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As the war on the mainland gradually subsided, various separatist forces successively submitted to the central government, and the border regions also tended to stabilize.

The enormous military expenditures and the pressure of post-war reconstruction made those in power deeply aware of the real value of the saying, "When the cannons roar, gold flows like water."

A large army needs to be maintained, war-torn land needs to be rebuilt, and a newly established regime needs to be consolidated; all of this requires substantial financial support.

Relying solely on receiving the previous dynasty's treasury and wartime spoils is like a drop in the ocean and is by no means a long-term solution.

Looking across the vast land that desperately needs to be revitalized, it is necessary to develop deeper and more sustainable sources of wealth in order to support an unprecedentedly large empire.

The answer lies in industry, commerce, and overseas trade, which were long neglected or even deliberately suppressed by the previous dynasty.

Knowing that reforms must be carried out gradually, the leaders did not immediately announce a complete lifting of the maritime ban or implement radical commercial policies.

At the court assembly, he set the tone for the court officials, who were composed of officials at all levels and some pragmatic officials who had been retained or selected.

"The old system of the previous dynasty, which closed itself off from the world, was a self-inflicted trap, causing China to gradually become poor and weak, and to fall behind other countries. However, suddenly lifting the sea ban would also lead to disorderly commerce, an outflow of silver, and damage to agriculture, causing turmoil. Therefore, the court will lift the sea ban in a gradual, limited and managed manner."

Therefore, the Office of the Superintendent of Maritime Trade was established to manage foreign trade in a unified manner.

The first batch of four ports—Guangzhou, Quanzhou, Songjiang, and Tianjin—were opened as treaty ports, allowing qualified Chinese and foreign merchants to conduct legal trade and levy tariffs.

An official trading fleet was formed, escorted by the navy, to explore trade routes in Southeast Asia and Japan. The government took the lead in this effort to obtain profits and gain insights into the external situation.

Private capital was encouraged to enter licensed industries such as mining, textiles, ceramics, and shipbuilding, but it was subject to the supervision and taxation of the imperial court.

These measures, like throwing pebbles into a still lake, begin to create ripples.

The long-suppressed commercial vitality along the southeast coast has begun to slowly recover.

But those in power understand that commerce and trade are merely "living water," while the true foundation of a strong nation lies in industry!

His greatest asset is his advanced technological reserves.

In the capital, in the imperial study.

What is the progress of the research and development and improvement of various basic industrial equipment?

"Your Majesty, the third iteration of optimization has been completed. Based on the current availability of materials and energy, three feasible plans for the construction of a basic heavy industry system have been drafted. These include preliminary technical plans and equipment drawings for four core sectors: steel smelting, coal chemical industry, machinery manufacturing, and power generation."

While technological reserves cannot directly provide an endless supply of minerals and oil, they possess a complete knowledge system and advanced design concepts.

Using this foundation, combined with the raw materials available to our dynasty, we can gradually establish an industrial system.

“Very good!” A sharp glint flashed in the eyes of the leader. “Then, it’s time to start planning for industry.”

With the assistance of technical officials, the leader personally drafted and promulgated the "Outline of Industrial Development Plan," which attracted widespread attention.

To establish a truly independent and self-reliant basic heavy industry system, laying a solid foundation for national defense and subsequent economic development.

The industrial zone outside the pass will rely on its proven iron and coal resources to establish an iron and steel conglomerate with a target annual steel production of 100,000 tons.

The Hebei Industrial Zone focuses on coal mining and preliminary coal chemical industry, and has established a coking plant to provide fuel and chemical raw materials for steel plants.

Taking advantage of the Yangtze River waterway, the Hankou Industrial Zone established a large-scale machinery manufacturing plant to produce machine tools, steam engines, agricultural machinery, and railway equipment.

Songjiang Industrial Zone focuses on shipbuilding, light textiles, and power equipment manufacturing, and serves as a window for technology introduction and absorption.

The plan clearly states that the core technology will be provided by the "Royal Academy of Natural Sciences," and the equipment will be manufactured and assembled by the "Royal Manufacturing Bureau," which is directly under the imperial court.

The "Industrial Development Administration" was established, directly managed by technical officials, to coordinate the allocation of national resources, recruitment of personnel, and infrastructure construction.

When this plan, filled with technical jargon yet structured and clearly defined, was announced at the court assembly, most of the traditional civil servants, though not fully understanding it, could sense the court's determination to implement the new policies.

"Cannons must be forged from the finest steel! Warships must be powered by the most powerful engines! Farmland must be cultivated with the most efficient machinery! All of this is inseparable from industry!" The ruler's voice echoed in the hall. "This plan concerns the fate of the nation and is listed as the court's top priority!"

The launch of the first industrial program marked the beginning of a more profound and far-reaching economic and technological revolution, signifying that the new dynasty was no longer content with merely military unification and political reform.

