How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 177 Winning People Over with Virtue (Third Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets and Full Subscription)

On the 16th day of the seventh month of the second year of Chongzhen's reign, it was just barely dawn.

Wei Zhongxian's Ningguo Mansion was close to the imperial city, with high walls and a grand courtyard. It looked impressive, but it always exuded a sinister aura.

In a secluded room in the back courtyard, the windows were tightly sealed, blocking out all light; only a few tallow candles provided illumination. The flickering flames cast half-light and half-shadow on a person's face.

Wei Zhongxian, dressed in a chestnut-colored floral robe, slumped in a large huanghuali wood chair, hatless. He held a small hand warmer in his hands; the weather wasn't quite cool yet, and it was unclear what he was feeling cold about. He slowly rubbed the edge of the hand warmer with his fingers, his eyelids drooping, as if he hadn't fully woken up.

Minister of Justice Xue Zhen and Minister of Works Li Congxin sat on embroidered stools at the lower end. Both were dressed in their official robes, but at this moment they were stiff, their backs soaked with sweat and sticking to their sides.

They were "invited" before dawn. Not by the imperial guards of the Eastern Depot in their flying fish robes and embroidered spring knives, but by a few low-ranking officials in blue robes and caps. They spoke politely, but their eyes and demeanor made it impossible to refuse.

The room was eerily quiet, with only the occasional crackling of the candle wick and the varying breathing sounds of three people.

Xue Zhen couldn't help but steal a glance at Wei Zhongxian. Wei Zhongxian seemed to be asleep, but the smile on his lips was icy cold, making Xue Zhen's heart tremble.

Li Congxin panicked even more, clutching a jade pendant tightly in his hand until his fingers turned white.

After an unknown amount of time, Wei Zhongxian finally moved. He coughed softly, as if he had just woken up, and lifted his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over Xue Zhen and Li Congxin's faces.

"My two ministers," he began, his voice high-pitched and not loud, yet exceptionally clear in the room, "I'm sorry to trouble you two so early in the morning... it's an imperial order, and I have no choice."

Xue Zhen quickly bowed and said, "You flatter me, Eunuch Wei. We will follow your instructions."

Li Congxin nodded in agreement.

Wei Zhongxian smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes: "It's not so much about giving orders. It's just that you two were both present at yesterday's meeting in the East Pavilion. The matter of the militia training is stuck, and His Majesty... is not happy about it."

He paused, picked up the teacup beside him, blew away the foam, but didn't drink it.

"His Majesty sent me here to speak with you gentlemen. His Majesty said we must 'win people over with virtue.'" He put down his teacup, his gaze suddenly sharpening as if pricking the two men's faces with needles. "I am a rough man, I don't understand the grand principles of the sages. I only believe in one thing—we must win people's hearts. Isn't that the principle, you two ministers?"

Xue Zhen and Li Congxin's throats were dry, and they could only reply, "Yes, yes, Eunuch Wei is right."

"Hmm." Wei Zhongxian nodded and gave a wink to the eunuch beside him.

The young eunuch understood and quietly withdrew, returning shortly with two thick volumes, which he gently placed on the tea table beside Wei Zhongxian.

Xue Zhen and Li Congxin's eyes were immediately drawn to the blue cloth-covered dossier, and their hearts pounded.

Wei Zhongxian tapped the dossier with his long fingernails, speaking slowly and deliberately: "These are some old accounts. One is the record of the Ministry of Works' construction of the three main halls two years ago, the accounting for the materials and labor costs... The amounts seem to be a bit off."

Li Congxin's face turned pale instantly.

Wei Zhongxian moved his finger to another document: "This one is the case file from last year's autumn executions by the Ministry of Justice. There were a few damned pirates whose families bribed their way into being exiled to Lingnan. Heh, pirates from Guangdong being exiled to Lingnan... Minister Xue, you've really done a good job as the head of the Ministry of Justice!"

Sweat trickled down Xue Zhen's temples. He wanted to wipe it away, but dared not, his arm frozen in mid-air.

“However,” Wei Zhongxian changed the subject, his tone softening, “His Majesty is kind and considerate, remembering that you two are both veteran officials and were momentarily confused, so he allowed you to pay ‘punishment silver’ to make amends. Now that the silver has been paid, the matter should be considered closed.”

Xue Zhen and Li Congxin had just breathed a sigh of relief when Wei Zhongxian's next words made them feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

“This matter here is closed,” Wei Zhongxian leaned forward, his voice low and chilling. “But what if… these things accidentally fall into someone else’s hands? For example, with old man Sun Chengzong? You two know his temper; he can’t tolerate any nonsense. If he takes these, he’ll impeach you two at the next court meeting for ‘deceiving the emperor’ and ‘embezzlement and dereliction of duty’…”

The reason why Emperor Chongzhen employed the Donglin Party was largely to get them to attack the eunuch faction!
Of course, the eunuch faction would also attack Donglin!

Dogfighting! That's how it's played.

Wei Zhongxian deliberately stopped, looked at the two men's pale faces, and slowly leaned back.

"By then, even if His Majesty wanted to protect you, I'm afraid it would be... difficult."

The room was deathly silent. Xue Zhen and Li Congxin could both hear their own teeth chattering.

Wei Zhongxian, having thoroughly enjoyed the fear on the two men's faces, slowly spoke: "Some things, you know, don't weigh much until you put them on the scale. But once you're on that scale..." He extended his withered finger and lightly pressed down, "a thousand jin, ten thousand jin, and it won't hold! You two ministers, tell me, should we put them on the scale, or not?"

He stared at the two men and asked, word by word, "The key is whether you have the virtue to understand His Majesty's good intentions and handle this militia training task well. This is called—winning people over with virtue."

