How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 185 Huang Taiji Plans a Sneak Attack, Emperor Chongzhen Takes a New Concubine (Seeking Subscriptions)
The city of Daning, located beyond the Great Wall, was originally the headquarters of the Daning Guard Commandery during the Ming Dynasty. Now it has become the residence of Huang Taiji, the Khan of the Jin Dynasty.

Autumn was deep, and the wind from beyond the Great Wall was biting cold, like a knife. Inside the government office hall, although several charcoal braziers were lit, they couldn't dispel the chilly atmosphere.

Huang Taiji wasn't wearing a heavy sable coat, but only a dark purple satin robe with subtle patterns. He sat on a tiger-skin-covered chair at the head of the table. Standing below him were Hauge, Dorgon, Fan Wencheng, Ning Wanwo, and Xifu, who had just returned. Their faces were grave as they waited for Xifu to speak.

Xifu, travel-worn and with a slightly hoarse voice, bowed even lower before speaking: "Great Khan, I have seen Huduntu."

"Hmm, what did he say?" Huang Taiji's voice was not loud, but it made the hall even quieter.

“He…he agreed to the alliance.” Xi Fu paused, glancing furtively at Huang Taiji’s expression, before continuing with a forced smile, “But the ‘deposit’ he’s asking for is a bit…a bit exorbitant.”

"Speak," Huang Taiji said without even lifting his eyelids.

“He wants a thousand Korean craftsmen, ten of our newly cast Tiger Crouching Cannons, two thousand top-quality warhorses, plus ten thousand taels of silver.” Xifu finished speaking in one breath and quickly added, “Moreover, these things must be delivered to his Chahar Khanate first before he will send troops.”

These words were like a stone thrown into a stagnant pool.

"Bullshit!" Hauge was the first to explode, his face red and his neck thick. "Father! This is clearly extortion! He's cheating our bondservants and our good stuff! He's treating us like suckers!"

Dorgon frowned, his tone still relatively steady, but the chill in his voice was even greater: "Great Khan, the First Prince is right. Huduntu is greedy and untrustworthy; he's trying to get something for nothing. Our elite troops are protecting the bondservant and cannons deep into his territory. If he turns his back on us, our thousand-plus men and ten cannons will just be meat sent to him to eat!"

Several banner chiefs and princes below echoed this sentiment, all agreeing that the terms were outrageous and the risks too great. A commotion erupted in the hall.

Huang Taiji remained silent, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of his chair. Only when the noise subsided did he raise his eyes, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Xifu's face.

"If he dares to ask, I, the Khan, will give it to him." Huang Taiji's voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable determination. "Not only will I give it, but I will give it to him readily!"

Everyone was stunned.

Huang Taiji stood up, walked to the huge map hanging on the wall, and pointed heavily at the location of the Chahar tribe.

"Emperor Yangguli!" he shouted suddenly.

A tall, strong-looking, middle-aged general immediately stepped forward and knelt on one knee: "Your subject is here!" This was none other than Baturu Yangguli, a fierce general of the Two Yellow Banners who was famous during the Tianming era.

"I order you to immediately select one thousand elite soldiers from the two Yellow Banners' Bayara and Majia! Dress them all in tattered clothes, smear some ash on their faces, and disguise them as those listless Korean slaves! You will be the leader of these one thousand 'slaves'!"

“Yes, sir!” Yangulli’s voice was loud and clear, without the slightest hesitation.

"Prince Consort Tong Yangxing!" Huang Taiji called out another person.

Tong Yangxing, who was in charge of the Han army's firearms, quickly stepped forward and knelt down: "Your subject is here!"

"Select two hundred of your most skilled Han soldiers who cannon-wield artillery, and have them escort those ten newly forged Tiger Crouching Cannons with you! The cannons are for Hu Duntu to 'celebrate' his arrival; at the crucial moment, they will blast open the gates of his Khan's tent for me!"

"I understand!"

"Send another five hundred cavalrymen to escort two thousand warhorses and ten thousand taels of silver as guards. This 'treasure-presenting' team will total one thousand seven hundred men, all under the command of Yang Guli!"

Huang Taiji turned around, his gaze fixed intently on Yang Guli: "Your mission is not to attend the alliance meeting, but to send him to his death! While Hu Duntu is receiving gifts and getting carried away, use the sound of cannons as a signal to coordinate an attack from within and without, and flatten his Khanate and cut off his head!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! I will not fail in my mission!" Yang Guli's eyes flashed with a fierce light as he kowtowed heavily.

With the assignments finalized, Huang Taiji turned to Hauge and Dorgon: "You two stay in Daning, raise more flags, send out more scouts, make it seem as if I am still here, and firmly attract the attention of the southern barbarians."

“Then Father Khan…” Hauge couldn’t help but ask.

"This Khan?" Huang Taiji sneered. "This Khan will personally lead a large army and silently follow Yangguli and his men. As long as they succeed ahead, this Khan will immediately send the entire army to engulf the Chahar tribe!"

Everyone then understood Huang Taiji's entire plan—to uproot Hudun Rabbit! They were filled with admiration and respect.
"Get ready, and be quick!" Huang Taiji waved his hand.

The generals responded with a resounding roar and quickly left the hall to deploy their troops. The once quiet city of Daning was suddenly filled with undercurrents, and a chilling atmosphere permeated the air. Huang Taiji stood alone before the map, gazing in the direction of the Chahar tribe, a cold smile playing on his lips.

