As a soldier, how can you achieve success and be promoted to a noble title without fighting? Especially when your own strength far exceeds that of the enemy and you can basically not be defeated.
When he is weak, he doesn't want to fight and dares not to fight; when he is strong, his eyes turn green when he looks at anyone and he can't wait to kick them.
From individuals to countries, if people are confident and have loud voices, they will naturally act tough. This is perfectly normal.
First of all, the emperor's will determines the attitude of the officials below. If they don't strive for progress and are content with pleasure, then everyone will just muddle along!
However, the emperor was ambitious and advocated the use of force, so it was difficult for lazy and cowardly officials to have a chance to advance.
The saying "what the emperor likes, the people will follow" may seem a bit cliché, but it is quite normal that the emperor has the same kind of ministers as him.
More importantly, the emperor did not over-expand, like Chengzu, who left behind many sequelae.
They acted within their capabilities and made overall plans. Although it seemed that military operations were being carried out in multiple directions, they did not consume too much of the national finances and even made considerable profits from the war.
During the years of the disaster, there were no large-scale displacements, and relief efforts became increasingly well-organized. Grain continued to arrive and be stored in government warehouses, so the people remained calm and social order remained stable.
In such a situation, using the words "warmongering" and "warmongers will eventually perish" to persuade others is nothing more than telling lies with open eyes and asking for trouble!
Moreover, by pacifying Liao, suppressing the rebellion, conquering Champa, and conquering Burma, the Ming Dynasty's military might was demonstrated, the morale of the people continued to rise, and even the mental outlook of the people had undergone major changes, which anyone with a discerning eye could see.
The emperor also saw not only the daily reports from the Censorate and the Imperial Guards, but also the secret reports from officials at all levels and the memorials from the common people.
Despite the disaster, the Ming Dynasty remained stable. It was precisely because the emperor had such judgment and confidence that he continued to pursue the strategic plan of aggression and expansion after the disaster.
"Those new recruits were stunned." A cavalryman showed pride on his face and pointed to the place where new recruits could observe and learn.
Gao Yingxiang smiled and said, "The imperial court has recruited soldiers again. It looks like there will be a lot of war in the future."
"Being a soldier is so comfortable!" another cavalryman said with a smile. "Not only do you not starve, but you can also provide for your family. Everyone is vying to join the army!"
"Not everyone is qualified," Gao Yingxiang lamented. "You need to be good at riding and be of the right age. When I joined the army, I had to talk a lot and was almost rejected because of my age."
Conscription not only expanded the Northwest War Zone's strength but also helped to weather major disasters. To put it bluntly, conscription was seen as a form of work-for-relief.
The Song Dynasty had a fixed system of recruiting refugees as soldiers and letting them live in military camps for a long time, which was called the Xiang Army.
The purpose was clear: to stabilize this part of the floating social members and subject them to certain disciplines. This unique method of recruiting refugees into the army did help stabilize social order.
The emperor drew some inspiration from the system of the wing troops, but he did not want to create redundant soldiers or make the Song Dynasty's wing troops incapable of fighting.
Because increasing the number of conscriptions will increase the ability of many families to resist major disasters.
If one person joins the army, the salary can at least support a family of three. Combined with other disaster relief measures, a family can basically be stabilized.
While emigrating from the northwest was certainly a means of alleviating major disasters, maintaining a sufficient population was also crucial. After all, the emperor's strategic goal was to send troops out of Jiayu and control the Western Regions. The northwest would serve as a base for this advance.
A horseman galloped past quickly. Gao Yingxiang recognized it as Li Guo. When he reached out to greet him, Li Guo had already galloped past to convey his orders.
Shrugging his shoulders, Gao Yingxiang cursed inwardly as "stinky boy", then walked away chatting and laughing with a few comrades.
……………….
Changes were happening across the Ming Empire, affecting every aspect of life, and becoming increasingly apparent to ordinary people.
Zhang Zhuzi drove the carriage slowly along the streets of the city, looking up from time to time at the signboards of the shops on both sides.
Most shops have transparent glass on their windows, so you can see the shelves and goods inside from the outside, which is more attractive to customers.
But shops are different from each other. The larger the glass, the more financially powerful the shop is. If you look at those made of palm-sized glass, they are obviously less well-off or are run by small vendors.
When will we be able to have glass in our homes, even just one window?
Zhang Zhuzi withdrew his gaze enviously and stopped the carriage in front of a shop.
Yingzi once said that if the window had transparent glass, she would be able to see outside while sitting on the kang, mainly to see her father or husband coming into the yard and returning home.
It was just an unintentional remark, but Zhang Zhuzi kept it firmly in his mind, thinking that this was another goal of his.
After parking the car and tying up the horse, Zhang Zhuzi walked into the bright and clean shop. With a quick glance, he saw Ah Tao behind the counter.
A Tao had just sent a customer away when she looked up and saw Zhang Zhuzi. She immediately greeted him with a smile, walked quickly out of the counter and came over to greet him.
"Ha, Brother Zhuzi is finally here." Ah Tao said with a hint of annoyance, "You're such a busy man, it's not easy for you to come here."
Zhang Zhuzi smiled shyly and explained, "I'm busy at home, as you know. Yingzi just finished her confinement."
"I know, I know." Ah Tao smiled and nodded repeatedly, saying, "It's cold, don't let Yingzi go out, my nephew is also afraid of the cold. How are they? Are they all doing well?"
"It's fine, everything is fine." Zhuzi thought of his wife and son, his face full of happiness. "Yingzi asked you to come to her house when you are free. She misses you very much."
"I miss her, too." Ah Tao swiftly took a bundle and handed it to Zhang Zhuzi, saying, "This is good cotton. Make a warm cotton-padded jacket for my nephew."
Zhang Zhuzi didn't answer immediately, and said, "How much is it? I can't let you spend it. We still have enough money at home."
"Okay, since you have it, I won't be polite." Ah Tao reported the bill, took the money from Zhang Zhuzi, and said, "I saved up two days off this month and went home to visit Yingzi and my nephew."
Zhang Zhuzi nodded and said, "Then I'll drive over to pick you up outside this shop!"
"No need." Ah Tao waved her hand and said, "It's too troublesome to go back and forth. You stay home and take good care of Yingzi and our son. I'll go on horseback by myself."
Seeing Ah Tao's undisguised pride, Zhang Zhuzi smiled and nodded. He had no objection to women riding horses.
Moreover, in Liaodong, horses and carriages were becoming the main means of transportation, and women like A Tao who could ride horses were not uncommon on the streets.
Ah Tao took two more boxes of candies and snacks, and a bag of sweet potatoes, and insisted on giving them to Zhang Zhuzi, saying that she was giving them in advance so that she wouldn't have to carry them when she went to Yingzi's house, which would be a burden.
"Yingzi likes to eat sweet potatoes. These are shipped from the south. I roasted them and they taste pretty good."
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