581 Ambitious Lucien (2/2)
”We can't.” Erica, 'Master of Transformation', objected, ”The clerics in the four countries of the strait and the north coastline are building a mild church. Also, our control is far from flawless. Reckless actions will only result in turmoil and give other enemies opportunities. You should know that the North Church has been keeping distance from us since we controlled this area.”
Having operated in the Duchy of Calais for years, the Eye of Curse and her were deeply associated with local nobles. They were the pro-nobles within the Congress.
The Eye of Curse followed. ”If we strike the mild believers, we cannot dissuade other clerics and nobles in the future. We have to achieve our purpose in more approachable ways.”
”I agree with Erica and Atlant.” Crossing his fingers, Brook said solemnly. ”I believe that you must've noticed that, because of 'Arcana Voice', the ordinary people's faith has reduced a lot in the past years, which can be seen by their frequency of their liturgical sessions and their daily talk. So, I believe that promoting magic radios and increasing the attraction of the programs are by far the most effective methods.”
There were plenty of sorcerers and apprentices in Rentato, which allowed the Congress to detect the changes of the ordinary people quickly.
Hearing Brook's opinion, Holt and the other members of the Highest Council looked at Lucien. He was the one who invented broadcast and who settled the programs. He was the authority in broadcasting.
Lucien did not back off but said after rolling his quill for a while. ”It's very reasonable to deploy two channels right now. Together with the two channels that the Hoffenberg family and the Kingdom of Holm are going to establish, we don't need more programs. For the ordinary people, they are busy with life during the day and do not have the time for radio except the night. If there are too many channels in the period, they will be distracted from 'Arcana Voice'.”
”The most important thing we should do is to lower the cost of magic radios and promote it to most families.”
”In that case, we should ban the personal radio stations.” The Moon Scholar added.
Klaus, as the Alchemy Master, offered his professional opinion. ”We have received another batch of dwarf artisans, but they are not enough. It will take even longer for us to train our own workers. Therefore, in the foreseeable future, even if the cost of magic radios is lowered, it still cannot meet the demand of popularization.”
”If there are more mechanical products that can replace the functions of part of the magic circles, we may be able to make breakthroughs.”
”Natasha, James and I had a plan about the popularization.” Lucien proposed their discussion last year. In the end, he said, ”Apart from that, I have some other thoughts.”
”Feel free to speak. You always have new things that amaze us.” Douglas hinted Lucien to continue with a smile, and none of the Highest Council objected.
Lucien coughed and said, ”The magic radios cannot be popularized partly because of their cost and partly because ordinary people earn too little to afford them. By the same logic, a society based on such a foundation makes it impossible for us to reap more wealth. Although the nobles are rich, there are simply too few of them.”
”We should work with Holm, Brianne and other countries and come up with a five-year alchemy industry boosting plan. Through our investment and inventions, the jobs with better pay will increase, so that the ordinary people will earn more, and the overall wealth of the society will grow.”
”Lucien, you have the potential to be the prime minister of the kingdom. Your idea of the overall wealth of the society is not bad.” Klaus said half jokingly, ”The problem is that most ordinary people are incapable of working in the alchemical workshops.”
The alchemical workshops in the magic society had much a higher demand than the factories in the industrial age, because the ordinary people in the industrial age were already reasonably educated.
Lucien smiled, ”Why are they incapable? Because they lack the necessary knowledge and skills, which can be made up by education. I believe that the education in the kingdoms where teachers teach individuals in private is too obsolete. We should promote magic schools and let more people improve themselves by learning. Also, as soon as they know more things and their horizons are widened, they will definitely be less devout.”
It was exactly Lucien tried to do since the beginning: change society and change the fate of the ordinary people!
”Yes, the more knowledgeable someone is, the less likely they will be a pious believer.” Fernando nodded slightly and said, ”Before, we couldn't promote schools because the area was not under our control. It's about time.”
Lucien added, ”I suggest that schools be divided into two kinds. The first kind offers five-year education, where language and common sense in arcana, magic, biology, religion, history and law will be taught. I call it generic education. The Congress of Magic and the kingdoms will cover part of the cost, and the ordinary people will cover the rest. While their fundamental abilities are improved, we can also directly select the people with great arcana talents from schools, which will be easier than the past.”
”The second kind is the professional education designed to provide talents for the major alchemical workshops. The alchemical workshop will cover all the cost, the Congress will provide teachers, and the kingdoms will waive their taxes. The ordinary people will sign an apprentice contract before they enter such schools and have to go to the corresponding alchemical workshop after their graduation. I have named such schools 'Lanxiang'.”to be explained in the next chapter.