The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 272 Daiyu's Reluctance to Part
The number of soldiers in the founding army of the Great Zhou Dynasty reached as high as one million.

Even if each soldier's monthly salary is only one tael of silver, it would still cost twelve million taels a year, not to mention horses, military equipment, armor, weapons, and even the construction and repair of fortifications and battlements.

The Great Zhou Dynasty inherited the Ming Dynasty's low commercial tax collection and did not attach importance to commercial taxes.

Such a huge military expenditure was soon unsustainable and became the biggest pressure on the Great Zhou. The arrears in military expenditure led to an imbalance in the army, and the military power of the Four Kings, Eight Dukes and Jiedushi fell into other hands.

In fact, from this perspective, the retired emperor did save the Great Zhou Dynasty during the first twenty years of his reign.

The Great Zhou Dynasty had too many shortcomings and didn't seem like a long-lived dynasty at all.

The retired emperor lived a long time and was very capable. He not only suppressed the four princes and eight dukes, but also consolidated some military power. The important Beijing garrison, no matter how much strength it had left, was at least under the control of civil officials.

The soldiers began to desert and were gradually disbanded.

Instead, militias and local militias emerged.

The expenditures on paper were reduced by half, and instead, taxes and corvée labor were reduced for those serving in the military.

The troops were mainly concentrated in the nine border regions, with a small number stationed in the interior.

Among the nine garrisons, Xuanda and Datong had the most soldiers, followed by Liaodong. Later, Liaodong surpassed Xuanda because of the rise of the Donghu and Manchu people. The number of soldiers in Liaodong increased and it was now on par with Xuanda.

"The number of soldiers in the Beijing Garrison is 120,000, but in reality it is less than half. The number of soldiers in the Liaodong Garrison has increased from 30,000 to 50,000 to the current 100,000, but in reality it is probably only 30%. Half of them are in the hands of the Prince of Dongping, which is the Northern Garrison Army."

"The Liaodong Military Command doesn't care?"

Wang Xin couldn't believe it.

According to Yen Chung-cheng, the population of the Man people alone was as high as 300,000 to 500,000. Although they did not belong to a single tribe, the Man people relied on hunting and gathering for a living, and it is an undeniable fact that strong soldiers emerge from remote and harsh environments.

Moreover, hunters are excellent candidates for scouts, and the barbarians rely on archery for their livelihood. Coupled with their tribal hunting habits, as long as they maintain long-term contact with the Great Zhou, they will inevitably absorb the Great Zhou's military system and transform it into their own advantage.

That's how it was during the Tang Dynasty.

The surrounding tribes thoroughly learned the military system of the Tang Dynasty, thus breaking away from the primitive tribal warfare mentality.

The Liao, Jin, and Mongol dynasties all originated in Northeast China.

One learns from another, and the student surpasses the teacher.

Later, the Ming Dynasty was established, and Mongolia was placed under a three-hundred-year ban.

Mongolia has degenerated from having the world's most advanced military system to a tribal model. On the battlefield, as soon as the Taiji dies, the country immediately collapses, regardless of the situation.

Therefore, Liaodong was far less harsh than Nurgan, with less than 30,000 troops. How could it possibly suppress the barbarians?
Relying on benevolence and morality?
Reasonable?
Yan Zhongzheng raised an eyebrow, as if he had remembered something and was angered. He said sarcastically, "The officials of the Liaodong Military Command are busy making money. Once they have enough, they will be transferred back to the interior as soon as possible. Who cares about Liaodong?"

Wang Xin shook his head.

Faced with such an environment, even a god couldn't help.

Yan Zhongzheng was not one to speak carelessly. In front of Wang Xin, he couldn't help but scold the officials in Liaodong a few times before quickly stopping the conversation and not continuing.

If my words get out, my life will be completely over.

How can you expect to have a good life after offending so many people?

Wang Xin did not pursue the matter further.

They have already achieved their goal.

As a military man, Wang Xin's greatest fear was naturally that once the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog will be cooked.

