landbeastnovel #438 - After the big meeting, a small meeting (Part 1)
#438 - After the big meeting, a small meeting (Part 1)
The morning light shone on the spire of Rapid Current City's clock tower as the bell-ringer vigorously chimed the morning bells.
Smoke rose from the chimneys, and the sounds of chattering footsteps, shouts, and splashing water made it seem as if the entire city were yawning.
On the streets of Cross Street, people dressed in various colors of linen, wool, and blended cloth robes and beige shirts were heading towards the Uffizi Palace.
The Saintess Festival from the previous day had just ended, and even though several bonfires were still smoldering, they had already gathered in front of the Uffizi Palace.
The cool morning breeze brushed against their faces, bringing them expressions of enjoyment in the hot summer weather.
These people were not ordinary; they were the leading figures from various groups within Rapid Current City, including wealthy merchants, high judges, master craftsmen, city councilors, and representatives of small neighborhood shops.
They gathered in small groups, discussing the sentence left by Horn at the end of yesterday's festival: "Important figures will be invited to the Rapid Current City administrative meeting."
Those who received invitations were naturally smug, while those who did not were disgruntled and waited with them outside the gates.
When Armand opened the gates with the monks, he was taken aback by the people waiting outside, then smiled and said, "Everyone, please show your invitations to enter. As for those without invitations, please come in as well, but you will only be able to stand and listen."
Seeing the black-clad soldiers carrying holy rifles and halberds streaming out from inside the gate, the leading figures of Rapid Current City became obedient.
Their usual tactics of causing a scene before meetings were rendered useless in the face of these soldiers' piercing gazes.
Following Armand through the gate, past the paneled walls decorated with the deeds of saints, and under the dome filled with clouds, stars, and gods, they arrived at the first floor hall of the Uffizi Palace.
In the center of the hall was a table about five meters long, with rows of benches on either side.
Horn sat at the head of the table, flanked by Jeanne and Catherine, then Armand and Martin, etc. A small half of the remaining seats were occupied by people from the Megerdich Merchant Guild.
The elites who received invitations to sit at the table happily took their seats. Any protests were met with Catherine's scolding and the black-clad soldiers' suppression, causing them to reluctantly sit on the benches.
As for those without invitations, they had no choice but to squeeze together at the door, standing to listen to the meeting.
Once everyone was seated, Horn didn't waste words and directly patted Jeanne's shoulder: "Please, Exorcist Jeanne, give a brief report on the current battle situation."
Jeanne didn't look at any briefing notes, standing up and speaking without hesitation: "Intelligence gathered by scouts indicates that the Church's armies have mostly retreated, and Ansonburg is back in our hands.
The city defenses of Ansonburg are currently being repaired, and nearby small castles have also been captured.
Even if Prince Condé wanted to come to reinforce, it would take at least ten to fifteen days, not to mention they certainly won't abandon the Upper River Castle they've already captured…
So, based on the current movements, we have at least gained a temporary peace."
Hearing Jeanne's report on the current battle situation, the city councilors' previous worries dissipated considerably. Their biggest concern had been being caught by Prince Condé's edict along with the main force.
Rapid Current City could not afford a second large-scale siege.
"Now that the situation has stabilized, we finally have the opportunity to discuss the future management and reconstruction of Rapid Current City," Horn said with a smile, his hands crossed and resting on his chin.
The originally somewhat noisy meeting hall immediately quieted down, and everyone watched Horn almost breathlessly, listening to his next words.
But Horn smiled slightly and changed the subject: "I know you're all anxious, but don't be. To hold meetings more efficiently and establish norms, we must first establish the rules of procedure."
This was something he had wanted to do for a long time, and it was also a principle to be followed in the upcoming administrative division reforms within the Salvation Army.
Although the imperial free cities and small towns had an awareness of meetings and elections, their meetings were like watching old men and women arguing in a village committee in Horn's previous life.
Everyone spoke at once, as chaotic as a vegetable market.
According to the investigations of the Holy Father Society and the Cheka, even within the current Salvation Army, their meetings had major problems.
The first was going off-topic. They would start discussing the city gate tower and end up discussing the hip bone, and the topics often became increasingly lewd.
The second was arguing for the sake of arguing. Once something came up, they would seize on a small point and refuse to let go, often leading to verbal disputes turning into physical fights.
Even good brothers like Jeschka and Hakuto often fought during military meetings, sometimes even requiring the corps commanders to participate in a full-scale brawl.
