The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 156: Establishment of the Military Academy

At the end of January, the ice and snow in the capital had not yet begun to melt, and the streets and alleys were still covered in silver.

The nine borders of the Ming Dynasty were covered with ice and snow, and the wind was biting cold.

However, at this time, the official road leading to the north was filled with long lines of garrison troops.

The garrisons and even the remaining soldiers of the inland garrisons such as Huguang Dusi, Huguang Xing Dusi, Sichuan Dusi, Sichuan Xing Dusi, Jiangxi Dusi, Xindu Liushousi, Zhongdu Liushousi, etc. were all rushing north.

Even the garrisons in Guanzhong, Hanzhong, southern Shanxi, southern Northern Zhili, including Henan Dusi and Shandong Dusi, and the remaining soldiers of the garrisons were rushing north.

They all want to join the Beijing Camp and the Border Army.

Even if he killed less than a hundred enemies and did not get a title or reward, the reward for military merit was still huge. Killing one northern barbarian would give him fifty taels of silver.

The original military merit reward was basically that you could kill but not get it alive. If you had no connections, you would never get it in your lifetime, so the garrison guards didn't want to go to the battlefield.

Things are different now. The young emperor never delays military rewards. He pays them immediately after a battle. He has even made up for a lot of the military rewards that were previously delayed.

Fifty taels is nothing to a rich man, but it is a huge sum of money to the penniless garrison guards and their remaining soldiers.

It costs less than fifty taels to build a small courtyard these days. As long as you can kill two northern barbarians, you can marry a good wife.

Their thoughts are so simple, even if they cannot be granted titles or noble rank, they can still marry and have children.

If you are lucky and can kill hundreds of enemies, you will be able to enjoy a happy life.

Many hereditary garrison commanders, thousand-man commanders, assistant commanders, deputy commanders, commanders-in-chief, and even deputy commanders, deputy commanders, and commanders-in-chief could not help but give it a try.

They came here just to be granted titles and promoted to higher ranks.

There were actually many such hereditary garrison positions in the Ming Dynasty.

For example, Yu Dayou was a hereditary centurion, Qi Jiguang was a hereditary commander, and Du Tong, Wang Xuan, Xiao Ruxun, etc., all had hereditary military positions in their families.

There are far more hereditary military positions in the Dusiwei Suo than actual positions. For every actual centurion or even thousand-householder position, there are four or five hereditary centurions and thousand-householder positions competing for it.

Most of the families of these hereditary military officials were well off, and many of them had learned literature and martial arts since childhood.

However, those who come from families with hereditary military positions rarely leave the local Dusiwei.

Because they have connections in the local area, unless they take the military examination or have strong relationships, it is impossible for them to get a real job if they leave the local Dusiwei.

It’s different now. The Beijing Army and the Border Army no longer care about relationships, but only about ability.

If they can pass the selection and become officers in the Beijing Camp or the Border Army, they can lead the army to kill the Northern Tartars, and the chances of being granted titles and ranks are quite high.

In this situation, most people who come from hereditary military backgrounds want to give it a try.

In short, the inland garrisons rushing to the capital and the nine borders of the Ming Dynasty were as numerous as fish crossing the river, and they could be seen almost everywhere on the official roads leading to the north.

They didn't care about the capital, the nine borders, or the ice and snow. They just wanted to pass the training and selection quickly and go into battle to kill the enemy.

At this time, Ma Gui, the general of Datong Town, Du Song, the general of Pianguan Town, and Du Tong, the general of Yansui Town, also rushed to the capital.

Wanli still invited Qi Jiguang to accompany him and hosted a banquet for them in the Yangxin Palace.

These people were all his trusted confidants who were promoted by him. They were not troublesome people like Li Chengliang, so the atmosphere at the banquet was naturally different.

Wanli raised his glass to toast everyone, then asked everyone to eat a few bites of food. Then he smiled and said, "So, have you all decided where to set up your fiefdom?"

Ma Gui said carefully, "Your Majesty, how about I give fiefs to the meritorious officers and soldiers of Datong Town on both sides of the Qingshui River? There seems to be just enough space there."

Wanli did not answer for the time being, but looked at Du Song.

Du Song also said cautiously, "Your Majesty, there's no place in Pianguan Town suitable for raising cattle, sheep, and horses. How about I grant the meritorious officers and soldiers of Pianguan Town fiefdoms in Qiantao?"

