History can't bear to look at the complete collection

Chapter 81 Military Diplomacy 7
Beiyang Navy's "not bad money" salary table

In 1861, after the death of Emperor Xianfeng, the young emperor Tongzhi succeeded to the throne. Because of his young age and powerlessness, the two empress dowagers Cixi and Ci'an assisted in political affairs while they were behind the curtain. The Qing Dynasty entered the period when women were in charge of the house.In the following 20 years, Chinese society was still stable and peaceful, but on August 1885, 8, this short-term comfort was broken.

On that day in Majiang off the coast of Fujian, the French navy fought against the Chinese Beiyang Fleet, and the Chinese fleet was sunk in just 10 minutes. This incident was undoubtedly a huge stimulus for the Qing government.The whole court was filled with indignation, and the ministers proposed to rebuild the navy and revive the prestige.

When encountering major situations, women always appear flustered. At that time, Cixi wanted to vent her anger, but was also afraid of offending foreigners, and became full of conflicts. At this time, a man stood up resolutely, resisted the incident, and stood up for Cixi. To solve the urgent need, he is Li Hongzhang, the famous Beiyang Minister of Commerce.

Mr. Li's handling ability is top-notch, but in just three years, the navy has been established in a hurry, and it has also ranked seventh in the world and first in Asia.Not long after the establishment of this Beiyang Navy, there was a problem of being full or even overstaffed. Many green battalion soldiers, even the Eight Banners, all asked to be part of the Beiyang Navy.In order to be able to enter the naval system, some people do not hesitate to sell everything, treat guests and give gifts, and spend a lot of money.

However, a mere Beiyang Navy can attract so many soldiers, including the children of high-ranking cadres. I am afraid that only Li Hongzhang himself can explain the answer—the salary of the Beiyang Navy is high.

Soldiers are used to fight and protect the country, and use their lives to ensure the safety of the country and the people.Therefore, there must be enough motivation to make them move forward bravely and not back down.The navy's requirements are also more stringent. Not only do you need to know how to fight, but you also need to know how to navigate.

Therefore, if you want to enter the Beiyang Navy, you must graduate from a serious naval academy, which is the so-called professional background.If you want to join the Beiyang Navy, you must not only be able to read and write, but you also need to master the knowledge of ships and combat skills. It can be said that you have both civil and military skills. Such people are hard to find.Therefore, the establishment of high salaries is also to attract comprehensive talents for use by the navy.

Li Hongzhang is still very far-sighted on this point. He strives to guide high salaries and raise soldiers, hoping to use this as one of the navy's combat capabilities. Therefore, when he first established the navy's charter, he clearly issued instructions that the salary of the Beiyang Navy higher than other armies.

In response to this, the salary of the Beiyang Navy has been increased. The annual salary of officers is divided into two parts: one is "annual salary", and the other is "ship salary", which is the basic salary and year-end dividends.Not only that, but also canceled the messy salary categories in other armies such as salary, vegetables, candles, charcoal, heart red, paper, etc.

In this way, the salary of the Beiyang Navy is very considerable. According to records, the approximate standard is:

The annual income of the admiral of the navy is about 8400 taels of silver.

The annual income of the Navy Chief is about 3960 taels of silver.

A vice admiral earns about 3240 taels of silver a year.

The annual income of a general in the navy is about 2640 taels of silver.

This is three to two times more officers and soldiers of the same level than in other military branches, and not only that, the Beiyang Navy also has other additional income. "Public expenses", ranging from coal loading and unloading, to purchasing materials, to buying paint and changing the national flag, can make the navy get money.

This fee varies according to the tonnage of the ship. The larger the tonnage, the more fuel and water. Some ships with small tonnage will lose two or three hundred taels.

These expenses were paid by the government. In order to promote the navy, Li Hongzhang did not hesitate to spend a lot of money, making the Beiyang Navy a famous "good money" department at that time, and everyone wanted to go in and make a profit.Because not only the salaries of the officers are high, but also the salaries of the soldiers. At that time, the salaries of the soldiers of the Beiyang Navy were divided according to their grades as follows:
The monthly salary of first-class sailors is 10 taels of silver.

The first-class projectile is 20 taels of silver.

The monthly salary of the miscellaneous personnel on shore is 3 taels of silver.

The monthly salary of a torpedo craftsman is 24 taels of silver.

The monthly salary of electric lantern soldiers is 30 taels of silver.

Whether it is a miscellaneous soldier or a technical soldier, even those who work on the shore have a monthly salary of three taels of silver. You must know that the per capita income was not high at that time. At that time, the annual income of a family of farmers was about 40 taels of silver. The annual income of workers is about 50 taels of silver. Comparing the two, it fully shows that the high salaries of officers and soldiers of the Beiyang Navy have far exceeded the annual income of ordinary people.

Li Hongzhang wanted to attract talents through the high salary system and build a high-tech naval force that is in line with international standards. Weapons and equipment, the most sophisticated warship equipment, and the highest salaries for officers and soldiers, but during the Sino-Japanese naval battle, the entire army was wiped out without sinking a single Japanese warship.

A strong army needs money to improve, but money alone cannot buy a strong army. It is this truth that Li Hongzhang doesn't understand.

(End of this chapter)