When the country was founded, all the civil servants and military generals were saying that the emperor was really kind to the military generals.

Why?

Because during the reign of Taizu, the viscounts and barons that had existed for thousands of years were abolished, and earls, marquises, and dukes became super-grades. This meant that a large number of generals did not have titles.

Emperor Shaowu, on the other hand, restored the two titles of male and female, and basically all the middle and high-level generals had titles, which can be said to be very satisfying.

But in fact, although there were no viscounts or barons in the pre-Ming Dynasty, there were a large number of hereditary generals, such as hundreds of households, thousands of households, commanders, etc. These were official positions, land, and wealth that were passed down from generation to generation.

For example, You Shiwei, his family is a hereditary military general.

The most typical example in the Ming Dynasty is Qi Jiguang of the Qi Jiajun. Even though he was only sixteen years old, he could still inherit the official title.

In addition, in the early Ming Dynasty, the burial system was popular, but the family members did not feel sad at all. This was because the family members who were buried with them would get a hereditary military attache. Who would not be happy to sacrifice one person in exchange for hundreds of years of wealth for the entire family?

To a certain extent, Zhu Yuanzhang was ruthless towards high-level heroes and generals, but he was also too kind towards middle- and lower-level military officers.

Nothing more than that they would not jeopardize the rule.

It was precisely because of his favor to the middle and lower-level military attachés that he was able to launch major cases like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves and eliminate high-achieving nobles.

Therefore, in the early Ming Dynasty, the number of military attachés reached 28,000, and by the Chongzhen period, it exceeded 100,000.

That's too far.

Compared with Emperor Taizu, Zhu Yixi ostensibly restored his title to the title of son and second baron, which made more generals become nobles. However, don't forget that the titles in Shaowu's new dynasty were hereditary at reduced levels.

For example, if a baron's son succeeds to the baron's title, his grandchildren will live in a thousand households, his great-grandsons will live in a hundred households, and his great-great-grandsons will be common people. They can maintain wealth for a hundred years at most.

Even if it is a duke, it will be hereditary only after Jiang reaches the age of earl. Marquis Jiang becomes his son, and earl Jiang reaches the age of baron.

Only those who are above count can be regarded as truly retiring with the country, and are hereditary.

Ordinary soldiers naturally do not have such a high vision to see clearly.

However, as a transitional title, Baihu and Qianhu are not considered titles in terms of certain benefits, and they still attract the covetousness of some people.

You must know that to obtain a baron, you must at least command more than five hundred troops and horses to obtain it. However, those at the bottom of the army, even if they kill several times as many enemy troops as themselves, they cannot hope for the title of baron.

So if hundreds or thousands of households were to secure a title, many people would also want to be addicted to a title.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yixi suddenly remembered a term: "Bu Shijue".

To put it simply, the addiction of one generation cannot be passed on to the next generation.

At this time, our emperor unconsciously thought of the Qing Dynasty and crossed the river by touching the Manchu and Qing Dynasties. This has almost become his habit.

There is no way. As the culmination of two thousand years of Chinese feudal society, the Manchu Qing's ruling ability cannot be underestimated.

For example, under Gonghou Bozinan, he set up Qingqi Duwei (the third rank), Cavalry Duwei (the fourth rank), Yunqiwei (the fifth rank), and Enqiwei (the seventh rank).

Among them, Yunqiwei attacked again and was demoted to Enqiwei. Enqiwei was no longer demoted, but became hereditary.

Except for Enqiwei, promotions to all titles are based on Yunqiwei.

If you get two Yunqi Lieutenants, you will be promoted to the rank of Cavalry Captain;

If the Cavalry Commander adds another Cloud Cavalry Lieutenant, he will become a "Carriage Commander and a Cloud Cavalry Commander"; if the Cavalry Commander adds two more Cloud Cavalry Commanders, he will be promoted to a third-class Light Vehicle Commander...

By analogy, if I add two lower-level titles, I can advance to the upper level.

Even if you think of a duke, you can also be a first-class marquis.

The title levels of heroes of the opposite sex were exaggerated to twenty-seven. Therefore, in the three hundred years of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, there were only four persons of the opposite sex who climbed to the rank of duke, and they were all promoted during the Qianlong Dynasty, which was very successful.

Not easy.

Because they learned from the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty's royal family inherited the title of Jiangjue, while most of the Mongolian titles for meritorious officials were hereditary.

Therefore, the Qing Dynasty had the largest number of nobles. The three title systems of clan, hero, and Mongolia were just many unknowns.

The duke system was related to the foundation of the imperial court, and Zhu Yixi did not want to be arbitrary, so he recruited the person he trusted most - Zhao Shu.

As the most prestigious civil servant in the court, Xiao He was a figure like Xiao He. After surviving the crisis of establishing a prince, the emperor continued to trust him as always.

As he came slowly, Zhu Yixi suddenly realized that Zhao Shu was really old.

His temples were originally gray, but now they are mostly white. He has deep bags under his eyes and deep wrinkles, but his eyes are still bright, not as cloudy as the old man's.

