Transmigrating to the Three Kingdoms as Lu Bu: I Have a Pseudo-Apocalypse System

On the first day of May, there is a court meeting in Luoyang.

Today's topic is something no one expected.

Lü Bu said, "Today I want to discuss a marriage and childbearing policy. I want to encourage monogamy starting today. In addition to paying a high dowry to the bride's family, those who take concubines will also have to pay an extra high fee to the government. The more concubines they take, the higher the fee will be, doubling and increasing progressively. This is to prevent the wealthy from having multiple wives and concubines while poor young men of marriageable age cannot find wives, which would affect public morale. In addition, I encourage each couple to have no more than four children. The number of children registered before the age of three will be the standard; those who die young will not be counted."

The palace erupted in uproar. In a peaceful and prosperous era, encouraging monogamy and restricting concubines was only natural. Otherwise, if the rich had many concubines while the poor could not find wives, it would truly affect public morale.

But restricting births? Encouraging each couple to have no more than four children? I don't understand any of that.

Liu Ye stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold as to ask, why is there a restriction on childbirth? Since ancient times, it has been believed that many children bring many blessings; this is a matter of course."

Lü Bu said, "Ziyang, you're right, everyone wants many children and many blessings. But have you ever thought about it? Land is finite, and food production is finite. If the population grows indefinitely, one day the land will not be able to support so many people. At that time, there will be famine, war, and chaos throughout the land."

Liu Ye was stunned.

Lü Bu continued, "Before I ascended the throne, the world was in chaos. How many people died? The Yellow Turban Rebellion, the Dong Zhuo Rebellion, the warlord conflicts—the population dropped from fifty or sixty million to less than twenty million. Why? Because of land annexation, because there wasn't enough food, because there were too many people."

He stood up and walked to the center of his ministers: "What I want to do is to ensure that all the people of the world have food to eat and clothes to wear forever. That means we cannot allow the population to grow without limit. Four children per family is enough to continue the family line. Having too many children will be unsustainable and will only harm the children."

The hall was completely silent.

Chen Gong stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I understand Your Majesty's good intentions. However, I'm afraid the people will find this policy difficult to accept."

Lü Bu laughed and said, "Therefore, I will not force them, but encourage them. All elderly people over sixty years old in the country who have no more than four children will be given priority in education, imperial examinations, business, taxes, and so on. Those who have more than four children will not be considered for preferential policies. In the appointment, promotion, and reward of officials, priority will be given to those who have only four or fewer children. Anyone who deceives the court by being promoted before having children will be stripped of their position and title."

He paused, then continued, "This policy should also be publicized in the *Great Han Xunbao*. Tell the people why the population cannot grow indefinitely. Let everyone understand that this is for the good of future generations and for the long-term prosperity of the nation."

Guo Jia sighed, "Your Majesty, you've even thought about things for the future!"

Lü Bu laughed and said, "A ruler cannot only care about the present. What I want is for the Han Dynasty to enjoy peace for ten thousand generations."

Ju Shou bowed deeply: "Your Majesty is wise; we will certainly do our utmost to implement this policy."

……

In mid-May, Luoyang, the headquarters of the "Da Han Xun Bao" newspaper.

The newspaper's president, Meng Cheng, was reviewing the sample copies of the latest issue. This issue focused on Lü Bu's edict regarding population policy, as well as a lengthy article entitled "On Population and Land."

The article was dictated by Lü Bu and written down by Ju Shou. It explained in simple and easy-to-understand language why birth restrictions were necessary.

"Land is finite, food is finite, but population growth is infinite. If left unchecked, after a century of peace, the population may exceed one hundred million. At that time, the land will not be able to support so many people, famine may be widespread, refugees may rise everywhere, and the world may descend into chaos. Your Majesty's policy is not an oppressive measure, but a plan for lasting peace..."

After reading it, Meng Cheng picked up his pen and wrote two words: "Agreed, put it on print."

A few days later, the newspaper was sent to all parts of the country.

In Luoyang City, newsboys roamed the streets and alleys, loudly hawking their wares: "The new edition of the *Great Han Ten-Day Gazette*! His Majesty has issued a new population policy! Each household can have a maximum of four children! No penalty for more children, and a reward for fewer children!"

The people of the city flocked around, eager to take a copy.

A literate middle-aged man took the newspaper, unfolded it, and read aloud: "Land is limited, food is limited, but population growth is unlimited... Your Majesty's policy is not a harsh one, but a plan for lasting peace..."

After he finished reading, a murmur arose around him.

An old man sighed, "Your Majesty is right. My family had six children. Two starved to death during the great famine, and the four who survived are as skinny as monkeys."

A young man said, "If we don't have more children, who will take care of us when we're old?"

The middle-aged man said, "The newspaper said that if you have four or fewer children, the government will provide you with a pension subsidy after you turn sixty. If you have more than four, the government won't help, but it will definitely affect your chances of passing the imperial examinations and becoming an official."

The young man's eyes lit up: "Really?"

The middle-aged man nodded: "It's true, it's written in black and white."

The old man said, "That's great. I'll go back and tell my son to have fewer children, so they won't end up like me, unable to afford to raise them."

……

In late May, at Luoyang, the governor's residence of Sizhou.

The newly appointed Minister Xun Yu sat in the study of the governor's mansion, holding a copy of the "Great Han Ten-Day Report" in his hand, reading it over and over again.

The eldest son, Xun Yun, walked in, cupped his hands, and said, "Father, you wanted to see me?"

Xun Yu put down the newspaper and sighed, "Yun'er, look at this newspaper."

Xun Yun took the document, glanced at it, and frowned, saying, "Father, His Majesty's population policy is unprecedented. Isn't it too radical?"

Xun Yu shook his head: "No, Your Majesty is right. I have studied all my life and believe I understand the rise and fall of dynasties throughout history. But I have never thought about the relationship between population and land. Your Majesty's ability to think of this makes you a first emperor of all time."

Xun Yun asked in surprise, "Father speaks so highly of His Majesty?"

Xun Yu stood up, walked to the window, gazed at the ginkgo tree in the courtyard, and slowly said, "You don't understand. In these years in Youzhou, I've personally witnessed how the people live. Some families have more than ten children, but they can't afford to raise them all, and half of them starve to death. The remaining children are emaciated, hungry, and cold. What's the point of having children if you can't even raise them?"

He turned to his son and said, "His Majesty's decree, on the surface, restricts births, but in reality, it's to ensure a better life for the people. Four children are enough to carry on the family line. As long as they are well cared for, they can all be fed and clothed. And in their old age, the state will provide for them. Isn't that good?"

Xun Yun said thoughtfully, "Father is right."

Xun Yu continued, "And then there are those bridges and roads. Your Majesty has built bridges across the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, which will make north-south transportation much easier. There is also afforestation to prevent soil erosion. These are all things that will benefit future generations. In my more than thirty years of life, I have never seen any emperor who has considered the future so thoroughly as Your Majesty has."

He paused, then murmured, "The Han Dynasty is fortunate to have such a wise ruler."