Law of the Devil Chapter 13: [Spiritual event in Luo Lin’s ancestor’s house! 】
Chapter Thirteen [Spiritual events in Luo Lin's family home! 】
(long chapter)
The ancestral home of the Luolin family is located in the southwest of the Luolin Plain, where a tributary of the Luolin River passes, the land on the bank is fertile, there are several farms, and there are towns around it. Down this tributary, you will pass through a scenic valley.
Here is where the great Rollin family originated. Hundreds of years ago, when the ancestors of the Rollin family were only a low-level nobleman who owned a small village territory, the bloodline of the Rollin family began to spread in this land.
The carriage passed through a black forest, with lush green trees on both sides and fresh air. Along a flat path, sitting in a carriage, you can see the valley on the left, and when you look to the right, you can see a tall tower in the distance, which is the ancestral house of the Rollin family.
After hundreds of years of glory in the family, the small village hundreds of years ago has ceased to exist, and the original ancestral home has been renovated and rebuilt countless times in the history of hundreds of years, and has a considerable scale!
A ochre stone wall surrounds a castle built from white boulder mined from the valley next to it-it is said that it was originally a hill, but after hundreds of years Mining stone turned the hill into a valley.
The arrival of the eldest son of the family patriarch naturally attracted special attention. The three hundred territorial private soldiers who stayed behind the castle wore the brightest equipment early. They lined up under the red wall outside the castle. The arch-shaped gate made Du Wei sitting in the carriage very feel. There is momentum, and in his eyes, this thick stone wall can be used as a solid defense circle if necessary!
Deserves to be the family of Emperor Wuxun. The three hundred private soldiers who stayed in the castle are obviously well trained. They are standing on horseback, and they are quite skilled in horse control and their equipment is not bad. Not bad. Later, Du Wei learned that the three hundred soldiers left in the castle of the Rolling family ancestral home were the best ones selected from the private army throughout the Rolling Plains territory. Their training was quite good, not less than that of the empire. Local army.
The black forest outside the castle is also a natural hunting ground. Every year, some hunting activities are held here, which is also a disguised exercise for these soldiers.
The main building of this castle has two towers, one of which is particularly tall, even a little higher than the distant hill. Du Wei, who has studied family history, knows that this is because the Rollin family had a strange homeowner in a previous generation. Although the head of the house was a general, he was particularly interested in astrology. He even married a female astrologist as his wife. The tall tower was built to make it easier for his wife to better observe the stars in the sky at night.
The red carpet has been spread from the gate of the castle to the place where Dewey's carriage stopped. As soon as Du Wei bent down and got out of the car, a silver-haired old man who had been waiting for a long time came up. This old man is tall and slender, with a meticulous gray dress, old-fashioned and serious manners, and conservative and respectful manners.
Du Wei just got out of the carriage, and his foot just stepped on the ground. The old man has bent down and saluted deeply, and then said with a low and slow voice: "Master, I am the left-beer butler here. Rowling. I have heard of your upcoming news three days ago. Now everyone in the castle is ready to meet your parallax. Please come with me. "
After speaking, the old butler turned and carefully led Du Wei up the steps. He didn't have any impossibility in etiquette. He was respectful and courteous, humble but not flattering, and led Du Wei to the red carpet on the steps. He walked carefully outside the carpet and let Du Victoria enjoys this honor alone.
It is too late to observe the interior decoration of the castle carefully. The only thing that impresses me is that after entering the castle door, there is a huge flag like a flame on the front wall!
This banner is seven or eight meters high and six meters wide, occupying the entire front wall! This is the family's coat of arms flag, with two sharp swords crossed, iris entwined around the blade, red flames burning, and a crown on it!
Entering the lobby on the first floor of the castle, there is such a banner like a rainbow on the face, and it immediately smears a solemn and solemn atmosphere here!
All the servants in the castle then dressed in neat uniforms stood on both sides of the hall, welcoming Dewey's arrival. Du Wei didn't have much interest in this weird "review", he nodded casually, and then whispered: "Mr. Butler, now please take me to the study ... As for everyone, please disperse separately Come back to your work. "
Old housekeeper Hill meticulously executed Dewey's order, and soon Dewey was taken to a study ...
