How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 72 Going to Tsinghua University, Dedicating My Loyalty (Available for purchase next Wednesday, please subscribe first)
On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, at the Duke of England's residence.

Although the Lantern Festival had passed, the area in front of the mansion was still bustling with carriages and horses, with sedan chairs stretching for a long distance. Almost all the mid- to high-ranking military officers from the three major battalions of the Beijing Garrison, including those holding the rank of sergeant or higher, were present today. A rough count revealed a total of seventy or eighty people!
These people, all with smiles on their faces, bowed and greeted each other as they were led inside by servants from the Duke of Ying's mansion. Everyone knew perfectly well that the old Duke Zhang Weixian was clearly past his prime, while the young Duke Zhang Zhiji was enjoying the Emperor's favor and was about to be officially appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Beijing Garrison—a time when he was at the height of his power. At this crucial juncture, who would dare refuse his invitation? Moreover, the hundred-day mourning period for the Tianqi Emperor had passed, and many official taboos had eased. Taking advantage of the lingering festive atmosphere, visiting the Duke's mansion to cultivate relationships and, incidentally, "show respect" was only to be expected.

Even Duke Dingguo, Xu Xigao, arrived at the gate of the mansion in a sedan chair carried by eight men, all smiles. As soon as the chief steward of the Duke of Yingguo's mansion saw his sedan chair land, he quickly ran up to greet him, bowing and inquiring while giving his subordinates a signal to go inside and announce his arrival.

……

Deep within the inner courtyard, Zhang Weixian's bedroom was filled with the smell of medicine.

Zhang Zhiji sat on the embroidered stool in front of his father's sickbed, his brows furrowed in worry.

Looking sickly and haggard, Zhang Weixian leaned against a pillow, coughed a few times as he looked at his son, and said breathlessly, "What are you worried about? You're not that suicidal killer like Zhu Chunchen! His Majesty still needs us right now!"

Zhang Zhiji sighed, "Father, I'm afraid... afraid that His Majesty will think that we nobles are no longer useful..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Weixian gave a wry smile: "Use? Do you really think we are of any use? Those military families in the Nine Garrisons and Thirteen Towns can actually be dragged out and beheaded the Tartars! What can we nobles in the capital do besides guarding the capital garrison, this cash cow, and making money? Slap your hand on your conscience and tell me, what can you do?"

Zhang Zhiji was stumped by the question. He opened his mouth, but remained silent for a long time. After thinking about it carefully, he realized that he really... knew nothing! He couldn't even pass the imperial examinations to become a Xiucai (a lower-level scholar); he couldn't even handle a horse spear properly, let alone fight on the battlefield; and if he left the power of the Duke's mansion to do business, he would probably lose everything.

They're utterly useless!
Seeing his son's embarrassed state, Zhang Weixian lowered his voice and said, "But you are loyal! You may not know anything else, but you are loyal to His Majesty! That's enough! This time, you set up this banquet at home, lure all these parasites from the Beijing Garrison here, and then send them all to Tsinghua University... That's offering His Majesty a tremendous act of loyalty!"

Just then, the steward outside the door whispered, "My lord, my lord, the Duke of Dingguo has arrived."

Zhang Weixian waved to his son, his voice weak but unwavering: "Stop thinking about it. Go and invite the Duke of Dingguo here. You and he... should have a good discussion about how to truly embody 'loyalty' for His Majesty. We nobles have relied on our ancestors' military prowess, living off the Ming Dynasty for over two hundred years... Now that the court is in turmoil, and His Majesty is determined to revitalize it, what else can we do but stake our lives and the reputation left by our ancestors to be loyal?"

He took a breath and finally said, "Go... Xu Xigao is a smart man, unlike Zhu Chunchen who sought his own death."

……

Inside the flower hall of the British Duke's mansion, seventy or eighty officers from the Beijing Garrison were chatting in small groups, waiting for the banquet to begin.

Suddenly, Zhang Zhiji appeared from behind, accompanied by Duke Dingguo Xu Xigao. Their faces showed no trace of sorrow, but rather an barely suppressed excitement.

Zhang Zhiji walked into the hall, cleared his throat, and said loudly, "Everyone! Please be quiet!"

The hall gradually quieted down, and all eyes were on him.

Zhang Zhiji looked around and announced loudly, "I have some fantastic news to share! Just now, the Duke of Dingguo brought His Majesty's decree—His Majesty wants to summon all officers of the Beijing Garrison above the rank of Commander-in-Chief at Tsinghua Garden!"

