Huangming

Chapter 115 Reorganizing the Army and Enforcing Discipline, Eliminating Corruption

Zhang Weixian left Beijing with the worthless dregs of the nobility, and the lives of the people of Beijing improved considerably.

In the past few days, Zhu Youxiao has frequently received reports from the garrison troops heading south to Beijing.

Such acts include patronizing prostitutes along the way, bringing female relatives on smuggled trips, and abducting women from the countryside.
They were all despicable things.

These scoundrels truly represent a moral low point in the Ming Dynasty.

The merits established by their ancestors still benefit their descendants today; the Ming Dynasty was truly generous.

They truly shared the fate of the nation with these nobles.

Zhu Youxiao entrusted all these matters to Zhang Weixian, so that he no longer needed to submit memorials to Zhang Weixian.

Five more days passed.

As a result, the army had not even traveled 150 li.

The army marched thirty li a day without carrying much baggage, so the speed was incredibly slow.

Zhu Youxiao was dissatisfied with the marching speed and immediately issued an edict urging them to speed up.

If you don't stay far away, how can I deal with the Beijing Garrison?

now.

Inside the East Warm Pavilion.

Wei Zhongxian knelt down and simultaneously announced:

"Your Majesty, this is the embezzled money from the eight major Shanxi merchants in the capital. Please take a look."

After several more days, Wei Zhongxian finally finished the task of confiscating the property.

These days, the agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot have been working day and night, and the cells in the imperial prison are almost full.

Xu Xianchun had thoroughly enjoyed interrogating prisoners.

Wei Zhongxian had dark circles under his eyes, and all he wanted to do was get a good night's sleep.

Zhu Youxiao opened the booklet containing the confiscated funds from the Shanxi merchants' homes, his eyes brightening slightly.

The proceeds from the confiscation alone amounted to five million taels of silver, and the remaining valuables were estimated to be worth several million taels as well.

In particular, Zhu Youxiao also saw that these Shanxi merchants actually dared to hoard rice and grain.

Originally, the Grand Canal's grain transport was interrupted for a period of time due to the Yellow River's breach, causing rice prices in the capital to rise. However, these merchants, after bringing in grain, not only did not sell it, but also bought it up in hopes of driving up rice prices and making huge profits.

These people!

For money, one might even be willing to hang oneself from the roof beam.

"Wei Dadang, you did a good job."

Zhu Youxiao was overjoyed.

With so much money, he felt much more confident in training the new army.

"Is there anything you wish to be rewarded with?"

Wei Zhongxian was overjoyed upon hearing this. The reward he desired most was, of course, to become the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

However, considering that the Wei dynasty was still present, his words might put the emperor in a difficult position.

Wei Zhongxian was a shrewd and tactful man, and naturally, he was very considerate of his superiors.

He immediately adopted a strategy of feigned retreat, saying, "Serving Your Majesty is my duty, and I have no need for Your Majesty's reward."

Wei Chao watched Wei Zhongxian's performance from the side, his face contorted with jealousy, as if his body was about to break apart.

Old dog, why are you putting on this act?
nausea!

Zhu Youxiao looked at Wei Zhongxian's appearance, smiled, and said, "How about this! I will grant you land, set aside three thousand mu for your hometown, and bestow upon you a mansion for your retirement. What do you think?"

His Majesty's reward is truly generous.

but.
He's not thinking about retirement right now.

He doesn't urgently need land or houses right now.

However, after a moment's thought, he felt relieved.

This unfulfilled divine grace will one day be fulfilled.

I heard that Wei Chao was reprimanded by His Majesty a few days ago. His downfall is only a matter of time. Now, he only needs to be patient. In time, the position of Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial will still be his.

"This servant thanks Your Majesty for bestowing upon me land and houses!"

Zhu Youxiao naturally saw through Wei Zhongxian's insincerity.

However.
As a leader, he needs to manage his subordinates and henchmen.

It's like training a dog:
You may take what I give you; you may not take what I haven't given you!

"Now that the confiscation of property is finished, how is the investigation of the Beijing Garrison that I entrusted to you going?"

This concerns the Beijing Garrison and is related to military power; it is an important task.

Wei Zhongxian immediately said, "The task that Your Majesty assigned to me is still under investigation. I have found some people who are willing to cooperate and have found a lot of dirt on them."

Zhu Youxiao nodded with a smile.

Talent is rare!
Talented individuals like Wei Zhongxian are even rarer.

With such a sharp weapon in hand, those civil officials who only bark and howl will finally obey.

I really don't know how Emperor Chongzhen could have broken the blade in his hand.

“Continue the investigation. Those on the list who have not committed serious crimes should be let go, while those who have committed serious crimes should be thoroughly investigated.”

Looking at the names on the register, Wei Zhongxian immediately realized that these people were all from the lineage of the Duke of England.

This is a deal between His Majesty and the Duke of England.

It seems that with the assistance of the British Duke's Mansion, this investigation of the Beijing Garrison will not be too difficult.

"The slaves obey."

Zhu Youxiao narrowed his eyes as he looked at Wei Zhongxian kneeling on the ground, and suddenly reminded him, "If any civil officials collude with the Beijing Garrison, you must report it immediately." "Yes, Your Majesty."

