Simulates history, but Chongzhen is the Divine Emperor at the beginning

Chapter 53: Where do the foreigners’ evil hands reach?

[The first step to building trust is to say it and do it! ]

So, when you actually took over a million taels of silver from the overflowing treasury to the parade grounds and distributed it to them one by one, the tens of thousands of people in the audience were all stunned...

They looked at the silver in their hands, which was white and heavy, and felt as if they were dreaming. Many people even took a few bites with their teeth to confirm that they were not dreaming!

[For a moment, some people were so happy that they danced with joy, much like Fan Jin, who went crazy after passing the imperial examination!]

[Some people held the silver in their hands and couldn't stop crying...]

[There is a famous saying in the Dai Qing Dynasty: If the Jurchens are less than ten thousand, they are invincible!]

[The Dai Ming also has a famous saying: The Ming army is not fully paid, and when fully paid, it is invincible!]

Where can I find the Manchu military pay? Emperor Taiji of Jianzhou...

[In fact, this has profoundly revealed an important reason why the Ming army suffered repeated defeats during the Ming-Qing Wars: the issue of military pay.]

Although the Qing army was brutal towards foreigners, Huang Taiji was willing to pay for the troops. The Eight Banners soldiers could not only plunder the Ming Dynasty's property, but also receive a considerable salary from the Qing court!

[On the other hand, the Ming army not only had a low status, but was also often exploited. Even the Qi family army, which had just returned from Korea, was not immune to the problem of unpaid wages, and was even directly massacred by the court that refused to pay...]

[Under this comparison, the Qing army doesn't even need to perform exceptionally well; just a normal laning phase is enough to crush the Ming army!]

This economic disparity was also the reason why many Ming troops subsequently surrendered to the Qing: if they joined the Qing, they could earn real money! They could also march south with the Eight Banners and plunder mercilessly. Wasn't that more satisfying than being a cowardly Ming soldier?

[As for the righteousness of the country and national sentiment... Sorry, these may only be of concern to the former Qi family army, but they are already dead, killed by the swords of the Ming Dynasty they were loyal to. The other feudal soldiers who live like dogs don't understand, nor do they want to listen...]

The economic disparity between the Ming and Qing armies was so great that it led to a ridiculous situation: the Ming army had superior productivity, science, and culture, but on the battlefield, ordinary Ming soldiers were unlikely to wear any effective armor, while regular Qing soldiers were heavily armored...

Even the Qing army's firearms were better than the Ming army's. They had cannons and muskets...

Reality is so hopeless and ironic. The root cause of the Ming Dynasty's demise was not the strength of the Qing Dynasty, nor was it Li Zicheng's military prowess, but simply the Ming Dynasty's own weakness, of which the decay of the army was the most direct manifestation.

[The old Wanli and his men have discarded the military's loyalty and trust, and now you're being asked to buy it back with real money. And it's not certain you'll be able to buy it back, because even if you're willing to pay, the soldiers might not be willing to sell...]

Compared to the priceless trust, even over a million taels of silver is insignificant!

【…】

After the silver was distributed, you weren't sure if you could regain the army's trust with this move. But seeing them ecstatically overjoyed, even weeping with joy, you gained some confidence: at least they still had feelings for you. As long as the follow-up operations were done properly, it wouldn't be impossible to regain their morale!

So you decided to fight to the death. While everyone was still rejoicing over the silver, you suddenly issued an order: "Since today is about establishing trust, let's take this opportunity to eliminate all the infestations and clean up the Ming capital!"

"All officers who have withheld soldiers' pay in the past, please come forward! If you come forward now, you may still be spared death. If you are found out later, you will all be sentenced to death!"

【what? 】

Upon hearing this, the tens of thousands of soldiers who had been rejoicing over the 100 taels of silver were stunned, and subconsciously looked towards their respective commanders...

[Officers: …]

Those with hidden agendas cursed inwardly, but amidst the hostile gazes of the troops, they could only frantically ponder a strategy: either take the initiative and stand up, or try their luck!

After a moment's deliberation, most of the officers, who had experienced the blood of their fellow soldiers, bravely stepped forward. After all, your previous efforts to rectify the bureaucracy within the six ministries had established your credibility. If you voluntarily admitted, chances were good that nothing serious would happen. Those who stubbornly resisted would surely die... Therefore, most of them stepped forward.

[And as always, if the amount of embezzlement was small, you simply gave them a beating on the spot, ordered them to hand over the proceeds, and demoted them one rank... But you also made it clear that if they committed the same offense again, once discovered, they would be punished!]

If the amount of embezzlement is too large, not only will they be beaten with a stick and have to hand over the proceeds, they will also be expelled from the Beijing camp!

[As for the diehards, you've kept your word. Interrogate them on the spot. Once proven guilty, execute them on the spot!]

[After a thorough overhaul, the Beijing Camp suddenly took on a completely new look...]

In July of the 74th year of the Chongzhen reign, the Prime Minister reorganized the Beijing military camp. He first laid off the old and weak, then punished the illegal officers. He then provided millions of silver in military pay to build credibility. As a result, the Beijing military camp was greatly boosted!

[Afterwards, the Prime Minister recruited young and strong men from the capital, and incorporated them into the Beijing Camp, finally bringing the full complement to 100,000!]

In October of the seventy-fourth year of the Chongzhen reign, the Prime Minister began training the troops. He first clarified military discipline and then trained them in tactics. He was determined to make the 100,000-man Beijing troop as powerful as the Qi Family Army of the past!

