Footsteps of War

The next morning, after waking up and completing his exercise routine, Arthur took a quick shower. He then had a fast breakfast of sausages and eggs before grabbing the plans he had prepared about the education system from his desk. With the documents in hand, he headed toward his father's room.

As he approached the door, Arthur realized from the voices inside that his father was speaking with someone. He knocked on the door, and after hearing, "You may enter," he waited for the guards to open it before stepping inside. Upon entering, he saw his father talking with a middle-aged, formally dressed man. Arthur recognized him immediately—it was none other than Henry, the kingdom's finance minister and one of his father's most trusted advisors.

When Arthur entered, the king smiled and said, "You've arrived at just the right time, Arthur. We were just reviewing reports indicating that your steel factory is already generating significant profits."

Henry, smiling, added, "Your Majesty, thanks to the factory's ability to produce large amounts of steel at low cost, domestic steel prices have already begun to drop. In fact, reports from customs indicate that merchants have even started exporting the steel abroad. It seems your initiative has been quite successful."

Arthur returned the smile and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Lord Henry."

Henry then turned to the king and asked, "Your Majesty, is there anything else you require of me?"

The king replied, "No, that will be all, Henry. You may leave."

Henry gave the king a formal bow and exited the room.

Once Henry left, the king turned to Arthur, smiling. "So, what interesting ideas do you have for me today?" he asked.

Arthur grinned and placed the papers he had prepared the previous night on the table. As the king scanned through the documents, the title on the top page caught his attention: The Education System.

While his father reviewed the papers, Arthur began explaining: "Father, as you know, I've been establishing factories powered by steam engines and focused on textile production. As these factories grow in number, the demand for a skilled workforce will also increase. That's why I believe we need to create a new institution—one that combines scientific research and education under a single roof. This institution would not only train the skilled workforce needed for the economy but also provide easier funding and management for scientists conducting research."

The king nodded. "You're right. Combining research and education under one institution would greatly improve efficiency. However, I'm curious about this section in your plan about basic education. Why propose establishing schools where children would receive free 12-year basic education?"

Arthur responded, "Father, someone who can read, write, and perform basic arithmetic is far more productive than someone who cannot. Moreover, this basic education would teach children discipline, teamwork, and respect for authority from an early age. When they enter society, they would become excellent soldiers and efficient workers. At the secondary education level, students could be separated based on their talents and trained as skilled workers. For university education, students would take an exam to measure their academic abilities, and only those who perform well would move on to higher education.

"Universities would then produce the highly qualified professionals, such as doctors and engineers, required by the economy and military. For students who demonstrate academic potential but lack financial means, we could provide scholarships to ensure a higher percentage of skilled labor in the workforce."

The king thought for a moment before replying, "This is a very costly investment. Before rolling it out across the entire kingdom, let's start with the capital and surrounding areas. If it proves successful, we can expand it to the rest of the country."

The king then leaned back in his chair and said, "Actually, there's another matter I'd like your opinion on."

"Of course," Arthur replied.

The king continued, "As you know, the Kingdoms of Aragon and Fas have been engaged in ongoing conflicts over control of the Maraz Strait. Recently, tensions in the region have begun to rise again. What do you think we should do if war breaks out?"

Arthur was surprised that his father was asking for his political opinion for the first time, but he quickly collected himself and thought for a moment. "This war holds no direct benefit for us, Father. Regardless of who controls the strait, we will still have to pay taxes to pass through. However, even if we do not participate in the war, we can profit from it by selling weapons made from our cheap steel to both sides, thereby earning a substantial profit."

In truth, Arthur believed that the Maraz Strait, located at the western entrance of the White Sea and a critical hub for global trade, needed to be under their control. However, given their current military and economic strength, he deemed such ambitions unattainable for now. He resolved to keep this thought in mind for the future.

The king nodded. "I share your perspective," he said.

After discussing the matter further, Arthur left his father's chambers and headed back to his own room. As he walked, he reminded himself, "Since arriving in this world, I've focused entirely on industrialization and neglected other aspects. From now on, I need to pay more attention to politics and the state of the world."

Over the next six months, Arthur oversaw infrastructure investments and production in the capital. He also worked on establishing schools for basic education in the capital region and developing their curricula. Furthermore, he founded a university named after himself, Prince Arthur University, which could accommodate thousands of students at a time and offered education in engineering, medicine, and the natural sciences.

Meanwhile, tensions between the kingdoms of Aragon and Fas continued to escalate. During this time, Arthur capitalized on the situation by selling weapons made from his cheap steel to both sides, amassing a considerable fortune.

As summer approached and the wheat harvest began, Arthur prepared to take his ambitions to even greater heights.