How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 243 "Imperial Ming Bulletin" Special Commentator Zhu Siwen
In Beijing in the twelfth lunar month, it gets dark early. Just after 3 PM, the sun disappears, leaving only a dry, cold northwest wind that whips up sand and dust, turning the sky and earth a hazy yellow.

Deep inside Qian Qianyi's residence, there was a secret room with its doors and windows tightly shut.

Qian Qianyi sat in the main seat of the grand master's chair, with four people sitting below him.

On the left is Lu Shanji, wearing a faded old official robe. He is the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, a confidant of Sun Chengzong, and a staunch member of the Qingliu faction. Next to him is Huang Zongxi, the second-place scholar in the imperial examination of the first year of the Chongzhen reign. He has been working in the Yunnan Provincial Department of the Ministry of Revenue for almost three years, overseeing the reform of the Maritime Trade Office. After more than two years of hard work, there has been little progress. The total customs revenue of the seven major ports this year is only three to four hundred thousand taels of silver—and this is only because of the favor shown to Chongzhen by the maritime men like Zheng Zhilong, Liu Xiang, Yang Liu, and Yang Qi.

On the right is Zhou Yanru, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, his official robes are brand new, his face is fair, and his eyes are lively. On the far left is Wen Tiren, Grand Master of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, tall and thin, holding a teacup, his lips drooping, looking at everyone with displeasure.

“Let’s discuss it,” Qian Qianyi said, speaking with a Jiangnan accent. “With the Duke of Confucius leading the way and the princes in the capital signing a joint petition, the memorial to open a ‘royal family examination’ has already been submitted. The Emperor has kept it under wraps, but everyone understands his intentions.”

Lu Shanjie sighed, his voice hoarse: "Lord Muzhai, His Majesty is riding high on the momentum of a great victory. He defeated the Eastern Barbarians at Baliqiao, captured Guihua City, and took over Tumed River. Even the Empress Dowager and the Little Khan of the Chahan tribe have bowed their heads... This is real territorial expansion. Now he's using the imperial clan as an excuse, claiming to be righteous in 'caring for the imperial relatives' and 'saving lives.' If we stand up to him, not only will we be in the wrong, but we'll also be accused of disregarding the overall situation."

Huang Zongxi, being young, couldn't help but raise his voice: "Lord Lu! This isn't about being right or wrong; it's about shaking the foundations of the nation! Once members of the imperial family enter officialdom through the imperial examinations, will there be any way for those from humble backgrounds to succeed, given their status as imperial descendants? How is this any different from the imperial relatives holding power in the Eastern Han Dynasty? If this continues, won't the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty become the domain of the Zhu family's imperial relatives? I believe we cannot back down!"

Zhou Yanru slowly sipped his tea and put down the cup: "Tai Chong, that's true. But the Emperor's prestige is currently at its peak, and he's also focused on the noble cause of providing relief to Shaanxi and balancing the finances. To stubbornly resist is the worst approach. We need to find a way to make this matter... impossible, or at least to make it distorted."

Wen Tiren sneered, his voice shrill: "Does Zhou Shaoqing mean that we should also follow Yan Song and Zhang Juzheng and adopt that 'conformity' approach? Once the imperial examination system for members of the imperial clan is opened, the consequences will be endless! If someone can pass the examination today, they can enter the cabinet tomorrow, and command troops the day after! By then, the court will be full of 'Zhu Bei,' 'Zhu Biao,' and 'Zhu Zhang'... Will there still be a place for us? Mu Zhai Gong, this matter concerns the orthodox tradition. Taking a step back is like stepping off a cliff!"

Qian Qianyi didn't reply immediately, his fingers lightly tapping the table. Wen Tiren's words were harsh, but the logic was sound. The Emperor's move was to plant the very roots of imperial power directly into the hearts of the scholar-officials.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door of the secret room.

Qian Qianyi frowned. He had been instructed not to disturb him unless it was urgent.

