Urban Sims

One day in early winter in November, towards the end of the year, Zhou Ming, together with thousands of farmers in Glenland, was sent by the lord to St. Marne Monastery, more than a hundred miles south of the territory, to serve the church for a month. "love work".

This form of "love work" is similar to the three-day weekly work done for the lord during the busy farming period. It is also a form of voluntary labor without compensation, except that the service object becomes the church.

However, what is incredible is that the farmers in all the territories are not opposed to this kind of "love work". Some people even cheered when they heard about the love work. They packed their things and prepared to go without any urging from the lord. The monastery is working very actively.

After walking for two days and arriving at St. Marne Abbey, and only working for one day, Zhou Ming understood why farmers like to do charity work.

A spacious and bright cathedral, clean and tidy accommodation, free hot water in the bathhouse, and delicious hot meals three times a day...

There are also many priests and monks with compassionate eyes in their eyes, walking among the farmers, praying for these lost lambs, soothing their hearts with gentle words, making this place as comfortable as heaven. …even if the amount of work that needs to be done each day is not easy.

"Sure enough, there is a reason why the church in this world is superior to the king. When it comes to winning people's hearts, the church has simply left those lords behind by more than a dozen streets!"

It is not difficult to explain why every time there is a good harvest, farmers do not store the excess grain and bread, but send it all to the monastery.

It is not difficult to explain why farmers who are about to grow old in many years do not leave the property they have accumulated for many years to their descendants, but donate it all to the church in order to ascend to "heaven".

It's not that these farmers are ignorant or stupid, but that the lords of this world have oppressed them so hard that they have no sense of security in their private property. Instead of being used by the lords in various ways, they have no sense of security. Instead of depriving them, it is better to give them all to the church for spiritual sustenance.

During the break, while following the group prayers, Zhou Ming saw the extremely pious peasants lying on the ground. Zhou Ming understood that if he wanted to conquer the world, the enemy more terrifying than the lord would be this man who had gained almost everything. A church supported by the people at the bottom.

The power of the people is great. Zhou Ming has never doubted this. Faced with these farmers who have been brainwashed by the church and are often organized to pray collectively, Zhou Ming knows that if he wants to shake this power, he simply needs to Using force is impossible.

Not only that, but when he saw the various exquisite reliefs and colorful patterns painted on the walls and ceilings of the monastery, and the various parchment books in the library, Zhou Ming knew that the church not only monopolized belief, but also monopolized Knowledge and art...and these things are more important than force.

"Knowledge, I need to understand the knowledge of this world, the more the better!"

After seeing the library, Zhou Ming immediately wanted to "arm" his mind. He begged Sister Mary who was responsible for managing the library. After repeatedly promising not to destroy the books, he obtained Sister Mary's consent and entered. Arrive at the library.

Gently pulled out a thick parchment book similar to an Oxford dictionary from the bookshelf, Zhou Ming couldn't wait to flip through it.

In the books, except for a few dozens of these tadpole-like alphabets, I don't know any of them.

"If I had known better, I should have asked Madam Madeleine to teach me some cultural lessons. She knows a lot of words. If she could lead me to get started and teach me these pinyin words, I wouldn't be unable to understand them."

Unfortunately, he made the wrong choice, and the chance to ask Madame Madeleine for help was gone... He didn't want to meet her son Edward in the castle.

"Kid, what are you doing?"

At this time, an old man in a gray robe with a kind smile on his face quietly stood behind him at some unknown time.

"Oh, I'm sorry Father Robert, I'm reading this book, I'll put it back right away!"

Zhou Ming knew this old man. He was Father Robert who stood in front of the altar to pray during prayers these days - a kind and kind priest who was very prestigious among the believers.

"No need for children, I see the desire for knowledge in your eyes, do you want to know about this book?"

Father Robert smiled, his magnetic voice carried a soothing power.

"Yes, Father, I really want to know the beginning of this book, what is the meaning of the first page and the first paragraph?"

Zhou Ming became "urgent" and put the book in front of the priest, staring at him, hoping that he could help clear up his doubts.

"The meaning of this passage is: Gods are above and messengers are below. I would like to declare to the world that in the beginning, the sky was dark and the earth was empty and chaotic. The gods were moving on the water. God said, let there be light..."

Father Robert is happy to take this lost lamb, and guide him to find the way forward from the religious treasure book "Holy Father"...

Time passed quickly.

A whole night passed, and the candle was burned to the end. During this night, Zhou Ming memorized four hundred words.

"Son, I am amazed by your talent. In just one night, you learned something that others need half a year to learn."

Father Robert said in amazement that he had taught many students, including some who were talented and intelligent, but they were not so intelligent that Zhou Ming could understand more than ten pages of "Holy Father" in one night.

This child must have a destiny with God, and must be an apostle of God who has been left in the world. He is even qualified to become his priest's attendant.

but……

In this child's eyes, there seemed to be no conversion and devotion to God, but he was simply interested in those words.

"Dear Father Robert, can I come again tomorrow? Can I learn more from you about the Holy Fathers?"

Zhou Ming, whose excitement had not yet faded, looked at Father Robert expectantly and said.

"Yes child, as long as you want to come."

Robert smiled kindly, as the most devout apostle of God, he would not give up even the most humble lost lamb, even if this lamb is not devout enough now.

"Thank you, Father, thank you, Father!"

…

For more than half a month after that, no matter how tired he was from working during the day, Zhou Ming would come to the library on time at night and ask Father Robert for advice.

In just twenty days, he was able to understand the church classic "The Fathers", which has a vocabulary of tens of thousands, and recognized more than 90% of the words in it.

"God! This child is really talented. If he can become my servant, he will definitely inherit my mantle in the future and pass on my devotion and understanding of God..."

"but……"

"This child is the son of an ordinary farmer. Even if he inherits my mantle, he will be suppressed and excluded in the church..."

Father Robert was a little moved, but he was very hesitant. Like the knight class, the monk class mainly came from the nobles, and there were very few civilians. Only the poorest and remote parishes, those priests who came from common people, had a little bit of success. Chance.

For example, Father Robert himself, who was born in a fallen nobleman who lost his title, has worked tirelessly for more than 20 years for St. Marne Abbey. He is only a blessing elder, and his authority ranks seven or eight in St. Marne Abbey. position, and has been severely squeezed out. If little Ryan...

In the end, Father Robert gave up the idea.

Zhou Ming didn't know that there was a chance to change his destiny, and he had already missed him, but he learned a lot of knowledge and received a handwritten notebook presented by Father Robert. On the way back to Granville, he felt that this trip The harvest is huge.

"If there is another opportunity to do charity work in the future, I will definitely ask Father Robert for some questions!"

Zhou Ming, who found a staircase leading to the palace of knowledge, naturally wanted to climb higher through this staircase.