Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 12 The Saint's Resurrection and the Prominence of Shrines
Zhu Jue intended to build the capital region into an impregnable fortress to protect the foundation of the Ming Dynasty and prevent the Jurchens from making seven incursions and seven retreats.

This requires a lot of money and supplies, as well as a lot of materials.

If one wanted to build cities, fortresses, and beacon towers all over the capital region, one would need countless bricks, stones, and timber.

He could have Wei Zhongxian rob the money and grain, but where would the materials come from? Could he also have Wei Zhongxian rob them?
The next morning around 7 a.m., as he was pondering something and walking toward the Imperial Study, Liu Ruoyu suddenly bowed to him and said, "Your Majesty, the Cabinet has sent another memorial."

These civil officials would be furious if the emperor disobeyed the rules even slightly, yet they themselves repeatedly disobeyed the rules, always sending memorials directly to the imperial study.

Zhu Jue frowned slightly, took the lead and walked into the imperial study to sit down before taking the memorial and reading it carefully.

Qian Yuanque, the chief of the Military Selection Department of the Ministry of War, submitted a memorial to the emperor, and Wei Zhongxian ordered that shrines be erected throughout the country.

Zeng Guozhen, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, built a shrine to Wei Zhongxian near Lugou Bridge. Huang Xianqing, the Imperial Censor who inspected the five cities, built a shrine to Wei Zhongxian outside Xuanwu Gate. Li Chunmao, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, built a shrine to Wei Zhongxian inside Xuanwu Gate. Yan Mingtai even built seven shrines to Wei Zhongxian from the capital to Ningyuan. In the capital region alone, there were more than forty shrines to Wei Zhongxian. Each shrine cost tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, and the land they occupied amounted to hundreds or even thousands of acres, causing great hardship and financial loss to the people.

Even more extreme, Li Zhicai, the commander of Xiaoling Guard, built a shrine in front of Xiaoling Mausoleum, and Xue Maoxiang, the governor of the Yellow River, built a shrine next to the imperial mausoleum in Fengyang. When the emperor sent officials to offer sacrifices to his ancestors, they had to pay homage to Wei Zhongxian first!
Wei Zhongxian even ordered a stele to be erected outside the shrine, comparing himself to Confucius and claiming that the sage had risen again!
This guy!
Zhu Jue was speechless after reading it.

Wei Zhongxian was sometimes incredibly arrogant.

No, building a shrine also requires bricks, stones, and wood!
These ancestral halls, which often occupy hundreds or even thousands of acres, must contain a great deal of bricks, stones, and timber.

Who says building a shrine to the living is bad? Isn't this providing me with plenty of material?

Upon thinking of this, he immediately announced loudly, "Summon Wei Zhongxian to come and pay his respects."

The young emperor's summons was a good thing.

Wei Zhongxian genuinely wanted to get close to the young emperor.

Unfortunately, it seemed that every time the young emperor summoned him, someone was impeaching him.

That's not a good thing.

He arrived at the imperial study with great trepidation and respectfully performed the court etiquette between ruler and subject.

Sure enough, Wang Chengen read him the impeachment memorial again!
It seems like they've changed the person this time.

Who exactly is Qian Yuanque, the Chief of the Military Selection Division of the Ministry of War?

This guy actually dared to impeach him for ordering people to build shrines everywhere.

He really wanted to kill this guy right then and there!
Zhu Juena also seemed somewhat annoyed and said, "Eunuch Wei, do you know how much money it would take to build so many shrines for the living? A single shrine costs tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. A hundred shrines would cost millions or even tens of millions of taels of silver!"

I!
How to do?
Wei Zhongxian's eyes darted around for a while, then he suddenly had a bright idea and said, "Your Majesty, a few days ago, some official in Jiangxi asked someone to speak on his behalf, wanting to build a shrine for me. He has already raised more than 200,000 taels of silver. I stopped him from building it. I ordered him to send the 200,000 taels of silver to the capital to be used as provisions for the border troops."

You're quite adept at reading my mind.

Yes, I am short of money right now.

However, I am now lacking not only money but also materials.

Zhu Jue shook his head slightly and said, "You ordered so many shrines to be built, which not only insults the sage but also my ancestors. Do you know that?"

Ah!
so serious?

Wei Zhongxian hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, those shrines were not built on my orders. They were built by their own will. Why don't I order them to demolish all the shrines and sell all the materials and land used to build them, and use the proceeds to help with the military expenses?"

Hmm, this child is teachable.

