eldest son of Ming dynasty

Chapter 870 The Ming Dynasty Man!

According to the history books, the Ming Dynasty embarked on the road of recruiting troops as a last resort due to the corruption of the farming system during the Jiajing period.

This is almost the fate of a dynasty, and the endogenous logic is also very clear: that is, the political and military systems are all corrupted, administrative efficiency is greatly reduced, and demons and ghosts are rampant in the court. At the same time, due to the weakening of the national power, various border troubles and rebellions occur. As a result, the demand for troops increased instead of decreasing.

In order to solve the immediate problem, they had to spend money to recruit soldiers to meet their urgent needs.

At the beginning, a soldier's annual military salary was 9 taels. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, it increased to 30 taels per year.

In short, everything is sliding into the abyss of control.

Zhu Houzhao's existence saved the ruined garrison at the last moment. Speaking of which, it also caused military rebellions in several border towns.

Wang Shouren led the army to carry out the rest with force.

All in all it was a bit thrilling.

If it were not for visitors from later generations, it would be really difficult to complete this matter. First of all, it would be difficult to have complete trust between the emperor and the ministers. At least he couldn't have the same trust that Zhu Houzhao had in Wang Shouren.

In the current 20th year of Zhengde, Juntun has survived with a sigh of relief, but as time goes by, it will definitely "relive the old dream" again.

Because no matter how perfect or strict the laws of the imperial court are, the phenomenon of subordinates' farms being occupied by their superiors for various reasons will definitely increase gradually.

In other words, the number of soldiers who cannot survive will increase year by year.

If people can't survive, they will run away.

As a result, the combat effectiveness will be weakened because the troops are not full of personnel and have low morale.

This is almost certain,

No matter how diligent Zhu Houzhao was, his energy was limited and he could not keep an eye on the affairs in the military camps with thousands of guard posts across the country every day.

Zhu Houzhao himself understood this very early.

In addition, the current chaotic military system also makes him more and more unbearable.

The mutual fighting between the Ministry of War and the Governor's Office has obviously failed to keep up with the specific requirements he announced to build a new-era army.

It’s finally the end of November,

The main generals of the Ming Dynasty in Jiubian began to gradually return to Beijing in batches.

These people are equivalent to military commanders. If the imperial court wants to reorganize the military system from top to bottom, then just relying on a few letters with them is completely insufficient. The efficiency is too low and the matter is still unclear.

And the next actions will require the full support of these people.

To put it harshly, they need to control the army, at least not to cause vicious incidents such as soldier mutiny.

These people include the governor of Hetao, Wugong Boma Rong, the chief military officer of Guyuan Town Shi Feng, the governor of the Right Army Dudufu and the chief military officer of Datong Yang Shangyi, the chief military officer of Xuanfu Zhang Li, and the chief military officer of Liaodong Han Shilang.

It can be said that the most powerful generals among the nine sides are here.

In fact, the Ming Dynasty's army also included various guard posts scattered in various cities and towns in the mainland.

These guard soldiers are usually controlled by the local governor. Over the years, they have lagged behind the Beijing camp and the border army in terms of various resources. It can be said with certainty that they have all suffered from the 'peace disease'.

Finally, there is the Navy.

Admiral Zheng Bu of the Navy has already gone on an expedition to Luzon, so he will definitely not be able to come.

However, the Admiral of the Navy has been promoted to the rank of Minister of the Ministry of War over the years, so he is still in the order of the Ministry of War, and Gui E is enough.

Combined, the number of troops, large and small, definitely exceeds 150 million.

This number is huge even in modern countries.

However, such a huge army and military expenditures of millions of taels did not reach the level of combat power it should have.

That's the biggest problem.

When these border defense generals arrive in Beijing,

Zhu Houzhao also summoned the old nobles in Beijing, including Zheng Guogong, Yue Guogong, and the new generation of British Duke Zhang Shu.

