"What does this citizen mean? Why is it called the basis of the market? What is the citizen meeting doing?"

The meeting on the review of the "Republic and Commercial Treaty" is still continuing, and some people have raised questions about the concept of "citizen" proposed by Wu Haogu in the "Commercial Treaty".

The so-called "citizens" are actually similar to "citizens" in later generations. Of course, the political rights they enjoy are not as great as citizens. They cannot elect or remove mayors, police commanders, water commanders, and magistrates, and cannot elect veterans. However, they can elect an institution called "Citizens' Congress". The Citizens' Congress does not have the right to legislation and vote, but it is used for suggestions and exhortations... in fact, it is useless, at least for the next twenty or thirty years.

In addition, "citizens" are not something that everyone can do!

The Jiehe Commercial City that Wu Haogu wanted to establish is definitely not a place where everyone is equal! There is a hierarchy in Jiehe Commercial City, and the elders are undoubtedly the first-class figures and hold the power of the commercial market. The second is the hierarchy of citizens... Theoretically speaking, the elders are also citizens, but they are just citizens with special rights.

Ordinary citizens, according to Wu Haogu's explanation in the "Republic Trade Agreement", are the basis of the market. They pay taxes (the elders also have to pay taxes), own real estate in the market, can apply for public office, need to serve in the capital city or pay exemption, and themselves or their children can receive cheap but high-quality education in municipal academies.

By the way, the "citizens" of Jiehe Commercial City are both men and women, and women can also become citizens, but there are restrictions on holding public offices.

In short, the citizens of Jiehe Shang City have a good status, and you don’t need to give up your household registration in the Song Dynasty or the Liao Dynasty to become a citizen.

According to Wu Haogu's estimate, the number of citizens in Jiehe Commercial City may reach 100,000 in the future. How can young and middle-aged male citizens have 30,000 to 50,000? This is the basis for the recruitment of the Municipal Citizen Army (Citizen Army) in the Shang City...

Of course, the citizens or the civil army are just a foundation, not cannon fodder that can be used to fight the war of attrition. After all, the citizens of the commercial city are only a little bit, and after they are consumed, the commercial city no longer exists.

By the same token, the thousands of protectors raised by the Wu family, Ximen family, Murong family, Zhang family, Hua family, Zhao family (Zhao Zhongge) and other families are also the basis of military force in the future.

If possible, these Baoding will become citizens of the "Republic Province" or the "Republic Palace" like the citizens of Jiehe!

After owning a certain number of civilian troops, Wu Haogu could drive mercenaries and slave soldiers without worrying about being retaliated against by them.

...

The review of the "Conventional Agreement" lasted for a long time, and I don't know if I really realized the meaning of this "Conventional Agreement".

The delegates participating in the deliberation were very serious and reviewed almost word by word. It was not until December 28, approaching New Year's Eve that the "Republic Party Treaty" held the final vote in Panjiayuan.

Similar to the "voting" model, it was not a particularly new thing in the Northern Song Dynasty. Because the Northern Song Dynasty implemented the "group prime minister system" and was not the prime minister's responsibility system. Although Zhezong is Zhang Dun's only prime minister, in the previous era, there were a group of important ministers discussing state affairs together. When the prime ministers had disagreement, there were examples of several heads making decisions.

This group of two governments and three officials (also known as the Three Civil Service Envoys, who were abolished during Wang Anshi's reform) was a large group of rulers under various names, and the number of people was no longer as many as the thirty-three elders and young people in Jiehe Market.

"Agree, twenty-five; object, no."

Mo Niangzi, who was in charge of voting by Wu Haogula, loudly announced the voting results of the Jiehe Chamber of Commerce's shareholders' meeting. Then Wu Haogu stood up and glanced around the shareholders or shareholder representatives attending the meeting with bright eyes.

Why doesn't it seem like a sacred feeling? Wu Haogu was a little disappointed. He thought that there would be several shareholders or shareholder representatives who realized that the documents they voted to pass today would inevitably be recorded in history and become a landmark law.

In Chinese history, it is likely to be a world-renowned creation!

But why are everyone smiling and not sacred at all?

Well, they must not realize how great they had just done! Wu Haogu thought: But it doesn’t matter, the history books in the future will definitely make up for this small regret... I just don’t know what the sick Emperor Zhezong and the Prime Minister Zhang Dun, who is still able to work for a few days, would view the just-passed "Republic Merit Agreement"?

Thinking of this, Wu Haogu smiled at Li Zhong, who also voted for the vote, and said, "Official Li, this "Republic Shang Agreement" was passed today. I'll take you to the palace for the text of the Shang Agreement."

Jiehe Shangshi was not a prefecture and county in the Song Dynasty, but a "city of friendship" jointly built by the two dynasties of the north and the south. Naturally, it could not follow the route of the Zhongshu or the Privy Council to report to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty. Therefore, he had to submit a memorial through Yingfeng Bureau, which was equivalent to taking the "secret text" path and directly managing the Shangshi in the palace.

