Compared with the difficulty in promoting the reform of the local official system and struggling, the military's layoffs are much smoother.

The prestige of Emperor Li Ze is still supreme and full of words.

"Many people say that it is too early for us to lay off the army now because we still have many enemies." Jiongjiu glanced at the room full of senior generals, and Li Ze's loud voice resounded throughout the hall.

"But I think it's not early at all. The people present were all generals who led the troops, and many of them had led the troops and fought wars in the previous dynasty. The personnel quality, combat equipment, and fighting will of our current army have changed drastically compared with the past. I think everyone knows this very well."

His eyes fell on Li Rui, and Li Ze continued: "During the Gao Xianzhi period of the previous dynasty, less than 30,000 troops were stationed in the Western Regions, and tens of millions of square kilometers of land were controlled. More than 20,000 soldiers dared to compete with the 200,000 Dashi Army and dared to charge towards the enemy. Li Rui, now you have 40,000 stationed in the Western Regions. Do you think there are few people? Do you think you can defend the Western Regions and keep the peace in the country?"

Li Rui stood up suddenly and shouted: "Yes. Your Majesty allows you to do so. The General of the Ultimate believes that with the current military strength, the General of the Ultimate can also expand the territory for Your Majesty. Wherever Your Majesty wants me to attack, I can attack wherever you want."

"Sit down!" Li Ze glared.

Li Rui sat down with a slight slam.

"The army is the arm that extends the will of the country. Whether the arm is strong or not depends on whether the country's muscles are strong enough. Have you ever seen a weak body grow an arm with muscles? Where does the arm's strength come from? It comes from the body itself. Therefore, as long as our empire becomes stronger and stronger, the strength of the arm will naturally become stronger and stronger."

Speaking of this, Li Ze paused and said, "Let me tell you a small matter. This is what Li Hai, the general of the Left Army of the Fifth Corps, mentioned in a good news not long ago. In the Qinghai-Tibet Province, some of the original Tubo tribes were still resisting, while others were preparing to escape. Once, one of his scouts teams got separated during the investigation. The three scouts were left alone. While looking for a way, they unexpectedly discovered a Tubo tribe who was preparing to escape. How many people are there in this Tubo tribe? There are thousands of people? There are nearly three hundred young soldiers among them. But the three scouts did not hide, but instead rushed forward to these people."

“What’s the result?”

Before everyone could answer, Li Ze said, "The result? These three scouts? Forced the Tubo tribe of thousands of people to surrender? They were also these three scouts who took the tribe back. Could it be that these three scouts rely on their force? Of course not? This Tubo tribe saliva alone is enough to drown these three scouts. But they dare not, they are afraid. What are they afraid of? Of course they are afraid of our Tang Dynasty. They know very well that if they dare to hurt our soldiers? Even if they run to the ends of the world, we will catch them."

"Why are they afraid? Is it because our country is strong? We have enough power to punish anyone or something that is not friendly to us."

"So? For us now? The number of troops is not large, but the essence."

"Every year, everyone is asking for military expenses and equipment, but some people present may not know that the army has eaten up one-third of our entire Tang Dynasty's fiscal revenue." Li Ze continued: "This has greatly hindered our pace and plan to strengthen the country. So, laying off the army has become a top priority? We need to invest more money in our country's construction? Make our country stronger and stronger. When we do this, in turn, it can also make our army stronger and stronger."

"Now? Our army's expenditure accounts for one-third of our total GDP. You guys, the country can no longer afford it. Our goal is that the army's expenditure is less than 10% of the GDP. And according to our current scale of reduction, the army's expenditure will still account for 20%. So, how can we guarantee the interests of our army? There is only one way, that is, to make our country more prosperous and make more money. Last year, our total income was 150 million yuan. The army spent 50 million yuan. This year, our total income is expected to exceed 20 million yuan. Then our army's expenditure will have 40 million yuan. You can think about it. If our annual total income reaches 50 million yuan, even if the army's expenditure is only 10,000 yuan, it will be 50 million yuan. What if the income is more? Then will the army's expenditure rise? If there is a pot, are you still afraid that there is no in the bowl?"

