Huangming

Chapter 317 Rewards Arrive, Remonstrating Officials Return to the Capital

As Xiong Tingbi reported successive victories in Liaodong, the results of the Battle of Hetu Ala became increasingly clear, and the matter of rewarding the meritorious soldiers was put on the agenda.

This matter seems simple, but it is actually quite tricky.

The rewards are too generous, which may draw criticism from court officials who say that Your Majesty values ​​military prowess over civil affairs and that rewards and punishments are inappropriate.

The reward is too meager, and I fear it will discourage the soldiers on the frontier, and it will also fail to meet His Majesty's preference for military merit.

Minister of Rites Sun Shenxing, Vice Minister of War Yuan Keli, Minister of Personnel Shi Jikai, and Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe held discussions for several days and deliberated repeatedly before finally drafting a list of rewards and honors.

As for why the Minister of Personnel changed from Zhou Jiamo to Shi Jikai, it's quite simple.

Zhu Youxiao gave Zhou Jiamo many opportunities, but he was ineffective.

Fortunately, at the most critical moment, he realized his mistake and was able to save his life.

Zhu Youxiao then allowed him to retire and return to his hometown.

Shi Jikai, who had previously served as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was temporarily appointed to lead the Ministry of Personnel.

As for the candidate for Minister of Personnel, Zhu Youxiao was still searching for one.

The four men dared not delay in their appointment and immediately went to the Qianqing Palace to present their memorials to the Emperor.

Zhu Youxiao sat behind his desk in the East Warm Pavilion, took the neatly copied list of titles and honors, and his gaze first fell on the first name.

Mao Wenlong.

The memorial clearly stated Mao Wenlong's achievements and rewards:
"Mao Wenlong, formerly the Tianjin Coastal Defense Guerrilla (rank 3), was the initiator and commander of the surprise attack on Hetu Ala. He coordinated the overall situation, made decisions from afar, and coordinated the actions of all the armies. He deserves the highest honor for his strategic planning and should be remembered as a 'master strategist'."

He is proposed to be promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Tianjin Navy (a second-rank official), granted the title of Earl of Pinglu, and in charge of the defense of the islands along the Liaodong coast, with command of the naval forces on Pi Island and Changshan Island; he will be awarded 5,000 taels of silver, 100 bolts of colored silk, and a special imperial robe and jade belt; one of his sons will be granted the hereditary title of Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard (a military rank of 100).

Zhu Youxiao traced the three characters "Earl of Pinglu" with his fingertips, a look of satisfaction appearing in his eyes.

This reward is perfectly appropriate.

His military achievements were evident in his rapid rise from guerrilla commander to general, a promotion to the rank of a second-grade military officer.

Although the title of "Earl of Pinglu" was a title bestowed upon a non-royal subject, it was an extremely high honor that could be obtained. It affirmed his achievement of "suppressing the barbarian bandits" without transgressing the ancestral rules.

He was put in charge of the defense of the islands along the Liaodong coast, and was given actual military power so that he could continue to restrain the Jurchens and coordinate with Xiong Tingbi's land defense line.

As for the python robe and jade belt and the hereditary title of Imperial Guard commander, the former is a symbol of honor for high-ranking officials, while the latter is a favor bestowed upon their families. This satisfies the military officers' desire for glory while also taking into account the honor of their families.

"Yes, the reward for Mao Wenlong is appropriate."

Zhu Youxiao looked up at the four of them, his tone full of approval.

"His courage and achievements in launching a surprise attack on the enemy's stronghold deserve this honor."

Fang Congzhe and the others secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

His Majesty had no objection to the reward for the person who made the greatest contribution, making the subsequent arrangements much easier.

Mao Wenlong was a general personally promoted by the emperor, and the lavishness of his rewards was, in fact, a signal the emperor was sending to the court and the public:

Those who have rendered meritorious service will be rewarded, and soldiers who serve the country will never be treated unfairly.

However, when Zhu Youxiao's gaze fell on the list of rewards for Zu Dashou, his brows furrowed slightly.

