Chapter 923: The Fifth Year of Yuanhuang (Part 3) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Even though Chu Yao knew his lord was always straightforward, he hadn't expected her to be so direct, even with such a serious question. He could only ponder, "In terms of strength, the two are evenly matched; in terms of talent, it's hard to say who's better. But—"
Chu Yao paused, then lowered his voice.
“Yuanyuan is, after all, of a different race from the Northern Desert.”
It wasn't that Chu Yao cared about this; if he did, he wouldn't have become so close to Wei Shou. But the Kang Kingdom did care. Wei Shou could be a Grand General, but definitely not the leader. In future battles against the Northern Desert, Wei Shou's background could become a hidden danger. Rationally, given the choice, he would choose Chu Jie.
Shen Tang did not speak.
Chu Yao added, "Yuanyuan's weakness is too obvious."
Jin Rui was Wei Shou's Achilles' heel.
Since Chu Yao could use Jin Rui to restrain Wei Shou—even though it was Jin Rui's own doing, and Chu Yao had orchestrated the cutting off of all of Wei Shou's escape routes, forcing Wei Shou to betray Zheng Qiao—the outside world was unaware of the intricacies of the situation and only knew what they saw. Naturally, they would worry that Wei Shou would be restrained by the same methods and subsequently betray Shen Tang. Making Wei Shou the leader would not be a wise move.
In future battles with the Northern Desert, they are highly likely to use Wei Shou's affair to sow discord and undermine trust. Even if the lord has unwavering faith, not all soldiers will listen. If any link in the chain goes wrong, it could lead to irreparable damage.
Chu Yao dared not gamble on this future.
He would rather Wei Shou be slightly inferior.
Shen Tang asked, "So, you're interested in Chu Jie?"
Although Chu Yao stated that he had completely resolved his grudge against Chu Jie, Shen Tang was a bit petty. She still remembered that old grievance and worried that Chu Yao's relief was just a facade, and that he was only saying this to maintain balance while he was still heartbroken.
In official matters, Shen Tang is able to treat everyone equally.
In private matters, she still shows favoritism and can be a little willful.
Chu Yao shook his head: "He's not the best choice either."
Shen Tang perked up: "Tell me about it."
In terms of strength, seniority, and even military experience and prestige, Chu Jie was second to none. He had led his troops in the harsh lands, gritting his teeth and guarding Yonggu Pass for many years, making him a true and loyal soldier. Wei Shou, on the other hand, was a northern barbarian general who joined midway through his service. Comparing the two, even Shen Tang couldn't find fault with Chu Jie's advantages, yet Chu Yao was dissatisfied with him.
Could there be some hidden story that I am unaware of?
Chu Yao said, "He probably doesn't have that intention himself."
Chu Jie's biggest problem is that he lacks Wei Shou's ambition and drive. Wei Shou guarded Yonggu Pass to repay the life-saving grace of the former governor of Longwu County. His growing enmity with Shi Wu was simply due to their back-and-forth fighting, turning a potential blood feud into one. Chu Jie only wanted to deal with Shi Wu, then ensure his soldiers could live well, and finally focus on his cultivation.
This does not include becoming a general under someone's command, how much military power one controls, let alone making him the head of all generals.
Shen Tang: "..."
Chu Yao added, "Actually, Zhao Dayi is not bad either."
Shen Tang shook his head: "We're still lacking in strength, and I'm afraid we won't be able to control people. If it were three years ago, Da Yi would have been the best choice, but now we've expanded our forces, and the number of lower-ranking soldiers has increased by a lot. How many people are still familiar with and close to Da Yi?"
A martial artist is an individual who values strength above all else.
They respect the strong and only believe in the strong.
Zhao Feng arrived a little late.
Most importantly—
Shen Tang rubbed her temples and whispered, "Dayi and Gongsu are like brothers, bound by blood. Gongsu was appointed Junior Tutor, Minister of Rites and concurrently head of the Arsenal, and Shanxiao was appointed Supervising Censor and concurrently head of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices... If we let Dayi win again, it wouldn't be giving them an important position, it would be putting them on the hot seat. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it 'killing them with praise,' and it would attract a lot of resentment and open and covert attacks in the future. It's not reasonable to do this."
Upon hearing this, Chu Yao felt a surge of satisfaction.
"My lord's considerations are thorough, and this is indeed something we need to take into account. Compared to staying in the capital, Da Yi prefers to keep an eye on the border. Since this is a hot potato, why doesn't my lord take it on himself?"
Shen Tang: "...I hadn't thought of that."
Actually, this is the safest way.
The three generals under her command who were capable of serving each had their own problems, and none of them were suitable to be sent out, while she herself was suitable.
With the top spot secured, the rest is easy.
Chu Yao asked, "What are your plans regarding the military system, my lord?"
This is a somewhat sensitive issue.
The lord didn't make arrangements yesterday, there must have been some trouble he encountered, and he's been hesitant. But now he's worried about choosing between Chu Jie and Wei Shou, so there must be some progress. Chu Yao's guess was correct, Shen Tang really does have a rough plan.
