Chapter five hundred and sixty-eight the prince guards the border
Drinking Yanshan is not only to reward the meritorious service, but also to find a way out and arrange the next phase of combat deployment.
Zhang Ximeng took advantage of the wine to chat with the generals. They were in a location close to the mountains and the sea, and the terrain was dangerous, so they could build a fortress.
Even the place name is ready-made, it is called Shanhaiguan.
Next, we will send troops to the north, continue to pursue the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty, and consolidate the northern border, all of which are inseparable.
"As you are marching northward, you should be very clear. In the Central Plains, ten houses and nine empty houses are hard to maintain. The population decline in the north is even more serious, and with the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty on the side, wars continue and it is difficult for the people to survive. But we just took the
The land we returned cannot be given away to others, and the homeland we have lost for five hundred years cannot be given up even a cent."
"So you have to shoulder this burden. I know you will find it difficult, and maybe a little bit unfair. It was originally the peace you created and the homeland you took back. I didn't have time to enjoy it, and it didn't last a few days.
In the days of glory and wealth, it is really inappropriate for you to work in the bitter and cold land, cultivating fields, building cities and fortresses, and resisting enemy soldiers... I have to suffer all the hardships for you."
As Zhang Ximeng said, his eyes passed over everyone's face, and everyone's expressions were fully visible. Indeed, now that they have been granted the title of wife, many people want to return home in fine clothes and show off, and then they will wear a golden sword.
, return to Yingtian and enjoy the success.
It would be really difficult for them to continue to endure hardships in the north, fighting and farming.
With a dark face, Hu Dahai poured a mouthful of wine into his mouth, clenched his fists, and gritted his teeth and said: "There is no need to say it, Prime Minister Zhang. It may be unfair, but since we are a country and a family, we can't do anything.
Things are fair... there must be some people who pay more and work harder. Otherwise, what can we do? Is it possible that after defeating the enemy, we can retreat and give the great mountains and rivers to the Yuan army? Let them continue to grow and strengthen, and recharge their batteries.
, the shame of Jingkang again, the fiasco of Yashan?"
Hu Dahai waved his fist fiercely, "As long as I am alive, I can't agree! The soldiers can't agree either! According to my idea, let's simply set up a field camp in the north and require all soldiers to guard the border for generations and not to return to their hometowns.
.Treat this place as your hometown!”
When these words were spoken, many people's expressions changed, and they were obviously a little frightened.
Among the generals, Wu Zhen thought carefully and said in a low voice: "It's not like we don't have this field camp. Kang Maocai has been the camp envoy for a long time and is responsible for this matter. But in the past, we used veterans who were not in good health.
Okay, the disabled ones are farming in the back. Although the real soldiers also farm, they haven’t done much of this work since they crossed the river."
Hu Dahai glared, "What do you mean? I can't do it anymore? Or what's going on? Can you make it clearer?"
Wu Zhen's face turned red, "Of course... you can farm. It's just that everyone has worked hard for more than ten years to guard the border, and it is also their duty. But if you say that you have been guarding the border for generations, you can't even return to your hometown. From now on, you will die in a foreign land and you will not be able to return to your roots.
Yeah, it’s too inhumane!”
After he finished speaking, several generals, including those who had been knighted, nodded frequently in agreement.
After Zheng Yuchun thought about it, he said: "I have no other intentions. I am willing to guard the border. I am just wondering if the brothers below can set a time, such as five or ten years, and there must be a rotation.
If you should go home, you still have to go home. And then you can give everyone some compensation. This is only reasonable."
Hu Dahai raised his brows and wanted to speak, but unexpectedly Xu Da pressed his shoulder and signaled Hu Dahai to stop talking. Xu Da stood up, cleared his throat, and said to the big guy: "Everything you said is correct."
It makes sense, but this truth cannot be put into practice now..."
Xu Da turned around, pointed at the open fields around him, and said in a deep voice: "There is nothing around Dadu now. Even if we establish military camps and stipulate rotations every three years and every five years, how can you ensure that the soldiers are willing to stay?
Here? What if someone can’t stand the loneliness and runs away?”
"Even if the soldiers do not run away, it is not reasonable to be alone and far away from home. We want everyone to feel at ease here, have children, and settle down. Then we can develop all kinds of industries, gather more people, and let
Most of it is similar to Jiangnan. But if there are only military villages and a group of big men farming and fighting here... and no one is doing other things, in the final analysis, it still has no foothold and is not stable enough."
"Think about it, is this true? If it's just farming, it's enough for everyone to live in the military camp. But if you want to start a family, you need to build a house, buy furniture, have food, clothing, housing, transportation, food, drink, and toilet.
In years, we can gather villages and towns one after another, and only in this way can we stabilize people's hearts, live permanently, and completely protect this land."
After Xu Da said this, Hu Dahai immediately nodded, "Yes, that's what I meant. He said it clearly than me!"
After hearing this, the other generals also felt something in their hearts.
The truth is this.
You can set up the pot to cook rice, but you can't set up the pot to cook rice.
In this wasteland, it is really difficult to live a normal life!
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't say anything, just drank silently.
Obviously, there is already a storm brewing in the heart of His Majesty the Emperor.
