How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 246 How despicable are scholars who are not protected by the strong and powerful troops of their own country and people!

The 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is the Little New Year. The festive atmosphere in Hanyang City has been almost completely overwhelmed by a somber mood.

The bluestone plaza in front of Injeongjeon Hall at Changdeokgung Palace was so clean that not a single fallen leaf could be found. The sky was heavily overcast, with leaden-gray clouds pressing down on the eaves.

The square was surrounded by heavily armored Bayara soldiers. Their white armor and red tassels, their eyes beneath their iron helmets, were sharp as knives. The dragon banners fluttered in the wind, and beneath them, guards lined up according to the banner colors, their spears and halberds forming a forest, completely surrounding the square like an iron barrel.

Huang Taiji sat on the dragon throne on the steps, wrapped in a sable cloak. Amin, Dorgon, and Yuetuo, several banner chiefs and princes, stood to his left and right in order. Fan Wencheng, Ning Wanwo, and several Han officials, dressed in brand-new official robes, stood at the head of the civil officials. Park Changbeom and Han Run, the earliest Korean ministers to surrender, stood at the very end, their necks hunched.

In the center of the square, two groups of people were kneeling in a dense mass.

The group on the left, led by Kim Song-in, consisted of military officers and generals who were among the first to shave their heads and surrender, and who helped train the Korean army. They were all wearing newly issued uniforms, heads bowed, their excitement barely concealed.

The group on the right consists of Li Hang and his group of over two hundred successful candidates in this special imperial examination. They are wearing old, faded scholar's robes, shivering in the cold wind.

Zhao Si also squeezed into a corner of the square to watch the excitement. He was a bondservant of the Bordered Yellow Banner of the Han Army and had come with his master. He craned his neck to look at Jin Chengren kneeling in front, feeling very uncomfortable.

The time has come.

Fan Wencheng stepped forward, unfurled a roll of yellow silk, and began to read it aloud in a shrill voice.

The sound echoed across the empty square, every word clear.

The first thing read aloud was the decree addressed to Kim Song-in and his comrades.

"...Since their surrender, Kim Song-in and others have made significant contributions to the training of troops... Special decree: A new 'Eight Banners Korea' will be established! Following the example of the Han army, no Gushan Ejen will be appointed for the time being; they will be under the direct command of the emperor. Eight Niru will be established first, each subordinate to one of the Manchu Eight Banners, awaiting the orders of each banner. Kim Song-in and others will be enrolled in this system as a sign of favor!"

After the decree was read, the square fell silent for a moment.

Kim Song-in suddenly raised his head, his face filled with ecstatic joy! Eight Banners Korea! Although it wasn't officially incorporated into the Manchu banner system, it was still a legitimate banner citizenship! He was a bannerman now! Zhao Si had been causing trouble for so long, and he was still just a bondservant!

"This servant...this servant thanks the Great Khan for his grace! Long live the Great Khan! Long live the Great Khan! Long live the Great Khan!" His voice was choked with sobs as he banged his head against the cold stone slab with a loud thud. The more than a thousand people behind him also kowtowed in gratitude, creating a buzzing sound.

Zhao Si watched from the side, feeling a pang of jealousy. "Damn it, these Korean lackeys have actually managed to snag a banner..." he muttered, touching his own Han army uniform, which he felt was no longer so splendid.

Huang Taiji sat there with no expression on his face, only slightly raising his hand.

Next, it's Li Hang's and his team's turn.

Fan Wencheng picked up another roll of yellow silk.

"Jinshi Li Hang and others, hear the imperial decree."

Li Hang's heart jumped into his throat, and he quickly lowered his head even further.

The decree was short, first stating that they were "learned and outstanding, worthy of being role models for scholars," and then proceeding to appoint them to official positions.

"...Li Hang, appointed Prefect of Haizhou, Korea...Take up your post immediately, pacify the region, collect taxes and provisions, and do not fail my expectations!"

The Prefect of Haizhou! That's a lower-level prefecture, but it's still a full-fledged official position! Li Hang felt a surge of heat rush to his head, and his body felt lighter. He secretly glanced at the people beside him and heard that the official titles he heard included Prefect and County Magistrate, both substantive posts!
"Your subject... Your subject thanks you! I will certainly do my utmost to serve the Great Khan!" Li Hang's voice trembled with excitement as he kowtowed heavily. At this moment, the concepts of "defense against barbarians" and his father's dying wish were overshadowed by this tangible official position.

Huang Taiji looked at the two groups of people below who were kowtowing like pounding garlic, and slowly began to speak.

Kim Song-in.

"Your servant is here!" Kim Seong-in quickly replied.

"Now that you are a Manchu, commanding troops, you must set an example for these newly appointed scholars. Suppressing local remnants, eliminating bandits, and protecting the grain transport route are your duties. If you encounter any officials who are not diligent in collecting the examination results, or who are colluding with bandits, you are allowed to arrest them first and then report to me!"

