This trip to eastern Zhejiang made Zhao Ming feel that he still needed to control an army himself.

King Zhu Yihai of Lu, Zhu Youjian of Longwu, and his will to resist the Qing Dynasty were all very firm, but Zhao Ming also saw their shortcomings.

If all your hope is placed on them, you may get deep disappointment at that time. Zhao Ming decided to master the strength himself.

Jintang Island is just a remote island for Yan Yingyuan, but for Zhao Ming, it is a place to show off his skills.

The only person on the island who could suppress him was Yan Yingyuan. In order to avoid trouble, Zhao Ming deliberately instigated Yan Yingyuan to leave Jintang Island and go to Fujian.

In this way, Zhao Ming can become the master of Jintang Island and have more loyal and fierce people around Emperor Longwu. It can be said that it is the best of both worlds.

After the discussion, Zhao Ming came to the camp of Taiping Camp and summoned Ma Shiao, Wang Deshun, Li Zhongming, Liu Si, Ruan Mei, Wang Dana and others to discuss.

Zhao Ming asked for the responsibility of a third-rank guerrilla from King Lu, and was appointed as the General of Pinglu, and took control of a guerrilla battalion.

The military officer system of the Ming Dynasty was relatively chaotic and complex, with two main systems, one was the official rank system of the vassal office, and the other was the later formation of the official rank system of the border and military affairs.

The guerrilla obtained by Zhao Ming belongs to the latter type.

In this system, there are generals, deputy generals, generals, guerrillas, and guarding multiple official positions. They have their own responsibilities depending on their official positions.

For example, the general guards a place, the deputy generals guard a place, and the generals guard a line. The guerrilla generals are the mobile troops in the town, and the garrison guards a city and fort.

This will form a four-level defense system of guarding, coordinating, separating and garrisoning, and also includes mobile combat by guerrilla generals.

Taking Qi Jiguang's guarding Ji Liao as an example, he divided the places he guarded into three places and twelve routes, with three deputy generals on the left, middle and right each responsible for one place, while one place governs four routes, and each has a general in the absence of roads. Under the general, there are also guards to guard a fort, and there are also guerrilla generals to provide mobile reinforcements.

This formed a defensive system of generals, three deputy generals, twelve generals, multiple garrisons, and guerrilla generals.

Under this system, once an invasion is encountered, the first is the defense and the second is the lieutenant generals guarding the road and the nearby guerrilla reinforcements. Finally, the deputy generals and generals guarding the area arrive, which is enough to deal with the enemy's invasion.

Of course, if the enemy's troops are too strong and the invasion range is too wide, and the general cannot cope with it, the Ming Dynasty will send a governor or supervisor above the general to command several generals to fight at the same time.

In a town, generally speaking, each general leads a battalion of soldiers. The soldiers led by the general are the main barracks, the deputy general is the strange barracks, the governors are called reinforcements, and the guerrillas are called You Bing. The main barracks are generally about 5,000 people, while the deputy generals, governors, and cavalry are usually about 3,000 people.

In addition to the official camp, the general also controls the subordinates, the deputy generals, generals, and guerrillas, and has the power to command the entire town soldiers, deputy generals, generals, and generals, and the garrisons according to their official positions, and form a restraining relationship. Most of the time, the guerrillas directly obey the generals.

Now Zhao Ming is a guerrilla general and has a gambler battalion under his command, which means he can recruit 3,000 soldiers to eat food.

At this time, Zhao Ming gathered everyone and looked at Wang Deshun and Liu Si who were left on the island: "How many people are there in Taiping Camp now?"

Liu Sidao: "Report to the general, there are now 1,108 people."

Wang Deshun said: "Most of them are brothers who came out of Jiangyin. After we arrived on the island, we absorbed more than 100 people."

Zhao Ming touched the beard growing under his ear and pondered: "So, plus the people I brought, less than half of them are from three thousand people."

Ma Shiao said: "As long as you have money and food, it is not difficult for the general to recruit three thousand people. I thought I could put on the airs first. As for recruiting soldiers, it is recommended not to hurry up. Instead of rushing to recruit and reduce the treatment of existing soldiers, it is better to train the current soldiers first, and then quickly expand them with existing soldiers when you have money and food."

