How can one be Emperor Chongzhen without money?

Chapter 98 The Most Difficult Imperial Examination in History! (18th Update)

The tenth day of the third month of the first year of the Chongzhen reign.

The Forbidden City, the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

More than three hundred newly appointed scholars, dressed in brand-new blue robes, stood solemnly according to their ranking. The hall was paved with gold bricks, and the bronze cranes emitted fragrance, creating an atmosphere so solemn it seemed to drip with moisture. Niu Jinxing stood at the front, his heart pounding. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Huang Zongxi, Li Xin, Shi Kefa, Chen Zilong, Gu Gao, and others beside him, all of whom were holding their breath in concentration.

At the palace gate, Wang Tiqian, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, shouted, "The Emperor has arrived!"

The scholars knelt down in unison and performed the kowtow.

Niu Jinxing lay prostrate on the ground when he heard a somewhat familiar voice say, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Niu Jinxing rose respectfully, his hands clasped at his sides. A figure had already walked up to him, the hem of a dark-colored casual robe coming into view.

"Huiyuan, not bad!"

That voice… Niu Jinxing jerked his head up, meeting those eyes that seemed to be both smiling and not smiling. It was Zhu Siming! No, it was the current Emperor! His mind went blank for a moment, and he almost lost his composure. He forced down his turbulent emotions, bowed again, and said in a barely perceptible tremor, “Your subject… Niu Jinxing kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your divine grace!”

Chongzhen patted him on the shoulder, the force neither too light nor too heavy: "Do your best on the exam, this year's palace examination... will be very difficult."

His gaze swept over Li Xin, lingered briefly, and then he turned and strode toward the throne.

Emperor Chongzhen settled on his throne, his gaze sweeping over the sea of ​​heads in the hall, then glancing at the four middle-aged officials standing beside him—Yuan Chonghuan, Sun Chuanting, Yang Sichang, and Sun Yuanhua. These four had finally traveled a great distance to Beijing. However, Chongzhen didn't rush to assign them positions; instead, he took them to observe others taking examinations.

"My lords," Emperor Chongzhen began, his voice not loud, yet clearly carrying throughout the hall, "I am personally presiding over today's palace examination. Why? Because our Great Ming Dynasty is facing a critical juncture!"

He paused, and the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"The Jurchens in Liaodong have been rampant for over a decade, their iron hooves trampling the land and shattering the mountains and rivers! In the southwest corner, the rebel She'an has occupied Shuixi and Yongning, usurping the title of king and ravaging Sichuan and Guizhou. The imperial army has repeatedly launched campaigns but has yet to quell the rebellion! In Shaanxi and Shanxi, drought and locusts have plagued the land for years, leaving it barren and scorched. Refugees are gathering and the situation is gradually becoming a prairie fire! The heartland of the Central Plains is also showing signs of exhaustion!"

Chongzhen's voice deepened, carrying a heavy sense of oppression:
"When I ascended the throne, the imperial treasury was empty, and the silver in the imperial granary was already depleted! In the nine border regions and thirteen garrisons, there were countless cases of soldiers who were in arrears with their pay for months or even years! With soldiers starving and freezing, how could they defend the land? How could they repel the enemy? This was a critical moment of life and death!"

His gaze was sharp as lightning, sweeping over every face, young or no longer young:
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary talents! Therefore, in this imperial examination, I emphasize policy essays and downplay the eight-legged essay! High positions should be awarded to those who possess strategic wisdom and can solve the current difficulties! I have already read the policy essays you wrote in the provincial examination, and many of them are insightful and courageous in addressing the current problems. Very good!"

He changed the subject, pointing to the four ministers beside the throne:

"However, it is easy to talk about war on paper, but difficult to put it into practice! Today, in the palace examination, I have set two difficult questions for you, and for myself and all the ministers in the court!"

Qian Qianyi, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites during the Chongzhen reign, nodded slightly: "Mr. Qian, please read the title."

