Chapter 230: Reform is difficult

The front hall was full of messes, with official boots and hats scattered all over the ground. Under a table in the hall, a fat man was trembling, just like he had just been confiscated, and the situation was extremely desolate.

Xiao Fan suddenly understood a truth.

Treacherous ministers are treacherous ministers. They can never be as open and honest as loyal ministers. The treacherous ministers shouted that they were loyal ministers and their voices were louder than anyone else, but they were actually very guilty. Because they understood what kind of person they were, they could not be as righteous as loyal ministers.

Dog meat cannot be used on the table, and mud cannot be used on the wall. This principle is also suitable for them.

Xiao Fan sighed deeply, why did he get along with such a group of people?

"Dear sirs, come out. I was dazzled just now, the emperor didn't come..." Xiao Fan was angry and weak.

After shouting several times, everyone looked out with suspicion. Seeing that the hall was empty and there was no one, they walked out and sat back on the chair.

"Mr. Xiao really likes to joke..." Everyone laughed awkwardly, looking at Xiao Fan with condemnation.

"Mr. Xiao, I am old and can't stand the fright. Don't be so naughty in the future..." Ru Wei stroked her round belly, looking in a shock.

"That's right, that's right." Everyone agreed.

"Hey, where are my shoes?"

"Yes, where is my official hat?"

Xiao Fan sighed without saying a word.

It’s better to finish what you want to say quickly and let them get out. After getting along with them for a long time, a gentleman will become a shameless villain.

…………

…………

Looking around everyone slowly, Xiao Fan pondered for a long time, and said with a serious expression: "This time, I am a thrilling tour of the emperor on behalf of the emperor. After many twists and turns, I finally live up to the emperor's entrustedness. The merits of the Northern Tour were perfect and I returned to the capital smoothly... However, this Northern Tour, I have many feelings about what I saw and heard. As Zi Xin is coming today, everything is the time when the emperor and his colleagues show their ambitions. The new dynasty should have a new atmosphere. I am not talented and willing to present it to the court with a mere ugly view, and wait for the emperor and his colleagues to judge and determine it."

When everyone heard this, they straightened their backs, their expressions that had never been solemn and solemn.

Their leader is about to give instructions. With Xiao Fan's current important position, his words are related to the direction of the court and the future and destiny of all the people here. We must listen carefully.

Xiao Fan quickly organized the language in his mind. After pausing for a long time, he slowly said: "Since the late emperor expelled the Tartars, restored the Han people's country, and created the great Ming Dynasty. During the Hongwu Dynasty, our Ming Dynasty had a million troops. The late emperor led several troops to conquer the grassland and desert. He finally defeated the former Yuan court and fled several times. This is the power of the late emperor. We admired the mountains and engraved them in history. However, it is not concealed that since the late Hongwu Dynasty, the troops stationed in thousands of households in the court were mostly slackened and neglected in training. The children of military households passed down from generation to generation, but each generation was not as good as the other. The weak and the elderly and weak were flooded in the army, causing the combat power of the soldiers to decline, scattered like sea sand, and almost became a mob..."

Xiao Fan looked around the ministers and secretly added in his heart: Just like you...

However, the ministers nodded and agreed, looking heartbroken.

"Mr. Xiao's words are reasonable. The current situation in the court's army is worrying..."

"The mob of the gods and horses, I hate it the most..."

“…………”

Xiao Fan sighed again, these people were really... hopeless.

Clearing his throat, Xiao Fan continued: "...The imperial army is so unbearable, but when I was on the northern tour, I saw that my Ming border army was still brave and good at fighting, which formed a sharp contrast with the garrisons in various places. Just imagine, the combat power is so obvious. The Ming border army was the first line of defense to guard our Ming territory. If the thousand households in various places are so weak, wouldn't the border army become the only line of defense in our Ming territory? Suppose there is a day when the Tartars

Invade, cross the Great Wall, break through the border defense line, and drive straight into the Ming Dynasty. Who can stop the Tartar soldiers? All the adults are knowledgeable people. You should know how the Mongols destroyed the Southern Song Dynasty. Because the Southern Song court was ***, the army had no morale. After the Mongols occupied the north bank of the Yangtze River, they raised their troops to attack Xiangyang. Xiangyang fell. The Mongols took the opportunity to go south and finally destroyed the Southern Song court. Dear colleagues, the army of the past must not be forgotten..."

