Golden sunlight shone on Qian Dafu’s astonished face.
Xiao Ming’s proposal shocked him. He said cautiously, “I, your old servant, can only chat casually with Your Majesty. I dare not comment on such an important matter.”
With a light chuckle, he looked at Qian Dafu and said, “You needn’t be nervous. You’ll understand once I explain.”
Merchants’ status in the Great Yu Empire had been suppressed for over a thousand years. Now, with their sudden liberation, there was bound to be a great explosion. This explosion was not only in the development of industry and commerce but also in the merchants’ mindset.
Because they had amassed a great deal of wealth, they felt they should have some say in state affairs. Of course, a very small number of ambitious merchants hoped to be like those in the West.
“Now, influenced by the Prince of Chu, merchants have many ideas in their hearts. Precisely because of this, Cao Zhengyang is thriving in Qingzhou Province, as merchants consider him a business leader and complain about the imperial court strictly limiting their commercial activities.”
Xiao Ming had been observing the development of Qingzhou Province, so he was very aware of the current situation in Qingzhou Province.
After a moment of thought, he continued, “Therefore, I have decided to give them such an opportunity: to hold an annual court assembly composed of merchant representatives, artisan representatives, student representatives, etc., allowing them to offer suggestions on the Great Yu Empire’s governance. At the same time, a new institution will be added to the provincial office, named the Political Consultation Council. Merchants, students, and artisans who join the Political Consultation Council will be responsible for selecting candidates to attend the court assembly. How about it?”
In fact, the system Xiao Ming envisioned was basically somewhat similar to the Great Yu Empire’s previous “yuanwailang” (supernumerary officials), except that yuanwailang had no right to participate in government affairs. Now, Xiao Ming was giving them a formal institution and officially recognized status.
Most importantly, they could express their dissatisfaction with government affairs or offer suggestions beneficial to the Great Yu Empire’s development directly in front of the Emperor.
The reason Xiao Ming thought of this was also due to inspiration from modern times. Since merchants needed the right to participate in government, he would give them an institution that seemed very important, but whose actual importance depended on his attitude.
At the annual merchants’ court assembly, he could adopt merchants’ more favorable suggestions. This way, merchants would feel valued and would have no other excuse to demand deeper involvement in government affairs.
After all, this court assembly was basically no different from the officials’ court assembly.
After hearing all this, Qian Dafu revealed a wry smile. So this was what the merchants’ court assembly meant. He said, “Your Majesty is wise. Since merchants like this, then let them try it.”
Xiao Ming nodded, “To avoid unnecessary turmoil, I think it’s necessary to reveal a little information about the Political Consultation Council in the newspaper.”
With that, he sat down and drafted a manuscript, which he sent to the newspaper office.
The next day, the Qingzhou Daily roared with the headline: “A Great Transformation in Merchants’ Status After a Thousand Years: A Few Things About the Political Consultation Council.”
As soon as this newspaper was published, the originally calm Qingzhou City became lively again.
“Anyone willing to join the Political Consultation Council can annually elect merchant representatives to attend the court assembly held on November 6th of each year. At that time, His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Yu Empire will discuss state affairs with the Grand Secretaries and adopt beneficial advice.”
In the Wei Family Restaurant, Ding Wu read the content of the newspaper, his expression excited. After finishing the newspaper, he slammed the table hard. “Did you see that? Did you see that? This was personally written by His Majesty!”
Those who could afford breakfast at the Wei Family Restaurant were basically the influential merchants of Qingzhou Province. They had once greatly envied merchants in the State of Chu who could participate in government affairs, but now, this happiness came too suddenly.
“This Cao Zhengyang boasts all day about how well the Cao family is doing in the State of Chu. Now, with this, they have nothing to say!”
“Ding Wu, if this Political Consultation Council is established, we will elect you as its head! Then we’ll see how long Cao Zhengyang can remain arrogant!” Others chimed in.
Ding Wu heard this and stood up to express his thanks. “Thank you all for your kind regard. If I can have the honor of seeing His Majesty at the court assembly, I will surely report all your suggestions to His Majesty.”
“Good!” The merchants laughed loudly.
Cao Zhengyang sat not far from Ding Wu. The merchants’ blatant provocation made his face flush crimson. Now, the merchants completely disregarded him.
However, despite his anger, he felt more regret. This time, he seemed to have gone too far.
Ever since he settled in Qingzhou Province, things had been too smooth for him here. With the increasing freedom of Qingzhou Province merchants, he had not felt the ubiquitous majesty of the imperial court for a long time.
Moreover, due to the Cao family’s extensive investments in Qingzhou Province, officials and common people alike held him in great respect, which subtly made him a bit arrogant.
Most importantly, he believed that the Prince of Chu and the imperial court were one and would remain peaceful, just as they had for centuries.
But five days ago, an order from the Cao family completely made him see reality. The Prince of Chu and the Emperor did not seem to be so harmonious.
So, seeing the content of the newspaper, he felt a mix of emotions. He wondered what his father would think when he saw this newspaper.
But a drawn bow has no turning back. Since the Cao family had taken this step, there was no turning back. The silver had already been transported out of Qingzhou Province. Once the imperial court learned of it, the Cao Family Bank would be doomed forever.
At the same time, he had already made preparations. After breakfast, he would, under the guise of engaging in commerce, travel from Qingzhou Province to Dengzhou, and then he would board a British merchant ship to Lin’an.
After hastily finishing his meal, Cao Zhengyang left the Wei Family Restaurant without refuting those around him. At this, the restaurant manager glanced at Cao Zhengyang, then exchanged a look with the waiter.
The waiter understood and turned to walk towards the East Market. He was going to report Cao Zhengyang’s whereabouts to them.
While Qingzhou Province was in a state of fervor, news about the Political Consultation Council quickly spread to the workshops outside Qingzhou City. Merchants like Zhu Wuliu, who had started from scratch, all cheered excitedly, eagerly anticipating the imperial court’s formal promulgation of the law regarding the Political Consultation Council.
While the merchants were excited, Xiao Ming was already discussing this issue with the Grand Secretariat. The Political Consultation Council had no rights stipulated by the Great Yu Empire’s laws. In other words, this Political Consultation Council existed as an institution for the imperial court to broadly solicit opinions.
Besides merchants, people from other industries of the Great Yu Empire would also participate. They would represent various strata of the Great Yu Empire and voice their opinions.
So, for Xiao Ming, this institution still had some benefits. It could give him a more direct understanding of the Great Yu Empire’s development.
At the same time, it could also make officials restrain their grasping hands. After all, the Political Consultation Council could also serve as an eye to monitor officials’ behavior.
“To pool wisdom and broaden channels for expression, this is what a wise ruler does. We, your humble servants, are willing to assist His Majesty in establishing this Political Consultation Council.”
Having understood the essence of the Political Consultation Council, Pang Yukun and Fei Ji both agreed.
The novel has already been fully translated up to the final chapter. You can access it on my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/caleredhair