How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 192 Trusting Chongzhen, Come to the Meeting (Another Extra Chapter)

Qianqing Palace.

"Listen to them all." Chongzhen had already finished reading the document, then tossed it onto the table and gestured with his chin toward Wang Chengen.

Wang Chengen quickly picked up the document and read it aloud, word by word. It was a message from the Tumed nobles sent by Huang Taiji to Datong, saying that he wanted to negotiate peace with the Ming Dynasty, with the Great Wall as the boundary, and that each side would maintain peace. The war in Liaodong and Korea would also cease as it was now.

After the words were spoken, the hall fell silent for a moment.

Wang Zaijin spoke first, his brows furrowed: "Your Majesty, the barbarian chieftain has just won a battle, yet he comes to sue for peace. This is strange. However... since he has made this request, we might send someone to investigate. Firstly, to see what he really wants, and secondly, to buy some time for Xuanda to strengthen its defenses."

Bi Ziyan, always feigning poverty, continued the conversation with a bitter expression: "Wang Benbing is right. Even if we are to negotiate, the border pay cannot be reduced by a single penny. I just hope that we can use this as an excuse to quickly and solidly resolve the issues of militia training and fortification in Shuntian and Yongping. The national treasury... is really empty, and this money cannot be wasted."

Sun Chengzong snorted loudly, "What's there to probe! Huang Taiji is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Would he sincerely negotiate peace? He's clearly taking advantage of our tight defenses in Jiliao and Xuanda, which he can't break through. He just swallowed up southern Mongolia and is eager to catch his breath and digest it all! This is a delaying tactic. Your Majesty must not fall for it!"

The group of people each had their own reasons for their comments.

Emperor Chongzhen remained silent, listening intently. Only when they had finished speaking did he raise his hand, and the hall immediately fell silent.

His gaze swept across the faces of several veteran officials:

"My lords, today I will set the tone for you."

"There cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two rulers in a country. The Ming Dynasty and the Jurchens are mortal enemies, and there is absolutely no possibility of genuine peace negotiations!"

He paused, looking at everyone: "What Huang Taiji needs is time. He has just taken over southern Mongolia, and the people's hearts are not yet won over. He needs time to digest this and to deal with those Mongol tribes."

"I also need time!" Chongzhen's voice rose slightly. "Reorganizing the Beijing garrison, clearing the fields, implementing new policies, fortifying the border walls... which of these doesn't take time? Since he has presented me with a delaying tactic, how can I not accept it?"

"Therefore, peace can be negotiated. But remember, it must never be agreed upon!" He pointed to the location of southern Mongolia on the map. "I will use this mouth to feign compliance with him and buy these precious few months for my Great Ming! In addition, the child in Su Taifu's womb is very important. That child is the future new Khan of the Chahan tribe. How can we hand him over to Huang Taiji?"

Sun Chengzong pondered for a moment and asked, "Your Majesty's opinion is appreciated. However... while Consort Sutai at Zhenhai Fort is indeed important, it is still unknown whether the child in her womb is a boy or a girl..."

Emperor Chongzhen looked at the honest man Sun Chengzong and sighed: "Mr. Sun, whether she is carrying a boy or a girl is not important."

Of the ministers, only "Old Man Sun" looked completely bewildered; the others all wore expressions of "Your Majesty is wise."

Chongzhen stood up, walked to the huge map, and pointed to the location of Angganor: "The important thing is that she must give birth to a 'son'! As long as this child is born, he will be the rightful heir of Huduntu Khan! Sutai is the Empress Dowager of the Chahan tribe! This banner is more useful than tens of thousands of elite troops! Therefore, Sutai and her son must not be handed over to Huang Taiji!"

He turned around, his eyes gleaming: "Huang Taiji is surrounding Zhenhai Fort, he must think the fort doesn't have much grain stored inside. I'll just have to play along."

The wind from beyond the Great Wall swept across Zhenhai Fortress, carrying a whistling sound.

Inside the fortress, in a relatively intact room, Su Taifu gathered together the Mongol Taijis and generals who had fled with her, as well as several Ming army officers who understood Mongolian.

Her face was pale, and she looked frail, but her eyes shone brightly. She gently cradled her slightly protruding belly with both hands as she looked at the worried and fearful people before her.

“Warriors,” her voice was a little hoarse, but unusually firm, “look here.”

Everyone was looking at her.

"Here lies your Great Khan, Lindan Hutuktu, the only remaining bloodline of his people!" Her voice trembled, choked with sobs, yet brimming with strength. "This is the hope bestowed upon us Mongols by the Eternal Heaven! The sun of tomorrow on the grasslands! As long as he is here, the bloodline of the Golden Family will never be broken! The soul of our Chahan tribe will still live on!" Several Mongol nobles lowered their heads, wiping their eyes with their sleeves.

Sutai took a deep breath and pointed towards the outside of the fortress: "What kind of thing is that Huang Taiji outside? He's a wolf who doesn't keep his word! He used sweet words to deceive the Khan back then, and he'll do the same to us today! Surrender to him? Dream on! He'll steal our cattle and sheep, kill all our relatives, and tear our tribe to pieces!"

She turned to the Ming army officers, her tone becoming earnest: "The Emperor of the Great Ming is the true benevolent ruler! He is trustworthy and grateful, extending a helping hand when we were in trouble. Governor Yuan and all the Ming soldiers in the fort are risking their lives to protect us! This fort is very sturdy! As long as we are of one mind and work together, and persevere, the Emperor of the Great Ming's reinforcements will surely come!"

Her words, translated into Mongolian by an officer, boosted the morale of everyone inside the fortress. The panic caused by the siege was temporarily suppressed.

