You became an emperor by letting me AFK.

Are you kidding me about the High Priest's influence? As the saying goes, what the superiors do, the inferiors will follow. He's probably already completely transformed the aesthetics of dance. Just like now, Feng Tianyin makes a V-sign with a cold expression, then smiles at the audience. It's just right.

Our home-based dance has also become a symbol of conservatism.

In the future, people of Daqian might find other dances too avant-garde.

moment.

After a lively celebration, everything settled down under Xia He's appreciative gaze, and the main events came to an end.

However, Daqian once again summoned some representatives of believers.

Although it wasn't as grand as when Feng Tianyin received them, Bayar was still responsible for "baptizing," "praying," and "teaching" them—in other words, ensuring his control over them.

The Heavenly Dao Sect is a convenient tool.

The so-called believers are mostly celebrities, powerful people, and other people of high status, and they are worth winning over.

Xia He immediately recognized it: "This is remote aquaculture."

The little robot, possessing a wealth of modern knowledge, had long understood and put this principle into practice. After she gained people's support in advance, she had Bayar take over, ensuring that they maintained contact with them in a practical way.

"Please remember to come and pay your respects often in the future."

Hearing her instructions, many powerful figures nodded in agreement. After all, the Heavenly Dao Sect possessed purification, a rare means of preventing pollution in this world.

"After I leave, I will hand it over to Song Xuyun. You must cooperate with her for mutual benefit."

Bayar looked at his junior.

The newly appointed regional chief priest candidate responded solemnly.

Returning to the South Plain after a long absence filled her with emotion, realizing that she was about to start a new career here.

But it's all good. It can be considered as repaying the temple for its nurturing and cultivation. Moreover, protecting his hometown is indeed in line with Song Qingyun's ideals. The southern plateau should be kept away from pollution to avoid a tragedy like his own.

"very good."

After praising him, Bayar said, "I will go and report to His Majesty."

After she and Feng Tianyin further discussed the missionary work in the south, the matter was declared over, and the southern tour team set off again, embarking on the long journey back to Xiayi.

Xia He gradually withdrew her attention.

Let's get through this round quickly, and the results will be tested later.

-----

The high priest left, but the sense of divine majesty he exuded deeply resonated with the people present, turning countless others into fervent believers who shared in his glory.

"I never expected to have the opportunity to participate in such a grand event. Thank you, Lord City Lord."

Jiang Jing finally found an opportunity to use his face.

Flattery will get you everywhere, and there will be plenty of opportunities to cooperate with the Lord of Nanyuan City in the future. I need to make an impression eventually, and I can't just be like some of those silly guys who only pray. Even in a society that believes in the Way of Heaven, there still needs to be human touch.

"Your abilities are worth our investment. Keep up the good work and open up sales channels for the tokens as soon as possible."

"do not worry."

"As long as you do your main job well, you'll get all the other benefits."

Cheng Feng didn't mind giving the other party a promise. These businessmen lived cautiously in the cracks and couldn't be easily scared away.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jing naturally expressed his gratitude repeatedly. He hadn't expected that the officials of the Great Qian Dynasty were more enlightened than those in the South, actually willing to exchange gifts with a merchant. Truly, this was the rule of the High Priest; they had a set of principles.

Their conversation was just the tip of the iceberg.

Simultaneously.

A vast network of interests was built between the two cities of Nanqiu and Nanyuan, and extended further south.

The people present today are actually from far more than just one city-state. People from various city-states in the southern part of the Great Plains are all connected. We are all in the same circle, so how could we not pay attention?

That's not all; some of them were even spies sent by Qingzhou.

The intelligence system of the Great Qian Dynasty also knew about it.

But they didn't care, since it all boiled down to missionary work, an open and aboveboard infiltration.

According to the temple's strategic plan, there is no need to rush. The most crucial factor is the gradual and subtle driving force, which often has an overwhelming momentum.

Let time tell.

While everyone remained on guard, they outwardly chatted and laughed, and gradually the grand southern tour came to an end. After all, even the main figure, the High Priest, had left, so there was indeed no reason for them to linger.

So everyone went home, but a seed had already been planted in their hearts:

The Heavenly Dao Sect does have its merits.

The believers are actually the group with the weakest faith; they value the underlying interests and the ambition of the Great Qian Dynasty to conquer the south.

To align with this ambition and work together on great things—that is the future.

--------

In the years following his southern tour, Feng Tianyin remained focused on the construction of the new city:

pioneering.

The strategy involves expanding arable land on a large scale, using cities as anchor points to produce large quantities of food, thereby promoting population growth. It's simple, straightforward, and the cycle is becoming increasingly efficient. And now, there's some good news:

[Currently under effective control: 300 million]

Even the usually calm and even indifferent Feng Tianyin couldn't help but show a look of joy upon seeing this, another stage of progress completed.

