Chương 555: The Results of Project 15

"The resettlement of all displaced people has been completed. 4. 12 million displaced people have been incorporated into military and civilian settlements. The state provides seeds, farm tools, and housing, and they are exempt from taxes for the first three years."

The pro-natalist policies have yielded significant results, with a cumulative increase of 9. 13 million people in the population over five years. The system of having the state support three children until they reach the age of ten has been implemented in all counties across the country.

There's a saying among the people now: "Have three sons, and you won't be poor; the imperial court will raise your children for you." The desire to have children is at an all-time high. Every village and hamlet is filled with children.

Xun Yu continued, "Minister of Justice Cheng Yu has reported on the results of the judicial and local strongmen's handling of the matter."

Cheng Yu's expression was solemn, the jade belt around his waist was fastened meticulously, and the wrinkles on his face looked as if they had been carved by a knife.

"Your Majesty, I, Cheng Yu, report: The Great Han Code has been promulgated and implemented for five years, with the five punishments of flogging, caning, penal servitude, exile, and death applied throughout the country. All local judicial officials are appointed directly by the Supreme Court, and there has not been a single instance of administrative interference in judicial matters in the past five years. Now, if someone breaks the law, not even the Emperor himself can save him."

"Since the establishment of the petitioning system, a total of 12, 347 petitions from the people have been received, and 5, 162 wrongful convictions have been overturned. Many cases that had been wronged for decades have finally received a just verdict."

An old woman beat the petition drum to appeal for justice for her husband. After the case was overturned, she cried and said, "I've waited twenty years, and finally this day has come."

The hall was completely silent; even the sound of breathing had become much quieter.

"Regarding the handling of powerful figures," Cheng Yu's voice turned serious again.

"A total of 517 powerful households at the county level and above were relocated to the vicinity of Luoyang and Chang'an. All of them were disarmed, and their land and property were redeemed at market prices. 72 households of stubbornly resisting powerful households have all been suppressed and their property confiscated in accordance with the law...

Now, there are no more powerful households in the area that dare to resist the imperial court, and the days when government orders could not be issued beyond the county seat are gone forever! In the past, a county magistrate's words were not as effective as a landlord's, but now it is different."

Liu Ce nodded slightly, signaling to continue.

"Next, I will report on the achievements in agriculture and water conservancy! Please welcome Minister of Agriculture Jia Sixie."

When Jia Sixie stepped forward, everyone couldn't help but laugh.

This Minister of Agriculture spent most of his time in the fields, his official robes were always covered in mud, his boots were never clean, and his fingernails were full of black mud.

He held a thick book titled "Essential Techniques of Agriculture and Sericulture" in his hands, his face bearing the simple smile of an old farmer, his skin tanned dark by the sun.

"Your Majesty, I, Jia Sixie, report that the promotion of high-yield crops has been a great success!" He waved the book in his hand, "Wheat, rice, sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes—the suitable planting area has reached 800 million mu, and the yield per mu of wheat, rice, sweet potatoes, and corn..."

"The rice-wheat rotation and deep-plowing techniques have a coverage rate of 90%... I personally led agricultural officials to every county, teaching farmers how to farm step by step."

Now farmers all know that "deep plowing is better than applying manure" and "rice-wheat rotation allows for two harvests a year." Many old farmers held Chen's hand and said, "Lord Jia, I've farmed all my life and never seen such a good harvest."

"The nationwide water conservancy campaign has been successfully completed! The Yellow River dike has been reinforced along its entire length, with the mobilization of one million laborers and four years of work, and the risk of breach has been almost eliminated."

The Honggou Canal, Bianqu Canal, and Lingqu Canal have all been dredged and are now navigable. Now, one can travel by boat from Luoyang downstream to Jiankang in less than half a month. A total of 136 large reservoirs and over 1, 500 irrigation canals have been built across the prefectures…"

"All eight national-level granaries have been completed, with a total grain storage of 520 million shi, far exceeding Your Majesty's original target of 80 million shi!" He became more and more excited as he spoke, his voice trembling slightly.

"I have visited the Hanjia Granary in Luoyang, where the grain is piled up like a mountain, stretching as far as the eye can see."

The Ever-Normal Granary system was implemented in all counties across the country, stabilizing grain prices at around twenty coins per shi (a unit of dry measure). In bumper years, prices remained low, preventing farmers from suffering losses; in lean years, prices remained high, preventing the people from being harmed. In five years, there was not a single famine, and not a single person starved to death!

He took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Liu Ce: "Your Majesty, I can assure you with my life that from this day forward, the people of our Han Dynasty will never go hungry again! I guarantee it with my life!"

A low cheer finally broke out in the hall, and even the usually serious censors of the Censorate showed genuine smiles on their faces.

Several veteran officials secretly wiped the corners of their eyes.

Xun Yu...

"Song Yingxing, Minister of Works, reported on the achievements in basic industries and transportation."

Song Yingxing's voice was loud and clear, carrying the passion unique to technicians.

"Your Majesty, I, Song Yingxing, report that all three national-level iron smelting bases have been completed and put into operation! With the comprehensive promotion of coal-fired ironmaking, blast furnace ironmaking, wrought iron production, and crucible steelmaking, national iron production has soared from 50, 000 tons at the founding of the dynasty to 500, 000 tons, exceeding the target of tripling! Our current iron production is dozens of times greater than that of the previous dynasty at its peak!"

"The state monopoly on salt and iron was fully implemented, and the phenomenon of private iron smelting and salt production disappeared. The price of ironware dropped by 60%, making it affordable for ordinary people. Agricultural tools and weapons were in ample supply, and we no longer had to share a single hoe with several people as before."

"Five national-level main roads—Luoyang to Chang'an, Luoyang to Jiankang, Luoyang to Zhuoxian, Luoyang to Taiyuan, and Luoyang to Xiapi—have all been paved with cement, totaling over 7, 000 li! Last month, I traveled from Luoyang to Chang'an on the newly paved cement road, riding at full speed, and arrived in just one day! Previously, it would take people half a month to travel this road, even without rain."

"The nationwide road network has been repaired, and the post station system of 'one post station every five li and one pavilion every ten li' has been fully established, with a total of 3, 200 post stations and 35, 000 post horses. Government orders can be transmitted throughout the country within seven days, three days ahead of His Majesty's original target! The speed of news transmission is now several times faster than in the previous dynasty."

"The four major shipyards—Luoyang, Jiankang, Jiangling, and Panyu—are all completed. Inland waterway transport capacity has increased fivefold compared to pre-war levels, and the flow of goods between the north and south is no longer a problem. I dare to assert that within ten years, the ships of our Great Han will surely sail to the ends of the sea, spreading the might of the Great Han to all corners of the world! Let those foreign tribes also witness the might of the Great Han!"

"The Minister of Commerce, Zhen Yi, reported on the achievements of commerce and trade." (I forgot to mention who the Minister of Commerce was in the previous text, so I'm adding it now.) Zhen Yi stepped forward, full of vigor and with an imposing presence.

"Your Majesty, I, Zhen Yi, report: A unified national market has been established, and all the private checkpoints set up by powerful clans have been abolished. Previously, transporting silk from Jiangnan to Luoyang required passing through dozens of checkpoints, and the taxes paid were more expensive than the goods themselves. Now, with a single pass, one can travel throughout the country, paying only one commercial tax, saving time, effort, and worry.

Goods can flow freely without hindrance, and merchants are overjoyed."