Chapter 309: Military Administration

(PS: asking for monthly tickets.) On the left sat senior military officers such as Zheng Sanhu, Huang Side, Nie Hong, Ba Zi, and Dong Yu; on the right were civil affairs officials like Mo Huaiwen, Xu Yuanhua, Zhou Laifu, Tang Zuoxiang, and Huang Anshou. Wang Erya and Wang Daixi were seated humbly at the far end. In the Ming dynasty, the left side was the place of honor, and the military was placed on the left — this seating arrangement alone showed how Dengzhou Garrison differed from other Ming military systems.

Most of the people in the first row looked perfectly at ease — Huang Side, Nie Hong, Ba Zi, and Dong Yu, for instance. Their organizations had not changed, only their authorized strengths had been slightly adjusted. Chen Xin had already summoned each of them earlier, and they were all keeping their original posts, so they were very relaxed, just waiting to watch the excitement.

Dai Zhenggang and the others were different. They all held dual status — they had long since received official court ranks, but they also understood that those titles were useless in Dengzhou Garrison; what mattered was the garrison's own direct-guard appointments. Although Chen Xin had spoken with them, he had not confirmed which battalion they would lead, because Chen Xin's organizational structure had not been finalized and still needed a final consultation with Liu Minyou. Over the past two days, the Central Military Staff had begun issuing transfer orders, all aimed at mid- and lower-level officers. Every battalion had been scrambled, and even the troops at Lushun were being adjusted. The only units left untouched were the two cavalry forces at Jinzhou.

Lu Chuanzong shot a sidelong glance and saw Zheng Sanhu sitting at the far right of the officers' row. His mouth twisted slightly. These seats had been arranged in advance by the Central Military Staff, which meant that Zheng Sanhu really was going to be promoted to battalion commander, just as the rumors said. Zheng Sanhu was also a tracker who had come from Zhangjiawan. With Wang Changfu, that made two battalion commanders. And that Fan Shouye was a mounted-infantry company commander — his unit's cost was not much less than an infantry battalion's.

He recalled the smug look in Wang Changfu's eyes before the meeting began, and his sense of foreboding grew stronger. Since the second half of last year, he had sensed Chen Xin growing somewhat distant. It was an indescribable feeling, even though Chen Xin was still extremely warm every time he saw him.

After the Battle of Shenmi Island, he had felt certain he would become a new battalion commander. Instead, Wang Changfu had been promoted step by step and became a new battalion commander first. Although it was only a reserve battalion, the upward trajectory was unmistakable. This only deepened the resentment in Lu Chuanzong's heart.

At this thought, Lu Chuanzong shot a sidelong look at Wang Changfu. Wang Changfu was staring straight ahead, his chin slightly raised. Lu Chuanzong withdrew his gaze and turned his attention to Liu Pojun, who was speaking.

"... The Regional Commander's Headquarters is the supreme command authority of Dengzhou Garrison. All military orders and administrative decrees shall originate from the Regional Commander's Headquarters and its subordinate departments. Orders issued by any other Dengzhou official may not be privately carried out; they must receive the Regional Commander's Headquarters' approval and a formal written order before they can be executed."

This was already within everyone's expectations. Liu Pojun paused, then continued, "The Regional Commander's Headquarters oversees the Central Military Staff and the Civil Affairs Department. Directly subordinate to it are the Aide-de-Camp Office, the Intelligence Bureau, and the Foreign Affairs Department."

A low buzz rose from below. Right from the start, something new had appeared. Before, there had been no such thing as an Assistant Regional Commander's headquarters — only a Central Military Staff. This showed that civil administration was now formally placed under the Regional Commander's Headquarters, no longer standing parallel to the Central Military Staff as before. In other words, civil administration was now clearly a subordinate department of the Regional Commander's Headquarters.

There was a slight stir among the civil affairs side, and a murmur arose. Liu Minyou simply drank his tea, paying no attention. Unified military and civil administration was the most efficient approach in wartime. Although he hoped for coordinated development between military and civil affairs, Chen Xin was, after all, only a military officer. Civil administration could only be placed under the Regional Commander's Headquarters, which gave everything a heavier military cast. There was no helping it.

