Wei Huo was very frustrated, but he didn't dare to show it. However, no matter how he tried to control himself, Pu Tong still caught a glimpse of his trance.
Yes, it is trance. Because the Guru announced three things -
First, he came to serve as the mayor of Titania.
The second thing that came with him was administrative personnel selected by the Territorial Council from various cities and some outstanding students from the Administrative University. They would work with Gulu to rebuild Titania and restore people's livelihood.
The third thing is that the Annan Army allocated a permanent division to Titania.
The first two things were the resolutions of the territorial parliament, and the third was Woolley’s instructions.
Each of these was like a crisp tap of a finger on Wei Huo's forehead, like a reminder or a warning.
After Guru finished his announcement, he handed the parliamentary commission and a bunch of official documents to Wei Huo with a smile: "In the future, General Wei Huo, please support Titania more."
"Of course, Mayor Gulu, this is not the first time we have worked together." Wei Huo answered with a smile, the corners of his mouth couldn't help twitching.
He hated the term "territorial parliament". This was a new thing that had just been created a month ago, and it was born out of and led the original People's Congress. According to its charter, citizens of towns and cities in the Assyrian territory had the right to be elected as members of the territorial parliament as long as they were 22 years old, and they had the right to vote when they were 18 years old. The constituency represented by the members of the territorial parliament was based on the city as the largest district, and each city was divided into several small constituencies according to its population distribution.
In the end, 125 members were elected from each constituency through universal, equal and direct suffrage. Together they formed this democratic representative body and assumed the responsibilities of legislation, supervision and parliamentary management.
In Wei Huo's opinion, the territory parliament is very much like a combination of the previous Supreme Council of Nobles and the Senate, because it deliberates and promulgates bills, and it tracks, supervises, and specifically guides the work of government departments, and can even directly nominate and authorize. In other words, it is above the government office and is currently the highest institution in the territory. However, it cannot dominate alone, because in addition to an independent supervisory board composed of twelve people to ensure the correctness of various bills and measures, it also has a general person in charge - the Speaker.
Woolley was the first Speaker of the territorial parliament. Although he had declined many times, everyone believed that only he was qualified to be the Speaker and only he had enough reputation and courage to lead the parliament.
In the end, Woolley was unable to overcome the enthusiasm of the MPs, but he immediately made a statement saying that he would only serve as honorary speaker and promised to provide some guidance to the best of his ability in the process of parliament's work, but would never dominate the work of the various departments of parliament.
Therefore, Wu Lai really did not participate much in the formation of the Titanic government team. During the whole process, he only listened to the report on the transfer of Gurukochi and took a look at the team list after it came out, because he knew that if he, as the honorary speaker, intervened too much, the members of parliament would not only be restricted, but also form various factions - this would be bad for the development of Assyria and even the continent.
"Before I came, I heard that the parliament was discussing commending the generals. The recovery of Titania is equivalent to pulling out one of the fangs of the poisonous snake Tianjuan. I believe that with the abilities of the generals, it won't take long for Armenia to return to the embrace of Assyria." Guru said with a smile.
"Of course, with the lord's leadership, nothing can be impossible." Pu Tong laughed and glanced at Wei Huo's face quickly. Seeing him nodding in agreement mechanically, the smile on his face became even more intense.
Fortunately, the lord is here to keep us in check, otherwise the Duncan family would have caused some trouble again, Pu Tong thought to himself.
"Mayor Gulu, I heard that the parliament is considering a tiered salary system? Is that true?" Bailey asked with a smile.
Guru nodded and said, "Yes, I heard the Lord talk about it, so I know roughly. The salary standard of several division commanders is the same as that of the mayors of local cities, which is one level lower than that of General Wei Huo."
"It doesn't matter. I can give up my salary and donate it to the government to let them build people's livelihood." Pu Deng waved his hand and said in a heroic manner. Don't be fooled by his generous words. Firstly, he doesn't rely on this little money. Secondly, as long as he wins the battle, he will make a lot of money just from the part of the spoils that can be intercepted.
