The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1753

[1753. Chapter 1666 Huge Project]

I have just returned to Beijing after being away for many days. His Highness the Crown Prince has to do something to help Fang Jifan.

Fang Jifan, however, was eager to return home and wanted to go back to see the princess and her child.

But Zhu Houzhao was pulling him hard, but he couldn’t get away.

So he had to sit down with Zhu Houzhao in Zhenguo Mansion.

The banquet has been prepared long ago, and all of them are Fang Jifan’s favorite dishes.

After pouring a glass of rice wine, Zhu Houzhao drank a glass of rice wine, looked at Fang Jifan, and said happily: “This time I have just realized the benefits of supervising the country. Haha, the court is missing a group of censors who can guide the country. It is so happy.”

It’s not that there are fewer censors, but that the censors have begun to pretend to be deaf and dumb due to the recent wind.

Zhu Houzhao talked about his support for the research institute and about training the new army.

This made Fang Jifan very surprised. He said: “Your Highness, is this going too far? Ruling a big country is like cooking a small delicacy. How can you be like your Highness? He can come as soon as he says it like a gust of wind.”

Zhu Houzhao’s intention was obvious. What needs to be done is for the new army to replace all the previous military horses, and may even include the Forbidden Army.

This is a huge project.

Zhu Houzhao said: “But if we don’t do it today or tomorrow, when will we do it? We all know what the shortcomings are, and we all know that continuing like this is not the solution. There are no tigers in the mountains of Ming Dynasty, so we can only rely on the past. We can live with it, but sooner or later, we will face a terrible enemy. By then, if we want to change it, it will be too late. Besides, let’s talk about Golden Continent and the North. “Save, why are you still so inseparable from the Franji people? In the final analysis, there is still no decisive power. Do you know that fists are the last word?”

Zhu Houzhao clenched his fists as he said it .

Human appearance.

Fang Jifan’s heart skipped a beat. He didn’t want to be the subject of Zhu Houzhao’s on-site teaching, so he nodded quickly: “It makes sense, it makes sense.” “

So you have to help me.” Zhu Houzhao stared at Fang Jifan and said seriously: “In this world , out of 10,000 people, 9,990 are stupid people. They cannot understand these things. The remaining ten people, and nine, see the problem, but have no determination to change it. I’m afraid I can’t handle such a big thing by myself, so I can only help you.” Fang Jifan

grimaced and couldn’t help but said, “But I have too many things to do recently, and I’m afraid I can’t get away.

” All in all, don’t think about hiding. “Zhu Houzhao said without a doubt: “I have done all this for you. Look, how about more than seventy appointments?”

Zhu Houzhao said with a proud look on his face. He pulled out an edict from inside.

Fang Jifan looked at the edict in surprise, took it… and after reading it… he was shocked. He didn’t know what to say for a moment.

The prince is the prince, he is indeed a generous person.

However…

Fang Jifan said with emotion: “His Royal Highness is really loyal. Although this matter, I still feel that it is a bit too much. In this world, there is no way in this world to brag about oneself and claim one’s own title. But… His Highness the Crown Prince can still do it at this time.” Thinking of the minister, it can be seen that His Royal Highness is still loyal. “

Zhu Houzhao is happy: “Of course you need to be loyal, but there are other considerations,”

Fang Jifan said: “What other considerations does your Highness have…”

Zhu Houzhao doesn’t like to lie. He said coyly: “Well… of course I want you to be my deputy. This may make my father feel that this matter is not my idea alone, but a conspiracy between you and me.” , if my father becomes furious, I will be beaten less. “

Fang Jifan:”… “

Although I feel a little heartbroken, when the matter comes to a close, Fang Jifan can’t solve it.”

Zhu Houzhao’s idea is very simple. He wants to create a military horse that can promote Tianda and completely replace the old army.

In this way, this first army becomes extremely crucial.

Although the Zhenguo Mansion had never trained military horses in the past, it was only a small fight after all, and it did not fundamentally subvert the problems in the Ming army.

But the meaning this time is different… This is to use the First Army to dig out the roots of the Wei system.

Fang Jifan felt a little scary when he thought about it. After all, this was related to the abolition of many hereditary military positions. How many people would have to support this.

Stealing people’s money is like killing your parents. The hatred is so great!

Of course, if the military household system could be abolished, it would be a good thing.

Fang Jifan likes to accumulate virtue, which is why he gave birth to a son.

But then… the question arises, how to create a killing machine that can be used at any time to the greatest extent, and how to make it different from the previous guard?

So Fang Jifan spent the past few days hiding in his study, thinking constantly.

For half a month, he could hardly leave the house or even take a step forward.

The same is probably true for Zhu Houzhao. He is a serious person. As long as he does something right, even nine oxen can’t pull it back. The two of them wrote and drew independently, constantly improving their ideas.