Shen Tang said, "I've reviewed a lot of intelligence before, and I can't decide which to keep; each has its advantages and disadvantages..."
As she spoke, she pulled out a book filled with notes.
Chu Yao read ten lines at a glance, and only closed the book after more than ten breaths.
Shen Tang continued, “Martial arts warriors from prominent families all have their own private armies. For Kang Kingdom, these are like ticking time bombs, ready to explode at any moment. They may not threaten the entire territory of Kang Kingdom, but local skirmishes are inevitable. Two villages can have a feud that lasts for centuries over a single well, with frequent brawls. How much more so for the fierce and warlike martial arts warriors? Once a feud begins, they will fight, and once they fight, the situation will escalate. One side will call on relatives and friends for help, the other will call on elders and villagers, and the fighting will spiral out of control. We need to find a way to gradually eliminate these private armies…”
Chu Yao had not considered this possibility.
After all, no powerful nation had ever done this before. It wasn't that the ruler didn't want to, but rather that the martial arts community was very difficult to control. The more they were oppressed, the more they rebelled. If pushed to the limit, it wasn't impossible for them to gather a large army, storm the palace, and cause the ruler's death in court. Chu Yao's brows furrowed with worry: "This matter should be dealt with slowly."
"Why did my lord suddenly have this idea?"
Shen Tang said, “It didn’t suddenly come about; it was there from the beginning. I’ve been thinking about how to keep this world at peace. Could everyone be left unarmed? How much harm can one person cause? However, this doesn’t apply to clashes between two forces. Those in power never care about the casualties of their soldiers; they only care about winning battles.”
She said earnestly, "True peace will only come when everyone cherishes their lives and no one dares to act rashly. In other words, when everyone is facing a life-or-death crisis, they will realize the beauty of life."
Chu Yao found his lord's words rather strange.
But he had to agree with this.
However, the lord's assumption could not be turned into reality.
The reality is that martial artists with a strong sense of courage will not easily relinquish their rights. To touch the legitimacy of their private armies is to oppose the entire martial arts community. Shen Tang closed her eyes and rubbed her head, which was throbbing from days of sleeplessness. Her cool hands gently massaged it, greatly relieving the discomfort. She said, “Whether it’s conscription or recruitment before war, all those who join are able-bodied young men, ensuring combat strength. However, the national military expenditure is too high, and the risks are also great. If we’re not careful, local powerful clans can take advantage of the situation and amass armies. Then, before we even defeat the enemy, our own people will turn on us… Once local private armies gain momentum, the next step…”
Shen Tang did not continue speaking.
The fact that well-born martial artists with courage and valor rely on their families to maintain private armies is already a headache enough. If they were to be conscripted before war, it would be like giving them a legitimate excuse to expand. How could ambitious people miss such an opportunity? This is also one of the main reasons why, more than two hundred years after the birth of the thief star, no truly unified country has ever emerged—the environment is too favorable for ambitious warlords.
In truth, she herself was a typical warlord.
Chu Yao said softly, "We can choose something more conservative."
Shen Tang replied, "The more stable option is the Fubing system, which combines soldiers and farmers. It is stable and reduces the pressure on Kangguo's military expenditures, but it also has many problems. If Zhechongfu are established in various places, the frequent border wars in the future will make it too time-consuming to mobilize troops and delay the work of soldiers and farmers."
Fubing (府兵) refers to soldiers trained during the off-season for farming.
Farming when there is no war, going to the battlefield when there is war.
Border warfare rarely results in a quick victory.
Especially when you encounter a shameless scoundrel like Bei Mo.
When you're in high spirits, you stay put; when you're slightly lax, you bring people to harass us; when you retaliate, you run away. As long as you're not captured and wiped out, the Northern Desert dares to keep "provoking" us like this, forcibly delaying the battle until it can't be delayed any longer.
Looking at the dozens of southward campaigns launched by the Northern Desert over the past few centuries, they have all followed the same pattern: they can't shake them off and they can't kill them, which is annoying!
If the transferred garrison troops become bogged down in a prolonged stalemate, farmland will inevitably be abandoned. If the imperial court fails to provide adequate supplies and support, morale will eventually collapse. It would be common for soldiers to fight half-heartedly or even desert in the face of battle.
The soldiers of the Fubing (府兵) were basically provided with their own weapons, rations, and uniforms.
Not receiving rations from the imperial court, while easing the burden of military expenditures, also gave them the leverage to refuse to cooperate. Most importantly, this condition limited soldiers from poor peasant backgrounds. Those who joined the imperial guards were generally from relatively wealthy families.
Shen Tang has studied countries that have adopted the Fubing system (a military system for conscripted soldiers).
We must continuously analyze their advantages and disadvantages.
This is also the main reason why she has been hesitant.
Lessons from the past should guide future actions.
If we are to adopt it, we cannot ignore its problems.