A grand blueprint was thus unveiled, attempting to steadily propel the ancient agricultural empire into the industrial age.

The seeds of advanced technology are about to take root, sprout, and grow strong on this ancient land.

Meanwhile, military operations in the border regions have not ceased.

In the process of clearing out the remaining enemy forces and establishing effective management, conflicts inevitably broke out between the imperial army and the forward strongholds of another force.

These foreign cavalrymen, relying on their matchlock guns, sabers, and fierce style, originally ran rampant in the border areas, bullying local residents and even raiding southwards from time to time.

When they first encountered small groups of imperial patrols, they remained arrogant and attempted to drive away or even capture these "enemies" by force.

However, they soon paid the price for their arrogance.

On the banks of the Longjiang River, there is a foreign outpost.

Several foreign cavalrymen brandished their sabers and charged at a mere ten-man imperial reconnaissance squad.

"You ignorant Easterners!" the foreign leader grinned maliciously.

However, what responded to them was not arrows or inferior muskets, but crisp and continuous gunfire!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The imperial soldiers, equipped with new rifles, opened fire accurately from a hundred meters away!
The foreign cavalrymen at the front fell from their horses; their arquebuses hadn't even entered effective range.

"What's going on? Their muskets..." The surviving foreign cavalrymen were terrified and tried to find cover.

"Da da da—!" A sound that made their souls fly away rang out.

The reconnaissance squad's new automatic weapons unleashed deadly fire, the dense barrage riddling the wooden outpost with holes, and the foreign cavalry attempting to resist were instantly swept away.

The battle ended within minutes.

A small squad of foreign cavalrymen were either killed or captured.

The surviving prisoners stared at the strangely shaped, high-powered weapons in the hands of the imperial soldiers, their eyes filled with fear and disbelief.

The news was quickly relayed back to the overseas outposts and also to the imperial court's frontline command post on the border.

"Foreign forces? They really haven't given up their evil intentions. Taking advantage of the chaos in our Central Plains, they've managed to encroach upon this place!" The general looked at the foreign strongholds marked on the map and sneered, "The imperial court has long issued a clear decree that not an inch of our Chinese homeland shall be yielded! Since we've run into them, let's settle both the old and new scores together!"

After the request was made, the imperial court immediately replied: "Use swift and decisive measures to sweep away the strongholds of foreign forces, recover lost territories, and if necessary, pursue them as a warning to others!"

A punitive counterattack against foreign forces was swiftly launched. The imperial army did not deploy its main force, but instead used elite troops in battalion and regiment units, reinforced with artillery and a small number of armored vehicles, to launch a rapid attack on the strongholds of foreign forces along the two rivers.

At the foot of a key border town.

The foreign troops, relying on their fortified bastions, attempted to put up a stubborn resistance.

They possessed some old-fashioned smoothbore cannons, which they believed were sufficient to withstand any attack.

However, when they saw the new cannons being towed into the imperial army's ranks, they were still puzzled.

When these cannons opened fire from a distance far beyond their range, and destroyed their gun emplacements, wooden walls, and towers one by one with astonishing accuracy and rate of fire, fear instantly overwhelmed them.

"Devils! Their artillery is devils!"

"God! Save us!"

After the artillery barrage, the imperial infantry, under the cover of machine gun fire, launched their assault.

The foreign cavalry bravely launched a counter-charge, but fell in droves under the intense machine gun fire.

The soldiers mounted on the armored vehicles are able to use their powerful firepower to wipe out any remaining resistance.

This important stronghold of foreign forces raised a white flag less than a day after the fighting.

The ensuing battles almost turned into an armed march by the imperial army.

One by one, the outposts and fortresses painstakingly built by foreign forces were rendered utterly vulnerable in the face of the advanced tactics and equipment of the imperial army.

The defending troops were either annihilated or fled at the mere sight of the enemy.

The imperial army advanced all the way, and wherever its forces went, foreign powers were terrified and fled in panic to distant places.

The people of various ethnic groups who were rescued along the way welcomed the king's army with food and drink.

Ultimately, the vanguard of the imperial army pursued the routed remnants of the foreign troops all the way to their important stronghold in the border region.

At this time, the morale of the defending troops in the main city was low, and the city was in chaos.

The imperial army did not immediately attack the city, but instead built positions outside the city and aimed their cannons at the city walls.

A royal banner fluttered in the wind on a high ground not far from the main city.

When the news reached the capital, the foreign court was in an uproar and shocked.

They couldn't understand why those enemies they once considered backward had suddenly acquired such terrifying military power.

The colonial dream was shattered by the overwhelming power displayed by the imperial army.

A diplomatic game concerning the redivision of border spheres of influence began to quietly brew, accompanied by the military reality of the imperial army advancing on the main city.