"I don't have to. After defeating Mania, I will return to the temple to serve the high priest." Sareth smiled.
"Really leaving?" Pu Tong was stunned.
"I told the high priest about this before the Assyrian expedition, and he approved it." Sareth nodded, "As soon as the war in the territory is over, I will leave the army and return to the Knights Templar."
"Then I have to write an application to the lord. Just assign your Fifth Division to me. Hahahaha." Pu Tong rubbed his hands happily...
…
"Your Highness King Wushuang, this... isn't good, is it?" Zoren was horrified, while Sochi beside him frowned.
"What's wrong with that?" Hartra's eyes turned cold.
Zoron said quickly: "Your Majesty, the terrain of Menia is complex, with many valleys, rivers, and forests, which is very suitable for guerrilla warfare and ambushes. According to our current deployment, we will divide our troops into three directions with 65% and 100% to block..."
"Shut up!" Hatra interrupted Zoren harshly.
Zoren paused, a hint of bitterness flashing across his eyes.
"Guerrilla warfare and ambushes are suitable for our army, but are they not suitable for the enemy? Don't forget, the enemy is Assyrian. They may be more familiar with Menia than we are!" Hatra said in a deep voice, "Menia has a wide and high wall. The enemy's artillery can't knock it down. Sixty arrow towers, hundreds of large crossbows, three moats, double gates, plus sufficient food reserves, are enough to support us for two years. In this case, why do we have to fight the enemy outside the city?"
Zoren said nothing, and Sochi sighed silently.
"You two have deployed 65% of your forces. On the surface, it seems that you can stop and harass the enemy, but it is hard to say whether this is really the case. The enemy has several teams that are good at harassment. Now they are taking advantage of the momentum of the Iron-Diniya victory. A few of them can disrupt your deployment and bypass you to attack Menia. Or they can put a large army between you and Menia and wait for you to come and fight head-on. Do you dare to say that these are not possible?"
Sochi glanced at Zoron, gritted his teeth, and looked up at Hatra: "Your Highness King Wushuang is right. After the enemy takes Titania, they will definitely launch a large-scale attack. Retreating the troops and fully defending Menia City is indeed the best way to deal with it at the moment. But I personally think that we can still quietly station an army outside the city as a warning."
"No need to station troops there." Hartl waved his hand, "Just send out three hundred scouts to keep track of the enemy's movements at all times."
"Your Highness King Wushuang, General Ye Renwu has instructed..." Zoren couldn't help but speak again.
"Bang" - Hatra's right palm slammed heavily on the table.
"Zoren! I, Hatra, am the leader!" Hatra's face suddenly became more ferocious, "Don't mention Night Blade Dance in front of me from now on!"
Zoren and Sochi looked at each other and caught the helplessness in each other's eyes.
"Hurry up and move! Withdraw all the soldiers!" Hartla shouted coldly.
"Yes, sir!" The two generals quickly stood up and responded.
…
After the guard knight finished his report, Wu Lai's brows couldn't help but frown.
The report didn't sound like much - De Leng and Slanden, the current head of the Aurelius Basin, asked for a meeting.
But Woolley knew that this was a big deal, because the parliament was settling old scores with the Aurelius Basin during this period - during the Tianjuan invasion of Assyria, the Aurelius Basin, like Mondowoye, stood on the wrong side.
Now the fertile land of Mondo has become a reward bestowed by Woolley to the Duncan family, but the Aurelius Basin has been peaceful for a while because of Shelley. After all, her status is there, and those who follow Woolley know that touching the Aurelius Basin is equivalent to touching Woolley.
But only a few people know Shelley's identity.
After the parliament was formally established, a wave of reckoning swept across Assyria, because the people felt that the traitors and invaders had committed numerous crimes against Assyria and must be brought to justice and pay the price for their betrayal.
