The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 645 Selection of Soldiers and Promotion in Military Branches
Emperor Wanli was always known for his extravagant spending.

Especially in war.

He either doesn't make a move, or when he does, he makes sure the enemy has no hope of turning the tide.

He was prepared to mobilize over a million troops for this campaign against the already declining Oirat.

Qi Jiguang also understood the principle that even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. As long as there was no problem with food supplies, the more men and horses there were, the better.

If the railway from Alunhewei to the former Hailar Thousand Household Office can be completed, then the transportation of grain will naturally not be a problem.

The problem is that the area is currently covered in ice and snow, and the ground is frozen solid, making it impossible to build a railway.

He thought about it carefully again, and then cautiously reminded him: "Your Majesty, the railway from Alunhewei to the former Hailar Thousand Household Office will probably not be able to start construction until May next year."

Does this mean there might not be enough time next year?

Then bring more people over to build it.

After thinking it over carefully, Wanli said solemnly, "Yuanjing, I was just about to discuss the issue of the garrison soldiers with you."

This time, the rations and pay for the Beijing garrison, the border troops, the navy, the Sichuan army, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Imperial Guard have all been doubled, except for the rations and pay for the garrison soldiers.

It's not that I'm stingy with the rations; the key is that we need to give our soldiers some motivation to improve, especially these new recruits.

We need to let them find their own way to grow up as quickly as possible.

We'll need to recruit more soldiers for this garrison battalion; we need to build a service-specific promotion system.

Do we need to recruit more soldiers for the garrison?
There are quite a few soldiers in the garrison now.

The Northern Pacification Command has 500,000 men.

There are still 500,000 in Southeast Asia.

The Eastern Pacification Commissioner has 200,000 men.

There are still 200,000 in the North American West Command.

These four places combined make 1.4 million, and they're still expanding enrollment?
Also, what is the military service promotion system?
Qi Jiguang was taken aback for a moment, then cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, may I ask what the military branch promotion system is?"

I need to explain this to you properly.

Because all of these things will be your responsibility.

Wanli explained in detail: "The so-called military promotion system is to first select new recruits, organize and train them, then assign them to garrison battalions to build bridges and roads or construct cities, etc., to hone their skills, and then conduct assessments to promote them."

From now on, the soldiers of the garrison will be recruited every year and will be assessed every year. Those who pass the assessment will be incorporated into the Beijing Garrison and the Navy.

We need to gradually expand the Beijing Garrison, and we need to accelerate the development of the navy. In the future, the Beijing Garrison and the navy will be the main force in land and water warfare, the Sichuan Army will be responsible for mountain warfare, and the border army will be more inclined to defense and development.

These matters will be your responsibility from now on. You need to set the standards for assessment and promotion, specifying what standards are required for promotion to the Beijing Garrison and what standards are required for promotion to the Navy. All of these need to be listed in detail.

Uh, how do I list these standards?

Qi Jiguang thought for a moment, then said cautiously, "Your Majesty, I believe that if we want the soldiers of the Beijing Garrison and the Navy to become more and more powerful, we must teach the soldiers of the garrison battalion."

For example, soldiers in the garrison battalion who wanted to be promoted to soldiers in the capital garrison had to be able to ride horses, drive carriages, operate firearms and cannons, and it would be even better if they could read and write.

For example, if soldiers in the garrison wanted to be promoted to naval officers, they needed to be able to operate ships, run boilers, operate firearms and cannons, and it would be even better if they could read and write.

We can organize experienced officers to teach these things to the garrison soldiers during our free time or rest periods.

This way, we'll have something to assess during our evaluations. Otherwise, if we only compare physical strength, most people would be about the same, and we wouldn't be able to see how they would perform on the battlefield, making it difficult to select and evaluate candidates.

Hmm, training troops is definitely your forte.

Wanli nodded without hesitation and said, "You can handle these things. Anyway, I'm leaving everything to you. Whatever you say, that's what we'll do."

This shows they truly trust me.

I must get this done for His Majesty.

Qi Jiguang nodded slowly, then said cautiously, "Your Majesty, I think the soldiers of the garrison battalion can begin training now."

I believe that the 500,000 garrison soldiers of the Da Ning Guard can be trained to advance to the Beijing Garrison.

