With Baseleus' dismissal of Tiberius as chairman of the selection committee, the elections for the Eastern Roman Empire officially began. The aristocracy was nervously watching the first elections to resume in hundreds of years, and in addition to being nervous, they used the sad expression of Tiberius when he was dismissed as a laughing stock.

This old man thought that he had saved the Eastern Roman Empire, but he didn't know how many people were extremely disgusted with him. In the process of dismissal, there was nothing more enjoyable than the old man's sad and indignant call for the selection committee members to resign en masse, but few people responded. In total, only two members of the selection committee chose to follow His Excellency Tiberius, and the other twenty or so members remained silent. Seeing this, Tiberius hid his face and left. It's really exciting!

The remaining 20 or so members of the selection committee immediately held a vote to elect a new chairman of the selection committee. Later, another member of the selection committee resigned and left, and this person was Sheila's father.

No one among the nobles laughed at this resignation, because it was not ridiculous. The day after Sheila's father's resignation, the selection committee announced the list of candidates, among which Sheila Andre Cleisius named. If Sheila's father had not resigned, there would have been a wave of opposition inside and outside the court. In fact, some ill-informed people have already said, 'Isn't it cheating for a daughter to run for election and a father to be a member of the selection committee?' ’

Except for those close to them, the nobles did not go to prevent such a thing. It's not necessarily a bad thing to make a fuss about those who are not well-informed, and that's how a lot of tricks come up. The big aristocrats who didn't support Sheila soon found out that they were right to remain silent, and despite all the nonsense, Sheila managed to raise 20,000 signatures and officially start the process of running for the head of Ankara as a candidate.

The election was short-lived, and there was fierce competition only in a few limited areas. Other regions have already been negotiated, and all the main candidates have successfully qualified. On March 3, 1297, 120 senators lined up in the Senate chamber and took the purple silk robes from the Eastern Roman Emperor one by one.

The color of the robe was called purple in the 21st century, when the had to be burned at the stake once it was determined by the church. The purple color of 1297 comes from the color of lavender. Europe is very fond of lavender, and the purple robe was also a status symbol for nobles and even citizens in ancient Rome. The color of the Eastern Roman royal family is purple, and the purple nobles refer to the Eastern Roman royal family.

Putting on the robe, Sheila was very glad that she had used the bra produced by Da Song for two or three years. With the bra accent, the bulge in her front chest looks smooth and supple, very aesthetically pleasing, and there are no embarrassing extra bulges. The purple robe was well tailored, and Sheila didn't care about this universal outfit. She played with the gold rings she had bestowed on the senators along with the purple robe. Sheila didn't know that the ring shape was very similar to the tastes of rural Chinese entrepreneurs in the late 20th century. The ring is large and wide, with a large square on the front of it, on which are the seals of each patriarch. The Patriarch's Ring is not an ornament or a reward, but a very practical seal.

Sheila knew that the senators and knights had worn such rings since ancient Roman times. Only Caesar, such as a few other nobles from ancient aristocratic families, insisted on using the iron rings left over from the earlier royal era and took pride in them. There were still some noble families of the Republic era in Eastern Rome, but they no longer had these monumental monuments.

It is said that during the Punic Wars, Hannibal annihilated the main Roman force at the Battle of Cannae, and the consuls and eighty senators were killed in battle, and countless knights were killed and captured in battle. Hannibal sent his brother home to ask for reinforcements, and in front of the patriarchs of the Council of Carthage, he dumped the contents of wicker baskets, and countless rings rolled to the ground. Each ring represents a person of Roman stature.

Tried to put the ring on your finger but had to give it up because it was too big. Sheila thought about it, then pulled out a sturdy string made entirely of silk threads from her head rope and wore the ring around her neck.

The other senators had already brought their rings, and everyone stroked the rings and looked at the ring scales in the Senate chamber. This is also said to be a parody of the ancient Roman era, when each patriarch took out the ring and stamped it to prove his participation in the vote, and then placed the ring on the tray on the side of the approval or rejection. In the end, whichever side is lower wins. Sheila didn't really believe it, because it was obvious that the one who used the Iron Ring would suffer. But it doesn't matter anymore, the ring scales are probably just decorations, representing that the parliament is a collective vote of the senators rather than an arbitrary. That's enough.

According to the system established by His Excellency Tiberius, the council would then be divided into several groups, and each member could choose the group he wanted to participate in, such as military, agricultural, commercial, and diplomatic. When the time comes, the proposal will be put forward by these groups first, and then submitted to the Senate for decision. Sheila did not hesitate to choose the agricultural group, which is also her most confident and good field.

