My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 458 The Way of Temple Calculation
When Wang Chonggu returned to the capital, the Crown Prince greeted him outside the city, which was naturally a major event that caused a sensation in the capital.

After paying his respects to the Crown Prince at the city gate, Wang Chonggu rode with the Crown Prince into the palace to meet the Longqing Emperor.

Cao Bangfu, who was recuperating at home, immediately realized that the situation was hopeless.

Wang Chonggu was the Vice Minister of War. His return to the capital to report on his duties was ordered by the emperor himself. Such a sudden return to the capital could not possibly be because the emperor wanted to inquire about the military situation on the nine borders.

With Qi Jiguang stationed in Datong, Xuanfu had been peaceful for several years.

The emperor's order for Wang Chonggu to return to the capital was clearly a message to the Ministry of War officials who were on leave: if you don't do it, plenty of others will!
Wang Chonggu's prestige and qualifications were sufficient for him to serve as Minister of War.

Cao Bangfu finally calmed down. He hadn't expected the cabinet to be so resolute. This time, the Ministry of War had become the target of criticism.

The cabinet was using the Ministry of War to put pressure on the other six ministries and nine ministerial offices, demonstrating the cabinet's authority. The Ministry of War, failing to see the situation clearly, jumped out first and was defeated by a series of combined attacks from the cabinet ministers.

Cao Bangfu was willing to accept defeat. Now that things had come to this point, his fake resignation had become a real one, and it would be foolish of him to stay any longer.

The day after Wang Chonggu was summoned by the emperor, Cao Bangfu submitted another resignation letter. This letter was different from the previous ones, which were just formalities. This time, Cao Bangfu wrote a ten-thousand-word letter requesting to resign and return to his hometown.

Emperor Longqing was also an emperor who cherished old friendships. Cao Bangfu's resignation letter revealed his true feelings, and the emperor treated Cao Bangfu with courtesy, granting him the treatment of a retired high-ranking official and allowing him to resign and return to his hometown.

Immediately afterwards, the Longqing Emperor ordered Wang Chonggu, the Vice Minister of War, to temporarily take charge of the affairs of the Ministry of War, with Shen Shixing, the Military Selection Officer, assisting Wang Chonggu in handling general affairs.

After assuming office as Minister of War, Wang Chonggu's first action was to express his support to the cabinet for Su Ze's memorial, "Requesting Clarification of the Functions of the Ministry of War in Order to Eliminate Long-standing Abuses," and his willingness to cooperate in military reforms.

When Cao Bangfu resigned this time, although the emperor treated him with courtesy, those officials who resigned with Cao Bangfu were not so lucky.

The two Vice Ministers of the Ministry of War and the five Assistant Ministers who followed Cao Bangfu in resigning were all granted permission to resign. The emperor did not grant these resigning officials any honors, nor did he even allow them to use official post stations to return to their hometowns.

After these officials who were most steadfast in opposing the reform of the Ministry of War left office, Wang Chonggu naturally faced no resistance in pushing forward the reform.

The Ministry of War has ceased its operations, and the Ministry of Science and Technology has fallen silent.

On the 25th day of the first month, the emperor issued an edict approving Su Ze's proposal to establish the General Staff Department, thus beginning the reform of the Ministry of War.
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The memorial requesting the clarification of the functions of the Ministry of War to eliminate long-standing abuses was passed, and the emperor issued an edict to establish the General Staff Department, thus initiating the reform of the Ministry of War.

The functions of the Ministry of War were defined as a separation of powers:

Command authority rested with the inner court (the emperor directly controlled the army through the "Situation Report");

The decision-making power of the staff was transferred to the newly established General Staff Department (dedicated to formulating military plans and compiling military intelligence).

Administrative executive power remained with the Ministry of War (which was specifically responsible for logistics, ordnance, and the assessment of military officers).

[Wang Chonggu, the Governor-General of Xuanfu and Datong, returned to Beijing to take charge of the Ministry of War, assisting Shen Shixing, the Military Selection Officer, in fully implementing reforms.]

The division of powers between the Ministry of War and the General Staff was completed, a professional military system was initially established, and the old system in which civilian officials had complete control over military affairs came to an end.

The reforms of the new army marked the beginning of modern military systems and became the direction for reforms that other countries around the world would follow.

The Ming Dynasty's new army truly entered a new era, with the completion of its scientific operational staff system.

A new class of military officers has emerged on the historical stage.

[National Fortune +3]

[Prestige +500]

[Remaining Prestige: 5300]

Su Ze closed the [Handheld Ming Dynasty Court] app. Although his prestige increased by 500, he still ended up losing money.

The military officer class is still too weak and doesn't provide enough prestige points. In addition, this reform has offended the civil service system, so the total increase and decrease resulted in an additional 500 prestige points.

However, it is certainly a good thing if it can promote military system reform.

New productive forces inevitably require new systems to support them. The original military system of the Ming Dynasty could no longer support the current military system.