Qian Qianyi bowed and accepted the order, unfurled a scroll of yellow silk, and read aloud:

"Question 1: Relocate Feudal Lords to Sichuan to bolster the Southwest! The Qin and Jin provinces are burdened with numerous feudal lords, and the people are already impoverished; the southwestern chieftains are unruly, and repeated campaigns have failed to quell them. Some propose: relocate 20,000 to 30,000 impoverished military households from Shaanxi and Gansu to Sichuan to assist in suppressing rebellions, and grant them land after the rebellion is quelled; select a prince from the populous Qin, Jin, and Yu provinces, and further enfeoff him with land belonging to the chieftains of Sichuan and Guizhou, sending him and his guards to cultivate the wasteland, thus using these feudal lords as a bulwark against the barbarians. Is this policy feasible? If so, how should we raise the funds and provisions for the relocation? How should we settle the military households and the feudal lords? How should we coordinate with the local authorities in Sichuan and Guizhou? How can we prevent the chieftains from becoming rebellious and the feudal lords from growing too powerful? Please provide a detailed explanation of the specific implementation details, and avoid empty rhetoric!"

"Question Two: The Policy of Establishing Three Feudatories in Liaodong to Secure the Border! Liaodong is in disarray, with exhausted troops and weary soldiers. Some propose establishing three feudatories in Ningyuan, Jinzhou, and Lushun, appointing fierce generals, providing them with generous salaries, recruiting elite soldiers, and assigning them sole responsibility for defending the territory. The court should not interfere, aiming only to protect the borders and ensure the safety of the people, preventing the Jurchens from plundering. Is this policy feasible? If so, how should the generals be selected? How should the troop numbers and salaries be determined? How can we ensure they do not neglect their duty of defending the territory? How can we prevent them from becoming too powerful and even colluding with the Jurchens? With only three cities defending the vast area of ​​western and southern Liaodong, what should be done with the remaining people and provisions? Please elaborate on the methods of control and the essentials of defense!"

After the two questions were read aloud, the hall fell into a deathly silence. Many of the candidates were already sweating profusely. These were hardly palace examination questions; they were two hot potatoes! They concerned national policy, involved millions of soldiers and civilians, and had a profound impact on the world order! The question was not only whether they were "feasible," but also how to implement them concretely!
Emperor Chongzhen's voice broke the silence: "Two questions. You may choose one to answer, or you may answer both. But you must think carefully and make your answers substantial! Begin!"

Niu Jinxing took a deep breath, suppressing the shock of recognizing "Zhu Siming" as the emperor, and even more so, the surging emotion welling up within him from the emperor's recognition. He spread out the examination paper, dipped it in ink, and focused his gaze on the second question—"The Strategy of Establishing the Three Feudatories in Liaodong to Secure the Border." He knew that this question stemmed from his essay on the imperial examination, which emphasized "fighting for every grain of millet"! The emperor had not only adopted his ideas but also intended for him, the newly appointed top scholar, to personally outline the blueprint for implementing this national policy during the palace examination! What trust! What an opportunity!
He picked up his pen, but instead of directly answering the most pressing questions like "how to prevent the abuse of power by those with large armies," he shifted his focus, taking a different approach:

"Your subject Niu Jinxing respectfully replies: Establishing regional military governorships to defend against foreign invaders is not an innovative approach. In the past, during the Tang Dynasty's pacification of the Lushan Rebellion, many regional military governorships were established, and surrendered generals were granted insignia and allowed to act independently. During the reigns of Emperor Suzong and Emperor Daizong, this system was used to keep them in check and ultimately quell the great rebellion. However, the subsequent rise of these regional military governorships to power, which became uncontrollable, also originated from this..."

