lcionline Chapter 242 Accelerating Construction
Chapter 242 Accelerating Construction
While Chen Er was outlining his strategic plans for the western region, Zhang Lu in Hanzhong was also making his own plans. Liu Bei's large army was besieging the city, but the Five Pecks of Rice sect's protective organization displayed its might, annihilating more than 5,000 of Liu Bei's men.
The Five Pecks of Rice sect is now wildly praising Zhang Lu's divine power, and Zhang Lu, in turn, is using his soaring personal prestige to win over the hearts of the people.
He addressed all his followers, saying, "Our Five Pecks of Rice Sect is for the benefit of all people in the world. Within our sect, all matters, big or small, are decided by a vote of all our followers!"
A nationwide referendum, impressive! Zhang Lu is impressive! In this era where democracy is still ignorant, he has actually pioneered a nationwide referendum. In fact, Zhang Lu himself does not understand what the consequences of doing so will be. He just learned it from those Westerners. Western nobles like to do things through democratic consultation.
We can do that too. The followers of the Five Pecks of Rice sect are all brothers and sisters. We can discuss anything. However, it's a bit cumbersome and slow to have hundreds of thousands of people voting together. So Zhang Lu innovatively created a representative system.
Every 100 people elect a representative to collect their opinions. Then, each of the 100 representatives elects a higher-level representative, and so on, until only 10 representatives remain. These 10 people are the final decision-makers. Including Zhang Lu, he has a total of 15 votes, with Zhang Lu having 5 votes. In addition, Zhang Lu has veto power on important matters.
All the believers said that this was only right. Zhang Tianshi led them to a better life, and he did not oppress them. He also let them make their own decisions. Such a leader is truly one in a million.
However, the people had no idea that the people they elected were all pre-selected. Apart from the hundred representatives at the very bottom who were indeed elected by the people, the vast majority of the rest were already predetermined.
"Master, Liu Bei has once again retreated fifty li. I wonder what he's up to."
Zhang Lu preferred to be addressed as "Celestial Master" by his subordinates, as this highlighted his special status. Those who had been brainwashed by Zhang Lu naturally had no objection to this. Therefore, in Hanzhong, people from both the organizational and political systems addressed Zhang Lu as "Celestial Master," while those on the main path...
Zhang Lu said to Li Jian, who came to report, "Liu Bei is definitely preparing for the next attack. In the last attack, Liu Bei did not use artillery, probably because his artillery had not yet arrived. Next time Liu Bei organizes an attack, he will definitely use artillery."
"Master, my organization only has five cannons. We are definitely no match for Liu Bei."
Li Jian said anxiously.
Zhang Lu said to Li Jian, "Have the religious protection organization prepare. At the critical moment, we still need to send them out. Tell them that I, the Celestial Master, will personally ascend the altar to perform rituals and pray to Heaven for their blessings and protection, so that they will be invincible in their attack on the noon!"
Democracy, ah, Zhang Lu's democracy is nothing more than a religious and political group dressed in the guise of democracy. This group is an interest group with Zhang Lu at its core, and the anti-religion organization is just a fanatical follower within it. In this respect, it is somewhat similar to Western religions, except that the actual core of the Five Pecks of Rice sect's belief is Zhang Lu, a living person. The so-called light of democracy, well, that's all it is.
Looking at the intelligence in his hand, Liu Bei sighed. As a warlord in the Republic of China, he was not unfamiliar with new terms like democracy.
When Liu Bei first heard that Zhang Lu had actually implemented democracy, he was quite surprised. Such a force was not easy to deal with. However, after learning more about it, Liu Bei quickly realized that it was just a case of false pretenses.
"I really thought there was hope for democracy in this world. Alas, it seems that I, a guy born into an organization, will have to achieve democracy first."
Liu Bei thought smugly to himself that, compared to Chen Er, a man from an even later era, who only established a regime called autonomy but which was actually a separatist regime, he, Liu Bei, seemed much more democratic! "Hmm, power is harmful," he thought, "my understanding is far superior to everyone else's!"
Liu Bei secretly gloated, "Once I, Liu Bei, establish a democratic regime, hmph, you people will understand how powerful a democratic regime is."
Thinking of this, Liu Bei couldn't help but recall the great powers of his previous life, such as the United States, France, and Great Britain. Weren't they powerful because of the bourgeoisie and bourgeois democratic politics?
History has proven that this is the right path, and Liu Bei must take this right path. The first thing to do on this path is to eliminate Zhang Lu, who is standing in the way of democracy!
Zhang Lu was a democracy without democracy. Although Liu Bei came from an organizational background, he was well aware of the power of the bourgeoisie. He greatly admired Chen Er. According to intelligence, the industry in the northern self-governing region was booming, and a large number of factories were under construction.
Chen Er had already achieved machine production in the arsenal a few years ago, which greatly saved manpower and increased output. Liu Bei kept cursing Chen Er in his heart as a spendthrift. Did flintlock weapons need to be machine-produced?
As it turned out, this was necessary. Looking at the standard flintlock weapon used by the self-governing district's organized team in his hand, Liu Bei finally understood why the flintlock weapons used in the self-governing district had such a long range. It turned out that the weapon barrel was engraved with rifling!
Liu Bei, as a weapon expert, certainly knew the difference between rifling and non-rifling. But what could he do? With the existing production technology in Ba Commandery, it was impossible to rifling bead the barrels of flintlock weapons.
However, this also reminded Liu Bei of the importance of organization. He said to Jian Yong, "Our most important task at present, besides conquering Hanzhong County, is to expand the arsenal of my organization as soon as possible. Chen Er's equipment is far ahead of ours."
Jian Yong said to Liu Bei, "My lord, rest assured, the craftsmen at the Frankish weapons factory that you previously recommended are trying to cast them, but it will take some time. As for the machine production and standardized production you mentioned, it is still difficult to achieve at present. I have searched all over our controlled area but have not found any Westerners who can manufacture steam engines. As for machine-to-machine production, that is even more difficult."
"Of course I know this is difficult, but if Chen Er can do it, we can definitely do it too. I don't care what difficulties you have, I'm only giving you one year. After one year, I must see a brand new arsenal!"
"Please rest assured, my lord! I will definitely complete the mission!" Hearing Liu Bei's stern tone, Jian Yong dared not say anything more and could only accept the mission.