Traveling through the sword to engage in military industry

#386 - 100 Universities for a Hundred Years (Two-in-One Update)

The capital city.

The victory of the war has ignited national enthusiasm, with a spirit of rapid development permeating the entire nation.

Watching this scene of intense activity, Ren Zhong, as an observer from another world, felt a faint sense of unease.

Looking at the revised list of the Second Five-Year Plan brought by Staff Officer Ye, which included plans to increase steel production by ten million tons, fertilizer production by ten million tons, oil refining capacity by ten million tons, shipbuilding capacity by ten million tons, and so on...

These numerous "ten million tons" plans completely surpassed the original Second Five-Year Plan that he had overseen.

In terms of industry, it was a leap forward, skipping several stages.

However, how many people had considered the conditions necessary for the implementation of these massive plans? Was enthusiasm alone enough?

But not everything was about rapid advancement. For example, in education, Ren Zhong had strongly advocated for prioritizing education, allocating a significant portion of the budget to the "Hundred Universities, Ten Thousand Primary and Secondary Schools" plan, which was now facing criticism.

After all, these initiatives required substantial resources. Building a university was no cheaper than constructing a million-ton steel plant.

"During the Second Five-Year Plan, each province with a population exceeding five million must establish at least one polytechnic university, one normal university, and one advanced vocational and technical college, in addition to a comprehensive university named after the province. The goal of universalizing compulsory education up to the junior high level through the construction of primary and secondary schools must not change."

Ren Zhong pointed to the section of the revised Second Five-Year Plan where someone had suggested significantly reducing investment in education. Some people wanted to invest limited resources in industrial development to achieve the grand goal of catching up with and surpassing the UK and the US as soon as possible.

However, when Staff Officer Ye sought Ren Zhong's opinion on this draft amendment, Ren Zhong immediately rejected it.

"These 'ten million tons' project plans are too rushed. We currently lack the foundation for comprehensive industrialization, and we don't have the high-level talent to support such large factories.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the literacy rate has dropped to 50% after the literacy campaign during the First Five-Year Plan. This only represents a low level of literacy. The total number and proportion of our engineers and senior technicians are far lower than those of European and American powers. On this basis, true industrialization and modernization are impossible.

The person who proposed reviving the widespread use of indigenous blast furnaces is completely unsuitable at this stage. They cause significant pollution, and their utilization rate and efficiency are poor. They were only a temporary measure during the war. We have finally replaced the old indigenous blast furnaces, and now someone is suggesting using them to achieve a steel production capacity of ten million tons."

"These are not long-term solutions. To truly grow and become strong, we must persistently promote the development of education and improve primary, secondary, and university education as soon as possible. Only then can we truly reap the demographic dividend. Currently, apart from labor-intensive industries, which are developing smoothly, industries such as steel, chemicals, and energy are facing a shortage of skilled personnel. Not to mention talent-intensive enterprises like the aviation industry. Our three major aviation industrial groups currently have an annual shortage of tens of thousands of technical personnel, which greatly restricts the development of our aviation industry."

"Take the Y-6 passenger plane, which is an improved version of the C-47 that we have already developed. Even though the technology is very mature, the technicians on the production line can't keep up. Our annual production capacity is only 12 aircraft, which is far from meeting the needs of our aviation industry. You need to know that our aviation industry needs at least 500 passenger planes in the next five years. Because our production capacity can't keep up, airlines can only wait."

"And the domestic flights that have been opened are now fully booked, which simply cannot meet the national demand for air travel."

"Although we have already established four aviation technology institutes, it is still not enough. The number of students enrolled and graduating each year is less than 300, which is a drop in the bucket for the aviation industry, which is eagerly awaiting talent. I suggest that aviation departments be established in polytechnic universities to study aviation-related technologies.

Of course, before that, we must at least ensure that the 'four universities per province (region)' plan is completed."

"That's a very difficult task," Staff Officer Ye said with a wry smile. "We currently have 50 provincial-level administrative regions. Even if we follow your idea and merge these provinces and regions, selecting 30 eligible ones, we still need to consider building a total of more than 120 universities of various types. If we remove the parts that have already been built, we still need to build at least 100 new ones. Completing this goal within five years will indeed be a heavy burden on local finances."

