How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 121 Iron Cavalry Crosses the Yalu River, A Debt of Kindness Remains in the Wenhua Hall (Second Update)
In April, the Yalu River's current is slightly calmer.

On the river, dozens of wooden boats are lined up side by side and connected by ropes, with planks laid on them to form a floating bridge connecting the two banks!

On the bridge, the elite troops of the Eight Banners, arranged in four columns, marched steadily toward the south bank, their horses' hooves thundering and their steps resounding. Sunlight shone on their cotton armor studded with copper nails, reflecting a chilling, menacing gleam.

Beile Aminle stood at the bridgehead, gazing at his own imposing army, his face beaming with pride. The blue banner fluttered behind him.

Mangultai, standing to the side, was getting impatient. He pointed ahead with his riding whip and said, "Amin, what are you dawdling for? Those Korean cowards will wet their pants at the sound of our horses' hooves! Hurry up and cross the river, head straight for Wangjing, and rob them of their damn property is the real business!"

Amin scoffed, "What's the rush? The Great Khan sent us to 'punish' North Korea and, incidentally, 'eat' some food, so we must make a big show of it! We must make sure every North Korean remembers what happens if they disobey our Great Jin!"

He turned to the messenger and shouted, "Send word! After crossing the river, each banner will disperse and attack according to the predetermined route! Smash any city you encounter, burn any stockade you encounter! The ultimate goal—to encircle the capital!"

"Yes, sir!" the messenger roared in response, spurring his horse and galloping off to deliver the order.

In an instant, flames of war rose on the south bank of the Yalu River!

The Eight Banners cavalry surged towards the heart of Korea like a flood bursting its banks. Korean outposts and fortresses along the Yalu River crumbled at the first touch. Cries and battle cries shattered the tranquility of the southern bank of the Yalu River.

Military reports arrived like snowflakes.

"...Uiju has fallen! The Joseon general has fled without a fight!"

"...Ketieshan! The Ming army fled at the mere sight of him!"

"...The vanguard of the white-armored soldiers has already advanced to the vicinity of Pyongyang! However, Pyongyang is a high-walled city with deep moats, and North Korea has a large number of troops gathered there, so it may take some effort..."

Upon receiving the military report, Amin frowned and said to Mangultai, "Pyongyang is a tough nut to crack; we have to take it down. Otherwise, leaving this thorn in our side will make our southward advance uneasy."

Mangultai's eyes widened: "Then let's fight! Send more men and smash it to pieces in one fell swoop!"

Amin nodded, but then remembered something else: "Should we leave some people to guard this pontoon bridge?"

Mangultai laughed loudly, pointing at the pontoon bridge: "It's just a broken bridge! We'll rebuild it if it's destroyed! In Korea, who can cut off our retreat? That old codger Mao Wenlong has even abandoned Tieshan and is hiding on Pi Island, too afraid to show his face! Taking Pyongyang is the priority. I can't wait to go to Seoul and check out the treasury!"

Amin agreed, and without further hesitation, he cracked his whip: "Order! The entire army must accelerate southward, first take Pyongyang, then Seoul!"

Fifteen thousand Manchu troops marched southward along the main road like a rolling iron torrent.

The Forbidden City, Wenhua Hall.

The doors and windows were wide open, but there was hardly any wind, and the atmosphere inside the hall was heavy and oppressive.

Grand Secretary Huang Lijie, Grand Secretary Sun Chengzong, Minister of War Wang Zaijin, Minister of Revenue Bi Ziyan, Vice Minister of Rites Qian Qianyi, Vice Minister of War Li Banghua, Supervising Secretary of the Ministry of Rites Wei Zhaocheng, Duke of Yingguo Zhang Zhiji, Marquis of Wuqing Li Chengming and other important officials stood solemnly below the steps.

Xu Yingyuan, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, was reading aloud an urgent military report that had just been sent from the Office of Transmission in a high-pitched voice.

