Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 188 Reducing Redundant Troops, Yanran Also Has One
In the seventh year of the Hongwu reign, at the end of October, the autumn wind swept through, and the grass and trees gradually lost their greenness, with bare branches swaying in the wind.

Several imperial envoys, including Gu Tingye and Wang Anshi, have successively obtained the rosters of soldiers in various camps of the Great Zhou.

Hebei West Road, Zhen Ding Prefecture.

This place was a key stronghold in resisting the Liao Dynasty, forming a strategic triangle with Daming Prefecture in Hebei East Road and Taiyuan Prefecture in Hedong Road, guarding the main transportation route on the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains.

The Imperial Guard stationed here numbered 20,000 on the surface, while the local militia numbered approximately 30,000.

Five hundred men formed a battalion, which was called a commander. Five battalions formed an army, ten armies formed a wing, and two wing formed a large army.

Inside a building within the office of the Pacification Commissioner, candlelight flickered.

Gu Tingye, dressed in dark-colored casual clothes, was sitting at his desk, casually flipping through the records of military pay, provisions, and weapons entering and leaving several camps, which were completely consistent with the roster of soldiers.

"These guys are quite vigilant; I'm afraid they started falsifying accounts the moment we set off."

Standing beside him, Shi Tou said in a low voice, "Yesterday, I led men to secretly observe several nearby camps for a long time."

"The drills inside are deafening, and the training ground is teeming with people. A rough estimate suggests that the number of soldiers seems to match. Could it be that this place is really completely deserted?"

Gu Tingye snorted lightly, "The backgrounds of the other battalion commanders are still unknown, but I know Qin Feng very well. The more flawless he is, the more sinister he is."

Qin Feng was the second son of the Marquis of Dongchang and served as the commander of a battalion in Zhen Ding Prefecture.

"This kid was a complete scoundrel when he was in the capital. He was much more extravagant than me when it came to eating, drinking, gambling and whoring."

"It's just that the Dongchang Marquis's mansion is keeping it very secret, and no one dares to spread it around. I don't believe he can behave himself here."

Stone raised his hand and scratched his head. "So how should we investigate?"

Gu Tingye frowned. "Let's go check on him first. It's impossible that we haven't found any clues at all."

The next morning, as dawn broke, military flags fluttered in the autumn wind within Qin Feng's camp.

Also present was Wu Dechang, the Pacification Commissioner of Hebei West Road, who was the brother of Madam Wu, the eldest daughter of the Earl of Yongchang.
When the Duke of Zhenguo, a high-ranking official of the second rank, came here, he naturally dared not be negligent, especially since it involved the matter of military registration.

"It is truly an honor for our Hebei West Route army to have the Duke of Zhenguo personally come to the camp to supervise." Wu Dechang said with a smile, cupping his hands in a humble manner.

Qin Feng, who was standing beside him, chimed in, "Yes, Brother Gu, it's been years since we've had a drink together."

"This place isn't as bustling and prosperous as the capital, but the local food has a unique flavor. After inspecting everything in the camp today, we must drink until we drop and have a good chat!"

Gu Tingye gave him a cold, sidelong glance.

"Forget about drinking. I'm on official business right now. I'm not your Second Brother Gu. Don't break the rules."

"Yes, yes, yes, what the Duke of Zhenguo says is true." Qin Feng's smile froze, and he immediately dropped his playful demeanor.

Seeing this, Wu Dechang quickly smoothed things over, saying, "What the Duke of Zhenguo said is absolutely right. Official business comes first, and rules cannot be broken."

"Commander Qin was just in a good mood and remembered our past friendship; he had no other intentions."

After saying that, he gave Qin Feng a wink, signaling him not to say anything more.

Gu Tingye didn't say much. He turned his gaze to the soldiers who were training not far away. He stepped forward and carefully examined each of them.

Some soldiers had heard of Gu Tingye's identity and couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, as they rarely had the opportunity to meet such a high-ranking official.

"The imperial court's inspection of military registers is intended to reward meritorious soldiers and verify the disbursement of military pay. It is not for the purpose of holding anyone accountable or punishing them. There is no need for you to panic."

