Darkstone Code
Chapter 283 - 0281 Disarmament, Strategy, Union

Chapter 283: 0281 Disarmament, Strategy, Union

The Bail Federal’s military does not recruit soldiers into society every year. Before the outbreak of the world war, a batch of soldiers was conscripted every four years, and at the same time, a batch of soldiers would retire.

During the world war, although the Federation adhered to an isolationist policy and did not participate in any international affairs, the President and the Ministry of Defense remained sufficiently vigilant. During this period, soldiers were conscripted every two years to actively expand armaments.

This greatly expanded the strength of various military districts, with the aim of deterring neighboring countries and preparing for the possibility of being embroiled in war at any time.

War is an unreasonable act of force. If reasoning worked, there would be no war, so maintaining a number of soldiers higher than peacetime is the best choice to ensure national security.

But this year is not the season for retirement; last year and the year after next are. Until then, the military will not release personnel, and during last year’s retirement season, soldiers who were supposed to retire had already been let go, so there should not be a large-scale retirement this year.

The senior soldier’s words also imply that another batch of soldiers has been discharged now.

Facing Lynch’s confusion, the senior soldier explained slightly, implying that the Ministry of Defense believes that international relations are becoming clearer and that too many active-duty soldiers are not needed, so this year they are gradually reducing some, easing the burden of military expenses.

After listening to the senior soldier’s account, Lynch roughly understood the reason. International wars have mostly ceased, and countries are starting a new round of development. If at this time, some countries that did not participate in the world war still maintain a military scale far superior to that before the war, it may cause some misunderstandings among people.

To avoid these misunderstandings and fill interpersonal relationships with truth, goodness, and beauty, the Federation disbanding part of its military can be seen as an act of great sincerity, which aligns well with the hopes of most international countries and can put people’s minds at ease.

Considering some domestic situations in the Federation, the Ministry of Defense won’t receive much of a military budget within at least two years, and various military expenses must be reduced. Thus, this year, an extra batch of soldiers has been early listed for discharge.

In fact, this is also to appease the public, giving them a hint of "we will not go to war," which resonates well with the currently wavering attitudes and stances of the people, gradually putting their minds at ease.

There are deeper reasons as well. For example, when discussing the Federation’s integration into international society during a visit by Gafura’s Prime Minister, the Progress Party Committee Chair and Emperor Gafura clearly articulated the need to downsize the military.

The reason is simple: the Federation’s million active-duty soldiers cause unease. If the number of active-duty soldiers cannot be reduced to 600,000 or lower, Emperor Gafura stated not only would they not help the Bail Federal integrate into international society, but they would also propose that everyone be wary of the Bail Federal possibly causing trouble.

After several rounds of secret negotiations, the Progressive Party internally decided to cut the number of active-duty soldiers. However, they played a little trick; reducing the million soldiers to 600,000 clearly can’t be done in one year.

They require at least about four years to achieve this, and Emperor Gafura and other foreign officials agreed to the Federation’s claim, giving them four years to reduce the military size. Everyone showed great sincerity.

But obviously, the innate inexplicable arrogance of these Bail Federal politicians wouldn’t let them just adhere fully to the once scorned feudal, ignorant, and backward demands of Emperor Gafura.

The Progressive Party has devised a strategy: most of these discharged soldiers will be placed in local militia groups, with the Ministry of Defense and some civilian patriotic funds providing grants to these local militia organizations to ensure they can maintain some level of military training after losing their soldier status.

In case war truly breaks out, which is inevitable, as everyone is aware, standing clearly on one side in international society and actively participating in various international affairs, once sharp, irreconcilable conflicts arise, war is bound to erupt.

The Bail Federal wants to prove itself on the battlefield ultimately, not just by words.

If war truly breaks out, these daily-trained militiamen can immediately join the military and rush to the front lines, ensuring their combat power doesn’t decline and maintaining their physical strength and psychological preparedness.

Besides the compensation and grant plan for these militia organizations, there are also policies tilted towards some private armed companies, such as security companies, but these things are not convenient to reveal yet, at least not until Gafura’s Prime Minister departs.

