Daming: Dad, you are really not good at governing the country

Chapter 350: If you become the Zuosi Langzhong of the Secretariat, do you want to be a colleague of Hu Weiyong?

The next day, on the eve of court session.

Zhu Gang originally thought that the incident had disappeared like a passing cloud.

Unexpectedly, in the court, Zhao Yin, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, unexpectedly brought up the old matter again.

Just at this moment, a strong wind was howling outside the hall, like a mad dragon hitting the eaves of the Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, his expression as solemn as a towering mountain.

An air of majesty surged out, and the surrounding air seemed to be firmly imprisoned by this invisible pressure.

Everyone knew that the emperor had heard the many remarks made by Prince of Jin Zhu Gang on the issue of military expenditures.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his chin slightly and said in a deep voice like a bell: "Third brother, I heard that you seem to have a lot of ideas about military expenditures?"

Zhu Gang's expression suddenly changed, his face was instantly filled with sorrow, and beads of sweat suddenly seeped out of his forehead.

He knew that this matter was of great importance, and responded in a heavy and anxious tone: "Father, do you know how much military expenditure is needed every year to support those 160,000 soldiers?

I, your son, and Deputy Commander Sun will tell you this together."

Sun Ke saluted respectfully and straightened his chest.

His eyes were as firm as iron, and he said calmly and forcefully: "Your Majesty, let's talk about food consumption first.

An ordinary soldier had about one dan of grain per month, which was worth about half a tael to one tael of silver at stable prices.

Thus, the annual food cost for one soldier is 6 to 12 taels, and the annual food cost for 160,000 soldiers is between 960,000 and 1,920,000 taels.

Upon hearing this, Supervisory Censor Yuan Kai was shocked, his eyebrows raised high, and he shook his head slightly like a frightened bird, saying: "This food expenditure is really shocking!"

Zhu Gang continued, "The Ming Dynasty now implements the Wei Suo system, where soldiers perform military tasks part of the time.

Most people would participate in farming, and the military expenditure would be relatively less.

But the situation has changed and the soldiers have received salaries.

If the monthly salary is one to two taels of silver, a soldier's annual salary would be twelve to twenty-four taels of silver.

The annual salary for 160,000 soldiers and horses is between 1.92 million and 3.84 million taels of silver.

Xiaoqi Attendant Guo Decheng seemed to be thinking about something and nodded slightly.

He stroked his beard unconsciously with his right hand and said solemnly, "The military pay is indeed a heavy burden."

At this time, Sun Ke spoke again: "Besides, horses are key equipment for the army, and the price of a war horse ranges from dozens to a hundred taels.

If we calculate it at fifty taels per horse, then we assume that one quarter of the 160,000 soldiers are equipped with war horses.

That is 40,000 horses. Just buying war horses would cost two million taels.

The cost of feeding a war horse is two to three taels per month, or twenty-four to thirty-six taels per year.

The cost of raising 40,000 war horses is between 960,000 and 1,440,000 taels.”

At this moment, the atmosphere in the palace became increasingly heavy, and Zhu Yuanzhang's face was so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip from it.

He narrowed his eyes slightly and snorted coldly, "Huh, anything else?"

Zhu Gang lowered his head slightly, his expression becoming more solemn, and he continued in a serious tone: "There are also soldiers' equipment, including armor, weapons, etc.

A set of ordinary armor and weapons costs ten to twenty taels.

The cost of equipping 160,000 soldiers ranged from 1.6 million to 3.2 million taels.

These equipment are not replaced every year, but considering wear and tear, damage, etc., certain maintenance and update costs are required every year.

Assuming that one third of the cost is equipment, it would be approximately 533,000 to 1,067,000 taels.

To sum up, the annual military expenditure for maintaining 160,000 soldiers and horses is approximately between 6,053,000 and 10,467,000 taels.

This is just a rough estimate, and actual military expenditures may vary greatly depending on factors such as region and mission.”

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a long time, with his hands behind his back.

He paced slowly in the hall, and his footsteps were particularly heavy in the silent hall, as if each sound struck at everyone's heartstrings.

