In May, Xianyang was bathed in bright sunshine, and the vegetation was lush and green. A procession of carriages slowly entered the palace; officials from all over the country had come to attend the third-anniversary summary meeting of the population policy of the wicked Grand Commandant.
"Grand Commandant, all the representatives from the various prefectures and counties have arrived," Meng Tian reported to the wicked man.
The wicked man nodded: "Very well, invite them into the palace; His Majesty is about to arrive."
Before long, Ying Zheng entered the main hall surrounded by a group of palace attendants. Upon seeing this, the assembled officials immediately knelt down to pay their respects.
"Gentlemen, please rise." Ying Zheng smiled. "I have come here today to hear firsthand about the effectiveness of the population policies implemented over the past three years."
The wicked man stepped forward and respectfully bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I, your humble servant, pay my respects. Please allow me to report to Your Majesty on the achievements of the past three years."
Ying Zheng nodded, signaling him to continue.
The wicked man unfolded the bamboo slips in his hand and began to speak in a detailed manner: "Since the implementation of the 'Adding a Child to the Country' policy, 300,000 families nationwide have received tax reductions or land grants as rewards for having children, resulting in an increase in population of approximately 700,000. At the same time, the immigration policy has relocated 200,000 families from densely populated areas to sparsely populated areas, not only balancing population distribution but also increasing food production."
Ying Zheng was overjoyed upon hearing this: "This is much better than I expected! Continue."
The wicked husband continued, "The infant care knowledge and improved delivery methods promoted by doctors have reduced the infant mortality rate by nearly 30%. According to reports from various places, previously about three out of every ten newborns died, but now it has dropped to about two. In particular, the Royal Maternity Hospital, which you are particularly concerned about, has successfully delivered more than 180 babies, with only three deaths, a remarkable achievement."
Ying Zheng nodded in satisfaction: "I remember that when the Empress gave birth last year, it was in the maternity ward you arranged. Mother and child were both safe and sound, which greatly pleased me."
The wicked husband continued his report: "The establishment of girls' schools has also yielded good results. Currently, there are twenty-seven girls' schools nationwide, educating nearly ten thousand women. Most of these educated women have become good wives and mothers, providing more proper upbringing and education for their children, indirectly reducing the infant mortality rate."
After listening to the report, Ying Zheng was extremely satisfied with his wicked husband's account.
"Your population policy has indeed been remarkably effective," said Emperor Ying Zheng, beaming with delight. "In the past three years, the national population has increased significantly, and the frontier wastelands have also been developed. This is a policy for national stability, and it could be better!"
Next, officials from various regions stepped forward to report on the implementation and effectiveness of population policies within their respective jurisdictions. The vast majority of regions achieved significant results, but a few encountered problems.
"Your Majesty, I have a question," the Prefect of Nanyang stepped forward and said, "Since our prefecture implemented the 'addition of offspring' policy, many families have indeed increased their births, but at the same time, some cases of child abandonment have also emerged. Some families have had too many children and are unable to raise them, so they abandon their children. How should this matter be resolved?"
Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng turned to his wicked husband: "My dear minister, what do you think?"
The wicked man, already prepared, said: "Your Majesty, abandoned infants are indeed a problem. Therefore, I propose establishing orphanages to take in orphaned children. At the same time, the eligibility criteria for rewards should be strictly reviewed; families who abandon their children should not only forfeit any rewards but also have any rewards already issued revoked."
Ying Zheng pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "This proposal is feasible. The orphanages will be established with government funding, and can be piloted in a few major cities first to see how effective they are."
At this point, the governor of Shu raised another question: "Your Majesty, Shu has received a large number of immigrants, but due to differences in climate and diet, many immigrants are unable to adapt, have fallen ill, and some have even died. How should this matter be resolved?"
The wicked man, upon hearing this, said, "This matter indeed requires serious attention. I propose that, on the one hand, the screening of immigrants be strengthened, prioritizing those with strong physiques; on the other hand, physicians should be sent to accompany the immigrants, and medical clinics should be established locally to provide timely treatment for the sick. Simultaneously, a guide to adapting to the new environment should be compiled, including information on local climate characteristics, prevention of common diseases, and dietary adjustments, and distributed to each immigrant family."
The prefect nodded repeatedly: "The Grand Commandant's words are very true; I will certainly comply."
The meeting lasted a full day, with officials from various regions reporting on their situations and raising questions, while the wicked man and other courtiers discussed solutions together.
After the meeting, Ying Zheng deliberately kept his wicked husband behind for a private talk.
"My dear minister, this meeting was a great success, and I am very satisfied with your policies," Ying Zheng said kindly. "However, I have a question. While these policies may increase the population in the short term, what about the long-term implications?"
The wicked man respectfully replied, "Your Majesty's insight is profound. I believe that population policy indeed requires long-term consideration. In the short term, we can increase the population by incentivizing childbirth and reducing infant mortality rates, but the long-term solution lies in improving people's livelihoods, stabilizing social order, and ensuring that people live and work in peace and contentment. Naturally, they will be more willing to have more children and raise them with care."
Ying Zheng nodded in agreement: "Well said! Stable livelihoods and social harmony are the fundamental guarantees for population growth. What you just said is exactly what I intend to say."
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