Chapter 65 of Part II

  Xu Jin and Zhou Lun's actions were particularly swift and quick. By the next day at noon, they had gathered reporters from all major newspapers in the empire. Reporters, as a new profession in the Chinese Empire, spread rapidly throughout the empire in less than three years. Initially, it was a profession that some down-and-out scholars were forced to take up for a living. Later, after newspapers became popular in the empire, those former down-and-out scholars surprisingly became stars. In this situation, reporters as an industry emerged. The person who first coined the term "reporter" also took it from: recorder of new events. When Zhou Lun and others arrived in this world and learned about the term "reporter", they truly admired the person's ability to "predict the future".

  "Mr. Prime Minister, I am a reporter from the Imperial Times. May I ask you, with the new immigration plan implemented in our Great Empire, do you think it will resonate with the common people who have left their homes?" asked a young man wearing a pair of modern glasses and an imitation imperial military uniform.

  The current empire's clothing can be said to be diverse. In addition to the traditional long shirt of the Ming Dynasty, the popular clothing among young men in the empire is a replica version of the Imperial Army's land army uniform. Women's clothing is also diverse.

  Xu Jin looked at the young man and said, "This reporter's question is good, I remember. Our Chinese nation is a united nation. Perhaps, as you said, the common people do not want to leave their homes. But our current territory..." He made a sweeping gesture with his hand and continued, "From the North Sea (Arctic Ocean) in the north to the South China mainland in the south. With so much land, how can we not have our people living on it? I believe that if this land is divided among each citizen, every citizen will become a 'landlord'. Moreover, citizens do not need to worry. As long as they pay a certain amount of money, they can receive cheap labor from the government to work for them. This is a matter of course. Speaking of the people's hometown feelings, our immigration policy is not just about one family's migration, but rather it involves large-scale migration, from small villages to entire towns."

  Another young female journalist stood up and said, "Prime Minister, I am a reporter from the China Business News. Could you please tell us what specific measures will be taken to support businesses in this immigration plan? According to my review of the immigration implementation plan, there are only a few preferential policies and regulations for imperial businessmen or business groups."

  Xu Jin looked at the female reporter in surprise. To think that women's rights have improved so much now, but not to this extent. Xu Jin leaned into the microphone and said, "I'd like to ask all our friends and fellow journalists to give a round of applause to encourage this beautiful reporter." He led the applause himself. Xu Jin continued, "Miss Reporter, first of all, I must clarify that although this immigration policy may not be very supportive of commerce, it's because this large-scale migration project is a macro-level population density control issue. Therefore, the Empire will not provide too many policies for commerce or industry. However, I hope you'll read the latest issue of the Empire's Geographic Magazine, which details the rich resources in our new territories and the livelihood issues of so many people. These are business opportunities that astute entrepreneurs can grasp, aren't they? Miss Reporter, are you satisfied with my answer?"

  The female journalist nodded slightly with a hint of red on her face and said: "Very satisfied with your answer, Prime Minister!"

  A middle-aged journalist raised his hand to indicate he had a question. Xu Jin pointed at the journalist and said, "Alright, I'll leave the last question for you."

  A middle-aged journalist stood up and said, "Thank you, Prime Minister. I am a reporter from China News Service. May I ask the Prime Minister, what is the current land area of the Empire? Are there any new expansion plans for the Empire? Also, will the Empire continue to migrate from Central Plains to other places in the next few years or even decades?"

  Xu Jin humorously said: "I'm really afraid of all you journalist friends, your last question is equivalent to three questions. Alright, I'll answer them one by one."

  "First," Xu Jin raised one of his fingers, "the empire's current area has not been statistically calculated, but preliminary estimates suggest that the empire's territory now covers 240 million square kilometers. However, we only have more than 70 million people, which means there are less than three people per square kilometer of land. This is far from enough. Our land should have at least sixty people per square kilometer."

  "Secondly, we should all know that our Chinese nation has always been a peace-loving nation since ancient times. Our broad-mindedness and tolerance have forgiven countless invaders. We are the Celestial Empire. However, now there are other countries that despise the dignity of our empire, so the empire must respond accordingly. There is an old saying: 'Those who offend the heavenly authority of China will be punished no matter how far away they are!' So, what you said about the empire expanding is not even within the empire's consideration range. Our Chinese nation, descendants of Yan and Huang, act with a mindset that if others do not provoke us, we will not provoke them."

