The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 369

Wang Xin couldn't see what the officers below him were thinking.

However, although the 100,000 taels of silver he spent was not much, it was enough to solve the urgent needs of most of the soldiers. He also dispatched many trustworthy confidants to visit and personally resolve the soldiers' practical difficulties.

Therefore, without the support of lower-ranking soldiers, junior officers cannot cause any trouble.

Like Liu Zhong.

If it weren't for the support of the lower-ranking soldiers, no matter how capable he was, he wouldn't have been able to easily incite a large number of soldiers to rebel.

However, it is different for high-ranking military officers.

Often, soldiers follow orders without knowing the truth.

It was similar to the Honnoji Incident in Japan.

Most of the lower-ranking Japanese soldiers didn't learn until the next day that they had attacked the Shogun the previous night.

But Oda Nobunaga was already dead.

The matter is now a fait accompli.

Therefore, what needs to be guarded against are high-ranking officers, and what needs to be won over are the lower-ranking soldiers.

Otherwise, one would end up like Oda Nobunaga.

What good is great ability?
They fell into the old trap of traditional views.

They made every effort to win over the upper echelons.

The result was obvious: it was the higher-ups who dealt him the fatal blow.

A month has passed since we arrived in Datong. Apart from the few spots left by the Tiancheng Army and none left by the Datong Western Army, all the remaining spots have been allocated to the main generals of the Yongxing Army.

Li Qi's loyalty has never been positive.

These past few days have seen it plummet to rock bottom.

This indicates that a rebellion is imminent.

This was also the reason why Wang Xin kept Li Qi around; it would be perfect to wipe them all out in one fell swoop, saving him the trouble.

Things went very smoothly.

After the soldiers understood the situation, the troops did not fall into chaos.

Instead of chaos, many soldiers cheered.

The news of the arrests of the officials was more exciting than a festival.

"The good days are finally coming."

"The commander-in-chief is wise!"

“I always said that Zongzhen would definitely succeed; our Zongzhen is different from others.”

The soldiers cheered.

Having just received their rewards, the soldiers were starving, and the streets and alleys were filled with soldiers and their families.

Wang Xin's first military order upon arriving in Datong was that soldiers must not harm the people in the slightest, and those who violated this order would be severely punished.

The General's Office took this matter very seriously.

Even the general's personal guards would patrol the streets every day.

As a result, the city quickly returned to prosperity.

The reputation of Shiwanzhou City soon returned to its original form.

I heard the noise on the street.

Yan Zhongzheng, returning from inspecting the various barracks, looked at Wang Xin with a complicated expression, "The commander-in-chief was right again."

Wang Xin smiled.

Whether to proceed slowly in recovering stolen assets, starting with lower-ranking officers or starting with higher-ranking officers, everyone chose to start with lower-ranking officers first, intimidating senior military officers and forcing them to change their attitude voluntarily.

Wang Xin directly rejected it.

Whether it's reform or anything else.

It must start from the top; otherwise, it's all a sham and will inevitably fail, without a doubt.

Whether it's Shang Yang's military strategy or Zhang Juzheng's reforms.

They have one thing in common.

That means starting from the top level is beneficial to the bottom level.

For example, Zhang Juzheng.

First, we must test the abilities of officials, dealing with the most formidable group in the Ming Dynasty—the Censors. We must first subdue the most difficult Censors, then the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers, and finally extend this approach to officials nationwide.

After dealing with the officials, the next step was to conduct a land survey and implement the Single Whip Law.

The main targets of the crackdown are large investors.

In contrast, consider Emperor Chongzhen.

Throughout the Chongzhen reign, the goal of several tax reforms was always to make the common people suffer in various ways, hoping to make them endure a little longer.

No matter how hard Emperor Chongzhen tried, no matter how much he worried about things, he was still deeply troubled.

At the end.

If you're going in the wrong direction, the more you do, the deeper you'll go astray.

As a result, the Ming Dynasty not only perished, but was also enslaved by a backward civilization with a population of only a few hundred thousand.

Wang Xin believes that reform is not difficult.

What is rare is the prejudice in people's hearts.

Prejudice in people's hearts is like a mountain.

For example, many people subconsciously avoid problems that seem difficult.

I feel that the group with a loud voice and great energy is difficult to deal with and can easily harm me, so I often choose the lower-level group with a smaller voice, which seems easier to deal with.

This is the error of preconceived notions.

In fact, when it really came down to reform, I made up my mind to give this group a good talking to.

In the end, they often find themselves to be incredibly vulnerable.

For example, changing direction overnight.

Unless you're a fish that's been through nine leaks (a Chinese idiom meaning to be caught without a fish).

Otherwise, the principles taught in political classes, as well as firsthand observations of social developments, would give any ordinary person a sense of justice.

Unfortunately, while he was confident in his abilities, his trusted subordinates were all uneasy.

Fortunately, the result went smoothly.

They were relieved.

Actually, Wang Xin wasn't busy with these things; they were just a few parasites. Wang Xin pointed to the draft he had finished writing on the table, "This is my plan for the reform of the three armies in Datong Military Town. Take a look and see if there are any omissions."

