Chapter 44: Deceiving Heaven and Crossing the Sea (Three)

  "First, I think that first of all, Comrade Mao's place cannot afford to have any lapses. Strengthen the combat readiness outside the pass in order to prevent the Eastern Barbarians from taking a detour and launching a surprise attack without any scruples. When necessary, Comrade Mao's place can send troops to attack the Eastern Barbarians."

  "Secondly, I think that the gatekeepers of each city should strengthen their vigilance and inform them of the loss of official documents. The images of the lost documents should be sent to each city gate to prevent enemy spies from sneaking in, but also keep it a secret, don't let everyone know, so as not to lose face for our dynasty and leave some dignity for the court."

  "Thirdly, recruit xiucai, juren and literate people to join the army, let them teach literacy and knowledge to military officers, especially gatekeepers, so as not to be deceived by fake official documents and seals, thereby eliminating the possibility of being cheated by fake official documents and seals."

  "Fourth, strengthen defenses everywhere, strictly investigate and punish spies, especially those of the Eastern Barbarians."

  "Fifth, strengthen ties with the Mongolian tribes outside the pass, tie up a batch of tribes loyal to our great Ming, spread the ears and lines, don't let the time come when the Dong Yu soldiers all arrive at my feet, and our great Ming is still in a state of confusion."

  "All of you, esteemed officials, discuss this." As soon as Yang presented these five points, the officials below him burst into a flurry. They all knelt on the ground, their buttocks facing backwards, and began discussing with each other in hushed tones.

  Strange, this matter is strange, these five items, no matter where you look at it, are all strange, but from the emperor's words, it's just to guard against the Eastern Barbarians entering the pass, and to prevent the Later Jin from using the Ming Dynasty's official seal and credentials to deceive the gate and deceive the city gate. It sounds reasonable too. It seems that there is no place to find fault.

  …………

  Yang Reform was secretly pleased in his heart, and yesterday he had an idea to use "Mantian Guohai" to deceive the city gate. So he made a plan, and came up with these five points, which are actually related to Yang Reform's plans for the future. The first plan is to let the ministers not always have murderous intentions towards Mao Wenlong, and not to plot against this comrade day and night; the second is to set up an instructor and staff system for his own army, to ensure that his new army has no illiterates, and can become a cultivable and growing army. The third plan is to prepare to place an ear in Mongolia outside the pass, and lay down a chess piece, so as to be useful in the future.

  Just as Yang was secretly pleased with his reform in his heart, the ministers on the ground thought for a while and gradually had some ideas. So they came out to "discuss".

  "I have something to report to Your Majesty," a minister ventured, trying to find fault. To point out mistakes to the emperor in the morning court was considered a virtue, and it was called "merit". They could always find fault with you even if there was nothing wrong.

  "Well, what is it, my love?" Yang asked.

  "I implore your majesty, why must scholars join the army? Those who have passed the imperial examination and hold official positions, why must they be sent to the military camp and associate with common soldiers every day? Isn't this a humiliation for men of letters? Are we to sweep away our dignity?"

  The words of this minister received approval from many other ministers present, all expressing that as scholars, they had their own dignity and how could they possibly join the army and mingle with those filthy soldiers? Wouldn't this be an insult and a shame to them?

  Yang Reform thought it was unbelievable, joining the army would be a humiliation to literature? I don't know where this theory came from: "Joining the army is a humiliation to literature? How can I bear to hear such nonsense? My grandson Sun Shifu was also a scholar, can he not join the army? Can he not enter the military? How can it be a humiliation to literature? Sun Shifu is my right-hand man..."

  That official saw the emperor taking Sun Chengzong's words, so he didn't dare say anything else. After all, Sun Chengzong was a scholar-official and had spent many years in the military, and speaking like this would be humiliating to the literary world. Isn't this just openly slapping someone in the face? That person is an anti-target of the Donglin Party, so be careful not to get on their bad side.

