Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 403 Ziyun Summit: Summer Political Discussions and Language Education (Part Two)

The conference room was filled with the aroma of tea.

Currently, what the leaders in Dongxia like the most is none other than the camellia produced in the small tea garden at the foot of [Sprout].

Drinking it really makes you feel refreshed, brightens your eyes, and warms your heart!
The discussion continued in the afternoon. If the previous debate about the specific direction of social identity that HanHai should build was only a heated discussion among a group of professional teams, with each expressing their own opinions, then the discussion on language and writing involved almost everyone.

What is language?

Professor Zhou, the chief sociology consultant, put down his teacup and began by outlining the key points: "Language is not just a tool for communication; it is also an important carrier of thought and a core container of culture!"

He stood up, walked to the huge electronic display screen, and touched it with his hand. A language distribution map of the Han Hai control area appeared on the screen.

Large blocks of color are layered and interspersed with smaller blocks of color, creating a colorful yet fragmented effect.

"What is the linguistic landscape like on the Starry Continent? Humans have dozens of major languages ​​and hundreds of dialects; orcs have developed over seventy language families based on their race; Elvish is a self-contained system, but it has gradually evolved into Classical Elvish, Plains Elvish, and Forest Elvish..."

"In addition, there are the orcs, hybrids, dwarves, gnomes, goblins, and, oh yes, the Naga sea people living on the land of the Summer Moon Alliance... Every race, and even every slightly larger tribe, has its own way of speaking."

"This level of chaos is comparable to that cesspool of Nan Aixia!"

Professor Zhou's finger swept across the screen, and the colored blocks shattered.

"How did this situation come about? Our social science group believes that it is a primitive inheritance of slavery. The ruling class in the past deliberately fragmented the language, making it difficult for different ethnic groups to communicate and form a unified understanding and demands."

“You say yours, I say mine. In this way, those in power and a few professionals have the ‘right to interpret the scriptures’ and the room to manipulate one faction against another.”

He turned around, faced the people in the conference room, and said with unwavering certainty: "If we continue to use this fragmented language system, then in ten or twenty years, today's humans, orcs, elves, and half-orcs will solidify into new 'ethnicities,' new 'tribes,' and new interest groups."

"Language barriers are among the most formidable barriers between nations!"

"The unity we maintain today through the personal charisma and military victories of [the wanderer] will eventually face a huge divide between 'us' and 'them'."

"The complete unification of language, writing system, and social norms is imperative!"

In which direction should we unify?

There's no point in arguing about this; everyone agrees that we should fully respect [the traveler's] opinion.

Although the Orcish Common Tongue is the most widely used language in the current Han Hai controlled area, there is no doubt that using the Orcish language is absolutely politically incorrect.

They risked everything to reclaim the White Deer so that their children could learn the language of the beastmen; it was truly hellish.

As for using the common language of the human race, the script of the Misty Moon Divine Court, or the local dialect of Emerald, although Chen Mo could forcefully push it forward, not only would the orcs feel uncomfortable, but other human races would also feel uncomfortable.

Why should we use their language and not ours?

So the best solution is to stop using them all and use new ones!
This way, everyone can feel a sense of balance.

As for which new language to use, need I say more? It will naturally be the language and script from the industrial monarchs and cyber gods.

This is the extraordinary text that scholar Aidan Elliott praised highly, Master Anthony Hellick revered as divine, Chief Engineer Norton Ironbrow engraved on his tool hammer, and High Priest Todd Farrell inscribed into the sacred texts.

Most importantly, this language and script originated from the great lord of the vast sea.

From the strategic perspective of Dongxia, this writing system contains a complete cultural system, way of thinking, and values. In particular, the Xia script itself contains a dense "textual archive" that is deeply tied to the historical heritage of Dongxia.

Users of language and writing are inevitably influenced by this subtle process.

Judging from the current situation, Xia Wen's promotion has no problem in terms of the will of the higher-ups and the acceptance of the lower-level people, whether in Blue Star East Xia or Fanxing Hanhai. The biggest difficulty is how to promote it.

With such a large population, more than 90% of whom are illiterate, the difficulty of this job would be enough to drive educators to the brink of a nervous breakdown in other places.

However, Dongxia is clearly an exception.

In Professor Zhou's view, these "ignorant people" who are regarded as inferiors by other countries are actually the best students.

"First, they are all oppressed and have little attachment to the old system, or even harbor resentment towards it. Second, they are extremely poor and have a strong desire to change their status quo. Third, the vast majority of them are illiterate, like blank sheets of paper. Without the interference of old writing, they are more likely to accept a completely new symbolic system."

"As long as we make good use of appropriate guiding policies and embed education into the process of social system reform, the final progress and results of education may far exceed our imagination!"

This "embedding" must be combined with HanHai's four-year development plan.

