Hearing what Prime Minister Cullen meant, all the ministers shuddered.

Gilbert heard the implication and became anxious:

"Your Majesty Prime Minister!"

At this moment, a third voice joined the discussion.

"In fact, if the kingdom really has no other option but to bite the bullet, maybe..."

The unfamiliar voice attracted the attention of most people.

The ministers turned to the interrupter, who was also the only participant in the Royal Council who did not speak - Stylianides, the vicar general of the Sunset Church.

Stylianides nodded slightly:

"Can I try to persuade the Sunset Church to invest in solving the problem of expanding the standing army?"

Many people frowned.

"What? You?" Soduo asked doubtfully.

At the corner of the discussion table, the deputy bishop smiled and nodded humbly:

"Guy Stylianides, as the vicar general of the Central Diocese of the Church of the Sunset, attended the royal meeting today on behalf of Archbishop Zenon who was on sick leave..."

"I know who you are, boy," Advisor Thordo interrupted rudely:

"You said you can find the money we want?"

The deputy bishop named Guy smiled slightly, then closed his eyes and prayed: "I can't guarantee it, but I'll do my best."

Seeing the other party being so straightforward, Advisor Soduo looked suspicious:

"If I remember correctly, in the Sunset Temple in the center of the royal capital, Priest Diallo is the person who is most opposed to the standing army system. He once said: Standing armies fight for money and are greedy and despicable. Conscripted soldiers are obliged to wield swords, which is sacred and respectable.

?”

Guy's tone was modest:

"Yes, most of the chief priests of the Sunset Temple are of noble birth, visit the castle and palace, and have close relationships with nobles and princes from all over the world."

"But we are different, Lord Thordo," the archdeacon said firmly:

"Sunset Church is not Sunset Temple."

Sunset Church.

Soduo was silent for a while. He calmed down his emotions and looked at the priest seriously:

"You just said, who are you?"

On the other side, Prime Minister Cullen looked clear: "Ah, the dispute of faith between the temple and the church, the priesthood and the missionary department, the priest and the bishops?"

The archdeacon turned to the Prime Minister and smiled warmly:

"No, this has nothing to do with belief, only politics and stance."

"The temple will be close to the princes, and the church will be close to His Majesty. It's that simple."

"If the influence of the temple can be weakened by reducing the levy and increasing the standing army, the bishops in the church will definitely be happy to see it."

After hearing this sentence, many people began to think.

Cullen's eyes moved slightly:

"Oh, as a believer in the setting sun, you are really - unabashed?"

"cover up?"

Guy shook his head indifferently:

"No faith can exist independently of politics, and no religion is not related to the struggle for power."

"To avoid politics and talk about faith is to put aside human nature and only ask about divinity. This is cover-up and disguise, it is neglect and contempt for faith, and it is disrespectful and dishonest to the sunset goddess."

As soon as these words came out, even the king at the end of the long table raised his eyes slightly.

After hearing these unorthodox words, Cullen was stunned, then raised his eyebrows and said:

"I think I know why Gilbert recommended you. Compared with those priests who are full of sacred teachings, you are indeed interesting."

Gilbert forced a smile.

Archdeacon Guy sighed:

"Thank you for your praise, but this truth is not universally understood, especially the priests at the temple."

"Therefore, it is inconvenient for the church to intervene in the kingdom's military affairs in the form of direct funding."

Soduo, who was most concerned about this matter, instantly turned cold:

"What do you mean?"

Guy turned to him and said seriously:

"If they want to support the expansion of the standing army, the Sunset Church must have legitimate reasons."

reason.

Many people's expressions changed slightly.

Guy looked respectfully towards the end of the long table:

"If His Majesty can change the tradition and allow our clergy brothers to join the royal standing army, I will be more confident in persuading the bishops' conference to contribute funds."

Soduo was startled:

"But we already have sacrifices accompanying the army. Whenever there is a war, the temple will send a qualified chief priest to preside over the expedition ceremony..."

Guy curved his lips and nodded calmly:

"Drive them out."

"What?" Soduo couldn't believe it.

"I suggest, Lord Sodo, to expel the priests who accompany the standing army and replace them with priests who accompany the army," Archdeacon Guy explained patiently:

"What the temple can do for a standing army, the church can do the same, or even more."

Soduo understood the other party's words, and his expression changed back and forth in those few seconds.

Others in the meeting looked at each other.

The king's eyes were still distant and unfamiliar.

Prime Minister Cullen snorted:

"The chief priests of the Sunset Temple will definitely not like it."

Guy turned his head and spoke sharply:

"The Temple doesn't like a lot of things."

"Such as the royal standing army."

"But this is just a political issue. If you do this, it will turn into a religious conflict." Cullen shook his head and said, "It has always been a tradition to offer sacrifices to the army, no matter..."

Guy replied calmly:

"Yes, just like the lords regularly recruiting militia, it was also a tradition-until the royal standing army came into being."

Soduo's eyebrows moved.

The archdeacon looked at the listless financial controller:

"And if there are priests who accompany the army, the Sunset Church can allocate permanent funds from believers' donations to legitimately subsidize part of the cost of the standing army and reduce the pressure on the Department of Finance and Taxation."

"This is something that a temple that is aloof and claims to be orthodox cannot do."

"Well..." Qiu Ke, who was originally bored, suddenly became energetic, his little eyes sparkling:

"It's not like we can't consider it?"

On the other side, the military advisor was quiet for a few seconds and asked cautiously:

"So, the Sunset Church can fund the expansion of the standing army, but the premise is that His Majesty will allow your priests to join the royal standing army to worship with the army instead, right?"

The archdeacon smiled: "Of course not."

But his eyes changed:

"But without this bargaining chip, my confidence in convincing the bishops' conference is indeed not that great."

Soduo snorted coldly:

"This is blackmail and robbery."

"This is more for the kingdom." Guy responded quickly:

"The priests of the temple are basically of noble birth, and are related to the princes from all over the world. They are naturally alienated from the standing army. Following the army is just a false story."

"And most of our priests come from poor backgrounds and are used to educating the lower classes. They will be more competent, more effective, more enthusiastic, and more suitable for standing armies than the priests."

"Yes, this is what I'm worried about." Soduo sneered.
To be continued...