Pawn Crossing the River

"How did I hear that Colt is a firearms company that specializes in selling handguns?" Qi Xuansu looked away from these tin men.

"Multiple lines of development to expand business." Strawney said, "Speaking of fire guns, Colt recently launched a new steam rifle. The steam bag has been reduced by two times, which greatly reduces the load and comes with free enchantments. Bayonet, I wonder if you are interested?"

"Not interested." Qi Xuansu shook his head.

There are two schools of fire guns in the East and fire guns in the West. The former focuses on the projectiles, which are essentially talismans, while the latter focuses on the fire guns themselves and even gradually eliminates the concept of projectiles.

Qi Xuansu still prefers the Eastern Fire Gun. .??.

The world is always developing, the East is developing, and the West is also developing. It is impossible for thousands of years to pass and still stay in the agricultural period.

To be fair, the West is taking greater steps. This is an objective fact.

During the Wei Dynasty, when Confucianism was still in power, Westerners appeared frequently in the Eastern world and became more and more aggressive. Many scholar-bureaucrats converted to the Holy Court. Western learning gradually flourished, and they even purchased firearms from Westerners.

In the past two hundred years, although Taoism has vigorously developed creation projects, it has also learned skills from the West, resulting in many Western-style habits in Taoism.

This is nothing to be ashamed of. The most sage master of Confucianism once said that among three people, there must be a teacher. Choose the good ones and follow them, and change the bad ones.

The carriage slowly stopped, and a beautiful single-family mansion appeared in front of them.

The black iron fence, green grass, beautiful fountain, and a two-story building with obvious Baroque style are full of luxury and hedonism, with emphasis on sculpture and painting.

Qi Xuansu stepped out of the carriage with a cane, "Are you so showy here?"

Strawney smiled and said, "Since the floating island can be openly disclosed to the public, what does this mean? I heard that Easterners always pay attention to frugality. Even if they have endless wealth, they still have to pretend to be poor on the surface. , to show one’s moral integrity.”

Qi Xuansu was noncommittal about this: "I have three virtues, namely kindness, thrift, and not daring to be the first in the world. This is correct."

"Political correctness." Strawney smiled, "I know that every place has a corresponding absolute correctness, and no doubt is allowed. And we all know that power is only responsible to the source of power."

Qi Xuansu said, "The power of Taoist priests comes from appointments from the top, so they are often only responsible to the top. What about you? Doesn't your power come from the so-called voters?"

Strawney corrected, "Strictly speaking, citizens, or freemen. All citizens are equal, and all citizens are wealthy and decent."

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of. Once a citizen is no longer wealthy, for example, in debt or bankrupt, he will slip from this class. Those who were exiled, deported, illegal immigrants, homeless people, ethnic minorities, and slaves were not citizens. Only citizens have the sacred right to vote. "

Qi Xuansu asked again, "Where are the female citizens?"

"Unfortunately, not yet." Strawney shrugged, "Recently, many ladies and ladies are promoting the idea of ​​women's suffrage. They shout loudly and walk through the streets. This is something that many gentlemen do not agree with. A lady was even killed for it. But I think it will be a matter of time before women will have the right to vote, but only when those tin men can replace men. "

Qi Xuansu said, "The East is better, but not much better. In the Taoist sect, men and women are equal, and women even get some preferential treatment. However, the price of this preferential treatment is that women cannot touch the highest power. At least, they have never had it." I have seen examples of women serving as chief ministers, maybe I will witness history in a few decades, maybe not. As for the Daxuan court, women have no right to be officials, just like you have no right to vote. This reminds me. In other words, what cannot be obtained on the battlefield cannot be obtained at the negotiation table. Only by showing sufficient value can we obtain the corresponding power. If there is an imbalance of power and responsibility, it will cause chaos."

Qi Xuansu and Strauni walked into Strauni's mansion together.

His butler had already come out to greet the two.

Qi Xuansu naturally handed over his luggage to the butler, took off his hat, put down his cane, and took off his coat, leaving only his shirt and vest.

Strawney took out a bottle of wine himself and said, "Dear Dutch, what are your plans?"

Qi Xuansu thought for a while, "I really want to go to Xiacheng District and see the so-called underground city and underwater city."

"I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you." Strawney filled a glass of wine. "This is not what a gentleman should do."

Qi Xuansu was not surprised, "If it doesn't work in the lower city area, what about the upper city area?"

Strawney said, "That's fine. In two days, there will be a charity dinner held in Uptown. I can take you to attend it."

Qi Xuansu asked, "Charity dinner? What exactly is it?"

"It's a fundraiser for the East Coast deer herd," Strawney said in a dramatic tone, "and the priests will be there."

Qi Xuansu doesn’t intend to hide herself

The sarcastic "Orientals use poverty to show their morality, but this is how Westerners show their morality?"

Strawney smiled and said, "Exactly, they can ignore the poisonous gas and slaves at their feet, but insist on squeezing out a few tears for the deer. I am willing to call it hypocrisy. If they are really so moral, then how can I Standing here talking to you? I should report you to the church and reveal your identity."

