Chapter 1429: Cheng Xu's Story
Year 2 of the New Ming Calendar.
A sea of people surged outside the gates of the Forbidden City. Today marked the opening of the Second People's Assembly. Compared to the first assembly, this one carried a major difference. Its very first agenda was to elect a Grand Chancellor.
During the first assembly, the leadership structure had still been chaotic. At that time, governance had been temporarily handled by Shan Shier, the long serving chief steward. However, after a year of adjustment, the New Ming state had stabilized. The country was orderly, the economy was flourishing, and systems were finally running smoothly.
Now it was time to choose a Grand Chancellor through collective governance.
Although the Grand Chancellor was not an emperor, the position carried immense authority. Naturally, many capable figures wanted to compete for it.
Shan Shier knew very well that he was not the only contender. Tan Liwen, Zhu Yujian, Zhu You Song, Sun Chuanting, Lu Xiangsheng, and Liang Shixian all had the qualifications to compete.
The vote counting was about to begin.
Shan Shier took a deep breath. I cannot lose. I have served as chief steward of Gao Village Family for more than a decade. My ability and character are widely recognized. There is no reason for me to lose.
With slightly trembling hands, he addressed the representatives.
"The vote counting will now begin. In accordance with fairness, transparency, and justice, the entire process will be recorded by four reporters from four directions. The footage will later be broadcast on the Immortal Mirror. No one can cheat. This is what we call Shen Si Du Xing."
The representatives nodded in approval.
"Agreed."
Shan Shier picked up the first ballot and unfolded it. His face lit up with joy.
"Shan Shier, one vote."
On the viewing platform, Third Miss clapped happily.
"Father is amazing. He already has a vote."
Confidence swelled inside Shan Shier. The first vote is mine. This is going exactly as expected.
He picked up the second ballot, glanced at it, and froze for a brief moment before quickly announcing.
"Flat Rabbit, one vote."
Third Miss blinked in confusion.
"Someone voted for Flat Rabbit? Is this a joke?"
Before she could finish reacting, Shan Shier continued.
"Flat Rabbit, another vote."
Third Miss stiffened.
Shan Shier kept reading.
"Flat Rabbit, another vote."
"Flat Rabbit, another vote."
"Shan Shier, plus one vote."
"Flat Rabbit, plus one vote."
"Flat Rabbit, plus one vote."
The situation began to drift into something strange and completely unexpected.
There were more than two thousand four hundred representatives from across the nation. When all the ballots were counted, the final result stunned everyone.
Flat Rabbit alone received more than two thousand two hundred votes.
All other candidates combined barely reached a few hundred.
Thus, the first officially recognized Grand Chancellor of the New Ming state was decided.
Flat Rabbit.
Flat Rabbit's sudden election left him completely bewildered. He had no governing ability whatsoever. In the end, he could only rely on Shan Shier to handle state affairs. For a time, this caused confusion within the leadership structure.
After this incident, the entire nation came to understand something important. Collective governance also had its flaws.
The quality and awareness of voters directly influenced the outcome.
If large numbers of people without a proper understanding of national affairs participated in voting, the result could easily be misguided.
This was not beneficial to the country.
The path of collective governance was not smooth. It was filled with obstacles.
However, no one chose to retreat. If there were problems, they would be solved. If there were mistakes, they would be corrected.
Year 6 of the New Ming Calendar.
At the Sixth People's Assembly, a new vote was held.
Flat Rabbit stepped down after four years of confusion, and Shan Shier finally took office as Grand Chancellor. The country gradually returned to the right track.
…
After a long day reviewing documents, Shan Shier returned home with a weary body.
A service soldier quickly poured him a cup of tea.
Shan Shier smiled and thanked him.
"Where are my wife and daughter?"
The soldier replied respectfully.
"Madam has gone to Dao Xuan Tianzun's cave to offer prayers. The young lady is in her laboratory. She said it contains chemical substances and is dangerous, so no one is allowed inside."
Shan Shier chuckled.
"That is called exaggeration."
He picked up his teacup and walked toward the laboratory.
As he reached the door, he heard his daughter muttering inside.
"A bit of mouse whiskers, a bat wing, some lizard saliva… stir…"
Shan Shier stopped in his tracks.
What kind of formula is that supposed to be?
Before he could think further, a loud explosion erupted.
Boom.
Smoke billowed out of the laboratory.
Shan Shier panicked and rushed inside. The room was filled with thick black smoke, and visibility was near zero.
"Daughter, are you alright?"
Her voice came calmly from within the smoke.
"I am fine. It is nothing serious."
"Nothing serious?" Shan Shier coughed as he waved away the smoke. "This is clearly a dangerous situation."
Third Miss stepped out of the smoke, her face smudged with soot but otherwise unharmed.
Shan Shier frowned.
"What exactly are you researching? I heard you talking about mouse whiskers and such. That does not sound like proper chemistry."
She laughed.
"I did not actually use those. I was just saying random things for fun. I am researching batteries."
"Batteries?" Shan Shier looked puzzled. "What is that?"
"A battery is something that stores electricity," she explained. "The colorful train bestowed by Dao Xuan Tianzun used something called a number five battery. After studying and dismantling it, we found that it works on chemical principles. Now we are trying to replicate it."
She paused and sighed softly.
"Tianzun has appeared less and less in recent years. The intervals between his appearances keep getting longer. He used to watch over us every day, but now months pass before he appears again. He no longer grants us batteries. The original trains have already stopped running."
She clenched her small fist.
"We must create our own batteries. Only then can we continue using the artifacts he left behind."
Shan Shier fell silent.
Yes. Tianzun had been appearing less frequently.
Perhaps one day, he would disappear entirely.
Shan Shier looked up at the sky and clasped his hands in respect, remaining silent for a long time.
…
Year 6 of the New Ming Calendar.
Shan Shier officially assumed the position of Grand Chancellor. His governance was gentle and benevolent, earning the love of the people.
Year 10.
He was re elected and continued his administration.
Year 14.
He retired due to age, and Liu Maopao succeeded him. Liu Maopao governed with bold and aggressive policies, securing great advantages for the nation and rapidly increasing its strength.
Year 22.
However, Liu Maopao's aggressive expansion led to overextension. Colonies spread across the globe, but with limited transportation and population, the burden became too heavy. National strength declined instead of rising. Liu Maopao resigned, and Shan Shier returned to office, focusing on internal stability.
Year 26.
Shan Shier retired again due to illness, handing power back to Liu Maopao, who had matured through reflection and governed with renewed wisdom.
Year 30.
Third Miss knelt before her father's memorial tablet. In her hands, she held a battery.
"Father, we succeeded. The battery has been developed. The train that stopped running for so many years is moving again."
Her voice trembled slightly, yet carried pride.
The era had changed. The people had learned to stand on their own.