"Colin, are you sure you don't need me to accompany you?"
The carriage stopped in front of the Prime Minister's mansion. After Colin got out of the carriage, he stopped Vera who wanted to follow him.
"No, you can go back to the Phoenix Palace first. I will talk to the Prime Minister myself."
"Okay."
Although she was full of doubts, Vera was already used to listening to Colin's orders. She tiptoed and kissed her husband gently on his lips before she waved goodbye to him.
After informing the Prime Minister of his identity, a servant led Colin into the living room.
Colin waited for about five minutes before he saw the Prime Minister of the Empire, Baron Heidegger, walking in.
"Good day, Viscount Angley!" Baron Heidegger was a little surprised to see Colin alone.
After all, Colin and Vera had been appearing in public together for the past few days.
"Good day, Prime Minister. I hope I am not disturbing you by coming here. "
"Of course not." Baron Heidegger waved his hand and motioned for Colin to take a seat. He then rang the bell and several maids came in with a silver tray. They then placed red wine and small cakes in front of the two of them.
Colin knew that when Scholar Dwayne visited the Empire last time, Heidegger had treated him with roasted sweet potatoes. In comparison, Heidegger's treatment this time was more formal.
However, Colin also understood that Scholar Dwayne was actually the way to treat a true friend.
"Prime Minister, I have heard that you have a deep understanding of how to govern a country. Therefore, I have been looking for an opportunity to talk to you and learn from your experience."
"Sir Viscounts, you are too polite." Heidegger smiled and did not say much as he waited for Colin to continue.
Colin took a sip of red wine and said in a relaxed tone, "It's like this, Prime Minister. I've never really understood the existence of the Senate.
Of course, I understand that the establishment of the Senate is to limit the imperial power so that His Majesty will not make the wrong decision.
However, what I want to know is, if the Senate makes the wrong decision, who can limit it? "
Baron Heidegger narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly, "Your Excellency Viscounts, your doubts are indeed reasonable. However, the Council of Elders is not a monolithic block. There are 117 members. It is actually quite impossible for most of them to make mistakes. "
"However, the hundred elders will be greatly influenced by the five consuls. Therefore, as long as most of the five consuls make mistakes, the Council of Elders will likely lead the Imperium into danger."
Heidegger's interest was piqued. He smiled and asked, "So you think that the consul's influence is too great, right?"
"That's right."
"Then do you have any good solutions?"
"I did have an immature idea."
"Please go ahead."
Colin swirled the wine glass in his hand, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. He said leisurely, "I think the reason why the consul's influence is so great is because the position is lifelong!
Therefore, if we abolish the life tenure of the consul and change it to, for example, a three-year election, the above problem will not occur. "
A trace of disappointment flashed in Baron Heidegger's eyes. Clearly, Colin's suggestion did not pique his interest. He shook his head and said,
"Your Excellency Viscounts, your idea is good. However, you know that to abolish the life tenure of the consul, the Glorious Charter will need to be amended. And to amend the charter, His Majesty must agree, and an absolute majority of votes in the Council of Elders!
Your suggestion may be of interest to His Majesty, but it will definitely not pass the Council of Elders. "
Colin shook his head and said unhurriedly, "Prime Minister, that may not be the case."
"Oh? What do you mean? "
"Do you know how I plan to choose the consul?"
"How? Isn't it a new recommendation from the five Paladin families? And then a vote through the Council of Elders? "Baron Heidegger was puzzled.
However, as soon as he said this, he seemed to have realized something, and his expression suddenly became serious.
Colin smiled and continued to explain, "If it's the way you're talking about, of course it won't pass the Council of Elders. However, what if we let every member of the Council of Elders have the same qualifications to run for the position of consul? "
"How can the consul not be a member of the Paladin family? This will be even more impossible to pass the Council of Elders. Even His Majesty won't … "Heidegger stopped halfway through his words.
He stood up abruptly and paced back and forth in the living room.
His expression became more and more excited. After a while, he stood still and laughed heartily, "Wonderful! What a wonderful idea! "
Heidegger finally realized the feasibility of Colin's idea.
This was making use of the biggest loophole in the Council of Elders — the consul and the ordinary elders only had one vote each!
Although the consul had great influence, they did not have any special privileges in terms of votes. In fact, the ones who truly decided whether a proposal would pass the Council of Elders were the hundred or so ordinary elders.
Of course, since the consul came from the five Paladin families and had the right to speak in meetings of the Council of Elders, their attitude could influence the ordinary elders to a large extent.
However, when the interests of the consul and the ordinary elders clashed, would the elders still vote according to the consul's attitude?
Obviously not.
Colin's current proposal was making use of this point.
The current consul would of course strongly oppose this reform, but what about the ordinary elders?
If Colin's proposal was passed, then the position of consul in the Council of Elders would no longer be exclusive to the Paladin family elders. The ordinary elders would also have this opportunity!
Faced with such a temptation, the ordinary elders would definitely vote in favor of it!
This way, no matter how much the current consul opposed it, Colin's proposal would definitely pass the Council of Elders with an absolute majority of votes!
As long as the consul was no longer a lifelong position, they would no longer have the transcendent political status that they had today. In order to keep their position, they would become weak and start to compromise. They could be roped in, divided, and threatened.
In short, the status of the consul in the Council of Elders would drop by a lot.
More importantly, Colin would have a way to get rid of that damned Sebas St. Hilde!
Baron Heidegger looked deeply at Colin and praised, "Your Excellency Viscounts, your wisdom amazes me! I have to say that this idea is very feasible! "
Colin smiled reservedly and said lightly, "That's good."
Baron Heidegger rolled his eyes and suddenly smiled, "However, I'm afraid that your proposal will affect the interests of some people."
"Of course." Colin shrugged and didn't care too much. "Every reform will affect the interests of some people, but as long as it is beneficial to the Empire, then there is a meaning in implementing it."
When he heard Colin's words, Baron Heidegger smiled and exposed him.
"Is that so? Are you proposing this for the benefit of the Empire? Why did I hear that during the meeting of the Council of Elders just now, some people clearly expressed their opposition to Vera inheriting the position of the Dukes Of The North? "
Colin didn't think that he could hide his thoughts from the Prime Minister of the Empire. He didn't feel embarrassed when he heard Baron Heidegger's words.
"I am indeed thinking for the future of the Empire. Prime Minister, don't you want to see a weakened Council of Elders? "
Baron Heidegger's eyes flashed and he nodded. "That's right. The Council of Elders needs to be reformed …"
However, he immediately showed a sly smile and suddenly asked, "Viscount Angley, can you tell me why you let Miss Vera return to the Phoenix Palace alone when we were at the door?"
This time, Colin's expression finally changed.
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