"Okay, our family will bring the "Republic Merit Agreement" to the palace today." Li Zhong nodded with a smile, "I heard that the officials are in good spirits these days, and I guess there will be an echo after the Spring Festival."

Today is December 28th, and there are two more days to be New Year's Eve, which is the New Year's Eve in later generations. During the period from New Year's Eve to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the court and government of the Song Dynasty did not do anything major.

Therefore, whether Zhao Xu approved the "Republic Party Agreement" or not has to wait until the Spring Festival to find out.

Wu Haogu smiled: "Then I would like to thank the high official." Then he smiled at the shareholders and shareholder representatives in the hall, "Everyone, the officials will hold a banquet in Panlou tonight to celebrate the passage of the "Republic Merchant Agreement"... It is also considered to be a New Year's Eve banquet in advance, so you must be here to enjoy your face!"

...

Imperial Palace, Chongzheng Hall.

At this time, Zhao Xu, an official from the Song Dynasty, was vigorously discussing with the prime ministers about the New Year celebration this year.

The Great Court Meeting on the New Year... in theory, it should be done. Because the second year of Yuanfu was a "year of victory" and a "year of harmony" for the Song Dynasty. The tug-of-war of Song Xia, which lasted for decades since the Renzong Dynasty, truly achieved a truce in the second year of Yuanfu. The Song army, which occupied the favorable terrain of Hengshan-Tiandu Mountain line and drove the Western Xia army into the Gobi Desert, now has an extremely favorable situation. Even without the fact that Empress Dowager Xiaoliang avoided the Song Dynasty, the Western Xia army would not have crossed hundreds of miles of desert to send troops to attack the fortress line of Song State.

At the same time, the Tubo regime in Qingtang was once again conquered by the Song Dynasty. The fourth generation of the Xiaosilu regime, Zanpu, had now arrived in Kaifeng Prefecture, preparing to pay homage to the official Zhao Xu.

This seems to mean that the rebellious Qing Tang Tubo has now completely surrendered to the Song Dynasty!

In the north, the once tense relationship between Liao and Song dynasties also underwent dramatic changes. Not only the possibility of war was completely eliminated, but the two sides were also preparing to jointly build a huge market on both sides of the Jiehe River.

From now on, the Liao and Song dynasties will become real brotherly countries, and wars will probably no longer break out.

Under such a good situation, what reason does the Emperor of the Song Dynasty not hold a grand New Year's Day celebration? Now foreign envoys who came to Kaifeng Prefecture from all directions, envoys of the vassals of the Song Dynasty and the empress dowager were all waiting to see the style of the prosperous king of the Song Dynasty at the New Year's Day ceremony!

But the problem is that the Emperor of Song, who created such a great situation, is now unable to sit on the dragon throne, looking sick, and is not as energetic as the legendary outside.

"Your Majesty," Zhang Dun, who looked at the emperor, sighed softly and said, "This year there is flood in Hebei and the people of Daming Prefecture are displaced. It is not advisable to hold a ceremony on the first day of the third year of Yuanfu."

The flood on Hebei East Road had long since receded, and the displaced people have also returned home. It is not a reason not to hold the ceremony.

However, Zhao Xu also knew that his body could not support it at all. If he fainted at the ceremony, it would be too ugly.

"Accepted." Zhao Xu nodded with difficulty, looking exhausted, which made the ministers and officials below a little scared.

Why is the emperor like this?

How many years will it take?

Will it be...

"Noon is coming, and I dare not delay Your Majesty's meal. I will leave!"

Knowing that the emperor could not hold on, Prime Minister Zhang Dun quickly spoke. The important officials in the hall also forgot that it was still early and they all retreated in unison. Zhao Xu just came down the steps and just called Zhang Dun's name: "Zhang Qing, please stay for a while."

Zhang Dun stayed as he said, while the other prime ministers and officials all left the hall.

"Zhang Qing," Zhao Xu said, "My body is getting worse and worse, and I'm afraid it won't last long... If there is a three-length and two-length shortness, who can you be the king?"

Zhang Dun looked at Zhao Xu as if he was dying, and tears of sadness came down, "Your Majesty, King Duan is a person of good fortune and longevity..."

If Wu Haogu was present, he would definitely be shocked by Zhang Dun's words.

Zhang Dun actually proposed to establish King Duan Zhao Ji.

Zhao Xu shook his head and said, "The King Duan is frivolous and cannot rule the world."

Zhang Dun hesitated for a moment, "King Duan's frivolity may be self-deprecating..."

"It's not a false act," Zhao Xu said, "I know my brother as good as my brother. I have always known his nature. If I am the emperor's father, it is a great blessing for the country. If I am the king, I will disrupt my Song Dynasty." He sighed, "Although my Song Dynasty is called sharing the world with scholars and officials, it is actually the king who decides the court and is the most jealous lord."

Zhao Xu said slowly: "My thirteenth brother, King Jian, is a steady person. If I do not give me and have no successor sons and nephews, I should establish King Jian, and the Shengduan Palace will follow the court and rule the government!"

When Zhang Dun's body shook when he heard "Shengduan Palace is in the court", he looked at Zhao Xu with some horror.
Chapter completed!