Iron Powder and Spellcaster

[The Montagne family’s living room]

Just when little Priskin announced the name that did not surprise Winters, Anna walked into the room carrying cups and drinks.

Her peripheral vision inadvertently glanced at the flyer Winters placed on the small table. The sensational title immediately caught her attention, making her couldn't help but take a few more glances.

What is this? Anna asked Winters curiously while pouring drinks for the guests.

Little Priskin was flattered to be personally entertained by the Wolf Queen and quickly picked up the porcelain plate with both hands.

This? Winters reached out and placed the flyer in front of Anna, then glanced at the little Priskin with a meaningful look, and teased: This is Mr. Kai Moreland's 'masterpiece'.

Little Priskin stared at the scum in the dish in embarrassment, not even daring to raise his head.

Anna calmly slapped the back of Winters' hand - Ms. Navarre, who was well-educated, had always disliked Winters speaking in such a sarcastic tone, especially in front of outsiders.

Next, Anna poured Winters a drink, and then turned her attention to the flyer again. She did not pick it up, but sat upright and read it ten lines at a time.

Is it originally the story of Mr. Kai's escape from the King's Castle? Anna commented with a smile: It's very interesting.

Where's the fun? Winters was half lying on the soft chair, placing his boots comfortably on the small table, and commented lazily:

Escape from a tiger's mouth is thrilling and tortuous. There is no shortage of decent characters and villains. There are both insidious and cunning villains and heroes who stand up. The most valuable thing is the happy ending. What a wonderful subject! I had to let him write it. Got boiled water.

Especially this title, so-and-so, so-and-so and so-and-so, who can understand it? Is he still very proud?

Alas, but still, how much can he write on a half-open piece of paper... Hmm!

Just as he was talking enthusiastically, Winters suddenly received a heavy blow to his tibia, which caused him to instantly bounce up from the recliner.

Anna unclenched her fists, carefully smoothed Winters' wrinkled tablecloth, and reminded her softly with a smile: Don't be so mean.

Winters did not dare to be presumptuous anymore. He sat down properly, reorganized his language, and said to little Priskin: This thing written by Kai Morland, give it to Maplestone City and Artemis. Gentlemen, it’s okay for you to take a look. But if he wants more people to know what happened in the King’s Castle, he still writes too literately.”

Faced with Xue Lang's sudden serious comment, little Priskin was at a loss: Uh, this...

However, Kai Morland asked you to come to me with this piece of paper. He probably didn't want to engage in literary appreciation with me. Winters crossed his arms and asked with interest: Tell me, he wants to What to do.

Encouraged by Mrs. Montagne's gaze, little Priskin answered cautiously: Mr. Kaye would like to borrow the printing press in the city hall from you. He said that he would print thousands of copies of this leaflet and distribute it. Go to all parts of Plato to let everyone know about the crimes of the puppet government of Kings Castle. He also hopes to publish an article in your Newsletter to reveal the true face of Grove Magnus to the people of the new land.

Little Priskin asked tentatively: I don't know if you...

Winters was noncommittal, but stared at little Priskin and asked with a smile: It seems that 'Mr. Kaye' must be very popular. When did you become his mouthpiece?

Absolutely not! I... I went to monitor Kai Morland for you! This guy has been getting very close to the city's bosses recently. I don't know what he is up to. He must have no good intentions.

Little Priskin jumped up from his chair in shock and was about to cut ties with Kai Morland: I'm going to reject him right now!

There's no rush. ​​Winters raised his hand gently, stopping little Priskin from walking towards the door. He rubbed his chin: The printing press is nothing, just ask Tribune Mason to schedule a few more shifts; It’s okay to publish articles in the Communication. Although his writing is not very good, he can always polish it up. But...

Winters stretched out his finger and rubbed it on the flyer. The fresh ink immediately left a black mark on his fingertips.

He has already printed it. Winters looked at the little Priskin and asked coldly: Why are you asking me to borrow the printing press?

The blood wolf didn't get angry, and little Priskin also knew that the blood wolf wasn't angry. However, when little Priskin faced the blood wolf's eyes that seemed to peel off the skin, he still trembled uncontrollably.

Little Priskin explained in a panic: Kay Morlan used a small printing press from the workshop owned by Gvardani Yuzhov. He said that the machine was too small and printed too slowly. He promised that after getting Without your permission, this leaflet will not appear anywhere outside the workshop - except, except in your home! The one I brought is the only leaflet taken out of the workshop, this one...

