The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

In order to assimilate and strengthen cultural identity, Zhang Chi specially created three levels of Mandarin exams: A, B and C.

The Level C Mandarin test only requires one to be able to write one's own name and numbers, recognize a few hundred commonly used Chinese characters (no need to write them), and speak Mandarin that is roughly understandable to others. The requirements are very low.

But because the requirements are very low, Zhang Chi plans to fully promote the Level C Mandarin exam in economic life.

You want to sell goods on the street? Go get a license.

You want to work in a factory? Go get a certificate.

You want to join the army and eat the emperor's food? Go get the certificate.

Using this method, Zhang Chi did not seem to force the promotion of Mandarin, but he used various restrictions to require everyone to learn it.

Unless the other person just wants to stay in the countryside and farm for the rest of his life, he has to learn Mandarin and then take the exam.

Moreover, all these demands were completed through voting by the Pegu Anti-Japanese Committee, with the minority obeying the majority, which was reasonable and legal.

Neither the native commissioners who would rather die than obey, nor the White Eagles could find any fault with the procedure.

Zhang Chi's blatant and open strategy directly established the dominant position of Mandarin.

The same is true in education. Zhang Chi brought together various families in Nanyang to establish the Nanhua Education Foundation.

If primary and secondary schools want to obtain investment from the Nanhua Education Foundation, they must use Chinese cultural teaching materials as the main language and teach in Mandarin.

The locals wanted to set up schools, and Zhang Chi said that it was okay, but they were asked to raise funds on their own and build the school reasonably.

However, when it comes to wealth, who can compare with the Chinese in Southeast Asia?

Soon, a large number of Chinese primary schools with free tuition and free lunch were established one after another.

I'm so young, I'll eat you to death.

Don’t underestimate this as just an ordinary free lunch. Through this method, Zhang Chi not only sent all the descendants of immigrants and soldiers to receive primary education, but also attracted a large number of local mixed-race and even indigenous children to enter Chinese schools for assimilation.

Compared with the long-standing Chinese culture, the cultures of the indigenous ethnic groups in Pegu seem so weak, not to mention that many small ethnic groups in Pegu have various intricate ties with the Chinese nation.

Zhang Chi believes that with the powerful Chinese culture, a unified cultural identity can be quickly "washed out".

This series of actions, including organizing exams and building schools, was very expensive, but Zhang Chi was still happy to pay for it. After all, education is something that benefits future generations.

And with the system in place, Zhang Chi would never be short of money. Hard currency like gold was hard to come by, but foreign exchange was easy to earn.

At present, Zhang Chi has the second industry worth hundreds of millions of dollars besides penicillin - semiconductors.

A few hundred million dollars in foreign exchange is a drop in the bucket for the Qian Kingdom's population of more than 4 million to nearly 5 million, but for the more than 300 million Qian immigrants in Pegu and the more than 200 million natives under Zhang Chi's rule, there is a lot that can be done.

However, Zhang Chi still needs to think carefully about how to make these hundreds of millions of dollars safely. After all, he can't afford to offend either the Russian Bear or the White Eagle.

-----

On the other side, Xia Yingwei and more than ten people returned to the construction site after having a good meal and a drink.

In the simple eight-person dormitory, four bunk beds are placed in the four corners, making the small dormitory full.

As the squad leader, Xia Yingwei also had to live in a dormitory with multiple people. The only privilege he had was that he was the only one sleeping on his bunk bed and he had an extra desk to work on.

When I opened the dormitory door with the key, the smell of sweat hit me in the face.

However, Xia Yingwei was already familiar with the stagnant air in the dormitory. On the contrary, for many workers, a shelter from the wind and rain in troubled times was something they had always longed for but could not obtain.

Several drunk workers didn't even wash up. They took off their shoes and climbed onto the bunk beds and fell asleep, adding a hint of alcohol smell to the turbid air in the room.

