Chapter 459 The Master Craftsman has arrived and everyone has to stand up and toast

"First, it is absolutely stupid, unspiritual, brainless, and wrong for you elders to cooperate with the Grand Duchess."

Horn's first words made the dwarves around him roll up their sleeves, but they were forced back by Kergen's eyes.

"Do you know what you are saying? This is an insult to the dwarves." Although it was Kergen who asked the dwarves to push him away, Horn could not hide the anger in his eyes. "I need a reason."

"First of all, the reason why you Dragon Worship Dwarves are discriminated against is because the Empire issued an expulsion order and artificially defined your status.

The reason they don't completely destroy you is that they covet your skills.

Today, the so-called monopoly of the Dragon Dwarves in the territory of Upper River County is still guaranteed by the laws made by the Grand Duchess, which, like the laws of the Empire, are all man-made regulations.

She can make this plan, but she can also find a reason to cancel it. Once you have developed well in Upper River County, it will be easy to drive you away.

As I said before, no one is willing to do you justice.”

Horn talked to Kergen, constantly slandering the Grand Duchess who was also his honorary ally: "Believe me, judging from the Grand Duchess's previous deeds, she really dares to do this."

The dwarves, who were originally noisy, gradually fell silent as Horn narrated slowly.

Horn's words were not profound, but the principles they conveyed were quite simple, and given the current situation, they were indeed possible.

"Secondly, the fact that the dwarves' craftsmanship has been matched by humans is currently force majeure. Facing the potential losses caused by force majeure, do you know what the best approach is?"

"What is it?" Kelgen asked immediately.

"Stop losses in time and transform as soon as possible," Horn said, pausing every word. "Transform your skills into other industries as soon as possible, buy land or invest. Staying where you are will only lead to a slow death."

"Isn't this what those reformist dragon-worshiping dwarves of Halkin said?" The dwarves who gathered around began to whisper.

Several reformist dwarves who were forging iron nearby slowed down their movements, pricked up their ears, and listened in this direction.

"Aren't we already cooperating with that tall woman?" the dwarves shouted.

"I've already said it, cooperative monopoly won't work. It will only turn your monopoly into hers." While explaining, Horn did not forget to criticize his competitor Meliati.

She was Catherine's best friend, but it was Catherine who repeatedly reminded Horn to be careful.

"Then do we have any other choice?" a young dwarf asked hopefully yet sadly, holding a glass of cold mead.

"You don't want to gain monopoly rights, that's too short-sighted. You want to gain national identity. Either you establish a dwarf nation yourself, or join a nation that can give you national identity."

Horn said to Kergen pointedly: "This country must be able to protect your interests, recognize your identity, stand by you and seek justice for you."

"And we must compete with the Empire with force." Rafael added lightly.

"Yes, and we also need force." Horn turned around and looked at Rafael with admiration.

"There are too few dragon dwarves, and we cannot establish an independent country." Kelgen said sullenly.

"Yes, where is there a country that treats all citizens equally, respects craftsmen and technology, and has the military force to compete with the empire?" Horn smiled, with a gleam under his drooping eyelids.

"You mean, the Savior Army?"

"The Salvation Army? Thank you for your appreciation." Horn crossed his legs and clasped his hands on his knees. "The Salvation Army is still in development, and many things have not been determined yet..."

"You really are talking about the Savior Army!" Looking at the surrounding walls and sheds, Kergen murmured, "The Savior Army..."

"But isn't this still an artificially defined identity? What's the difference between this and Meliati?" Someone among the dwarves shouted.

"Do you see the stone pillars on the square?" Horn pointed behind him. "Civilization, fraternity, freedom, equality, and labor are the foundations of the Salvation Papal State. If, I mean if, the Dragon Worship Dwarves become part of the Salvation Army, according to the concept of equality, dwarves and humans are equal.

We can even accept beastmen as our citizens, so what's wrong with you being a dwarf? Where else can you find such a multi-universal empire like the G'Air?"

"If, if the dragon dwarves become part of the Savior Army, will you force us to convert?" Kergen asked back.

"No, I didn't ban the messy religions of the beastmen, so why should I ban yours? One of the foundations of our country is freedom."

"We are not beastmen." The dwarves grumbled, but their voices were much gentler than before.

Somehow, they actually had a vision of bringing their families to live on Qiumu Island.

Warm weather, fertile plains and lakes, and endless wine, these days are much better than the bitter cold of the Longmian Mountains.

"If you don't require us to convert, then you will just accept us for free?" Kelgen asked tentatively.

"I often tell the soldiers," Horn turned and smiled at the soldiers, "the establishment of all institutional boundaries is based on the recognition of one's own identity to a certain extent.

So instead of asking what your country has done for you, ask what have you done for your country? "

"What do you need from me?"

Horn smiled faintly and said, "Recognize and use my new weights and measures, then convert some of your craftsmanship into my weights and measures, and then apply them in the workshop."

"How do I know this isn't a trap to steal the dwarves' skills?" Kergen asked Horn. "For example, even though you didn't steal the skills, did your men steal them?"

"I will enact a law to define the master-apprentice relationship at the patent and legal level." At the most critical moment, Horn put away his smile, "By then, anyone who steals the master's skills or uses patented technology without permission will be punished and imprisoned.

As long as you, the dragon-worshipping dwarves, are willing to swear an oath in the Cathedral of Truth and become citizens of the Salvation Army. "

All the dwarves fell silent, no one spoke.

Unlike the dwarves of the Crucible Plateau, they still have fantasies about the dwarven kingdom, but the Dragon Cult dwarves do not have this psychological burden.

The only thing they fear is a broken promise or a trap.

But all the dwarves present had to admit that the cheese on the trap was too sweet.

Horn did not urge them, but continued to sit there with a smile, his fingers crossed, his knees hugged, and his body rocking back and forth like a primary school student.

At least ten minutes passed until Kergen let out a long breath, "When can you bring out your so-called 'measurements'?"

"Don't worry. You have at least two months to consider it." Horn glanced at the dwarven mead again. "I will prepare the weights and measures and the ceremony for the dwarves to join the Savior Army as soon as possible."

"You swear in the name of your mother, I hope you are not lying to me." After looking at Horn deeply, Kergen turned his head and shouted, "Bring me a glass of dwarven mead."

Holding a glass of mead in each hand, Master Kergen walked up to Horn and handed him one of the new glasses.

Horn was about to stand up, but Kelgen pushed him down by his knees.

Holding the mead above his head, Kelgen slowly bent his body and knocked the bottom of the cup against the bottom of Horn's cup.

"I wish you continued health, Your Holiness."

Kergen drained a large glass of mead in one gulp.

(End of this chapter)