How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 252 Literary Inquisition and Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Spring in Haeju is even colder than in Pyongyang. The wind blows in from the sea, carrying a salty, fishy smell, and feels like a knife on your face.

Prefect Li Hang sat in the main hall of the prefectural government office, wearing a brand-new sixth-rank official robe, his long braid slicked back. Below him sat the newly appointed garrison commander of Haizhou, Li Xiaoqi, a Han Chinese bondservant from Liaodong, with a scar on his face and a fierce look that could frighten a child.

Several people were kneeling below the hall. They were the headmaster of the Li Clan Academy in Yan'an, Haizhou, and several clan elders. They were all scholars who usually held a respectable position in the local area. But at this moment, they were trembling like leaves.

“Dean Li,” Li Xiaoqi spoke first, his voice like a broken gong, “someone has reported that your academy is hiding prohibited books, and that students even dared to use the year ‘Chongzhen 4’ in their essays. How dare you!”

Dean Li raised his head, his face ashen: "Commander Li, I'm innocent! That...that was an old almanac, it wasn't cleaned up properly...As for the student's essay, it was just a child's scribbling mistake..."

"A typo?" Li Hang sneered, his voice shrill, interrupting him. "It's not enough to just have a queue on the back of your head; you must also have one in your heart! What is this academy teaching? How do you teach loyalty to the emperor and obedience to superiors?"

He picked up a well-worn copy of the Analects from the table, then tossed it aside with disdain. "What good is just reciting the classics! The Great Khan's grace is meant to make you obedient subjects, pay your taxes and perform your duties, not to make you think about the past dynasties all day long!"

Li Xiaoqi waved his hand impatiently: "Stop wasting your breath on them! Search them!"

The fierce Korean Green Standard Army soldiers stormed into the academy, and soon brought out several boxes. Inside were a few old books bearing the characters "Chongzhen," as well as some ordinary classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections.

"Look! Look!" Li Xiaoqi pointed at the box. "Just these random books are enough to get me punished! Who knows if there are any smuggled goods inside? Lock them all up! Seize the academy! Confiscate all their property!"

Cries and pleas for mercy instantly filled the hall. Li Hang watched expressionlessly. Li Xiaoqi grinned, revealing his yellow teeth. He liked this efficiency; using whips and knives was more effective than any reason. In this territory of Haizhou, he was now the only one "in the banner"—even a bondservant was in the banner! And with the traitorous scholar Li Hang, the vast Haizhou was completely under his control.

A few days later, at the Pyongyang Palace.

Huang Taiji looked at the memorial jointly submitted by Li Hang and Li Xiaoqi, his face expressionless. He handed the memorial to Ajige and Mangultai beside him.

Ajige glanced at it briefly, then snorted, "Why go to all this trouble for a few poor, pedantic scholars!"

Mangultai also muttered, "That's right, with this effort, we should train the troops a few more times."

Huang Taiji ignored them and turned his gaze to the young Dorgon: "Fourteenth Prince, what do you think?"

Dorgon pondered for a moment, then said, "Great Khan, Li Hang and Li Xiaoqi have done very well. They not only deserve to be rewarded, but the local officials of the eight prefectures should also learn from them."

Ajige glared at him: "What's so good about it?"

Dorgon explained, “This matter may seem small, but it involves a great deal of knowledge. If writing is considered a crime, those scholars in the Liangban class will be afraid and cautious, daring only to read the Four Books and Five Classics and not daring to read any other books. Over time, their minds will become narrow and their vision limited. The common people, seeing how dangerous studying is, will simply stop sending their children to school. Naturally, private academies will become fewer and fewer. If the people don't study, they will become a foolish people!”

He paused, his voice turning cold: "These ignorant people, good. They can't read many characters, so they won't remember Korea's past, nor will they remember that they were once subjects of the Ming Dynasty. They will only remember who fed them and whose whip made them afraid. If this continues for one or two generations, Korea will truly become the Korea of ​​my Great Jin."

Huang Taiji burst into laughter after hearing this. Of all his brothers, Dorgon was the most intelligent!
"Well said! Fourteenth Prince, you see things clearly!" He suddenly stopped laughing, his eyes gleaming. "Issue an imperial decree! Prefect Li Hang and Garrison Commander Li Xiaoqi of Haizhou have performed their duties effectively. Each shall be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver and ten bolts of silk! Their actions shall be reported to all eight prefectures, and all regions shall follow suit! The Li family of Yan'an, who have sided with the rebels, shall be severely punished without exception, as a warning to others!"

...

At almost the same moment, thousands of miles away in Yan'an Prefecture, Shaanxi Province.

The city was in ruins, with cracks all over the earthen walls. Occasionally, a passerby would walk by, but they all looked malnourished and hurried along.

In a dilapidated restaurant, Prince Zhu Gongxiao of Zhou, dressed in a worn cotton robe, sat in a corner. Opposite him was Zhang Xianzhong, who was in disguise.

