Chapter 64

After the rain in the Western Desert, the Human Assembly Hall welcomed its first formal election.

This matter was harder than war.

In war, the enemy is before you, and the blade points the way.

In an election, hearts differ, and tongues are sharper than swords.

Each province and commandery must elect representatives to the Capital City.

Who can elect?

How to elect?

The great families wanted to elect their own people.

The sects wanted seats.

The Merchant Association wanted to protect trade routes.

Farmers cared about land taxes.

Soldiers cared about military pay.

Refugees cared about grain.

Scholars fought over rites and laws.

Artisans fought over wages.

Some said the common people were illiterate and could not participate in governance.

Others retorted, does illiteracy mean one is not human?

Some said women should not enter the Council Hall.

Qin Su directly slammed the roster of the Medical Camp's war dead onto the table.

"When saving lives in Luo'an, women could die."

"When fighting the plague in the East Sea, women could die."

"When moving medicine at Tian Duan Cliff, women could die."

"Now that we discuss affairs, women cannot speak?"

That person was left speechless.

Jiang Che did not stay in the Capital City.

He was recovering in the Western Desert while reading report after report of disputes.

After reading a stack, Shen Wanjin's head felt as big as a winnowing basket.

"Young Master, I suddenly think the Emperor had some merits."

Jiang Che raised an eyebrow.

Shen Wanjin coughed: "I am not saying the old Emperor was good, but that one person making the decision saves trouble."

Jiang Che smiled: "The price of saving trouble is the Luo'an Altar."

Shen Wanjin immediately said: "Then let's argue."

Finally, the New System was temporarily set:

Localities would elect preliminary representatives separately by household registration, military registration, artisan registration, merchant registration, and scholar registration.

Local small Council Halls would first review qualifications, then send them to provincial Council Halls for re-election.

Formal representatives would enter the Capital City for a three-year term.

No hereditary succession.

No buying seats.

Once discovered, banned from the Council Hall for life.

The first round of elections was a complete mess.

In a certain place in Jiangnan, a great family gave rice to every household, forcing the people to vote for their clan elder.

After the local Green Blade Camp discovered this, the clan elder was fined three years of land rent, and the seat was voided.

During an election in a certain military garrison in the North, old soldiers almost started fighting.

In the end, they decided to compare who had more scars.

Hearing this, Gu Chongming angrily wrote a letter to reprimand them: "The Council Hall is not a Hall of Military Merit!"

The old soldiers replied: "Then let's compare who can shout curses at the Heavenly Gate louder."

Gu Chongming nearly had a stroke.

Electing a representative in Luo'an was the quietest.

Everyone unanimously elected Qin Su.

Qin Su refused, saying she already held a seat on the Executive Council and could not hold a local seat simultaneously.

Thus, the people of Luo'an elected the old man who had been the first to shout "No" on the Altar.

The old man could not write.

But he said: "I know what hunger is, what fear is, and what it is to lose children and grandchildren."

"I will speak for those who cannot speak."

When this news reached the Capital City, many scholars fell silent.

When electing a representative in Han Zhou, Chen Shanhe was elected first.

He refused.

"This old man guards the army; he does not go to argue."

The people then elected a widow who sold mutton soup.

The reason was simple:

Many of the Northern Garrison Army's old soldiers had eaten soup she sold on credit.

Her husband died in the Cold Prefecture Blood Case three years ago; her son died at White Bone Pass; yet she still opened her shop every day, selling to the new troops at half price.

After being selected, her first words were:

"I don't understand big matters."

"But whoever dares to cut the death benefits, I'll curse them to death."

Jiang Che saw this and laughed for a long time.

Xie Tingxue asked: "Aren't you worried the Council Hall will turn into a farce?"

Jiang Che said: "Of course I'm worried."

"Then why laugh?"

Jiang Che said: "Before, the common people didn't even have the right to make a fuss."

"Now they can make a fuss—that's a good thing."

Xie Tingxue thought for a moment and nodded.

Three months later, the first official Human Assembly Hall convened.

Zhuque Street in the Capital City was packed with delegates from all regions.

Some wore official robes.

Some wore hemp garments.

Some wore armor.

Some leaned on canes.

Some carried swords on their backs.

Some, for the first time seeing the Imperial City, were so nervous they walked through the wrong Gate.

Inside Zichen Hall, the cracked Dragon Throne remained sealed away at the back.

Gu Chongming presided over the opening of the Assembly.

The first agenda item was neither a declaration of war against the Upper Realm nor the reconstruction of military systems.

It was proposed by the elder of Luo'an:

"Who will raise the orphans after the disasters?"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Then the debate began.

Some said local governments should raise them.

Some said clans should raise them.

Some said public schools should be built.

Some asked where the money would come from.

In the end, the widow from Han Zhou who sold mutton soup slammed her hand on the table:

"Take the money from confiscated corrupt officials' property; if it's not enough, deduct ten percent from military merit rewards."

The military representative shouted: "Why deduct from military merit?"

The widow glared: "These children will grow up to be soldiers, citizens, and people of the Human Realm. Aren't you guarding them?"

The representative opened his mouth but had no reply.

The motion was ultimately passed:

Establish the Human Orphanage.

Prioritize orphans from Luo'an, Western Desert, Northern Border, East Sea, and Southern Border affected by disaster and war.

Funding shall be jointly borne by confiscated Old Party assets, the Council Hall's public treasury, and Merchant Association donations.

Shen Wanjin went pale at the words "Merchant Association donations."

But in the end, he still signed.

Because the elder of Luo'an looked at him and said:

"Master Shen, some debts can't be counted only in silver."

Shen Wanjin sighed: "You all have learned to be cunning."

After the first Assembly ended, Gu Chongming wrote Jiang Che a letter.

"The arguing gave me a headache."

"But I think the world might truly live this way."

Jiang Che's reply was only one sentence:

"A headache means you're still alive."

Gu Chongming read it, then laughed and cursed: "You damn brat."