How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 19 The Imperial Guards and the "Salty Heads" (Please add to your favorites and read on)

On the third day of the tenth month of the seventh year of the Tianqi reign (1627), inside Andingmen Gate, Beijing.

In late autumn, the chill of Beijing was already quite deep. Inside and outside Andingmen Gate, a dense mass of people knelt in the cold. Civil officials, dressed in plain robes, were led by the four Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, surrounding the heads of the Six Ministries; nobles, in plain robes adorned with python patterns and unicorn embellishments, or ordinary military uniforms, were led by Duke Xu Xigao, Marquis Li Chengming of Wuqing, and Earl Li Shouqi of Xiangcheng, leading a group of hereditary commanders and vice-commanders from the capital; on the other side were registered officials who had gathered in Beijing after the death of the Tianqi Emperor, including former loyalists ousted by Wei Zhongxian such as Sun Chengzong and Li Banghua, surrounded by many faces from the Donglin faction; further out, candidates from all over the country, having come to Beijing for the imperial examinations, thronged the area. Talented individuals such as Shi Kefa, Guan Shaoning, Zhuang Yinghui, and Huang Zongxi were also present.

These people gathered at Andingmen today, ostensibly to kneel and welcome the new emperor who had "returned from a victorious battle." But in reality, everyone wanted to see what kind of soldiers this young emperor had brought back, who dared to claim that they had killed several thousand Tartars outside the border wall?
……

"Finally... back." The chief minister, Huang Lijie, kneeling at the front, sighed almost inaudibly to the deputy chief minister, Shi Fenglai, while adjusting his sleeves. His face, which had looked particularly tired from days of worry, finally showed a bit of life.

Shi Fenglai, his voice equally low and still shaken, said, "Grand Secretary Huang is right. These past few days, my heart has been pounding the whole time! His Majesty went out to inspect the border with only a small entourage of 'personal troops,' saying he would return in a few days… Who would have thought that he would run into the Tartars breaching the pass! When the news of the breached border wall of Jizhou arrived, I felt a wave of dizziness, almost thinking… thinking…" He didn't finish his sentence, but the words "Tumu Fortress" pierced the hearts of the Grand Secretaries like ice picks. The Tianqi Emperor had just passed away; if something were to happen to the new emperor, the Ming Dynasty would be turned upside down in the blink of an eye!

"Fortunately, fortunately His Majesty is blessed by Heaven, and Heaven protects the Ming Dynasty!" Minister of Rites Lai Zongdao quickly interjected, his tone full of relief. "The news that came back said His Majesty personally went to the front lines, stabilized the situation, and even won a great victory... Alas, as long as His Majesty returns safely, that's all that matters! As for this 'great victory'..." He changed the subject, exchanging knowing glances with the other Grand Secretaries. They had been in officialdom for decades and knew all too well the exaggeration of the word "great victory." His Majesty was young and impetuous; perhaps he had repelled a small group of harassing Tartars, or defended a fortress, and the Tartars, seeing they couldn't gain anything, retreated on their own—that could be called a "victory."

"Regardless, His Majesty's trip this time was far too dangerous!" Minister of Works Xue Fengxiang said solemnly. "Once His Majesty returns to the palace, we must jointly submit a memorial to the throne! The Emperor is the most exalted person, his fate rests on the shoulders of the nation. How can we repeat the mistakes of Emperor Yingzong and Emperor Wuzong, so easily taking such a perilous journey? This time it was a stroke of luck, but who knows what will happen next time? There must never be a next time!" Several Grand Secretaries and Ministers nodded in agreement, whispering their support. They had all recently joined the "Emperor's Party" and were still in their "probationary period," which was why they hadn't dared to vehemently oppose the Emperor's departure from the capital before. But the same thing absolutely could not happen again.

……

A little further away from the civil officials' procession, in the circle of nobles, the atmosphere was quite different. Duke Dingguo, Xu Xigao, stroked his beard, his brows slightly furrowed. The Marquis of Wuqing, Li Chengming, the Earl of Xiangcheng, and others beside him showed little joy in welcoming the emperor; instead, their faces were shrouded in gloom.

"Clearing the land...is it really going to be clearing the land?" A hereditary commander's anxious voice broke the silence. "Duke, Marquis, His Majesty's decision is too ruthless! I heard that the four garrisons of Jizhou, Xuanfu, Datong, and Changping are demanding that we give up half of our military land! This...this is like cutting off our heart!"

