Chapter 1280: The High Council
As Zhang Lie and Zhu sat on the highest level of seats in the council chamber and the last few straggling representatives wandered in, Yun Bing glanced at the time.
She began, "Sage, Zongming King, Lie King, I think it's about time we begin."
The draconian sage raised his head. "Zhang Lie, Zhu, should the meeting begin now?"
Zhang Lie waved a hand casually. "Let's start. Don't mind our presence."
Yun Bing motioned to one of the guards, who locked the door.
The draconian sage asked, "Who shall have the honors?"
Li Zongming suggested, "Zhang Lie!"
Zhang Lie waved a hand. "No, no, do as you will. I'm just here to observe, not to participate. Let Zhu do it, as the ruler of the realm."
Zhu stood up. "I hereby convene the first meeting of the high council of the unified world of the third realm!"
Yun Bing patted her clothes as she stood. "The three thousand worlds have always been at conflict with each other, but after the unification of the worlds, our four kingdoms, the Zenith Alliance, the draconian kingdom, the Zongming kingdom, and the Lie kingdom have entered into a series of serious discussions. We believe that this unified world cannot be allowed to devolve into a state of anarchy and contention between different kingdoms, that we must learn to cooperate and live in harmony."
The draconian sage continued, "For the proper development of the unified world, we've followed the plans laid out by Zhang Lie to effect the creation of a high council that will rule over the world together."
Li Zongming emphasized, "The unified world will not be a blank slate; rather, together, we will impose law and order."
Yun Bing took over. "Despite our differences, let us aim for unity. These are words passed down from older generations of my people, but I think they apply very well here. We might all come from different worlds, but the moment the three thousand worlds united, so have we.
"We all possess similarities and differences. We think differently, and our cultures are unique to us all—but I'm sure none of us want a world of war and strife." The Lie king stood up. "It is precisely because we are all distinct that we can thrive in this patchwork world; it is precisely because we are all distinct that we can become companions."
The draconian sage stood side by side with the Lie king. "It is precisely because our thoughts and minds are different that we can work together to advance. Differences might divide us, but our dream of a shared future unites us. We all want our races to grow stronger, our citizens to lead happier and more fulfilling lives."
Yun Bing urged, "No man can be an island, entire of itself."
Li Zongming concluded, "In order to work toward these lofty goals, to spur the development of the three thousand worlds, we hereby establish the high council of the unified world."
The representatives all applauded in a thunderous wave of noise.
Yun Bing said, "The establishment of this high council isn't to police the unified world, but rather to effect change and settle disputes, to strengthen us all. World peace will allow humans to become dragons."
The draconian sage blinked in surprise. "What?"
The representatives all seemed perplexed as well.
Without a trace of awkwardness, Yun Bing continued, "Not to become draconians, but rather to grow stronger and more exceptional, to become like Zhang Lie."
The representatives, now understanding what she meant, all clapped.
Yun Bing continued, "We have followed Mr. Zhang's suggestion regarding the high council rather closely, though we have made some changes of our own. Joining this council means that you recognize your kingdom as sovereign territory, and you cede control over the "world" at large."
One representative raised a hand. "What restrictions exist as a result?
What do we give up by going from a world to a kingdom?"
The draconian sage replied, "There is no distinction and no other restrictions but in name alone. All worlds who recognize their kingdoms as sovereign territory and are willing to submit to the judgment of the high council will have a seat with us."
Yun Bing asked, "Does anyone object to the formation of the high council?"
No one dared protest against the combined might of the Zenith Alliance, the draconian kingdom, the Zongming kingdom, and the Lie kingdom.
The draconian kingdom, Zongming kingdom, and Lie kingdom had all been superior worlds, and they had absorbed quite a few of their nearby neighbors after the unification. They had become kingdoms of superior might and land, and the other kingdoms were afraid of incurring their wrath.
Everyone did want peace and stable development, after all.
To the other worlds, the presence of the high council would curb any hostilities from the superior kingdoms.
What they didn't realize was that the high council was simply a means by which the four superior kingdoms could govern over the entire world.
The reason the three other superior kingdoms had agreed to the plan was because this was Zhang Lie's proposal, and because of what Yun Bing had stated.
The three superior kingdoms couldn't take over the entire world; if they tried to do so and expanded rapidly, the smaller worlds would rapidly band together against them. No one wanted to see a hegemon, and none but the members of Team Zenith could incite hegemony.
However, the members of Team Zenith weren't interested in doing so; they would have to leave the third realm sooner or later, and trying to govern over a large territory in this world in which signals and communication hadn't been developed was very difficult.
It would expend great deals of manpower, resources, wealth, and energy—and even so, that control might not last more than a generation.
In order to govern the various kingdoms, the best choice was to let them govern themselves.
This was the underlying context that led the three former superior kings and the Zenith Alliance to agree to the formation of the high council.
Yun Bing began to explain the division of power among the council.
"All kingdoms possessing a seat on the council will have a right to speak and vote in matters of global concern. There will additionally be an upper chamber consisting of four permanent and four impermanent seats. Impermanent representatives may propose legislation; the four permanent representatives of the Zenith Alliance, the draconian kingdom, the Zongming kingdom, and the Lie kingdom, will each have one veto vote, while the ruler of the realm and leader of the high council will have ultimate veto power."
The high council was patterned off the united world federation of the Milky Way.
Yun Bing retrieved a stack of booklets from her dimensional storage, which the draconian sage sent flying toward each representative.
"The specific rules and regulations have been printed in each booklet. Please read them carefully and study the system that has been put in place."
One representative seemed confused. "What do you mean by veto power and ultimate veto power?"
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