He had been coaxing Hudun Tuhan for more than half a year, and had almost completely fooled him, so it was the perfect time to take him down in one fell swoop.

Once the Chahar tribe is captured, the southern steppe will be within our grasp. With the southern steppe, the northern steppe will not be difficult to conquer.

Once the Jin Dynasty had control of southern and northern Mongolia, Liaodong, eastern Mongolia, and Korea, its national power would be comparable to that of the historical Liao Dynasty. Even if it were to confront the Ming Dynasty from the north and south, it would not be at a disadvantage.

If we can find a breach in the wall of Xuanda and break through, the situation will be even better.
……

Early October, Beijing, the Forbidden City, Yonghe Palace.

The weather here is warmer than in the northern frontier, but it is still late autumn. Emperor Chongzhen leaned back on the soft couch, his face showing some fatigue. Consort Liu (Liu Yueying) sat on a small stool beside him, several thick account books spread out on the small table in front of her. She was fiddling with an exquisite gold abacus, the beads clicking, doing the accounts for the Imperial Treasury, occasionally glancing at him.

Emperor Chongzhen also held an account book in his hand, and the more he looked at it, the more his brows furrowed.

"Yueying, this account... it's making my heart pound." Chongzhen put down the account book and rubbed his temples. "Lu Xiang-sheng is organizing local militias in Shuntian and Yongping. It's only just begun, but it's like a bottomless pit. The imperial treasury has already spent 80,000 taels. And this is just the beginning?"

Liu Yueying stopped using the abacus and sighed softly, "Your Majesty, this is just the initial funding. From feeding the people and horses to manufacturing equipment and constructing fortifications, everything will require money. Governor Lu is a money-devouring beast. Although the likin tax in Shuntian and Yongping can cover some of it, to truly make Shuntian and Yongping as impregnable as a fortress, the imperial treasury will still need to provide some subsidies."

"Yes." Chongzhen stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the desolate autumn scenery outside. "And that 'Great Ming Europa Trade Company,' Wang Chengen and a few knowledgeable eunuchs estimated that with a few hundred thousand, they could probably get this licensed trading company up and running. After thinking it over, I still think we have to get it started!"

He turned around, his face filled with deep sorrow.

Liu Yueying felt sorry for him and gently advised, "Your Majesty, please don't worry too much. Sister Yang and her brother Yang Qi have arrived in Beijing. The 500,000 taels of silver plus 100,000 taels of jewelry have all been transported by sea."

Upon hearing Liu Yueying's words, the worry on Chongzhen's face immediately faded considerably.

"Xu Yingyuan".

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Xu Yingyuan replied, understanding immediately. She pulled out a small notebook from her sleeve and respectfully presented it to him. “Your Majesty, I was just about to report this matter. Yang Yujiao, the daughter of the merchant Yang family, arrived in the capital three days ago. The female officials sent by the palace have been ‘instructing’ her for two days, and her health… has been carefully examined according to regulations. Everything is in order, and we await Your Majesty’s instructions.”

Emperor Chongzhen took the small booklet, which resembled a medical record, but did not open it immediately. Instead, he held it in his hand, weighed it in his hand, and asked, "How is the person...?"

Liu Yueying also put down her abacus and looked over curiously.

Xu Yingyuan carefully chose his words and replied, "Your Majesty, according to the reports from the ladies-in-waiting, this woman... is in excellent health, very robust. She is not like the delicate young ladies of ordinary families, but rather... well, rather sturdy, with taut skin and flesh, and to the touch... she seems to have some 'muscles,' with strong bones and muscles, which should be due to years of martial arts training. Her appearance is excellent, but there is a hint of heroism in her eyes and brows. She moves with considerable strength, and her temperament is also straightforward, but... she is a little impetuous and not very particular about details."

Oh, that sounds great!
As Chongzhen listened, a figure involuntarily appeared in his mind—not the kind of frail beauty, but a girl with a toned figure, full of vitality, and exuding the sunshine of the seaside.

Although Emperor Chongzhen didn't care what his "concubines who were essentially for financial gain" looked like, having several beautiful young women around him was always a pleasant experience.
Liu Yueying smiled and said, "I've said it before, this Yang girl is a beauty unlike any other."

Chongzhen smiled, closed the unread medical case book, looked at Xu Yingyuan, and asked decisively, "Where is the person now?"

"They've been settled in the inn in the capital, everything is ready, we're just waiting for His Majesty's decree to choose an auspicious day to welcome them into the palace..."

"An auspicious day?" Chongzhen interrupted him. "In the current situation, what's the point of formalities? The country is facing difficulties, so let's keep things simple. Issue my decree that she be brought to the palace tonight. There's no need to choose another palace; let her stay in the side hall of Yonghe Palace for now, to keep Consort Liu company." The last part of his sentence was directed at Liu Yueying.

Xu Yingyuan was taken aback, then bowed and said, "This servant obeys the decree." He thought to himself, "The Emperor really cares about this merchant girl. He's in such a hurry to bring her in and has even placed her directly in the palace of a favored concubine."

Liu Yueying was also somewhat surprised, but then she smiled and said, "That's great! I'll have a companion now, and I can see what this 'heroine' looks like."

The imperial decree was quickly issued. Chongzhen then instructed the attending eunuchs: "Go and inform the Empress that I will meet with the new concubines in Kunning Palace tonight, and ask her to make the arrangements. If Consort Tian and Consort Yuan are free, they should also be met with them."

After dealing with the matter, he picked up the troublesome ledger again, but his eyes seemed a little clearer than before.

(End of this chapter)