Chapter 75: New Organization

He had the ambition to train a thousand-strong army by next year. With training time pressing, Wang Dou could only select the easiest troop types to train.

In Wang Dou's plan, these troop types also had to be like an assembly line — capable of mass production, cheap, and expendable soldiers, so that when the time came, he could bury every opponent under sheer numbers. Calculating back and forth, only pikemen and arquebusiers remained, plus an appropriate amount of artillery and cavalry.

An arquebusier could be trained for the battlefield in one month; with sufficient training, they could become expert marksmen within a year.

Pikemen could likewise be sent to the battlefield after three months of training, and become elite soldiers within a year — just look at the troops of Jingbian Fort for proof.

Even manufacturing lead bullets was far easier than making arrows. Soldiers on campaign could light a campfire, take out an iron cup to melt lead, use bullet tongs to extract the shot, and drop it into water to cool. One bullet, done. Especially with molds, lead bullets could be cast in huge quantities.

But training a qualified archer took at least three years, with extremely strict requirements for a soldier's height and arm length; add the expense of bows and arrows, and the cost was simply too high.

In truth, in this era, firearm technology was far from mature, and cold and hot weapons were mixed. If one had a large number of qualified archers, they could still hold the advantage on the battlefield. In the late seventeenth century, Zheng Chenggong's archers, with their masterful archery, outshone the Dutch musketeers.

But due to cost and training difficulty, archers were eliminated from Wang Dou's troop types. The same went for sword-and-shield men — their training difficulty was also immense. A qualified sword-and-shield man needed a full year of training, far slower than pikemen or arquebusiers, so they too were cut.

Of course, if the army had only arquebusiers and pikemen, this composition still had serious drawbacks.

In this era, firearms had all kinds of defects. Under the psychological pressure of facing the enemy, the complicated operation of firearms easily led to mistakes.

Matchlocks had many shortcomings: they could not be used in the rain. The lit matchcord easily gave away one's position, making night raids impossible. The matchcord burned out easily, and the operation was complex. Even with Wang Dou's improved paper cartridge with fixed powder, it was the same. Even if flintlocks appeared in the future, they would still be full of problems.

But everything always has pros and cons; as long as the pros outweigh the cons, it is worth doing!

The Great Ming's assembly-line production of soldiers would begin right here with him. Wang Dou's heart swelled with boundless heroic passion!

On the twenty-second day of the tenth month of the eighth year of Chongzhen, after returning from Huiyao Fort, Wang Dou immediately summoned all the fort's officers to the official hall's council chamber to discuss affairs.

"Sir Lin, from this day forward, you shall be responsible for the fort's drill and land reclamation affairs!"

Wang Dou said solemnly to Lin Daofu, who sat at the lower left.

After observing him these past days, Wang Dou found that Lin Daofu still acted with public-spiritedness in all fort matters; coupled with his ability, he could be entrusted with heavy responsibility.

Lin Daofu had always appeared taciturn. Hearing Wang Dou's words, he seemed unable to believe his ears. He froze for a moment, then rose trembling, his eyes reddening. His tall frame bowed deeply as he choked out: "This subordinate accepts the order. Be assured, my lord, this subordinate will serve with utmost loyalty and diligence, and handle well all tasks my lord assigns!"

Seeing his agitation, Wang Dou could understand his feelings. Having been the perennial third wheel, someone finally recognized his worth — how could he not be moved?

Wang Dou said gently: "Sir Lin, there is no need for such formality. In terms of seniority, you are like an elder brother of my father's generation, and your experience in the fort is rich. Since I assumed this post, I have pondered day and night, anxious and cautious, fearing I might fail the trust of the Garrison Commander. In all fort affairs henceforth, I must ask Sir Lin for your frequent guidance!"

At Wang Dou's heartfelt words, Lin Daofu was even more grateful. He made another deep bow, then sat down. His originally dull eyes regained their sharpness. Sitting in his chair, he had a rather proud and self-assured air. Thereafter, Lin Daofu's life became full. He was brimming with energy; from far away, one could hear his booming, scolding voice. His entire body seemed to possess inexhaustible vigor, as if he had found a second spring.

