How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 106 Witnessing the Confiscation of Property, Proving Innocence, and Showing Loyalty (26th Update)

In the first year of Chongzhen's reign, in the fourth month, in Datong City.

While Hudun Tuhan was still lingering outside the Xuanda border wall, a major case of the Prince of Dai's rebellion broke out in Datong City, making this border city heavily guarded. The city walls were covered with flags and soldiers. Governor Zhang Zongde and General Li Huaixin had mobilized all the available troops, with guards every five steps and sentries every ten steps, ensuring a tight defense.

Except for the East Gate and Yang Gate, the other city gates were kept closed all day—to prevent foreign enemies from infiltrating, and even more so to prevent the descendants of the Zhu family from escaping from within the city.

This internal and external defense is driving the governor, general, and garrison eunuchs in Datong City crazy!
At this moment, dust billowed in the distance along the official road. A large troop of people was approaching.

Leading the procession were several hundred elite cavalrymen, their armor gleaming, their faces taut, exuding the sinister aura characteristic of the Eastern Depot. In the middle were several carriages. In the first carriage sat a pale-faced old eunuch in a python robe, Wei Zhongxian.

Behind them were the carriages of Duke Dingguo Xu Xigao and Marquis Funing Zhu Guobi. Further back, the newly appointed Governor of Datong, Yuan Chonghuan, rode on horseback, his expression unreadable.

On the flanks and at the rear of the group were the Imperial Guards and the servants of two noble families, their weapons a jumbled mess, yet all exuding the fierceness bred from plundering and enriching themselves.

This "plundering team," fresh from looting Xuanfu, headed straight for Datong, radiating blood and murderous intent.

Outside Heyang Gate, a group of people were already waiting.

Leading the group was Zhang Zongde, the governor of Datong, who wore a bright red official robe and wore a worried expression. Beside him were Liu Wenzhong, the eunuch in charge of Datong, General Li Huaixin, and Deputy General Ma Chengen. Several other civil and military officials were also present. All of them wore long faces!

How could he not suffer? The Prince of Dai was plotting a rebellion by communicating with foreign powers!
Could there be anything bigger in Datong City? Moreover, Tian Ergeng, along with the Imperial Guards, had the Prince of Dai's mansion under tight surveillance—preventing anyone from ransacking it, saying they had to wait for Eunuch Wei, Duke Xu, Marquis Zhu, and the newly appointed Governor Yuan Chonghuan to arrive before they could begin the "ransacking." What was there to ransack then? Even if there was any profit, it would go to Wei Zhongxian and his cronies.
However, he couldn't reveal these thoughts to Eunuch Wei.

Wei Zhongxian's carriage was approaching.

Zhang Zongde quickly put on a smiling face, led everyone forward a few steps, and bowed: "Your humble servant Zhang Zongde, along with the civil and military officials of Datong, respectfully welcomes the Grand Eunuch, the Duke, the Marquis, and Governor Yuan!"

Wei Zhongxian nodded slightly in the car: "Governor Zhang, you've worked hard. Everyone, you've worked hard too."

Zhang Zongde said, "Your Excellency, you have traveled a long way. I have prepared tea and water at the Prince of Dai's residence. Please come into the city and rest with your entourage."

"Hmm," Wei Zhongxian responded.

The troop entered the city.

As soon as Wei Zhongxian entered Heyang Gate, his eyes swept across both sides of the street.

The street was crowded with people, but they didn't seem to be gentry or commoners who came to welcome him.

Most of these people wore faded, old green robes, their faces were sallow and thin, and their eyes were filled with panic. They huddled together, silently watching the imposing procession enter the city, their faces full of fear.

They were all members of the imperial clan in Datong City. Below the rank of general, there were those holding titles such as Zhenguo Lieutenant and Fuguo Lieutenant, as well as many more "clan members" without titles who only relied on their meager stipends to survive.

“Look… Eunuch Wei…” someone whispered, trembling, from the crowd.

"He plagiarized the names of the Eight Great Families of Xuanfu... I heard the men were all beheaded, and the women were sent to the brothels..."

"Not only that! He also chased away Hudun Tuhan... He's a devil!"

"Now that he's come to Datong, does that mean all of us unlucky folks... are we all going to be fenced off?"

"I heard... they're all going to be sent to the high walls of Fengyang!" an old man's voice trembled. "Together with Prince Dai..."

A younger man nearby whispered, "Going to Fengyang... is better than freezing and starving here! Last year we only received a fraction of our stipends; this year it looks hopeless again..."

"Going to Fengyang will guarantee you a good life?" another sneered. "Being behind those high walls is worse than death! It's better to go to Datong; at least you can sneak out and sell some horses..."

"Shh! You're asking for trouble! How dare you say such a thing!"

