How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 289 If it fails, the Ming Dynasty is doomed!

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the grand court assembly was about to end.

The officials stood, waiting for the whip to sound the signal to end the court session. Some yawned, while others wondered where they would go for tea after the session.

The Chongzhen Emperor remained seated on his throne, motionless. He glanced at the officials below him, dressed in red and purple robes, and spoke. His voice was not loud, but everyone heard him.

"Yesterday's *Huangming Baotong* published an article by Mr. Zhu Siwen, entitled 'How Much Wealth Does the World Possess? Can the Taxes in the Southeast Be Fair?' Have you all read it?"

A moment of silence fell over the hall. Everyone woke up. Zhu Siwen? Who didn't know that was the Emperor himself!

No one responded first.

After waiting for a while, Chongzhen said, "Today's court assembly will not be bound by formalities. All ministers may share their opinions on this article. Those who support it may speak, and those who oppose it may also express their views. I want to hear the truth."

After he finished speaking, he looked down. His gaze was calm, yet it was suffocating.

Silence. Still silence.

Who dares to speak first? To say "support" would offend colleagues in the southeast and the local gentry behind them. To say "oppose" would be to directly slap the Emperor in the face.

Just then, a man stepped forward. It was Zhu Yujian, the Prince of Tang, who had recently arrived in the capital from Nanyang Prefecture. He was dressed in the robes of a prince, had a dark complexion, a very imposing beard, and looked travel-worn.

He bowed deeply, his voice heavy with sorrow: "Your Majesty! Your subject has something to say."

Everyone looked at him. It was rare for a vassal king to interrupt on such a matter.

"Speak," Emperor Chongzhen said, uttering only one word.

His purpose in summoning this young prince, who loved the Ming Dynasty as much as the Prince of Zhou, to the capital was to use him to tell the story of the disaster-stricken areas in Henan!
The Tang Emperor straightened up, not looking at Emperor Chongzhen, but turning to the assembled civil and military officials. His eyes were slightly red, and his voice trembled:
"I have read Mr. Zhu Siwen's article! I believe that this article is rich in data and every word is written with heartfelt emotion. It is a wise word for saving the country and the people! I wholeheartedly agree!"

He paused for a moment, as if suppressing immense emotions:
"On my journey from Nanyang Prefecture to the capital, what I have seen along the way is appalling! In Henan, three out of the past four years have been plagued by severe drought! Last year, locusts swept through the region, darkening the sky and devouring all the crops! This spring and summer, the heavens finally opened their eyes and sent down some rain. The seedlings were just starting to grow, and the people were eagerly hoping for a harvest... But in the summer and autumn, torrential rains poured down, and floods raged!"

His voice rose slightly, trembling with emotion:

"The Yellow River and Huai River rose together, and countless dikes collapsed! Even the highlands that were not flooded suffered from crop rot due to continuous rain, resulting in a drastic reduction in harvest and almost a complete crop failure!"

His gaze swept over the officials with their varied expressions:

"What are the people eating? They've eaten tree bark and grass roots! People are selling their children everywhere! They're even exchanging their own children to eat... I've seen it with my own eyes, and it's no exaggeration! Henan is now a living hell! The situation in Shaanxi and Shanxi will only get worse, not better!"

He almost screamed at the last moment, pointing outside the hall as if he could see the scorched earth:

"Your Majesty! Your Excellencies! The people of Henan are already at their wits' end! If the court does not take swift and effective measures to raise a large sum of money for relief, millions of refugees will rise up in an instant! At that time... at that time, I... I dare not even think about what will happen!"

The hall was deathly silent. Only the Tang King's heavy breathing could be heard. The news he brought was already known to everyone—after such devastation in recent years, wouldn't anyone be a fool not to know? But knowing didn't mean wanting to hear, or being willing to listen, much less being willing to speak!

At this moment, Emperor Chongzhen spoke, his voice icy cold:
"The King of Tang dares not think of this, but I will. All of you, please think about it as well."

His sharp gaze swept across the entire room:

"What's so hard to say? After the refugees come the bandits!"

These words were like a thunderclap, sending chills down one's spine.

"Do the governments of Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi still have grain or silver in their granaries? How will they feed the millions of mouths to feed? Even if they do have some, how long can it last?"

"When people are starving and desperate to survive, what can they do when there's no food? They have no choice but to rob! Turning from civilians into bandits is their only way to live!"

