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This is not an internal document, but a government annual report that is completely made public. Such documents are very important.
Zhao Yan did not make things difficult for them. Instead, he asked the Ministry of National Defense and the Prime Minister's Office to compile the relevant data and work information and send them to him. The report was written by the Head of State's Office.
In 1908, the Republican government accomplished many significant events, including the introduction of the Five-Year Plan, the armistice in the Far East War, fiscal reforms, and the popularization of compulsory education.
The Republican government's annual fiscal revenue, converted to Han Yuan, totaled 480 million yuan, while fiscal expenditure was 930 million yuan, and the newly added debt was approximately 400 million yuan.
With the national fiscal surplus almost zero, and the fiscal deficit under Zhao Yan's strenuous efforts to stabilize it, the Republic's debt was kept under control at 1.8 billion yuan, equivalent to the central government owing 140 million pounds in domestic and foreign debt.
It is estimated that fiscal revenue will exceed 500 million yuan next year, which is roughly 40 million pounds. It would take three years of not eating or drinking to pay off the debt.
Zhao Yan had no intention of hiding this data; rather, he wanted to make it clear to the world, because this money wasn't spent by Zhao Yan alone, but by the entire nation.
The scale of the Republic's industry increased by 1,200 percent compared to 1905. This figure deserves to be publicized in great detail. It represents a high-speed growth of twelve times, which is very impressive.
This data is only impressive because of the incompetent Qing Dynasty; they were so bad that the growth was so rapid when Zhao Yan took over.
The Republic's steel production has exceeded one million tons. In the past three years, 11,000 kilometers of new highways (including national highways, provincial highways, and special strategic highways) have been built, and 3,500 kilometers of new railways have been added.
Coal production exceeded seven million tons, oil production reached 13,000 tons, cotton production reached 120,000 tons, and silk production reached 8,000 tons.
The most important grain output, which is compiled from various regions, includes rice, wheat, and sorghum, totaling 127 million tons. Theoretically, the per capita grain possession could reach about 310 kilograms, which could solve the problem of food and clothing. However, the actual distribution of grain is extremely uneven.
The data collected by local governments is also vague, but it is estimated that about 45% to 82% of Chinese people are unable to solve their basic needs for food and clothing, and at least 15% of them are in extreme poverty and may starve to death at any time.
The Far East war had a huge impact on China's domestic economy and people's livelihood. The war led to the bankruptcy of a large number of people, and domestic resources were consumed in huge quantities. Compared with the period of Manchu rule, people's livelihood did not improve much, and those who were hungry were still hungry.
Moreover, China's cotton and cloth production is severely insufficient, and ordinary people cannot even afford the most basic set of clothes for each person. Let alone the need for changing and washing, even the most basic need for warmth cannot be met.
The people are neither warm enough to wear nor have enough to eat; this is the biggest political crisis the Republican government is currently facing.
Zhao Yan frowned as he looked at the compiled data. No wonder that old man Zhang Mingqi was shifting the blame! It wasn't that he couldn't write; he clearly just didn't want to!
Such central-level government reports are definitely going to be recorded in the national history. No matter how unscrupulous the historians are, they would not dare to tamper with such public reports in the history books.
This report, once it's published and announced to the world, is quite embarrassing. During the Qing Dynasty, they boasted every year about national peace and prosperity and abundant harvests. How come when it comes to the Republican government, the data clearly shows that the people are suffering?
Zhao Yan even suspected that his subordinates were still underreporting data; the data sent to him looked like it had been manipulated.
In reality, these days, the government simply doesn't have the capacity to compile these data in detail. Zhao Yan is asking for far too many things, and some of them are simply impossible to compile.
Even compiling population data and arable land area statistics is extremely difficult, let alone other daily necessities like firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea. Even if one person in a local government were to split their efforts in half, they still couldn't finish all these tasks.
The central audit department and the provincial audit offices have exhausted many officials to cobble together these figures, but they are still far from meeting Zhao Yan's requirements for "governing the country with data".
Zhao Yan suddenly had a sudden urge to write the government's annual report, but he didn't expect to dig a huge hole for himself. He didn't know if the public would curse his entire family after hearing the report's contents.
After reviewing all the data, Zhao Yan felt that he was no different from Emperor Wu of Han. In the past two years, his rule had been nothing but militarism, and the people were starving and freezing to death.
