How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 247 Three Strategies to Save the Nation, Not One of Three Options
It was the sixth day of the first lunar month in the fourth year of the Chongzhen reign. The festive atmosphere of the New Year had not yet dissipated, but the government offices in Beijing had already reopened. Most shops on the streets were still closed, and there were fewer sedan chairs for visiting relatives, but an inexplicable tension crept into the streets and alleys on the cold wind.

The source of this tension was the newly published "Huangming Bulletin".

The old-established "Qingquan Teahouse" on the corner of Qianmen Street was already packed with its second-floor private rooms. Even the main hall was so crowded that there wasn't enough room to move, filled with scholars in long gowns. Everyone was clutching a newly delivered newspaper.

The tea server, carrying a large copper kettle, weaved through the crowd, sweat already beading on his forehead.

"Excuse me! I'm getting scalded by the boiling water!"

No one paid him any attention. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the front page of the newspaper. The layout was different from usual; there were no articles of debate, and it looked more like an urgent military report. The bold black headline was eye-catching: "Korean Scholars Write a Blood and Tears Letter, Shaving Their Heads and Changing Clothes to Praise the Barbarians."

Below is a line of smaller print: Appendix: The true record of the so-called 'Enko' by the fake Kim Jong-un.

A tall, thin scholar from Jiangnan tapped the newspaper with his finger, his lips trembling as he read aloud. His voice was not loud, but it was like a dull knife cutting into flesh, each stroke slicing at the heart of the listener.

"...Shaving the head and letting the hair hang down in a braid is not only convenient for riding and archery, but also to cleanse the old appearance and show the sincerity of submission...The grand hats and belts of the past were nothing but empty formalities; today, the simple braids reveal the true nature of practicality...Bathed in the grace of Heaven, let us start anew..."

He read aloud the entire "Ode to Shaving the Head," word for word.

The hall was deathly silent. The scholars who had been arguing heatedly about the "Imperial Clan Examinations" earlier were now like people being strangled, with only heavy breathing remaining.

"This...this is something a human being could write!" An impatient scholar from the north slammed his fist on the table, making his teacup jump. "This guy surnamed Li has completely disgraced scholars!"

A more mature-looking man next to him, his face ashen, muttered, "Disgrace? More likely, death... Look at what's written on the back: 'The examination hall is like an execution ground. One wrong word, and you'll be... killed on the spot...' The examination hall has become a execution ground! How can anyone live like this?"

In a corner, a plump, fair-skinned scholar from Shaanxi muttered, "Look, this isn't about whether the Korean scholars live or die. This article was probably written specifically for us. The Jurchens' meaning is very clear: those who submit will prosper, those who resist will perish. Huang Taiji not only wants us to shave our heads, but also wants us to submit from the bottom of our hearts!"

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over everyone's heads. Indeed, today we see Li Hang's "Ode to Shaving the Head" in the newspapers, but what about tomorrow? If the Jurchens had their swords to their throats, would they write it or not?

The previously debated topic of whether members of the imperial family should take the imperial examinations now seemed so distant and ridiculous. Compared to the stark reality before them, the gains and losses of examination slots were utterly insignificant!

An unprecedented fear, mixed with immense humiliation, permeated the teahouse. This fear was no longer about personal prospects, but about life and death, and whether the family traditions of their ancestors could still be passed down.

……

Meanwhile, on the second page of the newspaper, in the "National Affairs Forum" section, another article was published.

The title is: "Three Strategies for Saving the Nation and Three Questions about Personality - To the Defenders of Morality".

The signature is still Zhu Siwen.

The article begins without any pleasantries, directly addressing the "Ode to Shaving the Head" written that day.

"Reading Li Hang's 'Ode to Shaving the Head,' a so-called 'top scholar' of the puppet North Korean regime, every word is glaring and every sentence is piercing. We scholars value nothing more than integrity in our lives. But under the blade, how much integrity can we have? Can it be exchanged for our lives?"

The author then shifted focus to the core of the debate that had lasted for several days.

