Chapter 627: Nan Hua University

In chaotic times a nation is founded, martial prowess secures borders, and civil governance pacifies the realm. While the Nanko Army sweeps across Nanyang, battles Java, and unifies the maritime frontier, the reconstruction of the capital Huadu is quietly taking shape in a scale far beyond what the world imagines.

Everyone assumes that at the outset of a new regime, the first tasks must be building government offices, expanding barracks, repairing official residences, and establishing a central administrative system, to first solidify the framework of rule.

But Jiang Anguo gave a completely different answer: atop the ruins, what first rose in Huadu were not government buildings nor military headquarters, but a series of higher education institutions bearing the future destiny of the nation.

Huadu, tempered by the fire of war, is littered with ruins and broken walls, the smoke of gunfire not yet fully cleared, and the city's infrastructure largely devastated.

After the construction army arrived, instead of first repairing roads or erecting an administrative center, they immediately completed a survey of the city's core parcels.

They allocated all the land at the very center of the city—the most central location, with the broadest view and the most fertile soil—as land for the Higher Education Park.

After months of nonstop construction, on the scorched ruins rose one modern university building after another—simple in style, spacious in layout, and equipped with modern facilities—arranged neatly and grandly, completely overturning the old, crude educational model of the Nanyang region.

One by one, higher institutions specially designed to cultivate talent for Nanko's future took shape, with complete systems and full disciplines, covering all core fields required for nation‑building.

They encompass the nine core universities: Nan Hua National University, Nan Hua Finance University, Nan Hua Medical College, Nan Hua Engineering University, Nan Hua Agricultural University, Nan Hua National Defense University, Nan Hua Military Academy, Navy Academy, and Armored Academy.

From comprehensive liberal arts and sciences, finance and livelihood, medical welfare, to heavy industry, agricultural fundamentals, national defense strengthening, and specialized maritime‑land armored martial arts.

The entire Higher Education System, layer upon layer, leaves nothing uncovered, fully establishing the complete foundation for Nanko's nation‑building talent cultivation.

The layout of the whole university city is ingeniously thoughtful and profound, breaking the traditional scattered distribution of urban schools.

All universities are arranged in a circular array evenly around the very center of Huadu, encircling it in a tidy, grand manner, symbolizing the convergence of culture and education, talent nurtured from all directions, and united nation‑building.

Yet at the very center of the nine universities' circular enclosure, no plaza, monument, or administrative hall was built, nor any landscaped garden; instead, a vast expanse of level, fertile, contiguous farmland was preserved and cultivated.

This land, situated at the city's core where every inch is priceless, is not used for ornamental display but as a genuine productive training field, a compulsory practical classroom for all Nanko students.

Jiang Anguo's move is far‑sighted, embodying the core philosophy of nation‑building education.

Having endured the fires of chaotic times, he knows better than anyone that a nation's foundation lies in the people's livelihood, which in turn rests on grain, and that a prosperous era begins with knowing hardship, being pragmatic, and staying true to one's heart.

This central farmland is the place where Nanko students cultivate themselves, comprehend the Dao, and launch their careers.

Regardless of noble or humble birth, regardless of field of study—whether liberal arts and management, science‑engineering and medicine, or cadets training for a strong army.

All students must enter the fields, work with their hands, sow, till, and harvest, personally experiencing the full cycle of spring planting, summer weeding, autumn harvest, and winter storage.

What Nanko seeks to cultivate has never been pampered scholars who argue on paper, nor elite detached from the people, but talents who understand livelihood, know hardship, are grounded, and can get things done for governing and industry.

By letting students personally experience the hardship of labor, they can appreciate how hard each grain comes, understand the people's suffering and toil, and value the nation's stability and peaceful times.

More importantly, all students must keep their original purpose in mind, realizing that scholars should come from the people, learn from the people, and serve the people.

In the future, whether entering the court, joining industry and mining, rooting at the grassroots, or serving national defense, they must never forget their original intent, empathize with the populace, and use their skills to give back to the nation and benefit the people.

This is Nanko's unique educational path, and also the newborn regime's strongest foundation for nation‑building.

The campus buildings are completed, the layout set, but what the nation lacks for education is never the structures—it is the talent of students.

In these chaotic times, Nanyang's local education is weak; native students are few and lack solid knowledge, unable in the short term to sustain the scale of the nine universities, let alone meet Nanko's rapidly growing construction needs.

Military‑political expansion, industrial deployment, infrastructure rollout, maritime defense construction, medical welfare, and fiscal‑economic trade all urgently need large numbers of high‑quality, modern talent.

To address the urgent need, Jiang Anguo planned early, launching a massive talent recruitment and student enrollment program, personally finalizing generous policies to attract talent and students nationwide.

The largest and most central recruitment effort was a special liaison with Southwest University.

At that time, domestic wars raged and the situation was turbulent; many universities struggled to operate, with dilapidated buildings, scarce supplies, and insufficient funds, leaving students without access to education and a bleak future, unable to advance academically and even lacking a stable livelihood.

Jiang Anguo specifically mobilized a large number of civil officials and Cultural Education Envoys to form a dedicated recruitment team, traveling to Southwest University to conduct large‑scale enrollment.

The recruitment site was grand and sincere, with no forced conscription or profit‑driven coercion, only full sincerity and generous guarantees.

The Nan Hua Special Envoy publicly addressed the entire faculty and student body, meticulously presenting the brand‑new educational environment of Huadu University City, its comprehensive teaching facilities, and its stable, peaceful learning atmosphere.

At the same time, an extremely attractive preferential policy was offered: any student who voluntarily moves south to study at any Nan Hua institution will have all tuition, miscellaneous fees, and textbook costs waived.

Uniformly provide clean, comfortable student dormitories, with meals and lodging fully covered and supplies fully stocked.

Monthly full living allowances are disbursed, ensuring students have no worries about clothing, food, and can study with peace of mind.

Outstanding students receive additional scholarships, and after graduation may freely choose to stay on as faculty, join state‑owned enterprises, enter the military‑political system, or engage in industrial construction, all with priority hiring and selective placement.

Amid the chaos, a stable desk, carefree life, and bright future are the coveted luxuries many students yearn for.

Most students of Southwest University come from humble backgrounds, having studied hard for years to achieve success and serve the nation, yet they are mired in war‑torn chaos with bleak prospects.

Hearing of Nan Hua's generous policies and peaceful, stable learning environment, countless students were thrilled, causing the recruitment venue to be crowded with a continuous stream of inquiries.

Many students voluntarily registered, packed their bags, and resolved to travel to Nanyang to continue their studies and hone their skills at the brand‑new institutions.

Beyond recruiting domestic university students, the goodwill Jiang Anguo cultivated over years for overseas scholars now begins to show great value.

Back when Nan Hua was first founded, Jiang Anguo was forward‑looking, establishing the Overseas Study Subsidy Fund to annually provide a fixed monthly living stipend to Huaxia students stranded in the United States.

At that time, many students studying in the United States faced scarce funds, great hardship, and difficult studies; Nan Hua's gratuitous support helped them get through the toughest years of schooling.