Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 48 A Gentleman's Love of Money Leads to Disloyalty (Part 1)

Ancient feudal dynasties could only last for a maximum of two hundred years.

This is like a curse, one that even the mighty Han and Tang dynasties could not break.

Every feudal dynasty, after lasting one or two hundred years, would gradually decline and perish, much like an old man suffering from a serious illness.

The reason is actually quite simple: uneven distribution of benefits.

In the later stages of every feudal dynasty, a small ruling class controlled most of the benefits, while the common people, who formed the foundation of the feudal dynasty, often couldn't even get enough to eat or had nothing at all.

The fundamental reason for the demise of feudal dynasties was that the ruling class, or rather, vested interest groups, used their power to frantically seize profits.

By the time the Ming Dynasty reached the Wanli era, it was already in its final stages. At that time, vested interest groups controlled more than 90% of the Ming Dynasty's interests, and ordinary people were struggling to survive. If it weren't for Zhang Juzheng's reforms, the Ming Dynasty would have perished.

Unfortunately, Zhang Juzheng died young. After his death, the vested interest group led by Zhang Siwei abolished the reform and launched a frenzied attack and retaliation against Zhang Juzheng's confidants and even relatives. Emperor Wanli was forced to stop attending court for decades. Emperors Taichang and Tianqi were even more inexplicably killed by the vested interest group.

By the time Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne, the Ming Dynasty was already on its last legs.

During the Chongzhen reign, the vested interest groups had become so powerful that the imperial power could not control them at all.

Emperor Chongzhen in history killed wave after wave of people; he simply couldn't kill them all.

At this moment, Zhu Jue was facing the same problem: the officials in the outer court were almost all from vested interest groups, and he had no one to use!

Originally, he planned to use the inner court to cultivate officials who were inclined towards industrial development, and then, once he had enough people, he would wipe out the vested interest groups and replace them. He did not intend to care about the affairs of the outer court.

However, after seeing the food provided to the artisans, he couldn't help but issue an imperial decree.

He wanted to get civilian fishing boats out to sea to catch fish, so that ordinary people would have more food sources.

Unexpectedly, even the cabinet refused to approve it.

The next morning, his imperial edict was returned by the cabinet and placed on top of the memorials!

He opened the imperial edict and found a draft of the cabinet's proposal tucked inside.

The cabinet's point of view is that there are too many pirates and Japanese pirates at the moment, making it too dangerous for fishermen to go out to sea to fish. Moreover, many coastal fishermen are actually in cahoots with the pirates and Japanese pirates. If fishermen are allowed to go out to sea to fish, some of them will definitely smuggle goods.

These beasts still consider themselves gentlemen!
So you're just focused on your own vested interests and don't care about the lives of ordinary people?
After reading the draft proposal, Zhu Jue frowned slightly and pondered for a while before coldly saying, "Summon Wei Zhongxian to come and pay his respects."

He originally thought it would take at least half an hour for Wei Zhongxian to return, since the village was more than 20 li away from Chaoyang Gate, and it would take time to travel back and forth.

Unexpectedly, less than a quarter of an hour later, Wei Zhongxian strode in, cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "This servant greets Your Majesty."

Zhu Jue asked with some surprise, "Didn't you go to collect the land today?"

I need to withdraw the money before I can go.

Wei Zhongxian quickly explained, "Your Majesty, today is the third day. The land has been almost cleared, and it's time to pay. This servant is in the inner treasury to get the silver."

Oh, so you're withdrawing money.

Zhu Jue nodded slightly, then picked up the imperial edict and said sternly, "Take this to the cabinet yourself and tell them that anyone who disagrees should be immediately dismissed from office, stripped of their official rank, and thrown into prison to hand over their ill-gotten gains!"

Uh, is this another time I'm being made to take the blame?
Without even asking about the contents of the imperial edict, Wei Zhongxian cautiously inquired, "Your Majesty, if anyone truly disagrees, will this servant really imprison them in the imperial prison to hand over their ill-gotten gains?"

That's definitely true.

Zhu Jue said without hesitation, "Take some men with you. Anyone who disagrees, throw them into the imperial prison to hand over their stolen goods. If they dare to turn the world upside down, they'll even dare to reject my imperial edict!"

This feeling is good.

I've disliked them for a long time, so I'll go teach them a lesson.

"I understand. I will do it right away."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhongxian quickly accepted the imperial edict with both hands, bowed, and took his leave.

After leaving Yu Xi Palace, this fellow immediately summoned over a hundred Imperial Guards, who rushed over and surrounded the inner cabinet's office. Then, holding the imperial edict high, he walked in and coldly said, "Anyone who has objections to this imperial edict, step forward! You've gone too far!"

