Chapter Eleven: Military System

The next step was to begin checking the soldiers’ literacy. Wang Tiqian hurriedly knelt and said, “Your Majesty, I am guilty of deceiving the Emperor and beg Your Majesty for punishment.”

Zhu Youxiao was puzzled and asked, “What’s the matter? Stand up and explain yourself properly.”

Wang Tiqian dared not rise. He kowtowed and said, “Last time, Your Majesty asked if it would be difficult for each soldier to learn a hundred characters in three months. I said it would not be hard. But now, after five days, there are still many who cannot even recognize two characters.”

“One character a day—after five days, they should know five characters. How could it be that some can’t even remember two?”

“I told them to learn one character each day, but by the next day, they’d already forgotten what they’d learned before. Many can only remember the character taught that day. So after five days, they still only recall one. If this continues for ten or fifteen days, I fear they’ll still only recognize one.”

“Rise, you’ve misunderstood. As they progress, learning will become easier. How can you conclude, before three months are up, that they won’t know a hundred characters? Besides, even if they don’t reach a hundred, it doesn’t mean you deceived me. You estimated their abilities as best you could; you did not intentionally mislead me. Only with malice would it be considered deceit.”

“Your Majesty is wise and just; this servant thanks you for your great kindness!” Wang Tiqian kowtowed several more times before rising, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. He then summoned a few of the better students for the emperor to inspect.

Wang Tiqian produced several large sheets of paper, each bearing a single character, and showed them to the chosen soldiers. They read aloud: “One,” “All,” “For,” “The,” “Emperor,” “Great,” “Ming.” Clearly, Wang Tiqian had taught them to flatter: the first characters learned formed the phrase, “Everything for the Emperor, everything for Great Ming.” The flattery delighted Zhu Youxiao, and Wei Zhongxian surreptitiously gave Wang Tiqian a thumbs-up.

Zhu Youxiao praised Wang Tiqian, then turned to Yang Guangkui and said, “Confer together on the military organization. If you reach consensus, report to me; if there are differing views, submit them separately. This is a new type of troop—military structure must suit the weapon’s characteristics. Once basic training is complete, officers at all levels will be chosen by their drill and academic performance.”

On the third day, Yang Guangkui presented a memorial. This time, there was only one proposal: each squad would have eleven men with a squad leader and a cook; three squads would make a company led by a company chief; three companies would make a section led by a section chief with a hundred men, including twenty artillerymen operating six tiger squat cannons and two exterminator cannons. Three sections formed a battalion with a battalion chief; three battalions made a regiment with a regimental chief, a thousand-man chief, and a judge advocate, plus fifteen artillerymen with three heavy falconet cannons. The regiment totaled 1,126 men.

This structure largely followed Qi Jiguang’s model, but Zhu Youxiao was dissatisfied. He called Yang Guangkui and the others in to amend the plan, resulting in this new arrangement: a squad of eleven men with a squad leader; three squads per company, led by a company chief and deputy; three companies per section, led by a section chief and deputy, with three judge advocates and a ten-man cook squad plus a medical officer. Three sections per battalion, led by a battalion chief and deputy; three battalions per regiment, led by a regimental chief and deputy, with three signalers. The regiment totaled 1,100 men.

As for the artillery, there would be dedicated artillery regiments. Each artillery squad had thirteen men and six thirty-pound tiger squat cannons, led by a squad leader. Three squads formed a company under a company chief, with six additional hundred-pound exterminator cannons (twenty-four men). Three companies made a section, led by a section chief, deputy, and instructor, plus six heavy falconet cannons (thirty-six men). Three sections formed a battalion, led by a battalion chief; three battalions formed a regiment led by a regimental chief and deputy, with a judge advocate. Each regiment had 2,085 men.

Cavalry units were organized following the same structure as the infantry.

Then there was the logistics regiment, which had not existed previously but which Zhu Youxiao deemed essential. After selecting the robust from the Capital Garrison, those of lesser constitution became logistics troops. Their organization was simple: ten men per squad, with a squad leader; three squads per company, led by a company chief and two judge advocates; three companies per section, led by a section chief; three sections per battalion, led by a battalion chief; three battalions per regiment, led by a regimental chief and deputy. Each logistics regiment had 905 men. Some logistics regiments were attached to artillery and cavalry: one logistics section per artillery section, one per cavalry battalion. Others were independent, responsible for transporting ammunition and provisions.

Regardless of branch, all soldiers had to train in bayonet techniques and musket handling, including artillery and logistics troops.

Medical officers for each unit were selected from the Capital Garrison, required to be literate and quick-witted, and then gathered for training by young imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy. Wang Cheng'en, as the emperor’s representative, acted as instructor, primarily teaching how to staunch bleeding based on the color and speed of blood flow, how to bandage wounds, and especially emphasizing that only boiled and then sun-dried cloth strips should be used for dressing. Soldiers were to bathe frequently, latrines must be well built, and medical officers had to draft hygiene regulations. Zhu Youxiao, at least, understood the difference between arterial and venous bleeding, and knew that deaths from infection might rival those from direct combat, while epidemics could be deadlier than battles. These small but vital lessons, once grasped by the medical officers and then taught to the soldiers, could save many lives on the battlefield.

Zhu Youxiao was a firm believer in the power of institutions. In his previous life, some said that while rules were important, the people enforcing them were more so. He disagreed, believing that a good system should ensure its own lasting execution. But at the outset, he knew he would have to guarantee enforcement himself. Finally, he addressed the officers: “I want the soldiers to live and breathe the regulations, so that our army becomes truly battle-worthy. I believe that, with your support, we can indeed build such a formidable force.”

All present saluted with a flourish and shouted, “Everything for Great Ming! Everything for the Emperor!” Zhu Youxiao returned the salute: “Everything for Great Ming!”

True to his word, Zhu Youxiao frequently visited the Capital Garrison to observe drills. The soldiers tirelessly practiced bayonet techniques. After a month, a few could already stab accurately on command, though most had not yet mastered it. He ordered that those who succeeded be awarded a First-Class Bayonet Medal, made of iron, shaped as a small circle with a bayonet in the center and the Arabic numeral ‘1’ below.

He then had the medal recipients explain to the others how they achieved their skill and help them improve. This proved effective, and more soldiers mastered the technique. Two months later, all regular soldiers had earned the First-Class Bayonet Medal.