Li Ming has been back in Beijing for more than half a month, and Li Ming has paid little attention to the war in the northwest during this half month. Although Li Ming was very worried about the sudden outbreak of the Russian army, what if the Russian army went crazy and had to concentrate two or three hundred thousand troops to forcibly eat the first or second divisions that broke through? These two troops are Li Ming's starting troops.

Li Ming repeatedly reminded the General Staff Headquarters that there was a possibility of abnormal movements of the Russian army, but all officials at the top and bottom of the General Staff Headquarters believed that regardless of the situation, morale, and quality of soldiers on both sides, the Russian army would not be able to launch such a large-scale attack. Moreover, from the analysis of the current distribution of troops of the Russian army, the Russian army has no possibility of launching this offensive. The CIA also interpreted Alekseev's temperament and determined that the Russian army would not launch a large-scale attack. As for small-scale attacks, not to mention the question of whether the Russian army can win the war, judging by the mobility of our army alone, the Russian army just wants to catch up.

Since he didn't listen to what he said, Li Ming thought that his responsibility as an emperor had been fulfilled. Once the war is lost, there is nothing to say, just take these generals to cut them. Li Ming will never care how a battle should be fought, because that is the business of the military attachés, just like Li Ming Jedi will not ask how a county should be governed, because it is the business of the civilian officials. What the emperor should do is to manage these ministers well, and also to choose a direction for the country, and then go on unswervingly. And now, Li Ming has encountered the problem of the direction of the national policy.

The vast Siberian region was occupied, and with the withdrawal of the main forces and the arrival of the reserve troops, with the cooperation of the vassal states, the security in the occupied areas was greatly improved. Since they were not devastated by the war, the buildings in the cities and towns were basically intact, which saved a lot of reconstruction work. As the weather gradually warmed, the reserve army began to level the land with Russian civilians. This is the most important work of the reserve army -- Tuntian. China is an agrarian nation, and it is absolutely impossible to get such a large piece of land if it is barren.

Since the surrendered Russian army was all conscripted to the front as laborers, there were three main groups of people in the vast territory of Eastern Siberia. One is the army of the vassal states, mainly Koreans; One is a civilian from the original Russia; All that remains is the reserve army, which has just taken over the defense. It is impossible for China to allow vassal troops to remain on its territory for a long time, and all vassal troops will be withdrawn after the end of the Sino-Russian war. Whether the Russian civilians were eventually expelled, or whether they were incorporated into Chinese nationality or left behind. The Imperial Court has not yet finalized the decision, and even if they are allowed to stay, it is unlikely that they will be given too many resources due to the stability of the rule. For the vast Siberia, however, the 300,000 troops were rapidly diluted like mud cattle into the sea.

If China wants to completely integrate this barren land into China and become an inseparable part of the hearts of the Chinese, it will need immigrants, and a large number of immigrants. Only when the number of immigrants eventually accounted for more than seventy percent of the local population could the rule of the imperial court be truly stable. After another three to four generations of reproduction, this land can lay the most solid foundation for Chinese civilization. According to the estimates of the imperial court. The number of the first settlers could not be less than 10 million, and the first 10 million people could only live along the railway line due to transportation. Then it will take ten to twenty years to build roads in Siberia and another 20 million immigrants. In this way, this land can be truly incorporated into China.

30 million people is not a problem for a country of nearly 50,000,000 people, but here's the problem - no one wants to go! Today's great meeting is to discuss a solution.

"Folk rumors say that the cold in Siberia is enough to freeze steel apart, and this alone has made countless people change their colors. Although the imperial court repeatedly stated that it would provide warm housing and adequate food security free of charge. It is still unable to attract people to take the initiative to emigrate. What can I do about it? "The question was asked by the old minister Liu Kunyi.

