Di Ming

Chapter 152 Establishing the Eight Banners (Please refrain from criticism)

The South Pacific monsoon changes every two weeks.

It was truly a stroke of luck. Just six days after the Daishan Army entered Manila, the sea monsoon shifted to the south.

When the Daishan army returned north on the 25th of the twelfth lunar month, they were blessed with a rare favorable wind.

The journey there was smooth sailing, and the return journey was also smooth sailing. Some say it was the blessing of Mazu, others say it was Xiaojie Shuai's good fortune.

Then another strange story spread, saying that Xiao Jieshuai was born a noble person with extraordinary luck, and was the reincarnation of the White Tiger Star Lord.

No wonder the commander-in-chief, at such a young age, already possesses the demeanor of a renowned general. If he were the White Tiger Star Lord descended to earth, then it would make perfect sense.

In short, after this battle, the Daishan army returned with a full harvest, and Zhu Yin immediately established his position as the military governor.

The massive fleet, carried by a strong southerly wind, returned north at a speed of up to twelve knots (20 kilometers per hour), even faster than when it came.

On the afternoon of the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, after several days and nights of sailing with favorable winds, the fleet finally arrived at Lanyu Island and joined up with the fleet that was hiding in Shiergang.

After the two fleets joined together, the scale became even larger, with more than two hundred ships of various sizes.

There were 2,800 soldiers and 12,000 civilians, totaling nearly 15,000 people.

On the deck, Zhu Yin, seeing the white sails like clouds, the vast sea, and the fiery sunset, couldn't help but recite aloud:

The morning glow burned the great ravine.
A thousand sails pass by the ruins.

The island floats on the back of the Black Tortoise.
The hidden dragon's whiskers.

Emperor Wu of Han approached the Eastern Sea.
Qin Shi Huang shot a whale.

The chessboard is like the sky and the sea.
Who will I play this game with?

His poem is quite ordinary and unremarkable, but it possesses a bold and unrestrained spirit, which is its merit.

Upon hearing this poem, Qi Jiguang remained silent for a long time, then muttered to himself, "My son, Yuhu, has the ambition to conquer the vast ocean."

In the dead of winter, the further north you go, the colder it gets. After passing Tainan, the sea gets even colder. Many people worry that they will have to spend New Year's Eve on the ship.

Therefore, Zhu Yin and others ordered that each ship prepare a New Year's Eve dinner and prepare to spend the New Year's Eve on the ship.

However, the heavens were kind and gave "White Tiger Star Lord" special treatment.

At 7 PM on the 30th of the twelfth lunar month, the fleet returned to Daishan Island, just in time for New Year's Eve!
The thousands of people who remained on Daishan Island were initially terrified when they saw the huge fleet, but were overjoyed when they learned that their own people had returned.

Because it's New Year's Eve, every household on the island is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, pasted up couplets and paper-cut window decorations, lit red lanterns, and prepared New Year's Eve dinner. The atmosphere of New Year's Eve is everywhere.

But before that, there was no joy in any household. The fleet had been gone for over twenty days and hadn't returned; who wasn't worried? Who had the heart to celebrate the New Year?
They waited anxiously every day, practically longing for the fleet to return for the New Year.

Luzon is so far away, it will probably be after the new year, right?
But to everyone's surprise, he actually made it back on New Year's Eve!

May Mazu bless you!

It wasn't until the fleet docked and unloaded its cargo that they realized how much they had gained.

To their surprise, not only did they reap huge rewards, but a huge number of people also came!
My goodness! When they went there, there were more than two thousand soldiers, but when they came back, they said there were... fifteen thousand!

With so many people arriving all at once, there's simply not enough food for the New Year's Eve dinner, and there's nowhere for everyone to sleep!
Fortunately, Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei had made arrangements in advance.

Nowhere to sleep? No! No! No!

These many ships are our temporary home!
How could there be nowhere to stay?

Once the houses on the islands are built, they will be moved off the ship.

As for the New Year's Eve dinner, it has already been prepared on the ship, but it is rather simple.

The people on the island were worrying for nothing.

As soon as everyone landed, firecrackers went off all over the island, fireworks lit up the sky, the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder, and confetti was scattered everywhere, creating a festive atmosphere.

The Han Chinese from Luzon who returned with the Daishan Army were pleasantly surprised to find themselves on a paradise-like island.

Under the illumination of lanterns lit everywhere, suddenly the shadows became dappled, as if a willow catkin had drifted by. Soon someone shouted:
"It's snowing! It's snowing!"

"Excellent! Let it rain heavily! Next year, the island will have a bumper harvest!"

Immediately, with the help of the lights on the ship and the island, everyone saw the heavy snow falling.

"Beautiful snow! Beautiful snow!" Qi Jiguang smiled with delight. The snowflakes falling on his gray hair made him look even more aged.

The snow fell even more heavily. Before long, everyone was covered in a blanket of white.

Ning Caiwei reached out and caught a snowflake. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Zhu Yin lost in thought.

"What's wrong, little tiger?" Ning Caiwei asked.

