How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 95 Niu Jinxing: I understand bandits! Huang Zongxi: I understand the price (Fifteenth update)

February 25th, the first year of the Chongzhen reign.

Outside the second gate of the Beijing Imperial Examination Hall.

Niu Jinxing carried his exam basket and moved forward in the long queue. The basket contained writing brushes, inkstones, and a few hard, tooth-crushing flatbreads, which would be his sustenance for the next three days.

The soldiers searching the area were quite rough; they turned the scholars' clothes and belongings upside down, even breaking open pancakes to check for hidden notes. One older scholar was a little slow and was shoved and scolded by the soldiers. He turned pale with fright and almost tripped.

Niu Jinxing watched coldly, his heart unmoved. He had seen this scene many times before. But a heavy weight pressed down on his heart, as if a large stone were pressing down on it.

He did mediocrely in the first two days of the standardized essay exam. His opening remarks were not clever enough, the transitions were a bit abrupt, and he didn't offer any new insights into the sages' teachings. He himself knew that if things followed the rules of previous years, based solely on those two exams, Niu Juming would most likely fail the exam again this time.

The imperial examination system has always placed great emphasis on the eight-legged essay. It was the key to success; if the essay wasn't strong enough, the door wouldn't open.

But a sliver of hope lingered in his heart. The new emperor was young, and since his ascension, he had acted unconventionally, purging the eunuch faction, suppressing the nobles, repelling the Mongols, and even daring to touch upon matters concerning the Zonglu clan. Perhaps… perhaps this time he truly valued the practical strategy discussion in the third round?
"Next!" The sergeant's shout interrupted his thoughts.

Niu Jinxing stepped forward and opened his arms confidently. The soldier saw that he looked disheveled, and his coarse cloth robe was washed until it was white, not like he had any oil or grease. He quickly patted him down and let him in.

Passing through the second gate, one is greeted by rows upon rows of densely packed cells, resembling pigeon coops. The air is thick with the stale stench of ink and urine.

He found his cell and crouched down to squeeze inside. The space was cramped; even turning around was difficult. Two wooden planks served as his table, chair, and bed. He put down his exam basket, sat down, and sighed softly.

Fame and fortune depend entirely on this one decisive deal. It might also be the last one.

He composed himself, took a deep breath of the musty air, reached for the test paper that had been handed out, and slowly unfolded it.

The first policy essay question jumped into my view.

"The Liaodong campaign has lasted for over a decade, leaving the army exhausted and the treasury depleted, while the Jurchen forces grow increasingly powerful. In the imperial court, some advocate relying on fortified cities and cannons for a defensive strategy; others suggest sending elite cavalry beyond the border for a defensive strategy; still others propose pacifying the western barbarians to subdue the eastern barbarians. However, the soldiers are weary, and the treasury is empty, making a complete victory difficult. Therefore, I ask you, my esteemed advisors: considering the current situation, what strategy can provide a solid foundation for securing the borders? What strategy can be the gradual path to the recapture of Liaodong? Please share your views in detail."

Niu Jinxing stared intently at the question for a long time, then a bitter smile appeared on his lips.

This question isn't testing the candidates for the imperial examinations; it's clearly testing the Grand Secretaries, the Ministers, and all the high-ranking officials in their red and purple robes! This new emperor really wants to find capable people from the grassroots.

However, Niu Jinxing actually knew how to do this question... Niu Jinxing thought to himself: Although I don't understand the strategy of pacifying Liaodong, I do understand the ways of bandits!

He ground the ink, picked up the brush, and licked it full of ink.

As he wrote, he knew perfectly well what was going on—the Jurchens? Hmph, they may have occupied a piece of land in Liaodong, but that place is harsh and cold. After more than a decade of war, they have suffered heavy losses, and the fields have long been abandoned! They simply cannot grow much food to support so many soldiers!
Ultimately, they're no different from the thieves in my hometown—they're robbers! They're bandits!

The Jurchens survived by plundering and had no knowledge of farming or production! The Ming Dynasty, on the other hand, was a large, prosperous estate. No matter how fierce the mountain bandits were, as long as the estate had high walls and deep moats, and the guards' bows were strong enough, the bandits couldn't break through the estate and thus couldn't plunder enough money, food, or people. Over time, the mountain bandits would run out of resources, and chaos would inevitably break out within their ranks. They would either disband or have to find food elsewhere.

At that time, Zhuangzi will naturally be at peace.

He wrote faster and faster: "...Therefore, the foundation for maintaining peace and security on the border lies in firm defense. However, this defense is not about fighting for every inch of land, but about fighting for every grain of millet and ensuring that not a single grain of rice is lost! What the Jurchens seek is not land and cities, but the wealth and people of our Great Ming! Therefore, protecting the people and safeguarding the grain should be the top priority!"

"Strengthen our defenses and clear the fields, leaving the enemy with nothing to plunder! Seize strategic locations, rely on fortified cities, deploy heavy artillery, train elite troops, and build deep trenches and high walls, making it difficult for the Jurchen cavalry to charge, and rendering their battering rams and siege ladders useless. If they attack, their forces will be halted and their morale broken; if they retreat, they will fear our pursuit. They will be unable to fight and unable to plunder, and their strength will wane day by day and month by month, until their power is exhausted..."

"...When their army is exhausted and internal strife is brewing, we will seize the opportunity to strike, sending elite cavalry beyond the Great Wall to join forces with the Western barbarians, cutting off their supply lines and burning their strongholds. This is the beginning of the recovery of the entire Liaodong Peninsula. However, all of this is a plan for the future. The most important thing now is to make the Jurchens like tigers encountering hedgehogs. Even with their sharp claws and teeth, they will have no way to bite them!"

