"The garrison administration was abolished, and no registration records were left. From hundreds to thousands of households, up to the commanding and guarding eunuchs, general soldiers and other officials, all the garrison troops were employed."
Lu Daqi had a sad look on his face and said bitterly: "As early as the Zhengtong years, fifty-six out of ten military households fled, but now I'm afraid not even one out of ten remains."
Zhu Yixi was silent.
He thought that the frontier army was unbearable and would have to last at least until the Hongzhi and Jiaqing years. Who would have thought that it would collapse as early as the Zhengtong year, during the reign of Emperor Zhu Qizhen.
At this time, only sixty years have passed since the Ming Dynasty unified the world! The border army was established less than fifty years ago.
Zhu Yixi didn't know much about the Wei system. The most obvious thing was that he took empty pay and occupied farmland.
"I also know a little bit about the shortcomings of the border army. I wonder if Lu Qing can elaborate on it?"
"The veteran knows everything he knows."
Lu Daqi was overjoyed, his face suddenly became serious, and he said in a sad tone:
"One of them is that the land was abandoned and occupied. Soldiers were unable to support themselves and had to sell their wives and children and flee the world..."
During the Hongwu period, military settlements occupied an area of 60 million acres, but by the Hongzhi period, only 30 million acres remained, and during the Zhengde period, the area dropped to more than 16 million acres.
During the Wanli period, Zhang Juzheng, the first assistant, organized a re-measurement of land across the country. This time, more than 63.5 million acres of concealed farmland was measured.
Most of these lost military camps were occupied by military officers at all levels, royal family members, and aristocratic families.
Zhang Juzheng's reform was not only to increase taxes, but also to strengthen the army and organize the military villages, but it was a pity that it was ignored.
"Now that the imperial court is revitalized and the frontier army is in ruins, it is time to regain its military garrison and resume the grand deeds of the Hongwu period."
Lu Daqi's momentum doubled in vain.
"Yes!" The emperor nodded: "Continue."
"Second, the officers serve in the army and the officers serve in the border army privately, so that the border preparations are ineffective and the bandits take advantage of them..."
These officers made the army work for them, reclaiming land, digging ditches, building houses, plowing their own land, and using the court's money and food to enslave the army to do private work for themselves. Who doesn't like free labor?
The consequence of this was that the officers purchased extensive land and became large local landowners, while the military households were reduced to tenants or even private slaves.
"Third, the taxes are too heavy..."
That's right, the land owned by military households does not belong to white people. You still have to pay and rent it to the court.
While the military households were guarding the Great Wall, they had to farm and pay taxes. Who wouldn't flee?
Moreover, this tax is unreasonable. Regardless of whether it is barren or fertile, the taxation standards are the same. Can the harvests in Mobei and Monan be the same?
Therefore, as early as the Hongwu period, deserters were repeatedly banned. It was really hard for the border troops.
"Fourth, it is difficult to use officers. The sons of a hundred families become a hundred families, and a thousand families become a thousand families. It is difficult for a son to live up to his father. As a result, the upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked. The frontier army is increasingly in trouble, and the Great Wall has decayed into a sieve."
When Lu Daqi said this, he cried and laughed: "In the past three hundred years, the Gonggun princes have not seen this shortcoming, but it is difficult to change it. They can only continue to build forts and cities, and waste money and food as paper framers..."
These shortcomings can be seen by smart people in the court, and there must be people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the country, but it is difficult to put them into practice.
In the important frontier areas, once trouble breaks out, the country can only be overthrown. Only now, when Monan is stable, can we dare to implement it or propose it.
"Inspect the land, select troops, and reorganize the border army."
At this time, Lu Daqi finally revealed his last resort.
After Zhu Yixi heard this, he stood up. There were many ice basins in the room, giving off bursts of coolness. His mind suddenly turned to the underground.
If well water is pumped into the floor heating, will it lower the temperature? This is much better than the ice basin.
After walking a few steps, he came back to his senses and said with emotion:
“The world has no shortage of people who discover problems, let alone people who come up with ideas to solve them, but there is only one thing missing – people who can solve them.”
"In the court, the censors are used to finding faults and raising numerous issues and suggestions, but very few of them will actually implement them."
"Old minister understands."
Lu Daqi echoed: "It was Du Yinxi who restructured the guards, Sun Changzhou who carried out the shipping, and it was His Majesty who personally worked on the Beijing camp, which led to its current grand situation."
"That's right."
Zhu Yixi put his hands on his back and straightened his back. He was very pleased with the flattery and said calmly:
"As for Du Yinxi, I am planning to bring him to Beijing; government affairs are busy, and the cabinet seems to be a little overwhelmed..."
These two things didn't go together at all, but this naked statement made Lu Daqi unable to hold back, and his breathing gradually became rapid.
Even though he is young, who doesn’t want to join the cabinet and become the cabinet minister known to all the officials?
"Weak minister, veteran minister, I am willing to go to Jiubian to inspect military affairs and reorganize the affairs of the border army."
Lu Daqi immediately raised his hands and said solemnly, his eyes extremely bright.
"The border troops are different from those in the mainland, so we must be careful!"
When the emperor spoke, his tone seemed to be cautious.
For example, in military towns such as Guyuan, Yulin, Gansu, and Datong, the main forces have been reorganized and have been eating imperial food for several years, but the military and political affairs are in a mess.
Moreover, people are attacking the Loop area at this time. If you come here blindly, wouldn’t it cause a big mess?
"I am willing to obey the instructions of the imperial court and go through fire and water without hesitation."
Lu Daqi quickly made a guarantee.
"You are the Minister of War, and this is your responsibility. Naturally, I can trust you, and only you."
"Send me the notebook!"
Zhu Yixi said with a hint of meaning, and the latter was happy and left with vigorous steps.
As soon as Lu Daqi left the palace, he turned around and handed over the memorial. The Secretary of General Affairs did not dare to delay and immediately forwarded it to the cabinet.
After the cabinet attached the vote, it was presented to the emperor.
As the cabinet gradually matures, the six ministries generally only participate in political discussions, and the power of suggestion is firmly in the hands of the three cabinet members.
At this time, the issue of border troops was raised, and it was natural to refer to Lu Daqi's solution for the solution, but it was up to the cabinet to discuss whether it was feasible.
"Let the three pavilion elders come to see me."
Zhu Yixi looked at the memorial and the draft and said.
Zhao Shu, Zhang Shenyan, and Yan Chongxin naturally all worked in Wenyuan Pavilion. When they heard the emperor's call, they seemed to be well prepared and rushed over without stopping.
Seeing the three of them, the emperor didn't hesitate. He patted the memorial with his middle and ring fingers and said bluntly: "What are the regulations of the cabinet?"
"Your Majesty, I all believe that this matter must be rectified immediately without delay."
As the chief assistant, Zhao Shu spoke on behalf of the cabinet.
"Are there any specific regulations?"
The emperor continued to ask.
What the three of them didn't understand was that the emperor only took a quick glance and didn't study it carefully at all. He had to listen to their own explanations.
Zhao Shu did not hesitate and spoke directly.
For farming, the court directly collects taxes according to the map, and those who collect taxes must collect taxes. If there is excess land or wasteland, it will be distributed to ordinary soldiers.
Because of the whip law, the imperial court had already recognized its occupation of military land and only required it to pay taxes.
But this is only on paper, and 60 million acres may not be all that is needed. It must be implemented in earnest.
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