Chapter 392: Reform of the Military Service System

Those present.

Seeing the reform system drafted by Liu Zheng, they were all startled.

First, the first chapter: this time, Liu Zheng directly determined the future military service system for the entire Liangzhou.

A combination of the Compulsory Military Service System and the Voluntary Military Service System!

It directly overturned the Conscription System previously used by Liangzhou Prefecture, as well as the Tuntian System of Yinzhou.

At this moment.

It was no surprise that everyone was in an uproar.

This was simply subverting the understanding of these generals!

The Compulsory Military Service System stipulated that as long as one was a legal citizen within the borders of Liangzhou, one had to fulfill military tasks for a certain period within a certain age range according to the law. Regardless of ethnicity, race, occupation, family background, religious belief, or educational level...

This young master's meaning is...

As long as one is a man of Liangzhou, or even a woman, once they reach sixteen, they all go to serve in the military?

"This..."

"Young Master, this must absolutely not be done!"

"Young Master, this will cause chaos!"

"Since ancient times, soldiers have been the instruments of death for a state; those with ambition should join the army! Young Master, what is the difference between this and forcing them? It cannot be, it cannot be!"

Everyone expressed their lack of understanding regarding this.

Qin Zhangfeng and Pei Yanran were also stunned at the same time.

People of this era found it very difficult to understand what exactly this Compulsory Military Service System was aiming for.

Liu Zheng, however, gave a chuckle, noncommittal.

In fact.

He had been wanting to carry out military reform for a very long time.

Especially as the situation in the Longyan Dynasty changed day by day. Things like hiding troops in the Western Regions, this and that... in fact, they could no longer keep up with the needs of the era.

The world would definitely fall into great chaos.

So, before the great chaos, Liu Zheng still wanted to make more preparations.

The restriction imposed by the Longyan Dynasty that only allowed each great prefecture to annex three hundred thousand troops had to be broken through by some method.

How to break through?

This was the progressiveness of the Compulsory Military Service System.

Rotation!

Military service rotation!

In the current Liangzhou, this was achievable.

Liu Zheng's Compulsory Military Service System stipulated that all young adults aged sixteen and over had the obligation to serve in Liangzhou for two years. In this age of cold weapons, two years was enough to temper these youths into qualified, true warriors.

After two years, they could consider retiring and transferring to the Militia Reserve Force.

They could also become volunteer soldiers and continue to serve.

In this way...

The effect that could be achieved was to make the entire population soldiers as much as possible without conflicting with the laws of Longyan!

Think about it.

Every person in Liangzhou would have served in the military and possess a certain level of military literacy. When a great war truly broke out in Longyan one day, which of these retired young adults, if brought out, would not be a capable fighter?

Even if they had forgotten much or become lax.

They would still be far stronger than those who had never undergone military training.

Every citizen a soldier!

"This..."

As the greatest talent of Shu, Pei Yanran was the first to think of this point. She stared blankly at Liu Zheng and took a deep, sharp breath. This Prefect Liu, this Prefect Liu...

The first thought that flashed through her mind was that Prefect Liu had extreme ambition!

His ambition was not at all like his appearance, which seemed so cheerful, warm, and charitable.

Liu Zheng smiled: "What is forced? Does this young master look like that kind of tyrant? Hahaha, everyone, please continue reading."

The crowd had not yet reacted, but they could only endure it and force themselves to continue reading.

The first chapter contained the specific regulations for the Compulsory Military Service System and the Voluntary Military Service System. For example, young adults aged sixteen and over, and even women, had the obligation to serve for two years. Among these, some additional regulations were made regarding service time: the Liangzhou Local Army would serve for two years.

The Western Regions Army would serve for two and a half years—considering the inconvenience of transportation in this era and the time consumed on the road.

The Liangshan Garrison would serve for three years—for the same reason as above.

Besides the difference in region, the service time also differed based on the branch of service.

For example, the Liangzhou Navy would also serve for three years. The Liangzhou Air Force would likewise be three years. This was because Liu Zheng considered that the mastery of military skills and combat experience for the navy and air force took relatively longer—and he wanted those who truly possessed the talent for naval and air combat to serve Liangzhou for a longer period.

The Compulsory Military Service System also had its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage was that the service period for soldiers was short, and regular conscription and discharge allowed for frequent rotation, which was conducive to the renewal of standing personnel. This also solved the soldiers' worry about whether they would be stuck for years in a place like Liangshan, which was far from home.

Moreover, it could ensure that the army remained young and strong while also building up a reserve force—this "reserve" was actually Liu Zheng's true goal.

The disadvantage was that the service period was too short to fully master and become familiar with complex military technology and Weaponry and Equipment—but for now, Liangzhou did not have any particularly complex Weaponry and Equipment, and in Liu Zheng's view, this amount of time was completely sufficient.

People continued to read down.

Next was the matter they were most concerned about!

Compensation!

At first, they thought this Compulsory Military Service System meant working for nothing. Upon closer inspection, that was not the case. During their service, compulsory soldiers also enjoyed allowances, just less than volunteer soldiers. But it was absolutely enough to guarantee a normal life. Moreover, as long as they were serving, compulsory soldiers could enjoy publicly funded medical care, and based on the overall situation in Liangzhou, Liu Zheng stipulated that compulsory soldiers could also receive a "Placement Card" after being discharged!