"Come in."

The door opened, and there stood his trusted student, Wu Weiye, his face pale, clutching a roll of paper still smelling of ink.

“Teacher, esteemed officials,” Wu Weiye said, catching his breath as he handed over the paper, “the newly published Huangming Bulletin, on the front page… there’s an article on the front page, signed… ‘Zhu Siwen’!”

"Zhu Siwen?"

The group was taken aback. They had never heard of that name before.

Qian Qianyi took the newspaper and quickly glanced at the article on the front page, "Reassure Relatives and Feudal Lords to Strengthen the Foundation of the Nation, Open Up avenues for Life to Secure the State." After reading only a few lines, his expression changed.

The article is written clearly:

The princes had already donated vast amounts of farmland and stored grain to save millions of starving people in Shaanxi, Henan, and Shanxi; the "vassal" system of feudalism had long since become a mere formality. If the old "bans" were still upheld, preventing the descendants of the founding emperor from finding their own way to survive (such as through the imperial examinations), wouldn't that be treating the imperial family as lowly people? This would contradict the founding emperor's original feudal intent. The "bans" should be abolished along with the "vassal states"; lifting the bans and allowing members of the imperial family to take the imperial examinations is a matter of course.

“Special commentator… Zhu Siwen… Zhu… the writings of Emperor Taizu…” Qian Qianyi murmured, his hands trembling slightly, “It’s the Emperor! The Emperor himself has come down to the stage!”

He handed the newspaper to Lu Shanji, who looked at it and his face turned ashen. Huang Zongxi leaned over to look, and the more he read, the paler his face became. Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren also craned their necks to read it; one's eyes flickered, and the other's face was so somber it could drip water.

The air in the sealed room felt frozen.

“This isn’t a discussion, it’s an announcement.” Qian Qianyi’s voice was hoarse. “The Emperor’s use of the name ‘Zhu Siwen’ is a clear statement. He has taken the high ground of ‘saving the country’ and ‘caring for his relatives.’ If we oppose him, we are disregarding millions of starving people and mistreating the descendants of the founding emperor!”

“Then…then let him be…” Huang Zongxi said anxiously.

“A direct confrontation won’t work!” Qian Qianyi abruptly interrupted him, a resolute glint in his eyes. “We have to find a different approach. We can’t confront them openly; we have to use a softer approach.”

He looked at the group and quickly made arrangements:
"Lord Lu, while you are in the Censorate, mobilize the officials who speak out. Don't directly oppose the imperial examinations for members of the imperial clan; instead, focus on the details! How are the places of origin determined? How are the quotas allocated? How are examiners protected from suspicion? What official positions will those who pass the exams be granted? Will it compete with the people for profit? Submit these questions one by one! Stir up the waters and stall for time!"

Lu Shanji pondered for a moment, then nodded: "That's the only way. We'll use the program to drag it out."

“Zhou Shaoqing, Wen Zhanshi,” Qian Qianyi then looked at the two men, “you have many protégés and old friends in the ministries and the Zhanshi’s office. Tell them to be ‘cautious’ and ‘delay’ when drafting regulations and circulating official documents. If the people below don’t do their jobs sincerely, the Emperor’s decrees will not leave the Forbidden City.”

Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren exchanged a glance but remained silent, which was considered tacit approval.

"Taichong," Qian Qianyi said to Huang Zongxi at the end, "you should contact your fellow members of the Fushe Society and create momentum at the Donglin Academy and various schools. Your writing should be beautiful and your reasoning should be thorough. The core message is this: there are many ways to treat members of the imperial family well, why insist on affecting the imperial examination system? We can emulate the Song system by establishing 'Imperial Family Examinations' and 'Southern Officials' to give members of the imperial family preferential treatment, but it must be strictly separated from the proper path of the scholar-officials!"

Huang Zongxi nodded emphatically: "I understand! I must uphold my reputation in the imperial examinations!"