Reform is imperative; however, the new-style officers, who are currently being fought over by various forces, will eventually become an independent class.

The nobles, including the Duke of Cheng, who were plotting how to utilize the new officers, probably never imagined things would turn out this way.
Just then, Song Xun, the chief of the military affairs office, arrived in front of Su Ze's office.

Upon seeing Su Ze, Song Xun immediately said:

"Prosecutor Su, how should we compile this 'Summary of the Situation Report'?"

Su Ze then remembered.

According to his own memorial, the command and control authority was transferred to the inner court, and the emperor kept track of the situation of each army through the "Situation Reports" submitted by each army.

Obviously, the emperor could not personally review these situation reports, so an institution was needed to handle them.

Within the inner court, the final task of handling reports fell to himself, the head of the Fifth Office of the Secretariat-Chancellery.

There was no other way; only the five departments under the Secretariat-Chancellery had a professional military organization—the Military Office.

Su Ze never expected that this task would end up falling on his shoulders.

It's just a report, isn't it?

In fact, Su Ze's system is a direct copy of Napoleon's command system from the original timeline.

To process this data stably and efficiently in the long term, the most important thing is to standardize the data format. This way, the data processing center only needs to process the summarized data.

Napoleon's system may seem simple, but it actually has very high requirements.

Each army needs professional officers capable of statistical analysis, and the inner court needs statistical bureaucrats skilled in handling government affairs. This places extremely high demands on mathematics and management.

It was only after entering the modern era, with the development of mathematics and the increase in literacy rates, that the central government was able to exercise such control over the military.

Since the Ming Dynasty had already entered this period, it was natural that it could use this system.

Su Ze said to Song Xun:

"This matter still needs to be discussed by Chief Song and local generals with practical combat experience to create a form. In the future, the staff officers and adjutants of each army will only need to fill in the form, and my military office will only need to compile it."

"sheet?"

Su Ze nodded and said:

"To understand the situation of each military unit, the data must be detailed; only data is the most intuitive."

"Chief Song can discuss this with Zhou Sitian of the Society for Research in Chinese Architecture. He is a master of mathematics."

Song Xun had no choice but to nod and reluctantly accept the task.

Although this job was difficult, it was also an extremely confidential position.

If handled well, his authority as the Chief of the Military Affairs Office will be greatly enhanced, even surpassing that of an ordinary Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.

Song Xun felt full of energy again.

After Song Xun left, someone else came to our door.

This time it was Duke Zhu Shitai of Cheng.

Upon seeing Su Ze, Zhu Shitai greeted him with a broad smile and said:
"Prosecutor Su, His Majesty has ordered the establishment of the Military Intelligence Bureau within the Embroidered Uniform Guard. As the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I am carrying out this order. However, I would like to ask Prosecutor Su, the initiator, for guidance on how to set up this Military Intelligence Bureau."

Su Ze then remembered that Zhu Shitai also held the position of Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Longqing Emperor was a victim of secret police politics, and he did not pay much attention to secret police work after he ascended the throne.

But this time it concerns military power, and Su Ze specifically mentioned in his memorial that a Military Intelligence Division should be set up in the Embroidered Uniform Guard to be specifically responsible for reporting local military intelligence.

Su Ze said:

"The Situation Report is submitted from the bottom up. If the data is falsified at the grassroots level, it will be a huge error once it is compiled into the inner court."

Zhu Shitai nodded; he naturally understood this principle. Fabricating data is a common problem in almost all bureaucratic systems, and the military officer system, being a bureaucratic system, naturally also engages in data manipulation.

It's normal to underreport battle losses and overreport battle results.

"Therefore, I propose the establishment of a Military Intelligence Bureau to serve as His Majesty's eyes and ears, and to deter local authorities from falsifying or concealing data."

Zhu Shitai then asked, "How should this Military Intelligence Bureau be set up and operated?"

Su Ze pondered and said:
"I am not an expert in this matter of espionage, but I have a few humble opinions. Please consider them carefully, Your Excellency."

"I humbly request your guidance, Prosecutor Su! This task is a matter of life and death for me. If it weren't for the imperial decree, I would never have taken on this difficult task."

Su Ze looked at Zhu Shitai's flushed face, but he couldn't tell that Zhu Shitai was unhappy at all.

Su Ze said:

"The important matters in the army are beyond the knowledge of ordinary people."

"The Duke can start with the Military Academy and develop the Embroidered Uniform Guard among its students. After they are assigned to various armies, they can send intelligence to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Military Intelligence Division as their eyes and ears."

"wonderful!"

“The local administration offices already had spies and agents who collected local military intelligence and reported it regularly.”

"I have also thought of this, and have already submitted a report to His Majesty, requesting the cooperation of the Ministry of Justice."

"Then we'll send out military supervisors and spies, but that will depend on the specific circumstances."

Duke Zhu Shitai of Chengguo hurriedly cupped his hands and said:

"Thank you for your guidance, Prosecutor Su. I will also let His Majesty know about Prosecutor Su's loyalty and dedication to the country!"

