Chương 572: , Draft Plan 25

"I'm not going to be that sucker! I earn my own credit and reputation, that's the only way! I, Liu Ce, will build my own empire! I'll cultivate my own land and eat my own food!"

The more Liu Ce thought about it, the wiser he felt about his decision back then. He couldn't help but grab another piece of pastry, stuff it into his mouth and chew it until it was crunchy, and then he took a sip of tea to moisten his throat.

"Besides, back then, we relied on infantry and cavalry to fight the war. Even if we won, we would still suffer losses."

"Killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own is not worthwhile. Losing a veteran takes years of training and cannot replace them; it's a huge loss."

"I like to accumulate enough wealth before crushing everyone with absolute strength."

Push forward relentlessly, crush the enemy in one fell swoop, solve the problem in one fell swoop, minimize casualties, maximize profits—how satisfying!

It's like playing a video game: you save up enough money to buy top-tier gear, then wipe out the enemy in one fell swoop, without hesitation.

"Look at us now, we have muskets, one shot and we'll take them down, we can hit wherever we point; we have cannons, we can blast them, one shot and we'll blow up a whole area; we have ironclad ships, we can ram and sink the enemy's wooden ships."

No matter how powerful the Xianbei cavalry were, could they outrun bullets? Could they withstand cannon fire? Their bows and arrows had a range of about fifty paces, and drawing the bow required effort; accuracy was entirely based on luck.

Our muskets have a range of about 100 paces, and they are accurate and powerful. When a volley is fired, a whole row of the enemy falls.

The cannons had a range of three miles, so shooting at them was like shooting at a target. One shot would send the cavalrymen and their horses flying into the sky.

Shooting them is like target practice, one shot, one kill, no need to even aim.

"The Japanese ships are all made of wood and fixed with bamboo nails. They can fall apart in a big storm. Our ironclad warships can sink them with a single shot, leaving not even ashes."

Now, defeating them is as easy as chopping melons and vegetables; it'll be a piece of cake. And all the credit will go to me, the Divine Martial Emperor.

History books will record that, "During the reign of Emperor Shenwu, he destroyed the Xianbei and Xiongnu in the north, pacified the Japanese in the east, conquered the Western Regions in the west, and subdued the southern barbarians in the south, expanding the territory by thousands of miles and creating the prosperous era of Shenwu."

"Isn't this great? We gain fame, we gain territory, and we suffer minimal losses—a triple win. Only a fool would fight for Liu Hong back then! I'm not stupid!"

The more Liu Ce thought about it, the more sense it made. He chuckled to himself, looking like a fox who had just stolen a chicken.

...

Just as Liu Ce was happily making plans in his heart, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall. The sound of boots thumping on the bluestone slabs grew louder as they approached.

Xun Yu, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Li Jing, Li Ji, Lu Bing, and others filed in.

They all looked travel-worn, clearly having just arrived from their respective government offices; some were carrying thick stacks of documents, while others had maps tucked under their arms.

Liu Ce couldn't help but laugh and said, "It's perfect that you're all here. I was just looking for you. The First Five-Year Plan has been successfully completed. Next, we should discuss the Second Five-Year Plan and foreign conquests."

"Please sit down, don't stand, it's tiring to stand. Bring a chair from the side yourself."

Xun Yu stepped forward, presenting a thick memorial with both hands, holding it respectfully.

"Your Majesty, this is the draft of the Second Five-Year Plan, which I co-authored with Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Song Yingxing, and others. Please take a look. This draft has been revised more than a dozen times, and opinions have been solicited from dozens of departments. It should be quite complete now."

Liu Ce took it, flipped through it, and the papers rustled.

"The core is divided into three parts: First, industrial construction, which involves building dozens of large steel plants, arsenals, and shipyards within five years, developing steam engines, and constructing various other factories to form a complete industrial system..."

