The reactions of all parties to this order of the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion were very inconsistent, and Huang Degong, Liu Zhaoji and others knew that Luo Jian was extremely serious, and they did not dare to speak again after receiving the order.

Some people think that the order of the Metropolitan Governor is very good, and that the military should do the business of the military, and if the government is governed by force, there will be no fairness and justice in the political affairs under the force.

Some people also think that Luo Jian is just a show, he himself is the commander of the army, and now he is letting the army not interfere in politics, but slapping himself in the face.

Shi Kefa has read a lot of books, and he also knows some of the systems in Luo Jian's era, and knows Luo Jian's intentions, even if Shi Kefa arrived in Jiangbei for a period of time, except for Huang Degong, the other three towns are all working independently, ignoring the will of the imperial court and the orders of the Yangzhou Governor's Mansion, Shi Kefa also has a deep understanding.

The matter of Huang Degong and other generals in the army is just an episode in this big discussion, which lasted for so long, and the debate was so fierce and sharp, Luo Jian didn't expect it.

Ma Shiying is extremely concerned about everything in Yangzhou, and Ma Shiying, who is the first assistant to the cabinet, has long heard about the big discussion on the new deal in Yangzhou. Putting aside Yangzhou's new policy, Ma Shiying felt that Luo Jian was messing around with the big discussion in Yangzhou, Luo Jian may be a talent in war, but I am afraid that he is far from being in politics, this is what Ma Shiying said to Li Zhan, and Li Zhan very much agreed.

In Ma Shiying's view, if the government wants to implement any policy, where is the need to solicit everyone's opinions? What's more, Yangzhou brought some scholars and social elites who were not officials to discuss? If it's just these people, I heard that Yangzhou has also found some old farmers who farm the land, businessmen, anyway, there are all walks of life, everyone is gossiping, what else can be done?

Luo Jian was indeed in a dilemma at this time, and he wanted to just publicize and discuss some of the new policies that were about to start among the officials, in order to better implement the new policies, but he didn't expect it to become a big discussion that affected all strata of Yangzhou.

Liu Lan was so busy that her feet did not touch the ground, as if she had become a reporter again, constantly collecting various opinions from everyone, summarizing and sorting them out and publishing them in the "Yangzhou Semi-Monthly".

According to Liu Lan's interviews and surveys, the number of people who support Yangzhou's new policy has been increasing in the course of the discussion, which has given Luo Jian more confidence to continue the discussion.

But time did not allow for such endless discussions, and in twenty or so days, the New Year of 1646 (the second year of Hongguang) was approaching.

According to the opinions of Shi Kefa and the three prefectures, this discussion should not be allowed to continue, and the Metropolitan Governor's Office should strictly order that the new policy must be implemented, and this matter must be handled before the New Year comes; if it is delayed until the beginning of spring next year, the officials must go down to grasp agricultural production as soon as spring plowing begins.

Luo Jian felt that if he really wanted to order the implementation of the new policy in the name of the Metropolitan Governor's Office, this discussion would be completely meaningless, and Luo Jian, who had been thinking about it for nothing, decided to use the last resort, which was to vote.

Hearing Luo Jian's method, Shi Kefa looked at him in surprise, and after thinking for a long time, he said, "Xinghua, are there some new policies that you don't want to implement?" ”

"Yes, Xinghua, you let the officials vote on their own, few people can agree to the disclosure of officials' assets, you have to be prepared." Yuan Jixian also said beside him.

"I said Xinghua, you are simply doing this, I have heard you say a lot in the past few days, I remember you said, the truth is often in the hands of a few people, I agree with this, obviously you think it is right, the role of the new deal in the future development of Yangzhou is self-evident, why do you want to do this?" Lu Zhenfei also said.

"Yes, Xinghua, I don't understand what you're doing, if I don't agree with a new policy, I will vote against it, and if the implementation of this new policy is not effective in the future, you can't say me, because I didn't agree with it in the first place. What should I do if this kind of problem arises in the future? Ren Minyu also raised his own questions.

