Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 267: Military Settlement
Ever since the pioneering territory had towering walls that were twenty to thirty miles long, the people living here finally felt safe. The northern wilderness was not only in danger of evil orcs wreaking havoc, but the cold and primitive natural environment and the large number of wild animals also posed a threat to the lives of human refugees.

In the early winter when the evil orcs may move south at any time, it really makes people feel insecure to risk cultivating land on the other side of the icy river far away from their territory.

"I'm planning to adjust the army's size again..." Harvey said, rubbing his chin as he pondered. "Over the past year, aside from a single mission against a lone demon army, the Northern Army hasn't had many overseas combat missions. The daily expenses and salaries of two battalions with over 2,000 men are an incredibly high cost."

Commander Pierce and Battalion Commander Vaughn, who were touched by the lord's words, shuddered secretly and quickly perked up and listened attentively.

"The same goes for the defense forces. A battalion headquarters consists of over a thousand people, and that's just responsible for the daily security work within the territory. The police department also shares the responsibility for inspections and patrols within the territory, which is a considerable expense..."

It is very difficult for a pioneering territory with a population of 10,000 to feed more than 3,000 soldiers, even with alchemical beasts and a large number of assembly line factories to provide efficient logistics production and food supply. The private military force of this scale of the lord is even greater than the private armed forces owned by the kings of some small secular principalities and counties in the southern countries.

Pierce spoke cautiously, "Sir...are you planning to reduce the military? If these soldiers lose their military status, how will they be accommodated?"

Harvey smiled and shook his head, explaining, "No, I don't intend to lay off these soldiers. They are professional soldiers that I have spent a lot of effort to train. In a place like the Northern Wasteland surrounded by foreign enemies, the army is our greatest reliance for survival."

After saying that, he asked the waiter to distribute the documents prepared in advance one by one, and everyone hurriedly lowered their heads to read them carefully.

The army is stationed in wasteland... the corps is stationed there... what does this mean?
Everyone was confused but didn't dare to ask Harvey first. They could only exchange puzzled glances or look up and glance at Harvey's face to guess his intentions.

"Don't be so reserved. It's normal for you not to understand," Harvey chuckled and explained slowly. "I plan to transfer 500 men each from the Northern Army and the Defense Army, streamlining the original 1,000-man battalion to 500 men. We'll form two garrison battalions and station them permanently on the east bank of the Glacier River."

"These soldiers are not only responsible for defense and vigilance, but also need to participate in agricultural production when there is no external threat or emergency fighting, and cooperate with the personnel sent by the Ministry of Agriculture to engage in grain planting."

Pierce immediately understood the lord's idea. Isn't this just the reverse implementation of the recruitment system used by the noble lords in the southern border?

The freemen and tenant farmers in the noble lords' fiefdoms farmed and grazed livestock and paid taxes to the lords when there was no war. Once a war broke out, they would need to accept the lords' temporary recruitment, put down their farm tools and take up weapons to fight for the lords, which meant they had to perform the duties of both farmers and militiamen at the same time.

Harvey has now reversed this practice. While ensuring the duties and treatment of professional soldiers, he has allowed them to take on the task of farming in their spare time. With the help of improved magic wheat seeds and agricultural alchemy beasts, they can not only feed themselves without any problems, but also have a large amount of surplus food to supply the territory.

Just when Battalion Commander Vaughn was secretly wondering whether the soldiers could get an extra part-time salary by farming, Lord Harvey brought up the issue at the right time.

"Of course, we can't just give these soldiers who are stationed in the wasteland a new task without any rewards or benefits. Based on the average monthly salary of the lower-level soldiers in the territory army, I think we should give them some subsidies for stationing in the wasteland, or the right to purchase scarce luxury goods..."

The detailed content and implementation of this policy order would naturally be left to Reiner and Pierce to discuss on their own, so Harvey didn't bother to elaborate further. ...

After discussing the Ministry of Agriculture's food production and the military's restructuring and wasteland settlement issues, Harvey turned his attention to Asdalen and the young spellcaster Durt sitting below him.

"You two, now it's time to discuss the education issues in the civilian school and the spellcaster academy."

Upon hearing the lord's call, Chief Advisor Asdalen immediately stood up and began to report methodically, "As of this month, approximately 730 citizens have completed literacy education this year. Including those who completed literacy education last year, approximately 1,500 civilians in the territory have completed literacy courses, including all officials working in the city hall and various departments."

A 10% literacy rate among the population would be considered an incredible sight in any secular country in the South. In this world where transcendence and ignorance coexist, being able to read and write is considered by most people to be a privilege reserved for spellcasters and nobles.

"Good! I'm very satisfied with the result." Harvey couldn't help but clap his hands to show encouragement. He knew the importance of universal education better than anyone else present.

Apart from the fact that commoners with basic education are better at performing complex technical work and administrative management, knowledge itself also brings the chance of achieving class advancement and acquiring extraordinary powers - that's right, people with spellcasting talents do not inherit their talents through blood or genetic mutations, but through continuous learning from endless knowledge, they have stimulated the seeds of wisdom that can enable them to embark on the path of magic.

This is also why Harvey ordered that all teenagers and children under the age of sixteen in the territory must receive free basic education, and at least complete literacy courses to ensure basic literacy skills.

Among these children, naturally, about one percent of the smart ones will be selected by the experienced Asdalen and Durt as reserve candidates for magic apprentices and enter the spellcaster school to continue their studies.

"The Spellcaster School is currently accepting apprentices and trainees for its introductory courses, totaling seventy-six people. We are divided among three classes: Alchemy, Magic, and Potions. Due to a shortage of magic teachers, Durt, Chris, Egno, and I are currently teaching part-time..."

Asdalen finished his brief report, then bowed slightly to Harvey and sat down again.

"So few? If I remember correctly, these students also include the dozen or so magic apprentices brought by Durt, the group of alchemy apprentices working and studying under Chris, and the young people of Egno's tribe who just moved in a while ago, right?"

Harvey frowned slightly and said dejectedly, "Among the indigenous residents of this territory, are there so few children with spellcasting talent?"

Orange Peel, who was in charge of population management at the City Hall, noticed the lord's glum face and quickly spoke up to make amends, "Lord, you have to understand that these children, two or three years ago, couldn't even get enough to eat. They were refugees who constantly worried about surviving the winter! Being able to read and write is already very good. Besides... even if they don't have the talent to be mages, after they graduate from school, they will be technical talents that various departments will scramble to recruit..."

Harvey sighed and could only helplessly console himself, "Well, even though we can't train spellcasters, the good news is that after graduation, the employment rate for these children is at least 100%. There's no such thing as unemployment right after graduation..."

(End of this chapter)