Chapter 95

Chapter 96: Societies

When Wang Anshi initially established the Baojia system, one of his goals was to save military expenses and maintain a standing army among the people; the other, of course, was to maintain the needs of the ruling class, to eliminate bandits and protect the people. The idea was good, but during its implementation, numerous problems arose. These problems were not effectively resolved and instead became a burden on the people, eventually turning into a chaotic and unmanageable system.

The frequent training sessions, especially the mandatory drills, brought great suffering to the Baojia members. Not only did it severely impact their families' agricultural production, but they also had to endure the orders and bullying of the Baozheng, Baochang, Xunjian, and their subordinates, as well as the officials of the Baojia Office. Some Baojia members even resorted to self-mutilation to avoid the drills, and cases of desertion were rampant.

Where there is oppression, there is resistance. By the end of Emperor Shenzong's reign, bandits rose up in various regions, and these bandits were often the Baojia members and local militia who had received military training. This became a powerful weapon for the high-ranking officials to criticize the new laws. Even Cai Jing, who was a strong advocate of the new laws, was vague about this issue, fearing that excessive disturbances would lead to civil unrest.

Zhao Cheng was also aware of these drawbacks and had considered them. If the training continued as before, with each Baojia member receiving only two sheng of rice and ten coins for vegetables per day, it would certainly lead to the same old problems. This amount was barely enough for one person's sustenance, leaving the elderly and children at home to starve, and people would naturally be dissatisfied.

His plan was to conduct military training for all the able-bodied men on his estate, then select a group of the strongest and most skilled archers and horsemen to form a standing force, completely detached from agricultural work, supported by the estate. This force would function similarly to a modern construction battalion's duty company, ready to respond to emergencies on his territory, serving as the first tier of the Zhao estate's defense.

The second tier would consist of strong and capable men who could still engage in some agricultural work. These men could be selected from the various workshops on the estate. After two expansions, the number of workers in his workshops had reached nearly two thousand, most of whom were strong young men with stable incomes. Their wages would continue during training, and their opposition should be minimal. These men, having worked in the factories and been subject to various disciplines, were more obedient and easier to train. In the future, they could also serve as skilled craftsmen accompanying the army.

The third tier would be the tenant farmers, who could be trained during their idle periods, receiving appropriate subsidies or rent reductions. They would not be detached from their land and should be more willing to participate. These men could take turns patrolling and guarding the villages, and in case of emergencies, they could be quickly mobilized. After all, trained men were better than untrained ones.

Zhao Cheng believed he had considered everything thoroughly and decided to discuss his plan with Huang Jingchen. After all, Huang had experience in the court and could see things more clearly. When he hurriedly found Huang Jingchen and laid out his plan, it only made Huang burst into laughter.

"Uncle Huang, what are you laughing at? I'm being serious!" Zhao Cheng said, looking at the old man with dissatisfaction.

"Hehe, I know the prince is being serious!" The old man finally stopped laughing and said, "Although the prince has considered everything, he has not experienced the events of that time. At the end of Emperor Shenzong's reign, the Baojia members rebelled, shocking the court and causing national turmoil. Although the rebellion was quickly suppressed, the former officials were very cautious about it, and no one dared to mention it again. After the current emperor ascended the throne, he also wanted to restore the drills, but the Baojia members in the capital region all petitioned to be exempted, and the matter was eventually dropped. If the prince now revives the Baojia system, it will certainly invite suspicion from all sides and may reach the emperor's ears. After all, the local militia is still an army!"

"But this doesn't violate the laws of the Song Dynasty, and there are precedents. It shouldn't be that serious, right?" Zhao Cheng said, somewhat puzzled.

"Let me finish, Prince. This is just one aspect. When Prime Minister Wang Anshi implemented the Baojia system, he had the ideal of enriching the country and strengthening the army, but he also aimed to change the recruitment system to a conscription system to save military expenses. The matter was too broad and difficult to implement, and despite his efforts, it did not significantly enhance the military strength, akin to drawing a pie to satisfy hunger." Huang Jingchen continued, "Moreover, the Baojia system imposed a heavy burden on the people. Once a man became a Baojia member, he could not easily escape it, and both the locals and the officials avoided it."

"Do you mean that restoring the Baojia system is too difficult and not worth it?" Zhao Cheng finally understood. Both the court and the people were strongly opposed to it, making implementation extremely difficult. It seemed he had been working in isolation, just like Prime Minister Wang Anshi.

"The court has been indecisive about the protection of the army. Is the prince also feeling impatient?" Huang Jingchen nodded and smiled.

"Ah!" Zhao Cheng looked at Huang Jingchen with a hint of resentment. He had been working tirelessly to accumulate wealth, expand his territory, and organize the region, all to establish an armed force. Now that he had the money and the weapons, his plan was shattered by Huang's words. He felt as if he had drunk a cup of ice water in the dead of winter, chilled to the bone. He even considered retiring to the south.

