"The garrison administration was abolished and no registration records were left. From hundreds to thousands of households down to the commander, guard 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 is alive."
Zhu Yixi was silent.
He thought that the frontier army was unbearable and would at least last until the Hongzhi period. During the Jiaqing period, who would have thought that it would collapse as early as the Zhengtong period, during the reign of the emperor Zhu Qizhen.
At this time, it had only been sixty years since the Ming Dynasty unified the world! It had been less than fifty years since the border army had been established.
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 frontier 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 the reasons 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 chief minister, organized a new survey of land across the country, and this time it was found that more than 63.5 million acres of farmland had been concealed.
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 left alone.
"Now that the imperial court is revitalized and the frontier army is in ruins and waiting to be revitalized, it is time to resume the military garrison and resume the grand activities of the Hongwu period."
Lu Daqi's momentum doubled in vain.
"Yes!" The emperor nodded: "Continue."
"The second is to use official services to station the army, and officers to serve the border troops privately, so that the border preparations are ineffective and the bandits can 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. How 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, officers are difficult to use. 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 respect his father. As a result, the upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked. The frontier army is becoming increasingly miserable, 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 an ice basin.
After walking a few steps, he came back to his senses and said with emotion:
“The world is not lacking in 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 problems.”
"In the court, the censors are used to finding faults and raising numerous issues and suggestions, but few will actually implement them."
"Old minister, I understand."
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 and explicit 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 the nine borders to inspect military affairs and reorganize the border army."
Lu Daqi immediately raised his hands and said solemnly, his eyes extremely bright.
"Border troops are different from those in the mainland, so be careful!"
When the emperor spoke, his tone seemed to be cautious.
For example, in the military towns of Guyuan, Yulin, Gansu, and Datong, the main force has been reorganized and they have been receiving imperial rations for several years, but their military and political affairs are in a mess.
Moreover, people are attacking the Loop at this time. If you come here blindly, wouldn’t it cause a big mess?
"I am willing to obey the imperial court's instructions and go through fire and water without hesitation."
Lu Daqi quickly made a promise.
"You are the Minister of War, and it 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. Naturally, we could refer to Lu Daqi's solution for the solution, but it would have to be discussed by the cabinet as to 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.
When he saw the three people, the emperor didn't hesitate. He patted the memorial with his middle finger and ring finger and said bluntly: "What are the regulations of the cabinet?"
"Your Majesty, I all believe that this matter must be rectified immediately without delay."
Zhao Shu, as the chief assistant, 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 in detail. 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 whipping law, the imperial court 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 the whole story. It must be implemented in earnest.