Todd put a small piece of fish into his mouth and chewed it carefully. While sighing that the food in Muxi City was more refined, he asked: "I heard that the main competitor in this election is the Chamber of Commerce Alliance. They
Who are they?"
Emerson cleared his throat: "Let me introduce it. The Business Alliance is composed of forty-nine large chambers of commerce. The industries cover industry, textiles, maritime trade, printing, breeding, brewing, etc., basically including everything except
All professions except xeno affairs.”
"The senior personnel of the Chamber of Commerce Alliance have a variety of origins when it comes to their origins. For example, the president of the Nilsko Mining Chamber of Commerce was a priest personally authorized by the Pope in the past, and the president of the Susha Maritime Merchant is a retired military officer of the empire..."
Todd suddenly asked: "Are these people eligible for cabinet elections?"
Huggins, who was standing aside, explained softly: "According to the investigation of the Security Bureau, they have settled in Twilight City for more than three years, and they have all obtained the status of honorary knights..."
Emerson shook his head and said: "But the relationship between these people and other forces is intricate. Many of them own industries and families in cities in other kingdoms."
Todd asked: "Who is the leader of the business alliance?"
"Rutledge Dolson." Emerson said this name with a headache on his face: "An old nobleman from a family in the Silver Ring Kingdom. He once led troops in the Northern Army and was a prisoner in Twilight West City.
I lived in China for a while and later became an honorary knight."
Todd was a little surprised: "How did such a person become the leader of the Chamber of Commerce?"
Huggins helped explain at this time: "The Dolson family itself is a great nobleman of the Silver Ring Kingdom. Rutledge's father and grandfather have both made great achievements on the battlefield against the north, so they and not
The young and old aristocratic forces are inextricably linked. During the war to destroy the country, the Dolson family saw the weakness of the Yinhuan royal family, transferred the family wealth to other places early, and was the first to seek refuge.
An aristocratic family in Muxi City."
Todd looked at Huggins and asked, "How did he get his honorary knighthood?"
Huggins lowered his head and said: "After the Dolson family entered Duixi City, they funded universities, built societies, supported artists, and helped the poor... The citizens of Duixi City had a great impression of this family. In the first session of the Council,
In the canonization ceremony where citizens elected knights, members of the Dolson family occupied six places."
Todd frowned and nodded to Emerson: "Go on."
"The Dolson family controls nearly 27% of the market share of daily processed products in Duixi City, 25% of the market share of the smelting and processing industry, 14% of the market share of the textile industry, about 9% of the land property rights, and about 5% of the market share.
Land transportation industry.”
Following Emerson's topic, Terrence added: "The Dolson family is still the largest funder of Western University. He has sponsored more than 90 professors and nearly 600 students.
There are almost more than 130 studios and research laboratories named after his family in the entire university."
Emerson glanced at Todd and said, "Your Majesty, by the way, the chair you are sitting on and the tableware you are using are all made by Dolson's manufacturers."
Todd put the silver fork in his hand in front of his eyes. There was a special mark starting with the word "d" on the handle, which made him fall into silence.
"Not only that, in the past few years, Dolson has used methods such as marriage and equity swap to form a solid business group with the Sanchez, Tobiaris and other families in Twilight West City. Whether it is negotiations, disputes, demands, etc.
etc., they all have clear rules of interests and division of roles internally.”
Todd rubbed his forehead with his hand: "We have been busy dealing with external threats over the years, but we never thought that such a huge monster would grow right next to us."
Seeing the guilty look on Huggins' face, Emerson explained: "Your Majesty, actually we can't blame us for being careless. The Dolson family has registered multiple business names and used agents and indirect control to control them.
There are many assets and industries in Muxi City. Even if we go to check, we can only find many irrelevant controllers, and we cannot find the real owners behind them at all."
Todd waved his hand: "No need to say more about other things. Let's talk about this general election. What are your chances of winning?"
Emerson looked at each other and said awkwardly: "The chances of winning are not good."
"Why?"
"Some of the campaign slogans and governance policies put forward by Dolson have been approved by the vast majority of citizens."
Emerson stretched out his index finger: "The first thing to bear the brunt is the parish war. The Dolson family proposed to launch a 'war against God' to completely wipe out the filthy bastards of the church from the world. They said that those bastards of the church
Liars, using a false god that does not exist at all, have deceived and exploited believers, deprived them of their wealth and humanity, and now it is time to pay back everything."
The person in charge of Muxi Cathedral, Moore Rupert, who was sitting at the bottom of the table, could not help but say: "The remarks made by these people are not only attacking the Church of Heavenly Father and the Orthodox Church, but also
You are attacking Protestantism and questioning your majesty’s sacred identity. Now, at the door of Muxi Cathedral, there is a group of ignorant students every day, handing out leaflets to the believers who come and go, claiming that God does not exist and religion is nothing but
A deceptive scam."
After hearing this, Cumberland, who had been patient for a long time, finally couldn't hold back the anger in his chest.
The grumpy old knight stood up and shouted angrily: "If you ask me, just send out soldiers and send all these troublemakers to the gallows! Then hang the bodies on the flagpole in the center of the square, and let the
Let the bastards see the consequences of being dishonest!"
Elijah, who was a scholar, immediately stood up and objected: "If we do that, how will we be different from the cruel and cruel Inquisition?!"
Terrence touched Elijah with his elbow, motioned him to sit down, and said slowly: "Killing can only solve a temporary dilemma, but it cannot completely eradicate the source of the problem."
Mrs. Raglan, who manages the kingdom's economy, suddenly suggested: "Let those people go to the Kingdom of Heaven to take a look. Wouldn't everything be solved?"
Emerson and Cumberland looked at each other, and both of them turned their questioning eyes to Todd.
The latter smiled bitterly, shook his head, and said softly: "The Kingdom of Heaven is only open to devout believers."
That's what he said, but Todd knew it was just an excuse.
The real reason is that he places his hope on people's autonomy. If the soul space is used as a means to attract believers, Muxi City will return to the old path of monarchy.
While Todd is still alive, he may still be able to maintain the sacred temple of heaven; but once he dies and the soul space completely collapses, the faith of this kingdom will come to an end, and society will return to darkness and chaos.
This was not the result he wanted to see.
Seeing everyone fall into silence, Emerson coughed and continued: "Declaring war on God sounds like a passionate thing, but it will completely destroy the religious image that Muxi City has worked hard for many years and completely destroy this kingdom.
Pushed against other diocesan kingdoms.”
Cumberland dangled half a sausage in his hand and said coldly: "Those idiot businessmen only have eyes for occupying land and looking for workers. They think that fighting a war is as simple as children playing house. If we really fight with all the parishes
When the kingdom goes to war, what we will face is no longer the direct army of the church, but the coalition of 190,000 secular kingdoms!"
Moore Rupert continued: "Moreover, the plan to use Protestantism to divide the diocesan kingdoms has initially achieved results. Twenty-six kingdoms have separated from the Church of Heavenly Father and joined Protestantism, and this number is still accelerating.
Growth... But if Muxi City targets God, then our enemy will change from the Church of Heavenly Father to all parish kingdoms, and the so-called Protestantism will become a joke."
Todd put down the wine glass in his hand, looked at the cabinet members in front of him, and asked: "Didn't you mention these reasons to the people? Anyone with common sense should know that launching a war at this time is the worst decision.
"
Emerson sighed heavily: "Your Majesty, common sense is one thing, but public opinion is another. There will be a political debate the day after tomorrow. If you are free, please come and visit. By then, you will