The guy who opened his mouth was obviously one of the main figures in the opposition. Du Wei vaguely remembered that this guy was a rather senior old guy from the Luo Lin family. He also had a knighthood and owned a large piece of land.
.As soon as his words came out, they immediately aroused opposition from Count Raymond's direct descendants.
"Nonsense! Who do you think is an outsider!!"
"Is Master Du Wei an outsider?! You old bastard!"
"I think there is something wrong with you, otherwise why are you so afraid of Master Du Wei!"
The opposition did not show any weakness, and some people immediately started shouting:
"Who says he is not an outsider!"
"That's right! Ask him if his surname is Rudolf or Luo Lin now!"
"He has publicly separated from the family. Is there any lie?"
Just when everyone was about to start arguing again, Du Wei suddenly stood up, then suddenly pulled out the long sword left by his father that he was carrying, then held it with both hands and slashed it on the table.
superior!
Clang!!!
The long sword was nailed to the table, humming and trembling. Everyone immediately fell silent.
Du Wei's face was neither happy nor angry. He just looked at the guy who questioned him coldly and said calmly: "You say I am an outsider?"
"You..." The man felt guilty for a moment, but after looking at his companions, he felt confident again: "Grand Duke Tulip, with your status, of course you can no longer be considered a Luolin."
Humph, what does a duke mean? This is a clan association now! According to the imperial decree, no one is allowed to interfere in the internal affairs of a noble family, not even the royal family. Even if you are favored by the royal family, you cannot be tyrannical in matters within the clan.
.
"Very good, you are right." Du Wei nodded: "Legally speaking, I am indeed not a member of the Luo Lin family. But..."
He suddenly smiled, with a serious smile, staring at the guy, and said slowly: "But. I am sitting here today, not as a member of the Luo Lin family. I am... the future Earl Gabriel Luo Lin.
I’m sitting here as the chief magician advisor! Isn’t this okay with this status?”
"Magic... magician consultant..."
Everyone was speechless.
It is also a common practice on the mainland for nobles to recruit magicians to work for them. However, the number of magicians is rare and precious. Whether you can recruit them is another question. And if you can recruit them, they are often treated as arms.
.Obey what you say, let alone attend clan meetings. Even if the nobles make any decisions, they usually follow the advice of the magician.
"But you...your identity...you are the Duke of the Empire..."
Du Wei sneered: "Which law in the empire prohibits the Duke from serving as a magician consultant to the Count? I am willing. Does it have anything to do with you?"
When he said this, his palm was always pressed on the hilt of the sword.
Finally, the opposition guys looked at each other a few times and fell silent.
"So. Since everyone has no opinions, let's start electing the clan leader now." Du Wei sat down again: "When I came in just now, everyone seemed to be arguing about something, right?"
Immediately next to him, a direct descendant of Lei Meng said loudly: "Young Master, we think that Young Master Gabri should be appointed as the clan leader, but these guys are opposed to it."
Du Wei glanced at his younger brother and smiled: "Oh, what is the reason for the objection?"
Someone in the opposition immediately said loudly: "We believe that Young Master Gabri is naturally qualified to serve as the patriarch. But he is still too young after all. According to the imperial decree, he is not considered an adult until he is fifteen years old. Before that, he cannot even hold a title.
Even if he inherits, he cannot hold any official position. The dignified Luo Lin family has so many huge real estate properties, so much land, and so many things. After all, Master Gabri is still too young. How can he handle it? Of course, we don't dare to object.
Master Gabri. After all, he is the heir to the earl title... However, we feel that we should first infer an 'acting patriarch', even if it is a temporary transition for a few years. In these few years, he will temporarily take charge of family affairs, etc.
In a few years, when Master Gabri comes of age, we can invite him to succeed him."
When Raymond's direct descendants were here, someone shouted loudly after leaving: "In a few years! What a joke! In a few years, God knows how much this family's real estate industry will be swallowed up and corrupted by you!! You guys..."
Before he finished speaking, Du Wei waved his hand to him, and then Du Wei nodded repeatedly, looked at the guy who spoke, and suddenly smiled and said: "Well, you're right, you're right, you're very reasonable.
Ah!" Then he turned to look at his younger brother: "Gabri, they say you are too young to be the leader of the clan, what do you think?"
Gabri immediately said: "I think that's right." The boy stood up and looked at everyone sincerely: "After all, I am only eleven years old. At such a young age, I really cannot shoulder the important responsibilities of a family. I also feel that I am now
It’s not suitable for me to take on heavy responsibilities right away, well…since everyone thinks I should find someone to help me, I think it’s okay.”
The opposition person quickly added: "It must be from the Luo Lin family! Outsiders cannot interfere!"
