Chaos of Ming 1628

Sun Qing's heart, on the contrary, calmed down.

What I feared most was not Emperor Chongzhen clamoring to kill people, but rather an emperor devoid of emotion.

An emperor who can be provoked is a mortal who exposes his weaknesses.

"Your Majesty!" Sun Qing's tone was much more relaxed, and he sighed, "Even if you kill me, it won't solve the current problem."

"Besides, the people of Jiahe County all survived, didn't they?"

Faced with Sun Qing's retort, Chongzhen was so angry he almost laughed: "So, according to you, I can't kill you, but should reward you?"

Sun Qing's knees were numb from kneeling.

The practice of kneeling and bowing to emperors in feudal times was truly a dreg of history.

Suppressing the tingling and numb sensation, Sun Qing adjusted his tone: "Your Majesty, although I am temporarily relying on the power of the Wei faction to establish myself, my heart is always with the Ming Dynasty, Your Majesty, and the people."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian's expression softened slightly.

Sun Qing then continued, "While the Wei faction has committed numerous evils and their crimes are unforgivable, their connections and resources are truly useful and easy to use."

"Your Majesty, as you have seen, I gained no benefit whatsoever from doing these things, and even had to bear the stigma of being affiliated with the Wei faction. Yet, I accomplished something almost impossible."

Zhu Youjian's emotions had calmed down considerably. The look in his eyes as he stared at Sun Qing was no longer as murderous as before.

He countered Sun Qing's question with, "He was a man who deserved to die, but you have prevented me from having the means to kill him."

Why did Cui Chengxiu commit suicide? Why did Wei Zhongxian take the initiative to report Madam Ke, leading to her execution? And how did the credit for Jiahe County fall on his shoulders?

Chongzhen's eyes were full of scrutiny.

Wei Zhongxian's crimes were heinous, but because several things were connected, it became difficult to take action against him.

Sun Qing was also helpless!

He was indeed involved in the first two incidents. Naturally, it was also to balance the situation in the court before he had fully consolidated his power, to protect Wei Zhongxian's life, and more importantly, to secure his large sum of money and a large number of men with Madam Ke.

As for what happened in Jiahe County, that was an accident.

Even if I said it, I'm afraid no one would believe me.

Sun Qing smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty, it is not that I cannot distinguish right from wrong. But allowing Wei Zhongxian to live for just two more months would open a path for the people of Jiahe County to survive."

"For me, such a choice, even if it means enduring humiliation and hardship, is worthwhile."

The atmosphere was already set, and Sun Qing forced himself to squeeze out two tears, saying with emotion, "Only when the people have enough to eat and wear and live in peace can the region be at peace."

"Only when there is no chaos in the prefectures and counties can the foundation of the state be stable and long-lasting."

"I don't think much, I only know to be down-to-earth and protect the peace of this region."

Sun Qing deliberately drew out his last sentence, speaking with genuine emotion.

The murderous intent in Chongzhen's eyes dissipated, replaced by empathy. He loosened his clenched fists and placed his hands behind his back.

His tone softened slightly: "Since I summoned you to the palace, I'll be frank."

"Some officials in the court have already used the Jiahe County incident to plead for Wei Zhongxian, demanding that his crimes be redeemed."

"Wei Zhongxian has recently adopted a more humble stance, and the eunuch faction has become more restrained. The credit for the victory at Jiaohe County will likely have to be awarded to Wei Zhongxian."

Sun Qing remained humble and did not offer any opinion on the matter of rewarding meritorious service.

Zhu Youjian stared at him: "Sun Qing, do you really not care at all?"

That's a very pertinent question. Even with years of teaching experience, Sun Qingpang's perspective might still be somewhat biased. But when it comes to answering this kind of question, history books offer countless successful responses.

With a slight smile, he straightened his chest and said fearlessly, "The people's peaceful and prosperous life is what I desire most; fleeting fame and vanity are nothing but illusions."

"Although I have no official rank or title, I have read a few books and have my own reasons for doing so."

"Your humble servant acts only to fulfill your original aspirations; why should you seek the praise of the world?"

Looking at history, this statement is almost always a perfect answer.

After a long chat, Zhu Youjian's gaze changed noticeably. Looking at Sun Qing, he even saw a hint of camaraderie among kindred spirits.

