Chapter 1306: Year-End Assembly (Part 3)

After the division of the Ministry of Agriculture, its responsibilities are now very clear. The departments of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery each have their own primary focus, so when reporting, it is also quite clear. Farming mainly reports on the development of Huaxia's arable land and the cultivation of new seeds.

This year, the Ministry of Agriculture has not seen any major changes and is still progressing steadily. The biggest change is in the pasture; after castration, meat production has increased, and the casualty rate of various livestock has actually decreased.

They also provided their own thoughts: because they no longer have reproductive capabilities, they will not fight for the position of the lead ram, nor will they fight to compete for mates, so naturally, there will be far fewer injuries.

In the past, sheep fighting and breaking their horns was not uncommon. When pigs started fighting, people could not intervene and could only wait for them to finish. With those tusks clashing and colliding, it was extremely easy for a pig to end up covered in wounds.

It is the end of the year, and some pigs are ready for slaughter. Whether the meat of castrated pigs actually tastes good or not, we will be able to taste it immediately.

Usually, the amount of pig slaughtering is relatively small. Only at this time of year will Baifeng issue an order to begin large-scale slaughtering to increase the supply of various meats.

Although there are no fixed holidays, winter is the time to eat these high-fat, high-calorie foods. One cannot consume much animal fat throughout the year, so everyone waits for this winter.

In this report from the Ministry of Agriculture, they are also applying to Baifeng to begin this year's slaughter. As soon as Baifeng gives the word, the pasture can immediately start working, and various meats can be sent to the shops for sale that very day.

Once the news is sent out, even if the weather is so cold, it is estimated that the meat will be bought up before it even freezes. Many people still have their meat tickets in their hands; the number of meat tickets redeemed in the second half of the year is not even half of what was issued, and most of them were contributed by the high-income class. Ordinary people know the pattern: at the end of the year, there will definitely be a large amount of meat.

Next is the Ministry of War. Everyone basically already knows the news of this war. After all, so many soldiers have returned and are now on leave. There are soldiers of all ranks, and there was no need to keep it secret, so the news quickly spread throughout the country.

Everyone knows that winning a war is still very happy, because deeper conflicts of interest are a bit too far away for ordinary people, and they won't think that much.

But those Nobles and officials will consider things at this level. Although the Huaxia war was won, so many soldiers died. Just how many ashes were brought back, and how many tombstones were erected in the cemetery?

Compensation for the fallen soldiers was delivered to the families' hands at the very first moment. Grain and such were hauled in cart after cart. How many years has it been since Huaxia had any Martyrs?

But because this time there was really no merit and it was too dull, after Baifeng read the combat records submitted by Xiong, he was also a bit irritable. There were almost no war results, and the final battle could not be called a decisive battle, nor were any very important results obtained. So how should Baifeng reward them?

This reward is too difficult to give, but he cannot chill the hearts of the soldiers. So he tipped off Xiong in advance: every fallen soldier will be given a First Class Merit, the wounded will be given a Second Class Merit, and all who participated will be given a Third Class. Those who were seriously injured, disabled, or fought bravely enough will all be given the title of Combat Hero. Reward those who should be rewarded, and arrange jobs for those who should have jobs arranged.

As for promotions, because it is impossible to give so many to officers all at once, considering the total number of Huaxia soldiers will be greatly expanded next year, especially in Lema City, the number will also increase even more.

Therefore, for ordinary soldiers, a grading system will also be implemented. Soldiers are soldiers, and officers are officers. To become an officer, besides ability and seniority, one must also have a certain amount of knowledge.

Soldiers are divided into three grades. Each grade only differs in treatment; there is no difference in power.

Only after the New Recruit Company selection ends can new recruits be conferred as a Third Class Soldier. After that, their efforts will not be to become an officer, but to raise their own rank.

The soldiers of this year will be uniformly conferred ranks after the reform next year. First, looking at military age, one grade is raised every two years. If a veteran of four years is now a First Class Soldier and earns merit, if they are raised another grade, they will be given an officer's rank, but not the officer's power yet; the treatment will be the same as an officer's.

In the future, as there are more and more Huaxia soldiers, such a detailed reform is necessary. Moreover, Baifeng must also try every possible way to ensure that the rewards he gives have enough gold content. If everyone has them and everyone is the same, then there will be no motivation to strive.

At this moment, Xiong is mainly providing a simple summary of this year's battles: how many large and small battles there were, how many died, how many were injured, how many were forced to retire, and how many had their ranks raised.

At the same time, what kind of results were achieved and what kind of experience was gained must also be stated without missing a word.

Although everyone already roughly knew the situation, hearing Xiong say it, after so much expenditure throughout the year and the loss of so many soldiers, the final gain was only a few thousand Slaves, some Bronze ware, furs, and other miscellaneous goods; there was nothing else at all.

This made the meeting hall a bit chaotic. They felt this year was too much of a loss. Xiong's old face was red, and he shook his head incessantly. In the end, he even directly expressed to Baifeng on the spot: "King, I feel that my ability is insufficient. Being able to reach today's position is entirely because of my good luck."

"This year I led the soldiers out for so long, and what we conquered is not even as much as what we used. I really do not have the ability. I cannot serve as this Minister of War, and I cannot serve in this position of Marshal."

"I, I request that you remove my position. Punish me!"

Xiong's words can be said to be the most shocking news of the day. One of the most powerful people in Huaxia actually wants to give up everything. If this were told, no one would believe it.

Who is Xiong? He was the Tribal Chief of this tribe back then, a man who followed Baifeng to conquer the world and made so many contributions to Huaxia. Now, besides him, there is really no one who can sit in his position, unless Baifeng takes it on concurrently.

Therefore, everyone thinks this is impossible. Even if Xiong did not do well, Baifeng could not remove him from his post; even if Xiong proposed it himself, it would not work.