How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 130: North Korea is already on the menu, next up should be Mongolia! (Second update)
The wind on Ganghwa Island carried a salty, fishy smell as it blew through the dilapidated windows of the palace.

It was called a temporary palace, but it was just a larger government office courtyard that had been temporarily set up. Although it was summer, the interior was still chilly and somewhat eerie.

King Injo of Joseon sat there, wrapped in an old robe, motionless. His face was ashen, and his eyes were fixed on the ground, as if his soul had been left on the mudflats on the north bank of the Han River.

Chief State Councillor Lee Won-ik and Left State Councillor Kim Ryu stood below with their hands at their sides, not daring to utter a sound.

"Is everything settled?" Li Zong suddenly asked, his voice hoarse.

Li Yuanyi hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the accompanying officials and palace ladies have been settled in. However... in such a hurry, we are in dire need of food and medicine."

"Seoul..." Lee Jong asked again, his voice even lower.

Li Yuanyi's lips trembled, and he buried his head even deeper: "...I'm afraid, I'm afraid they've already fallen into the hands of the barbarians."

Seeing this, Kim Ryu mustered his spirits and stepped forward: "Your Majesty, do not worry! During the Imjin War, when the Japanese pirates were so rampant, our Joseon was able to recover our lost lands! Now, with the great army of the Celestial Empire protecting us, and relying on the natural defenses of the rivers and seas, we can command the righteous armies of the eight provinces to gradually restore our nation!"

Li Zong seemed not to hear. After a long while, he slowly raised his head, his eyes sweeping blankly over the two important officials.

"A righteous army?" He forced a smile that was more like a grimace. "Tell me, those people left behind... those who were killed and taken away by the Tartars... will they still believe in a king who abandoned them? Will they still follow me... to restore order?"

These words were like knives, stabbing Li Yuanyi and Jin Liu in the heart, causing them to kneel down, speechless.

Li Zong waved his hand, utterly exhausted: "All of you, leave. Let me... have some peace and quiet."

The two dared not say a word, kowtowed, and quietly withdrew.

The empty room was left with only Li Zong. He slowly walked to the window, looking out at the gray sky and sea, and at the scattered soldiers and their families in the distance, their faces filled with panic.

He, the king, is now truly all alone, trapped on this remote island overseas.

And the only thing he could rely on was the country of his sovereign across the sea. But this sovereign did not seem to be as benevolent as he had imagined!

Almost at the same moment, in Liaodong, in the city of Shenyang, deep within the Khan's Palace.

The atmosphere was neither celebratory nor dejected; rather, it was somber and cautious.

Huang Taiji, the Great Khan, looked at the two military reports that had been delivered one after the other, and gently tapped the kang table with his thick fingers.

Below sat Prince Daishan and Fan Wencheng, a Han official who had just been summoned.

“Amin and Mangultai have made a considerable haul on their southward journey,” Huang Taiji said calmly. “The people, provisions, gold, and silver they have captured will make up for a significant portion of our losses. Korea is practically half-destroyed.”

Dai Shan nodded: "Yes, Li Zong was terrified and ran to the island. We can come and go as we please in the eight provinces of Korea."

Huang Taiji shook his head slightly, picked up another military report, and said in a more serious tone: "Li Zong has escaped, we didn't get him. But what's more important is this... Mangultai suffered a loss on the banks of the Han River."

"Oh?" Daishan sat up straighter. "Ming reinforcements have arrived? How many men?"

When he heard the word "suffer a loss," he knew that he had encountered the Ming army. Although the Ming army could not defeat the Eight Banners army in open battle, it was still the "second strongest in the world." If it were the Mongols or the Koreans, they would have no chance.

“Not many men, just a few thousand imperial guards. But they are incredibly vicious!” Huang Taiji’s eyes sharpened. “Manggultai said their firearms are formidable, especially their cannons! Not the old Hongyi cannons, but a kind of bronze cannon that can be dragged around. They not only fire solid iron balls, but also a hail of lead bullets, hitting large areas at once, and with tremendous power! The two elite charges of the Plain Blue Banner resulted in the loss of nearly two hundred men, and Jiala Ezhen Lengsengji was also killed in battle.”

"So many?" Daishan was taken aback. The Eight Banners soldiers had lost nearly two hundred men in one fell swoop, and it was a failure in their charge. This was extremely rare in his memory.

Fan Wencheng, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "Great Khan, is it that kind of... rapid-fire cannon, similar to the breech-loading cannon, but bigger and more powerful?"

"The Mangultai newspaper says it's slow to load, but its power is terrifying, especially effective against infantry and cavalry charges." Huang Taiji looked at Fan Wencheng, "Mr. Fan, do you know about this?"

Fan Wencheng bowed hastily: "I have heard a little about it. The Southern Dynasty's capital garrison has indeed been casting new cannons recently, under the guidance of a Westerner named Johann Adam Schall von Bell, and they are being made using Western methods. I never expected... that they have already been put into service and even deployed to Korea."

