Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 467: Forgetting to Fight Will Lead to Danger (Special thanks to book friend tai1972 for two monthly tickets!)

Wang Dan said:
“Reporting to Your Majesty, we have discussed for several days and all of us believe that since ancient times, military commanders have led troops in battles and have been with the soldiers for a long time. They have a close relationship with each other and often go through life and death together. This makes it very easy for military commanders to win over their subordinates and use them.

Although Your Majesty has long established the gendarmerie system, the military supervision system and the retirement system, the generals and soldiers are too familiar with each other day and night, which is not good for the country.

We have proposed two strategies for this purpose, please make your decision:

First: The Cabinet is in charge of military registration and tiger talismans; the commander-in-chief of the Longxiang Army and the generals are in charge of the daily training of the various armies; the generals in command are temporarily held by the army commanders.

Second: Establish a system of supervising generals. Every time you go to war, Your Majesty will select a civil official to lead the troops together with the military general, and the two will share the responsibility of commanding the battle. "

After hearing this, Chai Zongxun proposed a strategy for the civil officials. The first strategy was to add the "power to command troops" in addition to the power to mobilize troops and hold troops, thus implementing the separation of powers.

This strategy is indeed a good one for the emperor and civil officials to fully control the military power. It is also a preventive measure implemented by Zhao Ni, who usurped the throne by controlling the troops and launching the "Chenqiao Mutiny" in Chai Zongxun's previous life, for fear that military generals would follow his example in the future.

However, "the generals do not know their soldiers, and the soldiers do not know their generals." When going to war, middle and senior military generals with less experience are sent to lead the troops. In the long run, this will lead to low combat effectiveness of the army and chaotic command. No matter how many troops or how powerful the weapons are, they will still be defeated.

As for the second strategy, it seems that the civil officials in the court were jealous of the fact that in the past thirty years or so, when Chai Zongxun was fighting to unify China and expand the territory, many military generals had made great achievements in battle, were promoted quickly, and were granted titles of nobility and dukedom. They also wanted to have a hand in commanding troops and going to war to gain credit for the civil service group.

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"Have you finished telling me all the strategies for restraining the generals?"

Li Hang came out of class and said:
"Your Majesty is wise and powerful, and you are the greatest emperor in Chinese history!
Having conquered the vast territory we have today, we must not neglect to restrict the power of military commanders. This is the only way to ensure that your Majesty's descendants can maintain control over the military power and that the country will be stable for generations to come."

Chai Zongxun sighed. Although Li Hang represented the civil officials and wanted to suppress the military generals and divide their military power, what he said just now was not a lie:

After greatly weakening and suppressing the power of military generals, the civil officials, due to the sacredness of imperial power, the de facto prestige of the founding emperor, and their own limitations, were able to ensure that the emperors and their descendants, including Chai Zongxun, could always hold military power and have no worries about the country.

However, if they act in this way, the combat effectiveness of the Great Zhou army will deteriorate. No matter how stable the internal situation is, once they encounter a powerful foreign enemy, the entire empire will be in danger of collapse, bringing disaster to the nation.

Chai Zongxun said solemnly:

“Although the two strategies you have come up with are good strategies for strictly controlling military power and protecting the country for generations, if they are implemented, they will inevitably lead to our Great Zhou emphasizing civil affairs over military affairs, and the military’s combat effectiveness will gradually weaken!
Today, our Great Zhou has a vast territory and prosperous maritime trade. I believe that all of you have heard of the names of many new countries and regions.

The world is big, it is not just our Great Zhou, but there are many countries competing on the same stage.

The Sima Fa says:
“A country may be great, but it will perish if it loves war; the world may be at peace, but it will be in danger if it forgets war.”

Don't be afraid of the huge power of military generals and give up your efforts and weaken your military strength!

I have a better plan. When the ten armies from the Western Expedition return to the capital and the civil and military officials gather, we will discuss this matter again!"

Chai Zongxun took the tea bowl handed to him by the Imperial Household Chief Eunuch Tang Qi, took a few sips, and continued:

"As for Yang Ye, he has submitted a memorial to me before the court this morning, expressing his willingness to retire from the army and to hand over his family property of 200,000 taels of silver to the national treasury to be used as "natural disaster relief silver" to atone for his sins.