Regarding Lin Daofu's promotion, apart from the Garrison Judge Chi Dacheng, whose face showed a smile and who was happy for Lin Daofu, everyone else's eyes revealed envy, jealousy, and disappointment. With Lin Daofu concurrently managing the land reclamation affairs of Shun Fort, they had no hope left.

But on the surface, they all smiled broadly as they congratulated Lin Daofu, and Lin Daofu, beaming with joy, accepted everyone's congratulations.

Wang Dou said: "Furthermore, Garrison Judge Chi shall continue to manage all military law and discipline matters within the army and fort. The rest of you shall each attend to your respective duties!"

Everyone loudly acknowledged the order.

Wang Dou pondered for a long moment, then said: "Starting tomorrow, the fort shall organize soldiers to reclaim farmland and drill in military affairs!"

He said to the Clerk Feng Dachang: "Mr. Feng, tomorrow you shall lead several fort clerks. Go door to door and tally the fort's able-bodied men. Count up all able-bodied men between the ages of sixteen and forty!"

Feng Dachang sat at the right-hand side, a faint smile always on his face, bearing the manner of a refined, cultured clerk. Now he rose with a smile, cupped his hands, and said: "This student accepts the order. In a few days, the register will be presented on your desk, my lord."

Wang Dou glanced at him and nodded. People said clerks were slippery as oil, but at least on the surface, this Feng Dachang was quite supportive of him.

Wang Dou then issued several more orders, commanding with assurance and composure. Seeing how methodically Wang Dou handled affairs, everyone present showed expressions of surprise. This Wang Dou indeed had some skill. Previously, they had seen him merely inspecting various places without taking any action; now that he moved, he was swift and resolute, carrying a natural authority.

In Wang Dou's calculations, aside from Jingbian Fort remaining under his independent command, all land reclamation affairs of Shunxiang Fort would be handed over to Lin Daofu. Once the fort's troop training got on track, Lin Daofu would also manage all drill affairs.

He also planned to abolish all the officers' retainers in the future.

Retainers were the private property of commanders. Officers embezzled military funds to enrich their retainers while shortchanging the common soldiers. Favoring some and slighting others — those abandoned soldiers were not unthinking automatons. Treated as useless, how could they not harbor resentment? These men were often the first to collapse on the battlefield, creating a disastrous situation that even the most capable retainers could not salvage.

The retainer system severely weakened the army's combat effectiveness. Truth be told, the treatment of Jingbian Fort's soldiers was not particularly good — they merely ate their fill each day and received no pay at all. Yet they possessed their current fighting strength precisely because of the atmosphere of equal treatment in the army and that system of shared struggle.

Those below follow the example of those above. If Wang Dou also kept retainers, what would happen when his subordinates imitated him? Then everyone in the army would have a large number of retainers, the remaining soldiers would become useless again, and he would retreat back onto the old path of the Ming army, having trained his troops for nothing.

Of course, the reasons behind the emergence of the Great Ming's retainer system were complex. Without private soldiers, one was easily manipulated by others, especially by the imperial court.

Moreover, retainers were all the private property of officers; many were even the household slaves of commanders. Besides embezzling military pay, officers also seized vast amounts of land to support their retainers. To abolish the officers' retainers — how could it be easy? These were their very lifelines. Cut a man's lifeline, and he will fight you to the death!

Wang Dou planned to first train a new army. Once the time was ripe, he would break up those retainers and integrate them all into the army. Before the new army was trained, he would maintain the status quo.

First, streamlining the troops and dismissing all the old and weak was feasible.

Wang Dou swept his gaze over everyone and said: "Starting tomorrow, the army will first distribute one month's grain and pay. For retainers, I will also distribute according to the retainer pay standard. However, after the distribution, all the old and weak in the army shall be dismissed. Each unit must replenish itself with able-bodied men to reach full strength. The standard for able-bodied men is males above sixteen and below forty years of age! After the pay is distributed, all soldiers and retainers must train together with the newly organized troops. Violators will be severely punished without leniency!"

"Garrison Judge Chi, the matter of dismissing the old and weak is entrusted to you!"

Chi Dacheng was rigid and stern by nature, and within Shunxiang Fort he was nicknamed "Chi the Skinner." This thankless task was assigned to him.

