Chapter 499: Expanding the Army

In the small meeting room of Chen Xin's residence sat seven people. Besides Chen Xin and Liu Minyou, there were Dong Yu, Li Donghua, Huang Side, Xiao Chengguo, and Liu Pojun.

Li Donghua looked at the register in his hand and said, "Among the army's common soldiers, about five hundred are only sons, and twelve hundred have two or more children under ten years old — many were conscripted in the fifth year of Chongzhen. Among NCOs and officers, only a bit over ten are only sons without male heirs, most of whom enlisted before the fourth year of Chongzhen."

Chen Xin waved his hand and said, "Don't forcibly discharge NCOs or officers. The Military Affairs Department will sort out some non-frontline posts and let them decide for themselves. Soldiers can be replaced, but only those with parents — single men among the refugees are not included. Those with meritorious service can be assigned to the Mobilization Department as reserve instructors for forts or workshops. If their aptitude is average and there is no suitable post, they will be discharged directly. Minyou, how many people can you place on your side?"

Liu Minyou frowned and calculated for a moment. "This year Qingzhou Prefecture will establish over a hundred new forts. Fort heads and instructors alone will be two to three hundred people, and the more distant fort schools will need over a hundred more. Qingzhou Prefecture will build a large new cotton mill that can place around three hundred. There are also posts within the Civil Affairs Department, but most must be reserved for students from the vocational school and the university. It's best to let them start their own businesses. When they are discharged, they will receive their retirement pension, years of military pay, plus dividends from the trading company. The Civil Affairs Department can allocate good land to those who haven't received land shares, so at least no one will worry about their livelihood. Then, for those willing to start a business, the bank can offer priority loans."

Dong Yu interjected, "Some of them are quite good at reading and arithmetic. They can be placed in the trading company or the bank — more reliable than people hired from outside, anyway."

Liu Minyou nodded. "The trading company and the bank can also place some. Those who are truly suitable can go into those two places, but I'll say it again: it's best if they start their own businesses."

Liu Pojun suddenly said, "These soldiers have trained for many years. I still think we should keep them relatively concentrated. Qingzhou Prefecture will be occupying forts this year — why not send all these soldiers to the Qingzhou Prefecture forts? With these men as the backbone, the fort households will quickly develop combat capability. Extending outward step by step, they can provide our Dengzhou Garrison with a more stable depth."

Chen Xin looked at Liu Pojun and smiled. "That's a good idea, but many of them have already received land in the Denglai forts and settled their families there, and the land is already cultivated. If you suddenly tell them to go to Qingzhou Prefecture to break new ground and build houses all over again, who would be willing?"

Huang Side, hearing this, said to Chen Xin, "My lord, this subordinate thinks Director Liu's idea is feasible. As for their unwillingness to relocate, we can offer some conditions. If they return directly to their hometowns, the fort head and instructor posts in those forts are already filled — there's no place for them. Going to Qingzhou is different: they'd serve as fort heads or instructors and earn an extra monthly wage. As for the house, buying materials themselves and hiring fort households to build it would only cost ten or twenty taels. In the long run, going to Qingzhou is still the better deal."

Chen Xin, after hearing this, also found it reasonable and turned to Liu Minyou. "Minyou, what do you think?"

Liu Minyou thought for a moment and said, "Although we see it as a good deal, from the soldiers' perspective, they will harbor some resentment. These soldiers have been in the army for several years. They were drawing their military pay just fine, and now suddenly it's gone — they can only go home and farm. The income from farming naturally can't compare to military pay. It's impossible for them not to feel resentful. So if you then ask them to leave their homes and go to Qingzhou Prefecture, how many would be willing? However, Liu Pojun's idea is indeed beneficial to the Dengzhou Garrison. I suggest that for soldiers who go to the Qingzhou Prefecture forts, we allow them to keep their trading company shares — meaning their retirement pension can keep earning money. That would be some compensation."

Chen Xin grunted in acknowledgment. The others also felt Liu Minyou's proposal was more feasible. Chen Xin tapped the table and thought for a moment. "This official needs to think about this matter further. The Military Affairs Department can first draft the documents along these lines. After I confirm them, they will be issued to each battalion for clearing, but be careful not to handle it too hastily. Now that our source of soldiers is growing broader, it's best in the future to recruit those who haven't started families. Institutionalize conscription and discharge — set a discharge time for newly conscripted soldiers. This will increase the number of trained personnel, which is also beneficial for future emergency mobilization."

Recruiting unmarried men who are not only sons into the army minimizes the pressure of pensions — once the death gratuity is paid, it's over. For the Dengzhou Garrison, which had an ample supply of soldiers, this could already be implemented, but Chen Xin could not openly state the reason.

Dong Yu again said to Chen Xin, "My lord, for those among them who carry flintlock guns — should they be allowed to take the guns with them?"

