Su Ran keenly perceived that this brief interval of peace was a rare opportunity for development for Great Qing. Every second had to be seized to accelerate the pace of development and build a solid foundation for coping with any renewed pressure from the powers in the future.
In the economic sphere, Su Ran increased investment in industrial and agricultural modernization. He ordered the establishment of multiple industrial bases nationwide to drive comprehensive industrial development through localized models radiating outward. At the selected industrial bases, a scene of bustling activity unfolded. Massive cranes waved their steel arms, precisely placing heavy construction materials into position. Workers wearing hard hats shuttled back and forth; some were erecting factory frameworks, the sharp and resonant sound of hammers ringing out, while others installed steel-making equipment, intently debugging every single component. Technicians holding blueprints discussed technical details animatedly with foreign experts, from time to time circling and sketching on the paper. In the distance, material transport trucks came and went, kicking up billows of dust as if playing a prelude of development for this land full of hope. Regarding the steel industry, not only was advanced foreign steel-making technology introduced, but domestic craftsmen were also encouraged to innovate technically, developing steel-making processes better suited to Great Qing's national conditions, increasi…
Chapter 33