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

He figured it out.

Chen Zhiyuan was steer the conversation in one direction.

It steers the discussion towards the military spending issue.

It's leading people in the direction of corruption.

The problem is, now is not the time to discuss this.

The Dengzhou-Laizhou mutiny is imminent; three thousand men are besieging the city, and more could die at any moment.

Discussing corruption at this point won't solve the problem.

But if I don't say it now, will I have another chance to say it later?

Zhu Youjian suddenly spoke.

"Chen Zhiyuan, I understand everything you've said. But the most important thing now is, what should we do with Dengzhou and Laizhou?"

Chen Zhiyuan remained silent for a while.

"Your Majesty, I believe that we can find a solution to the Dengzhou-Laizhou issue by dealing with the Shanxi merchants."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhou Yanru paused for a moment and looked at Chen Zhiyuan.

Cheng Jiming's eyes flickered.

Liang Tingdong's expression changed.

Zhu Youjian's eyes lit up.

Cheng Jiming said, "Chen Qianxian, do you mean to confiscate the property of Shanxi merchants?"

Chen Zhiyuan said, "Yes. But it's not confiscation, it's public confiscation. According to the Ming Dynasty Code, those who collude with the enemy and aid the enemy shall have their nine generations of relatives executed and their property confiscated. The eight Shanxi merchants have conclusive evidence, so beheading and confiscating their property is perfectly justified."

Zhou Yanru said, "But Shanxi merchants have deep roots in Shanxi and many connections with officials in the imperial court. If we act suddenly, I'm afraid..."

Chen Zhiyuan looked at him: "Grand Secretary Zhou, it is precisely because it involves so many people that we must take action. If we don't kill a group of people and confiscate the property of a group of people, those people in the court will never be afraid."

Zhou Yanru fell silent.

Cheng Jiming was silent for a moment, then said, "Chen Qianxian, what you said makes sense. But the Shanxi merchant case is still under investigation, and the evidence is not conclusive. The Dengzhou-Laizhou mutiny can't wait that long."

Chen Zhiyuan said, "We can wait. Arrest people first, confiscate their homes first. Allocate the confiscated money to Dengzhou and Laizhou first. The case can be tried slowly, and the people can be executed slowly. But we need the money now."

Zhu Youjian looked at him.

Chen Zhiyuan said, "I estimate that the combined assets of the eight Shanxi merchants are more than 300,000 taels of silver."

"The Fan Yongdou family owns three warehouses in Zhangjiakou, tens of thousands of acres of farmland in their hometown in Shanxi, and four or five shops in Beijing. If they were confiscated, there would be no less than 300,000 taels."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Moreover, I believe this matter should be done publicly."

Cheng Jiming frowned: "Publicly?"

Chen Zhiyuan said, "Yes. Send the official gazette to the various provincial administration offices and post notices in Shuntian Prefecture and Yingtian Prefecture."

"Tell the world that Shanxi merchants have colluded with the enemy and are aiding and abetting them; their property will be confiscated and they will be beheaded. The confiscated money will be allocated to pay salaries in Dengzhou and Laizhou. Let the world know where the court's money comes from and where it goes."

Zhou Yanru's expression changed.

He suddenly understood what Chen Zhiyuan wanted to do.

This isn't about money, it's about lives.

Openly confiscating the homes of Shanxi merchants and openly allocating funds to Dengzhou and Laizhou was tantamount to linking the Shanxi merchants with the Dengzhou-Laizhou mutiny.

Then everyone in the world will know that the military pay for Dengzhou and Laizhou was embezzled from Shanxi merchants who colluded with the enemy.

Would those officials with ties to Shanxi merchants still dare to be touched?

Would those who wanted to cause trouble through a military coup still dare to do so?

Cheng Jiming also figured it out.

He looked at Chen Zhiyuan with a complicated expression.

This young man is ruthless.

Zhu Youjian's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

He stood up and walked up to Chen Zhiyuan.

"You mean, do it publicly?"

Chen Zhiyuan said, "Yes. Do it openly. Let everyone know what the court is doing and why. Let everyone see what will happen to those who collude with the enemy."

Zhu Youjian said, "Okay."

He turned around and looked at Liang Tingdong.

"Liang Tingdong, how long can you hold out in Dengzhou and Laizhou?"

Liang Tingdong said, "Sun Yuanhua is defending the city, and Zhang Tao is wounded, but Dengzhou and Laizhou are high and deeply fortified, and three thousand men cannot take them down. If we can hold out for ten days or half a month, we will find a way."

Zhu Youjian said, "No need for ten days. Five days."

He looked at Cheng Jiming.

