Ah, a clear sky for miles!
The air, untouched by modern industry, is truly refreshing!
Alicia walked down the street, feeling refreshed—her back didn’t ache, her legs didn’t hurt, her face wasn’t flushed, and she wasn’t out of breath.
She even found the stray dogs in heat by the roadside to be pleasing to the eye.
She was in a good mood, after all.
She’d been promoted.
She was now the Sergeant Major personally appointed by Lord Lai En, with an empty roster of two hundred men under her command.
Lai En himself had conferred upon her the title of Lady, given her a set of decent attire, and allowed her to carry a dagger in public.
Although “Lady” in this world was the lowest rank of female honorary nobility—not quite a true noble—it still meant that Alicia was no longer a commoner!
She was now an honorable “Excellency”!
Arrogance was a must!
This was an honor earned with her life!
Why shouldn’t she be arrogant?
If she wasn’t arrogant now, who knew if she’d even have the chance to be arrogant in a few months…
The girl decided to puff herself up.
Her walking posture reeked of a small-time schemer who had just gotten lucky.
Andrew, walking beside her, just shook his head.
Let’s go back a few hours.
After learning that her boss had ambitions to conquer the world, Alicia had grown excited too.
Her spirits high, she declared, “Change must start now. While the victorious militiamen with some experience haven’t been disbanded yet, we should recruit them immediately and form a new regular army!”
“A strong economic foundation, a developed agricultural base, and a stable social system—in this chaotic era, none of them are as important as a powerful army!” the girl vowed.
“Though we’ll work on economy, agriculture, and systems, the top priority is the Separation of Farmers and Soldiers!”
“Standardizing the army will not only improve combat effectiveness but also leave enough seeds for internal reform—killing two birds with one stone!”
Alicia wanted to strike a profound pose befitting the moment, but despairingly realized she had no fan in her hand.
She’d have to have a paper fan custom-made next time.
Lai En nodded with interest, then looked her up and down.
“Mm, regarding army training… but do you think you can actually pull it off?”
What?
Just because I’ve never eaten pork doesn’t mean I’ve never seen a pig run!
Military training, everyone goes through it in high school and college.
It’s just lining up, standing at attention, and marching!
“Lord and Master, just watch me!”
She patted her chest and answered confidently, “I guarantee I’ll train an invincible New Army under heaven, six directions, eight wildernesses, above and below, unique and supreme!”
Smack!
A crisp bonk landed precisely on her forehead again.
“Ow! Why did you hit me again?!”
Alicia instantly deflated, clutching her forehead, looking wronged.
Lai En withdrew his hand, raised an eyebrow, and crossed his arms with an expression that said, “There’s no saving you”: “I really want to crack open that skull of yours and see if there’s anything solid in there besides all those messy words! Training soldiers, especially establishing a new system, is no joke! Do you have any idea what I had to do just to give you the ‘qualifications’ to touch this matter? I…”
He suddenly stopped, coughed, and looked away.
Huh?
What did the boss say?
Qualifications?
So that’s why he had made such a big show of her “risking her life to save her lord” and “unsurpassed loyalty and bravery.”
It wasn’t just to polish her image.
The Separation of Farmers and Soldiers, on the surface, only established a standing army, but the core was to change the current situation where “soldiers know their general but not their lord,” and to wrest elite soldiers away from the generals!
This set of reforms struck at the fundamental interests of the existing nobles and generals—military power!
How could those lords not object to having a small attendant with no background, not even a noble, execute such an important reform?
The resistance was probably far greater than she imagined.
Lai En was using the two big hats of “Life-Saving Grace” and “Model of Loyalty and Bravery” to forcefully build momentum for her, to win her a “qualification” to participate in—and even lead—the reforms beyond her station!
He must have suppressed countless voices of opposition behind the scenes and made countless compromises and trades…
Lai En took a deep breath, his tone unprecedentedly serious and heavy: “Alicia, I will do everything I can to satisfy any reasonable request you make. I’ll give you resources, manpower, and authority. So!”
He stared into her eyes, speaking each word clearly: “You must succeed.”
“If you fail…”
He paused.
Would she lose her head?
“…I’ll just have to exile you,” Lai En finally said, his tone unreadable, but it made her heart clench even more.
At least her life is safe, but the meal ticket and honor I just got would be gone!
That absolutely cannot happen!
I cannot screw this up!
Lai En picked up his cup and took a sip of water, his tone softening a bit.
