Chapter 1317: Year-End Assembly (Part 14)

"Regarding education, among all those in our Western Development Group between the ages of five and twelve, over sixty percent have already reached the level of the first grade of Primary School. They can read and write an average of over three hundred characters, and are basically proficient in addition and subtraction. We will continue to strengthen education for the remainder to ensure they can reach the normal level of a Primary School graduate.

Among the adults, a group of people with a spirit of learning has also emerged. They are self-studying and have achieved significant academic results. I have already selected a group of them, and they will undergo training at the Huaxia City Official School to provide help for the construction of the Western Development Group.

Next are some matters that are not very important, but are worth mentioning for the Western Development Group: we have discovered a large quantity of various wild vegetables and wild fruits on the land of the Western Development Group. For those with cultivation value, we have already sent Wax Seed to Huaxia City for cultivation and propagation.

For those that do not need cultivation, such as edible fungus, we are also collecting them in large quantities. Apart from what we consume ourselves, the rest will be sent to Huaxia City to exchange for grain, serving as one of the future ways for the Western Development Group to obtain grain, so as to reduce the pressure on Huaxia City to support the Western Development Group.

Regarding next year, our plan for the Western Development Group is to continue maintaining this year's policy and keep reclaiming wasteland.

At the same time, we will continue to expand the scale of livestock breeding. Next year, we plan to increase the number of sheep to over five thousand. Starting from the third year, we will have a certain capacity to provide more meat to Huaxia, alleviating the current problem of low meat supply in Huaxia.

We will also continue to domesticate and breed cattle, but it will be at least five years before there is any Beef to produce. For the time being, there will be no cattle that can be sent to Huaxia City, but we can guarantee that there will be no need for Huaxia to continue helping the Western Development Group by providing draft cattle.

As for livestock like pigs and ducks, the Western Development Group is currently unable to domesticate them on a large scale. Based on our actual situation, in the absence of sufficient surplus grain and feed, we will not raise pigs or ducks, and will only focus on large livestock such as cattle and sheep."

Afterward, Ce bowed to everyone: "My report is finished, thank you all!"

Thunderous applause erupted in the venue. Of course, this was ritualistic; regardless of whether the speech was good or not, everyone would still applaud. Because the venue was large, those sitting far back in the outer sheds could not hear clearly; even when it was Baifeng speaking, they could not hear him very clearly.

However, because seating was based on status and importance, even if they could not hear clearly, the impact was not considered significant.

Baifeng took out a planning document regarding the Western Development Group, cleared his throat, and said: "Ce has just finished reporting. I will now make some arrangements and some changes regarding the future plans of the Western Development Group. Listen carefully, listen closely."

Ce's hand was still shaking a little from excitement. Now that he heard something related to himself, he immediately picked up his pen, took a few deep breaths, and prepared to take notes.

Since returning, he had not yet met with Baifeng alone to report separately. All the data had been handed over, which Baifeng should have seen. Most of the major matters concerning the Western Development Group had likely been told by Changle; there was no need for Ce to tell Baifeng again separately.

"Regarding the Western Development Group, the first thing is the change in personnel organization."

Ce was greatly shocked and suddenly looked up. What did the King mean? Was he going to change the leadership, replace people?

"Previously, the leadership team of our Western Development Group was relatively chaotic because there were few people and not enough talent to form it. Now, these young people have basically been tempered, and some talent within the Western Development Group has also been selected, so we will make some slight changes so that they can better display their abilities.

Because the Western Development Group is relatively remote and more dangerous, but there are no soldiers stationed to protect it, more consideration needs to be given to safety.

I am now appointing Ce as the Western Development Group Head. In addition to being in charge of the reclamation, construction, and personnel appointment and management of the Western Development Group, I will also equip him with military command authority.

Ce shall organize a Militia within the Western Development Group according to his own situation, train them himself, and make his own arrangements. Daily life is work, and in the event of danger, the Militia must shoulder the responsibilities of soldiers.

Huaxia City will not provide extra wages or subsidies for the Militia, but the main Weapon will be provided and arranged. As for how to reward and how to incentivize, that will need to be figured out on your own.

Ce's treatment will be at the Deputy Regiment Level in the Ministry of War, and he may hold the Regiment Commander Military Rank. He only possesses command authority over the Western Development Group's Militia. Upon stepping down from the position of Western Development Group Head, the Ministry of War treatment will be canceled simultaneously; he will no longer be granted rank and will not be entered into the military register."

Ce's eyes shone as he listened, and he almost snapped the barrel of his pen. This personnel adjustment was entirely a reward for him; his power had suddenly increased quite a bit.

Originally, the people in the Ministry of War were somewhat dissatisfied when they heard that such a young man was suddenly given the rank of a Regimental Commander and the treatment of a Deputy Regiment Commander. They felt it was too unreasonable; they had struggled for so many years to get where they were, and he had obtained it in just one year—it was too unreasonable.

But once they heard that he only held the treatment and could only command those Militia, and actually had no real power in the Ministry of War, and that he would lose these powers immediately upon being replaced, then for the people in the Ministry of War, it was nothing.

It did not affect each other, nor did he compete with them, so it held no attraction for them.

Baifeng continued: "The Regimental Headquarters is established under the Regimental Commander, responsible for discussion, joint supervision, and joint construction of the Western Development Group. The members of the Regimental Headquarters are composed of several people sent from Huaxia City.

I order the Western Development Group to establish an Agricultural Department, Animal Husbandry Department, Medical Department, Education Department, and Construction Department internally. The appointments of the main leaders remain as before. As for the deputy positions and subordinate personnel, they shall be discussed and arranged by the Regimental Headquarters.

The Regimental Headquarters, as well as the heads and deputy heads of the next-level departments, may all be registered to obtain official positions and Official Seal. The next level down shall be arranged according to the treatment of a Clerk."

Hearing this now, Ce understood very clearly. Baifeng was making their internal affairs stricter and more formalized. From now on, matters of the Western Development Group would have to be discussed by the few of them. Although it was like that now, everyone had felt that they only needed to focus on their own tasks and leave everything else to Ce.

This somewhat weakened Ce's power, but it also reduced Ce's pressure. For Ce, it could barely be considered a good thing.