"Master Weidaozi is deeply concerned about the country and its people, and always says that the imperial examinations for members of the royal family are a competition for resources with those from humble backgrounds, thus undermining the nation's important system of selecting officials. His heart is admirable. However, I have a question for you, Master: Currently, the people of Shaanxi and Henan are starving and in dire need of food, the military supplies for the nine border regions are insufficient, and the national treasury is empty. Saving the country is like putting out a fire, and money and grain are indispensable. So, where will the money and grain come from?"

After posing the problem, the article listed three paths, which it called the "three strategies".

"Policy 1: Send officials south to thoroughly investigate the hidden occupation of official land in Southern Zhili, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Huguang and other places, order them to pay taxes in the same way, and cancel the preferential treatment for gentry."

"Policy Two: In the two capitals and thirteen provinces, a likin tax shall be levied on all commercial and trade industries, including the property of gentry."

"Policy Three: Immediately abolish the restrictions on the fiefdoms and allow members of the imperial family to engage in the four professions, in exchange for the princes and dukes lending money and grain to the court, temporarily relieving the court's urgent needs."

After writing three points, Zhu Siwen's pen was sharp as a knife, pressing for a question:
"None of the three strategies are perfect, but saving the country is of utmost urgency. May I ask Mr. Wei, if one of the three strategies must be chosen, which should be prioritized? If all three are unsuitable, where will the funds to save the people and the funds to defend against the enemy come from? Are we to sit idly by and watch the country crumble, and then write the 'Ode to Shaving the Head' with the likes of Li Hang?"

This first question was already tricky. But the article didn't stop there; it went on to pose an even more insidious "second question."

"Let's set aside the matter of money and provisions for now. Siwen will set another scenario for you, sir. Ask yourself honestly: if you were not currently in the capital of the Ming Dynasty, but in Hanyang, Korea, as a scholar of the Yangban class..."

"The fake Jin Aisin Gioro clan wants to take the imperial examination with you and compete for the title of top scholar. What will you do? Will you praise their 'public-spiritedness' or condemn them for 'desecrating culture'?"

"If Huang Taiji wants to levy your family's century-old accumulated commercial tax to fund the army, will you gladly 'serve' him, or will you fight to the death?"

"If Huang Taiji's knife were right now at your throat, asking you 'Keep your hair or keep your head,' would you choose to defend your principles and die for your cause, or shave your head and sing praises to the barbarian, like Li Hang?"

The questions grew increasingly sharp and bloody. Finally, the article concluded: "Therefore, abolishing the restrictions on the fiefdoms and using the accumulated wealth of the imperial clan to secure internal stability and defend against external threats was not to compete with the scholar-officials for profit, but rather a desperate measure for survival under the threat of death! Allowing members of the imperial clan to take the imperial examinations was merely the smallest price to pay for this national salvation. If even this step is not permitted, then our condemnation of Li Hang's shamelessness today, compared to our choice when the knife is at our throats, is nothing more than the pot calling the kettle black!"

"Consensus is born in crisis. I hope you will think carefully!"

The article was short, but it struck like a heavy hammer into the hearts of every reader.

……

The East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace in the Forbidden City.

That afternoon, Emperor Chongzhen, dressed only in a plain blue robe, sat on a soft couch by the window. He also held a copy of the "Imperial Ming Bulletin" issued on the sixth day of the month in his hand.

Cao Huachun stood in the shadows of the corner, his hands hanging down, like a clay sculpture.

Emperor Chongzhen read very slowly, especially the article by Zhu Siwen. When he came to the question about the "Three Policies," the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. When he came to the "Three Questions about Character," his gaze lingered for a moment, and his fingertips tapped lightly on the newspaper.

The hall was extremely quiet.

After a while, Chongzhen put down the newspaper and looked out the window at the gray sky. The white breath he exhaled instantly dissipated.

"Are the manuscripts for the seventh day all arranged?" he asked calmly.

Cao Huachun stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, everything has been arranged. The 'Reader Comments' section on the seventh day has been carefully selected, and all the articles have just been submitted... Most of them are criticizing Wei Daozi."