He went on, his tone steady, yet painting a picture of despair:

"When bandits rise up, war rages everywhere. Can those who still want to hold onto their meager plots of land and live as law-abiding citizens still farm? No! The bandits will coerce them, forcing them to join their ranks, and if they refuse, they will be killed!"

"And local officials can't let them farm properly either. Because local officials still need to collect taxes! Tax the bandits? Tax the refugees? Would they dare to do that? They can only levy additional taxes on those poor, good people who haven't yet joined the bandits! Using their blood and sweat to support the army and suppress the bandits!"

"In the end, even good people were forced to rebel, the bandits grew stronger with each suppression, the land became barren, villages and towns were reduced to ruins... until the country was completely destroyed and beyond repair!"

With each word he spoke, the atmosphere in the hall grew heavier. The chain of death was so clear it was suffocating. Many officials turned pale, their backs soaked with cold sweat. They knew the Emperor wasn't bluffing; he was stating a reality that could very well unfold!

For Emperor Chongzhen, this disaster had already happened once before!

He observed their reactions and knew the time was right.

His voice rose, carrying an undeniable power:

"The Tang Emperor has witnessed the devastation, and Zhu Siwen has settled the accounts. I have also clearly explained the consequences. Now, my ministers, tell me, what should we do?"

He paused, his gaze sharp as lightning, fixing on each and every one of them:

"Should we sit idly by and watch the north crumble completely, with bandits rising up everywhere, and watch the Ming Dynasty collapse? Or..."

He stood up abruptly, his voice resolute:
"Should we still follow Mr. Zhu Siwen's advice, conduct a thorough land survey, equalize taxes and corvée labor, fundamentally open up sources of revenue, save the countless lives in the north, and allow our Great Ming to regain its vitality?!"

No one dared to answer the call.

He pressed on, asking and answering his own question:

"If we choose the latter, who should we send? Land surveying and equalizing taxes and corvée labor are things even Zhang Jiangling couldn't accomplish. Who among you has Zhang Jiangling's prestige and methods? Who can subdue the deeply entrenched forces in the southeast? Who can ensure that the policies are not distorted or that we are not misled by local authorities in a fiscal reform involving tens of millions of taels of silver? And who can guarantee that after all our hard work, we won't be held accountable later?" He bombarded him with questions, and the answers were obvious.

"All civil and military officials, nobles and high-ranking ministers, tell me, who is fit for this position?!"

A deathly silence. No one dared to look up.

Emperor Chongzhen took a deep breath, mustered all his strength, and uttered the final answer, the only way out:
"None of you can do it! This matter can only be handled by me! I will personally go to the southeast, uphold the law, act impartially, and rely on a strong army. We will surely succeed! Moreover, no one can hold me accountable later. Because I am the emperor who distributes all the imperial treasury to the soldiers of the Imperial Guard!"

That's a bit scary!
The Imperial Guards had defeated the Jurchens in open battle—although the way they won was not aesthetically pleasing, they still won!
Who else in the Ming Dynasty possesses such fighting prowess?
Emperor Chongzhen coldly said, "The Prince of Tang witnessed the dying bodies in the north, while Zhu Siwen pointed out the way to prolong life in the southeast. I must personally go and obtain this medicine!"

His gaze swept across the entire room, each word like a hammer blow to the ground:

“If I don’t go, none of you will be able to accomplish this!”

"If the reforms of clearing land ownership and equalizing taxes and corvée labor fail, the Ming Dynasty will be doomed!"

"Now, who supports it, and who opposes it?"

The hall was dead silent.

Emperor Chongzhen's question, "Who supports it? Who opposes it?" weighed heavily on everyone's mind. To support it meant to undermine the foundations of their homeland in the southeast, severing ties with their native soil. To oppose it meant to be a traitor who stood by and watched the north crumble and bandits rise up, immediately facing the emperor's wrath.

The air seemed to freeze. Only heavy breathing and heartbeats could be heard.

At this moment, Duke Yansheng, Kong Yinzhi, stepped forward. He straightened his clothes, stepped forward, bowed, and said in a steady voice, "Your Majesty! Your subject, Kong Yinzhi, is willing to accompany you on your southern journey! To survey the fields and equalize taxes and corvée labor is a great righteousness for upholding justice for the world! Although I am not talented, I am willing to offer my humble assistance!"

