Chapter 459: Scold First and Talk Later
"Hanton, I know you are angry, but we must take the overall situation into consideration now."
Director Ino said seriously:
"The head of the military is here. When the meeting is over, you can negotiate privately. I will not interfere."
The facial muscles of the three highest commanders in the military were twitching slightly.
They were thinking about why they had to attend this meeting in the flesh.
Yang Ming snorted and said calmly:
“Everyone asked me to come to Emperor Star, and here I am.
“But you want me to stand up for the aristocracy, but I can’t do it.
"I came to the Imperial Star at the orders of His Majesty and out of respect for Commander Ino, not because I wanted to gain any benefits or empty promises from you.
"If the Empire wants to solve the current problem, there is only one option, which is to send troops to suppress the nobles who are confronting the people, and arrest those nobles who have committed crimes and whom you have turned a blind eye to on weekdays in front of the people.
"Now you haven't figured out where the problem lies?
"Isn't it the basic principle of the national policy you formulated to reduce the rights of the nobles? Why is it that the implementation is exactly the opposite?"
"Grand Duke Hanton!"
The third elder in the Elders' Council frowned and said:
"You are also a noble, please don't forget this."
"You can take me back anytime if you have the power."
Yang Ming spread his hands:
"This is my position. You can think that I am seeking political capital for myself, or you can think that I have ulterior motives. But since I am sitting here, I must represent the people and the vast majority of interest groups in the empire. I have to have a good chat with you about how to end this bloody conflict."
Director Ino said, "Okay, Hanton, pay attention to etiquette and be graceful."
Director Ino changed the subject:
"And Hanton, sometimes you have to face your own problems. Another reason for this strategic misjudgment is that you did not communicate enough with the military, and you were too stubborn. Hanton, while you gained great fame, you were also framed by the people."
"Yes, Director Ino."
Yang Ming smiled and said:
"The only thing that can bring me satisfaction now is the praise from the common people."
"If that's the case," Director Ino asked, "could you initiate an activity, for example, have you represent the common people of the empire and hold a negotiation with the representatives of the aristocracy of the empire?"
Yang Ming frowned slightly.
My goodness, this old guy is really sinister.
The intention is to promote him as a foreman first, and then label him a labor scab later. No matter what problems arise in the future, people will put part of the blame on this ghost grand duke.
Negotiating with the foreman is not something that can be done lightly.
"As the elder just said," Yang Ming said seriously, "Although I consider the issue from the perspective of the common people, I have already left the lives of the common people and have no representativeness. I wonder if we can set up an elected organization in the empire to negotiate with the aristocracy?"
An elder immediately said, "The Imperial Code clearly stipulates that no organization with a democratic nature can be established, including workers' unions and public welfare organization management committees."
Yang Ming nodded: "Then I have no choice."
Director Ino looked at Yang Ming deeply for a few times, and then officially started today's negotiations.
Obviously, before Yang Ming came, the empire had already prepared a set of targeted measures.
Simply put, it is suppression by force.
The empire has now completed its deployment. All it needs is an order from the military, and a large number of second-line troops and local defense forces will be sent out to control the situation, arrest some of the most enthusiastic civilians and petty nobles, and then select some representative people to impose severe penalties as a warning to others.
Yang Ming just wanted to laugh when he heard this.
Use the military?
That couldn't be more appropriate.
It will definitely intensify the conflict and make the people feel wronged. Later, just hype that the empire released the captured nobles and severely punished the civilians without background, and it will be another large-scale public opinion event.
However, these old men also noticed this problem.
Although they don't have a good understanding of the living conditions of the people, there is no obvious brainstem deficiency syndrome in the major directions of national policies.
“The problem now is that if we do this, we can suppress the unrest in the short term, but in the long run, it will divide the empire in terms of public opinion and public action.
“This will reduce people’s sense of security and will also easily arouse their empathy.
"We have to find a way to eliminate these negative effects... maybe we can use some slightly less aggressive methods."
"Transparent arrests, open trials by noble and civilian courts, what do you think?"
"Now we are afraid that there will be troubles caused by unruly people. We must severely punish the nobles and tolerate the common people," an old man said coldly, "these people are greedy and despicable in their bones. They will seek a sense of superiority by suppressing the nobles."
Yang Ming immediately retorted, "If the common people are greedy and mean, then the nobles are evil, selfish, and shameless. Of course, I am talking about some nobles. Some nobles are still good and have not yet fallen. They have maintained their character."
"Grand Duke Hanton, you have been targeting us from the beginning, right?"
"If you don't mess with me first, will I target you?"
Bang!