The plans Dongxia made for Hanhai could fill a square if printed out. Not to mention four-year plans, there were also forty-year and four-hundred-year plans with different directions and trajectories.

Following this outline, the consultants at the [Compassionate Voyage] Engineering Command Center began to incorporate each item into it one by one.

"The first step, and the most important step, is the reform of the basic farmland system!"

This was something Chen Mo had always wanted to do but had never dared to do. After some discussion, the advisors at the command headquarters believed that with military victories and the consolidation of power, the time was ripe.

With the territory now so large, the old collective farming model is no longer suitable.

Small-scale cooperative farming is easy to manage, but large-scale collective farms can be a big problem. Issues such as work efficiency, centralized corruption, and fair distribution will soon follow like leeches.

Therefore, it must be changed.

"The premise of division is unification!"

"Within the territory directly under the control of the Vast Ocean, all natural resources—land, mines, forests, grasslands, rivers, etc.—will be taken over by the territory, or rather, by the alliance, or, in the name of the gods, controlled by the [Wanderer]!"

This is a rather radical approach, and quite contrary to the traditions of the Starry World, yet it somehow seems particularly reasonable.

Han Hai is Chen Mo, and Chen Mo is Han Hai. In the eyes of other countries, he is a greedy lord who has swallowed all the wealth into his own name.

"After the confirmation of rights is completed, a comprehensive and precise land and resource survey and registration will be carried out. Farmland, pastoral areas, forest areas, mining areas, residential areas, nest protection areas, etc. will be delineated. The phased use rights of these resources will then be authorized to individuals, families, or collective organizations according to certain standards."

"Yes, this is our current operating system!"

"This system can effectively curb the consolidation of land and resources!"

Upon hearing this, even experts in necromancy and psionic arrays, which are the least related fields to sociology, immediately understood the meaning behind this sociological master's words.

Land annexation has been a persistent nightmare hanging over the Eastern Xia for thousands of years.

Large landowners and large capitalists may seem like the same type of people, but they are actually completely different.

In societies where productivity was underdeveloped and intensive farming was the only option, large landowners controlled not only the land itself, but also the farm laborers who cultivated it, and the entire families behind them.

In just a few generations, the habits of the people can solidify and form strong personal dependence relationships, which is what the ancient Eastern Xia people called "family-born children"!
Moreover, large landowners have another characteristic: their assets are fixed to the country and cannot be taken away. Therefore, their desire to seize control of the country is even stronger.

Although there are still many aspects of the modern system in Dongxia that are open to discussion, one thing is certain: it completely and thoroughly blocked the path of land annexation.

Land is publicly owned, and while the right to use it belongs to individuals, it cannot be transferred at will. At most, one can only lease other people's land for a certain period of time, so what's the point of annexing it?

Not to mention the land, Dongxia even fenced off and tucked away the nomadic pastures that "lived by water and grass." Although there were various debates about the initial intentions behind this, in reality, it completely blocked the path for the resurgence of the powerful clans on the grasslands.

In short, a country is not afraid of you having money; what it fears is you having land, food, and people. This breeds a greater lust for power, and you still have the ability to achieve it.

As for capitalists?
As a thinker once said, the bourgeoisie has an inherent weakness.

Because their assets can be easily transferred, their will to resist is not so strong; they will only instinctively seek out countries and regions where they are exempt from legal sanctions.

No matter how much money one has, if one cannot transform that wealth into a monopolistic control over the means of production or control over public resources, one's influence is limited.

They can hire workers with money, but workers can come today and leave tomorrow, making it impossible to form the kind of personal dependency relationship that binds generations together.

Back when Chen Mo was on the run, no matter how many gold coins Dongxia gave him, could his power compare to his state after he possessed the Han Hai Territory and cultivated seawater rice fields?

It’s too far away!
After a simple analysis of this basic system, the Cihang Engineering Department unanimously approved it. However, what does this have to do with learning from Xia Wen?

"The faster Xia Wenxue learns, the sooner the land will be distributed."

"The more skilled Xia Wenxue is, the more land he will receive!"

A buzzing sound of whispers filled the conference room.

"We have tentatively set it into several different stages. For example, once the first stage is completed, students will learn 100 commonly used Xia characters and be able to use Xia characters for the simplest daily communication. After passing the assessment, the learner and their immediate family members will be able to immediately be freed from slavery and obtain the qualification to apply for the allocation of basic arable land or grassland."

"After passing higher-level cultural assessments—such as mastering 500 or 1000 characters, being able to read notices and perform mathematical calculations—the family can apply for better land, larger pastures, or the qualification to participate in the contracting and management of forests, ponds, or small mining sites."

"Those who do not study can be allocated land, but only for a one- or two-year term, after which it can be taken back at any time."

"I think that for those at the bottom of society, this is enough for them to study desperately!"