One person's manpower is limited.

Wang Xin believed that he must have made mistakes, and even if he didn't this time, he would next time, so he never acted arbitrarily.

Yan Zhongzheng, accustomed to the general's manner, stepped forward and picked up the booklet from the table.

Wang Xin was approachable and down-to-earth.

Yan Zhongzheng observed carefully, while Wang Xin offered a few brief comments from the side.

Improve communication efficiency.

"The entire Datong military town, including the militia in various counties, actually numbered sixty to seventy thousand. More importantly, it was rife with chaos, with each of the three armies having its own set of practices."

Yan Zhongzheng nodded as he read.

The Datong Western Army has always been xenophobic because its soldiers are paid real wages, so they cannot accept outside interference.

Hu Liyong regarded Tiancheng Army as his own territory.

Therefore, both are exclusionary.

The situation has changed, and the general headquarters must change.

"Too many unnecessary troubles. In order to improve the soldiers' treatment, enhance the army's combat effectiveness, and strengthen the coordination between various units, the three services must undergo a major reorganization. We dare not disrupt the original organization, and we must select the best and the worst from among a large number of capable soldiers at the grassroots level."

"The General's regulations are very detailed, and I have no objections, except for one point."

"what?"

How will military spending be resolved?

Yan Zhongzheng said with concern.

Wang Xin's expression was also not good.

Military spending is the key.

The root of the problem lies in the fact that if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will also be crooked.

The imperial court defaulted on its debts to local governments, who then resorted to various desperate and illegal measures. The imperial court, being in the wrong, could only turn a blind eye, rendering all the regulations ineffective.

Such as various corrupt practices in officialdom during the late Yuan Dynasty.

It was still in existence in the early Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang's ruthless campaigns rectified various bad habits, bringing about initial clarity and order to the officialdom.

However, in the middle and later stages...

Not only have bad habits resurfaced, but they've intensified. The reason is that the original regulations have become mere formalities; the regulations that originally prohibited corruption no longer restrain officials, and the regulations that originally prohibited dereliction of duty no longer restrain them either.
Regardless of the reason, if the imperial court begins to default on payments to local governments, the local governments will inevitably default as well, and the default will be ten times that of the imperial court.

Seeing the commander-in-chief in a dilemma, Yan Zhongzheng came up with an idea.

"The Datong Western Army still has 70,000 taels of silver in reserves. We might as well use it for emergency purposes first, and then replenish it after things calm down."

"No."

Wang Xin immediately rejected it.

Yan Zhongzheng did not give up. "I believe that since the three armies are to be reorganized, the original private treasury of the Datong Western Army should not be retained. Instead, a new private treasury should be set up in the Datong military town, and the 70,000 taels of silver should be transferred away."

"You're right, but how can later laws govern past events?"

Wang Xin disagreed.

"After the reorganization of the three armies, none of them will keep their own private treasuries. However, just because the original two armies were heavily in debt, the Datong Western Army should not be required to make up for it. Doing so would not only fail to solve the problem, but would also create injustice."

"That 70,000 taels of silver was saved up last year to guarantee the military expenses of the Datong Western Army in the new year. This was agreed upon beforehand. Even after the reorganization of the three armies, this fund still needs to be used for its designated purpose to ensure that the military pay of the original Datong Western Army soldiers will not be affected by any changes."

Yan Zhongzheng had nothing to say.

"Fairness and impartiality are very important, so don't underestimate them." Seeing that Yan Zhongzheng was still somewhat unconvinced, Wang Xin smiled and gave him a few words of advice.

Many people make incorrect common-sense perceptions of things that are obvious on the surface.

The unseen underlying principles are often overlooked.

It's not something that can be shown all at once.

"So what does the commander-in-chief plan to do?"

"I heard that Li Qi and the others haven't given a word; none of them admit anything."

Yan Zhongzheng felt a sense of relief, since the General rarely made mistakes, but he was also curious about what the General planned to do.

“Intensify the interrogation of Li Qi and his group. If there is sufficient evidence, we can use torture on them. Secondly,” Wang Xin sighed, “we should borrow 100,000 taels from the Xue family business first. Having money in hand will give us peace of mind.”

Returning to Datong was unexpected.

It was both unexpected and not unexpected.

Unsurprisingly, given the current internal and external troubles, natural disasters and man-made calamities of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the court will definitely need him. This is not only due to his abilities, but also because he is cheap, which is exactly what the court needs most.

Surprisingly, it turned out to be the entire Datong.

If it were just a matter of returning to the Western Army, or being a general elsewhere with over ten thousand men, money would still be hard to come by, but not as hard as it is today.

But to say you're unwilling?
If he really didn't want to, Wang Xin wouldn't have agreed so readily in the first place.

This is the garrison commander of a town.

Not a general of one route.

"Didn't Xue Yan run away?"

Yan Zhongzheng asked.

Evidence points to several powerful families in Li Qi's case. Although these families did not appear openly, they gave Li Qi promises and support behind the scenes. Among them was the involvement of the Xue family business. Xue Yan left Datong immediately.

According to Du Song, the head of the second branch of the Xue family, Xue Yan did not return to Jiangnan, but went to the capital.

