Setting aside the immense manpower and resources required, once the commoners began to read and write, their understanding of the world would inevitably change.
Would enlightened people still be as obedient as they were now? Could the social order remain as stable? Would their regime still be as secure?
Jiang Jin understood everyone's concerns. She smiled faintly. Writing is inheritance, and it is also the ladder of human progress. By showing them a better life, they will only protect me more fiercely.
Furthermore, other than you all, I currently have no one else to use. We need to cultivate talent.
More importantly, only when they are literate will they understand the true meaning of being a subjugated slave, and only then will they realize the true significance of a nation to them.
Only then will they defend me and the Jinyang Army from the bottom of their hearts. Only then will they truly stand with us to protect Gefeng and guard every inch of our Han rivers and mountains.
Everyone present felt their eyes grow hot, unable to utter a single word.
The eminent monk of Yinshan Temple was indeed right. Princess Jinyang was the destiny of the Yan Kingdom.
At this moment, they firmly believed that she could seek a sliver of hope for the common people of the world, bringing life back to these shattered lands and restoring their former glory.
No, Princess Jinyang could create an even more brilliant civilization!
And they only needed to closely follow her footsteps, marching toward a future full of thorns but destined to be dazzling.
Dong Si's shock and excitement turned into reverence. My Lord possesses grand plans and great wisdom. I am willing to follow you to the death!
Zhou Sui and the others also bowed in respect. We are willing to follow you to the death!
Two days later, the heavy snow continued. Jiang Jin gave the order: Begin digging the tunnels and building the underground granary.
She had already planned out the entrances, exits, directions, and various hidden routes and mechanisms for the tunnels.
The underground granary also had to be built. There was not enough space above ground, and the temperature was harder to control, so she decided to construct it underground.
The recruitment quota soon reached Jiang Jin's hands; this time, they had recruited over 600 more people.
Qingqiu Mountain, Jiang Jin's residence.
The winter was freezing, and the county office was still the old building without heated walls or floors. It was too cold.
Fortunately, Jiang Jin had considered this when she first chose her house. She selected a large courtyard and converted one of the rooms into a council chamber.
I plan to establish an elite special forces unit, and I will train them personally, Jiang Jin said with astonishing words.
Zhou Sui was startled. You will train them personally? In this snowy winter?
A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Jin's eyes. Since they are an elite unit, they must have a will of steel. Not just them, but all the soldiers of the Jinyang Army must not slack off.
Yao Ji hesitated for a moment before asking, How many people does My Lord plan to select?
Jiang Jin pondered. Select five hundred soldiers with outstanding everyday performance. I will use an elimination system during training, and in the end, I will only keep two hundred.
Zhou Sui and the others exchanged glances before asking, May we ask what My Lord will name this elite special forces unit?
Jiang Jin smiled. The Dragon Shadow Guard!
Time flew by, and soon it was just before the New Year. The world was a vast expanse of pure white.
However, Gefeng City was exceptionally bustling. The snow in the streets and alleys had been swept completely clean, and many pedestrians were walking about.
The front of the grocery store was even more filled with constant clamor.
I want fine flour, give me two catties of fine flour. Zhang Ye held her copper coins and ration tickets. This year was a prosperous one, so she was treating herself to the luxury of fine flour.
Alright, just a moment, it will be ready right away, Lichun replied loudly from inside the grocery store.
Grandma Ah Le was lined up behind Zhang Ye. Your daughter-in-law at the garment workshop should be going on holiday soon, right?
Zhang Ye smiled, deepening her wrinkles. Yes, she said they go on holiday after finishing today, and they get time off until the eighth day of the New Year.
By the way, your Dalang should have a holiday too, right? At this moment, her fine flour was ready. She quickly took it, stepped to the side, and asked with a smile.
Speaking of this, Grandma Ah Le also beamed with joy. Indeed, his holiday starts tomorrow too.
After saying that, she quickly told Lichun what she wanted to buy and handed over the copper coins and tickets in her hand.
Soon, the items she wanted to buy were packed. The two women squeezed out of the crowd, feeling a sense of warmth in the freezing winter for the first time.
There are too many people. My old bones are about to be crushed, Zhang Ye couldn't help but grumble.
