Chương 576: Six-Year Education

Shen Wansan's eyes suddenly lit up like light bulbs, and his voice changed tone:

"Your Majesty! And a distant-water fleet! I request the establishment of the Han Dynasty's first distant-water fleet! I want Han Dynasty merchant ships to sail overseas and sell our silk, porcelain, and tea all over the world! To bring back all the world's gold, silver, spices... Let them see what a Celestial Empire truly is!"

"Alright! Granted!" Liu Ce said with a smile, waving his hand.

"The ocean-going fleet will be funded by the imperial court. You'll be in charge of the business, and the army will be responsible for escorting them. Remember, we're here to do business, not to rob. We'll win people over with virtue. But if anyone dares to rob our merchant ships, beat them! Beat them until they submit! Beat them until they kneel down and call you 'father'!"

"Your Majesty, I understand! Your Majesty guarantees that I will earn back all the money in the world!" Shen Wansan grinned from ear to ear, as if he could already see mountains of gold, his eyes turning into the shape of money.

"Fifth, the science and education popularization project."

Liu Ce turned his gaze to the officials of the Ministry of Rites, his voice carrying a hint of expectation:

"The competition of the future will ultimately be a competition for talent. Without talent, all talk of industry and war is just empty talk. No matter how good the machines are, if no one knows how to use them, they are just a pile of scrap metal."

"The Ministry of Rites is responsible for formally implementing the six-year education system. All school-age children, regardless of gender or wealth, must attend school! Tuition and textbooks are free, and lunch is provided! Let the children eat their fill and learn well!"

Anyone who dares to prevent their child from going to school, especially girls, will be fined! Fine them until they feel the pinch! Those who repeatedly violate the rules will be sent to work on the Grand Canal! They'll dig until they collapse from exhaustion!

"Continue to optimize the patent system! Anyone with a significant invention or creation can apply for a patent and receive government rewards and protection. A minor invention will be rewarded with 100, 000 coins; a major invention will be rewarded with 500, 000 coins; and whoever can build a flying iron bird will be rewarded with 10 million coins and granted the title of marquis!"

Song Yingxing immediately pulled out his notebook and quickly wrote it down, muttering to himself, "A flying iron bird... ten million coins... a title of nobility... how many mansions can ten million coins buy..."

Liu Ce looked at him and couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head and swaying his body.

"That's right! I want the technology of the Han Dynasty to lead the world for a hundred or even a thousand years! I want future generations to remember that the Han Dynasty is the birthplace of modern science! Not overseas, but the Han Dynasty!"

Guan Ning stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured! I have already built two thousand primary schools across the country, and they will all be open this year. I have also reorganized several hundred teachers and compiled new textbooks, which will not only teach the Four Books and Five Classics, but also arithmetic, science, geography, hygiene... I guarantee that within five years, the national literacy rate will continue to rise."

"Alright! I'll leave this to you." Liu Ce nodded.

"You also need to build universities in each provincial capital, offering new disciplines like physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering to cultivate specialized scientific and technological talent. In the future, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Revenue should give priority to recruiting these scientific and technological personnel. Anyone who doesn't understand science and technology shouldn't even think about getting promoted."

"The sixth project is the purge of the remaining powerful clans."

Liu Ce's expression turned cold again, like a block of ice, sending chills down one's spine.

"The powerful clans are a major threat to the Han Dynasty. Without eliminating them, the country will never be at peace. Although we defeated their main force during the First Five-Year Plan, some have escaped our grasp, hiding in the mountains and countryside, colluding with corrupt officials, concealing land and population figures, oppressing the people, and even secretly allying with the Xiongnu and Xianbei, attempting to overthrow our regime. These people are more hateful than our overt enemies!"

"Lu Bing!"

"Your subject is here!"

Lu Bing stepped out of the train, dressed in a black flying fish suit, his face was cold, his eyes were sharp as knives, and his whole body exuded a murderous aura.

As soon as he came out, the temperature in the entire hall dropped a few degrees. Everyone knew that those who were targeted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard never had a good ending.

At best, their property will be confiscated; at worst, their entire family will be exterminated.

"I appoint you as the Commander-in-Chief of the Purge of Powerful Clans, with full authority over this matter," Liu Ce said in a deep voice, each word like a nail driven into the ground.

"In the first half of this year, conduct the second national land and population census, checking every household to thoroughly investigate the land and population concealed by powerful clans. Anyone who conceals one acre of land will be fined ten acres; anyone who conceals one person will be fined one hundred thousand coins. Fine them until they are bankrupt!"

"Powerful families are prohibited from engaging in basic industries such as salt, iron, coal, cement, and shipbuilding. The assets of any single merchant shall not exceed fifty million coins; any amount exceeding this shall be subject to a ninety-tenths property tax! Anyone who dares to collude with foreign enemies, resist the imperial court, incite rebellion, or oppress the people shall have their property confiscated and their entire family exterminated! Not a single one shall be spared!"

"Your subject obeys," Lu Bing replied coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion, like a machine's.

"I guarantee that within three years, all remaining powerful clans will be completely eradicated. If even one escapes, I will bring him my head."

After recounting the six major projects, Liu Ce walked to the center of the imperial steps, took a deep breath, swept his gaze over the officials, and said in a deep voice:

"My lords," I say, "the Second Five-Year Plan is ten times more arduous and ten times more ambitious than the First Five-Year Plan. To ensure its smooth implementation, I hereby promulgate three ironclad rules that everyone must abide by, and those who violate them will be severely punished!"

"First, merit will be rewarded and demerit will be punished. Those who successfully complete their missions will be promoted, ennobled, and rewarded with millions; those who fail will be dismissed, investigated, and never rehired! Anyone who dares to embezzle, accept bribes, or enrich themselves will have their property confiscated and be exiled to the frontier to build infrastructure! Until they die!"

"Secondly, the entire nation must focus on the Second Five-Year Plan. All departments must obey the unified command of the State Planning Commission, and there must be no shirking of responsibility or double-dealing. Anyone who dares to obstruct the Second Five-Year Plan, no matter who they are or how great their contributions are, I will not tolerate it! Not even my brothers!"

"Third, the people are the foundation, and their strength is the basis. We must strictly control corvée labor, prioritizing the use of soldiers and convicts for heavy labor. We must never allow the people to suffer because of our construction! If any family is destroyed or killed due to corvée labor, the local prefect and magistrate will be dismissed and investigated! They will be exiled to the frontier!"

After speaking, Liu Ce turned to face outside the hall, gazing at the Han Dynasty dragon flag flying high, its bright red banner fluttering in the wind.

The voice was firm and bold, carrying an undeniable power:

"Five years ago, we made a vow here to ensure that our people would have enough to eat and wear, and live in peace and prosperity. Today, we have done it!"