I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

The front hall of the Zhenshuo General's Mansion in Xuanfu Town.

After Dong Daheng, the governor of Xuanfu, raised the issue of the military system, Ma Jin, the commander-in-chief of Xuanfu, couldn't help but speak up.

"Grand Secretary Shen, as Dong Dutang said, all nine border towns are facing a large-scale exodus of military households. This has directly led to a decrease in the income from military farms and civilian transport used to support the troops. In the past two years, Xuanfu's military expenditures have often been stretched thin. I have repeatedly requested the court to increase the pay, but all requests have been rejected. In the past two years, the court's revenue from the imperial granary has increased significantly. Why can't we increase the pay for border defense? In some places in Xuanfu, the city wall fortifications are on the verge of collapse and are being made do!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian smiled.

He guessed that someone would bring up the issue of raising wages.

If this had not been a closed-door meeting with no one to record it, Ma Jin would not have dared to question the imperial court in this way.

He also wanted to build strong defensive fortifications, strengthen the army in Xuanfu, and establish incentive measures for officers and soldiers, but he was unable to do so due to a lack of funds.

All the military officers looked at Shen Nian.

They also hoped for a pay raise, for solid fortifications, and for soldiers to receive their pay on time.

Only in this way can the army have cohesion and enable them to achieve merit.

As a cabinet minister and former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Shen Nian would most likely be able to promise a pay raise if he were to do so.

Shen Nian looked at Ma Jin and asked, "General Ma, I remember that last year Xuanfu's military expenses were 1.06 million taels of silver, supported by military tax revenue from Xuanfu, plus civilian transport, capital transport, and salt permits from the imperial court. How much additional funding does Xuanfu need from the imperial court this year?"

"Go ahead and give me a rough estimate!" Shen Nian added.

Ma Jin pondered for a moment, then held up two fingers and said, "If we can add 200,000 taels of silver to the military pay, that should be enough!"

"What is the reason for the salary increase?"

"The main reasons are the decline in income from land reclamation, insufficient pay for soldiers, and the need to repair the city walls and purchase military equipment."

Upon hearing Shen Nian inquire about the reason, all the officials became excited.

Shen Nian asked such detailed questions, he must be preparing to report to the imperial court to increase their pay.

Shen Nian's single sentence was more effective than ten of their memorials requesting additional pay.

Just then, Shen Nian's words were like a bucket of cold water poured on everyone.

"If that's the reason, the court will definitely not agree to the increase in taxes, and I will not report this matter to His Majesty!"

Just as everyone was about to sigh, Shen Nian straightened his chest and said, "I didn't submit a report because your reasons were too lame! Today I'll teach you how to properly ask the court for money!"

Swish!Swish!Swish!
These words immediately piqued the interest of all the officials in Xuanfu Town.

Cabinet ministers instructing border garrisons on how to request money from the imperial court—this had never happened before in the current dynasty.

You really can't say that with the door open.

Shen Nian paused for a moment and said, "If we compare the imperial court to parents, then the two capitals, thirteen provinces, and nine border regions are the children of the imperial court. When parents have many children, their first priority is to ensure that each child can live, and only then can they ensure that each child is well-fed and well-clothed."

"When a child is in danger, parents will ask their siblings for help, and if it's a matter of life and death, parents will even give everything they have. But when the child is not starving and has the ability to find food, parents often think of the child who can earn more money and obtain more food for the family, because the parents also need them to support them..."

"Do you all understand what I'm saying?" Shen Nian asked.

All the officials in Xuanfu nodded in agreement.

The term "encountering danger" refers to events such as war or disaster, in which case the imperial court would allocate funds.

While ensuring stability in all regions, the imperial court prioritizes areas that generate income, as these areas make the court richer, while areas that don't generate income make the court increasingly poor.

Shen Nian continued, "If Xuanfu wants to receive money from the imperial court, and if the court is willing to give Xuanfu more money, it must show the court that Xuanfu can use this money to become stronger, or to earn more money. The more capable each province is of earning or saving money for the court, the more money the court will be willing to give."

"For example, if Xuanfu were to request funding for the construction of a section of the city wall, the court might not necessarily grant it. However, if Xuanfu were to report to the court the value of the section of the city wall, such as how many smugglers it could stop, how many Mongol bandits it could deter, how much manpower it could reduce, and how much it could reduce costs, the court would see this and deem the investment in the construction of the city wall necessary and worthwhile, and then the court would allocate the funds!"

……

What Shen Nian was saying was that he hoped Xuanfu Town could transform from a parasite that was content with the status quo into a border town that could proactively create more wealth.

