The Ming Dynasty: Starting with Emperor Chongzhen's crackdown on factionalism

The case of Yuan Chonghuan was debated throughout the court for half a year. Was there anyone like Chen Zhiyuan who listed out the facts of the defense of Liaodong point by point?

So many officials protected the Shanxi merchants, but did even one person actually investigate what those caravans were carrying out of the country?

No.

not a single one.

All they do is argue, fight, and spout empty words.

Chen Zhiyuan, a seventh-rank editor, was able to clearly investigate the extent of damage to beacon towers and the degree of abandonment of military settlements by taking a month's leave and traveling to Liaodong at his own expense.

Such a person...

Zhu Youjian opened his eyes, a complex expression flashing across them.

it works.

This person is indeed useful.

His perspective on issues was different from that of the ministers in the court.

He doesn't speak empty words or quote classics; he presents facts and figures.

Although sometimes the words are harsh, at least... they are true.

But it is precisely because it is real that it is dangerous.

The affairs of Shanxi merchants are far too extensive.

The commanders-in-chief of Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi Province may all be implicated.

And then there were the officials in the court who spoke up for the Shanxi merchants—Zheng Sanjun, Zhang Jimeng, Hou Xun…

Who stands behind these people?

If, as Chen Zhiyuan claims, Shanxi merchants are indeed aiding the enemy, then were these people speaking up for the Shanxi merchants without their knowledge, or... knowingly withheld information?

Even, participate in it?

Zhu Youjian dared not think any further.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt that this pool of water was unfathomably deep.

Now, bandits have risen up again in Shanxi.

At this juncture, if a large-scale investigation of Shanxi merchants were launched, if it implicated the generals of Xuanfu and Datong, and if it triggered unrest among the border troops…

Then Shanxi is truly doomed.

With bandits coming from the west and border troops in disarray from the east, Shanxi is caught in a pincer movement and could soon become a second Shaanxi.

We can't take that risk.

Zhu Youjian's fingers tapped on the imperial desk, faster and faster.

The Shanxi merchants should be investigated, but Chen Zhiyuan should not be allowed to investigate.

This person is too straightforward and inflexible, and doesn't know how to be tactful.

If we let him investigate, it will definitely cause a huge uproar and alert the enemy.

"Wang Chengen," Zhu Youjian began.

"This servant is here." Wang Chengen stepped out of the shadows.

"Draft an imperial edict."

"First, the matter concerning the Shanxi merchants shall be placed under the full authority of Luo Yangxing, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who shall conduct a secret investigation without making it public. He shall report directly to me within ten days."

"Secondly, Chen Zhiyuan, a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, need not participate in this case; he can return to the Hanlin Academy and continue his duties as usual."

Wang Chengen was taken aback: "Your Majesty, you're not allowing Editor Chen to participate?"

"We won't let him participate anymore." Zhu Youjian paused.

"Tell him that I recognize his meritorious service in offering advice and have promoted him to the position of Compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a sixth-rank official. Let him focus on compiling history."

This is a promotion in name only, a demotion in reality.

Although the rank of compiler in the Hanlin Academy was high, it was still a leisurely job, and the work was still limited to compiling history and writing articles.

They are actually further away from the true center of power.

Wang Chengen understood.

The emperor both found Chen Zhiyuan useful and dared not employ him.

So they promoted him to a higher position to appease him, and then sidelined him.

"This servant will go and deliver the imperial decree immediately."

"Wait a minute," Zhu Youjian called out to him.

"Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"

"Tell Chen Zhiyuan," Zhu Youjian pondered for a moment.

"I read his memorial, 'Analysis of Doubts Regarding Border Affairs in Liaodong and the Yuan Case,' three times."

"Some of his insights are indeed valuable. Let him... read more history and compile more history. In the future, I may still need him."

This is both a sweet treat and a way out.

Wang Chengen bowed: "This servant understands."

The Hanlin Academy's direct office.

Chen Zhiyuan sat at his desk with a blank sheet of paper spread out in front of him.

The paper had eight names written on it: Fan Yongdou, Wang Dengku, Jin Liangyu, Wang Dayu, Liang Jiabin, Tian Shenglan, Zhai Tang, and Huang Yunfa.

Under each name, he listed several clues.

Fan Yongdou: Last November, he purchased 300 shi of sulfur in one go, the purpose of which is unknown.

