[On the day of the election, early in the morning]

[Gangbao Municipal Palace]

Before the public debate began, Winters met Mayor Wupper.

Mayor Wupper was changing the robe for debate, and two servants were busy serving him. He was standing in front of him with a mercury mirror taller than an adult, and Winters had never seen a mirror of this size before.

The mayor meticulously checked his appearance and made adjustments from time to time, as if every strand of hair and every badge had a fixed position.

However, no matter how thick the powder is, it cannot cover up the anxiety and annoyance on the mayor's face.

"[Old Language] Please answer me, Lord Baron." Paul Wupper looked at Winters through the mirror and asked directly: "[Old Language] Who are you on?"

"[Old Word] You can trust me, Mr. Mayor." Winters calmly replied: "[Old Word] I will never stand with the Unionists."

“[Old Words] Then why are you…”

"[Old Words] I respect you, mayor, but business is business. If you can convince your partner to accept my offer, I will be your most loyal ally."

...

Then, Winters met John Selvette.

The Steel Fort Councilman [John Selvette] is forty-nine years old, but he looks like he is only in his forties. He is tall and thin, with short light gray hair and every button of his dark black top is firmly clasped.

A serious expression.

There were only two people in the room, Winters and Servette.

Selvette sat upright in the crimson armchair, looking through a thick stack of speeches. He raised his deep eyes and looked at Winters, and the atmosphere immediately became dull.

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

This was the first time Winters and Selvette met, and he restrainedly showed no emotion: "I am sorry for this charge."

"You first appeared at the Este family reception and then came into contact with more than a dozen Forging Lords in succession. How do you think I should assume your purpose?"

Winters pondered for a moment and said sincerely: "Don't worry, Mr. Congressman. I can assure you with my reputation that I am not a White Eagle's man, nor Paul Wupper's man, and my negotiations with all the workshop owners do not include

Any political attempt.”

Servette's eyes cut off the young baron. Although he did not find any traces of lies, it was impossible for him to believe just by just a few words: "Since that's the case, what exactly do you ask for?"

"Money, sir, jingle money. If you can convince your supporters to accept my offer, I don't mind letting the gold flow in your name."

...

...

Winters' visit to the two "public opinion representatives" is just a small episode, and today's highlight is the public debate before the election of the new term.

As early as decades ago, everything on the shore of Lake Rose was still in the property of Elin Monastery, the blacksmiths gathered here were implementing a noisy guild-style democracy.

After entering the republic era, as wealth increased, the people of Steel Fort copied the process of the Senate of the Ancient Empire in a arty manner.

Even the Steel Fort City Council was built according to the imagined ancient Senate Palace: a high dome, a ring-shaped step-stair seat, and a debate table in the center of the hall.

But the Steel Fort people also made some improvements: they added a second floor to the House hall so that those who are not qualified to attend the debate will be listened to.

The owners of the forge furnace in the steel castle gathered in the meeting hall on the first floor. A considerable number of them were no longer "blacksmiths" and had never even done blacksmiths' work, but this did not prevent them from becoming the one who controls the iron industry of the steel castle.

One of the small group of people.

Winters, Carlo Ed and Carman watched the debate on the second floor of the House.

The echo structure of the House made Paul Wupper and John Selvette's speeches extremely loud, and deafening echoes came from the stepped seats from time to time.

"How?" Carlo Ed asked Winters.

"Mayor Wupper is amazing," Winters whispered: "But Selvette should win."

It has to be admitted that Paul Wupper's wonderful performance in the debate greatly changed his impression in Winters's mind.

The mayor, who was exaggerated and frivolous, seemed to have become a different person after walking onto the podium. He was eloquent and passionately counted the glorious history of the steel castle from nothing to something, from little to big, from big to strong, and listened to the Blacksmith Guild.

The members let out thunderous applause.

After talking about grandpa, father and his political achievements, Mayor Wu Po changed his mind and began to point his finger at the horn castle and "those who cannot mention the names we have," and tried their best to exaggerate the crisis that Steel castle is currently facing, as if Steel castle has already been sitting.

In the crater without knowing it.

After briefly mentioning the great cause of his ancestors again, Paul Wupper concluded that only his loyal servants of the Wupper family were the leaders who could lead Steel Fort out of their predicament.

If Paul Wupper was a [a playboy who was addicted to wine and sex] in Winters' eyes, then after such a long speech, Paul Wupper's image at least became an [a playboy who was addicted to wine and sex].

By contrast, John Selvette's performance was unreasonable.

When Winters came, the biggest problem for Servette MP was that his voice was not nice, tight, and lacked the magic of infecting emotions.

The Servette MP who was very oppressive when he got along one on one, stood in public but had no aura.

Member Servette mechanically recited the pre-recited speech, as if to prevent the dehydrated black bread from being dry, hard and boring.

Others may think that Selvette's speech style is due to nature, but Winters thinks that Mr. Congressman's poor performance is entirely because he is too nervous. Because he is too nervous, he can only speak in a way without any emotion.

But the content of the speech of Selvette was full of practical information. He did not spend time recalling the glorious years, but focused on the current situation.

Mr. Parliamentary Members adhered to an extremely pessimistic attitude and proposed that the "long-term trade ban" and "expanding the Paratu Civil War" must be regarded as prerequisites for formulating policies.