It's incredibly distasteful that someone would try to emulate others by cultivating a band of bandits to enhance their own prestige, yet they themselves cannot do such a thing.

Wang Xin had no idea what the future held for the Great Zhou Dynasty.

I wanted to ask a fellow villager what year it was, and he replied, "Late Zhou."

Even according to the proverbs in Dream of the Red Chamber and many subtle hints, even the capital city was not stable, and there were robbers in the Jia family. Not to mention Shandong, where thieves were everywhere and it was dangerous to travel far away.

But these are all speculations.

As the saying goes, "Better to be a dog in times of peace than a citizen in times of chaos."

Once war breaks out, regardless of the future, the people in the present will inevitably suffer.

Nine out of ten houses are empty.

In my previous life, I was an ordinary citizen.

Wang Xin hated it most when people praised Yang Guang, even saying that Yang Guang was the one with great talent and ambition, but died a little too soon, and that his achievements would last for generations.

These people should really be used up as consumables in peacetime.

Let them get what they want.

A unified dynasty came to an end.

The people must have hated Yang Guang so much.

As for the future prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, what does it matter to those countless people who have already perished in the chaos of the end times?

Taking good care of people in the present day is the most important thing.

If people in the present don't love, how can they possibly love future generations?

We should prioritize the well-being of the present before embarking on grand, lasting projects. This aligns with human nature; only by benefiting the people of today can we truly benefit future generations.

So even if I suffer some injustice.

It's alright.

Work is never going to be smooth sailing.

You have to be careful when you're working.

Now that it has been confirmed that the situation in Liaodong is quite serious and the court still needs military men, there is no need to start looking for a way out now. For the time being, I can act with confidence and boldness.

Just like Yangzhou back then.

Given the uncertainty of the future, stability should be the top priority. Even if it means disbanding the Yangzhou camp, I will not hesitate.

This trip back to Beijing was very fruitful.

Not only was the promotion secured and the goal of establishing the Western Army in Datong achieved, but the future was also secured. For at least the next ten years, military men would still have value, unless the various problems of the Great Zhou were resolved and the national strength increased day by day.

In times of peace and prosperity, military men naturally keep a low profile.

Don't spout any nonsense about forgetting war being dangerous.

Everyone wants a good life; who wants to suffer without hardship?

In chaotic times, a human life is worth less than a chicken, while in prosperous times, a human life is worth a million, and ten thousand chickens are not enough to compensate for a human life.

How much money would the imperial court have to spend to pay for the massive casualties?

The more prosperous the era, the better.

The less likely we are to fight a war.

The Tang Dynasty's use of non-Han people was not due to any collapse of its military system.

Even when the Ming Dynasty's garrisons collapsed, it didn't seem like many non-Han people were employed.

The real reason why the Tang Dynasty used non-Han people was that the Tang Dynasty could not afford to use its own people to fight, so it recruited a large number of non-Han people, which led to an uncontrollable situation and laid the groundwork for later disasters.

In contrast, the Ming Dynasty.

The garrison system minimized the cost of soldiers.

Even in the late Ming Dynasty, it was still possible to mobilize tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of soldiers to fight because the cost was so low. However, the Ming Dynasty could not afford such a low cost.

Therefore, human greed has no end.

For a century, Yangzhou enjoyed peace and prosperity. Even the poor were unwilling to join the army because there was work to be done, even if it was hard or tiring, it was still better than being a soldier.

Therefore, he was willing to spend a fortune to buy horse bones.

They set extremely high compensation standards to attract people to join the army and risk their lives.

However, this method cannot last. Not only can I not afford it, but even the Great Zhou Dynasty could not afford it.

We arrived at Jiubian.

The Jiubian region was poor and had many displaced people and disaster victims, which greatly reduced costs.

This is what it means to adapt to local conditions.

A few ordinary, unremarkable sentences in a textbook can be worth a fortune.

Based on the information he had recently gathered and after considering the situation in the Nine Border Regions, Wang Xin had some initial ideas.

