While Augustus was worrying about importing weapons and equipment and the development of military industries, conscription work was also in full swing domestically.
The conscription campaign achieved great success; within just a few days of registration, the number of successful applicants reached 420,000, far exceeding expectations.
After a month of layered screening and multiple considerations, 25,000 people were finally selected, bringing the conscription work to an end.
The 25,000 people selected, one out of ten, were basically the best among all applicants. The new recruits who successfully entered the army by defeating numerous competitors had their confidence greatly strengthened and felt immensely proud of their success in joining the army.
Throughout the process, there were indeed some who made it to the end through opportunism or backdoors; there's no way to avoid nepotism in any human society. However, generally speaking, those who were selected would not be too bad. If someone too incompetent was forced into the army, they would only be asking for trouble.
Powerful and influential figures who intended to send useless family members into the army had already placed them in existing units. Therefore, the number of people placed at this time would not be too many, nor would it be too excessive.
For the many people eliminated during the screening, it was impossible not to feel some disappointment, but it was limited to disappointment and certainly did not reach the point of resentment or desire for revenge. No one would be like Huang Chao, writing a line like, "If I can only get three thousand soldiers before my horse, I dare to seize four hundred prefectures from the Tang Dynasty."
Being eliminated among so many people was not considered shameful for most. Everyone had their own ways of comforting themselves: bad luck, poor condition, bad mood, and so on.
Those who were not selected did not come in vain. According to the pre-arranged plan, those who successfully registered but were not selected would receive different priorities for future military service based on their performance during the screening, and they would receive subsidies for this month as if they were serving in the military.
Since military service had already begun to be promoted, instead of forcing unwilling people into service from the start, it was better to leave this opportunity to those who were already willing to serve. Those who successfully registered at least met the various conditions.
Everyone knew that once war broke out and the army needed more people, those who had already served would certainly have priority in joining the army.
The duration of military service was one year, much shorter than in later generations. This was because current weapons, battle formations, tactics, and warfare were far less complex, so a longer period would not have much meaning.
It was sufficient for servicemen to master the use of new weapons, strengthen their physical fitness, and adapt to militarized management, which would not take long.
The most basic military service did not expect to train soldiers who could fight ten men, much less cultivate skilled generals.
In fact, Augustus found even a one-year service duration too long; his original plan was three months. However, everyone felt the time was too short and the effect too poor. After listening to their suggestions, the service duration was set at one year. But Augustus required basic training to be completed within three months, with the remaining time used for consolidation, improvement, and appropriate extended training.
According to Augustus's plan, war would break out within a year. At that time, some of the people serving in the military might be recruited into the army and go directly to the battlefield. If they went to the battlefield without completing basic training, wouldn't they all become cannon fodder?
Augustus hoped for as many people as possible to serve, but looking at the situation in the Papal States, he shook his head helplessly; conditions did not allow it. The Papal States' weapons and equipment were all imported from various countries, and they had only arrived in batches a few days ago, leaving not much surplus after supplying the active forces.
Military service required leaders, and the Papal States also suffered from a severe shortage of military talent. The appointment of officers at all levels in the active forces was a big problem, a problem he had thrown to Karl and Duke to figure out themselves.
Where would the officers leading the military service come from? Even if there were reluctant candidates, their ability, strength, and reliability were all highly questionable. In such a situation, it was better to have too few than too many, to avoid spoiling good prospects.
Problems that everyone could see were certainly not ignored in the discussions. After discussion, it was decided that the first batch of military service personnel would be set at 50,000, and this number could be gradually increased when the situation improved. Lorenzo patted his chest and guaranteed that he could solve the officer problem.
Lorenzo was unusually proactive, and Augustus knew he had selfish motives, but he pretended not to know. Things always needed to be done, and since the implementation of military service was entrusted to him, it was his responsibility. By taking on the task, he enjoyed the benefits while also bearing the responsibility. If he did well, all was fine, but if there were mistakes, he would be held accountable.
Augustus was not at all worried about Lorenzo posing a threat by implementing military service. Even if Lorenzo was in charge of this matter, military service would not be decided by Lorenzo alone.
Just look at the Papal States' existing army, and you would know. If Lorenzo had such great ability, why would Augustus need to find two foreigners to command the army, knowing that doing so itself would undermine his authority?
The soldiers were those remaining from conscription; the training weapons and equipment were those remaining from the regular army; the training methods and intensity were incomparable to those of the regular army. The service army, no matter how strong, could not be stronger than the regular army. Moreover, conscripts rotated out yearly, so what would he use to make soldiers fight for him?
The age for military service was set at 18 to 40 years old. Lorenzo proposed that the minimum age could be lowered to 15 or 16, but Augustus immediately rejected it.
It wasn't a crucial matter, and he didn't know why the Pope's stance was so firm, so Lorenzo didn't feel it was necessary to argue with Augustus on this matter. After Augustus spouted a few reasons that even he found far-fetched, Lorenzo quickly changed his stance, stating that the Pope was right and strongly supporting him.
With the plan set, the time and place determined, and the announcement issued, registration for the first round of military service began. Although it was a compulsory military service system, those willing to register were given priority. Only when no one registered would mandatory service begin for eligible individuals who had not yet served.
According to the current trend, it would be many years before it reached them, and those who were currently eligible but would be overage by then could use this to avoid military service, but it didn't matter.
Facts proved that what one strived for oneself was always worth cherishing. Those who registered for military service were inherently willing, and very few gave up their priority for military service. For those with the same priority, it was simply first-come, first-served, and to differentiate, each registration point even indicated the time of registration.
This directly led to even more enthusiastic registrations for military service than for army enlistment before. Fortunately, high-level officials allocated sufficient manpower and resources to maintain order, and grassroots officials had made early preparations, so no unpleasant incidents occurred.
Augustus's actions after becoming Pope were very noticeable. Everyone could see that this was clearly not a Pope who intended to retire. Many people had a premonition that significant changes would occur in the Papal States in the near future.
The administrative efficiency of officials at all levels directly improved by a notch, or rather, the high-level officials dared not let the incompetent among the middle and lower ranks handle important matters, and capable and ambitious officials did not want to miss any opportunity to prove themselves for promotion.
In just one day, all 50,000 slots were filled, and many more people couldn't register.
At the meeting the next day, Lorenzo first reported on the military service registration work.
After listening to Lorenzo's report, Augustus nodded approvingly and said, "You have done very well, and you must continue to maintain it. We are the first to attempt compulsory military service. This matter is your responsibility, and if you do it well, it will be a great achievement!"
Originally, the earliest compulsory military service system in Europe was initiated by Gustavus Adolphus II's reforms, but Gustavus Adolphus II was only 21 years old and not yet the King of Sweden. Augustus took the lead, making him the earliest.
In fact, Augustus referred extensively to the military service implemented by Gustavus Adolphus II's reforms in history for the details.