Chen Xin waved his hand generously. "Not just flintlock guns — all issued weapons go with them. The same will apply to all normal discharges from now on."

After Li Donghua finished recording, Chen Xin spoke to him again. "Now let's discuss next year's expansion. According to the plan submitted by the Military Affairs Department, next year we will expand the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Battalions — five battalions in total. The deployment locations are: the Sixth Battalion at Pingdu, filling the gap left by the Third Battalion's shift west; the Seventh and Eighth Battalions deployed to Lüshun — thirty percent of these two battalions' personnel are to be selected from the auxiliary troops who participated in the Lüshun defensive battle, and they will combine with the Fifth Battalion to form the Liaonan Brigade; the Ninth Battalion deployed to Wuchang, combining with the Fifth Battalion to form the Huguang Brigade, corresponding to the imperial court's establishment as a brigade level; the Tenth Battalion deployed in Lin County, but it cannot use our Dengzhou Garrison uniforms and can only be arranged under the name of local militia. Everyone, speak up — any opinions?"

Liu Pojun immediately said, "My lord, under this establishment, the Dengzhou Garrison's total strength will approach sixty-three thousand. In Denglai alone there will be twenty-eight thousand five hundred men, while Liaonan will have only seventeen thousand. Shouldn't we tilt toward Liaonan?"

Dong Yu interrupted, "Director Li, what Lord Chen is talking about is garrison locations, not combat zones. The local forts in Liaonan were only established last year — there are only about twenty of them. They cannot provide logistics for that many troops. Concentrating too many troops in Liaonan would tie up a great deal of shipping capacity, which is no good thing for the trading company or the navy."

Liu Minyou stood up. "Since we're on the subject of logistics, I'd like to say something too. That place Lin County — there's no combat mission there. Why station a battalion there? Before, Qingzhou Prefecture was not in our hands. Now the border of Qingzhou Prefecture is not far from the Grand Canal, so Lin County's role is no longer significant. After the Xuan-Da campaign, we used captured horses to expand a mounted infantry thousand-man unit there, and its logistics supply already strains the trading company considerably. Adding another battalion there would have little effect but cost a great deal."

Chen Xin nodded slightly, looked around at the others, and seeing no further opinions, said, "Then let's put the Tenth Battalion on hold for now."

Liu Minyou continued, "Also, regarding the Second Battalion's garrison — Wendeng is full of forts. The reserve troops there train the longest, and the surrounding area is all coastal territory with no threat at all. There's no need to station a battalion there. The Second Battalion's three thousand-man units can be separately garrisoned in Laiyang, Wendeng, and Ninghai Department."

Huang Side sat up straight and cautioned, "Lord Liu, Laiyang is one thing, but Ninghai Department has never had a permanent garrison. The imperial court has no plans to station troops there."

"Who cares about the imperial court?" Liu Minyou interrupted. "In Jiaozhou, the court didn't assign it to the Second Guards Battalion either, but they're garrisoned there anyway. And Pingdu's situation is also stable — Jiaozhou to the south even has the Second Guards Battalion stationed there. Why create a new Sixth Battalion?"

Chen Xin hurriedly said, "The Second Battalion can be split among garrisons. But the Sixth Battalion cannot be canceled. The First and Third Battalions have gone to Qingzhou Prefecture. The area from Pingdu Department to Changyi is the best section of the official road — a force must be permanently stationed there to coordinate with Qingzhou Prefecture and also to conveniently embark and sail to support Liaonan. At the same time, from a logistics perspective, Pingdu Department has the most forts. Grain taxes can supply the garrison without transport, which is the most convenient."

Liu Minyou calculated. "But even canceling the Tenth Battalion, the total army strength will still be nearly sixty thousand — three thousand more than fifty-five thousand."

"I'm talking about combat strength." Chen Xin quickly threw out a new concept. "The various departments and mobilization commands in Dengzhou are not counted in that. The current number is probably just about fifty-five thousand."

"Combat strength?" Liu Minyou furrowed his brow. Chen Xin, not giving him time to dwell on it, said, "The Sixth Battalion in Pingdu Department can be placed in the second batch, but it must be retained. Anyone else have opinions?"

Liu Pojun raised his hand again. "This subordinate has another opinion. According to your lordship's strategic plan, this year Liaonan will shift to strategic counteroffensive. Our army will push its blade into central Liao to conduct raids, causing severe damage to the Jianzhou bandits' foundation. The eastern and northern fronts there rely heavily on the Dongjiang Garrison. Led by factions under Mao Chenglu, Shang Kexi, and Shen Shikui, their troop numbers are considerable, and aid to them will also consume shipping capacity. Additionally, the spring offensive will launch at the beginning of the year. Although NCOs and officers will mostly be transferred from the military academy, they will certainly still need to be supplemented from combat troops. Drawing too many NCOs from the Fourth Battalion will affect the combat strength of the existing Liaonan battalions. These two factors combined will impact the unfolding of the spring offensive."