Only then did he remember that Zhao Shu was fifty-nine years old, nearly sixty.

The time has come for a cabinet refresh.

Lu Daqi was seventy-one years old and Wang Yingxiong was sixty-seven years old.

Only Yan Chongxin is younger, only in his early fifties.

The Ming Dynasty, with a population of hundreds of millions and a land area of ​​more than nine million square kilometers, needs a dynamic cabinet center.

Thoughts passed through her heart, but Zhu Yixi spoke her thoughts without changing her expression, and finally said:

"It is my intention to replace hundreds of households and thousands of households with brave captains and brave captains."

"He is a non-Sylord, and is dedicated to rewarding soldiers who bravely kill the enemy. Among the Spykers, it is reduced to inheritance. For example, the son of a baron becomes a brave captain, and then a brave captain."

Zhao Shu didn't change his expression and said softly: "Then how should the soldiers be promoted to nobility? From bravery to perseverance?"

"It should be like this." The emperor continued: "Two brave men can accumulate to bravery, and two brave captains can become a baron."

The chief minister nodded, and then discussed the details with the emperor.

Such as acquisition conditions, treatment, etc.

So without notifying the cabinet, the two discussed it for half an hour and finally reached an agreement.

The brave captain and the brave captain will only inherit one generation. In terms of salary, the brave captain will receive thirty silver coins every year, while the brave captain will receive fifty yuan.

Among them, the brave captain rewards the warriors who bravely kill the enemy. Each battalion will get one place, which is the best killer at the battalion level.

In other words, if you want to get to the next level of Captain, you must win the title of Best Killer at the battalion level twice in a row.

But as a restriction, battalion-level officers are not allowed to participate.

In other words, this is a preferential treatment for low-level officers and soldiers, and to some extent it can stimulate the vitality of the army.

Only two brave captains can be promoted to baron, so the standard for obtaining them is also their bravery.

And the selection scope is expanded to an army, and only one quota can be obtained among ten thousand people, and it can only be one of the heroic captains.

After all, not everyone has the ability to win the best killer three times in a row.

Zhao Shu sighed softly at the end: "As soon as this edict was issued, fighting in the army became fierce, but Your Majesty, the old minister has something to say, I don't know whether I should say it or not?"

"Oh? Come on?" Zhu Yixi was in a good mood.

He felt that he had completed a patch on the military merit system and would be worry-free for at least a hundred years. The rest would be left to his descendants!

"Your Majesty, the Northeast has been recovered, the Southwest has been pacified, Anxi has been newly established, and there are almost no enemies around the Ming Dynasty. With such a brave army, there will be no rival in the entire world."

Zhao Shu frowned and said with worry: "But the desire to win in the army cannot be suppressed. Because of the generous rewards, the soldiers want to make meritorious deeds day and night."

"But the battle today must be fought to the end."

"The court's money and food will eventually run out."

"Therefore, Sima Fa said: Although our country is large, if we are warlike, we will perish; although the world is safe, if we forget to fight, we will be in danger."

Obviously, the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty's cabinet also noticed the public opinion in the military and also felt the pressure.

Seeing the emperor's expression bewildered, he seemed to be lost in thought.

Zhao Shu continued his efforts and began to read the data. It was obvious that he had been with the emperor for more than ten years, and he understood that this proud man of heaven dismissed some big principles and only valued facts.

"There are 200,000 people in the Beijing camp and 100,000 frontier troops. However, Gansu and Anxi provinces have nearly 100,000 troops. Although the imperial court ordered them to be reduced, Anxi has a vast territory. Jin Guogong clearly stated that there are not 30,000 soldiers.

Unable to settle down."

"Among the naval forces, the Donghai Navy, Nanhai Navy, and the newly established Luzon Navy have more than a hundred large ships with a thousand materials or more, more than ten ships with a three thousand materials, and nearly 40,000 soldiers."

"Once the fighting subsides, I'm afraid there will be some chaos in the army."

"Last year, 20 million was more than enough. This year, I'm afraid it will cost 30 million."

"As time goes by, the imperial court wants to move to the plateau again, fearing that it will receive 40 million. However, the imperial court only receives more than 70 million a year, and nearly half of them are in the army..."

After hearing these data, Zhu Yixi admitted that these were true.

In other words, as the territory expanded, the cost of governance continued to rise, reaching the limit of the Ming Dynasty.

Moreover, in Anxi and other places, the imperial court has always been operating at a loss. In today's peaceful and prosperous age, it is nothing. Once the dynasty reaches the middle and decline period, it will inevitably be abandoned.

Just like the Tang Dynasty abandoned the Western Regions and the Ming Dynasty abandoned Annan.

Therefore, hematopoietic function must be increased.

Only by making the northwest region self-sufficient can we avoid being abandoned.

Zhu Yixi made up her mind.

Seeing the emperor acting like this, Zhao Shu nodded with satisfaction. The emperor could still listen to the advice.

It seems that the reduction of troops is inevitable.

"You're right, we can't continue like this."
To be continued...