Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 588
"The government of Tuntian was abolished, and there were no books and records. From hundreds of households to thousands of households, to commanders, eunuchs, general soldiers and other officials, all of them were enlisted in the garrison."

Lu Daqi showed a look of grief, and said bitterly: "As early as the Zhengtong period, five or six out of ten military households fled, but now I'm afraid that none of them survive."

Zhu Yixi was silent.

He thought that the frontier army was unbearable, and at least it would have to last until the Hongzhi and Jiaqing years. Who would have thought that it would collapse as early as the Zhengtong year, when the emperor called Zhu Qizhen.

At this time, only 60 years have passed since the Ming Dynasty unified the world!The setting of the frontier army is less than 50 years.

Zhu Yixi didn't know much about the Weisuo system. The most obvious thing was that he was eating out of money and occupying the farmland.

"I also know a little about the disadvantages of the frontier army. I don't know if Lu Qing can explain it in detail?"

"The old minister knows everything."

Lu Daqi was overjoyed, his face suddenly became serious, and he said in a sad tone:
"One of them is nothing more than garrisoning and abolishing the land. Soldiers and households are unable to support themselves, so they have to sell their wives and children and flee to the world..."

During the Hongwu period, the military colony occupied 60 million mu, but in the Hongzhi period, it was only 30 million mu, and in the Zhengde period, it was reduced to more than 1600 million mu.

During the Wanli period, Zhang Juzheng, the chief assistant, organized a re-measurement of the land across the country. This time, more than 6350 million mu of farmland was concealed.

Most of these lost military settlements were occupied by military officers at all levels, royal family members, and aristocratic families.

Zhang Juzheng's reform was not only to increase taxes, but also to strengthen the army and sort out the military settlements, but it was a pity that nothing happened.

"Now that the imperial court is thriving, and the frontier army is waiting to be rejuvenated, it is time to regain the military base and repeat the grand feat of the Hongwu period."

Lu Daqi's momentum doubled in vain.

"En!" The emperor nodded: "Continue."

"Secondly, the official service is stationed in the army, and the officers serve the frontier army privately, so that the frontier preparations are slack, and the bandits play lightly..."

These officers enslaved the army to work for themselves, reclaimed land, dug ditches, repaired houses, plowed their own land, and used the money and grain of the court to enslave the army to do their own private work. Who doesn't like free labor?

The consequence of this is that military officers bought a lot of land and became big local landlords, while military households became tenants or even private slaves.

"The third is that the tax is too heavy..."

That's right, the land owned by military households is not white, and you have to pay and rent it to the court.

While guarding the Great Wall, the military households have to farm, and they have to pay taxes for farming. Who wouldn't run away?

And this tax is unreasonable, no matter it is barren or fertile, the collection standard is the same, can the harvest of Mobei and Monan be the same?
So as early as the Hongwu period, deserters were banned repeatedly, and it was really hard for the frontier army.

"Fourth, military officers are difficult to use. The sons of a hundred households are hundreds of households, and thousands of households are thousands of households. It is difficult for a son to be like his father, so that the upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked. The frontier army is becoming more and more miserable.

When Lu Daqi said this, he burst into tears and laughter: "Through the past 300 years, it is not that the lords of Gungun have not seen this problem, but it is hard to change it. We can only continue to build castles and cities, and use money and food for pasting and mounting craftsmen..."

Smart people in the court can see these disadvantages, and there must be people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the country, but it is difficult to put them into practice.

In the frontier area, once there is trouble, the overthrow of the country is just a matter of time, and only now, when Monan is stable, can it be implemented and proposed.

"Check the territory, select troops, and reorganize the frontier army."

At this moment, Lu Daqi finally revealed his last resort.

Zhu Yixi stood up after listening. There were so many ice basins in the room, exuding a burst of coolness, his mind suddenly turned to the ground.

If the well water is delivered to the underfloor heating, will the temperature be lowered?This is much better than an ice basin.

After walking a few steps, he came back to his senses and said with emotion:
"There is no shortage of people who discover problems in this world, and there is no shortage of people who come up with ideas to solve them, but there is only one thing missing - people who solve problems."

"In the court, the censors are used to criticizing, and they put forward a lot of problems and suggestions, but there are very few people who will actually implement them."

"The old minister understands."

Lu Daqi echoed: "The reorganization of the Weisuo was done by Du Yinxi, the shipping was done by Sun Changzhou, and the Jingying was done by His Majesty himself, and it is now the grand occasion."

"Yes."

Zhu Yixi leaned his hands on his back and straightened his back, which was very useful for this flattery. He said lightly:

"As for Du Yinxi, a certain plan is going to bring him to Beijing; the government affairs are busy, and the cabinet seems to be too busy..."

These two things didn't match at all, but this blatant statement made Lu Daqi unable to hold back his breathing gradually.

Although it is a young age, who doesn't want to join the cabinet and become the elder of the cabinet in the eyes of the officials?
"Weichen, old minister, I am willing to go to the Nine Frontiers to inspect military affairs and reorganize the frontier army."

Lu Daqi immediately cupped his hands and said solemnly, his eyes were extremely bright.

"The frontier army is different from the mainland, so be careful!"

The emperor spoke with a cautious tone.

For military towns such as Guyuan, Yulin, Gansu, and Datong, the main forces have been rectified, and they have been eating imperial food for several years, but the military and administration are in a mess.

And they are attacking the Hetao area at this time, if you come here blindly, wouldn't it be a big mess?

"The minister is willing to obey the imperial court's instructions, go through fire and water, and do whatever he wants."

Lu Daqi quickly made a guarantee.

"You are Minister of the Ministry of War, and it's your job. Naturally, I can trust you, and only you."

"Pass me a playbook!"

Zhu Yixi said with a little deep meaning, the latter was happy in his heart, and left with vigorous steps.

As soon as Lu Daqi left the palace, he turned around and handed in the memorial. The General Secretary didn't dare to delay, and immediately forwarded it to the cabinet.

After the cabinet attached the vote, it was presented to the emperor again.

With the gradual maturity of the cabinet, the six ministries generally only participate in the discussion of state affairs, and the right to make suggestions is firmly in the hands of the three members of the cabinet.

At this time, the issue of the frontier army was brought up, and Lu Daqi's solution could naturally be referred to, but it was up to the cabinet to discuss whether it was feasible.

"Let the three elders come to see me."

Zhu Yixi looked at the memorial and the bill, and said.

Zhao Shu, Zhang Shenyan, and Yan Chongxin were naturally working in Wenyuan Pavilion. When they heard the emperor's call, they seemed to have been prepared and came here without stopping.

Seeing the three of them, the emperor didn't hesitate, patted the notebook with his middle finger and ring finger, and said bluntly, "What is the constitution of the cabinet?"

"Your Majesty, the ministers and others believe that this matter must be rectified immediately without delay."

As the chief assistant, Zhao Shu spoke on behalf of the cabinet.

"Is there a specific charter?"

the emperor continued to ask.

Where the three of them didn't understand, the emperor just glanced at it, and didn't study it carefully at all, so he had to listen to their own explanation.

Zhao Shu did his part and spoke directly.

For farming, the imperial court directly searched for land according to the map, and those who collected taxes must be taxed. If there was any surplus or wasteland, it would be distributed to ordinary soldiers.

Because of the one-whip law, the imperial court had recognized its occupation of military land and only required it to pay taxes.

But this is only on paper, and 60 million mu is probably not the whole amount, and it has to be implemented in real terms.

(End of this chapter)