Don't be nervous, Mr. Priskin. Anna picked up the glass kettle, poured a glass of cold water for little Priskin at the right time, and comforted softly: He just thought you were asking questions as Kai Morland.

Immediately, Anna looked at Winters again, with a slight reproach in her tone: Mr. Priskin is not Mr. Kaye, so how can he know what Mr. Kaye is thinking?

Winters shrugged, no longer staring at little Pliskin, but rather reluctantly forced a smile at the latter.

Little Priskin quickly stood up and quickly sat down again at the signal of the blood wolf. He nodded gratefully to Madam and took a sip of cold water, feeling his anxiety and tension somewhat relieved.

Anna's eyes turned to the flyers on the small table, and she reminded Winters softly: Sometimes, the people who ask you for help don't necessarily really need your help, they just want to show your kindness.

He asked me to borrow a printing press. Winters asked, Is he trying to show his favor to me?

Anna didn't answer, but looked at Winters patiently with her beautiful eyes.

Something clicked in his mind, and Winters quickly understood the link.

He thought for a moment and finally smiled: Then lend it to him - friendship is always pleasant.

Just like this, it's not enough. Anna reminded again.

You mean. Winters pondered: I should also ask Kai Moran for a favor, so that I can convey the correct message to him?

Anna blinked.

Winters raised the corners of his mouth unconsciously as if he had received the most beautiful compliment, but he was a little troubled: But, what do I need from Kai Morland?

I don't know since when, little Priskin could no longer keep up with the conversation between the Blood Wolf and the Wolf Queen.

But when little Priskin heard the blood wolf talking to himself, he suddenly became enlightened and replied: Why don't you ask Kai Morland to find a 'teacher' for you.

Huh? Winters looked at little Priskin and frowned subconsciously.

But soon, at Anna's reminder, Winters coughed slightly and straightened his eyebrows again.

What did you say? Winters asked again, this time with an unusually kind expression.

The upper-class families in Maplestone City have teachers specially hired to teach their children how to read and write. Since Kai Moreland is very close to the major families, it is up to him to come forward and ask the leading figures in Maplestone City I will never refuse. In this way, we can safely recruit all the enlightenment teachers in Maple Stone City...

Little Priskin explained as calmly as possible, but the more he pretended to be calm, the more pitiful he looked: I heard that the school you want to run does not have enough literacy teachers. It costs a lot of money to recruit, but there are no teachers. People applied for the draft. This made Tribune Mason very worried. So...

Winters listened to little Priskin's advice and fell into deep thought.

…

The average score in the National Military Examination was worse than worst expected.

The academic performance of non-official officers - especially reserve officers in the Tiefeng County Force - is simply disgraceful.

Mathematics and geometry, general knowledge, current affairs, politics, geography, grammar, six test papers, 120 questions.

Reserve officers who can answer three questions correctly on each test paper are rare.

Current affairs, politics and grammar are the most miserable, with the vast majority of reserve officers not even getting a single point on these three papers.

Not to mention, a considerable number of informal officers' test papers were marked with a conspicuous no literacy assessment.

The only thing that makes Winters gratified is that the regiment-level, battalion-level and senior company-level officers under the Tiefeng County Army's organizational structure have achieved very dazzling results.

These soldiers who followed Winters before the first founding of the army literally handed over satisfactory answers.

In the camp on the outskirts of Wolf Town, the knowledge Winters worked so hard to impart to them was not in vain after all.

Of course, many of them are due to One More Rod.

As for the commissioned officers in Baishan County, Leiqun County, and Bianjiang County, although their cultural level is relatively high - they are still not comparable to regular officers, their military skills are generally unqualified.

In theory, there are two sources of commissioned officers:

One is the promotion of senior non-commissioned officers and meritorious soldiers from within the army;

The other type comes from outside the military, allowing qualified people to pay for military ranks.

Although almost all the commissioned officers in Baishan County, Leiqun County and Bianjiang County came from the latter type, in fact, the basic qualities of these rich children who bought their background are quite good.

They are generally able to read and write, are physically strong and well-nourished.

But the problem is that they just buy their background and never thought that one day they would actually set foot on the battlefield.

Therefore, compared with fighting skills, they lack the will and determination to fight.

Some people even deliberately answered the test papers incorrectly in the hope of being kicked out of the military and regaining civilian status.

All in all, you won’t know if you don’t take the test, and you will be shocked if you take the test.

Within the coalition, the situation of the informal officer corps and reserve officer corps is very bad, so bad that one can't help but wonder whether they can really support an army in the future.

