Reborn as a tyrant in the Ming Dynasty

When something is to be carried out smoothly, if it involves a wide range of areas, if you want to push it forward steadily, you must use bigger things to attract it.

Apparently, in the matter of rectifying Shanhaiguan, the news of making up for the overdue food and wages was spread by Ma Shilong, which attracted everyone's attention.

For the lower-level soldiers, even the lower-level officers, the thing they care about most is the monthly salary they can receive.

Joining the army in the Ming Dynasty, especially garrisoning at the border, was never for the sake of patriotism. Having enough food to eat and getting paid was probably what most people thought.

I am afraid that many people would not be willing to join the army unless they were forced to do so. After all, joining the army was the last thing to be considered in the Ming Dynasty. The reason was that the status of a general was not high, let alone a soldier?

In the eyes of those high and mighty people, soldiers are just soldiers. They are like ants. Whether they are dead or alive, they can't cause any waves at all.

this is the truth.

When the news of the reissue of soldiers' salaries spread, the officers recommended by Ma Shilong, from the deputy commander-in-chief to the guerrilla general, rushed to the various defense areas in Shanhaiguan as quickly as possible.

With the advantage of re-issuing soldiers' salaries, these officers were able to eliminate the old and weak and deal with the treacherous and corrupt as quickly as possible after arriving at the various defense zones. Even the number of troops in each defense zone underwent a major adjustment.

However, it was precisely this that caused these officers to feel worried. Although their own commander-in-chief had said that the emperor would certainly pay the soldiers' salaries, if the salaries were not paid on time, then Shanhaiguan would inevitably experience a catastrophe.

Especially those soldiers who were transferred out of the Shanhaiguan defense line and stationed in various camps near Shanhaiguan. Once they know that they will not be paid in the end, they will inevitably mutiniate without anyone's incitement.

In this way, even if the Shanhaiguan defense line can be controlled, if these mutinous soldiers choose to disperse to various places in Yongping Prefecture, the consequences will be unimaginable.

The crisis of trust is an existing problem in the Ming army and it is also the most difficult thing to solve. After all, many things have happened in the past that have caused this trust to be trampled upon too much.

This is also the realistic problem facing Zhu Youxiao.

For Zhu Youxiao, the only thing he, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, could do was to do it with his own actions rather than just talking about it.

Saying that is of no use.

Only by doing it can you see change.

Five days later.

A camp outside Shanhaiguan.

"It's already this hour, why hasn't the salary payee come yet?"

"That's right, I guess I was cheated."

"That's impossible. This is what the emperor said himself. This is the imperial decree. Who would dare to lie about this?"

"It's hard to say. What if the emperor changes his mind?"

On the parade ground of the camp, groups of soldiers gathered there. They were talking in low voices in groups of three or five, and there was no military discipline at all.

The composition of these soldiers was very complex. Some belonged to the border troops, some to the garrisons, and some to the guest troops. During the reorganization of Shanhaiguan, they were not selected by the various defense zones, so they were concentrated and sent to that place for temporary stationing.

There are several camps of similar nature scattered throughout Shanhaiguan, and the number of soldiers alone exceeds 30,000.

All the generals who have been on the battlefield know that these soldiers are not worthy of staying in the army. After all, they are a burden and guerrillas.

But these people stayed in Shanhaiguan. No one asked them to leave, and no one drove them away. The number of posts occupied by these people was not more than 30,000, but nearly 60,000!

In other words, nearly half of the vacancies were taken up by some officers.

This is not finished.

As for these old, weak and vagrant soldiers, the wages they received were never in full. At least half of them were taken away, but these people dared to be angry but not to speak out.

Have no idea.

They are old and lonely. If there is any other way, they will not stay in Shanhaiguan. After all, if there is a war in Shanhaiguan, they will be cannon fodder.

Now, due to the rectification of Shanhaiguan, they have been selected from all over the place. If it were not for the issue of re-paying the unpaid wages that attracted people from all walks of life in Shanhaiguan, I am afraid that some chaos would have occurred.

Zhu Youxiao had an extremely accurate grasp of human nature.

"Dong Dong Dong!!!"

Just as the situation became increasingly delicate, the sound of drums suddenly rang out, resounding through the sky, making the crowd gathered on the parade ground nervous.

"Pay wages according to the order!!"

In this situation, a team was seen escorting silver carriages forward, which caused the crowd gathered in the parade ground to start to riot.

"No wonder His Majesty stressed that the arrears of wages for these camps and schools are the most difficult to pay."

Zhang Qingzhen, who was in the crowd, couldn't help but feel nervous when he saw the messy team and many people starting to want to rush forward.

"Someone is coming!!"

Seeing that the order in the parade ground was about to break down, Zhang Qingzhen immediately shouted angrily: "Keep the carriage for me, send out the propaganda team and tell them to preach order. Anyone who dares to bump into the military pay carriage will have their outstanding pay stopped."

"Here!"

The officers on both sides immediately clasped their fists and shouted.

"hurry up!"

"Follow!"

Various shouts and yells were heard here.

As for Zhu Youxiao, since he said he would pay the arrears, he would definitely pay them. The confiscated stolen money could be used for other purposes, such as purchasing food and fodder, or recruiting new soldiers...

However, Zhu Youxiao did not do so. If he wanted to completely control Shanhaiguan, he had to pay the owed wages, otherwise why would his soldiers fight for him?

Scenes like this are happening everywhere in Shanhaiguan.

Giving silver to the soldiers under him might reduce the gold and silver reserves in his hands, but it could win people's hearts. Zhu Youxiao could still figure out how to do this business.

On the main city wall of Shanhaiguan at that time.

"Long live your Majesty!!"

"I am willing to die for Your Majesty!!"

Zhu Youxiao, who was surrounded and standing on the city wall, heard the shouts that were getting louder and louder, and a faint smile appeared on his face. Although the scene of the re-payment of unpaid wages was mostly chaotic, the grassroots soldiers were happy and excited to receive the actual silver.

This is a one-time payment of all outstanding wages.

The most important thing is that all the wages owed were paid in full, not a single ounce of silver was embezzled. This has never happened before.

"The military spirit of Shanhaiguan has been united."

Under the gaze of some people, Zhu Youxiao stood with his hands behind his back, overlooking the chaotic crowd under the city wall, and said calmly: "Leave the rest to Ma Shilong, and I will be relieved."