Well, Du Wei would prefer to call this place "Library" if you can!
Because it's too big here!
In a round room, the top of the head is also a high circular vault, and it is also dotted with some simple plaster patterns, and there are some plaster statues on both sides-many of them are emerging from the history of the family. Some outstanding people.
Tall bookshelves surround this room ... Damn it! These bookshelves are as tall as two floors! It was full of all kinds of dense books, and Du Wei made a rough calculation. There are at least tens of thousands of books hidden here! And there are many iron cabinets that store some important things, such as family maps, or some ancient and important documents.
Of course, as a martial arts family, even in the study, there is a hint of martial arts! On the wall directly opposite the entrance to the study, a giant sword held by both hands and a huge axe! The two weapons are hung on the wall! From the flash of cold light on the blade, it is clear that servants often scrub and maintain them very carefully.
There are also several huge cabinets deliberately rattan on a bookshelf on the wall. There are various weapons in the cabinet, but in terms of style, these are antiques.
Here are the short bows of the Imperial military system a hundred years ago, the old-fashioned knight sword, the long saber, and the black iron-wood bow ...
Du Wei was attracted by these weapons in the past. He can see that these antiques are also well-maintained. Although they have been baptized for years, some of them still emit a sharp cold light. !!
"These are used by the outstanding ancestors of all the families in the past." Hill, the old steward behind him, said with a fixed voice: "These are the glories of our great ancestors of the Rolling family."
Because of the shape of the room space, speaking here, the sound waves circulate, and it will make a buzzing vibes and echoes, which adds a certain sense of solemnity.
Gently stroked the old desk of the black rosewood wood, Du Wei looked at it quietly.
It can be seen that although everything here has undergone strict sample preservation and careful cleaning, the stale marks of those years are also obvious. Many places on the bookshelf were polished and smooth, and this huge desk under him, Du Wei suspected that it was older than the old housekeeper in front of it.
"It used to be the center of power of the Rowlings. It used to be the place where clan leaders thought and made various decisions. Everything here left traces of those once glorious." The old steward whispered: "Although the family's decision-making center was later moved to the imperial capital, according to the family tradition, every patriarch who returned to the castle with parallax or a short stay must not return to the bedroom to rest on the first night of arrival, and must be in this study. Stay overnight. Use this to urge yourself not to forget the glorious history of the family and the responsibilities of yourself. "
A moment's pause, the old housekeeper glanced at Du Wei and lowered his head: "You are the eldest son of the current Lord Patriarch. You came to inspect the castle on his behalf, may I ask you tonight ..."
Du Wei immediately nodded in cooperation. He smiled and said, "Tradition is tradition and must be followed. I am naturally no exception. Although I am not the patriarch, I am the eldest son of my father and also come as his representative. Come here. Tonight I will stay in the study as usual.
The old steward's face has softened a lot, and there is a hint of warmth in his tone, slowly: "Yes, I will make people ready. And ... I know you are visiting the representative on behalf of the Earl this time Territory industry, where will your work begin? After I heard from you, I have made people to prepare the accounts and books of the family industry's income and expenditure this year. When do you plan to start What about these things? Or wait ... "
Du Wei interrupted him with a smile. He naturally bypassed the table calmly and sat behind this large desk. The sofa was a bit stiff, but he was still comfortable to sit on it. Dewey thought about it and smiled, "My steward, I have traveled a long distance. Coming from here, now I feel a little hungry. Please prepare some food for me first, and then I think I can start to look at the things you prepared. "
It seems that the efficiency here is good.
Du Wei soon enjoyed a very typical afternoon tea of the southern aristocracy in his study. After eating a sweet pumpkin pie, he just wiped his mouth, and the old housekeeper Hill had already directed it. Two strong men's servants came to the study.
Two servants are pushing a cart with a stack of thick booklets like a hill! These booklets add up, I am afraid they are half a head taller than those of Dewey!