  Xu Jin looked at the reporter below and continued: "As for your third question, whether to continue migrating. It can be said that this is not necessarily the case. If there are more people in other places, then priority will be given to places with more people, rather than Zhongyuan."

  Xu Jin finished answering and the whole venue erupted in warm applause. Xu Jin gestured for the applause to stop and said, "Next, Minister of National Defense Zhou Lun from the military will answer your questions."

  Zhou Lun stood up and walked towards the podium. He said to Xu Jin, who had just missed his turn: "Hurry up and end this press conference. My sister-in-law's funeral is about to start."

  A journalist stood up, ignoring the people around him who were pulling his clothes, and said: "Minister Zhou, I am a reporter for the Songshi Defense Weekly (this is a professional newspaper run by the Song Yingxing family, because they have the opportunity to come into contact with military and political figures, so this professional national defense and military newspaper is an important reference for European countries to understand China's military strength later). I would like to ask you about the implementation of the immigration plan in cooperation with the Ministry of Military Affairs. Can you give a general idea of the troop movements and the tasks that the army will undertake?

  He nodded and said, "This reporter wants to reveal military secrets." He made a joke and continued, "My Imperial People's Army has already recruited 500,000 reserve troops. Everyone has seen it. Our Ministry of War is preparing to establish new field armies while expanding the navy and army. So in terms of military mobilization, we will have a certain ratio allocated to assist the success of the immigration plan. As for the tasks that the military will undertake, there is only one: 'Ensure the safety of people's lives and property, and maintain the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens abroad.'"

  Zhou Lun's words were perfectly reasonable, neither mentioning going out to invade nor saying it was an occupation, but only saying it was protecting one's own people. Immediately won over these reporters who wanted to expand their territory and thought they weren't robbers. A thunderous applause filled the room.

  Zhou Lun waved his hand and signaled everyone to be quiet, saying: "Everyone, please keep quiet. There are two more questions, so let's hurry up."

  A young man, dressed in a rather avant-garde manner, stood up and said: "Minister, I am a reporter from the Jinghua Daily. May I ask, do you think that our Imperial Chinese military can guarantee that our empire's territory will not be attacked by hostile nations? According to intelligence we've gathered domestically, it seems like the whole world is against our Empire."

  "Of course, I think there are no eternal enemies or friends between nations. I believe our People's Army can completely block all enemies outside the country. Moreover, His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Chinese Empire has issued an order that even if we are at odds with the whole world, we have the confidence to defeat all invaders. Because of our military strength, our million-strong army tells us: 'Those who offend the heavenly authority of China will be punished no matter how far away they are!' He said with a professional smile: "What do you think? My respected journalist friends."

  The press conference came to a successful end, and the reporters left with big smiles on their faces. Their smiles told us that they had gained a lot, and at least we don't have to worry about the sales of the next issue of the newspaper.

  Li Min's funeral was held in a quiet atmosphere, with only some military officers and government officials from the imperial court attending. In a specially made crystal coffin, Li Min lay peacefully, her slightly raised abdomen telling us that she had been pregnant at the time of her death. After careful makeup by the mortician, Li Min no longer had the appearance of a dead person. What was left was just like a quiet sleep, as if she were lying in bed asleep, only never to wake up again.

  Zhu Xiao sat quietly beside the crystal coffin, gazing at his 'sleeping' wife inside. A tear of sorrow fell involuntarily from his slightly red eyes and landed on the coffin, then slid down along the smooth surface.

  Zhu Xiao raised her slightly trembling hands, wanting to caress her lover's face again, but found that they were already separated by a thick crystal.

  Xu Jin and Zhou Lun walked over quietly, patted Zhu Xiao's shoulder, and said softly: "A Xiao, the funeral can begin."

  Zhu Xiao took a deep breath and stood up, saying: "Alright, let's begin!"

  Xu Jin waved his hand at the orchestra below, indicating the start of the dirge. A low and mournful melody filled the entire hall. Government officials began to walk in one by one to pay their respects. According to imperial regulations, they did not need to kneel, but these people had apparently discussed it beforehand and all performed the kneeling ceremony.

  The officers walked in, took off their military caps, and knelt down on one knee. Perhaps they had already discussed it beforehand, or perhaps it was just a temporary impulse. In any case, it gave Zhu Xiao a great shock and moved him deeply.