All the civil and military officials were silent, holding their breath, waiting for the emperor's decision. Then Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly: "We will think about this matter!

Then he turned his attention to Jiang Lin, "Zhao Yin made great contributions in his advice and was promoted from Yuwailang of the Ministry of Revenue to Langzhong of the Left Secretariat."

However, everyone knows that the Secretariat has been abolished since the "Hu Weiyong case".

All the former officials of the Secretariat have been dismissed, and this position may not last long.

Most of the officials present looked at Zhao Yin with pity, but he alone was still immersed in the joy of his promotion.

Just as Zhao Yin was about to express his gratitude, he saw the pacification envoy Jiang Li rushing towards him.

Although the pacification envoy was only a fourth-rank official, the Northern Pacification Office had enormous power.

They have their own prisons and can arrest, torture and execute people on their own.

There is no need to go through the judicial system, and he is only responsible to Zhu Yuanzhang.

In the Jinyiwei organization, the person who can take charge of the Northern Pacification Office is the actual leader.

As the representative of Qin Wang Zhu Chong's power in the Jinyiwei, Jiang Lin has always been eager for an opportunity to show his power.

After all, Mao Xiang, who has been marginalized, is a lesson for us.

Last year, Mu Ying and Zhu Chong attacked from both sides and the victory news of breaking through U-Tsang has been transmitted to Yingtianfu.

But the army returning to the capital has not yet arrived.

U-Tsang is far away from Yingtian, with many regions and a journey of thousands of kilometers in between.

If the army marched on foot, taking into account the terrain, climate, supplies, etc., they would travel about 40 to 60 miles a day.

It may take several months or even more than half a year to walk thousands of kilometers in this way, and the actual journey is affected by many factors.

In short, the journey from U-Tsang to Yingtian is destined to be long and arduous.

When the life and death of the Prince of Qin was unknown, Jiang Lin had no choice but to rely on Zhu Yuanzhang to maintain his power.

The appearance of Zhao Yin made the situation even more complicated.

Zhao Yin was promoted to the position of Zhongshu Zuosi Langzhong because of his advice, but he was unaware of the crisis hidden behind it.

While he was immersed in the joy of promotion, he did not expect that he had been involved in a vortex of power.

Zhu Gang took into consideration that Zhao Yin was an official who assisted the doctor in handling the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue, and that it was not appropriate to treat him too harshly during this sensitive period.

So he thought it over again and again and said: "Father, Lord Zhao questioned the consumption of food and money of the Jin army before the expedition against the Northern Yuan Dynasty.

Although he may have shaken the morale of the army, but now is the time to use people, it is better to sentence him to death and wait for execution."

Zhao Yin, who had not yet figured out the situation, did not know what the punishment for "beheading and waiting for execution" was, but he thought that the word "behead" must mean the death penalty.

He showed fear on his face and said anxiously: "Your Highness Prince Jin, if I offend you, I will not end well.

But putting someone to death for such a small matter is too much!"

Li Shanchang, who could not bear to watch, whispered to him, "The Secretariat has been dismissed. If you become the Zuosi Langzhong, do you want to be a colleague of Hu Weiyong?"

Zhao Yin suddenly realized and felt uneasy.

"Thank you for your advice, Mr. Han. I'm afraid it's hard to survive if I'm sentenced to death pending execution."

Zhu Gang knew that he needed to stabilize people's hearts at this time, so he patiently explained: "In previous dynasties, the execution of the death penalty was relatively simple and direct.

In order to handle death penalty cases more carefully and avoid false and wrongful convictions, our Ming Dynasty can gradually form the system of "beheading and waiting for execution".

Death penalty cases with complex circumstances, controversy, or possible mitigating circumstances will no longer be carried out immediately.

Instead, the criminal will be imprisoned pending further trial.”

Li Shanchang nodded slightly after hearing this and asked, "Your Highness, Prince of Jin, when you say "wait for further trial", do you mean when those prisoners sentenced to 'beheading pending execution' will be dealt with?"

Zhu Gang said confidently: "Every autumn, all the cases of execution awaiting execution are tried together across the country. This is called the 'Autumn Trial'."

(End of this chapter)