"Oh...so, is there anyone chosen?" Du Wei asked in an understatement.
Those who objected looked at me and I looked at you, and they all felt strange in their hearts. They just felt that the two brothers seemed to have agreed too easily. It was inevitable that people would feel a little uneasy.
However, when it comes to this, there is no room for retreat!
Thinking of the fertile Luolin Plain and the almost astronomical huge family properties... Although this Tulip Duke is a bit troublesome. Fortunately, he is already an outsider. And... he can't stay in the Luolin Plain for the rest of his life.
Right! He has to leave Luo Lin and go back to the northwest. When the two places are thousands of miles apart, how will he have time to take care of both here? And the huge family industry will inevitably make people jealous...
"We have recommended several candidates who are highly respected in the family, and everyone can vote! This is the most fair!" someone from the opposition shouted loudly.
Du Wei looked at these greedy guys... Huh, if I hadn't brought the pardon order, you idiots would still be sitting at home! Now you want to take advantage of it?
He sneered: "In that case, please name the candidate. Let's discuss it."
Soon, the opposition nominated two people. One was the Jazz who shouted the loudest just now, and the other was an old man with gray hair. Du Wei recognized this guy, and he was also from Luolin Plain.
There was a big landowner in Shangdi, an old man from a branch of the Luo Lin family, who had a lifelong baronetcy.
"Sir Dirk served as the leader of the family's local private army in his early years. We think he can come forward to help Master Gabri manage the family's private army. And Baron Sean is an excellent financial manager. He can help Master Gabri handle government affairs and
Finance." someone from the opposition shouted.
"Sir Dirk, Baron Sean?" Du Wei looked at these two guys, but it was Baron Sean. This old man looked a little calm, but... he is a master of financial management? What a joke! Du Wei couldn't help but laugh.
Oh...it's not like I've never lived in Luolin Plains! Haven't I heard of this old guy?
What a master of financial management! This old guy is basically a loan shark. Is this a master of financial management?
"Are these two the selected candidates?" Du Wei looked at these two people, the old loan shark, and seemed to smile politely to him. But Sir Dirk, because he had treated him so well when he came in.
He speaks loudly, he is considered a very arrogant guy, and he dares to stare at himself.
Du Wei turned his head and looked at his brother: "Gabriel. What do you think of these two candidates?"
Gabri smiled and blinked: "I have no objection."
Those direct descendants of Earl Raymond who were still trying to fight, saw that the young master had spoken, and they couldn't help but be stunned. But then everyone looked at the eyes of the two brothers, and vaguely understood in their hearts that there must be something going on, everyone's face
Everyone smiled.
Speaking of which, although the clan is divided into two groups: the direct line of Raymond and the opposition group, in terms of strength, in fact, the group of direct line of Raymond all came out of the political core circle of the imperial capital after the failed coup in the imperial capital.
In terms of ability and intelligence, he is far superior to those of the opponents... After all, these opponents were actually indigenous people from the Luolin Plain, and most of them were just some wealthy locals. It has always been Raymond.
The direct faction had the absolute upper hand. It was only after the coup that the Raymond faction suffered even more heavy losses, and the balance of strength between the two parties changed somewhat.
But from the perspective of vision, or political struggle... no matter from any aspect, these direct descendants left by Earl Raymond can be regarded as the elites of the family. And the opposition... in their view, they are just some rich people in the countryside.
"Well. Dear brother, do you have any objection? That's great. We might as well sign a document. I think it's better to write everything down in black and white." Du Wei thought for a moment: "Let's do this. Let's draft an agreement, and everything will be written in black and white."
Everyone must sign on it and nominate these two gentlemen as assistants to the clan leader. The term of office is... I think it will only be four years. After four years, brother, you will become an adult."
Four years... everyone in the opposition thought about it and realized that enough benefits could be gained in four years.
Soon, the agreement was written. Under Gabri's deliberate silence, Raymond was a direct member of the group and did not express any objection. Then everyone signed the document one by one...
At this moment, Du Wei suddenly asked: "The four-year term...can I change someone during my term?"
"Of course not!" the opposition shouted in unison.
"Really not possible?" Du Wei asked again.
"Absolutely not!" The opposition is very determined. Seeing that an agreement is about to be reached, the two people elected by their own side are in charge of military and political power. Of course, they cannot change them in four years. They have to make a lot of money! How can they change people midway?
Woolen cloth?
"But... what if there is any special reason?" Du Wei frowned: "Can't I change someone?"
"No matter what, no substitutions are allowed!" the opposition insisted unanimously.
"Okay." Du Wei seemed to compromise.