After investigation, it can be said that this point of view has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The main reason for this phenomenon is that the imperial court has a lot of propaganda about the northward expansion strategy at the end of last year. In order to increase the people's confidence in the war, the ice and snow defense line at that time was reported at great length in the propaganda, and the ice and snow defense line built by our army was also highlighted many times to protect against the Russian army's artillery bombardment. In terms of war alone, it was considered appropriate at the time. But now it seems to be overhyped. While letting the people finally gain confidence in our army, it also made the cold of Siberia give the people a profound reflection, so that the people heard about the Siberian winter. Although none of our soldiers were injured or sick under such severe cold, it is enough to prove that the imperial court has sufficient coping with the severe cold of Siberia. However, the people's perception is that the soldiers are young and strong, and they have long-term training. They fought for the country, and the imperial court also provided a large amount of supplies as a guarantee. But they emigrated to live, both old and young, and it was impossible for the imperial court to provide unlimited material support. In addition, there was no public opinion guidance for immigrants to Siberia in the early stage, so that the people did not know enough about Siberia. Therefore...... "Propaganda Minister Liang Qichao bowed to the ground: "The Propaganda Department misbehaved, please ask the emperor to punish the crime-"

"Regardless of the propaganda in the early stage, at least the people knew that the imperial court had completely defeated Siberia, and this was not the same as the border where there could be a threat of war at any time. Therefore, the people still know that there is no problem with safety. Since ancient times, the Chinese people have been digging in the land for food, and the output of crops in the field is the income of a family for a year. From this point of view, the imperial court is willing to exchange 100 acres of fertile land in Siberia for 10 acres of wasteland in the Central Plains, which should be said to be very attractive to the people of the Central Plains. However, why such preferential policies cannot attract people? Weng Tongyi asked.

According to the survey, in the densely populated areas of the Central Plains, many people actually do not have even ten acres of wasteland. However, in recent years, with the increase of domestic industrial construction, a large number of factories have appeared in these more densely populated areas. The income from factory work is slightly higher than that from wasteland cultivation, so much so that a large amount of wasteland has been completely abandoned in these areas. In some remote areas, there is no need for these people to migrate due to the small population and abundant land. Most of the people who are willing to migrate now are landless and unable to work in factories because they do not have a household registration. And these numbers are negligible for the projected number of immigrants. In order to increase the willingness of the people to emigrate, the Ministry of Agriculture will not only replace the land, but also become the permanent field of the immigrants. In addition, the imperial court also provided housing, cattle, farming tools, seeds, and other tools necessary for agricultural production. However, even if there is a hundred acres of fertile land, it is not something that a family of three can cultivate, and because of the weather. Only one crop of land can be planted in a year. Although the imperial court extended the three-year tax exemption condition to five years, he could only stay in the house for more than half a year and could not go anywhere. Therefore, compared with the Central Plains, for the people who can also get an extra income in the factory during the slack time, the temptation of 100 acres of fertile land is indeed not great. Liu Guangdi, Minister of Agriculture, bowed to the ground: "The Ministry of Agriculture has improperly applied the law, please ask the emperor to punish the crime-"

"It's true, the income from the agricultural harvest alone is too low. It is also the main reason why no one wants to emigrate. That would relocate the factory, which in turn would attract people to emigrate. Is it likely to be? Sun Jianai asked again.

"When the farm is slack, guiding farmers to work in factories is a way to get an extra income. Therefore, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has issued a large number of preferential measures for investment in Siberia, but also due to various reasons such as climate, cost, convenience of procurement and transportation, the main ones willing to relocate factories to Siberia are basic industries such as mineral development and smelting. And for light industry enterprises, which are responsible for the main employment of the population, there are almost zero who are willing to relocate. However, it also takes a certain period of time for basic industry to go from input to production, so in the next three years, the main employment will be concentrated in the construction of transportation facilities such as the Siberian railway and highway by the imperial court, but this is also the problem. For the large-scale transportation construction in Siberia, a large amount of necessary materials can only be transported from the Central Plains at the moment. In this way, it will inevitably stimulate domestic production investment in an all-round way. In order to win more orders, domestic companies will inevitably expand their factories and increase their staff, so that even people who want to emigrate will be discouraged from emigrating because they can get enough income in the local area. No people are willing to emigrate, and even if the imperial court provides preferential conditions, the factory will not be able to start due to lack of manpower, which in turn will cause the factory to be unwilling to relocate. The reduced willingness to relocate factories further makes people more reluctant to relocate...... It's a vicious circle. The Minister of Industry and Commerce Sheng Huaixuan bowed to the ground: "The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is incompetent, please ask the emperor to punish the crime-"

"Since you can get enough calls through labor in your hometown. Of course, it is much more insurable than going to a barren land to open up wasteland. According to the old minister, in fact, the idea that it is difficult to leave the homeland is too heavy. Is there a way? Zhang Zhidong asked thoughtfully.

