Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

It was very rare and precious that a queen of such a respected status could still remain tolerant towards Zhang Shikang even when her closest relative died because of him.

Even though her father had never helped her as a daughter, he was still her biological father after all.

"You have made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty, His Majesty trusts you, and I admire you too.

But with the tax system, are you being too reckless?"

Empress Zhou had been married to Emperor Chongzhen for many years and had advised him on state affairs more than once, but her advice was never accepted.

Queen Zhou knew very well how many people would be offended by the current tax reform. It was not that she did not support it, but she felt that it was too hasty to do so. Once it failed, there might be great turmoil.

Queen Zhou knew that she could not persuade Emperor Chongzhen, so she had to turn her attention to Zhang Shikang.

She knew in her heart that most of the current affairs in the court were actually being planned by the young man in front of her who was not even twenty years old.

When Emperor Chongzhen first appointed Zhang Shikang as the commander-in-chief of the Beijing Camp, Empress Zhou generally felt that it was inappropriate.

But judging from the series of events that followed and the final results, Champion Zhang Shikang is indeed talented.

It's good that young people are eager to make progress, but they can't help being overambitious and arrogant. After all, the number of people involved in tax reform is too large.

Their power was enough to influence the court and the public opinion, so Queen Zhou was naturally very worried.

"Tax matters..."

"Queen, I told you that the harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs. How dare you do this?"

Zhang Shikang was about to explain something when Emperor Chongzhen strode over and questioned Queen Zhou with a frown.

Zhang Shikang felt his head go numb, thinking that this old man Chongzhen was really... scolding the queen in front of so many people.

He roughly guessed that Brother Chongzhen might want to stand up for him. After all, whether it was Zhou Kui's death or the current tax dispute, Queen Zhou had reasons to blame him, but the greater possibility was based on his character.

In the past, Zhang Shikang was just guessing, but now it seems that the historical records that said Chongzhen was stubborn and ambitious are quite fair.

This can be guessed from the fact that his brother Chongzhen was always urging him to take action against the Donglin Party. There are even more examples of Emperor Chongzhen being biased, stubborn, and self-righteous.

Fortunately, Brother Chongzhen listened to him this time, otherwise after Yang Sichang's death, it would have been Hong Chengchou. This guy would later become a great contributor to the Qing Dynasty's entry into the Pass.

But Zhang Shikang respected both Empress Zhou and Empress Yi'an.

Without Empress Yi'an, Brother Chongzhen might not have been able to ascend the throne, and he would probably still be Prince Xin at this moment.

Empress Zhou was kind and virtuous, and she never begged Emperor Chongzhen for favors on behalf of her brother. After the death of Zhou Kui, the Earl of Jiading, her brother became a penniless person.

When the court was in difficulty, Empress Zhou was particularly frugal in her management of the harem and cut down on a lot of unnecessary expenses.

She never lost her temper and got along well with the other concubines of Emperor Chongzhen, allowing Emperor Chongzhen to concentrate on governing the country. This lasted for more than ten years.

According to the Ming History, before the fall of Beijing, Emperor Chongzhen told Empress Zhou that the situation was hopeless. Empress Zhou said in pain, "I have served Your Majesty for eighteen years, but you never listened to me. Today we die together for the country. What is there to hate?"

Afterwards, Queen Zhou hanged herself to death at the age of 34, and Queen Yi'an did the same.

Although those things happened later, from these historical materials, we can infer how stubborn and self-righteous Brother Chongzhen was.

Emperor Chongzhen's sudden arrival and severe rebuke made Empress Zhou very embarrassed, but she did not dare to disobey Emperor Chongzhen. She just bowed her head and dared not say a word.

Zhang Shikang shook his head in his heart, but still insisted on explaining to Queen Zhou:

“Your Majesty, the tax reform is indeed a bit radical, but it was forced by the court officials. Your Majesty and I are in a dilemma. We can either compromise with them or resign and continue to be a young master of the Duke’s Mansion, while the court remains the same as before.

Otherwise, we can only fight for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and the people of the world. I have thought about taking it slow, but they will never give me and Your Majesty this opportunity.

However, Your Majesty, do not worry too much. I have made comprehensive arrangements. There will be a short period of turmoil, but I assure Your Majesty that with the current military strength of the Ming Dynasty, this turmoil is controllable and there will never be a situation like the rampant bandits before."

