Zhao Hanzhang said, “We’re starting with Yuzhou because it has been stable longer than other provinces. The common people and soldiers also trust the court more. All of Yuzhou is loyal to me. Should war break out again, with a wave of my arm, I can conscript enough soldiers once more.”
Qiao Jin’s heart stirred, and he asked, “Does this mean these demobilized soldiers won’t be sent back to their hometowns but will remain in place as civilians?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “If they wish to return home, we naturally cannot stop them. But given the current situation in the realm, how many would travel thousands of miles to return home?”
She told the two, “Do your work to reassure them. Give them the full allotment of land they’re due, build the houses they need properly, and ensure the court’s tax exemptions for them are implemented. When all their neighbors are former comrades-in-arms, how many would want to leave?”
Mi Ce couldn’t help saying, “Isn’t this still military farming?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “How is it the same? The land farmed by the military doesn’t belong to the soldiers but to the army, to the court. But when soldiers are returned to civilian life, the land distributed to them belongs to them. When they work the land, they need to pay taxes to the court.”
Mi Ce and Qiao Jin’s hearts stirred. They exchanged glances, understanding now.
“I am determined to do this,” Zhao Hanzhang said calmly. “Yuzhou is a stable land, so it begins here. Afterward, garrison forces in all other provinces will follow suit.”
Mi Ce gripped the paper in his hand tightly, no longer daring to object. “So… we’re reducing two hundred thousand troops all at once?”
“No,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “First, we’ll release soldiers with disabilities and those over forty-five. After settling them, we’ll continue with the second wave upon my order.”
Returning soldiers to civilian life also required enormous material resources. Naturally, it had to be done step by step—it would be impossible to suddenly reduce two hundred thousand from an army of four hundred eighty thousand.
Actually, regarding military reduction, the hints Zhao Hanzhang had been dropping externally focused on releasing elderly soldiers and the disabled. She never expected…
Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze fell on Mi Ce, and she smiled faintly. “General Mi, I’m entrusting you with Yuzhou’s military reduction. You understand military affairs better than Regional Inspector Zhao, and I trust you as well.”
To enable Mi Ce to command the various governors and generals throughout Yuzhou, Zhao Hanzhang immediately promoted him to Right Vice Minister of War.
Zhao Shen, sitting to the side, slowly widened his eyes as he looked at her.
Mi Ce had already been persuaded by Zhao Hanzhang. Now, with this additional appointment and trust, his emotions surged with excitement while also feeling deeply conflicted. He didn’t know whether Zhao Hanzhang truly trusted him or was making him the scapegoat.
But with an official position dangled right before him, Mi Ce couldn’t possibly refuse. He immediately knelt to accept the appointment.
Zhao Hanzhang nodded with satisfaction and dismissed them.
Zhao Shen didn’t leave. He waited until they had exited the hall before turning to ask Zhao Hanzhang, “Qiao Jin was clearly incited by Mi Ce to cause trouble. Why are you using him?”
Zhao Hanzhang took a sip of tea. “I always thought Mi Ce was overly cautious, lacking in courage, and short on quick wit, so he could only defend but not attack. But seeing him today, I realize I was shortsighted before and didn’t see more of his strengths.”
“He’s clearly a talented general for managing troops,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “After you submitted this memorial, I kept it suppressed. Fewer than ten people in court knew about it, all people I trust. Having them release the disabled and elderly soldiers isn’t unusual—now that hostilities have ceased, this is standard procedure. Yet he could guess I was planning large-scale military reduction and could even incite Qiao Jin, who happened to be in the capital reporting on his duties, to take the lead. Such a talented person—wouldn’t it be a waste not to use him?”
Zhao Shen’s heart jumped. “How do you intend to use him?”
Zhao Hanzhang said, “He is steady and benevolent, more suitable than the current you to be War Minister.”
Zhao Shen himself had never considered becoming War Minister. After all, his qualifications were what they were. Though he felt he could handle the position, he lacked prestige. And he had his own candidate for the minister position in mind. “I thought you would choose General Beigong.”
“Bingzhou cannot do without Beigong Chun,” Zhao Hanzhang shook her head. “Moreover, General Beigong can manage the army of one province but would struggle to manage the armies of the entire nation.”
Zhao Shen’s heart stirred. “You originally intended Zu Ti?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him. “Don’t follow my example in underestimating Mi Ce. Some people’s strengths lie not in charging into battle or in strategic command of troops, but in military administration.”
Zhao Shen said, “But the military forces of the realm cannot be commanded by administrative ability alone. Mi Ce’s talents are far from sufficient for the minister’s position.”
Zhao Hanzhang stood up and said calmly, “Don’t I still have myself?”
Zhao Shen choked on his words, understanding now. She didn’t want military authority to slip from her grasp, so she hadn’t appointed a War Minister before. Now her choice of Mi Ce was someone with only administrative ability, lacking the capacity to command all the realm’s forces. With a wave of her hand, she could reclaim everything she’d given.
Thinking this way, Beigong Chun would actually be suitable too. That man was kind-hearted and truly simple-minded—he couldn’t outmaneuver Zhao Hanzhang. But using such a fierce general to do work he wasn’t skilled at would be a terrible waste of talent. Better to leave him in Bingzhou to guard the borders.
As for Zu Ti, his abilities were strong and comprehensively developed. If she made him War Minister, given the current situation, with carrots and sticks deployed, after he held the position for a few years, when she wanted to reclaim it, she might not be able to take it back with just a gesture.
As for himself, he lacked qualifications, lacked prestige, and lacked ability… Actually, he felt his abilities were quite good, not inferior to Zu Ti.
Zhao Shen stole a glance at Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang beckoned him. “Come on, let’s go find Seventh Grand-Uncle for a meal?”
Zhao Shen stood up. “You’re short of money again?”
“What do you mean I’m short of money again?” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Clearly it’s your War Ministry that’s short of money. Returning disabled and elderly soldiers to civilian life doesn’t cost money? Setting aside building houses for now, after distributing land to them, don’t they need farming tools? They’re either disabled or elderly and weak—don’t they need animal labor to help?”
“And the wounded soldiers always need medicinal herbs for treatment. This all costs money, and it’s not me spending it,” Zhao Hanzhang said. “It’s all business—selling to anyone is still selling, right? Why let the benefits flow to outsiders?”
Zhao Shen said, “I hope Seventh Grand-Uncle thinks the same way.”
He followed behind Zhao Hanzhang. “When do you plan to appoint him as minister? After completing Yuzhou’s military reduction?”
Zhao Hanzhang asked, “How long do you think Yuzhou’s military reduction will take?”
Zhao Shen lowered his eyes thoughtfully, then said, “At least three years.”
“Exactly—at least three years. Initial results will take two years. This time period isn’t long, but it’s not exactly short either. I’ve already pointed out the path for him. Whether he can walk it to reach me depends on his own abilities.”
She looked at Zhao Shen with a smile. “So if you’re dissatisfied, you can strive to catch up.”
Zhao Shen immediately shook his head. “I’m not dissatisfied. I think he’s quite good.”
Zhao Hanzhang snorted softly, knowing he was being lazy again. “Since you’re both vice ministers of War, when you have time, go sit with Mi Ce and tell him some of the things I praised him for just now.”
Zhao Shen asked, “You want to win his loyalty—having Yunxin and the others convey the message would work just as well. They can pass along such words too. Why must I be the one to tell him?”