I believe that Yang Ye has made outstanding military achievements in the past. This time, he made an unintentional mistake due to his impatience. He did not commit any treason or disloyalty. Therefore, I will forgive his crime of disrespect."

The current official system of the Great Zhou Dynasty consists of nine ranks and eighteen levels, that is, rank one to rank nine, each divided into eighteen levels in total.

In addition to salary, officials also received rice, silk, and other items. Taking Yang Ye's position as the commander-in-chief of the 8th Corps of the Longxiang Army as an example, he was a second-rank official with a monthly salary of 1,000 taels of silver, 1,000 dan of rice, and silk, etc., his annual comprehensive income was actually equivalent to about 20,000 taels of silver.

According to the overall average price during the Kaixi period of Chai Zongxun, rice cost 500 wen per dan and pork cost 20 wen per jin, which had an astonishing purchasing power.

Yang Ye's donation of a huge sum of two hundred thousand taels of silver was almost all of his wealth accumulated over the years.

Emperor Chai Zongxun had already spoken, and the civil officials in the Chuigong Hall saw that Yang Ye donated a huge sum of 200,000 taels of silver to atone his sins, which made them feel relieved and their hatred for Yang Ye greatly reduced. They could only express their gratitude to Emperor Chai Zongxun for his wisdom.

Shortly after the court was dismissed that day, He Yao, the chief eunuch in the palace, led a team of imperial guards to the south gate of the imperial city to meet Yang Ye.

When He Yao arrived, he saw Yang Ye kneeling on the stone slab with his hands behind his back, with his upper body straight.

He Yao nodded and said with a smile:
"Commander-in-Chief Yang, please accept the imperial edict! Then you can return to your residence and rest!"

After Yang Ye paid his respects and received the imperial edict, He Yao unfolded the imperial edict and read it aloud in a rhythmic manner:

"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial edict said:

I believe that we should rule the country with culture and suppress rebellions with military force. Military commanders and generals are the pillars of the court and the pillars of the country. If they are both civil and military, and have made great efforts to serve the country, how can their achievements be ignored and they should be rewarded with favors.

Yang Ye, the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Corps of the Erlongxiang Army, was a man of integrity and loyalty to the emperor and his country. Over the past few decades, he conquered the Liao Kingdom, defeated the Star Religion, and incorporated the Kyrgyz and Khwarezm into the country, making great contributions.

Unexpectedly, you became angry after drinking and lost your sense of righteousness, and you discussed state affairs recklessly. You are currently in the palace and should be severely punished according to the law.

I think that you are a straightforward warrior, and I cannot bear to waste your many years of achievements due to an unintentional mistake!
I hereby pardon your crime and bestow upon you an imperial decree. I hope you will understand my deep intentions, educate your sons, and intimidate the barbarians.

I deeply admire the heroic achievements of Yuanrong and spread them throughout China. I use this opportunity to honor him and temporarily bestow him with a military hat and additional rewards for his great achievements. I decree this."

He Yao finished reading and said with a smile:
"Commander-in-Chief Yang, His Majesty's favor towards you is beyond words.

Get up now, and I will personally escort you back home."

Surrounded by the imperial guards, the two of them walked all the way to the Duke Yang's Mansion on Shuyu Street.

After leaving the imperial city, the streets were filled with onlookers. Seeing that Yang Ye had no injuries and was in good spirits, many people felt relieved and could not help but discuss:

"Commander-in-Chief Yang is indeed fine! Your Majesty is wise and cleared Commander-in-Chief Yang's name in just two days!"

"If you ask me, it's because those civil servants in the court are jealous that Governor Yang has done meritorious services for His Majesty and is about to receive His Majesty's reward!

This is why I am presenting Governor Yang's words to your Majesty!"

"No way? The civil servants in the court are all good officials. Under your majesty's rule, I have never heard of any high-ranking official in the capital daring to oppress the people. Why would they frame Governor Yang?!"

"You don't understand this? Since ancient times, it has been difficult for civil and military to coexist!
You haven't read many books, but you must have seen some plays, right? In "The Reconciliation of the General and the Prime Minister", Lian Po was jealous of Lin Xiangru because he had made great contributions to the State of Zhao and his status was higher than his! "

(End of this chapter)