Shen Tang: "My plan is to improve upon this, allowing enlisted soldiers to be discharged after serving their full term and return to civilian life. Soldiers killed in action must receive condolences and compensation; morale cannot be low, and local authorities must act promptly..."
Those countries that adopted the military system also provided compensation to the families of their soldiers, but the royal court became increasingly lazy, and local officials were negligent in their duties. The families of the fallen soldiers had already received the news, but the local authorities hadn't yet sent anyone to offer condolences; how could morale not be low?
There are nuances to winning people's hearts.
Shen Tang is determined to seize this opportunity.
Chu Yao: "Retired from the military?"
Shen Tang replied matter-of-factly, "Of course, it's retirement. What's the difference between an ordinary person in their fifties or sixties going to the battlefield and sending them to their death? All military commands in various regions need to maintain their young and strong fighting force."
Those of suitable age enlist and undergo training, while those who are over the age limit are discharged, whether to farm or go into business. If war breaks out in the future and the battlefield reaches Kangguo's territory, these people can quickly form a fighting force, which is better than ordinary commoners.
She said, "Besides having their own farmland to ensure self-sufficiency, the royal court will also provide a portion of their military pay. This will also strengthen the soldiers' loyalty to the Kang royal court..."
Chu Yao asked a very crucial question.
"If there is no war, continue to recruit young men into the army..." By adopting the Fubing system and allocating land to Zhechongfu, they can be self-sufficient. My lord also wants to increase military pay... Sigh, the Ministry of Revenue will probably explode with screech when they hear this.
Moreover, the daily routine of the soldiers in the garrison was not all about training and farming.
Chu Yao asked worriedly, "Wouldn't that be too wasteful?"
Shen Tang asked, "What do you mean?"
Chu Yao: "For example, one could participate in the Ministry of Works..."
Shen Tang shook her head: "That's not quite right either."
Chu Yao was puzzled upon hearing this: "What's wrong with it?"
Has the lord forgotten how he previously utilized Zhao Feng and his troops, and later used the brave warriors to carry out large-scale construction?
Shen Tang also thought of this.
He chuckled and said, “The nature of the work is different. If you want someone to work, you have to pay them. The land and extra military pay from the prefecture are buying the soldiers’ basic duties. Their basic duties are farming and fighting. Any work beyond these two responsibilities must be paid accordingly. Otherwise, what would soldiers with no battles to fight become? Free laborers? Can they be made to do any dirty or hard work?”
Over time, if a minister wanted to build a garden, a nobleman wanted to create a garden, or a place wanted to build an amusement park... were they just supposed to let them do it? The excuse was that they weren't fighting any wars, they were just drawing military pay, and they had nothing better to do.
"In the long run, who will still want to enlist in the army?"
Both individuals and groups are afraid of labels.
Once someone is associated with labels like "coolie" or "lowly," no one will volunteer for military service in the future, because everyone associates joining the army with being a laborer—a physically demanding and arduous experience with little reward or respect.
"What does the lord mean?"
“We must give people money, but also respect and honor.” Shen Tang closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then opened them again and said in a low voice, “Later, we will add another department to the Ministry of Rites, specifically to promote the soldiers to the common people. So that the common people will no longer fear the soldiers, but even love them. At the same time, we must also enforce military discipline… In this way, when the soldiers enjoy honor and love, they will naturally be brave and fearless.”
The main focus is on a two-way journey!
Emotions may seem ethereal, but they are also very powerful.
Chu Yao remembered a critical problem.
Is the national treasury sufficient?
Shen Tang's expression froze.
"We must tighten our belts and save money to provide for them!"
No matter what she does, she has no money, so why should she care about money? Of course, she should use her resources wisely!
Shen Tang did not intend to establish Zhechong Prefectures in various places.
Deploying troops before battle is too troublesome.
Mark several locations along the border, using the national border as a reference.
"Large military commands were established in these areas, primarily for military operations along the borders. Smaller military commands were established in other areas, mainly for suppressing local rebellions. Military forces were also established around the capital to protect it..."
There were also imperial guards near the capital, who were her personal soldiers.
In terms of safety, it's quite stable.
"Currently, we plan to establish seven guards... If we can expand our territory in the future, we can increase it to twelve or even twenty-four guards. The seven guards will be responsible for the various military commands in different regions, and each guard will be headed by a general... Wu Hui, what do you think would be a good name for the seven guards?"
"The Big Dipper?"
|ω`)
In the future, they will be Tian Shu Wei, Tian Xuan Wei, Tian Ji Wei, Tian Quan Wei, Yu Heng Wei, Kai Yang Wei, and Yao Guang Wei.
We'll change the name when we expand to twelve guards.
There are quite a few changes compared to the historical Fubing system (the original was too complicated and made my eyes dizzy). Except for the commander of Tian Shu Wei, who is a second-rank general, all other guards are third-rank officials.
The Zhechong Duwei (I'm too lazy to go into the upper, middle, and lower prefectures; in reality, it should be in descending order) in various places is a senior fourth-rank official.
(End of this chapter)
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