Diqin Designer

Chapter 174 We still have to develop the country first
The clever ministers had already understood that the emperor had specially asked Minister Li to come here so that they would know that there is always someone better than you.

Your Majesty's intention is very clear. It is to allow them to look at problems from a broader perspective when they decide on policies and handle government affairs in the future, and to allow them to change from focusing only on changes within the Qin Empire to focusing on both the Qin Empire and foreign countries.

The impact of this change in perspective will be huge!

If they only focus on the domestic affairs of the Qin Dynasty, then when deciding on policies, these ministers will undoubtedly give priority to domestic affairs and will make many policies that are beneficial to the governance and stability of the Qin Dynasty but not conducive to the real prosperity of the Qin Dynasty.

For example, they burned books and buried scholars alive, gathered the world's soldiers in Xianyang, cast them into twelve golden men, and squeezed and consumed the people's power...

Although the officials of the Qin Dynasty were the smartest people of the time, they were still feudal rulers. They were unaware of the vastness of the outside world and did not allow them to have crises and desires. They would only use their main energy and means to maintain stability within the Qin Dynasty.

This is a terrible thing. Not only will it consume their talents, but it will also consume the time for the development of Daqin.

This kind of thing has happened for thousands of years in the history that Li Nian knows, making China ahead of the world for a long time, but it was eventually surpassed by others.

If we remain confined to this land and do not brutally suppress the people to maintain stability, what else can we do?
Knowing that there is a bigger world out there, their thinking will change to a certain extent. At least when making certain policies, they will consider: How will this policy affect the outside world?

This change is exactly what Li Nian wants to see. Thoughts always precede actions. If thoughts fail to materialize, subsequent actions will be greatly hindered.

Given the current situation of Daqin, even if it knew about the many treasures overseas, it could not get involved. It must give priority to domestic development and cultivate internal strength. However, some preparations must be made in advance and it cannot be done only when needed.

That is not realistic and is not a strategy for governing a country!

Wang Wan, the Prime Minister of the Ministry of State, said: "Although what Minister Li said is not certain to be completely true, it also makes us realize how big the world is. The land outside the territory is as rich as that of Daqin. However, I think that we should focus more on Daqin, not on the outside!"

"Today, the people of our Great Qin are not yet able to have enough food to eat and clothes to wear, and the people's livelihood has been in decline due to years of war. The people of the six countries have not yet fully convinced us. How can we abandon our domestic affairs and look to the outside world?"

This statement caused many ministers to nod their heads.

Yes, the domestic situation is not well developed yet, yet we are thinking about the numerous valuable places overseas. Not only is it far away rather than near, it is also unrealistic!

Do we have to expand our territory overseas by desperately exploiting the people's power?
With such vanity and warmongering, the Qin Dynasty was not far from its demise.

The people of the Qin Dynasty and the six kingdoms are not as docile as the people of Yangzhou. They can't tolerate that kind of surname system. It would be strange if they don't rise up in groups to rebel.

Wang Wan changed the subject and continued, "However, we cannot be completely unprepared for what is happening in the outside world. I think that although we cannot mobilize the army and recruit the people at present, we can make some preparations for the future."

"The Confucian Book of Rites says, 'If you plan ahead, you will succeed; if you don't plan ahead, you will fail. If you plan ahead, you won't stumble; if you plan ahead, you won't be in trouble; if you plan ahead, you won't feel guilty; if you plan ahead, you won't be poor.'"

"Minister Li proposed to set up a navy and build a naval school. I think it is feasible. The foreign continents are difficult to reach by land, but they can be reached by sea. The navy will be very important to Daqin."

When Wang Wan said this, she deliberately glanced at Li Nian and nodded to her, with appreciation and approval revealed in her eyes.

This Minister Li is very extraordinary. He can foresee things ahead and see what will happen in the next hundred years or even a hundred years from now. The future Qin court should be led by him.

He also knew that Ying Zheng and Li Nian's plan today was not to make them agree to develop overseas areas right away, but to broaden their horizons, change some of their ideas, and prepare for the future expansion of Qin's overseas territories.

