead brought up another unrelated person: "Colonel, I served under another lieutenant colonel."

Although Winters wasn't entirely certain, his tone was as if he were stating a confirmed fact: "Lieutenant Colonel John Jessica."

Colonel Bern sat up abruptly, then leaned back slowly, gave a soft hum, and asked, "Is he still alive?"

Sure enough. Winters thought to himself: Overseas-stationed officers also have their own little circles.

“He’s still alive, and has even returned to Palatour. It’s just that…” Winters paused for a moment, “but Lieutenant Colonel Jessica has also lost his other eye.”

Colonel Bern also fell silent, and after a long while he spoke: "The Lord has already made arrangements for each of us; at least he returned home alive."

Winters didn't believe in destiny, but he found it difficult to recount Lieutenant Colonel Jessica's experiences to Colonel Bern, and could only nod silently.

After a while, Colonel Bern waved his hand wearily: "Alright, kid, just say what you want to say! But let me tell you beforehand, I won't bend the law or break principles just because you used to be One-Eyed's subordinate. So think carefully before you speak."

Upon hearing Colonel Berne's words, Winters was completely relieved.

The "Legion" is the direct armed force of the Republic of Monta stationed in various autonomous states, and is also the main executor of smuggling investigations, bandit suppression, and rebellion crackdowns.

If even the Legion is willing to provide assistance "without violating principles"—even if it's just turning a blind eye—Winters's subsequent actions will be much easier.

"You met with Mayor Wooder hoping the city government could provide funding to recruit unemployed workers for training?"

"So what?"

"Did Mayor Wupper agree?"

"I haven't received an answer yet."

“You can rest assured, he will absolutely not agree,” Winters said, making a startling statement.

Colonel Bern remained composed: "Why?"

"The thing that the 'respectable' councilors of Steel Fortress fear most is that the muleteers they speak of will take up arms and start a riot. And you're suggesting they allow the unemployed to receive military training? That's putting a noose around their own necks. If you were in their shoes, would you agree?"

Colonel Bern frowned more and more deeply, remaining silent.

Winters then changed the subject: "But I can help you persuade Mayor Wooder, or Mayor Servet."

"Oh?" Colonel Bern sneered.

“Not only can I help you persuade the Steel Fortress Council, I also have a better proposal.” Winters didn’t state his request first, but instead offered his help: “You want to recruit unemployed people for training so that they can have a decent living and won’t have to take risks. Am I right?”

Colonel Berne remained noncommittal, gesturing for Winters to continue.

Winters asked unhurriedly, "If it's just about giving the unemployed a loaf of bread, why bother with military training?"

Winters Montagne was not an experienced administrator, but he did do some minor work in Iron Peak County and gained some valuable experience.

“Dredging canals, leveling roads, repairing city defenses… there are many things the unemployed can do if the legion is willing to maintain discipline; military training can serve as just one pretext.” Winters added at the end, “Of course, if there’s really nothing else to do, accepting a few transport contracts is also understandable.”

Colonel Bern sighed, rose, went to the cupboard, and returned with a bottle of distilled spirit and two square glasses. He poured Winters a quarter glass and himself half, asking, "What would you like?"

“I hope to transport a shipment to Lucerne, in the name of the Legion.” Winters showed no pride, but instead became even more humble.

Lucerne is a border city of the Republic of Monta, facing Palatinate across the river.

"Lucerne?" Colonel Bern picked up his glass, inhaling the aroma of the strong liquor, and asked in confusion, "The only way to get from Steel Castle to Lucerne is by land, over mountains and valleys, which is very troublesome."

“Iron exports have always gone through the Wuppert Canal, so the Montaigne Senate must be heavily guarding the Wuppert Canal and the downstream waterways.” Winters answered honestly, “In that case, why not ‘go the long way’ and take the detour to Lucerne?”

Of course, Winters left out half the story—Lucerne also has waterways, which lead directly to Mirror Lake and the newly reclaimed province.

“What a convenient ‘going the long way around’ approach.” Colonel Bern took a sip of his strong liquor. “But Lucerne still has to obey Hornburg’s orders. If the arms are sent to Lucerne, you can smuggle them out of the country?” “You don’t need to worry about that. General Alpard has his ways.” Winters raised his glass in a toast.

“At first I thought you were just a nobody, but now it seems I was wrong—you are the big shot in this deal.”

“Colonel, I am not a major figure,” Winters replied humbly, “but in this ‘procurement,’ I have full authority.”

Colonel Bern nodded slightly, finished his glass of strong liquor, looked at Winters, and asked frankly, "What will I get in return for helping you?"

“Money,” Winters said without hesitation. “If you want it.”

