Qin Renhuang just became an immortal, and you told me this is the prehistoric time

Using this Imperial Guard, tempered by the Demon Refining Tower and possessing boundless potential, as its backbone, we will completely control local military forces!

Its profound significance is self-evident!

"My lord, take the order!"

Wang Jian's voice was filled with excitement.

Once this order is fully implemented, the military strength of the Great Qin will truly become an ironclad force from the central government to the local level, and no force will be able to shake it!
Ying Xuan turned his gaze to Wang Wan, the chief minister of the cabinet and the head of the civil officials.

"Wang Wan".

"The old minister is here!"

Wang Wan stepped forward. Although his hair and beard were still white, his complexion was ruddy, his breath was long and deep, and his voice was loud and clear. He no longer showed any signs of old age.

"I have something to say about the foundation of the empire and its lasting legacy."

Ying Xuan's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"With your leadership, the Cabinet and the Military Council will work together to select talented individuals from among the 900,000 Imperial Guards!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, each word carrying immense weight.

"First, one must be literate and reasonable. Second, one must be absolutely loyal and come from a respectable family. Third, one must demonstrate resilience in the Demon Refining Tower and possess considerable potential. Anyone who meets these three criteria, regardless of their background, can be selected!"

Wang Wan's heart stirred, and she vaguely guessed what it was. She bowed and asked.

"Your Majesty, what is the purpose of selecting such talents?"

“Settle them in schools in various villages and towns throughout the empire,” Ying Xuan’s voice was resolute.

"To assume the position of school administrator!"

"Xue Zheng?"

A murmur of doubt arose within the hall.

The Xuezheng was usually a low-ranking official in charge of local schools, whose duties were mostly to supervise the academic atmosphere and manage students.

Why does Your Majesty take such a serious approach to selecting talented individuals from among the million elite Imperial Guards to serve as academic instructors?

"Good, Xuezheng!"

Ying Xuan's gaze suddenly sharpened, sweeping across the faces of every important official in the hall with a sense of determination and warning.

"However, this schoolmaster is not the same as that schoolmaster! Its core responsibility is to teach basic internal energy cultivation methods to all school-age children, and even adults who aspire to learn, in all village and township schools throughout the empire! To supervise their practice! And to assess their progress!"

boom!
These words resounded throughout the Xuanzheng Hall!
Popularizing internal energy cultivation among the general public?!
Even though everyone in the hall was a transformed and resolute person, they were still shaken by this earth-shattering decree!

Since ancient times, martial arts manuals, especially internal energy cultivation methods, have been monopolized by sects, families, and armies, and regarded as secrets that are not passed on, which is the foundation for maintaining their status and power!

Even after the Qin Dynasty was established and Emperor Ying Xuan's power over the world was immense, this unspoken rule was never broken.

Although the imperial court has an armory, the martial arts techniques stored therein are not easily obtained, let alone openly taught to all ordinary people!

Now, His Majesty actually wants... the entire nation to practice martial arts?!

Wang Wanqiang suppressed the shock in his heart and asked cautiously.

"Your Majesty, this is unprecedented! If basic internal energy cultivation methods become widely circulated, I fear... I fear it will cause unrest in the martial arts world, a surge in civilian power, and require the court's control..."

"Minister Wang!"

Ying Xuan interrupted him, her voice still calm, but her sharp gaze was even more piercing, as if it could penetrate one's heart.

"Do you, and all of you, believe that my actions will shake the foundations of the nation? Will they incite unruly people to take up arms and rebel?"

He slowly stood up, and an invisible pressure spread out, making the air in the entire hall seem to freeze.

"I tell you!"

Ying Xuan's voice suddenly rose, carrying an air of domineering arrogance.

"The foundation of the Great Qin has never been any monopolized cultivation techniques or secret manuals! It lies in me! In you, my civil and military officials! In this sword in my hand that can slay immortals and gods! In these million fierce warriors under my command! In this ever-growing world behind me!"

"Jianghu? Sect? Aristocratic family?"

Ying Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile.

"Before absolute power, all are but dust! My allowing them to exist is a grace! If I wish them to disappear, it is but a thought away!"

"As for the surge in civilian power?"

Ying Xuan's gaze swept over the powerful Imperial Guard generals below.

"My million Imperial Guards have all entered the tower for tempering, and their potential is limitless! In the future, everyone can become a martial arts master! Even higher! What waves can ordinary people make by practicing some basic internal skills?"
Conversely, a strong people make a strong nation! When every citizen practices martial arts, their bodies are strong, their spirits are high, and their productivity multiplies! The quality of the military will also far surpass that of the past! This is the supreme foundation for a strong people, a strong military, and a strong nation!

He paused for a moment, his voice resolute.

"This matter is imperative! There is no need for further discussion! Wang Wan!"

"The old minister is here!"

Wang Wan was shocked and immediately bowed.

