Nicholas's suggestions were indeed very constructive; he was intimately familiar with the flaws existing within the Empire.
In his view, the Empire's judicial mechanism had lost its effectiveness because the parties in disputes preferred to resolve them by force rather than seek the protection of the Emperor's law.
His suggestion was to divide the Empire into 10 or more judicial and administrative regions.
In each region, courts composed of clergy, nobles, and citizens serving as judges would exercise the highest judicial power, and the regional judges would participate in the Empire's national assembly along with the Electors and city representatives.
One point that remained unclear here was how judges from various social strata would be selected, perhaps he deliberately avoided this topic.
To improve the judicial situation, Nicholas also suggested collecting local customary laws, having scholars compile and edit them, and finally issuing a codified law applicable throughout the Empire.
In fact, he himself was an expert in the fields of Roman law and canon law.
Law, theology, and philosophy were his three main areas of study; in addition, he also dabbled in mathematics and natural sciences, representing a humanist ecclesiastical scholar.
To enforce the "Prohibition of Feuds" and strengthen the Emperor's authority, the Empire should establish a standing army and levy universal taxes.
The parts of the reform proposals concerning the Imperial Court and Imperial law were the most detailed, and Nicholas considered them the most important. In addition, Nicholas also collected many suggestions from contemporary reform advocates, much of which contained a lot of content.
For example, providing protection for widows, orphans, and other vulnerable individuals.
Self-defense by force should only be carried out with the consent of the lords and through established procedures.
Secular power should assist religious arbitrators.
Cities are prohibited from unilaterally promulgating decrees concerning religious freedom.
Prohibition of charging high interest, this article specifically targeted Jewish merchants.
Prohibition of outsiders participating in religious affairs.
Prohibition of blood feuds and individuals exercising judicial power.
Prohibition of using oaths to influence judgments when there is clear evidence.
The Pope and the Emperor could launch a Crusade to reclaim holy Imperial lands.
At the end of the reform proposals, Nicholas specifically marked a section with a cross, the content of which made Laszlo gasp.
Someone actually proposed secularizing church lands and re-distributing them among the Emperor, Imperial cities, and lower nobility, emphasizing that the church should be subordinate to the Empire and only responsible for managing religious affairs, not interfering in Imperial politics.
After reading this, Laszlo couldn't help but look up at Nicholas. Such a Cardinal, whose status in the church was second only to the Pope, actually included such explosive content in his Imperial reform suggestions.
This made Laszlo look at the gentle Bishop with new eyes; at the same time, he also felt confused about Nicholas's stance.
Logically speaking, as a Cardinal, he must have made significant contributions to the church.
Moreover, as the current Prince-Bishop of Brixen, he was the most powerful Bishop in Lower Saxony, and local princes had to give way to him.
However, he seemed somewhat dissatisfied with the current church.
"Your Grace, do you seem to have a different view of the current church?"
Laszlo's words carried deep meaning. He suddenly recalled a plan he had previously abandoned; it seemed this plan now had the possibility of being implemented again.
Nicholas frowned slightly. He had thought the Emperor's first question would definitely be about the specific issues of reform, but he didn't expect his attention to be entirely drawn to the radical statements on the last page.
However, since the Emperor asked, Nicholas stated his views: "Your Majesty, the church has become corrupt and needs a reformation. I began serving as an Imperial legate eight years ago, for a total of three years. During this period, my work was to reform the Imperial church, convene synods, and condemn recalcitrant individuals. During the 'holy Year' (1450), I was responsible for the sale of indulgences throughout the Empire. During this time, I deeply realized the corruption of the church. The church, like the Empire, needs reform, but the difficulty is even greater than that of Imperial reform."
"Your Grace, you are precisely the great talent I have been searching for!"
Laszlo did not expect this trip to Nuremberg to bring such an unexpected surprise.
This Nicholas of Cusa was born in a small town near Trier and was a native German.
His suggestions for Imperial reform and his views on the church were very much to Laszlo's liking.
"Your Majesty flatters me. Regarding the issues of Imperial reform, do you have no doubts?"
When it came to Imperial reform, Laszlo shook his head and said, "These suggestions seem very beautiful, but they are actually very difficult to achieve. The resistance encountered in implementing reforms in this fragmented Empire is unimaginable, and I can only proceed step by step.
For example, regarding the division of Imperial regions in this session's agenda, my original intention was to divide ten Imperial regions, but I ultimately decided to first attempt it in my direct territories, dividing three administrative regions where I could exert influence. Even with such concessions, it still drew opposition from the Electors.
They fundamentally believe that the best situation for the Empire is to maintain the status quo. Without external threats, they would rather the Empire remain like stagnant water forever, with not even the slightest change."
Nicholas deeply agreed. He also felt that some princes were purely opposing for the sake of opposition, using flimsy reasons to attack and refute the Emperor's proposals.
"I can only try my best to influence the princes of Lower Saxony, hoping to reduce some of the resistance to your reforms."
"Placing you in Lower Saxony is truly a waste of your talents. Your Grace, would you be interested in coming to Vienna, to serve in my court? How about as my Royal Advisor, holding a seat in the Privy Council?"
Royal Advisor? Nicholas had never heard of such a position in the Emperor's court, so he figured it was just made up on the spot, but the Emperor's high regard still made him very happy.
Most of his life had been spent striving to heal the Great Schism of the church, but his ideals for Imperial reform and church reform remained unrealized.
His advocacy for Imperial reform was subordinate to the universal order of Christendom, with its ultimate goal being the establishment of a new universal Christian world order.
Although this differed from Laszlo's ultimate goal of establishing a "World Empire," many aspects of their visions converged.
Faced with the Emperor's enthusiastic invitation, Nicholas ultimately chose to agree. He became the sixth member of the Privy Council meeting. As for his Bishopric of Brixen, he only needed to entrust it to a subordinate Bishop for administration.
Laszlo, having gained another capable minister, was overjoyed. On the way back to Vienna, he conversed with Nicholas late into the night. Besides Imperial reform and church issues, Laszlo discovered that Nicholas's philosophical and theological attainments were remarkably high.
All of his philosophical thought was based on the concept of "unity of opposites." On this basis, he attempted to integrate all religious systems in the world, creating a framework for a pantheistic system.
This high-ranking and powerful Cardinal actually attempted to equate God with nature, acknowledging that the objective laws of the world would not change according to human will.
And based on this, he even tried to explain that Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, and any other faith were all built upon a common core.
Besides this, he was also a supporter of the heliocentric theory, although at this time there was no so-called debate between heliocentrism and geocentrism, but he deduced this result through his own observations.
This series of astonishing statements made Laszlo extremely puzzled as to why Nicholas had not yet been sent to the stake by the church to be burned as the most abominable heretic, and he even became a Cardinal of the church.
However, this also made him realize that Nicholas was no ordinary person.
With such extensive knowledge, full of humanistic spirit and reflection on the world, not placing him as a visiting professor at Vienna University would definitely be a loss for the students of Austria.
In fact, Laszlo's court did have a professor from Vienna University, Aeneas. He was a visiting professor at Vienna University when he taught Laszlo, and his rhetoric classes were always fully attended.
It was just that after becoming the Imperial Chancellor, he didn't have much free time to lecture, which made the university students feel very regretful.
Thinking of Vienna University, Laszlo decided to establish two new academies upon his return this time.
Taking advantage of the rare respite during the interwar period, he would push the development of Vienna one step further.