The three of them plus Zhu Feng, Duke of Chengguo, who was in Luzon.

They were the four great princes of the Zhengde Dynasty.

British Duke Zhang Shu is the grandson of the previous British Duke Zhang Mao.

Zhang Mao is generally regarded as a "prudent" person. To put it bluntly, he is mellow and steady. Moreover, because of his long life and having served several generations of emperors, he held great power when Zhu Houzhao came to power.

Later, Zhu Houzhao was asked to find an excuse to be dismissed from his post at home.

In the tenth year of Zhengde's reign, he finally died of illness at the age of seventy-five.

The title attacker in history was named Zhang Lun.

But Zhu Houzhao didn't care about this. He took it upon himself to give the title to Zhang Shu, who was more ambitious and had studied at the military academy.

Then he was allowed to serve in the Governor's Mansion of the Fifth Army.

Bringing back the British Duke is politically a way to win over the old-school nobles. After all, Zhang Mao has promoted many people after being in power for decades.

In fact, there was another Duke of Ding, Xu Guangzuo, at this time.

But the guy has little ability and is old, so although his title is obvious, his presence is not strong.

Including Xu Pengju, Duke of Wei in Nanjing, he was also a dawdler and had always been ignored by the emperor.

Zhu Houzhao didn't care. He was very satisfied with the current structure of the four major princes in the DPRK and China.

Representative Chang Fei, Duke of Zheng, was a hero of the founding generation of Hongwu. The emperor took care of him, and this attitude was evident.

The Duke of Yue is the representative of the rising generals in this dynasty.

The British Duke and the Chengguo Duke are representatives of traditional honors.

The remaining marquises and earls with a strong sense of presence include Jinghai Bo Wu Wending, Nanning Bo Mao Yuwen, Xinjian Bowang Shouren, Weining Bowang Xuan and the recently newly ennobled Bowang Marquis.

Their status is relatively low, and they are not all in the rank of generals. In terms of power alone, they may not be as high as the general soldiers.

Pinghai Hou Mei Kejia even became an official at home in his old age.

But they still have a place in the court.

All in all, the emperor was summoned by the commander-in-chief of the powerful faction and the three princes in Beijing.

And received them in the Royal Garden of Xiyuan.

In fact, these people themselves had a clear understanding that if the emperor summoned them all back to the capital at once, there must be something big going on. Zhu Houzhao was actually a little proud. It was because of him that a group of capable and talented generals emerged in the Ming Dynasty at this stage.

Seeing them filing in, I couldn't help but say proudly, "Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty has Wei Huo, and I don't lack the pillars of the country!"

Among them, Han Twelve Lang is a relatively young general. Anyway, age does not matter on the battlefield, only how fierce you are in fighting.

Seeing the emperor coming, Duke Zhou Shangwen of Yue State and others knelt down and saluted.

"See Your Majesty!"

"Okay, okay, everyone, get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Houzhao asked people to bring stools and asked them to sit down along the lake. He was tired from sitting while reviewing memorials, so he stood up and lectured them, "Today, I have not called any civil official, not even the Minister of the Ministry of War." None of them are here, but I only called the generals who commanded the troops and those who have commanded the troops. Why? I just want to put aside those red tapes and let our monarchs and ministers say something without beating around the bush. How about it?"

Zhou Shangwen smiled and said, "Of course we all listen to the emperor."

"Yes, listen to the emperor!"

……

Before the main play begins, Zhu Houzhao always wants to say a few words, but he is not lying. He sighed longly and said: "Speaking of which, I really envy you. If I am not an emperor, then I must be an emperor." General, a man's blood is spread all over the battlefield, he has made great achievements, and he is happy in life!

Although there are some emperors among my ancestors, I really fail them too much in this regard. In addition, I am worried that I will cause trouble to your generals who command the troops, so I always endure it. But after enduring it for more than ten years, I suddenly found that Ming Dynasty had no opponents. It was too late to regret it. Now I don’t know who else to conquer! "

"Hahaha."

