How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 302 Training Class for County Magistrates and Secretaries in Huguang
On an autumn night, Wuchang was pitch black, with only the sound of the night watchman's clapper.

In the study of the He family mansion, the light of an oil lamp barely illuminated the solemn faces of several people sitting around the table.

Tang Hui, the governor of Huguang, sat at the lower end of the table, his official robe collar soaked with sweat. He had just returned from the Prince of Chu's residence, and the news he brought back had left him feeling extremely uneasy.

“Lord He,” he said, his throat dry, as he leaned forward, “His Majesty is serious this time… establishing the Military Academy and reorganizing the garrison troops—these two moves are both ruthless and precise.”

He Fengsheng sank into the armchair, his face extremely solemn!

This Emperor Chongzhen seemed extremely familiar with the intricacies of officialdom, always managing to outmaneuver the local strongmen of Huguang with every move. He left them no chance to even resort to underhanded tactics!

Unable to get a response, Tang Hui had no choice but to continue, lowering his voice even further: "The military academy needs to recruit 1,500 people, and the garrison troops need to be reorganized to 20,000... This manpower, this setup..."

At this moment, a gaunt old man sitting in the shadows in the corner moved. He was Zhou, the clerk whom He Fengsheng had hired from Shaoxing at a high price. He had been with him for twenty years and was his most trusted confidant.

Master Zhou didn't speak, but picked up the abacus and began to manipulate the beads rapidly. The clattering of the beads was particularly jarring in the silence.

After a while, the sound stopped.

Master Zhou raised his cloudy old eyes, looked at He Fengsheng, then turned to Tang Hui, his voice hoarse: "Master, Governor, the numbers... are roughly clear."

He pointed to the abacus beads and said, "In the entire Huguang province, there are a total of 108 counties and prefectures. The thirty or so poor places in western Hubei and western Hunan are ruled by local chieftains, so they can't make any money. There are still 78 prosperous prefectures and counties that can get things done."

He paused, took a breath, and continued, "The Emperor's 1,500 'disciples of the Emperor' and 20,000 new soldiers were distributed among these 78 prefectures and counties... Each county can have about 20 direct disciples and 300 elite soldiers."

He put down his pen and glanced at the crowd: "Twenty military officers who understand the new policies and have powerful backers, and three hundred soldiers who obey the emperor's orders... They may not be able to wipe out large bandit groups, but they are more than enough to expedite grain collection and tax collection, suppress local officials, and monitor the county magistrates and clerks below."

He Fengsheng, who had been squinting, suddenly opened his eyes.

“Draining the fuel from under the cauldron…” he murmured, his voice hoarse, “The Emperor is… trying to start from scratch, building a bridge directly to the government offices in every prefecture and county.”

He looked at Tang Hui: "Has the Emperor issued an edict to increase the tax?"

Tang Hui hurriedly shook his head: "No, not yet. It's just that things are getting tense, and everyone below is feeling uneasy."

"Brilliant!" He Fengsheng exclaimed. "He held back, calmly deployed his forces, and once the decree was issued, it was set in stone! We couldn't do anything but obediently pay our taxes! This method is no less effective than that of the Taizu or Chengzu Emperors! At most, the Taizu Emperor would have killed off a bunch of people if something went wrong. But this one... he didn't even let anything happen, he just suppressed it completely!"

He leaned forward: "We can't wait any longer! If we wait any longer, we won't be able to get anything done. Yuanyi, you must send the document immediately! Use the official seal of the governor's office, send it by express courier at a speed of 600 li to all the prefectures and counties!"

"Say that... the disaster situation in the northern frontier is urgent, with millions of people starving, and His Majesty is deeply worried. He has ordered all officials in Huguang to show compassion for the people in these difficult times, and from this day forward, to conduct a comprehensive land survey and verify household registration and tax records, in preparation for the court's... additional levies!"

Tang Hui was taken aback: "Lord He, isn't this... isn't this setting the stage for the Emperor's downfall?"

"We must set it on fire!" He Fengsheng sneered. "Fan the fire to a blaze! Get all those clerks and runners moving, beat the drums and gongs until the sky is high! Take a thorough survey! We must take a 'serious' survey and 'carefully' verify it! We must let all the gentry and common people in the province know that the Emperor is going to raise taxes, and it will be a heavy tax!"

He stared at Tang Hui: "Aren't there plenty of people below who want to curry favor with their superiors and skim profits? Let them 'understand the superior's intentions'! Be 'decisive' in your methods! If you 'accidentally' push too hard and cause a few public grievances, or even a few deaths... Sigh, that's because the people below don't know how to handle things and are too impatient to cause trouble."

Tang Hui finally understood. This was an attempt to pin the blame for "tax increases" on the new policy in advance, using the possibility of a civil uprising to force the emperor to rescind his order.

"Understood, sir!" A ruthless glint flashed in Tang Hui's eyes. "I'll take care of it right away!"

The Chengyun Hall of the Chu King's Mansion presents a completely different scene.

The main hall was brightly lit by candles. Emperor Chongzhen did not sit on the dragon throne, but instead gathered with a group of important officials and imperial relatives in front of a huge wooden map of Hubei and Hunan.

Grand Secretaries Shi Fenglai and Sun Chengzong, Vice Minister of Revenue Hou Xun, Minister of Rites Qian Qianyi, Vice Minister of War Li Banghua, and Vice Ministers of Personnel and Works lined up to the left and right. Wei Zhongxian stood with his hands at his sides behind Chongzhen. Nobles and members of the imperial family, including the Prince of Qin, the Prince of Chu, Duke Yansheng Kong Yinzhi, and Duke Dingguo Xu Yunzhen, were also present. Chongzhen's gaze swept over the crowd: "The affairs of Huguang concern the fate of the nation. Whether the new policies can be implemented, the military pay in the north, and the food for the disaster victims mainly depend on this region and Southern Zhili."

