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

Every question addressed a crucial aspect of people's livelihoods, causing many ministers below to break out in a cold sweat.

Ying Shaoyang's gaze finally settled on several relevant officials, and the atmosphere in the hall was so heavy it was almost palpable.

The Minister of Works, Teng, stepped forward with a stiff upper lip and bowed.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! After the weapons and armor were reforged, they were prioritized for distribution to the troops in various prefectures and the military settlements. The distribution of a standard set of farming tools to each soldier in the military settlements alone has already consumed countless amounts of gold and iron. In addition, the farms directly under the Imperial Household Department also need to be equipped with a large number of farming tools. I... I believe that prioritizing the needs of the army and the Imperial Household Department is common sense and my duty, and I dare not make any mistakes."

His meaning was clear: resources are limited, and prioritizing supplies to the military and state-affiliated institutions is standard practice and also part of his job.

Liu Bang, the Chief of the Imperial Household Department, hurriedly stepped forward, his face contorted with grief.

"Your Majesty is wise! Your servant has followed your orders and has already cultivated 100,000 mu of superior farmland in the Northwest, specifically for planting the cotton seeds that Your Majesty brought back! The lining of most of the new uniforms issued to the army this year is made of this new cotton."

But...but the people are unwilling to migrate to the harsh, cold northwest! Cotton cultivation attempts in other regions, in both quality and yield, are far inferior to those in the northwest. This servant...this servant wishes to expand cultivation, but...but I am truly powerless to do so!

He attributed the problem to the people's willingness to migrate and the regional adaptability of crops.

Grand Secretary Wang Guan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, regarding the issue of idle cultivated land, this old minister has already issued an order on behalf of the cabinet, instructing all counties to conduct a thorough investigation. If any wealthy households are found to be deliberately neglecting their land, they will certainly be punished."

However… this matter involves many factors such as grain prices and labor costs, and cannot be resolved by a single decree. This old minister… is ashamed.”

His words acknowledged the complexity of the problem and the lack of immediate solutions, implying that a large amount of cultivated land in Daqin will indeed be forced to remain idle this year.

Minister of Revenue, Wei Zhuang, also stepped forward to report.

"Your Majesty, training physicians is not something that can be accomplished overnight. A qualified physician needs to be well-versed in medical principles, able to identify various herbs, and accumulate experience, which takes at least several years."

Although I have made every effort to recruit skilled physicians from all over the country and have attempted to establish new medical academies, so far... only a few have been added in a few major prefectures. This is far from sufficient to quench the immediate thirst; I... have failed Your Majesty's grace.”

As several ministers stepped forward to report, their reasons all seemed quite valid, ranging from objective limitations to priorities in resource allocation.

Ying Shaoyang's brows furrowed even more deeply.

He listened to these reports and understood the situation.

The biggest problem facing the Qin Dynasty today, in essence, is the lack of talent!
Although he brought a large number of people from multiple worlds, both the original Qin subjects and the people from the Song and Sui dynasties who migrated there were deeply influenced by the ideas that "all other professions are inferior, only studying is superior" and "those who excel in their studies will become officials."

Society as a whole valued studying the classics and pursuing an official career through the imperial examinations. Not only was the training system for professional and technical personnel such as craftsmen, doctors, and agricultural technicians weak, but their social status was also far lower than that of officials.

Although he defied public opinion and established basic academies in various villages to enforce basic education, the content taught was mainly focused on literacy, arithmetic, and loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, with little connection to specific technologies and crafts.

More in-depth professional knowledge education is often only available at state schools or even royal colleges.

However, a deeper contradiction loomed in Ying Shaoyang's heart.

He may be able to use his supreme authority to forcibly promote literacy among the entire population, but truly "enlightening the people" and enabling them to have independent and critical thinking skills is by no means easy, nor is it his primary goal at present.

Because he knew very well that the foundation of the Great Qin world lay in cultivation, in the power of incense and prayer that gathered the beliefs of all living beings! This was a high-dimensional world where cultivation promoted the advancement of the world's level, rather than a material universe that relied on technological advancement.

That vast and pure incense energy is the key to the rapid growth and advancement of many national treasures such as the "Demon Refining Tower" and the "Demon Slaying Sword" in a short period of time! It is also one of the reliances that enable him to quickly refine powerful magic treasures.

Today, the population of the Qin Dynasty is nearly 500 million, and it will continue to grow rapidly in the future as the world progresses and its territory expands.

If the people were fully enlightened, and each person were given the ability to think independently and question authority, the resulting power of faith would become thin, chaotic, and even full of doubt. The pure and powerful power of incense and prayer would probably cease to exist.

In order to gain great power in a short period of time, to deal with even stronger enemies that may appear in the future, and for the rapid advancement of the Great Qin World, he cannot and dares not easily shake the foundation of this incense and spiritual power.

