How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 122 Chongzhen: I've made up my mind, I will definitely help King Yi of Joseon betray his country! (Third update, 10,000 words per day)

Qian Qianyi was completely dumbfounded by Chongzhen's question, "Could it be that you helped King Yi of Korea sell out the country?"

He stood there, stunned, mouth slightly agape, his mind reeling. Even someone as learned as Qian Qianyi was at a loss for words to answer the Emperor's question.

Sun Chengzong, who was standing to the side, could not stand it any longer. How could the emperor ask such an absurd question? How could he discuss with his subjects how much a vassal state was worth and how it should be sold?
The old minister, his brow furrowed and face stern, stepped forward and said in a deep voice, “Your Majesty! Matters of state and military importance concern the survival of vassal states and the dignity of the Celestial Empire. They are not matters for ordinary merchants to haggle over. How can you… how can you speak so lightly!”

Emperor Chongzhen's expression darkened slightly. He shifted his gaze from Qian Qianyi to Sun Chengzong's face, his voice low but carrying a chilling pressure: "A jest? Does Mr. Sun think I'm joking?"

He stopped looking at Sun Chengzong and instead swept his gaze across all the ministers below the steps. His voice suddenly rose: "I am asking a very real question! The Joseon Dynasty of Korea has guarded its beautiful land for hundreds of years! Why is it that now that the Jurchens have come, they can't even scrape together a few million taels of silver for military expenses? Has the Joseon Dynasty really tried its best to govern the country?"

He spoke slowly, one sentence after another, yet every word struck a chord with everyone: "Have they ever governed the country diligently? Have they carefully collected taxes? Have they collected all the commercial and land taxes? Are the officials below corrupt and embezzling? Has the Joseon Dynasty ever seriously fought against corruption?"

Each question was like an invisible slap in the face, not only striking the Joseon Dynasty far away in Korea, but also making the faces of the Ming officials in the hall tighten. Weren't these questions equally applicable to the Ming Dynasty today? Sun Chengzong opened his mouth, but ultimately couldn't utter a word; his expression only grew more somber.

The Joseon Dynasty, with its mere three thousand miles of land and a population of just over ten million, could understandably not have come up with a few million taels of silver. But how much did the Ming Dynasty have in its treasury?

Chongzhen's tone softened slightly, but became even colder: "Since they didn't work hard or take things seriously in the past, and now they're facing a great calamity, with the entire country about to be destroyed by the Jurchens! Then take out some of their assets, sell them! Raise military funds to ask my Great Ming army to come and save our lives, what's wrong with that? Are we just going to wait for the country to perish and our race to be wiped out?"

He paused, his tone suddenly becoming somewhat "heavy," even carrying a hint of "self-reproach": "Of course, as the suzerain of Joseon and the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, I also bear responsibility for this."

The ministers were stunned and looked up at the emperor in bewilderment.

Emperor Chongzhen sighed, as if he were truly reflecting on his actions: "For a long time, although our Great Ming Dynasty is the sovereign and father of Korea, we have been too lenient and have failed to fulfill our responsibilities as the suzerain. We have not earnestly urged King Yi to manage the country properly, which has led to the current predicament, with an empty treasury and no way to cope with the enemy."

"Therefore!" His voice rose again, carrying a sense of responsibility as heavy as Mount Tai, "This time, I can no longer stand idly by! I must help King Li to sell what needs to be sold and raise enough funds to resist the invaders! This is not only to save Korea, but also to fulfill the responsibility of the suzerain of my Great Ming!"

His gaze was intense as he looked at his ministers: "Furthermore, in the future, I will send capable ministers to assist King Li in governing the country diligently and effectively! To rectify official corruption, streamline taxes, and strengthen the nation and enrich its people! This is what a responsible ruler should do!"

The ministers below gradually realized what was going on.

So, the Emperor's intention wasn't simply to borrow money, but to sell off a portion of Joseon's territory or rights for cash! Moreover, the Ming Dynasty planned to send a regent to Joseon to directly intervene in its internal affairs!

These conditions are too harsh! This isn't the behavior of a sect leader, this is practically...

Qian Qianyi, who valued benevolence and morality above all else, was apprehensive but still forced himself to speak again: "Your Majesty... Korea is poor and its people are destitute. Even if we were to sell it, how much could we get for it? How much land and territory would we have to sell to raise the millions of dollars needed for military pay?"

Emperor Chongzhen seemed to have been waiting for this question. He glanced at Qian Qianyi and said casually, as if he were talking about a trivial matter: "Not much, not much. I think selling Jeju Island would be enough."

