The Second World in Ancient Times

I sat quietly in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden, a gentle breeze ruffling my clothes, yet my mind raced with thoughts like a surging tide. While I was lost in thought, His Majesty approached, his presence more majestic than ever, his brows and eyes etched with the pride of triumph.

"My beloved concubine, in this fierce battle, I fought to the death with my soldiers and finally drove out the foreign enemies. However, I also know in my heart that without your brilliant ideas and modern knowledge, the fruits of victory would have been difficult to reap. I will definitely reward you handsomely." His Majesty's voice was like a loud bell, shaking the branches of flowers beside the pavilion.

I stood up and bowed, "Your Majesty, thank you for your compliment. This is the fruit of your great majesty's divine power, the loyalty and bravery of our soldiers, and the unity of the nation. I have only offered my humble opinion, and dare not take credit for it. Now that the world is at peace, it is time to think deeply and chart a bright future for our nation."

Your Majesty took my hand and sat down on the stone bench in the pavilion. "My beloved concubine, please share your thoughts. I am all ears."

I gently opened my red lips and spoke slowly, "Your Majesty, the importance of military affairs is crucial to the safety of our nation. We should emulate modern methods and establish a military academy, recruiting talented individuals to study various military techniques. Of course, we should also include military tactics and battle formations, but we should also include science and engineering disciplines, such as astronomy and geography to facilitate marches, mathematics, chemistry to create sophisticated equipment, and medicine and pharmacology to treat the wounded. Only in this way can we cultivate generals who are both skilled in both civil and military affairs, both wise and courageous, thus bolstering the strength of our army and making it a global power."

The military minister stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "Your Majesty, this is a very good plan. However, the academy is newly established, and we are short of teachers and have difficulty finding teaching materials. I wonder if Your Majesty has any good plans?"

I raised my head slightly and said calmly, "Don't worry, General. Our teaching staff can be a combination of veteran generals, learned scholars, and talented individuals from the public. We will have a dedicated person compile the textbooks, drawing on the essence of military history, both ancient and modern, both Chinese and foreign, tailored to our dynasty's national and military conditions, ensuring that students can apply what they learn. Furthermore, we can send students abroad for exchange and study, learning from others' strengths and overcoming our own weaknesses. This is also the key to strengthening our army."

The Minister of Education also bowed and said, "Your Majesty, military affairs are certainly important, but education is a long-term plan and cannot be neglected. Although we have won the war today, it also shows that there are still shortcomings in education. How should we rectify and reform it in the future? I hope Your Majesty will advise us."

I looked around and spoke eloquently, "Your Excellency is absolutely right. Education is the foundation of a nation. The most urgent task is to establish a wide range of institutions of higher learning, ensuring access to education for all, regardless of wealth or status. The curriculum within these institutions must be diverse. In addition to traditional subjects such as classics, history, and literature, practical studies such as natural sciences, craftsmanship, and commerce and economics should also be introduced. Furthermore, a clearly defined educational system should be established, from elementary schools to enlighten children, all the way up to the Imperial Academy to cultivate talented individuals. In between, there should be various specialized schools, tailored to individual students' abilities and their respective strengths. Academic awards should be established to encourage students to study diligently and serve the country. Only in this way can we cultivate pillars of society who are well-versed in both history and modern knowledge, possessing both moral integrity and talent, and lay a solid foundation for national prosperity."

The Minister of Revenue also expressed concern: "Your Majesty, the war has just ended, the treasury is empty, people's livelihood is in decline, and the road to economic recovery is full of thorns. I am at a loss for a good solution. I hope Your Majesty can provide some guidance."

I paused for a moment, then spoke aloud, "Your Excellency, rest assured. Economic revival is like sailing against the current; it requires a multi-pronged approach. First and foremost, we should prioritize agriculture and sericulture. We should reduce taxes and levies, develop water conservancy projects, and promote new farming tools and good practices to ensure fertile fields and full granaries. Secondly, we should support industry and commerce, establishing chambers of commerce in the capital and various prefectures to regulate merchant operations, encourage innovative crafts and business models, expand domestic and international trade routes, promote the flow of goods, and boost all industries. Furthermore, we can develop a financial system, establish official banks to manage money flows, facilitate foreign exchange, and control prices, so that the economy remains in good order and the nation's finances are abundant. This is a policy that enriches the nation and strengthens the people. If we persevere, economic revival is just around the corner."

The Minister of Culture also stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, our dynasty's culture is long-standing and profound. After this battle, we should further promote it and rally the people's hearts and morale. But I wonder how we can do this?"

