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

The family fortune that they had accumulated for so many years was almost divided up by the border troops and Yang Sichang in just a few words. All the nobles felt their hearts were bleeding.

But after all, that money was spent on military and national affairs, so they couldn't say anything.

However, when they heard that the Minister of Personnel was going to pay salaries to officials, the nobles could no longer bear it.

"Your Majesty, the salaries of the nobles have been in arrears for even longer. I haven't received a salary for more than two years. I think the other nobles are in the same situation as me."

Duke Chengguo Zhu Chunchen stood up and said with a hint of indignation.

In fact, the nobles and relatives of the emperor basically did not live on salaries, but Zhu Chunchen just couldn't get enough of it. Using the nobles' money to make up for the army's deficit was fine, but Zheng Sanjun was so shameless that he actually wanted to use their money to make up for his own deficit.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I haven't received my salary for two years. As the saying goes, good steel should be used on the blade." Xining Marquis Song Yude came out to second the motion.

"Your Majesty, what Duke Chengguo and Marquis Xining said makes sense. Not only the nobles, but also the royal family have owed them for a longer time and more. I think the remaining money should still be used for military supplies."

Duke of England Zhang Zhiji also came out to second the motion. After he finished speaking, he glanced at Emperor Chongzhen, as if he wanted to remind him that the Beijing camp also needed money, otherwise how could it be reorganized?

Marquis Xining nodded to the Duke of Yingguo, but Duke Chengguo Zhu Chunchen ignored Zhang Zhiji's kindness. He thought he was being cheated by Zhang Zhiji.

But Zheng Sanjun did not intend to give up. Instead, he waited for the nobles to finish speaking before continuing to argue:

"Your Majesty, I think you all know that nobles do not live on salaries, but Your Majesty, those middle and low-level officials in various places need salaries to support their families. Your Majesty, please think twice!"

What Zheng Sanjun said might be true, but Zhu Chunchen became even angrier.

"Zheng Sanjun, what are you talking about? If the nobles don't rely on salaries to live, then we don't have to pay them?

The Ming Dynasty has laws and decrees. Your civil servants’ salaries are called salaries, but the salaries of military officials like me are not called salaries?

Besides, don’t think I don’t know, do you live on your salary?”

Zhu Chunchen was already unhappy and spoke without mercy, trampling on the already limited affection between the civil and military ministers.

It's almost like saying that you civil servants are corrupt and accepting bribes.

Cabinet Chief Minister Liu Yuliang stood up.

"Duke Cheng! Don't spit bloody words at me! You are slandering the current Shangshu!"

Zhu Chunchen was so angry that he laughed.

"You know what you did, you have no shame in using my money to pay your salaries!

If you have the ability to donate your property and use it to pay salaries to those middle and low-level officials, I will agree with it wholeheartedly!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Emperor Chongzhen's eyes narrowed. In the past, he would have stepped down to mediate the fight, but now he was happy to watch the nobles and civil officials fighting.

The court of the Ming Dynasty was very different from that of the Qing Dynasty. For decades before the Qing Dynasty entered the Pass, it even lived a tribal life of eating raw meat and drinking blood. After entering the Pass, it was always afraid of being ridiculed by the Han people for being ignorant of etiquette, so it developed a set of cumbersome etiquette that made people's scalps numb.

In the Ming Dynasty, not only was there no need to kneel at every turn, but quarrels in the court were common. What's worse, group fights among civil and military officials were not uncommon.

The imbalance between civil and military officials has existed for a long time, and the fighting spirit of military officials must be stimulated. Although it is of no benefit to the war, with the support of the emperor, the arrogance of civil officials can be suppressed to a certain extent. These are Zhang Shikang's original words.

Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand, signaling both parties to stop, and then said to Zheng Sanjun and Liu Yuliang with interest:

"My noble relatives have raised five million taels for me. I have thought about what Duke Cheng said just now and I think it makes sense. Mr. Zheng and Mr. Liu, why don't we join forces to raise funds from all the officials in the world?

In this way, the national crisis may be resolved."

Emperor Chongzhen seemed to be addicted to fundraising.

Zheng Sanjun suddenly felt like a bucket of cold water was poured on his head, but he was an experienced man after all, so he only thought for a moment before replying:

"Your Majesty, civil officials are not like nobles. Nobles have accumulated wealth from their ancestors for more than 200 years and have many profitable businesses. Civil officials only live on salaries. How much can I get from serving as an official for several years in the Ming Dynasty?"