After some discussion, everyone felt they had found a way, and the atmosphere became slightly more relaxed. Just as they were about to elaborate on how to proceed, hurried footsteps sounded outside the secret room door again, even more urgent than before. "Master! Master!" It was the panicked voice of the Qian family's old steward, "The palace...the palace has sent someone! It's Eunuch Cao from the Directorate of Ceremonial! They're already in the front hall, saying they have an imperial decree!"

"Cao Huachun?" Qian Qianyi's heart skipped a beat.

Everyone's faces turned deathly pale instantly. Cao Huachun was the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Supervisor of the Imperial Guards, a top eunuch by the emperor's side. His personal visit late at night was no small matter.

Qian Qianyi took a deep breath, forced himself to remain calm, and whispered to the crowd, "Please step aside for now, I'm going to receive the imperial decree."

He straightened his clothes, strode out of the secret room, and came to the front hall.

Cao Huachun stood in the hall, dressed in a brand-new python robe, with a smile on his face. Behind him, two eunuchs carried a sandalwood tray with a set of exquisite writing implements: a fine wolf-hair brush and a Duan inkstone carved with cloud patterns.

The hall was brightly lit, illuminating Cao Huachun's fair face and making him appear amiable.

"Minister Qian, I greet you." Cao Huachun bowed slightly, his voice high-pitched yet clear.

Qian Qianyi quickly bowed in return: "I dare not accept such a courtesy. What brings you here so late at night, Eunuch Cao?"

Cao Huachun smiled and said, "It's an imperial edict."

Qian Qianyi immediately knelt down, saying, "Your subject Qian Qianyi respectfully listens to Your Majesty's decree."

Cao Huachun cleared his throat and said loudly, "His Majesty said: Hearing that Mr. Qian has been working hard on state affairs recently, he has specially bestowed upon him a royal-made sandalwood wolf-hair brush and a Duanxi old pit cloud-patterned inkstone, for Mr. Qian to use when reviewing official documents and expressing his thoughts."

The young eunuch stepped forward and gently placed the tray on the table. The writing brush and inkstone gleamed warmly under the lamplight.

Cao Huachun continued, raising his voice slightly to ensure everyone inside and outside the hall could hear him clearly: "His Majesty also said that a new 'National Affairs Forum' has been opened in the *Huangming Baotong*, specifically for officials and scholars to discuss matters of state. The more we debate, the clearer things become! His Majesty is open-minded and welcomes all opinions, whether positive or negative, to be expressed freely without fear of reprisal!"

He paused, his gaze falling on Qian Qianyi's bowed head, his tone turning serious: "However, if you are in the right, then state it openly and honestly on the forum! If you are not in the right, then don't secretly obstruct and ruin the important matter of the court's peace and well-being for the people and the stability of the country! His Majesty asked me to pass on a message: Don't say you weren't warned!"

After speaking, Cao Huachun still looked at Qian Qianyi with a smile, but that smile now carried a chilling coldness. "Mr. Qian, do you understand His Majesty's good intentions? You must set a good example at this 'National Affairs Forum' and let the world see what it means for truth to become clearer through debate."

Qian Qianyi understood everything. The gift of writing brush and inkstone was a way of forcing him to "write"; "the more you debate, the clearer things become" and "those who speak out are not guilty" were clear lines drawn, forcing him to debate publicly; and the final phrase, "Don't say you weren't warned," was a blatant warning!

This was no longer a warning, but a declaration of war! The emperor, in the most "reasonable" way, issued a challenge to the most reasonable scholar-official leaders.

"Your subject... Your subject Qian Qianyi kowtows in gratitude for Your Majesty's grace! Your Majesty's boundless kindness is deeply appreciated!" Qian Qianyi's voice was initially hoarse, but the latter half of his sentence revealed a calm tone. Since there was no way to avoid it, then let's fight!

Cao Huachun nodded in satisfaction, said no more, and turned to leave with the little eunuch.

