Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 2: Loyal Ministers and Factional Struggles

Zhu Changluo's highest official position since childhood was only the class study committee member, so when he was carried to the Huangji Gate to attend the court, he was quite nervous. However, he looked so weak that no one could tell whether he was nervous or not.

He didn't actually have to come. He only needed to send a eunuch to inform the ministers that the emperor was ill.

The ministers stared at the emperor lying on the dragon throne in amazement, not knowing what was going on.

The first to jump out was Shi Menglin, the Imperial Censor of the Ministry of Rites: "Court ceremony is solemn and dignified. How can Your Majesty lie on the Dragon Throne and hold court?"

Do I really have to sit here? Zhu Changluo briefly recalled how Emperor Taichang was regarded in history: kind, decisive, and receptive to advice.

So he tried to stand up and began to play a role that matched these comments: "You are absolutely right."

But this was like stirring up a hornet's nest. Shi Menglin, far from quieting down, even enlisted several other censors to criticize the emperor. From his hair to his clothing, every visible part of him was criticized. Only Yang Lian, the military censor, remained silent.

Seeing this scene, Cui Wensheng's legs went numb with fear, fearing that these people would suddenly bite him.

But Wang An, the former eunuch who served as tutor to the crown prince and another eunuch in charge of writing in the Imperial Household Department who was promoted together with Cui Wensheng after the emperor ascended the throne, was nothing to be afraid of.

Wang An shouted, "The emperor is ill and still administering government. Instead of showing sympathy, you are lashing out at him. Is this how you serve as ministers?"

After hearing his words, people finally "discovered" that the emperor's complexion was not very healthy.

The censors shut up. If it were Emperor Wanli, he wouldn't have come to the court even if he wasn't sick, let alone if he was ill.

"Just report it if you have something to say." The only thing Zhu Changluo wanted to do now was to find a comfortable place to sleep.

"I request to stop the renovation of Huangji Palace!" Li Ruhua, the Minister of Revenue, walked to the front of the emperor with a tablet in his hand, knelt down and said in a loud voice.

Huangji Palace? Zhu Changluo racked his brains to recall the historical events related to this word.

Seeing that the emperor remained silent, the ministers thought that he was repeating the previous emperor's approach and using silence to resist the ministers' advice.

If you don't say anything, then I won't be polite. Li Ruhua continued, "When Your Majesty first ascended the throne, you ordered the Ministry of Revenue to announce the outstanding wages owed by Liaodong. The total amount owed by Liaodong is over 2.36 million taels. Although a treasury of one million taels was once issued, the outstanding wages are still 1.36 million taels. Under such circumstances, Your Majesty asked the Ministry of Revenue to allocate 2 million taels of silver to the Ministry of Works to rebuild the Huangji Hall. This is inappropriate. Therefore, I request that the repayment of Liaodong be prioritized and the construction of the Huangji Hall be suspended."

"Oh, so that's what's going on." Zhu Changluo understood.

Li Ruhua was a little annoyed, because such a reply usually meant a soft nail. But he didn't dare to persuade him anymore, because he was a non-partisan, and if the emperor wanted to remove him, no one would speak for him.

"Your Majesty, border defense should be the top priority," said Yang Lian, a military official. "In the 46th year of the Wanli reign, there was a rebellion in Liaodong, and the military pay was increased by three million yuan. The Ministry of Revenue requested a treasury treasury grant, but was denied. So, the land tax was increased throughout the country. Except for Guizhou, the land tax was increased by three and a half cents per mu, raising the total pay to two million yuan."

Li Ruhua was stunned. Was Yang Lian using the Huangji Palace incident as a pretext for him? Were these Donglin Party members so impatient?

Yang Lian stood behind Li Ruhua and could not see the cold sweat on the old minister's face.

"In the 47th year of the Wanli reign, the same land tax was added again."

"In the 48th year of the Wanli reign, the Ministry of War, under the pretext of recruiting soldiers and purchasing horses, and the Ministry of Works, under the pretext of manufacturing weapons, proposed to increase the tax by 1.2 million yuan."

"We have increased taxes three times, totaling 5.2 million taels of silver. The world can no longer afford it." Yang Lian's voice was the only one heard throughout the hall. "So, please prioritize border defense, halt the construction of the palace, and allocate funds from the treasury."

What is this guy trying to do? First the Ministry of Revenue, then the Emperor Shenzong's Imperial Treasury, then the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works, and finally asking the Emperor to take the money. Is he trying to emulate Hai Rui?