Yan Zhongzheng, who was standing to the side, saw Wang Xin deep in thought. Although he did not know what the man was thinking, he remained calm and patient, and waited patiently.

"Brother Chiang Kai-shek, would you be willing to follow me?"

Wang Xin raised his head and said sincerely.

Yan Zhongzheng had long suspected something was amiss. Meeting Wang Xin at first was unexpected, but Wang Xin's subsequent warm attitude towards him suggested that he might have homosexual tendencies. What else could Yan Zhongzheng possibly have that would attract Wang Xin's attention?

"I wonder what the general's plans are for me?"

Yan Zhongzheng asked cautiously. Wang Xin was not surprised.

Yen Chung-cheng's age and experience mean he won't get excited just because someone extends a helping hand.

What Wang Xin wanted was not Yan Zhongzheng's humility, but his talent. Therefore, Yan Zhongzheng's attitude was not wrong at all. On the contrary, the more composed Yan Zhongzheng was, the happier Wang Xin was. This was exactly the kind of talent he needed.

"After returning to Datong this time, I only plan to keep two hundred elite troops. These two hundred elite troops will be selected from the entire army. They will not only train hard, but also learn to read and write, and they will need to learn how to fight on the battlefield."

Wang Xin did not hide it.

From the Mandarin Duck Formation to the reform of firearms, he has never hidden it.

Any general who wants to get things done can learn from this.

They are not afraid of others competing with them.

If you have such a strong advantage but are still afraid to compete with others, then you will certainly not improve, and your ability to command troops will only remain stagnant, or even regress.

Yan Zhongzheng was not surprised, but he looked shocked.

What did Wang Xin just say?
"The general's troops are all elite soldiers. How could you bear to give them away to others?" Yan Zhongzheng couldn't believe it.

If it's militia or local militia, these are just for filling numbers, to serve as a backup for the battalion soldiers. Although they are not very useful, they can still make up the numbers. Generally, no one will give them to others, but it's not uncommon.

But the soldiers Wang Xin led were all elite troops; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them household guards.

Who would give away their servants?
Yan Zhongzheng asked himself honestly, if it were him, no matter how difficult the situation was, he would not divide up his servants.

Unfortunately, I don't have that.

Maintaining servants requires having a real job.

Only those with real positions can make money, and only with money can they support their servants.

The Rong and Ning mansions were dukedoms, but they no longer held official positions and still couldn't afford to support servants. I heard that there were only one or two veterans left behind by the older generation, which shows how expensive it is to support servants.

"Firstly, it's for the sake of the country; secondly, I've made meritorious contributions over the years, and my subordinates should be promoted or transferred as needed. I can't let them go empty-handed," Wang Xin said casually with a smile.

Yan Zhongzheng was at a loss for words after hearing those few casual remarks.

Having such a superior is truly a blessing.

"I am deeply grateful to the General for not abandoning me." Yan Zhongzheng did not hesitate any longer and replied with his hands clasped, "I will do my utmost."

Wang Xin nodded.

Given his relationship with Zhang Jifu, all he needed was a commander of a thousand men; barring any unforeseen circumstances, he was almost certain to get it.

He still needed to go to the Ministry of War to complete the formalities, so Yan Zhongzheng's name was not visible.

Even if they see it, their loyalty should be limited.

He himself said he would do his utmost, not that he would pledge allegiance to the death.

Wang Xin understood.

If Yen Chung-cheng were to say now that he would be willing to go through fire and water for me, that would be too untrue; it would most likely be empty talk and should not be trusted.

Ma Fan and others have too little experience.

Tang Ping was not from a border army background, which was a significant shortcoming, so he was assigned to be in charge of artillery and had to learn it from scratch.

Zhang Can has a very strong temper.

Liu Tong was an outstanding individual, but he didn't have much experience leading troops, having only been in command for less than three years.

Zhao Yong was responsible for many things and didn't have the energy to take care of anything else.

Yan Zhongzheng was able to make up for his own shortcomings.

He came from the frontier, was young and energetic, and had extensive experience, making him a perfect instructor to teach military knowledge.

Individuals with skills can be mentored.

