EP.236
Reich Reichstag Plenary Hall.
Since I am a soldier of the Empire, I rarely come here, but just because I did not come does not mean that the role of the Imperial Council is lightened.
The role of the Imperial Council is generally to have the power to review when the Emperor seeks to select soldiers above the rank of captain or ministers of each government belonging to the executive branch.
Like the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, it also has the authority to enact, review, and pass laws, and nobles who are members of the Imperial Assembly, rather than ‘soldiers’, also have the authority to freely propose laws.
So is that so? The first impression I had upon entering this place was that the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, the National Assembly of the Reich Empire, and the places where politicians gather are similar even though the systems are different.
“I remember that there were definitely two agenda items being dealt with today. “Captain Peter Jaeger’s promotion review and the most important emperor election.”
“No, honestly, isn’t your Majesty doing too much? Which faction opposes Lieutenant General Yeager’s promotion to general? However, in recognition of our authority, shouldn’t we be given time to at least conduct a formal verification? However, if it is right before the emperor election, the other members will probably pass on it anyway…”
“Give up, Viscount Jallier. The other captains are verified by equals, but isn’t Lieutenant General Yeager the recipient of the Twin Dragon Medal and the Diamond Knight’s Sword Medal? Instead, after the emperor election, I will buy you a drink at the bar where the woman is.”
No, the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea can never say something so blatant about having fun with women.
Here, most things are allowed as long as you don’t ask for them by outright bribing them, so compared to the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, this place has a much more ‘manly’ aspect.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I was still nominally a lieutenant general, so I sat in the ‘lieutenant general’ seat and looked blank…
An older nobleman wearing a white powdered wig climbed up to the highest podium, struck the podium with a wooden mallet, and spoke.
“Everyone be quiet! Then, from now on, I will revise the Imperial Diet on October 18, 234 of the Imperial Calendar. And this meeting will be conducted by I, Duke Wenzel von Hindenburg, Chairman of the Imperial Council, in accordance with the strict imperial laws!”
At those words, the nobles in the council who had been chatting freely until just now instantly became very quiet.
“First of all, there are two items to be discussed today. One is to review Lieutenant General Peter Jaeger’s promotion to captain, and the other is to elect the new emperor of the great, noble, and sacred Reich Empire! Then, first, we will conduct a review of Lieutenant General Peter Yeager’s qualifications for promotion to captain! Captain Jaeger, who is eligible for promotion, goes forward!”
According to what I heard from my father-in-law yesterday, the original captain promotion review was a bloody and scary event that was no joke.
This is because it is an annual event for the ‘politicians’ of the Imperial Council to bite even the slightest fault if a relative within the fourth degree of kinship is corrupt or has done something wrong.
Even administrators and members of the noble council who have been involved in politics for decades find it difficult, but for soldiers who have never directly participated in politics, it is said to be a hellish place… To be honest,
I have not been stabbed that much, and I have received overwhelming awards, including the Order of the Twin Dragons. Since I had proof of military service, there was no chance of my promotion slipping.
So I wasn’t that nervous.
“I swear that I will honestly and sincerely answer questions from members of the National Assembly in accordance with imperial law.”
Let’s say this and wait for the other lawmakers’ political attacks on the podium.
One of the barons asked me a question, showing signs of reluctance, as if he had been pushed by someone.
“I don’t think there is anything lacking in military, air, and military capabilities and loyalty to the empire. However, I am concerned that he is too young as a member of the Imperial Council… What do you think about this?”
“The reason I was able to overcome the customs and become a candidate for promotion to captain at a young age is because I proved my worth on the battlefield and was highly regarded by His Majesty the Emperor and the Chief of Staff. So, although I am lacking, I will just do my best to meet those expectations.”
“Thank you for your answer…”
And normally, dozens or even hundreds of questions would be asked in addition to this question, but after that, other members of the National Assembly did not even ask me any questions.