King Zhou took out a few grain coupons stamped with the official seal from his pocket, added some loose silver, and then ordered the waiter to bring out a few simple dishes, plus a plate of freshly roasted sweet potatoes.

After more than half a year of promotion, grain coupons were at least circulating in the disaster-stricken areas of northern Shaanxi—after all, these coupons could actually be used to exchange for or buy (at a fair price) grain from the Shaanxi Grain Depot under the control of the Zhou King. However, the Zhou King's grain reserves were really stretched thin!
“Brother Zhang, you flatter me. Yan’an is a barren land and the people are poor, so we don’t have much to offer you.” Zhou Wang pointed to the plate of sweet potatoes. “These things are drought-resistant. I tried planting some last year and managed to get a harvest, which is enough to keep us from starving.”

Zhang Xianzhong grabbed a sweet potato, burning his hands as he scrambled to get it, and took a bite: "Master Zhu, you're too kind. These days, having something to eat is like being the emperor. It's better than going hungry."

After a few cups of wine, Zhang Xianzhong wiped his mouth and lowered his voice: "Master Zhu, let's be frank. Chief Gao sent me from the Hetao region, and it's still about the same thing. We'll exchange grain for people. One man, or a woman capable of bearing children, will be exchanged for three shi of wheat."

King Zhou paused, his hand holding the wine cup still. He knew this deal was dishonorable and could potentially lead to trouble. But looking out at the clear blue sky, he couldn't refuse.

“And another thing,” Zhang Xianzhong leaned closer, his voice even lower, “I’d like to try something else this time. Ironware, gunpowder, lead bullets.”

King Zhou's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at him warily: "Brother Zhang, what do you need these for?"

Zhang Xianzhong's eyes darted around, and he chuckled, "Don't worry, Master Zhu, it's not aimed at the imperial court. We're just trying to make a living in the Hetao region, so we need some weapons to protect ourselves, right? There are plenty of Tartars around, and there's that Jurchen bastard who's been appointed as a general. If they attack one day, we can't just fight the government troops empty-handed, can we?"

King Zhou stared at him for a long time, while Zhang Xianzhong remained calm. King Zhou knew this wasn't entirely true; the appetites of those in the Hetao region were growing ever larger. But…

He glanced at the plate of golden roasted sweet potatoes on the table, then thought of the nearly empty granary in the warehouse, the dark mass of disaster victims outside the city, and the treacherous heavens that seemed to have forgotten how to bring rain.

He took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind.

"Alright. The people will be replaced as usual. Ironware, gunpowder... I can also exchange some for grain. But the quantity must be strictly controlled, otherwise I won't be able to find a way to get more."

Zhang Xianzhong's face immediately lit up with a smile: "Great! Don't worry, Master Zhu, we know the rules!"

King Zhou nodded, saying nothing more, but silently picked up a sweet potato and ate it slowly. After all, food was the most important thing. The priority was to ensure the survival of those before them, only then could they have a future.

Outside the restaurant, the wind of the Loess Plateau howled, stirring up gusts of dust.

The Forbidden City, the Qianqing Palace, the West Warm Pavilion.

The general was bowing deeply, reporting news from the Later Jin to Emperor Chongzhen.

"Your Majesty, the latest secret report from Liaodong. Huang Taiji is making quite a stir in Korea. He's not only forcing people to shave their heads, but he's also seriously training a new army. According to the Ming Dynasty's military system, there are a full 50,000 Korean soldiers, led by servants from the Eight Banners of Korea and the Eight Banners of Han Chinese. The Manchus have also sent instructors to train them in firearms formations every day."

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"That's not all. In the eight provinces of Korea, a wicked wind is blowing, called the 'Chongzhen Reign Title Case'. Powerful families like the Wu family of Haizhou and the Li family of Yan'an are being raided and wiped out without warning. Huang Taiji is trying to use the blood of Koreans to establish his own rules and extinguish the hopes of those scholars."

Emperor Chongzhen sat behind his desk, his fingers twirling a memorial that had just been delivered from Fujian; it was from Zheng Zhilong.

Zheng Zhilong said that the "Japanese King" Tokugawa Iemitsu was a sensible person (he released his wife and children and even gave him many official seals, he was very considerate), and wanted to send someone to Beijing to "pay tribute." However, he also made it clear that he would not completely sever ties with "Korea" (which was actually the Later Jin), but he would never recognize the Later Jin's annexation of Korea, seemingly wanting to benefit from both sides while also not wanting to get himself into trouble.

Emperor Chongzhen gently put down the memorial without saying a word. His gaze swept from Wang Zaijin's face to Yang Sichang, who was standing to the side, before returning to the desk.

The warm room was quiet.

"Heh." Chongzhen suddenly laughed, a hint of coldness in his voice. "The Eastern barbarians are trying to suck the marrow out of Korea to forge a fine sword. As for the Japanese, they'll just watch from the sidelines and wait to reap the benefits."

He stood up, walked to the huge map of the Ming Dynasty, his gaze first fixed on western Liaoning, then slid to southern Liaoning, and finally paused on the Dongjiang area.

