Chapter 2527: The Ruler's Realization

Basically, the rules of the game under the New Covenant order are more balanced than in the past, whether it is the mutual checks and balances among the upper echelons, or the checks and balances between the upper and lower levels.

At the same time, the rules are also clearer and can accommodate enough people to participate; it can be said that anyone can find their own place under the new order.

Regarding the question of how the new system should replace the old one, Xia Duo did not put forward any new suggestions; the issues he wanted to supplement could be added directly when the Council discussed them.

However, he did have a suggestion regarding specific matters, and he very much hoped to obtain the Council's support.

……

Here, Xia Duo finished reading the agenda sent over by the Seven Towers and had a preliminary psychological expectation for the upcoming first plenary meeting.

At this moment, Niya also happened to close the document in her hand, and the two looked at each other, saying in unison: "You go first?"

"Alright, I'll go first then."

Niya shook the document she was still holding, then spoke hesitantly, "I think there are too many things to discuss here; how long are we going to stay in Seventon this time?"

So it was a worry about being delayed for too long after going to Seventon; Xia Duo saw through what Niya was thinking at a glance, and this was actually his own concern as well.

But the difference was that he had long anticipated the duration of this first meeting, and he was very clear that this time was not wasted, but rather belonged to setting things right.

If one does not take the opportunity to clarify most issues at the beginning of the establishment of the new order, it will only be more troublesome later, and more time will be delayed.

In fact, one should look at it from another angle: every bit of time spent now is equivalent to saving many times more time in the future; one should be happier the more time it takes, not the opposite.

Xia Duo told Niya his thoughts, but Niya was still somewhat puzzled, "But the two of us, can't we go separately?"

"Of course we can, but this meeting is very important; you wouldn't want a resolution you don't wish to see to be passed or not passed just because of an absence, right?"

Of course, this was only the ostensible reason; what Xia Duo was actually thinking about was wanting to train Niya. He did not expect Niya to achieve great success in territory management or even national management, but at least she needed to have an understanding of the operating rules of this world, and participating in practice personally is the best way to understand, and even grasp, these kinds of rules.

"By the way, do you have any motions you want to submit to the Council for discussion?" Seeing Niya looking thoughtful, Xia Duo changed the subject quite naturally.

"Me?"

Niya looked at Xia Duo somewhat strangely. At this time, she had not yet developed the realization of being a true ruler of this country, but under Xia Duo's reminder, she tentatively proposed one:

"How about letting the Council allocate the entire Nan Jing to us?"

"Haha!"

Xia Duo laughed, then asked in return: "Hasn't Nan Jing already belonged to us for a long time?"

Although the new order advocates more for explicit rules of the game and clearer divisions of power and obligations, it does not mean that the past unspoken rules disappeared overnight, or were transformed into public rules.

To whom Nan Jing belongs is actually an "untouchable" issue in Netheril; from a legal standpoint, any Pioneer can come to Nan Jing to develop ownerless land.

But some of Xia Duo's previous actions had long since demarcated his own sphere of influence, from Maihete Lake in the north to Wolf God Mountain in the south. Although there is a large amount of legally ownerless land within it, everyone tacitly assumes these are the lands of Daxia Territory.

And now, Niya has also become a Great Arcanist, so the ownership of this land is even less controversial.

As for other councilors, they of course also have their own spheres of influence, whether it be land, chambers of commerce, or alliance organizations; as long as Xia Duo does not mess with them, they have no reason to come and mess with Xia Duo.

The design philosophy of the new order and new system is somewhat ahead of its time, and it can accommodate enough people to participate in this game of power.

……

Under Xia Duo's continued questioning, Niya proposed another one, "How about letting the Council promote the Daxia Code to all territories in Netheril!"

"This is indeed possible, but I think the vast majority of lords will not agree, so to achieve this goal, it still needs to be promoted step by step; one must not be too hasty."

"Then what do you say we should do?" Niya asked in return.

This was indeed a problem. Xia Duo certainly hoped to achieve it in one step and directly "apply" the Daxia Code to all parts of Netheril, but this was clearly unrealistic, and he also had other considerations.

Since Niya had thoughts in this regard, he would of course give his support. After thinking for a moment, he did not give an answer directly, but instead asked in return:

"What do you think is the most essential difference between the Daxia Code, or rather Daxia Territory, and other territories?"

"The most essential difference?" Niya murmured.

She of course knew that Daxia Territory was very different from other territories in Netheril, in every aspect, but as for the most essential difference, she seemed to have never seriously considered it.

But after all, living on this land and in this environment, Niya immediately thought of many things, but when it came to the most essential one, she suddenly realized—

"I understand! It's the spirit of legislation! You said before that whether a law is good or not depends not only on the results of the law's implementation, but more importantly on the spirit of the legislation."

"The most essential difference between the Daxia Code and other territories lies in the respect for the subjects. Other territories may also have traditions or decrees to protect the subjects, but in essence, it is closer to the mercy of the superiors, rather than a universal respect for every individual."

"Correct! You said it very well!"

Xia Duo did not stint on his praise; if Niya had not truly understood the essence of the Daxia Code, she would not have been able to say these words.

In Xia Duo's view, one of the most important signs distinguishing modern law from ancient law is whether it respects and guarantees individual rights. After the signing of the Netheril New Covenant, there is already a trend toward transitioning to a modern society.

But it is only a trend; the forward-looking nature of the New Covenant principles has allowed this country to touch a shadow of modern society, but there is still a long way to go to truly achieve it.

"So if we want to promote the Daxia Code to the entire territory of Netheril, we can start by legislatively guaranteeing the basic rights of the subjects in all territories, but this is still extremely difficult!"

"You must know that Magic allows individual power to expand greatly. If immense power is held in the hands of an individual, it is hard not to cause alienation, thereby forgetting the essence of being human."

"So that's why we need to Popularize Magic, so that everyone can master power?" Niya immediately answered.

"Yes, but not entirely. It should be about establishing order and finding meaning for everyone; Popularize Magic education is just a necessary step in the process of finding meaning."

"So your meaning is the creation of a new world where everyone can be fully developed, as the Progress Society says?"

"That can be understood that way."

Xia Duo said in a calm tone.