[In the first week after your ascension, all of Leithanien experienced a period of painful upheaval.]
[You named it "Purification Week"—though of course, not the same kind of purification as that of the former Purification Committee.]
[Gertrude's intelligence department, in coordination with the Guard Corps, cast an invisible net over Trullinczentyr and, indeed, all nine Grand Regions.]
[However, they were still somewhat short-staffed, unable to achieve full-spectrum penetration.]
[Every person on the operation's list was a diehard reactionary who had maintained secret contact with the old imperial family after the Decree of Deprivation and had attempted to organize resistance.]
[The intelligence department and the Guard Corps acted in concert, knocking on the gates of manors and mansions under the cover of night, presenting arrest warrants personally signed by you.]
[The individuals on the list were taken away, their families informed that the empire would grant them a fair trial.]
[You repeatedly emphasized the operation's core principle: "Liquidate the crime, not the class."]
[This effectively prevented the uncontrolled spread of panic, keeping the crackdown tightly focused on the core insurgents.]
[Immediately following this, an unprecedented public trial began in Trullinczentyr's Hero's Square.]
[The defendant's dock was filled with the once-arrogant nobles, generals, and wealthy merchants.]
[The capital's largest broadcasting station aired the entire proceeding live, its sound reaching every corner of the empire.]
[The evidence prepared by Gertrude included: letters colluding with Victoria's secret agents, proof of grain hoarding, testimony of embezzled military funds and wanton disregard for human life...]
[The public's mood shifted from initial shock to a towering rage.]
[When the chief judge sentenced the thirteen main culprits to death, the rest to lifetime penal labor, and confiscated all their illegal assets, the entire square erupted in thunderous cheers.]
[The cheers, carried by the broadcast, echoed over countless cities, towns, and villages.]
[The last sliver of illusion held by the old powers was utterly crushed by the roar of the people.]
[The new emperor's iron fist and sense of justice were, for the first time, branded so clearly upon the heart of every Leithanien citizen.]
...
The day after Purification Week ended, the first meeting of the Cabinet was convened.
Inside the Imperial Central Conference Hall.
Lacey sat at the head of the table, with the others seated on either side.
The atmosphere was somewhat somber.
The aftershocks of the just-concluded Purification Week and the public trials still lingered.
Several of the Electors present had, to varying degrees, personal connections with those who had been purged.
The way they looked at Lacey was filled with far more awe than intimacy.
"Everyone, welcome to the first meeting of the Cabinet," Lacey began with a smile.
"I have gathered you all today to discuss the future direction of Leithanien's development."
He wasted no time on pleasantries, simply nodding to Serafina beside him.
Serafina rose and distributed thick stacks of documents to everyone present.
The cover was emblazoned with bold, black letters: "Draft Provisional Charter of the Third Holy Leithanien Empire."
Meklen curiously opened the document, but after reading only the first page, the smile on his face instantly froze.
Wolner's brow furrowed deeply, while Ziegler and the others turned pale as they read, cold sweat trickling down their temples.
The only sounds in the conference room were the rustling of paper and the increasingly heavy breathing of its occupants.
"Chapter One, Article One: All hereditary aristocratic privileges are hereby abolished. All citizens of Leithanien are equal before the law."
"Chapter Two, Article Three: All land within the empire's territory, including farmland, forests, and mines, is nationalized; former landowners may receive one-time compensation based on an assessment and will have priority rights for leasing and management."
"Chapter Three, Article One: The empire shall implement a six-year compulsory and free education system. All school-age children must enroll."
"Chapter Three, Article Four: Establish a universal public healthcare system covering all citizens..."
"Chapter Five, Article One: Abolish all minting rights outside of the National Bank of Leithanien and issue a new, unified currency—the Imperial Mark."
...
The Electors seated at the table looked deeply unsettled.
Abolishing aristocratic privileges meant stripping them of the very foundation of their status.
Land nationalization was even worse; it directly hollowed out the core assets their families had accumulated over centuries.
This was no longer reform. This was a thorough uprooting, designed to pull them out, root and stem!
"Your Majesty!"
Ziegler Augustin could finally bear it no longer, leaping to his feet.
"This... this is preposterous!"
"Land is sacred private property, the very cornerstone of Leithanien! An act like this will destabilize the entire nation!"
Gabriel Alarand chimed in, "Indeed, Your Majesty."
"If the land is nationalized, what will become of our families?"
"Are we to simply hand over manors and farms that have been passed down for hundreds of years?"
Alfred Utica remained silent, but his ashen face made his position clear.
The three of them exchanged a look, and in each other's eyes, they saw the same thought: We've been deceived!
The atmosphere in the room instantly dropped to a freezing point. Gertrude's gaze swept coldly over the three panicked faces.