"These are all this year's accounts?" Dewey frowned, and he began to wonder if the old housekeeper wanted to make a fool of himself.
"Master, all these are true." Old Hill replied very seriously: "The information here includes the entire South Cote Province, the land measurement area in the family territory, the arable land area, and six of them. Financial expenditures in cities and towns, logistical expenditures of family and private troops scattered in three places in the territory, military garrison, resupply, and consumption of weapons, etc., in addition to the grain harvest, and some new constructions to be built this year Budget. In addition, I also made some budgets for next year, but I have n’t finished because the time is too hasty, but I think you should not leave here soon, so we have plenty of time.
Du Wei couldn't help but touched his nose, looking at the same account in front of the hill: "... Is it all here?"
"Here is only a part. As for the rest ..." The old housekeeper said a little less serious words: "The rest, I think you may need to look at it for a week."
Du Wei started frowning, he looked at the housekeeper in front of him quietly.
This old housekeeper doesn't look like he's joking. But ... he wouldn't be naive to think that the 13-year-old can understand these accounts, right? Not to be naive to think that a 13-year-old child can really shoulder the entire family territory industry!
So, he should know that sending him back to his hometown by the owner should be a disguised hair distribution. In this case, this guy got such a pile of accounts, and asked him to check it seriously ... What kind of intention is he in?
Is it because the left-behind old housekeeper is dissatisfied with his young master who is sent back, fearing that he will disperse his original authority after he returns, so demonstrate to himself first?
Slaves bully the master?
Or, what tricks does he have in his family's industry, which he uses for his personal gain, and now he uses his little child to fool him through?
Everything seems possible!
But Du Wei didn't say anything. He didn't even raise a question, so he picked up the top account, blown the dust on it, and sat down calmly to open the first page. He looked up quietly.
After a while, Du Wei looked up, and the old housekeeper was still standing.
"Oh, Mr. Steward, is there anything else you want to tell me?" Du Wei seemed inadvertent, his voice cooled down: "I don't like anyone around me when I read."
"Observe, Master." The old steward Hill showed a faint light in his eyes, then he seemed to open his mouth and wanted to say something, but swallowed back to his mouth, turned around and took the servant out.
After the heavy study door was closed, Du Wei lowered his account lightly. He stood up, walked back and forth in this large study, moved his body, and smiled to himself. "It seems that I really have something to look forward to."
The following time, until night fell, during which the old housekeeper came to the study twice, once to pour tea for Dewey, and once it was dark, he brought someone to light candles for Dewey himself.
To the old butler Hill is surprised that this young master is actually looking through those accounts!
Moreover, he is not pretending to look, but is really reading carefully! Several books were put on the desk, and they were all opened. Du Wei seemed to be calculating a number. Just after the old housekeeper brought someone to light all the twenty huge candlesticks in the study, Du Wei was very casual. Asked the old housekeeper several questions about the account.
He didn't just ask randomly, every question was asked for ideas! This is enough to prove that this young master seems real! He really read those boring accounts!
This ... this is what is said in the news. Is the young master considered as an "idiot" in the family?
Although he tried hard to hide it, Dewey caught the surprised expression of the old housekeeper. Du Wei still said something, it was only when the old housekeeper stepped out of the door again that he slowly closed the account in his hand, which turned to the last page.
Actually ... these accounts are really interesting!
Du Wei spent an evening and did not really look at those boring figures, and did not have the heart to check whether this account had been faked. After all, he is not a genius, and his accounts are true and false. For a person who has no knowledge of the industry, it is impossible to see anything.
I'm afraid no one will know that Du Wei is reading in a different way that others cannot guess!
Who said that the ledger must only be used for accounting?
At least, Du Wei has learned a lot from these things! And these things are not recorded in historical books and dossiers that record family history!
Judging from the names and contents of the various items in these accounts, Du Wei will immediately have a full understanding of the extent to which the Rollin family has mastered the territory.
In the realm, the Rollin family is almost a self-contained system and even has considerable autonomy. The fiscal and taxation powers here belong to the family, and even the appointment of local officials is basically the family. The tax rate, though, is in accordance with the laws of the empire. But the family can be modified, reduced or increased with some special names.
