Chapter 305: New Strategy for the Meritorious Nobles

Morning mist not yet cleared, the Bian River is already packed with boats bow to stern.

Chen Wen stood on the newly repaired Rainbow Bridge, not wearing conspicuous dragon robes.

He wore only simple dark clothing, yet sharp attendants hovered unseen around him.

And the respectful demeanor of the accompanying Ministry of Works officials still revealed the visitor's extraordinary status.

His gaze fell on the boat pullers shouting work chants as they strained to haul the grain barges, and on the laborers busy loading and unloading cargo on the dock.

A slight shift of his thoughts, and an invisible force quietly spread out.

This was the effect of the Cow Horse System's "Massive Bestowal 2x".

He did not focus the power on any single person, but like spring rain, broadly covered the thousands of laborers in this dock area.

The effect was immediate.

The boat pullers felt the ropes were slightly lighter today, their steps steadier, their breath more enduring;

The porters felt the sacks on their shoulders were no longer so heavy, a new strength seemed to surge in their waist and legs, their movements faster, efficiency sharply increased.

The whole dock's operations, unnoticed, sped up nearly double.

In the channel, an empty barge just unloaded was quickly moved aside.

Another fully loaded barge immediately took its place, the transition smooth and orderly.

The Imperial Physician accompanying the Ministry of Works could hardly hide his astonishment, whispering to his colleague:

"How strange, today these laborers have such abundant energy!"

Chen Wen listened to the officials' quiet discussion behind him, his expression calm.

He did this not to show off, but to personally experience it, under the premise of not overly consuming his own spirit.

This low-magnitude, wide-range bestowal has a promoting effect on large-scale livelihood projects.

The result satisfied him.

This proves that even if not used on the battlefield, the System's power is likewise a vital asset of the state in times of peaceful construction.

Leaving the dock, on the road back to the Imperial City, Chen Wen's thoughts did not linger on the improvement of grain transport efficiency.

Qian Gui's secret report submitted last night turned over in his mind.

The report mentioned that within the False Song domain, Zhao Kuangyin appeared to be beginning to reorganize the Forbidden Army.

His measures vaguely showed a tendency to gather military authority, treat meritorious officials generously, in hopes of inducing them to surrender real power.

This reminded him of the False Song founding edict he had previously obtained, which also seemed to imply a similar intention.

"Dismissing military authority with a cup of wine..."

Chen Wen's mind flashed with this phrase distilled from the intelligence, describing the other side's move.

Although he did not know exactly how the other side would carry it out, the core intention of this strategy.

He saw it clearly——to exchange wealth and honor for military authority, eliminate internal potential threats, and consolidate imperial power.

This strategy has its clever aspect, it can avoid falling into the cycle of military strongmen seizing power and regional warlordism as in previous dynasties.

But it also has drawbacks.

If mishandled, it could easily chill the soldiers' hearts and possibly lead the state to gradually become weak and civil-oriented.

"My Great Chen cannot simply copy such a self-crippling martial arts strategy."

What he needed was a mechanism that could both secure imperial power and prevent imbalance, while continuously motivating warriors to be brave and maintain the army's combat effectiveness.

Returning to the Hall of Martial Virtue, he immediately summoned Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, and the senior ministers including the Privy Council Envoy and the Minister of War.

Without mentioning the False Song's concrete movements, he only posed a question:

"Esteemed ministers, how can I make the meritorious officers of my Great Chen forever retain loyal and courageous hearts, serve the state, yet avoid the past dynasties' mistake of regional warlords growing strong and arrogant troops becoming uncontrollable?"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Several senior ministers sank into contemplation.

This indeed is a core problem concerning the dynasty's long-term peace and stability.

Since the Former Tang and the Five Dynasties, the rise and fall of countless dynasties have been closely tied to the failure to properly handle this matter.

The Minister of War spoke first, his tone cautious:

"Your Majesty, one could follow precedent, increase grants of land, houses, gold and silver to let them enjoy wealth and honor, or frequently transfer commanders so they would not easily hold long command of an army..."

Chen Wen shook his head slightly.

"Rewards cannot be limitless, lest they breed greed and more easily empty the national treasury;"

"Frequent transfers would make soldiers not know their generals and generals not know their soldiers—how could they resist the enemy in battle?"

The Privy Council Envoy pondered and said:

"One could strengthen the supervisor army system, using civil officials to control the military..."

Wang Ru immediately rebutted:

"This strategy was also employed by previous dynasties, yet civil and military officials looked down on each other, mutually obstructing, often leading to mistakes—certainly not a good plan."

Zhang Cheng stroked his beard and spoke slowly:

"Your Majesty, I believe the key lies in 'guidance' and 'hope'."

"We need to let all warriors see that loyalty to Your Majesty and service to Great Chen brings not only immediate generous rewards, but also lasting honor and even... protection for their descendants."

"If their own wealth, honor, and disgrace are tightly bound to the nation's fortune, then without Your Majesty's urging, they will naturally strive forward."

A flicker of approval crossed Chen Wen's eyes.

