How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 69 Zhu Chunchen, don't come any closer! (Please add to your favorites and read on!)
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, in the early morning, in the majestic city of Datong.

Heavy snow fell in abundance, and the number of soldiers guarding the city walls was several times greater than usual. Flags fluttered on the walls, and swords and spears stood in rows, filling the air with a tense atmosphere of impending battle.

An inconspicuous carriage, draped in dark blue cotton, slowly came to a stop more than a mile from the East Gate. A corner of the curtain was lifted, revealing the chubby face of Duke Zhu Chunchen, who looked shaken and exhausted.

He squinted, nervously looking towards the city gate. Suddenly, the gate swung open, and troop after troop of heavily armored cavalry surged out! The horses' hooves thundered as they pounded the frozen earth, and banners fluttered in the cold wind.

Zhu Chunchen's gaze was fixed on several flags with the prominent character "麻" (ma), and his heart sank!
"The Ma family... has they come out in full force?" he muttered to himself, his voice hoarse. The Ma family was a hereditary military family of the Right Guard of Datong, deeply entrenched and powerful. The leader of this generation was Ma Chengen, who had once served as the General of Xuanfu. Back then, when the unpaid wages protest in Xuanfu nearly escalated into chaos, it was only after Zhu Chunchen spoke up to Wei Zhongxian that Ma Chengen was transferred back to Datong as the Deputy General. Datong was also in arrears with wages, but the Ma family had deep roots there and knew how to quell the situation and maintain morale.

Zhu Chunchen originally planned to seek refuge with the Ma family, hoping to gain their protection through past favors and temporarily avoid trouble. But the scene before him... the Ma family had mobilized all their elite troops, clearly indicating an emergency at the border and an impending war! Going to find Ma Chengen now would probably be pointless, as he would likely not be able to find him.

He dejectedly lowered the carriage curtain, retreated into the cold carriage, and his face became even more pale.

The family retainer Zhu Ba, who was driving the carriage, and the steward Zhu An, who was sitting next to him, looked at each other with great concern.

"My lord," Zhu An lowered his voice, his face filled with unease, "Judging from the way the Ma family gentlemen have all come out, I'm afraid... I'm afraid they won't be able to take care of us. In this chaos, what will we do..."

Zhu Chunchen waved his hand impatiently, interrupting him, his mind racing. If the Ma family route was blocked, where else could they go?

"Go to the Prince of Dai's mansion!" Zhu Chunchen grasped at the last straw. "Find Eunuch Pang Yugui, the Chief Eunuch! I've helped him a lot over the years! A few years ago, the Prince of Dai's mansion forcibly occupied more than 10,000 mu of military farmland, which caused the soldiers in Datong Town to be in uproar and almost caused a mutiny. It was I who used my connections to help him suppress it!"
Furthermore, those secret deals the Prince of Dai's mansion made with the Mongol tribes outside the walls—ironware, gunpowder, salt, tea…aren't they all capital offenses? Many of those sought-after goods even originated from the Beijing garrison's warehouses! If I get in there, I'll expose all of Pang Yugui's and the Prince of Dai's mansion's dirty deeds, and nobody will get away with it!

Upon hearing this, Zhu An was not relieved at all; instead, he became even more anxious. He cautiously made a throat-slitting gesture: "My lord, that's true... but now... if they... harden their hearts..." His meaning was crystal clear—he feared that the Prince of Dai's mansion would simply kill them.

Zhu Chunchen's brows were tightly furrowed. He knew all too well that this was a gamble with his life, but now he was at his wit's end and had no other choice!

Zhu Ba, who had been silently driving the carriage, suddenly spoke, his voice low: "Master, how about... we split up? You write something down, detailing every single thing that happened at the Prince of Dai's residence, and give it to me. I'll hide in an inconspicuous inn in Datong City. If you enter the Prince of Dai's residence unharmed and the storm has passed, I'll come looking for you. But if... if something happens to you..."

Zhu Ba paused for a moment: "Even if it costs me my life, I will deliver the item. I will not let you die in vain, sir!"

Zhu Chunchen trembled, watching Zhu Ba's resolute back, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He sighed deeply and slumped into his seat: "Fine... fine... let's do as you say. Let's go into the city first, find an inn to settle down, and then we'll talk."

The carriage started again, slowly passing through the seemingly heavily guarded Datong East Gate, which could be entered by paying money, and disappeared into the majestic city gate archway, following the sparse flow of people.

……

About half an hour later, several riders arrived at the East Gate of Datong, their horses clattering through the snow. The leader, dressed in the cotton robes of an ordinary merchant, had a sharp and shrewd face; he was none other than Xu Xianchun, the Chief of the Thousand-Household Punishment Division of the Northern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

A porter was already waiting by the roadside. Upon seeing Xu Xianchun, he quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Master Xu, the man has entered the city and is staying at Tongfu Inn."

