Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 40 - Examinees, Please Listen to the Questions (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Zhu Youjian held a wolf-hair brush in his hand, suspended it in mid-air, and did not drop it for a long time.

If there is something good on the top, it will be great on the bottom.

The problem wasn't the martial arts champion's literary talent, but the system that selected him.

This system wants a certain type of people, and those below will conform to that shape, trying to fit it in.

And now, he is about to finalize a new martial arts system—even if it's only for 300 squad leaders.

So, what should this martial arts system look like?
Zhu Youjian took a deep breath, his suspended wrist suddenly sank, and the pen tip sliced ​​across the paper without the slightest hesitation.

[Question 1, Strategic Simulation Question (10 points)]

Now there is a general who leads 30,000 troops, all of whom are elite soldiers.

The enemy numbered 200,000, their ranks were disorganized, and their commander was arrogant and reckless, pursuing them relentlessly.

How should our army defeat them?
He transformed the battle between Han Xin and Long Ju, leaving only the purest elements of the battlefield.

He wanted to see how these low-ranking officers of the Ming Dynasty would respond.

[Question 2, Military Ideology (10 points)]

You are a battalion commander in the Beijing garrison, with 500 soldiers under your command.

If your superior embezzles salaries for non-existent personnel and misappropriates military funds, and afterwards gives you 30% of the profits, how would you deal with it?

The answer to this question is actually not important.

The important thing is that answering this question each time is like undergoing a mental transformation.

If once isn't enough, do it ten times; if ten times isn't enough, do it a hundred times.

Disciplining someone temporarily may be useless, but as long as he persists and talks about it every day, every month, and every year.

At the same time, with strict laws and meticulous supervision, I don't believe we can't reverse this unhealthy trend!

As for the supervisory agency and personnel, he already had a vague idea in mind.

Zhu Youjian glanced out of the corner of his eye at Luo Yangxing, who was standing quietly at the entrance of the main hall.

This young man, from a family of imperial guards, was summoned to the palace a few days ago to be used as a pawn to intimidate Tian Ergeng.

Now, as a general serving the emperor, he stands guard and performs his duties meticulously every day.

He smiled wickedly to himself.

You brat, don't think I don't know. You'll be surrendering to the Manchus in the future.

Although you haven't done anything heinous that would anger both heaven and man, just for this "loyalty," I'll have to teach you a lesson for the rest of your life.

The thought flashed through his mind, and he continued writing.

[Question 3, Tactical Simulation Question (20 points)]

You are hereby appointed as a battalion commander and ordered to lead five hundred troops from Jinzhou to build a new fort on the left bank of the Daling River for shelter.

Please describe in detail your methods for preparation for departure, setting up camp, and conducting scouting.

When selecting officers, the most important thing is to cultivate their basic tactical skills.

Strategic-level capabilities—once these officers emerge from the battlefield, they can naturally pursue further studies at higher-level military academies.

How can things be like the Ming Dynasty, completely reversed? Studying to build rockets, but working as a mechanic – it's putting the cart before the horse.

[Question 4, Military Logistics (15 points)]

You are a commander of a thousand men.

Order you to march swiftly from the capital to Xifengkou (approximately 400 li) within eight days.

How much food and fodder were carried? How much gunpowder was supplied?
How much food and fodder has the supply battalion been allocated? When will they depart? How many days until they rendezvous?
Question 5, Question 6...

Zhu Youjian was so engrossed in writing that he completely entered the state of a wicked exam-setting teacher, wielding his brush with great gusto.

He only realized what was happening after he had written two whole pages in one go, and then he suddenly stopped writing.

He looked at the ridiculously difficult questions on the paper and couldn't help but chuckle.

I'm obsessed.

These are just three hundred corporals with a basic understanding of literature, not the staff officers of the National Defense University in later generations.

He shook his head, picked and chose from the dozen or so questions he had written down, and finally selected four that were relatively easy.

"Xu Yingyuan," he called out.

"The servant is here."

Xu Yingyuan strode in from outside the hall and bowed, awaiting orders.

"Post this exam paper out and give them one hour to answer it."

"According to the order."

Xu Yingyuan carefully took the few sheets of paper that still smelled of ink and left.

Chief Inspector Zhu You let out a long sigh of relief, leaned against the edge of the imperial desk, and rubbed his slightly sore wrists.

The fatigue from reviewing memorials this morning was completely swept away after this exhilarating and insightful discussion.

The teacher who created the questions felt incredibly satisfied!

He relaxed for a moment, but soon a sense of alertness welled up in his mind.

Zhu Youjian, oh Zhu Youjian, never regard the heroes of the world as worthless because of the so-called wisdom of later generations—the lesson of Wang Mang is still fresh in our minds.

"Gao Shiming."

"The minister is here."

Gao Shiming appeared beside him silently.

"Issue my decree," Zhu Youjian said slowly, his voice carrying an undeniable resolve, "send documents to the nine border garrisons, including Liaodong, Xuanfu, Datong, and Jizhou, ordering each garrison to select two elite officers and ten elite warriors who have slain Jurchen or Mongol heads, and send them to the capital immediately. I have great use for them." He paused, emphasizing his words, "Tell the generals of each garrison to carefully select these warriors, ensuring they are truly meritorious warriors, and not to let any mediocre individuals deceive me!"

