Chapter 1553: The Main Task

Wang Gaofu, Wang Da's second son, was also in his thirties. Since Wang Yan was leaving Jingcheng to take up his post at the border town and could not be without a cook, Wang Da, who was already tightly bound to Wang Yan, sent his second son to serve him.

Wang Yan trusted Wang Da's family immensely; they had all undergone trials and were more reliable than most people. Of course, what Wang Da's family gained far exceeded what they had contributed.

For instance, several years ago, Wang Da's eldest son left the government office and, with Wang Yan's support, opened the Wang Family Restaurant, which by now had expanded into several branch locations.

Wang Da, meanwhile, remained by Wang Yan's side to cook; after so many years of research, Wang Da's culinary skills could truly be described as founding a new school, his craftsmanship was quite excellent, and all his children had inherited his true teachings.

Given that he was getting on in years, Wang Yan did not put Wang Da through the trouble and instead brought Wang Da's second son along.

With the help of the accompanying factory guards, Wang Gaofu fried, stir-fried, boiled, and deep-fried a sumptuous meal; Wang Yan exchanged toasts with the military and civil officials present, getting to know one another, before dispersing to finally converse with Tan Lun and Qi Jiguang.

"What do you think of the officials here?" Tan Lun asked very bluntly.

"What can one see just by looking? One must see how people act." Wang Yan shook his head. "Based on my experience, once the process of clearing fields, registering households, and reviewing old cases is completed, fewer than half of those people just now will remain."

Seeing the surprise in Tan Lun's eyes, Wang Yan said with a smile, "Otherwise, why do you think I immediately started with clearing fields, registering households, and reviewing old cases? Isn't the root of increasing revenue and reducing expenditure found within these very people? Once we have dealt with every single one of them from top to bottom, what problem cannot be solved?"

Tan Lun thought for a moment and asked again, "So the next step is to rectify the army?"

"Exactly; otherwise, how could you serve as a Regional Commander, campaigning north and south? If we do not rectify the army, we fear these people will collude with those within the military, causing chaos both internally and externally. Once we have dealt with them properly and no one is inciting the military personnel, then everything will be easy to handle."

Wang Yan looked at Qi Jiguang. "You have done very well, but it is not thorough enough. This time, I intend to clean up the entire chain of command of the hundred thousand strong Ji-Liao army, solve the problem of ghost soldiers drawing rations, and ensure that my Ji-Liao force truly consists of a hundred thousand troops capable of fighting and daring to fight."

Qi Jiguang said hesitantly, "Minister, we must act with Yao Shen Zhong. The military is unlike other sectors; it cannot withstand..."

Wang Yan waved his hand. "I know that pulling one hair moves the whole body, and I know that military affairs are a matter of vital importance to the state, but do you two understand why, in over two years, we have only addressed the superficial problems of Ji-Liao? It lies precisely in this notion of 'cannot withstand.' The more you fear, the more confidently they swear oaths, and the more they push their luck. A bunch of beasts, threatening their own people by colluding with foreign nations.

I don't know about other things, but I do know this: whoever ensures the soldiers receive their full rations and eat their fill, the soldiers will not mistreat that person. As long as the soldiers do not rebel, then there is no one who cannot be killed. General Qi, recently you must find trusted confidants, prepare for another reorganization, and arrange for a major rotation of defenses. Although I say I am not afraid, we must still be cautious; first break their established connections, minimize the risks, and only then proceed with further deliberation."

Tan Lun interjected, "How could we not know this principle? We have already reorganized and rotated the defenses."

"It has been two years." Wang Yan glanced at him. "How much in rations have been issued to the soldiers below? How much of it actually reached the soldiers' hands? I believe it is certainly more than before, but how much more? Who do the soldiers think provided it? Whose favor do they acknowledge? In their eyes, is there Your Majesty? Is there the court? Is there you, the Regional Commander of Ji-Liao? Is there General Qi, the Regional Commander?

General Qi knows how to lead troops, but the military situation here is deeply entrenched and complex, making it likely difficult to command; unless this layer of relationships is broken, this army of a hundred thousand will not be a force of our Great Ming court, but rather a private tool wielded by those rebellious traitors to bolster their own power!"

Tan Lun understood; the alliances of interest that were not necessarily broken by the previous reorganization had, over the course of more than two years, allowed those officers to regain control over the grassroots soldiers.

He could not help but let out a long sigh: "Wanting to get things done is so difficult..."

"The more difficult it is, the more we must do it; that proves the direction is correct. As the saying goes, 'All beginnings are hard'; once this start is made, the rest will become simpler and simpler."

Wang Yan spoke with high spirits, "I don't know if you have noticed, but the series of measures I once implemented in Daxing were heavily criticized, yet now, six years later, local officials who wish to achieve something are already imitating my methods, beginning to clear fields and register households in various places, starting to reduce taxes and corvée labor, spending money to employ the common people, and additionally levying commercial taxes.

