How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 301 Don't rush, Chongzhen is sharpening his knife
The He Mansion at the eastern end of Wuchang City had a simple facade, with blue bricks and gray tiles, giving it a somewhat austere appearance. Late at night, only an oil lamp lit the study, its flame flickering.

Tang Hui, the governor of Huguang, sat at the lower end of the table, sweat beading on his forehead. He had just returned from meeting the emperor at the Prince of Chu's residence, and his heart was filled with anxiety.

"Lord He," his throat was dry, and he leaned forward, "we can't count on Sichuan at all. Zhu Xieyuan's attitude is ambiguous, and Qin Liangyu has been lured there by the Emperor using the land of Yongning and the title of 'vassal.' We in Huguang are all alone now! The chieftains in those mountain valleys of western Hubei and western Hunan are the best at reading the winds; I'm afraid it won't be long before they all side with the Emperor..."

He Fengsheng was slumped in the armchair, his eyes half-closed, as if he were asleep. Only the prayer beads in his hand were still slowly turning. The room was quiet.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes.

“Yuanyi,” he spoke, his tone calm yet icy, “what’s the panic? If the Emperor wants to raise taxes, then raise them. The north is in such chaos, the court is short of funds, we, as his subjects, should do our best to help.”

Tang Hui was taken aback. "Lord He, that's eleven million shi of grain! Even if Huguang is wealthy, it can't withstand such plunder! What will we do if the gentry and common people riot?"

“Since His Majesty has spoken, he must have his reasons.” He Fengsheng remained unhurried. “Go back and issue a document to all the prefectures and counties, making tax collection a top priority. Mobilize all the clerks and make sure the scene is lively, so that His Majesty knows that we are truly committed to this task.”

Tang Hui, a seasoned official, immediately grasped the implication. "Does Lord He mean... we should make a big show of it openly, but take it slow and steady secretly?"

"Hmm." A barely perceptible smile appeared on He Fengsheng's lips. "The situation in Huguang is complicated. The tax registers are outdated, the acreage is unclear, and the household registration is ambiguous—all of these are troublesome. Tax collection is a meticulous task that cannot be rushed. It takes time to verify each household's situation and collect taxes one liter at a time. The prefectures and counties below each have their own difficulties. We need to consult with superiors, coordinate, exchange official documents, and discuss matters. How can we sort things out in less than a few months?"

"I understand!" Tang Hui's eyes lit up. "It's all about 'delaying'!"

“Slowness alone is not enough.” He Fengsheng picked up his teacup and took a sip. “Those who work below inevitably have those who want to show off or gain personal benefits. If they go too far in ‘understanding the emperor’s will,’ and are too harsh in collecting taxes, causing public resentment and chaos… well, that’s just because those below don’t know how to handle things and are too hasty to cause trouble. At that time, you and I can submit a memorial to apologize, saying that we haven’t been strict enough, and ask the emperor to send a capable official to deal with it.”

Tang Hui immediately understood. This move was called "overdoing it," but in reality, it was "stirring up trouble." Once the lower levels caused an uproar, it would prove that raising taxes was a "bad policy."

"Lord He's plan is brilliant!" Tang Hui exclaimed in admiration. "In this way, the Emperor will definitely not be able to tell that we are secretly resisting this matter."

He Fengsheng nodded slightly. If the officials in Huguang were not making an effort to collect taxes, His Majesty could certainly see that they were using delaying tactics. But if some of his subordinates were working too hard and others were slow to react, then it would be difficult to tell the difference—His Majesty was not a seasoned official who had been in the bureaucracy for ten or eight years, how would he know!

Just as he thought of this, Tang Hui rubbed his hands together and said, "Once His Majesty's decree is issued, this humble official will make the arrangements!"

Old Master He was taken aback: "His Majesty's decree hasn't been issued yet?"

Tang Hui shook his head: "No, it hasn't rained yet! But it should be soon, it should rain in the next couple of days."