I smiled and said, "Your Excellency, culture shines like stars in the night sky, guiding the nation's path forward. You should order historians and scholars to compile a general history of our dynasty and cultural classics, detailing the achievements of wise and virtuous rulers, the virtuous deeds of loyal ministers and righteous men, the treasures of literature and art, and the inheritance of rituals and customs. This will allow the people to understand the glory of our dynasty, appreciate the contributions of our ancestors, and increase national pride. We should also host various cultural events, such as poetry gatherings, calligraphy and painting gatherings, and music and dance festivals, so that the entire nation can immerse itself in the elegance of culture, cultivate its spirit, and purify its soul. We should also encourage cultural innovation, integrating exotic customs with local characteristics to create more moving and enduring cultural masterpieces. We can also establish cultural embassies and consulates in the four corners of the world to spread the charm of our culture, absorb the essence of foreign civilizations, and make our culture stand tall and shine among the world's cultural landscape."

In the harem, I summoned all the concubines and said solemnly, "Sisters, every woman has a share of responsibility for the success or failure of a nation. Although peace has finally arrived, the road ahead is long, and we must continue to work together. We should promote cultural studies in the harem, cultivating poetry, song, chess, calligraphy, and painting to enhance our cultivation. We should also pass on traditional skills like needlework, embroidery, and tea-making, and spread them among the people so that women can also acquire these exquisite crafts, which can help them build their own families and careers, or even enhance their lives. This, though a small but indispensable contribution to the nation's cultural development, will contribute to its development."

A concubine timidly asked, "Your Majesty, we have never been involved in such matters before. We don't know how to deal with them."

I patiently explained with a gentle smile, "Don't worry, little sister. I will arrange for the palace ladies and maids to teach you attentively, and I can also invite talented women from outside the palace to teach you. You sisters just need to study hard and learn from each other, and you will surely make progress. When you have learned enough, you can hold a cultural gathering in the palace to showcase your knowledge, which will also add a bit of elegance to the harem."

As various plans are gradually implemented, good news comes from all directions.

A local official joyfully reported, "Empress, our region has obeyed the imperial decree, and agriculture is flourishing. Newly promulgated farming methods and tools have doubled the yield. The people live and work in peace and contentment, and all praise the imperial court's virtue."

I showed a pleased look on my face: "Sir, please take good care of the people, pay attention to the agricultural situation, and report it in time."

Representatives from the business community also came to the audience and said, "Your Majesty, thanks to the support of the imperial court, our merchants have enjoyed smooth overseas trade and made considerable profits. Our dynasty's rare treasures are highly sought after in foreign lands, and money flows in like water. Furthermore, domestic industry and commerce have prospered as a result, and all industries are flourishing."

I said solemnly: "Merchants are the lifeblood of the nation. They should uphold integrity, abide by laws and regulations, promote benefits and eliminate abuses, and make new contributions to the prosperity of the nation."

Good news also reached the Military Academy: "Your Majesty, the students of the academy are diligent and have demonstrated extraordinary talent in military exercises. Their new knowledge has broadened their thinking and enabled them to command with confidence. They are truly the future hope of our nation's military."

I nodded in approval: "We must nurture it with care, so that it can achieve its ambitions and defend our country."

Cultural events also yielded remarkable results. The Minister of Culture reported, "Your Majesty, the poetry and calligraphy gatherings have attracted scholars from across the nation to showcase their talents, resulting in numerous masterpieces. These events have also edified the people, fostering a flourishing literary scene and deepening popular unity."

I smiled and said, "When culture thrives, a nation thrives. We must continue to innovate and promote the great elegance of our nation."

Yet, even amidst all this prosperity, there are hidden dangers. While education is becoming widespread, teachers are scarce in remote areas, leaving schools rudimentary. While commerce is booming, dishonest merchants engage in counterfeiting, disrupting the market. Cultural innovation, through a mixture of the old and the new, can be biased.

I solemnly addressed the Minister of Education, "Your Excellency, remote areas face educational difficulties. We can send qualified teachers to support them, and utilize modern communication methods, such as producing educational films and providing distance learning, so that students in remote areas can also receive education. This is the essence of educational equity and should not be neglected."

He addressed the Minister of Commerce, Li Se, saying, "Sir, dishonest merchants are doing evil, and the law of the land cannot tolerate it. We must strengthen market supervision, establish strict laws to punish evildoers, set up standards for product quality inspection, and ensure a clean market. Honest merchants should be rewarded and set as role models, so that business practices can return to the right path."

To the Minister of Culture, he earnestly said, "Your Excellency, cultural innovation should uphold the orthodox while also being innovative. You can gather together renowned literary figures and leading artists to discuss strategies for integration. We must ensure that cultural heritage does not become lost in vulgarity. We must ensure that innovative works possess both ancient charm and a fresh perspective. This is the true path to cultural prosperity."

Your Majesty and I have been closely monitoring all state affairs in the palace, rectifying them in due time and relieving the people of their distress.

His Majesty took my hand and said affectionately, "My beloved, I feel at home with you. I believe that with your and my sincerity, the dedication of my ministers, and the support of the people, our dynasty will be able to overcome all difficulties and achieve great prosperity."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I swore, "Your Majesty, I am willing to be with you through life and death, sharing honor and disgrace. I will dedicate my life to the bright future of our country and the well-being of our people. I will remain steadfast in this commitment, even if I die nine times."