Daming: The most ruthless tyrant in history

Chapter 881: Sichuan-Guizhou Military Reform
As the special time of New Year approaches, the festive atmosphere in the capital becomes stronger. Although there have been frequent incidents in the north and south of the Ming Dynasty in recent months, and even the capital is not peaceful, for the grassroots groups, they may pay attention and discuss it, but they will not be greatly affected.

Life can go on. After a year of hard work, it's time to reward yourself and let your family have a prosperous new year.

However, for those in officialdom, especially those involved in the matter, most of them are living every day like a year. They are extremely nervous, fearing that something will be discovered one day.

Of course, not all officials are like this.

For example, the Military Affairs Council.

Working around the clock has almost become their synonym.

Wuying Palace.

"Since the suppression of the She'an rebellion, the reform of the garrisons in Sichuan and Guizhou, the elimination of bandits, the rectification of the ancient Tea-Horse Road, and other military-related plans have achieved considerable results."

Zhang Guowei stood in front of the high-hanging map with a serious expression, holding a long stick, and said solemnly: "Among them, the results of abolishing the garrisons in Sichuan and Guizhou are the most remarkable. A total of 371 garrisons have been restructured and built in remote areas. All the land under their jurisdiction has been surveyed and registered separately. During this period, a terraced field reconstruction plan specifically designed for the complex terrain of Sichuan and Guizhou is still being accelerated in Sichuan and Guizhou."

"As of the end of last month, the transformation of military households into civilians in Sichuan and Guizhou was fully completed. The weak and old soldiers in the Sichuan and Guizhou garrison troops were eliminated, with a total of 73191 people eliminated. These groups were all diverted and resettled in the construction garrisons."

"Based on the Sichuan-Guizhou garrison troops, the division of Sichuan-Guizhou garrisons has been initially clarified. During this period, a total of 17980 local soldiers will be recruited from local chieftains. Their salaries will be paid according to the regulations of the Military Affairs Council..."

Zhu Youxiao, standing with his hands behind his back, listened carefully to Zhang Guowei's report. The military reform in Sichuan and Guizhou was carried out against the backdrop of the end of the suppression of the She'an Rebellion and the completion of the corresponding imperial rewards. During this period, the situation in the southeastern provinces was changeable, but it had little impact on the military reform in Sichuan and Guizhou.

For Zhu Youxiao, he deeply understood that the military system had become corrupt and could not bear the burden of Ming Dynasty's defense, so since the beginning of his ascension to the throne, Zhu Youxiao had been promoting military reform.

The military reform currently being promoted in Sichuan and Guizhou is an extremely important link. It is aimed at the complex terrain of the border areas. Against the backdrop of the abolition of the garrisons, a construction and garrison system with construction as the main focus and garrison as the auxiliary focus is being established. If this plan can be successfully implemented and corresponding experience is accumulated, then this system can be clarified in the northwest, northeast, and southwest regions in the future, thereby reducing financial expenditures on border defense and assisting local development. At the same time, it can also accumulate money and grain for future expansion without the need to allocate money and grain from far away places.

As for why the garrison troops appeared after the abolition of the garrisons, this was actually a transition. Zhu Youxiao wanted to build a dual army system for internal garrison and external deterrence.

To put it simply.

The Dusi system will serve as the main garrison force in the local provinces in the future, and the Five Military Governor's Office system will be transformed into a war zone model. The garrison army under the Dusi system and the field army under the Five Military Governor's Office will gradually implement a unified military system, one for internal and one for external use. These two systems will be under the unified command of the Military Affairs Council. As for the Ministry of War, it will gradually move towards a service-oriented agency in the future.

Military power must be firmly in the hands of the Emperor of Ming Dynasty.

This is easy to say but difficult to do. There are too many powers that need to be clarified, boundaries that need to be defined, experiences that need to be summarized, etc. Therefore, the method adopted by Zhu Youxiao was to boil a frog in warm water, slowly changing and altering until the military reform finally bore fruit.

"How is the survey and sorting of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road progressing?" Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao fixed his eyes on the red line mark on the map and said in a low voice.

“It is still being implemented.”

Chen Shiqi, who was standing nearby, stepped forward and said, "We need to do this quickly!"

Zhu Youxiao frowned and said, "By the fourth year of Tianqi at the latest, the Military Affairs Council will be in charge, and the nobles awarded by the Southwest and the chieftains who are loyal to the court will have to set up a business."

"This should be done sooner rather than later."

"The ancient Tea-Horse Road trade must be led by the imperial court. When developing trade in various places, we must also clearly explore the terrain of each place!"

"The minister obeys the order."

Chen Shiqi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured that the Military Affairs Council will take care of this matter."

Following the Thirteen Hongs in Tianjin under the jurisdiction of the Shaofu, the grassland border trade under the jurisdiction of the Zongrenfu, and the Dongfan sea trade and development under the jurisdiction of the inner court, Zhu Youxiao also developed the Ancient Tea-Horse Road trade.

In organizing these trades and incorporating the corresponding groups into them, in addition to making money through trade and binding the various groups together with interests, Zhu Youxiao also had deeper motives.

The idea is to explore the terrain of the corresponding area during the trade period, so as to achieve the strategic plan of future external expansion or even actual control of more territory.

When the Pan-Northeast Strategy, the Great Prairie Strategy, the advance into the Western Regions, the march into the Indochina Peninsula, and the actual control of the South Seas are gradually realized in the future, the trade and interests involved in the above will gradually change their affiliation, but for now they need to be assigned to the corresponding departments for specific responsibility.

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In addition to the Pan-Northeast Strategy, other strategic plans have been finalized by the Military Affairs Council this year, and the corresponding deployment and details are being gradually improved.

"Convey a decree to the governors of Sichuan and Guizhou regarding the suppression of bandits." After clarifying the matter of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road trade, Zhu Youxiao extended his hand to Zhang Guowei.

"This matter must be treated as suppressing a rebellion. I do not want to hear of any bandit forces existing anywhere in Sichuan and Guizhou. No matter how small, if they are not completely wiped out, it would be the dereliction of duty of the local governor!!"

"The land tax system in Sichuan is now also being tried in Guizhou. This can reduce the burden on the lower classes to some extent. There is also the construction of garrisons. As long as you are not afraid of the hardships of the place you live in, there will be no problem at all to support your family by growing crops."

"Local officials and military governors must do everything they can to completely solve the problem of bandits for me. When the Ancient Tea-Horse Road trade is opened, if there are still bandits rampant in the local area, should the Ancient Tea-Horse Road still be opened?"

"I understand."

Zhang Guowei immediately bowed and said, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will coordinate with the relevant officials in Sichuan and Guizhou on the corresponding matters, and there will be no mistakes."

Zhu Youxiao nodded. He was still very satisfied with the current Military Affairs Council. Yes, batches of important officials of the Military Affairs Council were sent to various places to take up important positions, but the new batch also performed very well. At least they did not disappoint Zhu Youxiao. That was enough. The construction of a talent echelon has accumulated foundation until now and has produced due results. It is absolutely true that there are talented people in every generation.

(End of this chapter)