bookrandom Chapter 563: Chinese people must have more children
Chapter 563: Chinese people must have more children
"The comparison of data is very telling."
Zhang Chi's fingers slid across a row of key numbers.
During the colonial era of the John people, ordinary farmers in the Bago region had only a little over one acre of arable land per person.
With this little piece of land, after deducting the rent and miscellaneous taxes, it is difficult to make a living.
What now?
After strong measures taken by Zhang Chi and the administrative team headed by Zhang Guangsong, and under the military deterrence of the Nanyang National Defense Force, the Nanyang government forcibly recovered and redeemed the excess land of the large landowners and estate owners.
In addition, immigrants and military reclamation divisions vigorously reclaimed wasteland and built water conservancy projects...
The average per capita arable land owned by the agricultural population in Bago region has reached 6.3 mu, which has increased several times.
This data doesn't seem like much.
But after the founding of New Daxia, each person only owned about 2.4 acres of land.
Compared to this, these 6.3 acres are quite a lot.
Of course, it still cannot be compared with the 11.7 acres per capita in Baiying.
"Six acres..." Zhang Guangsong silently calculated the rice production in Southeast Asia.
Thanks to the tropical climate, improved rice varieties and the initial promotion of chemical fertilizers, rice can generally be harvested two to three times a year in the Bago region.
According to conservative estimates, the yield per mu in a single season is 400 kilograms.
(Later hybrid rice could reach 800 kilograms)
6.3 mu * 2.5 seasons (average) * 400 jin/mu/season = 6300 jin
Assuming that a strong laborer consumes 600 kilograms of raw grain per year, this output far exceeds one person's annual food needs, and there is a large surplus that can be sold, stored or used to raise poultry and livestock.
"With adequate food and clothing, the foundation is now solid," Zhang Guangsong said with emotion. "Now that farmers have their own land, their enthusiasm is unprecedentedly high, and food security is basically guaranteed. This is the cornerstone for ensuring the safety of the people and the prosperity of the country."
"The foundation is there." Zhang Chi changed the subject, picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip, then said meaningfully, "But Guangsong, have you ever thought about how many futures this foundation can support?"
Zhang Guangsong was slightly stunned: "What does the commander-in-chief mean?"
Zhang Chi put down his teacup, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and thought rapidly in his mind:
"Let's take a typical household as an example. A middle-aged couple supporting two elderly people – that's pretty common, right? Currently, the average landowner is 6 mu (approximately 1.5 acres). For a family of four (two elderly and two middle-aged), that's 24 mu (approximately 1.5 acres). With careful cultivation and a few side jobs, they can live comfortably and even provide for their children's education."
He paused and continued to estimate:
"But what if this couple responds to the national call and has four children? Adding the elderly, that would make it a family of eight. The per capita arable land would instantly drop to 3 mu.
Although it is still better than the time of John, after deducting food rations, necessary production inputs and taxes, can the remaining surplus be enough to easily support four children to go to school?
Especially if they want to go to middle school or even university? I'm afraid it will be too tight, and by then the children will have to go home to help with the housework when they grow up."
What is currently being implemented is compulsory education. Compulsory education, which is funded by the state and provides free lunch, only applies to the primary school stage. If a child does not go to class when he or she reaches the age, the parents will be fined first, and if they refuse to correct their behavior, they will be sent to prison for reform.
This can certainly reduce illiteracy and increase literacy rates, but what about after primary school?
If Nanyang wants to develop and build, it needs more talents in middle schools and even universities.
For rural students, besides tuition, the major expenses for attending middle school or university are transportation (schools are inevitably far from the countryside), accommodation, and food expenses.
Zhang Guangsong frowned slightly, understanding Zhang Chi's concerns:
"Indeed, with more children, per capita resources are spread thin, and the pressure on education investment will increase dramatically. Perhaps... while encouraging childbirth, we should also emphasize eugenics and good parenting, and do it within one's means? Or, having two or three children and concentrating resources on their upbringing is also a good option?"
