Chapter 98: Requesting Permission from the Emperor

As the nightfall descended and the lanterns of Beiping Prefecture were lit, the city remained bustling and lively. The sounds of musical instruments and drinking games from the taverns echoed in the distance.

Merchants were celebrating with great enthusiasm.

The new commercial policies had granted a fundamental dignity to all merchants, relieving them from the need to register under any specific household.

A merchant was now just a merchant, with no distinction between merchant status and civilian or military status.

The old prohibition against merchants wearing silk had also been abolished. As long as they didn’t violate court etiquette and common customs, they could wrap themselves in eighteen layer of silk, and no one would intervene.

While the merchants celebrated with drunken revelry, inside the Regional Military Command’s office, an air of solemnity prevailed.

Ping An paced back and forth, Zhang Jing sat with a furrowed brow, and Sheng Yong sighed.

“Commander, please stop walking back and forth,” Zhang Jing said, massaging his temples as Ping An’s pacing was giving him a headache.

Ping An halted his steps, looked at Zhang Jing, and said, “You’ve seen the court documents. You’re known for your wisdom. Can you come up with some ideas? If we continue like this, can we still proceed with the new army policies?”

Zhang Jing picked up a tea bowl, opened the lid, found it empty, and placed it heavily on the table, saying, “We absolutely cannot halt the implementation of the new army policies.”

“Implementation, implementation, but how can we implement them? The new military policies emphasize training and strengthening the army, but now? We’re drawing soldiers from various regional garrisons, and their minds are preoccupied with the land they’ve been allotted. Who has the time and focus for training?” Sheng Yong impatiently tapped on the table.

Zhang Bing rose from his seat, his tone stern, and said, “That’s the problem. The court hasn’t given us a clear method, so we need to think about how to maintain soldier training while not hindering land reclamation.”

Sheng Yong coldly huffed, “I might not know much, but I’ve heard that you can’t have both fish and bear’s paw. Now Commissioner Zhang wants both. Is there anything so perfect in this world?”

Zhang Jing stood up and said sternly, “Then what do you suggest we do? The Emperor has allowed us to come up with our own solutions. Can we go back and ask the Emperor again?”

Sheng Yong found himself at a loss for words.

The Emperor allowed the new commercial strategy to be implemented in Beiping but did not address the issue of the new army policies for Beiping Garrison, only giving a straightforward and clear instruction: “Find your own solutions.”

It was evident that the Emperor’s stance was clear: training could not be relaxed. As for the issue of land reclamation and production, they needed to come up with their own solution.

Although Ping An is the Commander of Beiping, he can handle battles, engage in combat, and strategize without any issue. However, when it comes to military land cultivation issues, he feels at a loss.

While the garrison was a military matter, it was not fundamentally different from civilian administration.

Ping An was unable to handle it effectively, and Sheng Yong was in a similar predicament.

That’s why, even though it was a matter for the Regional Military Commander, Ping An had invited Zhang Bing over.

Zhang Bing was in charge of civil administration in Beiping, and he was a relatively assertive figure. His approach had been swift and effective in Beiping and its surrounding regions, and even Ping An and others had been surprised by the speed.

At the rate Zhang Bing is progressing, it’s almost certain that in the future, Beiping  Prefecture will be recognized among the top ten prefectures.

Ping An hoped that Zhang Bing could contribute his wisdom to help resolve the biggest challenge of the new army policies.

“Sheng Yong, be cautious with your words,” Ping An warned with a furrowed brow.

Sheng Yong sighed and leaned back in his chair, remaining silent.

Ping An personally poured a cup of tea for Zhang Bing and said, “As you know, the soldiers currently in Beiping City, apart from the basic guards, Prefectural soldiers, and the Three Guards of King of Yan, are all transferred from various regional garrisons like Huaicai Garrison, Yanqing Garrison, Baiyangkou Garrison, Bohai Garrison, etc. Their number has reached up to eighty thousand. It’s near march now, and someone needs to look after the growing wheat.”

