Chapter Five: The Horse Market

  Thank you Yue Yu Xin Lou, Fu Yun Tu Xiao Yue, Tian Xia Di Yi Bai. I will work hard to make Su Tian Cheng create more brilliant works.

  The Ming dynasty implemented a hereditary military system, where one served as a soldier for life, and sons replaced their fathers, with the military household being managed directly by the Ministry of War. Military personnel received different salaries and rations based on their rank, with higher ranks receiving more. Soldiers retired at 60 years old and enjoyed preferential treatment according to their rank, but ordinary soldiers had very few privileges.

  The biggest difference between the Ming Dynasty and previous dynasties lies in the management of the military. The system of military colonies was initiated, where all troops under the jurisdiction of the outer garrisons were required to engage in farming. The emperor Zhu Yuanzhang decreed that the land surrounding the garrisons would be nationalized as "official fields" and allocated to the garrisons. In border areas, three-tenths of the soldiers guarded the cities, while seven-tenths engaged in farming. In inland areas, two-tenths guarded the cities, while eight-tenths engaged in farming. Each soldier who farmed was allocated 50 mu of land, considered as one share, and provided with oxen and farm tools. Taxes were collected from them.

  The army of the Ming Dynasty was divided into two major parts: the inner guard and the outer guard. The inner guard was further divided into the Capital Garrison (京营) and the Imperial Bodyguard (亲军都护府). The Capital Garrison was responsible for guarding the capital, while the Imperial Bodyguard was responsible for guarding the imperial palace, escorting the emperor, and other related matters. There were twelve Imperial Bodyguards, with the first one being the famous Embroidered Uniform Guard (锦衣卫). The inner guard held a special status and did not need to engage in military farming.

  The army, which accounts for the overwhelming majority of the outer guards, is roughly divided into four types: garrison troops, stationed troops, transport troops and guard troops. The garrison troops are responsible for defending cities, patrolling and coastal defense. The stationed troops engage in farming in military colonies. The transport troops are responsible for transportation and communication. The guard troops take turns to perform duties in the capital or on the border.

  At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the regular army had a total strength of 2 million people. Adding local troops, there were 3.1 million people in total. It was impossible for such a large army to rely on the imperial court for survival, so Zhu Yuanzhang thought of the method of military colonies, allowing the army to support itself. Soldiers would be stationed in garrisons, cultivate land, collect rent and taxes, and become self-sufficient.

  This idea was not bad, and the initial effect was very good. The various Wei Suos basically achieved self-sufficiency, and some of the money and grain were used to expand and repair the Wei Suos. However, as time went on, the military settlement system slowly collapsed.

  The main reason is that the tax burden of the military garrison is too heavy, even far exceeding the taxes borne by farmers. The soldiers are unable to bear it, and the army is a place where military law is enforced. If they cannot pay their taxes, they will be subject to military law. When farmers fail to pay their taxes, the government will consider the actual situation and sometimes turn a blind eye and not collect them.

  Based on this situation, soldiers began to flee in large numbers, and the military household became the poorest group among all registered households. When they were poor, they thought of changing, and the soldiers began to sell their war horses, weapons, uniforms, etc., which was an open secret.

  It was during the Tianqi and Chongzhen periods that the Later Jin's harassment forced the court to begin implementing a recruitment system, specifically recruiting soldiers. Since they were recruited to fight wars, silver had to be paid out. Without silver, who would fight for you? The court couldn't come up with the silver, and the issue of unpaid wages repeatedly arose, to the point where some local soldiers didn't receive their pay in silver for an entire year and went hungry. Starting from the first year of Chongzhen's reign, military personnel from various garrisons began to mutiny, gradually becoming the backbone of peasant uprisings. As for killing the good and usurping merit, it was nothing at all.

  This has to be said is a tragedy.

  Knowing history is beneficial, so Su Tiancheng dared to go outside Xiangling City to sell war horses.

  The imperial court's control over horses was very strict, and a large number of warhorses were needed for battles, resulting in a shortage of horses among the people. The horse market transactions were extremely hot. However, the horse markets were generally located outside the prefectural cities, provincial cities, and county towns, on the one hand to avoid official inspections and give face to the officials, and on the other hand to facilitate smooth transactions. The local garrisons and patrol offices knew about many situations but turned a blind eye as long as the person in charge of the horse market offered them silver, they didn't ask any questions.

  At the third watch, Su Tiancheng and Su Er'tong rode horses to arrive outside Xiangling City.