It just so happens that they haven't been able to do anything for almost half a year, and it's not good for them to be idle all day.

Furthermore, the 900,000 garrison troops of the Nanyang, Dongyang, and North American Xidu Commanderies can also be trained to serve as naval forces.

They're all conveniently located by the sea, making it easy for them to learn how to operate ships and firearms. "Indeed, entrusting this to you was the right decision."

Wanli nodded without hesitation and said, "Okay, no problem. You can just pass on these orders to the generals in charge of troops in various places."

This favor is simply beyond measure; it means that all military commanders must listen to me!
Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand."

By the way, the main force used in this campaign against the Oirat tribe was cavalry.

Wanli pondered and said, "Yuanjing, let's train the 500,000 garrison soldiers of the Beiping Regional Military Command as Shenwu Camp soldiers first."

Have the officers and soldiers teach them how to ride horses, shoot arrows, load ammunition, and use revolver rifles, etc.

This time we'll select 200,000 soldiers for the Divine Martial Camp. Next year, we can send them to the Oirat tribe for thorough training. After this battle, they'll be battle-hardened elites.

Well, the Shenwu Camp alone has 400,000 cavalry. The Oirat tribes would probably be so frightened that they would flee at the mere sight of them.

Qi Jiguang nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Wanli thought for a moment, then carefully instructed: "You shall send orders to the commanders of the Southern Ocean, Eastern Ocean and North American Western Ocean commands, and instruct them to quickly train and select naval officers and soldiers."

Over the next six months, we need to replenish the navy with 400,000 soldiers so that there will be enough men to operate the naval ships.

The navy is indeed short of manpower right now.

Deng Zilong said that there weren't enough naval officers and soldiers to row the centipede ships, and they could only be sent in batches to the Liaodong Commandery, Nurgan Commandery, Dongyang Commandery, and North American Western Commandery.

Qi Jiguang nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Are there any other questions?

By the way, we need to recruit more soldiers for the garrison.

After careful consideration, Wanli decisively said, "Let's set the selection of the garrison soldiers for May every year."

In May, almost all the territories were reopened, which made it easier for the navy's fast ships to pick up people.

Moreover, the military examination is held in September, so the soldiers of the garrison can be selected and trained before being handed over to the newly appointed military scholars for training.

Our goal is to expand the garrison to two million soldiers, so that we can replenish them in a timely manner no matter where there is a shortage of personnel.

Many children in border towns and even military households are now fifteen or sixteen years old, making it a good time to expand enrollment.

We'll go all out next May and see if we can make up the two million.

The garrison troops must be expanded to two million!
Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang thought for a moment and then cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, where should we select the garrison soldiers next May?"

This one is simple.

Wanli pondered and said, "Let's set it on the grassland south of Alunhewei."

Water transport is more convenient there, and the largest grain-producing area of ​​Nurgan Commandery is right next door.

More importantly, we're going to start building the railway in May, and the soldiers selected from the garrison battalion can be directly deployed to build it.

How many troops will gather on the south bank of the Arun River?
The original 1.4 million garrison troops will be replaced by 200,000 Shenwu cavalry and 400,000 naval troops.

This reduced the garrison to 800,000 men, and the overseas garrison to 500,000 men.

If this battle replenishes the garrison troops, then 1.5 million garrison troops will be gathered on the south bank of the Arun River!
Qi Jiguang thought about it carefully, then nodded solemnly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

That should be fine now.

Wanli thought about it carefully for a while, then waved his hand and said, "Alright, Yuanjing, go home and rest for a few days. Think about how to train and select the soldiers of the garrison battalion. Go to the Daning Guard after you have thought it through."

He hasn't been home for a long time.

Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang hurriedly bowed and took his leave.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun couldn't help but excitedly ask, "Father, shall we go together to conquer the Oirat next May?"

You're still a bit too playful, kid.

However, we really have to go this time.

Wanli looked at Song Yingxing, then slowly nodded and said, "Yes, we must go. The railway over there is a real railway for transporting people and goods."

The railways currently being built in the Americas are mainly for hauling ore, so that's not a big problem. But railways for transporting people and goods are a different story; we need to think about that carefully.”

(End of this chapter)