Wanli smiled and shook his head, saying, "Actually, I've long wanted to adjust the defense zones of the Nine Frontiers. If Datong Town still takes into account the Qingshui River line, then the defense line is too long. I want Pianguan Town to extend northward, directly encompassing the Qingshui River line, including the entire mountainous area between Tucheng and Qiantao. Yansui Town will be moved directly north to the Qiantao Plain.

This way, Datong Town, Pianguan Town, and Yansui Town will be almost on par with each other. You should have no problem jointly dealing with the Kharachin, Tumed, and Dalat tribes."

Upon hearing this, Ma Gui suddenly realized something and said, "Your Majesty, do you mean to rebuild the original defense line of Zhenlu Guard, Yulin Guard, and Xuande Guard, and include Tucheng?"

Wanli nodded slightly and said, "Yes, the large area west of Tucheng to Xuanfu Town was originally the grazing land of the Bayuet and Balin tribes. If we don't occupy it, the Kharachin, Tumed and Dalat tribes will definitely take it.

If this happens, then last year's battle would have been in vain. I would like to extend Datong Town northward to include the grazing lands of the Bayuete and Balin tribes. Is that a problem?"

Ma Gui thought about it carefully, then said solemnly: "Your Majesty, if all the troops stationed at the border of Datong Town were to gather together and go to defend the town, there shouldn't be any problems. It's just that the cost of food and money is too high."

Datong Town now has 45,000 troops. The monthly food and salary is at least equivalent to 90,000 taels, which is more than one million taels a year. This cost is indeed huge.

However, this money can be earned back.

Wanli pondered, "That grassland, which covers at least several million mu, should produce enough cattle, sheep, and horses to offset the cost of food and wages.

The key point is that the place is almost outside the Great Wall, and it is very convenient to send troops there. If we want to conquer the northern barbarians, we certainly cannot run five or six hundred miles at a time.

We have to advance step by step, and that is our first step, which is crucial.

How about this? I'll give you 50,000 soldiers to garrison the border, and I'll find a way to provide you with food and wages. You build a defense line in that area this year, how about that?"

With 50,000 troops, there shouldn't be any big problems.

Ma Gui said cautiously, "Your Majesty, if it's just one large army attacking, I guarantee I can hold on. But if it's a coalition of several large armies attacking, I'm afraid I'll need reinforcements."

Of course there is reinforcement.

Wanli said to the brothers Du Tong and Du Song: "I will also provide you with 50,000 reinforcements for the border garrison, but for the time being, there are only 25,000 soldiers and horses with food and wages. Normally, you can only train in rotation.

You will cooperate with General Ma to resist the Kharachin, Tumed, and Dalat tribes, is there any problem?"

So many people?

Du Tong nodded repeatedly and said, "No problem."

Brother, you don’t have a problem, I do.

Du Song said carefully: "Your Majesty, I don't have many generals under my command. Originally, Pianguan Town did not have to face the Northern Tartars directly, and rarely fought wars, so there were no talented generals at all.

The only people I can use are the meritorious officers and soldiers from the Shenwu Rear Camp. The problem is that those who killed hundreds of enemies alone were basically sergeants, squad leaders, or even ordinary cavalrymen.

They fight with unparalleled bravery, but most of them have not learned any military tactics, and they are probably not capable of commanding a thousand or even five or six thousand troops."

Upon hearing this, Ma Gui nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, those who killed hundreds of enemies alone were just strong on their own. They have basically never learned any military tactics, so I'm afraid they are not good enough to lead troops into battle."

this problem.

Wanli frowned and pondered for a while, then said decisively: "How about this, Yuan Jing, you set up a military academy in Nanyuan to teach those meritorious soldiers who have never learned military tactics.

You don't have to teach this lesson. A military scholar or even a military candidate can teach it. However, you have to set appropriate military books and assessment standards for them.

Those meritorious officers and soldiers who have not learned the art of war will be gathered in the Military Academy to study it. If they fail the assessment, they will not be allowed to lead troops into battle.

A martial arts hall?
This is probably similar to the Imperial College for liberal arts.

However, the professor's meritorious soldiers still have to assess themselves.

Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang nodded slowly and said, "I will obey your order."

(End of this chapter)