Zhu Jue nodded slightly and said, "Don't sell the materials dismantled in the capital region. Let them be sent to Lu Xiang Sheng to build city walls and fortresses. Quickly sell the materials and land from other places, including the land in the capital region, and send them to the Imperial Treasury."

Lu Xiang-sheng wants to build a city and fortress?
Wei Zhongxian was taken aback for a moment, then quickly cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Perfect timing, it also takes care of the defenses of the capital region and Jiliao.

Zhu Jue then said sternly, "Tian Ji, Yan Mingtai, and Wang Zhichen are all unfit for important positions. Entrusting them with military affairs in the capital, Jiliao, Changping, Zhenbao, and other places will inevitably lead to trouble sooner or later."

Ruoyu, drafting an imperial edict, promoted Sun Chuanting to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate and concurrently Right Vice Minister of War, and Governor of Liaodong; and promoted Lu Xiangsheng to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate and concurrently Right Vice Minister of War, and Governor of Shuntian, concurrently in charge of the military administration of the Beijing Garrison, and in charge of military affairs in Jizhou, Changping, and Zhenbao.

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruoyu immediately picked up his pen and began to write.

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhongxian's expression changed drastically. The young emperor had actually seized all military power from him, including the capital garrison and the surrounding areas of Beijing, Ji, and Liaodong!
This guy still needs to be taught a lesson.

Seeing this, Zhu Jue coldly said, "What, do you have a problem with that?"

How could I possibly have any objections?

Wei Zhongxian shook his head repeatedly and said, "Your humble servant dares not."

You need to be given a good talking-to from time to time.

Seeing that Liu Ruoyu had finished writing the imperial edict and that Wang Chengen had affixed the imperial seal, Zhu Jue picked it up and instructed, "Take these two edicts to the cabinet personally and have them draft the bills as soon as possible."

Am I now a gofer?
Wei Zhongxian quickly bowed and accepted the imperial edict, respectfully saying, "Your humble servant obeys."

This is not over yet.

Zhu Jue then said authoritatively, "Doesn't Wang Zhichen like to shrink Shanhaiguan? I won't remove him from his post as Governor-General of Ji and Liao. Let him stay in Shanhaiguan obediently. He doesn't need to worry about the affairs of Jizhou Town and Liaodong Town."

As for Mao Wenlong, I let it slide when he disobeyed orders during Yuan Chonghuan's tenure as governor of Liaodong. But if he dares to disobey Sun Chuanting again, you can make him bring his head to me!

Wang Zhichen is useless, but Mao Wenlong holds military power, has outstanding military achievements, and most importantly, he is my godson. I rely on him to make me proud.

Wei Zhongxian nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand. I will send someone to speak with them shortly."

Are you still playing the same old game? Do you think you can command powerful regional officials and generals with large armies in private?

Zhu Jue frowned slightly and asked, "Do they listen to you or to me?"

I said the wrong thing again!

Wei Zhongxian repeatedly cupped his hands and said, "They naturally obey Your Majesty. Your humble servant is sending someone to convey Your Majesty's oral decree."

As long as you know.

Zhu Jue nodded slightly and said, "Ruoyu, my intention is for you to write two secret edicts."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruoyu immediately picked up his pen and began to write.

Seeing that he had finished writing, Zhu Jue had Wang Chengen affix his official seal before picking it up and solemnly saying, "Send your trusted men to explain to them that they must do as I say. Otherwise, they will be executed without mercy!"

Kill me if I disobey?

Those were high-ranking officials and generals with large armies!

How come you're even more domineering than me?
Wei Zhongxian quickly bowed and accepted the secret edict, saying honestly, "Your Majesty, I understand."

You're not paying enough attention to your work.

Zhu Jue then asked, "What about Xu Dahua's embezzled funds? Why haven't they been returned yet?"

This guy really doesn't have much cash.

Wei Zhongxian cautiously said, "Your Majesty, Xu Dahua's family is still selling land; they haven't yet collected all the embezzled funds."

Don't you know how to pressure someone?

Zhu Jue said coldly, "Make them pay whatever they have now, and then make them gather the rest as soon as possible. For every day they delay, summon their family members to the imperial prison and give Xu Dahua a good beating. Let's see if they dare to drag their feet again."

Fine, at least you're not going to hit me.

Wei Zhongxian nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Zhu Jue thought for a moment, then nodded slightly and waved his hand.

Wei Zhongxian quickly bowed and took his leave.

Zhu Jue watched his figure disappear outside the door before announcing loudly, "Summon Lu Xiang-sheng and Sun Chuanting to come and pay their respects."

(End of this chapter)