My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 327 Do you want me to learn from Cao Cao?
May 15th, Tuancheng.

The weather was getting hotter and hotter, and even the nights couldn't bring any coolness. The sweltering environment made Gao Yu feel irritable.

He arrived at Tuancheng, the capital of Nanqing Prefecture, carrying the imperial edict issued by Yuan Ziyou. When the former governor of Nanqing Prefecture, Ru Huailang, received the edict, he left immediately. Even though Yuan Ziyou hadn't nominally stripped him of his governorship, Ru Huailang knew very well that he didn't want to get involved in the court's power struggles.

So he simply went back to his hometown.

Choosing sides can be extremely beneficial if you choose the right one, but it can lead to utter disaster if you choose the wrong one.

For most aristocratic families, the current situation is uncertain, and waiting and seeing is the best option.

Those who enter later will not gain many benefits, but at least there will be no harm. They can also maintain their family's standing. For aristocratic families, as long as the family does not fall, anything is possible.

For an emperor to control such a vast territory, he needs talented people to help him govern.

Books and knowledge are monopolized by aristocratic families. The emperor's card pool is so small, and it's limited to aristocratic families. Even if a poor man's ancestors were aristocratic families, he's just fallen on hard times.

"Talented, truly talented."

Gao Yu was quite helpless.

His requirements for talent have been lowered to the point that anyone who can recognize a certain number of characters can be called a "talent," but even such "talent" individuals are nowhere to be found.

The promotion of composting and curved plows required someone to carry it out, and the establishment of the local militia also required someone to carry it out.

Gao Yu currently wants to emulate Qi Jiguang by disseminating many rules and regulations within the military through book knowledge.

War is essentially an empirical science; even a genius like the Marquis of Huaiyin studied military strategy.

Military treatises are summaries of the wisdom of our predecessors.

It's simply that exceptionally talented individuals are able to integrate and apply what they've learned to their specific circumstances.

Those who are less intelligent can memorize by rote; this may not make them famous generals of their time, but it will guarantee them a very high minimum standard.

The lower limit is very important!
War is dangerous and perilous; no one can guarantee a 100% chance of victory. Even with a high enough minimum standard, one may not necessarily win, but at least one can ensure that they remain invincible.

The Fubing system is cheap to maintain, but it can easily lead to bankruptcy if there are large-scale losses. Ensuring a sufficient minimum level and minimizing unnecessary casualties is a necessary condition and means to maintain the Fubing system.

The literacy rate is insufficient.

"Then we can only set up the military academy first and teach the brigade commanders orally. When we have more people under our command, we can recruit school-age children from the families of soldiers and improve their literacy first."

Time, and more time!
He could gather artisans to improve movable type printing, papermaking techniques, and popularize knowledge.

He can conjure books, but he can't make everyone recognize words instantly!
Popularizing education is a long process that takes time, but what Gao Yu currently lacks is precisely time.

"General, are you still awake so late at night?"

A voice came from behind, and Gao Yu looked in the direction of the sound and saw that it was Yang Yin.

Although he was still a teenager, he looked a little haggard. He was fine, as Cui Xian, Cui Jishu, and others had been working at high intensity lately, and there were only a few people who could get things done.

Then we can only treat them like cattle and horses.

"Zunyan?"

Gao Yu was somewhat surprised, and then scolded, "Didn't I tell you to rest well these past few days?"

Yang Yin shook his head with a wry smile, "With so many things piled up, I really have no heart to rest. The general has treated me with the respect due to a national hero, how could I fail to live up to the general's high expectations?"

"The general has many things to deal with, and I am merely doing my part."

Gao Yu remained silent; this was an inevitable consequence of his unstable 'foundation'.

There is really no one I can trust.

Will they continue to increase the proportion of local aristocratic families under their command?
So whose orders does this army actually take?
If the Gao family had originally been like the Cui family, with many branches and descendants, and if the main family was not enough, they would have continued to recruit people from the side branches, Gao Yu did not have this condition.

Just look at Erzhu Rong and you'll understand.

How shrewd was Erzhu Rong?