"The idea that it is difficult to leave the homeland and that people leave their homeland is mainly derived from. After people leave the familiar environment and crowds, when they go to a strange foreign land, when something is unsatisfactory, they will be helpless and have no one to help, so they feel very miserable. That's why we've also considered whole village migration. At present, it seems that Siberia is a wasteland for our country, and the relocation of entire villages will inevitably make China's occupation of Siberia more solid. But consider that rural China is a family-run village. Over time, the authority of its patriarch can be higher than that of officials sent by the imperial court. This law is not conducive to long-term peace and stability, so it has not been considered. Yan Fu bowed to the ground: "The ministers are incompetent and have failed to come up with a suitable immigration method, please ask the emperor to punish the crime-"

"What else can I do. Let's put it bluntly. Li Hongzhang asked.

"The minister thought that the terrain of Siberia was flat and could be grazed, and since ancient times, it was mainly nomadic herding, and the minister suggested that this land could be changed to nomadic herding, one is more suitable for the climate, and the other can meet the procurement needs of beef and mutton needed for the national education that will soon be rolled out." It was a third-rank official by the door.

"It is possible to expand the grazing area appropriately, and the ministers already have a plan, but it is not advisable to completely change to nomadism." Yan replied: "The Xiongnu, Turkic, Mongol, and Jurchen are all nomadic peoples. It is absolutely not feasible to completely change farming into pasture. ”

Ouyang Zhenhua looked left and right for a long time, and then went out of class and said: "The minister is the secretary of the military department, and he shouldn't have asked about civil affairs. The minister just wanted to remind the ministers that the Ministry of War could once again recruit a million reserve sergeants with families. ”

"Lord Ouyang has a heart." Yan Fu replied: "There will be as many as four million soldiers with one million sergeants and their families, but it is their duty to be called up by the state to defend the territory, and not all soldiers are willing to live in Siberia permanently. Once the three-year garrison mission is over, the imperial court will not change the defense, and the fear of the army will fluctuate. ”

Ouyang Zhenhua shook his head and retreated, and the various proposals of the other ministers were also rejected because of various concerns. After a morning of discussions, the court failed to come up with a way to make the people willing to take the initiative to emigrate.

Li Hongzhang, who was sitting in the chief, motioned to the ministers to calm down, and said with his hands in his hands: "The ministers saw that the emperor was thinking intently, and the court did not say a word for a long time. I wonder if the emperor has a countermeasure? ”

Indeed, since the beginning of the court meeting. Li Ming didn't say a word in the morning, just quietly listened to the ministers express their opinions. On the one hand, the feasible methods were screened from the proposals of the ministers, and finally a decisive conclusion was summarized, so that the emperor could be shown to be wise and tall. It is important not to wait for the emperor to make instructive remarks before the ministers have fully expressed themselves, so that the ministers will think that the emperor has made up his mind, so that they will no longer open their mouths to debate. This can easily lead to one-sided court speech. So much so that they listen to and believe and finally issue wrong policies. This is also the reason why as a superior person should be more cautious in words and deeds. On the other hand, as an emperor, you have to observe the expressions of your courtiers at all times, and observe from their expressions whether they are usable people. There are always people in the court, some people are worried about the world, some people care about their careers and others, and some people are breeze. Li Ming had already found those by the door, pretending to discuss problems with his colleagues around him, but they had indifferent expressions, you thought that the old man sitting far away would not be able to see it!

