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In the late autumn of the twenty-first year of the Hongwu reign, the candles in the Jinshen Hall burned all night.

Zhu Yuanzhang and his son Zhu Biao were deep in thought as they looked at the "Memorial on the System of Military Supervision" presented by Su Ning.

"Yunzhi, this memorial of yours is going to shake the very foundation of the military system of my Great Ming!" Zhu Yuanzhang put down the memorial and looked intently at Su Ning, who was standing below him.

Su Ning bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, I am determined to lay a lasting foundation for the Ming Dynasty's military system."

Zhu Biao carefully read through the memorial, becoming increasingly alarmed with each reading: "Yun Tong, your system of military supervisors is quite different from that of eunuch military supervisors in previous dynasties. To require military supervisors to eat and live with the soldiers and to lead from the front in battle... this is far too harsh."

“Father,” Su Ning said solemnly, “it is precisely because the supervisor shares weal and woe with the soldiers that he can earn respect, rather than being hated like the eunuchs of past dynasties.”

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly slammed his hand on the table: "Well said! Continue!"

"In my opinion, there are three problems in the army," Su Ning said, holding up three fingers. "First, generals who hold troops and become arrogant are prone to disloyalty. Second, soldiers only know the general's orders and not the emperor's, which can easily turn them into private armies. Third, after a long period of peace, soldiers inevitably become complacent and lose their fighting spirit."

"Can your system of military supervision solve these problems?" Zhu Yuanzhang pressed.

“The military supervisor system should be divided into three levels.” Su Ning walked to the military chart that Zhu Yuanzhang had specially authorized to be hung up. “A special military supervisor is appointed for every hundred households, a military supervisor is appointed for every thousand households, and a general military supervisor is appointed for every garrison. The military supervisors do not interfere with military command, but are solely responsible for ideological education, supervising military discipline, and conveying the emperor’s will.”

Zhu Biao frowned and said, "In this way, wouldn't the supervisor's power be too great?"

“Therefore, there must be checks and balances.” Su Ning had already prepared for this. “The military supervisors will be jointly selected by the Ministry of War and the Censorate, with a three-year term, and will be rotated upon expiration. At the same time, generals can also impeach incompetent military supervisors. Military supervisors can also impeach generals. Moreover, it would be best to implement a similar rotation system for generals, forming an ironclad camp and a changing generals.”

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asked, "Where did the candidates for military supervisors come from?"

“I think we can select from three aspects,” Su Ning replied calmly. “First, the sons of retired generals, who are knowledgeable in military affairs; second, the scholars who failed the imperial examinations, who are knowledgeable in classical texts; and third, the graduates of the Xiaoling Academy’s military program, who are knowledgeable in modern learning.”

"Good!" A glint flashed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes. "You're trying to link the military supervisory system with your Xiaoling Academy!"

Su Ning readily admitted, "Grandfather is wise. I truly hope that future military supervisors will receive modern education, be loyal to the Ming Dynasty, and be knowledgeable in practical matters."

Zhu Biao remained worried: "But allowing the military supervisors of the civil service system to share military power with the military generals might cause dissatisfaction among the generals."

"Therefore, the military supervisor must share weal and woe with the soldiers," Su Ning said firmly. "They should eat from the same pot, sleep in the same camp, and lead by example in wartime. Only in this way can they win the respect of the troops."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and paced around the hall: "Yuntong, do you know how many nobles and generals this move will offend?"

“Grandson knows.” Su Ning looked up and stared directly at Zhu Yuanzhang. “But for the sake of the eternal stability of the Ming Dynasty, some things must be done. Your Majesty, you and Father are unwilling to be the villains, and the future ruler of the Ming Dynasty is even less likely to do so.”

"Haha, what a perfect excuse for having no choice!" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly burst into laughter. "Biao'er, look at this! This is the true descendant of the Zhu family!"

However, the laughter abruptly stopped, and Zhu Yuanzhang's expression turned cold again: "But you must know that implementing this system will inevitably cause a huge uproar. How do you plan to deal with it?"

“Grandson has three plans,” Su Ning said confidently. “First, we’ll try it out in the capital garrison, and then promote it after it proves successful; second, we’ll improve the military supervisor’s salary and make it a desirable position; third, and most importantly…”

He paused for a moment, then said, “Please issue an imperial decree that the first batch of military supervisors be selected from the sons of dukes, marquises, and nobles. Nobles and nobles do not necessarily have to be the generals who lead troops.”

Zhu Biao suddenly realized: "Brilliant! Let the nobles and their sons serve as military supervisors of the Ming army, and they will naturally have nothing to say! Moreover, we can openly and legitimately strip them of their military power, which is even more ingenious than Zhao Kuangyin's 'releasing military power over a cup of wine'."