"Do we prioritize power, or long-term development and public wisdom?"

This seemingly unsolvable problem lingered in Ying Shaoyang's mind. Sacrificing the incense and spiritual power meant that he would be unable to refine and support numerous powerful magical treasures in the short term, which might affect the expansion and defense of the Great Qin.

Maintaining the status quo means that the shortage of technical talent will become a long-term bottleneck restricting the development of Daqin, and many basic livelihood issues will be difficult to resolve at their root.

The hall was silent except for the heavy breathing of the ministers.

Everyone could sense that His Majesty was deep in thought, and the invisible pressure made them dare not even breathe, quietly awaiting the final judgment.

Ying Shaoyang refocused his gaze on Wang Guan, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

"Wang Guan, farmland, especially cultivated land, must never be left fallow! This is the foundation of the nation and the lifeline of the people. The Cabinet must come up with practical and feasible methods to ensure cultivation and stabilize grain production. If the Cabinet cannot do this..."

He paused slightly, his gaze sharp as he stared directly at Wang Guan.

"You, as the Grand Secretary, should personally go to a local area and serve as a prefectural governor to learn how to handle specific government affairs."

Wang Guan's body trembled slightly, and he lowered his head deeply, his voice carrying a barely perceptible dryness.

"Your Majesty, I obey your decree. I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations."

He understood that His Majesty was extremely dissatisfied with his and the cabinet's recent performance, and these words were a stern warning.

But he couldn't defend himself and could only accept the order.

Ying Shaoyang's tone softened slightly, but it still carried a warning tone.

"My intention in setting up the cabinet was to have you assist me in handling these daily government affairs."

The Qin Dynasty has many capable ministers and officials; there is no one unfit for the position of Grand Secretary. What I hope to see is the cabinet effectively solving problems, rather than letting them pile up and be pushed onto my desk.”

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in the hearts of the civil and military officials below. Many of them couldn't help but reveal eagerness in their eyes.

The Grand Secretary, holding a position equivalent to the Prime Minister, wields immense power and can participate in the highest decision-making processes of the empire. To some extent, he can even influence and change the course of the Qin Dynasty according to his own ideals.

How could anyone not be envious of such a position?
Some senior ministers who considered themselves capable became even more ambitious.

Privately, they also felt that while Wang Guan was mature and prudent, capable of handling specific affairs, he was indeed somewhat incapable of leading such a vast empire, coordinating various parties, and overseeing the overall situation. Perhaps His Majesty's decision to appoint him as a provincial governor was… truly a case of making the best use of his talents. After finishing with the cabinet matters, Ying Shaoyang looked at Liu Bang, the Minister of the Imperial Treasury.

"As for cotton cultivation in the Northwest..."

Liu Bang was startled and immediately pricked up his ears, forcing the most obsequious smile onto his face.

"Since ordinary people are unwilling to migrate, why not recruit people directly from the military settlements and settle them locally?"

Ying Shaoyang proposed an idea.

"The military settlement troops are stationed in the Northwest, familiar with the local environment, and have a ready-made foundation for reclamation. The regular army is constantly capturing slaves from outside, and many of them also pass through the Northwest. If any member of the military settlement troops is willing to stay, the Imperial Household Department can build houses for them free of charge, and even... allocate female slaves as appropriate to help them settle down."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bang was first taken aback, then overjoyed and kowtowed deeply.

"Your Majesty is wise! This servant is foolish and never thought of this method before! The soldiers of the garrison troops are strong and healthy, and are accustomed to the water and soil of the Northwest. If we can lure them with houses, fields, and even... even families, we will surely attract a large number of people to stay! This servant will take immediate action upon returning and will definitely develop those Northwest cotton fields into the textile base of our Great Qin!"

His previous failure to promote cotton cultivation was mainly due to obstacles related to population migration.

The Qin Dynasty has a vast territory, and ordinary people can always find a way to make a living as long as they are willing to work. Unless forced to, who would want to leave their homeland for the northwest, which is considered a land of war and hardship?

However, if we can recruit directly from the garrison troops who have already adapted to the environment, there will be much less resistance! Moreover, His Majesty has even tacitly approved of things like "giving away women," so what else wouldn't he dare to do?
Ying Shaoyang said no more, and tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table on the throne, making a crisp and clear "tap-tap" sound.

"Retreat."

As the voice faded, his figure, along with those of the four imperial concubines beside the throne—Lü Zhi, Qu Ruo, Jing Rou, and Zhao Shan—faded away like phantoms, eventually disappearing completely from the hall.

As His Majesty departed, the invisible pressure that had enveloped everyone abruptly dissipated. The civil and military officials bowed their heads and slowly withdrew from the hall in order. Most of them knew each other, but no one spoke; the atmosphere was unusually somber.