In recent years, officials who have risen through the ranks did so because they learned my methods, managed their regions excellently, secured silver, and earned good reputations. I believe that in the coming years, exempting corvée labor and imposing additional commercial taxes will be established as national policy.

Was what I did difficult? To date, I have encountered dozens of assassination attempts. But what was the result? It proved that I was right; even those who wanted to kill me have changed along with it! Because doing so allows them to earn even more!

I do not understand warfare, nor do I understand army management; I only understand one principle: for however much silver one takes, one must do that much work. Those who take silver but do no work must be removed. Those who not only do no work but also sabotage matters must have their homes raided and be investigated. Those with malicious intent, colluding with foreign nations, showing no respect to Your Majesty, and disregarding the court, must be beheaded!

If we then achieve rewarding merit and punishing faults with fairness and clarity, I believe this army will be well-governed."

Qi Jiguang's face was filled with admiration and respect: "If anyone dares to say that the Minister does not understand military affairs, I, Qi Jiguang, will be the first to oppose it. How could the Minister not understand? He understands all too well! These are truly profound insights, pointing directly to the great Dao of warfare. I propose a toast to the Minister."

Tan Lun also offered high praise, raising his cup to drink along with them.

The reason people opposed Wang Yan coming to Ji-Liao was not because they doubted whether Wang Yan could govern the army well, but because they did not want Wang Yan to rise to a high position where he could influence the empire's decision-making.

Although the excuse most frequently used by court officials to oppose Wang Yan's arrival in Ji-Liao was that Wang Yan did not understand military affairs or border matters, no one truly doubted it.

No matter how complex border affairs are, could they be more complex than Jingcheng? If one does not understand the military, does one not understand people? Is there anyone else who understands the military better?

The achievements Wang Yan made in Shuntian Prefecture were obvious to all; with such a record, there was nothing he could do that would not be excellent.

Furthermore, he did not need to go to the front lines personally; as long as he planned the strategy well and managed the logistics of the border town, how could the combat effectiveness of the border army improve by merely thirty percent? The specific execution was the responsibility of Qi Jiguang, the Regional Commander.

Rather than saying Wang Yan's task was to govern the army, it was more accurate to say that, on the basis of ensuring military logistics, he needed to bring a large group of mid-to-high-ranking generals like Qi Jiguang to heel, guaranteeing the authority of the Great Ming court and the execution of its orders.

This was the true duty of a civil official administering military affairs. Only after accomplishing this would the remaining aspects, such as displaying brilliant strategies and maneuvering through complex situations, become bonus points.

After exchanging such mutual flattery for a few sentences, Tan Lun asked, "How is the situation in the capital now?"

"Your Majesty has achieved success in immortal cultivation, is healthy and strong, the foundation of the state is stable, and the heir apparent is intelligent. Now that I have left Jingcheng, I imagine they are all getting along famously now, full of harmony, working for the nation and the people."

Tan Lun naturally detected the sarcasm in Wang Yan's words and could not help but say, "Actually, sometimes, certain matters can be negotiated. You just pushed too hard, yielding not an inch, which has led to the current situation, making you a truly isolated official."

"Doesn't that just bring us back to the same point? If I had yielded even once, I would not have achieved what I have today. With people, one cannot open a gap; if I yield one step, others will not thank me, they will only wonder if I can yield a second step. If I do not yield, they will say, 'You have already yielded one step, so what is there that cannot be yielded?' The bottom line is thus lowered step by step. Given this, it is simpler to not yield a single step."

Wang Yan smiled cheerfully, "And speaking of being an isolated official, what is wrong with that? I simply do my work, steadfastly serving Your Majesty. Whoever prevents me from working, whoever obstructs my work, is opposing Your Majesty; the Great Ming Code surely has applicable penalties, and I can deal with them strictly according to regulations. Why would I need to form a faction with anyone?

Or let me be more direct: Minister Tan, General Qi, you both hold positions at the very peak of the bureaucracy, majestic and imposing, with extensive networks and many connections. Minister Tan was an early supporter of Prince Yu and was deeply valued by Prince Yu, with Xu, Gao, and Zhang having nothing but praise for you. Yet if I were to execute both of you today, fabricating a few plausible charges, what consequences do you think I would face?"

Such murderous words left Tan Lun completely speechless.

Because Wang Yan truly would not face any trouble. At most, he would face some more impeachments, and even the officials sent to investigate the details would definitely just go through the motions.

A living Tan Lun was not as important as Wang Yan, let alone a dead one.

Certainly, some people would want to use this incident to kill Wang Yan, but their power was still too small. It was just the death of a Tan Lun; could it possibly be a bigger deal than all the things Wang Yan stirred up in Jingcheng?

Wang Yan had killed far too many people; if one were to truly review all those cases, he would not have enough lives to die ten times over, although all those people deserved to die. But who would reopen those cases? As long as there was a decent explanation and everyone could save face, that was enough...