In fact, many policies that have been controversial in later generations did not have many problems when they were first implemented. It can even be said that they were very in line with the times and were well-intentioned.
After all, with Zhu Yuanzhang's personality, if there were obviously problematic policies or strategies full of shortcomings, he would have abolished them long ago, and they would not be able to survive for future generations.
Let’s look at the current situation. The north has been separated for hundreds of years, has different customs, and has a large number of barbarian people. If we don’t take some measures, how can we preserve these territories?
It was made by the military household guard, so it was naturally ready to come out.
Force the soldiers to settle in the north, give them land, and let them farm and fight and guard the border. Not only them, but also their descendants should also stay in the border to enrich the population, live and multiply.
Only in this way can we completely control this land.
Is this wrong?
Apparently not!
Is there a better way?
It seems there isn't either.
As for more than two hundred years later, the military household collapsed, the guardhouse was empty, and it was difficult to maintain... It's so pitiful that Lao Zhu had been dead for so many years by then.
What's more, this is not a problem with the Weisuo system, but rather a failure to abide by the rules of the Weisuo system!
Zhang Ximeng held the wine glass, thought for a long time, and finally spoke slowly, "This matter can be boiled down to two levels. The first is to protect the land, and the second is to retain the people. People live in the land, and people die in the land.
Lost, this is a well-known thing."
"In addition to forcing the soldiers to garrison the fields and guard the border, can we think of some way to make it not so difficult for everyone to stay."
Zhang Ximeng said: "I see that my lord has brought so many civil servants and scholars. The first thing is that each camp is equipped with a school. From now on, all the children of soldiers can get the best education. They can read and write, and be officials in the imperial examination."
Anyway, I want to give you a bright future, which is what their fathers paid for with their blood and sweat, so of course!"
"Secondly, the field officers themselves should also enjoy twice the salary. Secondly, the land they cultivated should be exempted from land tax within ten years. In the future, the land tax will also be halved. Let everyone live a prosperous and comfortable life."
Zhang Ximeng's words touched some people's hearts and moved them a little bit.
But there happened to be someone who couldn't speak. Hu Dahai said in a low voice: "Mr. Zhang, if you do this, everyone will live comfortably. Who is willing to endure hardships and farm? Aren't you afraid of turning people into trash?"
The guy was so angry that he almost groaned. If you don't know how to speak, don't speak.
The purpose of raising troops in the fields is to save military expenses. If we are given twice the food and salary, wouldn't it be better to simply recruit troops directly?
If this is really the case, hundreds of thousands of people will cry. I'm afraid Li Shanchang will cry.
When the matter reaches this point, the answer is actually ready to come out. Although the soldiers in the field can receive considerable compensation, in the final analysis, they still have to endure hardships and pay.
You have to start from scratch and start from scratch.
Lao Zhu stood up slowly. After some consideration, he had made up his mind.
"We all agree with Mr.'s suggestion of setting up schools and reducing or exempting land taxes. This is correct, but the food and salary aspect is not feasible. Not only is it not possible, when we first start working on the fields, we need to pay more grain, otherwise it will not be enough to maintain our livelihood.
Border defense expenses.”
Zhang Ximeng also nodded helplessly, "That's true. It's hard to have the best of both worlds. I just had a whim. I boldly beg your Majesty to allow me to stay in Dadu and come up with a proper solution. If not, let me be responsible for the settlement of the land.
Already..."
"no!"
Hu Dahai stopped him again, "Xiang Zhang, you are a scholar of heaven and earth, but you are His Majesty's confidant. With so many things going on in the Ming Dynasty, how can you be allowed to stay in Dadu! Again, I, Hu Dahai, am not afraid of hardship and am insignificant, so I will let you
I will plow the fields here to defend against the enemy, and I will ensure that no inch of land is lost! Within three years, I will provide Your Majesty with two million acres of farmland. If I cannot do this, I am willing to accept military law!"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, Hu Dahai indeed had the overall interests in mind and was selfless.
"It is true that the work of farming requires hard work for the Duke of Yue. But we can't just let the soldiers work hard. We, the Zhu family, can't do anything."
Lao Zhu considered it and said: "We are going to let the prince guard the border and share the joys and sorrows with the soldiers!"
Upon hearing this, the most anxious person turned out to be Song Lian, "Your Majesty, the prince is still young, I'm afraid something is wrong!"
Lao Zhu said: "The crown prince is already ten years old this year, and he is not too young. It is time for him to understand some of the sufferings of the people and understand that it is not easy to win the country."
Song Lian was shocked and said, "Your Majesty, the crown prince cannot control the borders of the vassal state!"
Lao Zhu said with a smile: "It is true that the prince is not good, but it is also the duty of an elder brother to let him work hard for his brothers for a few years. When the other princes grow up, after they are ten years old, they will go out to observe the people's sentiments, and then they will establish borders and defend the country.
!”
"Others have to suffer this hardship, and the Zhu family cannot be an exception!" Lao Zhu's attitude is firm and there is no doubt!
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
Zhu Di is indeed Fengyang who left the capital at the age of ten, which only shows that it is not easy for the first prince...