"The Holy Treasury system? What exactly is that?"
Near the Hunter’s Hut, there is a Circulation Tree, the largest Circulation Tree nearby.
It’s said that when the Thousand River Valley was still under Norn control, this Circulation Tree was one of their Holy Trees.
Below the Circulation Tree is a large dark blue rock, like a giant snake emerging from the ground, and Horn stands on the head of this black snake.
About over sixty villagers are currently sitting cross-legged in front of the large rock, looking up at Horn with eyes full of confusion.
After revealing that the demonic rabbit was the work of Devil Barnett, the villagers’ cheers hadn’t stopped before they heard another unfamiliar term from Horn’s mouth.
Since Lord Saint Grandson returned from Paradise Mountain, the villagers have always heard many new terms from his lips.
Although Lord Saint Grandson did not say so himself, most villagers believe these mystical names and systems come from the Celestial Paradise Mountain.
Take the Sacred Ten Households System as an example. Under the original rural order of the Empire, it basically consisted of knights dealing with Armed Farmers, who would then mobilize Public Register Farmers.
Lack of organization and clear structure often led to inefficiencies, wasted efforts, changes in plans, and redundant management.
Some Master Knights didn’t even know how many Public Register Farmers or Armed Farmers they had.
With extraordinary power, the forces of the Lord Nobility became unprecedentedly strong, with hierarchies more rigid than the Middle Ages and systems more outdated.
Such an equitable and efficient feudal system like the Sacred Ten Households System was the first the villagers had ever seen.
As for the Believers’ Assembly frequently convened by Horn, it wasn’t an advanced system but rather an old Church tradition handed down since the El Empire era.
Early Miseria Church bishops were elected using this kind of popular vote method, akin to "I elect so-and-so, he is who the people truly desire," this kind of village election style.
This time’s Believers’ Assembly also had each household sending a representative, sitting together in a circle, while Horn stood with his feet on moss, arms crossed, face stern.
"Lord Holy Grandson, what does this Holy Treasury system mean?" asked an Armed Farmer uneasily raising his hand.
This was the rule Horn set for the previously chaotic Believers’ Assembly. One had to raise a hand and be granted permission to speak. Those who were unruly were banned by Horn from attending this time.
Go back and await notice.
"All things return to the Holy Father, for all things are created by the Holy Father. So, does anyone truly own what they possess?" Horn proclaimed boldly with a wave of his hand, "No, they are just borrowing it. Ultimately, it all belongs to the Holy Father, Holy Tree, and Saint Master."
This was to establish a spiritual foundation on doctrine and reasoning since it was essentially illegal fundraising, so a grand name was essential.
"In the eyes of the Holy Father, everyone is brothers and sisters, part of one big family. The Holy Father has given us all things, in other words, everything is communal property.
Since it’s one big family, have any of you seen a family’s wealth divided?"
Many villagers’ eyes lit up.
This was their first time hearing such a notion, yet upon initial hearing and further contemplation, they immediately felt it made sense, profoundly right!
Under the Holy Father, everyone is equal, all are brothers and sisters, so why should knights be superior?
If it’s one big family, why are you so rich and I’m so poor? Why are we farmers while Barnett is a knight?
Knights should take turns, next year it should be my turn!
"Therefore, this Holy Treasury system is everyone’s granary. Personal grains are all put into the Holy Treasury, including mine, where daily income and acquisitions are contributed, not used for personal needs."
Horn gazed down at the crowd before him, suddenly waving his hand: "As for the grains, money, and goods in the Holy Treasury, everyone uses it collectively, evenly distributed, ensuring everyone has enough. More work, more gain; less work, less gain; no work, no gain. So, what do you say, is it good or not?"
The majority of the villagers nodded in agreement, their expressions barely changing, yet nearly all Armed Farmers were fidgeting, wiping the cold sweat from their foreheads.
It’s known that Public Register Farmers and vagrants originally had no food, so they could effortlessly say so with their lips.
Armed Farmers indeed had grain in their possession.
An Armed Farmer impatiently raised his hand, resembling a reef rising in a sea of people.
Busak intended to stop him, but it was too late.
