Chapter 931 Taking the Initiative

The Parliament Hall in Aldernan has a gorgeous triple spire. The largest spire is located at the top of the entire building to symbolize the imperial power that protects and guides the entire empire. The second spire symbolizes the people under the imperial power. Nobles, also known as the "pillars of the empire", the lowest spire has the widest area and directly covers the parliament hall. In name, it symbolizes the glorious citizens of the empire, that is, the "foundation of the empire" .

This bold, groundbreaking symbolic statement is a microcosm of Rosetta's decades of New Deal reforms, although in reality, the number of "citizen councilors" under these triple spires is not even as high as that of the aristocracy. Half of the parliamentarians, and there are very few people who really have the right to speak, so that whenever people mention the Parliament of Aldernan, they almost default to the old "Parliament of Nobles" at the top, and subconsciously Another part of Parliament was ignored.

Rosetta Augustus has been working to change this, and this situation has indeed changed a lot in the past two years.

Those roaring machines and large companies that emerged overnight allowed citizen councilors to quickly increase their capital to speak in parliament - strictly speaking, it was business representatives who spoke in parliament. of capital.

It was also the first time that Matilda realized that some forces were more effective than royal orders and guidance.

She sat on the golden high-back chair that symbolized the royal family, looking down at the entire rectangular hall below with an indifferent expression. The magic crystal lamp illuminated this place from the roof, making the people under the roof shine. The faces look clear and vivid. These people who hold the greatest power below the imperial power in Typhon's social structure are expressing their opinions there, and intensely discussing a plan that may change the entire era. Those who are qualified to speak in the front row are trying their best to show their persuasiveness and appeal. In order to win the support of more ordinary members, and more importantly - to win the position of Princess Matilda who represents the will of the royal family.

In Typhon’s special parliamentary system, the will of the imperial power plays a large role. Unless the consensus of the parliamentarians on a certain bill can be overwhelmingly unanimous, people must work hard to obtain the spokesperson of the imperial power. support.

“I am still opposed to such a radical transformation and reorganization plan - although I recognize the advantages of new technologies and am always willing to embrace the bright future brought by new technologies, we must be more aware of the existing communication How big is the tower network, and the cost and benefit issues behind it." A middle-aged nobleman wearing a dark blue coat with a loud voice stood up, turned to the MPs behind him and said, "Rebuild the entire communication The network means that our investment over the past few decades has been in vain - it has not even had time to recover the cost, and it is still unknown whether the newly built network can function stably..."

"This "It's not just a matter of costs and benefits, Mr. Earl, it's also a technical issue." Another person stood up, "Don't you know the limitations of the communication towers? Their technical basis is outdated?Well, under the premise of the magic network communication, continuing to maintain the investment and construction of the communication tower network has actually become a waste, a waste of the empire's wealth..."

"Then those who maintain the communication tower network Where are the people in the tower? What about those who rely on communication towers for their livelihood? We can't just use businessmen's ideas to solve problems - we also have the responsibility to maintain the survival of the people! ”

“This responsibility is more reflected in the seventeen communication towers that you have the right to benefit from, right? ”

“Please don’t bring personal issues into such a solemn occasion. If selfish interests are introduced, then I’m afraid everyone here will lose their right to speak, sir! ”

The debate below became more and more intense, but the seemingly agitated speakers still maintained order appropriately and expressed their opinions in accordance with the process of the parliament. No one overstepped and disturbed the imperial power here. Matilda just sat quietly on the chair that belonged to her, watching all this with an expressionless face.

I am afraid these people will have to argue for a while before this session is over.

They had been arguing for a while yesterday

This seemingly chaotic situation was actually very clear to Matilda, and she could see it. The old nobles have already reached an agreement. However, the small nobles who should have been in the noble camp in the past are vaguely standing with the businessmen at this time - the latter's alliance would have been almost impossible a few years ago. It is an incredible thing, but since last year, similar situations have happened more than once.