The memorial stated that Zu Dashou, originally a military officer (rank 3), served as the vanguard in this battle, personally leading a suicide squad to breach the defenses of Hetu Ala. He was described as "the most outstanding in charging into battle and the most meritorious in battle," and was proposed for promotion to deputy general.

"Promoted from a lieutenant general to only a deputy general?"

Zhu Youxiao lightly tapped the words "Deputy General" with his fingertip, his tone tinged with contemplation.

"He personally led his elite troops to storm the city and was the first to enter Hetu Ala. Such a great achievement in breaching the city is only rewarded with a promotion of one rank, which is far too lenient."

Fang Congzhe quickly explained, "Your Majesty, according to military regulations, the promotion of a brigade commander to a deputy commander is a regular advancement, and the ancestor of the brigade commander..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand.

Zhu Youxiao looked at the description of Zu Dashou's achievements in the memorial, and slowly spoke, his tone calm but decisive: "Change Zu Dashou's reward."

He paused, then said clearly, "The original rank of Assistant General (third rank) should be promoted to Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Datong (second rank), Assistant Commander-in-Chief, and given the title of 'Vice Governor-General'. This rank is equivalent to that of a Deputy Commander-in-Chief, which is both in accordance with regulations and demonstrates military achievements."

After a brief pause, Zhu Youxiao continued, "The material rewards are as proposed: three thousand taels of silver, fifty bolts of colored silk, and a 'tiger-headed golden spear'; one of his sons will be appointed as a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a hereditary position."

Fang Congzhe and Yuan Keli exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

The promotion from brigadier general to deputy commander-in-chief may seem like only a one-rank advancement, but in reality, it represents a leap from the third rank to the second rank, and is an exceptional promotion.

The addition of the honorary title of "Vice Commander-in-Chief" further qualified him to participate in important military and political affairs, which was much more significant than the simple title of deputy general.

Seeing that no one had any objections, Zhu Youxiao smiled faintly.

This arrangement actually suited his taste better.

Zu Dashou is brave and strong, but he needs further training before he can stand on his own.

The position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Datong is subject to the command of the Commander-in-Chief above and the practical training of the military below. It allows him to continue to accumulate military merits and become familiar with the deployment of border troops in an important town, laying the foundation for being entrusted with important responsibilities in the future.

Moreover, Datong is adjacent to Mongolia, and allowing Zu Dashou to gain experience there can also secretly restrain the connection between the Jurchens and the various Mongol tribes, thus forming a support for the Liaodong battlefield.

This reward not only demonstrated the merit of capturing the city without violating military regulations and silencing the critics, but also paved the way for Zu Dashou's advancement and subtly aligned with his plans for the border army, achieving two goals at once.

"Let's go with this."

Zhu Youxiao wrote the word "Approved" next to the item of honor bestowed upon Zu Dashou.

"The rewards for the others should be re-examined, so as not to wrong the meritorious officials."

The four men bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, we obey your command."

In fact, Zhu Youxiao had seen the military achievements of Zhao Shuaijiao and Huang Degong and originally wanted to promote them to deputy commanders and place them in important border towns.

One was sent to Xuanfu to assist in the defense against the Mongols, and the other to Jizhou to consolidate the defenses of the capital region. This would not only strengthen the border troops but also allow these trusted generals to establish their bases in various places.

But he knew in his heart that rules are rules after all.

Mao Wenlong and Zu Dashou have already been promoted beyond the usual standards. If Zhao and Huang are also promoted beyond the usual standards, it will inevitably attract criticism from court officials, who will say that he is changing the military system based on his own likes and dislikes. They are also afraid that it will discourage the other generals and soldiers.

Those veterans who have fought on the battlefield for many years to reach their respective positions may harbor resentment when they see younger generations rising to prominence with just one battle.

"That's all."

Zhu Youxiao pondered to himself.

"There will be plenty of opportunities to make a contribution."

