" The Great Liang's First Decree?"
"It concerns our responsibilities and rights?"
No one dared to hesitate; they immediately took the decree and began to examine it. Since they couldn't understand it, they even found a translator. The group studied it diligently, like students on a pilgrimage.
This is about the future; if I don't learn it well, Lin Yi might have to take action again.
Judging from his tone, he doesn't take the West seriously at all, let alone people like us. It's best not to court disaster.
"Haha, these guys are quite studious!"
Seeing their ambition, Guo Jia couldn't help but burst into laughter, his face full of affirmation.
This is what a sensible person is like. Such a person will undoubtedly live longer and won't be killed halfway through life, by which time it will be too late to regret it.
"Snort!"
A cold smile flashed in Jia Xu's eyes as he said disdainfully, "They're only being sensible; otherwise, they'd be buried alive by now. Because of them, the Emperor personally drafted the ' Great Liang's First Decree,' sacrificing so much sleep!"
In his view, these people were lucky; if they had been any slower, they would have only been waiting for the country to fall and their homes to be destroyed, instead of receiving any preferential treatment.
For their sake, Great Liang urgently issued the " Great Liang's First Decree," which was a great show of respect for them.
If they still don't know what's good for them, then they really have no reason to exist.
Forehead!
Guo Jia rolled his eyes; he naturally knew what the first law was.
The emperor only said one sentence and then went to sleep, what a waste of energy! Jia Xu, that cunning old fox, his flattery has reached an imperceptible level.
However, he also had to admit that this law was great!
What is the " Great Liang's First Decree "?
This is the management rule for the people under the rule of Great Liang, which systematically manages the gradually increasing population of Great Liang. It involves the division of responsibilities and rights between the original inhabitants and the people of the conquered lands.
The very first line is a sentence personally written by the Emperor!
The interests of the people of Great Liang are paramount!
This sentence laid the foundation for this law and also determined that from then on, the population of Great Liang would be divided into different classes, no longer existing on the same level.
The Great Liang had a four-class citizen system!
The first tier consists of native citizens of Great Liang, who are considered the elite of Great Liang and enjoy all the benefits of Great Liang, surpassing all others.
Anyone who infringes upon the interests of the local citizens of Great Liang will be considered to be provoking Great Liang and will be subject to Great Liang's sanctions.
The second class consists of those who voluntarily submit to the Great Liang, who are considered second-class citizens. They enjoy some of the Great Liang's benefits, but they are excluded from key areas such as education and promotions.
To advance in rank, one must make contributions or receive a special gift from the emperor.
The third category consists of citizens of friendly countries. These are temporary residents who enjoy certain privileges but receive no benefits and cannot violate the laws of Great Liang, otherwise they will be punished more severely.
The fourth class consisted of prisoners of war and slaves. They received no preferential treatment or benefits; on the contrary, they were the most miserable and overworked class in Great Liang. They bore the heavy burden of hard labor and were the most arduous workers.
To escape the hierarchy is virtually impossible without making a tremendous contribution.
This hierarchical system, which may seem to divide people into different classes and cause resentment among those in other classes, actually greatly increases national cohesion.
In the emperor's words at the time, "If voluntarily surrendering would grant one the same treatment as a legitimate citizen of Great Liang, then what is the point of fighting?"
War is naturally fought to improve the lives of ordinary people, not to make the lives of other people's people better.
The people of Great Liang supported the Great Liang army and defeated the enemy. They paid the price and took responsibility. How could they possibly be on the same level as those who were defeated and surrendered?
For this reason, there was an ironclad decree that the interests of the people of Great Liang were above all else, and no one could transgress it.
With this provision, the citizens of Great Liang will undoubtedly fervently support the emperor's rule, and other people will also go crazy for the promotion ladder left by the emperor, wanting to become part of this special class.
He couldn't help but exclaim, "With His Majesty's ' Great Liang's First Decree ' now in effect, the whole All Under Heaven must be envious of the citizens of Great Liang!"
The treatment and benefits are simply amazing! Not only are the young cared for and the elderly supported, but they can also attend school for free. Who wouldn't be envious?
"Haha, that's what we want them to envy! Otherwise, how can we showcase the superiority of our Great Liang and become the master of the world!"
Lin Yi laughed heartily. Without a sense of national superiority, how could national self-confidence be enhanced, and how could the Great Liang become the sole hegemon in the world?
Now that we have this determination, we must naturally raise the standard of living of our people; otherwise, once we unify the world, our nation will become a hybrid product.
Such unification is utterly laughable!
The Great Liang must always be the main body; otherwise, it has no reason to exist.
"Master of the world!"
Guo Jia and Jia Xu's eyes lit up. As expected of His Majesty, he had actually thought of this. This was definitely a great era to come!
Even Li Yu, standing to the side, couldn't help but gape, his mind already filled with that magnificent world.
"Gulp!"
On the other side, after reading the " Great Liang's First Decree," many kings broke out in a cold sweat and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"My goodness, thank goodness we surrendered to the Great Liang. If we had been defeated and taken prisoner, we would have become fourth-class citizens of the Great Liang, which would have been truly awful!"
"Those people should thank us; if we hadn't surrendered willingly, they would have fallen into the abyss!"
They exclaimed in their respective languages, and just by looking at the division of rights among the four classes of citizens, one could understand how miserable the fourth class was.
If they were truly treated as prisoners of war, the people would likely suffer a fate worse than death.
Although I'm not a first-class citizen now, I'm at least a second-class citizen, which is not a bad result. At least there's still room for improvement.
Most importantly, they were forgiven and treated well, and at least they no longer had to worry about being killed.
The group exchanged glances, then knelt before Lin Yi, saying in deep voices, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for showing mercy and not taking us prisoner!"
"Yes, from now on, work diligently. I never mistreat talented people!"
Lin Yi wouldn't be completely unreasonable with those who surrendered; leaving some obedient individuals would serve as cheap labor.
The development of Great Liang also requires population and labor, so it's impossible to simply kill them all!