Chapter 658: War Horn

"Your Highness is truly far-sighted; this Reserve Service system is equivalent to hiding soldiers among the people. It is truly formidable."

Upon understanding the Reserve Service system, Chang Wei could not help but exclaim in wonder, his gaze toward Zhao Xu filled with admiration.

This was one of the reasons why the Yan Wang's status in the hearts of all his generals was unshakable.

No one could, like the Yan Wang, continuously push the Prince's Personal Army to higher levels.

Zhao Xu had long anticipated Chang Wei's reaction.

His expression remained calm as he continued, "Besides the Reserve Service, we must establish a Military Affairs Department within the army, specifically responsible for Reserve Service matters."

"Furthermore, to increase the enthusiasm of the common people for joining the army, several policies must be introduced."

"First, during a soldier's period of service, their household taxes shall be exempted. Second, the selection of Constables in every prefecture and county shall prioritize retired soldiers; for those who have served for over twelve years, the local Government Office is obligated to arrange positions for them after retirement."

"Third, issue Military Certificates to soldiers, allowing them to enjoy various preferential policies."

Chang Wei noted them down one by one, his expression moved, "Your Highness, you are truly too good to us soldiers."

Without a doubt, these policies were extremely beneficial to the soldiers in the army.

Most importantly, the status of soldiers would be greatly elevated because of this.

"This is what you deserve." Zhao Xu stood up.

This was a very cruel era, where war would be as frequent as summer thunderstorms.

For soldiers facing war directly, they endured hardships that ordinary people could not bear.

Giving them preferential treatment was only right.

Otherwise, it would be equivalent to having no conscience.

Placing his hand on Chang Wei's shoulder, he said, "After you return, you shall prepare for this matter."

"Yes, Your Highness." Chang Wei shouted loudly, and thinking of something, he gave Zhao Xu a heavy military salute.

This was the very military salute Zhao Xu had just taught him.

Everything was understood without words.

Zhao Xu smiled and returned the salute.

After Chang Wei left, Zhao Xu called Mi Wen over.

Liu Fu and Chang Wei were to execute the specific matters.

But the two matters of education and the Reserve Service, besides execution, also required vigorous promotion; this task could only be entrusted to Mi Wen.

Having accepted the task, Mi Wen returned to the newspaper office, and the next day, the front page of the newspaper published the policy of seven years of free education.

The front page headline of the third day was the policy for the Reserve Service and preferential treatment for soldiers.

These two major policies, published one after another, immediately triggered huge ripples in Yancheng.

Because this meant that after the Official Examination, the Yan Wang had opened up more channels for upward mobility for the children of humble families.

Some scholars read the newspaper and, out of excitement, even wept bitterly on the spot.

Others even ran to the front of the Prince's mansion and knelt for a long time, refusing to rise.

Then, these ripples continued to expand, and in less than a month, under the promotion of the Propaganda Department, it had spread to almost every corner of Yanzhou.

"Is this thing true or false?" Northwest of Fanyang Commandery,

in a village called Qingmu.

After dinner in the evening, the villagers gathered in groups of three or five to chat.

After the Yuan Family was driven away, many commoners moved back from Ping County and Liaojun.

Afterwards, they enjoyed the same tax rates as the people of Yan Commandery.

After two harvests and participation in major infrastructure projects, the villagers' lives were becoming increasingly prosperous.

They had spare money to buy Wine and spare money to buy new clothes for their families.

With food and clothing not a concern, many of them naturally had higher aspirations.

It was just that although life was much better than before,

there was still not enough Silver to send the children in the family to study at a private school.

Therefore, now that the news of the Imperial Court's free Public School had arrived, they were naturally very eager.

The only feeling was that it was somewhat unbelievable, as if they were in a dream.

A free Public School—this had never happened in all of history.

"How could this be fake? This is something published in the newspaper. Do you know what a newspaper is? It is said that what is said in this newspaper is what the Yan Wang wants to say." A villager showed off the newspaper in his hand.

This was given to him by a merchant who passed through the village and asked him for water.

While drinking water in his courtyard, the merchant told him about the things in the newspaper.

Then, this news quickly spread throughout the village.

Other villagers looked at the newspaper, showing expressions of envy.

This was a fresh thing.

But it was a pity that none of them were literate, and they had no spare money to buy this newspaper.

"Tch, what are you showing off for? Who hasn't seen a newspaper? Every time someone from the Propaganda Department comes, don't they bring newspapers?"

"Exactly, picked up a newspaper and your tail is already in the air."

"..."

The villagers teased each other; they were envious, yet very calm.

Because it might be a little late, but the people from the Propaganda Department would definitely come to the village to tell them the latest policies.

Sure enough, within three days, the people from the Propaganda Department arrived at the village.

They brought the policies for the free Public School, the Reserve Service system, and various military priority policies.

In the past, every time the personnel from the Propaganda Department arrived, the villagers would always surround them tightly.

Only after hearing everything did they disperse, still wanting more.

But this time, they were so shocked they forgot to move their feet.

After a long while, the crowd suddenly erupted into a clamor like boiling water.

"His Highness Yan Wang truly has our commoners at heart."

"That's right, he is practically our second parent."

"..."

The villagers discussed it fervently; in their view, these policies were absolutely beneficial to them.

For thousands of years, they had been tethered to the land, unable to escape for generations.

It was fundamentally impossible for their children to change their fate through study.

Even if one did, it was only because a daughter of the family had become a concubine to a Rich Clan, climbing up to a high branch.

But now, Yan Wang had given them all a fair chance; everyone could attend a free Public School.

Everyone could enter the officialdom through the Official Examination.

Moreover, this was only one path; now there was a second path, and a third path.

If they could not enter the officialdom, they could still choose to have their children enter the Workshop and earn an extremely high monthly salary.

They could also choose to become soldiers; in the past, if their children became soldiers, they would have to burn incense and pray just to receive their pay as usual.

But now, becoming a soldier actually came with so many benefits—it was simply enviable.

Thinking of the excitement, the villagers could not help but shout, "Long live Yan Wang! Long live Yan Wang!"

The waves of shouting even startled the birds in the woods.

Causing bird droppings to fall all over the ground.

While the various reform policies were spreading, Chang Wei and Liu Fu were also busily implementing them.

The burden of building the Public Schools fell upon the Ministry of Works.

Zou Rong immediately dispatched officials from the Ministry of Works to various commanderies and counties to supervise the construction of the Public Schools.

Chang Wei was simultaneously establishing the Military Affairs Department and keeping a close eye on the production of the military uniforms.

In two months' time, the first batch of 60,000 sets of New-style Military Uniforms arrived at the army.

By this time, a sufficient quantity of Yellow Gunpowder and Wooden-handled Hand Grenades had also been stockpiled.

The order was given for the first batch of uniforms to be issued to the frontline troops of Pingyuan City.

He would come to the Prince's Mansion to formally request battle from Yan Wang.

"Your Highness, the Yellow Gunpowder and Wooden-handled Hand Grenades are now sufficiently prepared; we can implement the southward plan. Please issue the command, Your Highness."

"I order you to head south immediately and take the initiative to annihilate the enemy!" Zhao Xu said.

Just as he had planned, he would not wait for the other side to strike first this time.

Since they were not as prepared as he was, they would have to be the first to bear his wrath!