Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste-Chapter 735 - 688: The Farce About Freedom

Regarding the speech by that legislator, Perfikot already investigated thoroughly, including whether he has support from other forces behind him, Perfikot is completely clear.

Before being elected, this legislator was a well-known local donor. This time, someone paid to hire him to resume his old profession, inciting the public against Perfikot at the National Assembly’s doorstep.

Originally, this job should have been assigned to subordinates or a suitable agent.

But for some reason, this legislator, either having drunk too much or deliberately wanting to pocket the reward alone, ended up delivering the speech himself.

Concerning the matter itself, whether he speaks or hires someone to deliver the speech doesn’t make much difference, but it’s not the same for the people behind the scenes.

Even if this former donor had others do this task, Perfikot would still have been able to find out who the mastermind was, but adding a layer would ultimately cover up some trails, costing Northern Territory’s intelligence personnel extra effort.

As for the individuals behind this action, Perfikot found it somewhat amusing after investigating.

Promoting all this is a group of young nobles and emerging bourgeoisie who feel that Perfikot’s presence hinders the progress of freedom and democracy, accusing her of reversing the imperial feudal system.

Hence, to push bourgeoisie reforms, and quickly leap the Victor Empire from the ignorant and backward feudal monarchy to advanced constitutional governance, they have to remove Perfikot as an obstacle.

These people are not entirely driven by personal power desires, but are akin to the Decemberists of Tsarist Russia in the original world, influenced by the French Revolution, believing the feudal monarchy is a hindrance to national development and power should be handed to the people.

Such thinking isn’t entirely wrong; Perfikot’s parents also supported this ideology of the Reform Faction back then. Even before Perfikot appeared, the Victor Empire was transitioning from feudal monarchy to constitutional monarchy.

It was just that the apocalypse and Perfikot’s emergence disrupted this process, she as a feudal lord stalled the constitutional process of the nation.

Originally, these people felt desperation, believing they couldn’t defeat Perfikot.

But with the National Assembly’s reforms and the establishment of the Prime Minister Cabinet system, they seem to witness hope anew, thinking with restrictions from the National Assembly and Cabinet, they could gradually bring Perfikot down, thereby further limiting the power of old aristocrats and the Royal Family, reforming the nation.

To this, Perfikot can only sigh that some things shouldn’t be truly believed, just talked about.

The National Assembly and Cabinet have power because Perfikot supports their authority.

If she doesn’t support the parliament and cabinet holding power, she could dissolve the National Assembly and Cabinet at any time, even dismissing the Prime Minister.

To the ruling class of the Victor Empire, this is something everyone is clearly aware of.

Perfikot’s assurance to do so lies in the military and power she commands.

Without a force capable of countering Perfikot’s Steam Knights, any attempts to restrict her are somewhat naive.

Perfikot might compromise and concede for various reasons, but it’s built on the premise of not infringing on her interests or crossing her acceptable line.

If anyone truly crosses her line, Perfikot will abandon political games, choosing instead to physically eliminate her opponents.

But for now, Perfikot doesn’t mind watching what tricks they can play.

Given that Perfikot already thoroughly investigated this group, they are merely a bunch of satiated young nobles, believing they’ve awakened, wanting to reform the national system and promote so-called capitalist constitutional governance.

Perfikot does not oppose this, she just wants to see if they truly have the ability or are simply high-minded but incapable.

Thus she didn’t stop the matter, nor did she let Duke Gloucester or others stop it. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

But judging from the current situation, things seem likely to disappoint her.

Their ability to incite public opinion is limited to speeches and distributing leaflets, appearing immature and lacking political acumen.

It seems untouched by dirty political means and routines, a kind of beauty.

This is one reason Perfikot can tolerate them causing trouble, as they genuinely believe in the propaganda, thinking this is how the country will improve.

However, they lack the capability and means to realize it, nor do they truly have the wisdom to improve the country.

They seem to believe the country’s issues lie solely in the system; if they change it, everything will instantly improve, the previously sluggish economy will quickly flourish, scarce resources will fill the shelves, and even meager cuisine will miraculously become bountiful again.

Evidently, they fail to realize that the system is never the crux of an issue; it’s the rulers who matter.

Systems might differ in advancement or backwardness, but such distinctions are not as significant as imagined, only affecting administrative efficiency.

As long as policy execution efficiency and effectiveness are ensured, even the most primitive tribal chieftain system can manage a country well.

Of course, truly using the primitive tribal chieftain system to govern a country would likely fail, or only manage a small country.

A relatively advanced political system can effectively raise the lower bounds, but cannot infinitely elevate the upper limits.

The true key to a nation’s improvement lies not in a particular system, but in whether its rulers govern out of self-interest or in consideration of the nation, and if their chosen system can enforce their will.

The reason democratic elections seem better than feudal inheritance is that elected rulers represent their supporting interest classes, benefitting more compared to original feudal system beneficiaries.

Moreover, democratic elections ensure elected rulers have at least certain minimum limits, not a fool born from close kin marriages.

But some who fail to truly grasp the essence of democratic elections merely think democracy is inherently better, believing once democracy prevails, everything will turn better.

They never consider if it’s possible that enforcing democracy in areas without democratic foundations results in chaos?

"What people need is not freedom, they need rules, boundaries, and protection; what people desire is a leader who can both restrain and support..." Perfikot walks along the corridors of the National Assembly Building, subconsciously repeating a quote she heard in the original world.