Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, established the Weisuo system, which adopted the method of military settlement to solve the problem of food and salary expenditure for the imperial army. So much so that Zhu Yuanzhang proudly declared, "I can support a million soldiers without spending a single grain of rice from the people."
But in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, as military officers and local gentry encroached on military settlements, the soldiers who relied on military settlements lost their source of livelihood, and the Wei Suo system gradually collapsed.
The imperial court was unable to pay the soldiers, and the land used by the soldiers was annexed. The soldiers could not even get enough food, so how could they have the energy and spirit to fight in the battlefield? This was also the main reason why the combat effectiveness of the garrison troops in the middle and late Ming Dynasty was very poor.
But the near collapse does not mean that we have to start all over again.
At least, Zhu Youxiao believed that the current conditions did not allow it. The main reason was that he had no money or land, and could not accommodate so many laid-off soldiers.
It's hardship now, but we're not starving. If you lay them all off at once and don't do anything to clean up the mess, won't that just drive the garrison soldiers into rebellion?
Moreover, Zhu Youxiao was not prepared to let go of the military officers, gentry, bureaucrats and bullies who encroached on the land.
Oh, so you embezzled it, and then the imperial court abolished the guard system, and the land became yours? How could such a good deal happen in this world?
Therefore, Zhu Youxiao wanted to "clear the garrisons" and distribute the cleared fields to the garrison soldiers to settle them down. This was to prevent any civil unrest and the garrison soldiers from rebelling as well.
Of course, the privatization of military settlements has accumulated too many problems, involving interests from all aspects, which are so complicated that any single move can affect the entire body.
In particular, the officials in charge of "clearing the settlements" were equivalent to being enemies of local officials, gentry and landlords. The combined power of this group of local tyrants was quite powerful.
It was precisely because he realized the difficulty of "clearing the military settlements" that Zhu Youxiao sent Zuo Guangdou, Fang Zhenru and other stubborn people, and soon Yang Lian, to the local areas to do this thankless task.
There is huge resistance to “clearing the settlements”, but the benefits are also obvious. It can be regarded as a good solution to the current financial shortage.
In history, Sun Chuanting was authorized by Chongzhen (who was too poor to have money and could only provide policies), and he held high the banner of "ancestral system", claiming that "not an acre of land can be lost, not a grain of grain can be lost", and frantically collected military settlement land according to the volumes.
As a result, Sun Chuanting earned over 450,000 taels of silver and 50,000 dan of rice, wheat, and beans in three years just from clearing the garrisons. With this food and money, he trained a powerful army—the "Qin Army."
You have to know that this was in Shaanxi, not the prosperous Jiangnan region, where farmland production was limited and there was also the impact of the Little Ice Age.
For this reason, Sun Chuanting happily submitted a memorial, selflessly passing on his valuable experience to the impoverished Emperor Chongzhen, hoping that it could be implemented in other places.
The effect is significant, but the consequences are serious.
Sun Chuanting's actions had offended all the civil and military officials in the court. Under the impeachment, Chongzhen's paranoia resurfaced, and he imprisoned Sun Chuanting and ordered the cessation of clearing the garrisons and paying military fees.
Alas, this Chongzhen is really worrying.
If you're afraid of being criticized, then find some people like Sun Chuanting to do it! The country is about to be destroyed, and people are about to die. Why bother thinking about all that mess? Just do it.
"According to the ancestral system: In the military farms of the garrisons, not a single acre of land can be lost, not a single grain of grain can be lost..." Zhu Youxiao picked up his pen and wrote a reply to Zuo Guangdou, which was justified.
After writing the reply, Zhu Youxiao felt that it was not enough, so he dictated: "Draft decree: Zuo Guangdou will be promoted to Right Censor-in-Chief, and Sun Chuanting, the Military Preparations Commissioner, will be promoted to Censor, to inspect military preparations and train new troops..."
The imperial edict has been issued and the official positions have been increased. Just roll up your sleeves and work hard. Don't spoil anyone. I believe in you!
Even in the late Ming Dynasty during the reign of Chongzhen, the emperor had the final say on all policies implemented by the court.
Although the bureaucracy was corrupt and the implementation of policies had to be compromised, with an iron fist like Sun Chuanting, success could still be achieved without causing large-scale unrest.
Rebellion? Officials and gentry didn't dare to do it, and they were afraid of being accused of rebellion! That would mean the whole family would be executed, not to mention their land and property, even their heads would be gone.
Now they are just clearing out people, without confiscating their property or punishing them, nor forcing them into a desperate situation. Who would dare to run the risk of genocide and committing suicide?
Now is the second year of Tianqi, not the dozen years of Chongzhen. You join the peasant army, you join the Later Jin, and I will admit defeat if you can find me.
This was Zhu Youxiao's consideration, which made him so bold.
In the coming reforms, what does it mean to clear out the officials? If I can't even take this step, I might as well stay in the palace and let the dynasty collapse and perish together!
Two years, three years, four years, five years, six years, seven years; well, it was only a little over five years until the Chongzhen drought in history.
Zhu Youxiao counted again on his fingers, reminding himself again that he did not have much time left for innovation and revitalization.
Even though Chongzhen managed to hold on for another seventeen years, by then it was practically a dead end. Natural disasters, man-made calamities, internal and external troubles, it was a hellishly difficult dungeon to clear!
Ding, ding, ding... The sound of the clock made Zhu Youxiao look up.
Every time the time was about to ring, Zhang Yuer would blink her big eyes and stare at the clock.
As the bell rang, the little girl opened her mouth wide with a cheerful smile, and nodded her head, counting the hours.
Simple and happy, I don’t know what kind of magical effect a chime clock can have that makes people so happy.
Zhu Youxiao was infected by the girl's innocent smile. Although he knew it was silly, he couldn't help but pursed his lips.
Zhang Yuer waited until the time was over before turning around, only to see the Emperor's gaze fixed on Hexi. The maid lowered her eyes slightly and murmured, "Your Majesty, it's already eight o'clock!"
Zhu Youxiao nodded gently and said, "Go and have a rest. I still need to write something. It's enough to have Liu Ruoyu by my side."
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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