Yingdala

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23-07-5618 - Kaizhou
PUBLIC OFFICE ANNOUNCES DEATH OF CHANCELLOR GU WANZHE

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In a monumental announcement, the most controversial and influential person of Yingdalan politics in the 57th century, the chancellor Gu Wanzhe, has passed away in his sleep. Loved by few and hated by many, Gu Wanzhe was a very influential figure and instrumental to the partial reduction of the influence of nobility in politics, particularly thanks to his establishment of the Imperial Congress, composed of nobles, the low-born, and scholars alike. Of course this good of his earlier years in power was far outweighted by his inability to stop the rise of nobility that has occurred in the last two years and by his refusal to end the chaotic situation around the empty Celestial Throne by either stopping the obstruction of the Imperial Appointment Commission or ending the monarchy outright. The chancellor has also failed expectations of many liberals who have hoped for large-scale democratisation. Instead, the late chancellor governed the Yingdalan political scene from his rise as chancellor in 5602 until his health rapidly deteriorated in 5615, the year before his diagnosis of lung cancer was officially revealed. In 5616, due to his ailing health, the chancellor suffered his greatest defeat, as he failed to anticipate and thwart the scheme of the three Great Houses that led to the legalisation of noble armies.

Now that the chancellor is dead, Imperial Congress will have to elect new elections within 90 days, as there is no emperor to carry out that duty. Over the few months since Gu's diagnosis was revealed, there emerged four serious contenders for the position. Three of the contenders come from the three Great Houses of Yingdala, and they have their backing as well as the support of minor nobility. The House of Liang, which controls the two southern provinces of Shu and Han, has supported its head, Liang Zemin, in the struggle for position. In counter to Liang's efforts, the other two major houses, the Wu and the Chen, have proposed their own aspirants. Defiant to the machinations of the nobility, part of the commoners that fill half of the parliament have put forward their own candidate, Zhang Bai. Despite being the only lowborn challenger, some commoners in the Congress have clearly misplaced their spine, as they have sided with the spoilt nobility.

Liang Zemin

Widely considered to be the most likely next chancellor, Liang Zemin is the head of the House of Liang. Zemin has grown up in opulent wealth at the family's estate just outside Hazhou. Zemin was the youngest of three brothers and thus was not expected to inherit the house; however, the execution of his father and his two older brothers for an attempted coup against the then regent Cou Mong just a year before his assassination has led to Zemin's rapid and unexpected rise to the helm of the now severely diminished clan. Despite expectations, the then 31-year-old Zemin proved to be remarkably competent in the arena of shadow politics and managed to restore Liang to the most prestigious noble family after Cou Mong's death. Victory for Liang Zemin would mean a decisive victory for the traditionalist and likely a loss of the few basic rights that were granted to the commoners by Gu.

Wu An

As the heir of House Wu, An has enjoyed the attention of many excellent tutors and luxury that can be afforded by very few of the 300 million Yingdalans and reportedly has great talent for political machinations, a fact supported by the reality that he is a serious contender for the chancellorship at the age of a mere 25. He enjoys wide support among the nobility and commoners of Anle Province alike, owing to his likeable and public personality. Though House Wu is famous for its commoner roots, being elevated from a merchant family to nobility only just over a decade ago as a reward for their loyalty during the Imperial restoration, it is no liberal, democratic, or republican house, nor has it wielded any notable influence over the late chancellor, despite accusations from the traditionalist-aligned nobility and media. An area where the influence of Wu is undeniable, however, is the province of Jiaozhi, where the capital Kaizhou and the imperial government are seated. This gives Wu An a considerable head start, as he has made many connections in the upper echelons of imperial governance.

Chen Zhenya

Known as the martial prodigy of the house that is already famed for its martial education, Chen Zhenya is the champion of both the Imperial Army and the armies of House Chen and families aligned with it. Though martially focused, like any competitor for the chancellorships, Zhenya is a notable political operator, though not a mastermind like Zemin and An. Political opinions of Chen are considered an enigma, as the powerful house have mostly kept to their seat in Min province.

Zhang Bai

The only commoner of the serious contenders for chancellorship, Zhang Bai is disadvantaged by both her status as low-born and being a woman. Despite these serious hurdles, this courageous woman has managed to amass considerable support among the 250 commoners in the 625-seat Imperial Congress. To describe Zhang as republican would be an exaggeration, but in comparison to the candidates of the nobility, Zhang Bai stands for the common Yingdalan. Though improbable, the victory of Zhang Bai would be a victory for all common Yingdalans and a major defeat for the nobility.

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The Republican is republican liberal-democratic newspaper based in Tian'an. It is the most read republican news outlet in Yingdala.
@TheRepublican
#chancellor, #nobility, #politics

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Wu An elected to chancellorship

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23rd February, 5619 - KAIZHOU, Jiaozhi, Yingdala

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After more than six months of negotiations, schemes, and agreements and after four rounds of voting just this week, yesterday, the 22nd of February, the chancellor of the Commonwealth of Yingdala was finally elected by the 625 delegates of the Imperial Congress. The victorious Wu An has secured 321 of the 313 votes required. In second place came Liang Zemin, patriarch of the traditionalist southern Liang house, who gained 167 votes. In an upset, third place was not seized by a noble but instead by a low-born woman Zhang Bai, famous for her charity work, who has recieved 84 votes. In foruth place came the candidate of House Chen with 53 votes.

Zhang Bai has immediately conceded the election, congratulating Wu An on his victory and expressing hope that his government will strive to improve the lives of common folk. In stark contrast, the supporters of House Liang and House Chen have refused to recognise the election, making the claim that the pro-Wu faction has tampered with the electronic voting devices. Immediately after the results of the vote were revealed, the chancellor-elect ended the session. Promptly the supporters of Liang and Chen have left for their house's seats, Hazhou and Mundawan respectively. More alarmingly, even the Chen and Liang forces that have been stationed in Kaizhou have been spotted on their way to their home provinces, an unusual move that reveals  that the noble house might consider their provinces to be in danger.

After his election the chancellor-elect, who will be sworn in on the 2nd of April, has called a press conference in front of the seat of the Imperial Congress, where he has outlined his plans as chancellor. Wu An has declared that the primary priority of his government will be to curtail the militarisation of nobility, citing how similar situations have led to civil war in Yingdala in the past. The second priority will be the restoration of the Celestial Throne, which has sat empty since 5605 due to obstructions of late Chancellor Gu Wanzhe. As the late emperor Jiu had no children or close relatives, it is not clear who the Imperial Appointment Commission, composed of nobles, clergy, and scholars, chose. Both Chen and Liang loyalists have already expressed doubts about legitimacy of emperor chosen by group appointed by Chancellor Wu. Neither the Chen nor the Liang houses have officially responded to Morning Star's requests for comment.

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The Morning Star is an independent newspaper based in Kaizhou, Jiaozhi, and read nation-wide.
@MorningStar
#chancellorship, #politics, #electios