You're the one who's really gone too far.

This is the Grand Secretariat, not the Directorate of Ceremonial. You, the Chief Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial, are only a fourth-rank official, how dare you talk back to us?
Han Kuang hesitated for a moment, then said in a serious tone, "Eunuch Wei, isn't this an imperial edict to lift the fishing ban? It's clearly written in the draft that the fishing ban cannot be lifted."

What business is it of me to concern myself with imperial edicts?

Wei Zhongxian shouted angrily, "What do you mean it can't be opened? What utter nonsense! Anyone who disagrees will be immediately dismissed from office, stripped of their official rank, and thrown into prison to hand over their ill-gotten gains! Han Kuang, you disagree, is that it?"

You're too arrogant.

Han Kuang hesitated for a moment before turning around and saying, "Whoever disagrees, step forward and speak."

The lifting of the fishing ban has nothing to do with the Shanxi faction. The interests in overseas trade are controlled by the Zhejiang faction's wealthy maritime merchants, so there's no need for him to stand up for the Zhejiang faction.

Upon seeing this, the several Grand Secretaries of the Zhejiang Party remained seated and did not dare to move.

Just kidding.

Standing up at this moment would be suicide, wouldn't it?

Wei Zhongxian really dared to throw them into prison to hand over their ill-gotten gains!

Seeing this, Han Kuang turned around and said expressionlessly, "Eunuch Wei, it seems no one disagrees."

Why don't you guys step forward and try?

Hmph, cowardly rats!

Wei Zhongxian snorted coldly, handed over the imperial edict, and lectured it like a grandson: "If no one disagrees, then approve it quickly, and immediately send a document to all the coastal provinces. Anyone who dares to delay will be dealt with by me."

Han Kuang could only swallow his anger and accept the imperial edict with both hands.

Upon seeing this, Wei Zhongxian turned and left.

Han Kuang stared at his back, his eyes filled with malice.

You eunuch, just you wait! When the Later Jin army comes, I'll tear you to pieces!

So, when will the Later Jin army be able to attack?

At this time, more than 300 li northwest of Xuanfu Town, in the land of Baochang during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, the Later Jin camp stretched as far as the eye could see. Banners were like a forest, tents like a sea, and cavalrymen moved back and forth like dragons, a truly magnificent sight.

Since the Later Jin dynasty began to conquer the Mongol tribes, its cavalry has grown increasingly numerous, equipped with better and better equipment, and its combat strength has become increasingly formidable. If they were to fight on the vast grasslands, even if they were evenly matched, the Guan Ning Iron Cavalry might not be their match.

Huang Taiji had been leading troops in battle for more than ten years and had a wealth of experience. Even though the main force of the Chahar tribe had been defeated by him, he still spread his scouts all over the area of ​​the camp for hundreds of miles, making it watertight.

Surprisingly, a caravan of hundreds of horse-drawn carriages came from the south of Zhangjiakou as if it were empty, with no cavalrymen stopping them. The Later Jin general who led the cavalry even bowed to the leader of the caravan.

This is clearly a merchant caravan from the Ming Dynasty!

Why were the Later Jin cavalry so polite to them?

That’s nothing.

As the caravan arrived at the southern entrance of the camp, Fan Wencheng, Nurhaci and Huang Taiji's trusted advisor and now the head of the Later Jin's civil officials, rode up with his entourage to greet them, bowing warmly and saying, "Brother, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

The leader was Fan Yongdou, the leader of the Shanxi merchants. It is said that he and Fan Wencheng were from the same family five hundred years ago, and their ancestor was Fan Zhongyan, who was famous throughout the world more than five hundred years ago!
This is truly a disgrace to our ancestors!
Therefore, there is no historical record of Fan Yongdou's background. It is not found in the History of Qing, the History of Ming, or unofficial histories. However, Fan Wencheng's address of Fan Yongdou as "elder brother" occasionally appears in Qing historical records.

Leaving aside the matter that brings shame to our ancestors.

When Fan Yongdou saw Fan Wencheng coming to greet him, he couldn't help but say warmly, "Brother Wencheng, it's been a long time! I've come here to see the Khan, and also because I've really missed you."

Alright, we brothers have plenty of time ahead of us, let's get down to business.

Fan Wencheng nodded enthusiastically, then said solemnly, "The Khan has been waiting for a long time, elder brother, please come with me."

He dared not keep the Khan waiting.

Upon hearing this, Fan Yongdou quickly summoned several trusted confidants and gave them detailed instructions. Then, he spurred his horse and followed Fan Wencheng to the Khan's tent in the middle of the camp.

(End of this chapter)