Ming Dynasty 1627

Chapter 89 The Ming Dynasty's Civil and Military Nobles Who Enthusiastically Donated Money

"...Do you have any other plans, my dear minister?"

The emperor was unwilling to discuss that topic further, and Xue Guoguan did not press the matter further.

He could only forcefully suppress the turmoil in his heart and bring his thoughts back to the matter of road construction.

Since the emperor was unwilling to pay, only one last option remained.

This was a plan he had prepared long ago, but he was unwilling to reveal it unless absolutely necessary.

He gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, this matter... actually has precedents to follow."

"Oh?" Zhu Youjian raised an eyebrow.

Xue Guoguan bowed and said, “Your Majesty, this matter can follow the precedent of the three major campaigns during the Wanli era, and ask the nobles and officials in the capital to donate their salaries to help with the construction. In this way, although it may not be possible to raise 400,000 taels, it should be enough to build Chaoyangmen Street first.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian almost burst out laughing on the spot.

what?
Ask the nobles and officials to donate money?

Are you kidding me?
Do you think I am like the Chongzhen Emperor who, twelve years later, waited for the nobles and officials to send him money, only to have his son die of illness after waiting in vain?
I am the Yongchang Emperor!
He instinctively wanted to refute the absurd suggestion, but the words stuck in his throat.

Some of the memories belonging to the original owner, "Zhu Youjian," have been activated in this body.

After a moment, the mocking look on his face gradually froze.

Because he was shocked to discover that just this January, he, the former Prince Xin, Zhu Youjian, had just donated 6,300 taels of silver for the Three Great Projects!

In addition, the first member of the imperial family to pass the imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty also donated silver to help with the project. Other nobles in the capital, officials inside and outside the capital, local princes and so on also donated.

Zhu Youjian's face was filled with disbelief. He asked in an almost absurd tone, "Minister Xue, is this matter... truly feasible?"

Xue Guoguan was puzzled by the emperor's strange reaction.

“Your Majesty, why is it not permissible? When the Temple of the God and the Temple of the Solemnity were still in existence, it was common practice for the nobles and officials to donate their salaries and materials when constructing the three main halls.”

“Not only in the capital, but also in other regions, princes, nobles, and civil officials will contribute their money.”

He seemed to think the emperor didn't believe him, so he added, "Of course, it is indeed unreasonable to ask local princes and officials to donate money for the road construction in the capital."

"But there is absolutely no problem in letting the nobles and officials in the capital pay for it."

“If there are wealthy families, there are even precedents of people donating tens of thousands of gold coins.”

"Tens of thousands of taels of gold?!" Zhu Youjian was truly shocked this time. "Who is it that is so... loyal to the country?!"

A look of reminiscence and emotion appeared on Xue Guoguan's face.

"Such a large sum is quite rare. However, this happened in the year I passed the imperial examination, so I remember it very clearly."

As he recalled, he said, "The man was Lord Wu Jiong from Songjiang Prefecture in Southern Zhili."

"In the 47th year of the Wanli reign, the Liaodong campaign failed, and the Battle of Sarhu shocked the entire country."

"Lord Wu was concerned about the affairs of the country, so he donated 20,000 taels of gold to help the border defense. He also made it clear that he did not want to use this to seek an official position. His noble character was praised throughout the country."

Zhu Youjian remained silent.

A storm raged within him, even more intense than before.

In the 47th year of the Wanli reign, someone was willing to donate 20,000 taels of gold just to help with the military expenses.

But why, in just over twenty years, in the seventeenth year of Chongzhen's reign, did the nobles and officials of the entire Ming Dynasty become so stingy that they watched him hang himself on Coal Hill?

What exactly happened in those seventeen years?
……

But regardless, he should be able to amass a fortune through this method now, right?

No... this can't be done.
At the very least, we can't follow Xue Guoguan's method exactly. Zhu Youjian pondered for a moment, still feeling that this method was not quite right, and even if it could be used, it shouldn't be used this way.

"Minister Xue, the donation is feasible. However, the method should be changed."

He spoke slowly, having already made his decision.

"Firstly, I cannot use the imperial treasury to pay this money, but I can donate 30,000 taels under the name of 'the two palaces' land reclamation project' as an example."

"The grain from the two palaces' garrison farms is taken from the imperial estates. In the past, it was mostly used for building bridges and roads and providing disaster relief. It is not unreasonable to use it for road construction in the capital now."

"Secondly, regarding the matter of the nobles donating silver, I will personally go to discuss it with Duke Zhang Weixian of England, and he will take the lead in handling it."

"Thirdly, the donations of silver by civil officials should not be treated uniformly. Otherwise, the donations of corrupt officials would amount to nothing, while those who are honest and upright would be ruined. This is not how I show compassion to my subjects."

He turned to Gao Shiming, who had been standing by his side, and instructed him, "Gao, tomorrow, have Wang Tiqian come to the palace to see me. I want to entrust him with the matter of the civil officials donating silver."

After doing all this, he turned around, looked at Xue Guoguan again, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Regarding the money, although I cannot provide it all in the name of the imperial treasury, I will personally take the lead in resolving it for you."

"And what you need to do is to do this matter thoroughly and clearly for me!"

He paused, a fierce flame burning in his young eyes.

"Just as I said, I will give you all the support you need!"

"Minister Xue, please do not disappoint me!"

At that moment, Xue Guoguan felt an indescribable warm current flow through his entire body.

He was actually prepared to confront the entire court, but unexpectedly, the biggest momentum was suddenly shifted away.

How can I ever repay such a great kindness!
The last trace of doubt and reservation in his heart vanished at this moment, leaving only the resolute determination and emotion of a scholar dying for one who understands him.

He stepped back and solemnly prostrated himself before Zhu Youjian.

"Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail in your trust!"

……

……

Zhu Youjian watched Xue Guoguan's upright and energetic figure slowly disappear outside the palace gate, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

He originally thought today's meeting was just about money.

Unexpectedly, this led to issues of "political corruption," and later even the issue of "donating salaries."

But the result was very good; it not only yielded a small clue for reform.

Later, this thread can be extended to practical achievements or local governance; the speed at which it develops depends entirely on his wishes.

And he was given some good news—the Ming Dynasty's nobles and military officials, at this point in time, didn't seem to be in such bad shape.
……

For some reason, he felt that today's slightly chaotic performance seemed strangely familiar.

He sat back on the dragon throne behind his desk, picked up the slightly cooled tea, and pondered deeply.

Where have I seen this before...?

A thought, like a bolt of lightning in the night, struck his mind without warning!
Depend on!
It can't be you?!

That same Grand Secretary who, in history, also spoke with great enthusiasm to Emperor Chongzhen, suggesting that he solicit donations from the nobles and officials in the capital to raise funds for the army, only to be beheaded by Chongzhen for it in the end?!

Could it be... could it be that the eccentric prime minister is you, Xue Guoguan?!
-
There are too many historical materials about donations for me to post them all. I've attached two images showing the number of times I found the search terms "donated salary" and "donated silver" in the Wanli and Tianqi Veritable Records.

This practice was indeed very popular during this period, with some local departments even donating a year's salary at once (I can't even imagine how much more greedy they would become afterward).
(End of this chapter)