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Military ranks were filled almost entirely from hereditary households, even though the [[Chinese imperial exams|military service exams]], like the civil service exams, were in theory open to all qualified candidates. Those from junior military houses inherited their ranks intact, while those from more senior households suffered a diminution, inheriting a rank somewhat lower than that of their father.<ref>Huang, 162.</ref>
Military ranks were filled almost entirely from hereditary households, even though the [[Chinese imperial exams|military service exams]], like the civil service exams, were in theory open to all qualified candidates. Those from junior military houses inherited their ranks intact, while those from more senior households suffered a diminution, inheriting a rank somewhat lower than that of their father.<ref>Huang, 162.</ref>
Confucian ideals of moderation and restraint caused the Court to expect military officers to execute only brief, focused, and deadly strikes, not lengthy campaigns, and on the defensive to guard only the most vital points. Emphasis was Emphasis was placed on maintaining the peace in the provinces, including the suppression of peasant uprisings and of banditry, and not on defending against large-scale invasion, let alone venturing to invade other lands themselves. Meanwhile, the coast, previously considered a safe barrier, in the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty became ravaged by so-called "[[wako|pirates]]," leading to a variety of policies, some quite extreme (see ''[[hai jin]]'').<ref>Huang, 157, 162.</ref>
==Policies==
==Policies==