The emperor's expression grew increasingly grim, but Li Ruhua breathed a sigh of relief. "Since Yang Lian had pulled so many people out in one go, there was nothing to fear." Yang Lian finished. All eyes were fixed on Zhu Changluo, who sat propped up against the table. Officials from the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Works racked their brains for countermeasures, while those from the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Justice, who hadn't been called upon, looked on with anticipation.

The Zhejiang Party, Qi Party and Chu Party are sharpening their knives. It's time to use this opportunity to strike at the Donglin Party.

However, regardless of their stance, everyone present had a consensus: Yang Lian was in big trouble.

"Then don't do it," Zhu Changluo said startlingly. "As for the other matters, you spoke too much in one breath, and I can't process them all. After this meeting, write a report, or rather, a memorial after the court is dismissed. Submit it immediately after you're done."

If we don't prioritize border defense, disaster is imminent. If history had continued on its course, the following year, on March 12th of the first year of the Tianqi reign, Nurhaci led his troops to capture Shenyang. He Shixian, the deputy governor and garrison commander of Shenyang, was killed in action, and the entire 70,000-strong garrison was annihilated.

"Is there anything else? If not, the court will be adjourned." Zhu Changluo really could not bear it any longer. His head was swollen and painful like a watermelon that was about to explode due to excessive growth hormone.

"I have something to report." Minister of Personnel Zhou Jiamo hurried forward and knelt to report.

"Speak." Zhu Changluo bit his tongue hard and forced himself to wake up.

"When Your Majesty first ascended the throne, he ordered the Ministry of Personnel to select officials. After receiving the order, all the officials of the Ministry of Personnel worked day and night and finally sorted out the vacancies in the prefectures and counties of the two capitals and thirteen provinces, as well as the recommended candidates." Zhou Jiamo said.

Here they come! The Zhejiang, Qi, and Chu factions immediately understood what Zhou Jiamo meant. With the new emperor ascending the throne and the political situation gradually stabilizing, the Donglin Party was about to begin recruiting people across the country.

Zhou Jiamo certainly meant this. Although the Donglin Party hadn't instructed Yang Lian to exploit the Huangji Palace incident, and Yang Lian's words had startled them, the outcome was positive. The emperor's attitude clearly favored the Donglin Party. The era of a court dominated by righteous officials was finally approaching!
Zhu Changluo's eyes were bloodshot, his thoughts in disarray. But he understood Zhou Jiamo's meaning: personnel transfers. But this matter had to be suppressed. If the Donglin Party really allowed someone to get involved, he would have to support the eunuch party and rely on Wei Zhongxian to balance the situation.

But he only wanted ministers, not his own party.

But now, Zhu Changluo had to rely on the civil officials to expel Concubine Zheng. This could only be done by outsiders, after all, "ennobling Concubine Zheng as empress" was the will of Emperor Wanli. Only civil officials could raise the issue of veto, and the emperor could only "grudgingly agree." If Zhu Changluo himself vetoed the emperor's will, he would leave a handle for the censors to attack. By then, these people would not care whether they had previously opposed Concubine Zheng.

"I am very pleased that you have devoted yourself to state affairs." Zhu Changluo spoke.

It's over! The Zhejiang Party, the Qi Party, and the Chu Party—the morale of the three factions is completely lost. After today's court meeting, they will have no chance of turning things around.

"However, the affairs of the imperial court are not yet settled. Let's discuss them after I recover." The two sentences had no causal connection and sounded a bit abrupt. But high-ranking Donglin Party officials like Liu Yirong (Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion), Han Yu (Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion), Zhou Jiamo (Minister of Personnel), Zou Yuanbiao (Minister of the Supreme Court), and Sun Ruyou (Minister of Rites) understood. The emperor was hinting at eliminating Zheng.

What should be done? The Donglin Party members began to think.

Officials from the Zhejiang, Qi, and Chu factions, the three opposing factions to the Donglin Party, also began to think: How can they ruin the Donglin Party's plans without angering the emperor?

The next day, a palace secret spread like wildfire, detonating the entire court:

On August 10, "Concubine Zheng dressed up as a beautiful woman and presented her to the emperor", and the emperor "had favored several women in succession, and her appearance suddenly became less beautiful".

On August 11, the emperor attended court while ill and looked haggard.

On August 12, the emperor fell ill and did not attend court, claiming illness.

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(End of this chapter)