Industrial Revolution of the Mage Lords

Chapter 761 Golden Bachelor

As summer fades into autumn, the annual harvest festival approaches once again.

The Northern Army's routine day off coincided with the capital's weekly public holiday, making it a perfect time for people to go out for outings and shopping.

The officers and soldiers who had been cooped up in the barracks for half a month also took leave and left the camp. They went to clubs or theaters in groups of three or five to relax. After the military was restructured again at the end of last winter, the salaries and pay of the army increased a bit. Professional soldiers with plenty of spare money suddenly became the main consumers in major military cities.

Among them, young non-commissioned officers are the best. These young men, who have not been in the army for long, have not yet bought private property in their hometown or the capital, and have not yet married, have particularly strong desire to consume as their wallets are bulging. In addition, almost all of them have passed the literacy courses of the army night school after being recruited. On weekdays, they regard themselves as cultured people who can carry guns. On their days off, they like to go to various theaters and operas in the capital, or hang out in the officers' clubs, drinking and talking loudly with the staff officers who are of noble birth.

Ordinary soldiers, however, do not have such privileges. They are not allowed to leave the barracks on their two days of rest each month unless they are granted special permission to visit relatives. Even when there is no war, they are required to stay at their unit on standby. Fortunately, rugby is very popular in the army, and board games can also help them pass the time during their short breaks.

Santas changed out of his usual training uniform and put on a set of sergeant's autumn uniform, which looked inexplicably bulky in the heat of the day.

"Where are you going? Didn't we agree to play cards at the club?" Baler asked, pouting.

Gregor's eyes darted around, and he suddenly chuckled, "Oh! I know! Did you secretly sign up for the blind date organized by the Military Affairs Department behind our backs? What a scoundrel, you clearly said you wouldn't participate!"

Sek, who was half-lying on the bed struggling with his obscure vocabulary book, looked up when he heard this and couldn't help but tease him, "Don't make fun of him. Santas isn't young anymore. Going on a blind date isn't like he's getting engaged right away... It's no big deal."

Santas immediately blushed and retorted loudly, "Bullshit! Who said I was going on a blind date!"

Since His Majesty officially promulgated the new round of national development plan, the Ministry of State, considering the long-term development of the Kingdom, has not only implemented a policy of introducing a large number of foreign people in the short term, but has also begun a series of measures to promote population growth domestically.

The most important thing is to encourage marriage and childbirth. Ordinary people don't need to worry too much. After having enough to eat, wear, and a place to live, they are very eager to have children. There is no need for the government to urge or encourage them. The Ministry of Health almost immediately set up separate childcare centers in medical hospitals across the country. I heard that there are now full-time pediatricians assigned to these centers.

The only ones left behind are naturally the "problem-solving" bachelors in the military. With each round of military expansion, their numbers have grown so large that even the marital status of some mid- to high-ranking officers has been included in their daily performance evaluations.

These young, strong, and well-paid professional soldiers should have been highly sought-after "golden bachelors" in the marriage market, not only popular in the capital but also in any other garrison city within the kingdom.

The main problem lies in the various strict regulations and rules formulated by the State Council, which not only restrict enlisted soldiers under the age of twenty from getting married, but also prohibit soldiers from seeking marriage in the location of their garrison if they belong to any unit that is responsible for rotating garrisons. This results in soldiers and officers, whose movement is already severely restricted, either having to get married early before enlisting, or having to wait until their three years of compulsory military service are completed and their superiors approve a half-month leave to return home for their wedding, rushing back to complete their life's most important event as if they were in a war.

Many of the already outstanding military officers pinned their hopes on settling down in the capital, first completing the important task of saving money to buy a house, and then starting to look for their ideal girl to start a romantic free love affair.

This resulted in the military's marriage rate consistently ranking last among population management departments at the end of each quarter.

The military affairs ministers, who were in charge of the internal affairs of the army, could not withstand the reprimands from their superiors. They racked their brains to encourage eligible officers to get married. Whenever the battle groups stationed in the capital had time and an opportunity, they would hold several large-scale matchmaking events on their days off.

However, independent combat units like the Spark Special Forces, whose members are selected through rigorous assessments and undergo strict training, are mostly determined and ambitious individuals whose desire to serve on the battlefield and achieve merit clearly outweighs their desire for marriage and starting a family. Most of the soldiers privately discussed it and decided to temporarily refrain from participating, focusing instead on practical training to improve themselves, awaiting His Majesty the Emperor's next operational order.

After looking around, Baler leaned close to the three of them and whispered, "I heard that the girls participating in the matchmaking are all from local families in the capital... Their looks and education are at least above average, and many of them even work in government departments!"

Gregor clicked his tongue. "Wow! No wonder Santas betrayed the organization and abandoned his beliefs. But then again, even Instructor Dean signed up..."

bang——

Before the four of them had finished their quiet chirping, the door to the officers' barracks was kicked open from the outside, and Instructor Dean walked straight in with a stern face.

"Not planning to go out and have fun on your day off? What are you all doing holed up in the barracks?"

Baler immediately shrank back and whispered, "We're discussing where to go later..."

Dean glared at him, coughed twice in a mock manner, and said indifferently, "If you don't know where you're going, then don't go. In a little while, change into a clean military uniform, the kind you wear for the military parade. Get ready and come with me to the Ministry of Military Affairs."

"Huh? Instructor!" Sai Ke was taken aback and blurted out subconsciously, "Go to the Ministry of Military Affairs? Wasn't it said that blind dates were voluntary?"

Dean rolled his eyes and said irritably, "It's voluntary, but our special forces team has far too few volunteers. It's embarrassing for me in front of the higher-ups! In that case, I'll just call out names!"

Gregor breathed a sigh of relief. Although he kept saying that he was self-disciplined and ambitious, that he would stand with his brothers and never abandon his faith, when he actually got to face the girl openly, he couldn't help but feel a little expectant and impulsive.

Urged on by the instructors, the three men, unable to withstand the intimidation, had no choice but to pull themselves together and begin rummaging through their wardrobes to find their military uniforms to wear.

"Sek, remember to bring your Distinguished Sergeant Medal. Honestly... at a time like this, you still don't know how to pat yourself on the back."

"Gregor, you have five minutes to tidy up your appearance and straighten out that messy hair of yours."

"Barre...tsk! Do you want me to shave that awful beard for you myself?!"

After a reprimand, he turned around and saw Santas standing neatly and upright by the door. He nodded slightly in satisfaction: "Hmm...not bad, you were prepared in advance."

Santas shuddered and quickly raised his arm, still wrapped in thick bandages, and said in a trembling voice, "Instructor, I... I was supposed to go to the field medical center for a check-up today, as ordered by the doctor!"

(End of this chapter)