[However, in terms of specific training direction, you did not completely adopt the methods of the Qi Family Army. Instead, you hired Western instructors at high salaries and ordered them to train the Beijing Camp using Western methods!]

[They must master the use of foreign guns and cannons and obey orders, only then can you meet your requirements!]

[However, although the court and the people dare not openly oppose your drastic reforms to the Beijing Army, they have some complaints...] ["Why is the Prime Minister using Western tactics? Aren't our Marshal Qi's tactics invincible enough?"]

"That's right! Marshal Qi dominated the country back then, relying on that unique set of tactics. If it weren't for Jizhen back then... cough! Anyway, I still think Marshal Qi is the best!"

"Also, why do we need foreign guns and cannons? Our Ming Dynasty is vast and rich in resources, why do we need foreign countries' strange and ingenious techniques? I think our three-barreled gun is not bad either. After the sand is beaten, it can be used as a hammer..."

[Beijing Camp Veteran: Joy!]

The veterans who survived the rebellion knew best how powerful the foreigners' guns and tactics were. Six thousand men were reduced to only a thousand. If the Prime Minister hadn't arrived in time with the Imperial Guards, they and Minister Gao would have been completely wiped out!

Therefore, they are very supportive of building a new army.

But the problem is, they're also confused: Others have foreign guns, but I have supernatural powers! Clearly, the Jinyiwei slaughtered the Yangzhou rebels one-sidedly last time, proving that no matter how powerful foreign guns and cannons are, they can't compare to our Astartes!

Since the Jinyiwei are so powerful, why not just give everyone supernatural powers? If we can all become supermen together, why bother practicing those strange and tricky skills?

[In short, no one understands the direction of your reform! ]

[And you, facing everyone's confusion, simply sighed inwardly... If you clearly possess divine powers, why would you use foreign guns and cannons? Of course, it was to test...]

You still remember what Liu Yizhao told you in the middle of the night: Will the Divine Emperor really become weak because he can't afford to pay his divine power salary?

Liu Yizhao cited several pieces of evidence, such as the annual reduction in divine salaries, the fact that the Divine Emperor had not taken action in years, and the fact that the Divine Emperor had suddenly decided to ask you to help the Ming Dynasty...

[None of the evidence can be used to directly prove that the Divine Emperor is truly weakening, but each piece of evidence seems to make sense... Although you have previously discovered that violence can increase divine power, based on your observations along the way, the Jinyiwei have clearly killed many people, but you haven't found any significant increase in their divine power!]

[Therefore, you also cannot conclude that the Divine Emperor will gain divine power through violence like you do.]

[You want to ask Him directly, but you're afraid He'll become suspicious. After all, it's a huge taboo for a minister to pry into the monarch's true intentions. If He even slightly suspects you, you'll be doomed!]

[Although you can start over, you're not someone who seeks death. Starting over is one thing, and pain is another. You're just a little crazy, not a masochist. If you can avoid death, then naturally, it's better not to die...]

So you can't ask directly, you can only hint at it, and you have to be very careful...

[Full of doubts, you arrived at the Imperial Palace and carefully submitted a report on military reforms to the calm Divine Emperor.]

"Your Majesty, I have witnessed the power of foreign muskets and cannons in Yangzhou. Without divine power, I fear a quick victory would be impossible... Currently, few soldiers possess divine power, making them insufficient for major purposes. Therefore, I propose: Could you grant me more divine power? With sufficient divine power, even a Western invasion of our Ming Dynasty would be easily defeated!"

[As soon as you say this, you anxiously await His response...]

After hearing this, He wanted to speak, but ultimately shook his head: "Just distribute the divine power to the officials and the Jinyiwei. The soldiers and horses of the world do not need to be blessed by divine power."

Upon hearing this, your heart trembled: It seems that divine power is indeed limited. Otherwise, wouldn't He just turn the Ming Dynasty into a divine kingdom? Why would He need to reform it...?

So you said respectfully.

"Then shall I take the Imperial Army in Beijing as an example and implement Western-style military training methods throughout the country?"

"The Prime Minister is free to do as he pleases."

He smiled.

Seeing that he didn't get angry because of your suspicion, you boldly tested him again, "...I have another point. The reason why the Yangzhou bandits are so troublesome is because they are secretly colluding with Western countries!"

"The Western barbarians have long coveted the precious land of China. This time, their wolfish ambitions are clearly revealed. Their intention is not only to divide up the Ming Dynasty, but also to murder Your Majesty!"

"Wherever the foreigners' black hands extend, rebels will overflow!"

"I've already verified that Li Zicheng and Xian Ni were actually lackeys supported by foreign powers. Even Nurhaci and Huang Taiji accepted 500,000 taels of silver from foreigners!"

"And Li Laiheng, the grandson of the Li family, is also said to have been secretly abducted and protected by foreigners. Once the Ming Dynasty weakens, the foreigners will send the remaining members of the Li family back to the Ming Dynasty to continue wreaking havoc on the world!"

[“Even Jianwen’s disappearance was caused by foreigners…”]

[“The crimes of the Western barbarians are proven as irrefutable as a mountain of evidence!”]

You gradually become serious: "Although I wish to avenge Your Majesty, I am unable to do so. I implore Your Majesty to bring down divine punishment on these barbaric thieves, destroying their land and killing their subjects. This will demonstrate that the Ming Dynasty will punish them even at a distance!"

(Foreigner: What can I say?)
(Wild Boar Skin: Yes, kids, my Seven Great Hates were written by foreigners!)
(Li Chuang: Huang Taiji also did it.)
(King of the Great West: Joy!)
……

(End of this chapter)