"...The Jurchen army has captured Yizhou and Tieshan, and its advance is heading straight for Anzhou and Pyongyang! The eight provinces of Korea are in turmoil, and urgent dispatches are arriving several times a day..."

After reading it, Xu Yingyuan bowed and stepped aside.

There was dead silence in the hall.

Minister of War Wang Zaijin stepped forward first, his voice heavy with grief: "Your Majesty! The military situation is dire! The Jurchens have come out in full force this time, intending to annex Korea! If they succeed, they will seize Korea's people, money, and grain, and their power will grow even stronger! At that time, Liaoxi, Jizhou, and even Xuanda will all be in danger!"

The old minister Sun Chengzong, his beard and hair bristling, interjected, “Minister Wang is absolutely right! Korea must not be abandoned! Abandoning Korea would mean losing our bulwark, chilling the hearts of the people, and further emboldening the Jurchens! Moreover, now that the main force of the Jurchens is trapped in Korea, our dynasty can take this opportunity to reorganize our army, strengthen our defenses, and even…” He glanced at Chongzhen, “and it would also greatly benefit Eunuch Wei and Governor Yuan’s efforts to pacify Hudun and Tuhan!”

Huang Lijie nodded slowly: "What the Grand Secretary and Grand Secretary Sun said is a wise and experienced approach to governing the country. If the Jurchens fight in Korea for a long time, they will be unable to look westward, which will be a chance for our dynasty to catch its breath. However, how to help Korea is still up to Your Majesty's decision."

The senior officials were unusually in agreement: North Korea cannot be lost; the Jurchens must be kept trapped there.

Minister of Revenue Bi Ziyan looked troubled: "The logic is sound... but where will the money and provisions come from? The relocation of feudal lords, the opening of maritime trade, and the clearing of land are all underway, requiring funds everywhere. If we launch a large-scale aid campaign to the court, this..."

Li Banghua, the Vice Minister of War, immediately said, "Minister Bi! How can we only consider such trivial matters? If the Jurchens plunder Korea and obtain hundreds of thousands of bushels of grain and tens of thousands of people, and then use them to attack us, that would be a catastrophe!"

"Yes!"

"We absolutely cannot stand idly by!" Qian Qianyi, Wei Zhaocheng, and others echoed.

Emperor Chongzhen listened quietly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the imperial desk.

After the crowd's voices subsided, he slowly spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"I understand what you have said."

Emperor Chongzhen stood up, walked to the huge map of Liaodong and Korea in the hall, and tapped his finger heavily on the location of Korea.

"Korea must be saved! However," he changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, "there is one thing I must make clear to the Korean monarch and his ministers, to all the vassal states, and to all of you ministers present here!"

"What is being trampled by the Jurchens' iron hooves today is the three thousand miles of land of Korea, not the northern Zhili region of my Great Ming!"

"If Korea wants to survive, it must first save itself! The main force resisting the slaves on Korean soil must be, and can only be, the Korean people and soldiers, not the heavenly army of our Great Ming! Our Great Ming's military intervention is an act of kindness and aid. But Korea's self-salvation is fighting for its own national destiny, its own life and property! This is its duty!"

Chongzhen's tone became more serious: "Only when the entire Korean state, from the king to the common people, is determined to die, harbors the thought of saving the nation, and is willing to risk their lives to fight the Jurchens, will my Great Ming have the necessity to bestow grace and save them! Only then can Korea repay the kindness that my Great Ming has shown to Korea in the future!"

"A debt of gratitude...?" Minister of Revenue Bi Ziyan, known for his stinginess, muttered unconsciously, his old eyes filled with confusion. Saving vassal states from dire straits has always been the dignity and obligation of the Celestial Empire. How did it become... a debt under the current emperor? And one that must be repaid?
The rules of usury in the marketplace even popped into his mind subconsciously—was this "debt of gratitude" to the emperor going to require "nine out and thirteen back"? Had he become addicted to lending money to the emperor?

