Ming Dynasty: Moral blackmail? I, Emperor Chongzhen, have no morals!

The next morning, Huang Taiji dragged his weary body out of the side hall.

He pondered for half the night but still couldn't figure out what had provoked the Ming emperor to send a letter begging for peace, given that the emperor, who always valued "face," was willing to do so.

At first, he thought the Ming Dynasty had changed emperors again, but after reading the letter, he found that they hadn't.

Before he ascended the throne, he entered the pass and reached the capital, which angered Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty, who then had Yuan Chonghuan, the spies of Guan Ningjin, killed.

He hasn't even taken any military action yet, and he's already groveling for peace?

"Your Majesty, we have arrived at Guanju Palace!" the young eunuch leading the way suddenly said.

Huang Taiji, who was pondering the peace letter, suddenly looked up when he heard the sound and looked towards the Guanju Palace where Hailanzhu lived.

Hailanzhu was Huang Taiji's most beloved concubine. A few months ago, she gave birth to a son for him, but he died in the first month of this year, which caused Hailanzhu to fall ill and never recover.

Therefore, Huang Taiji would visit this favored concubine almost every day.

When Huang Taiji stepped into the Guanju Palace, he saw the haggard Hailanzhu with tears welling up in her eyes. He quickly stepped forward and helped her up, asking, "What happened?"

"emperor!"

Upon seeing Huang Taiji arrive, Hailanzhu could no longer hold back her tears, which fell like rain.

Huang Taiji turned to the maidservant attending to Hailanzhu and asked angrily, "What's wrong with Consort Chen?"

The maid, terrified, immediately knelt down, stammering, "This...this servant...doesn't...know..."

"Your Majesty... I... heard that our child... was cursed by witchcraft and died..." Hailanzhu said, choking with sobs.

This news was spread at the reception area by the Ming Dynasty's Eastern Depot personnel who accompanied them to Shenyang for peace talks, and was then brought back to the Qing court palace by a purchasing eunuch.

It was also a political rumor orchestrated by Zhu Jian, with the aim of using the loss of Hailanzhu's son to seriously harm Huang Taiji's favorite concubine, Hailanzhu, and to incite a witchcraft political incident in the Qing court.

"Witchcraft?"

Then, Huang Taiji's anger intensified: "Where did that sound come from?"

Although Huang Taiji believed in shamanism, he still sensed that the witchcraft might not be true. However, this was a huge blow to his favorite concubine, Hailanzhu, especially since she was still ill.

After several months, Hailanzhu was no longer as heartbroken as she was when she lost her son, but hearing this news again dealt her another blow, and she couldn't sleep all night.

Between sobs, Hailanzhu said, "Yesterday... I was in the garden... I saw several eunuchs whispering, so I ordered them to be interrogated. I never imagined they were... talking about our child..."

The eunuchs treated this as mere gossip, never imagining it would reach Hailanzhu's ears...

Upon hearing this, Huang Taiji clenched his fists so tightly they cracked. Regardless of whether the matter was true or false, it was clear that someone was using it to seriously injure Hailanzhu.

He never imagined that in his harem, the struggle for favor had already become so ruthless.

"I will thoroughly investigate this matter, Consort Chen, please rest assured...!!" Huang Taiji gently patted Hailanzhu in his arms. At this moment, he was already trying his best to suppress his anger. He felt it was time to clean up the palace properly...

At this time, Chen Xinjia and his Ming Dynasty peace negotiation team were waiting for a reply from the Qing court in the guesthouse, unaware that a bloody purge was taking place within the Qing court.

The reason this incident occurred was due to the Eastern Depot personnel who accompanied him during the peace talks...

"Lord Chen, should we go and ask them?" asked one of Chen Xinjia's trusted confidants who had accompanied him to the peace talks.

Before Chen Xinjia could respond, the door was kicked open by Qing soldiers.

They then began arresting Ming Dynasty envoys.

Upon seeing this, Chen Xinjia immediately stood up and sternly questioned, "What are you trying to do?"

"The Emperor has decreed that you be sent back!" A Qing army commander immediately ordered his men to begin binding the Ming Dynasty envoys.

They planned to send him to the front lines in Jinzhou, hoping to sow discord within the Ming court and exacerbate its internal turmoil.

This was a decision made by Huang Taiji in a fit of rage for the sake of a woman.

He felt that if these people from the Ming court continued to stay at the guesthouse, they would eventually find out about the troubles within the Qing court, so he quickly summoned soldiers and sent the Ming envoys away.

"Let go! We can walk on our own!" Chen Xinjia shouted angrily.

"This is not up to you!" With that, a Qing soldier tied up Chen Xinjia and threw him onto the carriage.

While the witchcraft scandal was unfolding within the Qing court, the Ming court's peace negotiation team, the very culprits behind the incident, were bound and sent back to Jinzhou like pigs...