Speaking of military affairs, Ru Wei, the Minister of War, narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Mr. Xiao means..."

Xiao Fan looked solemn, a trace of determination flashed through his eyes, and he looked at everyone and said word by word: "I want to advise the court and the emperor on national policies. The national policy is very simple, there is only one sentence: reform the military system, promote martial arts, and strengthen the army!"

Everyone in the hall was shocked and looked at Xiao Fan in complicated eyes.

Although everyone here is known as a treacherous minister, they are real scholars. They have studied hard and passed the imperial examinations. They are serious professionals. Whether loyal or treacherous ministers, they read all the books of sages. The idea of ​​respecting literature and despising martial arts is the consensus of all scholars, and treacherous ministers are no exception.

Today, Xiao Fan, the leader of the treacherous party, was shocked by all his words. He wanted to promote military affairs for no reason. If the political situation of the court gradually became a valuable martial arts and neglected literary affairs because of Xiao Fan's words, wouldn't the status of these civil officials be worse than that of vulgar martial artists at that time? How could this be done?

After someone else said this, everyone must have turned their heads and left.

However, today's words were said by Xiao Fan, who was of high power, so he had to think carefully and speculate. Even if he was not very happy, he should try to express them implicitly and tactfully.

After a while of silence in the hall, Ru Wei looked at everyone with different expressions, looked at Xiao Fan's calm face, and finally spoke carefully: "Uh... Lord Xiao is young and promising, with lofty ambitions, and we admire him very much..."

The people agreed with dissatisfaction: "Yes, yes, yes, Lord Xiao, a young minister, cares about the country, is actually a role model for us and a model for the court..."

Xiao Fan smiled and said, "Since you admire so much, I will accept your admiration without hesitation. What I said just now is decided!"

"Ah?" Ru Wei and others were shocked and hurriedly said, "Sir, please think twice!"

Xiao Fan frowned and said, "Well, I have thought about it all. The advice I made is the result of thinking about it all. Do you have different opinions?"

"Uh..." Ru Wei turned her small eyes, then her chubby old face filled with a cautious smile, and she tentatively said: "... The adult is still young, and has become the commander of the Jinyiwei, and has the title of Feng Chengyi Bo, the emperor favored him, and has great power. Such an encounter has been very rare throughout the ages. Ganluo, the pre-Qin period, was appointed as the prime minister at the age of twelve..."

Xiao Fan was originally smiling when he heard this, but he frowned slightly when he heard this: "Mr. Ru, although you said that Gan Luo was twelve years old, this person died very early. Is your metaphor..."

Ru Wei was shocked and quickly apologized: "Damn it, damn it! Xia Guan said something wrong. Lord Xiao is a young hero who can be literary and martial, so he is naturally a long life..."

After a pause, Ru Feng said, "The meaning of the officials is that Lord Xiao is young and ascending to a high position. It is the time when he is full of energy. He is eager to make some achievements to the emperor and the civil and military officials of the court, laying the foundation for the next step of promotion. This... we all understand it very well. However, Lord Xiao can have many directions of governance, such as agriculture, sericulture, water conservancy, vendors, workshops, etc. There are many disadvantages in these aspects. Adults can show their skills and not offend people, but also make a lot of achievements in vain. Why bother to touch the troublesome military affairs?"

Xiao Fan looked around everyone, but saw that they all had an expression of agreement. He was stunned. He thought that as long as his body was shocked and he gave an order, everyone would be like that, but he didn't expect that they would actually disagree with their own idea of ​​reforming the military system. Xiao Fan's heart sank slightly, and even the party did not agree with him. If this idea was mentioned above the Golden Palace in the court, how much resistance would it be?

"You... don't agree?" Xiao Fan said stunned.

Ru Ying smiled and said, "My lord, the military system of all dynasties has many disadvantages and criticisms. Since ancient times, many famous ministers, like the master, have taken strengthening the army and rejuvenating the country as their mission. They want to carry out reforms, but they all ended with disastrous failures. There is a reason for this...."

“What’s the reason?”

"The art of war says: 'The military is dangerous.' Sun Tzu said this, not only that it is very dangerous to raise troops and deploy military forces, but also that the army is a very complex and difficult group. An army with strict military discipline and strong combat power should be invincible in the world and look down on the world. However, this requires the harsh training and strict military law supervision in daily life to become such an army. In other words, it is difficult to fight in the military management, and the word "governance" is the most difficult thing in the word "governance". If the adults want to reform the military system, they have to touch the word "governance". For the troops stationed in thousands of households in our Ming Dynasty, it is much more difficult to manage the army than in previous dynasties..."

