Chapter 47: The Council Hall Opens, Commoners Enter the Hall

During Jiang Che's deep slumber, the Human Assembly Hall officially opened its doors.

The location remained the Zichen Hall in the Capital City.

Only the Dragon Throne, which Jiang Che had split with a single sword strike, was not removed.

Gu Chongming insisted on leaving it.

He said, "We must let those who come after see every day why it was shattered."

Thus, the cracked Dragon Throne was placed at the rear of the hall, sealed high up, forbidden to be repaired or concealed.

It became the first historical artifact of the New System.

On the first day the Human Assembly Hall opened, the hall was as noisy as a market.

The representative from Han Zhou argued for expanding the army first to defend against the Upper Realm.

The representative from Jiangnan argued for repairing water conservancy and grain routes first.

The representative from Luo'an demanded a thorough investigation into the remnants of Sacrifice City.

The surrendered official from Xichuan requested a reduction in mountain taxes.

The merchant representative from Dongling cried poverty, saying the water army's transport routes were destroyed after the war and the court needed to allocate funds.

Someone immediately cursed him: "When the Prince of Dongling campaigned against Han Zhou, your Merchant Association didn't send little money; now you still want money?"

That Dongling representative, his face turning red, said, "The Prince of Dongling is the Prince of Dongling, the common people are the common people! The ships were burned, grain cannot be transported, and it is the common people who starve to death!"

The hall instantly erupted into a chaotic uproar.

Gu Chongming sat in one of the three temporary executive seats, pressing his brow in pain.

The other two seats: one was concurrently held by Chen Shanhe, temporarily assigned by Han Zhou, handling military affairs; the other was held by Qin Su, a female doctor nominated by Luo'an, handling livelihood matters.

Qin Su had originally been just a female doctor in a clinic in Luo'an City, saving countless lives on the day of the Blood Sacrifice.

When the people of Luo'an pushed her into the Capital City, she herself was bewildered.

Yet her first words after entering the Council Hall silenced many officials.

"You argue over military funds, argue over transport, argue over official systems; I only ask one question."

"Where do the medicine for the wounded soldiers and disaster victims in every region come from?"

After a moment of silence in the hall, the noise grew even louder.

This was the appearance of the New System's beginning.

Chaotic.

Clumsy.

Not dignified enough.

Yet looking at the Zichen Hall in its uproar, Gu Chongming suddenly wanted to laugh.

In the Old Dynasty, this place was also noisy.

But they argued over the Emperor's mood, factional interests, and the rise and fall of official positions.

Now, at least, they argued over grain, soldiers, medicine, taxes, water conservancy, and unjust cases.

The arguing was ugly.

But it sounded like living people.

Lin Xiaoman, serving as a recorder for the History Camp, also sat in the corner of the hall.

He wrote furiously, frowning as he wrote.

An old historian beside him whispered, "Boy, don't write everything down."

Lin Xiaoman froze: "Why?"

The old historian said, "History books must be concise."

Lin Xiaoman thought for a moment and said, "Young Master Jiang said we must record clearly."

The old historian sighed: "But do you record their quarrels too?"

Lin Xiaoman said seriously, "Record it."

"If future generations see it, at least they will know the New System did not fall from the sky, but was argued out by a group of people."

The old historian was stunned, then gave a bitter smile: "You child, you actually look like a historian."

The first Council Hall session lasted three days of arguing.

Finally, five matters were decided.

First, establish the Anti-Heaven Bureau, stationed long-term at Tian Duan Cliff, commanded by the Guardian of the Nation Sword Master Jiang Che, with Xie Wuya temporarily acting in his stead.

Second, abolish the Kneeling Ceremony throughout the world; officials and commoners meeting shall only perform the Gongshou Ceremony.

Third, investigate the Heavenly Gate Remnants; anyone who uses common people as sacrifices shall be jointly executed by the world.

Fourth, revise the tax laws; within three years, reduce or exempt field taxes in the war-torn regions of the Northern Border, Luo'an, and the Beijing Capital Region.

Fifth, each province shall elect representatives, and the first formal Council Hall general election shall be held in half a year.

After the news spread, reactions across the world varied.

Some thought it absurd.

Some thought it fresh.

Some thought it was an omen of chaos.

But what more ordinary common people remembered was the second point.

Abolish the Kneeling Ceremony.

When many local officials heard for the first time that common people no longer knelt before them, their faces looked worse than if their own fathers had died.

When an official forcibly ordered common people to kneel, the Sword Cultivators of the local Green Blade Camp patrol directly pressed their swords and entered the yamen.

"Did you forget the second article of the New System?"

The official, terrified, collapsed to the ground.

From then on, people throughout the world gradually grew accustomed to speaking while standing.

Yet at Tian Duan Cliff, Jiang Che remained unconscious.

Xie Tingxue tended to his meridians every day.

The Green Bamboo Sword remained silent.

Until the morning a month later.

At Tian Duan Cliff, the first ray of sunlight fell into the tent.

Jiang Che opened his eyes and said softly:

"Water."

Xie Tingxue, guarding by the bedside, felt the porcelain bowl in her hand tremble slightly.