Not only him, but many ministers in the hall, including Huang Lijie, Wang Zaijin, and even Qian Qianyi, were momentarily stunned. The Emperor's calculations were far too... astute and insightful! So astute that it was almost unsettling.

The old minister Sun Chengzong frowned and stepped forward, saying worriedly, "Your Majesty's wisdom is profound, and we admire it. However... Your Majesty, if the court presses Joseon too much and imposes excessively harsh conditions, I fear... I fear it will chill the hearts of our vassal state! What if the Joseon king and his ministers, in despair, harbor resentment and even... even turn to the Jurchens for refuge? Wouldn't that be counterproductive and strengthen our enemy?"

"To surrender to the Jurchens?" Chongzhen sneered, his voice suddenly rising, "That is absolutely unacceptable! Korea is a land of propriety, having received the grace of our Great Ming for over two hundred years. Its rulers, subjects, and people have been bathed in the king's rule. How can they betray their ancestors, rebel against the Great Ming, and serve barbarians? Where is their conscience? Where is their moral order?"

He paused, his tone softening slightly but becoming even more resolute: "I believe in the loyalty of King Injo of Joseon! I also believe in the integrity of the people of Joseon! I will never allow such a thing to happen!"

"Therefore, I have made my decision and have issued an edict!" Emperor Chongzhen scanned the entire room and announced his first step: "Four thousand elite Imperial Guards will depart for Tianjin tomorrow! They will join the Tianjin and Dengzhou-Laizhou naval warships and immediately set sail eastward, heading straight for Seoul, the capital of Joseon!"

"Their mission is not to fight the Jurchens in the field, but to 'protect the emperor'! To 'invite' King Yi Jong of Joseon, along with his royal family and high-ranking officials, all to Ganghwa Island! There, my imperial guards will work with the Joseon people and soldiers to urgently construct fortifications and batteries, taking advantage of the island's terrain, as the foundation for a protracted resistance against the invaders!"

The ministers below, including Qian Qianyi and Li Banghua, who were from the Donglin Party, felt a sudden chill. "Protecting the Emperor," "inviting him to the island," occupying the island and building fortifications… this tactic sounded so familiar! Wasn't this the same three-pronged strategy proposed by Minister of War Wang Zaijin: "Protect the Emperor, Defend the Island, and Aid Korea Against the Jurchens"? So, the root of this strategy lay with the Emperor! Wang Zaijin was merely a mouthpiece!
Chongzhen continued, his tone inspiring: "When the Korean people see that their king and ministers have not abandoned their country and fled, but are sharing weal and woe with them on Ganghwa Island, vowing to resist the invaders to the death, their morale will surely be greatly boosted, and they will fight the Jurchens to the bitter end! Only in this way can we keep the main force of the Jurchens firmly tied down in the quagmire of Korea!"

"When I see that the Korean people have indeed fought bravely and selflessly, proving that they have the will to save themselves and deserve the great assistance of my Ming Dynasty..." Chongzhen's voice trailed off, his gaze becoming profound, "only when my Celestial Dynasty sends a large army to aid Korea can we achieve twice the result with half the effort, truly save Korea from its dire straits, and deliver a fatal blow to the Jurchens!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Grand Secretary Huang Liji immediately stepped forward and loudly praised, "Your Majesty is wise! You have profound foresight and are experienced in governing the country! This strategy not only fulfills the duty of the vassal states but also safeguards the stability of the nation. Your subject Huang Liji is full of admiration!" This "loyalty offer" was as fast as ever.

Duke Zhang Zhiji of England quickly followed suit, his voice booming: "Your Majesty is wise! I, Zhang Zhiji, second this proposal! This is the perfect plan!" This "Zhang Xianzhong" was not to be outdone.

Minister of War Wang Zaijin and Minister of Revenue Bi Ziyan also expressed their support. Wang Zaijin was the one who proposed the strategy (at least ostensibly), so his support was natural. Bi Ziyan, upon hearing that only 4,000 troops would be mobilized and that the Ministry of Revenue would not be under much pressure, was somewhat relieved.