Riding home in the carriage, Sheila showed off her purple robe and ring to the family waiting in the living room as soon as she entered. In addition to Sheila's family, the Leo family also sent people. When it was Sheila's brother's turn to see the ring, the Leo family gave them a look, and it wasn't long before Sheila's father, Leo's family, and Sheila entered the study.

Downstairs came the mother's scolding, "What are you doing with the rope, you will break the ring!" ”

It seemed that Sheila's brother was playing with the ring in the manner of a little doll, and when the door closed, the Leo family took out a small box, which opened to reveal the gold coins inside. According to tradition, the patriarchs were not paid, and this was also to filter out the poor who would come in and cause trouble. Sheila readily accepted the gold coins, she needed money, she needed it very much. No one prevented Sheila from entering the Senate's agricultural group, which also meant that Sheila would be out a lot in the future. Travel expenses, all kinds of social exchanges need to spend money, and Sheila's family's financial resources are not enough to support Sheila's expenses.

Looking at Sheila's refreshing money, the Leo family also smiled. This is the case between nobles, everyone knows each other's difficulties, and of course they will intervene when they can help. Kindness is intended to be reciprocated with the same kindness. When Sheila put away the box, the Leo family asked, "Now that the patriarch has joined the agricultural group, what do you think about the future price of grain?" ”

"These will be collective votes of the elders, and I personally can accept that the upper limit of food prices is twice the price of food last year."

"Isn't twice too little?"

"If you wish, I can recommend to you the people of Europa, who will provide you with the service of growing food. No money for the first year, just a fee to buy their farm tools. ”

"Can it really have that much effect?" The Leo family couldn't believe it.

"So they don't take money for the first year." Sheila replied, "The province of Europa will also provide seeds and techniques for planting pumpkins and potatoes. I think you might be interested. Those crops are highly yielding and can be grown in mountainous areas. ”

"That's all?" The Leo family was a little disappointed.

"How high do you want food prices to go?" Sheila asked.

"Three and a half times at the beginning of last year." The Leo family replied decisively.

Sheila shook her head, "I can't do it. You also know that the people can no longer afford to buy food, and even if the price of food is only twice as high as at the beginning of last year, I am still worried that there will be riots. What's more, the Lok Sabha has the right of veto, and twice the price of food is afraid that it will not pass. ”

"But we can't take it anymore." The Leo family also vomited bitterness, "The price of food is so low, and the cost is so big. If it goes on like this, the family will only sit and eat. No, it's already empty! ”

"So go to the provincial office of Europa, and if you believe me, go immediately. Spring has arrived, and the teams sent by the nobles of the Ankara region have already begun to contact the province of Europa, fearing that an agreement has already been reached. Although there are many seeds in the office, there are not as many people who really know how to plant as you think. If you go late, you'll have to plant it yourself. ”

After some haggling, the Leo family did not get what they wanted, and walked away. Seeing off the Leo family, Sheila's father, Maximi, smiled bitterly: "I used to read history books when I saw the internal transactions of the Senate, and after seeing it with my own eyes, I actually thought it was normal. ”

Sheila took her father's arm, sat down beside him and said, "Father, I heard the Song people say that stupid people repeat history, and smart people repeat history accurately. Thank you for my father's teaching to me over the years, if I hadn't read so many books and heard so many stories from you, I wouldn't know how to deal with nobles, let alone how to be a senator. ”

Maximi smiled wryly at his daughter and said, "Sheila, the history books are not ordinary patriarchs. ”

"I know." Sheila's tone was relaxed and firm. Scipio the Great, Scipio the Younger, Marius, Sulla, the first three, the last three, those characters in the history books are not ordinary patriarchs, but history only records how they killed, looted, and destroyed. There are only a few accounts of how they built Rome in the history books, and they don't even outline it. Sheila knew she didn't have the skills of those men in warfare, and she didn't aspire to have them. Sheila wanted to build a wealthy Rome in her way.

Sheila's father asked, "Sheila, I don't understand why the province of Europa wants to help Eastern Rome increase agricultural production. If the Eastern Romans were short of food, they would not have been even more important. ”

"Then they won't make any money at all." Sheila replied, "Father, you can make more money from rich people." There are people in Europa who are very discerning. ”

"If Eastern Rome were rich, wouldn't there be no need for the province of Europa?"

"Hehe, Yuan Guo thinks so too."