Chapter 252: Are we saving these military expenses now to save them for future war compensation?
The problem that has troubled commanders since ancient times is that troops equipped with long-range weapons are not good at close combat, and close combat troops are unable to shoot from a distance.

The later invention of the bayonet partially solved this problem.

The breech-loading rifle using a firing pin finally solved the problem of loading speed in addition to good range, power and accuracy.

The infantry's barrage is enough to block all melee troops rushing towards them.

Weapons and equipment can be continuously upgraded and there are rules to follow.

The Ming Dynasty wanted to develop a breech-loading, rifled, and firing pin-powered flintlock rifle, which was an inevitable step in the process of upgrading firearms.

The reason why Zhu Gang chose to exaggerate was mainly because he was worried that Zhu Yuanzhang would see the defects of the flintlock rifle and thus be unwilling to increase investment in the military industry.

"Since military trade is an important way to achieve the deployment of weapons and equipment, increasing military spending to consolidate national defense security is a clear trend for the future of the Ming Dynasty."

Faced with Zhu Gang's eloquent description of the necessity of increasing military spending, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately frowned.

“The four prefectures of Su, Song, Jia, and Hu are currently in the post-disaster reconstruction stage, and the refugees there still need food allocated by the court.

I wish I could break a copper coin into two halves. If that doesn't work, you can just stop working in Jinwangfu City in Taiyuan!"

Zhu Gang nodded without hesitation and said, "Since the court is in trouble, I am willing to endure some grievances temporarily.

However, most of the funds in the one million strings of Ming treasure notes had been converted into agreement savings contracts, making him the "number one customer" among the time deposits of Ming money houses.

If my father breaks the contract now, others will follow suit.

I'm afraid it won't be long before the Ming Dynasty Bank will have to close down!"

Zhu Gang was not exaggerating when he said this. The Ming Dynasty Money House had previously absorbed 110 million taels of silver and strings of Ming Dynasty treasure notes from civil and military officials in the court.

However, Xu Da and five other dukes used land deeds worth hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to borrow a large sum of money from the Ming Dynasty Money House.

If they knew that the imperial court could interfere with savings contracts at will, the Ming Dynasty money houses would probably only be dreaming if they wanted to use this method to attract depositors in the future.

In addition, although the loans applied for by Xu Da and the other five dukes were paid in the form of Ming treasure notes, insufficient reserves were ultimately a hidden danger.

It is better to teach people how to fish than to teach people how to fish.

It was impossible for Zhu Gang to continue to "transfuse blood" to the Ming Dynasty money houses with the financial resources of Shanxi province alone.

Therefore, once the rules are set, they must not be changed easily.

Seeing his third son's firm attitude, Zhu Yuanzhang could only sigh silently.

"We can only blame the Ming Dynasty for having too many places to spend money and the treasury being too poor.

We are so poor that we dare not spend even a single copper coin!"

Zhu Gang shook his head and said, "I believe that military technology confrontation is an eternal theme, which will lead to the continuous upgrading of weapons and equipment.

Stimulate continued investment in military spending and lead to the emergence of new equipment.

Produce one generation, develop one generation; pre-research one generation, explore one generation.

This is the development rhythm of military products, which will drive the long-term growth of the military industry and is also the most step-by-step growth model for military enterprises.

Moreover, if the Ming Dynasty does not actively develop firearms, the enemy will inevitably surpass us on this basis.

Even if we save some money on military spending now, we will have to spend it again in the form of war reparations in the future!"

Although the Ming Dynasty had never ceded territory or paid compensation in history, Zhu Di had spent most of his life practicing martial arts, but abandoned it when Zhu Zhanji, the hexagonal warrior, came to power.

Large tracts of northern and southern territories were abandoned at this time. At this time, the great voyages of the West were expanding in full swing, and only the Ming Dynasty implemented a "closed-door policy" of all-round contraction.

Zhu Gang had heard a saying in later generations: the decline of the Ming Dynasty had begun during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong Zhu Zhanji, which also laid a very important foreshadowing for the Tumu Incident during the period of "Emperor Calling the Gate".

Since Zhu Gang has decided to use the advantage of time travel to change the current situation of the Ming Dynasty, it is impossible for him to leave any hidden dangers for his successor.

"The military expenses saved now will become part of the war reparations in the future?"

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang was carefully thinking about Zhu Gang's last words.

However, in less than an incense stick of time, he realized that something seemed to be wrong.

"I've heard from your eldest brother before that the Northern Yuan Dynasty has completely changed after the Jin army's repeated attacks in recent years.

We estimate that this expedition is just an armed march, or at most a combat exercise.

As for those other small countries around us, we have already classified them as "unconquered countries".

I am so grateful that I don't even have time to express my gratitude, so how could I have any intention of being disloyal to the Ming Dynasty?"

In history, in addition to the Korean Peninsula and Japan, the countries listed as "unconquered countries" by Zhu Yuanzhang included the Great Ryukyu Kingdom, the Lesser Ryukyu Kingdom, the Kingdom of Annan, the Kingdom of Zhenla, the Kingdom of Siam, the Kingdom of Champa, Sumatra, the Western Kingdom, Java Island, the Kingdom of Penhang, the Kingdom of Baihua, the Kingdom of Srivijaya, and the Kingdom of Brunei.

Among them, the Kingdom of Annan became more arrogant after Zhu Di became emperor, and repeatedly invaded and harassed the Ming border.

Originally, the Ming Dynasty did not want to provoke a war. At first, it mainly issued warnings and asked them to return the seized land.

However, the Hu government of Annan at that time pretended to agree while continuing to seize the Ming Dynasty's land.

They thought that the emperor was far away and did not take the Ming court seriously at all.

Despite repeated warnings, the Hu government of Annan continued to act on its own.

Finally, Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di could no longer tolerate it and issued the cry "Whoever offends the Ming must be punished, no matter how far away they are." This led to the largest Ming-Vietnam War in history.

However, the fuse of this war was laid as early as the third year of Hongwu.

Because the Hu regime in Annan was a pseudo-regime, and its king Hu Cang came to the throne by usurping the throne.

The original king was named Chen Rikun. In the third year of Hongwu, a coup d'état took place in the Annan court.

Prime Minister Le Qui Ly killed King Tran Ri Kun and usurped the throne, but he did not become king directly, but only became a "retired emperor".

In order to conceal his true identity, Li Jilin let his son Li Cang succeed him, and even changed his own surname to Hu.

Of course, if we take this incident as an example, Zhu Gang thought it was not enough to move Zhu Yuanzhang, so he decided to take drastic measures.

"Dad, truth is always on the edge of the sword, and dignity is always within the range of the cannon.

There is a country that you also listed as a country that should not be conquered, but their ruler said this.

"If you want to conquer East Asia, you must conquer Ming; if you want to conquer Ming, you must conquer the peninsula!"

As he spoke, Zhu Gang asked Zhang Long, who followed him into the palace, to take out a "Map of Southeast Asia" from his sleeve.

"Dad, you see, it is this island country. I remember that you once issued an edict to warn them not to continue harassing the coast of Ming Dynasty.

But this tiny island country actually dared to massacre the members of the delegation in front of Lord Yang Zai and demonstrate against the Ming Dynasty.

This country fears power but not virtue. If we can't get rid of it soon, it will become a serious threat to our dynasty!"

(End of this chapter)