Chapter 1083, there are not many people in important meetings
"Well, that makes sense~"
After hearing Liu Jin's words, everyone nodded slightly.
The reason why the Ming Dynasty is powerful is not only because of its powerful army, but more importantly because of its vast territory, endless resources, huge population and strong economic strength.
Otherwise, no country would be able to spend 20 million taels of silver a year on military expenditures like the Ming Dynasty. This is an extremely huge amount.
Only a huge empire like the Ming Dynasty can support it. Other than that, no other country can do it.
The Ming Dynasty had more than one million standing troops, which was an extremely huge number and the largest army in the world. The only country that could maintain such a huge army was the Ming Dynasty.
The Ottoman Empire was very powerful, but it was impossible to maintain a huge army of more than one million. Only in wartime would the Ottoman Empire recruit millions of troops.
However, these millions of troops are not standing armies. They usually cultivate their own land and are not separated from production. However, the army of the Ming Dynasty is completely separated from production and is a professional army. This is also an important reason for the strong military strength of the Ming Dynasty.
one.
More than one million people are undergoing rigorous training every day after having enough to eat and nothing to do. They will naturally become stronger. Even though they may be farmers at first, they can still become outstanding warriors after a long period of training.
.
On the contrary, if an excellent warrior puts down his sword, picks up a hoe, and works in the fields for a long time, neglecting training and learning, he will naturally and slowly become a farmer.
This is also an important reason why after the military household system, the invincible army that Zhu Yuanzhang used to conquer the world turned into peasants and was no longer an elite army after more than ten or twenty years.
The strength of the Ming army was due to many factors, and weapons were only one of them. Even without advanced firearms, the Ming army could still be very powerful.
"Then it seems that we can sell some outdated weapons to the Persians?"
Emperor Hongzhi pondered for a while, thought for a while and said.
Military expenditures were paid for by the emperor's private internal funds, which was a very heavy burden. It was also supported by the many industries founded by Liu Jin. These industries could make huge profits every year and bring a steady stream of money to Emperor Hongzhi.
Huge wealth.
However, the excessive military expenditure still gave Emperor Hongzhi a headache. Now that he heard about the benefits of selling arms and weapons to foreign countries, he was also very excited.
According to many regulations on the construction of the Ming army, the weapons and equipment of the Ming army must be replaced regularly. In the simplest terms, in terms of military clothing expenses, every soldier in the army must be issued five pieces of clothing every quarter throughout the year.
There are twenty sets of clothes a year, which is a fixed expense every year.
The same goes for weapons and equipment. Whether it is swords, muskets, bows and arrows, armor, etc., they must be replaced regularly. Even sometimes, these things are still in good condition and must be replaced.
This is part of the armament system. It is to keep the weapons and equipment of the Ming army at an advanced level. It is also a fixed military expenditure.
A large number of eliminated and updated weapons and equipment are basically placed in warehouses and reserved as strategic materials. Once there is a war, if the standing army is not enough, the reserve forces can be shaken up urgently and use these eliminated and updated weapons and equipment to participate.
.
Such a system was obviously the work of Liu Jin and was formulated with reference to the armament systems of later generations.
The effect is obvious, that is, the Ming army has a very strong combat effectiveness, is well-equipped, and can always maintain a strong combat effectiveness. The disadvantage is that it requires money.
In the old days of the military household system, the imperial court's annual military expenditure was very small. Military households had their own fields and obtained grain from their own cultivated fields, while the border troops had to rely on the salt merchants to transport grain to supply them through the salt introduction system.
As for weapons and equipment, only when there is a war, the imperial court will allocate money and materials for the Ministry of Industry to manufacture them. The ones we usually use are 'Made in Hanyang', and we don't even know that they were made in the Year of the Monkey and the Horse.
Some of the swords were even passed down from the time of Zhu Yuanzhang to the Hongzhi Dynasty.
Under such a system, the imperial court's military expenditures were very small, and probably not even a fraction of what they are now.
Naturally, the combat effectiveness of the previous Ming army was low. Not to mention going out to fight with the Tatars in the field, it was very difficult to defend the city. The dilapidated military households were skinny, wearing tattered clothes, carrying scraps of copper and iron, and sometimes even
Only wooden spears made of wood were used to fight.
Not only is his own combat effectiveness low, but his will to fight is also very weak, his discipline is lax, and it is a common practice to kill good people and take credit for them.
What hope can be expected from such an army?
"Your Majesty, it is indeed possible. There are still a large number of discarded and replaced weapons and equipment in the warehouse. It would be good if they could be sold at a good price."
Zhang Mao stood up and expressed his support.
He was in charge of the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion, and he was very aware of the huge amount of weapons and equipment that the Ming Army updated every year. Whenever he saw a warehouse with weapons and equipment covered by dust, he felt distressed.
