The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1127: Chapter 109: Sausage Tactics

Although the University of Gottingen’s fame resonates throughout Europe, the city of Gottingen itself is not considered a major city.

While Gottingen attracts numerous scholars, students, and intellectuals with its outstanding academic atmosphere and relatively quiet pace of life, its scale and development speed are relatively slow in terms of industrialization and urbanization.

The city’s population is only around ten to twelve thousand, and such a population size naturally can’t support several decent taverns.

The oldest tavern here is the Ratskeller, the city hall cellar tavern that Heine had previously mentioned to Arthur. Its history dates back to the 13th century; it once served as the dining and drinking venue for city officials and distinguished guests, but gradually opened to the public in the 17th and 18th centuries. The iconic ancient vaulted architecture and traditional German court cuisine are the pride of the Ratskeller.

As for Zum Schwarzen Bären, the Black Bear Tavern, which recently witnessed a beer hall riot, it is a frequent spot for student gatherings and a place often visited by tourists.

The tavern that Bismarck brought Arthur to today is located in the center of Gottingen. This is a place where locals from around Gottingen often come for a drink or two—Paulinerkeller, the Pauline Order cellar.

The name itself indicates that this is a tavern founded by monks or adherents of the Pauline Order.

The full name of the Pauline Order is ’The Order of Hermits of Saint Paul,’ a Catholic monastic order established in the 13th century, originating from the regions of Hungary and Poland.

This monastic order is named after ’Saint Paul of Egypt,’ the first hermit in Christian history.

The monks of the Pauline Order are known for leading a strictly hermitic life, emphasizing prayer, meditation, and solitude.

Although the Pauline Order is not as well-known as the Benedictines or the Franciscans, its influence remains significant in Central and Eastern Europe.

The monks of the Pauline Order usually reside in monasteries located in remote areas, leading a simple life. Therefore, the presence of the Pauline Order in a small place like Gottingen is not surprising.

Arthur followed Bismarck down the steps and had just entered this cellar tavern when he was greeted by the emblematic ’Black Madonna’ of the Pauline Order.

Holy Mary wore a red robe with gold trim, draped with a dark blue cloak, crowned with a golden crown. Her face was solemn, with eyes gently closed, expressing profound compassion and maternal love, and in her arms was the newborn infant Jesus.

However, unlike the other Madonna statues Arthur had seen elsewhere, the Madonna in the Pauline Order cellar had a complexion of almost blackish dark brown, as if stained by candle smoke or oak.

Though the intricately crafted Black Madonna was impressive, the rest of the decoration was rather rugged.

Wooden long tables and benches occupied most of the space. The tables, aged from years of use, emitted a fragrance of ancient pine wood.

The floor was paved with stone slabs, smoothed and slightly uneven from hundreds and thousands of footsteps.

A few rather insignificant murals hung on the walls, depicting either scenes of peasant labor or common religious themes such as the Annunciation, the Baptism of Jesus, and the Ascension of the Madonna.

Several barrels were placed in the corners, with stoppers and drinking vessels carelessly piled beside them.

Due to the poor lighting conditions of the cellar, a few small, narrow skylights were opened in the tavern to let in light. Judging by their size, they probably only allowed a few rays of sunlight to slant in during the day.

Yet, besides these unpleasant aspects, the place still felt quite nice to Arthur.

Because the atmosphere here was much like the countryside of York, completely unlike the austere nature of London or the restlessness of Paris.

The air was filled with the scent of malt and hops, mixed with tobacco and roasted meat, creating a unique ambiance.

In the evening, the tavern was filled with various sounds: the coarse laughter of men, the rolling of dice on wooden tables, the clinking of beer mugs, and the busy movements of the landlady behind the counter. Under the narrow skylight hung a flickering kerosene lamp, its dim yellow light making the entire room appear both warm and somewhat dim.

Most patrons here were rural farmers, artisans, and merchants. They wore simple clothing, and their skin, roughened by years of labor, bore a healthy red glow from the sun and the weather.

The men usually wore work clothes made of linen or coarse cloth, topped with wide-brimmed felt hats. Perhaps because the night was quite cold, some could be seen draped in wool cloaks to ward off the chill.

They sat by the long tables, gulping down locally brewed beer, discussing crops, livestock, and this year’s weather.

A few young men gathered to play cards or dice, occasionally bursting into cheers or sighs of disappointment.

The tavern owner was a reticent middle-aged man with a thick beard. He silently took orders from the customers, served them food and drink, and during his free time, he would quietly wipe dry the freshly washed beer mugs with a white cloth.

If his hand paused while wiping a mug, it meant that a new customer had just entered the tavern.

The tavern owner looked at the two guests sit down, put down the cup in his hand, and asked, ”What would you like to drink?”

Bismarck placed his hands on the bar counter, skillfully ordering, ”A bottle of Rhine Valley white wine, a serving of roast pork knuckle with potato dumplings.”

Upon speaking, he turned his head to Arthur and said, ”The beer here is quite good, you should try it.”