Yuan Chonghuan, standing on the inner fortress wall, also let out a heavy sigh.

Su Tai, that woman, is still trustworthy!
But how could she be so sure that the baby in her belly was a son?

And Hudun Tu Khan had eight wives for so many years without a single child, how did Su Tai get pregnant after just one trip to Beijing? Were the imperial physicians that skilled? But that doesn't make sense, even if the imperial physicians were skilled, they should have examined Hudun Tu Khan! Su Tai's physique clearly showed she was fertile.
Qufu, the residence of the Duke Yansheng.

Kong Yinzhi paced back and forth in his study like an ant on a hot pan. News had already reached back that his cousin, Kong Yinshu, had been arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard in Tongzhou, supposedly "suspected of impersonating a descendant of the saint."

This charge is utterly absurd! Kong Yinshu is clearly of Confucius's blood; how could he be a fake?
But the reason given by the Embroidered Uniform Guard was quite plausible. A descendant of a sage, and a close relative at that—how could he, of such noble birth, have become a mere merchant?
In addition, there have been quite a few unscrupulous merchants impersonating members of the Kong family to swindle and deceive people over the years, and the Kong family itself has reported them to the authorities!
Now you've caught them, haven't you?
"That Kong Lao Er... two hundred taels of silver, I'll just hand it over..." he muttered to himself, feeling both angry and annoyed. He was angry that Kong Yinshu had ruined himself for a mere two hundred taels of militia donation.

Although the Confucius family has many connections to help him, those connections cost money; they can't let people work for free!
Two thousand taels wouldn't be enough to save him!

What's infuriating is that Tian Ergeng is such a clueless fool, actually daring to mess with the people from the Confucius family! It seems that even close descendants of the sage are not afraid of offending scholars all over the world!
Just as he was plotting how to get revenge on Tian Ergeng, he heard his trusted steward's panicked voice from outside the door:
"Your Excellency! Your Excellency! Someone from the capital has arrived! It's Eunuch Gao, the Grand Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who says he has a secret imperial decree!"

Kong Yinzhi's heart skipped a beat, and his legs went weak. The Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs was one of the emperor's closest eunuchs! What did the emperor send him for? Could it be that Tian Ergeng was acting on the emperor's orders? This emperor was not someone to be trifled with!
He quickly straightened his clothes and hurried out to greet them.

Gao Qiqian stood in the flower hall, his face pale and beardless, his expression unreadable, but his eyes were not sharp, instead carrying a just-right amount of politeness and... a hint of sympathy.

"Duke Yansheng, receive the decree." Gao Qiqian's voice was calm, even somewhat gentle.

Kong Yinzhi immediately knelt down, his heart pounding with anxiety.

Gao Qiqian unfurled a scroll of yellow silk and read it aloud in his characteristic, monotone voice. The gist of the imperial edict was: The Emperor was deeply shocked to hear of a disturbance in Tongzhou by someone claiming to be from the Confucius family. Considering the Confucian family's reputation, the court, to prevent imposters, had detained the group. However, the ringleader, named Kong Yinshu, was incoherent and suspicious; there were even rumors that the real Kong Yinshu had been murdered and this was an imposter. To thoroughly investigate the truth and uphold the reputation of the Confucian lineage, the Emperor hereby requests that the Duke Yansheng personally travel to the capital to verify the identity. If it is an imposter, the court will severely punish him and clear the Confucius family's name; if it is indeed a member of the family, there may be misunderstandings, and the Emperor will explain this to the Duke Yansheng in person, ensuring that the Confucian lineage is not wronged.

After the imperial decree was read, Gao Qiqian put away the yellow silk, put on a slightly worried face, and sighed: "Lord Kong, His Majesty has no choice. This matter has been the subject of much gossip in the capital. If you do not personally clarify the matter, I fear that people will become suspicious, which will only damage the Kong family's thousand-year-old reputation. His Majesty's actions are truly out of concern for you, fearing that you will be misled by villains and that the dignity of the Holy Family will be harmed."

Kong Yinzhi knelt on the ground, his clever mind racing—it seemed like a misunderstanding! That Kong Lao Er was too uncouth and didn't look like a member of the Kong family, so he was arrested as a "fake Kong"!

"I must go to see the 'Holy Duke'!" Kong Yinzhi thought to himself. "My second cousin is never polite. Who knows what kind of trouble he's caused in Tongzhou! I can't just casually tell the Emperor to release him. That would make me seem unreasonable! The Emperor has been so polite. It's only right and proper that I go and give the Emperor some face."

He quickly kowtowed, his tone even carrying a hint of urgency: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace! Your Majesty's compassion and protection of my Confucian school have moved me to tears! Please inform Your Majesty that I will make preparations immediately and set off for the capital as soon as possible. I will certainly report the whole story to Your Majesty and will never allow treacherous people to damage the reputation of the sage's descendants!"

A barely perceptible smile appeared on Gao Qiqian's face as he bent down to offer a slight helping hand: "Your Excellency is truly wise and righteous, I admire you. Then I will wait for you in Qufu and travel north with you."

After seeing Gao Qiqian off, Kong Yinzhi let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if half the weight on his heart had been lifted. He immediately ordered his servants, "Quickly! Prepare the carriages and ceremonial regalia! I must go to the capital immediately to meet the Emperor!"

He thought that once he got to the capital, he could explain things openly and perhaps even turn misfortune into good fortune, gaining the emperor's favor.

Little did he know that the current Emperor Chongzhen was an expert in holding meetings and arresting people.
(End of this chapter)