How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 304 Study Class, the Water is Too Cold

Under the cover of night, Wuchang City was so quiet that only the sound of the night watchman's clapper and the swaying figure on the window paper of the secret room of the He family mansion could be heard.

He Fengsheng and Tang Hui sat facing each other, a piece of paper between them just ignited by the lamp, turning into a small clump of ash. The conspiracy had just been decided, how to launch a public outcry, how to unite their colleagues in Southern Zhili, every insidious plan pointed to the new policies of the young emperor in the Chu Prince's mansion.

"That's the plan!" Tang Hui lowered his voice, his face full of exasperation. "Tomorrow I'll issue a document to get things moving and stir things up first!"

He Fengsheng remained silent, staring at the ashes, a strange sense of unease creeping into his heart. The emperor's moves had been so precise and ruthless that even this seasoned official, who had weathered over a decade of political ups and downs, felt a chill run down his spine.

Just then, a faint noise came from outside the window. It wasn't the night watchman, but footsteps—the footsteps of many people, fast and heavy, heading straight for the gate of the He residence.

"Who is it?" Tang Hui stood up abruptly, his expression changing.

He Fengsheng grabbed him and listened carefully. The footsteps seemed to stop in front of the mansion gate, followed by a series of loud banging on the door!
A moment later, a trembling voice of a trusted family member rang out from outside the study: "Master... Governor... Eunuch Wei has arrived. He says that he has received an imperial edict requesting that you two come to the residence immediately for a meeting."

"Wei Zhongxian?" He Fengsheng's heart skipped a beat.

"The two of you?" Tang Hui's heart skipped a beat—how did Wei Zhongxian know he was also at He Fengsheng's house? He had come in through the back door.

He Fengsheng and Tang Hui exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise and doubt in each other's eyes. But they could not disobey the imperial order, so they could only straighten their clothes and go out with a stiff upper lip.

Outside the mansion gate, Wei Zhongxian, dressed in a python robe, stood under the lantern light, a half-smile on his face. Behind him were a dozen or so elite Eastern Depot agents, their eyes sharp as knives.

"Lord He, Governor Tang, I apologize for disturbing you." Wei Zhongxian's voice was high-pitched and tinged with feigned politeness. "His Majesty suddenly remembered a few important state affairs and couldn't sleep soundly. He specially ordered me to invite you two to his residence to discuss them together."

These were well-spoken words, but the manner in which they were being escorted was clearly that of an escort. He Fengsheng knew perfectly well that the Emperor probably already knew about their conspiracy. This was a ploy to "lure the enemy into a trap."

"Thank you for your trouble, sir. We'll head over right away." He Fengsheng steadied himself, tugged at Tang Hui who was still about to speak, and went out first. He knew that resisting now would be undignified.

The study in the Chu King's mansion was brightly lit by candlelight.

Hong Chengchou washed away the dust of his journey and changed into the casual clothes of a second-rank vice minister, but the weariness between his brows had not yet faded. He had just arrived from the flood-stricken area of ​​Huai'an and hadn't even had a chance to sit down properly.

Emperor Chongzhen did not sit behind his desk, but stood in front of a huge map of Hubei and Hunan. Hearing footsteps, he turned around, his face expressionless.

"Your subject Hong Chengchou pays his respects to Your Majesty."

"Hengjiu, you've worked hard. Rise." Chongzhen gestured for him to rise, his gaze sharp. "I know about the matter in Huai'an. You did a good job and stabilized the situation. But now, there is another more urgent matter that I need you to handle."

Hong Chengchou's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the real issue was about to be addressed: "Please give your instructions, Your Majesty."

Emperor Chongzhen walked up to him, his voice not loud, but every word struck Hong Chengchou's heart: "You are already aware that Huguang is going to implement new policies and set up a grain and salary office. I am giving you the imperial edict and the power to act first and report later."

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty!" Hong Chengchou immediately bowed.

"But you must understand," Chongzhen changed his tone, "that what you're dealing with this time isn't the riverbank, but the deeply entrenched network of interests in Huguang that has been built up over decades and centuries. You're not facing a flood, but the more treacherous human heart. They might openly or secretly trip you up, they might make you infamous in the eyes of scholars, and they might make you the target of public criticism. Are you afraid?"

