Chương 516: Five-Year Plan 2

"Secondly, agriculture and water conservancy." Liu Ce's tone softened, his voice carrying a deep affection for the land.

"Food is the most important thing for the people. As long as there is enough food, the world will not be in chaos. When the people are hungry, even the gods can't control them; when they are full, everything is fine."

"Starting this year, wheat, rice, sweet potatoes, corn, potatoes... these crops will be promoted nationwide. Within five years, I will expand the arable land area several times over, double the total grain output, and completely eliminate famine!"

"Song Yingxing and Jia Sixie."

"Your Majesty, we are here!" Song Yingxing and Jia Sixie stepped forward, bowed, and accepted the order.

"You two will be in charge of manufacturing advanced agricultural implements such as curved plows, seed drills, and waterwheels, and distributing them to farmers nationwide. You will also compile the 'Essential Techniques of Agriculture and Sericulture,' dispatch agricultural officials to various counties to guide farmers in planting high-yield crops, and promote deep plowing and rice-wheat rotation techniques. These agricultural implements are truly valuable and will greatly improve farming efficiency."

"Your Majesty, we obey!" Song Yingxing and Jia Sixie's voices were full of enthusiasm.

"The position of River Conservancy Director-General was concurrently held by Zhu Jun, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works."

"Your subject is here!" Zhu Jun had already changed into the court robes of a civil official, but his every move still carried the imposing air of a military general.

His management of the waterways wasn't out of place; building dikes was similar to building city walls.

"Launch a nationwide water conservancy campaign! Repair the Yellow River dikes, and dredge the Honggou, Bianqu, and Lingqu canals. Each prefecture must construct at least one large reservoir and ten irrigation canals. Within five years, more than half of the country's arable land must be guaranteed against drought and flood!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Zhu Jun clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice booming.

"At the same time, eight national-level granaries will be established in Luoyang, Chang'an, Chengdu, Zhuoxian, Xiangyang, Yecheng, Shouchun, and Chenliu, with each granary storing no less than ten million shi of grain. A system of ever-normal granaries will be established to purchase grain in good years and release it in lean years, thus stabilizing grain prices and strictly prohibiting merchants from hoarding and speculating! Having ten million shi of grain piled up there will give us peace of mind!"

...

"Third, basic industries and transportation." Liu Ce's gaze fell on Song Yingxing again, this time focusing on something more concrete: "Agriculture is fundamental, but industry is the key to a nation's strength!"

"Within five years... establish three major national-level iron smelting bases. Promote coal-fired ironmaking and blast furnace ironmaking technologies, and promote the frying and crucible steelmaking methods. Triple iron production to meet the needs of the nation's agricultural implements, weaponry, and infrastructure construction!"

"Salt and iron were to be state-run, and private iron smelting and salt production were prohibited. At the same time, northern mineral resources were to be developed... and a national cement plant was to be established to produce cement on a large scale."

"Using cement to build roads results in hard, smooth surfaces that are resistant to rain; using it to build water conservancy projects creates sturdy and durable dikes that will last for centuries. In the future, all our cities, roads, and water conservancy projects will be built with cement! Military facilities can also be built with cement—fortifications, city walls, and barracks—they will be even stronger than stone."

"In terms of transportation, we will repair the national road network and standardize the width of cart tracks nationwide. We will construct five national trunk roads: Luoyang to Chang'an, Luoyang to Jiankang, Luoyang to Zhuoxian, Luoyang to Taiyuan, and Luoyang to Xiapi. We will establish a national post station system with a post station every five li and a pavilion every ten li, ensuring that government orders can be disseminated throughout the country within ten days!"

"We will establish four major shipyards in Luoyang, Jiankang, Jiangling, and Panyu to build large inland waterway and coastal vessels. Within five years, we will have our own navy and control the East China Sea and the South China Sea! At that time, none of the pirates at sea will be able to escape!"

Song Yingxing was filled with enthusiasm and couldn't wait to roll up his sleeves and get to work. He immediately bowed and shouted, "Your Majesty, rest assured! I will certainly not fail in my mission! The entire Ministry of Works will do its utmost!"

...

"Fourth, science and technology and education," Liu Ce said slowly.

"Science and technology are the primary productive forces. Education is a long-term plan. These are two things that our predecessors didn't pay much attention to, but I do."

"I have decided to establish a Royal University in Luoyang... All schools will admit commoners free of charge! Whether you are from a noble family or a farmer's child, as long as you want to study, the court will take care of it!"

"The new nationally unified textbooks will include not only classical texts but also basic scientific knowledge such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. Simplified Chinese characters and Pinyin will be widely promoted to reduce the difficulty of literacy."

"Establish a Royal Academy of Sciences, bringing together the nation's finest scientists and craftsmen for technological research and development. Establish a National Science and Technology Award, bestowing substantial rewards, even titles, upon those who make significant inventions! Whoever invents a more efficient loom, I will grant him a baronship! Whoever builds a faster and more stable ship, I will grant him a viscountship!"

"In terms of medical and health care, a royal hospital will be established in Luoyang, a prefectural hospital will be established in each prefecture, and a county clinic will be established in each county. Hygiene knowledge such as drinking boiled water, washing hands frequently, and harmless treatment of feces will be promoted, and an epidemic prevention and control system will be established.

Traditional Chinese medicine classics will be compiled, the 'Great Han Materia Medica' will be written, and talents in traditional Chinese medicine will be trained."

Zhang Zhongjing and Hua Tuo exchanged a glance, both seeing excitement in each other's eyes.

Promoting medical and health services and preventing and controlling epidemics was what they sought throughout their lives.

"Your Majesty is wise!" The two men choked with emotion.

...

"Fifth, military and national defense." Liu Ce turned his gaze to the military officers, his voice carrying a hint of the spirit of war.

"A compulsory military service system will be implemented: all males who have reached the age of eighteen must serve two years of military service. After their service, they will be transferred to the reserve. They can be called up at any time in case of national crisis. Two years of military service can both strengthen the body and protect the country, killing two birds with one stone!"

"Establish a Royal Military Academy to train professional military commanders. Standardize army training and tactics, and update weaponry and equipment. Arsenals should produce standardized weapons and armor... From now on, to become an officer, one must first attend a military academy, otherwise, one will not be allowed to become one."

"At the same time, establish the Great Han Navy to defend our maritime borders!"

Xue Rengui and the others exchanged glances, then bowed and said, "Your subjects obey the imperial decree!"

Zhang Fei thought to himself: Two years of military service? Then the soldiers who fight in the future will all be trained, and there will be no need to teach them from scratch. Good!

"Sixth, public finance and banking," Liu Ce concluded, slowing his speech to ensure clarity.

"We will establish a unified national fiscal system, implement a tax-sharing system between the central and local governments, with the central government accounting for 70% of the national fiscal revenue. We will implement a fiscal policy based on revenue and expenditure, strictly controlling fiscal spending. We will strengthen oversight of fiscal revenue and expenditure."

"Unify the national currency and prohibit private minting of coins. Establish a national bank to be responsible for currency issuance and deposit and loan operations. Crack down on usury and stipulate that the maximum annual interest rate shall not exceed ten percent."