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

Chen Zhiyuan walked exceptionally slowly on the way back from the platform to his residence in the Hanlin Academy.

The afternoon sun shone through the gaps in the palace walls onto the bluestone slabs, creating dappled light and shadow.

He kept his head down, his mind replaying every scene that had just unfolded on the platform.

Those officials kneeling on the ground, passionately praising the Shanxi merchants; those indignant faces; those resounding pronouncements of "loyalty" and "merit"—

It's all fake.

Chen Zhiyuan pushed open the door to the main room; most of his colleagues had not yet returned.

He sat back down in his seat, the draft of the Wanli Dynasty Records still lying open on the table.

He picked up his pen, intending to continue proofreading, but found his hand trembling slightly.

It's not fear.

It's anger.

A bottomless anger.

These officials, these scholars, these literati who constantly proclaimed their mission to "govern the country and bring peace to the world"—

What exactly are they doing?

Zheng Sanjun, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud, was a native of Southern Zhili.

Chen Zhiyuan remembered him; he was demoted during the Tianqi era for impeaching Wei Zhongxian, but was reinstated in the first year of the Chongzhen era, and was considered a member of the Qingliu faction.

But today, he was the first to stand up and speak for the Shanxi merchants.

Zhang Jimeng, a secretary in the Ministry of War, was from Shanxi.

His defense of his fellow townsman was understandable.

But the statement, "I am willing to guarantee the innocence of Shanxi merchants with my life and fortune," was said too hastily and too recklessly.

There was also Hou Xun, a key member of the Donglin Party and an assistant secretary in the Ministry of Revenue.

He analyzed things logically, saying that the Shanxi merchants were "unprofitable" in funding the enemy, and that the Jianzhou military equipment was crude—these words might fool those who didn't know the ropes.

But Chen Zhiyuan knew that Hou Xun was lying.

Or rather, he was deliberately ignoring key information.

It's true that the tea and cloth trade can be ten times profitable, but what about the arms trade?

That's a hundredfold, a thousandfold profit!

One stone of sulfur was worth five taels of silver within the Ming Dynasty. If it was transported out of the pass and sold to the Later Jin, which lacked sulfur to make gunpowder, it could be worth fifty taels!

If the war is urgent, even a hundred taels of silver will be fought over!

The same applies to pig iron.

The Ming Dynasty strictly prohibited the export of ironware, but there was a severe shortage of iron outside the Great Wall.

An iron pot is worth three qian of silver inside the pass, but can be sold for three taels outside the pass!

If it's pig iron raw material, the price will double!

Can't the Shanxi merchants figure this out?

Hou Xun wouldn't know these things?

he knows.

Of course he knew.

He simply chose not to say it.

Because he cannot speak.

Chen Zhiyuan closed his eyes, and the historical materials he had seen in the archives in his previous life floated into his mind.

In the seventeenth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, Li Zicheng captured Beijing, and the Chongzhen Emperor hanged himself.

The Qing army entered the pass and established its rule over the Central Plains.

What happened to those officials who protected Shanxi merchants during the Chongzhen reign, and those scholar-officials who constantly proclaimed themselves "loyal and virtuous"?

Some people died for their country, such as Fan Jingwen and Ni Yuanlu; they were truly loyal ministers.

Some people surrendered, such as Chen Mingxia and Wang Duo, who continued to serve as officials in the Qing Dynasty.

And what about the Shanxi merchants?

Fan Yongdou, Wang Dengku, Jin Liangyu, Wang Dayu, Liang Jiabin, Tian Shenglan, Zhai Tang, Huang Yunfa —

These eight families were later designated as the "Eight Great Imperial Merchants" by the Qing court.

Their business flourished even more during the Qing Dynasty.

They transported provisions and provided intelligence to the Qing army, and even directly participated in the suppression of the Southern Ming regime.

They used the money they earned from the Ming Dynasty to fund the enemies who destroyed it.

Then, using the privileges obtained from the enemy, they continued to make even more money.

这就是历史。

A bloody and undeniable history.

Chen Zhiyuan opened his eyes, picked up a pen, and wrote eight names on the paper.

Fan Yongdou, Wang Dengku, Jin Liangyu, Wang Dayu, Liang Jiabin, Tian Shenglan, Zhai Tang, Huang Yunfa.

