Bereavement Compensation

Karl listened attentively, nodding occasionally.

Edgar's considerations were thorough, largely adhering to previous standards, and even exceeding them in some respects, demonstrating compassion for the fallen soldiers despite Carnford's current difficult circumstances.

However, when Edgar started talking about who would receive the pensions, Karl raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Edgar, the order of the pension payments needs to be changed."

Edgar paused slightly, "What does Your Excellency mean?"

Karl tapped the table lightly with his fingers and said, word by word, "The pension must be given to the soldier himself first. If the soldier is killed in action, the pension and subsequent subsidies should be given to his parents first. If the parents are old or have no parents, the pension should be given to his children. If the children are young and need someone to take care of them, then the pension can be given to his wife."

He paused, then emphasized, "Moreover, there's a prerequisite! The wife who receives the pension must swear an oath, under the supervision of the Lord's Residence, to raise the fallen soldier's children to adulthood, and to dutifully care for the soldier's elderly parents until their passing!"

"During this period, she must not remarry! As long as she keeps her vow, she can continue to receive the pension and allowance, and the Lord's Residence will also provide her with extra care in her daily life."

"However! If she chooses to remarry... then all pensions and subsequent subsidies will be immediately stopped! Any payments already made will not be recovered, but any unpaid payments will be held in trust by the Lord's Residence and used to establish a special fund to support the soldiers' children and their parents until the children reach adulthood and become independent or the parents pass away!"

Edgar was taken aback at first, then realized, "Yes! How many loyal and brave soldiers have sacrificed their lives on the front lines to protect their homes and Lord, only to have their pensions sent out and then quickly used by their lonely wives as capital to build a comfortable life with their new lovers, or even to support other men."

It's even possible that a chilling human tragedy could occur, such as someone "sleeping with your wife, spending your pension, and even beating your children."

If such a situation were to occur, even in a very rare instance, the negative impact would be devastating. It would not only be the most shameless betrayal of the fallen heroes, but also a fatal blow to the morale of all the soldiers still serving their Lord.

Imagine if the soldiers thought about the possible sacrifice they might receive, only to have such a terrible outcome: their parents left without anyone to care for them, their children possibly being abused, and everything they had protected with their lives being trampled on.

Then, who would be willing to fight to the death on the battlefield without reservation? Who would remain absolutely loyal to their Lord and their so-called "homeland"? The morale of the army would inevitably crumble as a result.

Karl's regulations, though seemingly inhumane and even cruel at first glance, ensured to the greatest extent possible that the compensation money earned by fallen soldiers with their lives could be truly used for their loved ones whom they cared about most and could not let go of.

Elderly parents can spend their later years in peace and comfort, free from hunger and cold; young children can grow up healthily and receive the education and care they deserve.

This is not merely a matter of where the money goes; it is also a guarantee for the continuation of the bloodlines of the victims, and the most powerful incentive and promise for the living.

It sent a clear and powerful message to all the living: under the Lord, heroes will never bleed and weep, and sacrifices will never be cheap or laughable.

Your dedication and sacrifice will be guaranteed by the system and remembered for the longest time.

This is far more effective than any empty slogan or flowery language in uniting people and boosting morale, allowing every soldier to go to the battlefield without any worries, because they know that no matter what their fate may be, the Lord has built the strongest shield for them after their deaths.

In the face of this dire situation, this regulation is undoubtedly the most powerful promise of loyalty and the most effective way to stabilize morale within the army.

However, as Edgar realized the truth, a sense of inexplicable surprise involuntarily arose in his heart.

He discreetly observed the excessively young, even unmarried, Lord before him, wondering to himself, how could a young man who had never experienced marriage and family life so profoundly perceive the most hidden and realistic aspects of human relationships?

This requires a detached understanding of human weaknesses, especially the potential moral collapse that can occur when driven by self-interest, that is beyond one's years.

Karl seemed to keenly catch the fleeting doubt in Edgar's eyes, and he smiled and took the initiative to speak, "What's wrong, Edgar? Don't you find it a little unbelievable that someone like me, who has never even been married, could think of this?"

Upon hearing this, Edgar immediately composed himself and replied respectfully and tactfully, "My Lord, you are so farsighted and insightful. How could you not have thought of such a fundamental matter concerning the morale of the army?"

"I'm just... just genuinely surprised that you've considered the details of the compensation payment process so thoroughly and comprehensively."

Karl smiled but didn't explain immediately. He remained silent, though he had never personally experienced marriage, he had witnessed plenty of bizarre and tragic human events in his previous life.

Stories of wives absconding with all compensation money and family assets after their husbands' untimely death, abandoning their elderly in-laws and young children, and even turning their backs on other men, are all too common and have become a social phenomenon.

Karl did not intend to completely deny the virtues of women. He acknowledged that there are indeed virtuous and loyal women in the world who are willing to remain faithful to their deceased husbands, raise their children with great care, and support their elderly parents.

But reason told him that such people, in any era and in any group, are destined to be a rare minority.

When faced with the pressures of survival, loneliness, and the temptations of reality, most people tend to behave in a sophisticatedly self-serving manner. This is human nature and has nothing to do with gender. However, under the social structure at the time, women had more room to maneuver and fewer institutional constraints when dealing with their deceased husband's estate and pension.

A thought even flashed through his mind: perhaps he could learn from some practices he remembered from the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as introducing a reputation-based incentive mechanism similar to "Chastity Arch"?

By using public opinion and moral commendation, the "reputation" of widows is tied to the interests of their families and even clans, thus building a spiritual defense that firmly "locks" them onto the track of continuing their deceased husbands' bloodline and supporting their families.

As soon as the idea came to mind, even Karl himself felt it was a bit too realistic, even cold.

Previously, he might have scoffed at such systems, considering them as feudal ethics that bound human nature. But now, he had to admit that some of the methods his ancestors had explored in long-term social practice, though seemingly inhumane, often contained a cruel yet effective wisdom of governance based on human weaknesses.

We should not overestimate anyone's moral integrity in the face of enormous benefits or prolonged solitude. Sometimes, appropriate guidance and restraint are actually a safeguard for the interests of the larger group.

Thinking this, Karl withdrew his gaze and looked at Edgar. He didn't reveal all his thoughts, but simply said, "Thinking more can't hurt. If we want our soldiers to have no worries, we need to consider the worst-case scenario and make the system more rigorous. We can strengthen neighborhood supervision, and if we find that a martyr's wife is having an affair, we can report it directly. After all, our Lord's Residence can't always be concerned about everyone's family."