Wei Zhongxian leaned back, narrowing his eyes: "My two ministers, do you submit or not?" Xue Zhen and Li Congxin knelt down with a thud, their foreheads hitting the cold floor tiles, their voices trembling: "We submit! We submit! Eunuch Wei... His Majesty is right! This humble official... This humble official is foolish and knows his mistake! This humble official knows what to do!"

Wei Zhongxian's face broke into a genuine smile, like a withered chrysanthemum. "Get up. You two are pillars of the nation; what kind of behavior is this, kneeling like this? It's good that you understand His Majesty's good intentions, that's good enough."

The East Warm Pavilion of Qianqing Palace presents a completely different scene.

The window was open, letting in the bright morning light. Emperor Chongzhen, now dressed in his court robes, sat behind his desk. Wang Chengen stood beside him, hands at his sides.

Zhang Zhiji, the heir apparent of the Duke of Ying, entered first. He was dressed in a qilin robe and bowed respectfully.

"You've arrived, sit down." Chongzhen's tone was still relatively gentle.

The eunuch brought over an embroidered stool, and Zhang Zhiji thanked him for his kindness, carefully sitting down on one side of his buttocks.

"You were also present at yesterday's court meeting," Chongzhen said bluntly. "The matter of the militia training is stalled."

Zhang Zhiji's heart tightened, and he hurriedly said, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty heard it. However... It is inappropriate for nobles and relatives to interfere in politics, so I dare not speak recklessly."

Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand: "I know your difficulties. The Duke of Ying's family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, and I trust them."

He then changed the subject: "Fanyang, think about it, if the Jurchens break through the pass again and their iron hooves trample across the capital region, can your Duke of Ying's mansion protect those good estates in Shuntian and Yongping?"

Sweat beaded on Zhang Zhiji's forehead: "Your Majesty's wisdom is profound; I...I dare not even think of such a thing."

"If the skin is gone, where will the hair attach?" Emperor Chongzhen tapped his desk. "I'm not asking you to do your work for nothing. There are countless things to do in organizing the militia, especially coordinating the provisions and pay. We need a capable person to go to Jiangnan to oversee things. Nanjing is still lacking a meritorious official to guard it!"

Zhang Zhiji's heart skipped a beat. Nanjing! That was a good place, far from the front lines, a lucrative post!
Emperor Chongzhen looked at him and said, "After much consideration, I've decided that your Duke of Ying's mansion has enough prestige. I'll feel at ease if you go to oversee the region, coordinate the grain and provisions in Jiangnan, and support the local militias in the north. What do you think?"

This is a great reward! It's a way to get him out of this dangerous place! Zhang Zhiji was both surprised and delighted. He immediately rose from his seat and knelt down: "Your Majesty trusts me greatly, I would gladly die for you! I...I will certainly do my utmost to organize the local militia and repay Your Majesty's grace!"

"Alright, get up." Chongzhen nodded. "Dedicate your loyalty well... When you get to Nanjing, remember to help me reorganize the Beijing garrison there."

Zhang Zhiji thanked him profusely and left with light steps.

Next to enter was Marquis Wuqing, Li Chengming. As soon as he entered, he sensed something was amiss. Emperor Chongzhen's expression had darkened considerably.

After Li Chengming finished his greetings, Chongzhen did not offer him a seat but asked directly, "Marquis of Wuqing, among the noble families in Beizhili, your Marquis of Wuqing's estate must have the most and the best estates, right?"

Li Chengming's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down: "Your Majesty... Your subject... Your subject..."

Chongzhen ignored him and continued, "Previously, many meritorious officials in the court, in order to prove their innocence, paid bribes and offered land as redemption. I remember that your Wuqing Marquis's residence, however, did not move an inch of land, did it?"

These words were like knives stabbing him. Li Chengming knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, please forgive me! I...I was confused!"

Emperor Chongzhen did not touch the land of the Marquis of Wuqing's family, not because he was kind-hearted, but because the Marquis of Wuqing had been working as the Vice Minister of the Imperial Clan Court. If Chongzhen wanted to take action against a prince, he needed the Marquis of Wuqing's cooperation.

Emperor Chongzhen looked at him coldly: "I'm not trying to dredge up old grievances. But the militia is there to protect your lives and property! Other families have suffered losses, and your Wuqing Marquis's Mansion thinks you can escape unscathed? There's no such logic in this world!"

"Your subject dares not! Your subject dares not!" Li Chengming was terrified.

"I will not force you to hand over the land for redemption." Chongzhen's tone softened slightly, but carried an undeniable command. "However, you will be responsible for the task of procuring grain and funds for the Shuntian Prefecture militia... At the next court meeting, I await your loyalty! If you fail to do so, or if you are outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant..."

Emperor Chongzhen snorted and said nothing more.

Li Chengming dared not hesitate, tears streaming down his face as he pledged, "Your subject obeys! Your subject will certainly do a good job! I would never dare to make a mistake! I would never dare!"

After Li Chengming left, the East Warm Pavilion became quiet.

Wang Chengen asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, would you like some snacks?"

Emperor Chongzhen shook his head, his gaze passing through the window to the gray sky outside the palace. Wei Zhongxian had been "winning people over with virtue" in Ningguo Mansion, but here he was using both force and persuasion; this game had only just begun to move forward.

Next, we still have to deal with those two old foxes, Wang Zaijin and Bi Ziyan, and then there's Sun Chengzong... What can we say about him? In his past life, because he didn't properly train the local militia, his entire family became martyrs! If he could have established a "direct line" instead, things wouldn't have come to this.

He let out a soft breath. Being an emperor must be exhausting.

(End of this chapter)