amaotonovel Chapter 473 This bastard really doesn't care about his father-in-law at all!
Chapter 473 This bastard really doesn't care about his father-in-law at all!
Emperor Zhu glanced at Yang Shaofeng, sighed, and said, "Isn't that so?"
"Whether it was the Tang Dynasty's Fubing system or the Song Dynasty's Jinjun Xiangjun system, which one was like our Ming Dynasty's Weisuo military household system, which revealed its drawbacks just a few years after the founding of the country?"
Ok? ? ?
Is Old Deng starting to doubt himself?
This won't work.
The Fujun system had its advantages, and the Jinjun Xiangjun system also had its advantages; this is an undeniable fact.
But who says that the Ming Dynasty's garrison system had no advantages?
Besides, weren't you quite smug back then, old Deng?
They actually boasted that they could "raise an army of a million without wasting a single penny or grain of the people."
Where did that arrogance go when you said that?
Why aren't you saying that now?
Otherwise, you should revert to your old ways. The people are still used to your arrogant and domineering attitude.
While inwardly complaining, Yang Shaofeng cupped his hands to Emperor Zhu and said, "Father-in-law, I once heard a Mr. Lu say that many things in the world have two sides, a good side and a bad side, and we should learn to look at things from a dialectical perspective."
"For example, the garrison system has the downside that soldiers might think about deserting. But without the garrison system, with the Ming Dynasty's current reserves, what would it use to support a large-scale northern expedition?"
"As far as I know, from the first year of Hongwu to the fourth year of Hongwu, there was almost no year without war, no month without war, and no day without war."
"Therefore, I believe that while the military household system of the garrison system has its drawbacks, we should not overlook its advantages just because we see its drawbacks."
Emperor Zhu chuckled and said, "Then you just said that the desertion of the garrison soldiers was inevitable, and even the failure of the Northern Expedition was inevitable."
Yang Shaofeng shook his head and continued to try to comfort Emperor Zhu.
"The desertion of the garrison soldiers was an inevitable reason, as I have already explained."
"The reason why the Northern Expedition was bound to fail was not solely due to the garrison system."
"For example, the issue of guides on the grasslands."
Emperor Zhu replied without hesitation, "If you give me other reasons, we might believe you."
“But if you’re saying it’s because of the guides on the grasslands, then I can tell you right now that it’s definitely not because of the guides.”
"Our Ming army has more Mongol cavalry than Hu Yuan has."
"Do you remember Yanda Mashiri who came to Dengzhou before?"
"That's the real Hu Yuanzhong, the Right Chancellor."
"The guide is the least of our worries."
Looking at the confident Emperor Zhu, Yang Shaofeng couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Is this old man a bit stupid?
"The guide issue that my son-in-law mentioned is only one factor."
"Other factors such as the transportation of food supplies, replenishment of materials, and replenishment of troops also need to be considered."
"More importantly, what were the thoughts of all the soldiers on the Northern Expedition, aside from those who were eager to gain fame and fortune on the spot?"
“Expeditioning to the northern desert is different from driving the Hu Yuan people into the northern desert.”
"The latter is to expel the Tartars and protect the homeland."
What about the former?
"In the eyes of most soldiers, the expedition to the northern desert was to expand the territory of the Ming Dynasty and to bring military merit to the high-ranking generals."
"They may not want to fight this war."
"Compared to the vague military achievements and even the risk of losing their lives on the grasslands, wouldn't they rather live a life with their wives, children, and a warm bed?"
"If this situation occurs, coupled with numerous unfavorable factors for an expedition to the northern desert, wouldn't failure be inevitable?"
"If Father-in-law does not believe it, you can have someone look up the history of wars related to expeditions to the grasslands throughout the ages."
There's no need to refer to the examples of victories, since they're all just things mentioned in passing.
We could take a good look at the examples of the battles we lost.
The causes, process, marching routes, formations, generals' strategies, and the course of the battle—basically all the factors that could lead to defeat—are recorded in great detail.
After Yang Shaofeng finished speaking, Emperor Zhu fell silent.
It took Emperor Zhu a long while to recover his senses. He looked at Yang Shaofeng and asked, "Then tell me, if you were put in charge of handling the desertion of the garrison soldiers, what would you do?"
Ok?
I just wanted to give you some advice, old man, so you wouldn't get stuck in a rut and start questioning the meaning of life.
But you're the one assigning me work?
You're absolutely ungrateful!
Yang Shaofeng snorted inwardly and bowed to Emperor Zhu, saying, "If I were your son-in-law, I would first change the rule that military households inherit their positions from generation to generation."
"Or you could say abolish the military household system."
“Treat the sons of military households as the sons of farmers, allowing them to study, take the imperial examinations, engage in business, farm, or work, and respecting their wishes.”
"Next, we will stipulate the age for leaving the military."
"Next, we'll make proper arrangements for the soldiers' funerals."
"In addition, many preferential treatments will be given to soldiers."
"..."
Yang Shaofeng went through all the usual lines he could come up with, and finally added, "Of course, the most important thing is what I told Your Highness before: the soldiers must know why they are fighting."
As Yang Shaofeng finished speaking, Emperor Zhu fell silent once again.
At this moment, Emperor Zhu stopped worrying about the desertion of the garrison soldiers.
In contrast, Emperor Zhu was more curious about his good son-in-law.
What kind of beast is this bastard?
They have unique insights into everything, and they can get straight to the point on many issues.
But aside from the things he himself was willing to do, he wouldn't tell anyone else unless asked.
If you want to send someone to ask him something, you have to send a pound of small dragon balls with you every time.
Damn it, this bastard really doesn't care about his father-in-law at all.
The more Emperor Zhu thought about it, the angrier he became. He couldn't help but snort and say, "Write down what you just said in a memorial to the throne."
You old bastard, you actually assigned me a job, didn't you?
Don't you know how much official business is handled here in Dengzhou Prefecture every day?
Don't you know how disgusting those county magistrates in Dengzhou are?
They find all sorts of new ways to annoy me every day!
Since I became the prefect of Dengzhou, I have never been able to enjoy the good life of working from nine to five and having weekends off!
Yang Shaofeng became increasingly unhappy as he thought about it.
Row.
You old fool, you're right in front of me, and my mother-in-law is here too. I can't do anything to you for now.
But your eldest son is currently in the capital overseeing the country, isn't he?
And those two old fogies, Li Shanchang and Liu Bowen, you can't take care of them for the time being, can you?
And those officials in the Ministry of War of the Grand General's Office, why did you have to cause trouble now, right when Lao Deng came to Dengzhou? Are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for me?
I'll collect some interest from the list above first!