Chapter 358 Book 4 Prologue - Part 1 (2/2)
Jia Xu and Xun Yu frowned as they did not like the democracy system. From their perspective, a random politician could bribe or cheat their ways to the top by using this government type. They could also exploit many loopholes in the election, such as faking identities, manipulating votes, and lobbying senates into selecting them into a prime minister.
Many officers here also saw this system as an incomplete government system. Their mouth curled downward in disapproval.
”I'm not telling everyone that I'll use this system. However, all of you should start reading this and come up with ways to improve it. This will be your homework, which I'll be collecting your thought once we unify the northern plain.”
Jia Xu could not hold it anymore. He stepped forward, ”My lord, I don't agree with this election system. I don't think you should select an officer solely on the popular vote since peasants and civilians are not educated. They will be easily manipulated by any merchant or greedy noble!”
Tong shook his head, ”I've not finished yet. Stand down, Jia Xu.”Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.
Tong did not call Jia Xu by his style name. Instead, he called Jia Xu by his official name this time.
Jia Xu could tell that Tong's tone changed. Once a lord called his subordinate by his full name, it signified his seriousness in the matter.
Jia Xu stepped back as he was asked. Tong continued, ”I'll test this system in a village-level first. We'll educate people about the importance of representatives. My goal is to establish a representative system for the lowest level community, so they can learn to work with the government.”
”Oh!”
Everybody sighed in relief. For a moment, all officers thought that Tong would select an emperor by an election.
Tong chuckled as he trolled his subordinates enough, ”I know what you all are thinking. You are waiting for my confirmation about the throne successor. Am I right?”
The room got quiet again.
”I will not make this decision. He will.”
Tong smiled and looked at Liu Xie, ”Bohe, if you wish to succeed your mother, you can be the next emperor. However, if you are not confident, you can abdicate the throne.”
Liu Xie gulped. This was a heavy burden for a seven-year-old boy who had just lost his mother.
As a child, he wanted to be with someone at his age, playing and enjoying his childhood. Unfortunately, he was born in a royal family, which a burden befell on him.
Liu Xie's hands trembled as he stared into the eyes of all politicians and generals.
At the sides, all Han loyalists frowned, thinking that Tong used a dirty trick or manipulated Liu Xie into making a decision.
Sima Fang stepped forward first. At this moment, he was neutral in this successor aspect, but he also believed that Tong was not fair.
”My lord, I don't think young master Liu Xie can make the right decision. Making a child decide for his fates is not a prudent move, even if it's you.”
The corner of Tong's mouth curled upward, ”You think so? What do you think, Bohe? Do you want to be an adult now, or do you want to live as a child?”
Hearing the provocation, Liu Xie's nervousness stopped. His trembling disappeared and replaced with a confident glare.
Thinking back during the helpless time when he and He Xing had to rely on Zhao Yun to escape, he blamed himself for being useless in that battle.
”I want to be an adult!”
”Then, as an adult, what will be your decision? Are you ready to take the throne as it is?”
As soon as Tong said that, all loyalists and Tong's supporters protested, ”Lord Zhang! Please don't force your words into a child's mouth!”
”This is unethical, lord Zhang Tong! If you wish to take the throne, take it with pride!”
Buzzes and noises echoed in the government hall. In an annoyance, Tong pulled out his pistol and fired it at the ceiling.
*BANG*
Everybody quieted, gazing at Tong with fright.
”Be quiet while I teach my son about responsibility!”
”Eh?”
”Huh?”
”Teaching?”
All civil officers puzzled by Tong's purpose. They glanced back and forth between Tong and Liu Xie in confusion.
Ju Shou picked up the hint first. He burst into laughter before he held his mouth, hiding his laugh because everybody was staring at him.
Xun Yu detected the underlying motive a bit slower. He smirked and hid his hands inside his sleeves, pretending to be calm.
Jia Xu slapped his forehead and glared at Tong, wanting to cuss at him in public, but he withheld his action.
Liu Xie took his time to think while he observed the reaction of all officers. His facial expression changed from uncertainty to anger, from an angry look to a sneer, then it reverted to an indifferent look.
”I cannot take the throne.”