Huangming

Chapter 73 The Abuses of the Beijing Garrison, to be Addressed Gradually

The setting winter sun cast a dazzling, gleaming light on the gilded dragon head of the imperial carriage.

With a flick of his cloud-shaped broom, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Guard lowered his head in unison, and the dragon patterns engraved on the palanquin poles seemed to come alive as they swam in the twilight.

"Let's go!"

As soon as Wang Tiqian began to sing, hundreds of Han generals moved in unison.

Luo Yangxing, head bowed, hurried to the left rear of the imperial carriage to teach the emperor martial arts; his excitement had not yet subsided.

Zhang Zhiji, on the other hand, strolled along the back of the line, his embroidered spring knife at his waist swaying slightly with each step, the silver "Loyalty" character on the scabbard flickering in the twilight.

Seeing that Zhang Zhiji was not in high spirits, Luo Yangxing immediately stepped forward and said excitedly, "Did you see my moves just now? His Majesty praised my martial arts skills."

Zhang Zhiji glanced at Luo Yangxing listlessly and said, "Highly skilled in martial arts?"

He chuckled, curled his lip, and mocked, "Your posture of reaching for the sky is like a young lady from a brothel standing on tiptoe to reach the grape trellis, except that the lady hides her spring colors under her skirt, while you're hiding a thunderclap behind your flying fish robe!"

"Your hips sway more seductively than the courtesans on the Qinhuai River! When the Imperial Music Bureau rehearses a new dance tomorrow, we'll definitely ask you to be their instructor!"

As he spoke, he adopted a high-pitched, pimp-like tone: "Gentlemen, take a good look! Our Instructor Luo's 'Old Tree Roots' technique will guarantee you an unyielding virility and endless nights of revelry!"

However, after making two sarcastic remarks, Zhang Zhiji returned to his listless and lifeless state.

Those few words I just said were just to appease my little brother.

Luo Yangxing had long been used to Zhang Zhiji's carefree attitude, so when he saw that the guy actually looked preoccupied, he quickly tried to persuade him.

"His Majesty is asking you for advice, what a wonderful thing! I don't even have that! You act as if your favorite courtesan has been taken advantage of."

Okay, even this blockhead can tell dirty jokes now.

Zhang Zhiji rolled his eyes at Luo Yangxing and said irritably, "You blockhead, if His Majesty were to ask you for advice, then my Great Ming Dynasty would be doomed."

After saying that, he patted his sleeves and said, "You, a worthless centurion, will never understand the troubles of a commander like me."

Jingying Jingying.

He was His Majesty's confidant, yet he couldn't lie.

But he told the truth.
How could the British Duke's mansion possibly be any better off?

Sorrow!

Luo Yangxing crossed his arms, gave a cold snort, and arrogantly turned his head away, deliberately ignoring Zhang Zhiji.

He obtained the position of commander of a thousand households simply because he was the heir of the Duke's mansion, as if he earned it through his own abilities. How shameless!

The Arrow Pavilion was not far from the Qianqing Palace, and the imperial carriage soon arrived at the East Warm Pavilion. After the emperor entered the hall, Zhang Zhiji followed closely behind, while Luo Yangxing was blocked outside the hall and could only watch Zhang Zhiji enter with envy.

After Zhu Youxiao settled on the throne, he took a sip of tea.

He frowned slightly; the tea was bitter, clearly stale.

But he had no time to dwell on such matters. He turned to Zhang Zhiji and asked, "The Duke of Ying's mansion has been in charge of the Beijing Garrison for many years. You should know about the problems of the Beijing Garrison from your time in the Duke's mansion. Tell me about it."

Zhang Zhiji opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Zhu Youxiao had already anticipated it.

"Stop saying you don't understand this or that, that's a crime of deceiving the emperor! You are the descendant of a meritorious official, you should take responsibility."

Zhang Zhiji's mouth tasted bitter, as if his father had just died.

But now, he was driven to a dead end by the emperor, and had no choice but to face it head-on.

Father, you may suffer a little, but with your son in the Duke of England's mansion, it will never be defeated!
Zhang Zhiji is selling his father online.

"Your Majesty, I believe there are eight problems with the Beijing Garrison."

Zhu Youxiao nodded, signaling Zhang Zhiji to continue.

"Firstly, there was the problem of false military registration and rampant ghost pay. The Beijing garrison was nominally 10 strong, but in reality, it was less than 3, with officers falsely registering their numbers to embezzle military pay."

The British government was naturally involved in the issue of "ghost employees."

However, this is systemic corruption; there is no general in the Beijing Garrison who is not receiving a salary without working.

Zhu Youxiao was already aware of this.

Volume 12 of the "Veritable Records of Emperor Xizong of Ming" records that the roster of the Five Armies listed 30,000 soldiers, but only 8000 actually existed. Even a junior officer could embezzle more than 10,000 taels of silver.

