Iron Power And Sorcerer

Iron Power And Sorcerer Chapter 381

2021-12-22

Chapter 381 vortex (VII)

[Election day, early morning]
[Steel Castle Municipal Palace]
Before the public debate, Winters met with Mayor Wupper.

Mayor Wupper is changing his debate robes, and two servants are busy waiting for him. In front of him was a mercury mirror taller than an adult, the size of which Winters had never seen before.

Mr. Mayor meticulously checked his appearance, making adjustments from time to time, as if every lock of hair and every badge had its place.

However, no amount of powder could hide the anxiety and annoyance on Mr. Mayor's face.

"[Old phrase] Please answer me, Lord Baron." Paul Wupper looked at Winters through the mirror, and blunt asked, "[Old phrase] Whose side are you on?"

"[Old phrase] You can trust me, Mr. Mayor." Winters replied calmly: "[Old phrase] I'm never on the side of Unionists."

"[ Old saying] Then why are you..."

"[Old saying] I respect you, Mayor, but business is business. If you can convince your partner to accept my offer, I'll be you The most loyal ally."

...

Then Winters met John Servette.

Steelcastle City Councilman [John Serveter] is forty-nine years old, but looks only in his early forties. He was tall and thin, with short light gray hair, every button of his dark black shirt was fastened, and he had a reserved expression.

Only Winters and Servetus were in the room.

Servette sat upright in the deep red armchair, flipping through a thick stack of lecture notes. He raised his sunken eyes and glanced at Winters, and the atmosphere immediately became dull.

"Mr. Granagher." Servette's voice was low and cold: "Are you buying my supporters?"

This is the first for Winters and Servetus The first time they met, he restrained and showed no emotion: "I cannot accept this accusation."

"You first appeared at the reception of the Esther family, and then continued with more than a dozen forges. How do you think I should assume your purpose?"

Winters pondered for a moment, then said earnestly, "Don't worry, Mr. Senator. I can assure you from my honor that I am not from the White Eagle. Man, and not Paul Wupper's, my dealings with the workshop owners do not contain any political intent."

Servette's eyes pierced the young Baron, though he did not find the lie Traces, but only a few words impossible to convince him: "If so, what are you asking for?"

"Money, Mr. Senator, clinking money. If you can convince your supporters Take my offer, I don't mind letting gold flow in your name."

 …

 …

Winters visits two "representatives of public opinion" Just a small episode, today's highlight is the public debate before the general election vote.

Several decades ago, when everything on the shores of Rose Lake was the property of the Elin monastery, the blacksmiths gathered here were exercising a rowdy guild-style democracy.

After entering the republic era, with the increasing wealth, the people of Steelcastle artfully copied the procedure of the Elder's Council of the ancient empire.

Even the Steelcastle City Council is built according to the imaginary ancient palace of the elders: a high dome, a ring of stepped seats, a debate platform in the center of the hall.

However, the Steelcastle people also made a little improvement: they added a second layer to the chamber of the House of Representatives, so that people who were not eligible to attend the debate could observe.

The forge masters of Steel Castle gathered in the first floor of the council room, a considerable number of them are no longer "blacksmiths", and have never even done blacksmithing work, but this does not prevent them from becoming masters. One of a handful of people in the steel industry.

Winters, Carlo Ed and Carman watched the debate in the second layer of the House.

The echo structure of the House makes the words of Paul Wupper and John Serveter extraordinarily loud, with deafening echoes emanating from the tiered seats from time to time.

“How?” Carol Ed asked Winters.

"Mayor Wupper is very difficult to deal with." Winters replied in a low voice, "But Senator Servetus should win."

I have to admit, Paul Wupper His excellent performance in the debate greatly changed his impression in Winters' mind.

The exaggerated and frivolous Mr. Mayor stepped onto the podium and seemed to be a different person. He recounted the glorious history of Steel Castle from scratch, through childhood, and from big to strong. , heard the thunderous applause from the members of the blacksmith guild.

After talking about grandfather, father and his own achievements, Mayor Wupper changed his words and began to point the finger at the Clarion Fort and "those who we can't name", trying to exaggerate the current situation facing Steel Fort. A crisis, as if the steel castle had been sitting on a volcanic crater without knowing it.

After a brief mention of the great cause of his ancestors again, Paul Wupper concludes that only he - the loyal public servant of the Wupper family - is the leader who can lead Steelcastle out of its predicament.

If it was Paul Wupper who was [intoxicated playboy] in Winters' eyes before, then after such a long speech, Paul Wupper's image has at least become [eloquent indulgent playboy] ].

John Servette's performance was lackluster by comparison.

In Winters' view, the biggest problem with Senator Servette is that his voice is bad, tight, and lacks emotional magic.

Congressman Servette, who is very oppressive in one-on-one dealings, has no aura in public places.

Senator Servetus recites his memorized speech mechanically, like brown bread that has been left for too long to be dehydrated—dry, hard, and dull.

While others might think that Servetus' style of speech is due to nature, Winters thinks Mr. Senator's poor performance is entirely due to his nervousness. Because I was too nervous, I could only speak in an emotionless way.

But Senator Servette's speech was full of dry goods. Instead of spending time reminiscing about the glory days, he focused on the current situation.

Mr. Senator holds an extremely pessimistic attitude and proposes that the "prolongation of the trade ban" and the "expansion of the Palatine civil war" must be regarded as the prerequisites for formulating policies.