Zhao Yan was fortunate that the Chinese people had such great patience; even at this point, no one had risen up in rebellion. It was truly a stroke of luck.
Zhao Yan was also very frightened. Fortunately, he stopped in time. Otherwise, if the fighting had continued for another six months, the country would have been engulfed in flames of war.
The Republican government spent approximately 960 million Han Yuan (equivalent to about 75 million British pounds) on the war during the Far East War, which lasted for ten months and involved a total of 1.4 million troops and laborers.
In the Boer War, the British spent £220 million on military expenses. Although they suffered a great loss of face, they were not severely weakened and returned to normal life after the war.
This is what a world superpower is like. The great nation of China was almost brought down by 75 million pounds, but the British lost 200 million pounds and still acted like nothing happened.
The Far East war launched by Zhao Yan cost 650 million taels of silver in direct military expenses alone, equivalent to one and a half times the indemnity of the Boxer Protocol.
However, the Boxer Protocol allowed for payments to be made in installments over several decades, while Zhao Yan spent his money in less than a year. It would be strange if the people's livelihood and economy were not affected.
"No way, I can't take the blame for this!"
"All of this is the fault of the Manchus; they are the ones who caused all of this!"
Zhao Yan quickly put his mind to work and began to "polish" the government report. At any time, the best scapegoats are those who cannot speak out against it, and the Manchus are the most suitable scapegoats.
Zhao Yan also made up his mind to recruit one million prisoners from the reform camps next year to go to Xinjiang to grow cotton as atonement for their sins. In the future, all the Manchus in the reform camps will be sent to the border areas to build the country without pay.
Zhao Yan included all these measures in the government report. What should have been a proper annual government summary report was turned into a nationalist declaration by Zhao Yan, which began by criticizing the Manchus and promoting the theory of Han nationality superiority.
In short, they just shifted the blame in every way, never taking a single step for themselves, revealing the true colors of politicians on their pens.
Chapter 163 Tiananmen Speech Report
December 31, 1908, the Forbidden City in Beijing.
Standing atop Tiananmen Gate, Zhao Yanzheng addressed the assembled representatives from all walks of life, civil and military officials, and hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens from the capital and other regions, delivering the annual government report into a microphone.
Zhao Yan hasn't given a public speech or address in a long time. In the past two years, he has either been fighting tirelessly on the front lines or working day and night in the Imperial Study reviewing documents.
When the official announcement this month was made that Zhao Yan would deliver the Central Work Report speech on the last day of the year, it shocked people both at home and abroad. Not only people from all walks of life in China, but also reporters from many foreign newspapers, as well as ambassadors and diplomats from various countries, came uninvited to participate in this publicly announced speech by the head of state.
Everyone knows that President Zhao Yan sometimes speaks in a nonsensical way, but when it comes to public speeches and reports, Zhao Yan is always a man of his word and never goes back on his word.
In all his previous speeches, Zhao Yan has now fulfilled every single one of his promises.
The country is paying close attention to Zhao Yan's speech because this year is a pivotal year, as the newly founded People's Republic of China has successfully weathered the most severe war since its founding.
The republic that Zhao Yan founded was legitimate in its acquisition of power and stronger in its establishment than ever before in history.
Today's public address by the head of state will be related to the future development trajectory and governing philosophy of China, and broadly speaking, it concerns the vital interests of every citizen of the People's Republic of China.
In the past, these things were mostly circulated within the central government, and only a very few bigwigs in the core circle knew about them. But today, Zhao Yan is going to break with tradition and tell every Chinese person about them.
Domestically, the situation is being closely watched, and internationally, everyone is keeping a close eye on it. Foreigners have never seen anything like this before, and nowadays, no country makes any national summary report at the end of the year.
Zhao Yan, the head of the Eastern Empire, always does things that are unexpected and unimaginable. When the Northern Expedition was launched, the foreign powers thought that Zhao Yan would compromise, but their diplomats were tricked by Zhao Yan.
After the Northern Expedition established the nation, the great powers all thought that Zhao Yan would become complacent, close his doors and live his own life as a docile ruler. However, Zhao Yan's attitude was unprecedentedly tough, and he launched a Don Quixote-like challenge against the concessions and unequal treaties.