Although King Lu granted Zhao Ming an official title, the food and wages he gave were pitifully small.

The small court in eastern Zhejiang controlled several prefectures, but had to raise more than 100,000 troops, and the army supplies were basically raised by the generals.

The court had no money and the generals raised their own military expenses, which was also the reason why the Ming Dynasty warlords were everywhere.

This status quo will definitely not be changed in a short period of time unless a strong central government is established that can control taxes, reverse fiscal revenue, and restore control of the army. However, the central government now does not have its own army and naturally cannot control taxes, which is trapped in a vicious cycle.

Zhao Ming nodded and said to everyone, "Okay, let's put on the airs first." Zhao Ming looked at everyone, "Ma Shiao, you will serve as the assistant, the fourth rank, and help me handle the affairs of the camp. Wang Deshun, Li Zhongming, and Ruan Mei will each lead a thousand households, the fifth rank, and the soldiers' training will be handed over to you three. Liu Si, you are here to be the governor, and you are the fifth rank, and who dares to violate military laws, don't show mercy."

After Zhao Ming finished his order, the faces of the people showed joy and they all bowed their fists, "Thank you for cultivation!"

Wang Da took the lead and said anxiously: "General, where is Allah?"

Zhao Ming looked at him and pondered: "I will promote you to a sixth-rank 100th household in charge of the Huotou Army. Then you are preparing a military medical department for me."

Although it was a fire-headed army, at least he had risen from the general flag to the hundred households and left the ranks of low-level officers. Wang Dana was still happy, "Ala thanked the general."

Next, Zhao Ming appointed several officials from hundreds of households, and the remaining general flag was appointed by three thousand households themselves.

After the appointment was completed, a strait of a camp was built. Zhao Ming then told everyone that he was about to set off for Fujian and let them train well.

After giving the order, Zhao Ming asked everyone to retreat, leaving only Ma Shiao to continue the conversation.

After Zhao Ming and others left, "Uncle San, after I go to Fujian, I will leave this place to you."

Ma Shiao nodded, "Don't worry, I will take good care of Taipingying for you, but my uncle is a little confused. Why did you choose Jintang Island instead of guarding a place on land. You have to tell me your true thoughts so that I can help you manage Jintang Island."

Zhao Ming said in a deep voice: "There are more than 100,000 troops in eastern Zhejiang, and the prefectures and counties have been divided up long ago. Even if I can divide one county, it may be difficult to raise a battalion of soldiers by relying on the land tax of one county."

As he said that, Zhao Ming stood up, looked at the dark sea, pointed to the sea and said, "Uncle San, I chose this Jintang Island. First, the Qing army was unable to attack across the sea, and I was invincible. Second, it was convenient for me to conduct maritime trade and earn money to support my soldiers. Third, I was preparing to train a naval army here, so that I could use the advantages of the naval army to raid the coasts of Southern Zhili, Shandong, and even Beizhi and Liaodong to obtain materials. In this way, I could quickly accumulate a large amount of money, grain and weapons, so that I could strengthen my strength and compete with the Qing army!"

When Ma Shiao heard this, he looked at Zhao Ming in surprise, "You have indeed changed a lot." Ma Shiao stood up, walked behind Zhao Ming, and looked at the sea, "Uncle understands what you mean. I will find a ship for you to train Taiying, but the navy has invested a lot, so you need to transport some money, grain and equipment to the island."

Zhao Ming nodded, "Uncle, don't worry, I will definitely bring back a batch of money and grain and military funds when I go to Fujian this time."

Ma Shiao said, "Your uncle Yang Wencong is an official in the Longwu court. If you go to Fujian, he may be able to help you."

Zhao Ming nodded slightly, "If you don't say it, I will also visit my uncle."

The two of them had a conversation for a while and went to rest. Zhao Ming returned to the house and found that someone had already laid the bed, so he fell back and went to bed, preparing to take a boat to Fujian tomorrow morning.
Chapter completed!