Before the imperial decree was issued, Governor Tang couldn't make any advance preparations—otherwise, if he messed up the job, he'd be the one to take the blame!

However, He Fengsheng and Tang Hui probably did not expect that Chongzhen's political experience was far richer than they thought. He served as emperor for a full seventeen years during the "tree on Coal Hill" incident. Later, in Handong, he started from the grassroots level as a "Red Little Soldier Platoon Leader" (a primary school class leader) and rose step by step to the position of deputy director. He had been in and out of officialdom for more than forty years. What had he not seen?

He wouldn't go and slaughter the gentry of Huguang before his knife is even sharpened! It would be too much trouble to slaughter them if the knife isn't sharpened properly.
Anyway, the situation has stabilized for him now, and he can proceed step by step.

Prince Chu's Mansion.

The side hall of Chengyun Hall was brightly lit. Emperor Chongzhen, dressed in a blue robe with arrow-sleeved sleeves, sat in a round-backed chair. Standing opposite him was Xu Ziqiang, the General of Huguang.

Xu Ziqiang, from Shuntian Prefecture in Beizhili, was wearing the robe of a second-rank military officer. He had his head down and his palms were sweating.

To be honest, being the General of Huguang was a really tough job! Although the Jurchens in Huguang didn't kill people without batting an eye, they also didn't receive much in military pay. Even though Emperor Chongzhen tried every means to get some silver, he couldn't remember to give the Hubei soldiers enough food and pay. So since Xu Ziqiang took office, his Hubei soldiers had been protesting for their pay!

"Minister Xu," Chongzhen began, his voice low but clear, "There are no outsiders here, so let's not mince words. Tell me the truth: what is the current state of the garrison troops and guards in Huguang? How many are the nominal soldiers, and how many are actually in service? How many are ready to be deployed for battle?"

Xu Ziqiang's throat went dry, and he stole a glance at the emperor. Didn't this emperor know whether he had paid the troops in Huguang? And yet he asked such a question.
Although he inwardly criticized Emperor Chongzhen, he still knelt down with a thud.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I deserve to die!" His voice trembled. "The military register lists over 80,000 soldiers, including camp troops and garrison troops. But... in actual combat, I'm afraid less than 40% can be mustered. Most of them are old and weak, barely able to defend the city, let alone fight. Of the farmland in each garrison, 70-80% has been lost, military households have either fled or scattered, and the weapons are almost completely destroyed..."

He spilled the whole mess of military affairs in Huguang in one breath, then lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise his head, waiting for the emperor to get angry.

Chongzhen coldly watched him put on his show—the military farms were gone, the soldiers couldn't be paid, what were they waiting for if they didn't desert? Those who remained, even if only forty percent, must still harbor some illusions about the Ming Dynasty. "Get up and speak," Chongzhen's voice remained calm. "The situation is worse than I thought. But it's good that you can tell me the truth."

Xu Ziqiang breathed a sigh of relief—it seems this little emperor still remembers that he didn't pay.
"Minister Xu," Chongzhen looked at him, "if I were to issue you an imperial edict, ordering you to take charge of reorganizing the military affairs of Huguang, eliminating the old and weak, and retaining the elite, could you do it?"

Xu Ziqiang thought to himself: Will you pay me? If you pay me, I can get some "elite" guys; otherwise, I can't do this job.

"Your Majesty... I would gladly die for you!" Xu Ziqiang said, forcing a smile. "However... the implications are too far-reaching. Without Your Majesty's support, I... I fear I am powerless to help..."

"To support you" means to ask for money!
Emperor Chongzhen certainly understood what he was saying, and he had already made preparations for it.

"Since I have entrusted you with this task, I will naturally support you. I will first give you 100,000 taels of silver as military pay, and distribute some of it to your subordinates as well."

Ah, he really gave it to him! Xu Ziqiang was dumbfounded. The Emperor was really willing to give away 100,000 taels!