“If we allow them to return to their garrisons for farming, the New Army policy will become mere formality, and the path to building a strong army will be abandoned. We won’t be able to justify this to the court. If we can’t find a solution, I fear there will be no way forward for me and Sheng Yong.”

Zhang Bing looked at the worried expression on Ping An’s face and understood the difficulty he was facing. Even though Beiping Prefecture was now fully under the control of the court, the Three Guards were still influenced by the King of Yan.

With the King of Yan absent from Beiping, Zhu Gaochi is the supreme commander of the three guards of King Yan

At least, until the court officially disbanded the Three Guards, it appeared that way.

So, Ping An had been maintaining a substantial number of soldiers Beiping Prefecture. One was for selecting and training soldiers, and the other was for contingencies.

However, now, soldiers from various regional garrisons were eager to return to their fields. Should they be allowed to go back or not?

If they were allowed, they would return once the wheat was harvested, and then return to training?

The soldiers said, “Commander, i still need to plant cotton.”

Give them time to plant cotton, and after they’ve done that, they’d return after a month, saying, “I need to go back and tend to the fields.”

They would ride back, tend to the fields, and return to Beiping for training. In less than two months, they’d be back to harvest the cotton.

After harvesting cotton, it’d be time to plant wheat again.

Once the wheat was planted, they’d pat the dirt off their clothes and report back to Beiping, “I am done, let’s resume training.”

A gust of wind would blow in, and winter would come.

All year round, they’d spend eight months farming, one month on the road, and three months in training. Could they create elite soldiers like this?

But if they weren’t allowed to return, the Garrison System and the land cultivation system would still be in place. Fifty mu of land and eighteen dan of grain. When military officers came to collect the grain, they wouldn’t care whether training had taken place; they’d only care about the grain.

If the grain contribution fell short, what would happen? You have to make up for it.

No money? Impossible, military men received military pay, and it could be deducted. Soldiers had asked, “If we’re not allowed to go back for farming, and the officers deduct our military pay when they collect grain, can we come to you to claim it?”

Ping An and Sheng Yong were troubled. Eighty thousand soldiers meant a total of one million four hundred forty thousand dan of grain, equivalent to seven hundred twenty thousand taels of silver. Even if the two of them sold their residences and belongings, they wouldn’t be able to fill such a gaping hole.

“Let’s make the problem clear,” Zhang Bing said with a serious expression. He looked at Ping An and Sheng Yong and continued, “The New Army Policy is aimed at building a strong army, so allowing the soldiers to go back to farming and tilling the land is definitely not an option, is that correct?”

Ping An nodded vigorously and said solemnly, “We must not allow them to farm. They are the soldiers of the Great Ming! A soldier can only wield spears and swords!”

Zhang Bing sat down, picked up his teacup, and with a determined look in his eyes, he said, “Alright, let’s stop discussing whether the soldiers should return to farming. From this moment on, all discussions must be based on the premise that the soldiers will not return. I believe we can find a solution!”

Sheng Yong wanted to speak but was silenced by a stern look from Ping An.

With great respect, Ping An inquired, “Official Zhang, the biggest issue if the soldiers don’t return is that their farmland will be left untended. Once the fields become barren and unproductive, how do we deal with the collection of grain by the garrisons?”

Indeed.

No one can expect crops to grow without tending to the fields, right?

The garrison system requires soldiers to work the fields, while the New Army policy demands soldiers for training. A soldier can’t do both things at the same time.

That’s right!

One soldier can’t do both tasks simultaneously, but if we bring in an additional person…

Mr. Zhang sipped his tea, his throat seemingly dry and unrelieved. He placed the empty teacup on the table and fell silent for a moment. Then, he looked at Ping An and said seriously, “We need to request permission from the Emperor!”

“Permission? What kind of permission?” Ping An and Sheng Yong stood up simultaneously, asking with hopeful expressions.

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