His writing flowed like a dragon and a snake, comparing the Tang Dynasty's "pacification of the remnants of An Lushan and the establishment of regional military governorships to quell the rebellion" with today's "establishment of the Three Feudatories in Liaodong to suppress the Jurchens":
"Your Majesty's establishment of the Three Feudatories in Liaodong is similar to the Tang Dynasty's policy of tributary control, but the circumstances are vastly different! The Tang Dynasty's regional military governors were mostly located in fertile and central regions, making them prone to separatist movements. Liaodong West and Liaodong South are newly recovered territories, desolate and barren. The three feudatories occupy only three isolated cities: Ningyuan, Jinzhou, and Lushun! These areas are situated outside the Great Wall, backed by the formidable passes of mountains and seas, with the court controlling their vital passages. Their situation is like that of an isolated island. How can they be compared to the powerful regional military governors of Hebei during the late Tang Dynasty?"

He pointed out the key point—geographical isolation is the greatest insurance!

"If the Three Feudatories wish to survive, they must rely on the imperial court for provisions and supplies, and on the trade of merchants within the Great Wall. If the imperial court controls their financial lifeline, then even if they have military power, it will be difficult for them to hold out for long. This is the first reason."

"Secondly, the establishment of the Three Feudatories was intended to contain the Jurchens, not to annihilate them. Their primary responsibility was to rely on strong cities, cannons, and well-trained troops to protect the borders and ensure the safety of the people, so that the Jurchens would be unable to plunder! If the commanders of the Three Feudatories could defend their territory and protect the people, making the Jurchens like tigers facing porcupines, unable to find a way to bite them, and gradually weakening them, then their mission would be accomplished! The court should reward them generously, ensuring that their troops have sufficient provisions and that their commanders have a promising future! In this way, the people of the Three Feudatories would surely be grateful for the Emperor's grace and would devote their lives to defending their territory!"

His writing style suddenly shifted, pointing directly at the internal workings of the Jurchens:

"With the Three Feudatories secure, ample funds and provisions, and well-fortified cities and elite troops, they hold immense allure for the chieftains within the Jurchen territory! The Jurchens are not a monolithic entity. Although Huang Taiji is the Khan, his subordinate Beile harbor their own ambitions. If they see the Ming court's Three Feudatories prosperous and stable, while their own tribes are impoverished and unable to plunder, how can they be sure that no chieftain will harbor rebellious thoughts and desire to become a Ming vassal state? In the past, Shi Chaoyi was betrayed and deserted by his followers, ultimately meeting his end. How can we be sure that Huang Taiji is not the Shi Chaoyi of today?"

Finally, he pointed out the way of control:

"Therefore, the way to govern the vassal states lies in a combination of kindness and severity, and in a measured approach! One should not be too trusting, like Emperor Xuanzong of Tang treated An Lushan, raising a tiger that would become a threat; nor should one be too harsh, lest he live in constant fear and cause a violent rebellion! One should grant him the power to defend his territory, and also allow him room to maneuver between the Jurchens and the court! As long as he can protect the borders and the people, and prevent the Jurchens from plundering, then whether he has any private dealings with the Jurchens can be temporarily ignored by the court! This is the essence of controlling the vassal states!"

"As for the Jurchens' detour through Jizhou..." Niu Jinxing's pen sharpened, "This is not the responsibility of the Three Feudatories, but the responsibility of Jizhou! The court should use all the saved Liaodong military funds and the Liaodong troops that have been weeded out and retained to strengthen the Jizhou border walls! Deep moats and high ramparts, train elite troops, and store provisions! If Jizhou is made an iron wall, then even if the Jurchens detour, they will find it difficult to cross the line! In this way, the Three Feudatories will trap the Jurchens in Liaodong, and Jizhou will lock them out. Given time, the Jurchens will surely decline!"

On the other side, Huang Zongxi's pen hovered for a moment over the title of "Policy to Relocate Feudal Princes to Sichuan to Plough the Southwest." He knew perfectly well that the core of this proposal was to have Sichuan and Guizhou take the blame for "settling the feudal princes" in Jiangnan! And the key to this success lay in money! A huge sum of money!
Without money, how could they relocate the military households from Shaanxi and Gansu? How could they appease the princes who were about to be "exiled" to the desolate lands? How could they support the guards and soldiers to fight desperately against the fierce chieftains?