Xia Yingwei opened the doors and windows. It was not cold in Bago in January. A slight cool breeze brought a breath of fresh air to this simple dormitory made of plywood.

He took a deep breath, lit the kerosene lamp on the table, and pulled Wu Shisan to sit down at the table.

"Do you know what we are building?" Xia Yingwei asked, pointing to the brightly lit construction site outside the house where people were working hard all night.

Wu Shisan shook his head. He joined Nanhua Construction Group just to work hard to make a living, and what he did was entirely up to his team leader Xia Yingwei.

Even if he was asked to jump into a tank to mix concrete, he would do it without blinking. However, if you asked him what he was building, he really didn't know because of his limited knowledge.

Inside the dormitory, there was thunderous snoring, and several older workers had obviously fallen asleep quickly.

"It's a school." Xia Yingwei lowered his voice but continued to speak word by word, "This school, which we built brick by brick, will become the first university for the Chinese in Nanyang in the future."

Wu Shisan nodded, still confused.

Although he had attended night school, Wu Shisan, who had just become an adult, still didn't know what the school had to do with him as a worker.

"You're still young and smart. You shouldn't be a hard worker your whole life." Xia Yingwei, only 26 years old, rubbed Wu Shisan's head with an air of condescension. "You built this school with your own hands. I hope that one day in the future you'll have the opportunity to study at this university you built with your own hands."

(The average life expectancy in the Republic of China at that time was 35 years old, so 26 years old was not considered young)

"I hope that in the future you can equip yourself with knowledge and better build our home."

Wu Shisan, who was born as a child laborer, scratched his head. University was still a distant word for him, but he could feel the earnest expectation in Xia Yingwei's words.

Xia Yingwei took out a few basic preschool textbooks that he had bought at his own expense and handed them to Wu Shisan.

Under Zhang Chi's rule, Xia Yingwei saw hope for the Chinese in Southeast Asia. A Chinese force that was more vibrant than the Lan Fang in the past was rising.

Therefore, not only was he full of energy, he also had some expectations for Wu Shisan, hoping that the young man could live better and make more contributions in this magnificent era.

"After the Spring Festival, our Nanhua Construction Group will not only be conducting a comprehensive Mandarin language test, but we're also planning to open a workers' school. The semester will be one year long and tuition will be free. However, you'll be required to work for ten years after graduation and you can't quit or change jobs. I've requested a spot for you."

Xia Yingwei pointed to the calendar on the table. Below the date of January 24th were two large red characters. Wu Shisan, who was listening carefully in the night school, recognized that they were the words "New Year's Eve".

Wu Shisan had no idea what the words "quit" or "job-hop" meant. What workers feared most these days was being fired or losing their job. A ten-year contract wasn't a requirement for them, it felt more like a benefit.

"I'll give you extra lessons during these few weeks so that you won't fall behind." Xia Yingwei pointed to the textbooks with pictures and texts, and patted Wu Shisan's shoulder.

"What happens next?" The sensitive Wu Shisan heard the hint of parting in Xia Yingwei's tone and asked hurriedly.

"Thanks, Marshal Zhang, the group also has a publicly funded study abroad program. I have passed the preliminary exam and will leave for Baiying University to study after the new year." Xia Yingwei said this with a look of anticipation on his face.

With the White Party's continued lobbying, coupled with Zhang Chi's achievements, and Commander Luo's own good impression of the Chinese (he himself worked as a lawyer for the Hongmen Anliangtang when he was young), the Chinese Exclusion Act has been officially repealed.

Zhang Chi naturally took this opportunity to organize government-funded study abroad programs, with no restrictions on gender; anyone could go as long as they were able to pass the exam.

Xia Yingwei looked at the construction site outside and couldn't help but think:

After all, I never had the chance to experience this university that I built myself. I hope Wu Wawa can make up for this regret for me.

But when I return after completing my studies, perhaps I can apply for a teaching position at this first university for Chinese in Nanyang?