The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 385 Using People and Taking the Initiative

Zhou Wen was transferred.

At the same time, a group of military officers were sent over to serve as commanders, guerrillas, and assistant commanders in Datong.

It's like exchanging one general for five or six mid- to high-ranking positions.

"This deal is a huge loss." Yan Zhongzheng didn't think much of it. The group sat around the table, eating porridge and pickled vegetables, along with a plate of steamed buns. There were three people at the table, including Wang Xin, and each person had a steamed bun.

Yan Zhongzheng held a steamed bun in his hand, eating it with relish. He had never thought steamed buns tasted so good before. He said, "Let's send those people to the corner for now."

It's wishful thinking to expect that a few military officers could take away the military power of Datong.

"Let's take a look first. Use those who are usable." Wang Xin didn't care. He would use those who were useful and discard those who weren't.

We always lack the talent we need.

Wang Xin is increasingly understanding what constitutes talent.

For example, from one's own perspective.

They are able to cut back on food and clothing and endorse their own beliefs.

Even in times of peace, people who can accept that their salary is sufficient, rather than feeling that it is insufficient and needing to give or receive gifts, or who have a fondness for expensive calligraphy and paintings, are able to complete their tasks at the same time.

These few criteria alone eliminated the vast majority of officials.

I simply cannot accept it intellectually.

Then Wang Xin concluded that there is no easy job in the world.

Being a manager is one of the most difficult jobs in society, yet people complain about how difficult it is to manage ordinary people, citing their unreasonable behavior, which is indeed true.

But what kind of jobs are easy to do?

Any job that involves dealing with people, whether it's sweeping the streets or delivering packages, involves encountering all sorts of people and facing even greater challenges.

Are they at ease?

This is also why Wang Xin intends to give more power to the inspection team and the audit team.

People are selected from the public and given a fair, just, and transparent work environment.

In fact, the ancients had already figured out which social class the truly capable workers came from.

For example, the famous Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard has tens of thousands of personnel, but only about two hundred are actually responsible for working for the Northern Garrison Command. These two hundred-plus personnel are recruited from the civilian population and are considered temporary workers.

But it was these two hundred-plus temporary workers who supported the core business of the Northern Garrison Command. As for the lucrative and leisurely government offices, such as those that knew the prices in the capital market, the temporary workers were not needed.

in short.

What's needed is someone who can actually work and receive a reasonable salary, enough to support their family, rather than relying on a job to get rich, let alone amass a huge fortune that several generations or even dozens of generations couldn't spend.

With all these demands combined, the Great Zhou Dynasty had over 20,000 civil officials and 60,000 to 70,000 clerks. In reality, the number of clerks in government offices was 20 to 30 times higher than the authorized number. Of such a large number of officials, how many could accept them?
Therefore, Wang Xin was willing to contact many people and select talented individuals from them. The more talented people he had, the better, as he couldn't ask for more.

Otherwise, how could the old bureaucratic system possibly manage to save itself by cutting back on expenses and producing its own resources?

"The court transferred Zhou Wen away, not only promoting him to the position of Commander-in-Chief of Taiyuan Garrison in Shanxi, but also giving him military and political power within Shanxi. The official reason was to guard against the refugees from neighboring Shaanxi, but I think their real intentions are not what they seem."

Yan Zhongzheng remarked with emotion.

He finished the steamed bun in his hand and drank the porridge in his bowl in a few bites. Although he was still hungry, he did not ask for more porridge.

There wasn't much porridge left in the large porcelain basin. Everyone knew that the military commander ate a fixed amount of porridge every day, and he would never eat more than that. Just by looking at how the military commander had been suffering two rounds of pain, no one doubted that the military commander kept his word.

Even the military commander did this, so who among the subordinates would dare to treat the idea of ​​cutting back on food and clothing and relying on self-sufficiency as empty talk?

Every household with available space in their yard has started planting vegetables. Anyone found planting flowers or similar plants instead of vegetables will be severely punished without exception.

Wang Xin took Yan Zhongzheng's empty bowl, filled it halfway, and then filled his own halfway.

Without any empty words, they shared the porridge equally.

"If it's going to rain, it's going to rain; if a mother wants to remarry, she'll remarry. Let it be." Wang Xin didn't care about these external affairs; he was more concerned about news from Liaodong. The Prince of Dongping was more composed than he had imagined.

