Chapter 206 In the possibility of becoming the final winner
"But I don't know what Mr. Liang's purpose is for sending Mr. Xu to see me this time?"
Hearing that Zhao Junchen finally got to the point of the question, Xu Wenqing did not dare to be negligent. He immediately straightened his face, stood up and saluted: "I dare not hide it from Zhao Shangshu. This time, Mr. Liang, he sent me here to ask Zhao Shangshu for something."
Regarding Xu Wenqing's answer, Zhao Junchen had already guessed it, but he was not surprised. He just put the tea cup in his hand aside and asked seriously: "Oh? Mr. Liang, he is supervising Shaanxi and giving an overview of the military and civilians on the three sides of the northwest.
, and is deeply trusted by His Majesty, and is one of the top border officials in our dynasty. What is going on now? Even Master Liang can't solve it, and he still wants to ask me for help?"
After saying this, seeing Xu Wenqing's slightly hesitant expression, Zhao Junchen added with a smile: "Mr. Xu, don't worry, there are no outsiders here, but it doesn't matter! As long as it is within my ability, I will never refuse."
In his words, Zhao Junchen's attitude was quite sincere.
As the governor of the three sides, Liang Fuchen not only has great power, but also controls more than 100,000 elite border soldiers. When he returns to the center of the imperial court in the future, he is afraid that there will be the possibility of further promotion. For such a person, Zhao Junchen has never
Dare to offend easily.
Now that Liang Fuchen sent someone to ask for help, Zhao Junchen thought it was a rare opportunity, so he naturally planned to take advantage of the opportunity to make good friends.
In the officialdom, the word "favor" is often the most difficult to repay. If you take this opportunity to give Liang Fuchen a favor, you may get unexpected rewards at some time. If you can also use this to deepen the friendship between the two parties
, or even become an Austrian aid ally, which will bring countless benefits in the future.
Therefore, since Zhao Junchen guessed Xu Wenqing's purpose of coming, he had no intention of refusing. As long as such help would not endanger his own safety, Zhao Junchen would definitely do his best to help.
On the other side, seeing Zhao Junchen's sincere expression, Xu Wenqing finally put aside his worries. After sighing, he explained to Zhao Junchen: "Hey, to be honest with Zhao Shangshu, it's not that I have any worries. It's about the next topic.
Not only is this matter of great importance, but it is also a bit embarrassing. I am afraid that Zhao Shangshu will laugh at you if I tell you."
Zhao Junchen did not answer, but showed a listening look and nodded to Xu Wenqing to continue.
Seeing Zhao Junchen like this, Xu Wenqing let go of his worries even more and asked: "Although your Excellency is a civil servant, but you have an overview of the world's finances, and you think you have some understanding of the origin of our dynasty's military sources?"
In order to be able to intervene in the military affairs of the Ming Dynasty in the future, Zhao Junchen had really studied this carefully. When he heard Xu Wenqing's inquiry, he nodded and replied: "I understand a little bit, but not in detail."
Xu Wenqing explained: "I also learned from the Master that since the founding of the country by Taizu, our dynasty has always adopted the 'hereditary system of military households' because of the financial difficulties caused by the 'recruitment system' of the Tang and Song dynasties.
Mainly. It is supplemented by the farming system, which uses hereditary sergeants to ensure sufficient supply of troops, and soldiers to farm to ensure self-sufficiency of the army, so as to reduce the burden of raising troops on the court. According to regulations, each soldier is granted fifty acres of land, and the court provides cattle for farming.
, agricultural tools and seeds, and six stones from the annual harvest should be handed over to the military warehouse, and the rest can be used by oneself."
At this point, Xu Wenqing shook his head and sighed, and continued: "However, due to various reasons, the land the sergeants were actually allocated was only about twenty acres. As a result, even if the sergeants worked hard,
After handing over the grain for the military warehouse, what was left was very difficult to maintain. As a result, morale was naturally low and combat effectiveness was low. In desperation, during the Zhengtong period, our court once again restored the recruitment system to provide military pay.
The method of recruiting young people from the people, in parallel with the hereditary system of military households, has barely restored the morale and combat effectiveness of the army. Today, half of the sergeants in our dynasty have come for recruitment... However, what happened next
So other problems arise.”
Zhao Junchen also sighed and said: "Yes, I have been in charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs in recent years and have some understanding of this. Recruiting soldiers can certainly ensure the morale and combat effectiveness of the army, but it is not like hereditary military households who can farm and support themselves every year.
The amount of salary and silver consumed was several times that of military households. As a result, the financial burden on the imperial court increased greatly, and it increased every year. As of last year, the amount of food and salary for recruiting soldiers transferred to the Ministry of War from the Ministry of Household Affairs was as high as more than 20 million taels.
