My name is Ren

Chapter 297 History is never accomplished overnight, any earth-shattering change starts from a small place

"I object!"

Looking at the people in the room, a nobleman stood up slowly with a gloomy face. His unruly eyes kept scanning back and forth at the noble colleagues who were sitting or standing in the room.Just now, the Marquis of Pelagos made a list of 12 people to participate in the selection of members of the Imperial Parliament this time, and he was not among them.

Pelagos's complexion was a bit unsightly, he frowned, moved his buttocks a few times to make himself sit up straighter, the angry flames in his eyes almost ignited the air.How come I didn't see how impulsive and irrational this guy was before?If he approached him privately, Pelagos might adjust the list, or try to appease him as much as possible, paying some negligible price.But he actually refuted his proposal in front of so many people, which made it difficult for Pelagos to step down.

Suppressing the flames that were jumping in his heart, and enduring the violent fluctuations of emotions, his lips trembled a few times, and he squeezed out a sentence from his lips and teeth, "Against? What are you opposing? Why are you opposing?" Naturally, Lagos' attitude was not as gentle as usual, his tone was involuntarily filled with anger, and he retorted forcefully with the word "why" as a counterattack.He raised his head slightly, and there was a vague killing intent in his serious eyes.

He is the leader of the aristocratic group, the hereditary marquis of the empire, and holds the power of life and death for many people.For many years, no one dared to slap the table and stare at him like this, which made him feel humiliated and angry.

The person who spoke sneered and frowned coldly. He met Pelagos' gaze without flinching at all. He stretched out his finger and tapped his chest, "I want to ask His Excellency the Marquis, why I wasn't included in this list?", As he spoke, he looked at other people in the room. There were about 60 people gathered in the room, and the eyes of these people changed subtly following Bardeen's words.This time, there is not only one vacant member of parliament, two at most, but a full twelve.

In the past, when members of parliament were selected to fill seats, because the number of seats was too small, Pelagos often selected the most prestigious person or the most capable person from this group of people, and no one complained about it. .After all, as long as one compares, one can tell the difference, and there is nothing to be bothered about.But this time is different, there are a total of twelve seats. Although not everyone in the submitted list can be successfully selected as a member of parliament, this is an opportunity.

Opportunities are not too much for anyone. Opportunities are like the keys to open the door of the treasure room. There may not be any treasure in the door of the treasure room, but if there is no key, then you are not even qualified to take a look.

Except for four or five candidates in the 12-man list, there is no objection, and there are some objections to the other candidates.

The selfishness in human nature always makes people ignore their own shortcomings and magnify their own advantages. After this list comes out, everyone will compare themselves with everyone on the list.This kind of comparison does not necessarily require any action, it is just a simple comparison, a kind of self-positioning and affirmation of oneself.

Barden was also one of them. He compared the candidates on the list, and when he suddenly found that seven of them were inferior in prestige and contribution in the aristocratic group, he couldn't help but explode.He had a feeling of being betrayed, as if he had been betrayed by these people, abandoned, betrayed!
He didn't have the slightest fear in the eyes of Pelagos. Instead, he said loudly with confidence: "In the year 350 of the empire, Marquis, you want to form the De Cochman Chamber of Commerce and ask me to contribute the iron ore and copper mines on my fief." , Do I hesitate for even a second? I did not hesitate to transfer the mine worth hundreds of thousands of millions of gold coins to the De Cochman Chamber of Commerce at a ridiculously low price. Empire 360 ​​years, Marquis you Said that we should establish a transatlantic trade fleet, I did not hesitate to bear the construction cost of the three transport ships, and did not ask for a single gold coin from you or others. In the sixth year of the Empire 360, Tumulon was in turmoil, obviously I only need three days to rush to suppress, you want me to give up this opportunity and give it to someone else, did I say no?"

Bardeen's voice became louder and louder, and some people's eyes became more and more wrong.This guy has a high reputation, loves to make friends, and doesn't care about gains and losses, but his temper is not very good.He has indeed made a lot of contributions to this group, and everyone may not pay attention to it at ordinary times, but when he said it one by one in person, people discovered that Bardeen did pay too much, but did not get much. benefit.Aristocrats came together to form aristocratic groups, at first to resist the hard-line royal family, and later to grab profits.

