Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

They become unfriendly when talking about money. Military expenditure is the lifeblood of the military, and the salaries of various nobles are also included in the military expenditure. It is impossible for everyone to agree to this.

Jia Cong laughed and raised his hand to suppress the crowd's protests. He said, "I know that the new law is now in effect, and the national treasury's annual income is more than 100 million taels. One and a half percent is 15 million taels. Is it a lot? Not much."

Everyone laughed and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."

Li Meng said: "In the past few years, the national treasury was so empty, and the military expenditure was several million every year. Now that we are rich, it is still so little. I am afraid that the generals and soldiers of the world will not submit."

Wang Ziteng said: "That's right. If there is a war, we will be even more outgoing."

"Moreover, now that the Western Regions have just been settled, the chieftains in the southwest are also a serious threat. There are many places where troops are needed. If there is a shortage of military funds, it will be detrimental to the court's cause." Niu Jizong also said.

Jia Cong said: "What you said is that if you want to strengthen the country, you must first strengthen the army. I suggest that the military expenditure should be raised to 25% of the national treasury income as a rule. If there is a war, additional funds will be allocated depending on the size of the war. What do you think?"

Everyone's eyes lit up and they bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

Jia Cong said with a smile: "Don't think that two and a half percent is twenty-five million silver coins. Today, I have ordered the Military Affairs Office to increase the tax rate under the new law from one silver coin per mu to five silver coins. No other miscellaneous taxes are allowed. Two and a half percent is tens of millions of silver coins."

Everyone was shocked, as this was a huge amount of money. Then they began to secretly groan, as the tax rate suddenly increased so much, which meant that every family would have to spend a large amount of money every year, and the days of being unemployed at home would be even more difficult.

Jia Cong glanced at everyone and naturally understood what they meant, and said: "Of course, although the country is rich, your families will have a hard time.

If there is no way to make money, those who rely solely on land rent will lose a large part of their income, which is bound to feel unfair. "

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I have no objection."

"For the sake of the country and the court, we will not say anything."

"For the great cause of military affairs, I am willing to do it."

Everyone expressed their loyalty.

Jia Cong waved his hand and smiled, "My family has hundreds of thousands of acres of good land, and every year we have to pay an extra 100,000 or 200,000 taels of land tax. Naturally, I understand your difficulties. As the ancients said, if you lose something in one place, you can gain something in another. If you can make more money, it seems that raising taxes is not a bad idea."

Li Meng and others secretly thought that Prince Jing was trying to win over all the nobles with benefits.

As expected, everyone hurriedly said, "We thank the prince for his grace."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "It's too early to say thank you. I have a preliminary idea. If all the nobles can serve in the army, and the army can set up some industries, and if they can have some prospects, we can also imitate the civil officials and get a salary to maintain integrity. Wouldn't everyone's life be better?"

Everyone was delighted. As for Jia Cong's ability in fighting, they admired him but did not take it seriously. There were so many famous generals in history, so how many battles did Jia Cong fight in?

When it comes to the means of making money, everyone is full of admiration. Which famous general in history is as rich as Jia Cong?
Therefore, they all hurriedly said: "Your Highness, we will follow your lead."

Li Meng and his trusted Wu Hou looked at each other and smiled bitterly. These idiots were too easy to bribe. It was no wonder. Jia Cong offered him official positions and money. Who wouldn't follow him?

Jia Cong said: "But..."

Everyone let out a sigh in their hearts and was hung up again.

"Military service is a national treasure, not my personal property, how can I give it away lightly?
Those of you who hold titles can be admitted to the general officer class of the new military academy in batches to learn new tactics and military strategies. Outstanding children in your family can be recommended to study in the school officer class.

The term is half a year. After passing the assessment at the end of the term, you will be hired based on your ability. If you fail the assessment, don't blame me for not caring about our friendship." Jia Cong said.

Everyone hurriedly said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. We will study hard."

Someone asked, "Your Majesty, if we have all trained hard and passed, why are there so many positions in the army?"

That’s right, everyone nodded secretly. If there were so many vacancies, many people would not be unemployed.