The projection of one of the four elders in the military department slammed the table and said, "White Ghost! This is a meeting of the highest level of the empire!"
"Shut up, old man," Yang Ming said calmly, "I'll give you face and say you're a veteran of the empire. If I don't give you face, you're just an old worm who's not willing to die despite his aging body. What's your position? What's your official title? How dare you shout in front of me, the Grand Duke of the Empire and a Lieutenant General of the Military Department?"
"you!"
"Me? What's wrong with me? I gave you a chance before, but you didn't dare to use it. The Dreadnought was floating outside my planet Sakaar, but you left anyway?"
Yang Ming said leisurely:
"If you have the guts, use your dreadnought to bomb me. If you don't, just shut up and sit down. I'm telling you in advance that any attack that endangers the safety of my epidermal cells will be regarded as a declaration of war against me, and I will unconditionally launch an equal counterattack.
"Since it's already like this, let's just throw it away."
"White Ghost! You are so arrogant! You are so arrogant! You have no manners!"
"Hey, you can't even curse now? Is it because your brain has been soaked in the nutrient solution for too long, turning you into a living sauerkraut? If you don't know how to curse, I'll teach you, you old bastard, you old bastard who has been doing nothing but working for a living, when you were young, your erection lasted only three and a half seconds, and now you're old, you're still a wimp.
"Don't you have any idea what the problem of the empire is?
"You old fellows, you have violated the laws of nature to seize the power of the empire, causing the power structure of the empire to age and causing the metabolic function of the empire's system to be mostly abolished. You maintain what is in your interest and eliminate what is not.
"Do you still have any sense of honor for the Sherman family? Do you still have any ideals and beliefs that the Sherman Empire stands at the top of the galaxy? No, you have nothing."
Yang Ming's mouth was like a close-in weapon, not giving anyone a chance to interrupt.
“Also, if you are really working hard to fulfill the life ideal of your ancestor, the great founding emperor Levi Sherman, that is, individual dimensional ascension, and you have to use the imperial system to exploit the people and slaves in order to fulfill the dimensional ascension ideal of the Milky Way humanity, then I won’t say anything to you.
"At most, everyone has different standpoints, and I really think you are idealists.
“But what is the reality?
“You are only protecting your own interests, the interests of your own faction, and the interests of your descendants, and then let your descendants continue to take your place and continue to control the empire.
“You don’t even know how many major steps are needed to ascend to a higher dimension.
"This is the consolidation of power. This is the most advanced and corrupt consolidation of power! You are the root cause of the empire's current situation!"
Director Ino smiled with narrowed eyes for a moment, but he quickly frowned and looked thoughtful.
The others had gloomy faces and glared at Yang Ming.
An old man's breathing was a little disordered. He pointed at Yang Ming and cursed: "What are you thinking? What do you want to do? Hanton! You are a soldier of the empire! Where is your nature of obeying orders?"
Yang Ming said calmly: "My nature of obeying orders has been worn away by your repeated attempts to test my bottom line. Any other questions?"
"you!"
Another old man shouted angrily: "White Ghost! Do you really think we are afraid of you? Believe it or not, I will send people to wipe out your Sakaar planet right now!"
Yang Ming said calmly: "Guha Jupiter's third satellite, No. 18 Thinking Space Station, 1206 semi-permanent cabin... is this where your body is?"
The old man's face turned pale and the projection was shaking a little.
"You, you actually... who gave you this information! This is the most confidential information!"
"This is the information you think is the most confidential. In fact, as long as someone presses a button, your life support device will stop," Yang Ming said with a smile, "How many people want to climb to your position, don't your descendants have other ideas? You have lived too long, old man."
"Asshole! You! You!"
The old man's breathing quickened.
Yang Ming curled his lips slightly: "I think you should come up with a charter as soon as possible, otherwise, the fire will really burn. I can quarrel with me for a whole day."
The six elderly people present had gloomy expressions on their faces.
Yang Ming said again:
"There is another question, which I just raised. That is, professionals should do professional things. Are there any real political and sociological scholars in this top-level countermeasures meeting? Are there any experts who have truly studied the local ecology of the empire? None.
"This is another dilemma of the empire, which is what I just said. You have monopolized all the resources and made your descendants the heirs of your control over these resources.
"Real talents, abilities, and passion can only become local administrators at best. In fact, in today's empire, there is no governor who is not of noble origin.
"The path for people to rise up has long been blocked, and this is the root of the problem."
"Hanton," Director Ino frowned, "Shut up and stop talking. You've said too much today! Don't say anything that is not conducive to unity. The problem now is how to overcome the difficulties."
"no problem."
Yang Ming shrugged: "I respect you, Director, you are a true scientist."