"Education is a long-term plan. No matter how difficult it is, we must grit our teeth and carry it out. I believe there are ways to achieve it. Don't think about building a tall tower on loose sand. Without the support of talent, considering comprehensive industrialization now is an unrealistic fantasy," Ren Zhong said uncompromisingly.

"Not only do local governments need to build good schools, but we also need to provide preferential policies for teachers, transferring a group of people from key universities to teach in new schools and pass on their knowledge to cultivate academic talent. At the same time, we must also do a good job in the two tasks of technological transformation and application from universities to enterprises and cultivation."

"Staff Officer Ye, we have experienced the vigorous Self-Strengthening Movement, but what was the result? It was just a fleeting dream. But if we have more than a hundred universities in five years, and can train more than 500,000 university students every year, then in the next five-year plan, we will have more than 500,000 engineers and researchers every year to support our country's massive scientific research and rapid industrial advancement. Now, wanting to build a modern industry on the basis of a group of newly literate semi-illiterate people is completely unscientific.

Obviously, Ren Zhong has put his heart and soul into supporting primary, secondary, and university education.

Staff Officer Ye felt that Ren Zhong was right, but he also faced a lot of pressure.

"Old Ren, someone suggested establishing a national-level central research institute. What do you think?"

"I have no objection. Whoever wants to establish it, let them do it. I hope that there will be competition in the development of scientific and technological innovation, which is the best thing. However, the Dawn Research Institute was initiated by me personally, and has been developing independently without using a single penny of national funding. If someone is thinking about my little bit of stuff, that's fine. I will leave myself and start from scratch to build another Dawn Research Institute. As long as the country does not prohibit individual scientific research, I think rebuilding a Dawn Research Institute is not too difficult for me," Ren Zhong said calmly.

These people have been coveting this for more than a day or two.

Although entrusting a nation's technological lifeline to a small number of people carries a significant risk – a wrong turn can lead to wasted money and time, as history has often shown – Ren Zhong is an exception.

After all, he possesses a tech tree from the main world, making him the most qualified person in the Bright Sword world to lead technological development for the next 50 years.

Chief of Staff Ye shook his head, already anticipating the outcome of this topic.

In truth, he also strongly dislikes those who are more than capable of messing things up, hiding their selfish agendas behind the banner of the nation.

The Dawn Research Institute is now deeply rooted and flourishing, not only being the leading scientific research institution in the country but also a core shareholder in many colossal enterprises.

It has long moved beyond being a money-burning monster and has become a veritable treasure trove.

Naturally, many people are envious of such a behemoth.

However, Ren Zhong's prestige, built up over many years, is such that even interfering in the research institutes under the Dawn Research Institute is not easy.

According to the rules set by Ren Zhong, research projects follow a project leader system, where whoever undertakes the project is responsible for the allocation of finances and materials.

The Dawn Research Institute has an independent audit to ensure compliance in all aspects of the process.

That being said, Ren Zhong hardly interferes with how the project leaders carry out their projects, as long as they can produce results.

At each milestone node, an expert group objectively evaluates whether the project's progress has met expectations and whether it has deviated from its course.

Since the direction of large-scale projects is decided by Ren Zhong, even if he doesn't understand the technical aspects, he can take them to the main world to find his increasingly large team of technical consultants for evaluation.

Thanks to the trade between the two worlds, Ren Zhong in the main world is not short of money, so he can organize and hire real experts from all walks of life as technical consultants.

This way, no one can deceive him.

In terms of technology, he is the only god in the Bright Sword world!

Fortunately, the atmosphere and personnel of the Dawn Research Institute were initially cultivated by Ren Zhong himself.

The vast majority are genuine experts who are wholeheartedly devoted to scientific research.

Ren Zhong only needs to solve their worries, from initially ensuring they are well-fed to now fully achieving financial freedom.

The core members' lives, including food, housing, transportation, and medical care, are all covered by the research institute.

Even if their take-home salary is not too high due to domestic conditions, so as not to be criticized, they don't need to worry about buying houses or cars.

Therefore, for the core members of the Dawn Research Institute, the improvement in living conditions is simply earth-shattering.

It has already exceeded the level of high salaries they could earn abroad.