"Minister Zhang's words truly meet my heart."

He rose, walked to the map hanging in the hall, and his gaze swept over the vast territory.

"After long consideration, I have a strategy that could be tried."

The ministers' spirits were lifted, they focused their attention and listened intently.

First, establish titles.

Besides the existing high ranks such as state duke, prefectural duke, county duke, etc., establish a 'merit title' system, such as Light Chariot Commandant, Cavalry Commandant, Cloud Cavalry Commandant, etc., subdividing grades to correspond to different military achievements and administrative performance.

Titles are not merely empty honors; they should come with a matching, fixed stipend. However, this stipend is not drawn from local taxes but is allocated specially from my privy purse and the income of the imperial estates.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng and the others' eyes lit up.

Paying the merit-title stipend from the imperial household rather than the state treasury—what does that signify?

This means that those who hold merit titles have their economic source more tightly bound to the emperor personally; the favor comes from above, so their loyalty naturally leans more toward the emperor.

At the same time, it does not increase the burden on the state treasury or the common people.

Second, establish ranks.

Improve the military and civil scattered-official system, clarifying the promotion path.

So that even in times of peace, officials and officers can steadily advance in scattered-official grades based on administrative performance, seniority, and evaluation, raising their rank and stipend, maintaining a spirit of enterprise.

Third, fix rewards.

Granting land for military merit shall continue as before, but it must be stipulated that this land can be inherited, yet not be unlimitedly consolidated, and must pay taxes to prevent excessive concentration of land.

Moreover, establish the 'Hall of Distinguished Merit,' portraying the images of those who have rendered great service to the state throughout history within it, offering them sacrificial rites, so their fame lasts for a hundred generations, inspiring posterity.

Fourth, emphasize education.

Establish the 'Imperial Martial Academy' in Bian Liang, selecting the children of merit nobles and military families, as well as promising talents from the army, to enroll.

Not only must they practice martial skills and military strategy, but they must also study the way of loyalty to the sovereign and patriotism, clarifying the responsibilities of a commander.

I will personally serve as the headmaster and regularly go there to lecture.

So that heroes from all under heaven may enter my net!

Chen Wen expounded point by point, his thoughts clear, each link interlocking.

This combined strategy possesses both tangible economic benefits (the stipend paid by the imperial household).

It also has a clear, visible career path (the scattered-official system).

It also carries the highest spiritual honor (the Hall of Distinguished Merit).

Furthermore, it includes control and cultivation of the next generation (the Imperial Martial Academy).

It tightly binds the interests of merit nobles and generals with imperial authority and the Fortune Momentum, yet through institutional design.

It prevents them from grasping unchecked local power and economic privileges.

It is not simply a deprivation or redemption, but a guidance and transformation, turning the armed force that might threaten imperial authority into an instrument for upholding imperial authority and expanding territory.

Zhang Cheng drew a deep breath and sincerely praised:

Your Majesty's sagacity is profound! If this policy is implemented, then merit nobles and officers will all know there is a path to strive forward, loyalty and valor will be rewarded, their own futures and family honor or disgrace will be tied to Your Majesty and the state; who would still harbor ulterior motives? Even if some did, they could not gain momentum!

Wang Ru added:

More importantly, this policy is not, as rumored of the False Song, aimed at stripping military power; rather, it grants them a more enduring and stable honor and security, so the troops will only feel greater gratitude for the emperor's grace, and morale will surely rise.

The Grand Councilor and the Minister of War also nodded repeatedly, their eyes full of excitement.

As military representatives, they naturally welcomed a system that could guarantee the army's combat effectiveness while elevating the status of martial men.

Thus," Chen Wen said, sitting back on the throne in a low voice, "let Zhang Cheng and Wang Ru take the lead, together with the Grand Council, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Rites, to draft the detailed provisions of this 'New Merit-Noble Policy'.

Seek fairness and clarity, to facilitate implementation.

I want to see the complete regulations within three months.

We receive the edict!" several replied in unison, full of vigor.

They knew this was not merely a system, but a crucial cornerstone by which Great Chen distinguishes itself from the False Song that merely follows a script, truly taking root in its own reality to lay the foundation for an enduring legacy.

When the officials withdrew, Chen Wen remained alone, pondering.

He drew inspiration from the False Song's movements, yet took a completely different path.

Zhao Kuangyin perhaps was using his own method to eliminate internal hidden dangers.

And Chen Wen, on the other hand, sought to establish a more vibrant system capable of inspiring hearts, a lasting mechanism.

This is not merely statecraft, but also a yang stratagem.

Thus, with the grand momentum, it gathers people's hearts and leads toward the future as a yang stratagem.

He felt that the Fortune Momentum within him, representing the dynasty's foundation, as this far-reaching state policy was settled, seemed to become more solid and substantial by a degree.

This made him more confident in his choice.

Consolidating the interior and gathering strength is far more important than rushing into external conquest.

Only when one is sufficiently strong and stable can one stand invincible in the prolonged confrontation with the 'mirror' and its hidden mastermind.