How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 293 North and South, One Family, Sharing Weal and Woe

Beijing, the Forbidden City, the Hall of Literary Glory.

Grand Secretary Huang Liji slumped in a chair behind his large desk, his fingers pressing hard against his throbbing temples. The pile of memorials on the desk almost buried him completely.

Bi Ziyan, the Minister of Revenue, stood below, his face ashen, his lips chapped and peeling.

“The Grand Secretary… really… really can’t hold on any longer…” His voice was terribly hoarse. “The Taicang… the Taicang only has 780,000 taels of silver left that can be used! Requests for aid from disaster areas in Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Huaibei in Southern Zhili are pouring in like snowflakes, more than a dozen a day! In many places, there have already been gatherings of displaced people causing trouble. If we don’t find a way to provide disaster relief, I’m afraid there will be a major upheaval!”

Minister of War Wang Zaijin frowned and interjected, "The peasant uprisings can be suppressed, but the real problem is that the autumn grain harvests in the border towns and military settlements of Yulin, Ningxia, Gansu, and Shaanxi have all decreased significantly. If the grain transported from Shaanxi is also cut off, I'm afraid..."

The words weren't fully spoken, but the meaning was clear. A border troop without food that were to rebel was far more terrifying than a starving civilian!
Huang Lijie remained silent, his brows furrowed tightly. The Minister of Revenue, Bi Ziyan, also kept quiet. They were both at a loss; even a skilled cook can't make a meal without rice! The disaster in Shaanxi came earlier than elsewhere, and it had been raging for five or six years. It was a miracle that it hadn't descended into complete chaos by now.

But then
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the palace gate. A court official rushed in, holding a box wrapped in yellow silk high in his hands, breathless:
"Prime Minister... Grand Secretary! Urgent dispatch! It's from the Emperor... the Emperor has sent an edict from Henan!"

The three people inside the hall were startled.

Huang Liji abruptly stood up, grabbed the box, tore open the seal, and pulled out the silk scroll inside. His gaze swept over it rapidly, and his face instantly turned deathly pale. His hands trembled violently, and he could barely hold the silk scroll.

"Prime Minister, what imperial decree does His Majesty have?" Wang Zaijin asked urgently, sensing something was amiss.

Huang Lijie was speechless. He simply stuffed the silk handkerchief into his hand and slumped back into his chair.

Wang Zaijin took a look and his eyes widened in surprise. Bi Ziyan leaned closer, only glimpsed the first few lines, and his legs went weak, almost collapsing to the ground.

"Exemption...exemption from grain taxes for three years? Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong, Beizhili...all five provinces, including private farmland, official farmland, and military farmland, will be exempted? Until the autumn harvest in the eighth year of Chongzhen's reign?" Bi Ziyan's voice became shrill and distorted as if he had been choked. "Your Majesty! Your Majesty is...taking the life of the court!"

Wang Zaijin said with a mournful face, "Even the grain rations for the military settlements have been waived, so how will we solve the problem of food supplies for the nine border thirteen towns? Are we going to have to buy them all? And where will the money come from?"

Huang Liji caught his breath and pointed to the bottom of the box, his voice trembling slightly: "There's...there's this too, take a look."

It was an article signed "Zhu Siwen" with an eye-catching title: "North and South are one family, sharing hardships together."

Wang Zaijin picked up the article and read it aloud in a low voice:

"...The devastation in the North is not just a pain for the Northerners, but a major threat to the entire nation! The North is our shield, and the South is our home; if the shield is destroyed, the home will be cold—this is a truth even a child knows! How many of the soldiers on the nine borders are from the South? For whom did they shed their blood? Today the North is in trouble, and the South stands idly by; when the flames of war spread south in the future, who will be our shield?"

His voice grew softer as he read, and the words in the article were certainly well-reasoned and supported by evidence. But... would reasoning really be useful in this matter? Probably not. Otherwise, the Emperor wouldn't have needed to lead 20,000 imperial guards on a southern tour.

The hall was deathly silent.

