Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

[In the first month after your ascension to the throne, the entire country of Letania was operating at an unprecedented pace.]

You named it "Construction Month," echoing the previous "Purification Week," to announce to everyone that the era of destruction has ended and the era of construction has officially begun.

You announced the establishment of the "National Development and Planning Committee," and Mecklen Neham successfully became your chief economic advisor.

He completely forgot his doubts about land nationalization from a few days earlier and threw himself wholeheartedly into this unprecedented national-level business deal.

For him, the entirety of Letania had become a balance sheet, and he was the sole operator. This kind of pleasure was far more exciting than being an elector confined to a remote corner of the world.

[Under Leyenia's leadership, the tax department established a completely new national tax system with unprecedented efficiency.]

The ridiculously complex tax system of the old aristocratic era was completely abolished, replaced by a simplified tax system centered on commodity turnover tax, corporate income tax, and individual tiered taxes.

With the cooperation of Gertrude's intelligence department, any attempt to evade taxes is swiftly uncovered, and the empire's treasury is replenished at a visible rate.

"No matter how poor we are, we must not neglect education; no matter how hard life is, we must not let our children suffer."

[This slogan you uttered while in Vaser has now become the empire's national policy.]

The law mandating compulsory education for all is being strictly enforced.

Under your guidance, old aristocratic estates were transformed into bright and clean schools, and countless children who had toiled in the slums carried canvas schoolbags for the first time, gazing at this brand-new world with curious eyes.

They learned to read and write, do arithmetic, and also the history of Letania, as well as the meaning of the hammer and sickle flag.

The successful "workers' canteen" and "affordable housing" model of the Wasser region was quickly extended to other districts.

The steaming stew and black bread brought a long-lost sense of happiness to countless families struggling to make ends meet, and the public's support for the new empire reached its peak.

They naively believed that an emperor who could feed them was a good emperor.

You employed your talent as a "master in the field of art" to personally draw up the planning sketches for the new town of Trilintelme.

You rejected the elaborate and luxurious decorations of the old empire, proposing an architectural aesthetic of "Neo-Leytanian Style"—simple, grand, and practical, emphasizing the power of lines and a sense of symmetrical order.

This style quickly became a symbol of the new imperial spirit: robust, confident, and aspiring.

On a clear night, after the Imperial Broadcasting Station's hourly chime, you delivered your first official address to the nation since your ascension to the throne.

The static from the radio gradually subsided.

In the workers' dormitory, steelworkers who had finished a day's work were sitting around the dining table with their families, carefully sharing a piece of bread spread with jam.

When Lacey's voice rang out, he immediately put down the food he was holding and gestured for his wife and children to be quiet.

In the countryside, a farmer who had just received his land contract was sitting on his doorstep, smoking his pipe and fiddling with his old radio.

In a nighttime classroom on campus, a group of young students gathered around a high-powered radio, listening intently.

Countless people stopped what they were doing and listened quietly.

"Good evening, people of Letania, my compatriots."

"I am Lacey."

Without using the honorific title of "Emperor" or the self-reference of "朕" (Zhen, the imperial "I"), Lacey used a simple approach to connect with each listener.

“A month ago, we worked together to overthrow a corrupt and dark old era.”

"Today, standing on this land, we have reason to ask: What kind of future do we really want?"

"Everyone, I have seen too much suffering."

“I have seen farmers work hard all year, only to hand over most of their harvest to lords who never work.”

"I have seen workers toil for more than ten hours in dangerous factories, only to receive a meager wage that is barely enough to make ends meet."

"I have seen talented young people rejected by the halls of art because they did not have a noble background."

"I've seen our children fighting and fighting over a little food in dark corners..."

"From today onwards, all of this will be in the past."

"I want to tell you what my dream Letania is like."

"That is, every hardworking citizen can receive enough to support their family; every table is set with bread and milk; and every house is warm with a fire burning in it."

"My dream of Letania is a country full of knowledge and hope."

“Every child, whether born in a bustling city or a remote village, can go to school, learn to read and write, and grasp the key to change their own destiny.”

"Young people will no longer be buried because of their background. They can become engineers, doctors, artists, and pillars of this country through their talent and hard work."

"My dream of Letania is a country with a strong industrial base and advanced technology."

"We will support countless factories and skyscrapers, and we will let the people's red flag fly in every corner of the world."

"We will no longer rely on the charity of other countries, but will create a glorious future for Letania with our own hands."

"My dream of Letania is a country with dignity and honor."

"Our army will defend every inch of our land and protect every one of our people."

"Internationally, Letania's voice will be heard seriously, and Letania's interests will be respected unconditionally."

"No one, no country, should ever again impose unequal treaties upon us!"

Lacey's voice was passionate, every word filled with power, clearly outlining a future that everyone longed for.

"My fellow countrymen of Letania!"

"This dream doesn't belong to me alone, it belongs to each and every one of us!"

