Chương 693: Summary End

"Fifth, in education, culture, and medicine, the people's intelligence is gradually being awakened." Xun Yu's tone softened, and even his speech slowed down:

"In education: Six-year primary school has been fully implemented in all provinces, prefectures and counties in the Central Plains, and has also been fully rolled out in border provinces, prefectures and counties. The coverage rate of primary schools at the township level is 92%, and the average enrollment rate of school-age children is 72%, reaching 93% in the core provinces, prefectures and counties of the Central Plains. The national literacy rate has risen to 317%, exceeding the target of 30%."

Clerks, artisans, and soldiers were all basically literate, no longer illiterate; they could read official documents, do accounting, and write letters. The Royal University expanded to 10, 000 students, divided into twelve colleges, covering engineering, agriculture, medicine, commerce... everything imaginable. Graduates were highly sought after, with provinces and workshops vying for them; they were often pre-booked even before graduation.

"In the field of medicine: county-level hospitals are fully covered, central hospitals are set up in border provinces, and every village has a doctor. Vaccination with cowpox has completely replaced variolation, smallpox has been basically eradicated, and there will be no more mourning for every family when smallpox breaks out, and children can grow up safely."

The average life expectancy has risen to 62 years. With a mature system for reporting and isolating outbreaks, epidemics can be controlled within 20 days, and there have been no major epidemics affecting more than three provinces in the past three to five years. The tragic scenes of families dying and nine out of ten houses being empty, as seen decades ago, will never happen again.

Cai Yong stepped forward shakily, his beard completely white, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty has promoted education, enlightened the people, and saved their lives. Your merits are immeasurable, comparable to those of Yao and Shun. This old minister has lived to this day and witnessed this prosperous age. I have no regrets even in death. This old minister's life has been worthwhile."

Liu Ce waved his hand and said with a smile, "The times of Yao and Shun are too far removed from our time. I only wish that the people of this era can receive education, medical care, and live peaceful lives. Education is a slow process and must be continued; we cannot rush it. In the future, we must ensure that more children go to school and that more people can access medical care."

The officials, all from humble backgrounds, were deeply moved... They themselves changed their fate through the imperial examinations, and now more children from poor families will be able to leave the mountains and fields through early education, no longer having to be farmers for generations, and having a different life.

This is the true golden age, not just the emperor's golden age, but a golden age for everyone.

"Sixth, military preparedness and national defense, with both land and sea capabilities strong." Xun Yu's tone became solemn, and the hall instantly quieted down, the killing intent intensified, and even breathing became lighter.

"The army: The total strength of the troops nationwide is over 1. 2 million. Flintlock muskets are equipped with bayonets, and the equipment replacement rate of the troops is 100%. Independent artillery has been formed, with nearly 10, 000 smoothbore cannons of various types. The combined arms tactics of infantry, cavalry and artillery have become widespread. The army has shifted from cold weapon formations to line warfare. Its combat power is more than three times stronger than five years ago.

Fighting a war is completely different from before."

"The border defense line: Thirty-six permanent bastions were built in each border province, equipped with heavy coastal defense artillery. The fortress, cavalry, and artillery were integrated into one, making it as solid as a rock."

No powerful force in the north or west can threaten our borders anymore. The people can live peacefully without fear of the barbarians stealing their grain. Even the villages along the border dare to leave their doors unlocked at night.

"With the navy in place: the Beiyang, Dongyang, and Nanyang navies are fully formed, and there are ten steam-powered and wind-powered warships... We have complete control of the seas in the Western Pacific and the Northern Indian Ocean. The navy can project forces across oceans, and all overseas outposts are fortified with garrisons, which is enough to protect us. No one dares to provoke us."

"In the military industry: three major shipyards, capable of building steam warships of 1, 000 tons; standardized mass production of guns and ammunition, achieving 100% self-sufficiency in military equipment."

As soon as the words were spoken, all the military officers stepped forward, their voices resounding throughout the palace: "We are willing to guard the nation's gates and protect its coastal borders for Your Majesty! We will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

"Excellent!" Liu Ce exclaimed, his voice brimming with pride.