"The Central Military Staff is the military administration department, exercising unified command over all armed forces of Dengzhou Garrison. It is under the overall authority of Regional Commander Chen. The Civil Affairs Department manages all matters related to the people's livelihood and is under the overall authority of Garrison Adviser and Assistant Regional Commander Liu. The Aide-de-Camp Office of the Regional Commander's Headquarters is responsible for the headquarters' security and document correspondence. The chief officer of the Aide-de-Camp Office is Wang Mafu."

Wang Mafu immediately turned and saluted the dais. Both Chen Xin and Liu Minyou nodded slightly. Wang Mafu then saluted the audience, and a round of applause broke out below. This office was akin to a secretariat — the people the regional commander had the most contact with. Everyone had to give him face.

Liu Pojun continued: "The Intelligence Bureau is responsible for investigating the military situation of the Jianzhou bandits and capturing their spies and agents. It is directly under the jurisdiction of Dengzhou Regional Commander Chen. It oversees the External Intelligence Division, the Internal Intelligence Division, and the Counter-Espionage Division. The chief officer is Zhou Shifa." Liu Pojun's introduction of the Intelligence Bureau was very brief, mentioning only the functions related to the Jianzhou bandits. He did not mention the intelligence analysis teams or the various regional stations at all.

Zhou Shifa was the only person from the Intelligence Bureau present. He rose from the front row and bowed. Only scattered applause came from the hall. Zhou Shifa, cloaked in an aura of darkness, had no good reputation in Wendeng. Although the Intelligence Bureau had never arrested any insiders in Wendeng, its reputation had gradually spread internally. Most of the people present knew of this organization; privately, they called the Intelligence Bureau the "Wendeng Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"The Foreign Affairs Department is responsible for liaison and intelligence sharing with friendly forces. It oversees four divisions. The chief officer is Song Wenxian." The functions of the Foreign Affairs Department were also not easy to elaborate on, so Liu Pojun spoke vaguely, not even mentioning the names of the four divisions. The divisions that Chen Xin and Song Wenxian had delineated were the Shandong Division, the Liaodong Division, the Beizhili Division, and the Southern Division. Song Wenxian stood up. From the section where the civil officials sat, four others also rose, among them the round and rotund Weihai Seal-Holding Guard Commander Yang Yunnong, who was the head of the Shandong Division. The head of the Beizhili Division was Zhang Dahui, whose youth drew sidelong glances from others.

These several men all wore the beaming expressions of Maitreya Buddha and were extremely affable. Song Wenxian was also in charge of conference affairs this time and had been very attentive in hosting everyone. The audience naturally formed an excellent impression of him, and all applauded warmly, making Song Wenxian's eyes narrow into smiling slits.

Chen Xin leaned over and said quietly to Liu Minyou, "These division heads all have about the same level of ability. You have to say, Song Wenxian really knows how to pick people."

Liu Minyou looked up at Song Wenxian, who was still acknowledging the applause, suppressed a smile, and said, "They're all thoroughly versed in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling."

Chen Xin nodded and smiled. "That's exactly why I say he knows how to pick people. You cater to different clients' tastes — if you know too few things, how can you succeed? Say a certain prefect loves fine cuisine: a division head comes along, takes one bite of a dish, and can tell you the ingredients, the materials, the heat control — that builds rapport. Or if a department magistrate is fond of southern opera..."

Just then, Song Wenxian sat down. Chen Xin stopped speaking and heard Liu Pojun continue: "The following are the subordinate departments of the Central Military Staff."

Chen Xin paid close attention to the officers' section. It was still very orderly, but he could sense most people adjusting their posture. Clearly, what was about to be said was what interested them most.

Liu Pojun announced loudly: "The Central Military Staff is responsible for all military administration matters. It oversees the Military Orders Department, the Military Personnel Department, the Military Supply Department, the Mobilization Department, the Military Justice Department, and the Indoctrination Department (Propaganda and Education Bureau). Directly subordinate to it are the Guards Combat Battalion, the Independent Mountain Battalion, and the Officers' Military Academy."

"The Military Orders Department is responsible for all troop movements, operations, and mobilization orders, as well as staff guidance within the army. It formulates corresponding countermeasures based on the surrounding strategic situation. It is responsible for surveying and compiling maps of all operational areas, assessing threat levels based on intelligence from various regions, and drafting offensive and defensive plans and contingency plans for major operational zones. It oversees the Operations Division, the Combat Intelligence Division, the Surveying and Mapping Division, the Central Military Staff Reconnaissance Cavalry Team, and the Special Duties Team. The deputy chief officer of the Military Orders Department..."