"With your cabinet taking the lead and the military cabinet assisting, immediately begin the selection of school instructors! Formulate detailed regulations for teaching, supervision, and assessment! I want to see that, in the shortest possible time, every village school and outpost school in the empire will have a qualified school instructor in place!"
In every corner of the empire, the shouts of children practicing martial arts can be heard! This is national policy! Those who are negligent, derelict in their duties, or obstruct... shall be executed!

The single word "slay" was like ice falling to the ground, carrying a chilling killing intent that caused the temperature inside the hall to plummet!
"I...obey the order!"

Wang Wan suppressed the turmoil in her heart and solemnly accepted the order.

He knew that His Majesty's mind was made up; this was a revolutionary change that would shake the world! The empire would henceforth embark on an unprecedented path!
"I will obey your orders!"

All the civil and military officials inside the hall, no matter how shocked they were, responded in unison, their voices resounding throughout the hall!

Ying Xuan's gaze slowly swept over everyone, the sharp edge gradually softening, but the will to push the wheels of history forward was deeply imprinted in everyone's heart.

The era of universal cultivation was personally ushered in by Ying Xuan!
Wang Guan bowed and accepted the order, but fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

The lingering force of His Majesty's word "execute" still made his heart tighten.

The implementation of the policy of promoting martial arts among the general public has been difficult, one of the root causes of which is the surge in the number of scholars from all over the country who have moved to the capital in recent years.

While the gathering of these literati enriched the literary tradition of the court, it also made the division between civil and military officials in the court increasingly obvious.

The literati's inherent contempt and suppression of "warriors" has quietly formed an undercurrent, instinctively resisting the martial spirit.

As the Grand Secretary, he felt this most deeply, yet he was powerless to change it.

Now that His Majesty has made a swift and decisive decision, even if he has a thousand concerns, he dares not hesitate for a moment longer.

"Your Majesty, this old minister will certainly do his utmost to live up to your expectations!"

Wang Guan's voice carried an unprecedented solemnity.

Ying Xuan nodded slightly, his gaze turning to the void outside the palace, as if penetrating the palace walls, and seeing the small world of light slowly approaching in the chaotic sea.

"There's something else."

Ying Xuan's voice drew the attention of the ministers back to him.

"I have discovered a new small world in the void."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent instantly!

A new world?! Your Majesty has discovered a new world in the void?!
The civil officials looked surprised and suspicious, while the military generals instantly became heavy-hearted, their eyes flashing with a terrifying light!
To expand territory! This was a desire etched into the very bones of every Qin general!
"The beings in this world are not much different from us."

Ying Xuan continued, “I intend to relocate all their people to Great Qin to increase the population and strengthen our nation.”

He glanced down and asked casually.

"Does the Cabinet believe this matter... is feasible?"

Wang Guan's heart skipped a beat! His Majesty's words, seemingly a question, were in fact... a test of the foundation of the Great Qin! Especially its food supply!
He immediately looked at the Minister of Revenue.

The Minister of Revenue, with a solemn expression, stepped forward and addressed the emperor.

"Your Majesty! Although the newly expanded territory of the Empire is vast, the promotion of new grain varieties and the cultivation of spiritual fields will still take time. Although last year's harvest was bountiful and the national treasury is quite full, if we were to suddenly accept people from an entire realm... I fear we would not be able to handle it!"
My rough estimate is that, based on current grain reserves and this year's projected harvest, to ensure a smooth transition and prevent famine, we can only accommodate a maximum of tens of millions of people!

The Minister of Personnel also hurriedly stepped forward.

"Your Majesty! The local official system, after its previous expansion, has reached its limit! The officials in various counties and prefectures are already overwhelmed. If tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of people are suddenly added, the administration will inevitably become chaotic, and there is a fear of popular uprisings!"

The Minister of Works looked worried.

"Your Majesty! The roads of the Empire are severely damaged. Although we have made every effort to repair them, if the newly relocated people are settled in newly developed and remote areas, the roads will be impassable and the transportation of supplies will be difficult. How can we guarantee their livelihood?"

The concerns raised by the civil officials boiled down to just two words.

The limits! The existing administrative and logistical systems of the Great Qin Dynasty have been stretched to their limits and are unable to withstand such a massive population surge!

"Humph!"

A cold snort rang out, filled with disdain.

Grand Secretary Wang Jian stepped forward, his tiger-like eyes wide open, his voice booming like a bell.

"Your Majesty! How can a little grain, officials, and roads become stumbling blocks to the growth of the empire? This humble general is willing to personally lead the elite troops to expand Your Majesty's territory and capture all the people of that new world!"

Anyone who disobeys will be killed! Anyone who rebels will be beheaded! Why go through all this trouble, considering what kind of reception and resettlement to provide for them!

Behind him, Qi Jiguang, Han Xin and other generals remained silent, but the fighting spirit burning in their eyes spoke volumes!
Expanding territory and plundering people—this is the path to military glory!
What's more, this is a completely new world!