He looked at the eight names with a cold gaze.

It is only the third year of the Chongzhen reign.

These people had not yet become the "Eight Great Imperial Merchants," their businesses had not yet grown that large, and their networks of connections in the court were not yet that deep.

But signs have already appeared.

Last year, Huang Taiji broke through the pass and entered the border, and was able to enter the north of Ji as if it were empty land. Was it really just because the border troops were incompetent?

Chen Zhiyuan didn't believe it.

Chen Zhiyuan gripped the pen tightly.

They are traitors.

They are even more hateful traitors than generals who defect on the battlefield.

A traitorous general surrenders, at least openly.

These merchants, while making money in the Ming Dynasty and enjoying the status of Ming citizens, were also selling border defense intelligence of the Ming Dynasty to the enemy.

When the enemy invades, they can transform themselves into "good merchants who help the people."

That's quite a clever scheme.

Chen Zhiyuan took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

Now is not the time to be angry.

Anger is useless.

He has to find a way to dig out these malignant tumors.

Fortunately, Zhu Youjian had already ordered Luo Yangxing to investigate.

Although it was just a covert investigation, and only for ten days, it was still a start.

Chen Zhiyuan believed that as long as they investigated, they would definitely find something.

Because these people's businesses have become too big and too flashy.

Do they really think that having someone in the court to speak for them means they can rest easy?

Do they really think that donating some money and food can absolve them of all their crimes?

childish.

Chen Zhiyuan shook his head, then thought of those officials who spoke up for the Shanxi merchants.

Are these people truly acting out of loyalty and righteousness?

I'm afraid not.

Why was Zheng Sanjun in such a hurry to jump out?

Was it really just out of public interest?

Chen Zhiyuan sorted through the original owner's memories.

This person was demoted during the Tianqi era for impeaching the eunuch faction, and was considered a member of the "pure stream" (a group of upright officials).

However, being a "pure stream" does not equate to being incorruptible, much less selfless.

After being reinstated in the first year of the Chongzhen reign, he first served in the Ministry of Rites, and was only transferred to the Court of Imperial Studs last year.

The Imperial Stud was in charge of horse administration, which was inextricably linked to border trade—especially horse trade with the Mongols and Jurchens.

Did Zheng Sanjun have any contact with Shanxi merchants while he was at the Imperial Stud Temple?

Have you ever received any benefits from them?

Chen Zhiyuan didn't know.

But he knew that there was no loyalty without a reason in this world.

As for Hou Xun—

Chen Zhiyuan frowned.

Hou Xun was a member of the Donglin Party, and the Donglin Party and Shanxi merchants should theoretically have little interaction.

The Donglin Party represented the interests of the gentry in Jiangnan, while the Shanxi merchants were from Shanxi; the two groups were not on the same side.

Hou Xun's behavior today was too abnormal.

His calm analysis and "objective" argument that Shanxi merchants could not possibly aid the enemy—this didn't seem like he was speaking up for Shanxi merchants; it seemed more like he was covering something up.

What are you trying to cover up?

Chen Zhiyuan suddenly remembered something.

In the first year of the Chongzhen reign, after Hou Xun was reinstated, he participated in a salt certificate reform within the Ministry of Revenue.

That reform involved Shanxi salt merchants.

Although Shanxi merchants started their businesses with border trade, the salt industry was also an important sector for them.

The salt lakes in Shanxi are mostly controlled by a few large merchants.

Did Hou Xun's participation in the salt certificate reform affect the interests of these people?

If so, then Hou Xun's speaking up for Shanxi merchants today might be some kind of compensation, or—a transaction.

Chen Zhiyuan dared not think any further.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt that this pool of water was unfathomably deep.

Factional strife.

These two words weighed on his heart like a mountain.

The factional strife during the Tianqi era was a struggle between the Donglin Party and the eunuch faction, a life-or-death struggle.

When Wei Zhongxian was in power, members of the Donglin Party were massacred, exiled, and persecuted, almost wiping out entire families.

When Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne, he purged the eunuch faction, and members of the Donglin Party rose up in rebellion.

It appears that the Donglin Party has won.

But actually?

The eunuch faction fell, but the factional strife continued.