"Do what you can? Have two or three children?" Zhang Chi's voice suddenly rose, which made Zhang Guangsong's heart skip a beat.
"Guangsong, your thinking is very dangerous. It's a classic case of 'being content with a small fortune' and is extremely irresponsible to the future of our country and our nation."
Zhang Chi is not exaggerating, but he is very clear that in the complex region of Southeast Asia, the absolute population proportion of Chinese will always be a red line.
As for the consequences of allowing this red line to be crossed, he saw too many of them in later generations.
Just like the current Prime Minister Qiu, it is absolutely unimaginable that the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the mayor of the capital are both Indians.
Could General Dai now imagine that Gaul, for which he fought all his life, has become Gaulstan, with the streets full of them?
Zhang Chi had witnessed all of this with his own eyes before he traveled through time, so he couldn't help but be vigilant.
He pointed his finger:
"Look at what we have. Endless fertile land waiting to be cultivated, vast reserves of oil buried underground, inexhaustible rubber, tin, and forest resources, and abundant fisheries. And there's a rapidly developing industry. What do we lack? People, the Chinese people who share our blood and culture. Compatriots who can take root here, thrive, build, and protect this new home."
His tone was firm. No matter what others thought about this matter, he would enforce it even if it meant having the final say:
"If the United States of Southeast Asia is to truly become the foundation for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and a worry-free 'back garden' for future generations, what does it rely on? It relies on its people.
It relies on generation after generation of Chinese people who, like seeds, have taken root, sprouted, and spread out in this fertile soil. Without a sufficient population base, everything else is empty talk. So much for industrial power and cultural heritage, and by then, it will be nothing but castles on the sand.
He picked up the report and pointed at the figure of "6 mu per capita":
"What's the current land pressure? We have the ability to reclaim more land. Our agricultural technology will improve, yields will increase, and our industry will develop, which will absorb more people into employment and reduce the burden on the land. We can sell our oil and exchange it for more than enough food and equipment.
Resources have never been a reason for us to limit population; it is ideological cowardice and laziness that are the reasons.”
Zhang Chi's eyes were sharp, and he slammed the table:
"In my opinion, for a healthy Chinese couple, having four or five children is their duty. Having six or seven is commendable. Having eight or nine is a meritorious service, a national hero, and the state should commend them vigorously. They should be given substantial subsidies and honors. We should make having more children, and better children, a new social trend."
Should those who have only one or two children, or even no children, feel ashamed, feel that they have failed the country and the hardships their ancestors went through in expanding our territory? Having fewer than four children is disloyal to the national strategy and irresponsible to the future of the nation.
Different national conditions naturally lead to different policies.
Zhang Chi knew very well that if the Chinese in Southeast Asia did not have children, then everything he and everyone else were fighting for today would really be a waste of time for the natives.
These powerful words full of strong will made Zhang Guangsong feel overwhelmed and deeply shocked.
He realized that the President's population strategy was far more ambitious than he had imagined. It was almost a "reproductive war" that required the participation of the entire nation and concerned the expansion of the nation's living space.
As the chief cabinet assistant, it is natural that the President's requirements must be implemented if they are understandable, and those that are incomprehensible must be implemented even more resolutely.
So Zhang Guangsong patted his chest and promised:
"Yes, Commander-in-Chief, I understand. I will immediately organize the Interior, Education, and Health departments to research and formulate systematic policies to encourage childbirth, from prenatal care, childbirth subsidies, tax breaks for large families, education allowances, housing priority, to social honors and recognition, providing comprehensive protection and support.
We must ensure that having children for the country and spreading their family lineage becomes a national policy deeply rooted in the hearts of the people."
"Yeah." Zhang Chi's expression finally relaxed. He picked up his chopsticks again and picked up a piece of tender steamed grouper. "That's right. Land, food, and resources are not a problem."
"If there are problems, we can solve them through development. As long as we have the determination and courage, we will definitely be able to create a great future for the hundreds of millions of Chinese in Southeast Asia."