How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 94 Qian Qianyi: We must be loyal, but not entirely loyal (Fourteenth update)

In Beijing, at the western end of Dongjiangmi Lane, stands a brightly lit, three-courtyard siheyuan (traditional courtyard house). This is the residence that Qian Qianyi rented in the capital. The courtyard is not large, but it is quiet and close to the imperial city and the Ministry of Rites.

In the main study of the second courtyard, the stove was burning brightly. Qian Qianyi, dressed in a casual Daoist robe, sat in a sandalwood armchair at the head of the table, holding a blue-and-white porcelain bowl and slowly skimming off the foam. Below him sat three young scholars, all promising junior members of the Donglin Academy whom he had specially invited to come to the capital for the imperial examinations.

One was Huang Zongxi, courtesy name Taichong, from Yuyao, Zhejiang, with a slender face and bright eyes. The other two were Gu Gao, courtesy name Zifang, from Wuxi, and Chen Zilong, courtesy name Wozi, from Tongcheng. The three were about the same age, all of whom were successful candidates in the imperial examinations during the Tianqi era, and were even successors of the Donglin Academy. They were determined to pass the imperial examinations this spring.

“Elder Mu,” Gu Gao, who was impatient, spoke first, “you must have something important to tell us that you called us here so late?”

Qian Qianyi put down his teacup, glanced at the three of them, and said with a hint of barely perceptible reserve and urgency, "Yes. I called you here because there is something that concerns your future."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Your Majesty... has made up his mind to take action against those dozen or so vassal kings in Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Henan."

The study fell silent immediately upon hearing this. Gu Gao and Chen Zilong exchanged a glance, both showing surprise on each other's faces. To threaten a vassal king? This was a matter of utmost importance!

"Elder Mu," Chen Zilong asked cautiously, "what does His Majesty intend to do?"

Qian Qianyi stroked his beard and slowly said, "His Majesty's intention is to 'remove the stipends of the princes and their families to support the military garrisons of Shaanxi and Shanxi'! Specifically, it means relocating the princes, dukes, and generals of the imperial family above the rank of general to the capital or the wealthy southern provinces. As for the lower-ranking members of the imperial family below the rank of general or lieutenant, restrictions will be lifted, allowing them to farm, work, do business, study, and take the imperial examinations. The court will stop paying their stipends and let them find their own way to make a living. Of course, His Majesty will not do it all at once; it will be done in stages."

His gaze swept over the three men, scrutinizing them: "The topic for this year's imperial examination has been set: 'Given the vast number of officials, the impoverished people of Qin and Jin, and the exhaustion of resources in the Central Plains, what is the best course of action?'"

He leaned forward, his tone becoming more forceful: "If you want to pass the imperial examinations and make a name for yourselves before His Majesty, you must dare to write these policy essays! You must dare to take action against the issue of official salary! You must write thoroughly and boldly! What His Majesty wants are capable people who can share his burdens and solve his problems, not pedantic scholars who only know how to spout nonsense!"

The study fell silent again. Gu Gao and Chen Zilong frowned, clearly processing this shocking news and weighing the risks. Directly attacking the imperial family? Writing this article would offend everyone with the surname Zhu, earning them eternal infamy!
Qian Qianyi felt a little displeased seeing their hesitation, but he kept a straight face and asked, "What? You're afraid to write such an article?"

“It’s not that the student is afraid.” A clear voice rang out; it was Huang Zongxi.

Qian Qianyi turned his gaze to him: "Oh? What are your thoughts, Taichong?"

Huang Zongxi frowned slightly, his eyes filled with deep thought: "Elder Mu, it is not that I dare not write this article. It is just... I have some doubts about this method itself."

"Doubts?" Qian Qianyi raised an eyebrow. "Tell me about them."

Huang Zongxi took a breath and said, "On this trip to the capital, I have traveled through many places in Central China, Shandong, and Beizhili. What I have seen is that the north is desolate and the people are suffering. It is far less prosperous and bustling than the south. A few days ago, the border troops in Jizhou and Xuanfu almost caused a major disturbance because they were thirteen months behind on their pay... It can be seen that the border troops are in dire straits, the imperial family is a burden, the war in Liaodong, coupled with the drought and locust plagues in Shaanxi and Shanxi for many years, have already worn down the north and severely damaged its vitality."

He paused, looking directly at Qian Qianyi: "The only way for the imperial court to get out of this predicament seems to be to 'shift the blame to Jiangdong'!"

"Shift the blame to Jiangdong?" Qian Qianyi's expression changed. This Huang Zongxi is quite cunning!
"Exactly!" Huang Zongxi said with certainty. "His Majesty's relocation of the princes and dukes to the capital or the wealthy southern provinces seems to alleviate the burden on the north. But can His Majesty really let these members of the imperial family, especially the princes and dukes, starve or freeze to death in Jiangnan? Absolutely not! Where will their stipends, resettlement expenses, and the cost of repairing their palaces ultimately come from?"

He answered his own question, his voice turning cold: "Won't all these expenses ultimately be passed on to the land taxes and grain tribute in Jiangnan? They might even create new taxes under false pretenses! This isn't reducing the burden; it's just a way of shifting the burden from the North onto the people of Jiangnan!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke: "Not to mention, where are those lower-ranking members of the royal family who were allowed to make a living on their own? Once the restrictions are lifted and they are allowed to leave their fiefdoms, where are they most likely to flock to? It will definitely be the more prosperous Jiangnan region with more opportunities! These people suddenly lose their stipends and have no skills to make a living. Wouldn't it be another burden if they all flooded into Jiangnan? Can the local government not care? In the end, won't it be the people of Jiangnan who have to bear this extra burden of relief and resettlement?"

