How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 61 It's Going to Rain, My Mother's Going to Remarry (Please add to your favorites, please follow along, updates will be released earlier than scheduled)
The 29th day of the twelfth lunar month is the eve of the Lunar New Year.

Tsinghua University, Yihai Hall.

The charcoal fire burned fiercely. Emperor Chongzhen sat upright in the main seat, still dressed in plain clothes, holding an exquisite huanghuali wood thermos cup containing freshly brewed Songluo tea. On the large imperial desk in front of him was a map of the Jiliao border defenses.

Below the hall, cabinet ministers Huang Lijie, Shi Fenglai, Zhang Ruitu, Li Guopu, and Sun Chengzong, as well as Duke Dingguo Xu Xigao, Earl of Xiangcheng Li Shouqi, and other nobles, were all granted seats and sat on either side. Li Banghua, the Vice Minister of War, who had just arrived from Beijing, stood by the map.

Duke Zhu Chunchen of Chengguo did not appear.
“Mr. Sun,” Chongzhen sipped his hot tea, his gaze falling on the location of Kuanhe Fort on the map, “in your opinion, was the attack on Kuanhe Fort the idea of ​​the Kharachin tribe itself, or… was there someone behind it?”

Sun Chengzong frowned, his white eyebrows furrowed, and pointed to the direction of Daning Guard on the map: "Your Majesty, although Duoyan Guard is a vassal of the Kharachin, the Kharachin tribe was severely damaged by Hudun Tu Khan a few months ago and has not yet recovered. Last year, they were also massacred by Nurhaci, the chieftain of Jianzhou! If they do not have strong reinforcements to back them up, they would not dare to attack our Jizhen Pass alone even if they had ten times the courage!"

He paused, his voice grave: "The report that 'the Jurchens are suspected of being mixed in' is no exaggeration! I believe this was done by the Jurchens at the behest of the Kharachin! Their intention may be to tie down our Jizhou garrison or to eliminate our forward outposts along the Luan River and Kuan River, clearing obstacles for a future large-scale invasion. There must be Jurchens supervising the Kharachin army!"

Li Banghua's face turned deathly pale instantly: "If... if there really were the main force of the Jurchen Eight Banners mixed in, then Kuanhe Fort... and even the entire eastern wing of Jizhou..."

"We can hold out!" Chongzhen abruptly slammed down his thermos, his voice resolute as he interrupted Li Banghua. "The main force of the Jurchens will absolutely not travel that far to raid the border town of Jizhou at this moment. Even if Huang Taiji is not afraid of the severe cold and long journey, Da Ning does not have enough food to supply the army! At most, only one or two thousand detachments will come! The Kharachin tribe has already been weakened, and it is already the limit if they can muster a few thousand cavalry!"

He abruptly stood up, slamming his hand on the map, causing the teacup to rattle.
"My mind is made up! I will not return to the city for the time being. I will stay here in Qinghua Garden and coordinate the troops and provisions of the three garrisons of Jizhou, Xuanfu and Datong! I will mobilize the elite cavalry of Liaodong to reinforce the Kuanhe and Luanhe River lines! I will fight a fair and square battle with the Kharachin Tartars and the Jianzhou Jurchens! If we win, we can at least win two or three years of peace for our Great Ming!"

His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over the crowd below:

"My beloved ministers! As long as our Ming border troops are well-fed, well-clothed, paid in full, and well-equipped, they are a fierce and invincible army! The great victory at Xuanfu Town the other day is proof of this! Wei Zhongxian confiscated the money from Shanxi merchants to pay their soldiers, and a group of starving soldiers dared to launch a night raid on the Tartar camp, killing eight hundred in battle! They forced Hudun Tuhan to retreat twenty miles!"

Chongzhen's voice suddenly rose in pitch:
"Kuanhebao? Jizhou? Xuanfu? Datong? As long as there's enough silver, enough land, enough grain, and enough weapons! I refuse to believe that my 200,000 brave soldiers in Jizhou, Xuanfu, and Datong cannot defend our border! I refuse to believe that we cannot defeat a mere 10,000 or so remnants of the Kharachin army and a detachment of the Jurchens! Even if the Jurchens and the Kharachin Mongols join forces and launch a full-scale attack, my mighty Ming passes will surely ensure that they never return!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the suddenly tense faces of the nobles, and said, word by word:

"What I need to do now is not to personally lead the troops into battle! What I need to do is to sit in Tsinghua University and strategize! To ensure that the soldiers on the front lines are well-fed, warmly clothed, well-funded, equipped with suitable weapons, and have the courage to fight the enemy! To ensure that the nine border towns have sufficient provisions, well-equipped weapons, and soldiers who fight with their lives! As long as these things are done, how can we not destroy the Tartars? How can we not have peace on the border?!"

"Enough silver...enough land...enough grain...enough weapons..."

Duke Dingguo Xu Xigao, Earl Xiangcheng Li Shouqi, and others felt the hairs on the back of their necks stand on end! His Majesty's words... were clearly implying something! Also, why not raise grain and funds in Beijing instead of going to Tsinghua Garden outside the city?
……

The twilight was golden.

Outside a secluded, warm pavilion on the west side of Tsinghua Garden.

A carriage draped with a dark blue cotton canopy silently came to a stop in the shadows. The insignia of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion was faintly visible in the dim light.