After he said this, even the commander couldn't help but applaud in admiration.

"Indeed, what a brilliant scheme."

This was a way of packaging the "land redistribution in the vast sea"—something that was inherently necessary—into a huge reward, and the "key" to claiming that reward was learning from Xia Wen. Once the mindset was unlocked, all sorts of ingenious "connections" began to emerge. They then put almost every key policy of the Vast Sea Territory to good use.

For example, it is suggested that the [Wanderer] carry out large-scale infrastructure construction within their territory.

The experts in charge of infrastructure planning retrieved new blueprints.

"The planning department has devised a comprehensive infrastructure plan for the Summer Moon Alliance: roads, bridges, water conservancy, energy... For at least the next five to eight years, people in the off-season will not have to worry about not having work!"

"We all know that improvements in infrastructure can greatly enhance productivity and economic vitality. At the same time, it also plays an important role in absorbing the idle population and maintaining social stability."

"At the same time, launching large-scale infrastructure projects during periods of low economic development is the most cost-effective, has the least social resistance, and offers the highest cost-performance ratio!"

“Take our own Dongxia as an example. When labor costs and land acquisition costs were very low, the infrastructure projects we completed not only absorbed the idle labor force at the time, but also laid a key foundation for subsequent economic development.”

"Many projects, if done today, would cost ten or a hundred times more, or they might not even be able to be completed at all!"

"In this process, we can also take the opportunity to incorporate the policy of supervising Xia Wen's learning."

The head of the planning department may not have fully thought it through yet, so he only put forward a few vague directions.

For example, only those who can read the Xia notices can work on the construction site; those who can count can get better technical positions; and those who can communicate fluently in Xia are qualified to serve as team leaders, and so on.

"Logically, this makes sense. If you can understand safety warnings, the accident rate will be low; if you can understand construction requirements, the project will be faster; if you can communicate with workers from different ethnic groups, the team will be more efficient."

"Linking language skills to job positions and remuneration is not only an incentive, but also a practical engineering requirement."

Han Hai's infrastructure projects aren't forced labor; they provide meals and pay. Just this fact should inspire a large number of people to study Xia Wen's methods!

"This is a good idea!"

“It’s perfect timing. With the workforce concentrated, we can set up ‘night schools’ or ‘literacy classes’ at various construction sites. They can work during the day and study in the evening. Those who learn quickly can be upgraded from ordinary laborers to skilled workers in a few months, doubling their wages. Those who learn slowly will stay at the bottom and do heavy manual labor.”

"In this way, learning from Xia Wen becomes a tangible path to advancement. There's no need to preach any grand principles; the tangible benefits will drive everyone to study desperately."

"Based on our past experience, infrastructure projects can provide a buffer and impetus for the cultural transformation of the entire society. On the one hand, infrastructure improves production and living conditions, lays a solid foundation for subsequent development, and generates a natural sense of cultural affinity."

"On the other hand, the infrastructure construction process itself became a huge 'cultural melting pot,' with thousands and tens of thousands of people working together, learning together, and communicating in Xiawen..."

"Yes, a furnace!"

The commander once again gave high praise: "Collective projects are a great melting pot!"

"Refined through repeated trials, discarding the dross and retaining the essence."

"Completing basic cultural and ideological education will allow us to develop rapidly along with the economy, transitioning into factories, farms, and service industries. By then, the Summer Moon Alliance's industries should also be developing, requiring a workforce with such a cultural foundation."

"A smooth transition, a natural outcome!"

The atmosphere at the scene became increasingly enthusiastic as practical solutions to the problems were proposed.

The preceding suggestions, including merging the rationing system for various basic resources, have essentially solved the fundamental problems. The next step is to address the issue of motivating the learning among the social elite.

For Dongxia, the answer was far too simple.

In the past, it was called the imperial examination; nowadays, it is called the civil service examination.

"In the starry world, the path to social advancement is basically monopolized by professionals. If you're not a professional, there are only two ways to get ahead: either you're born into a good family with a certain background, or you have incredible luck and unexpectedly gain the favor of a big shot."

"The former relies on bloodline, and the latter on opportunity; neither is a regular, institutionalized practice."

"In the Han Hai Direct District of the Summer Moon Alliance, we can release some of the official positions and most of the clerk positions to all citizens—regardless of whether they are professionals, regardless of their background or race."

The officials mentioned here actually refer to the executive level of the national system. This is a huge system, including tax collectors, school teachers, warehouse managers, water and electricity maintenance workers, barefoot doctors, village and town directors, etc., all of whom are indispensable parts of the local management system.

Moreover, given Dongxia's sophisticated management structure, the demand for grassroots officials and clerks would be enormous.

In the past, these positions were often filled by officials themselves, with nepotism and vested interests being the norm.