Seeing the emperor's keen interest, Zhang Zhiji gritted his teeth and continued:

"Secondly, the training is lax and the combat effectiveness is low. My father has already submitted a memorial on this point. The firearms of the Beijing garrison are rusted, the armor is broken, the warhorses are old and weak, and the soldiers 'use wooden sticks as spears and bamboo bows as muskets.' Moreover, many of the soldiers are scoundrels from the streets, and they train perfunctorily. When there is an inspection, they temporarily hire beggars to fill the ranks."

Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly, but made no reaction, only tapping his index finger lightly on the imperial desk, as if deep in thought. Zhang Zhiji hesitated for a moment, then continued:

"Thirdly, the hereditary system of military families led to rampant corruption."

This was the first time Zhang Zhiji had ever insulted himself.

However, with the Holy Emperor before him, he dared not conceal anything and could only tell him the whole story: "The commanders and generals of the Beijing Garrison are mostly hereditary nobles with no military experience. Moreover, the supervising eunuchs embezzle rations and interfere in personnel matters, such as Liu Chao, a henchman of Wang An of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who previously controlled the allocation of gunpowder for the Divine Machine Battalion."

Dukes like the Duke of Yingguo and the Duke of Chengguo were basically pampered. They might have practiced martial arts, but they had never been to the grassroots level. Their specific battle tactics and strategies were only learned from military books.

The outcome of sending someone like that to lead troops into battle is predictable.

Fourthly.

Zhang Zhiji wrote a lengthy and detailed account of eight problems with the Beijing Garrison.

After listening, Zhu Youxiao felt slightly heavy-hearted.

The problems with the Beijing Garrison were, in fact, a direct manifestation of the corruption within the Ming Dynasty's system.

To regulate the Beijing garrison, there are quite a few vested interests involved.

This matter concerned military power, and Zhu Youxiao could not afford to be careless.

He pondered for a moment and then asked, "If I were to reorganize the capital garrison, what suggestions would you have?"

Zhang Zhiji had long known that the emperor intended to reorganize the capital garrison.

In fact, every emperor who ascended to the throne had this idea.

For example, Emperor Zhengde promoted border generals, and transferred Jiang Bin, the general of Xuanfu, to the capital to lead the four border armies (Xuanfu, Datong, Yansui, and Liaodong) to form the "Four Outer Armies," which were mixed with the Beijing garrison and introduced practical combat experience.

He appointed himself "Grand General and Commander-in-Chief of Military Affairs," personally went to Xuanfu and Datong to supervise the battles, boost the morale of the Beijing garrison, take control of the garrison, and purge incompetent generals.

It worked quite well at first.

Both Emperor Shizong and Emperor Shenzong took steps to reorganize the Beijing Garrison.

I wonder who His Majesty will emulate.

Zhang Zhiji took a deep breath, his fingers clenching tightly in his sleeve until they turned white:
“I have three strategies that can be implemented gradually. First, I will order the Ministry of War and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to jointly investigate the military registers, using the actual amount of salary paid as bait, allowing those who make false reports to surrender and have their crimes reduced, and punishing those who disobey to have their ill-gotten gains confiscated.”
Secondly, a new military camp was set up in Xishan, and good men from good families were selected to train elite troops. Once the army was formed, the old camp was gradually phased out.

Thirdly, dispatch civil officials to inspect the capital garrison and impeach corrupt generals!

However, Zhang Zhiji was also aware that this matter was very sensitive and dangerous.

He knelt down, his forehead striking the gold bricks heavily: "However, the Beijing Garrison involves twenty-six guard posts and seventy-three noble titles. If we act rashly, we fear we may repeat the calamity of the border mutiny during the Zhengde era!"

This matter concerns military power, so we must be extremely cautious.

This is something that could cost someone their livelihood, so naturally we should think of the worst-case scenario.

"The fighting capacity of the Beijing garrison is low, and I am deeply worried about the country!"

Training soldiers must begin with eliminating long-standing problems.

If this festering sore of the Beijing Garrison is not removed, the fighting capacity of the Beijing Garrison soldiers will never improve.

Moreover, as emperor, he desperately needed an army that could win battles and obey orders, to support his reforms.

But to eliminate them, one needs troops.

Zhu Youxiao's eyes flickered, but he already had a plan in mind.

“Your Majesty, this matter requires a gradual approach,” Zhang Zhiji said from the side.

"Haste makes waste; how could I not know this principle?"

Zhu Youxiao reassured Zhang Zhiji, saying, "The Duke of Ying's mansion is a pillar of the nation, and I am aware of that."

Zhang Zhiji knelt on the ground and said, "The Duke of Ying's mansion will surely serve His Majesty to the death!"

The British Duchy is now completely tied to the Emperor; when the Emperor holds power, the Duchy gains influence.

If the emperor loses power, those civil officials will surely trample the Duke of England to death.

Now the British government has no choice but to comply, even if it means certain death.

Especially for Zhang Zhiji, who has already sold his father, what other choice does he have?

(End of this chapter)