Liu Pojun paused again. Everyone below was somewhat surprised. This Military Orders Department sounded extremely powerful — at the very least, all troop movements and mobilizations had to go through it. For such an important department, why was the chief officer not named first?

"Deputy chief officer of the Military Orders Department: Liu Pojun. The chief officer position is temporarily vacant."

A buzz immediately rose from below. Lu Chuanzong seized the moment to turn to Dai Zhenggang and say, "Isn't Lord Chen being a bit too partial? Liu Pojun did render meritorious service at Jinzhou and Guifu Fort and was promoted another rank, but he's not qualified to be a department head. So Lord Chen leaves the department head post vacant — what kind of way is that?"

Dai Zhenggang shot him a glance. "He's not in charge of the Military Orders Department. Are you willing to go take it?"

Lu Chuanzong shook his head and turned back. He did not want to go to the Central Military Staff. There, one had to be on duty at all hours, and there were few chances to go on campaign. It did not suit his temperament.

Seeing the noisy commotion below, Liu Pojun felt rather uncomfortable. He cleared his throat and continued: "The Military Personnel Department is responsible for managing the service records of all combat troops, peacetime training management, and the appointment of officers and non-commissioned officers from squad leader and above. It oversees the Training Division and the Manpower Division. The chief officer is Li Donghua."

This appointment caused no surprise. A man stood up from behind the first row. Li Donghua saluted with the most standard posture, but his face remained cold throughout, showing not the slightest joy at promotion. Lu Chuanzong cursed under his breath again. This Li Donghua had arrived in the second year of Chongzhen and had been in charge of combat troop training ever since. Li Donghua was deeply unpopular in the army and never made any effort to socialize. He spent all his time obsessing over training methods and was called "Li the Kill-Seeker" by the combat troops. Now, he had also been given control over service records and officer appointments. Although anyone from squad leader upward still required Chen Xin's approval, this department's preliminary review authority was very real. It was also one of Chen Xin's methods for strengthening training assessments — if training did not meet requirements, a promotion could not even get past the Military Personnel Department. It was a truly powerful department in the army. Even a battalion commander like Lu Chuanzong would have to deal cautiously with this department from now on.

"The Military Supply Department is responsible for military budget accounting and settlement, logistical support, materiel supply, pension fund management, and pay distribution. It oversees the Pay Division, the Materiel and Barracks Division, and the General Transport Unit. The chief officer is Dong Yu."

Dong Yu rose carefully and gestured for his department's subordinates to join him in saluting. A wave of enthusiastic cheers came from below. For many years, he had dealt with both the military and civil administration. The supplies needed by the army were endlessly complex, and he encountered countless difficulties every day, often needing to deal with various regions and departments. Fortunately, Dong Yu had a mild temperament and had always handled things well. Liu Minyou had even wanted to second him to civil affairs, but Chen Xin had not agreed. As a result, Dong Yu was well-liked in both the military and civil administration.

"The Military Justice Department independently enforces military law. It oversees military judges at all levels and directly commands the Garrison Provost General Unit. The chief officer is Nie Hong."

"The Indoctrination Department independently administers the indoctrination system. It oversees the Cultural and Arts Troupe and the Propaganda and Education Bureau. The chief officer is Huang Side."

"The Mobilization Department oversees the Reserve Division, the Militia Division, and three consolidated training bases, located respectively in Wendeng, Laiyang, and Pingdu. It is responsible for new recruit training, reserve training and mobilization, and militia training and mobilization. The chief officer is Zhu Daichun."

There were no surprises at all with the chief officers of this department — they were simply a continuation of the current ones. Liu Pojun turned a page, licked his lips, then looked up and said: "The following are the combat battalions and units."

Lu Chuanzong shifted his hips and settled into a more comfortable position against the back of his chair, watching Liu Pojun intently. Chen Xin took out a cigarette and offered one to the two men beside him. A nearby guard brought over a lighter lamp. Chen Xin lit his cigarette, took a drag, and then, through the haze of smoke before his eyes, narrowed his gaze and observed Lu Chuanzong's expression.