"Just answer truthfully, and I will not hold a grudge."

The soldiers nodded in agreement.

"You, step forward!" Gu Tingye's gaze sharpened as he pointed at a thin soldier in the ranks whose eyes darted around.

Upon hearing this, the soldier froze, hurriedly stepped forward, and bowed slightly, his hands trembling. Qin Feng, standing behind Wu Dechang, looked somewhat solemn.

"What's your name?"

"Reporting to...Reporting to Your Excellency, this humble one is Chen Erniu."

Shi Tou immediately flipped through the military register in his hand and said in a low voice, "This man joined the army in the second year of Hongwu, lived in Huaihua Village, Lingshou County, served for five years, and belonged to the Third Command Infantry Battalion."

“You’ve been in the army for five years, but just now I saw that you couldn’t even hold the bow properly. Your arm was shaking like a leaf, and you couldn’t even hold the bowstring down.”

After Gu Tingye finished speaking, he sneered repeatedly.

Upon seeing this, Chen Erniu trembled with fear and knelt down with a thud. "M-My lord, spare my life! I...I only..."

Qin Feng quickly stepped forward, "Duke Zhenguo, please calm your anger!"

"Chen Erniu recently caught a cold and is very weak, which is why he has lost his usual accuracy. I used to be very strict with the soldiers."

Gu Tingye turned his head and glanced at him, his eyes sharp as knives.

"A cold? Weak body? But he seems a little guilty."

Shi Tou's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately understood Gu Tingye's meaning. He quickly stepped forward, grabbed Chen Erniu's hand, and saw that his palm was smooth and without any calluses.

Wu Dechang's expression also looked rather grim at this moment.

"Do you have to force me to tell the truth?" As Shi Tou spoke, he twisted Chen Erniu's arm hard, and Chen Erniu screamed in pain.

"I...I'll talk...I'll talk!"

"Sir, my real name is Wang Mugen. Half a month ago, I was brought to the camp by Commander Qin's men and made to impersonate Chen Erniu."

"All I have to do each day is roll call and occasionally practice with my bow and sword. I don't have to do anything else. After I've done it, I'll get five strings of cash."

"I was just blinded by greed, I didn't... I didn't think of anything else, please spare my life, sir."

Qin Feng frowned, and a few fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

A barely perceptible smile flashed across Gu Tingye's eyes as he raised his voice, "Who else in the camp is an imposter?"

"Confess voluntarily, and I will not punish you. You can simply go back to where you came from."

"If this is discovered later, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Those who impersonate others to join the army and falsely occupy military positions will be punished with caning and exile at the very least, and dealt with according to military law at worst. You can choose for yourselves!"

As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of soldiers lowered their heads and stepped out of the ranks, explaining themselves to those around them.

Wu Dechang and Qin Feng exchanged a glance, a sense of foreboding rising in their hearts.

Just as Shi Tou was recounting the number of people, Gu Tingye said quietly, "It would have been better if Commander Qin had explained things clearly sooner."

"The imperial court's purpose in checking the military register was to clarify the vacancies, make up for the military pay, and make the border defenses more secure, not to deliberately make things difficult for anyone."

"But you, on the contrary, dare to let these scoundrels, vagrants and beggars impersonate you, treat the imperial army's funds as private property, and treat the safety of the border town as a joke."

"Alas, you have truly failed the ancestors of the Qin family!"

Qin Feng looked troubled, stepped forward and whispered in his ear, "Second Brother Gu, this has been the way things have been done in the army for many years, it's not just my fault."

“My aunt has wronged you. I know this in my heart and have always wanted to apologize to you.”

“We’ve known each other for many years. When we were kids, I even helped you beat up that Gu Tingbing from your fourth uncle’s family. For that, I was punished by my father and made to kneel in the ancestral hall for an entire afternoon.”

After glancing at Gu Tingye, Wu Dechang asked, "Duke Zhenguo, what exactly does His Majesty intend to do by checking the military register this time?"

