novelhk Chapter 941: Expand the army by 5, absolutely not less!
Chapter 941: Expand the army by 5, absolutely not less!
In a lucrative project like the cavalry, this kind of carelessness proved fatal. Even the slightest relaxation of oversight would inevitably lead to the exploitation of ambiguities in procurement pricing and material allocation. The price of war horses could be manipulated, creating a vast margin of opportunity that could lead to shocking corruption cases.
Even though Gao Yao controls the economic lifeline, he is not a god who can turn stones into gold. Every penny comes from taxes, production and trade, and they are the flesh and blood of the new regime. How can he allow the scoundrels to enrich themselves?
More importantly, Gaoyao was facing unprecedented financial pressure. One doesn't know how expensive food and fuel are until they manage a household. His grand plans, whether building roads and irrigation projects, rewarding farming and warfare, appeasing refugees, or maintaining an increasingly large bureaucracy, all required massive financial investment.
The recent rapid expansion of territory, adding nearly eleven counties to the vast expanse, has rapidly increased this pressure. The newly conquered territories are not readily available for immediate profit. They have been ravaged by war, their livelihoods devastated, and they need to rebuild order and restore production. Gao Yao must continuously invest vast sums of money in these areas to stabilize them and gradually transform them into the "blood-making" organs that support his hegemony. His wealth, accumulated over many years, is being poured into this bottomless pit at an almost visible rate.
Indeed, in the long run, once these eleven counties were restored to life, the tax revenue, food, and manpower they could generate would be truly astronomical, more than enough to support any of his ambitions. However, the "long term" was a beautiful future, while the "present" was a difficult time that had to be overcome.
Gao Yao also had to learn to "tighten his belt and live a frugal life." However, his austerity wasn't indiscriminate stinginess. He was well versed in the principle of "doing what you should do and not doing what you shouldn't do," adhering to the pragmatic principle of "saving where you should and spending where you should." While he could advocate frugality in areas like official salaries and daily expenses, he remained lavish in crucial areas that concerned the nation's foundation and boosted morale.
For example, he never reduced the rewards for meritorious officers and soldiers; instead, they were even more generous due to the expansion of the territory. For core projects such as cavalry development, which were crucial to future strategic initiative, he would never cut corners on the budget, even in times of financial hardship. He understood that cutting corners in these areas would be like destroying the Great Wall.
Therefore, Gao Yao's assignment of 100,000 cavalry to Cao Shen had a deeper, less explicit purpose: to balance the power of the factions within his command. As the territory expanded, the composition of the forces became increasingly complex, with a complex interweaving of various factions, including former Yuan Dynasty members, surrendered ministers and generals, and local tyrants. As a strategic branch in the era of cold weapons, whoever controlled cavalry held significant influence in the future military landscape. Leaving this authority solely to Han Xin's faction, driven by their aggressive but potentially poor management, would inevitably cause unrest among other factions and even threaten to disrupt the delicate internal balance.
Cao Shen, on the other hand, was a man of great experience, magnanimous character, and fair conduct. He held high prestige among all factions and was less likely to be seen as a sharp representative of any particular faction. Having him in charge of this matter would ensure that the mission proceeded steadily, reassure all parties involved, and reduce internal friction.
Through this personnel arrangement, Gao Yao silently conveyed a message: such a crucial national project must transcend factional disputes and prioritize the interests of the whole. At the same time, he also anchored Cao Shen and the stable forces he represented at the core of future military power, laying the groundwork for possible political changes.
Returning to the mission itself, the preparation and development of a 100,000-man cavalry force was the ultimate test of a nation's comprehensive strength. It challenged the regime's organizational and mobilization capabilities, its ability to allocate financial resources, the production capacity of its craftsmen, and even its diplomatic maneuvering. Cao Shen's road ahead was destined to be long and arduous. He needed to coordinate various parties, resolve conflicts, and find the optimal solution within a limited budget, all while resisting temptations and pressures from all sides.
Gao Yao sat upright on the throne, his gaze piercing as he slowly scanned the solemn gathering of civil and military officials within the hall. The previous decree regarding cabinet and fiscal reform had already stirred excitement within them. Now, he was about to announce an even more earth-shattering decision, one that would determine the very foundation of the nation and the future of this nascent dynasty. After Cao Shen accepted the order and returned to his seat, the hall was filled with the sound of a pin drop, a mixture of anticipation and tension thickening the air.
Gao Yao cleared his throat, his voice steady and penetrating, each word carrying the weight of a thousand pounds. "Alright, now let's begin the announcement of military reforms." He paused briefly, giving his subordinates time to digest the information, then continued, "The previous legionary structure is no longer adequate for the vastness of our dynasty's territory and the complexity of future challenges. Therefore, a comprehensive upgrade and reshaping is necessary. Effective immediately, legions will be upgraded to group armies, with the total number of personnel in each group army increasing to 120,000!"
These words were like a boulder dropped into a calm lake. Everyone present, even veterans like Han Xin and Ying Bu, gasped in shock! One hundred and twenty thousand men per army group! Based on the four currently planned army groups, this would amount to a standing army of 480,000, approaching 500,000! This number would have been unimaginable in the early days of the Southern Border Army. Once upon a time, even a hundred thousand soldiers was a luxury, but now they were faced with the task of building an armed force of this magnitude.
However, the shock of the important officials was fleeting, replaced by deep reflection. They quickly realized that this seemingly "exaggerated" figure, when viewed against the backdrop of today's territorial scale, was not an act of excessive military expansion, but rather a sign of necessity and restraint. Many of the officials present in the hall had experienced the heyday of the Qin Empire, and they couldn't help but recall the days when the original emperor looked down upon the world with his unparalleled dominance.
At that time, the campaigns against the Xiongnu in the north, the conquest of the Baiyue in the south, and the construction of the Great Wall and the Great Highway required more than a million soldiers and civilians. Meng Tian's northern border army numbered 300,000, while Wei Tu Sui's southern expeditionary force numbered 500,000. Add to that the elite troops in Guanzhong and troops from various prefectures, and the total number of troops at the First Emperor's disposal was undoubtedly close to a million.
In contrast, the kingdom's territory now encompasses much of the former Qin's prime territory, not to mention the newly expanded Maurya Kingdom and other vast territories. With only 500,000 troops to garrison and expand, this is not only modest, but can even be said to be well within the nation's capabilities, demonstrating considerable caution and restraint. Gao Yao's move was not an act of vanity, but rather a thoughtful consideration based on realistic territorial management and future strategic needs.