........

a few days later.

A small group of Qing soldiers rode their horses to the outskirts of Jinzhou.

Upon seeing the arrival of the Qing army, Zu Dashou, the general of Jinzhou, immediately ordered his men to bombard the Qing troops and sounded the gong to summon all Ming soldiers to the city walls to defend the city and prepare for battle.

Upon seeing this, the Qing army commander reined in the horses, pulled out a Ming envoy, untied him, and allowed him to drive the remaining people to Jinzhou City.

Then, this group of Qing soldiers spurred their horses and shouted, "By imperial decree, we are sending you peace envoys!"

After shouting a few times, he turned his horse around and quickly rode away...

Zu Dashou, standing on the city wall, paused for a moment, then waved his hand, waiting for the carriage to approach.

Not long after.

The untied envoy drove to the city gate and shouted, "General Zu, open the city gate quickly!"

After Zu Dashou saw who was coming and looked into the distance to make sure there were no Qing soldiers lying in ambush, he ordered his soldiers to open the city gates and welcome the carriage into the city.

After Chen Xinjia and his group entered the city, Zu Dashou asked, "What did the Qing soldiers mean by shouting for peace just now?"

Chen Xinjia sighed helplessly, "General Zu, please don't ask any more questions. Please trouble you to gather a few horses for us; we need to return to the capital as soon as possible!"

Zu Dashou realized that these people were from the capital, heading to Shenyang to negotiate peace, and that they were probably appointed by the emperor. Not wanting to cause trouble, he turned and ordered his soldiers, "Go and fetch a few horses!"

When the horses arrived.

Chen Xinjia and his men, without taking a break, quickly mounted their horses and galloped away.

Zu Dashou's younger brother, Zu Dabi, stepped forward and came to Zu Dashou's side. Watching Chen Xinjia walk away, he said, "His Majesty wanted both substance and face, but now he's caught in the middle, pleasing neither side!"

"Watch your words!" Zu Dashou scolded after hearing this.

The affairs of the court were too complicated for them to handle, especially those involving the Qing army.

......

A few days later.

When news of the Qing court sending back the peace envoys reached the court, it immediately sparked a huge outcry demanding severe punishment for Chen Xinjia, the leading peace envoy.

The language was harsh, accusing Chen Xinjia of surrendering national sovereignty and humiliating the country by signing a treaty with the Eastern barbarians...

At this moment, Inspector Zhu was inspecting the silver, gold, antiques, paintings, silk fabrics, and other items confiscated from the home of Zhou Kui, the father-in-law of the emperor, totaling 420,000 taels of silver...

This doesn't even include the land deeds, mansions, etc...

With his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes fixed on the mountain of wealth piled up in the imperial treasury, Zhu Jian praised, "Ruolian did a good job! She didn't embezzle any!"

"Your Majesty, I am here to share your burdens; how could I dare to withhold it privately!" Li Ruolian replied, cupping his hands in greeting.

At this moment, Wang Dehua quickly approached Zhu Jian and whispered, "Your Majesty, the officials in the court are demanding that you punish Chen Xinjia and Yang Sichang as a warning to others!"

Upon hearing this, Prosecutor Zhu was taken aback, then waved his hand: "Go and summon all those who were impeached, along with Chen Xinjia and Yang Sichang, to the Hall of Supreme Harmony!"

Zhu Jian knew he had to take on their challenge... Historically, after the leak of Chen Xinjia's peace negotiations, Emperor Chongzhen, Zhu Youjian, executed him to quell public opinion due to face-saving and pressure. Now, Zhu Jian was prepared to protect Chen Xinjia, since this man was obedient...

If these censors and officials can kill whomever they want, then what kind of emperor is he? Wouldn't he just be a puppet?

Not long after.

Officials who had spoken out against injustice, led by Huang Daozhou and Feng Yuanbiao, all gathered at the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Others impeached include Yang Sichang and Chen Xinjia.

At this moment, Chen Xinjia neither shirked responsibility nor refuted the accusations, allowing the censors to attack him. Whether he lived or died, he couldn't shift the blame to the emperor, even though it was an imperial decree...

Yang Sichang, on the other hand, retaliated by accusing these "pure officials" of engaging in empty talk and harming the country.

Just then, Zhu Jian slowly walked into the Hall of Supreme Harmony and sat on the dragon throne.

"Your Majesty, Yang Sichang and Chen Xinjia have privately negotiated peace with the Jurchens, which is a disgrace to the nation. I recommend that they be executed!" Huang Daozhou said righteously.

Huang Daozhou pointed the finger at Yang Sichang and Chen Xinjia, specifying that these two had secretly gone to Shenyang to negotiate peace with the Qing court in order to exonerate the emperor, since he could not impeach the emperor, but could only offer advice to him...

