Chapter 1770
Chapter 1770 - 1766: Complying with the Tide
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"...With the conclusion of the main battlefield and the gradual return of various legions and military districts to their bases, can we now deem the external war as nearing its end? Shouldn’t the primary domestic focus now shift to resuming production..."
It was Lu Ping’an’s first time at the Wanjing Parliament, the de jure highest authority and the most principal legislative and deliberative body.
In the past, formal parliamentary sessions were held only at fixed intervals annually. Most of the representatives were retired state leaders from various states, residing in Wanjing to serve as a bridge between the capital and the regions.
Back then, by the time issues were brought to the formal parliamentary sessions, they were already discussed and resolved between Wanjing and regional representatives. The parliamentary session was merely a formality to finalize agreements... Without the usual time-consuming bargaining process, the efficiency was astonishingly high. Still, from another perspective, issues that couldn’t gain consensus would never even make it to the table—leading to an inevitable air of internal dealings.
But now, things were clearly different.
There were simply too many pressing issues to be resolved. Every region, state, company, and even Parliament itself had their demands. The previous working model had become too inefficient for the times, and as a deliberative body, the Parliament was now burdened beyond its limits.
Within the Parliament building, there were numerous mid- and small-sized reception halls and tea rooms. At this moment, Lu Ping’an was in one such space.
"Councilman Zhao will probably arrive during the recess. At the earliest, he’ll need half an hour, but it might stretch into the afternoon... Would you care for lunch in the meantime?"
"No need. Just bring me a cup of tea..."
Being an official institution, the reception room was designed to be quite opulent, with brown sofas that were soft and plush.
Sitting on one, Lu Ping’an sprawled without formality... but since there was no one else around, he allowed himself to relax.
On the television to his side, heated debates from the current parliamentary session were playing out.
As previously mentioned, Eastern Country was now weathering stormy times, with daily crises overloading capacity.
Not to mention the various disaster events all clamoring for "central support" that would total hundreds of cases per week. Many of these required sustained investment over time.
For instance, in some region, a major Secret Realm portal had appeared that necessitated stationed troops and strongman guards to secure it. This was once a rare occurrence, but now such incidents had multiplied severalfold, stretching already insufficient manpower. How should the limited resources be allocated?
This matter could indeed be decided by leadership. But after making too many such calls, there might not be enough taxes to collect later.
The Parliament, while riddled with flaws, proved effective in easing various conflicts—at least by providing a venue for disputes and arguments. States could air their demands and denounce others for having trivial issues while demanding they stop encroaching on their resources.
In short, the Parliament had unexpectedly become the busiest institution in Eastern Country during this period.
With the cessation of warfare, a flood of previously suppressed demands surged forth...
"The Secret Realm of the Ant Tribe has already expanded beyond twenty square kilometers. We can’t ignore it anymore! They’ve spent fifteen months digging their tunnels 600 meters underground. Are you really planning to let them drill to the Earth’s core? Our city’s subway system is now defunct, and citizens are afraid to use it. Ant Tribe attack cases are growing by the day..."
Watching a tearful appeal from a certain state’s representative, Lu Ping’an couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sympathy. But as the camera panned to other representatives, their faces were indifferent, even scornful.
"Competing in a misery contest, are we? Honestly, yours doesn’t even qualify for the participation award... Oh wait, it’s been fifteen months already. What’s another two? At least it’s not as urgent as the city next door that claims it’s about to be destroyed by the Flood..."
Many of these issues had actually accumulated over one, two, or even three years. With most military forces engaged in the war, secondary problems were shelved indefinitely.
This created undeniable safety risks, though it was an inescapable reality born of prioritizing resources for more pressing matters.
Merely relying on data and written reports couldn’t convincingly show which crises were truly more urgent... Now that the shadow of war was lifting, regions rushed to address their emergencies. This turned the Parliament’s budget and resource allocation sessions into a veritable "misery showcase."
Upon closer examination, however, one would find such narratives rife with rhetoric and even outright lies...
"Thank you for your efforts. Truly, thank you."
Glancing at the screen briefly, Lu Ping’an decided not to involve himself.
From his view, addressing these urgent matters ultimately came down to a matter of resource allocation.
Money, supplies, manpower, and technology—just pile them on. But when resources were insufficient, all that could be done was endless internal coordination and calculations, striving to make the most of the limited resources.
And the job of politicians was exactly that: to distribute resources, resolve conflicts, and patch things up to the best extent possible with the appearance of competence.
Lu Ping’an had once been a soldier, a warrior. Now he was a businessman... He thought it sufficient to stay diligent in his own duties. Such political matters were better left to the professionals.
If he truly had to handle it, Lu Ping’an felt he would only mess things up. His approach would reduce everything to cold, hard calculations... Human relationships, geographic divides, and multifaceted dynamics often turned what seemed "optimal" and "correct" initially into the "most foolish" outcome later on.
The tea was excellent. Lu Ping’an poured himself two more cups, yet still found no sign of the person he was awaiting.
Not that the other party was intentionally keeping him waiting...
"As expected, Changping’s agenda item is on today as well..."
Lu Ping’an had personally requested this meeting. And not with just one individual, but both the Changping State Councilman and the Ancient City Directly-Governed City Councilman.
In some sense, Lu Ping’an was now a regional player of significance. Though he had always stuck to his role diligently—during wartime safeguarding funds, otherwise operating as a businessman and Explorer in the Foreign Domain—
But now, he truly possessed the capability to sway regional affairs. While he waited with patience, he was also cautiously preparing for such endeavors.
"The lack of resources, in essence, stems from insufficient combat power... We underestimated the changes of this era. The decision-makers in Wanjing, without a doubt, see much farther than we do."
Problems were emerging everywhere. After the planet’s dimensional ascension, extraordinary power had become easier to obtain, and extraordinary events and disasters had also grown more frequent.
For many, trouble might be just around the corner—literally.
"...Indeed, ordinary citizens need better-quality equipment, and we must provide primary warriors and militia with more combat supplies."
Comprehensive extraordinary empowerment was a necessity. Once there were enough people at the grassroots level, advanced combat power would naturally rise.
Strengthening oneself was the key to resolving these widespread problems strategically and fundamentally.
In fact, Eastern Country’s push for nationwide extraordinary capabilities had become an unshakeable cornerstone of its national policy. For now, the cheap and crude militarization efforts were simply an accompanying measure under the broader strategy.
The strategy itself was sound. The current methods, however primitive, could always be refined later.
Yet Lu Ping’an could see that the first wave of "trailblazers" would undoubtedly suffer heavy losses... When even that subpar training was riddled with issues, what more could be said about real combat?
And since he’d noticed this—and seemingly had the ability to do something about it—why not give it a try?
"We never expected it would be you coming to see us..."
At long last, the doors opened, and the two councilmen arrived.
— End of Chapter 1770 —