When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist

"It's certainly good if the lords and bishops here are willing to surrender." The Mountain Knight Leader Steve continued with a cheerful tone.

"What do they want?" A voice came from under the Witch Jiali's hood.

"The bishop of Oak Flower Castle and the lord of Changfeng Castle said they are willing to accept whatever you give, but the lord of Seven Elm Town hinted that they want the neighboring Warwick Town."

"Transfer all the lower vassals below to the two of Oak Flower Castle and Changfeng Castle," Moliat said nonchalantly.

"What about Seven Elm Town?"

"Just agree for now. I remember the lord of Seven Elm Town doesn't have a good relationship with his eldest son? Grant Warwick Town to his eldest son, Seven Elm Town to his younger son, and let him retire at Cold Spring Castle."

Phil silently mourned for the old lord, who apparently didn't understand Moliat's nature despite his age.

This master has always believed in "I can give, but you cannot ask."

After arranging these defectors, Moliat immediately began today's main topic.

"According to the information, Bishop Resite of White Water Castle will secretly take a carriage to High Castle to request reinforcements soon.

Currently, the head of the church in North Mangde County is this Bishop Resite. Once he dies, the church system in North Mangde County will definitely be in chaos.

And we will immediately raise the banner to rebel in the name of implementing Juanist Faction reforms and cleaning up church corruption.

Our primary task is to take over the entire North Mangde County to ensure the security of our rear."

Standing before the map laid out on the long table, Moliat's finger pressed on a place name.

"Spirotchu, your task is to head north to capture White Water Castle and cut off the southbound route of the church army from Shattered Stone Plain."

The tall and slender White Horse Knight nodded haughtily without speaking.

"Master Moro, your task is to head south along the way, take over Seven Elm Town, and block those stubborn old men in Mangde County."

The seemingly ordinary Red Horse Knight chuckled honestly: "Got it."

"Master Herman, you go and take over Changfeng Castle and Oak Flower Castle, cleaning up any obstacles along the way."

The barrel-shaped, stout Black Horse Knight burped, laughingly replied: "Don't worry, Little Moliat."

"As long as these three places are occupied, the entire North Mangde will be in our grasp." Moliat's finger moved across the rough parchment map, finally stopping at High Castle.

If the plan goes smoothly, then by the time Changfeng Castle is taken, it will be the day the gates of High Castle City open to her.

"What about me?" the genteel and amiable Gray Horse Knight asked with a frown.

"Uncle Vine, you come with me from Changfeng Castle, and we'll take a shortcut directly to High Castle City." The finger stopped at the name High Castle, and Moliat tapped it firmly.

High Castle City is currently garrisoned by two decree companies led by Lingya Knight Arman, specifically left by Prince Kongdai to stop Moliat's troops.

Moliat's actions were quite cautious, yet this affair of rebellion could not be kept secret, allowing Bishop Resite to catch wind of it.

For years in front of Moliat, Bishop Resite had been a coward, watching helplessly as she expanded her army and refused to pay tithing and imperial taxes.

Yet, at this moment, something seems to have finally resolved within him, prompting him to risk his life to report to High Castle City.

Knocking the table with her knuckles, Moliat's gaze swept over every person in the hall:

"The exact time of Bishop Resite's departure is not fixed yet, he's still preparing. However, according to his personal maid and a few guards as well as low-level monks, it's most likely in mid-February, which is in one to two weeks."

The head of espionage at Cold Spring Castle, Phil, immediately stood out: "During this time, I will intensify surveillance on Bishop Resite to ensure we shorten the margin of error for his departure to within two days."

"Hmm." With long fingers tapping on the table, Moliat looked at these senior officials of Cold Spring Castle, "If the plan succeeds, we will officially start the uprising in mid-February. Everything is ready now; you can hint at the knights in advance."

"Alright, meeting adjourned."

...…

Walking around the spiral staircase of the tower, Vine entered the cold night with a furrowed brow.

At the top of the tower, he indeed saw Moliat, who wasn't in the study.

The cold wind blew across her mask, and she drank the Saint Sun Gen liquor secretly brewed by the Wild Boar Knights, sip by sip.

Moliat never removed her mask.

Since she came of age, Vine hadn't seen her face again and didn't know what she looked like now.