, even though the past few years have been good for our country, our income has increased, and there has not been any big war expenditure, but it has gradually become unsustainable. To be honest with Mr. Xu, I have to spend a lot of money every year to collect enough food and salary for the Ministry of War.
It’s really unspeakable to think about it.”
Xu Wenqing's expression became increasingly bitter, and he actually shook his head and said: "Shang Shu Zhao, in fact, the problem is not just about food and salary consumption."
After all, Zhao Junchen didn't know much about military affairs. After hearing Xu Wenqing's rebuttal, he couldn't help but be stunned and asked: "What? According to Mr. Xu, there are other more serious problems?"
Xu Wenqing nodded, and then said word by word: "That's right, that's the military deserters over the years!"
"A military deserter?" Zhao Junchen was stunned again.
Xu Wenqing smiled bitterly and said: "There should have been 187,000 border soldiers in the three-sided military town, of which there were more than 110,000 military household soldiers and more than 70,000 recruited soldiers. But these are just numbers in the military register, but do you know
, how many actual troops are there in the Trilateral Military Town now?"
Zhao Junchen narrowed his eyes slightly, vaguely feeling that he was about to know about a shocking hidden danger, so he couldn't help but asked in a deep voice: "How much?"
Xu Wenqing gritted his teeth and said: "According to the calculations of my Lord Liang, the number of border troops left in the current Trilateral Military Town is less than 100,000! This is only a rough calculation. The actual strength of the troops is
I’m afraid it will be even less!”
"What!?"
Zhao Junchen stood up suddenly, his face full of shock, and asked loudly.
…………
Even though he had been mentally prepared for a long time, Zhao Junchen did not expect that the actual strength of the Northwest Trilateral Army Town, which was responsible for resisting the southern invasion of the Mongolian tribes, was only about half of what was listed on the list! This is a
What a shocking number!?
This number has far exceeded Zhao Junchen's imagination limit!
Even though Zhao Junchen has never had the noble sentiment of "worrying about the world first", after learning such figures, he still broke into a cold sweat subconsciously and couldn't help but be secretly frightened!
The military strength of the military towns on the three sides is actually so weak! Once the Mongolian tribes invade the south in a large scale in the future, the consequences will be unimaginable!
At the same time, Zhao Junchen finally understood why Xu Wenqing was so hesitant when answering just now. Once this matter is exposed, it will definitely shock the government and the public!
After a moment of shock, Zhao Junchen finally calmed down and slowly sat back on the chair. With an unprecedented serious look, he looked directly at Xu Wenqing and asked in a solemn voice: "What is going on? How can the matter be so serious?
Please tell me in detail!"
Seeing Zhao Junchen's solemn face and piercing eyes, Xu Wenqing couldn't help but be shocked. He felt that Zhao Junchen's power at this time was still far higher than that of Liang Fuchen, the governor of the three sides who had experienced many wars, and his body couldn't help but tremble.
He didn't dare to be negligent at all. He quickly replied: "Sir, in fact, this situation has accumulated over many years. It is not the fault of my family, Mr. Liang, and it is not just a hidden danger that only exists in the military towns on our three sides.
It’s just that this situation is the most serious in the military towns in the northwest, so please take a closer look, Sir!”
After saying such words of evasion, Zhao Junchen could not comment. Just waiting for him to answer in detail, Xu Wenqing took a long breath and explained in detail: "Master Shangshu, I have already said before I leave.
Although military households have land, they have to hand over six dan of grain to the military warehouse every year. The rest is difficult to maintain even basic life. As a result, morale is naturally low, but no matter what, life is still guaranteed and can be
It eliminates a lot of labor, so it can barely survive.
However, in the past hundred years, as the common people have become increasingly wealthy, the food and salary of recruiters have become several times that of military households. In contrast, the minds of those military households for generations have naturally changed. In addition, there are many unscrupulous officers who have repeatedly
Invading the property of military households and treating military households as slaves made the military households extremely heavy in their corvées. It also made the military households feel resentful and unwilling to be bound by the status of hereditary military households. In this way, not only the three northwest areas
Military towns, in military towns across our country, a large number of hereditary military households actually flee every year.
As of today, only in the military towns on the three northwest sides, after nearly a hundred years, about 70% of the military households are at large. Although there are still more than 110,000 military households on the list, in fact
However, I am afraid that there are only more than 30,000 soldiers left, and most of the remaining military households are old, weak, sick and disabled who are unable to escape and have no combat power at all. In addition, there are also many officers on the recruitment side.
They are eating empty pay, so the number of border soldiers in the three northwest border military towns is actually less than 100,000!"