"If this is to lead to the dismissal of military officials in the court, to my knowledge, few of them are clean."

As the Pacification Commissioner of Hebei West Circuit, he knew exactly how many troops were falsely reported in each camp. If he were caught, he wouldn't be able to escape. Since he couldn't escape, he might as well confess honestly and drag a few more people down with him.

The saying goes, "The law does not punish the masses." If it really involves most of the military officers, the emperor can't just wipe out the entire court of military officers.

"Yes, Second Brother Gu, Lord Wu is right!" Qin Feng nodded repeatedly.

Just as Gu Tingye was secretly making plans in his heart.

Shi Tou cupped his hands and said, "It has been calculated. There are actually 326 soldiers in the camp, but 130 soldiers have been falsely reported."

Qin Feng held his breath, his face pleading. The Qin family was no longer what it used to be, and he had only managed to secure a position as a commander with great difficulty.

"Sigh." Gu Tingye sighed softly, "What you said makes sense, but this matter is of great importance. We have to pick a few out as a warning to others in order to convince the public."

"This time, I am ordered to be in charge of verifying the military registers of the northern routes. If you cooperate well, I will definitely plead on your behalf before the Emperor."

"How is it?" Gu Tingye asked Wu Dechang with a smile.

A family's history spans a century, with each new emperor bringing a new court.

The Wu family was not immune to the decline that followed; otherwise, Liang Hui would not have dared to act so presumptuously in front of Madam Wu.

He was the highest-ranking official in the Wu family of his generation, holding the rank of third grade.

If they're unlucky and use him to establish their authority, the Wu family's chances of making a comeback will be slim to none.

"Very well, I will do my utmost and hold nothing back." With that, Wu Dechang bowed deeply.

Gu Tingye raised his hand and gently patted him on the shoulder, then turned to look at the soldiers in formation and said loudly, "You are all brave warriors who defend our country!"

“The imperial rations and stipends should have been paid to you in full, and your contributions should have been reported truthfully and rewarded by the imperial court.”

"The Emperor has sent an imperial envoy to eradicate this long-standing problem of impersonation and embezzlement of military pay!"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"..."

The soldiers shouted in unison, their voices echoing throughout the surrounding area.

With Wu Dechang's assistance, the verification process in the northern regions was brought to a successful conclusion.

Imperial envoys such as Wang Anshi have also figured out how to investigate soldiers who are impersonating others within the camp.

The first thing to look at is whether the soldiers have calluses on their hands. Soldiers who train year-round will definitely have thick calluses on their knuckles when they hold a knife or draw a bow.

Then, to check if the armor fits properly, the soldiers in the same unit would identify each other and check them one by one.

As the year draws to a close, the chill in Bianjing (Kaifeng) is growing stronger.

Inside the Wenhua Hall of the Imperial Palace, several officials, including Sheng Changbai, Hai Yanping, and Zhang Fu, were gathered.

Zhao Han held the memorials returned by various imperial envoys in his hand, his eyes sweeping over them lightly. After a moment, he couldn't help but raise his hand and furrow his brow.

The number of soldiers in the Great Zhou Dynasty, including the Xiang Army, totaled 1.2 million. After the military register was checked, the number was reduced by 300,000.

This means that the national treasury will have to spend nearly six million strings of cash on military expenses every year, all of which will end up in the hands of generals at all levels, not even including weapons, clothing and other supplies.

Qingyun glanced at Zhao Han cautiously.
Having served him closely for many years, he had long since learned to read people's expressions and immediately handed the memorial that Zhao Han had placed on the table to Han Zhang and other officials.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

"This problem has been a deep-rooted and complex issue for many years, involving a wide range of people. Now that it has been exposed, it is a good opportunity to set things right," Hai Yanping said calmly, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.

"I second that proposal," Sheng Changbai followed closely behind.

In terms of relationship, he, like Hai Chaoyun, had to address Hai Yanping as his second uncle.

Zhao Han sighed softly and said in a deep voice, "Issue my decree, ordering Imperial Envoys Gu Tingye and others to reduce the number of elderly and weak soldiers in the Imperial Guards and the local militia, and to prepare a list of names."