Hong Chengchou's forehead was slightly sweaty: "Your subject... would gladly die ten thousand deaths, but I fear I may fail Your Majesty's expectations, and the scholars of the world..."

Emperor Chongzhen raised his hand to interrupt him: "But you don't have to bear this pressure alone. I called you back not to make you a lone minister and fight to the death with the gentry of Huguang. Even if you win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory and will not benefit the country."

He paused, then pointed to Wuchang City on the map: "Your task is to be a swift and decisive blade. Use the yardstick of the new policies to measure, and the knife of the Great Ming Code to cut. Whoever is the ringleader, whoever has irrefutable evidence and the greatest public outrage, you will prosecute! Especially those who are deeply involved with certain prominent figures, you must make sure their cases are airtight!"

Hong Chengchou immediately understood: "Your Majesty means... to capture the king first?"

"This is both a warning to others and a way to clean house." Chongzhen's eyes were icy. "Go ahead and handle the affairs outside, use open strategies and handle official matters. As for those biggest 'tigers,' I have my own ways to make them obediently squat down, and even... make them cheer for you."

Hong Chengchou instantly felt a weight lift from his shoulders. The emperor was going to shoulder the most difficult political struggle himself, leaving him only to be responsible for implementing the new policies. This was tantamount to removing his biggest worry.

"Your Majesty, I understand! I will certainly live up to Your Majesty's trust!" This time, he answered with full confidence.

Chongzhen nodded: "Go, make preparations tonight. Arrest those who need to be arrested, confiscate their property. Make a big fuss, so that everyone who needs to know will know."

Hong Chengchou accepted the order and quickly left.

As Chongzhen watched his retreating figure, he instructed the person in the shadows: "Master, tell the people below to be 'polite' to Mr. He and Governor Tang, and ask them to 'learn' well, making sure that the two of them 'thoroughly understand' and 'fully comprehend' what they've learned."

"This old servant understands." Wei Zhongxian's figure bowed slightly in the shadows.

……

He Fengsheng and Tang Hui were "invited" to a secluded courtyard in the Chu Prince's residence. The environment was elegant and the supplies were complete, but they couldn't leave; guards were "protecting" them from outside. The official explanation was that "His Majesty is considerate and has allowed these two virtuous ministers to rest temporarily so that he may consult with you at any time," but in reality, it was house arrest.

The so-called "study" began the next day. The person who came to "lecture" them was Duke Yansheng Kong Yinzhi, along with several officials from Huguang who had just returned from disaster areas in Shaanxi and Henan.

Kong Yinzhi was alright; he only talked about the principles of sages, saying things like "scholars and officials should take the world as their responsibility" and "saving the people from fire and water is the greatest benevolence," which were rather bland.

The real problem was those officials whose hometowns had suffered disasters. They didn't need to preach grand principles; they just kept recounting the horrific scenes they had witnessed.

“…exchanging children to eat, it’s not just written in books, it’s true! Exchanging children to eat! That child…that child is still alive…” An official started crying as he spoke, pounding his chest.

Another description of the Yellow River breach: "The water was several feet high, and the city was gone in an instant... People were floating in the water, densely packed... My old servant, trying to protect my mother... was swept away by the water..."

These bloody stories echoed in He Fengsheng and Tang Hui's ears every day. At first, they managed to maintain their composure, but their faces grew paler and paler. Tang Hui, in particular, was from Southern Zhili, his hometown at the foot of Huangshan Mountain, but he also had many relatives and friends in Jiangbei, and even Huaibei, who had now lost all contact with him. As he listened, his eyes reddened.

He Fengsheng felt a tightness in his chest. He was from Huguang (Hubei and Hunan provinces), and although he hadn't personally experienced the tragedy, the sounds of it all made his heart ache. More importantly, this "victimhood" rhetoric placed them on a moral high ground, leaving them with a bellyful of reasons to object, which they couldn't voice. Could they possibly say, "The interests of us Huguang gentry are more important than the lives of millions of disaster victims"? If they did, the northern officials in Huguang wouldn't even recognize him as Grand Secretary He!

Meanwhile, bad news from outside still managed to get in sporadically.