“That’s not all,” Su Ning added. “Sending the sons of dukes and marquises deep into the army can not only train their talents but also let them experience the hardships of soldiers. When they inherit their titles in the future, they will be more considerate of the people below. At the same time, it is also to cultivate successors for the Ming army.”

Zhu Yuanzhang suppressed his excitement, pondered for a long time, and then suddenly asked calmly, "What are your plans to do about Lan Yu?"

“The Duke of Liang is a man of great principle and will surely support the new policies,” Su Ning said meaningfully. “Moreover, among the first batch of military supervisors, I suggested that Lan Chun be appointed as the supervisor.”

Zhu Biao couldn't help but applaud, "What a brilliant move! By appointing Lan Yu's eldest son as the military supervisor, what reason does he have to object?"

“Not just Lan Chun.” Su Ning took out a list. “I suggest that Duke Xu Huizu of Wei, my second uncle Chang Sheng, and others can be among the first batch of military supervisors.”

Zhu Yuanzhang took the list, examined it carefully, and suddenly looked up: "Yunyi, this list of yours has tied all the nobles to your war chariot!"

"Grandson wouldn't dare," Su Ning bowed and said, "Grandson is only thinking of the Ming Dynasty's future. Besides, they are bound to the Ming Dynasty's war chariots."

……

Three days later, Zhu Yuanzhang introduced the system of military supervision at the morning court, which indeed caused a great uproar.

"Your Majesty! This is absolutely unacceptable!" an old general was the first to object. "History is replete with accounts of the calamities caused by military supervisors throughout the ages!"

"Your Majesty, military affairs should be handled by the generals. Appointing a military supervisor might hinder their work!"

"A civil official supervising the army will inevitably lead to discord among the generals!"

Faced with the generals' objections, Zhu Yuanzhang calmly looked at Lan Yu and asked, "Duke of Liang, what do you think?"

Duke Lan Yu of Liang stepped forward, his expression complex.

He already knew that his eldest son, Lan Chun, would be appointed as the military supervisor. If he opposed it now, he would not only offend the emperor, but also ruin his son's future.

Moreover, he knew Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao very well; once it was a decision made by the father and son, it was absolutely impossible to change it easily.

"This humble general believes..." Lan Yu gritted his teeth and said, "His Highness the Third Prince is far-sighted. If this system can be implemented, it will be a great blessing for the army."

As soon as this statement came out, the whole court was in an uproar.

Even Lan Yu expressed his support, so the other generals had no choice but to remain silent.

After the court session, Zhu Yuanzhang kept Su Ning behind.

"Yunwen, what did you notice in court today?"

Su Ning calmly replied, "I can see that among all the civil and military officials in the court, only one or two out of ten truly care about the Ming Dynasty."

"Well said!" Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze was deep. "Now, it's time for you to fulfill your promise. Within three months, I want to see the results of the reform of the Capital Garrison."

"Your grandson obeys the decree."

"As long as you successfully complete the military reform, I will give you a big surprise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

……

For the next three months, Suning practically lived in the Jingwei Camp.

He personally selected military supervisors, formulated training plans, and even ate and lived with the soldiers.

On this day, Su Ning was watching and supervising military training at the drill ground when Lan Chun suddenly requested an audience.

"Your Highness, there is something I don't understand," Lan Chun said, looking puzzled. "The military supervisor is responsible for overseeing the generals, but he also shares weal and woe with the soldiers. How should he strike the right balance in this situation?"

Looking at the future military supervisor, Su Ning patiently explained, "A military supervisor is not here to act like a master, but to be a role model. If a general makes an inappropriate decision, you must advise or impeach him; if the soldiers have grievances, you must guide them; if the emperor's grace is boundless, you must convey it. The key to all of this lies in the word 'sincerity'."

"Makoto?"

"Treat others with sincerity, and they will surely repay you with sincerity." Su Ning pointed to the soldiers training on the drill ground, "If you genuinely care about them, they will naturally respect and love you. If you only know how to put on airs and show off your power, they may obey on the surface, but they will harbor resentment in their hearts."

After Lan Chun left thoughtfully, Ma He whispered, "Grandson, aren't you afraid of raising a tiger to cause trouble by imparting all your knowledge like this?"

Suning smiled calmly: "The power of a system lies in regulating people's hearts. As long as the system is sound, personal ambition will find it difficult to gain momentum."

Three months later, Zhu Yuanzhang personally inspected the imperial guards in the capital.

Seeing the supervising officer training alongside the soldiers and hearing their heartfelt admiration for him, the old emperor finally smiled.

"Yunyi, you have indeed not disappointed me."

"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. But this is just the beginning; the real test is yet to come."

"Hmm, it's rare to see you so clear-headed."

