How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 149 Wei Zhongxian: Your Majesty, your free meal has arrived (Fourth update, please subscribe!)

When Zheng Zhilong returned to the merchant house where he was staying, the composure on his face instantly crumbled. He closed the study door behind him, walked to the table, picked up the cold teapot, and took several large gulps of tea from the spout.

"Elder Brother?" Yang Tiansheng followed in, his face equally grim. "Wei the eunuch's 'highest bidder wins' move is too ruthless! He's forcing us to fight to the death with that brute Liu Xiang!"

"Fight?" Zheng Zhilong put down the teapot, wiped his mouth, and his eyes were cold and hard. "Can we not fight? Jeju Island is holding Japan by the throat! If Liu Xiang takes it, our business in Japan will depend on him! And if he keeps his princely title, will we still have a place to stand at sea?"

He walked to the window, looked at the dock, and remained silent for a moment before his tone softened: "The imperial court established the 'Seven Major Ports' to monopolize land trade and collect taxes. But our source of wealth lies at sea! The court controls the ports, we control the shipping routes! Land and sea can work together."

Yang Tiansheng's eyes lit up: "What you mean, brother?"

"Let's join forces by land and sea and make a fortune together!" Zheng Zhilong declared resolutely. "From now on, only ships flying our flag will be allowed to sail safely and be qualified to enter those seven ports! Conversely, only ships exiting those seven ports will be worthy of our escort! The imperial court will collect tariffs, and we'll collect protection fees! This is a win-win situation!"

He turned around abruptly: "Therefore, we must take Jeju Island! This title of Prince must be on my head! Only with this title can we legitimately discuss 'maritime rules' with the imperial court!"

"Make a quote!" He stared at Yang Tiansheng. "You handle this personally! Include all the gold, silver, jewels, and rare goods from Southeast Asia that are in the treasury! Also include Siamese rice, Annamese rice, Indian saltpeter, and Japanese sulfur! And also, report 20,000 Japanese arquebuses and Foshan dove-shaped muskets! Let the Emperor see that our Zheng family can not only provide the money, but also the military funds to pacify the world! The total value should be reported as over two million taels! Be ruthless! Make Liu Xiang feel suffocated, let him know that he can't compete for this title of prince!"

Yang Tiansheng gasped, "Brother, isn't this... a bit too much? If we add in the expenses for bribing officials and other people, we're afraid half of our savings will be gone!"

"You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub!" Zheng Zhilong waved his hand. "With this royal title, we can legitimately sell official positions in Jeju Island! We can then interfere with military supplies in Liaodong! This little bit of money is nothing! Smash it! Smash it to death!"

"Yes!" Yang Tiansheng was aroused by this fierceness, bowed and accepted the order, and hurriedly went out to make arrangements.

Zheng Zhilong walked to the window, his gaze sharp. He pondered for a moment, then beckoned to a trusted subordinate and whispered, "Go, 'inadvertently' let Liu Xiang's men know our offer. Let him understand that he's not qualified to compete with me."

……

The news spread like wildfire, quickly reaching the courtyard where Liu Xiang was staying.

Liu Xiang was still furious about what happened during the day when she heard the news from her subordinate, and she smashed her teacup!

"Damn it! Two million taels?! And he even reported military supplies and provisions? Zheng Yiguan is a murderer! He's trying to drive me to my death!" His eyes were bloodshot as he paced around the room like a trapped beast. "What's the point of arguing about this! Go back to Guangdong! Gather the men! Fight him to the death! I'll make him a ghost king!"

"Boss! Wake up!" Liu Yueying grabbed him, her voice urgent. "What are we fighting with? The Zheng family is already powerful, and now they've climbed up to the imperial court. They have money and cannons! If we fight head-on, we'll be throwing our brothers' lives into a fire pit!"

"What can we do if we don't fight? Just wait to die?" Liu Xiang shouted, her neck stiff.

Master Ding hurriedly stepped forward: "Boss, Miss is right! We can't fight head-on! We...we need to find another backer!"

"Who the hell would dare to go against the Emperor and Zheng Yiguan?"

“Wei Zhongxian!” Master Ding lowered his voice, his eyes gleaming. “Wei Zhongxian is the Emperor’s white glove, doing all the dirty work! If Zheng Zhilong is made a prince, he’ll be a vassal king! And he’s still colluding with the Donglin Party! Can Wei Zhongxian trust him? We’ll pledge allegiance to him, be his tools! Be his eyes and ears at sea! And what will he do? He’ll have to protect us in court! He’ll make things easy for us in the seven major ports! And if we really clash with the Zheng family in the future, he can speak up for us before the Emperor!”

Liu Xiang was stunned, her face turning ugly: "Trying to join the eunuch? I..."

"Boss!" Liu Yueying interrupted him, her tone resolute, "Is your reputation more important, or the lives and the foundation of our brothers? Serving as a tool for Eunuch Wei is a way to survive! Fighting Zheng Yiguan is a dead end!"

Liu Xiang glanced at his sister, then at the advisor, his chest heaving violently. Finally, he stamped his foot and gritted his teeth, saying, "Damn it! Let's do it! How do we surrender?"

“Prepare generous gifts tonight and go to pay our respects to Eunuch Wei!” said Master Ding.

……

The night was deep. Deep within the Tianjin Maritime Trade Office, the courtyard was eerily quiet.

