The Ming Dynasty: Starting with Emperor Chongzhen's crackdown on factionalism

"In border trade, exchanging tea and cloth for furs is a common practice! Pearls and ginseng are also ordinary goods! As for swords and bows, you must be mistaken!"

"I am not seeing things," Chen Zhiyuan said calmly.

"Those swords and knives are the same type as those used by the Liaodong border troops, and some of them have rust and bloodstains on them, clearly items lost on the battlefield."

He turned to Zhu Youjian and kowtowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, this is my third question. Last October, the enemy cavalry broke through the Gubeikou Pass and advanced rapidly, reaching the capital city in just seven days."

"Their march bypassed all dangerous passes. Their speed was as swift as the wind."

"If no one provides a detailed map of Jibei, and if no one supplies provisions along the way, can the Jianzhou cavalry possibly accomplish this?"

These words struck like a thunderbolt, hitting everyone's heart.

Zhu Youjian's expression changed completely.

He recalled the nightmare from last October.

Huang Taiji's cavalry appeared out of nowhere, seemingly descending from the sky, outside Beijing.

The Ministry of War reported afterward that the Jianzhou cavalry were familiar with the terrain and advanced rapidly, as if guided by someone.

At the time, he only thought it was due to the incompetence of the border troops, but now that he thinks about it...

"Chen Zhiyuan!" Zhou Yanru finally couldn't help but speak, his voice stern.

"Are you implying that Shanxi merchants not only smuggled military supplies but also provided maps and provisions to the Jianzhou spies?"

"I dare not make a rash judgment," Chen Zhiyuan said. "I am merely raising some points of doubt. These points of doubt can be easily investigated."

"How do we investigate?" Zhu Youjian stared at him.

"Your Majesty, please send a team of Imperial Guards with an imperial warrant to Zhangjiakou."

Chen Zhiyuan raised his head, his gaze resolute.

"We don't investigate whether Shanxi merchants are loyal or treacherous; we only do three things."

"First, verify whether the customs clearance records of Fan, Wang, and other families over the past three years match the actual goods."

"Second, conduct undercover investigations of their employees and bodyguards, inquiring about the details of their cargo transport and their routes."

"Third, compare the records with the Ministry of War's inventory and check the records of lost military equipment in Xuanfu and Datong in recent years."

He paused, then spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Within ten days, the truth will be revealed."

The platform was deathly silent.

Everyone looked at Chen Zhiyuan, at this seventh-rank editor who was kneeling on the ground but with his back straight.

His words were so specific that they didn't seem fabricated.

Verifying accounts, conducting undercover investigations of employees, and comparing inventory records—these are all things that can be done in a real and tangible way, and cannot be faked.

Zhu Youjian's heart began to pound violently.

His suspicious nature made him immediately begin to weigh the pros and cons.

Chen Zhiyuan dared to propose such an investigation plan either because he was truly confident or because he was insane.

If it's the former, then there might really be something wrong with the Shanxi merchants.

If it's the latter...

"What if it is found that you made a false accusation?" Zhu Youjian asked slowly.

Chen Zhiyuan said frankly, "If it is found that I am making false accusations, I am willing to die to uphold justice."

"What if it's confirmed that the Shanxi merchants did indeed commit illegal acts?"

"That proves it—" Chen Zhiyuan's gaze swept over the officials kneeling on the ground, his voice suddenly turning cold.

"Those who spoke so eloquently for them in court today are either fools or wicked!"

"presumptuous!"

"Arrogant!"

The kneeling officials erupted in uproar, their faces flushed red, wishing they could devour Chen Zhiyuan alive.

Zhu Youjian remained silent.

He paced back and forth in front of the throne, his hands behind his back.

One step, two steps, three steps.

Chen Zhiyuan's plan was very specific and cautious.

Only check the accounts and assets, don't touch people, and don't make it public, so as not to cause too much turmoil.

Moreover, the ten-day period is neither too long nor too short, which is just right for verification.

If no evidence is found, killing Chen Zhiyuan to quell public anger would be a good thing.

If there is evidence...

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Youjian's eyes.

What does that mean?

This means that the merchants of the Ming Dynasty are aiding the enemy, that there are people in the court speaking up for them, and that his empire is rotting from the inside out!