Li Ming was slandering the ministers in his belly, and suddenly heard Li Hongzhang ask himself. So he retracted his mind. Li Ming stood up and looked around for a week, and then first let the ministers who had been worshiping on the ground for a long time calm down: "Liang Qing said excessive publicity, I don't think so." The people were confident in the war in the north, and the reservists were being called up very smoothly, and I think this was the result of the strong propaganda in the early stage. As for the situation encountered now, it is also because the situation has changed, and it is not a mispublicity at this time and that time. As for the fact that the development of agriculture is affected by the weather, this is also an irrevocable fact. Industry is also unable to be developed on a large scale due to the lack of supporting facilities for transportation. This is something I failed to take into account in my previous plans. It would be unfair to punish your servants for this. If we talk about negligence, it is also a miscalculation. The first time I passed was in me. Ladies and gentlemen, please get up. ”

Li Ming took responsibility for it, and no one dared to really punish the emperor anyway. So much so that the ministers said that they were not doing a good job and pleaded guilty.

"Solving problems is more important than anything else. In the final analysis, immigration is how to make people want to go, and the key is the word voluntary. Whether it is active or passive voluntariness, the first point is that the people themselves are willing. The ministers had a lot of proposals, and most of them were tempting for profit. The method is right, people are all profit-seeking. Therefore, there are 10 acres of wasteland in exchange for 100 acres of fertile land, so the industrial and commercial taxes will be reduced or exempted, all of which make the people think that Siberia has greater benefits than the Central Plains, and drive people away. However, the winter in Siberia is too long, and the income from 100 acres of fertile land is only once a year. It is not as good as the Central Plains, and you can also use the income from working in the spare time. In addition, Siberia's inhabited wasteland, the distance is far and the transportation is inconvenient, even if the imperial court is completely exempt from industrial and commercial taxes, it is no match because of the high cost of transportation and time, so naturally no factory is willing to relocate. So I thought of a different way, and the way was to think of one, but it was also a bottom line. ”

"The ministers have been discussing for a long time, and they can't figure it out, and I ask Your Majesty to make it clear." Li Hongzhang replied with a smile.

"Since the master's words and learning, for thousands of years, the world has taken studying and becoming an official as the top priority. Although the Master's words did not mean this, they must have been deeply rooted, so I wanted to start from here. The people of the world know that since the end of last autumn, China and Russia have been engaged in constant wars, and since this spring, our navy has defeated the Russian army in the South Sea, and then our army has also attacked the Russian army in the north. A great military victory is naturally gratifying, after all, it costs money to fight, especially a big victory, which costs even more. As a result, universal access to education across the country this autumn will be delayed by three to five years due to lack of funding. However, in order to stabilize the newly occupied land, the imperial court gave preferential treatment to the Siberian region, not only for land exchange, tax exemption, but also for the popularization of education, and in the future, the selection of officials also gave priority to the locals. That's an attractive condition. ”

"Emperor Qi, since last year, the expenditure of the imperial court has indeed increased dramatically because of the war, but the investment in education has always been borne by the emperor. According to the minister's rough statistics, judging from the emperor's balance in previous years and this year's income, even if the reserves of the Forbidden City are not used, a delay of half a year is enough at most. "Sure enough, it is the head of the household, and Lin Qizhao has already calculated this precedent.

Li understood Lin Qizhao and glanced at him: "We can let the news out first, causing a panicked situation, and basically finish the immigration work in half a year, and then the national education will be popularized according to the original plan." At this time, the people who have emigrated and left have no land in their hometowns, and they can't go back to their hometowns if they want to. Hehe, anyway, it's for the people, and it's understandable that the white lie is understandable. If a small profit is not enough to attract immigrants, then use big profits to smash all the people in the world. As for how to carry out publicity, hehe, the official word has two mouths, and it is up to us how to say it. Li Ming's words can be said to have shocked the whole dynasty, and no one has ever said that. Li Ming suddenly said with a serious expression: "In short, Siberia must be placed under the direct and effective jurisdiction of the imperial court. The work of conscripting reservists still needs to be carried out, and it is a million people not counting their families. Not only can they further stabilize the situation in Siberia, but they can also be used to open up wasteland. But after our army captured Omsk, I believe that at this time Nicholas II will definitely clamor for another conscription to fight a decisive battle with our country. At this time, our country easily recruited a million troops, and we were also clamoring to fight across the Ural Mountains. ”

"Your Majesty. Although all European countries have grievances against Russia, they will not watch us Chinese enter Europe. They will certainly put pressure on both China and Russia, which is extremely conducive to ending the war as soon as possible. The ministers knew what to do. Yan Fu replied to the emperor and the old ministers. (To be continued.) )