"Continue the meeting."
Director Ino said:
"This matter should be handled quickly rather than slowly. I suggest that we first use force to control the situation, and then conduct an open and transparent trial, with civilians and nobles each receiving fifty lashes... Forget it, let's give civilians 20% of the punishment and nobles 80% of the punishment.
"As for the nobles, find some people from all over the country who have criminal records and have bullied the common people. Punish them severely and make an example of them.
"On the civilian side, catch a few troublemakers in each place and punish them severely. Label them as spies of the New Federal CIA. Remember to make the evidence and transfer records look more realistic.
"In addition, what Hanton said just now was very unpleasant and offensive to the elders. Hanton, you must apologize to everyone later.
"That's all. Let's start the discussion."
A group of elderly people looked at Yang Ming, and then began to express their opinions cautiously.
Boss Yang's eyes were somewhat empty.
He was wondering whether he should have a drink with the old emperor tonight. If the old emperor held that kind of "messy party" again, should he continue to behave himself or go with the flow.
Forget it.
He just had physical relations with Daphne, which must have caused Lu and his friends to complain about it.
It's not like he's being self-indulgent on purpose. If he doesn't get along well with Daphne, it will be hard to win over the old emperor as an ally.
Well, the next thing is to deal with the attack from the Sherman family.
It feels good to curse, but these old guys are probably going to get serious about it.
Yang Ming was looking forward to it.
…
"Oh, hahahaha! Hahaha!"
The old emperor patted Yang Ming's shoulder and laughed so hard that he fell backwards.
Yang Ming was worried that the old emperor would die of laughter.
"You were right to scold them! Hahaha! These old guys all think they are the chosen ones. In fact, they are just like me, from the Sherman family, descendants of Levi, that's why they have their current status.
“Ahahahaha!
"Hanton, you are right. The class system is rigid and power is locked up. Commoners have no path to rise, and neither do the petty nobles. This is the biggest problem."
The old emperor breathed a sigh of relief and watched the images playing repeatedly on the projection in front of him.
That was the scene of Yang Ming cursing someone.
The old emperor switched the channel contentedly.
The "programs" he watched were all carefully prepared by the Tentacle Organization, and could be considered a kind of "memorial" in the interstellar age.
The old emperor smiled and said, "Hanton, do you really think so?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I think the problem with the empire lies in the round table," Yang Ming said seriously. "It is the power center hidden in the shadow of the imperial power. They can ignore the imperial power when necessary, or in other words, they are part of the imperial power... These people are really insidious."
"It's all the same," the old emperor said, "when I step down from this position, I will become one of them."
"Oh, I think I said something wrong..."
"No," the old emperor smiled with narrowed eyes, "They cannot come to the front, otherwise the people will know that this country is controlled by some three or four hundred year old old bones, which will cause widespread panic. In fact, behind every large political system, there is a similar small organization. This is also a kind of power inheritance, but the inheritance cycle is too long."
Yang Ming nodded.
A new set of images appeared on the projection screen in front of the two people.
One ship after another fell from outside the atmosphere, and the soldiers riding on flying skateboards landed directly towards the area of turmoil and conflict on the ground.
The empire launched a thunderous military campaign.
The riots everywhere will be suppressed within the next half hour.
The old emperor asked: "Hanton, did you promise them that you would give an encouraging speech to the entire army later?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Yang Ming said, "I can't refuse this. They should hate me as an individual now, but also want to take advantage of my value."
"Hanton, tell me the truth," the old emperor stared at the scene on the screen and leaned towards Yang Ming, "What is your personal ideal?"
“ Let my hometown receive the protection and equal treatment of the empire.”
"No, this is your mission," the old emperor said with a smile, "your personal ideal, that is, your ambition, for example, obtaining the right to inherit the throne through Daphne."
Yang Ming frowned tightly: "Your Majesty, I really haven't thought about this."
"Why don't you think about it?"
The old emperor narrowed his eyes and smiled: "As long as you and Daphne can give birth to a child, this child will definitely be more powerful than other princes and grandchildren. The empire does not have such rubbish rules as passing on the throne to males but not females. Daphne and you are both political stars in the empire... Isn't this very interesting?"
Yang Ming: It’s started, this old guy has started to make empty promises!
Isn't it just to use him to deal with the Sherman family elite in power?
Can't you just say it directly?
Yang Ming pursed his lips slightly and made a thoughtful expression: "Your Majesty, I just want to make the empire a better place."
The old emperor did not continue the topic. He just turned off the projection screen and motioned Yang Ming to press the floating sofa he was sitting on.
"Come with me to Hanton. There are some good things over at the Empire Development Church."