"Your Majesty!" Zheng Sanjun kowtowed and said, "Chen Zhiyuan is spreading heresies and disrupting the court. I beg Your Majesty to execute this villain immediately to appease the people!"

"Your Majesty!" Zhang Jimeng also kowtowed, "I am willing to stake my life and fortune to guarantee the innocence of the Shanxi merchants! If the evidence is proven, I am willing to share the punishment!"

"I am also willing to vouch for this!" Several other officials followed suit and kowtowed.

Zhu Youjian looked at them, his doubts growing stronger.

Why are these people in such a hurry to kill Chen Zhiyuan?

Why were they in such a hurry to vouch for the Shanxi merchants?

Was it truly out of public interest, or...?

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the Meridian Gate.

A dusty courier stumbled onto the platform, holding aloft an urgent report with a feather stuck in it.

"Urgent Message from Shaanxi Military News!"

Wang Chengen quickly took it and presented it to Zhu Youjian.

Zhu Youjian unfolded the urgent report, and after only a few glances, his expression completely changed.

His hands began to tremble, not from fear, but from anger.

Extreme anger.

"Good...very good..."

Zhu Youjian's voice was squeezed out from between his teeth, each word carrying murderous intent.

He raised his head, his gaze sharp as a knife, sweeping over the kneeling officials before finally settling on Zhang Jimeng.

"Zhang Jimeng, you're from Shanxi, right?"

Zhang Jimeng was taken aback.

"Your subject... Your subject is indeed from Shanxi."

"Then let me ask you," Zhu Youjian said, slamming the urgent report down in front of him.

"The bandit leaders Wang Jiayin and Shen Yikui from Shaanxi have launched a major offensive into Shanxi! They have captured Jizhou and Xiangning, and are now heading towards Pingyang Prefecture! Are you aware of this?"

Zhang Jimeng's face turned deathly pale instantly.

The platform was in an uproar.

The bandits have entered Shanxi!

This is a matter of utmost importance!

Zhu Youjian's voice grew louder and colder.

"The bandits have entered Shanxi! You Shanxi officials, instead of offering advice on how to quell the bandits, are instead protecting merchants who might be aiding the enemy! What are your true intentions?!"

He turned around abruptly and looked at Luo Yangxing, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who had been standing silently in the corner.

"Luo Yangxing!"

"Your subject is here!" Luo Yangxing stepped forward and knelt down.

Zhu Youjian spoke each word with unwavering resolve.

"I hereby grant you the official seal of an imperial envoy, and you shall lead a detachment of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to Zhangjiakou immediately to conduct a covert investigation!"

"As Chen Zhiyuan requested, only examine the accounts and supplies, keeping it a secret! Report the results directly to me!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Luo Yangxing kowtowed heavily.

Zhu Youjian then looked at Chen Zhiyuan with a complicated expression.

"Chen Zhiyuan, I'm giving you this chance. I want to see the results in ten days."

"If no evidence is found," he paused, his voice icy, "you know the consequences."

Chen Zhiyuan kowtowed: "Your subject understands."

The wind on the platform grew stronger, causing everyone's robes to flutter wildly.

Zhu Youjian turned his back to the crowd and looked north.

That's the direction of Shanxi, and also the direction of Zhangjiakou.

His heart was filled with anger and chills.

If what Chen Zhiyuan said is true...

So how much of the Ming Dynasty is actually real?

The officials kneeling on the ground were all ashen-faced.

Zheng Sanjun wanted to say something, but Zhu Youjian glared at him and shut him up.

Cheng Jiming and Zhou Yanru exchanged a glance, both seeing deep unease in each other's eyes.

Chen Zhiyuan slowly stood up and patted the dust off his official robe.

His movements were slow and composed, as if the life-or-death confrontation had never happened.

Chen Zhiyuan knew that personal life, death, honor, and disgrace were minor matters, while the civilization and culture of China were of paramount importance.

He absolutely did not want to one day witness this magnificent land of China reduced to the point where people had to shave their heads and change their clothes to save their lives.

At present, Shanxi merchants have not yet gained power and have the least influence in the factional struggles of the court. This is a good opportunity to prevent problems before they arise and to nip the seeds of such a humiliating history in the bud.