"The organization of combat troops and the number of soldiers and horses are military secrets and will not be announced at this assembly. Today, only the deployment locations of each unit will be announced, to facilitate civil affairs offices in various places seeking assistance in emergencies."

"The combat troops are divided into five battalions: the Guards Battalion, the First through Third Battalions, and the Fourth Mixed Battalion."

Lu Chuanzong listened intently. The Guards Battalion was the target every battalion commander had his eye on. It represented a certain status, and it was the only combat battalion at full authorized strength. Its weapons and equipment would surely be the best as well.

"The Guards Combat Battalion, at full authorized strength. Battalion headquarters stationed at the Dengzhou parade ground. Its three company-level units are stationed at the Dengzhou parade ground, Zhenhai Gate, and Mishen Shan. The battalion commander..." Liu Pojun paused again. Chen Xin realized that Liu Pojun had quite the talent for being a talent-show host. Fortunately, Liu Pojun did not cut to a commercial but immediately continued: "The battalion commander is Wang Changfu."

Lu Chuanzong's fist clenched instantly. He lowered his head and stared at the floor. In terms of battle record, he had achieved the great victory at Shenmi Island last year. Wang Changfu's reserve battalion had only fought the rebels in Dengzhou. Jinzhou had been entirely won by Zhu Guobin's cavalry. Even if Zhu Guobin had been given this position, Lu Chuanzong could have accepted it. But he utterly refused to accept Wang Changfu.

Wang Changfu stood up with his head held high and saluted the entire assembly with vigorous movements. The Guards Battalion signified trust and ability, and he believed he possessed both. From the earliest bandit-suppression campaigns, his performance in battle had been second to none. Moreover, he was the very first tracker from Zhangjiawan to sign up — his seniority was unmatched. Now a functional department head, he was no longer in direct competition with Wang Changfu. He cupped his hands and offered his congratulations. Dai Zhenggang, from the other side of Lu Chuanzong, also offered his congratulations. Wang Changfu returned each greeting, but Lu Chuanzong simply stared at the floor as if he had heard nothing.

As soon as the applause stopped, Liu Pojun continued: "First Combat Battalion, battalion commander Lu Chuanzong. Battalion headquarters stationed at Mount Shimen in Dengzhou. Its three company-level units are stationed at Mount Shimen, Zhaoyuan, and Laiyang."

"Second Combat Battalion, battalion commander Dai Zhenggang. Battalion headquarters stationed at Wendeng. Its three company-level units are stationed at Ninghai Prefecture, Weihai, and Wendeng."

"Third Combat Battalion, battalion commander Zheng Sanhu. Battalion headquarters stationed at Pingdu Prefecture. Its three company-level units are stationed at Pingdu, Yu'er Town in Changyi, and Jiaozhou." A wave of exclamations came from the officers' section. The rumors from some time ago had indeed come true — Zheng Sanhu had become the youngest battalion commander.

"Fourth Mixed Battalion, battalion commander Zhu Guobin. Stationed at Jinzhou." Because it involved frontline deployment, Liu Pojun said only these two sentences about the Fourth Mixed Battalion. In reality, the Fourth Battalion's planned strength was very formidable: a cavalry battalion of seven hundred, a mounted-infantry company of roughly eleven hundred men, a pike-and-shot formation company headquarters, and a mountain infantry company headquarters still in the planning stages. In addition, there was a separate Lushun garrison unit. This Lushun garrison unit primarily trained in city defense. Chen Xin had once spoken with Liu Pojun about it, hoping that Liu Pojun would temporarily serve concurrently as the garrison unit's chief officer, and then, after earning military merit in southern Liaodong, transfer to become the formal chief officer of the Military Orders Department.

Liu Pojun knew that Chen Xin had already accommodated him to the greatest extent possible by doing this. Even someone Chen Xin personally favored still had to pass through the Military Justice Department, the Indoctrination Department, and the Military Personnel Department's merit review before being promoted. Under the new organizational structure, the chief officer of the Military Orders Department was of the same rank as a battalion commander. Liu Pojun was still one rank short, so Chen Xin had him concurrently serve as the Lushun garrison commander — this could be considered an exceptional promotion.

Liu Pojun put away his gratitude and read out the final appointment: "Jimo Independent Company Headquarters, Company Commander Fan Shouye. This concludes the introduction of military administration." (To be continued.)