Sun Chengzong, however, astutely gleaned a crucial "live message" from the emperor's words. He immediately seized the opportunity to press for confirmation: "Does Your Majesty mean that as long as the Korean people and soldiers demonstrate their unwavering determination to resist the invaders, our Great Ming will certainly send tens of thousands of troops across the sea to aid Korea?"

Emperor Chongzhen nodded firmly: "Of course! My word is law, how could I break my promise to a vassal state? However..."

He made a dramatic turn, turning his gaze to Bi Ziyan, the Minister of Revenue, his brows furrowed as if he had encountered a tremendous problem: "However, the annual cost of feeding and supplying tens of thousands of troops across the sea to the east, as well as weapons and provisions, will likely be in the millions! This enormous military expenditure... Mr. Bi, what good strategies does the Ministry of Revenue have to address it?"

Upon hearing this, Bi Ziyan's scalp tingled. He immediately stepped forward and began his classic lament of poverty: "Your Majesty! The Ministry of Revenue... has no money! Absolutely no money! The nine border regions are burdened with mountains of unpaid wages, the drought in Shaanxi remains unresolved, and the relocation of feudal lords, the maritime trade, and the clearing of land have only just begun—everything requires money! If we were to impose an additional 'aid to the court' tax, I fear... I fear the people's strength is exhausted, and a mutiny is imminent!" As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Chongzhen, the meaning clear: Your Majesty, is your private treasury...?

Emperor Chongzhen immediately waved his hand and resolutely said, "If Korea is in trouble, it is not right to use my private treasury. I have already sent 4,000 troops across the sea to protect the emperor, which is already a great favor to the Korean monarch and his officials! If the expenses of these tens of thousands of troops have to be paid by my private treasury, this favor... this debt of favor will be too great! How can Korea repay it? If they cannot repay it, wouldn't that put the Korean monarch, his officials, soldiers and civilians in an unjust position? I... how can I bear to do that!" He spoke with sincerity, as if he was really worried about Korea.

Sun Chengzong was also stumped by the word "money," and frowned, saying, "Your Majesty, the Joseon Kingdom is poor and its people are destitute. Having suffered through war, it can barely protect itself. How can it have the surplus funds to pay for such a huge military expenditure?"

Emperor Chongzhen seemed to have been waiting for this question. He smiled slightly, his gaze slowly moving until it finally landed on Qian Qianyi, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. His tone was as relaxed as if he were having a casual conversation: "Mr. Qian, Korea may be poor, but our Great Ming Dynasty has plenty of wealthy merchants! The southeast is the richest place in the world. Vice Minister Qian, tell me, if the court were to intervene and have the wealthy households in the southeast 'lend' some silver to Korea to help them resist the slaves, would they... be willing?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Qianyi's face contorted in a grimace. He was to go and plead with those shrewd, cunning gentry of the southeast to lend money to a precarious Korea for its war effort? This was tantamount to asking a tiger for its skin! He forced a reply: "Your Majesty… this matter is… I'm afraid it will be difficult. While the merchants of the southeast are wealthy,… loans require collateral and a promise of repayment. Lending money to Korea, I fear, is… likely to be a case of never getting it back!"

Upon hearing this, Chongzhen laughed heartily, as if he had heard something amusing: "Minister Qian, you are mistaken! No matter how poor Korea is, it still has three thousand miles of land, millions of people, mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, forests, and minerals. How could it be that it has nothing? How could it not repay a few million taels of silver?"

Qian Qianyi inwardly groaned, and could only continue with a bitter smile: "Your Majesty, it is not that I am underestimating myself... even if we sold all three thousand miles of Korea at a discounted price, I'm afraid... I'm afraid we still wouldn't be able to raise a few million taels of silver..."

Emperor Chongzhen's smile faded, and he looked at Qian Qianyi meaningfully, slowly asking, "Minister Qian, how do you know that selling Korea at a discount wouldn't bring in much money? Could it be... that you helped King Joseon of Korea sell out the country?"

(End of this chapter)