Chương 514: Three-Year Plan

"Simply put, you can station your troops in other places, but your families must stay in Luoyang. This way, you can fight with peace of mind, and the court can also be at ease."

Upon hearing this, the military officers exchanged bewildered glances.

The family members moved to Luoyang? Wouldn't that make them hostages?

Although His Majesty said it was "care and resettlement," everyone understood what he meant.

After reciting the three ironclad rules, Liu Ce's gaze swept over the assembled generals, and he slowly said:

"I know that you are all founding heroes who have made great contributions to the Han Dynasty. I will never treat you unfairly. I can give you fertile lands, beautiful houses, gold and silver, high-ranking positions and generous salaries. But there is one thing I cannot give you, and that is the power to rule your own territory."

His tone softened, tinged with emotion: "I hope you all understand my good intentions. We crawled out of piles of corpses together, we conquered this land together, not so that our descendants would experience another period of chaos and war. What we must do is protect this land, so that our descendants can live in peace and prosperity on this land, and so that the Han dynasty may last for ten thousand generations!"

After speaking, Liu Ce turned around, walked back up the steps, and sat back on the dragon throne.

All the civil and military officials knelt down at the same time, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

"Your Majesty, we obey! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The sound resounded throughout the Deyang Palace, the city of Luoyang, and the entire vast land of the Han Dynasty.

After the court assembly concluded, the civil and military officials left Deyang Hall in turn.

The sunlight outside the hall was just right, shining on everyone and dispelling the chill inside.

The generals gathered in twos and threes, congratulating each other and discussing the defense zones they were about to be assigned to.

Li Jing and Li Ji walked side by side, talking in hushed tones about the affairs of the Central Theater Command.

"Pharmacist, the Central Theater Command has 200, 000 troops. You have a heavy responsibility," Li Ji said with a smile.

Li Jing nodded: "The responsibility is heavy, and we dare not slack off. His Majesty trusts us, and we must not let him down."

Li Ji said, "That'll keep us busy for a while."

Li Jing nodded: "The defense of the capital region cannot be taken lightly; it must be planned carefully."

Xu Da and Zhang Liao walked together and began planning the construction of the Great Wall for the northern border defense.

"The Great Wall needs to be repaired," Zhang Liao said, "but repairing the Great Wall alone is not enough; we also need cavalry to patrol it."

Xu Da nodded: "I've already thought it through. We'll set up a beacon tower every fifty li, so that any alarm will reach Zhuo County within fifteen minutes."

Zhang Liao added, "We also need to set up hidden sentry posts on the grasslands to provide early warnings."

Su Lie and Xue Rengui stood on the steps outside the main hall, looking at the distant sky.

Su Lie said, "Ren Gui, those Qiang and Hu tribes in the west have been acting up again lately."

Xue Rengui smiled faintly: "You've come at the perfect time. I haven't fought in a long time, and my hands are itching."

Cao Cao stood outside the palace, looking at the distant sky, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Lu Bu stood next to him, and neither of them spoke.

After a long while, Lü Bu spoke: "Mengde, see you in the Western Theater Command."

Cao Cao smiled and said, "Fengxian, take care."

...

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Qin Qiong, and Cheng Yaojin stood together.

Zhang Fei shouted in a loud voice, "Second Brother, we're both in the Central Theater Command, we can fight together again in the future!"

Guan Yu stroked his long beard and smiled faintly: "Hmm, very good."

Cheng Yaojin crossed his arms, beaming with pride: "I, Old Cheng, am a division commander now! From now on, everyone who sees me will have to call me Division Commander Cheng!"

Qin Qiong glanced at him helplessly: "Zhijie, keep a low profile."

Cheng Yaojin, pulling Qin Qiong along, said excitedly as they walked, "We're both in the Central Theater Command, so we can drink together again! And let me tell you, I have two jars of good wine hidden at home; let's drink them down when we have some free time!"

Qin Qiong shook his head helplessly: "What do you know besides drinking?"

Cheng Yaojin laughed, "You still know how to eat! By the way, I still have half a cured pork leg at home..."

Qin Qiong was completely speechless.

Zhang Fei caught up from behind and slapped Cheng Yaojin on the shoulder, almost knocking him over: "Cheng Yaojin! I, Old Zhang, am also in the Central Theater Command. Let's have a contest and see who's stronger!"

Cheng Yaojin winced in pain, but still refused to admit defeat: "Let's fight! Who's afraid of who!"

Chang Yuchun, Li Wenzhong, Gongsun Zan, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou stood on the west side of the square.

Chang Yuchun laughed and said, "It's cold up north, you'll need to bring some warm clothes."

Li Wenzhong laughed and said, "You're got plenty of energy, what are you afraid of?"

Gongsun Zan looked to the north, lost in thought.

Huang Zhong, Xu Huang, Luo Cheng, and Gao Lan stood on the south side of the square.

Huang Zhong stroked his beard and said, "It's warmer in the south, which is good for your health."

Xu Huang nodded: "Yes, it's better than freezing up north."

Luo Cheng remained expressionless, while Gao Lan looked on with anticipation.

Qi Jiguang and Gan Ning walked together, and the two talked about the navy.

"Of the five war zones, only our eastern region has a navy," Gan Ning said smugly.

"That's unique."

Qi Jiguang laughed and said, "That's why we have to work hard and not let His Majesty down. Once the navy is well-trained, it will be truly impressive when we go out to sea to fight."

Gan Ning patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I, the 'Jinfan Pirate,' have never been afraid of anyone on the water. If pirates come, I guarantee they won't return."

Yue Fei and Yu Jin walked together.

Yu Jin asked, "General Yue, I've heard that the southern regions are plagued by miasma and are difficult to conquer."

Yue Fei nodded: "The miasma is indeed a problem, but as long as we prepare medicine in advance, it is not insurmountable. Besides, we are fighting unreasonable barbarians, not unreasonable weather."

Yu Jin thought for a moment and said, "That's true. It's much easier to fight than Jiaozhou back then."

...

The 20th day of the first month of the first year of Shenwu.

The Deyang Hall of the Luoyang Imperial Palace.

The ground is paved with gold bricks, and the jade steps are cold.

The sun shines brightly outside the palace, illuminating the gilded copper tiles and making the entire palace appear as if it were plated with gold.

The hall was completely silent. Civil and military officials stood in two rows according to their rank, their faces covered by their official tablets, and they even deliberately kept their breathing quiet.

The atmosphere today is even more solemn than it was five days ago—five days ago it was about dividing troops, today it's about governing the country.

Liu Ce sat on the dragon throne, his voice not loud, yet it carried clearly throughout the entire hall:

"Since the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the world has experienced more than ten years of great chaos. Bones lay exposed in the wilderness, and for a thousand miles, not a rooster crowed. Of the thirteen provinces of the former Han Dynasty, only six or seven out of ten households remained." He paused, his tone becoming serious, "But the unification of the world is not the end, but the beginning."

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone looked up at the excessively young emperor on the dragon throne.

They knew the real show was about to begin.

Deploying troops and generals is just the appetizer; what we're going to talk about today is the real art of governing a country.

"Today I have summoned my ministers, not to bestow rewards or punish crimes, but to announce one thing: From this day forward, the Great Han Dynasty will launch its first five-year plan, from the first year of the Shenwu era to the fifth year, to restore peace to the land and ensure the people have enough to eat and wear!"

"A five-year plan?"

A soft murmur rippled through the hall.