  Yang continued to reform, saying: "In those years, the poet Li Bai also entered the army as a painter and consultant, but he didn't seem to be so elegant and refined. Are you more elegant than Li Bai?"

  Yang's reform speech was a slap in the face of this minister, even more elegant than Li Bai. How can I bear such shame? Probably won't dare to show his face outside. Afraid of being ridiculed for overestimating himself. Others like Li Bai have achieved so much in literature, no matter how hard you try, you can't catch up!

  Another minister, seeing that this was not the case either, also came out and knelt down to memorialize: "I humbly report to Your Majesty, I think that scholars entering the army as advisors or military officers is acceptable. Throughout history, there have been scholars who assisted with painting and planning, and advised on military matters. However, Your Majesty, what official rank do you plan to bestow upon these xiucai and juren?"

  As soon as the minister spoke, the ground became quiet. Ah! How could we not have thought of this? After entering the army, we scholars also have the title of "xiucai" and "juren", which is a stepping stone to becoming an official. With such titles, it's impossible to still be treated as a common soldier, right? This is what being an official is all about! Hehe, isn't this what we scholars strive for? In this way, who knows how many "new officials" are waiting to take office nationwide? We've also paved the way for scholars everywhere. What great talent! The emperor is truly a wise and enlightened ruler!

  "This... I'm still thinking, what rank should be given? Logically speaking, a juren can become a county magistrate, and those are seventh-rank officials. I was thinking that for literary people in the military, doing a non-combat role, specializing in writing, advising, teaching soldiers... a xiucai should get ninth rank, and a juren should start at eighth rank..."

  As soon as Yang's reform speech came out, the people below immediately made a loud noise. Ninth rank for scholars? Eighth rank for successful candidates in the imperial examination? If it is said that way, how many officials should be allocated to the country's millions of troops? If it is said that way, my family's eldest son, youngest son, eldest nephew, youngest nephew, grandsons and great-grandsons can all take turns holding official positions. Ha ha, this is a good thing, this is a good thing! Anyway, the money will come from the imperial court.

  ……

  "Your Majesty is wise..." The ministers who had figured it out flattered the emperor, although there were still a few sober people, but their voices were too small.

  In this strange atmosphere of flattery, the mysterious resolution was passed. The emperor and his ministers were secretly delighted, thinking they had achieved a double victory.

  Many officials thought that scholars could join the army and become officials, at least they could mix up an official position. If all of them had to pass the imperial examination to become officials, only one or two hundred people would be able to do so every three years, which was truly a torment for scholars all over the world. Although military officers were not as good as those who became officials after passing the imperial examination, they were still officials and had a rank of 7th or 8th grade, which was not bad and suitable for their relatives to seek a career.

  Yang's reform idea was to implement this civilian officer system only within his own new army, and not to spread it comprehensively to other troops. Yang did not plan to implement it in all the hundreds of millions of troops across the country as the ministers thought.

  Both sides have their own thoughts, although they appear to be consistent on the surface. In fact, each has its own small abacus.

  Out of Wenhua Hall, Yang was overjoyed and sang while walking: "My proud smile, my proud smile..."

  "Your Majesty, return to the palace..."

  "Big companion, don't return to the palace, it's still early today, go train with the new army and exercise your body. This kind of thing requires persistence to be effective." Yang reform didn't wait for Wang Chengen to finish speaking, he decided to go to the new army to train, and get in touch with his future "general". Cultivate feelings between the new army and himself. The phrase "political power comes from the barrel of a gun" is something that every traverser will remember. Forget him, huh?

  New Army Training Grounds.

  Several selected training partners, including Wu Sangui, Lei Dayong and seven or eight others, were excitedly accompanying Yang to reform and exercise.

  Jogging, stretching my waist, kicking my legs. Squatting down and playing all the way, Yang reform slightly sweated. Being blown by this spring's cold wind, it feels exceptionally refreshing. What a world of ice and fire!

