Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

The first furnace at the Cizhou steel base illuminated the dawn of the imperial industry.

But Xiao Chen knew that even the best steel needed skilled craftsmen and brave warriors to handle it.

The current military system of the Great Xia Dynasty is still the garrison system, which is deeply entrenched in the problems of the previous dynasty.

Military households, whose members had served as soldiers for generations, had a low social status, relied on farming for sustenance, and their training was lax.

When war breaks out, the generals don't know their soldiers, and the soldiers don't know their generals. In peacetime, they farm and deliver grain, but in wartime, they often collapse at the first sign of trouble.

This is the root cause of the Xia Dynasty's weak border defenses and repeated defeats.

On this day, the atmosphere at the court assembly was so heavy it seemed to drip water.

Xiao Chen did not sit on the dragon throne as usual, but stood on the steps of the palace, holding a roll of bright yellow silk in his hand. It was the "Great Xia New Army Act" that Mo Qi had just drafted.

"My lords," Xiao Chen's voice was calm yet carried an undeniable penetrating power, "today, I will abolish an old system and establish a new law."

The hearts of all the civil and military officials tightened.

Since the establishment of the "Military Affairs Bureau," they have been greatly deterred by the swift and decisive measures taken, and are now even more silent and trembling.

Xiao Chen unfolded the silk scroll and read aloud:

"Article 1: Effective immediately, the military household system of garrisons throughout the country is abolished. All military households are removed from military status, revert to civilian households, are allocated land for cultivation, and pay taxes uniformly."

These words came out like a thunderclap from a clear sky!

Although military households had a low social status, they were still "iron rice" (a stable source of income). Once abolished, it would mean a huge change in the status of millions of military households, and it would also mean the complete overthrow of the military foundation that had lasted for hundreds of years!

Several senior officials could no longer contain themselves and stepped forward, trembling: "Your Majesty! This is unacceptable! The garrison system was established by Emperor Taizu Gaozu and is the pillar of the nation! If this system is abolished, who will guard the borders? Who will fill the positions in the capital? This is an act that shakes the very foundation of the country!"

"Kunimoto?"

Xiao Chen sneered, his gaze sharp as a knife as he swept over the old ministers. "I ask you, can the current garrisons defend the border? How did the Northern Barbarian cavalry manage to trample through the nine border regions? And how did the three major battalions of the Capital Garrison lose face at Tumu Fortress?"

He pointed outside the palace, as if he could see the beacon fires a thousand miles away: "I tell you, the current garrisons are not pillars, but festering sores! Parasites! A bunch of useless people supported by the blood and sweat of our ancestors!"

The old ministers were ashen-faced and trembling, but dared not speak again.

Xiao Chen continued reading:

"Article Two: Implement a new law that combines the 'volunteer military system' with the 'conscription system'."

"First, a 'Standing Elite Army' will be established in the capital and the nine key border towns, called the 'Great Xia Divine Martial Army.' This is a professional army, specializing in conquest and defense. The recruitment criteria are not based on background, but solely on talent. Once selected, the entire family will be exempt from corvée labor, receive double pay, be richly rewarded for meritorious service, receive pensions for the wounded, and have their sons protected if they die in battle."

"Second, all men aged 18 to 30 nationwide shall be subject to 'conscription.' Each county shall conscript a fixed number of men each year for a three-year term. In the first year, they shall undergo intensive training in the 'military regiments' of their respective counties, learning basic martial arts, drills, and the use of firearms. In the second year, outstanding individuals may be selected for the 'Divine Martial Army.' The rest shall return to farming in the third year, retaining their reserve status, and may be mobilized in the event of war."

"Third, reduce the number of elderly and infirm soldiers, and reorganize the Beijing garrison and local guard posts. All discharged military households will be allocated wasteland and lent oxen and seeds by the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, so that they can live and work in peace. Anyone who dares to obstruct the disarmament or incite military households to riot will be punished as a traitor!"

Xiao Chen's words grew heavier and more resolute with each sentence.

