Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 630 Soldiers Retired and Three Elders

"Remember, you will be the head of this village from now on. In addition to listening to the head, you have to go to the township office often."

Zhao Tiezhu took out the roster again, and found the column of the head of Tianjia Village: "By the way, what's your name?"

"Tian Dagou—" being hit by such a surprise, Tian Dagou was stunned.

"It's so ugly." Zhao Tiezhu shook his head, looking at the village chief who had been reduced to a dementia statue: "From today on, you will be called Tian Gou."

As he spoke, he shook his head, and said with a full face of reminiscence: "In order to know this word, I was in the military camp, but I devoted myself to learning it for three days."

After saying that, Zhao Tiezhu said with endless aftertaste: "The military school is really a good thing. If we didn't know the characters, how could we be the head of the village?"

The township police on the side had no choice but to follow him away.

Only the two brothers were left stunned.

"Brother, does this house belong to our family?" The little brother was shocked.

"Yaogou, your elder brother, I am the village head."

Tian Dagou put his hips on his hips proudly and said: "Don't talk about this house, even the widow of Zhou in the village must become your sister-in-law."

"Brother, you have become the village head, why are you still going to the widow? I heard from my mother that she is unknown!"

"Fart, people's butts are so good to give birth to."

Tian Dagou looked back, only this tall house could match his identity.

"Major, we sent a dozen." The township police looked at Zhao Tiezhu, who was eager to try, helplessly,
"That is." Zhao Tiezhu sighed: "I never thought that there are so many villages in our township."

"It seems that there are only six hundred households, and there are more than one thousand households."

Riding a mule, Zhao Tiezhu moved forward with momentum like a rainbow.

As for the house land law, it had been promulgated as early as the period of the Huguang Shogunate.

But after the emperor came to Nanjing, there was no open space in the huge Jiangnan area.

For example, Yangzhou became a prosperous place in less than three months after being massacred. How could the house without an owner be missed?

Even in the corners of the mountains, tea trees will be planted by the southerners, or some miscellaneous grains will be planted. In short, they cannot be disappointed.

However, the house land law policy is good, and it has achieved initial results in Huguang, but the effect in Shuntian Mansion has shocked the court.

"In just three months, the counties in Shuntian Prefecture's newspapers have increased by 200,000 people, and more than [-] hectares of land have been registered."

Zhao Shu was inexplicably surprised, and couldn't help showing suspicion: "When I was in Huguang, there were only 500,000 people a year. In just three months, the population of the prefecture is so large. Maybe it's a fake?"

"Maybe it's because the people of Shuntian Mansion don't leave many places?"

Zhang Shenyan guessed: "After all, Huguang is a place where intruders operate. There are many casualties, and the mountains, forests and lakes are densely covered..."

"No!" The emperor shook his head, looked at the report of Shuntian Fu Yin, and said, "It's just a matter of execution."

Zhu Yixi's eyes showed joy.

When I was in Huguang, although the huge Hubei was brought into the rule of the shogunate after the reconstruction, it was still in the original order after all.

That is, the gentry ruled the countryside and the government ruled the city.

The same policy, in Huguang, relies on the executive power of the gentry.

Although the prestige of the shogunate has doubled after the restoration of Huguang, the local gentry are all amazed, and their execution power is more than double that of the Chongzhen Dynasty.

But once compared with today's Shuntian Mansion, it is far behind.

Because the wounded soldiers from the Beijing camp have been gradually distributed to various townships and counties in Shuntian Prefecture.

Last year alone, there were more than [-] people.

Whether it is the fast arrester, the head arrester, the township head, or the head of the village, it can be said that all of them have no worries behind their backs.

In ancient times, when soldiers fought in wars, why did those soldiers serve for life? Isn’t it because they left the army and didn’t know what to do?
Who wouldn't want to be the head of the township or village after retirement, with status, salary, and military rank matching the official position?

These soldiers, together with the three elders, immediately burst out with great strength.

That is, the county government has unprecedented control over local villages.

It would be a pleasure to say that the magistrate in the past could only rely on the gentry, but now he walks on two legs.

It is undeniable that these soldiers are rude, arrogant, and even violent, but compared to those advantages, these disadvantages are not worth mentioning.

"Three local elders?" Yan Chongxin showed surprise.

"That's right." Zhu Yixi sighed: "We also have to add those wounded soldiers who left the army."

"They are used to obeying orders and carrying them out, which is far more suitable for them than country crafty people."

"Also, don't forget that they can read and write, and they are proficient in the army. If there is a war, they can be recruited locally."

"So, wouldn't Beijing Camp be able to weed out those old, weak, sick and disabled every year?" Zhao Shu discovered Huadian:

"In this way, the 40 years old retirement system introduced by His Majesty was a bit outdated before, but now it seems that it is the best of both worlds."

Zhang Shenyan shook his head slightly and sighed inwardly.

The three-elder system broke the autonomy of the countryside and allowed the tentacles of the imperial court to reach the countryside, but the disadvantages are also obvious, and the tyranny can also spread to the countryside.

Without the gentry as a buffer, the prestige of the yamen soared.

If it was a small yamen before, it is now a big yamen, a big yamen that eats people.

However, these exclamations are only fleeting in his heart, and Zhang Shenyan is naturally sensitive to power because he is at the center of power.

"His Majesty."

Zhang Shenyan cupped his hands and said, "If it's just Shuntian Mansion, the land of Gyeonggi, under our noses, these retired soldiers can be properly arranged."

"But other land boundaries, I'm afraid it's difficult to arrange for the North Zhili alone..."

Zhu Yixi understood the point of his words in an instant, and smiled: "What do you mean, we need to arrange a special office to manage things?"

"The old minister just thought that it would not be very appropriate to put this matter in the Ministry of War, or the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies."

It is inevitable that the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies cannot be released, because this involves civil affairs and personnel affairs, how can those soldiers be allowed to interfere?

As for the Ministry of War, it only controls the army itself, and it seems inappropriate when it comes to the local area.

Yan Chongxin narrowed his eyes, glanced at Zhao Shu, the chief assistant of the old god, and then said:

"If that's the case, why not hang up in the staff department?"

"The staff department is only a consultant's responsibility. Where can I order those prefectures and counties?"

Upon hearing this, the emperor directly rejected it.

He didn't want to confuse the chief of staff, this is a place for military staff to train trusted generals.

"It can only be the official department."

Zhao Shu sighed softly: "Although it is said to be a heavenly official, it is indispensable."

Zhang and Yan were startled when they heard the words.

The power of the Ministry of Officials is already great, and the cabinet is not easy to lead when it has time. If this function is added, wouldn't it mean that it will surpass the cabinet?
Seeing the three of them talking like this, Zhu Yixi's thoughts changed a lot.

Suddenly, he actually laughed.

(End of this chapter)