Immediately afterwards, Strawney changed the topic, "In fact, about half of the funds raised will go into the church's account, and the other half will be remitted to the Southern Continent to support the missionaries of the Goddess Society there."

This congressman is a typical Westerner. His blond hair is neatly combed back and oiled. He is meticulous and organized. He has deep-set eye sockets, blue eyes, and an aquiline nose. In the words of the Central Plains people, Quite like an eagle looking at a wolf.

The dress he wore was extremely luxurious. It was made of Palemon material from the Kingdom of Rune. With the workmanship and gold thread decoration, it cost fifty-two gold crowns. His pocket watch, cane, rings, glasses, top hat, and leather shoes cost hundreds of gold crowns in total - this is already a small portion of the wealth of many so-called middle-class families.

Such an elite should have been supported by the Holy Court unconditionally, but he hated the Holy Court so much that he even threw himself into the arms of the Taoist sect.

In fact, the Holy Court did not feel sorry for him. Although the Holy Court did not have much spirit of rule of law, the execution of his father could not be regarded as an unjust, false or wrongful conviction. He fell from his family fortune and fell into dust. Suffering did not sharpen his mind and spirit, nor did it make him repent. Instead, the huge gap gave rise to the seeds of hatred, which eventually drove him to extremes.

Human nature is always the same.

Qi Xuansu had no intention of getting entangled in this matter, and instead said, "There are still two days until the charity dinner you mentioned. I don't have much time, and I don't want to wait two days in vain. Do you have any good suggestions?"

Strawney said, "My suggestion is to attend a sermon. After all, the priests are the real rulers of this city, just like the Taoist priests rule the East. There is always no harm in having a good relationship with them, what do you think?"

Qi Xuansu thought for a while, nodded and said, "Okay."

In the afternoon, Qi Xuansu and Strawney took a carriage to St. Paul's Cathedral in Richmond District.

Behind the cathedral is the iconic statue of St. York.

The chief bishop of the Holy Court is roughly equivalent to the fifth-grade Taoist priest of the Taoist sect. There are also archbishops and metropolitans above him, which correspond to the fourth-grade wine-offering Taoist priest and the third-grade Youyi Taoist priest of the Taoist sect respectively. Further up, there is the "cardinal" corresponding to the "Golden Tower", the ordinary real person corresponds to the cardinal deacon, the real person to know the cardinal corresponds to the cardinal priest, and the real person to Pingzhang corresponds to the cardinal.

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The cardinal, the deputy archbishop, the great master, corresponds to the patriarch, and the grand archbishop corresponds to the pope.

The Patriarch of the Steam Evangelicals sits in the Cathedral of St. Francis, while the Cathedral of St. Paul is presided over by a cardinal.

However, this cardinal usually does not appear in the church, let alone preach to the believers in person. He is usually on the floating island in the upper city, like other big shots, overlooking the steamy city.

Under normal circumstances, only the metropolitan or archbishop is responsible for preaching, and the believers participating in the sermon are not ordinary believers. Most of them are powerful characters in the city.

Qi Xuansu stepped out of the carriage, adjusted the handkerchief and watch chain on his chest, pushed up his monocle, and walked into the hall decorated with stained glass with his cane.

The light in the church suddenly dimmed, creating a solemn and solemn feeling.

There are rows of seats, a huge pipe organ, and a statue of the goddess spliced ​​out of stained glass. She stands with a sword in both hands. Behind her is not a traditional holy emblem, but a gear symbolizing steam.

Strawney and Qi Xuansu found their seats in the back row, took off their hats, and listened to the sermon.

Qi Xuansu did not turn a deaf ear. He was actually very happy to understand the source of the Holy Court's power. After all, the three major pursuits of men are strength, power, and women.

At the top of the list is power, the power to change everything. For example, the Three Tribulations Immortal.

It's just that such power is too rare and almost non-existent, so we have to settle for the next best thing, chase power, own a Tao Sect, and with the power of tens of millions of people, we can still change the day.

Only those who are unable to pursue strength or power will spend all their energy on women.

Qi Xuansu knew one thing from a long time ago. He should not expect to pursue power in this life. With his qualifications, it would be difficult for him to become a god, let alone an immortal. Even after having the "Heart of the Immortal Stone", I don't dare to hope for a dead end.

With unparalleled force, he could only settle for the next best thing and go further and further down the road to power.

However, Qi Xuansu soon became disappointed. These sermons had no real meaning and were just talking about correct nonsense.

Soon, the sermon ended and Strawney led Qi Xuansu to the offering box.

Strawny put in a note with a face value of ten gold crowns, and Qi Xuansu put in five gold crowns.

This is not an eagle ocean, but a gold crown, a gold coin.

This brought a smile to the face of the Archbishop who was delivering the sermon.

Then Strawney introduced Qi Xuansu to the archbishop in charge of preaching.

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