It was of great importance. Xiao Fan cheered up and asked humbly: "I don't know what is the difficulty of reforming the military system?"

Ru Wei narrowed her eyes and smiled and said, "Our army is composed of military households. Military households are passed down from generation to generation, fathers are passed down from generation to generation, and sons are passed down from generation to generation. They are usually military households every five days, and every ten days are trained. When they leave, they form an army, and when they enter, they become farmers. This military system was followed by the government system of the Sui and Tang Dynasties and made a slight improvement. In this way, the court has a million troops to protect the territory, and at the same time, there are millions of farmers working in farming. Once there is war, the army can be self-sufficient. The food and grass will not add too much burden to the court. It is really a killing two birds with one stone..."

Xiao Fan sighed: "What I am concerned about is that the military households are afraid that they will not go through war for a long time and neglect their training. On the battlefield, millions of farmers are still only millions of farmers. They have specialized in their skills and farming. If they are in the army, they will be in the army. If they are not in the army, they will be in the army. How can such an army ensure their combat effectiveness?"

"But, sir, if millions of military households were ordered to put down their hoes and take up swords and train with their hands, who would farm and farm? The land was deserted and there was no harvest. The court had to allocate tens of thousands of grains to bear the military rations of the millions of troops. This increased the burden on the states and prefectures in various places. This burden could only be distributed to farmers in various places in the form of increasing taxes. At that time, the people were even more miserable. This series of reactions began with millions of people abandoning farmers and strengthening the army. In the long run, the world would be in chaos. The hard work of sir will eventually be done with bad things..."

Ru Wei paused and said, "...The trouble of reforming the military system is not only this. Adults know that conquering the world requires military generals, but governing the world can only rely on civil officials. The former emperor sets down the country and creates the Ming Dynasty. As today's peaceful and peaceful, there is no war, and the existence of military generals is not as important as in wartime. In this way, the role of civil officials is highlighted. In ancient times, sages have always valued literary etiquette and neglected military achievements, and believed that military swords are the disasters that create disasters. Sages advocate respecting etiquette and cultivating virtue, and preventing prosperity.

The principles of military deployment and military deployment have been passed down for thousands of years and have long been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Today's court is the world of civil officials. Adults want to promote military affairs, which violates the teachings of saints, and has also touched the interests of civil officials and belittled the status of civil officials. How can those corrupt ministers not fight to the death? If the lord proposes this idea on the Golden Palace, even the meritorious Duke and the ministers who are fence-headed, they will not stand on the side of the adults. It is difficult to reform the military system!"

After Ru Wei said something, the hall was silent like death.

Xiao Fan's expression gradually became depressed and his sword eyebrows frowned deeply like mountains and rivers.

It turned out that he thought this era was too simple, thinking that time traveling would have the advantage of knowledge and knowledge, and could have some effective national policies in the past life to change the world. But he did not expect that good national policies could be implemented in the world at the right time, and the times and the momentum were indispensable. However, the time and the times were not yet reached. Before he knew it, he had made radical and rash mistakes, which almost led to a big mistake.

However... the reform of the military system must be implemented! Xiao Fan is very firm in this regard. The army is already full of holes. In the future, Zhu Di will rebel and rely on such a court army to fight against the Youyan border army that has been through the battlefield. The chances of victory are really not high.

The problem has come back again. Reform is so difficult, what should I do? Could it be that I would kill all the ministers who opposed it? He didn't mind, Zhu Yunwen must not have such courage.

After being silent for a long time, Xiao Fan bowed to Ruhua and said, "Thank you, Lord Ru for your advice, I am very grateful."

Ru Wei hurriedly replied, "There may be something that is unpleasant to the emperor, but it is all from the heart. It's good that the adults are not surprised, and they dare not be grateful to him..."

"Mr. Ru just said, I have summarized that the difficulty of reforming the military system is mainly two points. First, a million people abandon agriculture and strengthening the army. The lack of military rations is the key. If the military rations are distributed to the prefectures and prefectures in various places, it will inevitably increase the burden on the people of the prefectures and prefectures in various places. Second, the theory of promoting martial arts touched the bottom line of civil officials, and believed that it would lead to the court's atmosphere of valuing martial arts over literature, so they fought to the death. This matter would inevitably cause a brazen in the Golden Palace, and it would be difficult to gain the approval of the ministers. This is also the key, right?"

