Who helped maintain a strong military without having to pay salaries the Tang military was made up of?

The Tang dynasty maintained a strong military without having to pay salaries primarily through the system of conscription and the use of local militias. The military was largely composed of peasants who were required to serve in the army for a set period, allowing the state to rely on the agricultural population rather than a standing army of paid soldiers. This system not only provided manpower but also ensured that soldiers could return to their farms after their service, maintaining agricultural productivity.