The Holy Father Society was full of cultured people, but they were not much better, only turning the fighting into sarcastic remarks and personal attacks.
Therefore, the first rule Horn established was the rules of procedure for political organs, to improve efficiency and organization, and to clear out the corrupt atmosphere of this makeshift group.
Tapping the table, Horn picked up the clipboard in front of him and read aloud:
"The rules of procedure for our Salvation Army Rapid Current City government are as follows:"
"First, the minority submits to the majority, and the part submits to the whole."
"Second, no private meetings are allowed. The number of attendees must meet the quorum, with a minimum standard of more than half."
"Third, speakers must raise their hands and speak in the order they are recognized, but they must obtain the permission of the chair before speaking, and interruptions are not allowed when others are speaking according to the rules."
"Fourth, the content of the meeting discussion must be clear, specific, and feasible action suggestions."
"Fifth, no personal attacks are allowed. Only focus on the matter at hand. The chair has the right to expel those who violate this rule from the meeting."
"Sixth, speakers must first state whether they agree or disagree before speaking. The chair is obliged to interrupt those who go off-topic or state too much."
"Seventh, after a vote by raising hands, only the votes for and against are counted. A tie is considered a failure to pass."
"Eighth, the right to attend the meeting is not transferable or sellable…"
"Ninth…"
After reading and explaining these twelve rules, which were summarized based on investigations, personal visits, and experiences from his previous life, Horn put down the clipboard.
He smiled and looked around at everyone present: "So, the above twelve are the specific rules of procedure. This is the rule of our Salvation Papal State.
All motions must be decided in meetings, and the decisions made in meetings must be strictly enforced. I give you the right to criticize and offer opinions, but actions must be obeyed.
In other words, you can disagree, you can complain, you can even publicly oppose, but the decisions made must be strictly implemented…"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, who doesn't know how to hold a meeting," Petor, the head of the Blacksmiths' Guild, whispered in the ear of Erindor, a senior partner of the Megerdich Merchant Guild. "Why set rules? Isn't this unnecessary?"
"Heh heh, I say it's just for show. They haven't learned etiquette, so they're making up for what they lack."
"But this…" Petor turned his face away, about to say something, but was interrupted by a cold shout.
"Petor! Didn't you see His Eminence speaking?!"
Catherine's gaze was sinister. Caught by this chilling gaze, Petor quickly lowered his head.
"Yes, yes…" Erindor mumbled, almost shrinking his head into his neck, with so many people watching him.
Lowering his head, Petor muttered in his throat, with his eyebrows drooped: "A daughter who is married off is like water that is thrown away…"
"Haha, look at them," Rudylo, sitting on the first row of benches, turned his head and smiled at Juldan, lowering his voice.
Juldan lowered his head: "Who says otherwise? It's killing me."
"Our little Jeanne is much gentler."
"There is also a difference between Saintesses…"
"Rudylo! Juldan!"
A delicate shout filled with anger rang out, and the two, who had been chatting with their heads turned, straightened up with a jolt.
Facing their top boss Jeanne, who had an unkind expression, Rudylo and Juldan simultaneously flashed their yellowed and blackened teeth, squeezing out a peaceful and flattering smile.
Horn didn't care much, casually reaching out and pressing down on Jeanne and Catherine's shoulders: "Don't be so restrained. These rules of procedure won't be officially implemented until two days from now.
But don't laugh and joke. When you go back, you also have to use these rules of procedure. Not only do they have to learn, but you have to learn even more."
The faces of the corps commanders instantly fell.
Seeing that Horn had babbled on about a lot of unimportant things, and was just talking about how to hold a meeting, the city councilors and guild leaders couldn't help it.
Holding a meeting wasn't difficult, everyone knew how to do it.
As for Horn possibly inserting people, they had long been prepared for it. Wasn't that what the previous Church had done?
As long as the Salvation Army didn't seize assets like the Church, these leading figures of Rapid Current City could accept it.
The situation was stronger than people, no matter how much they resisted before, when the holy rifle was pressed against their foreheads, their hearts would always obey.
But the problem was that he had to get to the point, and the point was the administrative, reconstruction, and refugee solutions.
As an old player who had experienced the coup, Petor, the Saint's subject, raised his right hand first: "Your Excellency, I mean Your Eminence, can we talk about the management and reconstruction of Rapid Current City?"