After a pause, Xu Wenqing saw that Zhao Junchen's face was gloomy, and he was afraid that it would implicate Liang Fuchen, the governor of the three sides behind him, and continued to explain: "The reason why this situation is the most serious in the northwest three-sided military towns is because the northwest
The fields are barren and the harvests are far less abundant than those in the south. Therefore, the lives of military households in the northwest are more difficult. In addition, there are many wars in the northwest, and the casualties of military households are more serious. Therefore, compared with other places, the three northwest areas
The situation of military households fleeing in Border Army Town has become even more serious."
Although Xu Wenqing's words repeatedly exonerate Liang Fuchen, Zhao Junchen now ignored them and just asked in a deep voice: "Since there are so many military households fleeing every year, why is no one going to hunt them down?"
?No one notified the court?"
Xu Wenqing smiled bitterly and said: "This is the crux of the matter. You don't know, Lord Shangshu, that those thousands or hundreds of households responsible for managing military households not only fail to prevent military households from fleeing, but actually encourage military households to flee and
After the military households fled, they tried every means to cover them up, because when the military households fled, the officers could not only receive a bribe, but after the military households fled, they could also get the land and real estate under the military households' names.
It is said that this is a profit-free business, so how can anyone go after those fugitive military households? The governors of major military towns have either received bribes from the officers below, or are worried about causing a backlash from the officers below.
No one dares to expose this matter easily!"
Speaking of this, Xu Wenqing's expression became increasingly bitter, and he continued: "To be honest, Lord Shangshu, since five years ago, my Lord Liang served as the governor of the three northwest territories, when he discovered such a situation, he was just like what you are doing today.
He was so horrified that he originally planned to report it to the imperial court immediately. However, not only the officers of the major military towns in the northwest repeatedly obstructed him, but also the supervisors of the military towns outside the northwest and even some senior officials of the imperial court sent secret messages one after another.
Xin dissuaded him, saying that once this matter was exposed, it would be of no benefit to everyone. Later, there was a situation where the army was in chaos and uncontrollably. In desperation, Mr. Liang of my family could only hide it and refuse to report it, but he was also forced to do so.
"
After hearing Xu Wenqing's explanation, Zhao Junchen was silent for a moment and sighed slowly: "Over the years, Mr. Liang has supervised the northwest and tried his best to ensure the stability of the northwest frontier, but it has not been easy."
Xu Wenqing nodded with deep sympathy and said: "Yes, Lord Shangshu, you also know that every year after autumn, the Mongolian tribes in the north will go south to plunder. However, nearly half of the soldiers in the northwest have fled, and many of them have not fought.
We are old, weak, sick and disabled. In order to resist the Mongolian tribes over the years, Mr. Liang of my family has racked his brains and exhausted all methods. This has ensured the tranquility of the northwest in recent years. However, today, it has gradually...
It’s reached its limit.”
Zhao Junchen nodded and asked: "So, Master Liang, he sent Mr. Xu to see me?"
After Xu Wenqing hesitated for a moment, he finally replied: "Master Liang, for the sake of the safety of the northwest, plans to recruit about 30,000 young men from the private sector to join the army before autumn. However, the money spent on recruiting soldiers is too great.
, and the treasury in the northwest and three sides is really in embarrassment and cannot raise so much food and salary. Therefore, I would like to ask Lord Shangshu to allocate some silver grain from the Ministry of Household Affairs to meet the urgent needs of the northwest and three sides!"
According to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty, after recruiting soldiers, they usually receive a monthly salary of three to five taels after joining the army. Liang Fuchen planned to recruit about 30,000 young men. Plus military uniforms, weapons and food, the annual cost would be about 1.5 million.
About two silver coins.
Although the amount of silver grain is huge, with the current household situation, Zhao Junchen can help make up most of it with various maneuvers.
According to Zhao Junchen's original idea, it would be a good thing to sell Liang Fuchen a favor.
But there was something hidden in Xu Wenqing's request that made Zhao Junchen hesitate.
Therefore, after Zhao Junchen glanced at Xu Wenqing, he asked slowly: "Oh? Mr. Xu means, is it that the Ministry of Revenue directly allocates this silver grain to the northwest three-sided military towns, instead of transferring it through the Ministry of War? This
Isn’t this a bit against the rules? Although the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the imperial court’s money receipts and expenditures, it has never been able to intervene in military pay, which is instead allocated by the Ministry of War.”