As long as a certain percentage of the tax collected is submitted to the imperial central finances every year.
Military power. Basically, a breakdown of some of these accounts for military purposes. The Empire's official garrison here is very small, but only two small-scale local second-line reserve infantry regiments are symbolically stationed on the periphery of the territory. And it is worth noting that the supply and weight of these two reserve infantry regiments are provided by the Rollin family every year! The Imperial Army doesn't care!
Most of the territory, where the local law and order is maintained, is the private army of the family in the territory.
Almost through these accounts, Du Wei easily grasped the current status of the entire Rowling family in the economic, political, and military fields!
Perhaps, if you let the old housekeeper know that he actually "looks" at the account book, he will definitely stare out!
From these accounts, Dewey has confirmed at least two points. First, in terms of taxation rights, the family can completely control this place! And even more so in the military!
Dewey from another world has an important common sense in the knowledge he has learned in that world: the manifestation of territorial sovereignty by a country. Two important points are: taxation! And garrison!
Now, these two points are almost controlled by the Rollin family! What does this mean?
It means that the central government of the empire has almost lost control of the Rowling family: half of the territory of the Province of Cote. Here, the central government of the empire has lost its sovereign control here! This is almost an independent little kingdom.
Du Wei leaned on the sofa and meditated. This situation made him feel a little surprised! Because when the central government of a country gradually loses its authority, then often it is a sign that the prelude to turmoil is about to be opened.
Du Wei sat for a while. The room was quiet, except for the occasional beeping sound of candle sparks.
At this moment, Du Wei suddenly stood up, turned around, looking at the wall behind him!
There are huge floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on the walls, filled with dense books, it seems nothing strange.
But Du Wei felt a little strange in her heart ... well, it seemed right at that moment!
Because the mental strength is much stronger than ordinary people, Du Wei is also more sensitive to some of the surrounding movements than ordinary people. Just now, he suddenly felt in his heart that he was being peeped!
As if behind you, a glance shot from an unknown secret corner, watching you silently!
There is nothing abnormal on the bookshelf, and Du Wei's gaze looks up again.
A row of portraits hangs on the wall above the bookshelf.
These oil painting-style portraits are lined up in a row, dating from far to near. These are the portraits of the previous owners of the Rollin family!
The one on the left is the oldest looking, the oldest, and the figures are unavoidably distorted. On the canvas is a middle-aged man wearing an imperial uniform. . The man on the canvas is exactly the Marshal of that year! It is also an ancestor of the Rowling family who won the war and made great contributions to the empire, and at the same time won the Rowling family from the emperor!
This man looks very spirited, with a cold and tenacious look between his eyebrows that resembles Dewey's father, Count Raymond! And that beam of eyes seemed to be staring at Du Wei's body!
Du Wei's heart moved, he tried to take a few steps back, then walked left and right two steps, while staring at the oil painting. Then he laughed, sighed softly, and then whispered, "Well, maybe I'm too sensitive ... just an oil painting."
He turned around and picked up another account ...
Behind him, the eyes of the marshal on the wall suddenly blinked!
Yes, the figure in the painting suddenly gave a glance. He stared at Du Wei's back and suddenly blinked!
The eyes of this character that should have been stiff in the painting suddenly seemed to be infused with life! That gaze fell on Du Wei's body, and there seemed to be a little curiosity in his eyes ...
At this moment, Du Wei, who was holding the account as if reading, suddenly turned around without warning, staring at the oil painting on the wall!
One person, one painting, the eyes of both sides suddenly staggered and collided together! !!
"No need to pretend. I know you're watching me." Du Wei raised his hand slowly, holding a silver spoon in his hand, which was used when eating pumpkin pie here. . The silver spoon is as bright as a mirror!
"You're looking at me, I was looking at you with this thing just now." Du Wei was smiling, and he stared at the mural on the wall: "You don't have to install it again ... But don't you know, so behind Is it rude to peep at others? "
"........."