As a result, the Aurelius Basin was pushed to the forefront.
De Leng, who was very perceptive, applied to the parliament as soon as he received the news to personally resolve the matter, but he did not dare to tell the parliament the true relationship between the Aurelius Basin and Woolley, because that would undoubtedly damage Woolley's reputation, not to mention that Shelley had said at the beginning that he had completely severed ties with the family.
De Leng was loyal, wise, and liked to plan before taking action. After taking on this matter, he did not tell Woolley first, but immediately sent someone to invite the current head of the Aurelius family, Shelley's father, Slanden Aurelius, to Assyria.
After Slanden entered the city as promised, De Leng met him alone and gave him some advice and warnings, and then took him to the port to meet Wu Lai.
"Let them on board." Wu Lai finally nodded.
…
When Wu Lai saw Slanden for the first time, he was stunned. According to what Shelley had said before, Slanden should be nearly 50 years old, but the man in front of him, who was dressed in gorgeous clothes and had a short beard, looked to be in his early thirties at most.
If there were not only De Leng and Slanden in the reception room, and if Slanden's features were not very similar to Shelley, Wu Lai would have thought it was someone else.
Wow, she's really well-maintained. Wu Lai thought to himself, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Welcome." He said lightly.
"Who is this?" Slanden had never seen Wu Lai before, but he thought it was a bit strange that Wu Lai walked in with such a plain cloth robe.
De Leng had no time to pay attention to him. He straightened his clothes and knelt on one knee, saying, "Mayor of Assyria, De Leng Kochi, pays homage to the respected High Priest Saint Wulai."
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Slanden was startled, and immediately followed De Leng's example and bowed deeply.
Deleng, are you trying to show off your power to my father-in-law? Wu Lai was happy. Although he had many titles, only the High Priest had to be worshipped. Deleng didn't call him Lord or Speaker, which was obviously intentional.
"Get up." Wu Lai smiled slightly and added, "We are not outsiders."
After hearing this, De Leng felt happy, and Slanden also breathed a sigh of relief.
The two of them stood up immediately. As soon as they sat down and before they could speak, another figure appeared at the door. A figure with a graceful figure——
"Wu Lai, I want to go shopping, come with me." Ye Renwu glanced at De Leng and Slanden, walked up to Wu Lai, stretched out his arm and held his arm.
Slanden was stunned and couldn't help but look at Deleng, but Deleng pretended not to notice.
"I have something to do. Let's talk after I'm done." Wu Lai said to Ye Renwu.
"I haven't gone out for two days. Look, my clothes are all old." Ye Renwu said.
"I'll go with you when I'm done with my work," Wu Lai said.
"How do I know how long you'll be busy?" Ye Renwu glanced at De Leng and the others, "Why don't you let Caesar go with me? If you're worried, arrange for more knights to follow."
Wu Lai hesitated for a moment and nodded: "Okay, call Caesar and the captain of the Knight Guard to me."
Ye Renwu was delighted and quickly turned around and ran out.
"Please wait a moment." Wu Lai smiled and said to De Leng and the others.
"It's okay, it's okay." Slanden nodded quickly...
…
After watching Night Blade Dance go out for the second time, Wu Lai turned back and said, "We can start now."
"Yes." De Leng agreed, and after explaining in detail the causes and consequences of the parliament's decision to liquidate the Aurelius Basin, he said, "This matter is of great importance. Without your instructions, the High Priest, I dare not act rashly, nor do I dare to let others interfere."
"So you took this job on your own?" Wu Lai asked.
"The high priest is very observant." De Leng nodded.
"So... Lord Slanden, what do you think?" Wu Lai looked at Slanden.