  The several filial sons who came also respectfully returned the courtesy. Zhu Xiao, with tears in his eyes, shook hands one by one with the officials and generals who came to pay their respects.

  Song Mingfeng followed her brother to the mourning hall, where she saw Li Min with a solemn and dignified expression, yet still elegant. Although he was already dead, Song Mingfeng felt an inexplicable pang of jealousy. After feeling jealous, she also felt sympathetic, and in her heart, she silently said: "Li Min, you shouldn't have died. You didn't even think about your own son. Don't worry, I'll take care of him for you." After saying these words to herself, she felt a burning sensation on her face, and she secretly glanced at Zhu Xiao's expression.

  The worship ended in a solemn atmosphere, and Xu Jin turned his head slightly to glance at Zhu Xiao, then said to the eight soldiers of the honor guard standing beside him: "Take it to the Imperial Royal Cemetery."

  Zhu Xiao watched as the soldier walked to the coffin and prepared to lift it, softly shouting: "Hold on, let me take another look."

  Zhou Lun and Xu Jin stood on either side of Zhu Xiao, holding his hands, and said to the soldiers: "Take him away."

  Zhu Xiao watched as the woman he loved walked further and further away from him. At this moment, he clearly knew that his heart had followed his wife's burial and gone far away with her. He didn't know where it would drift to.

  The empire's immigration policy was quickly approved in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, while industrial and commercial giants such as Nanfang Military Industry in Yueyang, Nanfang Energy in Nanchang, and Youai Trade in Changsha had long been confidently preparing.

  After nearly twenty days of publicity through newspaper media, major newspapers used two to three pages after the press conference to report and explain the new immigration policy and subsidy measures in great detail. At the same time, government agencies at all levels also officially issued immigration policies. Local immigration offices began formally accepting citizens who wanted to immigrate.

  In the village chief's home, a group of young people were shouting: "Village chief, our family has been here for generations and never left. I propose that this time we collectively immigrate to that place in America. I went to town to read the newspaper, their climate is similar to ours, just with one small difference - when it's daytime here, it's nighttime there, and when it's nighttime here, it's daytime there."

  Another young man suddenly enlightened and said, "Tiān Gē (Brother Sky), I finally understand that the sun runs to the other side at night. I was wondering where the sun went after the moon came out. My grandma told me it went to rest, but now I know she lied to me."

  The young man who started speaking gave the other young man a shut-up look, and said to the elderly village chief: "Village Chief, you should consider it. It's not necessarily a bad thing for us to go out."

  The village chief looked at the young man's eyes and said to several elderly people beside him: "Old partners, you are the elders of our Liu surname family. Let everyone raise their hands to show whether they agree to immigrate or not. Raising hands means opposition, and not raising hands means agreeing to immigration."

  Several old men looked at those young people making various begging expressions beside them and helplessly put down the hands they were about to raise.

  The village chief looked at the ecstatic young people and said, "Alright, don't be too happy. We have a request, after we old guys die, our bodies must be buried here."

  The young man was too lazy to say anything at this time and hastily agreed.

  The village chief sighed and said: "Xiao Tian, you're knowledgeable, tomorrow go to the immigration office to register, our Liujiagou Village will migrate to that America as a whole."

  Such things have been staged in villages and towns all over the country.

  The work of the immigrants is proceeding rapidly. The first batch of 500,000 immigrants to Penglai Province (formerly known as Kyushu and Shikoku Islands in Japan) have successively set off by warships or civilian transport ships.

  The Americas are also not fully prepared for the previous work, so they can only sign up now and wait until after the Spring Festival to further immigrate. As for the Siberian region, due to the extremely cold winter, it is mainly inhabited by northerners in principle, but it also needs to wait until next spring when the army will do the preliminary work, establish a foothold and fortresses before immigration can take place.

  Zhu Xiao slowly recovered from the pain of losing his wife. At least now he has started to handle some important matters that the members of the parliament cannot handle. Looking at Xujin sitting calmly in front of the desk with a strange smile, picking up the documents brought by Xujin on the table: "Xujin, what's going on again? Can't you decide either?"

  Xu Jinman said with a smile: "It's not that I couldn't make up my mind. It's just that I think you should take a look at this document before we talk, it won't be too late."

  Zhu Xiao shook his head with a hint of a smile, picked up the document on the table and opened it to see that it was written: A proposal for the establishment of the Great Chinese Empire Football and Basketball League.

