Chapter 651 The Great Tong Federation
In the fourth hundredth year of the new calendar, under the impetus of the Wenhua Palace, a sacred place of literature and Taoism, the thirty-six kingdoms in the eastern part of the Tianming Continent formed an alliance, and the rulers of the thirty-six kingdoms gathered at the Canglan Sea.
In the new city of Datong on the shores of the Canglan Sea, the Datong Federation convened its first federal conference. The monarchs of thirty-six kingdoms, along with their high-ranking officials, participated in the conference and made a declaration to the world.
The Great Union was thus born.
The thirty-six kingdoms on the eastern side of Tianming Domain joined the Great Harmony Federation as member states, forming a brand-new nation.
The newly formed Datong Federation abandoned the traditional imperial system of the Nine Regions and established a supreme authority called the Datong Council.
Unlike those federal states born under technological civilization, the Great Harmony Federation has largely retained the characteristics of the Nine Realms.
Sovereign and divine authority did not disappear with the birth of the federation; they were merely somewhat constrained.
The restrictions were not very strong, and the countries that joined the Great Union retained their original systems.
Only when matters of great importance to the overall strategy are involved must the member states abide by the rules set forth by the Great Assembly.
The federal states enjoy mutually beneficial cooperation in multiple fields such as military and commerce, and each state has the right to withdraw from the federation.
Federal citizens can travel freely within 36 countries with their national travel permits, but must abide by the laws of each country once they enter another country.
……
The entire Datong Parliament has a total of 120 seats. Wenhua Palace, as the supervisor, occupies 12 seats, while the 36 countries that make up the Datong Federation each occupy 3 seats.
All major strategic matters concerning the entire federal government must be discussed and voted on by the federal parliament, and a bill can only be passed if it receives more than two-thirds of the votes.
At the first conference of the Datong Federation, Zhuang Sheng, the founder of the federation, was elected as the first speaker of the Datong Parliament with an overwhelming majority of 120 votes.
The Federation, like a shining new star, rose above the Tianming Domain, bringing new ideas to all parts of the Nine Domains.
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In the 410th year of the Gregorian calendar, the Datong Parliament convened its second conference of all nations.
Zhuang Sheng was once again elected Speaker of the Federal Parliament with an overwhelming majority of 120 votes.
To be more precise, apart from Zhuang Sheng, no one else participated in the election for Speaker of the Federal Parliament.
In the eyes of the high-ranking officials of the thirty-six federal states, nothing was more important than Zhuang Sheng.
They came because of Zhuangzi's reputation from the very beginning.
Join the Federation, learn its ideology, and accept its constraints...
All of this is because the Federation was founded by Zhuang Sheng and backed by the entire Da Tongxue faction.
In the eyes of the rulers of the thirty-six member states, the Great Harmony Federation was an alternative empire, and Zhuangzi himself was the emperor of that empire.
The so-called Speaker of the Federal Parliament is nothing more than the emperor with a different name.
They're incredibly adept at recognizing a leader!
Driven by this idea, even though Zhuangzi mentioned it many times, the rulers of the thirty-six states never considered running for the position of Speaker of the Federal Parliament.
When Zhuang Sheng asked them to organize domestic officials to participate in the election, they followed the usual practice of the Nine Regions and took Zhuang Sheng's words as a humble remark from a scholar.
We understand! We all understand!
He had to visit Zhuge Liang three times, and was refused nine times!
Master Zhuangzi is not interested in power, but the Federation is in dire straits, both internally and externally. Only the great Master Zhuangzi can shoulder this heavy responsibility and lead the Federation into the future.
What? Master Zhuang said he doesn't intend to continue serving as speaker, and that we should elect a new speaker through an election?
You idiot! You just blindly follow whatever Master Zhuang says?
"Guards! Quickly organize the high-ranking officials of the court, select another group of impoverished people, and have them accompany me to the new city of Datong!"
Listen carefully, all of you! Think of your stories and tell them as tragically as possible!
From the moment you step into the new city of Datong, cry loudly for me, cry your heart out! We must show Master Zhuang our sincerity!
Master Zhuang will probably refuse nine times. Don't worry about what Master Zhuang says, just cry for me!
We must make sure everyone knows that Master Zhuang is the sun of our Great Harmony Federation, and only Master Zhuang can save all living beings!
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In the simple understanding of the federal rulers, the Great Harmony Federation is Zhuangzi's Great Harmony Federation, and they, as member states, are all Zhuangzi's lackeys.
As for the claims made by the older students, they didn't believe a word of them!
What equality or inequality? That's just fooling idiots!
How could a henchman possibly compete with his boss for a position?
The Speaker of the Great Union can only be the great Master Zhuang!
If a timeframe must be set, they hope it will be three thousand years.
In the Nine Realms, where individual power dominates everything, a powerful terrestrial immortal like Zhuangzi would be a pillar of strength in any faction.
As long as Zhuangzi lives, the Federation will never perish, and these not-so-powerful nations can continue indefinitely.
It should be noted that even the Great Qi Empire, which once dominated the entire Tianqi Domain, only lasted for a little over a thousand years, let alone these small countries.
Being able to join the Great Union and become a force under Zhuang Sheng's command is an incredibly wonderful thing!
……
In the year 420 of the Gregorian calendar, the Datong Parliament convened its third conference of all nations.
After being re-elected as Speaker of the Federal Parliament, Zhuang Sheng convened a new Federal Parliament.
In the parliament, Zhuang Sheng, in his capacity as the Speaker of the Federal Parliament and a sage of literature and philosophy, formulated the three ironclad laws of the federation.
The term of office for any speaker of the Federal Parliament shall not exceed thirty years.
No member state of the federation may wage war against another member state for any reason.
The Federal Basic Law is superior to the laws of each country. No member state may violate the seventy-two basic laws of the Federation when enacting its laws.
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In the year 430 of the Gregorian calendar, Zhuang Sheng stepped down as Speaker of the Federal Parliament.
This earth-shattering event directly terrified the rulers of various countries.
They could no longer indulge in their pleasures in the palace. One by one, they led huge groups to Zhuangzi, crying and pleading with the great Master Zhuang to rescind his decree and continue to serve the people of the Federation.
In the back-and-forth tug-of-war, the Datong Federation gained another special position.
His name is—The Great Sage.
The great sage was not elected; he was directly appointed by Zhuangzi himself.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Great Sage will not be replaced, nor will he participate in federal decision-making.
Seeing that Zhuang Sheng had promised to become the Great Sage, the rulers of the various states of the Federation breathed a sigh of relief and began to compete for the position of Speaker of the Federation Parliament with smiles on their faces.
Following a series of disputes, a new Speaker of the Federal Parliament was elected through parliamentary elections.
In the long years that followed, the Speaker of the Federal Parliament was replaced every ten years, and there was almost never a case of someone being re-elected.
Over time, this unwritten rule also emerged among the various member states of the Federation.
The Speaker of the Federal Parliament is elected through a rotation system, with the position changing hands among the thirty-six member states.
……
October, 520th year of the Gregorian calendar.
Tianming Domain, the outskirts of Datong New City.
A portal engraved with countless stars appeared deep in the forest, and an old man dressed in a purple and gold star-patterned robe stepped out of the portal.
"Slurp—"