Su Ran sat upright in the imperial court, listening with a grave expression as the ministers engaged in a fierce debate over the pace of the New Policies. The atmosphere in the hall was as stifling as the air before a storm, with the voices of the officials rising and falling, as if to lift the very roof from its foundations.
The faction advocating for a slower pace of reform was led by the elderly Minister of Rites. Stooped and walking with a slight stagger, he stepped forward, cupping his hands in a formal bow. His face was etched with anxiety, and his hands trembled slightly as he bowed low, as if burdened by heavy concerns. "Emperor," he began slowly, "the New Policies have begun to show results, and the crises both at home and abroad have been temporarily resolved. Yet, the Great Qing has endured much turmoil, and the people are exhausted; they are like a long-term patient in urgent need of recuperation. If we continue to push reforms with such fanfare now, I fear the people's strength will be overtaxed, leading to new chaos. The most pressing priority is to rest and consolidate our current achievements, allowing the people time to catch their breath and recover. Only then can we ensure long-term stability."
As soon as he finished, many ministers nodded in agreement, driven either by concern for the people's livelihood or because their own interests were tied to traditional stability. However, the radicals, represented by the Minister of Works, held the opposite view. The Minister of Works’ face flushed red, his eyes wide, and he gestured emphatically, as if trying to convey his urgency and resolve through his very posture. Stepping forward, he exclaimed passionately, "Emperor, the great powers surround us like hungry wolves; would they truly grant the Great Qing a long respite? To slow down reforms now is to grant these powers another opportunity to contain us. Only by pressing our advantage and accelerating the reform process can we quickly strengthen our national power and take the initiative amidst their encirclement. If we miss this opportunity, I fear the Great Qing may never rise again!"
The two factions stood their ground, neither willing to yield, and the sounds of their debate echoed through the hall. Su Ran knit his brows, his gaze shifting between the two groups. His heart surged like a turbulent sea as he weighed the pros and cons of each argument, and beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. He knew both sides held valid points. Slowing the reforms would indeed give the people time to recover and consolidate the gains already made; yet, accelerating them would allow the empire to seize the moment and rapidly bolster its national strength to counter external threats. This decision would dictate the future of the Great Qing; there was no room for error.
After a moment of contemplation, Su Ran took a deep breath and spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable majesty. "Ministers, both sides offer points of merit. I believe that the path of reform is like sailing against the current; if you do not advance, you fall back. At the same time, we must consider the people's livelihood; we cannot be too hasty."
Hearing the Emperor speak, the hall fell silent. The ministers turned their eyes toward Su Ran, awaiting his further instructions. Su Ran continued, "I have decided that while the general direction of our reforms will remain unchanged, we shall make appropriate adjustments to our methods. For those projects that have already shown results and carry significant impact on the lives of the people, such as the modern academies and the arsenals, we shall continue to push forward steadily and increase our investment to ensure their growth. As for reforms that have not yet been fully implemented and may cause significant shocks to the people's livelihood, such as large-scale changes to the economic system, we must proceed with caution. We will first conduct trials in select regions, conduct in-depth research, and summarize our experiences before expanding them further. In this way, we can steadily enhance our national power while minimizing the negative impact on the lives of our people."
Hearing the Emperor's decision, even those who remained somewhat dissatisfied expressed their obedience, seeing that the Emperor’s stance was firm and his decision balanced.
Just as Su Ran thought the matter had been settled, unexpected news arrived from the south. Chen Qiyuan’s textile factory had come into violent conflict with several local, traditional textile workshops. The owners of these traditional workshops, faces filled with indignation, had gathered before the local magistrate’s office with a collective petition, shouting slogans against machine-based textile production with great fervor. Alongside them were unemployed workers, gaunt and pale, their eyes filled with confusion and helplessness, calling out for the imperial court to grant them a way to survive. They believed that the efficiency of Chen Qiyuan’s machines had stolen their livelihoods, causing many small workshops to go bankrupt and leaving many laborers without work. They were preparing a joint petition to the court, demanding restrictions on the development of the machine textile industry.
When Su Ran learned of this, his heart sank. He understood that while this appeared to be an internal conflict within the textile industry, it was, in reality, a reflection of the collision between traditional and emerging industries during the implementation of the New Policies. If not handled correctly, it would not only affect the textile industry but could also trigger a chain reaction in other sectors, shaking the very foundations of the New Policies. How was Su Ran to balance the development of traditional industries with that of the emerging ones to resolve this impending conflict? And while solving these internal issues, how was the Great Qing to deal with the external threats that could resurface at any moment?