  Without looking at the detailed content, Zhu smiled and closed the folder: "Great, someone actually came up with this method. Who did it?"

  Xu Jin smiled and said, "It was that kid Peng Ying. You know he's really into soccer, so he set up some Golden Dragon Soccer Club in the army. Later, after having a ton of food with the boss of Yong'ai, they talked about this stuff. I didn't expect the boss to be so clever, so they came up with this."

  "En, it's best if these things don't have national intervention. Let them develop with the market economy and we can just do some suitable supervision."

  Xu Jin was just about to express his agreement when a knock at the door came from outside.

  Zhu Xiao said to the outside: "Brother Nan, just come in."

  Chen Jinnan walked in and said: "Your Majesty, the Russian envoy has arrived and is waiting to be received at the royal reception hall."

  The Russian envoy, while waiting, took the opportunity to examine the layout of the entire hall. Golden curtains hung from the four pillars in the hall and swayed gently with the breeze. The entire hall was very simply decorated, without any of the luxurious grandeur or elegant style of his own country's palace, but it was that one chair in the middle, with an ancient desk in front of it, covered with stacks of documents and drafts. A lightweight pen made of some unknown material, similar to a goose feather pen from his own country, lay on the desk, perhaps left there by the owner who had gone out without tidying up. The Russian envoy thought so. Behind the chair hung a world map, which was so detailed that even the world maps in his own country's palace felt inferior. Next to the map hung an excellent sword from an ancient Eastern country. In the eyes of the envoy, although it was hanging there, it seemed as if it could be drawn out at any moment to take his life. He quickly turned his head away and continued to examine the surroundings.

  A shout came from outside: "The Emperor has arrived!"

  The minister hastily adjusted his clothes and appearance, standing respectfully on one side.

  I walked in, carefully sizing up this traditionally dressed Russian with a full beard. His eyes were clear and transparent, revealing a hint of cleverness. I pulled out a chair and sat down, saying: "Russian Envoy, what brings you to see me today?"

  The envoy sent by the dispatch is also a person who is proficient in Chinese. Now, since the Chinese Empire is at war all over the world, many people from various countries are also working hard to learn Chinese. It's not surprising that this envoy can speak Chinese.

  The ambassador, with a slight bow, said: "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia, Special Envoy Alexander Omontovsky. I have the honor to present to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China." He then took out the credentials from his pocket and presented them respectfully.

  Chen Jiannan handed over the national letter and turned to hand it to me. I didn't look at his national letter and said, "Mr. Alexander, there is no conflict between our country and Russia. Why did you suddenly come to visit so rashly?"

  Alexander was apparently taken aback by my blunt and direct words, but quickly regained his composure and said: "Of course, Your Majesty is right. Our countries have indeed had little contact with each other in the past. However, due to the recent frequent movements of your country's troops along our border, His Imperial Majesty has sent me as an envoy to your country with the aim of hoping that the two countries can live in peace and not invade each other."

  I slammed my hand on the table and said: "Mr. Alexander, are you threatening the Chinese Empire by saying this?"

  Alexander was visibly startled, his face already sweating, and said: "No, no, of course not. The Chinese Empire is the celestial dynasty, it will certainly not covet the territory of our small barbarian country. It's just that my emperor deeply feels uneasy about the frequent deployment of your invincible army on our border, so I was sent to see you, hoping that the two countries can sign a new border treaty and a non-aggression pact."

  I burst out laughing and said, "Of course, of course, Your Excellency has traveled far to come here, it's really tiring. Moreover, now that autumn is approaching and winter is just around the corner, if Your Excellency were to brave the biting cold winds and heavy snows of Siberia?"

  Alexander was also completely bewildered by the sudden change in my expression, thinking to himself: 'This Chinese emperor's face changes faster than Moscow's weather.' But he said: "Of course, His Majesty the Emperor of our country has given me special privileges to sign a treaty with Your Majesty. At the same time, I would like to tour your country next spring and then return home."

  "I was just going to say that: 'Alright, alright, Mr. Ambassador can go down first and take a good tour of our country's great mountains and rivers, from Siberia in the north to South China, I think it will take Mr. Ambassador several years to finish seeing everything.' And then he said to Chen Jinnan who was standing beside him: 'Jinnan, you find someone to accompany Mr. Ambassador more often and also protect Mr. Ambassador's safety.'"

  Chen Jinnan also responded in coordination: "I understand."