236 – Emperor Election and Change (3)
Plenary Hall of the Reich Reichstag.
Because 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 Assembly is generally to recommend and review soldiers of the rank of captain or higher, or ministers of each government belonging to the executive branch, when the emperor seeks to select them.
Like the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, it also has the authority to enact, review, and pass laws, and nobles with titles that are members of the Imperial Parliament, rather than ‘soldiers,’ also have the authority to freely propose laws.
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 conduct at least 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. 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 like this about having fun with women.
A lot of things are allowed here as long as you don’t ask for them by openly bribing them, so compared to the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, this place has a much more ‘manly’ aspect.
Get lost in such idle thoughts, and since you are still nominally a lieutenant general, let’s just sit in the ‘lieutenant general’ seat and zone out…
An elderly nobleman wearing a white powdered wig climbed onto the highest platform, struck the platform with a wooden mallet, and spoke.
“Everyone be quiet! From now on, on October 18, 234 of the Imperial Calendar, I will revise the Imperial Diet. 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 talking freely until just now suddenly 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.
Because, if a relative within the fourth degree of kinship is corrupt or has done something wrong, it is an annual event for the ‘politicians’ in the Imperial Council to bite even the slightest fault.
It is difficult for administrators and members of the noble council who have been involved in politics for decades, but it is said to be a hellish place for soldiers who have never directly participated in the political field…
Honestly, I didn’t get stabbed like that and I had overwhelming evidence of military merit, including the ‘Twin Dragon Medal,’ so there was absolutely 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 political attacks of other lawmakers on the podium.
One of the barons asked me, showing signs of reluctance, whether he had been pushed by someone.
“I don’t think there is anything lacking in military service, ability, loyalty to the empire, everything. 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 reply…”
And normally, it would have been normal for dozens or even hundreds of questions to be asked in addition to this one, but since then, other members of the National Assembly have not even asked me any questions.
In this way, I was unanimously approved to be promoted to captain by the members of the Imperial Assembly just 15 minutes after the hearing began.
“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 provide an hour’s delay for those who need to discuss it, so we hope that members will discuss as much as they want to discuss.”
If it were any other agenda, the lawmakers belonging to each faction would have worked hard to persuade the other faction during the one-hour grace period.
Because the preparations for the emperor election began about 10 years ago, there was no fool who could change their opinion with just one hour of persuasion.
Is that why? Instead of spending an hour trying to convince someone…
“Anyway, His Majesty the Crown Prince will win this election by an overwhelming margin of votes. So, after His Highness the Crown Prince ascends the throne, wouldn’t it be more important to send His Highnesses as ‘adoptees’ to noble families that have lost other descendants?”
“It is best for His Highness the Prince to inherit a noble family with strong prestige and economic power. That way, they will join our faction and make all sorts 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?”
“We, the 2nd 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 was over, 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 began in earnest, the victory was in fact completely tilted in favor of His Majesty the Crown Prince whom I serve.
I have supported Your Majesty from the beginning, so you could say I am the greatest beneficiary among those here.
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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, marquess, count, viscount, and baron according to title. After the voting is over, the votes will be counted immediately and it will be announced 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, where there was no secret election principle and no screens, the heads of aristocratic families began voting.
Because personal information is clearly disclosed, the promise made the day before the emperor election was made and the same candidate was nominated regardless of whether the election was won or lost.
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. 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.
After seeing this scene, I, who still have feelings from living in Korea, thought that if things were going to be like this, it would be nice to create a polling place and have a secret ballot…
Anyway, I finished voting in the hope that His Highness the ‘Crown Prince’ would become emperor this time, and soon after, over hundreds of viscounts and barons also finished voting.
“We will begin 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 people believed to be high-ranking people took the ballot boxes.
Every time a ticket was opened, information such as ‘Family 00, support Prince 00!’ Was recited one by one, and each vote was counted.
In a way, naturally, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s name was called more frequently than the other princes’ names.
When all the votes were counted, His Excellency Duke Wenzel, the chairman of this parliament, sighed and made an announcement.
“The Chairman of the Reich Reichstag, Duke Wenzel von Hindenburg, will solemnly announce 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 he wants to harass the Grand Duchy of Warsaw a little too much.