All Citizens Soldiers

Philiers, Council Hall

Looking at the Thirteen Palace Guardian Heavenly Kings, the prime minister, and the minister of education standing in the hall, Sordil said, "Everyone, I know you have been working very hard and are very tired lately, but it is far from time for you to rest. So you will need to continue to work hard for a while longer."

"Your His Majesty the King, please rest assured, this is nothing serious and won't tire us out. Just give the order if you need anything!" (Gilkunis)

Upon hearing Gilkunis's words, Hadessta, the leader of the Thirteen Palace Guardian Heavenly Kings, shook his head and said, "Gilkunis, do you think everyone is as tireless as you and me? Please consider the Prime Minister and the others, okay?"

"Hehe! Hadessta for thinking of us, Lord Hatista. However, Charlie and I are not as delicate as you think. This little bit of work won't tire us out!" (Red)

"The Prime Minister is right, we still have the energy to continue working!" (Charlie)

"See! I told you so! (Gilkunis)"

Looking at the smug Gilkunis, everyone shook their heads speechlessly.

After digesting the amusement generated by Gilkunis's silliness, Sordil broke the silence by speaking first.

"Charlie, how's the construction of the Magic Academy in various places going?"

Upon hearing Sordil's question, Charlie stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, the Junior Magic Academy in various regions have been completed, the intermediate and advanced Magic Academy are under construction, and the Royal Magic Academy, as the highest institution of learning, has also begun construction!"

"Hmm! Well done! However, the intermediate and advanced Magic Academy, as well as the Royal Magic Academy, need to speed up their processes and not delay subsequent enrollment. (Old Suo)"

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, the Magic Academy will be completed on schedule and will not delay Your Majesty's plans!" (Charlie)

"That's good! By the way! How's the enrollment for compulsory magic education going? (Old Suo)"

Upon hearing Sordil mention enrollment, Charlie's face suddenly turned much paler.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I have failed in my duties. After several days, I have only recruited a few hundred people!"

"Sigh! Although I had a feeling things wouldn't go smoothly, I didn't expect it to be this bad! Charlie, get up first. This isn't your fault; it was my oversight!" (Old Suo)

As he spoke, Sordil stepped forward to help Charlie up and gently patted him on the shoulder.

"Your Majesty, I believe the enrollment process is not progressing smoothly due to two important factors. (Red)"

"Oh? What brilliant idea does the Prime Minister have? Speak quickly! (Old Suo)"

"Your Majesty, the reason why the people are unwilling to participate in compulsory magic education is twofold: firstly, Take Over Magic education does not help their lives in any way; secondly, the local nobles, in order to protect their own interests, will certainly prevent them from going to the Magic Academy to Take Over Magic education. (Red)"

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister is right!" (Charlie)

After the two finished speaking, Old Suo fell into deep thought.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, "In that case, let's integrate compulsory magic education into their lives and give them some benefits to shut those nobles up!"

Before Charlie and the Prime Minister could ask any questions, Old Suo continued, "Red, Charlie, you two must immediately draft a bill stipulating that all employment positions within the kingdom must prioritize hiring members who have completed compulsory magical education. Furthermore, members who have completed compulsory magical education shall receive double the salary of ordinary employees."

"Furthermore, starting this year, a magic examination will be held every three months. Those who excel in the examination will be able to enter the Royal Magic Academy and have the opportunity to receive guidance from me and the Thirteen Palace Guardian Heavenly Kings."

After Old Suo finished speaking, Red stepped forward slowly, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, while these measures can effectively mobilize the enthusiasm of ordinary people, they may not be as effective for the nobles!"

"I know all this, so I will prepare a special gift for those nobles!" (Old Suo)

At this point, Sordil suddenly asked the prime minister a completely unrelated question.

"Prime Minister, how is the reorganization and restructuring of the army progressing?"

Upon hearing Sordil's words, the Prime Minister froze on the spot. After a long while, he replied, "The mages have been quite dedicated, and the soldiers are very enthusiastic about learning. Therefore, the first phase of the army reform is almost complete!"

"Hmm! Good! Prime Minister, immediately select a group of soldiers and officers with excellent physical fitness and high magical talent from various armies, and then gather them in Philiers."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" (Red)

"Charlie, you shall immediately build another academy next to the Royal Magic Academy to receive these soldiers and officers."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" (Charlie)

"Old man Hadessta, your Thirteenth Heavenly King Guard will also be sent to this academy for training, and you thirteen of you will be their instructors."

After Sordil finished speaking, Hadessta and the others were completely dumbfounded.

