Chapter 9: The Difficulties of Rectifying the Beijing Camp
The soldiers guarding the camp were all sallow and thin, looking weak and weak, always feeling a bit decadent. Seeing the Minister of War who had just accompanied Admiral Li out turn back, some were puzzled, but some seemed to understand.
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Meng Zhaoxiang dismounted and walked slowly in the camp. Looking at the soldiers from the Beijing camp who had gathered around him, how could they still have the spirit of capable elite soldiers? They all looked like they had not eaten or drank for many days, and they looked like reincarnated ghosts.
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Many people's knives even have some rust spots, and the handles of their guns are in tatters. If the blades are slightly shiny, the situation is better, let alone the muskets. I'm afraid not many guns are usable.
Sighing, Meng Zhaoxiang was very upset this time. No one knew that the capital camp was so abandoned. Not to mention the border troops who had been in arrears with pay for a long time, I am afraid that the situation of the local guard posts was better than that of the capital camp.
Meng Zhaoxiang didn't know that since Chongzhen ascended the throne, most of the Beijing camps have been directly led by relatives and eunuchs. I don't know how many people have enriched their own pockets with the money from the imperial court. Some people have also seized civilian fields, causing the surrounding sergeants to have no fighting spirit.
Some generals, generals, and others put their own people on the payroll to receive their salaries.
This led to the collapse of the entire Beijing camp, and the money was embezzled. Ten taels were lost, but only one tael was left in the hands of the soldiers. The cost of fire was too great, not only for the Beijing camp, but also for the frontier troops.
The Ming Dynasty has long since reached the point of running out of fuel and lamps.
Unable to bear to look at the faces of these soldiers, Meng Zhaoxiang quickly came to the camp under the guidance of the general. There were also some generals and generals gathered inside. Seeing what Meng Shilang had just said, everyone looked at each other in confusion, not knowing what was going on.
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The scene was a little awkward for a moment, as they thought it was Admiral Li who was meeting His Majesty, but they didn't know what the minister's role was. Besides, most of these ruffians were used to barbarism, and the people from the Criminal Department ignored them at all.
The scene cooled down a bit, but the general who brought him in spoke and stepped forward with a smile: "Brothers, this is the Minister of Justice, Minister Meng, and now he is our new admiral."
Everyone did not respond, and their eyes became more wary. Meng Zhaoxiang caught their expressions, and no longer hid behind him, he walked forward and said: "Everyone, do you have any ideas? Tell me.
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The generals glanced at each other, exchanged some winks, and then each stepped aside to make way for him to go to the commander's seat.
Seeing that no one had any intention of cooperating, Meng Zhaoxiang was not annoyed at all. He just took the generals next to him and walked to the commander's seat. He looked at the cushions sewn with tiger skin and threw them away with a sneer.
This move actually caused confusion among the generals on both sides. They seemed to feel that there was something different about the new admiral in front of them, and the look they looked at him was also different from before.
"This tiger skin cushion is really uncomfortable to sit on. Do you know who made this cushion?" Meng Zhaoxiang sat on the chair, patted the dust around him, and then said relaxedly.
The generals did not answer immediately. The general who was familiar with him wanted to answer, but was told to be silent, so he had to step aside and wait for the others to answer.
Perhaps half the stick of incense had been burned, and the camp was already a bit stuffy, and everyone became a little irritable. One of them finally stood up and said with cupped hands: "Return to the admiral, this tiger skin mat was captured by several warriors in the camp together."
This tiger was cut off by myself, and the person sitting on this tiger skin is the former Admiral Li."
Seeing someone finally replying, Meng Zhaoxiang leaned forward and said with admiration: "What is your name? What is your official position? How many years have you been in Beijing?"
"My name is Shi Wenlong. He has been appointed as a general and has been in Beijing for eight years." The general named Shi Wenlong was wearing military armor and had a sturdy figure with bearded eyes. He bowed loudly and said
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"I would like to ask you, how many soldiers are there in the Beijing camp now, and how many can fight? Are the number of firearms sufficient? How much is the damage? Answer them one by one."
Meng Zhaoxiang, who was sitting in the middle, asked coldly, one question after another ruthlessly beating Shi Wenlong's heart. These questions seemed so simple, but in fact they were extremely difficult. Any one of them would shake the foundation of the capital camp.
Shi Wenlong broke out in cold sweat, his body was slightly numb, he swallowed unconsciously, and couldn't help but panic in his heart. These questions were not something that a small general like him could answer. The matters involved involved a lot of personnel.
"Can't you answer it? Where are the others?"
His scolding made all the generals present dare not respond and lowered their heads one by one.
Meng Zhaoxiang recalled the weak and helpless soldiers outside. Although he knew in his heart that the recent epidemic in Beijing had put almost everyone in the Beijing camp at risk and killed tens of thousands, it was definitely not the reason why everyone was so sick!
