Medieval: Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Chapter 219 Split Operations

The corruption and depravity of Christianity is an open secret.

For centuries, the Vatican has implemented numerous reforms from top to bottom, such as prohibiting priests from marrying and severely punishing the sale of official positions.

The establishment of internal oversight societies is permitted.

However, these approaches, which are always trapped in the old ways of "self-examination and self-correction" and refuse to accept external scrutiny and criticism, inevitably lead to failure in the end.

In this quagmire of faith, some clear streams still struggle to survive.

The Cistercians, known for their critique of church corruption, were among them, and the Seidlez Monastery was an important stronghold of this order in Bohemia.

In the spring of 1142 AD, a group of monks dressed in coarse robes came to this desolate valley.

They were the earliest Cistercians, and with a deep sorrow for the corruption of the church, they vowed to return to the original teachings of Christ through penance.

The Seidleitz family donated the land, and the Zimberg family provided the funding, and in this valley surrounded by forests, the first Cistercian monastery was built.

In its early days, the monastery strictly followed the Benedictine rules, and the monks lived a life of poverty and self-discipline.

Every day at dawn, the bells awaken the sleeping valley, and the monks file into the church, their chants echoing in the morning mist.

They cultivate the land with their own hands, using the most primitive tools to cultivate the fields, and rejecting any form of luxury.

This devotion moved many people, and a constant stream of believers came to convert to Buddhism.

The turning point came one rainy morning. A monk named Joseph, while gathering herbs in the nearby mountains, unexpectedly discovered a piece of ore that shimmered with silver light.

He hurriedly covered the discovery with his monk's robe, but the news still spread like wildfire.

According to the laws at the time, the land and all underground mineral resources belonged to the royal family. When the Bohemian royal family developed this silver mine, they named it "Kutna Hora" in Czech to commemorate this interesting discovery, meaning "Monk's Robe Mountain."

The discovery of silver mines completely changed the fate of this land. Around 1260, the royal family recruited a large number of Germanic miners to establish settlements here.

As the mines continued to extend, the town gradually expanded, eventually forming the Kutenberg we know today.

By 1277, the Cistercians had grown into the second largest Catholic order, with over 700 monasteries.

The ideals of a simple life, once cherished, have gradually faded under the erosion of power and wealth.

At this time, Seidlez Abbey was in an unprecedented predicament: continuing ascetic practices would be criticized by the upper echelons as "out of step with the times"; going with the flow would go against the original intention of the legislature.

At this crucial moment, the newly appointed Dean Henry put forward a shocking theory: "We will still cultivate the land, but not with iron hoes, but with golden hoes!"

The following spring, Dean Henry embarked on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

After a year of arduous travel, he brought back a handful of soil from the holy land.

In the presence of all the monks, he scattered this handful of holy soil in the monastery cemetery and solemnly declared: "From now on, this land will forever be bathed in the grace of the Lord."

After the news spread, nobles and lords from all over flocked to the site, vying to purchase the burial rights to this "sacred cemetery".

The price of cemetery plots skyrocketed, quickly becoming unaffordable for ordinary people.

The cemetery, which was once open to all believers, gradually became the exclusive resting place for nobles and the wealthy.

Dean Henry was deeply concerned about this. On a clear, moonlit night, under the influence of alcohol, he announced to the public: "The cemetery of Seidletz Abbey will be divided into a 60/40 split. 60% will be sold to the highest bidder; the remaining 40% will be used for the permanent, free burial of commoners and the homeless."

This act of kindness won enthusiastic support from the people, but Abbot Henry was dismissed by the Cistercians for "damaging the interests of the monastery." However, the rules he established were preserved.

The succeeding directors quickly discovered the problem: how could nobles tolerate being buried next to commoners? This would undoubtedly lower the "sacred value" of the cemetery.

So they came up with a "win-win" solution: build an underground ossuary to exhume the remains of commoners who had been buried for many years, making room for those who would be buried later. The exhumed bones were neatly displayed in the ossuary, euphemistically called "offerings".

In this way, the cemetery was "recycled." The tombs of nobles were carefully maintained and admired by future generations, while the remains of commoners were brought underground several years later to make way for new deceased.

This subtle differential treatment had an immediate effect: the poor were grateful for the free burial, while the rich were satisfied with the exclusive honor.

By 1403, Sedlec Monastery had become the wealthiest monastery in all of Bohemia, and even King Wenceslaus and Sigismund stayed there on several occasions.

The Zimberg family, to which the Flower Bud Brothers belong, is one of the noble families that is willing to pay exorbitant fees to remain separate from the common people.

The Knights of Dawn's raid on the lumberyard was swift and decisive. Under the cover of the morning mist, Peter personally led twenty elite knights, striking the Cuman camp like a sharp sword.

The battle ended within half an hour, and the knights successfully located the reliquary of old Earl Zimberg.

It was a box meticulously carved from oak, its surface inlaid with a silver family crest.

When Hua Guduo received her father's remains with trembling hands, this young man, who had endured so much hardship, finally couldn't hold back his tears.

"Your Highness Prince Brunswick,"

Flower Bud knelt on one knee, her voice choked with emotion, "Thank you for helping us find our father's relics. We wish to go to the monastery immediately to lay him to rest. We will return to express our gratitude once this matter is resolved."

Peter gently helped him up, sunlight illuminating the prince's young yet weathered face: "After burying the old knight, what are your plans?"

"We are ready to return to Moravia, prove our abilities to our mother, and reclaim the titles that rightfully belong to us."

Peter shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with pity: "The situation is probably not that simple."

Your mother and uncle now have complete control of the castle. And you, as the rightful heir, have not only gone out on your own, but have also caused the deaths of many loyal guards.

In other words, you have no military force left to rely on within your territory. What makes you think your mother and uncle would willingly relinquish power?

Hua Guduo was speechless. It wasn't that he wasn't aware of his mother and uncle's ambitions, but he was unwilling to face this cruel reality. They had at least several decades left to live; was he really going to have to wait for decades?

"If you don't know where to go," Peter's voice seemed to carry a certain magic, "after you have buried your father, you might as well come to me. In the camaraderie of the Knights, perhaps you can find your own path."

Flower Bud and Bone-Tearing exchanged a glance, both seeing wavering in each other's eyes. In recent days, they had indeed felt an unprecedented brotherhood within the Knights of the Silver Dawn.

Meanwhile, Henry arrived to take his leave. He had helped Sir Rutherford find crucial evidence against Vavank: a secret ledger recording countless shady deals. The densely packed numbers on the parchment pages revealed just the tip of the iceberg of a vast network of corruption.

"My Lord Peter," Henry said solemnly, "once I rescue Hans, I will immediately return to fight alongside you."

Unexpectedly, Peter gave a meaningful smile: "On the contrary, come find me once you find the exact location of the secret passage. We will go with you to rescue Hans."

Henry looked up in surprise and saw the glint in Peter's eyes.

This seemingly elegant and composed prince actually has a heart even more passionate than his outward appearance suggests.

"But sir, this is too dangerous..."

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"It is precisely because of the danger that we need to look after each other even more."

Peter interrupted him, "Remember, Henry, you are my friend, a partner who shares justice and works together."

"Yes, sir!"

Henry, with tears in his eyes, bowed his head in respect.

The Flower Bud Brothers embarked on their journey to the monastery carrying the reliquary;

Henry, however, is filled with new hope and ready to embark on the next adventure.

Peter gazed beyond the rolling hills, muttering to himself.

"Ransom or swords? The Hungarians should have made their decision by now, right?"

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