Although everyone's title is not high, at least they all have a third-rank general. If they are to be appointed, they should start as a third-rank commander. A third-rank general is already considered a middle or senior general. How could the country have so many commanders?

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Now all the generals in the army must be assessed and appointed in the new military academy. Many fakes and unqualified people will be eliminated. Wouldn't this free up many positions? Besides, why should you limit your vision to the Central Plains?
For example, the Western Regions are vast and boundless. Even if you were to send all of you there to lead the troops, it would be more than enough.
And in the east, Goryeo has been conquered, and Wu Lang is now guarding it. There are also endless lands such as Japan, Rakshasa, and the Grassland Khanate waiting for our conquest.

What worries me now is that you haven’t given birth to many sons, so that there will be no successors for the generals in the country, and there will be no one to serve in the future.”

Everyone's blood boiled when they heard this, and they all said in unison: "My whole family, young and old, are willing to die for the prince's ambition!"

Jia Cong said: "Thank you all, but it's not for me. We are fighting together for the destiny of our country! We are fighting for the thousands of years of Chinese Taoism!"

"We obey your order!" everyone bowed.

"Speaking of this, the future issue of the children of nobles has been solved, and the children of commoners who are interested in joining the army should also have rules to follow." Jia Cong murmured.

"Your Majesty, can't commoners take the military examination?"

"Well, the martial arts examination is good, but it needs major changes to adapt to the changing times." Jia Cong said decisively.

"Please give your instructions, Your Majesty." Niu Jizong said.

Jia Cong was a military candidate, so he was very familiar with the subject. He thought for a moment and said, "There is nothing wrong with the written test. The ancient military strategy talks about the common sense of war. Even if it is ten thousand years later, as long as there is war, The Art of War will not be outdated. This subject will be retained.

However, we can introduce the military tactics of the Western Barbarians... The old king will immediately have someone translate it, publish it throughout the country, and make it a compulsory subject in the military examination."

"Yes." Wang Ziteng said hurriedly.

"Cancel the riding and archery subjects, they are useless. In the future, we will use firearms and warships to fight wars." Jia Cong waved his hand.

"Yes."

"As for the strength subjects, they are quite interesting. We'll keep the weight-bearing part, but we'll abolish the Qiaoguan part and replace it with a 60-mile forced march. Having a good physique will make it easier to fight."

"Yes."

"The combat will be retained, but all weapons will be replaced with bayonets. The elite military instructors will be asked to compile a set of simplistic, fierce and sharp assassination techniques based on the shape of muskets and the ideas passed down by our ancestors, and promote them to the entire army and the martial arts examinations."

"Yes." Niu Jizong praised: "Your Highness is worthy of being a martial arts champion. Each of the revisions is precise and concise. I wonder what the weight of each subject is?"

Jia Cong pondered and said, "The written test accounts for 40%, the physical strength accounts for 30%, and the combat accounts for 30%."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"This change is quite big. Let's implement it from the next exam, and give candidates all over the country some time to adapt." Jia Cong said.

Wang Ziteng said, "Yes, I will prepare a proposal immediately and ask for your approval to announce it to the world."

"Well, all the selected candidates will first receive a period of training in the New Army Academy, and then be sent to the border for training. After their term is complete, they will be transferred and promoted based on their performance." Jia Cong said.

"Yes."

After the discussion on this matter was over, Li Meng coughed and said, "Your Majesty, I don't quite understand what you just said about the military industry."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "That's a good question. I was just about to talk about this. You all know military affairs well. Wars are all about money. Without money, even if you, Han Bai, were to come back to life, you would still be powerless.

There are teams that can fight hard battles and win without spending any money, but they haven’t been born yet.”

Everyone laughed and said, "Your Majesty, that's a good idea."

"So how to get the money is the key. I have thought of a way, and I would like to discuss it with you today." Jia Cong said with a smile.

"Your Highness has the ability of Tao Zhu. We, the ministers, have no opinion on this. We are willing to listen attentively." Everyone said hurriedly.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Three words: industry, military industry!"