How could he not know that most of the Erzhu clan's descendants were incompetent fools?
But they still reluctantly offered him a high position, simply because blood relatives are the most trustworthy allies. The people of the Six Towns are indeed capable, but they are also very ambitious. If they put ambitious people in high positions, wouldn't that further encourage their ambition?

"We still don't have enough manpower."

Gao Yu sighed, "If only we had more talents like Zunyan."

"General... there is actually another way."

After hesitating for a moment, Yang Yin suggested, "I know that the general has some concerns and dares not make large-scale use of local aristocratic families. In fact, the general can make great efforts to help those from humble backgrounds, or even those from collateral branches of powerful families." Humble backgrounds are those whose social status has fallen into decline.

The collateral branches of a large family can actually be considered as poor families. Where do they get so many resources to support their descendants?

The son of a poor family thinks about bringing glory to his family and restoring the honor of his ancestors.

People from the collateral branches of a large family often think about how to bring glory to their family and overshadow the main family. Not everyone thinks this way, but there are certainly quite a few people who do.

Such people are naturally unlikely to associate with powerful and influential families.

"A meritocratic system like that of Cao Cao?"

Yang Yin nodded.

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.

Character and moral integrity?
When the granaries are full, people know etiquette. In today's world, don't place too much hope on an individual's character and integrity.

If someone is literate and can help with government affairs, they should be promoted without regard to seniority. They should focus on doing their job well first, and their character and conduct should be disregarded.
When you have the time and resources, you can go back and verify it.

"How could I not want that?"

How could Gao Yu not know such a simple principle as "a cat is a good cat as long as it catches mice, whether it's black or white"?

His most important task now is to implement the various policies he has formulated.

Even if the people recruited are of poor character, they will not hold high positions; they will all be low- or mid-level officials, and the damage they cause will be limited.

But Gao Yu was different from Cao Cao.

They all held great power.

But Cao Cao held the emperor in his hands, so he could use the emperor's name to appoint people based solely on their talents and not be bound by conventions.

Cao Cao was helping Emperor Xian of Han select 'loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty'.

Gao Yu couldn't do that.

Gao Yu is recruiting talented people, so why is he planning a rebellion?
No sooner had he done this than Erzhu Rong would have someone submit a memorial in the Taiji Hall, claiming that he harbored rebellious intentions.

Even if Yuan Ziyou wanted to cover it up, he couldn't find any reason to refute Erzhu Rong's remarks.

At this stage, Gao Yu can exhibit the style of Cao Cao in some aspects.

However, it's not something you can completely copy exactly.

"If I act in this way, what will the people of the court think of me? What will His Majesty think of me?"

"However... Zunyan's words have enlightened me!"

Gao Yu suddenly clapped his hands!

"Who says that soldiers must be strong, brave, and valiant?"

"General, you mean..."

Yang Yin's mind worked quickly, and he immediately understood, looking up sharply at Gao Yu.

Gao Yu said with a smile, "That's right! Zunyan, please write an official document for me and send it to Qingzhou. Those who can read can also be selected as soldiers, and skilled craftsmen can also be selected as soldiers. By the way, just say that in the future, those who can read will be given priority for promotion."

He really couldn't be given an official position.

However, the Fubing (府兵) are nominally considered the private army of the Tian Ce Fu (天策府), so this method should be somewhat effective.

At the same time, Gao Yu also did not forget to use promotions to motivate the soldiers' initiative.

Just one.

Those who are literate are given priority in promotion, which is enough to motivate the soldiers to learn to read on their own initiative.

Military merits earned in battle can lead to promotions, but swords and spears are indiscriminate. If one day you die on the battlefield, how can you live such a good life?
Learning to read is painful, but at least it doesn't threaten your life.

Moreover, there is currently no war, so there is no opportunity to gain merit by killing the enemy.

But learning to read and write could lead to a promotion, and this was an opportunity right in front of them.

Those who are literate do not need to fight on the battlefield; they can serve as military advisors, responsible for administrative and clerical duties within the army.

(End of this chapter)