The admission plan formulated in advance at the preparatory meeting also had to be adjusted according to the actual situation.

According to the original plan, for informal officers who have obtained formal positions, such as Tamas and Bart Shilling, the Second Army Academy will provide them with intensive short-term military and cultural training based on their examination results.

After all, these officers have official duties and cannot and are not allowed to leave their posts for a long time.

Upon completion of the short-term training, they will be awarded the appropriate acting rank.

As for when it will become a regular job?

That depends on when a certain unknown captain is promoted.

Those reserve officers and commissioned officers who have not obtained formal positions will become the first and second students of the Second Army Academy.

According to the original plan, the Second Army Academy will select the best students from reserve officers and commissioned officers based on examination results to admit the first batch of trainees.

Those who are not admitted will undergo basic training courses. After the course is over, the exam is held again.

Those who pass the second examination will be admitted into the second class of students.

This plan finally gained approval from all parties after several twists and turns, but reality still slapped the preparatory meeting hard.

If the original plan is implemented strictly, the Second Army Academy will definitely face the dilemma of no students to teach.

In the end, it was Captain Richard Mason who made the decision - to recruit them all and teach tactics and culture at the same time.

What should we do if we fail students?

Captain Mason also gave a solution - changing the selection process from the initial entrance examination to the final exit examination.

Those who fail will be postponed.

Faced with this initiative that completely subverted the teaching tradition of the Alliance Army, other officers in the preparatory meeting felt that something was wrong, but they could not come up with a better way.

So the Mason Plan was adopted.

The next question is where to find enough “reading and writing teachers” to meet the most basic cultural needs of illiterate students.

However, the Mason plan hit a trap as soon as it took the first step.

I heard that Captain Mason was looking for someone to teach the preparatory students how to read, but the regular officers avoided seeing the former.

Mason's clerks couldn't avoid it, so they tried to make ends meet. No matter how good Mason said, no one was willing to teach a group of old men how to read.

In open recruitment, there are many spectators and few applicants.

In just a few days, Captain Richard Mason had aged several years.

He wanders alone in Maplestone City Hall, looking for any unlucky guy who is willing to become a reading and writing teacher, just like some lonely ghosts wandering the world because of unresolved knots in the market legend.

…

That's right. Winters nodded solemnly: We should indeed share our worries for Senior Mason.

Anna asked with some worry and confusion: Live-in teachers usually teach children. Can they really help Mr. Mason?

It's okay. Winters replied with a smile: Teachers who teach children are definitely not good at teaching others, but they are just right for teaching those guys.

Anna couldn't help but smile.

Then there is only one question left. Winters looked at little Priskin: Does Kai Morland have enough influence to make the 'high-class people' in Maplestone City hand over their people? ?”

Don't worry! Little Priskin jumped high and assured: Kay Morland is currently being strangled by Colonel Gesa's throat. Even if you want the moon in the sky, he will build a ladder to pick it off for you. !”

Then I'll wait and see. Winters paused and said meaningfully: Let's see if Kai Morland is qualified to serve on the table.

…

…

I don’t know what kind of tricks Kai Moreland used. On the night when little Priskin brought two pieces of good news to the former, Mason happily ran to Winters' house.

The matter of the basic culture teacher. Senior Mason smiled with tears in his eyes: It's solved!

Winters smiled too, making a pun: That would be great.

The next day, Winters assigned Ciel to visit Kai Morland and thank the latter.

The next day, Kai Moreland, who was sure that he had received the correct signal, sent a message, hoping to visit the tribune of Montagne at his door and express his gratitude to the tribune in person for the printing press.

Winters readily agreed.

That night, under the escort of the White Mountain County Military Police, Kai Moreland appeared at the door of Winters' house.

After a solemn salute, the White Mountain County military police handed over Kai Moran to Winters.

However, the military police of Baishan County did not leave. Instead, they stood guard outside the courtyard, waiting to take Kai Morland away.

The front door of Winters' residence slowly closed, shutting out the heat, noise, and White Mountain County military police.

As soon as the last gap between the wooden door and the door frame disappeared, Kai Morland, who had remained reserved in front of the military police just now, couldn't wait to exchange greetings and took Winters' hand.

Kai Morlan had no idea that he had just nearly died from a skull split.

His eyes were red, his pupils dilated, and his nose flapped violently with his breathing. He held Winters' arm like a prisoner holding a file or a drowning man holding a handful of straw.

Your Excellency Montagne. Kai Morland stared at Winters: Please save the country of galloping horses.

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