"Your Highness, what is the military industry?" "To put it simply, it is the manufacture of guns, cannons, armor, warships, and steel. In short, whatever is needed for war, it is manufactured."

Everyone looked at each other, only laughed and nodded. Aren't these things made to be sold to the military? Isn't it just making money with one hand?
Seeing that everyone looked confused, Jia Cong shook his head and said with a smile: "You have no talent for business, so it's better not to talk about it."

Everyone laughed and said, "We are stupid."

"We'll know the truth in three to five years."

"Yes, we will wait and see."

"Let's stop here for today and go home. Generals above the rank of commander-in-chief should stay. I have something to say."

"I'm waiting to retire."

After everyone left, Jia Cong looked at the remaining twenty or thirty people, and finally his eyes fell on Li Meng, and said: "Duke Anguo, although the Tusi in the southwest is not a big threat at present, it will become a hidden worry in the long run. Do you have a plan to pacify the Tusi?"

Li Meng hurriedly stood up and reported: "Your Majesty, it has been formulated."

"Well, please try to say it."

"Yes. I think that the way to eliminate the threat of Tusi is to 'reform Tusi into Han people' as the new law calls it.

The biggest threat to the six provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan and Hubei is the barbarians. If we want to pacify the people, we must first subdue the barbarians. If we want to subdue the barbarians, we must change the natives and make them commoners.

As for the methods to change their fate, capturing them by strategy is the best, while suppression by force is the second best; persuading them to surrender is the best, while forcing them to surrender is the second best.

Therefore, the method of controlling the barbarians should be to use both kindness and force, with civil attack as the main method and military strategy as the auxiliary method, which can achieve twice the result with half the effort. "Li Meng said in a deep voice.

Jia Cong nodded slightly and said, "How do we do it specifically?"

Li Meng said: "First, we can station troops, garrison troops, repair borders, and build checkpoints at key places where the Han and Barbarian people meet in each province to prevent them from fleeing to each other and to create a deterrent blockade.

The barbarians mostly rely on trade with the Han people in exchange for salt, iron, cloth and other goods. If their borders are cut off and their roads are blocked, they will collapse on their own.
Second, pacify the people with lenient and benevolent policies. Encourage intermarriage between Han and barbarians, reduce taxes on barbarians as appropriate, set up official schools to teach barbarians, abolish their cultural customs, promote the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues, and grant official positions to those who are excellent in academic performance, loyal and upright, and govern barbarian lands.

Third, those chieftains who resist the royal law, persist in their evil deeds, and are tyrannical should be dealt with with thunderous force, killing one to warn the rest and uprooting them. The rest of the chieftains would be terrified and would no longer dare to resist the court.

Those who voluntarily surrender will be treated leniently to win over their hearts and minds."

Jia Cong nodded secretly. Li Meng was able to hold a high position, so he must have something in his mind. He clapped his hands and praised: "Good! I have no objection. Let's discuss it with the Military Affairs Office and promulgate it as soon as possible."

"Yes."

"As for the expenses required, since it is a combination of civil and military strategies, part of it will be allocated from military expenses and another part from the national treasury." Jia Cong said.

Li Meng hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will discuss this with the other ministers."

Jia Cong added: "The matter of suppressing the chieftains of the six provinces is of great importance and involves a wide range of people. It cannot be done without a general of high reputation.

"The Duke of Anguo and General Li Meng of the Cavalry are ordered to lead elite troops to the southwest to coordinate and supervise the six provinces in pacifying the barbarians and changing their ways. They are given royal flags and banners to control the officials, soldiers and civilians of the six provinces. Officials below the third rank will be executed first and then reported to the emperor."

Li Meng hurriedly said, "I accept your order."

Jia Cong said again: "Duke Anguo, please pick a few generals from the capital and bring them to assist us."

Li Meng said: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I recommend Cong Xingsheng, Yuan Qi, Chen Bingwen..."

Everyone heard him name five or six people in one breath. They were all generals from humble backgrounds who had been promoted by Wang Ning and now each of them was in charge of a battalion of the Beijing Army. They all knew that this was all arranged by the higher-ups.