The opportunities and challenges it contains are enough to make any general's blood boil!

"General Wang, please be at ease."

Ying Xuan raised his hand, stopping Wang Jian from requesting to fight; his voice was calm but authoritative.

"That new world is but a small realm, its inhabitants weak and frail, requiring no intervention from veterans like you. Such a trivial matter is a perfect opportunity for the young generals in the army to gain experience."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jian, though unwilling, dared not disobey and could only clasp his hands and retreat, though the fighting spirit in his eyes remained.

Ying Xuan's gaze returned to the civil officials, including Wang Guan.

"My lord, I am aware of what you have just said. Tens of millions of people... are indeed too few."

He shook his head slightly, clearly not satisfied with the number.

Wang Guan and the six ministers exchanged glances, both feeling immense pressure.

His Majesty is clearly determined to succeed and wants to relocate all the people of that new world there; a mere tens of millions would not be enough!

But faced with such a difficult reality, what can they do?

Just then, a calm voice rang out.

"Your Majesty, I have a plan that may solve this urgent problem."

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Zhang Juzheng, the second Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, step forward and bow in greeting.

"speak."

Ying Xuan looked at this capable minister known for his practical abilities.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue is concerned about grain."

Zhang Juzheng spoke calmly and unhurriedly.

"The Empire's current grain reserves are already at their limit in supporting tens of millions of newly relocated people. But what if we could significantly increase grain production in the shortest possible time?"

How to increase it?

The Minister of Revenue asked anxiously.

"pumpkin!"

Zhang Juzheng uttered two words.

"This is a divine seed that His Majesty brought back from a foreign land. It is not picky about soil fertility and grows extremely fast! From sowing to harvest, it only takes three months! The yield per acre is extremely high, and it can be stored for a long time!"
Your Majesty, I suggest that an imperial edict be issued immediately, ordering that half of all arable land in the empire, whether newly cultivated or mature, be designated for the urgent planting of pumpkins!

Meanwhile, since His Majesty has stated that the New World also has reserves, if some of these reserves could be transported back before the migration, a two-pronged approach would be adopted! In this way, the Empire's grain reserves could increase several times over in a short period! Supporting a population of one or two hundred million should be no problem!

"Half the field is planted with pumpkins?!"

The Minister of Revenue gasped.

"What about the other staple foods..."

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures!"

Zhang Juzheng interrupted him, his tone firm.

"Although pumpkins are not a staple food, they can fill the stomach and save lives! We can make adjustments after the newly relocated people are settled and the newly cultivated spiritual fields have yielded a good harvest! This is a temporary measure, but it can solve the current life-or-death food shortage!"

A glint flashed in Wang Guan's eyes, and he clapped his hands.

"Brilliant! This plan is feasible! With the fast growth and high yield of pumpkins, combined with the New World's food reserves, it can definitely solve the food crisis!"

He turned to the Minister of Works.

"As for the roads..."

Zhang Juzheng spoke again.

"The Ministry of Works is concerned that the roads are impassable, making the transport of supplies difficult. However, the Empire has a vast territory, with rivers, lakes, and seas everywhere! Why should all the newly relocated people be settled in remote border areas where land routes are difficult to access? They can be prioritized for settlement along the banks of major rivers!"
The Empire's navy is powerful, and its canal transport system is complete! Large ships and barges can transport people and goods along the rivers directly to the heartland! There's no need to rely on the severely damaged land routes! Once the population is settled, the roads can be gradually repaired to connect all directions—it won't be too late!

"waterway!"

The Minister of Works suddenly slapped his thigh, realizing what had happened.

"Indeed! Waterways! The empire's water network is extensive, and its transport capacity far surpasses that of land transport! If we use waterways, it would not be difficult to accommodate hundreds of millions of people! It is my foolishness that I have only focused on land routes and forgotten about this great road to heaven!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Guan, the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Personnel, and others suddenly understood!
The two major problems that plagued them—food and transportation—were instantly resolved by Zhang Juzheng's two strategies: "rushing to plant pumpkins" and "waterway relocation"!

Although there are still many details that need to be improved, the general direction is clear and feasible!

"good!"

Ying Xuan looked at Zhang Juzheng with approval in his eyes.

"Minister Zhang's plan is very much to my liking. It shall be carried out accordingly! The Grand Secretariat shall immediately draft an edict ordering half of the land in the empire to be planted with pumpkins! The Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of War shall work together to plan the waterway relocation routes, mobilize the grain transport ships and the navy, and prepare for the takeover!"

"I will obey your orders!"

Wang Guan and the others responded in unison, feeling a great weight lifted from their hearts, and at the same time deeply admired Zhang Juzheng's quick wit.

The civil officials began to discuss the specific details of implementation in hushed tones, while the atmosphere among the military officers became heated once again!

Generals Wang Jian, Qi Jiguang, and Han Xin stared intently at Ying Xuan on the throne. (End of Chapter)