Donghai Parliament Building, today is a meeting day.
Standing not far away and looking at this familiar yet unfamiliar clock tower-like building, Lu Ming felt filled with emotion.
After watching from a distance for a while, Lu Ming sighed softly, turned around, got into the car and left.
Although he still retains his position as a member of the East China Sea Parliament, it is not appropriate for him to discuss the trivial issues of the East China Sea with his current status. Not to mention, if Heishan's subordinates knew about it, they would feel uncomfortable and feel that they were belittling themselves.
Over in Antigua, the rubber plantation’s business management team took only half a day to negotiate with the Gao family. The deal was officially signed and is now in the process of handover.
Erika has also become a freshman at Santoro Business School.
The registration work of Qinghai Tourism Company in Antigua is currently being carried out by my team with the help of Chen Huanxing and the Zhongzhou Chamber of Commerce.
There was nothing that required my intervention in Antigua for the time being, so after visiting Shengjing and Montenegro, I returned to the East China Sea.
…
In the quiet tea room of Wolong Restaurant.
Lu Ming sipped his tea slowly. The thin old man sitting opposite him was none other than Mr. Fang Shouwang.
The third-ranked figure in the Imperial Grand Ducal Party, he is also the whip of the entire Grand Ducal Party. At the same time, he is also the leader of the East China Sea branch of the Grand Ducal Party.
The Donghae Party Committee is a party branch that includes the Donghae Region, a total of one region, six states, and one province, all under the leadership of the Donghae Party Committee.
The Eastern Economic Union is actually this large region, namely the East China Sea region, plus six states and one province.
It is exactly the same as the state and province party branches under the jurisdiction of the Grand Public Party's Tokai Party Headquarters.
However, the Eastern Economic Union now has a new member, the Montenegro Special Region.
Among the six states of the Eastern Economic Union, there are four traditional Western states, located in the southern and southwestern parts of the East China Sea, two traditional Central Asian states, located in the northern and northwestern parts of the East China Sea, and one province, which is a province where Central Asians live, and is adjacent to the five provinces in the south of the Yangtze River.
Except for one province with slightly weaker economic strength, the other six states are the most economically developed regions in the east.
However, the kingdom has more than 60 states and provinces, and most of them have a population of around 10 million. The states and provinces of the Eastern Alliance are mostly like this. States like Antigua, with a population of 40 to 50 million, are like giants. Most of them are located in remote areas and have extremely vast territories. The state of Antigua has an administrative territory of more than one million square kilometers.
While Lu Ming was thinking about all this, he heard Fang Shouwang on the other side laugh and say, "You've always been elusive. What happened? Have you finally remembered us, your old friends? I thought you were the local tyrant in Black Mountain, so powerful that you had forgotten about us!"
Lu Ming smiled and said, "How could that be? But I was really busy a while ago, but now I am more stable."
Fang Shouwang nodded slightly and said, "You have been doing well recently, and I am very pleased." His tone was very sincere.
Lu Ming took a sip of tea and asked, "Mr. Fang, is the shadow cabinet in the imperial capital still running?"
In terms of the entire empire, the Grand Ducal Party is the third largest party in the opposition coalition.
Among all the political parties in the empire, the Grand Duke's Party ranks fifth in the Federal Imperial Parliament and the lower house of the Kingdom of Greifanni.
In the past, the Grand Ducal Party also had a glorious period when it formed an alliance with other parties to form a joint government.
Even though it is in the opposition now, it is still a force that no super party dares to underestimate.
Mr. Fang Shouwang ranks third in the party’s sequence.
He is also one of the five members of the East Sea Municipal Council and the Minister of Energy of the Shadow Cabinet of the House of Commons of the Kingdom of Greifani.
"Shadow Cabinet?" Fang Shouwang smiled bitterly: "I haven't heard from you for a long time."
The shadow cabinet is made up of the opposition party and is specifically responsible for finding fault with the real cabinet of the ruling party.
Looking at it today, the Imperial Parliament, the cabinet system, and so on, have long been in an abnormal state, and can even be said to be close to collapse.
"Do you still consider yourself a member of the Grand Gong Party?" Fang Shouwang suddenly asked.
Lu Ming smiled: "I haven't quit the party, so of course it doesn't matter." The so-called party members of this kind of party are not in a superior-subordinate relationship with the party leader. In essence, they are partners. They stay together if they are compatible, and separate if they are not. Therefore, whether or not one is a member of the Grand Public Party is not important.
Fang Shouwang pondered, "Then your position in the party is a bit unworthy of your current identity. Besides, the East China Sea Party Branch and the Imperial Capital Headquarters are almost separated. I have different ideas from the old guys in the Imperial Capital, and communication is not smooth. I haven't been in touch recently."
Lu Ming sipped his tea and said nothing.
Fang Shouwang looked up at him and said, "I will call an emergency meeting tomorrow. Qianxing, you can be a senior advisor to our party. Didn't the Legal Affairs Committee hire you as a senior advisor?"
Lu Ming smiled and said, "Anything is fine." The position of consultant is very suitable for people like him who are difficult to assign roles to.
"Qianxing, do you think our party should reform? Take control of its own armed forces?" Fang Shouwang suddenly asked.