The hall was deathly silent. All the civil and military officials, even the newly promoted ones from humble backgrounds, were stunned by this earth-shattering reform plan.

Abolishing the hereditary military household system means cutting off the path for countless noble families to "draw salaries without working" and to seize military households as slaves!

Implementing a conscription system meant that the emperor would have a fully-owned, professional private army!

The conscription system was unheard of, which was almost like introducing the concept of universal conscription to the Great Xia!

"His Majesty!"

Finally, a young censor mustered his courage and stepped forward. "Is this...is this too radical? What if the soldiers and households riot, if public resentment rises, if there is a shortage of soldiers?"

Xiao Chen looked at him, a hint of approval in his eyes. Daring to question shows he still has brains.

"Good question."

Xiao Chen turned to his ministers, "Why did I choose this time to implement the new military law?"

He pointed westward outside the palace, which was the direction of Cizhou.

"Because I have new gunpowder, new steel, and an academy of sciences and steel mills capable of producing sophisticated weapons!"

"Why do I dare to abolish military households?"

"Because I will order the Ministry of Works to reclaim tens of millions of acres of wasteland within three years to resettle all the disbanded military households! I will also order the Ministry of Revenue to use tax revenue from Jiangnan to pay unprecedentedly high salaries to all the brave soldiers who enlist!"

"Why do I need to implement compulsory military service?"

"Because I want every man in the Great Xia to know how to use a musket, how to line up and fire, and how to form a square formation! What I want to build is not a few thousand or tens of thousands of elite troops, but—a million armored soldiers, all ready for battle!"

Xiao Chen's voice, like a resounding bell, echoed throughout the hall.

"Han Lie".

"Your subject is here!" Han Lie, dressed in military attire and wearing a newly made "Divine Martial Army" sash, strode forward.

"I hereby appoint you as the Left Commander of the Divine Martial Army. You are to immediately proceed to Cizhou to receive the first batch of steel produced using the new method and establish the First Division of the Divine Martial Army! Your soldiers will be selected from the capital garrison and further chosen from the best recruits from across the country! I require you to train a model army capable of fighting tough battles within three months!"

"My lord, I obey your order!"

"Zhou Meng!"

"Your subject is here!"

"You will be the Commander of the Beijing Garrison and concurrently the Chief Instructor of Conscripted Soldiers. Start the pilot program in Shuntian Prefecture. I want you to teach those farmers how to form ranks, how to load their loads, and how to aim! I want to see Shuntian Prefecture produce 10,000 qualified militiamen in three months!"

"Your subject obeys!"

"Mo Qi!"

"Your subject is here!"

"You, with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, keep an eye on the garrisons throughout the country. Anyone who dares to withhold resettlement allowances, anyone who dares to incite military households to rebel, execute them on the spot without asking for permission! Hang their heads on the city gates for me!"

"As you command!"

A series of orders, crisp and decisive, brooking no argument.

Xiao Chen's gaze finally swept over the ashen-faced old ministers and the eager new talents.

"I know this is difficult. It is precisely because it is difficult that we must do it. The disease of Great Xia has already penetrated to the bone. Without major surgery, we can only wait to die."

"Now, I give you a choice. Support the new law, and I promise you wealth and a bright future. Oppose the new law..." Xiao Chen paused, a cold smile curving his lips, "My sword and Han Lie's gun are ready at any time."

"Court adjourned!"

Even after Xiao Chen's figure disappeared behind the hall, the entire hall remained immersed in immense shock and fear.

The new military bill, like a boulder thrown into a stagnant pool, stirred up a monstrous wave.

It will disrupt the centuries-old power structure, completely reshape the military strength of the Great Xia Dynasty, and push the entire empire onto an unprecedented path full of thorns and glory.

Meanwhile, at the training grounds in western Beijing, Han Lie had already begun selecting his first batch of "Divine Martial Army" soldiers.

The first batch of standardized flintlock muskets manufactured by Zhao Tie is being delivered in boxes.

Mo Qi's Imperial Guards have spread like ghosts throughout the country, waiting for the first "fool" to dare challenge imperial power.

The storm has truly arrived.