  "Three Guizis, how's the training? Still getting used to it?" Yang Reform decided to cultivate this Ming dynasty's scoundrel. The reason is simple. He himself was not the original Chongzhen, and Wu Sangui in his early years was still loyal to the Ming dynasty. As for later surrendering to Houjin, in Yang Reform's view, with teammates like pigs, it's no wonder. Of course, having become a traitor, he's a traitor, no matter what, can't turn over a new leaf. That's history, another story."

  People on our side are always thinking of harming their own teammates, stabbing them in the back, embezzling and misappropriating military funds, being greedy and corrupt. They only think about taking advantage of others, yet they expect others to sacrifice themselves to protect them. Others are also human beings, their lives are also precious, it can only be said that they are "selfish" and "shameless". When the country is invaded by foreign tribes, and the traditional Chinese culture and Han people's dignity are destroyed, it is also a result of their own doing, brain-dead and shameless, no wonder others would do this to them.

  In short, the greed, selfishness and shamelessness of the Ming dynasty's scholar-officials elite destroyed their own country and their own dignity. As for Chongzhen, alas! That was a grand feast table with many tragedies on it. Yang hopes that he himself will not end up like that in the future.

  "Your Majesty, I have trained diligently and am well-accustomed to it. My family is from outside the pass, where it's even colder than here." Wu Sangui replied with great enthusiasm. At this time, Wu Sangui was also considered young and promising, in his prime years, having fought on the battlefield and killed people, carrying a hint of iron-blooded heroism.

  "Hmm, is that so? I've heard you've been on the battlefield and killed people?" Yang Gaoli asked.

  "Returning to Your Majesty, yes, your humble servant has been on the battlefield in his hometown, personally killed Tatars and Dongyu..." Wu Sangui said with a hint of pride, his eyes slightly dazed, probably recalling the brutal memories of the battlefield.

  "Then do you hate Dong Yu?" Yang Gao asked.

  "Your Majesty, I am so angry! So very angry! The Eastern Barbarians have slaughtered countless Han people, and one day I will personally wipe them out." Wu Sangui said with hatred.

  "Hmm..." Yang Reform was speechless. Looking at Wu Sangui's past, from his father's generation to Wu Sangui himself, they had been in a bloody battle with the Later Jin dynasty. He and his troops had also been fighting against the Later Jin for many years. The Later Jin didn't treat Han people as humans, but as slaves, killing many of them. The hatred of the Han people outside the Great Wall towards the Later Jin was unimaginable, it could be said that they were sworn enemies. Yet, Wu Sangui led his troops to surrender to the Later Jin and helped them eliminate the last resistance of the Ming dynasty. This is truly a joke of the century.

  "It's really damn cold!" Yang Gaizhi muttered in his heart. This world is really damn wonderful, inexplicably so.

  For decades, they were arch-enemies who would not coexist under the same sky. Yet, in the blink of an eye, they became partners. What kind of immense power could have brought them together?

  "Haha, then you must train even harder in the future to help me conquer Dongyi and flatten Liaodong." Yang Reform made a wish for Wu Sangui. He also hoped that this historical figure could be as capable as he was in history. In Yang Reform's mind, as long as military rations were provided, Wu Sangui would absolutely not betray or surrender.

  Your humble servant has received the imperial edict. Your humble servant will definitely train diligently and thoroughly, to help Your Majesty pacify Liaodong. Wu Sangui was extremely excited and knelt down on the ground. This is truly a great fortune, this pacification of Liaodong is a huge achievement! Being granted a marquis title would be enough, wouldn't it? How could he not be excited?

  "Hehe, get up and train properly..."

  ……

  After talking with Wu Sangui, Yang was extremely depressed. What's going on! A sworn enemy of decades became a partner overnight. This world is really suffocating! I have to work hard and find the silver quickly, otherwise, when the time comes, Wu Sangui will "turn his face" again.

  ……

  Yang Reform had already lost interest after a workout. Sun Chengzong had just returned, changed into training clothes, saw the emperor here, and also came to pay his respects.

  ……