A murmur of astonishment and discussion arose from the crowd. The Emperor summoned them to Tsinghua University? This was unprecedented!
Xu Xigao stepped forward, beaming, and chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes! His Majesty said that everyone has worked hard during the holidays and that he will specially host a banquet at Tsinghua Garden! Gentlemen, this is an immense honor!"

Zhang Zhiji continued, "There's no time to lose! Everyone, quickly send your attendants home to fetch your official robes! Once we've changed, we'll all leave the city together and go to Qinghua Garden to kowtow and wish His Majesty a Happy New Year!"

This explanation was reasonable, and given the immense favor of the Emperor's banquet, who would dare to delay? The generals in the hall all agreed and hurriedly summoned their personal attendants and servants, ordering them to return to their residences immediately to retrieve their official robes.

In less than an hour, the area in front of the Duke of England's mansion became lively again. Seventy or eighty military officers had all changed into brand-new military uniforms or python robes. Although they were of different ranks, they all looked impressive in their bright official attire when they gathered together.

Zhang Zhiji and Xu Xigao led the way, mounting their horses. Behind them, the generals followed suit, some mounting their horses, others taking sedan chairs. The large group of people left Beijing and headed towards Tsinghua Garden outside Xizhimen.

……

In front of Yihai Hall in Tsinghua Garden.

When the procession arrived at the garden gate, officers from the Imperial Guards and the Emperor's personal guards came forward to greet them. The group dismounted from their sedan chairs and followed the officers leading the way inside.

At first, I didn't think anything of it, but the further I went in, the more strange the atmosphere became.

The garden was filled with imperial guards, standing guard every three steps and sentry every five, clad in full armor, wielding long spears and carrying sharp blades. These soldiers all had stern faces and sharp eyes, completely different from the pampered soldiers of the Beijing garrison. A chilling atmosphere permeated the air, making it hard to breathe.

Some astute generals began to mutter to themselves, "This doesn't look like a banquet; it's clearly a trap!"

Just as everyone was feeling uneasy, Xu Yingyuan, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Director of the Eastern Depot, walked out of Yihai Hall with measured steps.

He stood atop the steps, his cold gaze sweeping over the assembled generals, and announced in a high-pitched voice, "His Majesty has issued an imperial edict."

With a clatter, a group of military officers knelt down. Xu Yingyuan announced loudly: "I hereby decree: Zhang Zhiji, Governor-General of the Capital Garrison; Xu Xigao, Commander-in-Chief of the Five Armies and Duke of Dingguo; Li Shouqi, Commander-in-Chief of the Divine Machine Battalion and Earl of Xiangcheng; Zhu Guobi, Commander-in-Chief of the Divine Machine Battalion and Marquis of Funing; Zheng Weixiao, Commander-in-Chief of the Three Thousand Battalions and Marquis of Wu'an; and Xu Xideng, Commander-in-Chief of the Three Thousand Battalions and Marquis of Yongkang, shall immediately enter the Yihai Hall to see His Majesty! All other generals shall wait quietly outside the hall and shall not leave without His Majesty's decree!"

The six nobles whose names were called—Zhang Zhiji, Xu Xigao, Li Shouqi, Zhu Guobi, Zheng Weixiao, and Xu Xideng—quickly stood up, straightened their robes, lowered their heads, and walked briskly up the steps into Yihai Hall.

The remaining seventy or eighty officers and sergeants were "invited" by the imperial guards to stand in the open space in front of the hall, surrounded by menacing armored soldiers. They looked at each other, all traces of hope and enthusiasm vanished, replaced by cold fear and unease.

……

Inside Yihaitang, the charcoal fire burned silently.

Emperor Chongzhen, dressed in ordinary clothes, sat behind his desk, calmly watching the six nobles who filed in and knelt down to pay their respects.

"Be flat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The six men rose, stood respectfully with their hands at their sides, and dared not utter a sound.

Emperor Chongzhen's gaze lingered on Zhang Zhiji for a moment before he spoke, "Zhang Zhiji."

Zhang Zhiji was startled and quickly stepped forward, bowing respectfully: "Your subject is here!"

"Tell the news from Datong to the dukes and marquises," Chongzhen said, his voice low but carrying undeniable weight.

Zhang Zhiji took a deep breath, turned around, and faced Xu Xigao and the others. He briefly recounted how Zhu Chunchen fled to Datong out of fear of punishment, how he hid in the Prince Dai's residence through Pang Yugui, the chief eunuch of the Prince Dai's residence, and the joint report submitted by Xu Xianchun, Wang Zaijin, and others.