Ren Minyu's words really aroused Luo Jian's thinking, I remember I don't know which book I read, "The essence of democracy is violence", I remember that the book gave an example, saying that three people took a boat, two decided to go east, but the other insisted on going west, the boat can only be driven by the joint efforts of three people, and only the two people who go east use violence to force the person to go west to agree to go east, which can solve the problem.

"Brother Luo, democracy needs the public's cognitive foundation, and the question raised by Ren Futai just now is the most realistic problem, if the new policy is implemented with strict orders, those who do not implement it will have nothing to say, and if the method of voting is used, it will leave many hidden dangers for the future implementation of the new policy, and there will be too many things to talk about in the future." Liu Lan saw that Luo Jian's head was big, and explained beside her.

"If a strict order is issued at this time, the original big discussion will be all in vain, which is not good, and I would rather not implement some new policies for the time being, but also adopt the method of voting." Luo Jian's stubbornness also made people feel helpless.

Shi Kefa and the others saw that Luo Jian was already iron-hearted, so they didn't persuade him more, but Liu Lan laughed at Luo Jian after a few people left, and used an undemocratic way to implement democracy, which was a precedent for Luo Jian.

"Why am I using undemocratic methods?" Luo Jian hadn't reacted yet.

"How is it democratic? Just now, everyone was against you using this method, and you insisted on it alone, is this still called democracy? Liu Lan smiled.

Liu Lan's words made Luo Jian laugh dumbly, and after thinking for a while, he said with a wry smile: "In this era when there is no democracy, if you want to practice democracy, I am afraid that you can only use this undemocratic way." ”

The news of the vote on the New Deal soon followed, and it caused quite a stir, as the scope of the vote was expanded by the Metropolitan Governor's Office.

The right to vote on whether or not the new policy will be implemented has been extended to those who participate in the discussion, and Liu Lan has previously counted more than 280 people from all walks of life participating in the discussion.

Despite the opposition and skepticism, the day of voting came as scheduled.

At this time, there was no room in Yangzhou that could accommodate more than 280 people, and the voting was arranged in a small square in Yangzhou City.

The so-called voting did not see a piece of paper, in front of the people are several basins, each basin represents one of the new policies in Yangzhou, each representative has two bamboo sticks in his hand, the long representative agrees, the short is naturally opposed, and the abstention is not to vote.

"Why don't you give out pen and paper?" Luo Jian stood at the back of the crowd and asked Liu Lan with a frown.

"With pen and paper? Alas, half of them are illiterate, and they can't use pen and paper if they are handed? Liu Lan pointed to the crowd in front of her and sighed.

"Except for the officials, most of them are not social elites? No matter how bad it is, it's also the rich man in the village, right? Why can't you read? Luo Jian asked in surprise.

"Brother Luo, who stipulates that the rich man must be literate? There are too many illiterate rich people in this era! Liu Lan said with a smile.

Illiterate but able to understand the words, the host read each new deal on the stage, and the following circles came to the stage to throw the bamboo sticks in their hands into the corresponding basin, this time there were more entries in the Yangzhou New Deal, and the voting lasted for more than an hour.

According to Luo Jian's request, the votes were to be counted on the spot, Shi Kefa watched it for a long time, calculated silently in his heart, and stepped forward and said to Luo Jian: "Xinghua, why don't we go down and count again?" ”

"No! You have to count the votes on the spot, otherwise why vote for it? Luo Jian said with a frown.

"Okay, Xinghua, I'll listen to you." Shi Kefa shook his head helplessly.

The results of counting the bamboo sticks came out quickly, and looking at the numbers written on the blackboard in front of him blankly, Luo Jian seemed to be stupid, and muttered in his mouth: "How can this be?" ”

"Liu Lan, you take Xinghua back to the house to rest, and I'll deal with it here." Shi Kefa walked over and said to Liu Lan.