In the winter of the twenty-first year of the Hongwu reign, the system of military supervision began to be promoted to various garrisons.

And the one who orchestrated all of this was the ten-year-old child who stirred up a storm in the imperial court.

Standing on the city gate tower of Yingtian Prefecture, Su Ning looked down at the military camp outside Nanjing and murmured to himself, "With this army, the future of the Ming Dynasty will be very different."

...In the study of the Duke of Liang's mansion, the candlelight flickered, illuminating Lan Yu's ashen face.

He gripped the latest issue of the "Brief Report on the Reform of the Military System of the Ming Dynasty" tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"What a fine system of military supervision! What a Zhu Yunwen!" Lan Yu slammed the briefing onto the table, making the teacups rattle. "This is really pushing us old generals to our deaths!"

Marquis Cao Zhen of Jingchuan, who was sitting at the lower end of the table, quickly advised, "Your Excellency, please calm down! The most important thing right now is to come up with a solution."

"Hmph... how to deal with it?" Lan Yu sneered. "Haven't you figured it out yet? This is a scheme orchestrated by the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the Third Prince! First they changed my title, then they bribed my generals, and now they're using the supervisory system to seize our military power! What's next? Are they going to take our heads?"

Marquis Xie Cheng of Yongping said with great concern, "The most frightening thing is that this system of supervising the army makes our own sons serve as supervising officers. My unworthy son now talks about 'loyalty to the emperor and love for the country' all day long, and he's almost disowning me as his father!"

"That's right! Duke Xu Huizu of Wei actually gave up his military power and went to the capital garrison to become its first commander-in-chief. Prince Xu Da of Zhongshan has a son who is not worthy of him."

"Hmph! This is Zhu Yunwen's vicious scheme!" Lan Yu suddenly stood up and paced anxiously in the study. "Sending our sons of noble families as military supervisors not only silences us but also keeps these lads firmly under our control. What a ruthless move!"

Marquis Zhang Wen of Huining hesitated and said, "But Duke, the situation in the court is currently beyond our control. Even the Duke of Wei's mansion has accepted the military supervisor system. If we resist head-on..."

"That spineless Xu Huizu!" Lan Yu was furious. "Does he think that by obeying he can keep the Xu family's wealth and status? Dream on! Once the military power is taken away, we military officers and nobles will be nothing more than fish on a chopping board!"

At this moment, the steward hurried in and whispered, "Lord Duke, Marquis of Dingyuan Wang Bi and Marquis of Heshou Zhang Debang are requesting an audience at the side gate."

A glint of light flashed in Lan Yu's eyes: "Please come in quickly!"

Before long, several more marquises entered the study, each with a solemn expression.

As soon as Marquis Wang Bi of Dingyuan sat down, he said urgently, "Lord Duke, we can't just sit here and wait to die! I've received word that none of the sons of our old brothers will escape the next list of military supervisors!"

"That's not all!" Marquis Zhang Debang added from the side, "The Ministry of War is drafting the 'Regulations for the Assessment of Military Supervisors.' It is said that if a military supervisor discovers that a general has committed illegal acts and fails to report it, he will be punished the same as the general! This is pushing our sons into a fire pit!"

Lan Yu took a deep breath and looked around at the nobles present: "Brothers, things have come to this point, we must join forces. If we continue to fight alone, we will be defeated one by one sooner or later."

"What ideas does the Duke have?" everyone asked in unison.

“First,” Lan Yu held up a finger, “we must argue our case in the court. The system of military supervisors can be implemented, but it must be subject to certain restrictions. For example, military supervisors must not interfere with combat command, nor can they impeach generals at will.”

"Secondly," he raised a second finger, "we must make our descendants understand that they are first and foremost descendants of the Lan, Xu, and Chang families, and only then are they military supervisors of the Ming Dynasty. How can blood ties be so easily severed?"

“Third,” Lan Yu lowered his voice, “most importantly, we must make the Emperor and the Crown Prince understand that the Ming Dynasty cannot do without us veteran generals. Although the Northern Yuan has been defeated, remnants still remain; and along the southeastern coast, Japanese pirates are rampant. Without us, who will protect our homeland?”

Everyone nodded in agreement, but Earl He Rong of Dongguan still worriedly said, "But Duke, the Third Prince is now deeply favored by the Emperor. If we openly oppose him..."

“Who said we should resist?” Lan Yu revealed a shrewd smile. “We should ‘comply’ with the new policy, but make it impossible to implement.”

"..."

……

Three days later, the court meeting indeed stirred up trouble again.

As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang proposed to expand the trial scope of the military supervisor system, Liang Guogong Lan Yu stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, the military supervisor system is indeed a good law, and we wholeheartedly support it. However, the responsibility of the military supervisor is heavy, and if the supervisor is not appointed properly, it may backfire. I suggest that the first batch of military supervisors should be selected from generals who have made military achievements, so as to win the support of the people."