Everyone who was named by him sighed in their hearts, as expected... when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Now that the big tree Wang Ning has fallen, how can they get any good results?

Jia Cong nodded and said, "Yes." He then looked at the six generals from humble backgrounds and said calmly, "All of you generals came from humble backgrounds, but it is rare and precious that you have made it to where you are today through the military examination. You must be talented.

The southwestern provinces are in urgent need of good generals. I hope you will work together and make more military achievements so that you can settle down in the future and have your wives and children be blessed."

"I will obey your order and serve you till death!" The six men hurried out and bowed.

Normally, as commanders of the Beijing camp, they should have settled down and have their wives and children blessed with titles. Jia Cong brought up this matter again, obviously implying that your foundation is far from enough and that you may be stripped of your positions at any time if you don't make new achievements.

Even if you have made a contribution, it is impossible to return to Beijing immediately. You should guard the southwest first. Who made you come from a poor family?

Although he was granted a hereditary title by taking advantage of the Tu Fei Rebellion, there would be a price to pay for forcing things to happen.

Jia Cong nodded and said, "Thank you very much. Duke Anguo, the mountainous roads in the southwest are difficult to travel. I will give you another 3,000 new troops and 100 small-caliber field artillery. With the support of the troops from various provinces, it should be no problem to annihilate the barbarians."

Li Meng was overjoyed and said quickly, "Thank you very much for your grace, Your Majesty." He never thought that he would one day have a chance to lead the New Army. Marriage is indeed a good business.

"You can go to the army in Beijing to select the soldiers you need, and I will be in charge of all the guns, ammunition and so on."

"Order."

"Once the team is selected, send them to the New Army Academy for training. After the training is completed as soon as possible, go south and pacify the chieftains and guard the place."

"Yes." Li Meng was a little disappointed, but he understood what Jia Cong meant. That was that no new troops other than the direct lineage were allowed to appear in the capital for the time being.

"Lao Niu, you have to get me some good equipment." Li Meng reminded him with some concern.

Niu Jizong smiled and said, "Of course. Duke Anguo fights for the court, so I, Old Niu, will definitely pick the best for you."

"Thank you very much."

"you are welcome."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "That's it. The six generals will follow the Duke of Anguo to the south to fight. The missions of the Beijing camp will be temporarily relieved. You should decide on the commander-in-chief as soon as possible."

"We obey your order." Li Meng, Wang Ziteng and Niu Jizon hurriedly bowed.

"Old Wang and Old Niu stay here, and you guys can go."

"I'm waiting to retire."

After everyone left, Jia Cong asked, "How is the training of the new army going?"

Niu Jizong hurriedly said, "Your Highness, the first batch of 30,000 new soldiers have been trained and are still training day and night. We dare not slack off. In addition, we received a batch of firearms the other day and are distributing them to the various camps."

Jia Cong hesitated for a moment and said, "That's true. I forgot the exact number."

Niu Jizong said hurriedly: "There are more than 53,000 muskets, more than 600 cannons of various types, and a certain amount of ammunition. About 30% of them were produced in the prince's arsenal."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Yes. It's not easy. We can also produce guns and cannons ourselves. How is the quality compared with those produced by the Western Barbarians?"

Niu Jizong said: "I asked someone to test it, and the quality is the same, there is no difference."

"Then I feel relieved." Jia Cong nodded with satisfaction and said, "Change your clothes and get ready as soon as possible. Well, Brother Wang Shi..."

"The end will be here."

"You discuss with everyone and recommend a few capable men to command the four battalions. Let Duke Anguo decide on the other two battalions. In addition, carefully screen the officers in the other four battalions, send out those who are unreliable, and promote new men to lead them."

"Yes." Wang Ziteng bowed.

Now under Jia Cong, Wang Ziteng is in charge of personnel and administration, Niu Jizong is in charge of military equipment and logistics, Liu Fang, Hou Xiaokang and others are in charge of their own affairs, and all of them hold great power. (End of this chapter)