It did not grow naturally.

A significant portion of them were immigrants who were absorbed into the country, but of course, they were mainly descendants of the Great Qian Dynasty.

The reason for the population explosion was that the Great Qian Dynasty had been peaceful and stable for nearly 70 years, which, along with the change of three generations and the combination of high birth rate and low death rate, allowed the population to begin to explode.

Just as Feng Tianyin was pondering, someone came to the Imperial Study to report:

"Your Majesty, the latest household registration statistics have been obtained."

Although it was a bit slow, it was still quite fast. The number and the estimated authority were about right. In the early Classical period, this population would be considered that of a large country with abundant manpower.

"In addition, the college has also drawn up a graph showing the expected future growth. Please take a look."

"I'll make some changes."

The academy brought over a blackboard, meticulously and in great detail depicting the growth peaks. However, under the scrutiny of the super AI brain, many shortcomings remained, triggering a near-obsessive-compulsive disorder.

She immediately began to redraw it with chalk, oblivious to everyone else.

The other clerks in the Imperial Study temporarily put down their work, as the rustling sound was quite noticeable.

It's more like printing than writing.

Feng Tianyin always draws in one stroke, with straight and beautiful curves and zigzag lines. Her pie charts have a three-dimensional feel, are intuitive and harmonious, and are also rigorous and precise in terms of mathematics.

"Based on the current trend, reaching 500 million is just a matter of the next few years."

The model's inferences are not exaggerated at all; in fact, they are conservative.

Because the Great Qian Medical Technology eliminated a series of risks related to childbirth and infants early on, significantly reducing the mortality rate, and there were not many natural or man-made disasters, the current exponential growth is not too early.

Actually, it should be considered that the make-up lessons have just been completed.

It makes up for the large population loss that occurred before Feng Tianyin took office, when growth was too slow, typical of the agricultural era.

0.15 %

The natural growth rate had fallen to such a dangerous level that it has only now been completely reversed.

He Huang asked curiously, "Can it be maintained?"

"We'll try our best. Because many medical technologies haven't kept up, there will still be a large number of birth defects."

Feng Tianyin was well aware that the population growth rate in the agricultural era was nearing its theoretical limit, because population growth in the early stages of the industrial era would be tied to industrial technology. In short, new mothers need sufficient nutrition.

These nutrients cannot be provided by traditional grains.

It must be vitamins, proteins, calcium, etc., concentrated by the food industry.

Don't look down on the advanced technology; you really can't do without it.

In cases requiring delivery, surgical scissors, hemostatic forceps, IV tubing, disinfection and protective equipment, and anti-inflammatory drugs are needed...

If a cesarean section is needed, even a saw might be required! Some of these tools are simply impossible to manufacture, and others, even if made, are merely for show due to inadequate materials science. In short, it's a complex and sophisticated system.

It's called science.

Can a mere 300 million people afford such a luxury as technology?

The current population is sufficient for an agricultural society, but far from enough for an industrial society, and this brings about a new problem:

He Wan astutely observed: "Our high-quality arable land is becoming increasingly scarce."

"That's right, unless the crop rotation system is broken."

Feng Tianyin's eyes flickered, and she immediately calculated the ideal model in her mind. The fact that the Great Qian Dynasty has enjoyed favorable weather and abundant harvests so far, besides the blessing of Heaven, also stems from an action that could be considered "wasteful": the more radical crop rotation system.

According to the agricultural regulations of the Great Qian Dynasty, one could not cultivate the same piece of land continuously, but had to replace it on a large scale.

This is yet another rigorous scientific system:

In ancient times, many droughts and floods were closely related to the loss of soil fertility. If the land was overexploited, it would be compounded by persistent locust plagues and wildfires, resulting in continuous natural disasters.

In an era lacking chemical fertilizers, restoring soil fertility relied on just one thing:

time.

It also indirectly restricts further population growth.

Such a simple principle was immediately grasped by the senior clerks, who were all highly educated and began to deduce its meaning.

“If we abandon crop rotation, we will have to increase grain reserves to withstand higher risks.” He Yuan calculated: “The budget for flood control and disaster relief will need to be increased every year, and we will even have to take into account local disability and even displaced people… We need to allocate at least 5% more of the budget.”

“This money could have been used to hold more religious ceremonies.”

Gedentana was the first to object, as she was very sensitive to budget adjustments.

Her opinion is very important.

The great prophet's implication was that money intended as "tribute" to Heaven should not be taken lightly, as this represented the interests of the priesthood.

Korong, who has a stronger sense of anxiety, advocates reducing crop rotation.