"Jeju Island?" Qian Qianyi looked incredulous. "Your Majesty, that's just a deserted island overseas, isolated at the southern tip of Korea, sparsely populated and mostly used for horse grazing. Who would spend millions of taels of silver to buy such an island?"

Emperor Chongzhen laughed, a shrewd calculation in his smile: "What if we buy an island and give away a hereditary title of Prince of the Great Ming?" He looked at the dumbfounded Qian Qianyi and slowly explained: "The King of Joseon is also a Prince of the Great Ming, right? He is on equal footing with the 'Prince of Jeju' that I am about to bestow!"

"Mr. Qian, do you think there is anyone in this world who would be willing to spend three to five million taels of silver to buy an island with a county-level territory, and then become a legitimate, hereditary prince of the Ming Dynasty?"

Qian Qianyi was stunned again, his mind racing. Buying an island and giving it to a prince? This...this was simply unheard of!

"This... Your Majesty, this is probably... against the rules, isn't it?" Qian Qianyi murmured, his voice weakening.

Chongzhen smiled even more meaningfully: "Whether it's in accordance with the rules or not depends on how it's said."

He paused, looked around at everyone, and began his "rhetoric": "Let's say this to the outside world—King Yi Jong of Joseon, in order to raise military funds, earnestly requests the Celestial Empire to send troops to resist the invaders, and is willing to sell Jeju Island to those who are interested. Our Great Ming, as the suzerain, in order to fulfill his loyalty and patriotism, has specially facilitated this matter. This is quite proper, isn't it? Doesn't it make the King of Joseon seem very reasonable and loyal?"

The people in the hall looked at each other, and after careful consideration, it seemed... that made sense? At least it was acceptable on the surface.

Emperor Chongzhen continued, "And what about the righteous man who bought the island? Let's put it this way—he is a hero from overseas, wholeheartedly yearning for the rule of our Great Ming, determined to submit to the Celestial Empire, and brought Jeju Island, which he purchased at great expense, to join us! I am moved by his loyalty and righteousness, and remember his merits, so I hereby bestow upon him the title of Prince of Jeju Island of the Great Ming, a hereditary title, to be forever stationed on Jeju Island, serving as a bulwark for our Great Ming's maritime borders! Is this reasonable? Doesn't it demonstrate the boundless grace and inclusiveness of our Great Ming Emperor?"

The ministers below, from Huang Lijie and Wang Zaijin to Sun Chengzong and Qian Qianyi, were all dumbfounded.

What was clearly an absurd matter of selling official positions and seizing vassal territories in disguise was transformed by the emperor's dismantling and repackaging into something so "logical" that it even had a hint of "loyalty and righteousness."
This...this emperor is simply gifted at how to "have his cake and eat it too"!

Seeing that his subordinates were all speechless and no one immediately jumped out to object, Chongzhen quickly gave a soft "uh-cough".

Huang Lijie, who had been waiting for the signal, immediately stepped forward and exclaimed, "Your Majesty is wise! This plan is well thought out, preserving the dignity of Korea, relieving the urgent need for military funds, and demonstrating the magnanimity of our Celestial Empire! This old minister is in awe; Your Majesty is truly farsighted!"

Zhang Zhiji, who played Zhang Xianzhong, followed closely behind, his voice booming: "Your Majesty is wise! I second that proposal! This is a perfect solution that benefits both sides!"

With these two "loyalty vanguards" leading the way, Wang Zaijin, Bi Ziyan, and other members of the Emperor's faction also voiced their support. Although they might have thought it was a bit outrageous, the Emperor had clearly made up his mind, and it sounded... like they could actually get money!
Sun Chengzong, Qian Qianyi, and others frowned, feeling extremely awkward, but they couldn't think of any plausible reason to refute this seemingly "perfect" logic.

Emperor Chongzhen nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the scene.

"Since all of you have no objections, then this matter is settled." He made the final decision. "As for the specific procedures, the Cabinet, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Rites should quickly devise a plan for granting titles of kingship to overseas monarchs who have submitted to the Chinese Empire. There may be many more such matters in the future. Remember, your words must be eloquent! Your actions must be handled with utmost care! Furthermore, matters must be handled in secrecy; we must not let the Koreans know about today's discussion too early!"

"Your Majesty, we obey!" the crowd bowed and replied.

However, there was a complex emotion in that voice that was hard to describe. This emperor's methods were becoming increasingly unconventional.

(End of this chapter)