Although Liaodong is temporarily stable, the Jurchens have not been eradicated, and the Mongol tribes are also a potential threat. There will be many tough battles to fight in the future.

As long as Zhao Shuaijiao and Huang Degong remain loyal to him and always charge ahead, they will eventually earn the position of Commander-in-Chief, let alone Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

However, even after finalizing the list of those to be awarded, one most pressing problem remained:
Where does the money come from?
Yesterday, Li Changgeng, the Minister of Revenue, was still crying poverty with red eyes when he presented his memorial to the emperor. He said that the national treasury was already empty and that even the money for disaster relief in Shaanxi had to be used to pay off other debts. He said that asking the Ministry of Revenue to provide funds for rewards was like trying to get fish from a tree.

As for the imperial treasury?

The money obtained from confiscating the wealth of Shanxi merchants and severely punishing corrupt officials has already been mostly spent in recent days.

With funds already allocated to replenishing the Liaodong army's pay, repairing the Beijing garrison's equipment, and subsidizing the emergency repairs to the Yellow River dikes, little was left.

Zhu Youxiao knew perfectly well that the imperial treasury was the emperor's private coffers and his last source of confidence.

If even this money is spent, his words as a "poor emperor" will likely carry less weight in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

The imperial treasury must not be touched.

Since we can neither rely on the Ministry of Revenue nor use the imperial treasury, where should we raise this reward money?
After Fang Congzhe and the others left, Zhu Youxiao paced around the warm pavilion for a few steps, his gaze falling on the old locust tree outside the window, when he suddenly stopped.

He thought of the two "fat sheep," the Prince of Fu and the Prince of Chu.

He turned to Wei Chao, who was standing to the side, and asked with some urgency, "How is the raising of funds going with the Prince of Fu and the Prince of Chu?"

Chu King Zhu Hua Kui was caught red-handed because of the "false king case" (which revealed that he was not a direct descendant of the Chu vassal state), and was being forced to hand over some of the vassal state's property to prove his innocence.

Prince Fu, Zhu Changxun, was implicated in the affair and embezzled Prince Chu's money. He was held accountable and had to raise money to atone for his crime.

These two sums of money were originally prepared to deal with such urgent needs, and they have come in handy now.

Wei Chao bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, the two princes have raised another million taels of silver, but most of their shops and land are located in other places, and it will take some time to transfer ownership. They will not be able to collect the cash in a short period of time."

"time?"

Zhu Youxiao raised an eyebrow, his tone turning colder.

"Once the decree of reward is finalized, the silver must be distributed to the soldiers immediately. If they slowly resell it all, the soldiers will be disheartened, and how can we talk about boosting morale then?"

He paused, a sharp glint in his eyes: "Tell Prince Fu and Prince Chu that they have ten days to hand over the cash! If they fail, don't blame me for being ruthless. They'll spend the rest of their lives in their palaces, 'reflecting' on their actions!"

The threat in those words couldn't be clearer.

Failure to pay on time will result in life imprisonment.

Wei Chao's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed and replied, "This servant will go and deliver the decree immediately!"

But then he thought again, stepped forward, and whispered, "Your Majesty, if you urgently need to raise funds, there is another person you might wish to meet."

"Oh?" Zhu Youxiao raised an eyebrow. "Who is it?"

“Zhang Xianyong,” Wei Chao said, uttering the name.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up immediately.

Zhang Xianyong is the Celestial Master of the Celestial Masters sect of Longhu Mountain. He was recently arrested for disobeying an imperial decree.

Using illness as an excuse, he delayed his visit to Beijing, which offended him.

At that time, Zhu Youxiao originally wanted to punish him severely, but Zhang Xianyong was very sensible and knew that only by spending money could he avoid disaster, so he took the initiative to request to raise funds to atone for his sins.

In the past month, he indeed acted extremely quickly, selling off part of his family property and private salt business in Jiangnan, and actually managed to raise 400,000 taels of silver. He also collected more than ten warships and presented them to the court, hoping to appease the wrath of the emperor.