  The young masters of a big family must learn to ride horses, including the little servants who follow them. This is a manifestation of the family's face, just like how rich young masters in modern society know how to drive cars. Su Tiancheng felt fortunate that he knew how to ride a horse.

  "Two children, find an inn. You wait at the inn. I'll ride a horse to the horse market. The rest of the war horses, you take care of them and don't let anyone touch them. Call the innkeeper to help with feeding."

  Su Tiancheng finished speaking and took out a silver ingot, handing it over to Su Er'tong.

  This silver ingot weighs about five taels.

  "Young master, I don't need so much silver, one or two pieces will be enough."

  "What's the point of talking so much? Just take this money and use it as you like."

  Su Er Tong hastily took over the silver and his own young master underwent a heaven-reversing and earth-overturning change.

  Before the third watch, the horse market was already very lively. Most transactions were conducted in the middle of the night. After dawn broke, the horse market became deserted. Everyone had their own concerns. Who would dare to lead horses out for trading in broad daylight? Wouldn't that be openly defying the authorities? Besides, after the new year began, bandits roamed everywhere in Pingyang Prefecture. The authorities could find any excuse to say you were a bandit and confiscate your horses, leaving people with nothing.

  Su Tiancheng had already changed his clothes, fortunately Su Er Tong thought of bringing two sets when he went out. What he was wearing was still quite good, brocade satin, looked different from the ordinary.

  For safety's sake, Su Tiancheng wore a bamboo hat and covered his face with a veil, so that no one could see his appearance.

  There are really a lot of people in the horse market, bustling with activity. In the early winter season, the cold air is biting, but inside the horse market, you can see many bare-chested men, sweating profusely.

  Su Tiancheng was extremely cautious, in a place like this where all sorts of people gathered and dragons and snakes mixed together, if he couldn't get a clear sense of the situation, rashly going to make a deal might lead to him being targeted by someone.

  The people here are all seasoned veterans, and they've seen it all. If you think you can fool them, then just wait for murder and robbery to happen. Five soldiers have already been killed, and Su Tiancheng doesn't want to continue killing.

  After a slight calmness, Su Tiancheng began to slowly digest the information in his mind.

  The former Su Tiancheng, with a bookworm's mindset: learning for the sake of officialdom, bringing glory to ancestors, male superiority over females, makes this 21st-century person feel ridiculous and absurd. What's most detestable is that he spends all day studying, becoming a scholar at 16, with excessive pressure on himself, leading him to become deranged.

  Of course, there are also some objective reasons, including the family's neglect, the bullying of the eldest wife, and the pressure of real life. But men have to bear the pressure.

  After a long time, Su Tiancheng still couldn't find the price of horse trading.

  He's somewhat disheartened, reading books all day really is harmful to people.

  You can't trade without knowing the price, know yourself and know your enemy, win a hundred battles, no matter what you do, you must have a bottom line in your heart, this is Su Tiancheng's principle of doing things, he must inquire about the price clearly, and only under the condition of ensuring his own safety, will he start trading, otherwise, he would rather not sell war horses for the time being.

  The transactions in the horse market were very hot, with people holding torches everywhere. Horses were constantly being led into the market or ridden in, and it didn't take long for someone to ride out on a horse, which clearly indicated that a deal had been made.

  Su Tiancheng soon discovered his mistake, after roughly circling the horse market, he rarely saw people dressed like him, and even if they were, they were here to buy horses, and they all brought servants with them. He was leading a warhorse around in the horse market, what would people think he was doing?

  After a while of observation, he found that the transactions in the horse market were quite different from the usual business situation. The horses brought over were all in one place, and many buyers came to see them. If they liked a horse, they would directly negotiate the price with the seller. These negotiations were all conducted privately, and outsiders had no idea what they were discussing.

  Seeing this, Su Tiancheng understood that wanting to inquire about the price of horse trading was no different from a fantasy.

  After feeling slightly disappointed, Su Tiancheng quickly adjusted his emotions. It's not a big deal, yesterday evening, he met with the military officer and was able to handle it himself, let alone coming to the horse market to sell horses. This is not a major event either. The only thing is that time is limited and can't be dragged on for too long, after all, there are five warhorses in hand that need to be traded quickly.

  After a moment's thought, Su Tiancheng made up his mind and prepared to start trading. Since he had come, he would make the best of it. When soldiers came, he would resist them with arms; when water came, he would dam it with earth. He could handle the current difficulties as they arose.