Chu Fan had previously promised to publish the method for obtaining Wei citizenship in the newspaper. Thus, today's newspaper featured news about the Imperial Academy on the front page, while the second page detailed the process and requirements for obtaining Wei citizenship. This news quickly attracted the attention of numerous businessmen, who were eager to learn how to become citizens of Wei.
Although the conditions for people from other countries to obtain the status of Wei citizens may seem a bit harsh to ordinary people, for businessmen, what they lack is never wealth, but the right status and opportunities.
The newspaper clearly stated that as long as one deposited 100,000 taels of silver in the Royal Bank, they could obtain temporary residence in the State of Wei, and their children could receive education in schools established by the State of Wei.
If merchants could maintain this deposit for five consecutive years, they could apply to become full citizens of the State of Wei, enjoying the same educational opportunities and rights as their own citizens. Furthermore, their children could pass the entrance exams to universities, where they could study and have the opportunity to achieve academic success, paving the way for their own future.
The announcement of these two mutually reinforcing policies stirred up a huge wave among merchants, like spring thunder. They took out their wealth accumulated over the years and rushed to the Royal Bank to complete the deposit procedures.
Some shrewd businessmen even assigned escorts to their retainers to ensure that this important news could be safely delivered back to their families. They hoped that every member of the family would make a quick decision and set off for Wei as soon as possible to seize this rare opportunity.
At the same time, upon hearing this news, the disciples of other Confucian academies on Shengwu Continent were also filled with longing. They began to discuss enthusiastically how to use their family's resources and power to help them obtain citizenship of the State of Wei.
They longed to find a broader space for development in the State of Wei and realize their ambitions. After all, the Confucian academies on the Shengwu Continent, while prestigious, primarily served the royal families and dignitaries of their respective countries. Many talented students often found it difficult to find a platform to showcase their talents in their own countries.
Therefore, some Confucian students who were traveling in Wei State were also very excited after reading the content in the newspaper. They seemed to see hope for their future.
These circumstances naturally attracted the attention of the Wei court. Upon hearing the news, Chu Anping immediately summoned the six ministers and the newly appointed Prime Minister, Cao Mengde, to the Royal Government Affairs Office for an urgent discussion.
In the past, Your Majesty had not trusted Prime Minister Qin Hui enough and had therefore not invited him to such important meetings. However, Cao Mengde was not only experienced throughout three dynasties, but was also the grandfather of Your Majesty's newly married concubine, thus holding a pivotal position in the court.
In addition, Cao Mengde was primarily responsible for the distribution and promotion of newspapers and had a deep understanding of public opinion. Therefore, whether for official or personal reasons, he was needed to participate in discussions to ensure that the court could make the most sensible decisions.
When all the important ministers and officials gathered at the Imperial Administration Office, Chu Anping recounted the events in Kaifeng in detail, especially the scene of merchants scrambling to deposit funds into the treasury. Everyone present was shocked; they had never expected that the policy implemented by His Majesty would cause such a huge response and sensation.
Mu Yundian pondered for a moment before speaking, "Since so many merchants are willing to deposit funds into our treasury, the military expenses we will need for our future campaigns against the Holy Martial Continent will be firmly guaranteed. Furthermore, these merchants and their families will become a staunch supporter of our nation. Their children will receive an education in Wei and will become loyal and devoted pillars of the nation in the future."
Minister of Revenue Qian Dai then said: "If even one-third of these merchants from other countries migrate to Wei with their assets and family members, the economies of these countries will suffer a serious blow.
Even if the people have money, they will find it difficult to buy food and other necessities. This might be manageable in the short term, but if it persists for a long time, it will inevitably lead to public resentment, unrest in those countries, and hardship for the people. At that time, Wei will have the opportunity to expand.
Chu Anping nodded in agreement and added, "As expected of the Minister of Revenue who is in charge of the national finances, he is able to see the whole situation from an economic perspective. Indeed, the influx of merchants will not only enrich our national treasury, but also effectively weaken the strength of other countries. This is really a good plan to kill two birds with one stone. However, we must also be vigilant that other countries may unite to fight back, so we need to strengthen our border defense forces to ensure national security.
As long as we can hold out until those countries experience internal chaos and civil unrest, Wei can seize this opportunity to expand and gain the greatest benefit at the lowest cost. This will greatly shorten the time it takes for Wei to unify the Shengwu Continent, which will undoubtedly be a great achievement for Your Majesty and will be recorded in history."
Cao Mengde also spoke up at this time, expressing his own views. He said, "Your Majesty's series of measures are not only intended to attract foreign merchants and students, but also to silently demonstrate the strength and charm of our Wei Kingdom to the countries of the entire Shengwu Continent. Our Wei Kingdom has an advanced education system and a fair selection mechanism. These are the cornerstones of our future strength, and these cornerstones are also what those merchants and students yearn for.
Your Majesty, through the medium of newspapers, is widely disseminating Wei's policies throughout the Shengwu Continent. This not only demonstrates Wei's resolve to the powerful and influential in those countries, but also sends a clear signal to the people of those countries: Wei welcomes every talented individual. This open attitude will undoubtedly enhance Wei's appeal.
The benefits of doing so are obvious. Our State of Wei will be able to attract more talented people, and whether these people join the court as officials or engage in private business, they can contribute to the prosperity and strength of our State of Wei. This will form a virtuous cycle for our State of Wei: the stronger it is, the more talented it will be able to attract, and the more talented it attracts, the stronger it will become. Your Majesty's move is truly far-sighted, and I, an old minister, admire you deeply."
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