Great Power Reclamation

Chapter 2946 The Dual System That Had to Be Compromised

In the heart of the Somali Union, a "citizen opinion survey" is being conducted in an unprecedented way.

This was originally a tentative measure taken by Ye Rou to lay the groundwork for public opinion for the future "East African Republic," aiming to understand the public's views on political reform.

According to Ye Rou and others' vision, transitioning from an "alliance" to a "republic" and implementing a presidential or parliamentary system is an inevitable step toward a modern state, and can also better integrate into the international community, paving the way for the regionalization of EASU.

However, not long after the consultation began, a powerful and surging wave of public opinion swept in, completely deviating from the path designed by the higher authorities.

In the capital of Solomon, in front of the former seaside palace, a huge sandstone statue of the sisters Ye Rou and Ye Mei standing side by side now stands.

The base beneath the statue was decorated with flowers and ribbons by someone, and many people came spontaneously, not to visit, but to... kneel in worship.

"Long live Her Majesty the Queen!" "May the goddess bless us!" Such shouts were common at the consultation point.

The questionnaire regarding whether or not one agrees with the future republican system in which the president is elected received a large number of negative votes in the Solomon Islands and the Marseille region.

Many people didn't even understand what "president" meant; they circled the forms (to indicate their approval of the status quo) or wrote things like "We want Queen Ye Rou!" or "Queen Ye Mei is our mother!"

In Vasa town, old farmer Kabu, holding a questionnaire, approached a literate union staff member and anxiously asked:
"It says here that they don't want the Queen anymore? Why? Does it mean that Queen Ye Rou and Queen Ye Mei don't want us anymore?"

He clutched the solar-powered light keychain he'd bought with the remaining EASU currency in his pocket; it was a sacred object to him.

"Without the Queen, who will give us seeds? Who will dig wells for us? No, absolutely not!"

Aisha, a small-time vendor, even organized a group of women in the market to write a letter filled with their fingerprints and send it to the capital through a third party.

"We only recognize the rule of Queen Ye Rou and Queen Ye Mei. They are the light, the hope. What president? We don't believe in them!"

Elsa, a girl from Kuma village, hears her teacher explain the meaning of "republic" at school, which means that leaders are elected, not hereditary.

When she got home, she asked her mother, puzzled, "Mom, if the Queen isn't the Queen anymore, will we still be able to go to school? Will the village clinic still be there?"

Her mother, an ordinary peasant woman who had witnessed the chaos in Tajikistan and the rise of the Union order, hugged her daughter tightly, her voice firm:

"Don't think nonsense! The Queen is the Queen! Without them, we'd still be drinking muddy water! Elections? That's just a trick played by city folks!"

This trend spread rapidly, and its intensity caught the top leadership off guard.

Small-scale rallies and marches even began to appear in various places, with people holding up portraits of Ye Rou and Ye Mei—some of which were clearly given a sacred aura, like religious icons—and shouting to preserve the queen system.

Faced with this overwhelming public opinion, the core of the alliance, located in the royal palace in the capital, was plunged into deep worry and heated debate.

"Do you see that? This is what the people want!"

At the military conference, Yang San unusually refrained from directly criticizing the "republican system," instead speaking with a complex tone.

"The soldiers, especially the veterans from Solomon Islands and Marseille, are absolutely loyal to their two leaders. They cannot understand why, after conquering a larger territory, the leader would be demoted from 'Queen' to 'President'? To them, this is a demotion, even a betrayal!"

Ye Mei's propaganda and intelligence team quickly submitted an analysis report, revealing the deep-seated root cause of this phenomenon:

For ordinary people who have long lived in turmoil and poverty, the changes brought about by the alliance led by the Ye sisters are earth-shattering and tangible.

Safety, jobs, clean water, children's education, and healthcare. This leap in quality of life is simply and directly attributed by the people to the personal leadership and benevolence of Ye Rou and Ye Mei.

In their minds, this was not a victory for the system or policies, but a manifestation of a "wise ruler" or a "favored one of the gods".

Especially in many parts of Africa, under the traditional system of chieftain and elder authority, the image of a powerful, benevolent, and benevolent individual ruler is far easier to understand and accept than the abstract concepts of "republic" and "democracy."