It seems I underestimated everyone.

If you can't hold on yourself first and become the vanguard for others, then you'll truly become a clown, thinking you've outmaneuvered everyone, but little do you know that the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

"It's still better to be on guard." Yan Zhongzheng was unwilling to expose his stomach.

The Datong army numbered 55,000, of which more than 30,000 crossed the pass.

The hiring of over 10,000 people by various caravans alleviated the burden on the Jiedushi government, but the cost was also considerable. A large amount of land outside the Great Wall fell into the hands of the merchants, which had both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage was that those lands were just sitting idle anyway, and since they couldn't be managed by the imperial court, they ended up falling into the hands of the nomadic peoples several times.

The concern is that so much land is about to be developed by businessmen, and it's really worrying that it's not under their control.

Moreover, as many caravans had already established trading posts and the surrounding nomadic tribes had been gradually eliminated, the number of people being hired began to decline.

The army totaled over 20,000 men, with several thousand dedicated to suppressing the Hu people, while the rest were responsible for self-sufficiency, overseeing agricultural reclamation teams and ranch teams in various locations, and distributing and inventorying supplies.

There were only 20,000 troops inside the pass, and most of them were second-class battalions.

Taiyuan was a large town, and its troop numbers were once equal to those of Datong, both at 120,000. However, due to troop reductions a few years ago, Taiyuan's troop numbers were reduced to 60,000.

The actual number was unknown to anyone except the main generals of Taiyuan Town.

However, there must have been at least 30,000 to 40,000 troops, and there were also quite a few militia in Shanxi. Zhou Wen did not need to disperse his army to provide self-sufficiency like in Datong, and not every place was chosen to be rescued like Datong.

Zhang Jifu was unable to save Shandong, especially Qingzhou Prefecture.

This was tantamount to a complete abandonment, treating Qingzhou Prefecture as a malignant tumor and letting it wither away on its own, while only prefectures that were still relatively intact and could pay taxes to the imperial court were preserved.

Although it was very vicious.

Disaster victims are the source of the problem. Let them fend for themselves for ten or twenty years. Once one or two generations have completely died, the problem will disappear, and they can start afresh with a large amount of new tax revenue.

Zhang Jifu is not trustworthy. Yan Zhongzheng is really worried about the current troop deployment in Datong, which is heavily weighted in the north and light in the south.

Wang Xin pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

“Your concerns are valid, but I do know a bit about Zhang Jifu.” He hadn’t rebelled, nor had he targeted the wealthy families. Although he had done a lot, it was all for self-preservation, which was understandable. Given Zhang Jifu’s personality, although he was unhappy, he wouldn’t find it unacceptable.

"Zhang Jifu is a mature person," Wang Xin commented.

Yan Zhongzheng showed curiosity, eager to hear the general's evaluation of this person.

Zhang Yuncheng finally finished his porridge slowly, put down the empty bowl, and stared blankly at it for a long time.

He never imagined that one day he would go hungry.

If I went back, with my status and achievements, I wouldn't have any problem getting enough to eat. But the environment in Datong was clearly so difficult, yet everyone from top to bottom had an indomitable spirit.

This drive comes from the source right in front of us.

Although he said he relied on the people, without the direction he pointed out, giving the people a direction to strive for, where would this indomitable spirit come from?
Zhang Yuncheng looked away from the empty bowl, suppressing the hunger in his stomach, and calmly said, "Although the cabinet he is in charge of is unpleasant, the people below him are equally unpleasant to him. If everyone is happy and harmonious, then the people will be unhappy, or the country will be in danger."

Wang Xin revealed an admiring look.

Zhang Yuncheng had been observing the administration of the Ministry of War for many years and was the one among his subordinates who understood the big picture best and was most knowledgeable about the court.

Although Zeng Zhi was from a wealthy family in Liaodong, he had spent many years at the Imperial Academy. While he was talented, his vision could not compare to that of Zhang Yuncheng.

Zheng Ang followed me when he was young, and over the years, he has become the most obedient and hardworking person, making him very suitable for doing specific tasks.

As for Xue Ke...

Xue Ke is a bit young, but he has traveled all over the country since childhood. In addition, he is very intelligent and can understand many things very quickly. He has great potential for development. If he continues to grow, he will definitely become my right-hand man in the future.

