After my soul traveled to ancient times, I don't want to be cannon fodder

"I heard that the power to control the army is actually in the hands of civilians. This is really ridiculous."

"Civil officials govern the state, and military commanders govern the army. This is a truth known to everyone in the world."

"But my father was worried that the generals would rebel if they had military power, and he was also afraid that he didn't have enough military power to protect the country. In the end, he handed military power to the civilians, making them neither human nor ghost."

"In the end, a good army was turned into a bunch of useless people. Then, those peace-loving officials in the court instigated the emperor, saying that the army was weak and could not defeat the foreign enemy."

"Since the army is weak and can't defeat the foreign enemy, why not just withdraw it all? Are we spending so much money every year to maintain the army just to support a bunch of useless people?"

"You..." Emperor Yong was so angry at Zhong Ning's straightforwardness that his face turned red, but he had to admit that Zhong Ning was right.

Why does the imperial court spend so much money on maintaining the army every year?

You know, military pay alone takes up a large portion of the national treasury.

"As you said, how should the system be reformed?"

"Although I'm not very smart, I understand your concerns. I have some small suggestions here. Please listen to them. If they are useful, that would be great. If they are not, then you can forget about them!"

Emperor Yong raised his eyebrows slightly and said in a deep voice, "Tell me now!"

"I believe that your father's concern about returning military power to the generals, who might then become powerful and assert their power, is certainly justified. However, I believe we should first consider the underlying cause and what solutions are available to resolve this situation."

"For example, why did those soldiers blindly follow their general in rebellion? Could it be partly because they didn't understand what was happening or what benefits they would gain from doing so?"

"They only know that they can have food if they follow the general!"

"This touches upon the common people's view of military service in this era. In the eyes of many, unless their family is incredibly poor, no one would want to risk their life on the battlefield just to earn a living!"

"For them, the military camp is not a place of honor, but a place to eat and save their lives. Even if they can't save their lives, being able to die with a full stomach is enough!"

"They have no concept of loyalty to the emperor or patriotism; they just want to survive. Many of them are even illiterate and don't know many fundamental principles."

"Under such circumstances, we must live one day at a time and avoid fighting if possible."

"Coupled with the fact that civilian officials don't want to fight, this has led to the weakening of the military."

“Therefore, I believe that the most urgent thing at the moment is to educate the soldiers. We can consider establishing a position of Imperial Supervisor to be specifically responsible for educating the soldiers.

"As for what to teach?"

“Both.”

"First, be loyal to the emperor and love your country!"

"The second is combat and grappling as well as military training."

"Start with the most basic literacy, and slowly instill the concepts of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism."

"Let them know that as soldiers, their responsibility is to defend the country, and that standing behind them are their families, friends, and hundreds of millions of compatriots."

"Our Great Yong is a nation, and all of its citizens are masters of this nation. Every citizen has a share of responsibility for the fate of the nation. How can the Central Plains be bullied by barbarians?"

"This fighting technique is also easy to understand. As long as they practice diligently, they will at least have a better chance of survival on the battlefield in the future."

"Military training is naturally the daily training in the barracks."

"We can optimize the existing system, even upgrading and optimizing it every three years. To ensure the effectiveness, we can also conduct military-to-military exercises and confrontations."

"Besides that, we can also set up military academies in various places to provide these low-level soldiers with a path to advancement."

"For example, after learning to read and write, and some simple principles, there will be an exam. Those who perform well will receive a reward, such as a small red flower, or an honorary title like a military model soldier, and then some practical benefits."

"If you pass the academic assessment, are also very good at fighting, and have made contributions on the battlefield, your superiors can recommend you to study at the military academy."

"As for where these military academies will come from? We can ask retired generals to write textbooks, serve as teachers, and teach."

"This will also provide some jobs for veterans so that they can have the opportunity to become self-reliant."

Emperor Yong's eyes sparkled, as if he felt that if these things were used properly, they would have miraculous effects. He immediately asked:

"Educating soldiers and establishing a military academy is a good idea. But where do we recruit the educators from? And who should be in charge of the military academy?"

"The Spring Examination is approaching. We can select the person who will be the Educator, that is, the Imperial Supervisor, from among the failed candidates."

"Many of these candidates came from far away hometowns, especially those from poor families. Failing the exam was a blow in itself, and then they had to return home alone."

"If we can give them a chance to serve the country now, it will allow them to make the most of their talents. Of course, if they still want to take the imperial examination three years later, we will grant them permission!"

"Of course, if you want to become a Royal Supervisor, you still need to be trained for a period of time. Otherwise, it will be harmful rather than beneficial to release it rashly."

"As for the military academy, I heard that General Cheng has a long and distinguished career in the military and retired from the battlefield just last year. Your Majesty, you might consider having a conversation with him."

Emperor Yong stroked his chin, lost in thought, and then asked, "Besides this, is there anything else?"

"In the military, we can also play some entertainment games. After all, military training is extremely arduous, and people can't be constantly on edge. They need to relax occasionally."

"You can ask Fang Ping about this."

"Are there any suitable military songs? If not, make up a couple and teach them to the soldiers in the camp for daily relaxation."

"If used well, these songs can also have the effect of inspiring people and boosting morale."

"Of course, I'm just a woman and don't know much about the military. If the emperor is interested in making changes, he should listen to the opinions of the generals. They are the ones who truly understand the military."

"Although I don't know much, I do know this: Heaven and Earth are divided into yin and yang, and they all require a balance. The same is true for the court. Whether it's civil officials or military generals who gain power, it's not the way to prosperity."

"Only by achieving a balance between civil and military power can we achieve world peace."

"When it comes to military matters, Your Majesty can just ask the generals and soldiers. When it comes to governing the country, Your Majesty should make use of the world's scholars."

"I've heard a saying: 'Without investigation, there is no right to speak.'"

"I, your humble son, hope that Your Majesty can step out of the palace and go on a private visit to the garrisons and barracks to see the current state of the army and their real needs."

"Only through a genuine on-site investigation can we know how to better adjust and reform the system!"