Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

On the seventh day of the ninth lunar month, the morning light was just beginning to break.

Zhu Qiyu finally put on the battle uniform he had long dreamed of today.

He wore a black, narrow-sleeved military uniform, covered by a red armor, with a gold and jade leather belt around his waist, and a six-lobed iron helmet on his head.

Xing'an reported softly, "Your Majesty, the carriage is ready."

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand: "I will not ride in a carriage today; I will ride a horse."

Cheng Jing looked worried: "This... Your Majesty, the roads in the city are complicated..."

Zhu Qiyu tightened his wrist guards as he said, "If you're afraid to even ride a horse in Beijing, what are you talking about leading an imperial expedition? Go and fetch the horse."

Soon a magnificent horse, entirely black with snow-white hooves, was led to the front of the palace.

This was a fine horse named "Ta Xue" that Zhu Qiyu purchased from a Mongolian merchant when he was still the Prince of Cheng.

Zhu Qiyu mounted his horse with clean and swift movements.

It's no exaggeration to say that he has been "diligently training" over the years; his horsemanship and archery skills are probably even better than some veteran generals.

"Let's go to the Beijing Garrison's drill ground."

In addition to eunuchs such as Xing'an and Cheng Jing, there were also twenty elite members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard accompanying them.

Lu Zhong personally led the team, his flying fish uniform standing out in the morning light.

The group left the palace gates and headed west along Chang'an Street.

About half an hour later, a vast training ground came into view.

At this moment, the training ground was already adorned with fluttering flags.

Yu Qian and his men were already waiting outside the gate.

Upon seeing Zhu Qiyu arrive on horseback, everyone knelt and bowed in unison: "Your Majesty, we, your subjects, respectfully welcome you!"

Zhu Qiyu dismounted: "Rise, Minister Yu, have all the soldiers arrived?"

Yu Qian bowed and said, "Your Majesty, all 63,000 soldiers of the three major camps have been assembled."

Zhu Qiyu looked up and saw that the training ground was filled with a dense mass of soldiers.

However, the armor styles varied among the people; some wore iron armor, some wore leather armor, and some even wore cotton armor.

This made Zhu Qiyu frown; the gaudy armor gave off a sense of being a knock-off.

"Walk."

Zhu Qiyu, accompanied by Yu Qian and others, walked onto the command platform.

The platform is two zhang high, made entirely of wood, and covered with a blue cloth curtain. Standing on the platform, one can see the entire training ground.

The more than 60,000 people were completely silent, and all eyes were focused on Zhu Qiyu.

Yu Qian stepped forward, his voice booming like thunder: "All soldiers, listen to my command! Kneel!"

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The shouts echoed through the sky, startling birds flying in the distant forest.

Zhu Qiyu raised his hand in a gesture of apology, and Yu Qian shouted, "Rise!"

More than 60,000 people stood up in unison, and a chilling atmosphere swept over them.

"Soldiers!" Zhu Qiyu did not use "朕" (the imperial "I"), but instead used a more intimate title.

"I know some people are thinking: 'If 200,000 elite troops were defeated, what use are our 100,000 to 200,000 men?'"

I tell you, the defeat at Tumu Fortress was not a fault of our own!

It was the usurpation of power by treacherous officials, the chaos in military orders, and the soldiers' valiant efforts coupled with the commander's incompetence!

These words resonated strongly, and a fire ignited in the eyes of many soldiers.

Zhu Qiyu continued in a loud voice: "But today is different! Standing before you is Minister Yu, who once served as governor of Shanxi and Henan, reorganized the military, and ensured the safety of the people."

Generals Shi Heng, Sun Tang, and Fan Guang were all seasoned veterans who had fought on many battlefields.

And I will stand with you on the walls of Beijing!

If the Oirats come, I'll be the first to draw my bow and shoot an arrow!

"Long live! Long live!"

Zhu Qiyu turned to Yu Qian: "Minister Yu, you are the Commander of the Beijing Garrison, so you can speak next."

Yu Qian bowed deeply and turned to face the army.

This Minister of War, who usually appears weak and unassuming, now exudes an aura of authority that rivals that of a military general.

"Soldiers! I know that some of you were conscripted, some came for military pay, and some just followed the crowd."

None of that matters! From today onward, you only need to remember one thing.

Behind you lies the city of Beijing!

Your parents, wives, and children are in this city, as are your neighbors and millions of citizens of the Ming Dynasty!

What are the Oirats? They are bandits! They are butchers!

If they breach the city, the men will be slaughtered, the women will be violated, and the children will be enslaved!

Tell me, is it possible for something like this to happen?!

"No! No!"

The roar was deafening.

"Fine! Since that's not possible, then we only have one path left: fight to the death!"

He drew his sword from his waist and pointed it straight to the sky: "Today, I, your humble servant, pledge to all my soldiers: We stand as long as the city stands; we fall as long as the city falls! May the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers endure forever!"

