Urban Sims

Chapter 20 The Ladder of Knowledge

One day in early winter in November, near the end of the year, Zhou Ming, together with thousands of farmers in Gran Territory, was sent by the lord to St. "Caring workers".

This form of "love work" is similar to the three-day weekly work for the lord during the busy farming season. It is also a form of voluntary labor without pay, but the service object has become the church.

However, it is unbelievable 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. The monastery is at work, very active.

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

Spacious and bright cathedral, clean and tidy accommodation, free hot water in the bathhouse, delicious and warm meals for three meals a day...

There are also many priests and monks who walk among the farmers and pray for these lost lambs with compassionate eyes. They soothe their hearts with soft voices, making this place as comfortable as heaven. …even if the amount of work that needs to be done every day is not easy.

"Sure enough, it's not without reason that the church in this world is above the king. As far as winning people's hearts is concerned, the church is almost a dozen blocks away from those lords!"

It's not difficult to explain why farmers don't store the excess grain and bread every time there is a good harvest, but send them to the monastery all at once.

It is not difficult to explain why the old farmers don't leave the property they have accumulated for many years to their children and grandchildren, but donate it all to the church in order to ascend to "heaven".

It's not that these peasants are ignorant or stupid, but that the lords of this world oppress them so hard that they don't have the slightest sense of security about their private property. Deprivation, it is better to give it all to the church for a spiritual sustenance.

And during the break, when he prayed together, seeing the pious looks of those prostrate farmers, Zhou Ming understood that if he wanted to conquer this world, the enemy more terrifying than the lord was the one who had obtained almost everything. A church supported by the people at the bottom.

The power of the people is great, Zhou Ming has never doubted this, and facing 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, simply It is impossible to use force.

Not only that, seeing all kinds of exquisite reliefs and colorful patterns painted on the walls and ceilings in the monastery, and all kinds of 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 arms.

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

After seeing Zangshuge, Zhou Ming immediately wanted to "arm" his mind, begged the female monk Mary who was in charge of managing Zangshuge, and after repeatedly promising not to destroy the books, he obtained the consent of the female monk Mary and entered the library. Arrived in the Library Pavilion.

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.

"I should have asked Mrs. Madeleine to teach me some cultural lessons. She knows a lot of characters. If she can guide me and teach me these pinyin characters, I won't be unable to understand."

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

"Son, 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 and prayed during his prayers these days—a benevolent priest with great prestige 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: The gods are above, and the 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 moved 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 predestined relationship with God, must be an apostle of God left behind in the world, and even this child has the qualifications to become his priest's attendant.

but……

In the child's eyes, it seems that he does not have the kind of conversion and devotion to God, but is simply interested in those words.

"Dear Father Robert, can I come over tomorrow, can I learn more from you in the Holy Father?"

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 the next half a month, no matter how tired he was from working during the day, Zhou Ming would come to Zangshu Pavilion on time at night to ask Father Robert for advice.

In just twenty days, he was able to understand the church classic "Holy Father" with 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 came from a fallen nobleman who lost his title, has worked tirelessly for more than 20 years for the Abbey of St. Marne. He is only a blessing elder, and his authority ranks seventh or eighth in the Abbey of St. Marne. Even if he was severely excluded, if little Ryan...

In the end, Father Robert dismissed 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 an opportunity to do caring work in the future, I will definitely ask Father Robert some more questions!"

Zhou Ming, who found a ladder leading to the Palace of Knowledge, naturally wanted to pass this ladder and climb higher.

(End of this chapter)