Wang Dengku: He was related by marriage to Wang Chengyin, the general of Xuanfu. His caravans entered and exited Zhangjiakou, and the guards at the gate never investigated them.

Jin Liangyu: From the first to the second year of the Chongzhen reign, his caravans made 47 trips outside the pass, and the weight of the vehicles changed abnormally on their return trips.

Some of these clues were things he "saw with his own eyes," while others were things he deduced from later historical records.

Truth and falsehood are mixed together.

He had to convince Zhu Youjian that the Shanxi merchants were indeed problematic.

Zhu Youjian must be ordered to investigate.

If you investigate, you'll definitely find something.

Because these people are inherently unclean.

Just then, the door to the main room was pushed open.

A young eunuch walked in, followed by two guards from the Imperial Guard.

"Editor Chen receives the imperial decree."

Chen Zhiyuan got up and knelt down.

The young eunuch unfurled the yellow silk and read in a shrill voice: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Chen Zhiyuan, compiler of the Hanlin Academy, has rendered meritorious service in offering advice and is deemed worthy of appointment."

"He is hereby promoted to Compiler of the Hanlin Academy, a sixth-rank official, and will continue to serve in the Hanlin Academy."

"The case of the Shanxi merchants will now be handled exclusively by the Embroidered Uniform Guard; you need not participate."

"I hope you will concentrate on compiling history, work diligently, and not fail my expectations. This is my decree."

Chen Zhiyuan kowtowed: "Your subject accepts the decree and thanks Your Majesty for your great favor."

He accepted the imperial edict with a calm expression.

The young eunuch looked at him, hesitated, and finally whispered, "Commissioner Chen, His Majesty also has an imperial edict: His Majesty has read your 'Memorial on the Liaodong Border Affairs and the Yuan Case' three times."

"Some of your insights are indeed valuable. I encourage you to read and compile more history. In the future, His Majesty may still find a use for you."

Chen Zhiyuan bowed and said, "Your subject will remember."

The young eunuch led the Imperial Guards away.

Chen Zhiyuan was left alone in the room again.

He sat back down, looked at the imperial edict, and suddenly smiled.

A promotion in name only, a demotion in reality.

Expected.

He knew Zhu Youjian's personality all too well.

Suspicious, cautious, and unwilling to take risks.

The matter of the Shanxi merchants involved too many people, and the military situation in Shanxi was urgent. At this time, it was impossible for the emperor to send a seventh-rank compiler to investigate such a big case.

It was inevitable to exclude him.

But sending the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate, and doing so secretly, shows that Zhu Youjian had already become suspicious.

He believed Chen Zhiyuan's words, or at least part of them.

This is enough.

As soon as Zhu Youjian became suspicious, and as soon as the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigated, the good days of the Shanxi merchants would be over.

The question now is, what should Chen Zhiyuan do next?

Should we continue to keep an eye on the Shanxi merchants?

It's unnecessary.

The Imperial Guards were far more effective than a mere compiler from the Hanlin Academy.

He submitted a memorial impeaching the officials who spoke up for the Shanxi merchants.

The timing was wrong.

The military situation in Shanxi is urgent, and stability is needed in North Korea and China.

Zhu Youjian would not agree to start a factional struggle at this time.

What else can we do?

Chen Zhiyuan's gaze fell on the pile of drafts of the Wanli Dynasty Records on his desk.

Compilation of history.

This is the only thing he can do right now.

This was also what Zhu Youjian wanted him to do.

But he was not willing to give up.

Did I transmigrate to this world just to spend my whole life studying history at the Hanlin Academy?

He knew the course of history, knew that the Ming Dynasty had fourteen more years of existence, and knew what would happen in those fourteen years.

He knows everything, yet he can't change anything.

No.

He can at least give it a try.

Chen Zhiyuan spread out a new sheet of paper for submitting memorials and picked up his pen.

Since we can't directly investigate Shanxi merchants, let's try a different approach.

Why were Shanxi merchants able to grow so large?

Because they controlled border trade.

Why is border trade important?

Because a large portion of the military supplies for the nine border regions rely on border trade for transshipment.

Why is border trade in such a chaotic state?

Because the system is flawed.

Chen Zhiyuan began to write.

The title is: "Rectifying Border Trade".