Beneath Deep Space

After the overhaul plan for the spacecraft was announced, a large number of construction robots were immediately released.

They first used some high-temperature-resistant materials to block the large and small magma openings in a planned manner. Then, in some areas, the air stored by people was released and ice cubes were used to cool down the area on a large scale.

All house construction and spacecraft modification plans are also proceeding in an orderly manner. For these necessary functional buildings, the government does not hesitate to use precious mineral resources. Large quantities of work are still completed by intelligent machines, and humans only need to be responsible for the mechanical control behind them, so the entire project progresses very quickly.

For "living individuals", the most important thing is survival needs. Only when survival needs are met can we talk about security needs, spiritual needs or other needs. This is a point that the top leaders of the new government have the clearest understanding of.

What humans are really short of are mainly inorganic salt fertilizers such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, organic matter used to make plastics and paper, and water resources. These three things may seem inconspicuous, but they are closely related to human daily life.

Most of today's agricultural plants are grown without water. Once fertilizers such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are used, they are stored in living organisms and are difficult to recycle.

Similarly, although things like plastic and paper can be recycled, they are contaminated and difficult to recycle.

As for other mineral materials such as metals, they are rarely used in life, so Yu Yifeng doesn't need to worry too much.

And in terms of energy...as long as thermal power stations are built on a large scale, there will be no need to worry too much for at least a few decades.

Therefore, there is no shortage of materials and energy in the laboratory, and the development of human science and technology will not be delayed. This is something that makes him feel a little relieved. In this universe, science and technology are too important.

But...the lack of daily necessities is also very troublesome.

Material resources are an important guarantee for survival needs, and material shortages will inevitably affect all aspects of life.

Lack of chemical fertilizers and inorganic salts will reduce the diversity and quality of people's food. Lack of water, bathing and other things have completely become luxuries, and people cannot do whatever they want like before... People's quality of life will inevitably decline.

Wandering in space, it is impossible to supply all mankind with the resources of one planet as it was on Mars. The reserve resources in the Noah are all mankind has, so we can only use a little less. People can only live as frugally as possible.

Although the spacecraft is equipped with a material circulation system, not all things can be recycled, and some things will always be wasted in the process of recycling again and again. All these factors add up to a relatively large number.

It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality. Who would want to live a bad life if they have a good life? Material shortages can easily lead to people's dissatisfaction, reduced work enthusiasm, and even social unrest. This is something the new government does not want to see.

Although these things have not happened yet, who can guarantee what will happen in the future? No one knows whether the dissatisfaction that has been accumulated for a long time will completely explode.

Yu Yifeng couldn't help but sigh secretly, resource shortage is a big problem!

In order to solve this problem, Yu Yifeng, Sean, Wang Yufan and other high-level government officials finally came up with several ways after detailed discussions.

The first is to use economic means to control.

The government deliberately increases the prices of daily necessities and weakens the purchasing power of new currency, thereby controlling people's quality of life. However, such measures will certainly lead to dissatisfaction.

But dissatisfaction is still dissatisfaction, as long as the monthly salary paid by the government is enough for people to survive.

Such miserable days will continue to exist until Noah encounters a planet...

"But in this way, the government's image will be terrible... It's like the government is depriving people of a good life."

Reasoning with ordinary people will help them understand the current predicament they are facing. But I understand it for a while, but not forever. As time goes by, I will probably still blame the government.

Professor Sean sighed and said, "Even if people return to a better life in the future, the government's image will still be bad. The mobility and cohesion of the entire civilization will not be what it used to be... It is easy to disperse people's hearts, but it is difficult to unite them."

Yu Yifeng also frowned and said, "Yes, this is what I am most worried about."

People's livelihood issues have always been very important, most notably in daily necessities such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, elderly care, medical care, and children's education. People's livelihood issues are also the most immediate, direct and practical interests of the people. If it is not resolved properly, it can easily lead to a series of chaos, which the new government must avoid.

How can a disintegrated government and a civilization with disloyal people survive in a starry sky full of crises? Maybe a little unexpected incident can wipe out mankind!

Therefore, this tough approach to economic control is not advisable.

Of course there is a second method: implement militarized management and implement a rationing system for all people!

In fact, this method is similar to the first one, but people will be slightly less resentful. At least everyone is eating from the big pot and is egalitarian. There is nothing we can do if we feel grievances...

However, it goes without saying that there are disadvantages to a one-size-fits-all rationing system. It is too rigid and will seriously affect people's enthusiasm. Unless absolutely necessary, Yu Yifeng doesn't really want to use the rationing system.

Several people discussed it again and deeply felt the difficulties involved...

It is basically impossible to want people to live frugally and reduce dissatisfaction!

"For now, if people are made aware of this shortage of supplies, they are likely to save spontaneously..." Professor Sean said.

Yu Yifeng also nodded. The quality of the ordinary people on board Noah is indeed very high, and it is possible to be frugal on their own initiative.

But the question is, this kind of spontaneity has no compulsion. Can people really do it for a long time?

It can only be said that it is difficult... If one person becomes extravagant, then others will think, why should they be frugal? Just like a mouse droppings spoiling a pot of porridge, this problem is difficult to avoid.

Several people fell silent at the same time, in a helpless state...

"I think we can let people vote and decide this issue democratically." It was Wang Yufan who spoke.

"We need to make the problem of material shortages clear and let the people choose how much daily necessities they need to produce every month. This includes the quality of food, the amount of water used, the amount of other daily necessities used, etc."

"It is always thankless for our government to help people choose. However, if everything is their own choice, even if they bite the bullet and their quality of life is not good, they can only endure it..."

Yu Yifeng touched his chin, which seemed to be the case. After being a civilized leader for so long, he has a natural autocratic mindset and wants to help everyone decide everything. This is definitely a thankless approach.

Authoritarianism has its advantages and disadvantages. In times of crisis, authoritarianism can make decisive decisions and one person can decide the direction of civilization; but in times of peace, it will be hated by others for nothing.

"The overall quality of the citizens of Noah is very high, and everyone has the ability to think independently. After weighing the pros and cons, they will definitely make a frugal life plan. When the time comes...the results they make by themselves will not If we blame it, the government’s credibility will not be reduced.”

Wang Yufan said seriously.

Yu Yifeng felt more and more that Wang Yufan, a seemingly upright guy, was actually very treacherous.

But he strongly agrees with Wang Yufan's statement that this is indeed a good idea. Let the people be the masters of their own country and vote to determine the quality of life.

This is what is called democracy... In fact, the final result has already been determined.

Yu Yifeng suddenly had a flash of inspiration, "Our policy can actually be bolder..."

“Can we take this opportunity to create a more harmonious society?”