Zhu Yin smiled and tightened his small cloak. "The snow in Jiangnan is heavy, falling in flakes. But the snow in Liaodong is like powder, falling in a flurry."

Ning Caiwei immediately understood that Zhu Yin was thinking of a year ago.

They came into this world a year ago, when it was also snowing heavily.

A year later, he had the Daishan Army, the title of child prodigy, and had become a large landowner.

This year felt like a dream, but if it really was a dream, she hoped it would continue forever and she would never wake up.

Living like this is pretty good.

Zhu Yin stood high on the deck, watching the snow fall heavier and heavier, and the bustling crowd coming ashore. He took Ning Caiwei's hand and said:
"Caiwei, thank you for being here. If I had come into this world alone, it would have been so lonely and boring."

Ning Caiwei noticed that Zhu Yin's hands were a little cold. She had Zhu Yin hold the hand warmer, her smile warm and gentle, "Little Tiger, thank you too. I don't know how I would survive without you."

A childish, plaintive voice came from behind: "You're all thanking each other, but what about me? Am I superfluous?"

Zhu Yin chuckled, turned to look at the little baby wrapped up like a dumpling in a fur coat, and said, "Of course, Dr. Ning is indispensable."

After saying that, he patted the snowflakes off her body, then picked her up and removed the snowflakes from her long, curled eyelashes.

"Don't pick it," Ning Qingchen said in a soft, childlike voice.

"Let the snowflakes melt my eyes, making my gaze clearer and colder, so that I can see this world clearly and see your hearts clearly."

"Or, let the snowflakes melt into me, turning into cold tears that flow down, cooling the superficiality in my heart."

“Hehe…” Ning Caiwei couldn’t help but laugh. “Little Tiger, I thought you were the only poet, always reciting poems. But I never expected that our little divine doctor Ning is also a poet.”

Her tone was full of teasing, lacking any respect, and certainly not like a compliment.

Ning Qingchen turned her little head to look at her older sister, her jewel-like eyes filled with scrutiny, and said in a serious tone:

"Miss Ning, you are a vulgar person, unbearably vulgar."

"Let me tell you, every noble and interesting soul is poetry, and should be poetry. If you don't have a poetic heart, it means you are a vulgar and materialistic person."

"You are not a poetic person."

"Heh." Ning Caiwei chuckled. "Like a turtle chanting scriptures. Fine, I'm not poetic. Is it good to be down? It's better to be successful."

Upon hearing this pun, Miss Ning couldn't help but roll her eyes, her face full of disdain.

"Woo woo..." Suddenly, Xiao Hei whimpered a few times and swatted at Zhu Yin's legs with its tail.

It means wanting to get ashore.

These days on the ship have been tough for it. Little Black is growing up quickly, with a tall and strong body, its skin as smooth and glossy as black satin, making it look both handsome and adorable.

In three more months, it will be fully grown.

Now, its glossy black fur was covered with a layer of snowflakes, making it look like a proud snow wolf, and it became much more aloof.

After everyone went ashore, they quickly finished their New Year's Eve dinner, and that was it for the New Year's Eve celebration.

There was no other way; it was just too rushed.

Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei were also a little disappointed that this New Year's Eve had passed so hastily.

Because the harvest this time was so great, with so many supplies and people brought back, the entire Spring Festival will be busy, and there will be no time for leisure.

Sure enough, right after finishing the New Year's Eve dinner, Qi Jiguang convened a meeting to discuss the major events of the year.

Settling new residents, expanding the army, building houses, training soldiers, farming and reclaiming wasteland, fishing and salt production... a myriad of tasks needed to be sorted out and regulated.

In order to consolidate Zhu Yin's position, Qi Jiguang said a few words and then put Zhu Yin in charge of the meeting.

Many important matters were decided upon by the father and son on the boat, and they had already reached a consensus. Zhu Yin only needed to make the arrangements in public.

Inside the simple military governor's tent, beside a large table, stood a wooden plaque that read: Military Governor of Jinghai Army.

Although everyone is used to calling themselves the Daishan Army, it is not contradictory to the Jinghai Army.

The Daishan Army was the same as the Daishan Battalion. And the Daishan Battalion was only a part of the Jingjing Navy.

However, because the Jinghai Army currently only has one Daishan Battalion, it is called the Daishan Army.

The first major event at today's meeting is to add new battalions and establish a well-organized, integrated military and political force, the Jinghai Army.

To date, the entire Jinghai Navy has five "large islands," with a total population of over 23,000 including newly recruited members and more than 2,000 soldiers.

If the army is expanded to 5,000, it will account for more than one-fifth of the total population!
Fortunately, these 23,000 people were mainly young and strong, and the majority of them were men, numbering 14,000.

Even so, it still exceeds the one-in-three rule!

In Zhu Yin's view, this ratio was even more outrageous than Nurhaci's Eight Banners.

Even with the Eight Banners system, which integrated soldiers and civilians, at most one out of three men could be selected.

