How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 68: Zhu Chunchen's relationship with the Prince of Dai's mansion is quite good! (Please add to your favorites and read on!)
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, at Yihai Hall in Tsinghua University, the room was warmed by a charcoal fire. Emperor Chongzhen sat behind his desk, holding his huanghuali wood thermos, the steam rising gently from it. Several thick account books from the Ministry of Revenue lay open on the desk, and a somewhat enigmatic smile played on his lips.

Standing below were the five Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet—Huang Lijie, Shi Fenglai, Zhang Ruitu, Li Guopu, and Sun Chengzong; Guo Yunhou, the Minister of Revenue; and Bi Ziyan, an old minister who had just returned from out of town. Xu Yingyuan, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, stood to one side.

Emperor Chongzhen took a sip of hot tea and tapped the cover of the account book with his finger: "I have not been on the throne for long. Thanks to the blessings of our ancestors, many officials in the court have been able to admit their mistakes and correct them." His voice was calm. "The fines and lands collected for redemption, plus the assets confiscated from the Duke of Cheng's mansion... total four or five million taels of silver. The imperial estates and official lands surveyed in various places also amount to two or three million mu."

He looked at Guo Yunhou, his tone carrying a hint of approval: "Minister Guo, although these silver fields are far from enough to fill the hole in the Ministry of Revenue, they have at least solved the immediate crisis and allowed me to pay the soldiers on the border. You, as Minister of Revenue, have made a contribution."

Guo Yunhou broke out in a cold sweat and quickly bowed, saying, "Your Majesty flatters me! I am humbled! It is all due to Your Majesty's virtuous influence that they were able to repent. I was merely following the rules in my department; I have no merit whatsoever!"

Emperor Chongzhen smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze to the five Grand Secretaries: "The foundation of the nation's finances ultimately lies in the south. Zheng Sanjun, the Minister of Revenue in Nanjing, has submitted a memorial stating that he is frail and ill and wishes to retire to his hometown. The position of Minister of Revenue in the south is extremely important. Gentlemen, tell me, who is most suitable to take charge of the Ministry of Revenue in the south, perhaps someone who is in charge of the Grand Canal and the Salt Administration?"

The hall fell silent. The five Grand Secretaries exchanged glances, all understanding that the Emperor intended to choose one of the two before them to go to Nanjing.

Guo Yunhou's heart was in his throat as he looked longingly at Huang Liji and the others with whom he had a good relationship. He didn't want to hold the position of Minister of Revenue in Beijing for even a day longer—it was too difficult! If he could go to Nanjing to manage the salt transport, that would be a life of luxury.

Grand Secretary Huang Lijie understood his meaning, recalling the Emperor's hint during their private audience a few days prior—that he should send Guo Yunhou to Southern Zhili. He could partner with Cui Chengxiu, one managing finances and the other salt transport, keeping an eye on each other…or rather, helping each other out, to squeeze money out of the court.

Huang Liji no longer hesitated and stepped forward to report: "Your Majesty, the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the lifeline of grain transport and salt tax, and it must be filled by an experienced and prudent minister. I believe that Guo Yunhou, the current Minister of Revenue, has been in the ministry for a long time and is familiar with money, grain and grain transport, and is the best candidate to go to the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded: "Mr. Huang is right. Minister Guo, I'll trouble you to go to Nanjing and keep an eye on my purse strings."

Guo Yunhou felt as if he had been granted a pardon and knelt down with a thud: "Your subject kowtows to thank the Emperor for his grace! I will certainly do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's trust!"

Emperor Chongzhen raised his hand to help him up, then turned his gaze to Bi Ziyan and said solemnly, "Minister Bi."

“Your subject is here.” Bi Ziyan’s voice was steady as he stepped forward and bowed.

"When I was still a prince, I heard that you were good at managing finances and had the talent to govern the country." Chongzhen's gaze was sharp. "The Ministry of Revenue in Beijing is responsible for the military pay of the nine border regions and the expenses of the capital. It is the central hub of the nation's finances. Now that everything is in need of rebuilding, I entrust this heavy responsibility to you. Are you willing to take on this task, Minister Bi?"

Bi Ziyan knelt down, his voice resolute: "The nation is in dire straits, and the treasury is empty. I know this responsibility is as heavy as a mountain! But I have been blessed by the nation for generations, how dare I shirk my duty? Even if it means facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, I will not hesitate to die! I accept the position of Minister of Revenue!"

"Good! Get up quickly!" Chongzhen smiled sincerely and offered a helping hand as he rose from his seat. This was exactly the attitude he wanted. Bi Ziyan was a top-notch accountant, capable of spending every penny he acquired wisely.