And the visit of Gafura’s Prime Minister to the Bail Federal is also part of a series of political transactions. As the Federation begins to reduce the number of active-duty soldiers, they are visiting the Federation, creating a new image of the Federation starting to become a member of international society.

Having roughly thought through some matters, Lynch smiled, "How could I? I’ll only think our scale is too small, not too big..."

After the two had walked a bit further, Lynch said, "Next month or the month after, I probably have to invest in other countries. You know, it’s quite chaotic outside now, so you all need to accompany me."

When he finished saying this, the senior soldier’s step paused momentarily but quickly caught up again. His face showed no sign of excitement but rather some seriousness.

Federation people are indeed conflicted. Isolationism cost them many things, such as courage. They want to prove themselves but are also terrified, especially regarding external affairs.

Lynch patted his arm, "Help me pick out twenty or thirty reliable young men. They can protect me and accompany me over there when the time comes, and then people will be continuously transferred. This investment is very important to me."

The senior soldier’s lips moved. He wanted to ask Lynch what missions these soldiers would carry out outside the Federation, but in the end, he didn’t ask.

Following orders is the mission of soldiers. In the military, they encounter such information every day. Instructors, officers, and superior generals always tell them to do it immediately without asking why, just to do it.

This habit hasn’t changed even now. Although there was some confusion inside, he nodded in agreement.

In the afternoon, Lynch took Connor, a lawyer who had collaborated with him several times, to the Workers’ Union headquarters in Sabin City to discuss some cooperation issues.

He took a lawyer because Lynch knew little about laws related to workers, which isn’t his fault. He had already tried hard to make time to read legal documents, cases, and books.

But laws, provisions, and regulations related to workers are indeed too numerous, witnessing from the side the fierce degree of the labor-capital war.

He couldn’t figure these out, so he needed the lawyer’s help.

This was Lynch’s first time coming to the workers’ base camp. Even before entering the five-story building, its style seemed to indicate its nature.

The relatively simple and unadorned exterior wall style made it look like a square cement block commonly seen in factories, with rust-like stains at its corners, seemingly left on the block during molding.

People had dug some windows and doors out of this cement block, and hung a Workers’ Union sign on it, with content that matched it well.

Upon entering the headquarters of the Workers’ Union, the floor was just ordinary cement. Possibly due to too many people coming in and out, some areas of the floor were polished smooth by shoe soles, deepening in color and even reflecting a slight glossy surface.

A mundane solid wood reception desk, an average-looking girl, everything here was very ordinary, so ordinary that it made one feel like it was truly the home of workers.

Until... Lynch saw the local Workers’ Union executives in the meeting room on the fifth floor, a group in well-fitted suits.

From the fit of their clothes, these were all handmade, costing at least a few hundred per set.

They had meticulously combed hair, slicked with hair wax reflecting a greasy sheen under the light, and seemed to frequently have facials, their faces as clean as a little girl’s buttocks, totally different from those of workers always covered in dust¹.

When Lynch entered the room, their faces immediately showed smiles, and they stood up, with the leading one enthusiastically greeting Lynch and introducing others to him after shaking hands.

All this gave Lynch a sense he wasn’t interacting with worker representatives but a group of capitalists or some politicians. This was quite a wonderful experience.

After everyone was introduced, they all sat on either side of the table. It seemed Lynch was a bit outnumbered, with only himself and Connor on his side.

After the guild secretary brought in some coffee and snacks, the conference room door closed, and the ensuing content was indeed not suitable for others to hear, at least not until approved by the Workers’ Union executives.

The president of the Sabin City Workers’ Union was a gentleman in his fifties, with grey hair and a gentle appearance.

After flipping through the files in front of him, attracting the attention of those around him, he looked up at Lynch, said with a smile, "Mr. Lynch, a hundred thousand people in Sabin City have lost their jobs, and most families have fallen into difficulty. We need help from all walks of life, and we are very grateful you’re here today, at least it makes us believe our society wants to solve these issues..."

Such an official tone, which makes this president and these people seem even less like workers, at least the actual workers wouldn’t speak in such grandiloquent terms.

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¹, The use of a face-to-bottom comparison intends to illustrate that these people only speak nonsense, with the author vividly and humorously revealing the mask of some, showcasing profound writing prowess!