Around 1907, everyone thought that Zhao Yan would never initiate a war, and that the initiative was in the hands of Britain and Japan. However, Zhao Yan personally led an expedition to Northeast Asia and swept through Britain, Japan, and Russia.
Even now, the foreign powers still haven't guessed Zhao Yan's intentions. Everyone thought that after Zhao Yan won the war and consolidated his power, he would hold a grand military parade and then reward his officials.
But there was no grand military parade, no rewards, only a year-end work summary report.
Europe and America were baffled, but driven by curiosity, they still sent representatives and attached great importance to Zhao Yan's public speech.
At 10:00 a.m. sharp, Zhao Yan calmly walked up to Tiananmen Rostrum with the report documents in his hand, followed by a group of high-ranking military and political leaders of the Republic.
Those super big shots in the eyes of outsiders, such as Zhang Mingqi, Lu Zhaoxuan, Wang Chongshan and others, who were all leaders of their own factions, all became obedient little brothers following behind Zhao Yan as long as he was around.
On the Tiananmen Rostrum, many seats were arranged. The first row was for the central members and local members of the Supreme Governing Council. They were legally recognized representatives of all sectors of society in the Republic, and Zhao Yan's work report was theoretically addressed to them.
The second row consists of provincial governors, mayors and county heads who have performed exceptionally well this year, key military officers, and highly respected and influential figures from the public.
The third row was occupied by ambassadors and diplomats from various countries, as well as journalists from domestic and international newspapers and media outlets. No one had invited them, but they came on their own initiative, so as guests, they were given seats.
When Zhao Yan appeared, everyone on the city wall stood up and applauded to welcome him. Even the most arrogant British ambassador, Sir John Jordan, had to stand up straight and force a smile to greet the head of state. After all, Zhao Yan was a man who had personally defeated the British army, and he had done so fair and square without any trickery.
"Please sit down, no need for formalities!"
Zhao Yan smiled and waved in greeting, then strode confidently onto the unique podium at the highest point.
"Long live! Long live the Emperor!"
"The Führer has arrived!"
"Long live the Führer!"
The crowd in the square suddenly became excited. Even though they were far apart, no one could see the figure at the top of the city tower clearly, but everyone knew that only one man could stand there, and that man was Zhao Yan!
Zhao Yan raised his left hand towards the crowd: "Greetings, citizens of the great Republic of China! I, Zhao Yan, on behalf of the Republic Government and in the name of the Head of State, extend my greetings to you!"
The broadcasting system carried Zhao Yan's voice to every corner, and countless people heard the first greeting from the supreme leader in thousands of years. Zhao Yan did not verbally demand that every citizen of the Republic of China stand up, but he always put every citizen in a position to stand up.
The people were overjoyed, as if a giant wave had suddenly been stirred up on a calm sea. Before Zhao Yan's speech even began, the fervent emotions had already spread throughout Beijing.
Standing on the stage, Zhao Yan calmly faced the scrutiny of hundreds of thousands of people, and remained unmoved by the thunderous shouts of "Long live the Emperor!"
Ambassadors and diplomats from various countries were astonished and shocked. It was the first time they had witnessed the cohesion of this ancient nation. The man was not an emperor, yet he was more majestic than any emperor.
Everyone understood why Zhao Yan didn't hold a victory parade after the war; lack of money was secondary, the main reason was that it was unnecessary.
Why bother with military reviews? Reviewing me alone is enough!
Zhao Yan alone is worth a thousand troops; his presence alone can bring peace to the entire country.
Even if you were to bring the Dreadnought ashore for inspection right now, it wouldn't be as impactful as Zhao Yan's greeting to all citizens.
"Please all stand still for the first item on the agenda: raising the national flag and playing the national anthem!"
At Zhao Yan's command, the previously bustling crowd instantly fell silent, and everyone stood still.
Representatives from various countries also stood up one after another, some even with their legs trembling. Hundreds of thousands of ordinary people were silenced by Zhao Yan's words. This was something that power could not possibly achieve.
"Through the vicissitudes of time, the ancient Chinese nation has once again ushered in glory."
Our culture has been passed down to this day, and our nation is prosperous and powerful; the Republic is riding the waves and breaking through obstacles.
Wherever the army goes, it becomes my royal land!
The torrent of steel controls the rise and fall of the world, and the glory of the republic is determined to shine throughout the universe.