He then said solemnly, “Both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Revenue are important positions, and they must be in accordance with the rules of the court. The Ministry of Personnel shall immediately issue a document to nominate Bi Ziyan and Guo Yunhou for the imperial recommendation, and recommend them respectively as the Minister of Revenue in Beijing and the Minister of Revenue in Nanjing. After the imperial recommendation is approved, the formal appointment will be carried out.”

"Your Majesty, we obey!" the Grand Secretaries replied in unison. Huang Liji sighed inwardly; the Emperor wanted to appoint people while simultaneously going through the motions of "public recommendation" to reassure the people. After arranging the personnel, Chongzhen's mood improved. He picked up a memorial and said to everyone, "There is also good news. In Xuanfu, Wei Zhongxian, You Shiwei, Hou Shilu, and Zhu Zhifeng jointly submitted a memorial stating that they recently achieved a great victory over Hudun Tuhan north of Xuanfu Town, killing over six hundred Tatars in battle. Hudun Tuhan has retreated to Dushikou, and the siege of Xuanfu has been lifted."

Several ministers quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations!"

Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand, his face darkening: "Over in Datong, Minister Wang and Li Huaixin have already selected three thousand elite cavalry, just waiting for the weather to warm up before heading out to raid the stronghold of Hudun and Tuhan. The battle with the Chahan tribe will soon be decided."

He changed the subject, his tone heavy: "But the Jizhou garrison suffered a defeat outside the border wall. Kuanhe Fort was captured by the Kharachin tribe and the Jurchen army. More than 400 soldiers defending the fort were almost completely wiped out, and the commander Li Juzheng died for his country."

He handed a memorial with dark red bloodstains on the edges to Xu Yingyuan: "Read it."

Xu Yingyuan, in his high-pitched voice, read aloud, word by word, the account of the bloody battle at Kuanhebao reported by Sun Zushou. The Kharachin tribe spearheaded the attack, with the Bordered Blue Banner overseeing the battle. The wooden fortress was burned down, but Li Juzheng led his men to dig pits and build ice walls, fighting to the death. In the end, he sent out dozens of his brothers with families to safety, and then led a hundred or so men in a desperate counterattack until he died…

After reading it aloud, Chongzhen remained silent for a moment, then glanced at his ministers and asked, "My dear ministers, tell me, where did we go wrong in the Battle of Kuanhe Fort?"

Without waiting for an answer, he asked and answered himself: "I think the problem lies in poverty! If we had enough silver, we could have built Kuanhe Fort into a strong brick and stone city, stationed more troops, and equipped it with cannons and muskets! Why did we have to let a few hundred soldiers defend a wooden fort, fight for days, and end up with the fort destroyed and everyone dead?"

His voice suddenly rose: "Look at Xuanfu! Why have they won battle after battle? It's because Wei Zhongxian confiscated the property of Shanxi merchants who colluded with the enemy, and they have cash on hand! They can pile up piles of gleaming silver on the city walls and distribute it as rewards on the spot! When the soldiers receive silver, their eyes light up and they have courage!"

"My Great Ming Dynasty has 590,000 troops in its nine border garrisons and thirteen towns! The capital garrison has over 100,000! That adds up to more than 700,000 troops!" Chongzhen stood up, his eyes burning. "If these 700,000 troops are all properly paid, well-fed and clothed, and well-armored and well-equipped, what is there to fear from the tens of thousands of Jurchen troops? Even at Kuanhe Fortress, didn't Li Juzheng and his few hundred men hold off an enemy twenty times their size for four days and four nights with just a wooden fortress?"

His voice trailed off with sadness as he finished speaking. He waved his hand and said, "That's enough for today. You may all leave."

Several Grand Secretaries and two Ministers bowed and quietly withdrew from Yihai Hall.

As soon as everyone left, a eunuch from the Qianqing Palace rushed in carrying a sealed urgent report and presented it to Xu Yingyuan. Xu Yingyuan checked the sealing wax, opened it, glanced at it, his expression changed slightly, and he quickly walked to Chongzhen's side and whispered, "Your Majesty, Xu Xianchun of the Embroidered Uniform Guard has secretly reported... that scoundrel Zhu Chunchen and his party have arrived outside Datong City."

Instead of being angry, Emperor Chongzhen smiled coldly, took a sip of tea, and said casually, "Datong? What a nice place."

He put down his teacup, as if recalling something amusing, and looked up at Xu Yingyuan, his tone relaxed: "I remember... the relationship between Duke Cheng, Zhu Chunchen, and the Prince of Dai's mansion was quite good!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the several personal eunuchs standing in the hall, including Xu Yingyuan, changed slightly, and even their breathing caught in their throats!
(End of this chapter)