He paused, pointing to the location of Wuchang in Mutu: "Even the best policies need people to implement them. Of the more than one hundred prefectures and counties in Huguang, those who actually do the work are the county magistrates and prefects. Only when they understand can the new policies be implemented."

Li Banghua, the Vice Minister of War, bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise. If officials who are close to the people pay lip service to the emperor, even the best imperial decrees will become oppressive policies when they reach the local level."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded, walked to the map, and traced his finger across the mountainous region of western Hubei and western Hunan: "In these places, local chieftains hold power, the land is barren, and the people are poor. The new policies should be postponed for now." His finger moved to the Jianghan Plain and the Dongting Lake Plain, "But these seventy-eight prefectures and counties are the foundation of Hubei and Hunan, a land of plenty. The new policies must begin here, and they must succeed!"

He turned around, his sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd: "My mind is made up. The Grand Secretariat shall immediately draft an edict summoning the prefects and magistrates of these seventy-eight prefectures and counties, along with their chief clerks in charge of criminal matters and finances, to gather at the Prince of Chu's residence in Wuchang within half a month! I want to see them in person!"

A few soft gasps filled the hall. To summon all the officials in charge of the people of an entire province and their core advisors at once was unprecedented in this dynasty.

The experienced and prudent Sun Chengzong frowned slightly: "Your Majesty, with over two hundred officials and clerks from seventy-eight prefectures and counties gathered in the provincial capital, local government affairs may be delayed..."

“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.” Chongzhen interrupted him, his tone resolute. “If delaying government affairs for ten or fifteen days can bring about the smooth implementation of the new policies and the long-term stability of Huguang, which is more important? I not only want to meet with them, but I also want to hold a ‘study class’! I will invite Mr. Shi and Master Sun to talk about the general situation of the world, Minister Hou to talk about the new tax laws, Mr. Qian to talk about the teachings of the sages, and Minister Li to talk about pacifying the region! I will personally tell them what true governance and love for the people means! I want them to understand why I am implementing the new policies, and more importantly, I want them to learn how to implement them!”

He looked at Zhang Jie, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel: "During the study period, the Ministry of Personnel must send people to conduct a thorough examination! Those who are sensible, pragmatic, and capable will be promoted without hesitation! Those who are perfunctory, evasive, or hypocritical will be impeached and questioned immediately!"

He then said to Wei Zhongxian, "My lord, this matter should be handled jointly by the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard. All reception and protection must be handled meticulously. I want these officials to feel the importance the court attaches to them and to see the court's determination!"

Finally, he looked at the Duke Yansheng and several princes: "At that time, the Duke Yansheng and the princes will need to step forward to show that the court, scholars, and members of the imperial family are of one mind and one heart to overcome the difficulties together!"

This arrangement is comprehensive, considering everything from ideology and practice to assessment, security, and the united front.

Qian Qianyi bowed first: "Your Majesty's high regard for local officials who are close to the people is truly a blessing for the people of Huguang! Your subject will certainly do your utmost to promote Your Majesty's virtue!"

The King of Qin, the King of Chu, and others also expressed their support.

The imperial edict was quickly drafted and sealed. Several fast horses, carrying the emperor's decree, rushed out of Wuchang City and sped off in all directions.

At the He residence, He Fengsheng soon received a secret report from his informant.

"Summon the officials and clerks of the seventy-eight prefectures and counties?" He held the slip of paper, his fingers trembling slightly, and all the color drained from his face.

This time, the Emperor once again moved the chessboard ahead of them, and before they could even make a counterattack, they were firmly suppressed!

With the chief officials of seventy-eight prefectures and counties, along with the criminal and financial secretaries, all coming to Wuchang, there was no one left to "overdo it." Whether it was the governor's office or the provincial administration office, they couldn't govern without these local officials who were close to the people!
He slumped into his chair, staring at the flickering light, with only one thought in his mind:
"How can we fight like this? We can't fight the Ming Dynasty anymore. How did such a cunning and treacherous emperor come about?"

In just over ten days, Wuchang, a city that connects nine provinces, suddenly became bustling with activity.

On the river, official boats and passenger boats from various prefectures in Huguang arrived one after another, almost without ceasing. The docks were crowded with people, mostly county magistrates and assistant magistrates dressed in the robes of seventh or eighth-rank officials, each accompanied by one or two clerks in long gowns, their eyes revealing shrewdness. These local officials exchanged greetings and pleasantries, but their words carried suspicion and unease, their eyes constantly glancing towards the Chu Prince's residence in the city.

On the other side, a number of young people also arrived from the mountain roads of western Hubei and western Hunan. Some were dressed as chieftains, while others wore tight-fitting clothes and were covered in dust. At the city gate, they happened to run into a group of low-ranking military officers' sons selected from various garrisons. The two sides looked at each other with curiosity and a hint of wariness in their eyes.

Within days, all the inns and taverns in Wuchang were fully booked. In teahouses and taverns, everyone was talking about things like "the Emperor's summons" and "studying the new policies." An inexplicable atmosphere enveloped the entire city, as if they were waiting for something, or perhaps afraid of something.

On the high floor of the Prince of Chu's mansion, Emperor Chongzhen stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the endless stream of boats on the river and the flow of people coming and going at the city gate.

Wei Zhongxian quietly walked up behind him and lowered his voice: "Your Majesty, almost everyone has arrived."

Emperor Chongzhen's face remained expressionless; he simply replied softly, "Hmm, let's summon the county magistrate, the prefect, and the clerk to the Chengyun Hall for a meeting first!"

(End of this chapter)