Obvious.

Xue Yan sought someone to intercede on his behalf.

Although Xue Yan's involvement was not deep, and he was only involved in the peripheral aspects, given the relationship between the two families, it would be too unethical for the head of the Xue family to completely destroy the Xue family's business. For now, cooperation between the two sides would be mutually beneficial, while separation would be mutually harmful.

But they will inevitably drift apart in the future.

To make amends, Xue Yan returned to the capital immediately, not to run away, but to find a way to salvage the situation.

"Looking for Zhang Dehui."

Wang Xin sighed, "He is in Datong and is the head of the Xue family's main branch. He has been managing the business for many years. Although it will be difficult for him to handle the matter of 100,000 taels of silver, it is not impossible."

"What if Zhang Dehui also disagrees?"

"Then let's find a few big families in Datong," Wang Xin said calmly.

It's a game of strategy.

The best-case scenario, of course, would be for Xue Yan to obediently comply and not have many ideas of his own. But is that realistic? How could Xue Yan not have his own interests? Therefore, as long as Xue Yan's little actions are harmless, Wang Xin generally doesn't care.

Overall, the Xue family brought him great benefits, although the Xue family also gained many advantages.

Unfortunately, Xue Yan's timing for getting involved this time was off.

Therefore, the next branch is the Xue family's eldest son's branch.

Wang Xin was mainly afraid of having incompetent teammates.

If someone as intelligent as Xue Yan could lead to this stalemate in their cooperation, then with a worse teammate, the situation wouldn't just be a stalemate; they might even have become enemies.

Success is achieved through the people involved.

Wang Xin highly approved of it.

Things are determined by human factors, so cooperation must be based on the right people.

If the head of the Xue family's main branch were Zhang Dehui, although he was not as capable as Xue Yan, he would still be more than capable of defending the city. However, the head of the Xue family's main branch was Xue Pan, and Wang Xin believed that cooperating with this fool was not as good as Jia Baoyu.

At least Jia Baoyu was well-behaved.

However, given the current situation, Wang Xin needs money.

It's better than going to those big families in Datong.

If you ask the wealthy families in Datong for money, they will surely be happy to give it to you. How could you possibly hold them accountable for their mistakes?
I need to borrow some money first.

Get next month's military pay in hand.

Otherwise, if food supplies run out, even recovering stolen goods won't be a secure endeavor.

While submitting a memorial to the court requesting an increase in this year's grain and salary, Wang Xin didn't have high hopes. After all, if Zhang Jifu had money, he wouldn't have used him. But what if he got a little something? Even a small amount is still something.

I met Zhang Dehui the next day.

At the same time, Yan Zhongzheng and others began discussing reorganization with the various generals.

soon.

The reorganization of the Yongxing Army, Tiancheng Army, and Yongxing Army has officially begun.

Guerrilla General Gui Yong looked at each other in bewilderment.

I didn't even get to see the commander-in-chief because I heard he was too busy, and yet I got promoted?

He was transferred to the Western Army in Datong.

The Western Army of Datong was the direct subordinate of the General Commander.

The fact that he was appointed as a guerrilla general in the General's inner circle shows that the General trusts him.

It's clearly a good thing.

Gui Yong was also happy, but he still felt uneasy.

"Grandma is a bear."

"I had prepared a lot to say to the commander-in-chief when we met. I truly admire him. But in the end, I had it all stuck in my throat. I haven't slept well for several nights, wondering how I should say it to gain his trust."

Gui Yong was riding a horse.

He was accompanied by several school officers.

They were all officers and soldiers transferred to the Western Army in Datong.

Gui Yong, being the highest-ranking and an acquaintance of everyone, couldn't help but mutter to himself the whole way.

Everyone knew about Gui Yong's story, and they were all grinning from ear to ear.

Everyone felt relieved after they went to the Western Army in Datong.

More than 60,000 troops from the three armed forces.

Not only should they be reorganized, but soldiers with bad reputations should also be dismissed.

In the end, only 55,000 people were retained.

Five thousand armored cavalry and heavy bow cavalry.

A force of 20,000 cavalry and infantry.

30,000 militiamen.

Five thousand elite troops each received two taels of silver per month for military expenses.

Each of the 20,000 cavalry and infantry soldiers received a monthly military allowance of one tael and five mace of silver.

The 30,000 militiamen each received five qian of silver in military expenses per month.

But regardless of their status, everyone received a monthly food ration coupon worth five coins.

With the addition of a five-qian grain coupon subsidy, based on the grain price during the most stable period, the militia would receive one tael of silver in military pay each month. However, during that period, the militia did not receive any military pay, only a few qian of subsidies.

Not to mention nowadays.

Furthermore, it was officially stipulated that elite soldiers and regular soldiers should primarily be recruited from the militia.

After all, this was part of Wang Xin's plan.

Since they are professional soldiers, their benefits are naturally more generous than those of ordinary people, so becoming a professional soldier should be a desirable choice for ordinary people.

Otherwise, it won't even attract the common people, and the so-called emphasis on soldiers will be nothing but empty talk.

(End of this chapter)