Chương 556: , Project 15 Achievements 2

"Commercial trade is booming like never before. In the past five years, national commercial taxes have increased more than tenfold. Last year, commercial tax revenue reached 2. 7 billion coins, becoming the third largest source of revenue for the imperial court. Customs revenue started from zero and reached 300 million coins last year. Now, dozens of foreign merchant ships come to Panyu Port every day to do business, bringing spices, jewelry, and ivory, and taking away our porcelain, silk, and ironware.

Merchants from all countries are vying to come, making it a lively and bustling place."

"The salt and iron monopoly has generated 4 billion coins, becoming the second largest source of revenue for the imperial court. Handicrafts are booming, with porcelain, silk, and brocade being exported to the Western Regions and countries in the South China Sea. Last month, many blond-haired merchants came to Luoyang, saying they wanted to establish long-term trade relations with us. They said that Han Dynasty silk could fetch the same price as gold in their country."

"Minister of Rites Cai Yong reported on the achievements in science and education."

Cai Yong had white hair and beard, was in good spirits, and had a loud voice.

He is a literary giant who has devoted all his energy to education over the past five years.

"Your Majesty, I, Cai Yong, report: The Royal University of Luoyang has been in operation for five years, with a total enrollment of over five thousand students, seventy percent of whom are from commoner families! There is a boy named Zhang San who used to be a cowherd, but now he is the top student in the Mathematics Department of the Royal University. Your Majesty has even personally met with him. This boy is exceptionally intelligent..."

"Government-run, free schools have been established in all provinces, prefectures, and counties across the country, with a total of about eight million students! Whether they are children from noble families or farmers, as long as they want to study, the imperial court will take care of them, providing free tuition and meals. Now, in every village and hamlet, you can hear the children's clear voices reading aloud early in the morning."

"With the widespread adoption of simplified Chinese characters and Pinyin, the national literacy rate has risen from less than 5% at the founding of the People's Republic to 25% today! This is an unprecedented miracle! In the past, literacy was the privilege of aristocratic families; now, even a shepherd boy in any village can write his own name, read imperial proclamations, and understand imperial edicts. This is the result of effective education!"

"With the completion of the unified textbooks, in addition to classical texts, basic sciences such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology have become compulsory courses in all schools."

In its five years of existence, the Royal Academy of Sciences, bringing together over three hundred of the nation's most outstanding scientists and craftsmen, achieved more than one hundred major inventions. New types of looms... these inventions greatly improved production efficiency.

"The National Science and Technology Award has been awarded five times, with thirty-two people being granted the title of baron and thirty others receiving a reward of one million coins. Now, all the educated people in the country know that making inventions and creations can also bring honor to one's ancestors, and is no less valuable than studying the classics."

"In terms of medical and health care, the Luoyang Royal Hospital and hospitals in all prefectures and counties have been completed. Hygiene knowledge such as drinking boiled water, washing hands frequently, and harmless treatment of feces has been popularized throughout the country. The incidence of infectious diseases has dropped by 70%, and plagues that used to kill people easily no longer have large-scale outbreaks. People know to see a doctor when they are sick."

"The 'Great Han Materia Medica,' compiled under the supervision of Zhang Zhongjing, has been completed, containing over 1, 800 kinds of medicinal substances and more than 10, 000 prescriptions. The surgical procedures and anesthesia techniques promoted by Hua Tuo have saved tens of thousands of lives. The average life expectancy has increased from thirty years at the founding of the nation to fifty years! This is a miracle in medical history!"

Xun Yu stepped forward again: "Minister of War Li Jing reports on the achievements in military affairs and national defense."

Li Jing was dressed in military attire, with a sword at his waist, and his voice was as loud as a bell.

"Your Majesty, I, Li Jing, report that the conscription system has been fully implemented! The entire active-duty army of 800, 000 men is composed of conscripts; the reserve force of 2 million men can be assembled within a month."

Today's soldiers are all self-sufficient farmers who have been allocated land. They know that joining the army is to defend their land and their families, so their loyalty and fighting spirit are unprecedented! On the battlefield, they fight with all their might!

"The Royal Military Academy in Luoyang has been completed and opened, and the first batch of one thousand graduates have all been assigned to various units. Today, all officers of our Great Han are graduates of military academies! There are no longer any illiterate people who can only become generals because of their family background. Now, every general is both literate and skilled in martial arts."

"Weapons and equipment have been completely upgraded, and the national arsenals are producing standardized weapons and armor... all of them are of excellent quality. The navy has more than 500 warships, controls all the coastal waters of the East China Sea and the South China Sea, pirates have disappeared, and maritime trade is unimpeded."

"Tian Feng, Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, submitted a report on the results of his supervision and governance."

Tian Feng stepped forward, his expression solemn, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

His gaze swept over the assembled officials, as if issuing a warning.

"Your Majesty, I, Tian Feng, report that in the past five years, the Censorate has impeached 327 officials, including 42 officials of the fourth rank or above. Those who embezzled more than 100, 000 taels of silver were all dismissed and investigated. A total of 113 cases of embezzlement were investigated and dealt with, and there were no wrongful convictions."

"Last year, an official from the Ministry of Works embezzled 300, 000 coins from project funds, which was verified by the Censorate. I impeached him according to the law, and His Majesty dismissed him from his post, investigated him, and exiled him three thousand li away. After this matter spread, all officials were terrified, and no one dared to embezzle again. Now, the most common thing officials say when they meet is, 'Be careful, the Censorate is at the door.'"

"The Six Ministries of Censors exercised their power of rejection seventeen times, correcting twelve erroneous government orders. The Supervising Censors of each Circuit were stationed in their respective areas, and the Circuit Inspectors made two inspection tours each year, traveling incognito to investigate the people's conditions and the administration of officials."

Officials today dare not oppress the people at will, nor do they dare to extort or demand bribes. The administration is cleaner and more efficient than ever before in Chinese history. The people all say that officials today are much better than before.

Finally, Xun Yu turned to Jia Xu, who was standing at the front, and bowed, saying, "I request Jia Xu, the Director of the Royal Statistical Audit Office, to report the final verification results."

Jia Xu slowly stepped out of the ranks.

His sharp gaze swept over the entire court of officials, as if he were scrutinizing something.

"Your Majesty, I, Jia Xu, report that the Imperial Statistical Audit Office has conducted an independent audit and verification of all data related to the First Five-Year Plan. We dispatched more than 300 audit specialists who traveled to every county in the country, checking the population from house to house, measuring the land acre by acre, and counting the grain picul by picul. Not a single person was missed, and not an inch of land was overlooked."

"All data on population, land, food, finance, and industry are true and accurate, with no falsification or concealment whatsoever. Over the past five years, the central government's total revenue was XXX billion yuan, total expenditure was XXX billion yuan, and the surplus was XX billion yuan."

All government expenditures are fully documented and traceable. Every penny spent is clearly accounted for, with no unclear or ambiguous records.

Even a single coin can be traced back to its whereabouts.

"Your Majesty, I can assure you that every single figure presented today can withstand the test of history. If even a single word is false, I, Jia Xu, am willing to offer my head!"

The hall was silent, and all eyes were on the emperor on the dragon throne.

Liu Ce slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over each minister.