In the final analysis, the ultimate goal is for oneself.

However, Bardeen's contribution is not directly proportional to his return. The contribution of the few people on the list this time to the group is far less than that of Bardeen's contribution to the group.Those guys were on the list, but he wasn't.If it was something else, Baden might swallow his anger or just laugh it off, but the title of member of the Imperial Council is really too important.Becoming a member of the Imperial Parliament is equivalent to entering the country's decision-making level, which is a huge improvement in status.

He can give up on other things, but he can't give in on this matter.

Pelagos' pupils contracted slightly, and he also felt a little tricky at this time. His will dominated the drafting of the list.But this can't be blamed on him. In addition to wisdom, people also have instinct.Instinctively, Pelagos liked those few people, seeing them pleasing to the eye, as the leader of the noble group, he had the right to act according to his own preferences.And he doesn't think that the few people he chooses can really be elected to the parliament to get seats. They are more of a companion to run and earn qualifications.

But he didn't expect that it was because of this incident that Bardeen actually opened fire on him in public.

He pursed his lips and pondered for a moment, scanning the nobles in the room, the atmosphere gradually became tense, he spoke slowly, biting every word and syllable very clearly, "Earl Barden, although you are cheap The mines on your fief were transferred, but in the De Kochman Chamber of Commerce, you occupy the seventh place, and the dividends and future prospects you have received over the years far exceed your contributions."

He smiled contemptuously, raised his hand and stretched out a finger, and nodded, "In the cross-sea trade, the profits your merchant ships make for you far exceed the cost you pay for building ships. At least three times a year The dividend of [-] gold coins will flow into your wallet."

"After the Tumulun turmoil ended, your fiefdom was expanded by nearly half of its original area, and this half of the fiefdom came from the transfer of others you said."

Pelagos stood up suddenly, looked down at Bardeen, his eyes were cold and terrifying, "Is this your grievance?" He sneered a few times, "Do you still think that the benefits you get can't make up for your losses? Do you still think you can stand here confidently and question my decision? Huh?"

Bardeen chuckled twice, and he asked back: "Your Excellency, Marquis Pelagos, aren't we standing here just to fight for more interests? I want to fight for the interests that should belong to me. Is there anything wrong with that?" Is it? Your so-called compensation is nothing more than my due reward.” He walked to a place not far from Pyragos, looked up at Pygras, “Isn’t this the reason for our existence? The Imperial Council It should not be decided by you, or me, or any one or several people, but should be decided by everyone here!"

The quiet nobles continued to keep quiet, but their eyes and expressions were constantly changing.Pelagos did rule the aristocratic group for many years, and the aristocratic group was indeed thriving.But at the same time, there are many contradictions within the noble group.No matter how clever Pelagos is, he cannot be completely rational.He also has his own hobbies and pursuits, which led to the formation of many small groups within the noble group.

In fact, the contradictions have been hidden under the fruits of victory, and when it comes time to face deeper temptations, the long-accumulated contradictions finally erupt!

Glancing at Pelagos for the last time, Bardeen turned and walked towards the door. Several nobles finally got up one after another and followed Bardeen away.Since there are differences in the greatest interests, a rupture is inevitable.If Pelagos can't compromise, these people's departures will be permanent.No matter how much the return is, it will never compare to the temptation of becoming a member of parliament for these people.

But Pelagos couldn't compromise. If he compromised, he lost his authority.Authority is really interesting. It may take a lot of hardships and time to develop authority, but to destroy authority, one trivial thing is enough.

Watching the group leave, Pelagos sat down again, his chest heaving violently, which was a stain in his life.The tightly closed eyes slowly opened, and the previous calm was restored.He glanced at the cracked crystal fragments on the ground, ordered someone to clean them up, and then smiled, "Now, does anyone have any objections to this list?"

Silence once again consolidated his authority, and he nodded with satisfaction, "Whoever becomes a councilor will eventually seek benefits for our collective. In essence, there should be no conflict. Everyone can be here, We should be united under one roof. Any personal conflicts should be put aside and as long as there is nothing wrong with the collective, individual problems will be resolved."

"How can a big tree keep its branches and leaves flourishing without roots to transport nutrients?"

(End of this chapter)