“I’ve already convinced General Keleiduosi. He will support you in this reform. At least in the initial stage, he won’t openly oppose you and will provide necessary assistance.”
Oh?
That bald muscleman?
That’s good news.
Having a professional who knows warfare provide help is way better than me fumbling around on my own.
“Also, Andrew. Last time, he didn’t follow my orders to protect you and got greedy for glory. So I removed him from my attendants. Now he’s your subordinate.”
Andrew?
Good, good, Andrew!
You abandoned me in battle and almost got me killed by Lemeng’s sword.
Now you’re in my hands.
Just wait for the pettiness!
“Ah, right. I’ve just appointed you Sergeant Major, giving you command of two hundred sergeants, and also oversight of the New Army’s formation and training. As for the roster… let’s say two hundred men!”
Promotion!
That should come with a raise, right? So Alicia stared at Lai En with gleaming eyes: “Um, Lord and Master, what about my monthly salary?”
“Are you obsessed with money?”
Lai En’s forehead seemed to have veins throbbing.
“But Andrew is now your direct retainer. His salary, equipment, supplies, and any other trusted subordinates you might recruit in the future—all come out of your stipend!”
Damn!
So stingy!
She could already see those thirty shining silver coins, still warm in her hand, flowing away into someone else’s pocket.
Seeing her deflated, Lai En inexplicably felt better.
He waved his hand magnanimously: “General Keleiduosi will first screen the militia for you. Go to the training ground and take a look in a bit!”
So came the earlier scene: Alicia, with her newly acquired retainer, strutting toward the training ground, head held high.
If I screw up, it’s all over.
So I just won’t screw up!
But when she arrived at the training ground and saw the people General Keleiduosi had selected, Alicia was doused with cold water.
Keleiduosi, you old bald man, are you messing with me?
What kind of people did you pick?
In front of her were all young men in coarse cloth, thin and sallow.
Most of them had only fear and panic in their eyes.
Occasionally, she spotted someone with a faint glimmer of hope and expectation for the future, but it was quickly buried under anxiety.
Wait, that’s not right?
Where’s the pitchfork uncle I saw before?
Oh, maybe he was too old and got weeded out.
Since they’re forming a new army, they’d definitely pick able-bodied young men.
But these… they’re young, yes, but able-bodied?
They’re farmers, so their physique isn’t terrible, but they’re far from strong!
Whatever.
The first thing for new recruits is to brainwash them!
Preach to them about the meaning of being a soldier and the greatness, glory, and righteousness of Lord Lai En (and herself)!
Let’s start with an impromptu speech!
Holding onto the belief that “ideological work must come first,” Alicia took a deep breath, climbed onto the makeshift platform stacked from old wooden crates by the training ground.
She cleared her throat, tried to suppress her nervousness facing two hundred numb eyes, and began her first public speech since her transmigration—arguably her first ever to such a crowd.
She started with the simple reasoning of “defending home and protecting family,” moved to the bright prospect of “following Lord Lai En to create a peaceful era,” touched on the tangible benefits of “being a soldier for food and earning rewards for merit,” and even stretched to the “high-end” topic of “combining personal destiny with the tide of the times.”
She tried hard to recall scenes from movies, motivational chicken soup she’d read, and even the soporific speech templates from school leaders at military training.
She cobbled together bits and pieces, striving for passion and emotion.
And what happened?
After barely overcoming her nervousness and enduring over ten minutes of spit flying and a dry throat, the girl despairingly discovered that her gentle persuasion had zero effect!
Yes, zero effect.
Back in her military training days, when school leaders gave formulaic speeches, Alicia at most felt annoyance and disdain.
But these farmers in front of her had no expression at all—completely flat, numb to the point of pity!
No!
This won’t do!
They say everything is hard at the beginning.
Alicia never thought she’d face such a setback before even starting training!
Fine, a bunch of cold-hearted guys, huh?
Kind words don’t get through to you, and chicken soup for the soul doesn’t work, huh?
Fine!
When I get back, I’ll start writing the New Recruit Training Phrase Manual.
I’ve seen plenty of military movies—Full Metal Jacket, Jarhead.
I’ll just copy them!
Since kind words don’t work, I’ll find someone to yell at you!
For this kind of thankless job… let Keleiduosi and Andrew handle it.
I’ll play the good cop, be the nice guy, and make you see the power of Stockholm Syndrome!