Upon hearing Wang Dou's order, the middle-aged man rose expressionlessly and said only: "This subordinate accepts the order!"

Then he sat down solemnly.

The remaining officers looked at each other. Earlier, when they heard Wang Dou would distribute grain and pay, they had been happy for a moment. But then, upon hearing Wang Dou's subsequent words, they all froze. Once all the old and weak were dismissed, their units would be left with only a dozen or so men. How would they embezzle empty pay slots and drink the soldiers' blood in the future?

And this dismissal of the old and weak was to be overseen by the terrifying "Chi the Skinner." It seemed trouble was coming for everyone.

Only Xu Lu's eyes were full of smiles. His unit consisted entirely of able-bodied retainers. The pay for fifty men in one unit — that was no small sum, when he thought about it.

Lin Daofu stood and cupped his hands to Wang Dou: "My lord, be advised: the fort's grain and pay stores will last only one month. Once the soldiers' pay is distributed, there will be no grain or rice left in the fort!"

Wang Dou said: "Sir Lin, do not worry. I will find a way to handle the matter of grain and pay. We must ensure the soldiers are spared from hunger and cold!"

Lin Daofu sat back down. If Wang Dou could quietly train over a hundred strong soldiers at Jingbian Fort, he must have his own methods!

Not to mention how Lin Daofu and Feng Dachang later went to tally the fort's able-bodied population — the news that Wang Dou was going to issue pay to the soldiers swept through Shunxiang Fort like a gale, stirring up a thousand waves.

Many who heard this news showed a smile for the first time. For half a year, not a single grain of rice had been issued in Shunxiang Fort. The military households in the fort were already suffering from hunger and cold. Heaven have mercy — the higher-ups were finally issuing grain and pay.

On the twenty-third day of the tenth month, the north wind seemed intent on sweeping everything away. Snow and wind danced wildly, freezing into hard ice as soon as they touched the ground. Yet none of this dampened the enthusiasm of Shunxiang Fort's military households. Wrapped in leather and padded jackets, rubbing their hands and breathing out cold mist, they crowded in front of the Battalion Commander's official hall, each receiving their own grain, pay, and other goods.

According to the Great Ming guard battalion system: for monthly grain, cavalry received two dan of rice per month; infantry Platoon Leaders received one dan and five dou; Squad Leaders received one dan and two dou; soldiers received one dan. Those on garrison duty received the full amount; those on land reclamation duty received half. For monthly salt, those with families received two jin; those without received one jin.

Monthly grain could be commuted to silver, with one dan of rice converted to one tael of silver. But now, with grain expensive and silver cheap, everyone preferred to receive rice. Also, for the retainers of Shunxiang Fort's various units, their monthly pay was one tael of silver and five dou of rice in kind. Wang Dou issued each in full.

Wang Dou moved a chair and sat beneath a large banyan tree. Using the troop register, he personally called the roll and placed the grain tallies into each soldier's hands. Every soldier who received his grain was profusely grateful, and their families watching from behind were beaming with joy.

Han Chao stood beside Wang Dou, silently observing. At that moment, Wang Dou was calling the name of an old soldier. The old soldier came forward — he must have been sixty years old, his hair and beard grizzled. Looking at him, could he still fight?

Wang Dou placed the grain tally in his hand. The old soldier broke into a wide grin; his front teeth were long gone.

Han Chao suddenly asked him: "Whose rice do you eat? For whom do you sell your life?"

The old soldier grinned and said: "I eat Lord Wang's rice! My whole family sells our lives for Lord Wang!"

Hearing this, Han Chao nodded and asked no further.

Nearby, Lin Daofu and the Disciplinary Officer Chi Dacheng exchanged a glance. Wang Dou only smiled.

After all the soldiers' pay and provisions had been distributed, the Shunxiang Fort storehouse was completely empty. Just as everyone was wondering what Wang Dou would do, a few days later, cart after cart of grain entered the fort and filled the storehouse again, enough to feed everyone for two months.

Everyone was greatly astonished. Sure enough, the new Defense Commander had his ways. For a time, everyone in Shunxiang Fort felt at ease, seeing that in the future they could live as well as the military households of Jingbian Fort. The oppressive atmosphere in the fort was swept away, and for the first time a sense of vitality emerged.