Second, in terms of improving people's livelihoods, we will build thousands more schools and hospitals, and ensure that every county in the country is connected by roads and every village has a postal station...

Third, we wage wars abroad to completely eliminate the barbarian tribes on all sides, expand our territory by thousands of miles, and plant the banner of the Han Dynasty at the ends of the earth.

Liu Ce nodded in satisfaction and put the memorial aside:

"That's right, exactly what I was thinking. Industry is fundamental, and we must invest heavily in it; no amount of money will be enough. The Ministry of Revenue will provide full support. I'm not afraid of spending money; I'm just afraid of spending it where it's needed most."

Then, he stood up, walked to the map of the territory, picked up a pointer, and slammed it heavily on the northern grassland.

The sound was powerful and resonant, making the beams of the palace hum.

"In our external conquests, the first step is to launch a northern expedition against the Xianbei and Xiongnu. Once we have wiped out the Xianbei and Xiongnu, we will bring the entire grassland into the territory of the Han Dynasty. From then on, that area will become the horse breeding ground of the Han Dynasty, and we will no longer need to buy horses from the Western Regions."

"The second step is to destroy the Japanese. We will cross the sea to attack the Japanese islands, destroy the Japanese, and turn the Japanese islands into a province of the Han Dynasty. From then on, all the gold, silver, and copper mines on the Japanese islands will belong to the Han Dynasty."

"The third step is to reclaim the Western Regions. Reopen the Silk Road, subdue the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, and turn the Western Regions into a province of the Han Dynasty. In the future, the Han Dynasty's silk, porcelain, and tea can be sold directly to the West."

"The fourth step is to pacify the southern regions. By pacifying the southern barbarians, we can extend our influence to the Indochina Peninsula. From then on, the grain, timber, and spices there will all belong to the Han Dynasty."

"I will expand the territory of the Han Dynasty to the East China Sea, to the Pamir Mountains in the west, to Lake Baikal in the north, and to the South China Sea in the south. All barbarians from all directions shall come to pay tribute! Those who dare to disobey shall have their kingdoms destroyed, their kings executed, and their lands seized!"

Li Jing stepped forward, his eyes sharp as knives, as if he could already see the smoke of battle.

The voice was strong and clear, each word distinct and deliberate.

"Your Majesty, rest assured! I have made all the necessary preparations for war! The army is fully equipped and ready to go, and all provisions, weapons, and supplies have been stockpiled, enough for the army to use for several years."

"With cannons, muskets, and ammunition plentiful, Your Majesty, at your command, I will immediately lead the army north, and within three months, I will surely annihilate the Xianbei!"

Lu Bing bowed and said in a low but firm voice, "Your Majesty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has infiltrated various tribes of the Xianbei and Xiongnu. I know their troop deployments, tribal distribution, and internal conflicts very well. I even know how many meals their Chanyu eats each day, how many women he sleeps with, and what color underwear he wears."

Looking at the group of spirited civil and military officials before him, Liu Ce felt a surge of pride, as if a fire was burning within him, making him feel hot all over.

Now, more than a decade later, the world is at peace, the people are prosperous, the army is strong and well-equipped, and the national treasury is full.

The ideals of yesteryear are all coming true.

It's time to let the whole world witness the majesty of the Han Dynasty.

He looked at the vast northern grasslands on the map, a confident smile playing on his lips.

...

On the first day of the second month of the sixth year of Shenwu, at the Liangyi Hall in Luoyang.

Just as dawn was breaking and the eastern horizon was beginning to lighten, the nine bells and drums outside the palace rang out precisely on time. The clanging sounds pierced through the morning mist, making the white jade floor tiles vibrate and even causing the nine golden dragons coiled on the palace roof to seem to shake their heads.

Incense burned in the gilded bronze crane incense burner, its wisps of smoke curling and swirling around the pillars, filling the entire hall with a fragrant aroma, yet unable to suppress the excited chatter of the officials below.