Chương 727: Summary of Plan 45

Without changing his expression, he continued to speak loudly: "I will report on each of the six major categories one by one."

"First, territorial governance, bringing the provinces under our control."

Xun Yu gestured to the side, and six eunuchs together carried a silk map, about ten feet wide, up into the hall and unfurled it with a "whoosh" beneath the steps.

The map, outlined in dark ink, depicts the vast territory of the Han Dynasty, stretching from Yingzhou Island in the east to the Pamir Mountains in the west, and from the Gobi Desert in the north to the South China Sea in the south, covering an entire area.

The words "Nanyang Province" are prominently displayed in bright red on the South China Sea map. Small red dots are scattered along the coasts of the Indian Ocean, the Americas, and Australia, all of which are strongholds and ports of the Han Dynasty.

All the officials and civil and military officials looked at this picture, and their blood was boiling.

Xun Yu pointed to the map and reported each point clearly:

"The local territory has been thoroughly homogenized. In the eight provinces including Hanhai, Anxi, Beiting, and Yingzhou, the government orders, laws, taxes, and imperial examinations are exactly the same as those in the interior. The village and township system has been extended to the most remote villages, and tribal hereditary privileges and local official privileges have been completely eliminated."

In five years, there was only one riot involving a hundred people, which was quelled within the same month, and there has been no unrest since then, seventeen years later.

The governor of Anxi Province nodded slightly, looking pleased.

What was Anxi like back then? It was a place where tribes were numerous, local officials held sway, and imperial decrees were ineffective outside the city.

Now? The railway has reached Kucha, the county has schools and hospitals, the people farm, work, and do business, they only recognize the Han government, who still remembers the tribal chiefs of yesteryear.

"Overseas establishment: The four provinces of Luzon, Java, Borneo and Malacca were integrated to formally establish the Nanyang Province, with the provincial capital being Palembang. All levels of officials were present, and the establishment was no different from that in the mainland."

In addition to the Indian Ocean, the Americas, and Australia, seven new bases have been added...

The governor of Nanyang Province stood in the civil service, his back ramrod straight, a hint of pride on his face.

Back when he went there, it was just a few dilapidated ports and plantations. Now it's a formal province, on par with inland provinces, and it's prestigious to talk about.

"We have complete control over the three core shipping routes: the Strait of Malacca, the Sunda, and the entrance to the Persian Gulf. The coastal waters of the Western Pacific and the Northern Indian Ocean are patrolled by our Great Han Navy. Wherever the dragon flag flies, pirates disappear and merchants can travel freely."

Although Li Jing was not in the capital, the officials of the Ministry of War were all beaming with pride... The navy was awesome, and the Ministry of War was also beaming with pride.

"Immigration and integration: The average proportion of Han people in the eight border provinces has risen to 58%, and in the core area it exceeds 75%; there are 420, 000 inter-ethnic marriages, the boundaries between tribes are gradually disappearing, and the national identity of the Han people is deeply rooted in people's hearts."

The country has 273, 000 military and civilian personnel permanently stationed overseas, and its plantations, mines, and ports are self-sufficient, capable of sustaining their own populations without requiring subsidies from the mainland.

Crown Prince Liu Chen nodded slightly, his tone approving: "It's easy to change the local chieftain system, but it's difficult to win the hearts of the people. You have all done a very good job. Continue."

"Secondly, the technology of all crafts has been fully developed."

Xun Yu opened the Ministry of Works' account books, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of excitement... This was the section with the biggest and most inspiring changes in the past five years.

"Railway Line 1: The core trunk lines of the 'three vertical and three horizontal' network have been completed and put into operation... exceeding the target... Seventeen branch lines connecting mining areas, grain depots, and industrial zones, covering four major coalfields, six major iron smelting centers, and eight major grain-producing areas..."

A low gasp rose from inside the hall.

Many local officials have only heard of the railway's reputation but haven't carefully calculated its costs.

I only realized how terrifying the transportation capacity is when I heard about it today!