Yu Qian paused, and the 60,000 soldiers shouted in unison, "The Ming Dynasty will live on forever!"

"May the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers endure forever!"

"May the Ming Dynasty live on forever!!"

After three shouts, the atmosphere on the drill ground reached its peak.

Many soldiers had bloodshot eyes and white knuckles as they gripped their weapons.

Yu Qian sheathed his sword and continued, "With the three battalions newly established, military discipline must be strictly enforced. From today onwards, the new military law will be implemented in the Beijing Garrison."

Then a senior official from the Ministry of War unfurled a scroll and read aloud:

"Anyone who deserts in the face of battle shall be executed!"

Anyone who disobeys orders shall be executed!

Those who engage in private feuds or infighting shall be executed!

Those who disturb or harm the people shall be executed!

Anyone who fails to advance upon hearing the drum will be executed!

Anyone who dares to continue threatening gold shall be beheaded!

Those who kill innocent people and claim credit for their crimes shall be executed!

... "

As the execution orders were read aloud, the drill ground fell into a deathly silence.

Most of these soldiers came from garrison posts and had seen military law, but had never heard of such detailed and strict regulations.

After all the regulations had been read aloud, Yu Qian said, "Military law is as imposing as a mountain. It is not that I am unreasonable, but because a major battle is imminent, if orders are not followed and prohibitions are not enforced, the army will surely be defeated."

He then changed the subject: "However, there should be punishment for mistakes and rewards for merits! Starting today, the Beijing Garrison will implement a new reward system!"

Another doctor unfurled the second scroll:

"Anyone who kills an enemy of the first rank in battle will be rewarded with five taels of silver! Anyone who

Anyone who captures an officer of the Oirat centurion or above will be rewarded with fifty taels of silver!

Two hundred taels of silver will be awarded for killing the chieftain!

Whoever captures the heads of Esen, Bayan Temur, and others will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver and granted a marquisate!

A commotion arose from the audience.

Five taels of silver is equivalent to half a year's salary for an ordinary soldier, so the reward is quite generous.

"In addition, accumulating combat merits can lead to promotion in military rank."

He had beheaded three enemy soldiers and was promoted to junior officer.

Level 5, General Flag.

Level 10, test 100 households.

Those at level 20 or above are granted the title of 100 households.

Regardless of background, only military achievements matter!

These words completely ignited the soldiers' enthusiasm.

In the Ming Dynasty, military positions were mostly hereditary, and it was extremely difficult for ordinary soldiers to get promoted.

Now that there's a path to promotion based on military merit, how can anyone not be tempted?

Yu Qian continued, "Those who die on the battlefield will receive an additional thirty taels of silver in compensation, and their children will be raised by the court until they reach adulthood!"

Those who are injured or disabled will receive an additional reward of ten to fifty taels of silver, depending on the severity of their injury, and their families will be exempt from taxes for three years!

After the reward was read out, Yu Qian looked at Zhu Qiyu.

The latter two types of compensation were strongly increased by Zhu Qiyu.

The Ming Dynasty also had a system of compensation for soldiers who died in battle.

However, this system tends to favor officials over scholars.

If an ordinary soldier dies in battle, his wife can receive three years' worth of monthly rations.

If the wife does not remarry, he can receive six dou of rice per month until his death.

In addition to inheriting their own rank and title, non-commissioned officers who die in battle are usually posthumously awarded rank and title, which also affects the pensions of their families.

In general, non-commissioned officers receive more benefits after being killed in action.

Soldiers, on the other hand, almost always receive fixed benefits.

Zhu Qiyu increased the soldiers' benefits, as he wanted to control the Beijing garrison.

All talk of patriotism and national defense is empty rhetoric; at best, it can only stir up temporary passion.

A few days or a month is fine, but if you want to gain the loyalty of these soldiers in the long run, there is only one way: pay them more!

Normally, if Zhu Qiyu had done this, the decree would have been rejected by the cabinet.

But things are different now; protecting Beijing is the top priority.

If soldiers aren't paid, who will fight?

If no one fights, who will defend Beijing?

Without Beijing, who would rule the Ming Dynasty?

Those who oppose it are suspected of treason!

This was Zhu Qiyu's way of breaking the deadlock: using Esen's siege of the city to win over the hearts of the army.

Zhu Qiyu stepped forward: "What Minister Yu just said is my decree."

I hereby promise that all rewards will be paid without delay, and the compensation for fallen soldiers will be fully implemented!

If any official dares to deduct even the slightest amount, I will punish them severely without leniency!

"Long live! Long live! Long live!"

The cheers lasted for a long time.

After the commotion subsided, Zhu Qiyu said, "Now, let me see your abilities. Each battalion, begin your drills!"

"As you command!"