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

Chapter 369 It's really a headache. The current situation of the Ming Dynasty and the huge amount of silver in the treasury were all earned by Zhang Shikang with his sword and gun. Only Zhang Shikang and Emperor Chongzhen knew how many hardships there were during that period.

Zhang Shikang was also a cabinet minister. Under normal circumstances, he should have participated in this important court meeting.

Of course, Emperor Chongzhen also had his own selfish motives.

For example, the issue of how to approve next year's budget. There was suddenly so much extra silver in the treasury. Even if Zhang Shikang did not remind him, Emperor Chongzhen still wanted to use the silver to do more for the people.

But how to use this money specifically is a very debatable issue.

Not to mention that emperors of all dynasties had spent money in the wrong place, even Emperor Chongzhen himself often thought about what had happened in the eleven years since he ascended the throne.

It seems that he has spent a lot of money in the wrong places over the years, otherwise the court would not be in this state.

Although Emperor Chongzhen did not express much opinion about the current cabinet, he did not have much trust in it either.

He was really scared of being deceived by court officials over the years.

Li Banghua finally left helplessly, with mixed feelings when he left.

But Emperor Chongzhen did not care about the opinions of his courtiers. After Li Banghua left, he was alone in the Qianqing Palace, staring at the huge map on the wall in a daze.

His eyes swept across Sichuan and finally stopped at the Liaoxi area outside the Great Wall.

In the past, Emperor Chongzhen would always sigh, because that area was the territory he had lost, and no one knew when it could be recovered.

Before Zhang Shikang entered the court, not only the court officials, but even Emperor Chongzhen had never thought of taking it back. All the civil and military officials in the court were so terrified at the mention of the Jiannu.

But now, Emperor Chongzhen has begun to hope.

Recovering lost territory, the thought always makes people excited.

Over the past year, there has been money in the national treasury, and Zhang Shikang has bought a lot of grain through the Zheng family.

In the Taicang of the Ministry of Revenue alone, there were 1.9 million shi of grain stored, including 1.5 million shi from Zheng Zhilong.

In addition, Zhang Shikang also had stored grain from landlords and gentry, as well as grain and fodder "donated" by members of the royal family, totaling 1.1 million shi.

Before the winter came, Emperor Chongzhen, with a stroke of his pen, happily distributed 700,000 shi of military rations to the garrisons in various parts of the Ming Dynasty.

After the military rations are distributed, the garrisons in various parts of the Ming Dynasty will no longer be short of food and fodder until at least May or June next year. The situation is very good.

In addition, after two special examinations and one special tribute this year, Emperor Chongzhen finally managed to fill the gaps in the officials in the court and across the country.

However, those newly-appointed scholars did not go through a probation period, and the number of candidates admitted was extremely large, so the quality was bound to be uneven.

As a result, he was criticized by many officials in the court, who believed that such behavior would cause chaos.

Emperor Chongzhen scoffed at this. He believed that it was better to have officials than to have no officials. If some officials did not do their job well or were unpopular, they would be dismissed.

With the Censors keeping an eye on various places, Emperor Chongzhen was not too worried. Some court officials even suggested abolishing the Censors, which made Emperor Chongzhen want to laugh.

Although most of the officials in the court today are honest, their minds are also more pedantic and inflexible. Emperor Chongzhen is not angry, as he has become accustomed to it.

What he is looking forward to now is Zhang Shikang's triumphant return, making plans for next year, and then recovering the lost territories.

Of course, this was just his idea. Emperor Chongzhen did not discuss it with the cabinet ministers. Regarding military matters, he still intended to follow Zhang Shikang's advice.

Alas, when this kid comes back, I guess he will complain again that I always assign him tasks.

What a headache!

"Your Majesty! Good news!"

Fang Zhenghua came in trotting. He was a steady person and rarely got excited.

"The East Factory's guards reported that the Marquis and his 1,000 personal guards have arrived in the capital, and are expected to arrive in the capital this afternoon!"

……

British government.

Duke of England Zhang Zhiji was wearing a gorgeous thick cotton coat and lying on a soft reclining chair. Sun and Xing sat on both sides of him, chatting while peeling oranges and feeding him snacks.

If Zhang Shikang were here, he would definitely be very upset, because this is the life he had always imagined.

"I don't know when our third son will come back. It's almost the New Year!" Sun sighed.

"Don't worry, sister. Shikang is a filial child and will definitely come back before the New Year." Xing said carefully.

But Sun said this naturally because she wanted her man to comfort her. She turned her head and saw that Zhang Zhiji had fallen asleep.

Fell asleep before even swallowing the orange in your mouth?

Sun patted Zhang Zhiji's bulging belly angrily.

"Master, aren't you worried about our Jia Shikang at all? He's fighting in the war!"

"What's there to worry about in a war? He doesn't need to lead the charge." Zhang Zhiji muttered.

"The things to worry about are never in the barracks, alas!"

Zhang Zhiji has been in this state for more than a year. Ever since his son was named the Grand Marshal of the Army by the Emperor, he even resigned from his post as the Commander-in-Chief of the Five Armies.

Although the current emperor did not approve of his resignation, Zhang Zhiji was basically in a bad state even when he attended court.

He didn't care about anything and didn't ask about anything. He would go to the yamen to report in in the morning, and go home to lie down at the appointed time in the afternoon.

Occasionally, he would also invite a few nobles to chat and drink together. Now that the weather is cold, if it were warmer, Zhang Zhiji planned to go fishing with Xincheng Hou.

Fishing is a great hobby that doesn't require any intrigue or avoiding suspicion.

When Wang Guoxing learned that he wanted to learn fishing from him, he was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling, and he wanted to make him like this elegant hobby immediately.

Zhang Zhiji knew that the reason why Wang Guoxing was so enthusiastic was that with him going with him, Wang Guoxing's wife did not dare to stop him.

In short, Zhang Zhiji completely stopped caring about state affairs. Apart from occasionally talking about business with his eldest son, he just lay down, very calmly.

Zhang Zhiji started living the life that his son wanted but could not have ahead of time.

"If it's not in the military camp, then where is it?" Sun was a woman after all, and she was stunned for a moment before she reacted:

"Master, you mean, the palace?

No way, doesn't His Majesty think highly of our son?"

“Now is now, and later is later. Haven’t you heard that serving a king is like serving a tiger?

It has never been the case in our Ming Dynasty that someone has sole control of military power. Although our son does have some abilities, he has offended too many people.

Now the third brother's trip to the south of the Yangtze River was to confiscate property and divide land, which was a good thing and his contribution was certainly not small.

But I am worried... that my achievements will overthrow my master!"

Zhang Zhiji said to Sun and Xing.

In the past, the court officials and the emperor had been struggling for so long, but the situation in the court had become even worse. Now, his third son had only been in the court for less than two years, and he had already brought the court under control in one fell swoop.

With such a comparison, what do the other court officials think, and what does the current emperor think?

Isn't it embarrassing?

After being reminded by Zhang Zhiji, Sun thought about it for a while and immediately became a little panicked.

"Master, then then then...what should we do?"

Just at this moment, there was a commotion outside the hall, and Steward Li came over with a smile and reported:

"Master, First Madam, Second Madam, the Third Young Master is back!"

……