"The situation is perilous, but the foundation of the Ming Dynasty still lies in those four words—strengthening the foundation and cultivating the vitality." He turned around, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable determination. "We must prepare for the Liaodong affair, but we cannot let it lead us by the nose and drain our resources."

He walked back to the imperial desk, tapping the table with his finger.

"Pass on the decree to Zu Dashou. Fortify the defenses along the Jinzhou, Dalinghe, and Xiaolinghe lines, dig deep trenches, and build high ramparts. Use the 'lock down Liaodong' strategy to defend instead of attack, and wear them down!"

"Huang Degong is having a tough time in Fuzhou. I've allocated 150,000 taels of silver from the imperial treasury for him, specifically for this purpose, to expedite the construction of the fortress! I want to make Fuzhou a nail driven into southern Liaoning!"

"Mao Wenlong is not well-off in Xiuyan either. I will also allocate 150,000 taels of the imperial treasury. He is to use Xiuyan as a base to expand outwards, harass the enemy's rear, and tie down their forces. But remember, preserving strength is the top priority, and reckless fighting is not allowed!"

With just a few words, the strategy for the Liaodong affair was set. The high-ranking officials were all thinking to themselves—this emperor really knows how to spend money! Three hundred thousand taels of the imperial treasury have been spent. Does he have enough money? Should he take a few more "pirate empresses" as concubines? With his health...
Emperor Chongzhen sat down again, his tone softening somewhat.

"The key to the new policy lies in getting the right people. These guys in Jinke, we need to put them to the test and hone their skills through practical experience."

He looked at Yang Sichang: "Draft the decree."

"Yan Yingyuan was appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy."

Upon hearing this, Yang Sichang paused, his pen poised. Compiler of the Hanlin Academy? That was an extremely prestigious position, hardly a chance for practical experience…

As if reading his mind, Chongzhen continued, "By special decree, Yan Yingyuan is to concurrently serve as the 'Editor of the Tsinghua Military Academy.' He need not report to the Hanlin Academy; he can reside permanently in Tsinghua Garden. His duties are twofold: first, to attend classes and study ancient and modern battle formations, firearms, and fortification methods; second, to work with experienced generals to summarize for me the methods of vehicle-camp coordination, fortification attack and defense, and even 'one-night city' tactics developed in recent years, and compile them into a systematic teaching material! What I want is genuine knowledge that can train troops for battle, not empty rhetoric."

Yang Sichang quickly wrote it down. Now he understood: the Emperor was grooming this top scholar into a high-ranking official! Placing him in the Military Academy, exposing him to core military affairs and compiling teaching materials—this was about establishing rules and laying the foundation for scholarship. With proper training, he could become another Sun Chuanting or Lu Xiangshan. Brilliant!

"Yang Tinglin is appointed as the Prefectural Magistrate of Tianjin; Wu Yi is appointed as the Director of the Tianjin Maritime Trade Office." Chongzhen continued, "Tianjin is the gateway to the new policies, connecting the Liaodong Peninsula to the north and the Grand Canal to the south, and will be a hub for maritime trade in the future. The two of them will go there to assist Ma Shiying in cleaning up official corruption, ensuring the Grand Canal transport, standardizing customs duties, and attracting merchants. Everything should be done with a focus on effectiveness, without being bound by old laws."

"Your subject understands," Yang Sichang replied. This is about putting capable people in the most challenging situations to hone their skills.

"And Wu Weiye," Chongzhen's lips seemed to twitch slightly, revealing an enigmatic smile, "is appointed as the magistrate of Jingxi County."

Jingxi County? Yang Sichang was stunned for a moment, then realized that this meant that the newly designated area outside Beijing would be established as a separate county.

"I know he writes good poetry and has an elegant aesthetic sense. I will entrust Jingxi County to him to plan the streets and alleys, build residences, and attract wealthy families from all directions to settle down. It must be built into a prosperous place worthy of the capital. This matter concerns the prosperity of the capital region and tax revenue, and it is no small matter."

Yang Sichang thought to himself, "The Emperor is making the most of his talents! By sending these talented scholars from the Donglin Academy to handle construction projects, he's leveraging their 'refined' abilities to actually promote development and attract investment. Brilliant!"

The decree was drafted, sealed, and issued.

The cabinet ministers bowed and withdrew. The warm pavilion fell silent again, leaving only Emperor Chongzhen alone.

He slowly walked to the window and pushed it open a crack. The sky outside was gloomy and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.

Liaodong was sharpening its sword, Japan was watching and waiting, and the famine in Shaanxi was not yet completely over. A thousand and one problems weighed heavily on the shoulders of this Ming emperor.

He knew there was no need to rush. The moves they had just made—Yan Yingyuan solidifying the foundation, Yang Tinglin and Wu Yi smoothing the flow of resources, and Wu Weiye cultivating the core territory—were all aimed at achieving the goal of "strengthening the foundation and cultivating the source."

But will Huang Taiji give him that time?
(End of this chapter)