Emperor Chongzhen grunted in acknowledgment and said nothing more.

He didn't need to look to guess what the newspapers on the seventh day would look like. "Ode to Shaving the Hair" was the fuse, and "Zhu Siwen's Three Questions" were the hammer thrown into the powder keg. This keg was about to explode.

His face showed no joy, but rather a somber expression.

Because he knew very well that the royal family's meager funds and provisions were simply insufficient to help the Ming Dynasty overcome the crisis. The other two of the "Three Strategies for Saving the Country" would have to be implemented sooner or later!
The current effort to unite the imperial clan is not only to provide emergency relief, but also to ensure that they have the power to reap the wealth of the scholar-officials in the future!

……

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, the release of the new issue of the "Huangming Bulletin" caused an uproar.

The highlight of this issue is no longer the front-page article, but a full page of "reader comments" on the second page.

The column also includes a small print line: "Truth becomes clearer through debate. This column aims to encourage open discussion and publish selected excerpts. It does not represent the position of this newspaper."

However, the published articles had a glaringly clear stance.

One submission, signed "A Poor Scholar from Jiangnan," was the most inflammatory:
"Reading 'Ode to Shaving the Head' keeps me awake at night! Mr. Wei Daozi still sits high in his study, talking about orthodoxy and fussing over the gains and losses of examination slots. Isn't he just blinded by a leaf and unable to see Mount Tai? Mr. Zhu Siwen's three questions hit the nail on the head! May I ask Mr. Wei, what choice do you make among the three policies? Why are you speechless? Do you only want others to bleed while you yourself remain unharmed and watch the country deteriorate?"

Another article from "Northern Scholars" is even more direct:

"The starving people of Shaanxi and Henan are crying out for food, and the soldiers in the border towns are short of funds! If Mr. Wei thinks the suggestions offered by the imperial family are ineffective and denounces them, can you offer your own good solutions? Are you willing to personally go south to survey the official lands in Jiangnan, or are you willing to take the lead in donating your family's wealth to supplement the national treasury? Can empty talk about the orthodox tradition repel the eastern barbarians? Can it save the starving people?"

There is another article, with an unclear signature, seemingly written by a low-ranking official in the court, and written in a somber tone:
"Zhu Siwen's three questions are a wake-up call! The state of the nation has deteriorated to such an extent that it cannot be salvaged by mere words. If the leaders of the reform movement, such as Wei Gong, have no practical and feasible solutions for reconstruction and continue to obstruct reform, then please set aside the disputes for the time being and prioritize the affairs of the nation! Remember, if the skin is gone, where will the hair attach?"

The criticism, questioning, and even accusations were almost unanimous. Previously supportive voices in the "defenders of morality" had virtually disappeared from the comments section of this issue. The few that did attempt to defend the "defenders of morality" sounded weak and were quickly drowned out by the even stronger wave of criticism.

Public opinion underwent a complete reversal, stimulated by the "Ode to Shaving the Hair" and guided by "Zhu Siwen's Three Questions." The focus of the literati shifted dramatically from "whether or not to allow members of the imperial family to take the imperial examinations" to "how to obtain funds and provisions as quickly as possible to prevent the Ming Dynasty from becoming a second Joseon Dynasty."

A poignant sense of shared destiny and a pressing sense of urgency are clearly conveyed through these reader comments. Under this shared understanding of "preserving one's life," abolishing the restrictions on feudal domains and confiscating the accumulated wealth of the imperial family to save the nation seems to be the only feasible and urgent path forward.

……

Almost simultaneously, thousands of miles away in Changdeok Palace in Hanyang, Hwang Tae-gil listened to Bum Mun-jeong report on the amount of money and grain entering the Joseon treasury, a smug smile on his face. He calculated the cost of both the sword and the grain, believing that speed was the key.

He was unaware that the "Ode to Shaving the Hair" he forced out, and his efficient and ruthless methods of governance, would actually do his opponents a great favor in the Ming Dynasty.

Consensus often arises from crisis.

(End of this chapter)