Xu Yi's proposal was ultimately approved in the final resolution of the Stantin Duchy Congress.
This came as no surprise.
With the Xinfei Merchant Guild's immense influence over the Stantin Duchy, once Xu Yi truly resolved to push something through within the duchy, there was practically no chance of failure.
During the vote, however, Xu Yi's proposal received only 56% support, barely enough to pass. This showed that the proposal had not truly won everyone in the Stantin Duchy over.
Moreover, almost all of the remaining 44% of congress members who had not voted in favor had abstained. Very few had voted directly against it.
Apart from proving that the Xinfei Merchant Guild's influence was indeed so powerful that others dared not openly oppose it, this also amounted to a silent protest.
That silent protest manifested itself in the fact that, although the proposal had passed, its actual implementation faced all manner of difficulties.
In accordance with the proposal, the Stantin Duchy Congress enacted a "Duchy Slave Status Conversion Act" to put it into practice. When it came to enforcement, however, almost every lord in the duchy who owned slaves proved uncooperative.
According to the original rough estimate, the total number of slaves in the Stantin Duchy was between 150,000 and 160,000. Yet in the first week after the act took effect, not a single slave applied to change their status.
This was not really surprising either.
Most slaves had received little education and had limited access to information. Few even knew about the act, and fewer still knew how to apply.
Even if they knew, these slaves would not dare apply.
Years of slavery had left them afraid to defy their lords' wishes. Until their lords said something, not a single slave dared act on their own.
As for