"It's too cold outside, Moliat, you'd better put on a coat." Bringing a bear fur coat, Vine peered out from the tower with a frown.

Moliat glanced sideways at Vine: "Uncle Vine, I don't need this."

"Alright." Vine shivering, draped the coat over himself, clung to the eaves of the tower, climbed to the top, and made a circle before sitting next to Moliat.

Vine hugged his knees like a young girl, silently.

"Will you spare those priests?"

"I'll hang all the bishops who weren't born in Thousand River Valley, and those lower monks not from Thousand River Valley will all be made laborers and miners," Moliat declared the verdict in advance.

"Isn't that a bit..."

"Brutal?" Moliat took another sip of light yellow potato root wine, "When they drank the blue-blood grape wine, didn't they feel brutal? When they forced Thousand River Valley People to leave their homes, didn't they feel brutal?"

"Thousand River Valley is my homeland too." Vine's voice still contained sadness amid calm, "But do you really have to kill so many people?"

"Are you really pleading for those priests?"

"Haha, if you're doing this out of revenge, I wouldn't oppose it, but do you know what I'm truly afraid of?... Internal civil strife among Thousand River Valley People."

Moliat rarely let out a smile: "Uncle Vine, you are smarter than all of them."

Some of the Thousand River Valley People just want to return to a few hundred years ago, a time when the lord didn't care, and the landlords and nobles of Thousand River Valley lived freely.

While they hope for Moliat, they also fear she will bring her brutal rule to the entire Thousand River Valley.

Before expelling the Church, I was bullied by the Church; after expelling the Church, I was bullied by the Duke—did I expel them for nothing?

"If your methods could be a bit softer, they might not necessarily stand against you."

Upon hearing Vine's words, Moliat suddenly burst into laughter: "You always ask why I need to be so tough, Uncle Vine. It's not that I want to be tough, but they force me to be."

They are too naive, too weak, thinking that expelling the Church was the end.

But after we expel the Thousand River Valley Church, we face the attack of the entire noble world.

I haven't dismissed Catherine's idea of forming a federation or confederation, but such would only lead to a destructive end.

We need to concentrate all resources; in such circumstances, forming alliances and confederations, internal bickering, dispersing forces is simply courting death!"

"If you plan to establish a monarch state, you might not need such severe methods." The Gray Horse Knight looked at the red eyes within the iron mask, shrinking his body inside the coat, "You are a Thousand River Valley person and have the bloodline of three kings; with your banner, countless Thousand River Valley People would be willing to become your subjects."

"The opportunity is right before us, we don't have time." Gazing at the cold starry sky, Moliat exhaled a breath of alcohol-laden mist.

"I've heard countless voices of people, hardly any are determined in their uncompromising stance—even among Mountain Knights, some hold the idea of using war to promote peace.

The current situation of the three major Kingdoms doesn't allow for Thousand River Valley's independence; this is almost impossible."

"The path I'm taking is like walking over a cliff on thin sticks, allowing no mistakes, especially betrayal."

Ruo'an has already proven to us that people will betray love, but won't betray hatred and fear."

Quietly sipping the wine for nearly a minute, the Gray Horse Knight slowly opened his mouth: "Moliat, do you truly believe in those texts copied thousands of times?"

"...Why shouldn't I believe?" Downing the last drop of wine, Moliat stared at the wine flask for a while before standing up.

Facing the distant dawn breaking from the mountains, Moliat turned sideways, the morning breeze tousling her hair messily.

She pointed to the western mountains, gently asking Vine: "Do you know what's beyond the mountains?"

"..." Vine did not answer.

"Beyond the mountains are the enemies."

Swiftly turning around, Moliat patted Vine's shoulder, "Let's go."

Moliat showed no signs of being drunk, nimbly grabbed the edge of the tower and leapt into it.

In the crisp sounds of footsteps, the Gray Knight knew Moliat had gone far, yet he remained.

Wrapped in a bear skin coat, sitting atop the tower, he gazed at the half-white starry sky, silent for a long time.

He still remembered the little Moliat before age eight, that quirky mischievous girl.

He couldn't connect the iron-faced Duchess with that adorable little girl.

"Vincent..." Lifting his head, the voice of the Gray Knight flowed amidst dreams and night winds, "if only you were alive, perhaps only you, as her father, could change her mind."