On January 25, 288, Yu Lian, still brimming with energy despite nights of revelry, presented his five-year and ten-year plans to the members of the Chancellor's Office and the Privy Council, buoyed by the joy of his beloved's imminent arrival.
Under the plans, the Empire would undertake official social reforms, completely abolishing criminals' status and slavery. The distinction between citizens and subjects would also be erased.
This was a sweeping social reform affecting the Empire's five trillion people. It might take half a century for every policy to be fully implemented.
So this time, even the Regent's most devoted followers cautiously voiced their objections. Even Shire said it was too radical.
The senior ministers representing the voices of other species, like Demon Mountain and Kenon, also expressed some misgivings. They were grateful for Yu Lian's intentions, but nonhuman races had their own aristocrats, citizens, and subjects. As the first nonhuman aristocrats in the history of the Galactic Empire, they valued that status highly.
For now, the female secretaries were just pets, and Yu Lian had nearly forgotten their names.
Only the guard captain, Babatus, told Yu Lian that Lumina's autonomous territory had no such distinctions of status. Its laws had guaranteed equal status for everyone from the very beginning.
The Regent, Lord Yu Lian, was gratified. He graciously accepted everyone's suggestions and admitted that he had indeed been a little too radical.
"Then let's keep criminals and slaves, and we can't abolish the distinction between citizens and subjects, either. Ordinary people need something to strive for," he said.
"Your Highness is virtuous!" Everyone chimed in with praise.
"But I want to abolish gladiatorial shows featuring slaves. I admit that real combat is an Imperial tradition, and we can't do without it. But find free people, have them sign death waivers