"Yes, Your Majesty! This servant understands!" Kim Song-in answered resolutely, his back straightening unconsciously. He felt that he was different now; he was a Manchu bearing the "laws of the king." Ordinary Koreans and he were no longer of the same race!

Huang Taiji turned his gaze toward Li Hang.

"Li Hang".

"Your subject is here," Li Hang quickly replied.

"You are scholars. I'm giving you official positions so you can govern the people, not become lords. Collecting grain, taxes, and laborers are of paramount importance. Once you're in your posts, you must cooperate well with the local garrison officers. If you do well, I will reward you handsomely; if you mess it up..." Huang Taiji paused, not finishing his sentence, but everyone understood his meaning.

"Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered!" Li Hang replied repeatedly, sweat beading on his forehead.

The ceremony is now complete.

Kim Seong-in received the waist tag symbolizing his banner affiliation, stroked the cold inscription on it, and swaggered out of the palace gate. When he encountered familiar Han Chinese bannermen, he raised his voice a few notches.

Holding the letter of appointment and the official seal of the prefect of Haizhou, Li Hang returned to the post station. Closing the door, he looked at the documents in his hands, his heart filled with mixed emotions of warmth and coldness. He had taken the official position, but what was the situation in Haizhou? What were the quotas for money and provisions? How would he deal with those Manchu bannermen? His mind was a jumbled mess.

Zhao Si followed his master back dejectedly, still pondering the "Eight Banners Korea" matter. He glanced at the back of the first Manchu Goshha in front of him and sighed. When would it be his turn to be raised to a higher banner?

Huang Taiji dismissed everyone, leaving only Fan Wencheng and a few trusted confidants. He walked to the eaves of the palace and looked at the snowflakes that were falling again outside.

“Mr. Fan, look, the framework of North Korea has been set up.” Huang Taiji exhaled a puff of white breath. “Now, let’s see how lively this show can be.”

Fan Wencheng bowed and said, “Your Majesty is wise. By using Korean grain to feed our Eight Banners soldiers and Korean people to serve as our warriors, our foundation is firmly established and our hegemony is within reach.”

Huang Taiji didn't reply; his gaze seemed to pass over Hanyang City and look south.

He received a secret report that the young Emperor Chongzhen was in Beijing doing something about "truth becoming clearer through debate," dragging his feet and making a fuss. He didn't have time for that; he wanted to act quickly and seize the troops, provisions, weapons, and money before the young emperor finished his charade, and then deliver a crushing blow to the Ming Dynasty!
……

The 30th day of the Lunar New Year in the third year of the Chongzhen reign.

Outside Zhengyangmen in Beijing, the time-honored "Qingquan Teahouse" on the street corner is doing exceptionally well today. The private rooms on the second floor are already full, and even the main hall is packed. The tea server, carrying a large copper kettle, weaves through the crowd, his forehead covered in sweat.

"Excuse me! Excuse me! I've been scalded by the boiling water!"

No one paid him any attention. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the newly published "Huangming Bulletin." The front page still featured "Zhu Siwen" and "Wei Daozi" arguing, but the most eye-catching thing was the newly opened "Reader Comments" section.

A scholar in blue robes, sitting by the window, cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. Pointing to a passage in the newspaper article about Zhu Siwen, he began to speak slowly and deliberately:

"Gentlemen, let's not argue for now. Mr. Zhu Siwen's article contains a very insightful point. He said that the biggest problem facing the court right now is the issue of 'money' and 'grain.' We need pay to defend against the invaders in the Northeast, we need grain to provide disaster relief in the Northwest, and we still have hundreds of thousands of soldiers on the nine borders to feed... But the national treasury simply can't afford that much!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "Where will the money and grain come from? Mr. Zhu has pointed out two paths. One is to thoroughly investigate the official lands in Southern Zhili, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, and Huguang that have been secretly occupied by officials and gentry, and force them to return them and pay taxes as a whole!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the scholars from Jiangnan changed somewhat.

The scholar in blue robes acted as if he hadn't seen it and continued, "The second way is to levy a comprehensive likin (transit tax) on all businesses. No matter if you are a gentry or a wealthy merchant, no one who is obligated to pay taxes can escape it!"

The northern scholar who had been shouting about "competing with the people for profit" twitched at the corner of his mouth upon hearing this.

"But are these two paths easy to take?" The scholar in blue raised his voice. "Touching official lands offends the gentry of the southeast! Imposing commercial taxes squeezes the wealth of the rich across the land! Which one isn't as difficult as climbing to heaven?"

He put down his newspaper and looked at everyone: "Mr. Zhu Siwen's meaning is very clear. Compared with these two critical issues, allowing members of the imperial family to take the imperial examinations, and letting the princes and dukes take out the estates they occupy and the silver and grain stored in the treasury to lend to the emperor for emergency relief, in exchange for the Zhu family members having a future where they can abolish the restrictions on the princes and dukes and engage in the four professions—isn't this the method with the least resistance and the fastest results?"