Bi Ziyan finally sighed: "Your Majesty has cut off your own escape route. Now we must obtain enough silver from the seven southern provinces and Sichuan. But is it really that easy to get silver from the south? We mustn't incite a popular uprising and make the situation even worse."

Huang Liji slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Jing Zeng! Watch your words!"

He forced himself to stand up, his face so dark it could drip water, and his gaze swept over the two men: "The Emperor's decree has been issued, and the news has been sent throughout the land! This matter is settled!"

He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Do you think the Emperor is unaware of the national treasury's difficulties? The Emperor is taking a risky move, but it's also a risky one! If the northern regions aren't rescued soon, the refugees might turn into bandits! At that time, the amount of money that will be spent and the number of people who will die will be in the tens of millions."

Wang Zaijin pondered for a moment, then nodded: "The Prime Minister's view is absolutely correct. Mr. Zhu's article is entirely justified. Right now... the only thing we can do is find a way to plug this hole first."

“Block? Block with what?” Bi Ziyan’s eyes were bloodshot.

Huang Liji's eyes darkened: "The South! Change the grain transport from the Grand Canal to sea transport, saving as much as possible. Immediately send documents to the provinces of Southern Zhili, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Huguang, Sichuan, and Guangdong, saying that the disaster situation in the North is urgent and concerns the survival of the nation, and order them to quickly send funds to the capital! Salt tax, customs duties, and maritime trade taxes must all be strictly collected, and the Liaodong tax should also be increased. Every 1.3 taels of silver! We can't keep fooling around. If the Emperor really pulls his sword, I don't know how many people will lose their heads!"

“Yes…” Bi Ziyan replied weakly.

Wang Zaijin added, "Grand Secretary, shouldn't we also remind the Emperor... that morale is paramount in Liaodong and Xuanda, and the grain stored in these military farms must still be collected; that's the bottom line..."

Huang Liji sighed heavily: "Let's draft a secret report... to inform the Emperor about the difficulties in the capital."

Under the same moonlight, the banks of the Qinhuai River in Nanjing present a completely different world.

In the western garden of the residence of Duke Xu Hongji of Wei, the melodious sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air. In the waterside pavilion, three noblemen from Nanjing, dressed in either imperial robes or everyday clothes, sat drinking and admiring the moon. Besides the Duke of Wei, the host, were Zhao Zhilong, the Earl of Xincheng, who guarded Nanjing and was in charge of the Central Military Commission, and Li Zushu, the Marquis of Linhuai.

The steward quietly stepped forward and gently placed a newly published copy of the "Imperial Ming Bulletin" next to Xu Hongji.

Xu Hongji was listening to a tune with his eyes half-closed when he casually picked up a newspaper and glanced at it. In that single glance, he sat bolt upright. The relaxed expression on his face vanished instantly.

He waved his hand, and the courtesans and musicians quietly withdrew.

"Take a look, all of you," Xu Hongji said in a deep voice, handing the newspaper to Zhao Zhilong, the Earl of Xincheng, who was standing beside him. The newspaper was passed around among them. The relaxed atmosphere in the waterside pavilion vanished, leaving only a deathly silence.

"Who...who is this Zhu Siwen? How dare he speak so arrogantly!" Marquis Li Zushu of Linhuai was young and impetuous, his face flushed red.

"North and South are one family, sharing weal and woe? That sounds nice! Isn't it just that they see how wealthy we are in the South and want to squeeze our profits to fill the bottomless pit in the North?" Zhao Zhilong, who was in charge of the Nanjing garrison, knew the situation better than anyone, and his tone was filled with indignation.

"Three years of tax exemption? The north has gained a good reputation, but the deficit will still be levied on us. Our noble families' estates and reward lands will probably also be subject to additional taxation!" Li Zushu slammed his fist on the table.

After Xu Hongji and the others quieted down for a while, they slowly spoke, their tone colder than the Qinhuai River: "Do you really think this Zhu Siwen is some kind of refined scholar?"

