Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 172 New Continent China
After a heated debate, the resolution to accept Indians as "official residents" on a limited basis was passed by a simple majority.

Any Indian who can speak some simple Chinese and has no difficulty communicating in daily life can settle down and become a citizen of Qiming Island after passing the government assessment.

Then, according to the unified arrangements of the civil affairs department, they will engage in various work within their capabilities and enjoy the corresponding treatment and benefits.

According to the requirements, naturalized Indians must have a formal Chinese name when they settle down in order to be included in the citizenship register.

Since the Indians on the island had no surnames at all, the time travelers "gave them names" and registered them one by one based on the Hundred Family Surnames.

Of course, once the Indians became settled people, they needed to fulfill various "legal" obligations.

For example, accepting the government's "household registration and equalization of citizens".

For example, they needed to pay taxes and perform labor service.

For example, accepting government conscription to defend their homeland.

In addition, in order to shape national commonality and forge the concept of a nation-state, the exclusive labels and cultures of each ethnic group will be deliberately downplayed.

The people under the rule of Qiming Island, whether they are from the Ming Dynasty, originally from Spain, or even Native Americans, must emphasize that they belong to a common group and have common interests.

That is, the same nation, the same language, the same country.

In fact, whether it is a nation, a country, or even a created religion, from the moment they were born, they were "imagined communities" constructed to unite specific groups of people and work together.

So, what form will the "imagined community" constructed by Qiming Island take?
Previously, many time travelers have proposed to establish a "legal entity" with the existing population and resources. Whether it is a colonial company that is popular in the West today or an independent country, it must have a formal name.

Otherwise, how should he deal with outsiders, and how should he unite the hearts of the thousands of people under his rule?

Meng Shengxin and Zhong Minghui, who were stationed in Guangzhou, dealt with local officials and businessmen, as well as the Portuguese in Macau, in the name of Xinzhou Continental Trading Company.

The immigrants and trade fleets had unclear identities as Eastern pirates when they were trading with the Spanish smuggler Pedro.

When managing the thousands of residents under their rule, the time travelers use the Qiming Island Decision-Making Committee to promulgate and implement various development plans.

Li Xianqing said that we should build an "imagined community", so does our "community" need a title?
"Indeed." Luo Zhenhui and Li Xianqing exchanged a smile, then spoke, "Our current population exceeds 6,000 (including Indians who have surrendered). This strength is neither large nor small. However, within the entire West Coast of North America, we are a formidable force second only to the Spanish. It's time for a resounding and formal name."

"Our decision-making committee has received many suggestions for names. Some say North American Huaxia, others say we should simply call ourselves Eastern Huaxia since we're located in the east of the Shenzhou Continent. Someone even suggested something quite overbearing, like the Pacific Rim Huaxia Empire. Haha, are they planning to include the entire Pacific region?"

"Actually, our committee discussed the name and came up with one. Li Liang, who is in charge of Guangfeng Fort affairs, suggested that the continent we occupy is undoubtedly a new continent compared to the Ming Dynasty and the European continent. Furthermore, when we were recruiting immigrants in the Ming Dynasty, we also claimed that we were going to the New Continent to cultivate land."

"In that case, why don't we call ourselves Xinzhou Huaxia, or Xinhua for short? The word 'Xin' also represents that we will create a brand new world, a new homeland that has never existed before, and establish a new world order led by the New Huaxia nation."

"Therefore, the country we will establish in the future will be called the New Continent Huaxia Republic, and our people will be the New Continent Huaxia people!"
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"Oh, then we will be the new Chinese from now on!"

After the two half-grown children finished reading the notice in their hands, they posted it on the bulletin board in the central square of Shixing Fort. Then, with their flushed little faces raised, they walked straight to the next bulletin board.

A group of residents immediately rushed over, gathered around the bulletin board curiously, and stared at it for a long time.

Several residents who had received two years of literacy training pointed at the notice and read it softly, word by word. When they encountered words they didn't know, they scratched their heads, skipped them, and continued reading.

Fortunately, all Chinese characters are ideographic, so we can understand the meaning of the text by looking at the words, and we can also speculate and associate the meaning of the whole text through incomplete paragraphs. This allowed a few men who had received a simple literacy program to roughly understand the meaning of several proclamations.

"What's the difference between these New Chinese and the people of Qiming Island?" Someone laughed and said, "Are we about to establish a new dynasty?" "What are you thinking?" The Chinese character, which was only halfway through reading, turned and looked at him with disdain. "Our New Continent Hua Xia is not like the Ming Dynasty, where one family established a dynasty. According to the decree issued by the committee, we are going to implement a republic here, a universal harmony, a new society where everyone is equal."

"What is a republic? What is Datong?" someone asked curiously. "...Also, how is it possible that everyone is equal?"

"A republic?" The man froze upon hearing this. He grumbled for a long time before finally speaking. "...A republic is something we all share. We all have to participate in the country's politics. ...Uh, we won't have an emperor here anymore. Those who are in charge will be elected by us, the people."

"How is that possible?" The crowd of onlookers all looked skeptical.

In this world, it is not our turn as ordinary people to participate in national affairs!

What’s worse, the people who are in charge are elected by us, the people?
Isn't this crazy?

In that case, can we also win over some people we know, nominate me, and get me a small official position?

"Hey, hey, hey...don't let your imagination wander!" Someone with some understanding of Qiming Island's governance and management model said, "Don't think just anyone can be elected to be in charge."

"There are strict selection criteria. At the very least, you have to be literate and able to read and write. Oh, and you also have to understand public opinion about civil affairs, and work with the people to improve their livelihoods and promote development. ... To put it bluntly, you have to be talented and capable to be nominated as a civil affairs official."

"Also, equality doesn't mean everyone has the same treatment and status, nor does it mean there's no hierarchy. ... The committee's announcement clearly states that we all have equal legal status; no one is superior or inferior to anyone else. ... Well, just like they say in the opera, if a prince breaks the law, he's guilty just like the common people!"

"I'm afraid this is just talk..." someone muttered softly.

For thousands of years, no one in every dynasty has ever really equated "prince" with "common people"!
Dragon begets dragon, phoenix begets phoenix, the mouse's son can make holes!

How can the strict hierarchical social order be changed so easily? And let ordinary people like us have the same status as the rich and powerful? It seems impossible.

As for the government, as long as they don't mistreat us people, let us have enough food to eat, warm clothes to wear, and a house to live in to shelter from the wind and rain, that is a great benevolent policy.

Well, if there is an emperor on the throne, he will be a sage monarch for all ages.

Generally speaking, the island's committee members and officials at all levels are relatively "diligent and people-oriented", and are very nice to us new immigrants.

Although the daily work is very hard, after finishing the work in the fields, they still have to undertake various "odd jobs", such as building houses, repairing roads, logging, burning weeds, applying base fertilizer... There is almost no rest throughout the year.

During the winter idle season, they have to brave the biting cold wind and conduct a series of military training outdoors.

However, they were never short of food and clothing.

Not only did they have three full meals a day, but they also had fish, meat and other non-vegetarian food, so the immigrants' appetites were never deprived.

It’s no wonder that many of the early immigrants have become stronger and more rosy-looking after a few years of recuperation, which is completely different from the skinny appearance they had when they first arrived at Qiming Island.

Just ask yourself, which common people would not support such a government?

As for whether these "gentlemen" establish a dynasty or some republican government, we ordinary people should do our utmost to support them.

Well, as long as we, the people, can live a good life, anything is fine.

(End of this chapter)