Just 15 minutes after the hearing began, I was unanimously granted a promotion to captain by the members of the Imperial Assembly.
“As President of the Reichstag, I take this moment to officially announce that Lieutenant General Peter Jaeger has been promoted to General. Now, let us begin the long-awaited election of emperor. “We will give an hour’s delay for those who need to discuss it, so we hope that lawmakers will discuss as much as they want to discuss.”
If it were a different agenda, the lawmakers belonging to each faction would have worked hard to persuade the other faction during the one-hour grace period.
The preparations for the emperor election had started about 10 years ago, so there was no fool who could change their opinion with just one hour of persuasion.
Is that why? Instead of spending an hour persuading someone…
“His Royal Highness will win this election by an overwhelming margin anyway. So, wouldn’t it be more important to send His Royal Highnesses as ‘adoptees’ to noble families that have lost other descendants after His Majesty the Crown Prince ascends the throne?”
“It would be best for Your Royal Highness to inherit a noble family with strong prestige and economic power. That way, they will join our faction and make all kinds of contributions. By the way, you all know that the family you inherit will change depending on the approval rating obtained in this election, right?”
“Our Second Prince’s faction will follow you until the end even if you say you cannot become emperor. Rest assured, Marquis.”
After the election of the emperor, he was determined to faithfully fulfill his role as an opposition party after succeeding to another noble family.
In other words, even before the election begins in earnest, the victory is in fact completely tilted in favor of His Majesty the Crown Prince whom I serve.
It could be said that I, who supported His Highness from the beginning, am the greatest beneficiary among those here.
After an hour had passed, the Chairman struck the podium with a wooden mallet and spoke.
“Voting will begin at this time. Voting will be conducted in the order of duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron according to title. After the voting is over, the votes will be counted immediately to announce who the next emperor will be. If there are no objections, please start voting with each head of the duke family.”
Then, unlike the elections in Korea, the heads of aristocratic families began voting in a place where there was no barrier because there was no secret election principle.
Since his personal information was clearly disclosed, he nominated the same candidate as promised the day before the emperor election and regardless of whether he won or lost the election.
This is despite the fact that the empire was similar to medieval Europe and had no qualms about changing its lord.
Making a promise to one’s colleagues and then breaking that promise was considered the worst thing a noble should do, and although it was not a crime that lowered the status of the entire family, it was treated as a vicious act that was worse than a crime.
Seeing this scene, I, who still have feelings from my time living in Korea, thought that if things were going to be like this, they should have set up a polling station and held a secret ballot…
Anyway, I finished voting hoping that His Highness the ‘Crown Prince’ would become emperor this time, and soon hundreds of people showed up. More than 100 viscount barons also voted.
“Let’s start counting the votes.”
At the same time as those words were spoken, Duke Wenzel, the chairman of the Reich Reichstag, the vice-chairman, and other supposedly high-ranking people took the ballot boxes.
Each time a ticket was opened, information such as ‘Family 00 supports Prince 00!’ was read out one by one, and each vote was counted.
In a way, it was natural that His Highness the Crown Prince’s name was called more often than the other princes’ names.
When the vote counting was over, His Excellency Duke Wenzel, the chairman of this parliament, sighed and made an announcement.
“Duke Wenzel von Hindenburg, Chairman of the Reich Reichstag, solemnly announces the results of the election of Emperor. The person who received the most votes and will become the next Emperor is His Highness Michael von Reich, Crown Prince and eldest son of the current Emperor Fernando von Reich. He received 70% of the votes, the highest approval rating in 100 years since the Imperial Diet was opened. “Thank you all for your hard work.”
With those words, thunderous applause rang out in the Reich Imperial Council, followed by three cheers to celebrate the new emperor’s accession to the throne.
And a few days after the parliament ended, I was called again by His Majesty the Crown Prince, no, the next Emperor.
The purpose was not written down, but it seems like they wanted to harass the Grand Duchy of Warsaw a little too much.
A word from the author (author review)
Thank you, reader.
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