Beyond Doubt: Whispers of the Unseen - Chapter 120
Welcome to my seemingly endless journey.
A trip that will take you to places I might have visited many moons ago.
It´s a tale that came back to me when I meditated on one of my past lives. A life I told you about in my unbelievable true story.
As promised in that story I will now share this story with you.
Chapter 120
Without exception, the gentlemen who arrived were all in black, apparently aware of the news. A general motion that this was scandalous was expressed in advance. Then came the personal views and ideas.
Some were more moderate than others, but all equal in their view that the council of advisors had made such missteps that it had to be dismissed. That the army and army leadership needed to be vetted. That further expansion of the realm, if that remained necessary, should not be driven by the army.
It seemed to many more important to develop the conquered areas into profitable provinces, instead of expanding the national borders further and further. The current situation caused more and more poor farming areas to hand over all their yields to the government under pressure. Which left them stripped bare after a few seasons. As a result, they could no longer produce anything, yield nothing and in the long term would even become a burden and a danger to the empire.
Others dared to express revolutionary ideas along the lines of deposing the Sikh, and then installing an elected council accountable to the elite. The wealthy people would get the power, it would allow a broader base for change than the current select group ever could.
All agreed that power should not be vested in the common people. First of all, they had no idea about politics. Secondly, representing so many different opinions in a council would create one big chaos. Objections that an elite would eventually line its own pockets were, it grumbled, accepted.
Now that I got the feeling that the matter was coming to an end I stood up and started speaking.
“Gentlemen, I have heard your ideas and am glad to know that there is also a certain degree of civilization here that does indeed disapprove of the aforementioned abuses."
"The case remains that whatever we decide, it is my understanding that none of us can get these things through to the top levels of government. Let alone get it accepted and adopted by the council."
"As I understand it, it took a lot of resistance and a long wait to get the previous law on these kinds of outrages passed. And even then they were only formally adopted at the time. So it seems to me that it is important not so much to talk about what we want differently but to think about how we can provide an impetus for real change. Who can answer that?"
Eyes look at each other questioningly. Even though Krya had introduced me, I still get the feeling that the gentlemen found me difficult. There were shrugs, coughs, and whispers, but there was no answer. Then one of the men stands up, he was young. Younger than me, that was for sure.
“Lord, don't get us wrong, we are normally asked to express opinions and ideas about daily matters in the empire. Of course, we all have our own ideas about the state structure, but we also all have a responsibility to our family and employees."
"None of us can stand up to the council without being crushed. Even if we worked together, potentially exerting some influence, the majority would not be alive to see the consequences of that influence."
"They will disappear or be seized by strange diseases before a proposal is submitted to the council. I understand what you want to ask of us, but do you also understand the power that the council possesses?"
"Do you understand the power that makes them unstoppable to our population, a population that may not even want things to change too much? A population that first needs to be confronted with the bloody facts before they start to doubt those who are in charge.”
I had to admit that there was some truth in what the young man stated. I understood that they too could be easily oppressed as they had a lot to lose.
“As much as I hate it, I do fully understand that. It saddens me, but I understand that you all have families and people whose families depend on you. That the choice to serve a greater good and pay for it with lives is a very high price. Especially if you believe that this life is the only one you will ever be offered."
"I cannot blame you, even though I believe that those who know the truth should not pretend to be blind and deaf to this knowledge. Take all of this into consideration when I propose the following to you."
"Gather with like-minded people and tell them about the abuses in all discretion. Unite and multiply, that there may arise a network that has different administration favors. If there ever comes a time when you are in great numbers, stand up against the twelve oppressors who are responsible for the oppression of tens of thousands.”
I expected a silence, seeing just the backs of those departing, or maybe saying goodbye to Her Majesty while ignoring me.
Silence came, then applause followed. Then without a single word they left the room and I was left with Krya.
Click The Next Button for The Next Chapter