"The slaves obey the orders!"

Watching Gao Shiming's departing figure, Zhu Youjian's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

Science, what is science?

The knowledge of each discipline.

Most time travelers limit their technological knowledge to physics, chemistry, and mathematics, which is a very one-sided view.

Military science has its own, societal science has its own, and economic science has its own.

Even those who buy lottery tickets have to talk about the science behind the lottery...

But the key to this so-called science is nothing more than "empirical evidence" and "logic".

He didn't understand the military details of this era and was afraid of becoming like Zhao Kuo, who only talked about war on paper.

It's alright, he can gather all the most knowledgeable people in the entire Ming Dynasty and have them discuss, summarize, practice, and update.

Gathering wisdom from all sources and discarding the dross to retain the essence—this is his "military science"!
As his emotions were churning, a thought flashed through Zhu Youjian's mind like lightning.

Li Zicheng!
That's right! Li Zicheng!

One thing after another happened today, and he almost forgot about this.

Zhu Youjian's heart skipped a beat. He quickly walked to the screen inside the hall, his eyes rapidly searching along the route of the post station.

Shaanxi Provincial Administration Commission...

Yan'an Prefecture...

Got it!

His finger jabbed heavily on a small place name—Yinchuan Mayi.

found it!
He remembered it clearly: Li Zicheng was a postman at the Yinchuan post station.

Right next to Yinchuan Post Station is Mizhi County.

Northern Shaanxi... So Li Zicheng was in Northern Shaanxi!

In the years to come, this place will be a living hell!
No wonder Li Zicheng rebelled. Anyone in that desperate situation, with no one to turn to for help, would have rebelled!
Zhu Youjian hesitated for a moment.

He only remembered that Li Zicheng was a postman at Yinchuan Post Station, but he couldn't recall the specific locations of Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong at all.

Sending people to search for him now feels like following the same script as Wang Mang, who searched the whole world for "Liu Xiu," only to be killed by Liu Xiu in the end.

But it really is just a matter of lending a hand!
With just one order, Li Zicheng would be dragged before him.

Which time traveler could resist such temptation!
Let's do it! It's nothing unusual for the Heavenly Lord to issue some strange orders; his subordinates will figure out the reasons themselves.

Don't ask, it's a gift from heaven!

"Gao Shiming!"

Gao Shiming, who had just reached the door, turned back immediately upon hearing the voice: "Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"

Zhu Youjian turned around, his expression had returned to calm, but the light in his eyes was extremely sharp.

He pondered for a moment, then decisively said, "You, personally arrange for the most trustworthy people to go to this place."

His finger once again poked at the three characters "Yinchuan Post Station".

"Find a courier named Li Zicheng and bring him to the capital."

Gao Shiming's pupils contracted slightly.

Li Zicheng? How could Your Majesty know the name of a courier from a thousand miles away?

Zhu Youjian completely ignored his shock.

They have no history of rebellion due to unemployment or wrongful imprisonment.

There was no experience of the Huli-style pole erection that swept through Guanzhong.

They had no experience of being reduced to only eighteen riders and hiding in the mountains.

There was also no experience of rising up on the wind after a severe drought, relying on the slogan "Welcome the rebel king, no more taxes."

He wanted to see just how good Li Zicheng really was!
Are all those epic tales of heroes truly about heroes?
Zhu Youjian looked at Gao Shiming seriously and said, "Use your name to search, not mine. Do you understand?"

"The minister obeys the order!"

"Let's go." Zhu Youjian waved his hand. "And while you're at it, come with me to see how my future generals are doing in their exams."

Zhu Youjian straightened his sleeves and slowly walked out of the hall, a hint of anticipation on his face.

　[Historical Materials in this Chapter]

　　1. The prototype of the third question is the Battle of Dalinghe in the fourth year of Chongzhen's reign. Zu Dashou was ordered to build a city in Dalinghe. Later, the Jin besieged it, and various Ming troops came to its rescue. In the end, he was really no match for the enemy in open battle. Zu Dashou was besieged for three months. He killed and ate the laborers and merchants, and also killed the weak soldiers. Finally, he surrendered when he ran out of ammunition and food.

　　This was also the first time he had surrendered.

　　2. The prototype of question 4 is the Yisi Incident in the second year of Chongzhen's reign, in which the Later Jin broke through the Jizhou garrison and entered the capital region, wreaking havoc in North China.

　　3. The women of Mizhi and the men of Suide are very famous, originating from Diao Chan (a Mizhi native) and Lü Bu (a Suide native).

　　4. There is a little story about Yinchuan Post Station. It was established in the ninth year of the Zhengtong reign (1444) to strengthen control over the Shaanxi border region.

　　—To put it in a way that you are more familiar with, this was to guard against Esen on the Mongolian grasslands. This legitimate emperor was the later Zhu Qizhen, also known as Emperor Zhu Qizhen. At this time, there were still five years before the Tumu Crisis.

　　5. The post stations of the Ming Dynasty are also very interesting, but there are also many rumors. We will talk about them in detail when the story progresses to that point.

　　6. Luo Yangxing eventually renounced his official post and became an ordinary local official, applying for tax reductions and such. If such a person truly has value, I would still use him, just to do some hard and tiring work.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)