Meanwhile, Su Ning stood in the palace in the capital, looking at the ever-extending markers on the map with a deep gaze.

He knew that the struggle with his northern neighbor was only the beginning.

But this time, the Chinese Empire will not back down.

The smoke of war in Jiangnan dissipated, and industry and commerce began to flourish; foreign forces on the borders were swiftly eliminated; and the southwestern and northwestern frontiers gradually became stable.

As peace gradually prevailed throughout the land, a situation of submission and pacification of all directions began to take shape.

However, a brand new, unified empire needs a solemn ceremony to announce its birth and a completely new system to lay its foundation.

Therefore, after dealing with the important affairs in Jiangnan, Su Ning set off north and returned to the new capital, which had become the center of the empire.

The new capital city, under the efficient coordination of officials, was no longer the ruins it had been in after the war. Although it had not been fully restored to its former glory, the main streets were smooth, key buildings were renovated, and many simple and practical new buildings had been added, revealing a new vitality everywhere.

On the first day of the first month of the first year of the Wude era, everything was renewed.

On this day, the new capital city was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful banners.

A grand opening ceremony was held in the Taihe Hall Square of the rebuilt Forbidden City.

Wearing a specially made black imperial robe that blends traditional imperial elements with a modern minimalist style, Su Ning ascended the Hall of Supreme Harmony to receive the congratulations of civil and military officials, representatives of various ethnic groups, and foreign envoys.

"From this day forward, the Huaxia Empire is officially established!" The ruler's voice, amplified by the loudspeaker, resounded clearly throughout the square, echoing between heaven and earth. "I, the Emperor, am the first Grand Commander of the Empire, with the reign title of Wude!"

The Chinese Empire will adopt a dual-track calendar system, using both the Gregorian calendar and the Wude calendar for official documents. This will facilitate communication with the outside world and demonstrate the legitimacy of the Chinese civilization.

Following this, a series of major policies concerning the future direction of the empire were proclaimed to the world in the form of the "Edict of the Founding of the Wude Era".

"The previous dynasty's forced shaving of heads was a cultural catastrophe! From this day forward, except for the mandatory shaving of the pigtail hairstyle, all other hairstyles are free for the people to choose, and no one may be forced to do so!"

This decree meant the complete abolition of the nearly thirty-year-old shaving order, and countless citizens were deeply moved upon hearing it.

"However, in order to demonstrate a new style to the officials and soldiers of the empire, all soldiers of the court and officials of all levels of the Chinese Empire must cut their hair short in order to be neat and capable, and to distinguish themselves from the stagnant atmosphere of the old dynasty!"

"Abolish the corrupt system of the old imperial examination system that required candidates to follow the eight-legged essay! Promulgate the 'New Imperial Education System,' establishing a three-tiered system of primary, secondary, and higher education. Elementary education will focus on literacy, arithmetic, and the study of things; prefectural schools will be divided into arts, sciences, commerce, and industry; the Imperial Academy will be established first in the capital and Nanjing, specializing in advanced studies. The imperial examination system will be changed to select officials based on their academic performance and practical abilities!"

This move aims to fundamentally change the knowledge structure and cultivate new types of talent.

"The Empire shall establish a cabinet as the highest administrative body, which shall oversee all national affairs. There shall be one prime minister, appointed by me, who shall be responsible to me and shall command all ministries."

The leader appointed a capable official who had been in charge of government affairs as the first prime minister on the spot. Although this move surprised many traditional officials, no one dared to question it.

Below the cabinet were various ministries, including Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Education, forming a clear organizational structure.

"The previous dynasty's tax system was chaotic, with heavy poll taxes and extortionate officials, making life unbearable for the people! I now implement the policy of 'integrating poll taxes into land taxes,' which will integrate poll taxes and miscellaneous taxes into the land tax, collect them uniformly, and never increase them! The burden on those without land or with little land will be greatly reduced!"

"At the same time, in order to replenish the national treasury and support industrial development, commercial taxes, mining taxes, and inheritance taxes will be levied! We must ensure that wealthy merchants, mine owners, and rich families also bear their due tax obligations, so as to benefit the country!"

The promulgation of this series of policies was like throwing huge stones into a calm lake, creating ripples.

The abolition of the shaving order won the heartfelt support of the general public; the promotion of new education gave students from poor families a new way out and made conservative intellectuals feel the crisis; the establishment of the cabinet and the appointment of the prime minister marked the birth of a completely new political system unlike any previous dynasty; and the tax reform directly touched the interests of all parties, which was bound to cause undercurrents.

But the leader is determined, possesses a sound management system and advanced technology, and has vision that transcends the times as his trump card, so he is full of confidence.

The "Edict of the Founding of the Wude Era" resounded like a clap of thunder across the land, heralding the official commencement of an epic and magnificent founding history. (End of Chapter)