These words, seemingly supportive, actually conceal a deadly intent.

If the military supervisors were truly selected from among meritorious generals, then those selected would still be the same nobles.

Before Zhu Yuanzhang could speak, Su Ning stepped forward to retort: ​​"Duke Liang is mistaken. The role of a military supervisor is primarily one of education and oversight, not the magnitude of military achievements. If we follow your advice, wouldn't that be judging virtue by military merit?"

Lan Yu retorted sharply, "Your Highness is young and unaware of the situation in the army. Without military achievements, how can you command respect?"

"Winning people's respect lies in fairness and sharing weal and woe with the soldiers, not in the level of their military achievements," Su Ning replied calmly. "Besides, according to the Duke's logic, should civil officials also have to have military achievements to become officials?"

The court was silent, and the officials secretly applauded the Third Prince's quick thinking.

Lan Yu's face turned ashen, and he was about to argue further when Zhu Yuanzhang spoke up: "Yun Tong is right. The selection of military supervisors should focus on virtue and ability, not on the size of their military achievements. This matter need not be discussed further."

"Yes! Your Majesty."

After the court session, Lan Yu said indignantly to several nobles, "Did you see that? The Emperor is completely blinded by this grandson!"

"My lord, it seems a direct confrontation is not feasible," Cao Zhen said in a low voice. "Perhaps..."

He made a gesture, and everyone understood.

……

That night, in a secret room of the Duke of Liang's mansion, several trusted generals gathered.

“Starting tomorrow,” Lan Yu instructed, “you must spread the word in the army that the military supervisor is here to seize power and put civil officials in charge of us military officers.”

“Furthermore,” he continued, “let the brothers be a little more ‘enthusiastic’ towards the new overseer. Don’t they want to share the good times and the bad? Let them experience the ‘hardships’ of military life.”

In the following month, the implementation of the military supervision system indeed encountered numerous obstacles.

The newly appointed military supervisors encountered obstacles everywhere in the army, and some were even isolated and ostracized.

When the news reached Suning, he was not surprised.

If it actually goes smoothly, that would be incredible.

"Grandson, Lan Yu is determined to fight us to the bitter end!" Ma He said worriedly.

Su Ning smiled calmly: "The more he acts like this, the faster he'll die."

"What does the imperial grandson mean?"

"Go and find out who Lan Yu has been in close contact with recently. Especially... in Beiping."

Ma He was shocked: "The imperial grandson suspects that Lan Yu is colluding with the Prince of Yan? They are the two universally acknowledged mortal enemies of the Ming Dynasty!"

"A cornered dog will do anything, right?" Su Ning's gaze turned cold. "But this is fine too, it gives Grandfather a reason to take action."

……

Three days later, Mao Xiang secretly reported to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Your Majesty, the Duke of Liang has been in close contact with the Prince of Yan's residence recently, and has sent people to Beiping many times."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered: "This Lan Yu is indeed restless! And this fourth prince has really disappointed us."

“Furthermore,” Mao Xiang continued, “His Highness the Third Prince seems to have anticipated this and has already prepared a countermeasure.”

"Oh? What did Yun-hu do this time?"

"His Highness provided special allowances to the ostracized military supervisors through the Daming Bank to help them pacify the troops. At the same time, he also instructed the Mingtang Trading Company to supply these military camps with supplies at cost price to help the military supervisors win over the hearts and minds of the people in the capital."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly upon hearing this: "Haha, good lad! He's trying to pave a way with silver!"

At this moment, inside Qingyan Pavilion, Su Ning was meeting with several military supervisors who had been marginalized.

"You have all been wronged," Su Ning said gently, "but please remember that you represent the imperial court and the Emperor. Temporary difficulties cannot shake your determination to implement the new policies."

One of the supervising officers said gratefully, "Thank you for your support, Your Highness. However, those generals are making things difficult at every turn, making it truly unsustainable."

“I have a plan.” Su Ning took out a list. “These are the names of mid-level generals in the Beijing Garrison. Most of them come from humble backgrounds and are not successful under noble generals. You can start with them and offer them a chance to advance your careers.”

"What do you mean, Your Highness?"

“Tell them,” Su Ning said with a deep look in his eyes, “that’s the only way out. Sticking to the old system will only lead to their demise.”

In the winter of the twenty-first year of the Hongwu reign, a fierce struggle unfolded between the old and new forces within the Ming army.

The outcome of this contest will determine the future direction of the Ming Dynasty.

Standing by the window of Qingyan Pavilion, Su Ning gazed at the falling snowflakes and murmured to himself, "Lan Yu, your resistance will only hasten your demise."

...(End of chapter)