Today, people say that Hong Chengchou acted swiftly and decisively, and had already put up the sign for the Ministry of Revenue and Provisions.

Tomorrow they'll say that Lord Hong impeached a certain prefect for corruption, dereliction of duty, and obstruction of the new policies.

Another day later, the news was even more shocking: Hong Chengchou had raided the home of one of Grand Secretary He's brother-in-law's wives, who, relying on the He family's power, had seized many military farms in the countryside. Also arrested was one of Tang Hui's prized students and advisors, reportedly for accepting bribes.

When He Fengsheng heard the news of his brother-in-law's downfall, he dropped his teacup. He knew this was the emperor's way of telling him: Don't harbor any illusions; if he can touch those around you, he can touch you. Hong Chengchou's blade was incredibly swift!

Tang Hui was even more perplexed. Why would his staff accept bribes? Wasn't it because they could use his power to do favors for others?

This double whammy from within and without made each day feel like an eternity for He Fengsheng and Tang Hui. He felt as if he were being roasted over a low flame, slowly losing moisture and the strength to struggle.

That evening, Qian Qianyi arrived and first went to see He Fengsheng.

The two strolled by the lake in the backyard of the Chu King's mansion, with guards following at a distance.

“Brother Muzhai,” He Fengsheng said in a hoarse voice, looking at the dark lake, “tell me the truth, is there a villain working against His Majesty? Is Wei Zhongxian trying to bewitch His Majesty again?”

He still refused to believe that this series of shrewd and ruthless measures were the young emperor's own idea.

Qian Qianyi stopped and sighed: "Brother Yang, don't you understand even now?"

"Wei Zhongxian? He's nothing more than a pawn in the Emperor's hands now, unable to do anything but east. The Emperor... Heh, Brother Yang, do you think our Emperor is someone Wei Zhongxian can manipulate, or someone you and I, or even the entire court and the gentry of the land, can control?"

He Fengsheng trembled, as if struck by lightning. Qian Qianyi's words shattered his last illusions.

"The water is too cold..." Qian Qianyi suddenly pointed to the lake in front of him and said quietly, "If we jump in now, it will be bone-chillingly cold. The Emperor has given us a way out; if we go with the flow, we can still preserve our lives, our positions, and the dignity of the literati. If we insist on going our own way... it could be a disaster for Brother Yang!"

Looking at the bottomless lake, and recalling the tragic scenes he had heard these past few days, and thinking of his own future and life, He Fengsheng finally collapsed. He sighed deeply, his back hunched, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

A few days later, at the Chengyun Hall of the Chu King's Palace.

The appointment ceremony for the first batch of principal officials of the "Huguang Grain and Salary Management Office" was held here. Dozens of people who had just passed the examination and transformed from clerks into officials appointed by the imperial court knelt below with excitement and fear.

Emperor Chongzhen sat calmly on his throne.

To the officials' surprise, He Fengsheng and Tang Hui also appeared, standing in the line of officials accompanying the emperor. Although their faces were ashen, their clothes were neat and tidy.

At the end of the ceremony, Emperor Chongzhen slowly spoke: "The implementation of the new policies requires the unity of the people. Mr. He is a veteran of two reigns and a model scholar in Huguang. I have specially invited him here today to say a few words to the newly appointed officials."

All eyes were on He Fengsheng.

He Fengsheng swayed almost imperceptibly, then walked step by step to the front of the hall. He dared not look at Chongzhen, but addressed the new officials in a dry, trembling voice:

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty's new policies are truly a wise measure to save the country and its people... I... Although I have retired, I will still do my utmost to persuade my fellow villagers and offer my full assistance... I hope that you all... will be loyal to the Emperor and live up to His Majesty's grace..."

After saying these words, he was almost completely exhausted.

Tang Hui also expressed his opinion, his voice equally weak and listless.

The hall fell silent. Everyone could see that these two had been forced to bow their heads. But this bowing was of profound significance. The core of the resistance of the gentry of Huguang had been broken by the emperor's bare hands.

A faint smile appeared on Chongzhen's face as he looked down at the newly appointed officials who were expressing their gratitude in the hall, and also at the two dejected old ministers.

From that moment on, the landscape of Hubei and Hunan changed completely. And he won a resounding victory!
(End of this chapter)