One train is equivalent to four hundred horse-drawn carriages. Those thousands of tons of grain and coal used to require thousands of people driving a horse caravan for months, but now the train can arrive in just a few days.

No wonder there have been no more food shortages on the border, no wonder coal prices have been getting cheaper year by year... It turns out that the cost of transporting grain and coal has been cut by more than 90%!

An inland prefect muttered to himself, "People always say building railways is expensive, but it seems they're building too slowly. If a railway were built in our prefecture, wouldn't our local specialties, porcelain and tea, be sold all the way to the border?"

A colleague nudged him, saying, "Don't worry, the Fifth Five-Year Plan will definitely be implemented at the prefecture and county levels."

Basic production capacity: annual coal production has more than doubled compared to five years ago; annual pig iron production...

Cement production has nearly doubled compared to five years ago... Industrialized mass production of sulfuric acid and soda ash has provided a foundation for industries such as printing and dyeing, gunpowder, and soap making.

Song Yingxing stood at the head of the Ministry of Works, his white hair at his temples dusted with the grime of travel, but his face remained expressionless... These numbers were all earned by him and the craftsmen, hammer blow by hammer blow, and there was nothing to boast about.

"One strategy: The proportion of industry in inland and border regions has increased from 12% to 34%, no longer being the only industry in the Beijing-Jiangnan region."

Xun Yu looked at Song Yingxing and said solemnly, "Song Yingxing presided over the construction of the railway and tackled technical challenges with utmost dedication, and his contributions to the country are invaluable."

Song Yingxing stepped forward, bowed, and clasped his hands in greeting. His voice was slightly hoarse, and he was very simple and honest.

"It was Your Majesty and His Highness who pointed out the direction; your humble servant and the thousands of craftsmen were merely doing their jobs diligently."

Crown Prince Liu Chen said gently, "Wherever the railway is laid, the strength of the Han Dynasty will grow there. I will remember the contributions of the craftsmen on behalf of Your Majesty, and the history books will also record them."

Many people in the hall nodded in agreement... Yes, in the past, fighting wars relied on sheer numbers, but now, fighting wars and making a living both depend on industry and railways. This is the backbone of the empire.

After a brief silence in the hall, Xun Yu continued, his tone becoming even brighter:

"In the path of science and technology: the high-pressure steam engine has been successfully developed, with the power of a single machine tripling, and it can be adapted to mines, factories, ships, and railways; precision machine tools are being mass-produced, with parts achieving millimeter-level precision, and assembly line production has been fully implemented in arsenals and textile factories."

The Imperial Academy of the Han Dynasty made many breakthroughs...

In five years, 1, 515 patents were granted, including 39 basic theoretical patents.

Our company, DaHan Technology, has moved from "copying" to "blazing our own trail."

These words excited the young officials in the hall the most.

In the past, all the good things were "invented" by His Majesty, and everyone just had to follow suit.

Things are different now. The scholars and craftsmen of the Han Dynasty are able to research new theories and new things!

Taking the step from "copying homework" to "creating your own questions and solving them" opens up a wider path for the future.

"Third, the population is agricultural and has abundant food supplies."

Xun Yu opened the Ministry of Revenue's account books, his tone calm, yet every word was firm and resolute.

"Household registration: The total registered population in the country has exceeded 10 million, a net increase of 12 million compared to five years ago... The registration of households in border areas and overseas households contributes 40%... The population growth rate is stable and rising."

One hundred million people!

Many people in the hall gasped in shock.

In the past, when there were too many people and not enough food, famine and displacement would occur.

But now?

Xun Yu then reported, directly dispelling everyone's concerns:

"Cultivated land: 1. 714 billion mu of cultivated land nationwide..."

Grain production: The total national grain output was 1, 011. 6 billion jin... National grain reserves...

"Industry-wide: cash crop planting accounts for 35%, agricultural product commercialization rate is 51%, and non-agricultural income of farmers exceeds 40%."