Chapter 437: A small meeting after the big meeting (Part )

"Now that the rules of procedure have been decided, we can certainly get down to business." Horn's voice echoed under the dome of the colorful mural of Mount Paradise.

As the discussion got to the point, the citizen elites and council members present all sat up straight.

"I know you have to adapt to this set of rules, so why don't you just follow the rule of raising your hand to speak?" After announcing the decision, Horn first turned over a page on the paper pad.

“Because the territory is expanding too fast, the administrative divisions within our Papal State of Salvation are still quite chaotic, and there is no clear hierarchy.

The reason why I gave Rapids City the status of being directly governed by the Saint, directly under the Pope's Palace, and on the same level as a county.

As for Saint Catherine's Magde Chamber of Commerce, after our consultation, it will be split into the original Magde Chamber of Commerce and the Saint Bank.

We will then write these details into a booklet and send it to you, which will also include the appointment of city hall officials. "

When they heard that it was an appointment for a city hall official position, the entire meeting became even quieter, and everyone pricked up their ears for fear of missing a word.

"On behalf of the Holy Lord, the Holy Tree, and the Holy Father, I grant Saint Catherine the position of ruler of Rapids, grant Mittenni Rapids the position of foreign affairs envoy, grant Karl Rapids the position of captain of the Night Watch, and grant..."

Horn reported the names, and some monks brought from Jeanne d'Arc copied out a table that matched the official titles and names, and distributed it to the people in the first row of tables and benches.

These citizen elites gathered together, looking at the charts in front of them, and breathed a sigh of relief.

This basically retained Catherine's previous team, and their seats as city councilors were also retained. Horn did not dissolve the parliament.

For the occasional vacancies in the City Hall, Horn would place some members of the Holy Fathers Order in the positions, and the number of members would be within their acceptable range.

"...Before the end of martial law, Governor Catherine will lead the city councilors, city hall members, and Magdi Chamber of Commerce members to Qiumu Island in batches for training and political observation..."

The political affairs of Rapid City are a mess. Horn cannot handle everything at once. He needs Catherine, the local boss, to manage the entire city.

However, in order to effectively control Rapid City and prevent it from becoming a non-performing asset, Horn still has to add some water to it.

Sending Catherine and others to Qiumu Island for training is to carry out ideological and political transformation of these people and eliminate unqualified members.

During this time, Horn would also send Abbess of the Fathers monks into Rapid City.

These monks are not involved in the reconstruction and daily operations of Rapid City, they only do one thing.

That is to record every meeting speech, personnel transfer and decree issued by the city hall, and send it to Horn on time.

"Due to population changes, we will have to redraw the neighborhoods and re-elect city councillors after martial law ends. Do you have any objection to this?"

"No."

“It’s a natural thing.”

Seeing that Horn had no intention of interfering in the city council election, the city councilors present naturally breathed a sigh of relief.

Subsequently, these citizen elites asked some questions about usury, taxation, the power of the city council, and the judiciary.

However, Horn pushed all of them to Catherine, and Catherine said that they would be discussed later and she would personally have a one-on-one detailed discussion with Shengsun.

"Have we finished discussing the administrative issues?" Horn organized his notes and turned to ask the people present.

Everyone shook their heads, indicating that there were no other questions.

Horn pulled out another stack of manuscripts and placed them on the pad. "Then let Catherine take charge and talk about the current refugee and reconstruction situation in Rapid City."

Under the complicated looks of the citizens, Catherine pushed her glasses and stood up:
"The church army set fire to houses in the port area and engaged in street fighting with wizards. The entire port area has become a ruin..."

"The most terrifying thing right now is that the water supply and drainage systems in and around Rapid City have been destroyed. The canals, wells, and drainage outlets have all been deliberately damaged. It will take too long to rebuild them..."

"Our granary was burned down when the Imperial Order Company fled. Purchasing and mobilizing food from the surrounding areas cannot maintain the current balance..."

"According to the assessment of the Magdeburg Chamber of Commerce, with the current food reserves and infrastructure in Rapid City, the city will at least overflow 5,000 to 8,000 residents."

"Five thousand to eight thousand?!"