Xu Xianchun remained expressionless, only nodding slightly: "Did you see clearly? How many people were there?"

“Look closely, it’s Zhu Chunchen, the coachman Zhu Ba, and an old servant who looks like a steward, three people in total,” the man replied.

"Tongfu Inn..." Xu Xianchun's lips curled into a cold smile. "They certainly know how to pick a place. Do you know where we're headed next?"

"There was still no movement after we entered the inn; it seems we're just resting for the time being."

Xu Xianchun asked no more questions, and flicked the reins: "Let's go, we're going into the city too. We won't go to the inn, we'll go straight to the garrison eunuch's residence!" ...

Inside the residence of the eunuch guarding Datong, however, the scene was quite different.

Inside the warm pavilion, the charcoal fire burned brightly, filling the air with a faint scent of sandalwood. The garrison eunuch, Liu Wenzhong, reclined on a soft couch covered with thick sable fur, his eyes half-closed, listening to a young eunuch read aloud the victory report from Xuanfu. He tapped his fingers lightly on the edge of the couch, his mood quite pleasant.

When Wei Zhongxian fell from power and rumors spread that the court was purging the eunuch faction, Liu Wenzhong was terrified and even secretly packed his bags to guard the imperial tombs in Fengyang. Who could have imagined that things would turn around so dramatically? Not only did Eunuch Wei not fall, but he was instead sent by the emperor to Xuanfu to oversee grain supplies and pacify the army, where he achieved remarkable military exploits! He killed over a thousand Tatars and forced the Tiger Khan to retreat—these were truly solid achievements! Even those who were once loyal to Eunuch Wei gained confidence and standing tall.

Even the Ma family generals, who were usually arrogant and disobedient, obediently led their troops out of the pass this time. Datong Town was becoming more and more stable, and it seemed that Eunuch Liu's good days could continue.

Just as he was happily making plans, a trusted eunuch tiptoed in and whispered, "Your Majesty, someone outside the mansion is requesting an audience. He says his surname is Xu, he's from the capital, and he's on imperial orders."

"Surname Xu? From the capital?" Liu Wenzhong didn't react for a moment, and asked lazily, "Which government office are you from? What imperial envoy are you?"

The young eunuch leaned closer, his voice extremely low: "It's...it's Master Xu Xianchun of the Embroidered Uniform Guard..."

"Who?!" Liu Wenzhong sat bolt upright on the soft couch as if pricked by a needle, his leisurely expression vanishing instantly. "The Embroidered Uniform Guard... Xu Yanwang? What's he doing in Datong? Quick! Invite him in! No... I'll go greet him myself!"

……

Meanwhile, in his private residence near the "Imperial City" (Prince Dai's Mansion) in Datong City, the Grand Eunuch Pang Yugui had just finished a fine lunch. He was holding a hand warmer, listening to a little singer singing a tune, and leisurely picking his teeth.

Eunuch Pang was around fifty years old, with a fair complexion and a slightly plump figure. He wore a brand-new satin robe with dark patterns, making him appear quite wealthy. As the head eunuch of the Prince of Dai's mansion, he was in charge of all the daily expenses and personnel arrangements of the mansion. In Datong City, he was a prominent figure, and people flocked to him to curry favor.

Just then, the doorman came in to report: "Godfather, there is a guest outside who wants to see you. He says his surname is Zhu and he is an old friend from the capital."

"Surname Zhu? From Beijing?" Pang Yugui was taken aback. He did have some acquaintances in Beijing, but why would someone come all the way to Datong in the freezing cold during the New Year? "Did you say what your name is? What's your identity?"

The man with the small fire shook his head: "He didn't say anything, he just handed this in and said you'd know it at a glance." He then presented a jade pendant.

Pang Yugui took the jade pendant. It felt warm and smooth to the touch; it was made of fine Hetian white jade, with the character "臣" (chen, meaning subject/minister) delicately carved on it. His expression changed slightly. He waved for the singer to leave, carefully stroking the pendant, his brows gradually furrowing. An old friend from the capital surnamed Zhu… and with the character "臣" in his name… A thought suddenly flashed through his mind, and his face instantly paled.

"How many people came?" He lowered his voice unconsciously.

"There were two, one looked like a wealthy man, and the other looked like a servant."

Pang Yugui took a deep breath and said to Xiao Huozhe, "Please ask them to wait in the side hall. Be careful not to disturb anyone else."

"Yes, godfather."

After the firefighters left, Pang Yugui didn't get up immediately. Instead, he sat alone on the heated chair, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty. He stared at the gray sky outside the window, and after a long while, he forced out a mournful wail that only he could hear:
"Zhu Chunchen...you murderous bastard! You jinx! Why didn't you stay in the capital and wait to die? Why did you come to Datong to bring disaster upon our family?! You...please don't harm me!"

(End of this chapter)