Soon, the agreement was written. All the people present, a total of forty-four heads of the Luo Lin family, signed the agreement and swore a poisonous oath, indicating that no one was allowed to violate this agreement.
Agreement, even one word. One sentence.
After all this was done, Du Wei still seemed to have a warm look on his face, not at all depressed by the defeat. Such an attitude made everyone in the opposition feel a little confused...
Could it be that this Tulip Duke doesn't care at all about the Luo Lin family's wealth and industry?
Well, that may be the case! After all, he is now a duke. He owns a provincial territory, and it is said that his business in the imperial capital is making a fortune, and he has won the trust of the regent.
After rain, I'm afraid he really doesn't care about the Luo Lin family's property.
Thinking of this, a bunch of wealthy locals felt relieved.
Du Wei was even more gentle and very gentlemanly. He even came over in person, shook hands with the two elected agents, and hugged them. His attitude was not at all hostile.
"You two, I have to rely on you to assist my brother in the future. It's been a lot of hard work, a lot of hard work." Duwei's tone was as if nothing happened. Sir Dirk and Baron Sean were both caught off guard.
Duwei even personally helped Sir Dirk pull out the chair, then pointed to the top of the table, next to Gabri, and said with a polite smile: "Since you two have different identities now, you can no longer sit here.
Please sit on it, this is the right person to be the acting patriarch."
Dirk's face was flushed. Although he felt something was wrong in his heart, after all, the agreement had been signed. It was written in black and white, every word, and everyone had signed and sworn it. That couldn't be ignored no matter what.
Even if I go to the imperial capital to litigate in the future, my side will be justified.
In this case...
He couldn't help but feel a little dizzy in his heart. He nodded to Du Wei, was a little polite, and then showed a trace of greed, looking at the position on the long table...
Sir Dirk took a deep breath, then stepped up...
suddenly……
thump!
"Oh"
The moment Sir Dirk stepped forward, a foot suddenly stretched out from beside him. It was directly in front of his feet. Sir Dirk was unprepared. He tripped and fell forward heavily.
He crawled and fell down, and immediately fell face down, with the dog chewing on the mud. Fortunately, he even shrunk a bit, otherwise, he might have knocked out two of his teeth.
He staggered up and saw that the person next to him who stretched out his leg to trip him was none other than the kind-faced Lord Tulip Duke just now.
"Your Majesty Duke! You!!" Sir Dirk looked angry.
However, Du Wei's original warm smile suddenly stopped, and his face instantly became extremely gloomy. He looked at Sir Dirk with a straight face and coldly said: "You stepped on me!
"
Sir Dirk was stunned, stepped on you? It was obviously you who tripped me! Confusing right and wrong... Looking at Du Wei, could it be that this guy was angry at failure, but he did such a boring thing to vent his anger? Humph, children are children after all.
child!
"It's obviously you..." But now that the big thing is going on, Dirk fell down and was a little embarrassed, but the business was important, and he didn't want to fall out with the little Duke over such a boring thing. After gritting his teeth, he
He suppressed his anger and said angrily: "Okay, I was walking carelessly. Please forgive me, Your Majesty the Duke."
He was about to walk away, but Du Wei grabbed his shoulder, pulled him over forcefully, stared into his eyes coldly, and said without any emotion: "I said, you stepped on me.
"
"Huh?" Dirk was stunned, and everyone was stunned.
Then I heard Du Wei say slowly: "I don't care what the rules of you 'Rollins' are! But I have my own rules! In my rules of 'Duke Rudolf', this is an offense to me and no one can offend me casually.
I will not be punished! Sir Dirk, I ask you to apologize to me immediately, now, immediately, immediately, get down on the ground and clean my shoes for me!!"
Wha...what?
Everyone was stunned.
It's just a step on the foot... Do you need to get down and clean the other person's shoes in public? After all, he is also a nobleman with status. If he does this, will he still be able to meet people in the future?
Besides, everyone could see clearly that it was Du Wei who tripped the opponent on purpose just now.
"Is this...are you a malicious provocation to me?" Baron Dirk felt a little chilled in his heart.
"I don't like to talk repeatedly. Now, kneel down and clean my shoes." Du Wei's eyes were already a bit cold.
"What if... what if I refuse!" Baron Dirk still insisted.
"Oh...you refuse." Duwei nodded, and then he took a deep breath: "Stepping on my foot is an offense to me, and to offend me is to offend the majesty of Tulip! Then, Baron Dirk, I will now use Tulip
As a Duke, I would like to make a solemn request among nobles to you who offended me!"
After saying that, Du Wei suddenly took off his two white gloves and threw them hard on the opponent's face: "I demand a duel with you!"