To be honest, Huo Yuhao was already getting a little impatient. He wanted to hear that the ultimate purpose of launching the education reform so early was finally being fulfilled. Without Xu Tiannan ascending to power, the countless large-scale plans he had in the works couldn't be implemented. That was what frustrated him the most.
But Jing Hongchen's explanation of the current situation didn't disappoint him. If there was one phrase to describe the state of the Sun Moon Empire right now, it would be: "A storm is brewing on the horizon."
And why was that the case?
Sixteen days ago, the education reform act personally drafted by Xu Tiannan was officially approved by the old emperor and began pilot implementation in Mingdu and its surrounding estates. Even before the reform was formally launched, while it was still under debate, the court had already erupted with strong opposition.
Most of this opposition came from the large, entrenched noble families. They believed that teaching Soul Tool knowledge to ordinary people with little or no soul power was a disgrace to the noble identity of Soul Masters.
Of course, their words sounded righteous, but the real reason was fear—the fear that once ordinary people mastered the use of soul tools, their own interests would be threatened. The release of the sealed milk bottle research results alongside the education reform further stirred controversy in the Soul Master community. What was the royal family doing? They were not only teaching Soul Tool knowledge to commoners but also giving them soul tools powered by sealed milk bottles. Was this an outright challenge to the domain long controlled by the noble Soul Masters?
Even more unsettling was that the old emperor insisted on approving it, despite the backlash. This move caused even greater unease among the nobles, especially those from the four major regions outside the central district.
And it wasn't just the great nobles. The minor nobles—those who controlled villages, manors, and even small cities—also began to resist. Seeing ordinary people paying less tax and being able to use soul-powered tools for farming and labor made many traditionalists question the reforms and the royal family.
Of course, for every opponent, there were also supporters. A number of forward-thinking nobles saw the direction the royal family was taking and realized what this meant for the future. They supported the reforms, hoping to gain their own share of influence from it.
Beyond the reactions of the upper class, the most surprising development was the response from the common people.
To Jing Hongchen's astonishment, ordinary civilians were incredibly receptive to the reforms. Whether it was their eagerness to learn, their grasp of soul tool mechanics, or their ability to apply them—their performance exceeded expectations.
Now, in the central region, widespread mechanization of farmland was underway. Agricultural training schools had been established in droves. Similar changes were spreading through urban sectors as well, with the construction of labor-focused institutions and the growing use of soul tools.
Huo Yuhao speculated this enthusiasm stemmed from the relatively higher literacy rate in the Sun Moon Empire's central region. In the more undeveloped outer regions, pushing education reform might meet with far more difficulty.
So, the situation now stood as follows: The lower class was enthusiastically embracing reform, with implementation accelerating day by day. Meanwhile, the ruling elite, feeling threatened, was resisting fiercely, forming a large, powerful opposition bloc.
Some conservative noble factions—both major and minor—had already started actively opposing the reforms. If things kept moving in this direction, it might not be long before full-blown resistance organizations emerged.
The old emperor himself likely wouldn't have dared push such a risky reform that could provoke such widespread backlash. But now, frail and constantly ill, he had been cornered by the firm and persuasive tactics of Crown Prince Xu Tiannan, and had no choice but to yield.
Was this worrisome situation something Huo Yuhao dreaded?
Not at all.
On the contrary, it was exactly what he hoped to see. He smiled slightly and said to Jing Hongchen,
"Looks like everything is going according to plan, Master."
Jing Hongchen nodded repeatedly, a smirk creeping up on his lips.
Those nobles who opposed the reforms naturally knew this wasn't the work of the old emperor. He was too weak and too wary of chaos. The only one with both the means and motive to push this through was Crown Prince Xu Tiannan.
Everyone in the court knew that Xu Tiannan and the Third Prince Xu Tianfan were locked in a deadly contest for the throne. With the reforms now underway, even the nobles who had once supported the Crown Prince were beginning to reconsider. After all, what noble wanted to be ruled by someone actively trying to strip them of their privileges?
This meant that the previously marginalized Third Prince would now see an opportunity. The brewing tension was bound to erupt into a full-blown internal conflict.
And that was precisely what Huo Yuhao and Jing Hongchen wanted.
They hoped Xu Tiannan would rise to power quickly without wasting any more time, so the grand plans of Mingde Hall could proceed unhindered. War would be the perfect opportunity. Even if all the nobles rallied behind the Third Prince, Xu Tiannan had the support of Mingde Hall, the elite Guardian Hand Soul Tool Regiment, and even the Holy Spirit Sect. With those allies, he'd be nearly invincible.
Speaking of the Holy Spirit Sect, Huo Yuhao's other body—Tang Si—was already preparing to further infiltrate its ranks. Once war broke out, they could coordinate from both inside and outside, eradicating the Third Prince's forces while simultaneously weakening the Holy Spirit Sect's power. Two birds with one stone.
"Tracking the developments from here on out, I'll leave to you, Master."
Hearing that, Jing Hongchen chuckled and nodded. He, too, looked forward to what was coming.
Huo Yuhao, most of all, was thrilled. War wouldn't just give Xu Tiannan a chance to take the throne faster—it also meant that the modernized military force Huo Yuhao had trained in secret, composed entirely of ordinary people equipped with soul technology, would finally get its chance to prove itself.
A real army, born from commoners, stepping onto the battlefield to go head-to-head with Soul Masters and Soul Engineers. How much of an impact could they make?
At the very least, Huo Yuhao had full confidence in them.
(End of Chapter)
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