"Our Great Ming conquered the world through military prowess, abolishing the old Yuan system and establishing garrisons from the capital down to the prefectures and counties. However, by the Zhengtong period, the garrisons had fallen into irreparable decline, with the land now owned by the wealthy and powerful, and the military corps completely empty. During the suppression of the Japanese pirates, the dilapidated state of the garrisons became clear. The evils of hereditary military service must be reformed."
The emperor had a deep-seated belief that anything hereditary was bad, including the emperor's hereditary succession, and that sooner or later a jerk would emerge and ruin the country.
The military household system of the garrisons, or hereditary military service, was to be completely overturned. Although the conscription and battalion systems had been implemented in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, the garrison system was not institutionally eliminated.
"The Song Dynasty fell when civil officials were valued over military officials. During the reigns of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Chengzu, military officials were highly valued due to their frequent military campaigns. However, after a long period of peace, the military officials became powerful but insignificant, and the civil officials formed cliques to suppress the military officials."
"When there's a war on the border, when foreign enemies invade, aren't warriors fighting bloody battles? Aren't they warriors protecting the country and its peace? Civil officials treat military commanders like slaves, with a sixth-rank garrison commander bowing to a seventh-rank county magistrate. This is bizarre, but it's become commonplace in officialdom."
The imperial examination system also helped civil officials suppress military officials. Most of the civil officials' fellow townsmen, classmates, and teachers served in the court. Their relationships were complicated and they supported each other.
Military generals usually only have a few comrades to rely on. If they anger a civil servant, the huge group of civil servants will attack them and will not stop until they kill them.
Moreover, due to the coexistence of the three departments at the local level, there were multiple sources of power, and finally the Ming Dynasty introduced the governor as the highest official.
Almost all candidates for governor were civil servants, which formed a full coverage of civil servants with grand secretaries at the central level and governors at the local level.
The emperor repeatedly expressed his intention to elevate the status of the military, but a single imperial decree alone might not be enough to resolve entrenched practices. Capitalizing on the victory against the Liao, the emperor fanned the flames, apprehended a few more examples, and doubted that the situation could not be reversed.
Of course, the emperor also deeply detested the factionalism among civil servants caused by the imperial examination system. The imperial guards were his eyes and ears, his weapons. So far, the factionalism has been curbed to a great extent, but it cannot be relaxed.
"Ancestral systems and established laws often become the cause of complacency, decay, and decline," the emperor concluded, his main point clear: reform. "There are systems that endure, and there are nations that decline over time. My Lords, remember this, and do not forget."
The words are clear enough: no one should use ancestral rules or established laws to persuade us. To ensure the longevity of a country, we must constantly promote benefits and eliminate disadvantages.
On the day of the ministers' respectful congratulations, he gave a long speech, full of admonitions and warnings. The emperor knew it was a bit of a dampener, so he smiled warmly and said, "The great cause of pacifying Liao has been accomplished. The soldiers on the front lines have fought meritorious battles, and you, my dear ministers, have also contributed to their assistance. You will be rewarded for your merits—"
The emperor glanced at Wang Tigan from the side and made a gesture.
Wang Tigan stepped forward and announced in a shrill voice, "Your Majesty has issued an order. All ministers, please come forward and receive your reward!"
The atmosphere in the hall relaxed. Seeing the emperor looking at them with an earnest smile, the ministers also smiled and came forward one by one to receive their rewards and express their gratitude.
This year's Spring Festival will definitely be a grand celebration. With the great victory over the Liao Dynasty, the emperor will definitely hold grand "sacrifice" ceremonies in the Taimiao and Shimiao. He must tell his ancestors that his descendants have fought hard, defeated the foreign enemy, and saved the country.
The grand court meeting would certainly be more grand. In addition to the civil and military officials, envoys from the four barbarians would also be summoned to pay congratulations to the emperor in order to demonstrate the power of the Ming Dynasty and pacify the Liao Dynasty and eliminate the slaves.
The emperor's banquet would be even larger, and he might even give out festival money as a reward.
As for the promotion of officials, not to mention the military generals, the emperor seems to have not made a final decision yet.
However, it was almost certain that the two imperial tutors, Yuan Keli and Sun Chengzong, would enter the cabinet. The household and military departments would be divided, local governors would be abolished, the number of provinces would be increased, and there would be one governor in each province, which created a lot of extra positions.
Who doesn’t want to be promoted? If you don’t want to be promoted, why are you joining in the court?
Although this information had not been officially released, the emperor had already convened his ministers for multiple discussions. While there were some controversies, the emperor's strong stance meant only minor changes would be made, and most of the changes would be implemented.
For example, in Guangdong and Guangxi, Governor Hu Yingtai's resignation due to old age has been approved, and the emperor does not plan to appoint another governor; the territory of Guangxi will be redivided, and Qinzhou will be included as a sea outlet.
Some might guess why Guangxi needed to expand its coastal areas to facilitate immigration. The expansion of Mekong Province required labor, and Guangxi, with its small land area, large population, and proximity, was the perfect fit.
Clearly, despite the success of the Liao conquest, the emperor wasn't about to rest and enjoy himself. Reform, a word often on the emperor's lips, was about to be launched in a big way, from pilot projects to full-scale implementation.
The reforms you see are only a part of it. Few people know what I am thinking about the changes in the principles of governing the country and the strategies for strengthening the country.
Based on Liaodong, it expanded further north; based on Guangdong, Guangxi and Mekong Province, it marched into Southeast Asia.
The army and navy will be my right-hand men and my left arms, and my most powerful weapons for building a territory even wider than it is now.
The emperor had a smile on his face and from time to time he comforted and encouraged his ministers who came to express their gratitude, but in his mind he was imagining the mighty army of the Ming Dynasty roaming the seas and lands and dominating the world.
Is it a fantasy? Not at all. The key lies in a change of mindset, in weighing practicality over reputation.
In particular, the establishment and expansion of the Mekong enclave, if it can produce enough food and make a huge contribution during major disasters, those guys who claim to be from heaven and to win the hearts of the people with virtue should shut up.
Although there were still many unsatisfactory aspects, the emperor was truly happy.
With the major threat eliminated, twenty to thirty years of peace could be guaranteed. As for major disasters, the emperor was quite confident that he could overcome them, at least without causing widespread civil unrest as in history.
The impact of the Little Ice Age is likely exaggerated. The Ming Dynasty fell due to man-made disasters, not natural ones. Otherwise, wouldn't the people of the countries further north have been wiped out? And the Mongolian tribes in the northern desert somehow managed to survive.
With potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, rye, and the transfusion from the constantly developing and expanding South Seas, we will surely be able to overcome the natural disaster, and my throne will remain secure.
The court meeting concluded, and the emperor rose to leave. Aside from the ministers' congratulations, there wasn't anything important to discuss. Furthermore, political affairs now followed a new process, and generally weren't handled directly in the court.
"Your Majesty!" Wang Tigan found an opportunity, approached the emperor, bowed, and whispered, "You must think twice about watching the lanterns during the Lantern Festival. White Dragon Fish Clothes, be extremely cautious."
The emperor smiled and said, "You go and make the arrangements. I am in the capital, so what danger can there be?"
I'm just taking a walk in the capital, and with the factory guards closely protecting me, what could go wrong?
Next year, I will tour the north and south to take a good look at the Ming Dynasty and my territory!
……………….
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