Chapter 1130: Chief Councilor Liu

The so-called First Island Chain.

It is a concept proposed by the United States in a past life.

This First Island Chain is located in the Western Pacific. It is the archipelago belt consisting of South Asia, Korea, and Ryukyu. The Soya Strait, Tsugaru Strait, Korea Strait, Osumi Strait, Bashi Channel, Batanes Strait, and so on and so forth...

These straits are all international waterways.

A so-called island chain has both geographical significance and political significance. In the past life, the proposal of the First Island Chain was a strategy put forward by the United States in the 1950s, intended to blockade the Asian continent and form a tangible threat to various Asian countries. MacArthur even proposed building this First Island Chain into an "unsinkable aircraft carrier."

Of course.

The most important aspect of this island chain is its shipping capacity.

We are still in an era of competition for Sea Power; whoever can establish true hegemony on the sea will continue to dominate the world!

And for Longyan, whether it can control the First Island Chain at the first opportunity is the top priority!

Asia is now Liu Zheng's home base.

He believes that Asia will sooner or later become the world's true center of trade and economy! Because of the advantages in population and geography, this is an inevitable development.

He will not allow the First Island Chain to fall into the hands of others!

Longyan.

Jinghua.

Today is the day the Cabinet, the Upper House, and the Lower House are officially established.

"Down with Vice Minister Liu!"

"Cannot let him be elected!"

"Get out of Longyan!"

Early in the morning, all sorts of people arrived on the street.

Everyone knows that today the Cabinet will truly produce a Chief Councilor, and this Chief Councilor will become the person with the most power in Longyan after the constitutional monarchy!

How can this be!

Not allowed!

The scholars have gone mad. Because when they boycotted the Simplified Chinese, the Duqi Duwei could not help but take action. They directly killed those who organized the boycott and arrested others! The violent incidents have already begun to escalate. Of course, Jinghua bore the brunt of it.

Therefore, this group of people already hates this Vice Minister Liu to the bone.

Mad.

One by one they are like lunatics, one by one their faces are ferocious.

As long as they were people, they all came to the street.

There were old scholars supported by others; they still have some status in the Capital or Longyan, and behind these old men naturally followed their filial sons and grandsons.

This time, Liu Zheng has offended many people.

Those nobles, as well as those students from humble backgrounds.

"This..."

"Vice Minister Liu..."

"What is to be done about this?"

No one expected the formation to become so large. Outside the entire Imperial Palace, people have already gathered together. The so-called law does not punish the masses; although Liu Zheng's recent governance has been cold-blooded and ruthless, after all, the law does not punish the masses, and such widespread dissatisfaction must be given an explanation to the public.

And in Longyan, the constitutional monarchy has only just begun.

Of course.

To say that there are no others behind the scenes instigating these people who came to cause trouble is definitely impossible.

Liu Zheng looked at this vast crowd of people; a large group of Duqi Duwei were already on high alert, their weapons drawn. But these people are not stupid; these days, they have also witnessed Liu Zheng's iron-fisted methods. They just stood outside, but as the number of people increased, their shouting began to turn frantic, and the clamor spread throughout all of Jinghua.

Liu Zheng looked indifferent, walked into the Upper House, and said calmly: "Let them make a scene; it would be best to have someone prepare some stools for them. Wait until we are finished with our work inside. Then come out and announce it to them."

Amidst the clamor of the people, Liu Zheng turned and walked into the Upper House.

"Just like that?"

"This is outrageous!"

"He actually disregards public opinion like this!"

"Look, this is the Vice Minister Liu you all support! When the late Emperor was alive, he kept talking about valuing people's livelihoods, valuing people's livelihoods, but what about now!"

"It is heartbreaking!"

These troublemakers were all beating their chests and stamping their feet.

Torment.

The sun in this midsummer is undoubtedly a difficult torment for these people.

One hour later.

The "Longyan Constitution" has been drafted and perfected.

On this matter, regarding the question of who will become the Chief Councilor of the Cabinet, Longyan had almost no disagreement.

Liu Zheng actually did not want to be it.

But Zhu Zhen and the Prince of Qin both indicated that they were already old; in the era of Xie Tianyao, they were both pillars of the state, but as the saying goes, each emperor has his own court. With the rise of Xie Ming, with the constitutional monarchy, with the formation of the Cabinet, and with the changes in the entire Longyan system, their thoughts on fighting for power and influence were actually not as strong as before.

Just lie low.

Since everyone has almost already invested in the East India Company, what effort do they still have to make?

Just let Vice Minister Liu lead them to make money!

Liu Zheng felt very helpless.

Unanimously passed!

He became the first Chief Councilor of this Longyan Cabinet, and the first Chief Councilor to be elected by a unanimous vote!

The youngest Chief Councilor!

This left him feeling somewhat between laughter and tears.

"Congratulations, Chief Councilor!"

"Chief Councilor Liu!"

"Chief Councilor!"

The entire hall was jubilant, with applause like thunder.

With the establishment of the Cabinet, Xie Ming, as the Emperor, was also watching from the side.

Seeing Liu Zheng become the Chief Councilor without any suspense, his gaze was as vicious as it could possibly be.

"Damn it..."

"On what grounds... on what grounds!"

Xie Ming clenched his fists tightly.

The applause could not stop at all.

Everyone looked at Liu Zheng with anticipation; the position of Chief Councilor had no suspense to begin with. Constitutional monarchy, the Simplified Chinese reform, the redistribution of territories—all of this had become a foregone conclusion. With East India holding shares, they now hoped that Liu Zheng could bring them more surprises and provide Longyan with a clearer direction.

Amidst the congratulations, Liu Zheng walked to the front of the stage and chuckled.

The entire hall slowly quieted down.

He took a deep breath.

What he wanted was such a united Longyan; however, without his iron-fisted rule over these past few days, none of this would have been realized.

The Longyan people are complex.

Various ideologies from thousands of years have made the concepts of Longyan lean more toward deceit and the supremacy of interests.

But fortunately, it was finally stabilized.

He looked around; at this moment, in this Cabinet, besides the nine Cabinet Members, there were also many candidate Cabinet Members from the Upper House, all looking at Liu Zheng with eyes full of anticipation.

Liu Zheng smiled faintly: "The office of Chief Councilor is of the utmost importance. I, Zheng, feel unworthy of it, yet the Prince of Qin, Elder Zhu, and all my colleagues have placed their hopes in me. Though I am untalented, I am willing to exhaust my heart and energy to lead the Cabinet!"

"Good!"

"Well said!"

"Chief Councilor Liu!"

Everyone offered their congratulations one after another, and cheers rose up once again.

Afterward, Liu Zheng shook his head: "However, everyone has truly set a difficult problem for me today. I presume all my colleagues seem to be waiting to see how Liu Zheng will appease the public anger today, is that not so?"

The crowd burst into loud laughter upon hearing this.

It must be said.

They really did have this thought.

Liu Zheng had become the Chief Councilor.

Then, what about those people outside?

Kill them?

They cannot be killed.

Persuade them?

How to persuade them?

These people laughed heartily one by one; of course, they believed that Liu Zheng had a Method.

Sure enough.

Liu Zheng looked indifferent, waved his hand, and led everyone out the door.

The crowd became excited at once.

It had been a long time since they had seen the scene of Vice Minister Liu angrily confronting a group of people.