Shen Nian paused for a moment, then added, "In addition, I hope that all officials and military households in Xuanfu Town must correct one thing about themselves!"

All the officials in Xuanfu looked up.

"You live here not to be prepared to sacrifice yourselves for war, nor to be abandoned by the two capitals and thirteen provinces, but because this is your home. Everyone should strive to make this home better, to keep it away from war, and to ensure that you are well-fed and clothed. The richer this home is, the less likely the court will allow anyone to destroy it!"

Shen Nian's words were very straightforward.

Xuanzhen, as a border town, guarded the capital. Its importance stemmed from both its location and its value.

If Xuanfu could become a large and prosperous military town in the northern border region, the imperial court would do everything in its power to make it increasingly wealthy and prevent war from taking place there.

……

Then, Shen Nian looked at Ma Jin, the general of Xuanfu.

"General Ma, Xuanfu now has many markets. The soldiers' tasks should not only be to manage, patrol, and maintain order, but also to establish a better business environment and create more business opportunities. If we can get more people involved, won't the money come in?"

"If you could devise a trade strategy to reduce the loss of military households and attract more merchants to do business here, and then ask the court for money under the pretext of protecting trade to build fortifications and expand military equipment, do you think the court would refuse?"

“The situation is completely different now than before. All the prefectures and cities are developing commerce and vying for people. Does Xuanfu want to become the poorest of the nine border regions and then wait for the imperial court to provide relief?”

"Of course, if we encounter any truly difficult problems, we will report the details to the court. I will definitely speak up for Xuanfu. Each of the nine border towns is a treasure of the Ming Dynasty, and we will never allow them to be disturbed!"

……

After Shen Nian finished speaking, the area below fell silent as everyone began to ponder.

In the past, the border generals did not understand the imperial court.

But after Shen Nian said that, they immediately understood how to develop Xuanfu Town and how to get money from the imperial court.

In short: You must strive to be successful!

Subsequently, all the officials of Xuanfu bowed and clasped their hands in greeting to Shen Nian.

Shen Nian's words made them realize that there was still a lot to be done.

at this time.

Dong Yiyuan, the deputy commander of Xuanfu Town, stepped forward.

"Your Excellency, I have a question that has been on my mind for a long time. After Anda's death, the Tumed tribe will soon change its leader, and there is a high probability that the various Mongol tribes will engage in internal strife or launch an attack on us. Is the court inclined to give them a sound beating, or to negotiate peace again?"

"I believe that peace talks are not going well. In recent years, small groups of Mongols have repeatedly raided the border. Why not take this opportunity to fight a war and wipe out all those disobedient tribes!"

Dong Yiyuan clenched his fists, his emotions running high.

Shen Nian had some understanding of Dong Yiyuan.

His ancestor was Dong Zhongshu, a Confucian scholar of the Han Dynasty, and his father was Dong Yang, a guerrilla general in Xuanfu during the mid-Jiajing period. When the Tumed tribe, led by Altan Khan, invaded the Ming Dynasty, his father Dong Yang led his troops in a fierce battle and died.

This led Dong Yiyuan to become extremely belligerent.

He disliked border markets and was determined to wipe out all the Mongol tribes in the north.

Shen Nian's series of answers just now were actually all about hoping for peace and that the military households could live a good life.

Shen Nian thought for a moment, then said loudly, "If the Mongols dare to invade our land, occupy our cities and villages, and kill our people, then we will retaliate twofold and show no mercy!"

"But if things aren't that serious, we can't provoke war. If war breaks out, there are no winners. We must have the power to protect the Ming Dynasty, but we can't be too belligerent. Besides, we actually have many ways to defeat them..."

Immediately afterwards, Shen Nian brought out her set of cultural warfare, trade warfare, and intelligence warfare strategies and began to explain them in detail.

In short: whether to fight or not, and how to fight, the core objective is to maximize the interests of the Ming Dynasty.

This benefit includes the land, goods, dignity of the Ming Dynasty, dignity of the Ming soldiers, and dignity of all the people of the Ming Dynasty.

Shen Nian spoke for more than an hour.

Some conflicts can be resolved more effectively and foster longer-term peace by avoiding war.

After listening, Dong Yiyuan remained silent.

He felt he would need at least half a month to fully understand Shen Nian's meaning.

……

After Shen Nian finished speaking, the officials no longer concealed their thoughts and began to speak one after another, making the council hall lively.

Some people asked about the latest firearms, some asked about Shen Yanwang's training methods, and some asked about the training methods of the Jingwu Academy...

