The Ming Dynasty: A bookstore sells the history of the Ming Dynasty, leaving Emperor Chongzhen bewil

The Emperor took a nine-day short vacation and then made several decisions.

So efficient?

This is unlike the emperors of the past!

The ministers were all wondering: Had the emperor changed, or was someone pulling the strings behind the scenes?

More people tend to favor the latter.

Because it's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature, a person is not so easily changed.

But if there's someone behind it all, then who is that person?

The ministers were filled with doubt.

Chongzhen didn't care about all that and continued, "A few days ago, there was a mutiny in Zunhua, a mutiny in Guyuan, and a few days before that, a mutiny in Ningyuan. All of these were due to insufficient military pay. The soldiers fought desperately on the battlefield to defend their homes and country. If military pay is withheld, then mutiny is inevitable."

"Therefore, military pay must be paid!"

Judging from these words, the Emperor intends to increase the Liaodong military pay; otherwise, where would the money come from to pay the soldiers' salaries?

At this moment, Yang Sichang, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Revenue, stepped forward: "Your Majesty is absolutely right. Military pay is the foundation for the soldiers' livelihood. The soldiers on the nine borders have been short of pay for six months. If the arrears continue, I fear that morale will waver and the nine borders will be lost. Therefore, I believe that we should temporarily burden our people for one year to alleviate the urgent crisis!"

At this moment, Han Kuang stepped forward. Although he was nearly seventy years old, he remained true to his loyal and upright character. He once again stepped forward to object: "I believe that imposing heavy taxes on the people should be a disgrace! The Liaodong tax has already been increased three times, leaving the people impoverished and unable to bear the burden. They have no choice but to leave their homes and flee in all directions. The fleeing people have turned into bandits. To impose additional taxes is absolutely unacceptable!"

Although Yang Sichang held a low official rank, he was not afraid at all: "Chief Minister Han's words are eloquent, but if we don't increase the Liaodong military pay, what will happen to the soldiers' pay on the nine borders? If the border troops collapse and the Jurchens break through the passes, everything will be destroyed. How can anything be preserved?"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you, with your benevolent heart, allocate funds from the imperial treasury to pay for the army's expenses and temporarily alleviate the urgent situation on the border!" Han Kuang said, bowing deeply to Emperor Chongzhen in a plea.

The ministers' expressions changed upon hearing this.

The so-called imperial treasury was the emperor's private money, separate from the national treasury. Its main sources included royal land income, mining taxes, tributes, and confiscated property.

The money confiscated from Wei Zhongxian was put into the imperial treasury.

Therefore, the term "imperial treasury" is very sensitive. It is the emperor's private money. If you ask the emperor to use his private money to pay military expenses, this would probably be the most emperor's taboo subject.

Emperor Chongzhen was perhaps even worse.

Because Chongzhen had long been on the margins of society before ascending the throne, this insecure environment made him cautious and suspicious from a young age. In addition, he was not wealthy to begin with, and was further burdened by the likes of Wei Zhongxian, so Chongzhen developed a frugal and even stingy personality.

Please send money from the imperial treasury; it would be like tearing out his heart and liver.

Although Wen Tiren failed to be elected as a cabinet minister this time, he never thought of giving up. Now was the best opportunity to think of the emperor, so he stepped forward without hesitation.

"Your Majesty! The imperial treasury is private, while the Liaodong military pay is public. The distinction between public and private is clear as day. Emperor Shenzong's ancestral precepts state that anyone who requests the use of imperial treasury funds will be executed. How dare we disobey these ancestral laws!"

Zhou Yanru quickly followed suit: "Using the imperial treasury to pay military expenses is by no means a long-term solution! I believe that if the military uprising in Zunhua is paid out of the imperial treasury, if the military uprising in Ningyuan is paid out of the imperial treasury, and if the military rebellion in Jinzhou is also paid out of the imperial treasury, once this precedent is set, other border regions will follow suit. How much of the imperial treasury does Your Majesty have to distribute?"

