Matt raised an eyebrow, but that was the only indication of his surprise at her statement.
“Tell me about these squabbles, Madam Chairman, so I can structure my remarks.”
“You will speak to them then, Chen Zufu?”
“Yes. I am at your disposal, Madam Chairman. I will speak to them. Now, about these squabbles. Please elaborate.”
An hour later, Zielinski took her leave of the Chen with a bow.
Adriana Zielinski called the convention into plenary session the next morning. Committee meetings were put off, and everyone gathered in the auditorium to meet as a committee of the whole.
Zielinski did not publish an agenda, which made people even more curious about the meeting. Whatever was going to happen, no one wanted to miss it.
When people arrived at the auditorium, in the center of the stage was a pillow and a microphone on a low stand. There was a murmur of excited conversation throughout the room that rose as more people arrived.
When eight o’clock came, Zielinski took the stage. She carried a microphone with her.
“Let’s all take our seats, everyone.”
When everyone sat down, she made a simple announcement and walked off the stage.
“Chen Zufu will speak to us.”
A few seconds passed, and then the Chen walked out onto the stage. The delegates rose and applauded as he walked to the center of the stage, kicked off his flip-flops, and sat on the pillow. JuPing brought out a teapot and a cup, poured a cup of tea, and set both cup and teapot on the floor next to her grandfather, then left the stage.
The Chen picked up his tea and sipped, then waved everyone to be seated. The applause died down and everyone sat.
“You are most kind. Thank you very much.”
He bowed his head to them.
“Chairman Zielinski has asked me to address you today. We are at a critical juncture in your important task. Perhaps I can assist you in your deliberations.
“First, I would suggest you stand back, and regain the big picture. So much has been decided. So much has been accomplished. You are all to be congratulated on this achievement. And yet, if the task is not ultimately completed, all of that will be for naught.
“So stand back. Regain the big picture. Only then go back to the small issues that remain. Do not let them stand in the way of putting in place the larger things that you have accomplished.”
The Chen sipped his tea before continuing.
“With regard to these smaller things, I have some small recommendations as well.
“If there is a remaining disagreement at this point on whether the government should have some specific power or not, then decide No, it should not have that power. The bias should be against government power, and such questions that remain undecided at this point should be resolved against the government having such power.
“In a similar but opposite way, if there is a remaining disagreement at this point on whether the people of Arcadia should have some specific right or not, then decide Yes, they should have that right. The bias should be for the people’s rights, and such questions that remain undecided at this point should be resolved in favor of the people having such rights.
“Finally, if there is a remaining disagreement at this point on whether some specific item should be structured along the lines of the colony headquarters’ document on intermediate structure for colony governments or not, then decide Yes, it should be structured along the lines of the document. The bias should be toward implementing the document, which was the product of Janice Quant’s huge and capable organization so long ago, and away from making changes that are not so well vetted. Such questions that remain undecided at this point should be resolved in favor of the structures proposed in that document.”
The Chen sipped his tea again, allowing those points to sink in.
“That is really the guidance I have for your decision-making process now. But I have one more thing to say. A vision to offer. A motivation, if you will.
“In two and a half months, on the fifteenth of September, we will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the colony here on Arcadia. What a boon it would be if we could finish this document and have the plebiscite endorsing it prior to our anniversary. Then we would surely have something tremendous to celebrate, and not simply another year on the calendar.
“At that point, election campaigns could begin for the new government. For elections on the fifteenth of December, say. A ninety-day campaign is all anyone needs to make up their mind. Our first elections on Arcadia.
“The new government could take control on the first of the year, and usher in a truly new year. I will be happy to turn over the reins of government to such an organization, structured along the lines you have already drawn, and with leaders chosen by the people of Arcadia.
“That is the big picture, my friends. Do not let the fog of minor issues cloud your grand vision. Finish this great work, and let us celebrate our fiftieth anniversary in epic style.”
The Chen spread his hands to his sides and bowed to them. He got up off the pillow, slipped into his flip-flops, and walked off the stage.
Zielinski walked out into the center of the stage.
“Meeting adjourned,” she shouted into the mike over the tumult of applause.
Matt Chen-Jasic and Chen MingWei took tea together that Friday afternoon as was their custom.
“You spoke to the convention on Tuesday morning,” MingWei said.
“Yes. A short talk. Chairman Zielinski wanted to shake things up a bit. They were getting stuck on minor issues. I tried to restore a vision of the