It is much better than those within the system, which is one of the reasons why some people are eyeing the Dawn Research Institute.

Thankfully, the higher-ups are clear-headed and don't take the complaints of some people below seriously.

"What Old Brother Ren said is right, some people are just idle and bored, thinking they can do it just because they see others succeed."

Chief of Staff Ye was not surprised at all by Ren Zhong's words.

Anyone would want to quit in this situation, and he has no doubt that even if the higher-ups designated the Dawn Research Institute as a national-level central research institute, Ren Zhong would raise his arms and the core personnel among those people would not hesitate to join him.

Leaving behind some marginal people who think they can coast along, but they can't accomplish anything at all.

Moreover, the equity structures of many investment companies are complex and not so easy to acquire.

They might not get real benefits and instead end up causing trouble for themselves.

Fortunately, Ren Zhong had anticipated this situation long ago.

He doesn't have too many demands in this world.

In fact, he still doesn't have the idea of integrating into this world, even though he has invested more effort and achieved unimaginable heights in this world.

But in his heart, he is still an outsider, as if he has entered a game world, and he won't choose to spend his life in this world.

Therefore, Ren Zhong is actually indifferent to everything here.

Even if it's torn down and rebuilt, it's no big deal to him.

However, as an important footprint left in this world, Ren Zhong will not easily give in, so he very bluntly expressed his determination to Chief of Staff Ye to tear it down and rebuild.

Having come this far, he has quite a few friends around him.

Almost all of the Eighth Route Army headquarters are his supporters, and even people like Li Yunlong are ranked outside the top twenty.

So those who are envious can only engage in small tricks.

"This matter is dropped.

Our country is now in a period of rapid technological development, and who would want to start all over again?"

Chief of Staff Ye also stood on Ren Zhong's side very decisively.

"As for education, since Old Brother Ren insists, I will grit my teeth and hold on.

The main thing is that some people are stirring up trouble every day, and the leaders have some fluctuations in their minds, always wanting to be faster, even faster."

"Chief of Staff Ye, actually, there is a vulgar saying in my hometown: 'If you take too big a step, you're likely to tear your balls.' Some plans are obviously not in line with reality and will suffer losses."

Ren Zhong shook his head, speechless to some people.

But this is also normal.

Now it is still considered harmonious.

Due to the uneven and rapid growth in technology, coupled with the complete victory over the rogue Eagle Allied Forces and the opening of the global market, everyone is working together in harmony for development, and there are fewer troubles.

Ren Zhong has always placed great importance on the crucial grain production, so various water conservancy projects, mechanization, hybridization, and fertilizers have been continuously enhanced, and the effect is far better than in the historical time and space of the main world.

Coupled with the opening of wheat imports, the problem of having enough to eat should be solved.

So Ren Zhong is not worried.

This world will ultimately become more friendly to East Asia because of them.

He is seizing the backbone of military industrial technology and doing a good job in guiding the development of large industries by converting military technology to civilian use, so the final rejuvenation will obviously be many years ahead of schedule.

For him, a passerby, being able to live to see the day when East Asia stands at the pinnacle of the world would not be in vain for his journey.

After a brief interlude, some messy things are destined to still happen, but the changes in the overall environment are too great, and some troubles are destined to be suppressed, not forming a major impact on the mainstream, and Ren Zhong doesn't care about these things.

After the development of ro-ro cargo ships, the idea of building large ships gradually matured.

In Ren Zhong's mind, the development of the navy has its own rhythm, so after destroyers, the next thing Ren Zhong wants to develop is the small flat-top - the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship!

It's not that he doesn't like the Type 075 small flat-top, but this thing is highly confidential, and what can be seen now are just a few super simple schematic diagrams.

Ren Zhong doesn't dare to inquire about this thing casually in the main world.

In comparison, the Mistral-class has much more detailed information.

Although it is impossible to get detailed design drawings, Ren Zhong doesn't need them.

He only needs to outline the blueprint and functional zoning.

Due to his own shipbuilding experience, the current team is fully capable of designing the specific details themselves.

The ship is not too big of a problem, the bigger problem is the supporting facilities, such as the crucial helicopters!

Type 075 Amphibious Assault Ship (End of this chapter)