Everyone nodded with complicated expressions. Not to mention the innocent ministers, even these treacherous ministers did not agree with each other. There are obviously many ways to make political achievements, so why did they have to move the military system? Isn’t this annoying for yourself?

Xiao Fan closed his eyes and leaned his head against the back of the chair. A deep feeling of fatigue invaded his body and mind.

He was very frustrated with a high position and power, but he still had these things that could not be accomplished by power.

However, these things must be done and have to be done. Zhu Di’s rebellion is approaching. The imperial army is so weak. If he does not use strong medicine to cure it, how can he resist Zhu Di’s 100,000 rebels in the future?

Military rations, ministers, two difficult questions lingered in my mind like a quick look.

The ministers are easy to say that if they use both soft and hard skills, they are not afraid of not submitting. Food is a big problem. You must never put this burden on the people, otherwise you will be scolded by the people of the world and you will be unhappy in this life.

...If there were hybrid rice in this era, it would be great. After the yield per mu increased, even more than one billion people could support it, and a mere million troops were not a problem. The problem is that with such advanced technology as hybrid rice, I was just an ignorant robber in my previous life and I didn’t understand it at all...

Otherwise, if Taixu opened the altar to make a method, please ask God to drop a divine thunder and slash Academician Yuan, the father of rice in his previous life, here?

Isn't it reliable? The old scammer of Taixu is very loose in his business. What if he breaks the blame?

Xiao Fan thought for a long time, and suddenly his eyes lit up. Some memories of his previous life gradually poured into his mind. Although hybrid rice is difficult to deal with, it can be replaced by other crops.

For example, corn, sweet potatoes... These are high-yield crops. If they are cultivated on a large scale, why worry about not being able to support a million troops? Moreover, corn and sweet potatoes do not occupy fertile fields and can be planted in barren ridges. If they are popularized in the world, they will have great good deeds to benefit the people of the army. However, this matter is also difficult. Corn and sweet potatoes are products of Central America. Columbus was not born at this time, right? He has not found it in the New World, where can I find seeds?

Zhu Di's rebellion is near, and if he wants to reform the military system on a large scale, it is not feasible for the time being. As for corn and sweet potatoes, he can only wait until Zhu Di's rebellion is over and then slowly plan for it. According to the current treasury reserves of the court, he still has the strength to fight a big war. Let's talk about what happens in the future.

At worst, in the future, I will find a way to cultivate Columbus from the Ming Dynasty to carry out a big voyage, and get some seeds and come back.

Large-scale reforms are not feasible, while small-scale reforms must be implemented, including holding military academies, opening military training, and building firearms. These are all necessary.

"Reform must be implemented!" Xiao Fan pondered for a long time, then waved his hand heavily and cut the railway.

Everyone looked at him in surprise, and then said in unison: "Please think twice..."

Xiao Fan had to explain: "I want to promote military affairs, but there are really no choice. If the army is not strong, how can the prosperous era of civil governance? I know why you don't agree with it, but I also have my own difficulties..."

Everyone continued, "Please think twice..."

Xiao Fan was impatient and stood up and shouted: "Damn! Are you just afraid that the court will be more powerful and will not be promoted to the official position in the future?"

Everyone looked embarrassed and silent.

Xiao Fan thought for a while and said, "This matter cannot be done without your help. Here I will make a wish for you. Lord Ru is the Minister of Shang, and this official position cannot be promoted again. I recommend the emperor to be the emperor and give you an earl. What if the Lord wishes?"

Ru Wei shivered all over her body, and then she said with gratitude: "Thank you for your support, I swear to advance and retreat with you to the same age as you, and never retreat!"

Xiao Fan pointed to the Hanlin scholar Xie Jin and said, "Master Xie, you are now a Hanlin scholar. Now the Taichang Temple Minister among the nine ministers is vacant because Lord Wei retired. The emperor originally wanted Huang Zicheng to take on this position. Huang Zicheng was demoted to Shandong by the emperor. I recommend you to the emperor as the Taichang Temple Minister. What do you think of?"

Xie Jin burst into tears and said in tears: "I am willing to work hard for the Lord!"
To be continued...