NABC Chapter 2663 Separation of Military and Political Power
Chapter 2663 Separation of Military and Political Power
Li Shen knew that the An Lushan Rebellion in history was caused by the fact that the regional military governors held their own armies and acted independently, leading to a fragmentation of power in the central government.
Each region used the imperial court's money to support its own soldiers, and each wanted to become its own king.
Li Shimin didn't hide anything and nodded.
"This is what I'm worried about."
The Zhenguan era saw several rebellions, all orchestrated by individuals with military power in various regions; in fact, the first to rebel were even members of the imperial family.
"Father, I wonder if the imperial court has considered separating military and civil affairs, instead of letting the governors and magistrates have the final say?"
After a long silence, Li Shen finally asked. He didn't really understand these things, but based on his experience from later generations, he believed that military and political affairs should be separated.
Local authorities have no right to interfere with the military, and the military has no right to interfere with local authorities.
"Separation of military and political affairs?" This was not the first time Li Shimin had heard this term; Li Shen had made this suggestion many years ago.
However, Li Shimin felt it was unnecessary at the time. He was still alive, and anyone who dared to rebel could be killed.
Hearing it again now evokes different thoughts in me.
"But don't you know that the Zhechong Prefecture is not under local jurisdiction? Instead, it is directly under the jurisdiction of the Sixteen Guards of the Southern Army."
Li Shimin frowned and asked.
There are six or seven hundred Zhechong Prefectures across the country, with the largest having 1,200 people and the smallest having 500 or 600 people. All of them are directly under the jurisdiction of the Sixteen Guards and are directly managed by the central government, not under the jurisdiction of county magistrates or prefects.
This was established long ago, during the Wude era.
Li Shen nodded and replied:
"Father, of course I know this, but is it really true?"
As far as I know, local military governorates are usually coordinated and commanded by higher-level local authorities, rather than directly obeying local administrative officials.
The next level I'm referring to is the prefecture or, at a higher level, the governor's office or the protectorate.
During the trip to Lingnan, Xi Bian, as the prefect, could mobilize his subordinate Zhechong Prefectures to suppress the rioters, while Dang Renhong could mobilize all the Zhechong Prefectures in Lingnan Circuit.
There's also the Anxi Protectorate. If I go there to temporarily serve as the governor of Xizhou, I can mobilize tens of thousands of troops from the Anxi Protectorate. Although I have the fish tally in hand, it's still too much power.
In the event of war, the local military command would first request the Protectorate General to make a decision, rather than reporting directly to the Ministry of War.
"That's because the distance is too far, which could easily delay the opportunity to strike," Li Shimin interjected.
"Yes, that's what my son meant too. In the end, the local military governors don't completely obey the Sixteen Guards; they also obey the orders of the local governors and commanders."
That's why I said, why not establish military regions like the Protectorate General, each governing the military districts within its jurisdiction?
The military region does not participate in local government affairs; it is only responsible for protecting local areas.
Furthermore, generals in military regions should not stay in one region for too long; they should be rotated every two to three years.
We must prevent them from forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices.
Li Shen basically finished speaking there. He really didn't understand politics, and what he said was just a repetition of what he was told.
The specific details and potential drawbacks still need to be discussed by the senior officials in the court.
He was just offering an inspiration.
Just like Guo Xiaoke, the Grand Protector of the Parthian Protectorate, who managed the entire Parthian Protectorate and had the final say on everything from political affairs to military matters.
He has money and is sick; given enough time, he might win over the people and become a local tyrant.
In the Anxi Protectorate, he truly ruled by his own hand.
Li Shimin closed his eyes to rest, pondering Li Shen's words. He understood the reasoning behind them without needing to say it, and he even understood their meaning better than Li Shen did.
Indeed, the protectorates and governorates in various regions wielded considerable power. Dang Renhong, the Grand Governor of the Guangzhou Governorate, embezzled a great deal of money.
Before sending Li Shen, he had the Ministry of War issue an edict to the six local military commands to test whether they had been won over by Dang Renhong and rebelled, fearing that Li Shen might encounter danger.
When Li Shen went to Xizhou this time, he also sent about ten Zhechong Prefectures, totaling 10,000 people, to Xizhou to protect him.
He even gave Li Shen a fish tally, allowing him to mobilize the border troops of Liangzhou and the 50,000-strong army of Qinghai Road at critical moments.
In name, the local military command was indeed directly under the jurisdiction of the Sixteen Guards of the Southern Army, but in reality, as Li Shen said.
"Um... Father, if there's nothing else, I'll be going now." Li Shen slowly got up, afraid of disturbing his father's thoughts.
Anyway, he has already said everything he needed to say.
"Wait, where is your pirate crew now?" Li Shimin opened his eyes just as Li Shen turned to leave.
“At sea…” Li Shen replied.
"Nonsense, if the pirate crew isn't at sea, what else could they be on the Wei River?" Li Shimin cursed angrily.
Li Shen thought to himself, "It's not impossible, as long as you agree."
However, this was just a thought; he dared not say it aloud.
"I'm asking you where they are now." Li Shimin glared at Li Shen.
“In…in the South China Sea,” Li Shen stammered.
"Is that so? But why have I heard that the waters off Silla and Baekje are not very peaceful, with a group of pirates entrenched there, specializing in plundering merchant ships from Japan and Silla?"
"Do you perhaps have two pirate crews?" Li Shimin asked with a look of skepticism.
"Is that so? My son just got back and I hadn't heard anything about it. They're incredibly audacious, daring to commit evil deeds in my Great Tang's waters!"
Don't worry, Father. After I get back and investigate, I'll definitely send someone to teach them a lesson.
Li Shen looked surprised, but inside he was panicking. This was his second pirate crew, the Straw Hat Pirates!
Meanwhile, the first Roger Pirates were still pirates in Malacca, specializing in robbing merchant ships carrying spices.
"You really don't know?" Li Shimin was somewhat skeptical.
“Really, I swear.” Li Shen blurted out.
"Hmm? Hmph." Li Shimin immediately snorted coldly.
“Father, I promise.” Li Shen corrected.
However, Li Shen's large, watery eyes, filled with sincerity, betrayed him.
Li Shimin immediately guessed what Li Shen was talking about. Over the years, he had long since learned some of Li Shen's bad habits from Consort Wei.
No one knows a son better than his mother. As Li Shen's mother, how could she not know his habits since childhood? Others may not know when Li Shen was lying, but Consort Wei knew best.
In order to deal with Li Shen, Li Shimin even went so far as to seduce him, putting in a great deal of effort.
"Li Shen, is there something you haven't reported? I'll give you another chance."
Li Shimin sat up, leaned back on the cushion, and crossed his legs, just like Li Shen usually did.
"Is...is that so?" Li Shen tried to appear calm. He hadn't reported this matter, but he wanted to keep it a secret for himself, in case he needed it later.
"That's a good idea," Li Shimin said with a smile.
"I really don't have that." Li Shen shook his head, answering almost reflexively.
"Heh, it seems you're not planning to tell the truth. You're hiding a pirate crew, preparing a way out for yourself, planning to hide in the sea in the future, is that right?"
(I consulted the Zizhi Tongjian and the Old Book of Tang for this part; it's not something I made up or imagined.)
You may doubt my character, but you cannot doubt my spirit.
Oh, and some people say that the protagonist is always exploited by Li Shimin and is willing to be Li Shimin's dog.
All I want to say is, if someone like that valued me, I'd fawn over them even more than Li Shen.