"Mr. Cheng, draft the decree. Luo Yangxing, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is to immediately arrest eight Shanxi merchants, including Fan Yongdou and Wang Dengku, and confiscate their property. The money seized should be prioritized for the Dengzhou and Laizhou military pay. The process of confiscating property should be recorded by the Office of Transmission and documented in detail in the official gazette."

Cheng Jiming bowed and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Zhu Youjian looked at Zhou Yanru.

"Mr. Zhou, go to the Ministry of Revenue and have Bi Ziyan set up a separate account for the money confiscated from the Shanxi merchants. Every tael of silver allocated to Dengzhou and Laizhou must be clearly recorded and kept on file for future reference."

Zhou Yanru bowed and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Zhu Youjian looked at Chen Zhiyuan.

"Chen Zhiyuan, continue investigating the military expenditure case. The money in the Shanxi merchant case has nothing to do with the military expenditure case. Focus on your investigation, don't get distracted."

Chen Zhiyuan said, "Your subject understands."

Zhu Youjian waved his hand.

"You may all leave."

The four people left the Qianqing Palace.

No one spoke as they walked along the passageway.

After exiting the Donghua Gate, Cheng Jiming stopped in his tracks.

He looked at Chen Zhiyuan for a long time.

"Chen Qianxian, I finally understand today."

Chen Zhiyuan looked at him.

Cheng Jiming said, "You made a ruthless move."

Chen Zhiyuan said, "I am merely stating the facts."

Cheng Jiming shook his head, said nothing, and turned to leave.

Zhou Yanru paused for a moment as he walked past Chen Zhiyuan.

"Do you know how many people you'll offend with the Shanxi merchants' affairs?"

Chen Zhiyuan said, "I know."

Zhou Yanru looked at him with a complicated expression.

"You...you really aren't afraid of death."

After saying that, he left.

Liang Tingdong was the last to leave.

He glanced at Chen Zhiyuan, said nothing, and turned to leave.

Chen Zhiyuan stood there, watching the three figures disappear into the night.

A cool night breeze was blowing.

He looked up at the sparse stars in the sky.

He knew he had made the right move.

The Shanxi merchants' case and the Dengzhou-Laizhou mutiny were originally two separate events. But he linked them together, using the Shanxi merchants' money to alleviate the crisis in Dengzhou and Laizhou.

With the money secured, the mutiny quelled, the Shanxi merchants killed, and the case closed.

Kill four birds with one stone.

But he also knew that this move was too drastic.

He knew better than anyone the connections between Shanxi merchants and court officials.

Those who had taken money from Shanxi merchants, those who had spoken up for them, and those who had done business with them all hated him to the core.

But so what?

He's already come this far.

To retreat is to die.

Go in, and maybe you can still live.

Chen Zhiyuan took a deep breath and strode towards the Censorate.

In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youjian sat alone behind his desk.

He stared at the candlelight, lost in thought for a long time.

Chen Zhiyuan's method is indeed good.

Using the money of Shanxi merchants to solve the urgent problems in Dengzhou and Laizhou is a win-win situation.

But he knew that this was only a temporary solution.

The urgent situation in Dengzhou and Laizhou has been resolved, but there are still urgent situations in Liaodong, Xuanda, and Jizhou.

All nine border regions are in arrears with their pay, bandits are still causing trouble, and people are still fleeing.

Where does the money come from?

The Shanxi merchants were plundered, but there were other merchants too.

After the merchants finished looting, there were still officials to deal with.

After the officials were finished, the imperial family members were next. And what happened after that?

Zhu Youjian closed his eyes.

He recalled Chen Zhiyuan's budget draft.

Live within your means, calculate expenses in advance, and be open and transparent.

That's the real solution.

But it can't be taken out yet.

The Dengzhou-Laizhou mutiny has not yet been quelled, the Shanxi merchants' case has not yet been resolved, and the military expenditure case is still under investigation.

Bringing it out now will only make things more complicated.

hold on.

Once Dengzhou and Laizhou are pacified, the Shanxi merchants are killed, and the military expenditure case is investigated, then we can take it.

At that time, anyone who opposes will be going against the border troops, against the people, and against the whole country.

Zhu Youjian opened his eyes, picked up the vermilion pen on his desk, and wrote a line on a blank imperial edict.

"Luo Yangxing, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is hereby ordered to immediately arrest Fan Yongdou, Wang Dengku, and eight other Shanxi merchants, confiscate their property, and punish them severely according to the law. This is the imperial decree."

He put down his pen, looked at the line of words, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

This time, he wanted everyone to see it.

Look at what happened to those who colluded with the enemy.