Selvette's views were interesting and fascinated by Winters.

Mr. Parliament believes that trying to challenge the horn fort head-on is a serious misjudgment of the situation. The trade ban will not only be impossible to relax, but will become increasingly severe; in the short term, the steel fortress will inevitably suffer a heavy blow;

But with the expansion of the Civil War in Paratu, the demand for steel and weapons will eventually reach a higher level; by then, even the United Provinces would have to untied the steel fort and ask for help from the steel fort;

Therefore, the most urgent task is to protect the iron industry of the steel fort and help various workshops survive the initial impact;

The parish chief guild, municipal government, and state parliament can provide guarantees to borrow money to workshop owners who are on the verge of bankruptcy, or directly set up warehouses and set up prices to purchase...

At the end of his hearing, Winters even took out paper and pen to listen and remember. Obviously, the speech of Servette was more meaningful than the eloquent Mayor Wupper, although he was a close associate.

That's why Winters answered Carlo Ed: "Mayor Wupper is great, but Selvette Councillors will win."

Carlo Ed disagreed with Winters' judgment. He smiled and shook his head: "I think it's hard to say it. If the current situation was not really worrying, Servette's MP would not even win. Even now, Servette

The chances of the MPs winning the election are not more than half.”

"Why?" Winters was unknown.

Carlo Ed turned his attention to the debate station.

The election debate has entered the stage of mutual inquiries. Paul Wupper and John Selvette say one thing, and I say one thing, and then one thing, and one thing is tit-for-tat.

Wupper attacked Servet was not a real Solingen man, nor a blacksmith. He relied on being an adopted son to inherit the forge and obtain the right to vote.

Servette did not recognize Paul Wupper's ability, and even listed several cases where Mayor Wupper opened convenient doors for relatives and friends.

"This kind of debate is not like a sword competition." Carlo Ed said: "What is necessary to compete for sword competition is to defeat the opponent. The key to the ongoing debate below is to win the audience. Whether the opponent can be refuted is second."

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

Obviously, Paul Wupper completely overwhelmed Servette in mobilizing emotions, venting emotions, and encouraging followers.

Winters suddenly smiled and said to Kaman: "If Mayor Wupper joins the public church, he will be a good sermon and debater."

Kaman was stunned at first, then glared: "The preaching of the Zhigong Church has strict rituals and processes, and theological debates emphasize logic. Only by swearing to teach sermons like to incite emotions. You should not throw sewage on us."

Winters raised his hand to express his surrender.

Kaman retorted: "You, yesterday, ran around and visited everywhere, trying to reap profits when the two candidates were fighting. But now? The vote is about to be voted, and your last chance has also slipped away."

"The election of the Blacksmith Guild is about to end, but there are elections for the parish chief guild and the city council later." Winters and Mr. Ed looked at each other and said with a smile: "Mayor Wupper wants to win to the end,

It's not that easy. Look at it, the Servette Councilor has to fight with him."

After the debate was over, the House entered a short rest.

The forge owners sitting in the stairs seats dispersed, and when they came back, they would make a vote to decide who would become the president of the next guild.

Paul Wupper and John Selvette were also surrounded and hurried out of the House should have gone to count the votes.

The guild democracy of the Steel Fort Blacksmith has not yet developed a role similar to that of later generations [party whip]. All previous promises may be a mirror and a mist. Only when the owner of the forge actually votes into the black box will the dust settle.

At the end of the break, the two candidates and the Lord of the Forge returned to the chamber.

"But has it started?" The speaker in charge of maintaining order asked the two candidates.

"Please wait! The messenger who went to the lobbying house of the Horn Castle has not sent back the message yet. The current situation is not enough to make the most appropriate judgment." Paul Wupper stepped onto the podium in a purple robe embroidered gold, with a slightly stance.

He was embarrassed, but he quickly put away his panic and helplessness, shouting: "Gentlemen! The Lords of Forges of Steel Fort! It's too early to make a decision. I suggest that the vote be postponed by one week!"

Winters and Carlo Ed looked at each other.

Carlo Ed narrowed his glasses: "It seems that Mayor Wupper's votes are not optimistic."

The old man who served as the speaker was a little panicked: "Public voting? Is there any precedent before?"

"Have you been!" Paul Wupper answered firmly: "Eighty-five years ago, when the Parish Head Office discussed the digging of the canal, the vote was postponed twice!"

The speaker looked at John Selvette tentatively: "Then this..."

Just as everyone in the House was waiting for the Servette MP to say no, Servette stood up and said in a dry tone: "I agree to postpone the vote."

The meeting hall was in an uproar.

"It seems that the House of Servette is not sure that it can win." Carlo Ed smiled faintly.

Winters frowned. After a long time, he whispered to himself: "Did I burn the fire too much?"

"Have you ever burned a little fire?" Kaman asked back.

...

On the night of the open debate on the election of the Blacksmith Guild, Winters received a letter from the gun workshop owner Fuller.

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

Fuller also emphasized that the price in the letter is the lowest selling price he can accept; if the Baron wants to make a deal, he is extremely welcome; if the Baron wants to continue to lower the price, please forgive me for not negotiating.

Winters only read the beginning of the letter and did not read the price list afterwards.
Chapter completed!