The news of the Royal Military Academy's large-scale recruitment was widely reported by Carlo's Spanish Sun and other newspapers, becoming major news around Madrid.
Thanks to such extensive publicity, over a hundred people applied to the military academy in just a few days.
Although only over sixty people were admitted after layers of screening, it was still a relatively significant improvement compared to the previous military academy.
While vigorously recruiting new cadets, Carlo also ordered the Royal Military Academy to reform its system and procedures, learning from the officer training models of Prussia and France.
The outdated Spanish officer training system was no longer suitable for the current era. Teaching outdated linear infantry tactics would only lead Spanish soldiers to queue up and be shot.
The good news was that the Austro-Prussian War and the Franco-Prussian War, which had broken out in recent years, could serve as learning examples for Spanish military schools. Prussia, Austria, and France, involved in these wars, were among the most powerful land armies in the world at the time.
Speaking of the Franco-Prussian War, this war, which started a year earlier than in history, was significantly more intense.
In history, the Second French Empire lasted less than two months before Emperor Napoleon III officially surrendered to the Prussian army.
France in this world wasn't much better off. Although it lasted longer, the war situation was firmly controlled by the Prussian army.
The French army had a large number of linear infantry regiments, and this tactic of lining up to be shot had lost its effectiveness now that rifle ranges were gradually increasing.
Moreover, this was not the only problem with the French army. There was insufficient preparation before the war, and after the war broke out, Napoleon III was still debating whether to attack or defend.
Furthermore, the French army did not usually have corps and divisional levels in peacetime, making it difficult for the hastily formed corps and divisions during the war to achieve the necessary coordination and combat effectiveness.
Facing the well-equipped and experienced Prussian army, which had just gone through the Austro-Prussian War, the French army was clearly at a disadvantage from the start.
Now, the only suspense was when Prussia would end the war and whether a revolution would break out in France after Napoleon III surrendered.
This was the main focus of Carlo and the Spanish government, as the situation in France could also affect Spain.
Under Carlo's suggestion and Prim's tacit approval, the Spanish government also developed a plan for university construction.
It was expected that Spain would build at least 5 universities in the next five years, increasing the total number of universities to over ten.
At the same time, most of these universities would focus on science and engineering majors, with mathematics, physics, and chemistry being key subjects in Spanish universities.
Literature, art, and other less critical majors would be consolidated into two or three universities, as Spain didn't need that many talents in the arts.
To encourage Spaniards to apply for university, Carlo planned to establish a scholarship system for university students.
Doing so would not only allow more children from common families to attend university but also let them receive favor from the royal family. This would cultivate talent for Spain and also enhance the prestige of the royal family, a win-win situation.
Amidst the busy schedule, 1869 quickly came to an end.
1870 arrived on time.
If 1869 was just a tentative exploration of Prim's reforms, 1870 was about to enter the real stage of Prim's reforms.
To make Spain stronger, Prim presented a "Comprehensive Reform Plan" at the end of 1869, which left Carlo stunned.
In this reform plan, Prim mentioned the necessity of implementing compulsory primary education, mimicking Prussia, and declared his intention to promote comprehensive literacy education in Spain.
Because the goal covered over 16 million Spaniards, Prim set the deadline for implementing comprehensive literacy education within five years.
Education was just the first step.
The second goal of Prim's reforms was to effectively increase the income level of Spaniards. While not aiming to surpass great powers like Britain, France, and Prussia, the goal was to exceed neighboring countries like Portugal and reach a level not far behind Italy.
How to achieve such a goal?
Prim proposed three plans.
First, promote the implementation of Spanish labor law to effectively guarantee the wages and timely payment of Spanish workers and other employed personnel in enterprises.
Second, effectively increases the income of the agricultural population by reducing agricultural taxes and increasing grain output. Prim also proposed that the government establish a grain price regulatory agency to ensure that grain purchasers guarantee farmers' income while controlling grain prices in the Spanish market.
Third, reduce various miscellaneous taxes left over from Queen Isabella II's era and streamline the tax items for Spanish citizens. To alleviate the financial pressure on the government, taxes on enterprises and factories should be appropriately increased to achieve a balance between government revenue and expenditure.
Carlo felt a headache just looking at these two goals.
Although these two goals were indeed for reform and could effectively increase the income level of Spaniards.
But the problem was that doing so would also offend the two deeply entrenched forces in Spain: the religious establishment and the big bourgeoisie.
Most of Spain's education was currently in the hands of the religious establishment, namely the Spanish Catholic Church.
The reason for over 70% illiteracy was that the schools founded by the church not only had high tuition fees but also quite high thresholds, making them unaffordable for most ordinary people.
The big bourgeoisie goes without saying. The greed of capitalists would lead them to continuously exploit the Spanish people. Prim's desire to guarantee the income of Spanish workers would inevitably offend the big bourgeoisie behind the factory owners and entrepreneurs.
Adding to that the republicans waiting to see the monarchy fail, and the Carlist faction hidden in the shadows, Carlo's head was about to explode.
Such a small Spain actually had so many troubles, which was why Amadeo only lasted three years in Spain before decisively choosing to escape to Italy.
"Prime Minister Prim, is your reform plan perhaps a bit too radical?" Carlo asked with a headache, holding Prim's plan in the Royal Palace in Madrid.
"But Spain cannot wait that long, Your Majesty," Prim explained.
"This plan directly pushes the church and the capitalists to oppose us. Do you have the confidence to deal with these two troubles?" Carlo looked at Prime Minister Prim and asked very seriously.
If the troubles from the church and capital could be resolved, this reform would naturally be beneficial to Spain.
But if these two troubles could not be resolved, the hidden Carlist faction and the republican faction opposing the monarchy would also take the opportunity to cause trouble, and the situation in Spain might be worse than expected.
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