Zhu Yuanzhang could not help but attach great importance to this. Ma Yu’s analysis was common knowledge in his previous life, easily found all over the internet. Yet in this era, it was epoch-making and unique, pointing directly to the essence of the problem. Only by mastering the underlying laws could one formulate suitable systems. At the very least, one wouldn't blindly jump into a massive pit while knowing full well it lay ahead.
Ma Yu did not rush to answer this time. He knew that his analysis today might influence the future of China, especially his breakdown of the Song and Ming eras, which could directly impact specific policy-making. A minor error could spell disaster for countless people. Therefore, every sentence had to be careful, and every point had to be explained in detail and with clarity.
He took a moment to review all the points in his mind and added a few supplementary details. Confident there were no omissions, he finally began: "From the Qin and Han to the Sui and Tang dynasties, spanning over a thousand years, China’s productivity advanced rapidly. The most important metric for this is the output of iron and steel. It grew from a few thousand or tens of thousands of jin annually to over half a million jin during the Tang Dynasty."
Chapter 47