Maintaining an army of 5,000 for a population of just over 20,000 may seem like "militarism," but it is not advisable.

However, Qi Jiguang, Ding Huogen, and others knew that it was necessary to expand the army.

Otherwise, with just over two thousand people, it would be impossible to protect the Zhoushan Islands indefinitely.

If foreigners and Japanese pirates launch a large-scale attack, it will be difficult to even protect oneself.

Jinghai has many enemies.

At least five thousand soldiers were needed to protect themselves and stabilize the situation in Zhejiang and the coastal region, amidst the encirclement of Japanese pirates, foreign barbarians, piracy, and powerful coastal clans.

Outside the tent, snow was falling and the weather was freezing. Inside, a fire was burning, and everyone sat around it, chatting casually.

Zhu Yin sat next to Qi Jiguang and addressed the crowd:
“We only have a total population of 23,000, but we want to expand our army to 5,000. This is the unity of soldiers and civilians, which is similar to the Mongols and Jurchens outside the Great Wall.”

"Therefore, our Jinghai Army is a mix of soldiers and civilians, with almost the entire population serving as soldiers. How should this be managed properly? Of course, we need a new set of regulations."

Daishan Island used to have a system similar to that of the mainland, which was a rural county, except that there was no county government or officials.

The people are essentially self-governing.

This system is of course most suitable for places with large populations and a high ratio of military to civilians.

However, this approach is not suitable for the reality of the integrated military and civilian population on Daishan Island.

Zhu Yin paused for a moment and continued, "Therefore, after discussing with my adoptive father and General Ding, I decided to create the Eight Banners system."

When Ning Caiwei heard about the Eight Banners system, even though she knew about the decision on the ship, she almost spat it out.

What the hell is this Eight Banners?!
This little tiger is really wicked. It's following Nurhaci's path, leaving him with nowhere to go.

She knew that the Little Tiger's purpose in establishing the Eight Banners system was not solely for military strength.

This was also to create a new interest class as a base to counter the powerful vested interest groups of the Ming Dynasty.

"Giggle..." Ning Qingchen, nestled in Ning Caiwei's arms, couldn't help but laugh.

But she was only one year old, so no one paid much attention to it.

They found the Eight Banners system very novel and interesting.

But Zhu Yin explained: "The so-called Eight Banners are the Plain Black Banner, the Bordered Black Banner, the Plain White Banner, the Bordered White Banner, the Plain Red Banner, the Bordered Red Banner, the Plain Blue Banner, and the Bordered Blue Banner."

They simply replaced the yellow flag with a black flag.

The colors of the Eight Banners were, of course, carefully considered by Zhu Yin.

Zhu Yin initially wanted to create eight colors, but later realized it was impractical. Only then did he understand why eight colors weren't used for wild boar hides.

Nurhaci's use of only four colors was indeed a well-thought-out decision, not something he made on a whim.

Too many colors make it messy and gaudy; bright colors can actually make it less beautiful.

We must also consider the management of ancient printing and dyeing techniques and costs.

After much thought, the wild boar hide solution was the simplest and easiest to implement.

Because only four colors are needed, it is economical, simple, and straightforward, without being flashy.

Why wasn't there a yellow flag? Because it was taboo; the yellow flag was reserved for the imperial family. If Zhu Yin had created a yellow flag, Qi Jiguang would have objected first.

Zhu Yin continued to explain: "The 23,000 people were divided into eight banners. When new people were added later, they were divided equally among the eight banners."

“Each banner shall have one banner chief and two deputy banner chiefs on the left and right. Each banner shall be further divided into five guards: front, rear, left, right, and center. Each guard shall have one captain.”

Zhang Cha couldn't help but ask, "General, isn't this similar to the military garrisons of the Ming Dynasty?"

Upon reflection, everyone agreed that it was very similar to a military garrison, only the name was different.

One is called "Flag," and the other "Guard." Both represent a unified military and civilian force.

Zhu Yin knew that someone would raise this question.

He immediately replied, "It's still very different. The garrisons were special military households. At the beginning of the founding of the country, the military and civilians were strictly separated and clearly distinct. How can this be considered military-civilian integration?"

“The military households of the garrison are soldiers according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, and their families will be soldiers for generations.”

"But what about the Eight Banners? The Eight Banners are similar to the Tang Dynasty's militia system, where soldiers and civilians are not separated. In this way, they can maintain their martial spirit."

Qi Jiguang nodded and said, "What Zhihu said makes sense. When it comes to garrisons, no one knows better than me, but the Eight Banners and garrisons are really not the same thing."

Zhu Yin understood that the decline of the garrison was in fact a consequence of the decline of the Eight Banners.

However, the Eight Banners still had its unique advantages over the military garrisons, which at least at this stage were beneficial to the development of Daishan Island.

After thinking about it, everyone agreed that they were actually two different things.

P.S.: Some things went wrong today, and I almost couldn't update. I still didn't ask for leave, it's a long story... It was really difficult to update today, I didn't even correct the typos. These 24-hour subscription numbers are truly disheartening.

(End of this chapter)