He was so engrossed in writing that his eyes shone, as if he were looking not at an exam paper, but at the vast landscape of Liaodong. He knew perfectly well that this method, which worked against the bandits, would most likely be equally effective against the Jurchens!

In the examination hall, in another examination cell, Huang Zongxi huddled in his small cell, staring intently at the essay question, "Given the vast imperial stipends, the impoverished people of Qin and Jin, and the exhaustion of the Central Plains, what is the best course of action?" He gripped his pen tightly.

The old wounds of her father Huang Zunsu's wrongful death in prison still ached. That eunuch Wei Zhongxian! Those henchmen Tian Ergeng and Xu Xianchun! Enemies who should have been torn to pieces actually performed meritorious service in Xuanfu and are now being favored by the emperor.

He came to the capital to seek justice for his father, but now that the injustice is in vain... how can he still seek justice?
Although the current dynasty does not prohibit the sons of disgraced officials from taking the imperial examinations, even if they pass with high marks, they are unlikely to have a bright future. Right now, Qian Qianyi, the leader of the Donglin Party, is willing to give him a helping hand. If he cannot seize this opportunity to make a name for himself, his future is likely to be bleak. However, this policy essay is really difficult to write!
"The imperial examinations were voluminous, the people of Qin and Jin were impoverished, and the Central Plains were exhausted."

He stared at the question, but his mind was perfectly clear. The Emperor was ostensibly discussing imperial stipends, but in reality, he was talking about reform! And reform... would require someone to pay the price!
Who should be the price to pay is the question this strategy must address!

Huang Zongxi suddenly remembered Qian Qianyi's words from the previous night: "Be too aggressive! Only by getting into the game can you break it! If you can't even get into the table, you don't even have the right to bargain!"

Enter the game and become a "Huang Xianzhong"! Otherwise, you'll pay the price yourself!

Huang Xianzhong finally made up his mind.

The pen fell: "This student respectfully submits: The root of the three predicaments lies in 'poverty'! Three strategies to alleviate poverty: increase revenue, relocate regional officials, and lift restrictions."

Huang Zongxi's first strategy was to increase revenue—the wealthy southeastern regions had to pay the price for the "Chongzhen New Deal"!

Huang Zongxi wrote: "The southeast is prosperous, and maritime trade is booming. However, the Maritime Trade Office has been abolished for a long time, and commercial taxes are less than one-tenth!" He wrote scathingly, "I propose to open five ports: Guangzhou, Quanzhou, Ningbo, Songjiang, and Yangzhou, and establish Maritime Trade Offices to collect taxes. Porcelain, sugar, silk, tea, and ironware, all exported overseas, shall be subject to a one-tenth tax!"

He paused, then added the crucial detail: "Furthermore, dispatch an imperial censor to thoroughly investigate and rectify commercial taxes in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong, and strictly investigate any hidden tax evasion. If an honest official is in charge of the customs, annual revenue could increase by two million taels!"

His second strategy was to divert the blame westward, or to shift the cost westward—making Sichuan the cost!

"The Qin and Jin vassal states cannot be resolved without relocation." He suddenly stopped writing, the angry faces of the Jiangnan gentry flashing before his eyes—how many people would he offend with this move? Opening five ports to trade, establishing maritime trade, and imposing a tax of one-tenth of the total tax seemed offensive, but the Jiangnan gentry had plenty of ways to maneuver and make concessions.

But if dozens of princes arrive in Jiangnan with their guards, there's no way to make an exception. No matter how you try to make an exception, you have to make sure those people are well-fed!

"Indeed!" The pen suddenly shifted its focus, "Twenty to thirty thousand poor soldiers from Shaanxi can be relocated to Sichuan to assist in suppressing the Shuixi chieftain. After the rebellion is quelled, they will be given land and resettled in the wasteland of Shuixi!"

According to Huang Zongxi, the biggest cost of Chongzhen's new policies should be borne by Sichuan!

Let the people of Sichuan suffer, for the emperor will bear the blame!

Why is it so difficult for Sichuan to quell a chieftain rebellion? If they can't quell it themselves, it's only natural to send Shaanxi troops to help!
He paused, then continued, "Select more princes from the populous regions of Qin, Jin, and Yu (such as the Prince of Han and the Prince of Rui) and relocate them to the lands of the chieftains of Sichuan and Yunnan. They will be allowed to bring their own guards and garrisons, cultivate the wasteland, and serve as a bulwark against the barbarians!"

This is a way to shift the blame westward. As long as the vassal kings, princes, and guards don't come to Jiangnan, there will be more room for maneuver.

As for the third strategy, it is of course to lift the ban on feudal domains—which of course requires lower-ranking members of the imperial family to become the "price" in exchange.

"All members of the imperial family below the rank of general are permitted to engage in their own occupations!" He wrote swiftly, "They may take the imperial examinations, work, engage in commerce, or farm as they please. The court can gradually stop issuing stipends for rice, saving 800,000 shi of grain annually!"

Finally, he added: "Establish schools in the North and South, select talented individuals to study economics and administration, and appoint outstanding individuals as assistant officials in border regions."

In reality, the suspension of stipends and the establishment of clan schools were just empty slogans; however, lifting the restrictions on feudal domains was already inevitable.

Huang Zongxi thought to himself: In the past, anyone who proposed lifting the ban on feudal domains would have been torn apart by the court officials. But the situation is really different now. Nobody wants so many princes bringing their impoverished Shaanxi and Gansu military households to their hometowns to "beg for food," right?

With the three consequences clearly laid out, Huang Zongxi put down his brush, let out a breath, and knew he had definitely "hit the jackpot"!
(End of this chapter)