Liu Xiang, Liu Yueying, and Master Ding followed the young eunuch who led the way, bowed, and knelt down. "We, Liu Xiang (Liu Yueying and Ding Xuewen), pay our respects to Eunuch Wei."

Wei Zhongxian lay sprawled on the warm couch, his eyelids closed, and he hummed in response.

Master Ding crawled two steps on his knees and presented the brocade box: "Father-in-law, my master is grateful for your teachings and has prepared this small gift to show his respect to you."

Eunuch Zhang took the box and peeked through a crack. Wei Zhongxian then lazily opened his eyes, glanced at the pearly light, and said indifferently, "Just leave it there."

Master Ding quickly kowtowed: "Your Excellency, Zheng Zhilong is a wolf in sheep's clothing. If he obtains the title of prince, he will surely become a great threat to the court! My Liu family is willing to serve you like dogs and horses, at your beck and call! We would go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Wei Zhongxian didn't reply, but his gaze fell on Liu Yueying standing to the side. In the dim light, the woman had lowered her eyes and a slender figure. She looked perfect for being the emperor's "kept woman"!

“Miss Liu,” he suddenly spoke, his tone softening, “how old are you? Do you have any responsibilities in the Liu family?”

Liu Yueying's heart skipped a beat, and she replied respectfully, "Your Excellency, I am twenty years old. My brother has been kind enough to help me with some accounts and general affairs."

"Oh? You manage the accounts? That's rare." Wei Zhongxian became even more interested. "Have you promised anyone to do so?"

Liu Yueying blushed, a look of pain flashing in her eyes, and said in a low voice, "I once made a promise... but before we were married, that person died in a naval battle with the Zheng family... and we never discussed it again."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhongxian showed no sympathy; instead, a slight smile appeared on his lips. He nodded: "Hmm, good... women are just as capable as men. Good, very good."

He stopped looking at her and said to Liu Xiang and the others, "I know your intentions. When you go to the capital to meet the Emperor, prepare the procedures and submit them in a sealed envelope. As for the meeting with the Emperor..." He drew out his words, his tone meaningful, "...I will take care of everything. His Majesty...is most considerate of his subjects, especially...you all. Just be loyal, and your future wealth and honor will be within your grasp."

Liu Xiang was bewildered, only noticing that the eunuch's attitude had suddenly softened. Liu Yueying, however, felt her heart pounding; those ambiguous words and gazes burned within her. This damned eunuch wouldn't want to take advantage of this commoner—no, this heroine, would he?
"Thank you for your kindness, sir!" Master Ding kowtowed repeatedly.

Wei Zhongxian waved his hand, seemingly weary: "Go. Make proper preparations. I'll be waiting for your... 'bid'."

The last two words were spoken lightly, yet his gaze swept over Liu Yueying.

The three of them felt as if they had been granted a pardon and left.

A night breeze blew, and Liu Xiang finally caught her breath: "That eunuch talks like a coward! What does he mean?"

Master Ding wiped his sweat: "Boss, good news! Eunuch Wei... has taken a liking to us!"

Liu Yueying gazed towards the dark, gloomy direction of the capital, her palms feeling cold. The more she listened to Wei Zhongxian's incoherent words, the more suspicious they seemed!
A bright future and wealth? Just a flick of the wrist.

What does he want?
Night had fallen, but the warm pavilion of the Qianqing Palace was still lit. Emperor Chongzhen put down his vermilion brush and rubbed his throbbing forehead. The eunuch Wang Chengen quietly stepped forward and handed him a letter marked "Express Delivery Immediately."

"Your Majesty, a secret report from Tianjin, delivered by Eunuch Wei via express courier, is here at a speed of 600 li."

Chongzhen took the letter and tore off the sealing wax. The letter was written by Xiao Shunzi, a subordinate of Wei Zhongxian. The beginning was densely filled with Zheng Zhilong's quoted price: 1.2 million taels of silver, antiques estimated at 300,000 taels, 200,000 shi of Siamese and Annamite rice, 50,000 jin each of Indian saltpeter and Japanese sulfur, 10,000 Japanese cannons, 1,000 Foshan-made muskets… All this added up to far more than 2 million taels. The letter also specifically stated that Zheng Zhilong was determined to obtain Jeju Island and the title of Prince, and that his men had already spread the word.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Chongzhen's lips twitched, his expression unreadable, a mixture of joy and worry. He was pleased that Zheng Zhilong's gifts, especially the grain, saltpeter, and so many firearms, were exactly what the court desperately needed to deal with the pirates and the eastern barbarians. This showed that the pirate leader was wealthy and adept at understanding the emperor's intentions. However, he was also worried. This man had money, cannons, and a cunning mind; if he were truly made a king, he might be difficult to control in the future!

He continued reading, and the text then mentioned Liu Xiang. "...Xiang Kou is in dire straits. His younger sister, Liu, is twenty years old, of good appearance, and was betrothed but widowed before the wedding. She now helps her brother manage the accounts; she is no ordinary young lady. Judging from her brother's intentions, he wants to seek refuge in the inner court. This girl could perhaps be sent to the palace; the dowry her brother would provide would certainly be substantial, and it would also allow her to have more options at sea..."

Emperor Chongzhen chuckled a few times, picked up the rosewood thermos on his desk, and sipped the tea infused with goji berries: "Wei Daban handled this matter perfectly. It suits my taste perfectly!"

Having said that, his gaze returned to the secret document, his finger lightly tapping on "dowry," and he muttered to himself, "Why didn't I know how delicious it was to live off a woman before?"

(End of this chapter)