Some questioned the current training methods in Xuanfu Town; some claimed that Xuanfu was now divided into four factions: the Ma family, the Dong family (Dong Yiyuan), the Ma family (Ma Fang), and others; others pointed out numerous problems with mid-level officers.

Then, Dong Daheng, Ma Jin, Dong Yiyuan and other officials from Xuanfu took turns explaining.

Some problems were resolved on the spot, while others left them feeling helpless.

Because everyone tacitly refrained from attacking anyone, the conversation went very smoothly.

Shi Gong, the eunuch in charge of the Xuanda and Shanxi garrison representing imperial power, and Liu Fengnian, the imperial censor inspecting Xuanda, listened quietly, pretending not to hear some things.

If it were under normal circumstances...

The officials in Xuanfu attacked each other and kept exposing problems. They will definitely report to the capital, but today's meeting is a closed-door meeting and no written record will be left.

This approach can expose many problems and also solve many problems, and overall it is of great benefit to Xuanfu Town.

Zhang Jingxiu, who had been listening attentively, looked at Shen Nian with eyes full of admiration. Without Shen Nian, this meeting would not have been so sincere and open. Shen Nian had kept his promise made at the city gate: I am not here to find fault, but to solve problems.

Shen Nian considered everyone's interests and difficulties, and then used sincerity to win everyone's trust, gradually getting everyone to express their difficulties and grievances.

Around noon, everyone ate a few snacks and drank some tea before continuing their questions and discussions until nightfall.

Finally, at the strong suggestion of a group of officers, the closed-door meeting will continue for another day.

……

The closed-door meeting continued the following day, ending only after nightfall.

After the meeting, some officers in Xuanfu Town did not show any signs of fatigue; on the contrary, they were full of energy.

Because they felt a sense of purpose, and felt that they still had a lot to do. As long as they did well, they would be recommended by Shen Nian and have the opportunity to be promoted.

……

At the same time, Shen Nian also made plans for the future.

On the 20th, 21st, and 22nd of the first lunar month, he will bring along the governor of Xuanda, Dong Daheng, the general of Xuanda, Ma Jin, the deputy general of Xuanda, Dong Yiyuan, and Zhang Jingxiu to talk with the middle and lower-ranking officers.

Then, Shen Nian would spend another five days randomly selecting some lower-ranking military households to chat with.

These all need to be recorded.

This move is solely aimed at uncovering more of the truth and identifying more problems, in order to prepare for the next phase of military reform.

In the past few days, Shen Nian has resolved some problems on the spot, as well as some that cannot be resolved for the time being. However, Shen Nian will definitely give an explanation for the problems that cannot be resolved after returning to the court.

……

In the blink of an eye, it was the 28th day of the first lunar month, and Shen Nian and his party had been in Xuanfu City for ten days.

Shen Nian decided to leave Xuanfu Town early on the 29th of the first lunar month and head to Shanxi Town.

He told the officials of Xuanfu that there was no need for them to see him off.

In the past, when there were inspecting officials in the local area, all the officials in Xuanfu hoped that they would leave as soon as possible, but they especially hoped that Shen Nian could stay for a longer period of time.

In their eyes, Shen Nian was a superior who stood with them and thought about how to solve problems, not a superior who would only scold them for being incompetent when they couldn't solve the problems.

Meanwhile, on the second day after Shen Nian left Xuanfu Town.

The governor of Xuanda, Dong Daheng, the inspector of Xuanda, Liu Fengnian, and the eunuch in charge of the Shanxi garrison of Xuanda, Shi Gong, all went to Datong Town.

Datong Town will be the place where Shen Nian meets with the Tumet tribe, and they will make preparations for this.

……

On February , the dragon looked up.

Shen Nian and his group sped along the desolate official road.

Datong Town is actually closer to Xuanfu Town, but Shen Nian needed to stay in Datong Town for a long time, so he went to Shanxi Town first.

The defense zone of Shanxi Town mainly includes the three passes of Piantou, Ningwu, and Yanmen.

The garrison commander of Shanxi was stationed not in Taiyuan, but at Ningwu Pass on the front line.

Shen Nian's destination this time was Ningwu Pass.

……

On February 12th, after a ten-day trek, Shen Nian and his party arrived at Ningwu Pass.

Ningwu Pass, with a circumference of about seven li, is not large in scale, but it still houses the General's Office, granaries, armories, military camps, and various government offices.

At present, the commander-in-chief of Shanxi Town is named Wang Guoxun, who is a very straightforward and valiant general.

After arriving at Ningwu Pass, Shen Nian first inspected several fortified villages, and then once again used his closed-door meeting method to discuss and resolve the problems of the garrison at Ningwu Pass.