The general's temper was more direct, and he couldn't help laughing when the emperor said something funny.

Zhu Houzhao also agreed with everyone, "I have to put this responsibility on your shoulders, because you are too capable."

This is a joke.

"Your Majesty, it's not that we are capable, but that the Emperor has strategized and maintained a commanding position. Only when the country is strong can ministers galloping on the battlefield and whipping their whips, invincible. These are all due to your Majesty." The martial arts Bo Ma Rong also flattered. Come.

"Uncle Wu Gong is right." Zhou Shangwen said: "If it hadn't been for various new policies to correct the long-standing shortcomings, the Ming Dynasty would not be as prosperous as it is today."

Zhu Houzhao really had to accept all these achievements, and said even more wantonly: "But I am not Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, and I don't want to rest on my past merits and sing every night."

When the generals received this message, they immediately stood up and clasped their fists, "I am willing to serve His Majesty, go through fire and water, no matter what!"

"I believe it." Zhu Houzhao paused.

He was basically satisfied with these generals and princes.

Speaking of which, during the vassal reorganization, he heard that some people were causing trouble, but after all, there was no major situation in the country. One of the reasons for this was the large army led by these generals and the Duke.

With hundreds of thousands of elite troops stationed around the capital, how could the world be in chaos?

Then he changed his tone and said: "I have been imagining a scenario in recent days. One day, the Ming army will be able to have a clearer division of labor and respond more quickly. The Beijing camp will not be as chaotic as the direct guards and the three major battalions now. The frontier army is divided into directions of west, north and east, and large armies are set up in different zones, either 10 or 15, all of whom are elite warriors in the field. With just one order, they can march into the surrounding unsubordinated countries, and they will reach them with iron hoofs. It will be like a thunderbolt that no one can stop!"

"Perhaps there will be such a scene... the people of every household in the Ming Dynasty no longer regard the saying 'a good man should not be a soldier' ​​as truth, but can have the heroic and heroic spirit of 'it is better to be a centurion than a scholar', Military households are not despised by others, and they are respected when they fight for the country? The whole country is united as one, there are no people from Shandong or Shanxi, only people from the Ming Dynasty. Everyone, you said you want to achieve this level. Where do we still fall short?"

Except for Zhou Shangwen, everyone else lowered their heads. They didn't know if the emperor was dissatisfied with something.

So Zhu Houzhao called his name and said, "Twelve Masters, tell me. You are the youngest here. If you make a mistake and are demoted, you still have time to make a comeback."

"Yes." Han Twelve Lang stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I am not afraid of being demoted. I am just afraid that what I said is wrong and has misled Your Majesty."

"It doesn't matter, just tell me."

"I dare to ask your Majesty if you want to cancel the general household?"

Zhu Houzhao touched his nose and said, "Do you think it's okay?"

"Your Majesty, you don't know. We, the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, are used to inheriting the military household after the father dies. If the succession is suddenly cancelled, the soldiers leave the army, resulting in vacancies in various places, what should we do? Also, these people have nothing to offer, How can we make a living without military pay?”

"It's all done on the brain. Uncle Wu Gong, what do you think?"

Ma Rong stood up and said, "Go back to your Majesty. I believe that after the military household system is abolished, if someone wants to leave, then let him leave. Since he has the resources to leave, he can't live well without military pay, and he can't blame others."

"So, what about the vacancies that Jade Master mentioned?"

Ma Rongdao: "I heard someone say that His Majesty announced at the Army Academy that he will build a new era army that knows why he is fighting. If the soldiers themselves are not willing to join the army, it will be in vain to force them to stay in the army. Besides, Wei I believe that with the rise of firearms and the high price of medicine, if we truly build a hundred thousand elite troops, the money consumed will be far greater than in the past, so we can lay off some personnel and save expenses."