Hearing this, the generals in the room became excited.

This is the truth!

"Also, the number of troops is small, but the military budget is still so large, and it is even rising year by year. So, will our soldiers be treated better? Will our military equipment be more refined? Will our weapons research be more rapid?" Li Ze continued to promote a bright future with a clever tongue. "At that time, you can think about whether the scene is as beautiful as a picture?"

Everyone nodded violently.

"So, enduring temporary pain and suffering temporary pain is for the better development of our army in the future and for the greater interests of the army. This is just like when we are fighting, sometimes we have to give up some local interests for the sake of overall interests. Do you understand what I said? "

"I understand!"

Li Ze nodded comfortably: "Of course, in this major disarmament, many people will suffer immediate interests. For example, some people who are going to retire from active service and withdraw from the army. I know you are reluctant to leave the army. But by the same token, we need someone to make sacrifices for our empire. Everyone, as the commander, I order you to charge against the enemy, and you know that this charge will most likely die on the battlefield and never come back. Would you not go?"

"No resolute!" the general in the room roared.

"That's right. This time, I still want to issue a charge order to you. But this time the enemy is our own inner demon and our own obsession. Please obey the order for the benefit of the entire Tang Dynasty!" Li Ze clasped his fists and bowed to everyone.

There was a huh, and the generals in the room stood up in panic and bowed to return the salute.

"I hope to obey Your Majesty's orders and never violate it!"

"Thank you!" Li Ze nodded repeatedly: "But please believe me. Whether you stay or leave, Li Ze, I, the emperor of this empire, will not let everyone suffer losses. If you suffer losses here, I will make up for you in another place!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"But we can only say this in a room. I will not admit my account after leaving this room." Li Ze smiled and said, "Some things can be done, but they can't be said. Do you understand?"

"I understand!" A burst of laughter came from the room.

"Everyone is a reasonable and wise man. This is undoubtedly reflected in the process of our struggle over the past ten years. Without the bloody struggle of the soldiers, there would be no today of our Tang Empire. Our future, the future of the empire, and the future of the people still depend on our soldiers to protect." Li Ze continued: "So, after you return to your garrison, you must make proper arrangements and carefully arrange the matters of the officers and soldiers who have been laid off. You cannot let the people who leave be sad or the people who stay are disappointed. You must do everything possible to ensure that our army still has high combat effectiveness, and let the people who leave still love our army extremely."

"The people who stay will fight for the country. Those who leave will fight for the country on another battlefield. They should encourage them to continue to maintain the style of soldiers and the ability of soldiers. One day, if the country has something to do, they will be able to return when they call them, and they will fight when they return, and they will win when they fight!"

"Affect the order!" Everyone answered in a coaxing manner.

The generals said goodbye one by one, and these people actually had an understanding of where they were going. Some people will leave the army forever.

But as Li Ze asked, even if he wanted to leave, he had to stand on the last shift. He had to do the last thing well and then leave with a decent look. He could not be loyal all his life and finally gained a great reputation, but he had fallen into the last thing.

After Li Ze made up his mind, the court had made a general decision and the matter was no longer varied by his personal willpower.

The General of the Left Wu Guard, Li Cunzhong, has left.

Next, Zhang Jia, the General of Right Wu Guard, and Tian Ping, the General of Right Jinwu Guard, will also resign. Xue Chong, the General of Left Jinwu Guard, and his subordinates have been converted into the Production and Construction Corps on the spot two years ago, and this time they will be completely decoupled from the army.

From another perspective, through this major disarmament, Li Ze, or the court, had increasingly strengthened the entire control of the army. After this major disarmament, the generals who had led the army basically left the army, either turned to the local area or returned to the central office, and their influence in the army would inevitably gradually disappear with the loss of time.

This is the general trend and it is also the inevitable action of the court after it stabilizes its foothold and controls the situation.

And these people actually understood the final result deep down in their hearts.
Chapter completed!