Where does the money come from? From Jiangnan!

He picked up his pen, his thoughts clear:

"Your subject Huang Zongxi respectfully reports: The relocation of fiefdoms to Sichuan is indeed a good strategy to alleviate the pressure on Qin and Jin and to strengthen the borders and control the barbarians. However, the difficulty in implementation lies primarily in the cost of money and provisions! The 20,000 to 30,000 poor military households from Shaanxi and Gansu will have to travel thousands of miles to Sichuan. The cost of provisions and settlement along the way will be enormous! The cost of re-granting fiefdoms, building mansions, relocating members of the royal family and guards, and bestowing rewards and appeasement will be even greater! The lands of the chieftains in Sichuan and Guizhou are wild and undeveloped, rife with malaria. To turn them into the foundation of the fiefdoms and a paradise for military households, to develop irrigation, build cities and fortresses, would be like investing in a bottomless abyss!"

He then shifted his focus, directly addressing the core issue:

"If such a huge sum of money is taken entirely from the disaster victims in Shanxi and Shaanxi and levied on the whole country, it would be tantamount to cutting flesh to heal a wound, and would inevitably lead to popular uprising! The only feasible way is to take it from the profits of maritime trade in the southeast!"

How to obtain it? He invoked the old salt administration system:

"I believe that we should emulate the 'port merchant' system of the Lianghuai salt administration and implement the 'port merchant' system in the five newly opened ports of Guangzhou, Quanzhou, Ningbo, Songjiang, and Yangzhou!"

He elaborated in detail:
"The imperial court designated major commodities for maritime trade, such as porcelain, silk, tea, and sugar. At each port, it selected a dozen or even dozens of wealthy and reputable merchants and granted them the title of 'Guang Shang' (official merchants) and 'Yinwo' (licenses). With their 'Yinwo,' these merchants could exclusively export major quantities of seafood and were responsible for paying a tenth of the tax to the Maritime Trade Office!"

"This 'exclusive trading permit' is not granted for free! The imperial court can set a price and allow merchants to bid on it! Wealthy merchants from the southeast who want this exclusive right to operate, avoid toll booths and extortion, and conduct maritime trade freely will spare no expense! The imperial court can immediately obtain one to two million taels of silver from the sale of this 'exclusive trading permit' alone!"

He then clarified the purpose of the money:
"This one to two million taels is the 'starting fund' for the relocation of princes to Sichuan! It is earmarked for this purpose and should be quickly allocated to Shaanxi, Gansu, and Henan for the relocation of military households and the initial resettlement of princes! At the same time, the governors and viceroys of Sichuan and Guizhou are strictly ordered to use the military households entering Sichuan as the vanguard, supplemented by some elite troops from the Beijing Garrison, to launch a full-scale attack on Shuixi and Yongning! Once She'an is pacified, the lands of the captured chieftains will be allocated to the military households to settle the princes' residences! In this way, the money will be available and the matter will be handled accordingly!"

Huang Zongxi concluded by writing:
"With the establishment of the port-based merchant system and the smooth operation of the Maritime Trade Office's tax collection, the profits from maritime trade will be continuous. This will not only enrich the national treasury but also provide long-term support for the complete lifting of restrictions on the imperial family, the resettlement of lower-ranking members of the imperial family, and even the reorganization of the nine border regions! This is a win-win situation, using the benefits of the southeast to alleviate the difficulties of the north, truly the best strategy for the southwest border!"

He put down his pen and silently thought: "Wealthy families in Jiangnan, in order to prevent the princes from coming to your door with their guards to 'eat your money,' you will probably have to pay this 'enticement' fee! You must pay it!"
(End of this chapter)