"I second that! These two are treacherous traitors who sold out the country!" Feng Yuanbiao echoed.

"We second that proposal!" The assembled upright officials who had impeached the two men kowtowed in unison.

"Your Majesty, Huang Daozhou and Feng Yuanbiao are seeking fame and fortune through empty talk, which is detrimental to the country. I request that they be imprisoned!" Yang Sichang retorted.

Chen Xinjia, standing to the side, trembled uncontrollably. This whole mess was caused by him, and he now seemed to see himself being beheaded and publicly executed...

Zhu Jian glanced at the assembled officials and said softly, "It was I who ordered them to go!"

Upon hearing this, the noisy Huangji Hall instantly fell silent.

Yang Sichang, Chen Xinjia, Huang Daozhou, Feng Yuanbiao, and others looked up in surprise at Zhu Jian, who was sitting on the dragon throne.

No one expected that the emperor would actually take the blame for such a "scandal" himself.

Zhu Jian leaned back on the dragon throne, his hand on his forehead, and said nonchalantly, "It's nothing serious. Didn't Li Shimin also make peace with the Turks?"

Zhu Jian had no regard for the ethical and moral baggage of these pedantic civil officials; he only cared about tangible benefits.

To Zhu Jian, maintaining the emperor's dignity was utter nonsense. Did the Qing army's repeated incursions into the border give them dignity? Did killing Chen Xinjia give them dignity? Or did hanging themselves from a tree give them dignity?

"Your Majesty's words are a fallacy!"

"Emperor Taizong's move was merely a temporary measure!" Huang Daozhou shouted as he got up from the ground.

"Huang Daozhou, you are arrogant and disrespectful to your sovereign, and have no manners whatsoever as a subject!" Yang Sichang angrily pointed at Huang Daozhou.

No sooner had Yang Sichang finished speaking than the Qingliu faction began impeaching him again, accusing him of being a treacherous official who usurped power and sold out the country.

At the same time, Yang Sichang also began to criticize the Qingliu faction for being pedantic and engaging in empty talk that harmed the country.

Seeing this, Zhu Jian stood up and took two steps to the side: "I have been on the throne for eleven years now, and I am increasingly aware that the crisis facing the Ming Dynasty is not with the Jurchens, nor with Li Zicheng, nor with natural disasters, but right here in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and rests on the shoulders of all of you ministers!"

"No matter what the matter is, they all argue about right and wrong in court, and they all want me to issue an edict according to their wishes!"

He then pointed to the dragon throne and said, "If anyone wishes to act on my behalf, they may step forward and sit on the dragon throne. I will immediately issue the edict of abdication!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the cacophony of voices abruptly ceased. The words were too heavy for anyone to bear.

Neither those who value their reputation nor those who don't dare to accept the position, for if they were forced to abdicate by the emperor, they would become powerful and treacherous officials.

Of course, if anyone dared to make a move, Prosecutor Zhu would draw his sword and kill them immediately. Trying to force him to abdicate? That was wishful thinking; he hadn't yet had enough of the taste of power...

After a moment, Zhu Jian said meaningfully, "Since no one wants to sit in this position, then I will sit in it!"

"I sent Chen Xinjia, and although he failed and was brought back bound, disgracing the nation, his crime doesn't warrant death. Let him leave the capital and serve as governor of Guangdong..."

Before he could finish speaking, the argument resumed, and Feng Yuanbiao said sternly, "How can such a treacherous official be entrusted with the power of a province?"

"Then shall we appoint you, Feng Yuanbiao?" Prosecutor Zhu asked with a laugh.

"I am but a man of limited talent and learning, and dare not take on such a great responsibility..." Feng Yuanbiao was still self-aware; he was indeed not up to the task of managing a province.

Zhu Jian: "I ordered Chen Xinjia to go, but you disagreed. Now that I've sent you, you dare not take on this important task! Who do you suggest?"

"This..." Feng Yuanbiao was speechless for a moment. He was really stumped by the question... It was not good for him to recommend anyone for this kind of exile to a remote place. There were already few members of the Donglin Party in the court. If a few more high-ranking officials were removed, it would be even more of a loss.

The rest were all sixth or seventh-rank officials, whose ranks didn't match the requirements. Chen Xinjia was the Vice Minister of War, a third-rank official. Although being appointed as a governor was a second-rank position, it was a remote posting, unlike the central government positions in the capital, and it was far south. So it was considered a lateral transfer...

Seeing that Feng Yuanbiao remained silent, Huang Daozhou quickly said, "Your Majesty! May I recommend someone to serve as the Governor of Guangdong?"

Prosecutor Zhu: "Who?"

Huang Daozhou: "Sun Chengzong, former Grand Secretary and Military Governor of Liaodong!"

Sun Chengzong was the spiritual leader of the Donglin Party. Due to factional strife, he was attacked by Wen Tiren and others and forced to leave the court.