"This Zhang Xianyong is quite pragmatic."

Zhu Youxiao smiled slightly.

At the same time, the Celestial Master's Mansion is really rich.

Four hundred thousand taels of silver can be raised in a month.

This Celestial Master's Mansion has been exploiting the people for who knows how much they have.

"Now that he has raised the money, I will naturally 'meet' him. Issue an edict ordering Zhang Xianyong to immediately settle the transfer of the money and the warships. If he can do so within three days, I will consider reducing his crime of disobeying the edict."

Wei Chao understood.

Your Majesty is going to include Zhang Xianyong's penny of atonement in the reward money.

He quickly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty! I will send someone to expedite the process immediately!"

Zhu Youxiao sat back on the throne, feeling much less pressure.

The one million taels from Prince Fu and Prince Chu, plus the four hundred thousand taels from Zhang Xianyong, totaling one million four hundred thousand taels, were more than enough to cover the rewards and still have some left over.

These princes and nobles usually plunder and extort, squeezing the national treasury and the people's wealth into their own pockets. Now it's time to make them spit it out, which not only solves their immediate problem but also serves as a warning to these local tyrants. It's a win-win situation.

"It seems that we still have to make these people 'bleed' before we can get things done."

Zhu Youxiao gazed out the window, a cold glint in his eyes.

He knew this was just the beginning, and there would be many more places where money would be needed in the future. These parasites who hoarded wealth would sooner or later contribute to the new policies of the Ming Dynasty.

……

July 30th, the first year of the Tianqi reign.

The capital was shrouded in a light autumn rain, the air carrying a damp coolness.

A dusty carriage stopped outside Zhengyang Gate. The curtain was lifted, and the person who stepped out startled the waiting gatekeeper.

The man wore a faded official robe with mud stains on the cuffs. His face was dark and thin, and his beard was unkempt. If it weren't for the insignia on his chest that indicated he was a third-rank official, anyone would have mistaken him for an old scholar from the countryside.

It was Yang Lian who had been working on rectifying the canal transport system along the canal for several months.

For the past few months, he has practically lived on the boat. During the day, he would check the accounts of the grain transport under the scorching sun, and at night he would sleep in the cabin filled with files. When he encountered corrupt officials, he would argue with them and even personally lead people to escort the boat to investigate. The wind and sun had long since worn his originally thin body into a dark, stubborn stone, but his eyes were still surprisingly bright.

Once inside the city, the carriage was heading towards Gao Panlong's old residence.

Before leaving Beijing, he promised his teacher that he would explain in detail the long-standing problems with the canal transport system when he returned.

But halfway through the journey, Yang Lian suddenly told the driver to stop.

He lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the tightly closed vermilion gate across the street. The plaque above the gate that read "Gao Mansion" was covered with a layer of dust. The area in front of the gate was deserted, and there was no longer the bustling atmosphere of students and officials coming and going.

Yang Lian gave a wry smile and slowly shook his head.

In the six months since His Majesty ascended the throne, the political situation has changed so rapidly that it's hard to keep up.

Cabinet minister Han Kuang was exiled to Qiongzhou due to "factional strife," and his most respected teacher, Gao Panlong, was imprisoned for involvement in a "treasonous plot" and eventually hanged himself in prison...

Those colleagues who once criticized the ills of the times with him are now scattered in all directions, either demoted or dead.

While he was on the canal, he kept receiving news from the capital, each time keeping him up all night.

He once angrily denounced His Majesty for "mistreating honest officials," and he also deeply regretted the death of his teacher.

Can……

Yang Lian looked down at the list of canal transport rectification in his sleeve.

In the past few months, he has uncovered 300,000 shi of grain embezzled by grain transport officials, punished more than 50 corrupt officials of all ranks, and increased the efficiency of grain ships passing through the canal by 30%.

All of this would not have been possible without His Majesty's strong push to implement the new policies despite opposition and his granting of the authority to "act expediently."

Not to mention the good news coming from Liaodong.