Whispers rippled through the crowd, a mixture of fear, resentment, a sliver of hope, and a vague yearning for the outside world. They were like sheep waiting to be slaughtered, watching the butcher and the enigmatic savior arrive together. Wei Zhongxian's lips curled into a smirk; he couldn't be bothered to look at these beggar-like imperial relatives. He'd simply follow the Emperor's orders and play the bad cop to intimidate them!
As Yuan Chonghuan rode on horseback, he surveyed the pale-faced members of the Zhu family, his brow furrowing slightly. He sighed inwardly, "How can the Zhu family not harbor resentment in this state? Perhaps the Emperor is right. We cannot let them remain in Datong any longer; they must be sent to the fertile south. Datong simply cannot afford to support them..."

The procession didn't stop and went straight to the Prince Dai's Mansion.

The Prince Dai's Mansion today has long lost its former grandeur.

The main gate was tightly shut, sealed with tape. Layers of imperial guards and imperial bodyguards stood watch at the gate, creating an eerie silence.

As soon as Wei Zhongxian and his companions got out of the car, Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun, who were waiting in front of the door, quickly came to greet them.

Tian Ergeng said with a forced smile, "You've worked hard, Your Excellency! Everyone has worked hard!"

"Let's go inside and talk," Wei Zhongxian waved his hand.

Zhang Zongde, Li Huaixin, Ma Chengen, and others also entered the Yin'an Hall.

Everyone sat down. Liu Wenzhong, Tian Ergeng, and Xu Xianchun began to report on the matter.

Liu Wenzhong spoke first: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the entire Prince Dai's mansion has been apprehended and is being held in separate prisons. The warehouses, granaries, and account books have all been sealed. We are just waiting for Your Majesty and your superiors to arrive before we can officially begin the search and confiscation."

Tian Ergeng continued, "Your Excellency, Zhu Chunchen, Pang Yugui, and their accomplices have been taken to the Datong Governor's Office and are being guarded by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Datong Governor's elite troops. They have already been interrogated once, and Zhu Chunchen has confessed to colluding with the Prince of Dai's Mansion and using the Shanxi merchants' connections to aid the enemy. This is his confession." He handed over a document.

Wei Zhongxian took it, flipped through it casually (he didn't actually understand it), and then put it on the table.

His shrill voice rang out in the hall, carrying a chilling tone: "It's good that you've admitted it. But it's not enough."

His eyes swept over the people present: "Datong, a vital border town, the gateway to the nation! There must never be another case of treason and collusion with foreign powers! If the Prince of Dai's mansion falls, who can guarantee that the other seven princely mansions and the more than one hundred generals' mansions are all clean?"

He suddenly raised his voice: "If another Prince of Dai emerges and colludes with the Northern barbarians to breach the border wall, who among you will bear the blame? We can't afford to!"

This means they're going to make a big deal out of it. They're going to go through all the members of the imperial clan in Datong City!
The hall fell silent. Liu Wenzhong, Tian Ergeng, and the others naturally dared not utter a sound. Zhang Zongde, Li Huaixin, and the others also wore solemn expressions.

At this moment, Yuan Chonghuan spoke up. His tone was gentle, with the intention of a peacemaker: "What Eunuch Wei said is indeed a wise and experienced plan for the country. The Great Harmony is of utmost importance, and it should be thoroughly investigated."

He then changed the subject: "But the imperial family members in the city are, after all, of noble lineage, descendants of the founding emperor. If we make too much noise, it might damage the dignity of the nation and give the emperor a reputation for mistreating his relatives."

He looked at Wei Zhongxian and said, "Before I left the capital, His Majesty also had this concern. His Majesty said that since they are all members of the Zhu family, as long as they can prove their innocence, they should be treated well."

Wei Zhongxian listened with narrowed eyes, knowing that Yuan Chonghuan was about to play the good cop. This was the Emperor's order. He would play the bad cop, shouting for war! Yuan Chonghuan would play the good cop, making empty promises.

Yuan Chonghuan continued, sighing, "But now, in Datong City, there are several thousand princes, dukes, generals, lieutenants, and members of the imperial family crammed in. The border towns are poor; supporting them is already difficult enough. And now this treasonous case has occurred..."

He shook his head: "So many criminals and their offspring gathered in a key border town is not a long-term solution. It is a source of disaster for both the country and the border."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhongxian chuckled and seized the opportunity to reply, "Governor Yuan is right! The root of the trouble! It is the root of the trouble! That's why we must investigate thoroughly and root out the source of all the trouble!"

He stood up and said in a shrill voice, "Issue my order! Starting tomorrow, those seven princely mansions, as well as all the generals' mansions, must conduct a 'self-examination and self-correction'! All the princes and generals should think carefully about whether anyone in their household has any connections with the Prince of Dai's mansion, with Zhu Chunchen, with the Mongols beyond the Great Wall, or even with the Eastern Barbarians! Confess voluntarily, and I might be able to handle it leniently for the sake of Governor Yuan and the Emperor!"

"Wait until our family finds out..." Wei Zhongxian sneered and said nothing more.

Everyone in the hall understood.

Wei Zhongxian's "confiscation of property" campaign has now openly extended to all the imperial family members in the city.

At this moment, Yuan Chonghuan took over the conversation and added, "Tomorrow, while we are raiding the Prince of Dai's residence, let's invite all seven princes to the Prince of Dai's residence and discuss with them the matter of 'proving their innocence'."

(End of this chapter)