"With strong troops and powerful ships and cannons, the Han Dynasty can enjoy peace and expand its territory with confidence. You have all worked hard."

After completing the six major reports, Xun Yu closed the general ledger, bowed deeply to Liu Ce, his voice carrying a hint of vicissitude, but also a burning pride:

"Your Majesty, in 355, we have personally witnessed the steam engine go from blueprints to workshops, the railways go from nothing to something, the frontiers go from barbarism to paradise, and the ships sail from coastal waters to the ocean."

The achievements of the Three-Fives Project are not only reflected in the doubling of territory and the initial establishment of industry, but also in the fact that our great Han Dynasty broke away from the old path of the cycle of order and chaos in previous dynasties and embarked on a new path of strengthening the country through industry, expanding territory through the sea, and revitalizing the people through education.

Throughout history, dynasties have followed a cycle of founding, prosperity, territorial conquest, and demise. Our Han Dynasty is different. We have industry, maritime trade, and modern education. The common people no longer have to rely solely on farming for a living, and thus won't be driven to desperation. This is the foundation for lasting prosperity.

"However, I must also frankly say: cultural integration in remote border areas will take time; industry is mostly concentrated in the capital region and Jiangnan, while the foundation in the inland and border areas is still weak; basic knowledge accumulation is still shallow, and there is still much room for improvement in the efficiency of steam engines and the precision of metallurgy; overseas colonization is still in its early stages and has not yet been developed on a large scale; literacy rates in rural and border areas still need to be improved.

These shortcomings will need to be addressed gradually in the Fourth and Fifth Five-Year Plans."

With this report, the entire process came to an end.

The hall was silent for a moment, then erupted in a thunderous roar of congratulations.

All the officials bowed in unison, their voices so loud that the snow on the palace roof fell in a flurry.

"Your Majesty is wise! With the success of the Three-Five Emperors, the Han Dynasty will last ten thousand years!"

Liu Ce stood up, slowly walked down the steps, and stood before the Nine Dragon Steps. Looking at the officials below, at the clear blue sky after the snow, and at the enormous map spanning the entire palace, his voice echoed throughout the Taiji Hall:

"All of you may rise."

"Five years ago, I thought I should seize the opportunity presented by the steam engine and take a different path. At that time, many people said I was being fanciful, that I was wasting my time, and that this thing would never amount to anything."

"Today, we have done it. We have steam factories, vast territories, ocean-going fleets, and millions of literate people. This is not my achievement alone, but the result of the tireless efforts of all the civil and military officials, the hard work of the people, and the hard work of countless craftsmen, soldiers, and scholars."

He paused, his gaze sharp as a sword, sweeping over everyone:

"But that's not enough. Three or five is just the beginning. What we need to do in four or five is to lay railways all over the country, to equip the entire army with firearms, to connect overseas strongholds, and to enable more children to read and write."

Our goal has never been to create a powerful Central Plains dynasty, nor to surpass any previous dynasty. What we aim to do is to usher in a completely new era, a nation that will last for ten thousand generations, led by the Great Han.

"The road ahead is still long, let's keep going."

"Your Majesty, we obey! Long live the Emperor!"

The officials bowed once more, and the sound waves surged out of the palace, drifting towards the streets and alleys of Luoyang, towards the canal boats sounding their whistles, towards the distant, roaring workshops, and towards the distant seas and foreign lands.

The post-snow sunshine was exceptionally bright, warming everyone's faces.

Everyone knows that this is not the end, but the beginning of something even more magnificent.

..................

The fifteenth day of the first month of the sixteenth year of Shenwu.

As dawn broke in Luoyang, the clouds parted and the sun shone through, casting golden sunlight onto the glazed tiles of the Taiji Hall, making the white jade bricks in front of the steps gleam like snow.

Red lanterns were hung both inside and outside the palace, creating a festive atmosphere, and people strolled through the streets to enjoy the lantern festival.