Over the years, many people have come to rely on me, while many others have left.

Of those who remained, only these few truly excelled.

Many people are busy but don't understand what they are doing or what their future place should be.

Zhang Yuncheng didn't consider whether the commander would agree with his views, but instead earnestly presented his own opinions.

He continued, "On the contrary, Zhang Jifu's various methods made everyone uncomfortable, but they also prevented everyone from doing whatever they wanted, and they all had to obediently follow the rules of the court."

Yan Zhongzheng gradually understood.

He had never been qualified to access the cabinet level, but after Zhang Yuncheng's introduction, his impression of Zhang Jifu became even more profound.

Zhang Yuncheng concluded by saying to Wang Xin, "In terms of political skills, this man has become increasingly mature and capable, no less than his mentor Zhou Daofeng, and perhaps even more so."

Wang Xin nodded.

Unfortunately, he encountered the seven-year nationwide catastrophe, which was also the most severe period of disaster.

“Such a formidable figure is still far inferior to our General Jie.” Zhang Yuncheng suddenly laughed. “From the bottom of my heart, I, like Zeng Zhi, do not wish for anything to happen to the court.”

Yan Zhongzheng was confused again, but Wang Xin vaguely guessed Zhang Yuncheng's thoughts. "In any case, the military commander and Zhang Jifu have dealt with each other for many years. Although they tormented each other, they also supported each other. In the end, they had a tacit understanding. For example, in the various matters we carried out in Datong, Zhang Jifu did not support us, but he did not stop us either. It was not the worst outcome."

Zhang Yuncheng said worriedly, "On the contrary, if the court changes and Zhang Jifu can't hold on, and a new situation arises, things will eventually develop in a positive direction for us. Although there are still many problems, we can see hope. If the situation is unstable, everyone will be confused, which will only make things worse."

I'm not afraid of hardship or fatigue, but I'm afraid of the unknown.

As long as you can see the direction, all you have to do is grit your teeth and persevere, putting in more effort and sweating more.

Zhang Yuncheng said yes.

“I also hope that Zhang Jifu can stay calm. If he can, I can still count on him to continue giving me military funds and supporting me with food,” Wang Xin sighed.

The reason Datong was owed military funds was not because Zhang Jifu insisted on not paying, but because there was no money to pay. Funds were owed to various places. Over the years, Datong's military expenditures, even if not the highest, were among the top three.

I'm afraid he won't be able to stay calm.

Everyone is just trying to weather the storm. No matter how many reform measures Zhang Jifu implements, all we can hope for now is to get through this natural disaster.

As for when the natural disaster will be over, nobody knows.

But I know it myself.

Five years to go.

If you place your hopes on next year or the year after, you are destined to be in despair.

Self-reliance and self-sufficiency in production are the only ways to save ourselves.

Who wouldn't do that?

Either you wait to die and have your things stolen from others, or you are robbed by others.

The vast expanse of white earth is truly clean.

Wang Xin recalled the hints in the original text of Dream of the Red Chamber and couldn't help but frown.

The so-called true cleanliness.

Of course, everyone is dead.

Even if the population of the Great Zhou Dynasty was not 200 million, it was at least 150 million. Even without the nationwide massacre brought about by the Qing army's entry into the pass, which killed more than 70 million people, the loss of tens of millions of people was due to natural disasters, man-made calamities, and internal strife.

Wang Xin also found it hard to accept.

If I were the emperor, I could promote frugality and food conservation throughout the country, control food supplies, and encourage self-reliance and production to save lives, which would at least minimize the losses.

pity.

Zhang Jifu was not an emperor, but his power was as the rumors suggested.

He is not a physiognomist, but a magistrate.

Their master, disciples, students, and old friends were all over the court, and they had countless trusted military officers under their command. They also controlled hundreds of thousands of troops in the capital. Wasn't their power great enough?
It was tantamount to wielding imperial power.

However, with the world in turmoil, who would be willing to give up their surplus grain? Even the local gentry would not readily hand over their excess grain.

It's not difficult to let the people suffer a little.

It would be too difficult to make the local gentry suffer.

Most importantly, the Jia family should have had their property confiscated, or it should be about to be confiscated soon, right?
The situation in the capital should become clear by now.

Zhang Jifu's side lost, while the emperor clearly won.

