When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist

Chapter 1177 - 1110: Vermin, Forever Unchanged

Jeanne becoming a hero in the hearts of Dawn Island's people is certainly for a reason.Her own battle achievements are important, but so is propaganda.

Back then, Napoleon managed to alter the public perception of a tyrant through the Battle of Saint Helena, so how does it matter if Jeanne is a foreign woman?

The priests from the Truth Court of the Holy Alliance understand this very well, and they're even more versed in the messianic complex under Miseria's influence among commoners.

Coincidentally, the Holy Alliance has a complete drama-writing system and team, capable of quickly producing scripts and performing them in the countryside.

A variety of routines and sketches that strike a chord with the common people emerge one after another, forming a mature industry chain.

Compared to the past flowery aristocratic dramas, the Holy Alliance's plays quickly won the love of countless ordinary citizens.

As the first work they encountered, "Saint Joan" is undoubtedly their white moonlight.

Especially since Joan indeed won several victories, which seemed "unbelievable" to the people of Dawn Island.

This glimmer of hope amidst despair, under the smooth guidance of the Holy Alliance monks, catalyzed the public's mythicization of Jeanne playing "Joan."

Some even said things like, "As long as you command, we will support you as the king of Dawn Island."

However, Jeanne has always been rather annoyed by such notions.

As for the oligarchs and middle-class citizens of the Five Cities, they scoff at it.

Because you commoners have no power, whereas their taxes are the source of funding for the army.

Without our money, your Dawn Island Defense Committee is worth nothing.

Now, with the battle reaching this stage, the enemy's numbers have decreased, so it seems reasonable for them to cut back on soldiers to save costs, right?

"Did they really say that?" Jeanne's face darkened.

Bradak smiled wryly and nodded, "Although many people are on our side, the majority still thinks this way."

April is the season of spring and blooming flowers, yet Jeanne's expression was icy as she paced back and forth beside the military camp.

"They've rebelled!" Michelle exclaimed upon hearing this, her eyebrows raised in anger, "A bunch of defeated soldiers, still daring to make a fuss here."

"But what they said is indeed partially true." Bradak scratched his head, "At least seventy percent of the army's provisions are supplied by these oligarchs and the middle-class merchants."

"If they dare to cut supplies, we'll send troops to demand it from their homes."

"Wouldn't that lead to an internal conflict on Dawn Island?"

"These oligarchs were never good people, colluding with the nobles; I've long had enough of them. We should sweep them out together; artisans, citizens, and farmers are the true masters of this land."

"You speak boldly, but where would the money and food come from? Moreover, doing so would confirm the Holy Alliance's intervention in the Dawn Island war."

Up until now, the verbal battles between Leia and the Holy Alliance have been relayed multiple times through national letters and the Falan embassy.

Deep down, everyone was vaguely aware that Joan was indeed Jeanne, but they were powerless to prove it.

Before resolving the Dawn Island conflict, Jeanne indeed did not want to expose her identity, nor did she want to spark an internal war on Dawn Island.

This battle on Dawn Island is considered the golden opportunity; if the Holy Alliance seizes power on Dawn Island, it will only make people in other areas resist the Holy Alliance.

In the future, how could they promote the Holy Alliance's liberty and equality to other regions and nations?

In Jeanne's view, the war is still at a stalemate, just awaiting the final opportunity, the crucial last push.

In the eyes of many oligarchs and nobles, it's as if the army has already won, just awaiting the final wrapping-up.

The nobles and oligarchs on Dawn Island are already subtly dissatisfied with the expanding military.

There are too many middle-class and commoners rising in the army; if not limited now, it will be uncontrollable after victory.

Do they really want these commoners to become high-status city councilors?

Thus, they refuse to allow Jeanne, the chairman of Joan, to command and manage her soldiers.

The so-called reduction of supplies and soldier cuts is essentially an attempt to regain some of the military power.

The consequence of this will inevitably be that a complete victory, so close at hand, will fall back into a stalemate.

Can Jeanne forcibly keep the army?

She's unable to.

The current Dawn Island army is divided into two factions: one is refugees from the Holy Alliance system, the other is Dawn Island's own militia and mercenaries.

The former is manageable, but the latter is merely under Jeanne's command temporarily, with usage rights but no ownership.

With the reduction in force, Jeanne cannot deliver the final blow, and when the Kingdom Army recovers, the fight will continue.

Predictably, once a setback occurs, the oligarchs will return the army to Jeanne.

Repeating this cycle several times is likely the only way to truly make the oligarchs fully committed.

Jeanne finally understood why her brother used to mutter about "bugs, bugs" all the time.

Don't those people know the consequences of their actions?

"We have such a large Devout District, can't we borrow provisions through promissory notes or bonds?" The silent Tore suddenly asked.

"We can do it, and that's what I have to do." Jeanne halted her steps, "But the problem is, time isn't on our side."

From procuring to transporting provisions to recruiting new troops to fill the gaps, by the time everything is completed, the Kingdom Army will have recovered.

This month is the final window of opportunity.

If victory is not achieved this month, the next chance may not come for another year.

Regarding the Holy Alliance's affairs, Jeanne already knows that whether it's a minor purge or the Royal Court battle, they constantly weigh on her mind.

"Bradak, do you have a way to delay those oligarchs from cutting funds and provisions?"

"Delaying for two weeks is possible, but it requires cooperation from the Hundred Households District monks."

"I'll inform them of this," Jeanne said, turning her gaze to the waiting representatives of the Hundred Households District monks.

In reality, the monks sent by the Holy Alliance cannot manage such a large rural occupation area.

The primary source of monks for the Dawn Island Hundred Households District is besides the Holy Alliance, it's also local junior monks and monks coming from other places to support.

Ever since the Dawn Island Defense Committee raised the banner of the Holy Sect, junior monks from Flanlaya and even Norn have poured in continuously.

If the Holy Alliance, as the first Holy Sect nation, is groundbreaking, then Dawn Island is the first solid step among the Holy Sect believers.

With the support of the Holy Alliance, if Dawn Island could achieve independence, it would mean people in other regions might also have a chance.

A large number of volunteer monks thus came under Jeanne's command.

Additionally, military officers from the Holy Alliance meant Jeanne basically assembled a full civil and military team.

Currently, Windmill Land and Dawn Island have become Holy Sect territories.

"You are to assist Bradak, but also, try to transport more provisions.

If the oligarchs threaten you, you may retreat, but when retreating, you must gain some advantage."

"What advantage?" The leading monk expressed complete bewilderment.

Jeanne paused: "Tell them that after the founding of the nation, farmers should have voting rights; securing their promise on this is enough."

If it were previously, the oligarchs wouldn't honor their word, and farmers likely wouldn't care.

However, now with the backing of the Holy Alliance, the situation is different.

At this moment, Tore seemed to have suddenly thought of something and approached slowly: "Lady Joan, what is your intention?"

"What intention?"

"Aren't you planning to town in on the enemy within a month? Isn't this too risky?"

"Shh." Jeanne playfully held her index finger to her lips, "This is a secret."