When Zheng Sanjun finished speaking, his tone was a statement, but it sounded more like a rhetorical question.

The salaries in the Ming Dynasty were indeed not high, and could even be considered the lowest in all dynasties. This was all because of the Ming Dynasty's first emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang's parents both starved to death, and he himself had suffered from hunger many times since childhood. He believed that this was all because the officials of the Yuan Dynasty were too greedy.

After he himself ascended to a high position, he set the salaries of officials extremely low.

However, it is not as serious as Zheng Sanjun said. As the saying goes, the head follows the butt. Zheng Sanjun is of course speaking for the civil servants from their perspective.

What Zheng Sanjun said seemed to make sense at first glance, but Zhu Chunchen was so angry that he didn't want to reason with him.

"Zheng Sanjun, do you still have any shame? The title of noble relative is passed down from generation to generation, but even though we have been passed down from generation to generation for more than 200 years, we don't necessarily have as much wealth as some people!

Don't even think about asking me to spend a penny on you!"

Zhu Chunchen had learned his lesson this time and did not mention anyone. As for whether it was true or not, it was entirely up to the emperor to decide.

If it were any other time, Emperor Chongzhen would definitely not believe it, and would even scold Zhu Chunchen for being unreasonable. But today, Emperor Chongzhen was extremely quiet, as if he was watching a play.

Emperor Chongzhen knew that what Zhu Chunchen said was probably true, because Zhang Shikang had said that the Ming Dynasty had no shortage of silver.

In fact, in addition to Emperor Chongzhen, Zhang Shikang, who was standing at the back and dozing off against the wall, was also listening with great interest.

He found the quarrels among the court officials very interesting. He originally thought that these old men would quibble over words, quote classics, make innuendos, and make veiled accusations.

However, it was no different from a quarrel with ordinary people, and this time, he stood on the side of the Duke.

Duke Chengguo, Marquis Xining, Zheng Sanjun and Liu Yuliang had a quarrel, and later officials from the six ministries were also involved. This time, the military officials were particularly united.

The two sides almost came to blows over who should be paid salaries, but it was Emperor Chongzhen who finally stopped the fight.

"In my opinion, this money should not be given to nobles or officials of the Ministry of Personnel. Of course, I am not partial, and I will not give it to any member of the royal family either.

I think that the Ming Dynasty needs more powerful troops now, as the imperial court is now faced with repeated border invasions by the Jiannu outside and bandits at home harming the people.

Only with more powerful armies can we eliminate all enemies. Only when the world is at peace can the treasury be filled. This is the fundamental way.

What do you think?"

Xining Marquis Song Yude quickly came out and was the first to agree.

"Your Majesty is right."

Zhu Chunchen also came out to second the motion, and Zhang Zhiji said:

"Your Majesty, the Beijing Garrison was originally the last line of defense to consolidate the capital, but it has been abandoned for a long time and most of its soldiers are old and weak. I think the remaining silver should be used to reorganize the Beijing Garrison so that our Ming Dynasty can have another strong army."

Zhu Chunchen seemed to have known that Zhang Zhiji would say this for his son, but compared to handing over the money to the civil servants, supporting the Beijing camp would make him feel more comfortable.

After all, the commanders of the Beijing camp were also military officials, so they would not have the ambitions of civil officials. So, they rarely put aside their past grudges and said:

"What the British public said makes sense, and I second it."

Duke Dingguo Xu Yunzhen also knew that His Majesty had mentioned yesterday the reorganization of the Beijing camp, so naturally he had no objection, and all the nobles and relatives quickly reached a unanimous opinion.

Zheng Sanjun and others finally had to give up.

Emperor Chongzhen's mood improved again. He stood up and said:

"When we were collecting donations yesterday, I promised to use the son of an outstanding nobleman, Zhang Shikang, the son of Duke Yingguo Zhang Zhiji.

He is young and promising, quick-witted and studious, calm and steady, and should be a role model for the children of meritorious officials.

Zhang Shikang, come forward and listen to the order! "

After Emperor Chongzhen finished speaking, he looked towards the back of the line of military officials with a smile on his face. The nobles and civil officials also turned their heads to look at Zhang Shikang.

……