Speaking of civil officials, Wei Zhongxian seemed to have thought of something and said, "Your Majesty, I have interrogated quite a few civil officials who are involved with the eight major Shanxi merchants recently."

He presented a blood-stained list to the emperor with both hands.

Zhu Youxiao narrowed his eyes as he looked at the names on the list.

The list of officials included people from the Censorate and the Imperial Academy, as well as highly respected figures among the literati.

No wonder these people have the money to pursue education and establish academies; it turns out they've also received considerable benefits from merchants.

Wei Zhongxian glanced at the emperor furtively, and seeing the emperor's uncertain expression, he immediately lowered his head and asked softly, "Your Majesty, should these people be taken to the imperial prison?"

Instead of directly answering Wei Zhongxian's question, Zhu Youxiao asked, "Are all these charges true?"

Wei Zhongxian immediately nodded and said, "Your Majesty, the evidence is conclusive, with both witnesses and physical evidence. There is absolutely no injustice. The embezzled funds mentioned above can all be traced back to the time, people, and places of bribery."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Let's not take action for now."

Not taking action for now doesn't mean we won't take action.

Holding onto a card, it's just a matter of when to play it.

"The focus during this period is on matters within the Beijing Garrison. If handled well, I will reward you handsomely."

Wei Zhongxian hurriedly kowtowed and said, "This servant obeys."

After Wei Zhongxian left, Zhu Youxiao continued to review memorials. When he got tired, he rested for a while.

Perform a set of Baduanjin or Wuqinxi exercises.

He even learned a few tricks to defend himself from Luo Yangxing.

After learning the Eight Pieces of Brocade and the Five Animal Frolics, Zhu Youxiao inevitably wanted to learn some skills to help him in his life.

So that if a palace maid were to strangle you in the future, you wouldn't have any chance to fight back.

Luo Yangxing had solid martial arts skills, but his teaching of martial arts was not lively enough and was somewhat rigid.

Fortunately, Zhu Youxiao didn't need to use this skill to fight on the battlefield; it was enough for him.

Zhu Youxiao only stopped exercising when the sun set in the west.

After changing his clothes, he prepared to have dinner.

Besides Zhang Yun'er, the palace maids Zhao Qingyue and Wu Wenlan also came to serve dinner.

As for Wu Wenlan, she was the second palace maid to serve the emperor. She was dignified, plump and radiant, with skin as smooth as jade.

Zhu Youxiao was pleased, but at that moment, there was a resentful woman in the Qianqing Palace.

Seeing the increasing number of women around the emperor, Zhang Yun'er suddenly felt that the Qianqing Palace had become crowded.

She shouldn't be here; she should be under the table.

His Majesty
Why don't you invite me to sleep with you?

She puffed out her chest but immediately deflated.

Compared to Zhao Qingyue and Wu Wenlan's curvaceous figures, she was practically flat-chested.

woohoo~
I was first! I was first!
Zhu Youxiao found it amusing to see Zhang Yun'er looking so distressed.

Occasionally teasing the women around him makes this life of reviewing official documents not too boring.

November 25th, the first year of the Taichang reign.

early morning.

Zhang Weixian led the Beijing garrison soldiers and finally went far enough.

Meanwhile, Emperor Tianqi, Zhu Youxiao, also began preparing to take action against the Beijing Garrison!
The Beijing Garrison continued the "Three Great Camps" system established since the Yongle era, but it had severely declined in the later Wanli period, with actual troop numbers and organization falling far short of the regulations.

The Beijing Garrison was originally supposed to have a full strength of 200,000 men, but after Zhu Youxiao's thorough investigation, it was concluded that the current Beijing Garrison probably only has around 60,000 men.

The missing 140,000 was all used to pay military officers who were not actually employed.

The remaining 60,000 people were of mixed quality and their fighting ability was appalling.

Fortunately, the worst ones have already gone south to Kaifeng.

The remaining 40,000 people were not many with connections, so dealing with them was much simpler.

It was still dark.

Zhu Youxiao then summoned Duke Cheng, Zhu Chunchen, to the palace.

Accompanying him were Wei Zhongxian, Qi Jin, Tong Zhongkui, Qin Bangping, and others.

Zhu Chunchen followed the eunuch leading the way, but his heart was pounding and his face was full of worry.

When the eunuch came to the Duke of Cheng's mansion, he thought the emperor was going to interrogate him!
As for why he thought that way, it's very simple.

The emperor first dismissed him from his post in the Four Guards Battalion, and then ordered the troops of the Duke of Cheng's mansion to go south to Kaifeng with Zhang Weixian.

In Zhu Chunchen's view, this meant the emperor was about to take action against him!
"Your subject, Zhu Chunchen, Duke of Cheng, respectfully wishes Your Majesty a long and peaceful reign!"

Zhu Chunchen bowed nervously.

Zhu Youxiao smiled and said, "It is the Grand Secretary."

Seeing the smile on the emperor's face, Zhu Chunchen felt much relieved. When he saw the people in the East Warm Pavilion, his worries immediately dissipated.

These people are all His Majesty's favorites.

It seems His Majesty isn't here to punish him, but rather to entrust him with an important task: to punish others.

I just don't know
Whom does His Majesty intend to deal with?

Just as Zhu Chunchen was wondering, the emperor spoke:

"The reason I have summoned you all here today is to discuss the reorganization of the Beijing Garrison!"

(End of this chapter)