The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, and the steward, Zhu An, peeked out, cautiously looking around. A cold wind swirled through the air, carrying snowflakes, and the garden was quiet except for the faint sounds of commotion coming from the distant Yihai Hall.

"Quickly! Duke!" Zhu An urged urgently in a low voice.

A fat figure, almost obscuring his face, wrapped in a heavy sable coat, practically tumbled into the carriage, supported by his retainer Zhu Ba and two trusted servants. It was none other than Duke Cheng, Zhu Chunchen! His face was ashen, his lips trembled, and even the thick sable coat couldn't conceal the violent shaking of his body.

"Go! Go quickly!" Zhu Chunchen's voice was hoarse and choked with sobs.

Zhu Ba jumped onto the carriage shaft and gave the reins a shake: "Giddy up!"

The carriage started slowly, its wheels crunching softly over the frozen snow as it headed towards the west gate of Tsinghua University.

Zhu Chunchen huddled at the back of the carriage, wrapped tightly in a thick mink coat, yet still felt icy cold to the bone. Fear gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake. The open surveillance by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Wang Dengku's arrest, the accusation of "colluding with the enemy" hanging like a sword over his head... He couldn't take it anymore! If he stayed any longer, he feared he would go mad!

Datong…only Datong! The Prince of Dai's Mansion and the Ma family…out of past favors, perhaps they can protect him for now… The carriage smoothly drove out of the west gate of Tsinghua University. Zhu Chunchen was just about to breathe a sigh of relief…
"Stop them!"

"Halt! That's the carriage of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion! They stole the carriage of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion!"

Suddenly, several thunderous roars came from behind! This was followed by chaotic footsteps and the clanging of weapons being drawn!

Zhu Chunchen was terrified! It's over! We've been discovered!
"Quick! Run!" he screamed hoarsely, his voice distorted.

Zhu Ba, perched on the carriage shaft, paled drastically. He abruptly raised his whip and lashed it hard across the horse's rump: "Giddy up! Giddy up!"

The two strong horses pulling the carriage neighed in pain, then broke into a frenzy and galloped wildly along the official road! The heavy carriage shook violently from the jolting, almost falling apart!

"Chase them! Don't let them get away!" The shouts of battle behind them grew louder and louder.

Zhu Chunchen gripped the handrail inside the carriage tightly, feeling dizzy and as if his internal organs were about to be thrown out. Through the gap in the curtain, he saw in horror a dozen figures carrying lanterns and torches, relentlessly pursuing him!
"Lord Duke! Hold on tight!" Zhu Ba shouted, whipping the horse frantically.

……

Not far from the west gate of Tsinghua University, in an inconspicuous teahouse.

Xu Xianchun, the chief of the Northern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, dressed in plain clothes, was leisurely peeling peanuts. Beside him, more than twenty burly men sat or stood, seemingly relaxed, but their eyes were as sharp as eagles.

The rapid sound of horses' hooves and shouts grew louder as they approached.

Xu Xianchun's ears twitched slightly, and he looked up to see a carriage draped in dark blue, like a startled wild horse, rushing out of the west gate of Tsinghua University and galloping wildly along the official road.
Behind the carriage, a dozen or so servants dressed as servants of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion were chasing after it, carrying lanterns and torches, panting heavily.

"Heh," Xu Xianchun chuckled, popping a peanut into his mouth and crunching it. "The carriage from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion? Interesting."

He waved lazily.

Two imperial guards, also dressed in plain clothes, immediately rose, mounted their horses, and moved swiftly and cleanly. They didn't light torches, and like ghosts blending into the night, they rode at a leisurely pace, trailing far behind the galloping carriage.

Xu Xianchun picked up the rough porcelain teacup, took a sip, and said to the remaining men, "No rush, follow slowly. Let's see where our Duke Cheng wants to go for a stroll."

……

Inside Yihai Hall, the lights were on, but the atmosphere was solemn.

Emperor Chongzhen pointed to the map and gave instructions to Sun Chengzong and Li Banghua: "...The elite cavalry of Liaodong can be sent ahead by Zu Dashou and Wu Xiang to garrison Qian'an! Sun Zushou's troops in Jizhou will advance along the line from Xifengkou to Lianghekou! Provisions..."

The voice hasn't fallen
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!"

Xu Yingyuan, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, scrambled into the hall, his face deathly pale, his voice trembling with sobs, and knelt down with a thud.
"Duke Cheng... Duke Cheng, Zhu Chunchen! He... he ran away in the carriage of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion!"

Xu Yingyuan's words, "The Duke of Cheng has run away," exploded like a thunderclap in Yihai Hall! The Grand Secretaries and nobles, who had been arguing about military deployments, fell silent instantly, their faces changing drastically!
Chongzhen's smile grew even wider!
Zhu Chunchen did a good job running away! He fled to escape punishment, and he even did it in a carriage belonging to the Duke of Dingguo's mansion. He's quite clever!
When Duke Dingguo Xu Xigao heard the words "the carriage of the Duke Dingguo's mansion", his face turned ashen and his whole body trembled like a leaf.

“Duke of Dingguo,” Chongzhen’s voice was not loud, “what’s going on with the carriage in your residence? Why is Duke of Cheng, Zhu Chunchen, running away? And why… why does he have to run away in your Duke of Dingguo’s carriage?”

(End of this chapter)