Huangming

Chapter 133 The Rich and Powerful Peasantry, Archery Practice in the Forbidden Garden

Wang Tiqian smiled slightly, cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, there are too many people here, why don't we move inside the mansion to discuss this in detail?"

Although Prince Fu was displeased, he had no choice but to raise his hand and gesture: "The envoy invites you into the palace for a discussion."

The group passed through many palaces and arrived at the main hall of the Prince's Mansion.

Prince Fu dared not sit down on his own, and respectfully said to Wang Tiqian, "The angel is on behalf of Heaven to patrol the land, and should rightfully take the seat of honor."

Wang Tiqian waved his hands repeatedly: "Your Highness is of noble birth, how dare I overstep my bounds? Please, Your Highness, take a seat."

Having said that, the old eunuch, without giving any room for refusal, took his seat in the guest area.

Prince Fu was filled with unease.

Now that the Prince's Mansion is under Wang Tiqian's control, and given that Chen Liangbi has committed the heinous crime of treason, he has no choice but to seek help from this old eunuch.

As a close attendant of the emperor, the old eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs could have his life or death determined by his every word and action.

After all, petty people are incapable of accomplishing anything, but they can easily ruin things.

"In that case, I shall accept your offer without hesitation."

Prince Fu sat down in the main seat with some trepidation, and before he was even settled, he asked impatiently, "I wonder what the angel wants to discuss with me?"

Wang Tiqian slowly brushed the snow off his robes and said with a meaningful smile, "I am not here to discuss matters, but to save Your Highness's life."

"Save my life?"

Prince Fu thought to himself with resentment: If it weren't for you, Wang Tiqian, coming to Luoyang, how could Chen Liangbi have taken such a risk? And why should I bear the responsibility for this treason?

However, upon further reflection, if Wang Tiqian could help, it wouldn't be so bad to spend money to avert disaster.

Prince Fu concealed his anger and asked with a smile:

"If Eunuch Wang can speak well of me before His Majesty and explain the whole story of Chen Liangbi's matter, thus clearing me of any involvement, I am willing to give him 200,000 taels of silver to help him acquire some property."

Two hundred thousand?
That's a really big deal!

You fat pig, no wonder the Emperor couldn't resist slaughtering you.

"Your Highness has misunderstood."

A maid brought over hot tea. Wang Tiqian took the tea, took a small sip, and said, "I love money, but I acquire it in a proper way. I am not worthy of Your Highness's two hundred thousand taels."

Now it was Prince Fu's turn to be confused.

If you're not after money, why did you invite me to a private meeting?
Are you deliberately trying to make fun of me?
Prince Fu said with some displeasure, "If you, Eunuch, are unwilling to speak well of me to His Majesty, how can you expect to save me?"

"Hahaha!"

Wang Tiqian laughed loudly twice and said, "Your Majesty still doesn't understand why His Majesty sent me to Luoyang."

Prince Fu, Zhu Changxun, was puzzled, but recalling the contents of the previous edict, he quickly understood.

He asked somewhat nervously, "Is it because I did many wrong things in Luoyang? For example, usurping the throne and offering up land for personal gain?"

Zhu Changxun counted on his fingers and realized that he had committed too many sins to count.

Wang Tiqian nodded, then shook his head, and said, "This is one of the reasons why we came, but not the main reason. Which prince of our Great Ming Dynasty doesn't occupy land, which doesn't commit crimes? Why does His Majesty only punish the Prince?"

Yes!

King Zhou of Kaifeng, who lived next door, was no better off than him.

The things he did, King Zhou also did.

Why doesn't Your Majesty reprimand him?

Prince Fu could only conclude that the emperor was targeting him!
Of course, it's best to keep these thoughts to yourself; saying them aloud is like an old man eating poison—he's tired of living.

Prince Fu pondered for a moment, bowed to Wang Tiqian, and said, "Please speak plainly, Your Excellency."

Seeing that Prince Fu had taken the bait, Wang Tiqian gradually smiled and coaxed, "Your Highness is indeed insightful. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, the war in Liaodong has been intense, the military pay for the nine border regions is in arrears, and the national treasury is already stretched thin."

"Seven or eight tenths of the fertile land in Luoyang belonged to the Fu family, their treasuries were piled high with gold and silver, and their daily income from commercial and salt taxes was enormous. Such wealth was bound to attract envy."

Wang Tiqian squinted, his fingertips lightly tapping the teacup, the porcelain sound crisp and clear like the urgent sound of a water clock.

"Your Majesty is a close relative of His Majesty. If Your Majesty can share His Majesty's burdens, what does it matter if Your Majesty commits a few crimes in Luoyang?"

Upon hearing this, Prince Fu's plump body trembled violently, and his fingers, hidden beneath his brocade robe, clenched tightly into his palms.

He understood the underlying meaning in Wang Tiqian's words.

This is to take his money!

Prince Fu let out a few dry laughs, feigning sudden realization, and said, "So that's how it is, so that's how it is!"

"I am willing to donate one million taels of silver to support the army! No, one million five hundred thousand taels! I will also donate two hundred thousand shi of grain! To share Your Majesty's burdens!"

Prince Fu's voice was filled with a frantic, ingratiating tone, and the fat on his face jiggled with his rapid breathing.

It seemed that spending this much money was already his limit.

Wang Tiqian gently shook his head; he was not satisfied with this number.

“Your Highness, the annual military expenditure in Liaodong is four to five million taels of silver, and the nine border regions have been in arrears for more than half a year. One and a half million taels of silver is far too little for Your Majesty.”

not enough?

Prince Fu gritted his teeth, his heart bleeding.

"Two million! I'll also add three imperial estates outside Luoyang!"

Wang Tiqian was still not satisfied.