The fall of Hetu Ala and the execution of members of the Jurchen royal family marked a major victory unprecedented since the Battle of Sarhu.

When the people of the capital talked about these things, their faces showed smiles that hadn't been seen in a long time.

Perhaps, His Majesty is right.

Yang Lian took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart.

He once thought that His Majesty was young and impetuous and acted rashly, but now it seems that those methods that were criticized as "harsh" have actually reversed the decline.

If His Majesty's direction is correct, why should he be bound by past grievances?
Whether it's the Donglin Party or the Qi-Chu-Zhe Party, as long as they can save the country, that's enough.

"Go to the Meridian Gate."

Yang Lian spoke to the driver, her voice slightly hoarse but unusually firm.

"We're not going to the Gao residence."

He didn't even go home, but sent the carriage straight to the Forbidden City.

Upon arriving at the Meridian Gate, he took out a pre-prepared token and handed it to the guards at the gate: "Yang Lian, Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, requests an audience with His Majesty."

The guards hesitated at first when they saw that he was covered in dust and his official robes were stained with mud from the canal dock. But when they took the plaque and looked at it carefully, they were surprised.

The words "Yang Lian, Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate" were clearly visible. After comparing them with the official document issued by the Ministry of Personnel and confirming that there were no errors, he dared not delay and hurriedly took the plaque and turned to go inside to report.

A moment later, a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs strode over, looked Yang Lian up and down, and although he saw that Yang Lian looked disheveled, he did not dare to be disrespectful in the slightest. He bowed and said, "Left Censor-in-Chief, His Majesty has summoned you to the Qianqing Palace. Please follow me."

"Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch." Yang Lian bowed and followed the eunuch into the palace, which symbolized the supreme power of the world.

Passing through vermilion palace walls and along stone-paved palace paths, the guards and palace maids along the way all stood with their heads bowed, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

Yang Lian carefully observed along the way and discovered that the glazed tiles of the three main halls, Huangji, Zhongji, and Jianji, were mostly damaged, and the painted eaves were also mottled and faded, indicating that they had not been repaired for a long time.

The surrounding corridors and railings also bear the marks of time, showing no signs of the large-scale construction undertaken after the new emperor ascended the throne.

His heart couldn't help but move.

Since His Majesty ascended the throne, there have been constant internal and external troubles, yet His Majesty has never used craftsmen to repair the palace, nor has he renovated the former residence of the Eastern Palace.

Such frugality is truly rare among emperors throughout history.

It seems that His Majesty has truly devoted his mind and money to the affairs of state.

While they were pondering this, they arrived outside the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace.

"Summon Yang Lian, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, to come before me!"

The clear, melodious voice of a eunuch breaking the surrounding tranquility came from inside the warm pavilion.

Yang Lian took a deep breath, straightened his slightly wrinkled official robe, and stepped into the warm pavilion.

The hall was warm and cozy, filled with the gentle fragrance of sandalwood.

Zhu Youxiao was sitting behind his desk reviewing memorials when he saw him enter. He looked up and put down his vermilion brush.

Yang Lian felt uneasy.

I wonder what His Majesty's attitude will be towards this remnant of the "old party".

He was filled with anticipation and was prepared to accept whatever task His Majesty entrusted to him, even if it meant facing mountains of knives and seas of fire.

He suddenly knelt down and performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows ceremony: "Your subject Yang Lian pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Zhu Youxiao looked at his dark and thin face, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes: "Get up. You did a good job with the canal transport."

A simple sentence warmed Yang Lian's heart.

He rose and stood with his head bowed, his gaze resolute.

Hai Rui was able to cleanse the officialdom with his integrity back then, and today Yang Lian is also willing to use his integrity to pave a way for His Majesty's new policies.

Whether it's investigating corruption or rectifying official conduct, he will never back down, even if it costs him his life.

The candlelight burned quietly in the warm pavilion, illuminating the figures of the emperor and his minister.

Zhu Youxiao had long ago prepared a place for Yang Lian, this sharp sword.

(End of this chapter)