The study was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Gu Gao and Chen Zilong were dumbfounded. They had only thought about the risks of writing articles, but they hadn't expected Huang Zongxi to see things so deeply, directly pointing out the major hidden dangers behind the policy.

Qian Qianyi nodded slowly and sighed, "Tai Chong, Tai Chong, what you've thought... is very profound and very correct!"

He abruptly stood up, paced a couple of times in the study, and his voice suddenly rose, filled with an inexplicable loyalty to the Ming Dynasty:
"But the North is already rotten to the core! The border troops are starving and screaming, a powder keg ready to explode at any moment! The Jurchens are eyeing us covetously beyond the Great Wall, and the peasant uprisings in Shanxi and Shaanxi are on the verge of spreading like wildfire! This is a matter of life and death for the court! Your Majesty's actions are choosing the lesser of two evils! Using the money and grain from Jiangnan to prolong the life of the empire! If the North collapses completely, the border towns are in chaos, and the Jurchens break through the Great Wall, even if Jiangnan has mountains of gold and silver, can it be protected?!"

He walked a few steps to Huang Zongxi and placed his hands heavily on his shoulders:

"You must understand His Majesty's difficulties! This is not just for the sake of Jiangnan, but for the sake of all the people under heaven! For the sake of the Ming Dynasty!"

His gaze swept over Gu Gao and Chen Zilong, his tone resolute:
"This article must not only be written, but it must be written thoroughly and with a sense of responsibility! It must clearly explain to the world the reasons behind 'cutting off the imperial stipend'! It must be written in a way that is groundbreaking, so that His Majesty will applaud it! Let the world know that we, the Donglin disciples, are not just empty talkers, but loyal ministers and generals who dare to be pioneers and share the burdens of our sovereign!" He released his grip, speaking rapidly and urgently:

"Time waits for no one! The North is in imminent danger! His Majesty needs capable ministers and efficient officials! This spring examination is the best opportunity for you to advance your careers! Write this essay well, pass the imperial examination, and enter the court as officials. Only then can you truly participate, serve the country, and share the burdens of the emperor! At that time, the issues you are worried about in Jiangnan will have a chance to be addressed properly in court and before His Majesty!"

He stopped in his tracks, his gaze sharp as lightning, fixing on the three of them:

"If you don't even dare to write a single policy essay, if you don't even have this much sense of responsibility, how can you talk about serving the country and saving the people in the future?! Huh?!"

Gu Gao and Chen Zilong were so engrossed in the conversation that their hesitation vanished, replaced by eager anticipation. Huang Zongxi remained silent for a moment, then gave Qian Qianyi a deep look before slowly nodding: "I have taken your teachings to heart, Elder Mu. I... understand."

"Good that you understand!" Qian Qianyi's face showed relief, and his tone softened. "Good that you understand! Go back and think carefully about this policy proposal. Write it boldly and practically! What His Majesty wants are loyal officials who dare to speak and act! Remember, this is your first step in serving your sovereign and father and making contributions!"

He glanced at the three of them, regaining his usual composure, but his tone remained solemn: "Go. Remember, what I say tonight is mine alone; don't spread it around."

"We will remember this!" the three replied in unison, bowed, and prepared to leave.

Qian Qianyi, however, seemed to suddenly remember something and added, his voice even lower:

"Oh, right, there's one more thing... You are not ordinary candidates, but the successors of the Donglin Academy, the talented young men of Jiangnan. If you only know how to sing high-sounding praises and express your loyalty, that's not enough! His Majesty has set a difficult question for us in Jiangnan! If you don't solve it well, it will be fatal!"

The three of them stopped in their tracks and looked at him in astonishment.

Qian Qianyi's gaze was deep and unfathomable: "Your Majesty... also intends to appoint Zhou Yingqiu to go south to Fujian to negotiate a deal with that notorious pirate Zheng Yiguan."

"Zheng Yiguan?" Chen Zilong frowned. "That notorious pirate who occupies the southeastern seas?"

“Exactly.” Qian Qianyi’s lips curled into a cold smile. “What business are we talking about? Selling official positions! We’re putting a price tag on the power of the southeastern coastal defense and ‘selling’ it to that Zheng Yiguan!”

"What?!" Gu Gao exclaimed in shock, and Chen Zilong also gasped. Huang Zongxi frowned deeply: "Your Majesty... how much would you be satisfied with?"

Qian Qianyi pondered for a moment, then held up two fingers and added another: "Two or three million taels... it has to be that amount, right? When you write your policy essays, keep that in mind first."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three shocked faces, and said, word by word:

"We, the Donglin faction... must be involved! Only by being involved can we possibly break the deadlock! Either we disrupt this game, or we continue to bargain with His Majesty! If we are squeezed out of the game..."

Qian Qianyi didn't continue. But anyone who can't figure out what he meant next should forget about taking the imperial examination and just go home and collect rent.

Huang Zongxi took a deep breath and bowed again: "Student...understands."

Gu Gao and Chen Zilong also suppressed their inner turmoil and bowed, saying, "We understand."

"Go on." Qian Qianyi waved his hand and sat back down in his armchair, exhausted.

The three silently left the study. Stepping outside into the cold wind, Gu Gao rubbed his hands, his eyes flickering uncertainly; Chen Zilong frowned, seemingly deep in thought; Huang Zongxi looked up at the dim night sky of Beijing, murmuring:

"What a clever trick to lure the enemy into a trap... Now that we're caught in the trap... let's break free..."

(End of this chapter)