"Our Great Liang... shall rise!"
The heartfelt sentiments of the three elderly ministers, their hair and beards white, resonated like a resounding bell in the quiet, secluded imperial study.
The way they looked at the figure behind the beaded curtain had completely changed.
There was no longer any doubt about "interference in politics by the empress dowager," nor any disdain for women's participation in politics; all that remained was complete and heartfelt admiration and respect.
They devoted their lives to studying the classics and handling complex government affairs, considering themselves masters of governance. However, today, after hearing the Empress's unprecedented and profound discourse, they realized that they were merely frogs in a well, their thoughts and observations still bound by millennia of outdated ideas.
But this empress seemed to stand at a height they could not reach, overlooking the entire game, and with a casual gesture, she could devise a groundbreaking strategy that would usher in a new era!
Looking at the scene before him, Xiao Che felt an unprecedented sense of pride and satisfaction.
His empress did not require him to use imperial power to suppress her; her wisdom and foresight alone were enough to conquer the empire's most brilliant minds.
He coughed lightly, breaking the almost reverent atmosphere and bringing the topic back to reality: "Now that the three of you have approved this plan, let's discuss how to take the first step?"
His words brought the three veteran ministers back to their senses from the great shock.
Yes, no matter how grand the blueprint, it needs to be implemented step by step. This Five-Year Plan is all-encompassing, involving every aspect of the empire's operation. With so many things to consider, the most crucial question right now is where to begin.
The atmosphere inside the sealed room became lively again.
This time, it wasn't a questioning session, but a constructive and heated discussion.
Wang Shouren, the Minister of Revenue and the god of wealth in charge of the purse strings, was the first to express his opinion. At this moment, he admired Lin Wanwan's "economic strategy" to the point of prostration and wished he could immediately turn those ideas into reality.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" He was so excited that his face turned red. "In my humble opinion, the most urgent task is to increase revenue! With a full treasury, everything can be accomplished! In my humble opinion, commercial reform should be the priority! We should immediately introduce 'national bonds' to raise funds and open up trade routes between the north and south! Once the trade routes are open, goods will flow in and out, and taxes will pour in. In less than three years, the treasury of our Great Liang will surely surpass that of previous dynasties!"
His proposal was pragmatic and direct, hitting the nail on the head—making money!
However, Chancellor Chen Xuan immediately offered a different perspective. As the head of all officials, he considered the matter more prudently and comprehensively.
"What Lord Wang says is good, but too hasty," Chen Xuan shook his head and said in a deep voice, "The matter of trade routes is a complex issue that affects the whole situation, involving local powerful families and passes along the way. It cannot be accomplished overnight. In my opinion, the foundation of the country lies in agriculture. The best course of action now is to start with agriculture, integrate the resources of the whole country, carry out large-scale water conservancy projects, and promote agricultural tools. When the people live in peace and prosperity, and the granaries are full, the country will be stable and the people's hearts will be at peace. Only then can we consider commerce, which is the most sound strategy."
His views represent the traditional governing philosophy of "emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce" that has been in place for thousands of years, and are stable and well-founded.
Minister of War Shen Ce also expressed his opinion, preferring to reform the military system first, since a strong army is the ultimate guarantee for the implementation of all reforms.
The three argued endlessly, each sticking to their own version of events and citing classical texts.
One advocates "enriching the country first," another advocates "ensuring the people's well-being first," and the third advocates "strengthening the military first."
What they said made sense; they were making the best choice for the country from their own standpoints and understandings.
Xiao Che listened to their argument but did not immediately express his opinion. Instead, he turned his gaze to the beaded curtain that had remained silent.
He knew that all these choices were part of her plan. But in her heart, there must be an optimal answer regarding the "first step" that transcended all their understanding.
“Wanwan,” he began, “what’s your opinion?”
His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the three old ministers who had been arguing heatedly. They all turned their expectant and curious gazes toward the beaded curtain.
The room fell silent once more.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the Empress, who always made surprising remarks, to give her final verdict.
From behind the beaded curtain, came the soft sound of a teacup being set down.
Lin Wanwan's cool and calm voice slowly rang out.
"The three gentlemen's insightful opinions are all to the point and are all within the plan."
She first affirmed everyone's opinions and gave them sufficient respect.
"However," she changed the subject, "whether it's enriching the country, ensuring the people's well-being, or building a strong military, all require time. It may take three to five years, or even ten to eight years, to see results. But what we lack most right now is precisely time."
"What we lack most is time?" the Minister of Revenue asked, puzzled. "What do you mean by that, Your Majesty? Now that things are settled both internally and externally, we should proceed with caution and deliberation."
Lin Wanwan's voice carried a meaningful smile.
"Minister Wang, I ask you, if word gets out about what we are discussing in secret today, how many people in the court will support us, and how many will fight to the death because it affects their interests?"