"To achieve it, we need the continuous efforts of all of us."

"Everything will come together to form the force that propels the empire forward!"

"We have broken the shackles of the old world with our own hands, and the new era is unfolding before us."

"There may be thorns and obstacles on the road ahead, but as long as we are united as one, there will be no difficulties we cannot overcome and no enemies we cannot defeat!"

"Fellow countrymen, raise your heads and stand tall!"

"A powerful, prosperous, and civilized new Letania will surely stand tall on the land of Terra!"

"Long live Letania!!"

The speech is over.

Then the radio played the stirring "Workers' Song".

Immediately, the entire country of Letania, from Triintelme to the border mining towns, erupted in thunderous cheers.

People rushed out of their homes and flooded the streets.

They embraced, laughed, and shouted "Long live His Majesty the Emperor!" and "Long live Letania!"

It was a triumphant feeling after being suppressed for too long, a heartfelt joy filled with boundless anticipation for the future.

From this moment on, "fighting for Letania" is no longer an empty slogan, but a firm belief imprinted in everyone's heart.

Lacey's personal prestige reached an unprecedented peak after this speech.

……

a few days later.

Gertrude's intelligence department submitted its latest report on social dynamics, concluding with only one sentence:

"Your Majesty, the old era is dead, and no one mourns it."

……

Holy Leitanian Empire: Chapter Eighty-Nine: A Letter to the Wise Men of the World

The grand blueprint unfolded, but a very real problem also confronted Lacey and his cabinet—a shortage of personnel.

Or rather, there is a lack of enough professionals capable of turning blueprints into reality.

"Your Majesty, this is the national industrial project plan for the first quarter." The newly appointed Minister of Industry had a worried look on his face.

He was originally the chief engineer of a large machinery factory, but has now been promoted by Laixi without regard to seniority.

"As per your request, we plan to build twelve large steel plants, twenty chemical plants, and supporting energy centers in Rupercan, Caprania, and Stunling."

"But... we are severely lacking in qualified engineers and senior technicians."

He paused, then added, "We don't even have enough designers to complete the blueprints for all the factories."

Lacey's gaze swept over the cabinet members, and everyone's expression was much the same.

The Minister of Medical Education also complained: "Your Majesty, the schools have been built, but we don't have enough teachers."

“In many places, only literate veterans and workers can teach children the most basic reading and writing, which is far from enough.”

Even the Minister of Economy, Mecklen Nehm, wore a rare serious expression at this moment.

"Your Majesty, the problem is more serious than we thought."

"The old aristocratic class monopolized the vast majority of Leitania's high-quality educational resources, but what they produced were either literary figures who spoke fluent classical Chinese or artists who only knew how to enjoy luxury and pleasure."

"Talents who truly understand technology and management are extremely rare."

He shrugged: "We're like sitting on a gold mine, but we don't have enough miners and tools to mine it."

“If this continues, the public’s expectations will turn into disappointment, and our promises will become a joke.”

Silence fell over the meeting room.

Without talent, there can be no development of industry and economy; and without a developed industry and economy, there can be no cultivation of more talent.

"Since we don't have it ourselves, let's look for it outside."

Lacey's calm voice broke the silence.

Everyone's eyes were focused on him.

"Go outside to look?" Werner von Hochberg hesitated.

"Does Your Majesty mean... to recruit from other countries?"

"Yes."

Lacey tapped her fingers lightly on the table.

"On the continent of Terra, is it only in Letania that there are talented people who are not given the opportunity to shine?"

"Aren't there any marginalized scholars in the Victorian aristocratic council? Aren't there any engineers who are tired of the money game in the Kazimierz Commercial Association?"

His words surprised everyone present.

Yes, the oppression of the old regime is everywhere, and the revolution in Letania may have a fatal attraction for those who are in other countries but also feel suffocated.

"I propose it!"

Lacey stood up and looked around at everyone.

"In my name, on behalf of the Holy Third Reich of Lytania, I hereby issue a call for talent to all of Terra."

"We make a promise to everyone with a skill: regardless of your origin, race, past, or even whether you are infected!"

"As long as you possess genuine talent and are willing to serve this new nation, Letania will provide you with the best treatment, the freest research environment, and the broadest stage to showcase your abilities on the entire continent of Terra."

“Gertrude.” Lacey looked at the gray-haired countess in the shadows.

"exist."

"Your intelligence department should immediately establish liaison points in the surrounding countries."

"We must ensure that everyone who responds to the call for talent can arrive in Letania safely and discreetly."

"At the same time, we need to conduct the most rigorous background checks on them. I need builders, not spies."

Gertrude smiled confidently and said, "As you wish, Your Majesty."

"Serafina".

"I'm here."

"Your external relations department should find ways to spread our recruitment notice to those countries where the government is blocking information through various channels."

Serafina smiled and nodded: "Leave it to me."

“Mecklen”.

"His Majesty?"

"You draft the compensation standards."