Chen Xin pondered and said, "The matter of the Dongjiang Garrison need not be discussed. Since we intend to control their military supplies and logistics, of course we must expend some shipping capacity, but we also gain an additional usable force. As for the Liaonan expansion — Li Donghua, has the winter training of the Liaonan reserves been carried out?"

Li Donghua said, "The plan was issued in October to conduct consolidated training for the Liaonan reserves during the winter agricultural off-season. The results are not yet known."

"The Liaonan expansion will be placed in the first batch. The military academy's NCOs and officers will be supplied to Liaonan first. Complete the Liaonan expansion. For the spring offensive, mobilize the Second Guards Battalion. The Third Battalion's First Brigade and the Jimo Thousand-Man Unit, which are wintering in Liaonan, will also participate, forming a provisional Liaonan brigade with the Fourth Battalion, temporarily under Zhu Guobin's command. This will give the Liaonan theater sufficient strength to launch an attack."

Liu Minyou was still pondering how to calculate combat strength when Chen Xin had already shifted to military organization. He said to the several officers present, "Everyone must remember: after this step of battalion expansion, we will have brigade-level units — what the imperial court calls a brigade. Over on Zhu Daichun's side fighting the roving bandits, concentrated operations are rare, but Liaonan is different. In Liaonan we must shift from raiding warfare to pitched battle. Large-corps operations will become more and more frequent. Brigade-level organization requires new logistics, tactics, and command systems. The commander of the Liaonan Brigade will be Zhu Guobin. This official has confidence in him, but the relevant departments must also send capable officers to Liaonan to help perfect the brigade-level combat system."

"Then... then how should Zhu Guobin's rank be calculated?" Li Donghua asked hesitantly. "He was previously a battalion commander. This... the departments are also at battalion commander rank. Later the military academy established a brigade level, but the academy doesn't participate in combat, so it doesn't conflict with the command system. Now a brigade has three battalions under it, maybe four battalions. So... so how should battalion commanders address Zhu Guobin?"

Chen Xin pondered for a moment, then said, "Doesn't the imperial court have things like military merit ranks and honorary ranks? Let's create something similar as a rank system for officers. The titles should be concise and clear — don't make it too complicated. Soldiers should understand it at a glance."

The several matters were quickly concluded. After the officers left, Chen Xin turned to Liu Minyou and said, "Why did you propose letting discharged soldiers take their trading company shares with them? What will we use to distribute to newly arrived combat soldiers in the future?"

Liu Minyou packed up his things as he spoke. "Which country's army holds company shares? We are not the East India Company. In the initial stage, we could rise using this method, but after you contend for the realm, is the army still going to hold a stake in the trading company? Then no other merchant house could compete with Four Seas in anything."

Chen Xin frowned. "But taking them away like this... it just doesn't feel right."

"What's not right about it?" Liu Minyou sat down. "These soldiers are discharged, but their combat skills remain. The shares go with them, but they are still bound to us — no one can replace that interest. By the day you finish conquering the realm, the new soldiers we recruit won't be issued shares. The veterans will take their shares with them when they leave. These same people will also be your staunchest supporters — equivalent to an invisible army. This is also a reward for supporting your royal hegemony. And as these veterans are discharged, the Four Seas Trading Company can gradually transform into a dispersed joint-stock company, breaking away from this current model of being tied to the military, and also allowing wealth to be stored among the people."

"Then won't these discharged veterans rebel against me when the time comes?"

"By then they'll be old. Can they beat new recruits? And they'll have families and homes — it's not like they can't afford to eat. Who would rebel against you for no reason?"

Chen Xin tilted his head back and looked at the ceiling. "But my original plan was to create an East India Company."

"That's for external affairs. We can't do that domestically. The Four Seas Trading Company is still in its expansion phase and has the vigor of a rising enterprise. If by the time you control the whole country, monopoly profits turn it into a bloated giant with no drive to improve, how would that be any different from the current imperial estates, imperial shops, and princely industries? We should prevent the formation of a new monopoly aristocracy from the start — far better than facing a heavily obstructed anti-trust situation later. When you have stabilized the realm, that will be the time to break up the Four Seas Trading Company. By then the whole world will be yours — you won't care about these trifling sums anymore."

Chen Xin thought for a moment, then looked at Liu Minyou, shook his head, and laughed. "Have you never been greedy for wealth? Your shares in the Four Seas Trading Company are not small."

"What use do I have for it?" Liu Minyou put away his register. "I am your founding meritorious minister, and I only have one wife... no, two wives. I can't spend more than a few taels of silver a month. Anyway, I've thought it through — I'll retire at fifty. Don't forget my retirement salary then: at least a hundred taels a month. The rest, I couldn't possibly use up. Since I can't use it up, why fight over it just to store it in a cellar?" (To be continued..)

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