Su Ze rubbed his temples, hoping no one else would come today.

But things didn't go as planned. A short while later, someone reported that Li Rusong requested an audience with him.

Su Ze had no choice but to bite the bullet and have someone invite Li Rusong in.

After submitting his memorial on the Northeast Army's strategy, Li Rusong felt as if he were in a dream during this period.

He was first promoted and transferred to the Imperial Guard, becoming a guard officer by the emperor's side.

He was then personally summoned by the emperor and received many rewards.

Then came a letter from my father, saying that Dean Su had arranged a marriage for me with the granddaughter of the former Minister of War.

This kind of marriage was something Li Rusong would never have dared to dream of before.

Even the former Minister of War was a lady from a scholarly family.

Huo Ji held a high position in the Ministry of War, and his former students and officials were still around. It goes without saying how much benefit this marriage would bring him.

What followed was a series of dramatic events in the imperial court, with the cabinet and the Ministry of War vying for power, leaving Li Rusong trembling with fear.

Once the dust had settled, His Majesty issued an edict to select staff officers from the Imperial Guards and the students of the Imperial Academy in the capital to form the General Staff.

The head of the General Staff was Xu Wenbi, the Duke of Dingguo, the emperor's most trusted meritorious official.

The General Staff has three departments: Operations Department, Training Department, and Intelligence and Logistics Department.

Li Rusong naturally became the head of the Operations Division.

However, Li Rusong was still completely clueless about how to become the head of the Operations Division.

Unfortunately, this is an institution that has never existed before, and there are no precedents to refer to.

Li Rusong went to consult Duke Cheng, Xu Wenbi, the most skilled imperial minister and the top meritorious official in the empire, who also looked at Li Rusong with a blank expression.

In the end, Xu Wenbi pointed Li Rusong in the right direction, telling him to come and consult Su Ze.

Li Rusong gently pushed open the door to Su Ze's office, his footsteps extremely light, as if afraid of disturbing Su Ze.

He was dressed in the robes of a royal guard officer, but he was slightly bowed, his hands clasped together nervously.

When he stepped into the Fifth Office of the Secretariat, it was like stepping into the teaching department of the Martial Arts Academy.

Seeing Su Ze sitting behind the desk with a frown, Li Rusong regretted it even more, wishing he had come on another day.

He had been waiting for a while in the fifth branch of the Secretariat and knew that Su Ze had met with several groups of people, but since he was already here, he couldn't go back, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and come in.

As soon as Li Rusong entered, he said:
"Student Li Rusong greets Dean Su."

Su Ze waved his hand, gesturing for Li Rusong to sit down, and then said:

"Commander Li is here because of the Operations Division, right?"

Li Rusong nodded repeatedly and said, "Oh:"
"Your Majesty's great favor has granted me the position of Chief of the Operations Division of the General Staff. This is a tremendous honor, but... but I have never heard of this position before, and I have no idea where to begin."

"Although I have studied some military strategy at the Military Academy, the Chief of the Operations Department is in charge of such an important position, which concerns the overall planning of the army. If I were to ruin this important reform due to my stupidity, I would be guilty of a thousand deaths..."

Su Ze nodded and said:

"I understand. This Operations Division is of great importance, and it was indeed not clearly stated in the memorial."

This made Li Rusong even more apprehensive.

Su Ze found it amusing; Li Rusong's aloof personality was well-known within the Imperial Guard.

But when facing himself, he's like a quail.

Su Ze said:

"If Commander Li has any questions, ask them now."

Li Rusong relaxed a little and, after organizing his thoughts, asked:

"Dean of Academic Affairs, in your memorial you stated that the Operations Division's duties are 'to be responsible for strategic planning and live-fire exercises.' What is strategic planning?"

"The memorial states that the General Staff only has the responsibility of staff advisors and should not interfere in national affairs. So how can our Operations Division fulfill its responsibilities as staff advisors without being interfered with by its duties in military and political affairs?"

The latter question was what Li Rusong was most concerned about.

He knew that the establishment of the General Staff was made under tremendous pressure from the foreign powers.

Although the Ministry of War's protest was suppressed this time, it does not mean that the General Staff can rest easy.

On the contrary, the most dangerous time will come after the General Staff is established.

Many officials outside the capital were watching the General Staff's every move, knowing that if they overstepped their bounds, they would be attacked by the masses.

But Li Rusong didn't understand how to clearly distinguish between being a staff advisor and interfering in national affairs.

Su Ze smiled slightly and said:
"So that's what it was about. Commander Li, you're well-versed in military strategy, what is it?"

Li Rusong thought for a moment and said:

"Students studied the Dean of Academic Affairs' memorial and concluded that strategy was the art of 'strategic planning'."

Su Ze looked at Li Rusong and nodded in satisfaction, saying:
"With such insight, the two years of study at the Military Academy were not wasted."

"Strategy is not about calculating the gains and losses of a single city or town, but about the art of planning and strategizing."

"Specifically, it refers to the military system."

(End of this chapter)