#230 - Ming 19: A Futile & Stupid Barrier
The History of China
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The Emperor's War Council - The Secretariat of War - Hone
As many as 120 thousand men at a time labored for over two years on this stupendous task of blocking, channelling and diking the river. Hone in particular marks probably the nadir of min imperial militancy. By the 14 nineties, the ming military establishment was in steep decline as an organization. The nominal strength of the empire's guards should have been close to three million officers and soldiers, but numbered somewhat less than half that by midming times.
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