"Yes. It makes some sense." Zhu Houzhao touched his chin, "That's what I think. The Ming Dynasty's armed forces can be stratified according to the three levels of A, B, and C that were previously determined.

The imperial court must devote more resources to Class A troops, with higher military pay, better weapons, stronger horses, and stricter conditions for soldiers to join the army. Led by you generals who have fought hundreds of battles.

The B and C level troops do not participate in direct external wars. At most, you can conquer a country and let them ensure order. Of course, their military pay, rations, and weapons are incomparable to those of Class A troops.

I have also thought that the B and C level troops are still under the control of guards, and there will be no major adjustments to the garrison area. The Class A troops will undergo a comprehensive restructuring. "

His eyes fell on Zhou Shangwen.

The two of them have already discussed these contents.

Zhou Shangwen faced all the princes and generals and said, "Your Majesty considers that the Class A troops will be designated as the most powerful armed forces in the Ming Dynasty. The old guard system of 3 people will be abandoned, and each guard will have 5 people." soldiers. Including three thousand-house stations with 9 soldiers and an artillery station with 15 soldiers. Three guards constitute an army, and a military district contains - armies. Its size ranges from to Between ten thousand.

In this way, the scale of a military region will not be stretched by thirty to fifty thousand people, nor will it be bloated and slow by two to three hundred thousand people. Officers are selected from outstanding officers in the Army Academy and the B and C level troops. They do not work in the fields on weekdays, but only train troops. Military pay, food and grass are uniformly allocated by the Ministry of Household Affairs. In addition, he does not obey the orders of the Ministry of War, but only takes orders from the Military Aircraft Department, that is, the Emperor!

In this way, you don't have to worry about the ups and downs in the court. Fighting is fighting, and training is training. To advance is to advance, and to retreat is to retreat. Starting from the commander-in-chief of the military region, orders and prohibitions are made! This will be an army only suitable for men who are truly willing to make contributions on the battlefield! "

Zhu Houzhao said: "Everyone, I have been thinking about this day for a long time, but even if there are only three military regions, this will be 300,000 people. If the 300,000 Rui clan and tiger army don't save some money, they will just support them. I can’t afford it. How about it? If I give each of you generals who are good at conquering and fighting an army like this, will you have the confidence to conquer new lands for the Ming Dynasty?!”

Wugong Bo Ma Rong felt that these formulations coincided with the thoughts in his heart, and he immediately knelt down excitedly, "Your Majesty, I have asked myself to be the commander-in-chief of the first district. I will only be loyal to your Majesty and fight for your majesty's great cause! Fight for the Ming Dynasty!"

Han Twelve Lang, Shi Feng and Yang Shangyi also knelt down, "I am also willing!"

"Okay, okay." Zhu Houzhao waved his hand, "The men of the Ming Dynasty can't lose this martial spirit. Now everyone is talking about how big the world is. Hehe, without a strong army, you can't take an inch of land just by kindness and etiquette. , and can’t protect a single common people!”

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Zhou Shangwen gave Zhu Houzhao an encouraging and supportive look, and the emperor clapped his hands fiercely, "Okay. In that case, let's do this!"

After the army becomes strong, it is indeed difficult to control it, but that is the problem later. The Ming Dynasty is now on the rise and needs to forge an army that can truly scare other countries.

Zhu Houzhao believed that with his advanced army-building concepts and ideas, he would be able to build an army that could overwhelm all opponents. Only in this way can we adapt to the barbarism and plunder of these hundreds of years.

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Although I took 1 days off in January, I finally updated 4 words. As a part-time author, is that okay?

In addition, this book has reached 270 million words.

According to my rate of 15 words a month, it will be finished in two months. I will finish the timeline of the 30th year of Zhengde, which is about words.

Overall, although the writing quality varies from good to bad, the overall pacing is within my original vision. Finally, I actually thought about the ending chapter on the first day.