"Your Majesty is currently training a new army, which has cost a huge amount of money. A mere two million taels is not enough to fill the gap. Your Highness is as rich as a country, how can you not share more of His Majesty's worries?"

The old eunuch secretly made a five with his hand hidden in his sleeve.

Prince Fu's pupils constricted sharply, his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, and he suddenly let out a pig-like scream: "Five million?! You're trying to kill me!"

Five million taels?

This is all my money!

The money he saved by living frugally.

You think you can just steal five million taels of silver with a single sentence?
Why not just kill me like a pig?

"Your Highness, be careful what you say!" Wang Tiqian slowly sipped his tea, his high-pitched voice carrying a hint of mockery.

"Your Prince Fu's treasury is probably even more abundant than the Ministry of Revenue's silver vaults, isn't it? With a fortune that could rival a nation, a mere five million taels is nothing but a drop in the ocean for Your Highness. What does it amount to?"

“If the money offered by the King does not satisfy His Majesty, even if I talk until my mouth is dry, I will not be able to help His Highness in the slightest. If the Prince’s mansion is confiscated, it will not be a matter of five million taels of silver.”

Wang Tiqian's threatening intent was self-evident.

Prince Fu's face turned ashen.

His 300-pound body slid to the ground like mud, and he cried like a child: "Give it all, give it all, five million taels, right? I'll sell everything I own to scrape together the money, I just beg Your Majesty to spare my life."

Upon hearing this, Wang Tiqian smiled with satisfaction. He slowly stood up and went to help Prince Fu to his feet.

"Your Majesty is a sensible man. In this way, His Majesty will not only not punish Your Majesty, but may even allow Consort Zheng to return to Luoyang with Your Majesty, so that you and your son can be reunited."

If you give someone a stick, you should also give them some candy.

Otherwise, Prince Fu won't even be able to sleep well anymore.

"Thank you, father-in-law, for the tip."

Five million taels gone, but we can earn it back later.

He had many fiefs and a large income.

Five million taels, it will take a few more years to earn it back.

I heard that my mother is unhappy in the Forbidden City. If we can bring her back, what does it matter if it costs more money?

but.

What Prince Fu didn't know was that Wang Tiqian was now squeezing out his savings, and once they arrived in Beijing, someone else would take away his golden goose.

Anyway, once you've been to the Forbidden City, you'll be exhausted and worn out. Do you really think you can leave without getting a lot of pain?

How could five million taels be enough to alleviate their worries?
"Your Majesty, please make the necessary arrangements! We will set off north at dawn."

Wang Tiqian prepared to leave to make arrangements for the follow-up matters.

Prince Fu looked at the sky outside the palace. There wasn't much time left until dawn. He wanted to ask Wang Tiqian for a few more days, but the words wouldn't come out.

never mind!

It would be good to see my mother sooner!
"Then I will not see you off any further."

As Wang Tiqian left the main hall of the Prince of Fu's mansion, the pressure that had been weighing on his chest was finally released.

He perfectly completed the task assigned to him by the emperor.

Not only did they successfully bring Prince Fu to the capital, but they also forced him to spend a fortune: five million taels of silver to help fund the national war effort.

This is all due to him.

Once you arrive at the Forbidden City, His Majesty will surely bestow upon you great favor.

And the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs will always have a seat for him.

December 20th of the first year of the Taichang reign.

Beijing, a city thousands of miles away.

Now it's covered in a snow coat.

The Forbidden City has a unique charm in winter.

West Garden.

Taiye Pond is now frozen over, and horses can run on it.

Inside the training ground, however, things were bustling with activity.

The emperor stood on the reviewing stand in the inner training ground, his black sable cloak fluttering in the north wind.

Twelve dragon-patterned sun and moon flags were arranged on both sides, while the Imperial Guards stood solemnly like pine trees, holding golden maces and halberds, their ceremonial swords gleaming coldly against the snow.

The sons of noble families in the field were training in uniform cotton armor, their ranks crooked like frozen earthworms.

The heir of the Duke of Cheng was unsteady on his feet, and an arrow missed the target and landed three inches in front of the commander's boot, startling everyone into scattering.

The other students' shooting scores were also not ideal.

The emperor frowned and issued an order, and his personal guards immediately dragged the group of纨绔 (sons of wealthy and powerful families) to the ice and made them kneel as punishment.

Zhu Youxiao wanted to put the training of the sons of nobles on the agenda immediately.

Therefore, one or two capable young men from each noble family were selected to serve in the Forbidden City and be incorporated into the noble camp as reserve officers.

Just like the imperial bodyguards in the Qing Dynasty.

Zhu Youxiao was able to cultivate relationships with these future leaders of the empire and nurture their abilities. If they were sent out to serve in the future, they might produce figures like Mingrui, Fuheng, Fukang'an, and Hailancha.

If we can gradually support the nobility, we can also slightly weaken the power of the civil service group.

but
On the first day, Zhu Youxiao summoned everyone and personally tested their martial arts skills, but the result greatly disappointed him.

Many of these sons of noble families had never even drawn a bow.

Even those who had drawn their bows often missed nine out of ten times, and the one arrow that hit the mark still struck someone else.

How can such a useless person shoulder the heavy responsibility of a noble family?

The emperor frowned deeply; he was no longer willing to endure it.

He surveyed the kneeling crowd below and said coldly:

"I give you one month. If you fail to diligently train and reform yourselves, I will strip you of your right to inherit your titles, and they will be passed on to your brothers. We, the sons of noble families of the Great Ming, should share the emperor's burdens and be loyal to the country. How can I allow you to hold your positions without doing any work and enjoy your titles and emoluments!"

Not capable?

Practice until you reach the required level.

What if you can't master it?

Then let's find someone more capable!

He didn't believe it; were all these nobles beyond redemption?

(End of this chapter)