"Hmph, there's a second way!" Marquis Li Shouqi of Xiangcheng sneered. "If you don't leave the fields, you have to send men! Two hundred acres of fertile land for a fully armed mounted soldier? No matter how you look at it, it's a loss! The fields are the legacy passed down from our ancestors, they can be used to collect rent! Men? How much silver would it cost to maintain a mounted soldier who can fight? Not to mention on the battlefield, where swords and spears have no eyes..."

Duke Dingguo, Xu Xigao, finally spoke, his voice low and tinged with helplessness: "His Majesty's mind is made up. Under the guise of reorganizing the border defenses, and with the credit for the 'great victory' already in hand... it's probably not easy to defy him directly." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the faces around him, some angry, some worried, some calculating. "As for this great victory at Jizhou? Ha..." He let out a light, ambiguous laugh. "You all have eyes and ears in the Beijing Garrison and the Five Military Commands. What kind of soldiers are in Jizhou? They haven't been paid for thirteen months, they're starving, and you think they can cut off thousands of Tartar heads with these men? Who would believe that? I don't! I'm afraid His Majesty is just young and ambitious, and his subordinates are just pandering to him. The bigger the 'victory' report, the more exaggerated it is."

The nobles nodded in agreement.

……

Where Sun Chengzong, Li Banghua, and other members of the Donglin faction gathered, a pervasive atmosphere of heartbroken indignation and profound disappointment prevailed.

"The remnants of the eunuch faction, their hearts deserve to be condemned!" A white-haired censor's voice was not loud, but every word was forceful. "If they hadn't bewitched His Majesty and instigated His Majesty to rashly leave the capital, how could this perilous border inspection have occurred? His Majesty has just ascended the throne, and his foundation is not yet stable, yet he follows the old ways of the Zhengde Emperor, treating matters of state and military affairs as child's play! If it weren't for the protection of our ancestors and the eyes of Heaven, it would have almost, almost led to a second 'Tumu Crisis'! How many more times can the Ming Dynasty withstand such turmoil?"

Li Banghua sighed deeply and continued, "The carpenter emperor has just passed away, and the new emperor is already... yet so warlike and restless! When will the Ming Dynasty be able to welcome a true wise and virtuous ruler? The court is in disarray, and although the eunuchs have been removed from their positions, their poison still lingers. His Majesty still relies heavily on eunuchs like Wang Tiqian and Xu Yingyuan... If this continues, the country will cease to exist!" His disappointment was palpable in his words.

These officials, who had been suppressed and marginalized by Wei Zhongxian, originally thought that with the new emperor's ascension to the throne, the eunuch faction would be completely eradicated and the Ming Dynasty would usher in a new era of revival. However, they did not expect the emperor to act so "rashly".

“Meng An (Li Banghua’s courtesy name) is right.” As the emperor’s tutor, Sun Chengzong was the most senior, and his tone was relatively calm. “Your Majesty is indeed brave, but governing a country cannot rely solely on brute force. This time you narrowly escaped danger. I hope Your Majesty can take this as a warning, calm your mind and cultivate your character, be close to virtuous ministers, stay away from petty people, and prioritize the well-being of the nation.” The “petty people” he referred to did not only mean the remaining eunuchs, but also included those newly rich who might pander to the emperor’s “martial” desires.

...A little further away from where the candidates had gathered, the young scholars' discussions were more direct, filled with worries about the political situation and uncertainty about the future.

"His Majesty's ascension to the throne and his crackdown on Wei Zhongxian's cronies are gratifying! But..." Shi Kefa frowned and said in a low voice, "Why retain Wang Tiqian as the Grand Secretary? And why appoint Wei Zhongxian as the Chief Eunuch? This is not the way to eradicate evil completely! Where have all the upright gentlemen in the court gone?"

Guan Shaoning, from Changzhou Prefecture in Southern Zhili, chimed in, his tone sharp and scholarly: "What's even more worrying is His Majesty's rash departure from the capital! The Emperor's life is the responsibility of the entire nation, a life of immense importance. How can he act with the recklessness of a common man, personally risking the dangers of arrows? The Book of Documents says, 'The people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is firm, the state is secure.' Where does His Majesty place the people? Where does he place the ancestral temples and the state? Among so many ministers in the court, is there not a single one who dares to speak frankly and offer honest advice?"