Huang Taiji stood up and paced around the room. "This little emperor Chongzhen... how long has he been on the throne? He's purging the old army, training new soldiers, and now he's even come up with such formidable firearms. He's cunning and ruthless. Just look at how he put that old dog Yang Hao to work; you can tell he doesn't play by the rules. He'll use anyone as long as they're useful."

He stopped and glanced at Dai Shan and Fan Wencheng: "This new emperor of the Southern Dynasty is not a foolish ruler who only knows how to sit in the deep palace and vent his anger. He is a tough guy who dares to use underhanded methods and can also develop some real skills. In the future, he will be the most difficult enemy for our Great Jin to deal with."

Daishan's expression also turned serious: "The Khan is right. So, what's next..."

"Korea is already in our grasp; we can deal with it later," Huang Taiji said decisively. "The Ming emperor wants to use Korea to hold us back, but we won't let him have his way! To completely subdue the Southern Dynasty, we must break his other arm!"

"Mongolia?" Daishan asked.

"Yes! Ligdan Khan of the Chahan tribe!" Huang Taiji's eyes flashed with a fierce light. "That guy is all talk and no action, his life is getting harder and harder, yet he still acts like the overlord of the Mongols. We must send people there immediately! We must use both soft and hard tactics, coercion and enticement, to make sure he dares not side with the Southern Dynasty! It would be best to force him to move west, or even subdue him! As long as the Mongol tribes no longer guard the Ming Dynasty's gates, and can even be used by us, Datong and Xuanfu will be our pastures! Let's see how many new troops Chongzhen has to fill this thousands of miles of border wall!"

Fan Wencheng immediately said, "Your Majesty is wise! This is a decisive solution! This servant is willing to take Fan Yongdou with me on a trip to the grasslands."

"Get it done quickly!" Huang Taiji waved his hand. "Be quick! We must get it done before the Ming emperor!"

Outside Beijing, at the Lugou Bridge, banners fluttered in the breeze.

Emperor Chongzhen, dressed in ordinary clothes, personally came to see off the Prince of Xiangyuan and the Prince of Lingqiu. The two princes were leaving the capital today to go south to their fiefdoms.

Zhang Zhiji, the heir apparent of the Duke of Ying, and Bi Ziyan, the Minister of Revenue, accompanied him. Zhang Zhiji was now the most loyal minister in front of Emperor Chongzhen, and was nicknamed "Zhang Xianzhong"! He led a group of nobles to "show their loyalty," even though these nobles were long gone, they still had their ancestral "voice"—they could vote to show their loyalty in court recommendations and court discussions (which involved military affairs).

Bi Ziyan earned the nicknames "Inevitably Stingy" and "Inevitably Begging," as he kept a tight grip on the Ministry of Revenue's treasury. The elderly Prince of Xiangyuan and the young Prince of Lingqiu, on the other hand, were nicknamed "Loan Kings," a play on words with "loan sharks." They were drowning in debt, with annual interest payments alone amounting to 18,000 taels of silver! At this moment, they were so nervous they didn't know what to do with their hands, listening to the emperor's encouragement.

"I entrust the Jianghai and Minhai customs to my two imperial uncles. If they discover anyone engaging in corruption, bribery, or smuggling, they should report it to me in a secret report. Do not fail my expectations." Emperor Chongzhen said gently.

The two princes quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty's teachings will be obeyed."

In his heart, he was 120% unwilling. He dared not be willing! Looking at the powerful and corrupt officials in the southeast, reporting them for smuggling and trafficking seemed like a bit of a "futile task"!

Emperor Chongzhen nodded. The Ming Dynasty had many princes; they could afford the expenses! His gaze shifted to Luo Yangxing and Lu Jiude, who were accompanying him. Luo Yangxing had now landed a thankless job—commander of the Lingqiu Prince's Guard—and he wore an expression of utter loyalty!

Lu Jiude got a good job: the eunuch in charge of Nanjing! This time, he was to escort the two princes south, and of course, he would report on the Nanjing garrison. Not report? No problem, Chongzhen could "report" for him; he just had to take the blame.

"Luo Qing and Lu Banban, you must do your utmost to protect the king."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Luo Yangxing bowed and said.
"This servant will do my best!" Lu Jiude knew, of course, that the task would be difficult, but he had no choice but to accept it despite his reluctance.

The ceremony was about to end.

Suddenly, dust rose from the east side of the official road, and a rider on a fast horse with a red flag on its back charged like a madman!
"Great news! A major victory in Korea!"

