Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 608 Reserve Militia
Before the sky was completely bright, in the quiet and peaceful village, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded on the cobblestone street.

Several young men wearing thin cotton and linen shirts with their chests bare walked up to a stone house at the entrance of the village and started knocking on it.

Bang bang bang!
"Bal! Bal! Are you up?"

The heavy and solid door panel could hardly withstand the beating of the iron fist. Baler quickly opened the door and welcomed the four people outside in.

"Why are you panicking? The rooster hasn't even crowed yet. Eat your fill before you go!"

After that, he took out a few bowls of hot oatmeal from the iron pot that was bubbling in the fireplace, broke off a few pieces of hard bread from the cupboard, and distributed them to everyone.

"The conscription office will post the notice at nine in the morning. We only need to leave at six and we will definitely be able to enter the city by eight."

As he spoke, he pulled out a delicate copper pocket watch from his pocket as if to show off, and waved it in front of everyone with a smug look on his face, "Don't worry, I'm keeping track of the time. I definitely won't be late."

When he moved to the town, he brought with him two prairie fire fox furs and a few ancestral northern gems... Who would have thought that after going to the city twice with the tribe leader, he would actually find some new and interesting gadgets in the state-owned stores that were the envy of all the young people in the village.

The youngest member of the tribe munched on bread and slurped down his oatmeal porridge. "Going early always gives you an advantage. We're not rushing you, but those guys from the Rock Mountain Tribe are planning to leave from the next town and enter the city before dawn. They're probably almost at the city gate by now."

Bale suddenly remembered something and asked in a low voice, "Didn't you notify Saik who lives in the village on the other side?"

"Humph, that guy is so mean! He secretly left yesterday without telling us and headed to the city early!"

After swallowing the last mouthful of oatmeal, Bale wiped his mouth, fished out the leather-wrapped documents from under his pillow, grabbed the kettle, and urged, "What are you still standing there for? Let's go!"

A few people walked out of the village quickly and looked at the neat rows of stone houses along the river bank. Many of them had lights on, and smoke was rising from the chimneys... They were the early farming tribesmen, who were carefully preparing meals.

Looking up, the endless flat land appeared dark in the hazy morning light. The seeds that had just been plowed were buried in it, waiting to sprout. There was an indescribable vitality everywhere.

……

They walked along the flat and spacious road, and just as Bale said, they arrived just in time when the hands of their pocket watch pointed to eight o'clock and saw the towering walls and open gates of Fengyuan City.

After honestly showing his ID card, he soon joined the crowd to enter the city - Fengyuan City was larger than any settlement they had seen before, and the roads in the city were as complicated as a maze with twists and turns. Fortunately, Bale had been here several times with the patriarch before, so he at least knew the specific location of the conscription office.

Along the way, I met young people walking in the same direction. I always felt that they were all heading to the recruitment office. Facing these competitors... naturally, we didn't have a good face for each other.

There are limits and standards for conscription, and you are not guaranteed to be selected if you go... An ID card and a literacy certificate are both required. You must also have healthy limbs, clear speech, and be over 18 years old. Even your eyesight must be tested on the spot.

Due to many restrictions, among the Jade Tribe of Jinglin Town, only five people from Bale were eligible for selection. The rest were basically excluded due to their literacy level and were not even qualified to apply.

When he saw the long, neat queue in front of the conscription office, Baler suddenly realized that he had made a mistake... There was still more than half an hour before the notice was posted, but these people had already started queuing up. It was really abominable!
He was filled with rage, but he still stood obediently at the back of the line, tiptoeing and gazing at the closed door. Soon, the clock tower on the distant street corner rang... The heavy double doors of the recruitment office swung open, and a non-commissioned officer in a black uniform hurried out, carrying a roll of documents. Seeing the line of people already formed outside, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!"

However, he did not delay. He walked directly to the bulletin board and posted the conscription notice. Then he picked up the alchemical trumpet in his hand and began to preach loudly.

"The Ministry of National Defense's Recruiting Office in Fengyuan City, the United Kingdom of the Northern Territory and Saint Valen, is recruiting a total of 500 soldiers, including 300 for the Northern Territory Army and 200 for the National Defense Force!"

Before he finished speaking, he squinted his eyes and roughly counted the number of people in the three long queues in front of him... As expected, the number of people was definitely in excess of the quota, and selection had to be carried out according to the regulations.

"Those who have completed basic literacy education and obtained a passing grade on their diplomas... and who have also undergone a two-week preparatory militia training program within the past six months will be given priority for recruitment! Please step out with your militia certificates in hand!"

Bale quietly clenched his fists, cheered softly, and turned to several of his tribesmen, who also had delighted expressions on their faces. "Let me tell you, those two weeks of boring and arduous standing in formation were definitely not just for fun... They were definitely for the upcoming conscription!"

Suddenly, a small number of people in the team held up their certificates, left the long line with smiles on their faces, and entered the recruitment office in advance under the guidance of the recruitment officer.

There is no doubt that they will be given priority to join the prestigious Northern Army, which is mainly responsible for external warfare!

Baler also noticed that the person walking not far ahead of them was none other than the young chief of the Silver Moon Tribe, Sek. This guy had also participated in militia training and seemed to be well prepared.

After completing a series of height and age registration procedures in the conscription office hall, everyone was immediately gathered in the spacious backyard playground. Looking at the rows of densely packed dormitories not far away, they probably knew that they would be spending the next few days here.

Who would have thought that an officer also wearing a black military uniform and with the rank of second lieutenant on his chest would stand in front of everyone with a stern face, and a metal mechanical arm that looked extremely terrifying.

"Once you meet the enlistment requirements and complete the conscription registration... you will officially become a member of the Northern Army's reserve recruits."

"Everyone has a full day to travel home, carry their small luggage, and say goodbye to their families. You must report back before noon tomorrow and march directly with the main force. If you dare to be late or not show up... hmph, not only will you be court-martialed, but your family will also be questioned by the Ministry of Justice! Do you understand?"

"I understand, sir!" Everyone had undergone the most basic militia training and naturally knew the principle of strict compliance with military orders and absolute obedience.

"If you have any questions, please ask me immediately."

Zeke, standing at the front of the team, raised his hand cautiously. "Sir, aren't we going to receive new recruit training here? We'll leave with the main force tomorrow... Yes, are we going to the North?"

Were they going to be sent to the battlefield immediately? For a moment, everyone felt uneasy.

The Iron Arm officer chuckled with disdain, "What qualifications do you have to go straight to the battlefield? There's still at least three to six months of intensive training. Those who fail will have to return in disgrace..."

"And our destination is not the northern border, but Wangshan County."

Wangshan County...isn't that on the border between our country and the Principality of Yalide?
(End of this chapter)