Wang Shouren choked, his expression instantly turning serious.
Every word in the Five-Year Plan is about "reform," and reform will inevitably shake up existing interest groups. Those powerful families and local magnates who survived the palace coup will not stand idly by and watch their foundations be gradually eroded.
"Does Your Majesty mean... that there will be enormous resistance to its implementation?" Prime Minister Chen Xuan asked in a deep voice.
“That’s right.” Lin Wanwan’s voice became serious. “Any reform, once it is rolled out, will inevitably encounter enormous resistance. At that time, in the imperial court, there will be factionalism and infighting; in the local areas, there will be outward compliance but inward resistance. Every step we take will require a huge amount of effort to negotiate and fight. As a result, even the best plan may be delayed and distorted in endless internal friction, and ultimately come to nothing.”
Her words were like ice water, instantly sobering up the three veteran officials who had just been full of enthusiasm. They were all seasoned veterans who had been navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom for many years, and they knew all too well the predicament of "changing orders in the morning and evening" and "decrees not leaving the capital."
The atmosphere in the sealed room instantly became heavy.
"Then...then in Your Majesty's opinion, what...what should we do?" Wang Shouren asked anxiously. He had finally seen the hope of a full national treasury, and he didn't want it to be shattered like this.
Behind the beaded curtain, Lin Wanwan's voice rang out again, this time filled with powerful, insightful strategic confidence.
"Therefore, our first step is not for national prosperity, for the well-being of the people, or for a strong military."
She paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately, giving an answer that surprised everyone.
"All for... winning over the hearts and minds of the people!"
"The grand plan for the nation begins with the hearts and minds of the people!"
Her voice echoed in the secret room, deafeningly powerful!
"My lords," she guided their thoughts, "please consider, where does His Majesty's current prestige come from? It is not because of his noble birth, nor because of his exceptional political skills, but because in the hearts of the people, he is the benevolent ruler who 'moved Heaven and received a dream from a goddess!' It is the people who have elevated him to a divine position! The will of the people is the most solid and unshakeable foundation for all our reforms!"
"Therefore, for this first step, we must choose a project that seems the least profitable and the most impractical, but which also faces the least resistance and best reflects His Majesty's benevolence!"
"What we need to do is not to make the people rich immediately, but to make all the people in the world believe from the bottom of their hearts that our emperor is a truly wise ruler who cares about all the people! Once we have this trust, no matter what reforms we implement in the future, even if they temporarily affect the interests of some people, the people will believe that our original intention is for the good of this country and for their good!"
"By then, the will of the people will be there, and the trend will be irreversible. Any dissenting voices will be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, utterly powerless!"
"This is a strategy of spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones! With the people's hearts aligned, everything can be accomplished!"
His words were eloquent and full of astonishing political vision and far-sighted strategic foresight!
The three veteran ministers were completely stunned!
They spent their entire lives contemplating the "techniques"—how to balance interests and implement policies. But this Empress had already transcended that level, directly addressing the most fundamental "principle"—the human heart!
Yes! Why didn't they think of that? Compared to the hearts of the people, what are a little money and food right now? As long as you win the hearts of the people, you win the world!
Having figured this out, the three of them felt as if they had been enlightened, as if a dagger had been struck! Their gazes toward the beaded curtain were now almost fanatical!
This is no empress, this is clearly the talent of an imperial tutor!
Xiao Che sat in the main seat, listening quietly to Lin Wanwan's explanation. His heart was also filled with shock, but even more so with a great sense of pride.
This is his queen! His comrade-in-arms!
Looking down at the three high-ranking officials who had been completely won over, he knew that from this day forward, Lin Wanwan's position in the empire's highest decision-making body was now unshakeable.
He made a decisive move, slamming his hand on the table and delivering the final decision!
"Very well! We shall do as the Empress says!"
His voice was filled with the decisiveness and power of an emperor!
"By imperial decree, the establishment of a national-level orphanage, the 'Orphanage,' will be the first step in our five-year plan! Effective immediately, the Ministry of Revenue will allocate funds, the Ministry of Works will select a site, the Ministry of Rites will draft regulations, and the Grand Secretariat will oversee the project. We must ensure that this is the most benevolent and virtuous act since the founding of our Great Liang Dynasty!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
This time, the three veteran ministers had no objections whatsoever. They all stood up, bowed, and accepted the order, their voices filled with unprecedented enthusiasm and conviction!
Xiao Che nodded in satisfaction and waved for them to leave.
As the three senior officials bowed and withdrew, he turned his head and looked at Lin Wanwan behind the beaded curtain, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration and doting affection.
The emoji above his head had transformed into a chibi-style figure in a dragon robe, standing on a chair, clapping wildly and energetically for his unseen "wife," accompanied by a line of brightly lit text:
[Big picture! Listen to my wife, you can't go wrong! .gif]
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