But Horn seemed not to have seen it, his eyes showing a cold glare, still speaking to himself: "We are now in a time of catastrophe, lacking clothes and food. If anyone still defies the will of the Holy Father and takes possession of His property, then he must be a devil!"
Pointing a finger to the cloud-covered sky, Horn’s brows furrowed intensely, as he shouted loudly, "Such a devil should be drowned, burned, struck by lightning, pierced by thousands of swords, and dead! After death, he will surely go to the Fire Prison!"
The saying by Master Saint’s Grandson shook everyone present, causing them to sit more upright.
"Ah, um... Hey, you just raised your hand, what do you want to say?"
Facing the cold stares of dozens of other villagers, the Armed Farmer who raised his hand looked around and swallowed: "I, I, I’m thirsty, I want to pee."
"Raising your hand shows a good attitude, indicating that you’ve taken the teachings of the Holy Father to heart, but for such trivial matters, just tell your Ten Households Leader." Horn smiled kindly, "Since everyone has no objections, let’s proceed as planned. Tomorrow morning, everyone bring all the food to the door of the small hut, and anyone who hides something should report the devil... Busak, do you have anything to say?"
"Lord Saint Grandson." Lowering his hand, Busak stood up and bowed, "I very much agree with the Holy Treasury system, but the Armed Farmers only have at most twenty pounds of food each, altogether barely a hundred pounds. Now that the beasts in the forest are extinct, where will food come from?"
Facing the perplexed eyes all turning towards him, Horn smiled as he took out a root from his pocket and raised it high: "While on Paradise Mountain, the Holy Father taught me how to feed His lambs, and within this is the way to salvation."
"Eating more than two bites of that thing can be deadly. When I’m extremely hungry, I only eat one and a half, even then my stomach keeps me running all night?"
"Master Saint’s Grandson, the earthly world is different from Paradise Mountain, roots can’t be eaten."
Looking at the fodder root in Horn’s hand, everyone urged him strongly, but Horn only smiled slightly: "This root grows from the ground, cursed by the devil, so it carries poison. Yet the Holy Father has already passed down the method of detoxification."
Judging from the signs of the person who died from eating a root, its toxicity is extremely similar to the cassava from his homeland.
Thus, the method of removing toxicity from cassava can likewise be applied to the root.
If the method of detoxification is chemical, considering this world’s different microstructures, Horn would hesitate.
But since the detoxification method is physical, the world on a macro level is no different from his homeland, it might just work.
"You can peel the inner skin of the root, cut it into pieces, place it in a wooden basket, immerse it in flowing water for a whole day, and use holy water to wash away the poison from the Fire Prison. When eating, it should be boiled twice in a pot with cold water."
Horn confidently introduced to those present.
"This root is quite abundant, it is everywhere. If it can be used as a staple food, it is definitely enough for us to eat."
Moreover, Horn checked, this root is high in starch and can definitely be used as a staple food.
"All glory to the Holy Father and Saint Master!"
"All glory to Master Saint’s Grandson!"
Led by Jeska, most of those present chanted again.
As for the Armed Farmers, they whispered with pain and fear.
After rearranging these villagers’ tasks, making them gather as many roots as possible before dinner, Horn called Jeska to closely monitor the Armed Farmers and report anytime.
After arranging everything properly, Horn finally had the chance to walk towards the small hut.
A day full of tasks, one thing after another, when can he rest?
Stepping into the small hut, Horn saw Jeanne standing at the window, doing something with a spinning top-like object in her hand.
She first wrapped a tuft of rabbit fur around a spindle, twisted it, then reversed it, and like spinning a bamboo dragonfly as a child, rubbed it forcefully on the long rod, pulling out a long spun thread from below.
"Achoo!" Perhaps due to too much dust and rabbit fur, Horn sneezed, rubbed his itchy nose, and walked up to Jeanne.
"Are you spinning thread with rabbit fur?" Horn approached, picking up a line of rabbit fur, "Barnett’s box still has two pieces of fabric, so why spin thread with this?"
Jeanne’s face showed a mysterious smile.
She took the thread from Horn’s hand, and a spark of electricity leapt from her fingertip to the thread.
A sudden flash of golden light made Horn squint his eyes, but then his eyes opened wide suddenly.