In just a few short days, Wang Dou's prestige within the fort rose rapidly. Now when he walked down the street, many military households would cheer for him: "Lord Wang! Lord Wang!"

On the twenty-fifth day of the tenth month of the eighth year of Chongzhen, Wang Dou mobilized the military households in the fort for a great cleanup. Inside and outside every house, up and down the streets, in every ditch and channel — no place was left unswept. In the end, dozens of cartloads of garbage were swept out. Looking at all this garbage, everyone was shocked, never realizing that so much filth had surrounded them.

After the great cleanup, every part of the fort was spotlessly clean. In particular, the bluestone slabs of the three main streets had even been sprinkled with water, making them look even fresher. Although the military households still wore tattered clothes, as they walked the streets, their bearing had clearly changed. Shunxiang Fort was rapidly becoming a larger version of Jingbian Fort.

That day, the Clerk Feng Dachang also came with Lin Daofu, bringing the census register of the fort's able-bodied adult males. Behind Feng Dachang followed Wang Dou's maternal uncle, Zhong Zhengxian.

The two men entered the hall. Feng Dachang's face bore a smile as warm as a spring breeze, his two wisps of mustache groomed impeccably without a single hair out of place — clearly a man who valued his appearance.

With graceful movements, he made a deep bow to Wang Dou, then cupped his hands toward Lin Daofu, and then smiled at Wang Dou and said: "My lord, the register has been compiled. Including the artisan households, the fort contains a total of three hundred and fifteen households, with a population of one thousand four hundred and seventeen. Of these, six hundred and thirty are males, of whom five hundred and seventy-five are adults and fifty-five are minors.

Seven hundred and eighty-seven are women, of whom seven hundred and fifteen are able-bodied women and seventy-two are young girls. According to the tally, the fort has a total of four hundred and thirty-seven able-bodied adult males!"

Wang Dou gave an acknowledging sound and took the register to examine it carefully. A few days earlier, Lin Daofu had told him the fort had three hundred and fifty-seven households; clearly some of those were empty quotas from deserters.

Wang Dou studied it closely. This Feng Dachang handled matters very meticulously. Each household's age registry, military service record, men and women, adults — all were annotated one by one, making everything clear at a glance. He was a very capable man.

After reading for a long while, Wang Dou sighed: "The fort's population is still too small!"

Lin Daofu, standing nearby, said: "Military households everywhere are deserting. Shunxiang Fort is no exception!"

Wang Dou nodded and continued to carefully study the register in his hands.

As Wang Dou examined it closely, Feng Dachang simply stood to the side, carefully observing Wang Dou's expression.

After a long while, Wang Dou closed the register in his hands. Satisfied, he said to Feng Dachang: "Mr. Feng handles affairs effectively. I, Wang Dou, reward merit without fail. This month you shall receive double pay."

Feng Dachang was overjoyed. He cupped his hands to thank Wang Dou, then smiled and said: "Speaking of which, in compiling this census register, Mr. Zhong also contributed greatly. He can truly be considered my right-hand man."

"Oh." Wang Dou was somewhat surprised. He had not expected his maternal uncle to receive such praise from Feng Dachang.

Feng Dachang explained with a smile. It turned out that although Zhong Zhengxian was indolent by nature, he had quite a knack for accounting and considerable attainments in logic. In compiling this census register, he had indeed contributed a great deal; the annotations for each household had been his suggestion.

Being praised like this by Feng Dachang, Zhong Zhengxian could not help but look smug. He also offered a few modest words: "This is all thanks to Mr. Feng's capable leadership. What merit does this Zhong have?"

Wang Dou smiled slightly and said: "Mr. Zhong shall also receive an extra two dou of rice this month."

In formal official settings, Wang Dou dealt with Zhong Zhengxian strictly as a matter of public business. In the past, Zhong Diaoyang, when beside him, always addressed him as "my lord" and never dared to presume upon his kinship with Wang Dou. Only Zhong Zhengxian lacked this awareness.

Zhong Zhengxian beamed with joy and happily gave his thanks.