Occasionally, Fang Jifan would call his disciples, especially Wang Shouren, who was the best at this.

After half a month, a copy of the charter was finally delivered to Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao smiled happily. As he looked at it, he said in surprise: “Many of the ideas in it coincide with mine, haha…Old Fang, I really have yours.”

He pointed to the articles of association and said cheerfully: “The first article is to improve the salary system. Marching and fighting is a job of licking blood with the tip of a knife. Even daily drills are ten times harder than ordinary people.” , But unfortunately, this person who sweats and bleeds can’t even support his wife and children. This… is outrageous. He should have a stable salary. “”

As for the second item, that’s right.

, I also expected it, haha, this logistics is the top priority. Without enough supplies, sufficient ammunition, and no customization to solve these problems, what will the soldiers rely on to fight? “

“Other than that .

, we also need to have a stable military medical system, military laws and regulations, and…”

“As for the quota…ah, Lao Fang, let me do the math. According to your calculation, these five thousand people will only need More than 1,500 people are responsible for miscellaneous tasks. If the military attachés are subtracted, there will only be less than 3,000 soldiers capable of fighting. “

This is enough to criticize Zhu Houzhao. There are too few combat personnel, and most of them are not responsible for logistics. , that is, he is responsible for medical treatment, or he is a civilian, not to mention a military attache. Will this weaken the combat effectiveness?

In fact, the problem of the proportion of soldiers has existed since ancient times.

During the Three Kingdoms period, 80% of Wei’s army was combat soldiers. Since then, it has been roughly at this proportion. If there are 5,000 soldiers and horses, only 4,000 can actually fight. But in the Ming Dynasty, the proportion of soldiers was even higher, reaching 85%, which was more than 4,200.

For this era, the higher the ratio of combat soldiers, the better. After all… combat soldiers are the key to maintaining combat effectiveness.

But Fang Jifan’s establishment was contrary to it, which made Zhu Houzhao somewhat reluctant.

Zhu Houzhao frowned and said: “If we add in the thousands of households below and the other auxiliary merging of hundreds of households, I am afraid that the number of soldiers will only be 50%…”

Fang Jifan said in a dilemma: “I also want to delete some.” , but after careful calculation, it seems that all of them are needed, and there is only so much. However, Your Highness, there is… a small problem here. Let’s take a look. “

Zhu Houzhao cheered up. He will succeed to the throne after all. He was still trusting. Although he had some objections, he was quickly attracted by other questions. When he saw a list sent by Fang Jifan, he immediately…

he became melancholy, stared at Fang Jifan and asked: “Is the Ministry of War going crazy?”

…

Ma Wensheng, the Minister of War, has been worrying about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s plan to build a standing army these days.

Because… in this matter, the Ministry of War has no involvement at all, as if the dignified Ministry of War has become an outsider.

It seems that because of rumors that hereditary military attachés may be abolished, many military attaches came to inquire, fearing that their iron rice bowl would be ruined.

There are also some Qiu Ba who make a fuss out of anger. They just say that their ancestors have meritorious service and have hereditary military positions. How can they live without a ration now?

Ma Wensheng was very worried about this, but at this moment, a civil servant hurriedly sent a copy of the charter.

It was sent from the Zhenguo Mansion. Ma Wensheng did not dare to neglect it, so he quickly took it out and looked at it. He looked at the new army’s new system. Although he found it fresh, he still felt that the young man had gone too far.

But when he saw a list attached at the end… Ma Wensheng suddenly felt like his eyes were about to fall down…

He subconsciously said: “I, the Minister of the Ministry of War, don’t do it, it doesn’t matter, the Minister of the Ministry of War does it If it doesn’t work, come here, prepare a car, prepare a car, and go to the cabinet. “

Marwen arrived at the cabinet in a huff. Liu Jian and others did not dare to neglect. They looked at the list and were a little confused.

“Is the calculation wrong?”

“It’s so clear, how could it be wrong?” Ma Wensheng said sadly: “There are only five thousand people, and the monthly salary is divided equally, and each person is five taels of silver. How much is this?” That’s 25,000 taels, which makes it 300,000 taels in a year. In addition, there are ordnance, standing medicines, military uniforms for the four seasons, and…” “

After this year, A mere five thousand people actually cost nearly one million taels of silver. Gentlemen, tell me, the Ministry of War allocates only this amount of money and food throughout the year. In the past two years, the imperial court has allocated more silver than before. It seems a little more, but I can’t withstand such a toss. I can’t go down as a low-ranking official. It’s hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice. This is only the first army. I heard that in the future, we need to set up I don’t know how many soldiers and horses there are, but you all know that the Crown Prince and the Duke of Qi will not be able to get so much money even if they sell their generals. “

Ma Wensheng’s face was red, and he looked like he was despairing, full of complaints.

(End of chapter)