The results of the statistics can't help but be stupid, because none of the votes in favor exceeded the votes against, that is, if the results of the vote are followed, all the new policies in Yangzhou will be abolished!

Liu Lan helped Luo Jian back to the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion, and at the dinner table, Luo Jian was still sleepwalking, and he couldn't figure out why he didn't even pass one item?

"Liulan, are we really wrong?" Luo Jian asked bitterly.

"Brother Luo, I said a long time ago, there is no foundation for democracy now, we are pulling out the seedlings to help grow, the effect will not be good, every new policy, if it is beneficial to the majority of people, it will definitely be unfavorable to a small number of people, and this small group of people is the one you asked them to vote, do you say it can succeed?" Liu Lan calmly analyzed.

"Liu Lan, do you mean to expand the scope of voting?" Luo Jian felt like he had a nightmare.

"Brother Luo, I said are you a demon? Do you ask the peasants, who are trembling with fear when they see the officials, to vote, and they understand the meaning of the new deal? Liu Lan said with a frown.

"Steward Luo, bring the wine!" Luo Jian roared.

"Brother Luo, you!" Liu Lan was anxious.

Steward Luo stepped forward and looked at Luo Jian and Liu Lan a little overwhelmed.

Liu Lan was bored for a long time before she said to Steward Luo, "Take it." ”

Luo Jian picked up the wine glass and drank it, after drinking, he picked up the wine jar and poured it full, and when he picked it up, he was about to drink it in one gulp, Liu Lan was really anxious at this time, snatched the wine glass in Luo Jian's hand, and said, "Brother Luo, I drank this cup for you!" With that, he drank the glass of wine in one gulp.

Seeing Liu Lan like this, Luo Jian no longer insisted on drinking, but just shaved the rice in the bowl one bite at a time, and didn't even eat the vegetables.

"Brother Luo, the Inspector and Yuan Futai have long known that this method is not suitable for now, if you don't listen to them, you have to insist, now that the results are out, what should we do?" Liu Lan asked helplessly.

"Well, what else can be done? Can you take back what you say? If they are willing to go the old way, let them go. Luo Jian sighed and said abruptly.

"Haven't you thought about forcefully enforcing the New Deal?" Liu Lan asked.

"These people are all people who are implementing the new policy, and in this situation, can it be done to enforce it strongly?" Luo Jian smiled bitterly.

"We want to do something, why is it so difficult?" Liu Lan also smiled bitterly.

"Brother Luo, I thought I had read the novels on the Internet, and I traveled back, which one didn't want to be the emperor? The most unfortunate thing is to be a minister of protection, they are all mixed up, why should we have such a hard time? So bitter? ”

"The concept is different, I only hope that our country, our nation, in the next few hundred years, will no longer be enslaved by foreigners, will no longer be invaded, and will no longer let future generations hold the history book and sigh. Our nation has thousands of years of civilization, and I am really unwilling to fall to that point! Luo Jian put down the dishes and chopsticks and stood up.

"Brother Luo, have you thought about it? Democracy needs a foundation, ancient Rome had the most primitive democratic system, and the Senate at that time did this, and our thousands of years of imperial system did not have that foundation! Liu Lan said.

"I know this, isn't the chief elder of the Senate the Führer? That's how the Führer came here, right? Luo Jian also relieved himself at this time, and said to Liu Lan with a smile.

"Liu Lan, maybe I'm really wrong, but now this situation has been created, we must bear the consequences, if we break our promise, the credibility of the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion will be lost, and nothing can be done in the future." Luo Jian continued.

"Brother Luo, no matter how difficult it will be in the future, I will accompany you, I just hope that you will stop insisting on going your own way, and listen to the opinions of the inspectors more, okay? They are the people of this era, and they know much more about people today than we do, and I remember you saying that. Liu Lan said.

"Well, I'll pay attention, we have to sum up the consequences of this new deal after it stops, and see what way to make up for it as soon as possible." Luo Jian pulled Liu Lan to the study, and the two began to discuss.