He raised his hand in a gesture of support: "Alright, you can get up now!"

After kneeling for so long, Sun Qing's legs were already numb. In Jiahe County, no matter who he met, Sun Qing could still speak with his back straight.

In feudal dynasties, the power of life and death was entirely in the hands of the other side. Not to mention words and actions, even the slightest deviation in etiquette could cost you your head.

Sun Qing had been kneeling all day and had never suffered such hardship before; he was now unable to get up.

"Please take a seat!" Upon seeing this, Emperor Chongzhen uttered these two words indifferently.

Wang Chengen hurriedly bowed and stepped forward to personally help Sun Qing sit down on a stool.

Zhu Youjian sat back down in his original spot, almost completely overwhelmed by the mountain of memorials piled up on the table.

He was not lazy; it was simply that the border was in dire need of attention, snowstorms had blocked roads, and the Donglin Party was eager to purge the eunuch faction, so the memorials to the throne were never finished being read.

However, Zhu Youjian's expression relaxed at this moment, and his tone softened: "Sun Qing, do you know that the reason I summoned you here today is to kill you to vent my anger?"

"If the ruler commands his subject to die, the subject dares not disobey!" Sun Qing said with great humility.

"Hehe." Zhu Youjian must have chuckled twice, but his voice was soft and somewhat weak: "But now, I've changed my mind."

"You are different from them."

"I'm suddenly very curious, if I were to hand over Hejian Prefecture to you, would the nightmare in Beizhili be averted?!"

Emperor Chongzhen's voice sounded as if he were chatting casually, which made Sun Qing extremely nervous.

The success of the "big pot" system in Jiahe County was due to a great deal of convenience.

Firstly, the area was small, and the population was limited. Secondly, it caught the eunuch faction off guard, allowing the local corrupt officials to use their accumulated wealth for initial operations. Thirdly, Jiahe County was a local area, and the gentry and wealthy households in the northern border region were generally easier to control.

The key point is that the news of the impending purge of the eunuch faction had not yet been confirmed. Zhu Youjian's attitude remained ambiguous, and officials in the court, local officials, and gentry dared not take action for fear of offending the eunuch faction.

But now, the purge of the eunuch faction has been repeatedly brought up in the court. Even Wei Zhongxian has to keep a low profile and rely on Sun Qing's merits to survive.

If the officials in the imperial court are not afraid, the local gentry will likely cause trouble.

Hejian Prefecture was not like a county government; it was a vital area near the capital, home to countless imperial relatives and nobles. Trying to squeeze any money or grain out of them was virtually impossible.

I fear that before the plan can even be put on the agenda, memorials impeaching me will flood in.

Sun Qing smiled wryly: "Thank you for your appreciation, Your Majesty, but I'm afraid I'm willing but unable to do so."

"Sun Qing, you just made some grand pronouncements, blaming me for not giving you enough room to maneuver. I gave you a chance, but you didn't dare?"

"Your Majesty," Sun Qing replied, merely trying to deflect the question, "I truly cannot accept such an honor without merit. I have no official rank or title, and it would be against the rules!"

Emperor Chongzhen, his face stern, scrutinized Sun Qing: "Don't try to make excuses. My mind is made up."

"Now that Wang Fengyuan is in charge of Hejian Prefecture, it's not too bad, and he's not part of the eunuch faction." Zhu Youjian sighed at this, "But he's too conservative and conservative in his actions, and he's also wary of the eunuch faction."

At this point, Zhu Youjian frowned slightly: "Hejian Prefecture is a crucial area around the capital. If there isn't a specific lone figure in charge, I'm afraid it will still become the stronghold of the eunuch faction."

Sun Qing remained silent.

Sun Qing knew a little about Wang Fengyuan.

This person was not a core confidant of the eunuch faction, nor was he deeply attached to Wei Zhongxian. He was a neutral local official and was not dismissed from office during the wave of purges of the eunuch faction.

During the first year of the Chongzhen reign, he was in charge of the single bridge repair project. He did not achieve any great success, nor did he make any major mistakes.

He was one of all the civil officials who survived to the end.

Seeing Sun Qing in a daze, Chongzhen changed his tone: "In short, I order you to have Wang Fengyuan resign from his post voluntarily."

"And you, you've taken his place!"