Colonel Bern smiled and said, "I don't need money."

Winters' smile faded, and his expression gradually became solemn and formal. He stood up and bowed deeply: "Then you can have my gratitude; from now on, I will owe you a favor."

“There’s an old saying among the Helvetii: A hero’s promise is worth more than a tar of gold.” Colonel Bern also stood up, handed his glass to Winters, clinked glasses with him, and toasted, “Young man, may your eyes always be bright, and your sword always sharp.”

The colonel returned the black wooden box to Winters: "Keep this gun; you'll need it more than I do."

……

When Winters visited Colonel Bern, Anna was examining the Schmid family's "ledgers".

The Schmid family's account books were kept by old Schmid in a solid iron cabinet, which also contained important documents such as land deeds, house deeds, and all the certificates for the forge.

Five large padlocks hung on the outside of the metal cabinet, and old Schmid always carried the key with him. The cabinet itself was placed next to old Schmid's bed, and the old man would check it every night to make sure everything was in its proper place before he would go to sleep.

Even with all his connections and influence, Mr. Carlo Ed couldn't get his hands on the Schmidt family's ledgers.

So he directly bribed the person who kept the books for old Schmidt.

……

On one side of the small table, Anna, wearing a veil, kept asking questions and taking notes. The veil not only failed to conceal her charm, but also added a touch of hazy beauty to her.

On the other side of the small table, a junior clerk of the Schmid family sat anxiously in a chair, constantly swallowing his saliva—anyone would feel equally awkward being surrounded by four burly Dussacs.

Four guards, gripping their sabers, stared intently at the poor clerk, making the latter dare not show any disrespect or rudeness. To be precise, he even trembled as he spoke.

Anna sighed inwardly. She had initially thought it unnecessary to make such a fuss, but the guards firmly disagreed with allowing a strange man to speak with the "lady" alone.

"Would you like some water?" Anna asked gently, trying to ease the other person's pressure. "Mr. Schweidnitz?"

The slender clerk, Schweidnitz, caught the murderous glares of the four swordsmen beside him and frantically shook his head: "No, no, no."

“It’s alright.” Anna looked at the guard, both amused and exasperated. “Let Mr. Schweidnitz have some water.”

Schweidnitz was about to say "no" when the swordsman shoved the water glass in front of him: "Drink!"

Schweidnitz picked up the water glass and gulped it down, leaving not a drop.

“Drinking water won’t help,” Kaman commented expressionlessly. “He needs to drink some alcohol.”

Anna wanted to laugh but couldn't, so she could only glance helplessly at Kaman.

“I’m used to it.” Kaman bowed apologetically. He thought for a moment, then walked to the panicked clerk, put his hand on the latter’s shoulder, and gently reassured him, “Don’t worry, you’re safe here.”

Whether it was the priest's words that had an effect or not, Schweidnitz really calmed down and answered more fluently.

Anna quickly finished asking the questions she had prepared, covering everything from business operations to liabilities. She then asked about some new discoveries and nodded to signal the end of the conversation.

The clerk, Schweidnitz, received the final payment and fled as if granted a pardon.

The guards returned to their posts, leaving only Kaman and Anna, who was writing furiously, in the small reception room.

Kaman took the water glass and casually asked, "I don't think I heard anything special about it."

“Yes, that’s very interesting.” Anna put down her quill and smiled. “It seems that the workshops, large and small, in Steel Castle generally have… a network of debt relationships. But that’s just my speculation; we need to see more ledgers.”

"and then?"

"And then?" Anna replied with a sparkle, "Then we'll have to ask Mr. Carlo Ed to find more 'ledgers'."

“I’m not talking about that and then.” Kaman sat down opposite Anna, spreading his arms and making a circular motion. “I’m talking about everything and everything and then.”

Anna still didn't understand what Kaman meant, so she patiently explained, "I don't know how united the forge owners in Steelburg are, but they're like a chain. If you find the weakest link in the chain and break it, the chain itself will lose its meaning, and the price cartel will collapse on its own. Then they'll rush to sell, and Winters will be able to buy the goods at the lowest price."

Kaman looked somewhat reluctant, and he asked hesitantly, "Ms. Navarre, are you aware that what you are doing... could bankrupt some honest and respectable people?"

Anna was also momentarily confused, but she quickly focused and carefully chose her words: "But, Father Kaman, even if Winters and I do nothing, they will still go bankrupt."

Kaman was speechless. After a long while, he raised his head again and looked at Anna with a complicated expression: "Everything you are doing is completely contrary to the teachings I received from childhood. [Remember your God, for he is the one who gives you the power to acquire wealth], [Do not seek earthly riches, but pursue heavenly blessings].