When Xu Wenqing heard what Zhao Junchen said, he showed a pleading look on his face and explained: "I would like to ask Lord Shangshu to be more accommodating. We should indeed act in accordance with the rules, but my Lord Liang does have unavoidable difficulties. If it passes
Not to mention how much money and grain the people from the Ministry of War will intercept during the transfer of the Ministry of War, it is really difficult for my Lord Liang to explain to the court the difficulties and reasons for recruiting soldiers, not to mention... My Lord Liang and the current Minister of the Ministry of War, in previous years
There are quite a few grievances, and if we go through the process of the Ministry of War, I'm afraid I will face a lot of difficulties."
Hearing Xu Wenqing's explanation, Zhao Junchen was slightly startled, and then asked: "Oh? Mr. Liang and Wang Shangshu don't get along?"
Wang Jie, the Secretary of the Ministry of War, is a middle-aged man with a fair build. Zhao Junchen was not impressed by him because he rarely spoke in the morning and never participated in party disputes. He had no sense of existence.
It always gives people a feeling of mediocrity and inaction.
In fact, I am afraid that it is precisely because of this that Wang Jie can securely sit in the position of Minister of the Ministry of War.
But Zhao Junchen did not expect that Wang Jie, who had always been low-key, would actually be at odds with Liang Fuchen.
On the other side, after hearing Zhao Junchen's inquiry, Xu Wenqing was silent for a moment and then explained: "Back then, my Lord Liang and Wang Jie and Wang Shangshu served as the left and right ministers of the Ministry of War respectively. Later, the position of Minister of the Ministry of War became vacant, and there was a dispute.
In the end, Mr. Liang became the governor of the three northwest regions and received the title of Shangshu, while Mr. Wang Jie became the Minister of the Ministry of War."
These words were regarded as acknowledgment of the discord between Liang Fuchen and Wang Jie.
However, precisely because of this, Zhao Junchen did not dare to easily agree to Liang Fuchen's request.
After all, since Wang Jie and Liang Fuchen are political enemies, they must keep a close eye on each other, so it is probably extremely difficult for Liang Fuchen to hide his actions from Wang Jie.
Once the news that Zhao Junchen secretly allocated money and grain to help Liang Fuchen privately recruit border soldiers was revealed to Emperor Deqing by Wang Jie, Liang Fuchen didn't know what would happen to him, but Zhao Junchen had such a personal relationship with the feudal officials, and even secretly funded the feudal officials
The private recruitment of soldiers was enough to prompt Emperor Deqing to kill Zhao Junchen!
Therefore, after pondering for a moment, Zhao Junchen did not agree, nor did he refuse. He just replied unequivocally: "Mr. Xu, you have worked hard all the way. Please stay in my house for a few days. After all, this matter is of great importance."
, let me think about it for a while."
Seeing that Zhao Junchen did not agree, Xu Wenqing couldn't help but get anxious and quickly stood up again, planning to say something else.
However, Xu Qingyan, who was next to Zhao Junchen, understood Zhao Junchen's thoughts best. Seeing that Xu Wenqing was still planning to entangle, he took a step forward, blocked in front of Xu Wenqing, and spoke first: "Mr. Xu,
I will arrange room accommodation in the mansion for you, please follow me."
When Xu Qingyan suddenly interrupted, Xu Wenqing was slightly startled. Then he saw Zhao Junchen sitting on a chair drinking tea with a calm expression. His attitude was lukewarm, but he obviously didn't want to talk about anything further. He knew that it would be useless to pester him, and he couldn't help but look disappointed.
With such a look on his face, he finally followed Xu Qingyan and left.
…………
After Xu Qingyan left with Xu Wenqing, Zhao Junchen was the only one left sitting in the main hall of the Zhao Mansion, drinking tea quietly and thoughtfully.
The news Xu Wenqing brought today was really shocking to Zhao Junchen, but he could not imagine that the military towns in various places in the Ming Dynasty were in such a state of decay!
Although there have been relevant rumors among the government and the public for a long time, and the court occasionally issued some related policies, no one has dared to delve into it, but Zhao Junchen finally knows the reason now.
Although Xu Wenqing was very cryptic in his explanation, the implication was very clear. Today, the military household system of the Ming Dynasty has long become a towering tree that has been sucked by countless moths! And these moths are trying to
To safeguard their own interests, they formed an interest group. Hundreds and thousands of households in major military towns, military supervisors, division commanders, and even local frontier officials, and even some of the central officials of the imperial court, all belonged to this group.
members of interest groups.
This interest group is so powerful that even court officials like Liang Fuchen and close ministers of Emperor Deqing dare not confront it and can only compromise!
The more you think about this situation and the various crises behind it, the more frightening it becomes!
However, Zhao Junchen vaguely felt that if this situation was handled properly, it might be an opportunity!
An opportunity that can make Zhao Junchen the ultimate winner!