What a Placement Card was, these people knew: they could be given priority for employment in Yintan City, and once placed, they would certainly not be ordinary craftsmen!

They would be directly managing those slaves!

Liu Zheng would even go so far as to establish a school specifically for training various skills, where retired soldiers could enroll for free without an entrance exam, right there in Yintan City. Given the current scale of Yintan City, it could fully accommodate such a large number of retired soldiers.

Three hundred thousand troops.

Fifty thousand rotating into retirement each year!

This is the ratio Liu Zheng has calculated for now.

Following this ratio, it can be considered a fifty-fifty military service system! It can ensure that the Liangzhou Army is half compulsory soldiers and half veterans.

As for those who retire from the volunteer army, they will likewise receive generous subsidies and employment opportunities—as Militia or in the Reserve Force, where they must continue to maintain military training in their daily lives. This can provide many employment opportunities. Those who served as officers in the military can even be promoted directly from White-clothed to official status after retirement!

Boom!

After seeing Liu Zheng's reform system, the entire room was in a state of bewilderment.

"This..."

"Young Master... this, this, this..."

In an instant, they forgot all about the matter of compulsory soldiers and began considering their own interests. One general said excitedly: "Young Master, if I retire now, wouldn't I be able to become an official?"

Liu Zheng laughed and said: "Of course you can, but you must first learn to read and write before you can become an official!"

"Good, good, good! I will go learn immediately, learn immediately. This time while stationed at Liangshan, I will follow the teachers in the army and learn!"

This general could not have been happier.

From White-clothed to official status, it is just that simple!

At this moment.

The whole room came alive.

They chattered and discussed without stopping.

Liu Zheng smiled slightly.

The current development of Liangzhou is quite suitable for a Compulsory Military Service System. The reason is simple: there is money! There is land! There is work! He does not believe that anyone would refuse this.

Finally.

Including Qin Zhangfeng, everyone had no further objections to this.

Liu Zheng smiled and said: "In this way, brothers will not be stationed at Liangshan for long periods, and those with needs can also rotate annually. Are you all satisfied?"

"Remember, the goal of our Liangzhou Army is the sea of stars! Not the mere land of Longyan. In the future, I do not wish to see the morale of the army unstable again!"

Everyone roared their agreement and stood up one after another.

"Young Master has great talent!"

"Young Master is of Great Good!"

And at this time.

Longyan Jinghua.

Hanlin Academy.

On this day.

The old Emperor Xie Tianyao did not know how he found the time to personally visit the inner courtyard of the Hanlin Academy, making everyone tremble with fear and serve him with the utmost care.

Xie Tianyao looked to be in good spirits; he arrived in the inner courtyard, sat down, drank tea, and played chess.

Looking around, he could not help but shake his head: "Ever since Old Liu died by Admonishment, I have always wanted to come here and take a look. But every time, I think of Old Liu's loyalty and feel despondent."

A group of Scholars hurriedly said: "Emperor, Old Liu promoted the Imperial Examination, his merit is for the nation, he died for a worthy cause!"

Xie Tianyao looked at the newly appointed Grand Academician of the inner courtyard, suddenly remained calm, and asked indifferently: "Does Scholar Chen consider the current Liangzhou Army to be a heavy weapon of the state?"

Everyone felt a wave of tension upon hearing this.

What does the Emperor mean by this?

Recently, the prominence of this Governor Liu is indeed second to none. The reputation of his tiger-wolf army has spread throughout the world, and it has even faintly overshadowed the Qingzhou Army of the Prince of Wei.

This Emperor...

Is he wary?

Chen Qian, who succeeded Liu Yu as the Grand Academician of the inner courtyard, could only think carefully for a moment after hearing this before saying: "Emperor, this humble official believes that 'weapon of slaughter' is more fitting."

Xie Tianyao laughed heartily upon hearing this and slapped his thigh: "You mean to say that a Crown Prince simply cannot suppress this Governor Liu, is that it?"

The entire room was silent.

But this... should be quite obvious, right?

Xie Tianyao smiled and waved his hand: "Continue the game, continue the game."

"Hmm..."

"For my birthday this time, let Governor Liu come to Jinghua for a visit."

Everyone took a deep breath.

Is the Emperor still planning to take action against this Governor Liu?

However.

Just at this moment.

Suddenly, a Junior Minister of the Hanlin Academy ran in from outside in a panic.

"Grand Academician, Grand Academician, there is more trouble coming from Liangzhou!"

Chen Qian's face twitched; did he not see the Emperor here? This, this, this, to speak so carelessly? When that person saw Xie Tianyao, he naturally was so scared that his legs turned to jelly, and he knelt down, offering all sorts of long-life wishes.

Xie Tianyao did not care about these things, but instead asked with a smile: "What kind of trouble, tell me about it."

The Junior Minister was covered in sweat: "Emperor, Emperor, Liangzhou has just announced that they are going to downsize the army!"

"What?"

A group of people were dumbfounded.