You must know that many weapons and equipment are very good. In the past, they were all luxuries.
"There is nothing wrong with selling some obsolete and outdated weapons and equipment."
"Yes, yes, it is not easy for Your Majesty. The expenditure of twenty million taels of silver a year is really too much."
"This is also for the purpose of expanding the territory. The expenditure is large, but it also brings endless benefits to our Ming Dynasty."
"We ministers should also share your Majesty's worries. Selling some of the obsolete weapons and equipment can save part of the military expenditure."
Other ministers also stood up and expressed their opinions.
Now everyone has tasted the benefits of a strong military. At least, the Ming Dynasty has expanded its huge territory every year, and they, the civil servants, have also enjoyed many benefits. Which of the ministers present does not have a few plantations?
There are sugarcane plantations in Nanyang, cotton plantations in the Western Regions, and rivers. Now everyone is setting up cotton plantations and pastures in Nanyun Province. It can be said that they have enjoyed a lot of benefits.
Therefore, they also support the army even more, because they all know clearly that the stronger the Ming army is, the more benefits they will be able to enjoy.
"Since everyone has no objections, the matter will be settled as it is."
"Well, you two, Zhang Mao and Liu Jin, are responsible for this matter and have worked out a detailed foreign arms sales system. Future foreign arms sales will be implemented with reference to this system."
Seeing that everyone had no objections, Emperor Hongzhi nodded with satisfaction. After some thought, he handed over the matter to Zhang Mao and Liu Jinlai.
Zhang Mao was in charge of the Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army, so it was natural for him to be involved in this matter. Liu Jin got involved mainly because Emperor Hongzhi felt that Liu Jin was a good man at cheating people. With Liu Jin here, he would not have to worry about weapons and equipment being sold at low prices, and he would be able to
Develop a detailed foreign military sales system.
"Yes~"
Zhang Mao and Liu Jin also replied in unison.
"Your Majesty, this year's autumn harvest is almost over. This year, our Ming Dynasty is ushering in another good harvest year. There are great harvests in the north and south of the country, at home and abroad. The grains produced are piled up in mountains, which is enough to feed the people of my Ming Dynasty for several years."
"Haha, okay~ Food is the foundation. If you have enough food and clothing, you will know honor and disgrace. Only when you are full can you talk about other things."
"Your Majesty, Nanyang Siam and Chenla sent a mission to our country, Ming Dynasty, to submit credentials to our country, hoping to become a vassal state of our country."
"Hmph, when the Ming Dynasty formulated the vassal state system, among the Southeast Asian countries, only Luzon was forced to become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. The other countries saw no benefit, and none of them was willing to become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty."
"Now that our Ming Dynasty has conquered the world, Korea, Japan and other vassal states have also grown stronger and enjoyed many benefits. Siam and Chenla must have seen this, so they want to become vassal states of my Ming Dynasty."
"They thought very well, but the agreement between Siam and us has not yet been fulfilled, and the Ming Dynasty still owes us tens of millions of taels of war indemnity that has not been repaid. I thought that we would consider this matter after they repay all the war indemnity."
."
"I second the proposal!"
"..."
"Your Majesty, the envoy of the King of Spain to the Ming Dynasty expressed his dissatisfaction with the Penglai City incident to our Ming Dynasty, but his attitude was not bad. He also expressed his hope to continue to form an alliance with our Ming Dynasty."
"It's okay to be dissatisfied. Who told their people to cause trouble in our Ming Dynasty without killing them? Do they think our Ming Dynasty is easy to bully?"
"Penglaicheng County Magistrate has done well and has been promoted to one level."
"As for the continued alliance with Spain, our Ming Dynasty no longer needs Spain, so we give them a clear reply that our Ming Dynasty will not participate in European affairs and will not form an alliance with any European country."
"..."
"Your Majesty, King Yeonsangun of North Korea sent a delegation to Beijing to present to Your Majesty ninety-nine Korean beauties, fifty kilograms of century-old ginseng, the Pearl of the East China Sea, silks and satins, BMWs, etc."
"At the same time, they hope that our Ming Dynasty will allow North Korea to open up colonies in Tianzhu and Africa."
"Mr. Yanshan is interested. The Ministry of Rites will formulate corresponding gifts in return. At the same time, he will reply to Mr. Yanshan that our Ming Dynasty allows them to open colonies in Tianzhu, Africa and other places, but they are not allowed to compete with our Ming Dynasty vassal states, trading houses, colonies, etc."
"yes….."
One after another, major national affairs were constantly brought up in this small Shangshu room, and then quickly settled after discussion by Emperor Hongzhi and other ministers.
"The morning court is of no great use at all. Major matters are basically discussed in the minister's office. This morning court system needs to be changed."
Liu Jin listened carefully to each thing, thinking about it in his mind. When everyone had discussed everything, he slowly stood up.