The reason is simple. Factories and emerging companies are gathering more and more wealth and occupying more and more shares. Influence, and the "new faction" among the small nobles and middle-class nobles are the main investors in these industries. Their interests have long been tied to the businessmen. In contrast, the upper-class nobles still control large-scale Traditional industries and wealth, and control of many infrastructures have made the latter a step slower in responding to the new investment boom, but they are still a huge force that is difficult to resist.

These two forces are difficult to resist. Their territory has become more and more clearly divided and occupied, and each member is closely watching the other party's every move. They are keeping a close eye on their pockets and do not want a coin to fall on the other side.

The friction between the two forces has been gradually increasing since last year, but because their respective areas of dominance do not overlap much, the intensity of this friction has also increased. Very low. Until recently, it suddenly became so intense because certain new technologies suddenly broke the existing "rules" and gave businessmen and aristocratic investors the opportunity to get involved in those infrastructures. The old owners of those facilities... reacted violently to this, of course.

Matilda wanted to yawn, but she held back the argument today. There will be no result, but she has already foreseen the result in a few days: there will be a compromise plan, and the traditional communication tower will be preserved.If they stay, those facilities with high maintenance costs will be transformed and turned into carriers of new technologies. Businessmen and aristocratic investors will get an opportunity to take shares. However, on the whole, the entire communication network will still be firmly controlled by those old families. And in the hands of the Mages Association.

Matilda is even certain that the opportunities to invest in the communication tower renovation project will be proactively released by the old families and the Mage Association - it seems to share the profits of the communication network , but it can make it difficult for aristocratic investors and businessmen, whose current relationship is still weak, to continue to maintain a consistent and tough attitude. As long as there is a certain bonus as "appeasement", it is easy for compromising members to appear within the emerging interest groups. They will give up the radical plan of completely rebuilding a communication network in exchange for more stable and secure benefits, and this is exactly what the Master The association and the great nobles standing behind the association are happy to see it.

In the end, the Mage Association is not stupid, and the big nobles are even less stupid. Of course they can see the benefits of the new communication network - they just don't want it to be controlled by others first.

......

The seriousness of the matter exceeded Archduke Ferdinand's expectation. This unprecedented crisis made the old Duke, who had experienced many battles, frown tightly. .

"This is the case, my old friend," Rosetta Augustus sat on a high-backed chair, calmly looking at the Grand Duke standing opposite her, "just as I used to As I told you, gods are not very reliable protectors - they are transcendent, powerful, unknown, and completely superior to mortal beings. Regardless of whether they have been providing protection to mortals, I have always been loyal to them. We are wary."

"...I have never understood your concerns about gods, but now I have to admit that you are right," said Peter Nan Wendel in a deep voice. I just didn't expect that we would have to face this in our lifetime..."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but frowned: "As for the information revealed by Gawain Cecil in the letter, is it Need to check again? It’s still hard for me to believe that... Cecil’s ruler would be so candid and kind to remind us.”

“He is a formidable opponent, but in this case. In fact, he is our friend." Rosetta shook her head. "In the book that Matilda brought, Gawain Cecil mentioned more than once that the fate of mortals depends on the power of nature and gods. We must advance together and retreat together. I once thought it was just some kind of propaganda gesture and slogan, but now I am willing to believe his sincerity in this regard."

"...We all live here. All over the land." Pei Dinan's voice was low.

“Yes, we all live on this earth,” Rosetta said lightly, “so I called you here today to prepare for the disaster that may happen on this earth. "... Can we really deal with the threat from the gods?" Pei Dinan couldn't help but be a little skeptical, "Of course, the Cecil peopleIt seems that they have successfully fought against the 'divine disaster', but what they faced was not a real god, and luck accounted for a large proportion..."

"What we are facing is not a real god either. Rosetta shook her head, "In other words, I don't think the gods will directly 'attack' the mortal world." "

"Gods will not directly 'attack' the mortal world..." Pei Dinan repeated it subconsciously, with an expression on his face that seemed a little confused.