"You naughty boy, didn't you just say you were going to deal with those nobles? Why are you suddenly asking us to instruct the officers on training?" (Gilkunis)

Seeing everyone looking at him with puzzled expressions, Old Suo smiled and said, "Old man Gilkunis, do you think if there were an academy where one could advance in rank based on military merit, wouldn't all the nobles be eager to get in?" (Sorry, Ying Zheng Huang, for borrowing your system of farming and warfare!)

After Old Suo finished speaking, the Thirteen Palace Guardian Heavenly Kings, including Gilkunis, were even more confused. However, the Prime Minister and Charlie smiled knowingly.

"Red, have you guessed His Majesty the King's intentions?" (Hadessta)

Upon hearing Hadessta's question, the Prime Minister chuckled, "Hehe! Lord Hadessta is truly observant! Indeed, Charlie and I have already guessed His Majesty the King's intentions!"

"Red, since you've guessed it, tell us quickly so we can understand too!" (Woodman)

"Hehe! Okay! Then I'll explain it to everyone! (Red)"

"As we just mentioned, the reason those nobles are blocking compulsory magic education is because it would harm their interests. Therefore, as long as we can ensure their interests are not harmed, they naturally won't cause trouble. However, we currently don't have any extra territory or gold to appease them, so we can only use titles to make them obedient. (Red)"

"But if we simply elevate their titles without cause, it will only embolden them. Therefore, titles can be granted, but they must earn them themselves." (Red)

"As for how to obtain it, His Majesty the King has already stated it: it's by entering the military academy managed by your Thirteen Palace Guardian Heavenly Kings Thirteen Palace Guardian Heavenly Kings. To enter the academy, one must first meet your Thirteen Palace Guardian Heavenly Kings. To meet them, one must participate in compulsory magic education and obtain the qualification to study at the Royal Magic Academy. (Red)" (Phew! Finally, this matter is resolved. I'm exhausted!)

"Oh! I see! (The Thirteen Palace Guardian Heavenly Kings)"

After everyone understood, Old Suo said, "In order to prove that this military academy can really improve ranks, I want to make these officers the first beneficiaries and let them become the best advertisement for the military academy."

"Your Majesty, this plan is ingenious, but so easily elevating their ranks may incite discontent among other nobles and render the titles worthless." (Charlie)

"Ha! Charlie, when did I ever say I'd help them get promoted for nothing? (Sordil)"

"His Majesty means... (Charlie)"

"In half a month, these officers will have Grand Martial Arts Tournament with the Erus Legion. If they can defeat Heradi and his men, I will promote their ranks and rename the officer academy the Heavenly King Military Academy. However, if Heradi and his men win, then the entire Erus Legion will be promoted, and the officer academy will be renamed the Erus Military Academy. (Old Suo)"

"Haha! As expected of the master, he's so cunning!" (Red)

Upon hearing Red's remark, the Thirteen Heavenly Kings, realizing what had happened, all turned pale.

"You naughty boy, are you kidding me? (Gilkunis)"

"Exactly! Isn't this just making us work for free?" (Woodman)

"Little brother Sordil, you've gone too far! (Yelibell)"

"That's not fair! Brother Sordil, you've done something really unfair! (Yesveta)"

Hearing everyone's complaints about him, Old Suo shook his head and then laughed, "Hehe! Everyone, don't worry. I'll have Heradi and the others go easy on you. Otherwise, how can I get them to promote the military academy?"

After Sordil finished speaking, everyone remembered the true purpose of holding this Grand Martial Arts Tournament. They nodded in relief.

Just then, Charlie suddenly realized that there was a major flaw in the plan, so he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, although the military academy may attract the attention of nobles, everyone has an equal opportunity to enter the Royal Magic Academy. The nobles do not enjoy any special privileges from it, so I'm afraid they still won't be very enthusiastic!"

Charlie's reminder made Old Suo realize that he was now living in an era dominated by nobles, not in the socialist era of equality he had lived in before.

"Yes! You're absolutely right, we really need to pay attention to that!" (Old Suo)

"Here's what we'll do! Add a Magic Knight Class to each Magic Academy, specifically for noble students and outstanding ordinary students. In addition, each month, ten students from the Magic Knight Class will be guaranteed a place at a military academy for internships and further studies. Whether these ten individuals stay at the military academy depends on their own efforts. After all, military academies are for training elites, not for admitting good-for-nothings. (Old Suo)"

"Prime Minister, Charlie, what do you think of this approach?" (Old Suo)

"Your Majesty is wise! (Prime Minister, Charlie)"

"Alright! Since you all think it's okay, then go and prepare!"

Yes! (All)