Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 539 Education Revitalizes the Nation
At the same time, the second wave of infrastructure construction in Gaoya also began.

The area at the foot of the high cliffs surrounding the lord's residence was designated as a military zone. The blacksmith's shop, brewery, soap shop, and the mansions of several newly promoted knights, including Münster Kegan, were located here, forming a protective perimeter. This was the core area.

In the second phase of urban planning, a new commercial district was established in the southeast of the core area, along the main road leading to Gaoya Port.

New shops, residential buildings and other public buildings will rise here, forming a miniature city belonging to Gaoya.

Though small, it has all the essential parts; its small size doesn't matter, the key is that it exists.

Whether it's for the purpose of settling people from various industries, or to give the people under his rule a place to spend their money so that they can gradually have some surplus funds and even have a place to spend their money after they have enough to eat and wear (and of course, to recover the money that Master Zhang has paid out), the establishment of a commercial district is necessary.

This is an inevitable consequence of the development of industry and agriculture in the territory, unless Zhang Yuan simply gives up and follows the example of some lords who live off land rent.

It was the bright future depicted in the second phase blueprint that made the people of White Tower even more determined in their choice.

Joining now means you're still getting initial shares. If you wait any longer, and another business alliance gets attracted to you seeking cooperation, things could get really messed up.

The Winds of Fate and those guys from the Forgotten Lords have noses that are sharper than dogs.

Subsequent events only made them secretly rejoice.

Gao Yaling, who was already very skilled in civil engineering and infrastructure, completed the construction of the urban area in just one month.

Wide, flat stone-paved streets, neatly arranged shops on both sides, and well-planned residential areas together create a refined and elegant commercial district.

The chamber of commerce members who moved in were quite amazed. Despite being in such a remote corner, apart from the sparse population, the living environment seemed to be almost the same as in Sham Shui Po.
In some planning and design aspects, it is even more excessive.

The initial design of urban residential buildings included a large margin of safety, intended as a reward to enhance the work enthusiasm of future industrial workers.

For the trainees who are currently just apprentices and still live with their families in earthen buildings, having a detached house in the city near their workplace is an irresistible temptation.

Even in another world, for ordinary people, the incentive effect of real estate is second only to the distribution of land.

Within the territory, almost every family with children rushed to send their offspring over, hoping that the next generation could escape the fate of toiling in the fields and live the good life of "city dwellers" that they had only ever heard of and longed for.

Knowledge changes destiny. Although the people of Gaoya had never heard this familiar saying from their previous life, which might have caused conflict between the sisters Omar and Fate in Faerun, they truly felt a similar sentiment in their hearts.

The subsidies the apprentices received in the workshop and iron shop had already delighted their families. Their young men, who were only a teenager, could earn wages almost equal to what they could earn from farming.

This new incentive mechanism plunged them into a frenzy of euphoria, especially when several of the usually clever and diligent young men actually won apartments, which brought them to the peak.

Hmm, the effects of the "Thousand Gold Pieces" system don't seem to be limited by dimensional differences.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye, but enough time for the landscape of the rapidly developing Gaoya territory to change dramatically.

The militia, which was originally only half full, was immediately at full strength after the new benefits policy was introduced. The core factor causing such a dramatic change is one:
Those who perform outstandingly during their service may be selected as candidates for professional non-commissioned officer training or receive vocational training.

On the other hand, the vocational and basic education systems have also rapidly developed from their initial makeshift forms into more formalized and institutionalized systems as their scale has expanded. For children aged ten and under, only language, general knowledge, arithmetic, physical education, and handicrafts are taught until they meet the assessment standards before being sent to vocational classes for further training.

For older teenagers, however, the immediate conversion of productivity has replaced potential development as the primary consideration.

Moreover, the off-season for farming is coming to an end, and those who have already taken on part of the labor force at home cannot afford the luxury of taking time off to study.

At the internal meeting of the territory, in response to questions raised by the other attendees, Zhang Yuan's answer was:
"Night school and internship positions are seamlessly integrated."

The congregation was completely bewildered, but he didn't expect them to understand anyway.
"Learners work normally during the busy farming season and take time out at night to attend night school classes to study basic knowledge and theory. During the off-season, they are assigned to various units according to their own wishes and the actual situation of their positions, and learn in practice under the guidance of their mentors."

"A rather interesting idea, in this way, even children from farming families can have the good fortune to be close to knowledge and wisdom."

The speaker was not anyone from High Cliff, but Joan Améni, a follower of the God of Knowledge and a pastor of Ogmar:

"Even so, can a child of this age really bear the double burden of day and night? The acquisition of knowledge is not easy, and His gifts are not without price."

"Then let them pay the price!"

The monk's words were resolute:

"We can put the work in the fields aside for a while. We need to bring the children over when the sun is setting in the afternoon. If we can't manage the work in the fields, we can rent them out."

"Nothing comes for free. To covet an opportunity to change one's fate while being unwilling to part with the few grains of wheat one has is wishful thinking."

"What about internship positions? Is there anything we can do to help?"

The one who spoke was Adlano, a skilled craftsman from the Church of Gonde.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I trust the skills of the dwarf masters, so there's no need for you to trouble yourself."

The Craftsman God Shepherd's tentative enthusiasm was deflected by the mage using the dwarves as a shield. The former didn't say much and wisely sat back down.

As for why Joan Amélie and Adlano appeared at the High Cliff meeting, there were naturally reasons for it.

As pastors, they represent the interests of their respective churches and even the gods they serve, and missions are undoubtedly the core interest.

Logically speaking, it's understandable that a place like High Cliff, which has little fame except for its port, could attract the Church of Santia or Sylvanas. But what about Ogmar and Gonde?
These two bigwigs and their churches have high standards; ordinary places are beneath their notice.

This is also due to the clergy; in Faerûn, knowledge and technology have never been cheap commodities that could be easily obtained by ordinary people.

However, this small, run-down place called Gaoya is strangely eccentric. It has introduced several new things one after another, which has stirred up the entire Jianwan market.

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone! May the Year of the Rabbit bring you good fortune and all your wishes come true!
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(End of this chapter)