Chp8: The First Assembly (1)

Qian Hao hurried to the large shed set up temporarily on a vacant lot in the residential area, a small briefcase under his arm. As he entered, he noticed the room was buzzing with conversation. He glanced around and saw a sea of people—more than 500 time travelers were gathered. After several days of preparation, today was the first General Assembly of the time travel group.

Ma Qianzu stood at the rostrum, addressing the crowd. He had been speaking for nearly half an hour, explaining the proposal for their new governance system.

Ma Qianzu cleared his throat and continued, "In summary, the General Assembly of the Time Travelers is the highest authority and is held once a year. During the adjournment of the General Assembly, an Executive Committee will be established as the standing executive body. The Executive Committee will have one chairman and members from the following committees: Army, Navy, Agriculture, Industry, Materials, Diplomatic, Judicial, Transportation, Finance, and Internal Affairs. The Chairman is responsible for presiding over all work. Any proposal submitted by a committee member must be voted on and approved by all members of the Executive Committee. The term of office for Executive Committee members is three years, and they will be elected by the General Assembly. If re-election is necessary during the adjournment of the General Assembly, it can be proposed by the Chairman or one-third of the time travelers."

Ma Qianzu looked around the room, ensuring everyone understood. "We need to establish order, and this is the way forward. It's critical that we organize ourselves now, as we have already met Dutch sailors, and more foreign groups may appear. This will provide the structure we need to handle such situations and interact with others."

After Ma Qianzu finished speaking, Liu Weimin, who was presiding over the meeting, stepped forward. "Alright, let's vote by raising hands," he said, looking around at the assembly. "Please ensure the staff does a proper job of counting the votes."

The room quieted, and everyone raised their hands, casting their votes for the new organizational structure. Qian Hao watched as the staff quickly began counting. He could sense the weight of this decision; it would determine how they would function as a group going forward.

After a brief moment, Liu Weimin spoke again. "The results are in. Out of 502 participants, 476 have agreed to the proposal. The proposal has passed."

The room erupted in applause. People turned to one another, smiling and nodding. It was clear that this was a major step forward for the time travelers. They now had a framework to guide them.

Ma Qianzu addressed the crowd once more. "Now that we have passed the proposal, it's time to begin organizing the committees and electing the Chairman. This is just the beginning. We have much work ahead of us."

Qian Hao felt a sense of pride as he listened. The time travelers were no longer a scattered group of individuals trying to survive—they were becoming a society, with plans, structure, and purpose. The future was uncertain, but now they had a foundation to build on.

He glanced around at the excited faces of his fellow time travelers. "This is just the beginning," he thought, "and the real work starts now."

Gao Mo stood up, holding his proposal in hand. He was met with a room full of expectant faces, the recent elections still fresh in everyone's minds. The newly formed Executive Committee was eager to take action on the issues that had already arisen, and this Dutch situation was one that required careful consideration.

"The situation is clear," Gao Mo began, his voice steady and confident. "We have the Dutch West India Company's ship, the Orange River, stranded here, and we must decide how to proceed. From a strategic standpoint, the Portuguese in Brazil and the Spanish across the Uruguay River are potential threats to our safety and future plans. We are in a delicate position, geographically speaking, with both Spain and Portugal seeking dominance in the region. As many of you know, Portugal is under the joint rule of Spain, and the Dutch have been engaged in a longstanding war with the Spanish."

He paused for a moment to let his words sink in before continuing.

"The Dutch and Portuguese are fierce competitors in the Amazon River Basin, and their rivalry has become particularly intense in recent years. In 1624 and 1627, the Dutch captured Bahia, and this year, they took Pernambuco. Given this context, I propose that we treat the Dutch favorably. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, as the saying goes."

A murmur of agreement spread through the room, with some members nodding thoughtfully at the idea of forging an alliance with the Dutch against their mutual enemies.

Gao Mo continued, "By allowing the Orange River to dock here for repairs, we can not only secure their goodwill but also establish a trade relationship with the Dutch West India Company. This could open up a valuable trading route for us and give us access to the goods we desperately need. In the long term, this could be advantageous for our survival and growth."

A few members looked skeptical, but the overwhelming majority seemed to see the merit in Gao Mo's proposal. Ma Qianzu, now the Chairman of the Executive Committee, spoke up.

"I agree that forging relations with the Dutch could be beneficial," he said, his tone measured but firm. "However, we must proceed with caution. We cannot afford to make any missteps. We will need to ensure that any agreements made are in our favor and that we do not become too reliant on them."

There was a brief pause as the committee members reflected on his words. After a few moments, Liu Weimin, who had been elected as the Director of the General Meeting, raised his hand to call for a vote.

"All those in favor of allowing the Orange River to dock for repairs and beginning negotiations with the Dutch West India Company for potential trade relations, please raise your hands."

The room fell silent as the committee members considered the proposal. One by one, hands began to rise, including those of the key members who had previously expressed concerns. The consensus was clear—the proposal had the support of the majority.

"Motion passed," Liu Weimin announced. "The Orange River may dock for repairs, and we will begin negotiations with the Dutch West India Company for trade relations."

A wave of relief swept through the room, and some of the members even exchanged looks of satisfaction, knowing that they had taken an important step forward. However, they also knew that much work remained to be done to ensure the success of their new community.

The tense atmosphere around the meeting table shifted when Peng Zhicheng, the newly appointed Army Commissioner, spoke up firmly, his voice cutting through the murmur of the room. "I still say that the Dutch may not treat us equally, and we don't have the money to take risks," he declared, his brow furrowed in concern.

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of his words settling in. Peng was no fool; he understood the potential danger in dealing with the Dutch, but his caution was rooted in pragmatism. The time travelers, still uncertain about their position in this strange world, couldn't afford to make hasty decisions that might endanger their future.

However, not everyone shared his reservations. Navy Commissioner Wang Qinian, though isolated in his current position, seized the opportunity to voice a far more aggressive stance. "Dayu River has been an inseparable sacred territory of our country since ancient times. The Orange River armed merchant ship illegally invaded our inland river with weapons, causing extremely serious consequences. I express my strong indignation. For these invaders, I think they should be arrested immediately and the tools used to commit crimes should be confiscated."

His passionate words, however, did not land well with everyone. A few awkward coughs echoed around the room, and some members shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Wang's suggestion was bold but unrealistic, and the room seemed to collectively recognize the need for a more diplomatic approach.

The agricultural, industrial, and materials committees, eager to advance their own agendas, quickly drowned out the opposition. The agricultural committee pointed out the urgent need for cattle, sheep, and seeds, while the industrial committee highlighted the importance of obtaining copper, iron, and fur. The materials committee clamored for cloth, medicine, and tools to support daily life. The transportation committee, led by Xiao Bailang, underscored the necessity of skilled workers to help expand their operations.

Even Peng Zhicheng, despite his earlier objections, reluctantly agreed that the purchase of artillery might be essential for strengthening their defenses. Ma Qianzu, ever the pragmatist, summed it up succinctly.

"We need population! Comrades, we need a large population! Factories, mines, logging sites, farms, and even the army—all of these require manpower," he said, his voice steady but determined. "I think we should talk to them about immigration or slaves."

The proposal was clear: the time travelers needed more resources and people to build a sustainable future. Whether through negotiation or coercion, they had to secure what they needed, and the Dutch seemed to be the perfect opportunity to help them achieve that.

After a quick vote, the result was almost unanimous. Eight votes in favor, three against. The proposal was passed without much opposition.