Lu Ming was stunned, he looked at Fang Shouwang deeply, and said with a smile: "Have you been influenced by the Federer school of thought recently, Mr. Fang? As for parties, I personally think that it is better for the people not to have any power. All power comes from the people and voters. Only voters can give you the power to govern, and they can also elect you out. It's such a simple political philosophy, Mr. Fang..." He paused, picked up the teacup and drank tea.
Fang Shouwang smiled: "Haha, Qianxing, it seems that you are not a qualified warlord." With a look of comfort on his face, he stopped talking about this topic.
But Lu Ming could feel that the old man's test just now was not a whim, but the chaotic situation in the past two years made it really difficult for such a giant to remain calm, especially when he was facing a younger generation who held great military and political power.
It is normal to have some unrealistic ambitions. I hope we can get back to the basics and keep our original intentions.
What about myself? Will I gradually get lost in the future
"Qianxing, I think you should resign from the job of East China Sea councillor. The council is in a dilemma. If you are disqualified as a councillor, you will not look good. But if you keep your status as a councillor, it will seem to lower your status!" Fang Shouwang said with a smile, "Of course, you are a politician from East China Sea. No one can erase your special connection with East China Sea. If you resign as a regional councillor, the municipal committee may consider granting you some special positions or titles. This will reflect the special relationship between us, but it will not be criticized for belittling your current status and position."
He added: "Her Highness Christine has personally discussed this topic with several of our municipal committee members."
Lu Ming smiled and said, "It's nothing. I came to the East China Sea and I am just an ordinary citizen of the East China Sea. I don't need any special treatment."
Fang Shouwang smiled and said, "That's different. You know that the relationship between the member states of our Eastern Alliance is a bit like that between countries. You are the head of one of the member states. At the very least, you should have something like diplomatic immunity!"
Lu Ming shook his head: "I still don't want that kind of special treatment. When I return to Donghai, I will be a citizen of Donghai. If I can participate in the policy discussions of Donghai, I don't think I am being belittled."
After thinking for a while, he said, "Our empire has not really disintegrated yet. I am the supervisor of a special district specially appointed by the empire, but I am from Donghai. So, if Mr. Fang thinks I am qualified, can the Municipal Committee give me the right to participate in the meeting?"
This is a bit of an exorbitant price, but since we've come to this point in today's conversation, I'll be frank and just name my price.
Fang Shouwang's hand holding the teacup trembled. He looked at Lu Ming deeply. Perhaps only now did he realize that the young man in front of him was no longer the Wuxia A'mon of the past. His ambitions were too big. Of course, such great ambitions might have been hidden in his heart before because of his lack of status and position.
Today, this young man obviously feels that he is not unqualified to sit in the meeting room of the East China Sea Regional Municipal Committee.
Lu Ming smiled again and said, "Mr. Fang, I know you need to discuss this. I will just wait for the news."
Fang Shouwang smiled bitterly and said, "Municipal council members need to be elected."
Lu Ming waved his hand: "Mr. Fang, I'm not that arrogant. Participating in the meeting does not necessarily mean I have to have the right to vote."
Fang Shouwang breathed a sigh of relief. "In this case, there is a possibility of a workaround. For example, the Municipal Committee can hire you as a consultant? Or, as an observer?"
In fact, Fang Shouwang's position among the five municipal commissioners is only about third or fourth, but he seems very confident today, probably because similar rumors have been spread from Tulip Manor.
Today, the status of the Grand Duke's Privy Council and the Tulip Estate of the Princely Court is much higher than before.
It is the backbone that unites the people in the east.
For example, the legal basis for the existence of the Eastern Economic Alliance comes from the authorization of the Grand Duke of East China Sea. Otherwise, it would be difficult to maintain peace and stability. The eastern region can temporarily stay out of the dispute between the eldest prince and the second prince, and various political forces can still operate normally. The people are not panicked because of the Grand Duke of East China Sea. Whoever they recognize or not recognize will naturally follow this extremely noble branch of the royal family.
Lu Ming picked up the teacup and said, "Thank you for your help, old man."
Fang Shouwang also raised his teacup, "Qianxing, you're welcome!" Obviously, in such a short period of time, he had regarded Lu Ming as a completely equal politician, no longer the rising star in the party in his eyes.
Lu Ming was thinking, judging from Fang Shouwang's words, this matter should have a great chance of success.
Consultant? Or observer? The title is not important. What is important is that I can participate in municipal meetings. I don’t have voting rights, but I can speak and influence these municipal committee members.
After all, what I said made sense, so the municipal commissioners shouldn't ignore my advice, right
Moreover, being able to participate in the discussion of East China Sea policy will be of great benefit to the development of the Montenegro Special Administrative Region.
If we only look at the traces of Donghai's political arena, he has been a member of the Donghai District Council for less than one term, but he can now participate in municipal meetings.
This can also be considered as overtaking on a curve.
Even according to original speculation from the outside world, he, as the youngest regional councilor, would definitely lose the next election.
But by chance, after he went out for a while, he came back and was directly included in the ranks of attendees at the regional municipal meeting. I am afraid that he has set many new records, but there is nothing he can do about it.