"Gods need a 'medium' Yes, they don’t come so easily, right? "

Pei Dinan frowned and looked at the monarch in front of him who he had sworn allegiance to for decades. For some reason, he suddenly saw a trace of strangeness on the other person's face: "What do you mean? Yes..."

Rosetta was silent for a few seconds before suddenly saying something seemingly irrelevant: "You know, I have started to envy our neighbors recently..."

......

After Duke Ferdinand left, Rosetta was still sitting quietly in the study. He leaned on the armchair that could completely cover the person, as if he was trapped in After thinking for a long time, and after more than ten minutes of silence and stillness, he suddenly raised his hand and turned off the lights in the study with a small magic trick.

The night outside was already dark, except for the light. Starlight shines on the high tower of the Obsidian Palace. As the lights in the study are extinguished, darkness quickly spreads up, and the starlight outside the window also shines through the crystal window next to it, spreading throughout the study.

Everything in it was immersed in the indifferent night.

Rosetta tapped the armrest of the seat gently. Amidst the rhythmic tapping, he seemed to be patiently waiting for something. Arrival.

After dozens of knocks, a dim yellow light suddenly appeared on the study table, and then the dim yellow light spread quickly, covering the desk, bookshelf, and floor. , wall... In just a few seconds, the entire study was illuminated by dim light. This turbid light also filled the window not far away, outlining the scene of Orlandale two hundred years ago. .

Dusk fell suddenly.

Rosetta raised her head, and the familiar things in the study were rapidly changing their appearance, some ancient and outdated illusions that had long since disappeared. Covering the familiar furnishings, rustling whispers and chuckles coming from nowhere sounded from all around, as if a banquet was being held next door to the study, and the laughter of the guests filtered through. There were sounds coming from the wall and a certain balcony, and it even seemed that a guest had walked into the room through the wall and was whispering something in Rosetta's ear.

Rosetta completely ignored it. The illusory voice just stared quietly in the direction of the door. The next second, those laughing or whispering voices suddenly disappeared outside the closed door of the study, in the direction of the corridor. , some kind of staggering footsteps, like dragging heavy objects, suddenly sounded after the whisper disappeared., and seemed to be getting closer to here.

The next second, there was a knock on the door from the direction of the study door.

Rosetta did not respond, and the knocking on the door continued patiently.

It knocked for a long time, so long that time seemed to stand still in this eternal dusk, Rosetta broke the silence: "You can continue to knock, or you can rely on knocking to knock on the door." Is the door broken?"

The knocking on the door suddenly stopped, and after a few seconds of deathly silence, a low voice, like countless voices blended together, came from outside the door. : "The strength of your will is really surprising...I thought you were going to collapse countless times, but you are still yourself..."

"Surprising?" Luo Seta shook his head, "But you are not human."

"This is really a meaningless detail," the voice outside the door said, "I don't like details, so tell me The point is... Why did you take the initiative to enter this dream? This is a very rare situation."

"I suddenly became curious about something, but I can't find the answer in the mortal world. —Perhaps you would like to answer something?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a strange atmosphere suddenly filled the entire dream space. The atmosphere seemed to be mixed with surprise and joy, and at the same time, there were countless things. A sense of prying eyes came from all directions. It seemed that in the depths of this dream, among the ancient memory corridors, halls, and courtyards, the eyes of countless "guests" were instantly attracted, and they were looking at Rose indifferently. The location of Tower Augustus.

In the study room in front of Rosetta, the wall originally hung with ordinary decorative oil paintings suddenly fluctuated like water. The decorative oil paintings were swallowed up by the wall, and then spit out again. The picture above But she has become Marjorie Augustus.

"Ah, my dear son, have you finally decided to return to our big family?"

Then Marjorie turned into George Augustus again: "This is really a day worth celebrating!"

"You may have celebrated a little early," Rosetta glanced at the oil painting indifferently, "Just keep quiet aside."

“Ask your questions, and I’ll be happy to answer any questions—as long as you dare to listen. ”