The teahouse fell silent for a moment. Many people were pondering the meaning behind those words.

The scholar in blue sighed, a hint of helplessness in his voice: "In the end, this isn't about 'competing with the people for profit,' it's a last resort! It's about getting the imperial family to return the inheritance left by their ancestors, the inheritance that rightfully belongs to the state! All we scholars have to do is nod in agreement and have a few more rivals surnamed Zhu in the imperial examinations. Compared to this 'sacrifice' of bankrupting ourselves (referring to the land survey and collection of commercial taxes), which is lighter, which is heavier?"

"So, according to you, this has become the only road?" someone muttered indignantly.

“There’s more than one way,” the scholar in blue said calmly. “But Mr. Zhu asked clearly: If Mr. Wei Daozi thinks this way is not feasible, would he be willing to take the lead in surveying official lands and levying taxes on merchants? If he is not willing, would he just stand by and watch the court collapse and everyone perish together?”

These words struck everyone like a stone. The previous arguments seemed somewhat inadequate. The root of the problem didn't seem to lie in the gains and losses of the examination slots.

The debate continued, with everyone chiming in, but the tone had shifted. Some began calculating how much land the regional princes had seized and how much silver and grain they could squeeze out. Others worried whether, even if the ban was lifted, those princes would actually be willing to hand over the money.
The tea server huddled behind the counter, watching the group of scholars go from arguing about orthodoxy to calculating money and grain, and muttered to himself: This emperor isn't just opening a door, he's putting everyone's money out in the open!
The hornet's nest had been stirred even deeper. In guild halls, academies, and even on the streets of the capital, the arguments and discussions became more varied and more substantive. Once reason was tainted by money and food, it could no longer hold sway.

This heavy, festive atmosphere, mixed with the taste of the New Year, drifted into the Forbidden City.

……

At the end of Shenshi (3-5 PM), candles as thick as a child's arm were lit in the Wenhua Hall.

Emperor Chongzhen sat behind his desk, intently reading a report. Yang Sichang and Niu Jinxing stood below him with their hands at their sides, while Cao Huachun stood silently in the shadows.

“Your Majesty,” Niu Jinxing spoke first, his face showing concern, “the ‘Readers’ Comments’ column has been open for a few days, and we’ve already received over a thousand letters. The response from scholars… is extremely enthusiastic.” He carefully chose his words, “but the opinions are too diverse, everyone is stating their own reasoning, refusing to yield to each other, and there are even… signs of mutual attacks. If this continues, I fear that the truth will not be clearly distinguished, and it will only breed sectarianism and increase the chaos.”

Yang Sichang bowed and added, “Juming’s concerns are very valid. Nowadays, the discussions among the common people are raging, and they are no longer simply discussing the matter at hand. I am also worried that… it may be a breach of the court’s decorum.”

Instead of answering directly, Chongzhen picked up the report he had just received—it was sent by the Korean regent and governor by express ship.

Chongzhen said, "The secret report said that Huang Taiji held a special imperial examination in Hanyang, and the examination hall was like an execution ground. Anyone with the slightest suspicion was immediately arrested. A scholar used the word 'Hu' in his essay and was accused of treason and executed on the spot, his blood staining the palace gate. Those who passed, like Li Hang, relied entirely on writing a 'Shaving the Head Ode,' which was extremely flattering, to become the top scholar. Now, Huang Taiji has promoted such people to serve as guards in various parts of Korea, to cooperate with the newly formed 'Eight Banners Korea,' to do everything possible to collect taxes and grain to supply the Eastern Barbarians' military needs."

He paused, then handed Niu Jinxing a copied slip of paper: "This is an abridged version of the 'Ode to Shaving the Head'."

Niu Jinxing took the paper and glanced at it. The words on it pierced his eyes like needles: "...shaving one's head and wearing a queue is not only for the convenience of riding and archery, but also to cleanse one's old appearance and show sincerity of submission...to bathe in the grace of Heaven and start anew..."

After Niu Jinxing and Yang Sichang finished "reading" this masterpiece by the top scholar of the Great Jin Dynasty, they both felt disgusted.

Emperor Chongzhen spoke again, his voice laced with sarcasm: "Are you afraid of losing face?"

He then took the slip of paper with the "Ode to Shaving the Head" copied on it, and his gaze swept over the two ministers: "Tell me, is it more improper for us to argue so heatedly here, or for scholars to be forced to write such groveling and fawning words?"

Yang Sichang and Niu Jinxing were taken aback and couldn't answer.

Chongzhen looked at Niu Jinxing, his tone mocking: "Juming, in the next issue of the *Huangming Tongbao*, publish the key points of the Korean 'extraordinary imperial examination' and this 'Ode to Shaving the Head' in its entirety. Also, publish the atrocities committed by the Jurchens in Korea under the 'keep your hair or lose your head' policy... Let all the scholars of the Ming Dynasty see how despicable a scholar is without the protection of a strong army of his own people!"

(End of this chapter)