What he said was indeed true. In the past month, the Donglin Party had been pressing forward step by step, insisting on the issue of Shanxi merchants and threatening to go on strike. They had desperately opposed the emperor and had almost forced him and his brother Chongzhen to use their big moves.

Rather than being a dispute over taxation, it was more of a dispute over interests, or a dispute over the real right to speak in the court.

As long as they win this struggle, many problems can be solved. Even though it is difficult, he and his brother Chongzhen still went all in.

Zhang Shikang's words were tantamount to losing face for Emperor Chongzhen. After all, this old man strode over to help him out, and he actually explained it seriously to Queen Zhou.

Emperor Chongzhen frowned and glanced at Zhang Shikang, then said to Empress Zhou calmly:

"Go back."

Queen Zhou bowed to Emperor Chongzhen and then withdrew, but her slightly frowned brows had relaxed.

Of course, she understood that Emperor Chongzhen did not like her excessive knowledge and interference in state affairs, and she did not want that either. But if her husband was really someone who could do everything well, wouldn't she be willing to just be a good queen?

After Empress Zhou left, Emperor Chongzhen calmed down a little and suddenly said gently to his eldest daughter, Princess Kunyi:

"Kunyi, don't you want to know who the person I told you about before is?"

"A great hero stepping on auspicious clouds, a great hero who can make my father stop sighing." The nine-year-old Princess Kunyi murmured.

Although Emperor Chongzhen seldom went to the harem due to his busy state affairs and even rarely summoned the Crown Prince Zhu Cilang, he would often ask his eldest daughter to talk to him when he had some free time.

Princess Kunyi often heard her father sighing and would ask him the reason. Emperor Chongzhen would occasionally tell his daughter about the troubles in the court.

Once, Princess Kunyi naively made a wish in front of Emperor Chongzhen, hoping that a great hero would be sent down from heaven, stepping on a colorful cloud, so that her father would no longer have to lament all day long.

Later, Emperor Chongzhen told her that the person had appeared, but he refused to tell her who that person was.

"He is the man in front of you, my Marquis of Guanjun, Zhang Shikang." Emperor Chongzhen looked at his daughter lovingly.

"I hope you don't mind your grandfather's affairs. The decision to remove his title was made by me. If you want to blame someone, blame me.

You are still young and there are many things you don’t understand.

But remember, it was not your grandfather who provided you with fine clothes and delicious food and restored the palace to its daily expenses.

But it was the Champion Marquis, Zhang Shikang.

And in the future, it will not be your grandfather who will make sure that people all over the world have enough food to eat and no longer suffer from wars. "

Emperor Chongzhen doted on his eldest daughter very much, so he explained it seriously. If it were the Crown Prince Zhu Cilang, he would probably have only been scolded by him.

"Marquis of Champion, Zhang Shikang." The nine-year-old Princess Kunyi muttered to herself. When she tilted her little head and looked at Zhang Shikang again, there was light in her two big eyes.

"Father, I remember this: Marquis Guanjun is a great hero of your father and Kunyi."

After that, Kunyi bowed to Zhang Shikang and apologized, but Zhang Shikang felt a little embarrassed.

"Uncle, give me a hug." Princess Zhaoren stretched out her arms towards Zhang Shikang.

She was only six years old and couldn't understand what the adults were saying, but she just wanted to watch the fireworks. Zhang Shikang had just told her that if she called him uncle, he would hug her, and she could see the fireworks when she was hugged.

Zhang Shikang was embarrassed.

He had originally asked the little princess to call him uncle as a joke while brother Chongzhen was away, and now his brother was right beside them.

This is disrespectful at best and presumptuous at worst, and the death penalty is not excessive.

"Let your sister take the baby away. Kunyi, you two go play over there." Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand at his eldest daughter.

Princess Kunyi quickly took little Zhaoren over, turned her head to look at Zhang Shikang, and left.

Zhang Shikang stood awkwardly beside Emperor Chongzhen and could only look up at the fireworks in the sky to hide the embarrassment of his gaffe.

Emperor Chongzhen stood with his hands behind his back, not saying a word, and also looked at the fireworks. After a long while, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly turned his head and said:

"Shikang, aren't you only 50% to 60% sure about the tax system?

You just made a promise to the Queen, but I have been with you the longest, so why have I never heard this promise from you?"

……