Although he too had been used as an example by Wang Yan, Qi Jiguang was much more composed, harboring no other thoughts, simply sitting there peacefully eating and drinking.

The two civil officials were discussing principles; it had nothing to do with him.

Moreover, he would not advise Wang Yan on how to act; on issues outside his expertise, he remained silent. Even on matters related to his expertise, he was cautious...

"Look, it was just a joke, why let it affect your mood? Come, come, let's drink, let's drink. This cook's skills are quite good; his father trained him for many years, and he has already developed considerable prowess. Eat more dishes."

"You are the one who sees things clearly." Tan Lun let out a long sigh, raised his wine cup, took a large gulp, and said, "It's just that I have no friends; life is as lonely as snow."

"Then you are mistaken." Wang Yan laughed heartily. "I have many friends in Shuntian Prefecture; wherever I go, people recognize me and speak to me. During festivals, quite a few people make special trips to Jingcheng just to bring me homemade goods. I believe it will not be long before the common people and soldiers here are the same.

Furthermore, I have many women in my household, all of whom can be called beauties of national splendor, each more beautiful than the last; the chirping of orioles and swallows makes for a truly lively scene. The 'lonely as snow' you speak of has nothing to do with me."

"The Minister's realm is high, truly working for the nation and the people; I propose a toast to you." Qi Jiguang chimed in and drank.

Tan Lun merely shook his head with a bitter smile; the 'lonely as snow' he spoke of meant that out of ten things, fewer than three could be shared with others.

If viewed from this perspective, Wang Yan had already been lonely for over a thousand years. Or perhaps it could not be called loneliness, but solitude.

But then again, even if Wang Yan dared to tell someone, who would dare to listen, who would dare to believe?

After a welcome banquet of drinking and a few days of handover, Tan Lun packed his belongings and departed for Jingcheng. He was not yet qualified to enter the Grand Secretariat, but he was certainly qualified to serve as a long-term minister in one of the Six Ministries.

Meanwhile, Wang Yan began a thorough rectification of the border town; this was precisely what he had come to do.

"To resist external threats, one must first pacify internal ones"; while Chang Kaishen's statement was certainly incorrect, in the context of the current Great Ming, it was flawless.

To govern Liaodong and restrain the Tartars, one must first resolve the various problems existing in the border garrisons. Only by solving issues in both military and administrative aspects can strength be concentrated in one place, allowing a powerful fist to strike out, beating the barbarians until they cannot lift their heads and forcing them into submission.

Of course, this applies only to the current situation; if viewed from the perspective of Shao Shao Hongda's grand historical narrative, some of the Tartars and Manchus are also our own people...

As stated earlier, it began with Jizhou: clearing fields, auditing households, and reopening old cases. In this process, those with guilty consciences and those with ulterior motives would naturally collude and resist, making it crystal clear who was loyal and who was treacherous.

This also served to purify the ranks simultaneously; following the procedure Wang Yan had previously described, many people would not be able to remain.

Of course, Wang Yan was not an unreasonable person, nor was he a dictator. He did not demand that anyone must be his own man, but he required that his orders be executed, that no one deliberately oppose him or cause him trouble.

Beyond this, Wang Yan also resumed collecting cleaning fees; even brothels had to pay, and no one could escape.

At the same time, he opened medical clinics, visited various locations, summoned personnel from the Ministry of Works, planned a series of construction projects, and fully mobilized the labor force.

As early as when Qi Jiguang arrived, Wang Yan had already directed his subordinate breeding industries to develop in this area, leading the common people to prosperity locally while providing meat for the army.

With the implementation of such various policies, Jizhou became the first to stir with activity.

Driven by Jizhou's momentum, other regions were compelled to act as well.

By rights, as the Grand Coordinator of Jizhou, he could only manage Jizhou's administrative affairs, but as the Regional Commander of Ji-Liao, overseeing the three Grand Coordinators of Shuntian, Baoding, and Liaodong, and the four garrisons of Jizhou, Changping, Liaodong, and Baoding, all were under his control and subject to his dispatch.

Although a Regional Commander primarily supervises military affairs, military matters can be administrative matters; thus, he directly intervened in various localities, and what could anyone do about it? Whoever dared to complain excessively, he would simply arrest first and seek evidence later, an efficiency that could not be more perfect.

It mattered not to him who had powerful backers, who was whose relative, or which families were linked by marriage; he would crush you regardless. If you had any grievances, go to Jingcheng and speak to Jiajing.

Truthfully, for Wang Yan's arrival in Ji-Liao, fighting battles was secondary. The primary objective was to clean up these areas near Jingcheng, and thereby seize the opportunity to purge the powerful households in Shanxi, Shandong, and Hebei.

Wang Yan was highly capable of grasping the main issues and possessed strong execution ability...

Thus, a vigorous reform was ignited within the territory of the Regional Commander of Ji-Liao, instantly stirring up a hornet's nest...

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