Grandma Ah Le agreed, puffing out a breath of white air as she spoke. Isn't that so? Everyone is buying things for the New Year. This year is truly wonderful!
As she spoke, her eyes turned red. Having lived to this age, it was her first time experiencing such a warm and joyful New Year.
Before the Quzhao people came, her family was considered well-off, and having enough to eat wasn't an issue. But Gefeng's winters were truly cold, the kind of cold that seeped into the marrow, making it very hard to endure.
It was nothing like now, where she could take off her outer coat as soon as she got home. It was so warm it made her want to cry.
Zhang Ye smiled. Yes, these days feel like a dream. Was your Ah Le selected to attend classes?
Speaking of this, the smile on Grandma Ah Le's face grew even wider, unable to hide her pride. Yes, learning to read and write, learning arithmetic. It's all taught personally by My Lord.
Zhang Ye looked full of envy. It's a pity my Ah Yu is too young, otherwise he might have been selected too.
Grandma Ah Le comforted her, No rush, things will only get better and better in the future.
The Gefeng Academy was located in the southwest direction of the residential area.
Since Jiang Jin wanted everyone to learn to read and write, the academy had been planned early on. It was built very large, equipped with heated floors and walls, allowing students to attend classes as usual during the winter.
Jiang Jin was currently teaching Pinyin. She was even busier than before winter began; not only did she have to teach classes, but she also had to constantly monitor the excavation of the underground granary and tunnels.
What took up even more of her time and energy was the training of the Dragon Shadow Guard, which was also a form of training for herself.
Dozens of people sat below, including Yun Ci, Zhou Sui, Yao Ji, Dong Si, Mu Qing and her grandchild, as well as Luo Qingci, Feng Qingzhu, Chen Xi, Chen Zi, Suo Qian, Liu Mi, Mu Zhuo, and others.
In short, everyone from Jiang Jin's core team who could come was there.
Besides them, there were also some unfamiliar faces, all young men and women.
Everyone had been taking classes for a while, but surprisingly, it was these young men and women with no prior foundation who learned faster.
Jiang Jin understood that people without a foundation were like a blank sheet of paper, ready to be painted on freely. These people were all selected from the commoners and were extremely hardworking and diligent.
Yun Ci and the others were also very serious, but their cognitive thinking already had its own established system. Switching to a completely new system was relatively more difficult for them.
Seeing the sky outside gradually darkening, Jiang Jin paused her lecture and announced, Holidays start tomorrow, and classes will resume on the tenth day of the New Year. However, even during the holidays, you must not slack off on your coursework.
Understood! everyone replied in unison with solemn expressions.
Jiang Jin nodded. Alright, class dismissed.
It wasn't until she walked out of the lecture hall that everyone stood up to leave.
Zhou Sui took the mink coat handed over by a servant boy and draped it over Yun Ci's shoulders. Elder Yun, it's cold, you must take care of your health.
Jiang Jin had someone build a wheelchair for Yun Ci, making his mobility much more convenient.
His condition looked very good at the moment. Haha, don't worry. This mink coat was gifted by My Lord. It's warm, I'm not cold.
He looked at the white snow in the courtyard and sighed with emotion, My Lord is right. Not only do the soldiers need to overcome illiteracy, but the commoners must overcome illiteracy as well.
"Only through education can the mind be enlightened. And only an enlightened mind can truly grasp the shame of a fallen nation and the dignity of our people. It is the only way they will understand our Lord's grand ambitions and true aspirations. When our hearts are united in purpose, we shall be invincible!"
Zhou Sui also gazed out at the vast, snow-white expanse of the world, a myriad of complex emotions stirring within him. He firmly believed that Jiang Jin's vision would become a reality; he just had not expected this day to arrive so swiftly.
Recently, they had learned a new term: universal literacy!
No monarch in history had ever achieved such a feat, nor would any monarch ever dare to try.
Yet, Jiang Jin was actually doing it. She did not just want the common people to remember the humiliation of a conquered nation; more importantly, she wanted them to lead good lives, to have full stomachs and warm clothes.
And this was merely the beginning. She had sown the seeds of knowledge, and soon enough, they would take root and flourish.
United in their hearts' desire, they would be utterly invincible!