"Great Priest, please understand. My Aurelius Basin was inherited from my ancestors. Back then, my Aurelius ancestor made great contributions to Assyria, and only then was this place privately owned. My Aurelius family has always been concerned about Assyria, and we have contributed money and manpower..." Slanden introduced the contributions of the Aurelius family to Assyria, and then said, "... During the period of Tianjuan's invasion of Assyria, my Aurelius family had consumed more than half of its private army in the previous wars against Hurlit and Kimo. Even if we wanted to fight, we were powerless to kill the enemy. Moreover, my Aurelius family has more than a thousand people, including legitimate and illegitimate children. Under such circumstances, if we don't temporarily endure it, we will definitely be exterminated. Please understand, Your Excellency the Great Priest."
This guy is quite talkative. He can even say that surrendering to the enemy in the hope of peace is a temporary forbearance. Wu Lai smiled secretly in his heart and turned his gaze to De Leng: "Has the parliament made any demands for liquidation?"
"Yes, there are three basic requirements. The first is to revoke Aurelius's private ownership, the second is to hold him accountable for surrendering to the enemy, and the third is to confiscate his property according to his responsibility." De Leng replied.
"Your Excellency the High Priest, you are trying to kill our Aurelius family." Slanden said hurriedly.
"Nonsense." Woolley frowned. "Slanden, all decisions of the parliament are based on public opinion. I don't think these three basic requirements are excessive. Whether it is a territory or a country, if the traitors are not severely punished, it means condoning betrayal and crime."
De Leng breathed a sigh of relief. Wu Lai's words had made his attitude clear, so things would naturally be much easier for him.
I should take the initiative to publicize the relationship between the Aurelius family and the lord during the liquidation process, so that the people can know the lord's selflessness. He thought so in his heart.
Slanden's heart skipped a beat: "No, Your Excellency the High Priest, if we do these three things, the Aurelius Basin will be ruined. I, Slanden, will be sorry for the heroic spirits of our ancestors!"
Now he was filled with regret, thinking that if he had listened to Shelley, he would not have encountered these things now, and he could continue to stand proudly like the Duncan family...
"I can only apologize." Wu Lai sighed softly.
"No, there is a way to preserve it, Your Excellency the High Priest. You...you are the eldest son-in-law of my Aurelius family. You are also the lord of the Assyrian territory and the supreme commander of the army. I know all this. I know all this. As long as you say a word, no one in Assyria dares to say no. High Priest, I beg you, please preserve the Aurelius Basin for Shelley's sake." Slanden begged.
"Slanden, since you mentioned the relationship between us, I will tell you something from my heart," Wu Lai said. "It is true that, as you said just now, with just one word from me, the Aurelius Basin will be preserved. As long as I am alive and in these positions, no one will dare to touch a hair of yours, Aurelius. However, this kind of amnesty-style preservation is first of all contrary to the laws and democratic system I promoted in Assyria. I took the lead in formulating things and asked others to abide by them, but I was the first to break them. Tell me, will this still be persuasive in the future? Can it still restrain others?"
"Secondly, I am a high priest, a lord, and an honorary speaker, but these titles are due to the people's respect, trust, and entrustment to me, not for me to use to override the law and disregard public opinion. Aurelius chose to abandon the territory during the Tianjuan invasion. It is understandable that the public wants to revoke your title and hold you accountable."
"By the way, Slanden, if I forcibly save Aurelius this time, what about the future? When I am gone, I believe that the reckoning against Aurelius will be more fierce and cruel, and perhaps even a disaster of genocide. Have you thought about these?"
Slanden lowered his head...
"So, you should cooperate with the government, accept the punishment of the parliament, and use sincerity and obedience to seek the parliament's leniency. This is the only advice I can give you." Wu Lai sighed again and said, "I can arrange for the innocent people of the Aurelius family to go to Grindo Island, where they can learn to be self-reliant and learn how to be a persistent and strong-willed person like Shelley."
After hesitating for a moment, Slanden nodded heavily.
"Handle it impartially." Wu Lai looked at De Leng.
"Yes." De Leng answered loudly.