Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

Chapter 323 Military Academy

Yang Zhi changed the subject and asked Lin Chong:

"Are you doing well in the south?"

"Not bad, he's been following the Duke of Shu all this time."

"I have been promoted to Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Hunan,"

"The position of General will be held personally by the Duke of Shu," Lin Chong replied.

These sworn brothers,

Due to the long separation,

I've become somewhat rusty.

Generals Zhang Guangdao, Chen Ziyi, Gu San, Deng Chun, Deng Xia, Shi Biao, and Gong Xiu, among others.

This created another lively circle of conversation.

They are all from Yangzhou.

They naturally banded together to form a faction.

Gu San and Shi Biao were particularly close—Gu San commanded the heavily armored personal guard.

Shi Biao was in charge of the imperial guards.

Generals Wang Yuan, Han Shizhong, and Yao Pingzhong,

They were from the Western Army.

Li Bao, Zhang Tang, and the blacksmiths from Xuzhou who migrated to Jinzhou,

They were all from Shandong.

"Your Majesty is here!"

Everyone sat quietly.

When Zhao Yuan appeared,

They all stood up and saluted.

Zhao Yuan smiled and nodded: "Please be seated, gentlemen."

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Zhao Yuan glanced at his generals and sighed:

"I haven't seen some of my brothers for two or three years."

"Thinking back to when we first raised our army at Liangshan, it feels like just yesterday,"

"In the blink of an eye, the Ming Dynasty had conquered the world,"

"You have all become generals in command of troops."

"Let me first offer you all a toast,"

"Thank you all for your valiant fighting and contributions to the country!"

“It is our turn to pay our respects to His Majesty,” Shi Biao said smugly.

“Yes, respect to the Crown Prince!” Lin Chong echoed.

Zhao Yuan said to Bai Sheng, "You sit down too."

"Don't stand behind me."

"Yes."

Bai Sheng grinned and ran to sit down, raising his glass.

Zhao Yuan said, "I plan to build a martial arts academy."

"Just like the Imperial Academy,"

"You can understand it as Wu Taixue."

"We will only be recruiting two types of students for the time being,"

"Firstly, those who have the title of Xiucai (a scholar who has passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations)."

"Secondly, brave warriors recommended by each army."

"The course lasts three years, and those with excellent grades may become generals of a hundred men."

"Those who pass the exam may be selected as generals of ten men."

Li Bao asked in surprise, "Is the military promotion system going to change?"

"It remains unchanged,"

Zhao Yuan said,

"Students who abandoned their studies to join the army,"

"Let them learn combat tactics and martial arts."

"A brave cadet recommended by the military,"

"Let them learn cultural strategies."

"A person who graduated from martial arts school,"

"They are all skilled in both literature and martial arts."

"Whether it's a general of a hundred men or a general of ten men,"

"After they graduate and enlist,"

"Promotions must be conducted in accordance with military regulations."

The generals began to think seriously.

If this system continues to be implemented,

Military generals at all levels decades later,

There must be a large number of martial arts graduates.

Zhang Tang asked, "Is there only one martial arts school?"

"For now, we'll only be opening one store in Tokyo,"

"My future plan is to open ten schools across the country."

"In addition, three naval schools will be built."

Zhao Yuan explained in detail to the military officers:

"During the late Tang and Five Dynasties period, regional warlords held sway over their own territories."

“Martial arts practitioners are tyrannical and lawless.”

"The former Song dynasty learned its lessons, but then went to extremes to correct them,"

"Not only did they use civil officials to control military forces, but they also dispersed and stationed their troops in different locations,"

"Relocate the generals around."

"As a result, generals do not know their soldiers, and soldiers do not know their generals,"

"They were a complete mess when it came to fighting."

"The Five Dynasties period is undesirable, and neither is the Former Song Dynasty."

"That's why I started martial arts training."

"The martial arts of the Ming Dynasty are different from those of the Song Dynasty."

Chapter 324 Martial Temple

"Once ten schools are opened nationwide,"

“Graduation exams can be held in various locations,”

"Select qualified individuals and send them to the army to serve as ten generals."

"Those with outstanding grades will gather in the capital,"

"The re-examination was personally presided over by the emperor."

"Firstly, to prevent cheating in local martial arts examinations,"

"Secondly, the emperor personally bestowed upon them the title of military scholar."

"In other words, military graduates are the same as civil graduates,"

"From now on, they will all be disciples of the Emperor!"

Zhang Tang was the most learned among these people.

He immediately understood Zhao Yuan's true intention.

The emperor must keep the army firmly in his control.

Warlords like the Zhe and Liu families,

It will never exist again.

The future lowly soldiers will earn merit.

Perhaps what they desire most is not a promotion.

Instead, he wanted to be recommended to study martial arts because of his merits.

Zhao Yuan suddenly called out, "Yang Zhi."

"Yes!" Yang Zhi quickly stood up.

Zhao Yuan said, "You are being transferred back to Tokyo; you should no longer command troops in the field."

"I will give you positions in the Grand Marshal's Office and the Privy Council,"

"Together with Zhang Tang, we established the Kaifeng Military Academy."

"The *Wujing Zongyao* (Complete Essentials of Military Classics) has refined and distilled the essential elements, based on practical experience with firearms,"

"And experience in fighting against the Jin and Western Xia dynasties,"

"Additions and deletions were made to the content of the 'Complete Essentials of Military Classics'."

"We also need to compile the Infantry Drill Manual, Cavalry Drill Manual, Firearms Drill Manual, and Naval Drill Manual."

Yang Zhi was completely bewildered: "I...I don't know how to compile books."

Zhao Yuan said, "Have all the generals at all levels take some time to summarize their combat experience."

"Summarize and compare these combat experiences."

"Even veterans from the central leadership can help,"

"Yang Weizhong and Yao Gu will soon be transferred back to the Privy Council and the Ministry of War."

"Even Liu Yanqing can lend a hand,"

"Just don't try to run away like him."

"Hahahaha!"

The generals burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Zhao Yuan said, "Zhang Tang, you will be the chief editor of these military treatises."

"We can listen to the opinions of veterans like Zhong Shidao."

"Once the first draft is completed, I will send it to the generals of each army,"

"Let them identify any gaps and offer suggestions."

"As ordered!"