How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 67: The raid on the house uncovered the Imperial Household Department (Please read and add to your favorites, there will be another update at 8 pm tonight)
Tsinghua University, Yihai Hall.

Emperor Chongzhen sat upright behind his desk, still dressed in plain clothes, holding a huanghuali wood thermos cup filled with freshly brewed tea.

Xu Xigao, Li Shouqi, Zhu Guobi, Tian Ergeng, and Wang Tiqian stood respectfully below the hall, their hands at their sides. All five looked weary—confiscating property was hard work! Especially when the valuable items they found couldn't be pocketed.

"Speak," Chongzhen's voice was calm and even, "How's the copying going?"

Xu Xigao stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, we were ordered to search and confiscate the Chengguo Duke's mansion. We entered the mansion on New Year's Eve and only finished at dawn today. Everyone in the mansion is under control. Eleven residences belonging to close relatives have also been sealed off."

He took a breath and continued:
"The seized cash and debt deeds amount to over 857,600 taels! Gold is 31,200 taels! Three granaries in Tongzhou contain 280,000 shi of grain! Land deeds for estates in Changping, Daxing, Liangxiang, and other places, totaling 203,000 mu of good land! 127 shop deeds in the capital, Tianjin, Zhangjiakou, Xuanfu, and other places! The ledgers of 'standard silver' given by Shanxi merchants Wang Dengku and Fan Yongdou over the years, totaling 1,050,000 taels! There are also precious jade artifacts, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, leather goods, and silks... too many to count! They are still being inventoried and cataloged! In addition, the Duke of Cheng's mansion has estates in Yongping, Hejian, Baoding, Zhengding, Shunde, Guangping, and Daming, which are also being inventoried. The Duke of Cheng's mansion also has properties in Xuanfu and Datong, which also require investigation."

He paused, then added, "His brother, Zhu Chunxiao, has been apprehended. His mother, Wang, is temporarily detained in the inner courtyard. The stewards and accountants of the manor have all been imprisoned pending trial."

There was dead silence in the hall.

850,000 taels of silver plus debt contracts! 280,000 shi of grain! More than 200,000 mu of land! More than 100 shops! More than 1 million taels of silver in previous years... and that's not all!
This is no duke's mansion! This is clearly a giant den of traitors that has hollowed out the foundation of the nation!
However, Chongzhen showed no expression on his face, as if he were used to it.
"Hmm," he responded softly, his gaze sweeping over Tian Ergeng and Wang Tiqian, "Tian Qing, Wang Banban, what about your side?"

Tian Ergeng bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is cooperating with the inspection. The three teams are keeping an eye on each other. Everyone who leaves the residence has been searched, but so far no major smuggled items have been found. The Eastern Depot's officers found some secret letters in a hidden compartment in Zhu Chunchen's study, which were correspondence between the military families of Datong and the Prince of Dai's residence. The contents... involve border markets, horses, and ironware, and there is suspicion of collusion with the enemy. We are intensifying our investigation."

Wang Tiqian said in a shrill voice, "This servant supervised the eunuchs and the people from the Directorate of Ceremonial to count the jewelry and valuables of the inner treasury and the women's family members, and nothing was missed."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded, his gaze finally settling on Xu Xigao, Li Shouqi, and Zhu Guobi:

"My three beloved ministers, you have worked hard."

"We would gladly die to share Your Majesty's burdens!" the three men bowed and said in unison.

Emperor Chongzhen put down his thermos, leaned forward slightly, and swept his sharp gaze over the five people:
“You’re serious about confiscating our property. You’ve done a thorough job.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an invisible pressure. “This silver, grain, land… it’s all the hard-earned money of the people, the blood and sweat of the border soldiers! Now, it’s time for it to be put to good use.”

He paused, then said, word by word:

"Li Banghua".

“Your subject is here!” Li Banghua, the Vice Minister of War who was standing to the side, quickly stepped forward.

"Draft decree: The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War are hereby ordered to immediately allocate the seized silver to the nine border regions! Priority shall be given to Jizhou, Xuanfu, and Datong! This silver must be distributed to every soldier by the end of the month! Tell them..."

Emperor Chongzhen's voice suddenly turned somber: "This is the money His Majesty confiscated from the Chengguo Duke's mansion to pay them their wages! To ensure they are well-fed, warmly clothed, and have enough silver! To protect the Ming Dynasty for me!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Li Banghua was startled and quickly replied.

Emperor Chongzhen nodded slightly and said to Li Banghua, "Minister Li, you may leave now."

