Chương 522: The road ahead is long and arduous, but perseverance will lead to success. Keep going wi

Keep going wi

"The powerful families won't let this go easily; they'll sabotage the new policies in secret. They won't dare to come openly, but their covert attacks are even harder to defend against. Technically, we still have many challenges to overcome."

The lives of ordinary people have not fundamentally improved. They have land, but are there enough seeds? Are there enough farming tools? Are there enough oxen? These are all problems.

"Tell everyone that we cannot be arrogant or complacent. Five years will pass in the blink of an eye. We must seize every second and not waste a single day."

What I want are tangible results, not empty gestures. Today is the first day of the third month, and there are still nine months until the end of the year. Nine months is a long time; you can accomplish a lot, or you can accomplish nothing.

The crowd responded in unison, their voices echoing throughout the government office.

...

It was late at night, but a single lamp still shone in the hall.

Liu Ce sat alone on the dragon throne, looking at the First Five-Year Plan blueprint on the table.

It was a huge sheet of paper, covered with dense writing and lines, marking the start and end times and the person in charge of each task.

He spent several sleepless nights drawing this, combining later experiences with current realities, bit by bit.

Outside the window, the moonlight, like water, shone on him, casting a lonely shadow on the ground.

He remembered the world he had lived in before he traveled back in time, and that prosperous and thriving country.

Back then, skyscrapers stood side by side, high-speed rail extended in all directions, people didn't have to worry about food, and children could go to school.

Those days spent quietly reading in the library, those days running on the playground, those days chatting and drinking beer with friends—that was another world, a world he could never return to.

But he can bring a part of that world into this era.

"Back then, our ancestors built an industrialized and powerful nation from scratch in just a few decades."

They ate cornbread and pickled vegetables, used rudimentary tools, and relied on sheer willpower. Now, with the advantage of being a time traveler and the assistance of so many wise and capable ministers, I'm sure I can do even better.

He muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the empty hall:

"I want to make the Han Dynasty the most powerful nation of this era. I want the people of the Han Dynasty to live a life of plenty. I want Chinese civilization to move towards industrial civilization a thousand years ahead of schedule. I want future generations to have their eyes shining when they talk about this era."

What will the world be like in fifty years, a hundred years? I don't know, but I do know it will be better than it is now.

He picked up his pen, dipped it in thick ink, and wrote a line on the blueprint with vigorous strokes that seemed to penetrate the paper:

"The road ahead is long and arduous, but if you keep going, you will reach your destination. If you persevere, the future is promising."

After finishing writing, he put down his pen and let out a long sigh of relief.

Just then, Lu Bing walked in silently, like a cat without making a sound.

His face was grave, his brows furrowed; it was clear that something serious had happened.

"Your Majesty, an urgent report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard." He knelt on one knee and presented a letter sealed with wax with both hands.

"Speak," Liu Ce said without looking up.

"The remaining forces of the Yuan family of Runan colluded with several powerful families in Yuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yangzhou to launch a rebellion in Runan County, gathering 100, 000 people and claiming that they would 'cleanse the court of corrupt officials and kill the evil emperor' and abolish the new policies."

Their banner was "Returning Power to the Old System and Restoring Ancestral Orders," claiming His Majesty was a "usurper" and demanding the return of Liu Xie. They had already captured three counties, committing arson, murder, looting, and all manner of atrocities. The local government lacked the military strength to suppress them.

Liu Ce put down his pen, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips, but there was no smile in his eyes.

That smile was colder than the winter wind.

"They've finally arrived." He stood up, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes, like a drawn sword.

"I have been waiting for this day for a long time. These clowns, if they hadn't come out, I wouldn't have been able to make a move. Now that they've come out on their own, it suits me perfectly. It's a good opportunity to wipe them all out in one fell swoop, saving me the trouble of searching for them one by one."

He walked to the center of the hall, where the moonlight shone on his dragon robe, making it gleam with gold.

He picked up a decorative sword from the table, drew it halfway out, and the blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

"I hereby order Duke Zhang Fei of Yan and Duke Cheng Yaojin of Lu to lead 20, 000 troops south immediately to quell the rebellion. Tell Zhang Fei and Cheng Yaojin that all aristocratic families involved in the rebellion shall be executed along with their entire families. All land and property shall be confiscated and distributed to the local people. I am not joking; I am serious."

"Tell Zhang Fei and Cheng Yaojin that I do not want prisoners; I want pacification. Leave no rebels alive. Those who surrender may be spared, but none of the leaders shall be spared. In particular, none of the Yuan family members shall escape."

"I want the whole world to know: anyone who dares to obstruct the new policies will face certain death! My sword is not just for show."

Lu Bing bowed and accepted the order, his voice firm: "Your subject obeys!"

After Lu Bing withdrew, the hall returned to silence, with only the occasional crackling of the candlelight.

Liu Ce walked to the window, pushed it open, and the night wind rushed in, making the candlelight flicker wildly.

He gazed at the southern night sky, where it was pitch black and no stars could be seen.

He murmured, "This battle is not about fighting the rebels, but about striking at the hearts of all the powerful families in the land."

He knew that a bigger storm was coming. But he was fearless.

Because he knew that he was on the right path, a path to light, a path that would bring a better life to the people, and a path that would make the Han Dynasty strong.

The storm is coming, just in time to wash away this filthy world.

The first five-year plan of the Great Han Dynasty has only just begun.

...

The first year of the Han calendar, the first year of the Shenwu era, the fifth day of the third month.

The south gate of Luoyang was opened wide, and 20, 000 troops filed out.

Zhang Fei and Cheng Yaojin each rode a tall horse, walking at the very front.

Zhang Fei carried his eighteen-foot spear on his shoulder, the sunlight shining on the spear tip, reflecting a dazzling white light.

Cheng Yaojin's Xuanhua axe hung beside the saddle, its blade gleaming from being sharpened.

Zhang Fei, dressed in heavy black iron armor, was broad-shouldered and burly, and rode his horse like a moving iron tower.

He yelled at the top of his lungs, "Old Cheng! This time we're partners, so don't hold me back! If you do, I'll go back and tell Big Brother!"

Cheng Yaojin rolled his eyes and patted the axe at his waist: "Holding everyone back? Who's holding everyone back is still uncertain! How about we have a contest first?"

"Let's have a competition! Who's afraid of who!"

The two bickered as the army marched day and night toward Runan.

The 20, 000 soldiers were in high spirits, and their footsteps shook the earth.

As the army marched to Yingchuan County, scouts reported that 50, 000 rebel troops had captured Pingyu County, and Yuan Kai, a remnant of the Yuan clan, had declared himself "Grand General of the Great Han." His troops plundered for three days, causing countless deaths and injuries among the people of Runan, their cries echoing through the heavens. The rebels burned, killed, looted, raped women, and committed countless atrocities within the city.