"Prince, don't be sad. We can take our time with matters in the capital. For now, the prince can start by forming a society!" Huang Jingchen, unable to bear Zhao Cheng's gaze, quickly suggested.

"Form a society?" Zhao Cheng was confused. Was the old man suggesting he learn from the mafia and recruit some thugs as bodyguards, or was he suggesting he organize something like the spring and autumn festivals in the countryside?

"Yes, a society!" Huang Jingchen saw that the prince was confused and quickly explained, "Has the prince heard of the Qiyun Society and the Jiao Society in the capital?"

"I haven't heard of the Qiyun Society, but Pan Long mentioned the Jiao Society. What does this have to do with us?" Zhao Cheng was even more confused. The Jiao Society was just a club for wrestling enthusiasts, a small group that organized activities and had fun together, seemingly unrelated to forming an armed force.

"Prince, it's good that you've heard of it. In the capital, there are poetry societies like the Luhua Society, archery societies like the Shegong Tana Society, wrestling societies like the Jiao Society, football societies like the Qiyun Society, drama societies like the Feilv Society, and religious societies like the Lian Society and the Jingye Society of the Pure Land Sect, as well as the Lingbao Society and the Zhenwu Society of Daoism, and even the Cuicor Society organized by the entertainment districts. These are not directly related to what we are discussing, but the prince can look into them when he returns to the capital!" Huang Jingchen listed over twenty societies, covering various fields. Zhao Cheng even wondered if the eunuchs had formed their own society. By the end, he realized that all the previous talk was just a prelude.

"In the Jingde period, after the peace treaty with the Liao Dynasty, the people in the northern border regions formed the Bow and Arrow Society. The formal members of the Bow and Arrow Society were all main households, and within a certain area, the main households formed a society. Regardless of their wealth, each household contributed one person, and they elected a leader with substantial assets and martial skills, known as the society head, deputy, or clerk. The members were required to carry bows while farming and swords while cutting wood. The rewards and punishments were stricter than those of the government. They patrolled in shifts, and if they failed to capture northern invaders or local bandits, the members on duty would face severe penalties. They were always prepared with weapons and horses to repel the Liao invaders, and in case of an emergency, they could gather a thousand men in a short time."

Huang Jingchen shifted the topic to a hundred years ago, but Zhao Cheng understood. These organizations were similar to the self-defense teams formed in the occupied areas during the Anti-Japanese War, akin to the Red Spear Society and the Big Knife Society, which were spontaneously formed by the people to protect themselves.

"Uncle Huang, does the court not prohibit the people from holding weapons?" Zhao Cheng knew that since the Qin Dynasty, the court had strictly restricted the possession of weapons by the people. The Bow and Arrow Society was openly armed with knives and guns, and he remembered that Jin Yong's "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" had a vivid description of the weapon restrictions in the Song Dynasty.

"Not exactly. The weapons prohibited by our court do not include common weapons like bows, arrows, knives, and spears. Civilian households are not allowed to use weapons not authorized by the law. All manufactured bows, arrows, crossbows, and saddles must be made according to official standards and marked with the maker's name for inspection. Violators will be punished with corporal or penal servitude. In areas with fierce local customs and rampant bandits, it is necessary to allow the people to arm themselves."

"Oh, so the formation of armed societies is not prohibited by the local authorities?" Zhao Cheng understood that while the possession of weapons was not prohibited, the formation of armed groups was still a potential threat.

"Hehe, the prince is being cautious now. After the reforms during Emperor Shenzong's reign, with the implementation of the Baojia system, all the local militia members were trained in martial arts, and the prohibitions became ineffective. Now, the martial arts are flourishing, and when bandits appear, the official army often fails to suppress them, and the people form societies to protect themselves. Mobilizing the official army from other regions is both costly and exhausting, and the soldiers are fatigued, unable to quickly quell the bandits. On the contrary, these societies are well-trained and can be quickly mobilized to maintain order, and the local authorities are happy to do so!"

"Brilliant! Self-defense for the people, self-defense for the home, the reality of an army without the name, secretly maintaining an army among the farmers, and embedding the army among the people. This method is excellent!" Zhao Cheng couldn't help but clap his hands in approval. This plan was both legal and free from the responsibility of forming a private army. The members were voluntary, and their enthusiasm would be higher than conscription. He only needed to provide the funds and resources to form the society, and no one in the region had more money or prestige than him, so he would naturally be the leader.

"Does the prince now have a suitable person to organize and train the society members?" Huang Jingchen looked at Zhao Cheng and asked with a smile.

"Um..." Zhao Cheng was taken aback. Although he could draw a bow, his accuracy was poor, and he was only skilled with daggers, short knives, and short sticks. He had no experience with long weapons and certainly couldn't train others.