Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 973: Chapter 73: Prepare Your ID Card, Health Certificate, and Transit Booklet (2)

The guards spoke some more, and the people kept it all in their hearts.

In addition to reminding the residents of Swamp Prefecture to maintain good hygiene daily, foreign and non-local visitors to Swamp Prefecture will also undergo scrutiny.

Foreign and non-local visitors must provide a health certificate diagnosed by a doctor upon arriving at Swamp Prefecture, guaranteeing they aren’t afflicted with strange diseases. If anyone forges a health certificate and is diagnosed with a strange disease by a doctor in Swamp Prefecture, not only will they be expelled from Swamp Prefecture, but they will also be fined heavily. If the situation is severe, they might be killed on the spot.

Along with the health certificate, foreign and non-local visitors must provide something akin to "identification." In Great Zhou, it’s called a "pass." The "pass" will detail the person’s date of birth, height, skin color, appearance, those accompanying them, and the items they carry.

In Great Zhou, if the common folk need to travel far to another place, they need a "pass." Without a "pass," they are categorized as leaving without permission; at best, they’d be sent back home directly, at worst punished. The punishment varies; at best, a beating, or confinement for some time, at worst doing hard labor.

Great Zhou’s officials and princes also have "passes," but theirs are called fish tokens. Officials’ fish tokens are iron fish shapes engraved with the official’s name and position. Princes’ fish tokens are gold fish shapes engraved with their names.

Foreigners also have "passes." Many years ago, after countries like Annan and Siam submitted to Great Zhou and became vassal states, Great Zhou established "passes" and "fish tokens" for them. Without Great Zhou’s "passes" and "fish tokens," they cannot freely enter its territory.

The Great Zhou Court, namely the Ministry of Revenue, meticulously records foreigners who have visited Great Zhou. Before arriving at Swamp Prefecture, Zhao Yao specifically had these registered foreign visitors transcribed to ensure future verification.

If a foreigner who has never been to Great Zhou wishes to come, they must first apply in their own country. After the application is approved domestically, their officials will create a "pass" similar to Great Zhou’s, then submit it to Great Zhou. After Great Zhou officials review it, they’ll stamp it, then issue an official Great Zhou pass. Naturally, this Great Zhou pass’s content is all written in Great Zhou’s script, stamped and signed by verifying officials.

When coming to Great Zhou, you must not only show the official Great Zhou pass but also the pass created in your own country. Essentially, you need to bring two passes to Great Zhou.

Once you arrive in Great Zhou, your first task is to go to the local government to register your information. The local government will meticulously record all your details, such as your date of birth, height, facial features, and skin color, just basic information. They also record your place of residence, household members, what your family does, etc. In summary, the registration is very detailed. If discovered to falsely report, you’ll be expelled from Great Zhou immediately and banned from entering for three years.

Previously, these matters had to be reported to the Imperial Court, but now they can be directly submitted to Swamp Prefecture’s government, saving much trouble and time.

Swamp Prefecture’s government differs somewhat from the Imperial Court. Once all applications are approved, Swamp Prefecture’s government will issue you an ID and a transit book. The ID will record your name, gender, date of birth, and residence in your home country. The transit book records locations visited in Lingnan, the purpose of such visits, etc. Each place you visit in Lingnan requires registration at the local government; after verification, they’ll stamp it.

Carrying your ID and transit book allows unobstructed movement across all Lingnan locales.

Speaking of which, when foreigners reach Swamp Prefecture’s wharf, besides checking their entry proof, their belongings will also be inspected. Not all items can enter Swamp Prefecture, such as unknown objects and weapons. Weapons can be brought into Lingnan, but with limitations. Unidentified objects include unseen items, unrecorded items, harmful items, etc. If smuggling is discovered, one faces heavy fines and imprisonment in Swamp Prefecture’s government jail. Large-scale smuggling could result in beheading.

These days, the busiest officials are customs officers under the Ministry of Revenue. They inspect every foreigner arriving at Swamp Prefecture to ensure no errors before allowing entry.

Previously, one foreign merchant’s attendant showed discomfort with a fever, and upon discovery, was denied entry and warned sternly.

It’s precisely because of stringent checks in Swamp Prefecture that the safety of its residents is ensured.

Zhao Yao wishes to develop Swamp Prefecture into Great Zhou’s largest trade province, yet won’t sacrifice its people’s safety for it.

Seeing Swamp Prefecture’s stringency, both foreigners and non-locals dare not act rashly.

Several days ago, some foreigners and non-locals gathered and fought in Swamp Prefecture; all were captured and publicly beaten at the government entrance. After the beating, they were imprisoned, and currently still held. Witnessing their fate, others dare not cause trouble in Swamp Prefecture.

Before the Dragon Boat Festival, Swamp Prefecture’s patrols became more stringent to ensure no incidents occur on the festival day.

On Dragon Boat Festival day, early morning, it bustled with excitement and celebration.

Swamp Prefecture’s various government entrances distributed free zongzi, available to locals, non-locals, and foreigners alike.

There are many varieties of zongzi: plain ones, honey date zongzi, red bean zongzi, meat zongzi, etc. Overall, there are flavors from all over Great Zhou. Some zongzi contain a Copper Coin, which, when eaten, indicates good luck.

Early morning, local people lined up to receive zongzi.

Originally, non-locals and foreigners felt disdainful to claim zongzi, thinking it beneath them. But upon hearing that zongzi might contain a Copper Coin, bringing good fortune for business, attitudes changed.

Locals are obsessed with good luck, fervently urging non-locals and foreigners to claim zongzi from the government office.

Non-locals and foreigners come to Swamp Prefecture for business and want some good luck, so they join locals in lining up for zongzi.

Upon receiving zongzi, everyone immediately unwrapped and ate them. Those eating a Copper Coin would happily shout, and nearby people congratulated them.

In high spirits, Zhao Yao donned casual clothing and joined the people to claim zongzi, curious to see if he could get one containing a Copper Coin.