"Sit down, Lord Ziegler."
Though Lacey's tone was calm, the authority within it made Ziegler's legs go weak, and he sank back into his chair reflexively.
"I understand your concerns." Lacey's gaze swept across the room.
"But there is something you must understand."
"We are building a new nation. It does not belong to any one family, nor to any one class."
"It belongs to all the people of Leithanien."
He looked at Ziegler. "You say land is the cornerstone. You are correct. But it is the cornerstone of the nation, not a tool for certain families to enslave tenant farmers and live a life of indolence."
"The charter states it very clearly: the state will provide compensation, and you will have priority leasing rights."
"As long as you manage your operations diligently, the profits you earn will far exceed the decadent life you once lived by collecting rent."
"You should learn from Lord Meklen. Take a longer view."
He then turned to Gabriel. "As for your families, if a family's honor must be maintained by squeezing the blood and sweat of peasants, then such honor is better off discarded."
"The new Leithanien will only respect those who create value through wisdom and labor!"
His words were devoid of any emotion, yet each one was a dagger to the heart.
Just then, Meklen, who had been silent all this time, let out a strange chuckle.
Everyone immediately turned to look at him.
The new Minister of Economy was flipping through the charter's appendices with great interest, muttering to himself:
"...The state will establish large-scale agricultural conglomerates for unified planning and intensive production on nationalized land..."
"...Encourage the development of value-added chains for processed agricultural products..."
"...All infrastructure projects will be open to all qualified enterprises through a public bidding process..."
He looked up at Lacey, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Your Majesty, I have only one question."
"What is the standard for the land assessment compensation? How will the fees for the priority leasing rights be calculated?"
"Also, this 'qualified enterprise'... who determines the qualifications?"
Ziegler and the others stared at Meklen, dumbfounded.
They couldn't comprehend why this magnate from Caplania, upon seeing a clause like land nationalization, wasn't enraged but was instead as excited as if he had discovered a new continent.
A corner of Lacey's mouth turned up. "These specific regulations will be jointly formulated by the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Taxation."
"Minister Meklen, Minister Leinia, this will be your most important task moving forward."
Leinia nodded. She had remained composed from beginning to end.
To her, as long as a fair and efficient fiscal system could be established, it made little difference from whose pocket the taxes were collected.
"I understand."
Meklen leaned back in his chair, thoroughly satisfied, and even let out a carefree whistle.
"Your Majesty, I agree to this draft charter in principle."
"However, regarding the specific commercial clauses, I would hope for greater... room for maneuver."
His declaration was the final straw that broke the back of Ziegler and the others' psychological defense.
Their most powerful potential ally had been the first to "defect."
Wolner watched all of this unfold and let out a long sigh in his heart.
He saw further than Ziegler and the others.
He knew that Lacey had never intended to share power with them from the very beginning.
The so-called Cabinet, the so-called ministers, were all merely instruments for executing his will.
The old era of the Electors had come to a definitive end the moment Lacey was elected.
He stood up and bowed slightly to Lacey. "The Schtong Grand Region supports the draft charter."
The matter was settled.
Ziegler, Gabriel, and Alfred sat slumped in their chairs, their faces ashen, unable to utter another word.
They knew that resistance was futile.
Outside the Twin Towers was Taylor's army; in the city were the fervent masses who supported the new emperor.
The handful of private guards they commanded wouldn't even be a mouthful.
Not to mention, after the purge, it was questionable whether those grunts would even listen to them anymore.
"Very good."
Lacey rose to his feet and said, "Since there are no objections, then the 'Provisional Charter of the Third Holy Leithanien Empire' shall take effect immediately."
"The detailed implementation regulations are to be drafted by each department and submitted to the Cabinet for review within one week."
He surveyed the people in the conference room, his gaze finally resting on the trio of Ziegler, Gabriel, and Alfred.
"Gentlemen, I know that change is painful."
"But the wheel of history only moves forward."
"You can choose to be crushed by it, or you can choose to jump aboard and see a brand new world you have never witnessed before."
"This meeting is adjourned."
With that, Lacey turned and left the conference hall.
...
In the corridor, Lacey suddenly spoke: "Lizelotte."
Lizelotte, who was following behind him, jumped in surprise.
"What do you think of the new draft charter?"
"I... how should I know! That's your business!"
Lacey shook his head in disappointment and turned to the other. "Herlinmarte?"
"Radical, but necessary," Herlinmarte analyzed calmly. "The privileges of the old nobility were the foundation of their regional power."
"Only by doing this can you completely strip them of any chance to resist."
Lacey smiled upon hearing this but didn't tell her whether she was right or wrong.
Herlinmarte fell silent.
She was already beginning to vaguely realize what the true reason for her and her sister's failure was.
________________________________________
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