European Emperor Cultivation System

Chapter 117 Church Factions

The purity of alcohol in the Middle Ages was generally very low, and the low-quality wine consumed by commoners could even be replaced by wine. Although the beer in everyone's glasses was a high-quality special offer, the strength was not more than a few grades worse than that of Erguotou. Li Peijun thought it was because drink dessert.

"The sweetness is okay, but there is no alcohol taste at all."

Li Peijun picked up the glass, looked at the clear liquid inside, and knew it was newly brewed beer. Due to the lack of fresh-keeping storage methods, a thick layer of dirt would deposit in the aged wine, and the taste would become sour.

The envoys on the long table were already drunk, and only Li Peijun and the people brought by the chamber of commerce were sober. The accompanying attendants, of course, Possang did not treat them badly, and also treated them to a few glasses of fruit juice as a reward.

"My lord, it's getting late. Those who can still walk will scream, and those who can't walk will have to be wronged and supported by us." Possant looked bitter.

Li Peijun also sighed, "When will these guys who can't get things done, save me some time."

In the Middle Ages, in order to facilitate the management of foreign business travelers in the city, a part of the area was designated as a residence.The merchant distribution center in London happens to meander along the Thames River. In modern times, it is a real river-view house.

After everyone enters the jurisdiction, the right to personal freedom at night will be restricted, but Li Peijun is not worried, he will fall asleep as soon as it gets dark, and the place to stay is a well-decorated wooden house hotel. It is the Thames River, and the geographical location is very favorable.

This wide and gentle river has created many port cities along the coast. At that time, there were no dams to stop the water. Once the sea tide rose, the tide would go against the trend and overflow the surface. Fortunately, it is not the flood season now, and Li Peijun also Don't worry about being washed out to sea in your sleep.

An iron cross hangs high on the wall of each room, which is different from the one in the church. There is also a light circle surrounding it, which Li Peijun guesses should represent Shengyou.

The layout of the room is also simple. Although there is no excessive decoration, Li Peijun is very satisfied with the clean and tidy environment. Anyway, he is not a person who is too entangled in that kind of accommodation.

The most eye-catching thing is the Bible placed by the bedside. Although only a few fragments were transcribed, Li Peijun roughly translated it. The content is nothing more than rules and regulations, but there are few blessings and prayers.

"The shopkeepers here seem to be devout believers, but they are not the same as the priests in the church. They rarely praise the Lord, but mostly torture themselves." Li Peijun put the Bible back carefully, but there was something in his heart. doubts.

After putting away his bags, Li Peijun walked out of the room with his head bowed in thought. When Possang saw this, he stepped forward and asked, "What's the matter? My lord, is it not what you want?"

Li Peijun shook his head, "It's not about this, I'm curious about some things, forget it, I'll go for a walk by the river alone."

Possang sideways moved out of the way, and reminded again with good intentions: "Remember to go back to the night before the sun goes down. It will be troublesome to be caught wandering outside at night."

"Understood." Li Peijun walked out the door with chaotic steps.

Before going out, Li Peijun tested the first diplomatic skill - good neighborliness and friendship with the attitude that not using it is a waste.

The biggest commonality of diplomatic skills is that they can take effect from a long distance. Even if the friendly unit is separated by several countries, the effect still exists, which should be intentional at the beginning of the design.

During the period of friendship, one's own notoriety will continue to decrease, and in the state of war, it will fluctuate steadily, so as not to cause public anger.

Putting aside the confusion in his mind, Li Peijun observed the situation on both sides of the Thames River. The spacious river surface is easy for large ships to pass, and the gentle water flow is also convenient for fighting against the current.

If you want to conquer Britain in the future, you will probably follow in the footsteps of the Romans.

Taking advantage of the last twilight, Li Peijun returned to the hostel, looked at the store by the counter who seemed to be reciting something, and his curiosity prompted Li Peijun to plan to find out.

Without interrupting the prayers of the believers, Li Peijun stood aside in a gentlemanly manner and waited for the end of the ceremony.

"Hello, may I ask, are you reading the Bible? It seems that there are some discrepancies in the content."

The shopkeeper solemnly put down the leather roll, turned around, with a middle-aged face, but a kind face like an elder, and his white robe declared his identity as a practitioner.

"This is the Bible, the Benedictine Bible." The man smiled, kindly between his teeth.

"Benedictine?" Li Peijun had an impression of this church, but he couldn't remember it for a while.

The man still had a smile on his face, and said in a calm tone: "I am a believer in the Benedictine Order, and we are also called monks, in order to distinguish them from those lay monks."

"Different from traditional churches, we have another interpretation of the Bible, we advocate three vows, and we sing virtues."

Now Li Peijun remembered everything. The Benedictine Order began in Italy in the sixth century. The founder, Benedict, advocated that believers should live like ascetic monks and forbid their emotions and desires.

These guys are proper immortal cultivators.

But what Li Peijun wanted to know was not only these, he also wanted to know more about the church, so he asked: "It can be seen that you are very dissatisfied with the traditional church."

The man had a smile on his face, but his brows showed displeasure, "That's natural, they have already turned their backs on God, and the lax religious discipline cannot keep people's faith, and they will only exchange the Bible in their hands." Money, poor God is kept in the dark."

"These guys who only remember the desires of the mortal world will not go to heaven after death. Those who are truly blessed by God are us hermits who abide by the precepts wholeheartedly." The shopkeeper's words are full of pride, recalling this history, although Tortuous, but worthy of the pride of every believer.

Li Peijun cannot deny that his focus is not on this. In fact, the Benedictines gradually developed and grew stronger after the ninth century. The secular laymen are no different from traditional churches.

Through further conversations, Li Peijun finally obtained the information he wanted, which was the scope of the church's influence.

Traditional Catholicism is rooted in the major dioceses, and the surrounding areas of the big cities are all its sphere of influence. The lay monks are transformed from the power of the aristocracy, and their power is also distributed in various counties and towns.

On the Benedictine side, due to the suppression during the period of Edward the Martyr, the territory was once compressed, and it only had influence in poor and remote areas.

"It's really a lot of disasters, and I deeply sympathize with it." After hearing the store's tearful complaint, Li Peijun responded with a few perfunctory words, and then bid farewell and went back to his bed.

"Mobilize the broad masses of the people? Or unite with local aristocratic forces?" Li Peijun scratched his head, this matter could not be decided for a while.

The specific strategy has to wait until tomorrow to see the King of England before making plans. Li Peijun was sleepy, and Li Peijun also consciously got into the mattress. The Holy Cross of the Benedictines on the wall happened to be facing him.

"There is an extra holy light, but it still feels weird. Don't worry about it. It's out of sight and out of mind. It's important to sleep."

Li Peijun trembled, forcing his eyes to close and not think about it.

That night, he suffered from insomnia.

(End of this chapter)