Qian Qianyi stood up, his eyes sharpening as he looked at the exquisite set of writing brush and inkstone on the table. He straightened his robes and walked steadily back to the secret room.

Lu Shanji, Huang Zongxi, and others immediately surrounded him, their faces filled with worry. Qian Qianyi, however, waved his hand, his expression calm. He then recounted Cao Huachun's oral instruction, especially those key sentences, verbatim.

The atmosphere in the secret room immediately relaxed a lot. The oppressive feeling that had been suffocating was gone, and everyone seemed to have found their anchor.

Zhou Yanru pondered for a moment, then spoke first, his tone somewhat relaxed: "Since His Majesty has established this 'National Affairs Forum' and said that 'the more truth is debated, the clearer it becomes' and 'those who speak out are not guilty,' isn't this clearly providing us with a place to reason things out? Mu Zhai Gong, if His Majesty is willing to reason, this matter will be easy to handle. We have all the principles in the world in our hearts; are we afraid of not being able to explain them clearly to His Majesty?"

Wen Tiren's perpetually drooping lips relaxed slightly, his words still cold but brimming with confidence: "That's exactly the point! The Emperor has won a battle and is also providing disaster relief, wanting to do something different. But governing a country and bringing peace to the world ultimately requires adherence to 'righteousness.' What we hold in our hands is the righteous principle of selecting virtuous and capable officials for the country and preventing the imperial clan from becoming too powerful and causing chaos. This principle stands firm everywhere, so what is there to be afraid of arguing about?"

Huang Zongxi, young and radiant, spoke with a clear voice: "Teacher! Zhou Shaoqing and Wen Zhanshi are right! The Emperor wants to use real merit to implement a temporary measure. We can take this opportunity to explain the true meaning of the imperial examination system and the court's impartiality in selecting officials to the people. Let us students see that we are not fighting for our own selfish interests, but for the long-term foundation of the country! I will write an essay to explain this principle clearly!"

Lu Shanji stroked his beard, nodded slowly, and spoke steadily: "His Majesty has rendered great service, but this matter concerns how the court selects officials and the hearts of scholars throughout the land. If we speak the truth and reason, and write a well-reasoned and sincere essay, we might be able to change His Majesty's mind. Even if we can't change His Majesty's mind in a short time, we can at least let the scholars of the land understand our good intentions. Reason is on our side, and the hearts of the people are on our side, so there is nothing to fear."

Seeing everyone's spirits lifted, Qian Qianyi felt his worries dissipate, and a rare ease appeared on his face. The Emperor had laid down the rules for reason, which was exactly what they wanted! When it came to reasoning, the Donglin Party had never been afraid of anyone.

"Good!" Qian Qianyi tapped the table lightly, his voice soft but decisive. "Since His Majesty wants to hear reason and clarify matters, then let's have a good talk with him! Taichong, quickly contact the Fushe Society and prepare the article. It must be well-reasoned, supported by evidence, and compelling. Lord Lu, have the Censorate have its officials submit memorials, hitting the nail on the head. Vice Minister Zhou and Grand Tutor Wen, you must also grasp the political climate in the ministries and departments, making sure everyone understands the implications."

He looked at the people present and raised his voice: "If His Majesty wants to talk about the practical benefits of 'saving the people's lives,' then we should talk to him about the long-term consideration of 'preventing chaos'! If His Majesty wants to talk about the benevolent governance of 'showing compassion to the imperial relatives,' then we should talk to him about the fair and just path of 'valuing the virtuous and talented'! Let this 'National Affairs Forum' become a place to discern the ultimate truth of the world!"

At this moment, Qian Qianyi felt a surge of anger rising in his chest. The set of writing implements bestowed upon him by the Emperor no longer seemed like tools to force him into submission, but rather like a weapon for a fair and square confrontation. This battle was unavoidable, and there was no need to hide from it!
He was confident that he was in the right and that justice was on his side, so what was there to be afraid of?

(End of this chapter)