Winters was already very wealthy; he could control wealth unimaginable to ordinary people. So why was he so obsessed with earning every single gold coin? Even at the cost of harming and destroying others? I don't understand; I can't comprehend it. Yet, a part of me vaguely feels that what he did wasn't actually wrong.

The scriptures teach that people should not be obsessed with earthly material pleasures, nor should they corrupt their morals for money. [How difficult it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter.] But I cannot consider you and Winters to be morally despicable villains. I even think you are more noble than my kinsmen.”

The fire crackled and popped, and the candlelight flickered, just like Kaman's wavering thoughts.

“I don’t know how to make everything consistent, Father Carmen,” Anna said softly. “In some situations, it’s hard to use morality as a guideline. My mother always said, ‘An individual can act according to their own conscience, but when a group of people make a decision, they will always choose self-interest.’”

“Like now.” Anna’s voice gradually became confused. After hearing Kaman’s struggle, she was also reflecting on herself: “Because I am representing Winters’ interests, every gold coin I save will become Winters’ profit, so I feel at ease and not ashamed of my cruelty… I don’t know why… I don’t even know if it’s right to do this… Perhaps when wealth accumulates to a certain level, it is no longer us who own the wealth, but the wealth that owns us.”

Kaman listened silently, then smiled bitterly: "There is another possibility—perhaps the old Catholic ethics are no longer suitable for this new era flowing with gold."

……

Winters was saying goodbye to Colonel Bern when the Catholic Church's morality clashed with the profit-seeking principles of commerce.

"Alright, I won't take you too far. Be careful on the road." Colonel Bern glanced at Winters's spotted horse and said with a smile, "But I don't think your old horse can run very fast."

The spotted horse showed no reaction to the accusations, stretching its neck as if to eat the dry grass stalks on the roadside.

Winters raised his hand in salute, mounted his horse, and rode off. Charles and Berian quickly saluted as well and followed.

Colonel Bern watched them go for a moment, then turned and walked back, looking lost and dejected.

However, the sound of departing hooves returned, and Winters reappeared before Colonel Bern. He dismounted and strode towards the colonel.

“Colonel.” Winters’s eyes were serious, and he had made up his mind. “There is something I can’t ask anyone else in Steel Castle, but it’s very important. You are the most respected soldier in Monta I have ever met, and I trust you. I can only ask you for help.”

Colonel Bern became serious, but he was still puzzled: "What's wrong?"

"I am not asking this question as an officer of the Palatour or in any other capacity, but as a citizen of the Alliance, a soldier who swore an oath to defend the Alliance before the old marshal's tombstone."

"You said."

"Has the Monta Republic directly or indirectly supplied cannons, guns, and armor to the Hed tribes? Could Borso da Este be secretly serving the Oathbreakers?" Winters' eyes glistened with tears of grief and indignation as he looked at Colonel Bern and asked, word by word, "Are the United Provinces joining forces with the Empire... to make us bleed?"

Although the Catholic Church itself is rife with extravagance and exploitation, its ethical code still advocates poverty, purity, and goodness. Greed is one of the seven deadly sins, and corruption within the Catholic Church is morally untenable. Reform forces within the Church are the main force in curbing corruption.
[That is, the pursuit of wealth is an objective social phenomenon, but from a moral standpoint, the pursuit of worldly wealth and enjoyment is a shameful act.]
[This is somewhat similar to the Soviet Union. Although corruption was rampant in the Soviet Union in its later years, the Soviet Communist Party theoretically maintained a relatively high moral standard, and the Kuomintang (KMT) was the main force in the fight against corruption. After the collapse of social order, the corruption problem actually became more serious.]
[The root of Kaman's inner conflict lies in the fact that the old ethical norms of the church are no longer sufficient to guide the actions of the 'emerging bourgeoisie'.]
[While it's difficult to call the Winters the bourgeoisie (strictly speaking, they were working class), the Navarre family was a genuine emerging bourgeoisie—although the wealth accumulated by the bourgeoisie in this era was not as extravagant as it would be in later generations.]
[Since the goal is to pursue profit, the first step is to desinogenize 'greed' and 'self-interest.' Stop thinking about using earthly merits to exchange for a ticket to heaven, and instead, accumulate wealth endlessly.]
[On this point, the doctrine of predestination clearly suits the tastes of the bourgeoisie. Since who will be saved is predetermined, there's no need to waste money on good deeds; instead, one can comfortably accumulate wealth, strive in life, and prove whether one is truly chosen (this doesn't specifically refer to Protestantism, as there are many subcategories within Protestantism)].
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(End of this chapter)