Wang Dou then said to Feng Dachang: "From now on, I must trouble Mr. Feng to devote more care to the fort's clerical affairs."

Feng Dachang cupped his hands with a smile and said: "My lord's words are too kind. That this student can serve my lord is this student's honor."

After the population register of Shunxiang Fort was compiled, Wang Dou had Lin Daofu select a portion of the fort's old, weak men and women to go reclaim wasteland.

The original garrison farmlands of the various forts were already terminally ill. Wang Dou had no hope that the original garrison farm officers could manage the various forts well. The current farmlands of Shunxiang Fort and its subordinate forts all involved the interests of a large number of military officers and local strongmen. Wang Dou had no time to wear them down slowly, so he planned to open up new farmland and reorganize the garrison farms of Shunxiang Fort from scratch. If there were talented people in the various forts, they could gradually be absorbed into the main fort in the future.

All around Shunxiang Fort, there was a vast amount of wasteland that could be reclaimed. Although it was now freezing cold, before the ground froze completely solid, he would organize manpower and draft oxen to first clear a portion of the land. As for the grain expenses needed for the land reclamation, Wang Dou told Lin Daofu to go ahead without worry; he would find a way to handle those.

In the first phase, Wang Dou planned to first reclaim three thousand mu of farmland. Following the Jingbian Fort model, they would dig irrigation wells and distribute the land to households, first giving one Company Commander in the fort thirty mu each. As for whether these farmlands would need to pay grain tax to the higher authorities in the future, Wang Dou would go to the prefectural city to maneuver. The Garrison Commander, Lord Xu Zucheng, valued him, and the prefectural Garrison Farm Officer, Zhang Gui, was also acquainted with him. Wang Dou hoped to secure a policy of three years' tax exemption for the newly reclaimed farmland of Shunxiang Fort.

Everyone had heard more or less about the affairs of Jingbian Fort, and everyone was envious. Now Shunxiang Fort would also reclaim wasteland and dig irrigation wells just like Jingbian Fort. They also heard that they could eat their fill while working, and in the future would receive farmland and draft oxen. For a time, everyone scrambled to be first, crowding around Lin Daofu, hoping to be chosen to go work.

Wang Dou handed the garrison farm matters over to Lin Daofu. The training of the new army was entrusted to Han Chao and Han Zhong to oversee.

The twenty-sixth day of the tenth month of the eighth year of Chongzhen.

That day, the cold wind was even more biting. Braving the severe cold, all four hundred and thirty-seven able-bodied men of the fort assembled on the training ground outside the fort.

These were all able-bodied adult males between the ages of sixteen and forty. In the future, Wang Dou would train all of them into a new army.

According to the rules of Jingbian Fort, after they became soldiers, they could eat their fill every day, but would receive no regular pay. In the future, their provisions and pay would all come from spoils captured in battle. Their families would be allocated fifty mu of farmland, along with draft oxen, farming tools, and other items, and would also be exempt from grain tax for the first year. On this point, Wang Dou would go to the prefectural city to maneuver as soon as possible.

These men would all become full-time soldiers detached from production. The work on their farmland would be done by their wives and children. Wang Dou had no time to let them farm while training. After training for a few months, Wang Dou would lead them out to suppress bandits and use a portion of the spoils to support these men.

Beside these several hundred men were also arrayed some of the original soldiers of Shunxiang Fort, now numbering only a little over a hundred.

The Disciplinary Officer Chi Dacheng was indeed stern and impartial. After his dismissal of the old and weak, of the six squads of Shunxiang Fort, except for Xu Lu's squad of retainers whose numbers remained basically unchanged, the remaining five squad commanders each had only a dozen or so men left — all of them their personal retainers.

A squad commander leading ten soldiers became a tithing leader; a deputy squad commander leading a few soldiers became a squad leader.

They had no choice. Able-bodied men were hard to find, especially since Shunxiang Fort was opening new farmland, and every new soldier's family could receive fifty mu of land. Moreover, the first year was tax-free, and the second and third years only levied one dou and two dou of grain respectively. This was far too attractive to them; not a single man was willing to join the old army.

Looking at the sparse handful of men around them, those squad commanders could not help but grumble privately.