Many tribes and ethnic groups in East Africa have deep-rooted traditions of hero worship and mother worship.

Ye Mei's perseverance and decisiveness are seen as her guardian deity, while Ye Rou's gentleness and approachability are seen as her nurturing deity, as her economic improvements and diplomatic efforts, though carried out behind the scenes, have benefited the people.

This dualistic image perfectly matches certain ancient mythological archetypes.

In its early days, the alliance's publicity department, in an effort to unite people, more or less reinforced this charismatic leadership style, but now it has become an obstacle to institutional transformation.

Despite the alliance's efforts to promote education and information dissemination, the general public, especially those in remote areas, remains unfamiliar with the workings of modern national political systems.

For them, the term "president" means uncertainty, the possibility of being replaced, and the possibility of representing the interests of a small group.

The "Queen," especially the Queen who leads them to a better life, represents stability, continuity, and justice that transcends the tribe.

Some local powers that benefit from the existing system, such as tribal elders who gain status through loyalty and merchants who rise under the new alliance order, also tend to maintain a top-level structure that they are familiar with and can directly pledge allegiance to.

They fear that a republic would introduce new rules for the distribution of power, harming their interests.

“We’ve overlooked the uniqueness of our cultural context,” Ye Mei said wearily, rubbing her forehead.

“We thought that by bringing about a better life, people would naturally accept the modern system we designed.”

"But now it seems that they are expressing their appreciation for this good life in their own traditional way—personifying it and worshipping it."

Yang Da added from an economic perspective: "EASU's credibility is, to some extent, tied to the prestige of its two younger sisters."

“Many people feel that the money bears their mark, and that it is valuable while they are in power. They worry that if an uncertain president takes over, their EASU will become worthless.”

Ye Rou listened in silence. The map on the wall marked the vast territory of the alliance, but at this moment, she felt that the biggest challenge did not come from the borders on the map, but from the ideas that were deeply rooted in the hearts of the people on this land.

In the stillness of the night, on the palace terrace, Ye Rou and Ye Mei stood side by side, gazing at the scattered lights in the distance. The light they had worked so hard to bring now seemed like chains binding their steps.

“Sister,” Ye Mei said softly, with a hint of helpless smile, “we seem to have become prisoners of our own success.”

Ye Rou sighed, the night breeze ruffling her hair:

“My father once said that we must take things one step at a time. Perhaps we have moved too fast, thinking that our mindset can change in tandem with the changes in our material lives.” She recalled Ye Yuze’s teachings: “The hard truth is development, but this development also includes the building of people’s hearts and minds, and changing people’s hearts and minds requires a much longer period of time.”

"The people's love and support are real, and they are our most precious asset," Ye Rou continued.

"But this kind of worship of the individual is dangerous for a country that wants long-term stability and modernization."

"It lacks institutional stability. If something happens to an individual or there is no one to take over, the entire system may collapse instantly."

Ye Mei nodded: "The military, represented by Yang San and the others, also relies on this kind of personal loyalty to some extent. If we forcibly promote a republic and strip the 'Queen' of her title, I am worried that it will shake the morale of the army and even give external forces and internal remnants an opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

They realized that simply forcibly implementing a republic was no longer possible, as it would tear apart the newly united public sentiment and could even trigger unrest.

However, returning to a monarchy would contradict their original aspirations and the blueprint for building a modern nation.

“We need to find a point of convergence,” Ye Rou’s gaze gradually hardened, “a point of convergence that can both respect the feelings of the people and traditional culture, and leave room for the future evolution of the system.”

"Perhaps... a special kind of republic?" Ye Mei pondered. "Or, retaining a symbolic, ceremonial monarchical status while establishing a republican government that is actually functioning?"

"A dual-track system?" Ye Rou pondered. "Or, could we draw on some ancient wisdom? For example, 'ruling by doing nothing'?"

"We occupy a higher symbolic position to ensure the stability and direction of the country, while handing over concrete governing power to a government elected or selected?"

This idea sparked a glimmer of hope in the two of them. It both appeased the public's psychological need for the "Queen's" continuation and left room for the gradual establishment of a mature administrative and legislative system.

After several days of intensive consultations, the core of the alliance finally came up with a compromise and creative new plan, tentatively named the "Design of the Political Architecture for the Transition Period of the East African Republic" (also known as the "Royal Consensus").