Wait a minute, the Emperor is suddenly being so generous. What big thing is he going to ask the troops and guards of Huguang to do next?

Emperor Chongzhen stood up and walked to a large map of Hubei and Hunan provinces on the wall.

His finger pointed to the location of Wuchang. "Simply reorganizing the old army is not enough. I want to build a 'Military Academy' in Wuchang."

Xu Ziqiang looked up at Chongzhen, increasingly confused. The Military Academy? Was it a school that taught military strategy or a martial arts school?

Emperor Chongzhen turned around and looked at Xu Ziqiang.

"This military academy specifically admits three types of people."

"First, the young, courageous, and literate low-ranking officers in the various garrisons of Huguang, such as the captains, centurions, or their sons."

"Secondly, let the chieftains in western Hubei and western Hunan who have already submitted send their intelligent and loyal sons."

"Third, the Chu Prince's Mansion, the Jing Prince's Mansion... and the eight princely mansions in Huguang, each of them must send several young members of the imperial family to study!"

Xu Ziqiang was dumbfounded. The emperor was going to wipe out the foundations of the military garrisons, the next generation of the chieftains, and the sons of the vassal kings all at once, and put them all in his own hands!

Chongzhen stared at him: "Minister Xu, this matter must be swift! Within a month, send all the people I need. I will find the people from the Prince's residence, and I need a thousand from the garrisons and chieftains. Can you do that?"

These are a thousand "cadres"! Add to that the imperial family members from the eight princely mansions, and you could easily gather 1,500. They were all local cadres from Huguang! However, Chongzhen wouldn't teach them military strategy, but instead used books like "Wanli Accounting Records," "Complete Book of Taxes and Labor," "Shandong Economic Records," and "Records of Grain Transport" as teaching materials.

Emperor Chongzhen stared at him, his gaze piercing as if he could see into his mind: "Minister Xu, I will personally take charge of this Military Academy. These 1,500 people are the Emperor's disciples! I will shoulder the responsibility for their future!"

Xu Ziqiang felt a surge of adrenaline rush to his head. A disciple of the Emperor! What an honor! This meant that from now on, all the officers and soldiers in the Huguang army, the heirs of the chieftains, and even members of the imperial family would be branded as "imperial party members"! He could almost see a vast net woven by the Emperor himself rapidly enveloping the entire Huguang region.

"Your Majesty, I... obey your decree! I will do my utmost to deliver these 1,500 talents to Your Majesty within a month!" Xu Ziqiang's voice trembled slightly with excitement.

"Good!" Chongzhen nodded. "There's a second matter. The reorganization of the old army is urgent. I don't care what methods you use, weed out the weak and keep the strong, clear out the vacancies, and within a month, reorganize 20,000 capable soldiers from the garrison and guard units in Huguang! The old and weak must be dismissed, and all vacancies must be filled. This 100,000 taels of silver is your starting capital. Once the troops have gathered it, I will give you another 200,000!"

Xu Ziqiang felt a chill run down his spine. He knew this was a tremendous opportunity that he had to seize: "Your Majesty, I obey! If I cannot muster 20,000 elite troops for Your Majesty, I will offer my head in return!"

"Go," Chongzhen waved his hand. "Remember, what I want is not just soldiers, but absolute loyalty. The Military Academy is the foundation, and these 20,000 soldiers are the sword I hold in my hand."

Xu Ziqiang kowtowed heavily, then turned and strode away.

Chongzhen watched his departing figure, his gaze returning to the map. He was well aware of He Fengsheng and his associates' schemes. But they would never have imagined that he wouldn't bother arguing with them over old accounts.

He was creating new ledgers and training new bookkeepers. When those 1,500 "disciples of the emperor" who were well-versed in the "Wanli Accounting Records" and the "Complete Book of Taxes and Labor" were dispatched to various levels of government offices and the army in Huguang, and when the 20,000 "Huguang Security Corps" that obeyed his orders took shape, his knife for slaughtering people was sharpened!
(End of this chapter)