Yang Sichang immediately retorted, "I think this is inappropriate. Sun Chengzong is over seventy years old and unable to fulfill his duties. Moreover, he is no different from Yuan Chonghuan!"

Before Huang Daozhou could refute Yang Sichang, Zhu Jian spoke up, "It is indeed not appropriate. Sun Chengzong is already seventy-six years old. It would be difficult to ensure his safety if he went to Guangdong..."

Just as Yang Sichang was about to gloat, and before Huang Daozhou and the other upright officials could object, Zhu Jian spoke up again: "Chen Xinjia will still go to Guangdong! Huang Daozhou, go to Gaoyang and invite Sun Chengzong to come to the capital to take up a post...! It's settled then!"

"Your Majesty is wise...!" A group of upright officials, seeing Prosecutor Zhu appoint Sun Chengzong, the spiritual leader of the Donglin Party, hurriedly echoed and kowtowed, even neglecting the peace negotiations...

.......

After the court session, Yang Sichang led Chen Xinjia to the Wuying Hall to present himself to the emperor.

Chen Xinjia kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, I thank you for rescuing me!"

"It was I who sent you, why make things difficult for you!"

At this moment, Prosecutor Zhu was extremely noble in Chen Xinjia's eyes, a stark contrast to his previous lack of courage and responsibility...

"Your Majesty, I still feel that Sun Chengzong's matter is inappropriate!" Yang Sichang didn't want the spiritual leader of the Donglin Party to return, so he came to report on him...

"Let's not talk about Sun Chengzong for now!" Zhu Jian waved his hand, changing the subject: "Xin Jia, I sent you to Guangdong to handle a few things. First, there are foreigners in Guangdong; go and do smuggling and trade with them. Second, purchase some small cannons or muskets from the foreigners. Third, there's a grain in Fujian called sweet potato, which is very productive and can be grown in any kind of land; you can promote its cultivation throughout the province. Fourth, obtain some ship blueprints and craftsmen and send them back to me. Fifth, contact Zheng Zhilong in Fujian and tell him that I thank him for protecting the southeastern coast of the Ming Dynasty. Also, he has an eldest son named Zheng Sen (Zheng Chenggong), who is fourteen years old this year. The Crown Prince needs a study companion, so I asked him if he would be willing to come to the capital! If he is willing to come, I don't mind letting Zheng Zhilong control the entire province of Fujian!"

Zhu Jian had been thinking about these five things for a long time. They were feasible at the moment. All that was needed was to send an obedient and capable person to Guangdong to handle the matter.

Chen Xinjia is the best candidate right now; he's capable, and most importantly, he's obedient...

"These things Your Majesty is doing seem... seem... contrary to ancestral rules..." Chen Xinjia looked troubled. He had finally managed to extricate himself from the quagmire of impeachment by censors, and this was tantamount to sending him back in. He was also in a dilemma. Why did the Emperor always make him do these things that would lead to impeachment...?

"Your Majesty's actions... do indeed violate ancestral rules..." Yang Sichang chimed in from the side...

"What ancestral rules or not... I am the one who ruled the Ming Dynasty, not during the reigns of Emperor Taizu or Emperor Chengzu...!" Zhu Jian rebuked Yang Sichang and Chen Xinjia.

"Whatever happens, I will take responsibility for it!"

"Your subject obeys the decree..." Chen Xinjia had no choice but to agree, unable to refuse.

Prosecutor Zhu: "Making money can be done together with the three provincial officials, local gentry, and Zheng Zhilong, but they need to reciprocate. Trying to take all the profits for themselves is not an option! Furthermore, the stability of the local population is also crucial!"

Zhu's approach is essentially revitalizing Guangdong's "foreign trade" economy, giving local areas more autonomy. However, the downside is that it can easily foster independent kingdoms...

"Your Majesty's will is gracious!"

"Go and take office!"

After Chen Xinjia left, Yang Sichang continued, "Your Majesty, I believe that Sun Chengzong's return to court is inappropriate!"

"Sun Chengzong is seventy-six years old now, what's wrong with that..." Zhu Jian said, glancing at Yang Sichang with disdain.

Zhu Jian meant that even if Sun Chengzong lived longer, it wouldn't matter how many more years he could live, or whether he came back or not.

"minister....."

Before Yang Sichang could say anything more, Zhu Jian raised his hand to interrupt, "Is the Ministry of War's treasury reorganized? How much silver is in it?"

"The situation is not yet fully resolved; currently, the total value of the four treasuries is 270,000 taels of silver!"

Upon hearing this, Prosecutor Zhu said with some displeasure, "Then why don't you go and rectify the situation?"

"Your Majesty, I will go and make the necessary adjustments immediately..." Seeing that he couldn't stop Sun Chengzong, Yang Sichang didn't insist further and left the Wuying Hall...