Those who line their own pockets, those who make the soldiers in the capital work for their families, and those who use old, weak and weak soldiers to replace strong and young soldiers, these people deserve to die!
However, the people involved in the interests of the Beijing camp are beyond his reach as a small official. Many relatives of dignitaries are here. Although they have the support of His Majesty, they are nothing more than ants in the face of the relatives who have deep roots.
This matter, at least, cannot be too involved. It must be done step by step and break their foundation step by step. He just regrets that there is not enough time now. The intruders are eyeing the city of Beijing. If they are not careful, the rebels may suddenly attack the city.
The second thing is that His Majesty told him before that the decay of the Beijing camp did not happen overnight. If you can defend the city of Beijing for five days this time, it will be a great achievement. You must not rush for quick success. Furthermore, each city gate must let the most important people.
The people you trust will guard you, and anyone else who dares to come close will be put to death.
Although I don't know why Your Majesty is so suspicious of the eunuchs around him, let alone the ministers.
Meng Zhaoxiang still chose to trust His Majesty's words and asked some of his former colleagues to replace the city guard officials, which at least made him feel more at ease.
"Where is the Admiral? Your Majesty has ordered you and others to protect you and give the trespassers some silver to enter the city." A guard in gilded clothes suddenly entered the tent and said loudly.
Seeing that His Majesty had a decree, everyone bowed quickly. Meng Zhaoxiang assigned Shi Wenlong to go. Shi Wenlong's eyelids also jumped, but he did not hesitate but saluted and left with Jin Yiwei.
The rest of the generals were whispering, and they all felt dissatisfied when they heard that they had been given money to the thieves. The military pay in the Beijing camp was insufficient, and some even found it difficult to maintain their families' livelihoods. However, the imperial court's small silver reward was directly given to the thieves.
A robber?
"Your Majesty has negotiated a peace with the intruder, and the silver was given in humiliation for peace. If you have the ambition to make great achievements, I will personally bid farewell to you and watch you fight with the intruder on the city to avenge my great Ming Dynasty!
Who dares?"
I couldn't stand these shameless generals, but when I heard the word "yin liang", it revealed a bit of greed and dissatisfaction. Meng Zhaoxiang even scolded them, not afraid of them who smelled like sweat.
Beijing camp has fallen into such a state of depravity, these people cannot escape the blame!
Facing the questioning of the newly arrived Admiral Meng Zhaoxiang, everyone was silent and said nothing. Under such circumstances, regardless of counterattack, the defense of the city would be vulnerable.
Seeing the gloomy atmosphere in the camp, he stood up and went out, ignoring the generals. As soon as he left the camp, he immediately ordered people to beat drums to assemble, and he took several of the imperial guards who came with him to the military parade platform.
The deputy generals and staff generals of each battalion all stood on both sides of the parade platform, facing the soldiers.
Immediately, drums sounded, and when one drum sounded, drums sounded everywhere. The soldiers thought it was an intruder from outside who was about to attack the city, so they hurriedly picked up their swords and guns, put away their leather armor and hurriedly gathered.
Meng Zhaoxiang, who was standing on the stage, had a gloomy face, looking at the soldiers who were gathering in a panic below the stage and in the distance. Each one of them had no trace of the ethos of the soldiers in the Beijing camp. On the contrary, they didn't even have the discipline of a rural farmer.
It took half an hour from the sound of the drums to the gathering of the soldiers. If the intruders attacked the city in the middle of the night, everyone in the Beijing camp would probably be killed in their sleep. It would be hard to believe that the city was in such a state of decay.
The lieutenants and generals were somewhat ashamed when they saw this and couldn't bear to look at it. The military parade was a slap in their face. However, no one was discouraged. Many people who wanted to rectify the Beijing camp ended up dead in the end.
In their eyes, this Meng Zhaoxiang is just a newborn calf who is not afraid of tigers.
"I can't believe that Beijing Camp is so corrupt. However, several servants in my family are also quite strong-spirited. On the contrary, Beijing Camp has been in such a bad state since the Taizong period."
"In order to reorganize the capital, kill corrupt officials, and straighten out the administration, Your Majesty spent one million yuan in silver! An hour ago, Chen Yan, the chief minister of the cabinet, had his house confiscated and beheaded for accepting bribes and colluding with the enemy. So I told you
Everyone, if you find someone who is corrupt and perverting the law, report it in public, and you will be rewarded with ten taels of silver! If you find out the culprit behind the scenes, you will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver!"
As soon as the words fell, the scene suddenly became commotion. Many people's eyes showed excitement and excitement, and many people were eager to try. However, they were all stared at by the general standing facing them and pushed back.
"Report on one person, reward fifteen taels of silver! Upgrade to one level!"
[Author's digression]: I publish articles every night and have more recommended words on the Internet.