The problems in Shanxi Town and Xuanfu Town are almost identical.

When Shen Nianling and his officers reported the situation, more than ten officers unanimously expressed their hope that the court would increase their pay.

So Shen Nian explained the whole story from Xuanfu Town.

……

On February 20th, Shen Nian left Ningwu Pass and headed towards Datong Town, expecting to arrive in five days.

At this time, Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng fell ill again.

It's the same old ailment from last autumn: lower body heat syndrome (i.e., hemorrhoids).

This time, Zhang Juzheng was in so much pain that he took it very seriously and invited several skilled doctors. In the end, one doctor suggested that in order to cure the disease completely and prevent recurrence, it would be necessary to cut it open, and then he would have to rest for at least thirty days after the procedure.

Zhang Juzheng had no choice but to ask the young Wanli Emperor for a month's leave, but promised to handle cabinet affairs and draft memorials at home.

With Yin Zhengmao, Shen Shixing, and Wang Xijue currently in the court, Zhang Juzheng can focus entirely on his medical treatment without any problems.

But his damned sense of responsibility kept his mind on official business, and he wrote the draft bill while lying on the bed groaning in pain.

……

February 25th, near noon.

Shen Nian and his group finally arrived at the jurisdiction of Datong Town, less than fifty miles from the town center.

Datong Town currently has a military force of about 80,000 men, and its east-west defenses stretch for more than 600 li.

This place used to be on the front lines of war; now it's a border trade center.

Most of the official markets where the Ming Dynasty traded with the Mongols were located on the border line of Datong Town.

In addition to the various civil and military government offices, military camps, academies, and warehouses, the town of Datong also has the Prince Dai's Mansion, where Zhu Naixuan, the seventh Prince Dai of the Ming Dynasty, resides.

The Ming Dynasty once envisioned that vassal kings would guard the borders, but now the Prince of Dai's mansion no longer has military power, and some members of the imperial family have begun to do business on the border in order to make a living.

However, the Prince Dai's Mansion still held a relatively high status in Datong Town.

After Shen Nian entered Datong Town, according to custom, he still needed to pay a visit.

……

An hour later.

Just as Shen Nian was getting closer and closer to Datong Town.

We saw rows of cavalrymen driving out from the direction of Datong Town, and from time to time we could also see wagons covered with felt and fully loaded.

Just as a carriage passed by Shen Nian, Shen Nian frowned and muttered, "There's gunpowder in the carriage!"

Shen Nian frequently visited the firearms camp and was extremely sensitive to the smell of gunpowder.

"Qi Hu!" Shen Nian pulled on the reins and shouted.

"Here!" Qi Hu quickly arrived beside Shen Nian.

“These carriages seem to be carrying gunpowder. Take my seal and ask them what they’re up to!”

"Yes!"

Qi Hu turned his horse around and galloped away, while Shen Nian and the others stopped by the roadside.

About fifteen minutes later, Qi Hu rode back on horseback.

"Your Excellency, they were sent by Guo Hu, the General of Datong Town, to burn the wasteland at the northern pass of the city."

How many miles will be burned?

“Twenty li,” Qi Hu replied.

“No problem, let’s continue on our way!” Shen Nian said.

The so-called burning of wasteland.

This was not an ordinary act of arson, but a military defensive tactic. Specifically, it involved border troops leaving their lines to burn pasture on the Mongolian grasslands, thus destroying the enemy's fodder.

There are three defensive systems on the Great Wall: the side walls, the watchtowers, and the burnt-land system.

The side walls are the main line of defense, the watchtowers are the eyes, and burning the wasteland is a long-range defense.

Burning of stubble mainly occurs in autumn, when the grass is dry and easy to ignite, covering an area of ​​fifty to one hundred li.

However, since the Longqing Peace Treaty, the burning of wasteland has become uncommon, as it can be considered an act that undermines mutual trust.

Guo Hu, the general of Datong Town, sent troops to burn the wasteland at this time. This was probably because he did not do so last year. With Anda dead, the border defense might be in chaos, so he sent troops to burn the wasteland before the new grass grew.

If Guo Hu ordered people to burn the wasteland for fifty li, Shen Nian would definitely oppose it, because it would be a provocation and would cause the Mongols to lose a lot of fodder.

However, burning the wasteland for twenty li (approximately 10 kilometers) can only be considered a deterrent and border maintenance measure. This is the Ming Dynasty's self-defense mechanism, which can be used to deal with any eventuality of war, and can be considered a sign of foresight. (End of Chapter)