Although I don't know how Zhang Jifu lost, I should do what I can to make good use of this opportunity to alleviate the current predicament of Datong, and hopefully save more people.

Zeng Zhi was the chief steward, in charge of all matters at the Marshal's Mansion.

Yan Zhongzheng was in charge of military affairs, while Zhang Yuncheng was in charge of political affairs.

One prime minister, one premier, and one chief of staff.

Each of them had a group of people under them, and then there were various departments under the Jiedushi's office, such as the granary magistrates, judges, clerks, and various other officials.

Each battalion is managed on a daily basis by its own battalion commander-in-chief. The general and the brigade commander are temporarily appointed to handle affairs in their respective areas. Unless there are special circumstances, they usually handle official business at the military governor's mansion.

Clear division of powers and responsibilities.

Wang Xin was only responsible for reviewing the documents; he wasn't actually very busy.

Several inspector team leaders arrived at the Jiedushi's residence, and were no longer nervous after meeting the Jiedushi.

The inspection team was originally there to review and investigate the recovery of stolen goods, but that matter had long been concluded. The team's nominal superior was Zeng Zhi, who was the highest-ranking person in the military governor's office besides the military governor.

In reality, the inspection team was not officially recognized and was not part of the imperial court's hierarchy; it was merely a department temporarily established by the Jiedushi's office.

The mission's end and the uncertainty of the future are worse than the neighboring inspection team. Although the inspection team's work is tough, exposed to the wind and sun, and dangerous, it's a long-term job.

The three team captains who performed the best submitted their names.

As per Wang Xin's request, the inspection team would not only not be reduced in size, but would continue to expand. At the same time, it would no longer be under Zeng Zhi's management, but would be separated into an independent department.

“We selected more than 500 good kids from the Children’s Scouts who were over sixteen and could no longer stay in the Children’s Scouts.”

Taking in orphans from the military is something that has been ongoing, and Shi Ping and others are among those who have taken in orphans.

Now they are all under the Children's Army, along with children from agricultural reclamation teams and ranch teams, as well as orphans from the community, totaling more than 12,000 children, of whom 1,600 or 1,700 are 15 or 16 years old.

I've had it for over a year, and it's also been learning arithmetic for over a year.

They also grew up in the environment of the Children's Scouts.

They are promising talents.

However, no one received special treatment; the selection process was very simple.

Many of the exam questions were set by Wang Xin himself.

It's all in plain language.

For example, if a childhood friend comes to you and pleads for leniency on a matter you are currently handling, what should you do?

The answer is clear.

Refuse and report it, and you'll keep your job; don't refuse, and you'll go to jail; refuse and don't report it, and you'll lose your job.

It's that simple.

There were no rigid, formulaic essays, nor were there any vague or ambiguous clauses left open for loopholes.

Some people believe that to maintain the overall atmosphere, it is necessary to give more preferential treatment, etc., but that's all nonsense.

The more you elevate their status and grant them power, the less likely they are to succeed.

The best service to the people is always provided by cleaners, couriers, and food delivery workers. Conversely, the officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty are clear evidence of this. Their status is not high enough, their power is not great enough, or their family property is not enough.

It's just an ordinary job.

Those who perform well stay, those who perform poorly are fired, and those who stay are naturally the ones who perform well.

As for currying favor with and serving your superiors just for an ordinary job?
Go crazy.

As for leaders who fail to complete their tasks, they should be dismissed and replaced with those who can.

Effort will yield results, and you won't be discouraged.

People only become resentful when they cannot obtain what they desire.

Places with truly high entry barriers are absolutely off-limits to ordinary people's children, and no matter what kind of skin an ordinary person's child changes, it doesn't change the fact.

This effectively eliminated the people in the community who actually did the work.

How can a place thrive if no one is doing any work?

The facts over thousands of years have proven this.

As for the many bad things that might happen, Wang Xin has never seen anything absolute. He chooses what has already happened and doesn't believe in the future or anything theoretical.

There have been countless theories throughout the millennia, but facts are the only facts.

In short.

Wang Xin believed that this method could at least crush the Great Zhou.

If Zhang Jifu really fails, or if the situation gets worse, then we still need to make preparations. After all, the army is for fighting wars, not for managing local affairs.

Warfare is a highly specialized matter, and one must go all out.

I underestimated the Prince of Dongping and suffered this loss; I cannot make the same mistake again.

(End of this chapter)