Guan Shaoning's fellow townsman Zhuang Yinghui, who was a bit older, thought a little deeper: "The claim of a 'great victory' is probably just a bluff. The Tartars are fierce, and the border troops have long been plagued by problems. How could His Majesty's hastily recruited personal troops possibly be able to break through their defenses? If it is only a small victory but is reported as a great victory, it is probably not the work of a wise ruler. It would only needlessly damage the dignity of the court and discourage the soldiers on the border."

Listening to the scholars' discussions, Huang Zongxi's handsome face showed a complex expression. He didn't speak immediately, but instead gazed intently at the open city gate, seemingly pondering a deeper question: How many deep-seated problems existed within this court, from top to bottom, from the inner palace to the border? Could a seemingly "impulsive" young emperor truly turn the tide? It didn't seem likely!
……

Just as these four groups of people were whispering and anxiously anticipating what was happening, a piercing shout suddenly rang out from outside Anding Gate, carrying the distinctively shrill tone of a eunuch, rolling along the long gateway:

"The Emperor has arrived—! Officials and commoners alike kneel in welcome—!!"

In an instant, all whispers inside and outside Anding Gate ceased! Whether it was the worried Grand Secretary, the disgruntled nobles, the heartbroken officials, or the doubtful scholars, they all simultaneously lifted their robes and bowed, foreheads touching the ground, and a thunderous roar erupted:
"Your Majesty is divinely mighty, and your divine power is awe-inspiring!"

A tremendous roar echoed through the city gate, making everyone's eardrums buzz. Immediately following was the sound of horses' hooves and footsteps, heavy and rhythmic, approaching from afar. None of the people kneeling on the ground dared to look directly at the emperor; they could only try their best to control their breathing and cautiously glance upwards out of the corner of their eyes.

The first thing to catch the eye was the Imperial Horse Administration cavalry, their armor gleaming, their regalia imposing. Following them was the emperor's carriage, slowly making its way through the city gates, surrounded by numerous guards. The kneeling crowd felt a slight sense of relief; the emperor's safety was of utmost importance.

However, the procession that followed the emperor into the city gate caused everyone who was secretly watching to feel a sudden sinking feeling in their hearts, followed by immense disappointment! That was the legendary "Emperor's Personal Army" that had won a "great victory" in Jizhou?
Squads of infantrymen stood, carrying crude spears and wearing tattered cloth armor patched in various colors and faded from washing; some even had their armor torn, revealing the cotton wadding underneath. Many bore fresh wounds on their faces and hands, the bandages stained with dark red blood. Their ranks were far from orderly, and their steps were weary—a far cry from the fierce and formidable army one might have imagined! Were it not for the bright yellow dragon flag and the "Imperial Guard" banner flying at the front, they would almost appear as a remnant of a retreating army!
"This...this is the Emperor's personal guard that won a great victory?" This thought flashed through countless minds, and disappointment was almost written on their faces. The nobles sneered even more, the Grand Secretaries shook their heads and sighed inwardly, the scholars were even more heartbroken, and the candidates for the imperial examinations felt it was absurd. Guan Shaoning couldn't help but mutter, "With such exhausted troops, it's already difficult enough that they could hold the city. To call it a great victory? It must be a fabrication!"

Just then, an indescribable odor, as this "personal army" team went deeper, suddenly flooded into everyone's nostrils like an invisible tide!
It was an extremely complex and intense smell! Salty, rotten, with a heavy stench of blood and... a kind of cloying saltiness similar to that of long-aged cured meat, all mixed together to create a nauseating stench!

"Ugh..." Some of the common people kneeling by the roadside couldn't help but gag. Although the kneeling officials, nobles, and scholars tried their best to endure it, many of them also changed color instantly, their stomachs churning.

"What does it smell like?"

"Where's this salty, foul smell coming from? And...and it's so pungent!"

"It's like...like spoiled salted meat..."

The crowd began to stir, and many people subconsciously looked towards the source of the increasingly strong smell—their eyes eventually focused on the long spears carried by the "personal guard" infantrymen!

On the shaft of each spear, countless dark, round objects were strung together! These objects were thickly coated and preserved with coarse salt, but beneath the salt grains, their grotesque outlines could still be discerned—human heads! The heads of Tartars! Their distinctive hairstyles stood out starkly against the salt and congealed blood!

One, two, three... almost every spear had several heads hanging from it! Some were better salted, and you could still vaguely make out the features, while others were clearly not salted properly and had begun to rot and leak, emitting an even stronger stench! Looking around, this army of two thousand men was like a forest of spears, with probably six or seven thousand Tartar heads strung on them!
(End of this chapter)