Hearing this number, the citizens present were visibly stunned. They couldn't handle one or two thousand refugees, let alone five to eight thousand. Most importantly, these residents had signed a ten-household joint guarantee agreement and their names were on the city's tax rolls.

It is easy to imagine how much resistance there would be in allowing these people with fixed urban residences to return to their refugee status and transform from urban civilians into refugees in the wild.

But Rapid City can no longer accommodate them. The destruction of the water supply system means plague and infectious diseases, and the destruction of the granary means famine.

Unless the Salvation Army drives them out by force...

The citizen elites immediately looked at Horn eagerly, but Shengsun still had that faint smile on his face that made it impossible to tell what he was thinking, and he didn't say anything.

"Now that Catherine is in power, what should we do with these refugees?" A shareholder of the Magdi Chamber of Commerce raised his hand and asked.

"I can answer this question for you." Horn waved at him and said, "The Magde Chamber of Commerce will invest 15,000 gold pounds to jointly establish the Holy Hammer Monastery with the Pope's Palace to rebuild houses and infrastructure.

The Rapid City Hall needs to purchase the original use rights of the citizens' houses and land and transfer them to the Holy Hammer Monastery, which will be responsible for the entire project."

"The Holy Hammer Monastery will be a monastery directly under the Pope's Palace. It will sign an order with the City Hall to help us repair the water system and rebuild houses, streets and the entire port area." Catherine wrote on the paper with a feather pen. "In as little as three years, the port area can be restored to its former glory."

"Your Majesty." Another citizen elite raised his hand.

"Please say."

"Rebuilding the ruins is a huge expense, and there isn't as much usable wood around here as there used to be..."

"Haha, don't worry." Horn couldn't help laughing, "We don't know how to use wood. Isn't the memory left by this fire unforgettable enough?"

"what do you mean?"

“Mortar, the new city of Rapid City will be built like Autumn Dusk Island, with neighborhoods built with mortar, rubble and bricks.

As for the issue of materials, you don't have to worry about it.

我们在秋暮岛的砂浆工坊每月能产出超过1000吨的砂浆，在马约镇附近的30座砖窑每月能产出450吨到600吨方砖，差不多是13万块。

These building materials are enough for you.”

Horn said confidently: "We will rebuild a block of houses at a very low price and re-plan the entire Rapids City. By then, one street in Rapids City will be able to shock the entire Kingdom of Leia.

Such a large project will definitely require a large number of workers. In this case, at least half of the 8,000 people who will be overwhelmed can make a living as construction workers and bricklayers."

"Genius!" The craftsman from the Stonemason Guild almost jumped up from his stool to kiss Horn.

With this large-scale infrastructure project, these stonemasons will surely make a fortune, as they will always be needed for urban planning and house design.

After the war, everyone was penniless and could only take orders for repairs bit by bit. But now, as soon as a big order comes in, we don’t have to worry about food and drink anymore.

"But this can only cover small-scale low-level laborers. You know, it is really a waste for ordinary craftsmen to work as builders or laborers."

While the Stonemasons' Guild sang praises, the Dyeers' Guild, the Carpenters' Guild, and the Leatherworkers' Guild complained bitterly.

They are all craftsmen, specializing in high-tech areas such as tanning leather, mixing dyes, and furniture carpentry. They can be builders, but that is the last resort.

"Don't worry. For those who can't find a job or whose workshops have been destroyed, I can give you a place to go. It can accommodate at least 3,000 citizens." Horn pointed at the map in the middle of the table, "Here."

"Autumn Island, you mean Black Bone Swamp!" Seeing the signs on the map, some businessmen who knew the way changed their expressions.

That was a terrible swamp filled with beastman bandits and giant spiders. How could a city emerge there?

Although this would solve the problem of refugees and the reconstruction of ruins, worries emerged in the eyes of the craftsmen present. If they were moved there, it would be all over.

"Don't worry, we won't force you. The Pope's Palace will issue a notice to recruit relevant craftsmen, about 800 to 1000 people, divided into three batches. If you include their families, there will probably be two to three thousand people."

Horn spread his hands and said, "At least I can guarantee that you will get a job similar to your previous one, and a salary only slightly lower than before. You can consider it yourself."

(End of this chapter)