The knight dismounted and reported loudly: "Your Majesty! Imperial Envoy Yang and Military Supervisor Xu report: King Yi of Joseon has safely moved to Ganghwa Island! Our army, positioned with our backs to the river on the north bank of the Han River, has utterly defeated the pursuing Eastern Barbarian Plain Blue Banner troops! We have beheaded 113 Tatars in battle! Countless casualties have been inflicted! The barbarian chieftain Mangultai has been defeated and fled!"

After a moment of silence, thunderous cheers erupted from all around: "Long live the Heavenly Army! May the Heavenly Army be victorious!"

Emperor Chongzhen smiled and said, "Good! Issue an edict to the Ministry of War to discuss the merits! The reward money shall be allocated from the imperial treasury!"

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

Taking advantage of the situation, Chongzhen summoned Zhang Zhiji, Bi Ziyan, Luo Yangxing, and Lu Jiude to his side.

His voice was low, but every word was clear: "Bi Qing, the regulations of the Maritime Trade Office need to be drafted even faster! The seven major ports of Tianjin, Yangzhou, Songjiang, Ningbo, Quanzhou, Guangzhou, and Xiangshan must be officially opened and put into operation as soon as possible; time waits for no one!"

Bi Ziyan immediately replied, "Your Majesty, I obey your decree. The Ministry of Revenue is working diligently on the matter, and the regulations will be submitted to Your Majesty for review soon."

Chongzhen turned his gaze to Luo Yangxing and Lu Jiude: "After you arrive in your respective places, with the assistance of Imperial Censor Zhou and Salt Transporter Cui, you must make connections with the loyal and righteous people in the southeastern sea as soon as possible. For example, that... Zheng Yiguan."

Upon hearing "Zheng Yiguan," everyone's hearts stirred.

“Tell them that the King of Joseon is preparing to sell Jeju Island in order to raise funds for the war against the invaders. Whoever buys Jeju Island and submits to the court will be granted the title of Prince by me! His status will be comparable to that of the King of Ryukyu or Joseon.”

In fact, Emperor Chongzhen subtly shifted the concept at this point. The Kings of Joseon and Ryukyu were merely enjoying the status of a Prince within the Ming Dynasty, not truly being Princes of the Ming. If Zheng Yiguan had purchased Jeju Island and annexed it, and then officially been granted the title of Prince of the Ming, then Jeju Island would have become an "inner vassal" of the Ming, not an outer vassal. Furthermore, in the future, the Kings of Joseon and Ryukyu might have gone even further, receiving the title of Prince of the Ming, thus making Joseon and Ryukyu also inner vassal states of the Ming.

However, Luo Yangxing and Lu Jiude don't care about "inner vassals" or "outer vassals" now. They only know that if this deal is successfully completed, they will definitely get a "brokerage fee"!
Luo Yangxing clasped his hands in a deep fist salute: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Lu Jiude cried out in a shrill voice, "This servant obeys the decree!"

Zhang Zhiji listened intently, his eyes shining, but he remained silent, only clenching his fists secretly—why wasn't he included in this good thing? Could it be that he hadn't offered enough "loyalty" yet?
"Alright. Let's set off." Chongzhen nodded.

The procession slowly moved south.

Upon returning to Yihai Hall in Qinghua Garden of Xiyuan, Chongzhen dismissed his attendants.

He walked to his desk and slowly ground the ink himself.

Once the ink was thick enough, he spread out a sheet of Xuan paper, picked up his brush, and wrote a secret letter to Wei Zhongxian.

"Zhongxian, as you have met me."

"The news of victory from Korea has arrived. King Yi has arrived in Ganghwa, and the Eastern Barbarians have suffered a setback. This is a golden opportunity for us, and also for the Western Barbarians."

The pen pauses, then the force is increased.

"The main force of the Jurchens is tied up in Korea, and the situation in Liaoxi is temporarily delayed. You must quickly handle these three matters without fail."

"First, we must immediately join forces with Governor Yuan Chonghuan and head north to pacify Hudun Tu Khan. We can offer him market rewards, grain, and weapons to jointly resist the Jurchens. Now is the time, do not hesitate!"

"Secondly, the crimes of the traitor and his family are clear. They may be escorted immediately and imprisoned within the high walls of Fengyang. Their journey must pass through Luoyang! They must be strictly guarded along the way!"

"Thirdly, the traitor Zhu Chunchen colluded with the Dai rebels and secretly communicated with the Mongols. The case is clear. I hereby order Tian Ergeng to lead the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arrest him immediately and bring him to the Imperial Prison in the capital for my personal trial!"

After writing, blow away the ink, seal it, and affix the small seal.

He took the letter, walked to the window, and looked northwest.

That's Xuanda University, and the Mongolian grasslands.

"Tiger Mound Rabbit..." Chongzhen muttered to himself, his eyes sharp as knives, "Korea is already on the menu, the next one should be Mongolia, so don't you dare run away!"

Unbeknownst to him, almost simultaneously, his formidable enemy made the same judgment and set his sights on the same target.

(End of this chapter)