His actions were like knocking down the first card.

The King of Qin stepped forward, his voice booming: "Your Majesty! My estates have all paid taxes! How can the officials and gentry of the southeast be an exception? I am willing to accompany Your Majesty south to personally witness them hand over every single grain of silver they are owed!"

Duke Dingguo, Xu Yunzhen, also stepped forward: "Your subject, Xu Yunzhen, is willing to lead the sons of meritorious officials to protect His Majesty and go south to rectify land taxes! This is the foundation for protecting the Ming Dynasty, and we have no choice but to do so!"

These few members of the imperial family and noble families were extremely influential. By representing the imperial relatives and meritorious officials who shared the fate of the nation, their expression of support for the emperor's policy of "equal distribution" effectively dismantled any potential united resistance from the top levels of the legal system and interest groups.

When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. Officials from the north, seeing that the imperial family and nobles had all expressed their support, and thinking of the dire situation in their hometowns, no longer had any scruples.

Grand Secretary Huang Liji took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said loudly, "Your Majesty! The North is in dire need of medical assistance to save its lives! Your subject Huang Liji is willing to accompany Your Majesty south to eliminate long-standing abuses and raise sufficient funds for the soldiers on the nine borders!"

"I second the proposal!"

"Your subject is willing to go!"

Officials from Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, and Shandong stepped forward one after another. Their voices were filled with emotion, carrying the hopes and indignation of their hometown elders. For them, only if the reforms succeeded could their hometowns be saved. At this moment, they became the emperor's most steadfast supporters.

The pressure fell entirely on officials from the south.

Seeing the situation, the Second Grand Secretary Shi Fenglai (from Zhejiang) knew that all was lost. He sighed inwardly, stepped forward, and said, "Your Majesty has a far-sighted vision, and your plan is a strategy for the lasting stability of the nation. This old minister... seconded your proposal."

All eyes were on Qian Qianyi (from Jiangsu), the Minister of Rites.

Qian Qianyi knew he was now alone and powerless. The emperor, the imperial family, nobles, and officials from the north had formed an alliance. If he continued to oppose them, he would become an enemy of the entire nation. He recalled his essay, "How Much Wealth Is There in the World?", the emperor's cold gaze, and the tragic situation described by the Tang emperor.

He slowly stepped forward, bowed deeply, and used all his strength to make his voice sound as sincere as possible:
"Your Majesty... Your wisdom is profound, and I... I prostrate myself in admiration. The land survey and equal taxation are truly... a good way to save the country. I, Qian Qianyi, am willing to follow in your footsteps and do my best...

With him taking the lead, the other officials from the south, as if granted a pardon, stepped forward one after another:
"I second the proposal!"

"I am willing to accompany Your Majesty south!"

In an instant, the hall was filled with a sea of ​​kneeling figures. They appeared united in purpose, but in reality, their thoughts were divided.

Emperor Chongzhen sat on his throne, coldly observing everything. He knew that beneath this "unanimous support" lay a turbulent undercurrent. But what he wanted was this "legitimate" legitimacy.

He slowly raised his hand.

"The princes are at peace."

The crowd thanked the emperor and rose, standing with their hands at their sides, awaiting the emperor's final decision.

Emperor Chongzhen's gaze swept across the entire room, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable decisiveness:
"I am aware of your loyalty to the emperor and your dedication to the country."

“However,” he changed the subject, “the matter of the southern tour is no small matter. The main purpose of my trip is to inspect the fields and clarify the taxes, not to move the capital or the entire court to the south.”

He pointed out candidates for several key positions:
“The Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Works shall each send a Vice Minister to accompany the Emperor. The Censorate and the Censorate shall also send officials to accompany the Emperor to audit documents and supervise local affairs.”

"The affairs of the capital are handled by the Grand Secretary (Huang Lijie) and the officials left behind. Major military matters are sent to the imperial court for decision-making via express courier."

"As for the accompanying imperial relatives and nobles," he said, looking at Kong Yinzhi, the Prince of Qin, and others, "there need not be too many. The Duke of Yansheng, the Prince of Qin, and the Duke of Dingguo may accompany me. The rest of you may remain in the capital and perform your duties."

"The specific regulations shall be discussed and submitted by the Cabinet in conjunction with the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Rites within three days."

"Retreat!"

(End of this chapter)