Chapter 1102: A Harmonious Meeting (Part II)

The most important moment has arrived!

It was not just the Minister of Finance and Qiaoshuya who grew tense. Upon hearing Li Ang mention the "personnel adjustment proposal sent by the Military Department," everyone in the vast main hall who knew that the Princess had been blocked at the Prime Minister's residence by a large number of officers three days ago held their breath.

Regarding Princess Weiluonika's reforms in recent years, although they had caused the old nobility to suffer quite a few losses, most could only be considered "flanking maneuvers" or "minor skirmishes" that did not damage the foundations.

But this officer replacement order was different. Although this proposal did not directly uproot them or deny the legitimacy of their noble status, if it were passed, it would be equivalent to kicking the legs out from under the old nobility. From then on, they would only be able to hop along on one leg, losing most of their voice before the Royal Family.

According to the procedures of the Kingdom's bicameral parliament, the Upper House held a very high weight in "legislation." Once this proposal passed in the Upper House, the Lower House could only make detailed revisions. No matter how much they delayed, it would be implemented bit by bit, leaving no room for maneuver.

Therefore, what the Acting Speaker was about to say next almost determined the future of the old nobility and even the entire Kingdom. It was the most important proposal in the Kingdom in nearly a hundred years, and perhaps even the only one of its kind!

"Hehe, it seems everyone knows what I am about to say next."

Under the gaze of nearly a thousand pairs of eyes—some nervous, some expectant, some worried, some excited—Li Ang first looked up and scanned the main hall, then slightly curled the corners of his mouth, and his voice suddenly rose!

"Today, the first proposal that requires a vote from all members is the Military Department's Gatekeeper Retrenchment Order! Those who oppose it may speak!"

"I object!"

Before Li Ang had even finished speaking, the middle-aged man who had been the second to stand up and denounce the Princess's reform as a betrayal of the Kingdom's code suddenly stood up, his face flushed red as he roared:

"This is an absolutely chaotic order! The Military Department's gatekeepers absolutely cannot... gatekeepers?"

"Yes, gatekeepers."

Li Ang on the main stage nodded and answered with a smile:

"The first proposal for the members to vote on is the Military Department's Gatekeeper Office retrenchment proposal.

The Minister of National Defense believes that the Military Department has enough officers and patrolling guards, and there is no need to establish a separate Gatekeeper Office. He wants to abolish it to save expenses... Is there anyone else who, like Lord Moli, opposes the Military Department abolishing the gatekeepers?"

"..."

Huh? The vote isn't for the officer replacement order?

Upon hearing the Acting Speaker's words, the members in the main hall were all stunned, then hurriedly began to flip through the proposal sheets on their tables.

Sure enough, in the thick stack of proposals marked with the Military Department's symbol, there was indeed one... one-sixth of a page mentioned this gatekeeper retrenchment order.

It was just that because the matter was truly too insignificant—so small that it didn't even deserve a separate page, merely mixed in with two lines among "other miscellaneous items"—it resulted in everyone having no impression of it at all.

But thinking carefully, this trivial gatekeeper retrenchment order was indeed a proposal regarding personnel adjustments submitted by the Military Department. The Acting Speaker wasn't lying.

It's just that...

"Pfft..."

Watching Lord Moli, who had stood up indignantly from his seat and was just about to take the lead in outputting opposition to the officer replacement order, only to have his full fury extinguished like a mosquito coil, a burst of low, muffled laughter could not help but erupt from the member seats on both sides of the main stage.

And those rivals who had grudges with Lord Moli, as well as the side-members who were not officially seated and only had the qualification to listen, laughed out loud directly. For a time, the entire main hall was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

"Are there no other expressions of opinion? It seems Lord Moli is the only one who thinks the Military Department's gatekeepers are very important and absolutely cannot be abolished."

After the members had laughed enough, Li Ang on the main stage picked up the small silver hammer, struck the small golden bell with a 'clang', and said with a smile:

"One hundred sixty-seven to one, the Military Department's Gatekeeper Office retrenchment proposal is passed. This proposal will be sent to the Lower House later for the Lower House to supplement the details and specifically implement it... Lord Moli, please sit."

"..."

I've been played!

Amidst the laughter of those around him—some trying hard to conceal it, others unbridled—the middle-aged member's face, which was already flushed red from nervousness, instantly deepened by two shades, looking almost purple.

After Lord Moli, whose face had turned the color of a pig's liver, sat down, Li Ang nodded to him, then, under the gaze of the other party's murderous glare, opened his mouth with a smile:

"Sorry, I just played a little joke on everyone. Now it's time to get to the point." When he said this, Li Ang's expression became slightly solemn, then he struck the small golden bell with the hammer and said with a sincere face:

"Next, what everyone needs to vote on is the most important one among the proposals submitted by the Military Department this time.

Whether this replacement can proceed determines the future of the Military Department and even the entire Kingdom, and determines whether many officers can still wear their original clothes."

It seems this time it really is the officer replacement order.

Seeing Li Ang's expression was incomparably solemn, the expressions of the members also became serious, sitting upright and waiting to participate in the vote.

"I announce."

After playfully glancing at Lord Moli, who was sitting on his right and looked like he might jump up at any moment, Li Ang said loudly under the gaze of countless members:

"The second proposal to be deliberated today is the Military Department's officer uniform replacement order! Please vote!"

After hearing the three keywords "Military Department," "officer," and "replacement order," Lord Moli, who had just failed in leading the charge and had crashed into a ditch, stood up again with a 'thud', and then...

He sat back down with a 'thud' on his butt.

"Pfft!"

"Ahahaha!"

Although Lord Moli's reaction was much faster than last time, sitting back down before he had even opened his mouth, although he hadn't said anything, it seemed as if he had said everything.

Facing Lord Moli, who had fallen for the same trick twice and had jumped up on the spot like a spring, even those in the same camp as him couldn't help but laugh out loud this time.

"Acting Speaker!"

Forcibly biting his cheek and relying on the pain to hold back the smile on his face, the Minister of Finance sitting on the side of the main stage stood up and demanded with a stern face:

"One joke is enough. Today's agenda is very tight. Please put these unimportant issues aside and deal with the more critical proposals first!"

"Mm-hmm."

Li Ang responded perfunctorily, then picked up the hammer and tapped the small bell, smiling at the members below:

"Then let's proceed to the third vote. What we are voting on this time is also a proposal submitted by the Military Department.

This proposal still relates to many officers, determining whether they can still eat their original bowl of rice, and like the previous two proposals, it has far-reaching implications for the future of the Kingdom..."

Understood, he's playing us again.

Hearing this unusually familiar vague description, the members below naturally wouldn't fall for it a third time and directly began flipping through the documents at hand.

Sure enough, three lines down from the "Gatekeeper Retrenchment Proposal" was the "Food Budget Expansion Proposal." The description of the impact was completely consistent; it was one hundred percent nonsense again.

As the saying goes, once or twice is fine, but not three or four times.

Facing this answer that was practically laid out on his face, even the hot-tempered Lord Moli didn't hold back anymore, but crossed his arms and leaned against the back of his chair, looking at Li Ang on the main stage with a dark face, preparing to wait for him to continue talking nonsense. However...

"Officer replacement order, please vote... eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

It only took 0.35 seconds to finish the countdown. Amidst the stunned expressions of the members, Li Ang directly swung the small silver hammer and smashed the small golden bell beside him with a 'clang', drowning out all words of obstruction in the bell sound.

"No objections, the officer replacement order is passed."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1103 =====