Everyone was calculating rapidly in their minds. His Majesty was clearly dissatisfied with the cabinet today, especially with Grand Secretary Wang Guan.

However, His Majesty did not dismiss Wang Guan directly, but gave him a chance to "rectify within a time limit". If he failed to do so, he could return to his post as governor. This was to give this old minister his final dignity.

This also sends a clear signal—the position of Grand Secretary is not a monolithic entity! His Majesty is not satisfied with the current cabinet's handling of the situation.

Before the new prime minister is decided, this period of vacancy is the perfect opportunity for everyone to do their best and demonstrate their abilities!

……

Deep within the palace, the figures of Ying Shaoyang and his four imperial concubines quietly emerged.

Lü Zhi looked at Ying Shaoyang, a hint of surprise in her beautiful eyes, and asked softly.

"Your Majesty, since you are already dissatisfied with Wang Guan, why don't you simply dismiss him from his position as Grand Secretary? Why not give him another chance?"

Upon hearing this, Ying Shaoyang gave a faint, bitter smile and shook his head.

"I am not the kind of tyrant who cannot tolerate others. After all, Wang Guan is a veteran minister of Qin, who has worked diligently and conscientiously. Even if he has not made any great contributions, he has certainly worked hard."

He may lack ability, but he has done his best. Ultimately, it is my fault that someone with insufficient ability holds the position of Grand Secretary and that I have failed in my personnel decisions.”

His self-reflection touched the four women, including Lü Zhi.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Qu Ruo asked softly.

"Then... does Your Majesty already have a suitable candidate in mind to succeed as Grand Secretary?"

Jing Rou and Zhao Shan also looked at Ying Shaoyang at the same time, clearly paying close attention to this.

Having followed Ying Shaoyang for a long time, they knew that His Majesty was meticulous and thoughtful. Since he had already expressed his dissatisfaction with Wang Guan, he must have already considered the matter.

Ying Shaoyang pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

"I have a few candidates in mind, but I haven't made a final decision yet."

Several names did indeed surface in his mind, but he rejected them one by one. Zhang Juzheng was skilled in reform and finance, but lacked a broad perspective and was too sharp, making it difficult for him to coordinate various parties; Li Si was proficient in law and adept at planning, but was biased by personal interests and excelled at political maneuvering rather than comprehensive governance…

His gaze involuntarily fell upon the names of those who possessed the talents of emperors. Qin Shi Huang, Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han, Yang Guang, Emperor Yang of Sui, Li Yuan, Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of Tang... These emperors, who once stirred up the winds and waves in their respective eras and created or ruled a vast empire, undoubtedly possessed the vision and skill to handle complex political affairs and take overall control of the situation.

If any one of them were placed in the position of Grand Secretary, their abilities and prestige would allow them to quickly take control of the situation and ensure the efficient and stable operation of the entire Qin administrative machine.

Moreover, given the absolute strength of the Qin Dynasty and the oppressive presence of Ying Shaoyang, he has no need to worry about the excessive power of his subjects.

Seeing Ying Shaoyang's deep gaze, clearly indicating he was considering a very important candidate, the four women, including Lü Zhi, were surprised, though they might have guessed some possibilities. However, they obediently remained silent. Such a high-ranking appointment was beyond their discretion to offer advice.

Ying Shaoyang's thoughts drifted to another question.

The number of physicians in the Qin Dynasty is still too small. With abundant food supplies in recent years, and the Imperial Household Department consciously allocating slave women, the problem of finding wives for some people has been alleviated, and the number of newborns is increasing dramatically.

Following this trend, even without further migration of people from outside, the native population of Qin will experience explosive growth in eighteen years.

"Talent...we are lacking talent in every aspect."

Ying Shaoyang sighed inwardly. The training period for doctors is long, and for now, they can only proceed step by step.

The most urgent task is to have a capable Grand Secretary who can oversee the overall situation to handle the current affairs and ensure the smooth and efficient development of the Qin Dynasty.

He pondered alone for a long time, weighing the possible candidates repeatedly, and finally, a helpless bitter smile appeared on his face once again.

"If we don't want the abilities of certain people to go to waste, then the first Grand Secretary who truly needs to oversee the overall situation is probably... none other than him."

In his heart, he had already locked onto one name—the First Emperor, Ying Zheng.

In terms of ability, the First Emperor, who swept across the six kingdoms and laid the foundation for unification, possessed unparalleled talent, unwavering resolve, and far-sighted vision, and was absolutely capable of suppressing any situation. In terms of status, sharing the same surname "Ying" and ruling the "Great Qin" Empire, his appointment as Grand Secretary even carried a certain symbolic significance. (End of Chapter)