"Now, in the Summer Moon Alliance, even if you are not a professional, even if you were once a slave, as long as you are willing to learn, you have the opportunity to become a social manager, earn a stable salary, and be respected by others."

"There's only one condition—pass the exam!"

"Yes, use Xia Wen to set the exam questions."

The audience burst into knowing laughter.

The wheels of history keep rolling forward, and no one who is meant to be crushed will escape. The suffering we have endured should also be experienced by the stars.

A more cautious consultant pondered for a moment before raising his question: "Won't this cause resentment among professionals?"

"Conflicts will exist, but they can be controlled."

"The alliance is in a period of rapid expansion and construction, and the demand for all kinds of talents is enormous. In addition, because [Youzi] himself is the supreme commander of Hanhai Military, the military system in Hanhai has good treatment, high status, and is highly respected."

"We can continue to expand the military and the reserve force, absorbing as many professionals as possible into the military system, while leaving more civilian positions for ordinary people, thus pursuing a dual-track approach!"

"Be good!"

One consultant, who had worked his way up from a poor mountain area, couldn't help but exclaim, "If this news gets out, wouldn't the ordinary people in the Starry World without any connections go crazy?"

"All the heroes of the world are now within my grasp!"

"I have a feeling that with this combination of moves, Xia Wen from the Starry Sky World might be learning faster than the kids here?"

"..."

Just as everyone was in high spirits and full of enthusiasm, an old expert from the education system raised a question.

"With such a large-scale universal education program, where will the teachers come from?"

The second commander chuckled and tapped the table: "Old Ge, how's the preparation going?"

The middle-aged engineer who was called out stood up and walked to the control panel on the large screen.

"Reporting to all commanders and advisors, our general-purpose educational auxiliary intelligent terminal has completed the final stage of testing."

"This terminal is named the 'Morning Star' series. It has a complete set of Xiawen education modules built in. The first set currently has four language adaptation versions, namely the Orc Common Language System, the Qiyue Common Language System, the Emerald Local Language System, and the Common Language Dual System version."

"The local language and dialect versions of the 'Morning Star' system are still undergoing data adjustments!"

What was displayed on the screen was a square, microwave-sized machine box. To save on transportation costs, Dongxia had eliminated its mobility system, so it had to be manually carried onto the podium when in use.

Chief Engineer Ge gave a simple on-site demonstration, showing that "Morning Star" can teach Xia Wen offline using the built-in language module of Fanxing, completing the standard teaching process.

"In terms of basic language teaching, 'Qimingxing' can do the following: intuitively display the shape and meaning of Xia characters and their corresponding mother tongue characters on the screen, and use pictures, simple animations, and 3D models to help with understanding."

“It can play calibrated standard pronunciation through high-fidelity speakers; it can track and provide feedback on learners’ handwriting in real time through a built-in camera and image recognition algorithm; it can assess learners’ pronunciation accuracy through an array microphone and speech recognition module, and provide targeted corrective exercises based on the assessment results.”

"In terms of interaction, the question bank has more than 60,000 questions, basically covering all stages from literacy to primary reading. 'Qimingxing' can generate questions, grade standard homework, and answer simple questions."

"In terms of learning management, each robot can manage the learning progress of eighty students at the same time, automatically generate periodic learning reports, and propose teaching analysis and suggestions for the next stage, so that the education system on the other side of [the student] can make appropriate adjustments, such as skipping grades, upgrading grades, repeating grades, or changing classes."

"Regarding the version update..."

"We will regularly send the latest language packs and databases to the Starry World. As long as 'Morning Star' is connected to the network regularly, it can upgrade itself!"

Facing the attention of everyone present, Chief Engineer Ge smiled shyly: "The technology... the technology is not very mature yet, mainly due to the severe limitations in size. However, it should be able to handle the task if it can complete the primary school level Chinese education and the primary school level mathematics education up to the third grade."

"Furthermore, if the Starry Sky network can be connected, then the sub-terminals can share the data of the central processing unit. At that time, it will be possible to realize comprehensive education from kindergarten to postgraduate!"

"This will require the communications department to put in some effort, as hardware infrastructure is a prerequisite for software to unleash its power!"

The person in charge of engineering communications was speechless with exasperation.

Is the difficulty of solving a problem with your software the same as the difficulty of solving a problem with my hardware?
The preliminary exploration of that territory has only just begun, and you expect me to provide network signal coverage across the entire area?
Don't make trouble...

Seeing that everyone was looking at him, the communications manager opened and closed his lips repeatedly, finally managing to squeeze out a sentence.

"Hey, is it just Chinese and math? Moral education needs to catch up too!"

"I hope we don't end up with another bunch of 'bananas' (people who are Westernized but culturally Westernized)..."

This time, it was the education department officials who were frowning.

(End of this chapter)