The core of this plan lies in the dual structure of "nominal monarchy and real republic":

A symbolic position was established that transcends political disputes and represents national unity and continuity. Ye Rou and Ye Mei were jointly elected as the first "Lifetime Guardians".

This position is for life and comes with certain honors and ceremonial powers, such as presiding over major ceremonies, enacting laws (in form), and acting as the final arbitrator of the state in times of extreme crisis.

Their status is constitutionally affirmed and is considered sacred and inviolable, in order to meet the public's need for stability and spiritual symbolism.

The title "Guardian" itself was carefully chosen, avoiding the feudal and hereditary connotations that "Queen" might evoke, while emphasizing her responsibility to protect the country and its people.

Actual executive power is exercised by the "Governor." The Governor is elected by the soon-to-be-established "People's Governance Council" (Transitional Parliament), is responsible to the Council, serves a five-year term, and can be re-elected once.

During the transition period, Ye Rou was elected as the first head of government, responsible for forming a cabinet and handling daily state affairs. This effectively positioned her as the head of government rather than a symbol of the state.

Instead of the originally envisioned "provisional people's council," the name now emphasizes the function of "governance."

Its representative composition remains largely unchanged, but its status as the highest legislative and supervisory body of the country is clearly defined.

Initially, the Guardians and the Governor (who also serves as the Governor) have a certain veto power or the power to delay the implementation of the Council's resolutions in order to ensure a smooth transition, but the ultimate goal is to achieve the Council's complete legislative independence.

This plan cleverly institutionalized the personal prestige of the Ye sisters.

The "Guardians" satisfied the people's deified worship and psychological dependence on them, ensuring the stability of supreme power and the symbolic continuation of the state.

The "Consul General" and the "Governing Council" established a framework for republicanism and the rule of law, opening channels for future power transfers and political participation.

The plan was announced to the public through the media network, explaining that it was to "both maintain our core of unity and usher in a new era of governance by the people."

The propaganda emphasized that Ye Rou and Ye Mei, as "guardians," will forever protect the prosperity of the country and the happiness of the people, and that the specific governance work will be carried out by the government under their leadership and with the participation of people's representatives.

The new plan acted as a precise political appeasement, quickly calming the intense emotions in various regions.

After listening to the Alliance staff's patient explanation, Old Kabu of Vasa Town suddenly understood:

"Oh, the Guardian! So you mean the Queen is still here, protecting us forever, but the actual work has been handed over to others, right?"

"That's good, that's good! The Queen is working too hard, it's time for someone to share the burden."

He put away the new brochure with relief, feeling a weight lifted from his shoulders.

Elsa's mother in Kuma village also told her daughter, "Look, the Queen is still the Queen, just with a better name, 'Guardians.' They will always be watching over us and protecting us."

Elsa seemed to understand, but she knew that the fact that she could continue her schooling remained unchanged.

Aisha, a small vendor, and her sisters were overjoyed, feeling that their petition had worked and preserved their moral support.

In the military, Yang San explained the new structure to officers at all levels, emphasizing that Ye Rou and Ye Mei, as the ruling officials, still held military power (the military was loyal to the country under the leadership of the "Guardians"), and that the existence of the "Guardians" ensured the stability of the military's core values.

The soldiers, such as Haji and Leiva, were not quite aware of the complex political maneuvering, but they were reassured to hear that the Ye sisters were still their supreme commanders.

The potential for power transition and future political participation has generated positive responses among intellectuals and some local elites, who see hope in gradually participating in national governance while maintaining overall stability.

A crisis that could have triggered division was temporarily averted through skillful political maneuvering.

Standing on the terrace, Ye Rou looked at the city that had returned to peace, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She knew that this was only a transitional solution and that the road ahead was still long.

How to truly cultivate civic consciousness and the spirit of the rule of law under this unique dual structure, how to ensure that the "guardian" system does not become rigid in the future, and how to smoothly and completely transition power to a republican system are all enormous challenges.

But at least they respected the culture of this land and the feelings of its people, and did not use crude "rationality" to sever the vibrant life.

The fundamental principles of development lie not only in the economy and military, but also in the meticulous understanding and patient guidance of people's hearts and minds.

Thank you for the votes, everyone! I'll continue.