Yu Dynasty Yingdala (4338-4636)

[Wu Han]

Issue 5: July 4285


Huang Zitao gives a thumbs up to supporters from his campaign bus

On the Campaign Trail with the Lotus Party
Story by Hao Luoyang, 10-15 July 4285

The Lotus Party has been campaigning hard in the months following the Xiandai bribery scandal revelations which sent shockwaves through Indrala's political scene. The Southern Voice spent three days with Lotus Party leader Huang Zitao as he traversed the nation, looking to gain support and win the Lotus Party's first majority mandate.


Huang wades through the crowd as he attempts to enter the Mudanwan Exhibition and Convention Centre for a rally that afternoon

On Monday, the Lotus Party campaign bus rolled into Mudanwan for an afternoon rally where he was greeted by a large crowd waiting outside the Mudanwan Exhibition and Convention Centre. Once inside, Huang spoke to around five-hundred supporters, where he blasted the current Republican government:

The Chancellor has no party, the governing party has no leader, and our country is void of stability. However, looking back on my life, my greatest realization is that pessimism, prejudice and despair are not inevitable. What we need is to rebuild trust, reestablish unity and rekindle hope. With the right measure of all three, we can find the solutions, and we can write the history that we want to see.

Huang and his aids slept on the bus overnight as it traveled to the rural village of Yanghe in Anle Province, where he toured a secondary school newly-renovated with funds resulting from the Lotus Party's Education Reform Omnibus Bill. He used the opportunity to reaffirm the Lotus Party's commitment to students and young people. However, later that evening during a town hall with local Lotus Party candidates, Huang was hit on the head by an egg thrown by a protester. Multiple protestors stood up and chanted "Wake up! Wake up!" as security struggled to get them under control.




Huang was whisked off the stage for around three minutes where he was cleaned up. "I'm lucky that I didn't choose to wear a good suit today," Huang joked as he retook the stage, "My doctor said I should eat fewer eggs, but luckily he said nothing about wearing them!" Huang's tone quickly became serious, however, as security was still rangling with the protestors:

Let them go! Don't harm them! No citizen of this Republic should ever have their voice silenced! In reality, these people should have every right to throw eggs at me, and all the other Indralan politicians. Why? Because we have failed you. *Huang bows* For the past number of years, our National Conference has been plagued with controversy and scandal. Bribery and corruption. "Wake up." That's what they're chanting, right? On occasion, as a politician, I need a reminder to wake up, and so I thank you. I vow to you today that I will wake up, and as your Chancellor, I will instruct the Supreme Prosecution Service, to begin a full and thorough investigation of all Conference Representatives for any possible indication of corruption on my part, or on the part of my colleagues on my first day in office. If there is even a hint of corruption found, we will resign and take responsibility for our crimes immediately. I will also ensure the SPS that any criminal charges leveled against a Representative will be unobstructed by my government. Enough is enough!

The last part of his statement elicited thunderous applause from the small auditorium in which the event was held.

The last day we spent with Huang and his team was in Tian'an, where the Lotus Party had organized a mass outdoor rally in a public square. We were told that the organizers had expected around 11,000 people but were shocked when nearly 40,000 people attended the rally.



Huang gave a 45 minute speech, which concluded with the following:

...It's true, our nation's current state is grim. Looking back on history, however, you will find that darkness always gives way to light – if only we can hold on to optimism, hope and shared faith in one another. I will work toward putting our country back on its feet and helping all of you realize your dreams, as Indralans. I implore all of you today, especially our young people, as I always have: never stop dreaming until your dreams come true!

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Originally posted by Wu Han on 11 October 2017.