"The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites will jointly review and approve the allocation of relief funds and land for cultivation. Those who are physically fit but fail the assessment will be assigned to the River Works Battalion and the Colonial Land Management Office."

"Furthermore, effective immediately, all Imperial Guards and local militias are prohibited from recruiting criminals and vagrants to fill their ranks."

"Those who falsely report the number of soldiers or receive salaries without working shall be handed over to the Court of Judicial Review and the Imperial City Guard for strict interrogation."

"This edict shall be immediately promulgated throughout the land."

"Your Majesty, we obey." Han Zhang and several other officials bowed respectfully.

Immediately afterwards, Zhao Han turned her attention to Hai Yanping.

"Starting today, keep a close eye on grain prices in various prefectures and cities. If there is a downward trend, purchase large quantities and store them in local granaries for unforeseen needs."

"When purchasing grain, remember not to force down the price. You must trade fairly with grain merchants and farmers. If any local officials take the opportunity to exploit and profit from the situation, you can report it directly to the Emperor, and he will punish them severely."

Upon hearing this, Hai Yanping looked puzzled. "Forgive my ignorance, but the Ever-Normal Granary still has enough grain. Purchasing too much might only increase the losses to the national treasury."

Zhao Han blinked and said in a deep voice, "The Imperial Observatory observed the celestial phenomena last night and reported to me that there is a possibility of drought in the coming years. This matter concerns the foundation of the country and we must take precautions."

"If it is a false alarm, then we will move the army to the harvested areas to obtain food and solve the military needs. This will kill two birds with one stone. We must prepare enough for three years."

Hai Yanping nodded in deep agreement, "I have noted it down."

at the same time.

Inside the Renming Hall of the inner palace, laughter and conversation filled the air, accompanied by the fragrant aroma of tea.

Several ladies of noble birth, including Hua Lan, Ming Lan, Yan Ran, and Yuan Wenying, were all present.

During this period, because Gu Tingye was in charge of checking the military registers, people flocked to the Zhenguo Duke's mansion so much that they almost wore down the threshold.

The Xiangyang Marquis's residence was also disturbed, since although Gu Tingwei had been adopted into the Xiangyang Marquis's lineage, he was still Gu Tingye's younger brother.

Yuan Wenying really didn't want to deal with these things anymore, so she could only frequently go to the palace to find some peace and quiet, and also ask Minglan for advice on cooking.

Yanran is currently pregnant. She sits gracefully in a cushioned armchair, her features delicate and charming, a smile playing on her lips as she gently strokes her already protruding belly.

When Old Madam Yu and the Grand Tutor learned of this, they were overjoyed and planned to make a trip to the capital as soon as Yanran gave birth to the imperial heir.

Yuan Wenying turned to look at Minglan and said gently, "Your Highness is about to give birth. I originally planned to visit you after paying my respects to her today and keep you company."

"I didn't expect you to come by yourself. Aren't you afraid of catching a cold from the wind on the way?"

Before Minglan could speak, Hualan said with a smile, "Madam Zhenguo, you may not know, but the old lady at home is worried about Ming'er."

"A few months ago, I specially brought Old Madam He to the palace just to have Ming'er's health checked."

"Grandma He instructed Ming'er that if a woman wants to have a smooth delivery, she must not stay cooped up in the house all day without moving. If the pregnancy is stable and the woman is healthy, she should move around more."

"I've kept that in mind, and I haven't dared to oversleep these past few months."

Yuan Wenying nodded in deep agreement, "I see, no wonder Consort Zhaorong seems more active than usual."

Minglan held the warm hot water bottle, looked up at the sky and sighed, pouting her pink lips and said resentfully, "After the baby is born, I'll have to take a good rest for a while."

When Wei Shuyi had a difficult childbirth and lay on a blood-soaked bed, the image left a deep shadow on her when she was only eight years old.

Therefore, since becoming pregnant, Minglan has been extra careful with her diet, only tasting a little of everything, which has made Xiaotao gain weight.

(End of this chapter)