After Li Banghua left, Chongzhen's gaze swept over the three men below the steps. His eyes didn't seem to be looking at nobles; rather, they seemed to be weighing some newly acquired items. He picked up his rosewood cup, sipped some warm tea, and then slowly spoke:
"My three ministers, you have worked hard these past few days. You did a good job confiscating their property." Xu Xigao, Li Shouqi, and Zhu Guobi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed, saying, "It is our duty to share Your Majesty's burdens!"

"Hmm," Chongzhen put down his cup and tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table, "The mess left by the Duke of Cheng's mansion is considered closed. As for the military farmland that you three families seized..."

The three of them, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, were on edge again, barely daring to breathe.

"...Return the full amount to the Ministry of War, and ensure a thorough inventory check, not a penny less." Chongzhen's tone was calm, yet carried uncompromising weight. "As for the fines for punishment..."

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping across the three faces:

"Duke of Dingguo Xu Xigao, 600,000 taels. Marquis of Funing Zhu Guobi, 250,000 taels. Earl of Xiangcheng Li Shouqi, 150,000 taels. They shall be delivered to the Imperial Treasury within three months. As for the other houses and shops, they shall be my reward to you."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xigao and the other two were initially alarmed—the amount was indeed substantial! But then they relaxed—the Emperor didn't intend to persecute them to death! Compared to Zhu Chunchen's fate, this was already an immense favor!
"Your Majesty, we... kowtow in gratitude for Your Majesty's divine grace!" The three knelt down in unison—the Emperor's grace was boundless; they had to thank Emperor Chongzhen properly!
Emperor Chongzhen raised his hand, gesturing for them to rise: "Don't rush to thank me. I still have errands for you."

The three men stood up and listened attentively with their hands at their sides.

"The shops, shares, profits, and debts that were seized from the Duke of Cheng's mansion, as well as the shady 'regulations' and 'hidden shares' under your three names..." Chongzhen's voice was not loud, but every word was clear. "I've been thinking that, when all these are put together, they constitute a considerable fortune. I don't trust others to manage them."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp: "The three of you will run it together. Every year... pay 200,000 taels of 'standard silver' to the Imperial Treasury. How much you earn from the rest depends on your own abilities."

Xu Xigao and the other two's eyes lit up instantly! The Emperor still needed them after all! Zhu Chunchen's businesses were deeply entrenched and lucrative. Their own shady dealings also generated income; even if they paid 200,000 taels annually, they would still have a surplus to share, enough to maintain their current appearance.

"Your Majesty, we...we will do our utmost to live up to Your Majesty's grace!" The three men's voices trembled with excitement.

Seeing the barely concealed joy in their eyes, Chongzhen's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. He leaned back in his chair, his tone slightly nonchalant:
"Do a good job. This Ming Dynasty has a lot of corrupt officials. In the future... confiscating property will be inevitable. I need a few capable people under my command to handle this. As for the properties that are confiscated..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping meaningfully across the three faces:
"...Someone has to take over. Someone familiar with the process will be more efficient, right?"

Xu Xigao, Li Shouqi, and Zhu Guobi were all shocked, and instantly understood the emperor's meaning!
These three noble families of Beijing will likely have to completely abandon their old ways of leading troops into battle. The emperor is using them as pawns to confiscate the property of those "major corrupt officials"! The mountains of gold and silver, shops and properties confiscated will then be managed by these "insiders," turning into a steady stream of "regular silver" flowing into the imperial treasury!
This character... transformed from a hereditary duke, marquis, or earl into His Majesty the Emperor's most zealous "confiscation dog" and "chief steward"! This job sounds undignified, but the potential for lucrative positions is immense...

"We understand!" The three knelt down again, their voices now filled with unprecedented enthusiasm. "Your Majesty, whatever your command, we will go through fire and water without hesitation! We will certainly manage this 'royal property' well for Your Majesty and for the Imperial Treasury!"

Emperor Chongzhen nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand: "Go. First, get the land and silver that are due settled as soon as possible."

"Your Majesty, please leave!"

Watching the three figures almost jog as they left Baohaitang, Chongzhen picked up his teacup and gently blew away the foam.

“The confiscating dog… the head steward…” he muttered to himself, “This is starting to resemble the Imperial Household Department of the Ming Dynasty, isn’t it? Fine, Imperial Household Department it is… someone has to do this job, we can’t leave it all to the eunuch faction!”

(End of this chapter)