"He holds the fate of the nation in his hands; with him, the state is as solid as a rock."
As the stirring and majestic national anthem resounded, the black and red national flag, symbolizing the Republic, was slowly raised to the top of the flagpole.
The national anthem of the People's Republic of China is titled "The Glory of the Republic," and its lyrics are extremely aggressive, leaving representatives from various countries with darkened expressions.
As for the national flag, no one wanted to say anything more after seeing it. Zhao Yan was not only terrible at naming things, but also extremely lazy.
When designing the flag for the Revival Party, they used the simplest combination of black and red, with red on the left and black on the right.
After the founding of the nation, he took a shortcut and changed the colors of the party flag, making it black on the left and red on the right, which became the ready-made party flag.
The army's ensign is simpler, red on top and black on the bottom. The navy's ensign is also a ready-made one, folded diagonally, with a black triangle on the left and a red triangle on the right.
Anyway, all the flags are the same thing with different names, they're all black and red, and you can tell what kind of flag it is just by the color and position.
The local people are quite accepting of this color scheme, as black and red are the two most noble colors in traditional Chinese culture.
Foreigners were speechless. They had never seen such a lazy designer, who even did a shoddy job with the national flag, party flag, and military flag!
After the flag-raising ceremony, Zhao Yan, a man of few words and decisive action, immediately grabbed the microphone and began his formal speech.
He was afraid of wasting time and wanted to finish before lunch, otherwise there were so many people, including quite a few foreigners, and Zhao Yan felt it would be a waste of money to treat them to a meal.
"As of the end of this year, the above is the data on the Republic's development in recent years, as well as data on people's livelihood, etc."
Zhao Yan read aloud a large amount of government statistics from the script, clearly telling everyone what the country had done, what its achievements were, and what its shortcomings were.
After reading the data, Zhao Yan put down his speech and prepared to begin his stand-up comedy routine.
"Dear citizens of the Republic of China, I have read the nation's accounts to you. I do not know what you are thinking at this moment."
"But I need to tell every one of you citizens that this is not just a whim of mine, Zhao Yan, nor a show put on by the central government, nor a favor bestowed upon you by the state."
This is a right granted to each of you citizens by law. By fulfilling your obligations to the country, you enjoy the rights of a citizen of the republic!
You are not the lower class of this land, nor are you so-called untouchables; you are official citizens of this country!
"What is a citizen? A citizen is the master of this country! You are the source of all the central power of the country. Without you, the Republic is just a castle in the air, and I, Zhao Yan, am just an ordinary man."
You created everything, you gave everything!
"It is your taxes, your farming, your labor, your service, and all your contributions that have made this country what it is!"
"It's not the so-called 'the country exists because of you,' nor is it the bullshit idea that scholar-officials and the monarch share the world!"
"You are not the people, nor are you residents; you are full citizens!"
"I want to tell everyone one thing: from now on, the Chinese people have stood up completely. We will not bow down to foreign powers, and we will never kneel down to our own people!"
The crowd erupted in cheers once again. Zhao Yan had publicly pledged the rights of every citizen of the Republic, an irrefutable and inviolable promise made in public by the founding leader in the name of the central government.
Zhao Yan's speech is still ongoing.
"Citizens, while passionate promises and slogans are inspiring enough, we also need to focus more on the realities at hand."
"Chinese people aspire to strategize and plan, but they also need to be down-to-earth. Vague rights require real effort to realize."
"No road can be traversed by talking alone. We must rely on our hands to overcome obstacles, on our feet to climb mountains and cross valleys, and endure countless hardships to keep moving forward."
"I don't know where the end is, and I can't tell you what our ending will be."
"But I know that the Republic can only move forward, and it will always move forward."
"While I am standing on this stage giving my eloquent speech, while you are filled with passion and enthusiasm, countless compatriots are struggling to survive below the poverty line."
"We don't need lofty pity; we need down-to-earth development. Helping every citizen of the Republic escape cold and hunger is the central government's inescapable duty."
"Here, in the name of the Head of State, I report to every citizen of the Republic on the direction of the future work of the republican government."
"The new five-year plan has begun. It is expected that by 1913, the Republican government will promise to universalize compulsory education, implement large-scale infrastructure projects to drive national economic development, thoroughly reform agriculture, and undertake unprecedented industrial construction."