Therefore, Wang Wan took the initiative to say these words, because his identity was the most suitable, the head of all ministers and the first prime minister of the Qin Dynasty!
After nodding to Li Nian, Wang Wan continued, "Also, those distant places are not easy to plan for, but some places that are closer to Daqin can be considered, such as the cotton in Yangzhou, and the rice that grows three times a year in the area where Shenzhou and Rongzhou meet."

"The Qin Empire cannot send out a large army to attack these two places, but it can send a group of troops or several groups to bring cotton and rice seeds back to the Qin Empire. At the same time, it can spy on the two places, draw their mountains and rivers, and learn about their national conditions. When the Qin Empire has cleaned up its domestic rivers and mountains, it will have enough spare strength to send out troops. Wouldn't that be an early advantage? Loulan, Donghu, and Buyeo can also do the same!"

Although we cannot send out troops, it does not prevent us from gathering intelligence. We should do a good job of intelligence work first, so that we can use it when we can send out troops in the future. This will not only save the country's energy, but also prepare for the future.

There was a hidden point in Wang Wan's proposal. Sending a team to these places could be used to verify the truth of what Li Nian said.

He was worried that after listening to Li Nian's nonsense, Ying Zheng would become aggressive and would send a large army overseas regardless of the current situation in the Qin Dynasty.

The Qin Dynasty is still a patchwork monster, and the regrets of the six countries have not completely dissipated. If a big fuss is made at this time, it is possible that the stitched wounds will split open and cause heavy bleeding.

Ying Zheng really wanted to expand the territory immediately and complete the great cause of making the Qin Empire the emperor of the world, but he also knew that the situation of the Qin Empire could not support it and it would be impossible to do it in a short period of time. It would definitely be a long-term thing.

After listening to Wang Wan's words, Ying Zheng nodded and said, "What the Prime Minister said makes sense. I agree with him. A ruler should not seek short-term gains, but should plan for the long term. If you are eager for short-term gains, you will often lose the big picture for the small."

Seeing Ying Zheng's remarks, many ministers felt relieved. Like Wang Wan, they were worried that Ying Zheng was too eager for quick success and gain.

Ying Zheng continued, "Then we will set up the Great Qin Navy as a separate army and rename it the Great Qin Navy. I hope that we can sail across the seas in the future and show the might of our Great Qin. Meng Tian, ​​Li Nian, listen to my orders!"

Meng Tian and Li Nian stood up and said, "I am here!"

Ying Zheng said: "From today on, Meng Tian will command the Qin Navy!"

Meng Tian's position was complicated. He was originally the Minister of Personnel, and now he was the commander-in-chief of the navy.

But after hearing Ying Zheng's order, Meng Tian accepted it with excitement: "I obey your order!"

Being the Minister of Personnel was just an appointment by Ying Zheng and was a job. What he was really interested in was leading troops to fight.

Especially after learning that the ocean accounts for 70% of the world and that there is a vast world on the other side of the ocean that is no less vast than that of the Qin Dynasty, Meng Tian developed a strong interest in the ocean. He wanted to sail on the sea and see what was there overseas.

Ying Zheng's decree exactly met his wishes.

After giving the order to Meng Tian, ​​Ying Zheng said to Li Nian: "Li Nian, since you proposed to set up an independent navy and build a naval school, you will set up this naval school, and Meng Tian will cooperate with the Ministry of War."

There is nothing that can be done about it. After all, Li Nian is the only one who knows the knowledge about the navy of future generations. If he doesn't come out to do it, no one else can do it.

Li Nian also said: "I obey your order!"

Ying Zheng would never let him leave Xianyang, so the Qin Naval School must be built in Xianyang. It is a bit humorous to build a naval school in an inland city!
Li Nian's expression became a little strange when he thought that the first batch of students of Daqin Naval School would first attend classes in Xianyang and then go to the seaside for practical training.

Just after Ying Zheng gave his orders to Meng Tian and Li Nian, a minister raised a question: "Your Majesty, do you want to let the people know that there are vast lands outside of the Qin Dynasty?"

While everyone was still thinking, Li Nian, who had just received the order and sat down, said, "I think we can let the people know!"

The minister who asked the question looked over and said, "I'd like to hear Minister Li's opinion!"

Others also turned their attention back to Li Nian.

(End of this chapter)