Servette's point of view is interesting, and Winters is fascinated.

Mr. Senator believes that trying to challenge the Clarion Castle head-on is a serious misjudgment of the situation. The trade ban will not only be relaxed, but will become increasingly severe; With the expansion of the civil war in Latour, the demand for steel and weapons will eventually reach a higher level; by that time, even the provinces will have to untie the steel castle and ask for help from the steel castle;

So The top priority is to protect the iron industry of Steel Castle and help the workshops to withstand the initial impact; Or directly set up a warehouse and set a price for acquisition...

At the end, Winters even took out a pen and paper and listened while taking notes. Apparently, Senator Servette's speech had more to say than the eloquent Mayor of Wupper, although he was pro-Provincial.

That's why Winters replied to Carlo Ed: "Mayor Wupper is very difficult to deal with , but Councilman Servette will win."

Carlo Ed But disagreeing with Winters' judgment, he shook his head with a smile: "I don't see it. If it weren't for the fact that the current situation was really worrying, Senator Servette would not even have any chance of winning. Even now, Senator Servette may not win the election. More than half."

"Why?" Winters wondered.

Carol Eder sets her sights on the debate stage.

The election debate has entered the stage of questioning each other. Paul Wupper and John Servette have a word with you and a word with me, giving tit for tat.

Wuber attacked that Servetus was not a true Solingen, nor was he a blacksmith, and all depended on people being adopted sons to inherit the forge and get the right to vote.

Servette did not recognize Paul Wupper's ability, and cited several cases where Mayor Wupper opened the door for family and friends.

“This kind of debate is not like a sword technique.” Carlo Ed leisurely said: “The sword is to win the opponent. The key to the ongoing debate is to win the audience. Refuting opponents is the next best thing."

Winters also looked away from the two debaters and turned to the audience.

Evidently, Paul Wupper completely beats Servette when it comes to mobilizing emotions, venting emotions, and inspiring followers.

Winters suddenly smiled and said to Kaman, "If Mayor Wupper joins the Catholic Church, he would be a good preacher and debater."

Kaman was stunned for a moment, then Eyes wide open: "The evangelism of the Catholic Church has strict ceremony and procedures, and theological debate is more logical. Preachers like to incite emotions. You don't want to pour sewage on us."

Winters raised his hand in surrender.

Kaman retorted: "It's you, who was walking around yesterday, visiting everywhere, trying to profit from the fight between the two candidates. But now? The vote is about to go, and your last chance is also Slip away."

"The election of the Blacksmiths' Guild is about to end, but there are still elections for the Parish Headquarters and the City Council." Winters and Mr. Ed looked at each other and said with a smile : "It's not that easy for Mayor Wupper to win to the end. Look at it, Senator Servette still has a fight with him."

After the debate, the House entered a short break.

The masters of the forge, sitting on the terrace seats, dispersed, and when they returned, a vote would be held to determine who would become the next guild president.

Paul Wupper and John Servette were also swarmed and hurried out of the House—to count the votes, presumably.

The guild democracy of the Blacksmiths of Steel Castle has not yet developed a role similar to the [Party Whip] of the later generations. All prior promises may be illusions, and only when the forge masters actually cast their votes into the black box is dust. settled.

The break is over, and the two candidates and the Forge Masters return to the Chamber.

"Can we start?" the speaker in charge of maintaining order asked the two candidates.

"Wait! The messengers who went to the horn fort to lobby have not sent back the message, and the current situation is not enough for everyone to make the most appropriate judgment." Paul Wupper wears a gold-embroidered purple robe Stepping up to the podium, his posture was a little embarrassed, but he quickly put away his panic and confusion, and shouted: "Gentlemen! Forge masters of Steel Castle! It's too early to make a decision, I propose, vote A week later!"

Winters and Carol Edd exchanged glances.

Carol Ed squinted his eyes: "It seems that the votes for Mayor Wupper are not optimistic."

Old Mister, who was the speaker, was a little panicked: "The extension Voting? Was there a precedent before?"

"Yes!" Paul Wupper resolutely and decisively replied: "Eighty-five years ago, when the diocese head office discussed the construction of the canal, the voting was postponed. Twice!"

The speaker looked tentatively towards John Servette: "Then this..."

In the House everyone was waiting for MP Servette When he refused, Servetus stood up and said in a dry tone, "I agree to postpone the vote."

There was an uproar in the chamber.

"It seems that Congressman Servetus is not sure he can win either." Carol Ed looked thoughtful.

Winters frowned, and after a long time he asked himself in a low voice, "Have I set the fire too big?"

"Have you ever had a small fire? ?" Kaman asked.

 …

On the night of the public debate on the general election of the Blacksmiths Guild, Winters received a letter from Fuller, the gunsmith.

In addition to the beautiful greetings, the letter also listed in detail the prices of various long spears, short guns, swords, bullet molds and other weapons, and even small items such as whetstones.

Fuller also emphasized: the price listed in the letter is the lowest price he can accept; if Mr. Baron wants to make a transaction, he is very welcome; if Mr. Baron wants to continue to lower the price, please forgive me.

Winters only read the beginning of the letter, not the price list at all.

He has received twenty-one because of the same letter.

From reed guns to whetstones, every letter is quoted exactly the same.

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