His gaze swept over the two men's astonished and suspicious faces, and he said, word by word, "This article, this tone, this ruthless method... who else could it be but that person in the Qianqing Palace?"

"What?" Li Zushu stood up abruptly, his face ashen. Zhao Zhilong's teacup also wobbled, spilling tea.

"Does the Duke mean... that this Zhu Siwen is... the Emperor?" Zhao Zhilong's voice trembled.

"Besides the Emperor, who else would dare to write, 'How many of the soldiers on the nine borders are from Jiangnan? For whom did they shed their blood?'" Xu Hongji sneered. "And who else could issue an edict to exempt five provinces from taxes for three years? This is the Emperor personally taking action to reason with the people of the world."

A deathly silence fell over the waterside pavilion once more. Li Zushu slumped back into his chair, while Zhao Zhilong took a deep breath, trying to calm his shock.

"Then...then what should we do?" Li Zushu's voice was filled with panic. "If His Majesty writes it himself, then...the weight of this article will be completely different."

Zhao Zhilong also looked at Xu Hongji with a solemn expression: "Your Excellency, the Duke, is wise. If the Emperor's mind is truly made up, then resisting might be..."

“A direct confrontation won’t work.” A fierce glint flashed in Xu Hongji’s eyes. “But precisely because the Emperor himself is involved, we can’t just sit and wait to die. The Emperor talks about ‘equality’ and ‘one family’, good! We’ll follow this principle and let the Emperor know that we in Jiangnan also have our own difficulties!”

He lowered his voice, but his words were as sharp as a knife: "First, there's the Grand Canal. This year's floods are no small matter. The canal boats, sluices, and dikes on the Huaibei Canal have suffered enormous damage! Repairs will take time, and the waterway is blocked. Zhilong, as the Nanjing garrison commander and the relevant department in charge of the Grand Canal, you should issue a document to all relevant departments, strictly inspecting the safety of the waterway. Any vessel found to have a hidden danger should be shut down for repairs! In short, the grain transport to the north must be 'safe and secure,' so we can... slow it down."

Zhao Zhilong immediately understood: "Understood! The flood damage is severe, and the canal transport is difficult. No one can find fault with that!"

"Secondly," Xu Hongji looked at Li Zushu, "Zushu, you should contact your old friends in the various prefectures and counties of Southern Zhili, especially in granary areas like Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou, and Zhenjiang, and have them submit a joint memorial detailing how their local areas have also suffered from floods, resulting in reduced summer grain production, difficult autumn planting, and exhausted people's strength. They should earnestly request the court to reduce taxes as a sign of compassion! We must make a big show of this so that the Emperor knows that the Southeast is not a gold mine and is also exhausted!"

“Alright! I’ll make the arrangements tomorrow!” Li Zushu nodded.

"Furthermore," Xu Hongji's voice deepened, tinged with ruthlessness, "Zhilong, you secretly order all garrisons along the coast of Zhejiang and Southern Zhili to strengthen their defenses and dispatch more patrol boats. If... if reports of 'Japanese pirates' approaching or 'coast guards' frequently arriving are sent to the Emperor, that would be perfectly reasonable. The court must know that the southeastern coastal areas are not peaceful, and no expense can be spared in terms of troops, horses, money, or provisions!"

A glint of light flashed in Zhao Zhilong's eyes: "Your Excellency is truly farsighted! The north needs to be exempted from grain taxes, while the south needs disaster prevention and defense against Japanese pirates. Silver is needed everywhere. Since His Majesty wants 'equal distribution,' he can't just care about the north and ignore the fate of the south, can he?"

Xu Hongji stood up and looked out the window at the dazzling lights on the Qinhuai River: "His Majesty wants to play a grand game to win over the hearts of the north. We, the meritorious officials who share the fate of the country, must make him understand that the other half of this game is in the south. If the taxes and grain transport in the southeast cannot be stabilized, the Ming Dynasty will not be able to hold on."

Inside Qingning Palace, Shenyang.