At this moment, Liu Zongzhou, known for his outspokenness and willingness to speak frankly, stepped forward: "I dare to ask: If there is no state, where will the treasury come from? If there is no army, where will the state come from?"

"Alright, stop arguing!"

Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand to interrupt the argument: "Didn't I already say? I've already made my decision. What are you arguing about?"

The hall finally fell silent.

All attention turned to the Emperor, eager to hear his decision.

"The Imperial Treasury currently holds 2,178,000 taels of silver, which is the last savings left to me by my late father and elder brother. Today, I have decided to transfer 2 million taels to the Imperial Granary to fund the military!"

After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The tablet in Zhou Yanru's hand fell to the ground with a "thud." Grand Secretary Han Kuang looked up abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, his lips moving but unable to speak, while Yang Sichang looked on incredulously...

The assembled officials in the hall displayed a variety of expressions, all of which were quite remarkable.

It wasn't about increasing the Liaodong military pay, nor was it about withholding military pay; rather, the Emperor used his own private funds to make up the difference.

And it was almost all of the imperial treasury!

Has the Emperor gone mad?

Everyone felt that they were seeing the emperor in front of them more and more unclearly.

"His Majesty!"

Wen Tiren suddenly knelt down, "This is the accumulation of our ancestors, the very foundation of the royal family! How can it all be lost..."

"Didn't our ancestors accumulate silver to protect the Ming Dynasty?" Chongzhen's voice finally showed a hint of unease. "If the dynasty falls, what use are these inanimate objects? Are they to be left as gifts for the Jurchens after they enter the pass? Or are they to be melted down to make arrowheads?"

"By imperial decree, I will personally distribute these two million taels of imperial funds!"

Chongzhen's words once again stunned his ministers.

What does it mean to send it in person?

Is His Majesty heading to the front lines to personally reward the soldiers?

Before anyone could react, Han Kuang suddenly bowed deeply, kowtowing loudly and shouting, "Your Majesty is wise!"

When he looked up, Han Kuang was already in tears.

He thought the emperor was misled by treacherous people and deliberately alienated and suppressed the Donglin Party. This was because in the previous court debates, the emperor had not sided with the Donglin Party, especially in the matter of dealing with the eunuch party, where the intention to suppress the Donglin Party was obvious. There was also the matter of Qian Qianyi, etc. However, today's facts proved that the emperor was not as he thought.

His suggestion to use the imperial treasury was unexpectedly adopted by the emperor. How could Han Kuang not be excited?

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The others followed suit, bowing and shouting, even Yang Sichang, who supported the additional Liaodong military pay, genuinely joined in the shouting.

Emperor Chongzhen seemed to enjoy the homage of his ministers, and with a slight smile, he raised his hand and said, "My beloved ministers, rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After the ministers rose, Emperor Chongzhen said, "By the way, I remember someone submitted a memorial saying that Lu Xiang-sheng, the prefect of Daming, had rendered meritorious service in collecting taxes from Liaodong and should be promoted one rank! Is this true?"

Just now, the Emperor rejected the proposal to increase the Liaodong tax, but now he suddenly asked about promoting Lu Xiangshan, who had made meritorious contributions to collecting the Liaodong tax.

Is the Emperor preparing to settle scores later?

The ministers secretly felt sorry for Lu Xiang-sheng. How unlucky he was! He had originally been meritorious for collecting taxes from Liaodong, but now the wind had changed, and his merit had turned into a crime.

At this moment, Zheng Sanjun, the Minister of Personnel, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Lu Xiang-sheng was recommended by me. In my opinion, Lu Xiang-sheng should not be blamed for this. He was simply fulfilling his duties and implementing the court's policies. Even if he did not achieve anything in the matter of collecting taxes from Liaodong, he should not be punished!"

Emperor Chongzhen nodded: "Well said. Convey my decree: Lu Xiang-sheng has rendered meritorious service in collecting taxes and should be rewarded. Order Lu Xiang-sheng to come to the capital immediately to report to the Emperor!"