With each sentence he spoke, Xu Xigao, Li Shouqi, and the others paled further. When they heard that "Zhu Chunchen has already hidden in the Prince of Dai's mansion," their legs trembled and cold sweat beaded on their foreheads.

Colluding with vassal kings, communicating with foreign tribes, plotting rebellion! Zhu Chunchen, that murderous scoundrel, has truly brought about his own demise. Is he trying to drag everyone down with him?

Emperor Chongzhen took in the fear in their eyes, and slowly spoke, his voice icy: "That's the situation. Gentlemen... you are all meritorious officials of my Great Ming Dynasty, sharing the fate of the nation. Tell me, what do you think?"

The hall was deathly silent for a moment, then exploded like boiling water!
Duke Dingguo, Xu Xigao, reacted the fastest, suddenly kneeling on the ground. His voice was filled with sobs and boundless indignation as he shouted hoarsely, "Your Majesty! Zhu Chunchen has received the Emperor's favor for generations, yet he has committed such a heinous and outrageous act! I implore Your Majesty to immediately issue an edict to execute the entire Duke Chengguo's family, to uphold the law and serve as a warning to others!"

At almost the same time, Marquis Li Shouqi of Xiangcheng knelt down, kowtowing loudly, his tone even more fierce: "Your Majesty! Lord Xu is absolutely right! The traitor Zhu Chunchen's crimes are heinous, and his execution by dismemberment is not an exaggeration! All the men in his household should be executed, and the women should be confiscated by the brothel! Only in this way can we deter villains and demonstrate Your Majesty's divine might! In the capital garrison, anyone who has close ties with the traitor Zhu Chunchen must have accomplices. I request a thorough investigation, and that the innocent be punished rather than let the guilty go free!"

Marquis of Funing, Zhu Guobi, Marquis of Wu'an, Zheng Weixiao, and Marquis of Yongkang, Xu Xideng, also knelt down one after another, swearing oaths to sever ties with Zhu Chunchen and strongly advocating a thorough investigation of the Beijing Garrison and the elimination of Zhu's faction. Their words were more and more vehement than the last, as if Zhu Chunchen were their irreconcilable enemy.

Emperor Chongzhen listened quietly as they finished expressing their loyalty, his face revealing neither joy nor anger, only nodding slightly.

"Very well." His voice was calm, yet it made the six men below tense. "Since all of you are loyal to the country and deeply understand the greater good..."

His gaze swept over Xu Xigao, Li Shouqi, Zhu Guobi, and Zheng Weixiao: "The matter of inspecting the camp will be handled by the five of you: Duke of Dingguo, Earl of Xiangcheng, Marquis of Funing, Marquis of Wu'an, and Marquis of Yongkang."

The five men immediately kowtowed: "Your subjects obey the decree!"

Chongzhen's tone turned cold as he said, word by word, "The most important task is to thoroughly investigate! How many troops are actually stationed in the Five Armies Camp, the Three Thousand Camp, and the Divine Machine Camp? Have the officers stationed in these camps and departments report to me honestly and clearly the number, names, and origins of the troops under their command! Furthermore, they must honestly expose all of Zhu Chunchen's crimes! Tell them..."

He paused, then his voice suddenly sharpened: "If there is even the slightest falsehood or concealment... then he is an accomplice of Zhu Chunchen, intending to deceive the emperor and plot treason! I will not tolerate this!"

"We understand!" The five men felt a chill run down their spines and replied in unison.

Emperor Chongzhen leaned back slightly, his gaze slowly sweeping over the six men before him. Finally, he said, "Until the Beijing Garrison has thoroughly investigated the situation... all six of you, except Zhang Zhiji, along with all the generals outside, shall remain in Qinghua Garden to 'assist in the investigation.' Without my decree... you shall not leave without permission."

These words shocked Xu Xigao and the others.

This isn't assisting with the investigation; it's clearly placing them all under house arrest!

At this moment, however, no one dared to voice the slightest objection; they could only lower their heads further and reply in trembling voices:

"Your Majesty, we... obey!"

Chongzhen then said, "Zhang Zhiji, don't go to Datong yet. Go back to Beijing immediately and, together with Li Banghua, the Assistant Minister of Military Affairs of the Beijing Garrison, and Lu Jiude, the Eunuch in charge of the Beijing Garrison, investigate thoroughly in Beijing! Investigate thoroughly and meticulously, and make sure to find out everything about the actual troops of the Beijing Garrison, as well as the crimes of Zhu Chunchen and his cronies, such as embezzlement, misappropriation, and abuse of power!"

(End of this chapter)