056 Balanced Development

Yang Jie lightly tapped his fingernail against the table a few times.

“Although we won this battle, and won it beautifully,” he said, “there’s one thing I’m very dissatisfied with—our emergency response was far too slow!”

Yang Jie spoke his mind without the slightest hesitation.

“From the moment the invaders entered our territory, every reaction we made was simply too slow! Many farmers died for nothing—we could have avoided these losses entirely.”

The assembled officials nodded in agreement.

“Sigh, who could have guessed the enemy would come downstream by boat?” Old Gil mumbled. He said this because his son, Carl, had been in charge of patrolling the entire northern part of the Norsen Plain and the upper reaches of the Tam River.

“I’m not here to blame anyone. The purpose of this meeting is to break down the tasks within the tribe with greater specificity,” Yang Jie continued, unwilling to dwell on the issue.

“Previously, the patrol duties for the entire Norsen Plain were assigned to Johnny, Hank, and Carl. But when too many rats are responsible, accountability becomes blurred. So now, Hank will be solely responsible for the patrols around High Court.”

“Whatever happens in this area, Hank will be the primary one held accountable. One-Eye, let him know when Hank returns from his mission.”

“Understood!”

Hank had been sent by One-Eye to pursue the remnants of the human forces, and was not expected back for some time. Similarly, Tucci had been dispatched by Yang Jie to search for copper mines and would also be away for a while.

“That’s all for military matters for now. If you need to build or expand anything, just come to me. Once I approve, I’ll have Old Sha coordinate with you.”

“The rest of the time is for civil affairs. Old Sha, you go first.”

Yang Jie didn’t waste words, calling on Old Sha to speak first. The reason was simple—Old Sha was logical and clear, so everyone could understand him without needing things repeated, and he always came prepared.

“Ahem. Currently, our main project is the diversion dam. We expect to complete the closure in at most three days.”

“In construction, housing renovation and new builds remain the primary focus. I suggest consolidating residential areas and designating separate zones for business and homes.”

Old Sha’s vision was forward-thinking. As the tribe grew, proper planning and a solid foundation were essential. In short, Old Sha proposed transforming High Court into a modern city: residential clusters for the ratfolk, with commercial and living areas separated. Now that carriages had begun to appear in town, he predicted the roads would soon become congested.

“I've drafted a detailed urban planning proposal and discussed it privately with the chieftain. The town’s development will revolve around this plan.”

“Beyond the dam and housing, the next major task is the expansion of the school.”

“You can all see it—the proportion of young rats in the tribe is very high, and the school’s facilities and faculty are far from adequate for our needs.”

“While staffing isn’t under my purview, I believe the infrastructure could be much improved.”

“Recently, I’ve worked with Minister Sullivan to develop a realistic, feasible plan.”

“I plan to move the Black Flag Army and the Linked Machines Battalion’s camps to the outskirts of High Court. There are two reasons: First, as the town grows, land in the city will become very valuable, and using it for military camps is a waste. Second, the camps are currently right next to homes, and I’ve received many complaints about the disturbance.”

“Of course, the site has already been chosen. Once the new camps are ready, the current ones will be dismantled.”

“Your ideas are excellent. Proceed as you’ve outlined, and move the process along as quickly as you can. For High Court’s planning, Old Sha, you and Wendy should pay extra attention, walk the city regularly, and observe carefully.”

Yang Jie approved Old Sha’s ideas outright. With his modern perspective, he saw them as truly farsighted.

“As you say, Chieftain,” Old Sha responded simply, knowing there was no need for further elaboration or flattery.

“By the way, let me introduce someone. This is Teacher Sullivan—she will serve as the principal of High Court’s First Academy and as Minister of Education.”

Yang Jie gestured with his right hand to the second seat on his right.

Sullivan was Old Sha’s younger sister, and their close relationship was well known. Yang Jie appointed her Minister of Education because of her abilities. The tribe’s educational efforts were just beginning, and education was key to shaping civilization itself. The first Minister of Education had to be chosen with extreme care.

Sullivan stood and gave a slight bow, greeting the officials. Yang Jie knew that in a tribe of this size, those with talent were already acquainted.

“Chieftain, I have two main reasons for attending this meeting,” Sullivan began, getting straight to the point.

“You’ll be the head of the Education Department from now on, and you should attend all meetings, large and small. If you have concerns, raise them here,” Yang Jie said kindly, holding this exemplary teacher in high regard.

“My first point is about teacher selection. I would like final authority in this area.”

“I’ll also seek out truly capable tribe members to serve as teachers.”

Sullivan’s voice was calm but carried a natural authority, reminding Yang Jie of his own stern high school homeroom teacher.

“Of course. Let professionals handle professional matters,” Yang Jie replied immediately, sincerely admiring her dedication.

“My second point is the mandatory nature of education!”

“At this stage, our ratfolk’s education system is in its earliest infancy, lacking clear rules or standards. Many students skip class, and as a teacher, I’ve been powerless to stop it.”

“A few days ago, I drafted basic school regulations, which are now under formal review by the judicial department. These rules clearly define the required time students must spend in school.”

“Second, regarding student management, we currently use a large-class system—all ages learn together. But as the population grows and more young rats are born every day, I don’t think this approach can keep up with our current needs.”

“I propose dividing students into groups by age. This is both a trend and a necessity. The initial plan is being drafted and will soon be submitted for legal review. Chieftain, I need your support.”

Sullivan’s determination was unwavering, though she knew policy changes would always face resistance.

Education is a public undertaking—serving the entire tribe, yet governed by its own rules and not to be changed lightly for any group’s convenience.

Sullivan’s points were all important. Yang Jie knew they were crucial for shaping how the tribe viewed education.

With such a pioneering spirit at the forefront, Yang Jie resolved to give his full support.

With no opposition, the meeting’s progress accelerated rapidly.

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