We'll hire a few more teachers to teach us to recognize characters and do arithmetic.

That's pretty much all there is.

Within three years, I will have a group of capable officers.

"The roe deer meat is cooked."

Xue Baoqin smiled and waved.

Hearing Xue Baoqin's laughter, Wang Xin couldn't help but smile. There were many things to be happy about on this trip back to the capital, and overall everything went smoothly.

It's just unknown how Zhang Jifu plans to arrange things in Datong.

Tang Ping is not a big problem. With the Vice Minister of War speaking up, the garrison of the small Weiyuan Pass is a piece of cake. There is no need for me to worry about it.

It can be used to appoint generals in Zhenlu City, Tuanshankou, and various places including Yanmen Pass.

Wang Xin couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

If Zhang Jifu randomly tries to force people onto me, how can I refuse?
How did Feng Yong resolve this situation?
Like the Prince of Dongping.

Sending people who aren't your own to the front lines to suffer defeats.

Although it's just Cheng Yaojin's three-pronged attack, as long as it works, that's fine.

It's just too time-consuming.

I need to integrate the Datong Western Army before Ou Yanhu returns, so I don't have time to mess around. It seems I still need to talk to Zhang Jifu.

Lin Daiyu ate a few bites of roasted meat.

Wang Xin told her not to eat too much.

Xue Baoqin said angrily, "You only care about Sister Lin, but you don't care about me."

Wang Xin felt a headache coming on and quickly asked, "How could I not care about you?"

"You're worried about Sister Lin getting an upset stomach, but you're not worried about me. You probably think I'm just a wild girl, how can I compare to Sister Lin? Isn't that right?" Xue Baoqin retorted.

Lin Daiyu chuckled, covering her mouth with her small handkerchief.

Zijuan and the other maids were also amused by Xue Baoqin and couldn't stop smiling.

When Yan Zhongzheng learned the identities of the young ladies, he was amazed but remained calm on the surface. However, he did not dare to be impolite and sat far away to the side, eating meat obediently with Shi Ping and the others.

Stones are the most honest.

He was always the one doing the grilling; the other brothers didn't help.

Even so, it was something they were used to making trouble for, and Wang Xin didn't care about these things.

"You're not a wild girl, you're my sister, my own sister," Wang Xin said, trying to appease Xue Baoqin.

"Then you can't be my uncle."

Lin Daiyu seized the opportunity and started making a scene, determined not to be inferior to Xue Baoqin.

Wang Xin was speechless.

As the saying goes, three women make a drama, but with only two girls, it's really going to be a hassle.

The joy lasted for a long time.

After Shi Ping and the others finished dividing up the roe deer meat, they also buried the campfire with soil.

I need to go back.

Lin Daiyu, Zijuan, and the others felt reluctant to leave, looking around with lingering affection, hoping to remember the scenery of this place.

Wang Xin said no more.

The next time I return to the capital, I will definitely move out of the Jia family mansion.

As his relationship with Wang Ziteng deteriorated further, the Jia family found themselves caught in the middle. Given this situation, he decided to move out on his own initiative. It was Lin Ruhai's arrangement in the first place, so Wang Xin dared not make any further promises.

Lin Daiyu already knew that Wang Xin was going to move out of the Jia family mansion.

She felt sad, but she didn't show it, not wanting to spoil everyone's happy atmosphere, and finally forced herself to get into the carriage.

We returned to Beijing in the afternoon.

Wang Xifeng waited personally inside the small door of the private alley.

Upon hearing the sound of carriages and horses, Wang Xifeng ordered the gate to be opened. She went out and saw Wang Xin riding a horse at the front. She quickly said, "Oh my, my Lord Xin, you're finally back."

When Wang Xin saw Wang Xifeng, he dismounted from his horse as she approached and greeted her, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Feng'er."

“Our matters are minor. I heard from the steward that someone from the Ministry of War has come to urge you, saying that Grand Secretary Zhang wants to see you.”

Wang Xin found it strange.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Jifu contacted him first.

(End of this chapter)