The residents of Popa had never witnessed such a modern spectacle of western influence within Min, as cars were not a common sight past the occasional government-sanctioned black Bentley 3-Litre which each elder statesman was obliged to own for transport purposes. Seldom did this many cars occupy such a confined space, especially when that space was hardly ever utilized by the organization which owned it; the Laymen Organization’s Assembly Hall was never even measured to fit all of its members, as it was never expected to reach anything close to full capacity. Now, black Bentley’s lined every curb of Popa as regionally-dressed, well-groomed representatives made their political pilgrimage to the massive auditorium at the foot of the most important monastery on the Andaman, ready to discuss the long-awaited political growth of Min as a state, and not as a loose non-ideological idea. Why exactly this was happening now was largely unknown by the lion’s share of the Organization; ‘monastic policies’ were the words which floated around Popa like a smog amongst the politics of the nation. It was commonly known that Thudhamma Nikaya was pragmatic and often led politics for the Laymen’s Organization like a passenger taking the wheel of the driver, policy created by representatives were often greenlit by the local monastics before it was presented to other representatives, and it wasn’t uncommon for monks to occasionally make their own donations to certain members of the Organization, though it was more often in assets such as livestock or discarded monastic property. It wasn’t corruption, per se, but some more liberal facets of the Organization resented the traditionalist, reactionary influence which determined the administration.

Non-uniformed representatives filled every possible crevice of the auditorium, with some within door frames, sitting on staircases, or otherwise standing in an inconspicuous area where their hand could at least be seen to be counted as a vote — not that their vote mattered until now, of course; it was simply a recommendation; regardless of the outcome of the vote, the Popa Central Laymen’s Organization would decide the policy based off their opinions, with the universal vote being an afterthought. This was the leading factor as to why the assembly hall had never been utilized to its greatest effect until now, when the PLCO declared that this would be an actual vote to decide the future of Min as a nation. Democracy was a thing seldom seen in Burma, but now it flourished as the remaining representatives sallied in through the several entrances of the still-too-small auditorium, fitting into whatever remaining standing space there was to fit into. When all was settled and quiet, a faceless member of the PLCO began laying out the ground rules for the vote, as was customary for such an event. The shrill voice of the man echoed over itself as the list of necessary requirements grew, until finally he thanked the audience and say back down at his desk, disappearing from relevance as fast as he had appeared. Another stocky, suited member of the PLCO stood and announced the new policy to be voted on in a booming highlander voice.

“Whereas, the Laymen’s Organization and its facets shall establish a ministry to facilitate the growth of the nation through incorporating neighboring regions, villages, and cities through treaty, agreement, or otherwise. Such a ministry will elect a Supreme Minister, autonomous from the monastic orders completely and in full, and who will act upon the pragmatism of the Min Code to the fullest extent, expanding the economy and welfare of the nation to the fullest extent through the integration of neighboring regions, villages, and cities.”

The hall was rocked with a deafening silence. Uncertainly fanned through the drafty oversized barn like a cloud of gnats as each representative presented their vote to the PLCO. Minutes felt like hours, and the sun set just as fast as it had risen. By dusk, all votes had been accounted for, though no representative was thoughtful enough to keep track of who voted for what. It was only until the next dusty morning when the politicians decamped from their various inns and hotels and homes to find that the vote had been resounding, and that the Ministry of Foreign Integration had been officialized by the PLCO, with the officials to be elected as soon as possible by the Laymen's Organization.

[All DP into expansion]