Huang Taiji held the "Imperial Ming Report" sent back by the spies. Fan Wencheng, Dorgon, and others stood respectfully at the lower end, while Daishan sat high up to the side.

"Hahaha!" Huang Taiji burst into hearty laughter. "What a Chongzhen Emperor! Such womanly compassion! Exempt him from grain taxes? How will he support his army? How will he contend with my mighty Jin Dou!"

Dorgon, though excited, stepped forward cautiously and said, "Great Khan! The Ming Dynasty's self-inflicted financial crisis is indeed a golden opportunity. However, I believe that rather than a direct assault, we should first target an easier opponent."

Huang Taiji raised an eyebrow and asked, "Oh? Which one is the easy target?"

Dorgon pointed to the Xiaoling River area on the Liaoxi map: "Zu Dashou! He's currently holed up in the Xiaoling River valley, stalling us. Now that Chongzhen has exempted the northern regions from taxes and provisions, how much can he expect in pay? Without pay, his army's morale will surely collapse! We should intensify our attack, depleting his forces and cutting off his supply lines; at the same time, spread rumors that the court is unable to pay his troops, and his soldiers are starving. We should also offer him substantial rewards, saying that if he surrenders, he will not only be guaranteed wealth and status, but will also be allowed to continue garrisoning Jinzhou! In short, winning hearts and minds is the best strategy."

Dai Shan nodded in agreement: "This plan is quite prudent. If Zu Dashou surrenders, a major breach will be created in the Liaoxi defense line."

Fan Wencheng frowned slightly and added, "Your Majesty, the Prince's plan is excellent, but it needs to be considered more thoroughly. Zu Dashou still possesses considerable fighting strength and relies on other Ming generals in the three Liaodong garrisons. A direct attack might force him into a desperate situation, and a siege would take time. While spreading rumors and offering him great rewards, we must also cut off his communication with the outside world and prevent the Ming court from sending reinforcements. Only in this way can we force him into a corner and leave him with no choice but to surrender."

Huang Taiji's eyes gleamed. He walked to the map and tapped his finger heavily on the Liaoxi region: "Dorgon's insights are exactly what I want! Fan Wencheng's concerns are also very mature. Let's do it this way! Dorgon, you are in charge of this matter. Encircle Zu Dashou without annihilating him; winning his hearts and minds is the best strategy! Make sure the rumors reach his camp before the swords fall!"

He paused, a cold smile playing on his lips, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "However, dealing with only Zu Dashou is a bit too narrow-minded. Think about it, once he makes a move, what will the other two commanders of the three Liaodong garrisons think? That Mao Wenlong fellow has always been arrogant and domineering, hoarding his troops and acting like a puppet, even disobeying Lu Xiangshan's orders. He'd be better off falsely reporting his achievements and drawing salaries without working! That's exactly what we can use."

He lowered his voice, as if setting a clever trap: "Once the pressure on Zu Dashou is high enough, and the news spreads, we can subtly release information saying 'Mao Wenlong also intends to surrender' and 'is secretly in contact with the Khan,' letting these words reach the ears of Lu Xiangshan or the Ming Dynasty's Embroidered Uniform Guard. Given the suspicious nature of Emperor Chongzhen and the Ming court's civil officials, coupled with the already tense relationship between Lu Xiangshan and Mao Wenlong, it might just incite them to fight amongst themselves, or even... a bloody battle!"

Fan Wencheng took a deep breath and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty's strategy is truly brilliant! This is indeed a plan that kills two birds with one stone. If successful, the Ming army's Liaoxi defense line will collapse without a fight, and its command will fall into internal strife."

Huang Taiji sat back on the couch, smugly pleased with himself: "That's right! We must make sure the Ming generals see clearly that following Chongzhen means either starving to death or being distrusted and killed by their own people! Only by following my Great Jin can they have a way out and a future! We should also send people to strengthen ties with the Mongol tribes and tell them that the Ming Dynasty's fate is sealed, and those who know what's good for them should surrender as soon as possible!"

(End of this chapter)