Transmigrating to the Chongzhen Emperor of the Ming Dynasty: Becoming a Great Emperor Through Idlene

The Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Fan Yongdou knelt on the cold, gold-brick floor for about half an incense stick's time. His knees ached, but he dared not move.

The head of the Fan family, the leading family among the eight prominent Shanxi merchants, was forty-six years old this year. He had a round face, and when he smiled, his eyes narrowed into slits, like those of Maitreya Buddha. But at this moment, many fine beads of sweat had appeared on his forehead.

It wasn't hot, it was tense.

From inside came the voice of a eunuch: "Summon Shanxi merchant Fan Yongdou to an audience..."

Fan Yongdou took a deep breath, held the gift list, and bowed as he walked into the main hall.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation was smaller than he had imagined. It lacked the grandeur of the Palace of Heavenly Purity and resembled more of an elegant study.

The emperor was not sitting on the dragon throne, but was reclining on the kang (heated brick bed) in the East Warm Pavilion, covered with a brocade quilt, his face extremely pale. Standing beside him was Wang Chengen, a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial.

"This humble subject, Fan Yongdou, pays his respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!" Fan Yongdou performed a grand salute and held the gift list above his head.

Wang Chengen accepted the gift list and presented it to the emperor. Chongzhen didn't care and simply waved his hand dismissively.

Wang Chengen unfolded the gift list and read aloud: "Presented by Shanxi merchant Fan Yongdou: ten pairs of old ginseng from Liaodong, eight frames of Changbai deer antlers, twenty pearls from Dongzhu, fifty sable pelts, thirty silver fox pelts, one hundred jars of Shanxi aged vinegar, fifty jars of Fenjiu liquor, and also... five thousand taels of silver."

When he read out "five thousand taels of silver", Wang Chengen paused for a moment.

That's quite a grand gesture.

Fan Yongdou lowered his head, quickly calculating in his mind. Five thousand taels was the maximum he could afford. The Fan family was known as the "head of the eight great families," but business had been tough in recent years.

The Jurchens needed to be appeased, the Ming border generals needed to be bribed, and the imperial tax officials needed to be paid tribute. In the end, less than three out of ten actually reached their hands.

But he had to go to such lengths. He needed to find out one thing: the emperor's attitude towards border trade.

The Fan family's biggest source of wealth was smuggling within and outside the Great Wall.

Ironware, grain, and cloth were transported out.

Ginseng, furs, and pearls were brought in. With each inflow and outflow, the profit increased tenfold.

But this business, to put it nicely, is called "border trade," but to put it bluntly, it's called "collusion with the enemy."

Back in the Tianqi era, when Wei Zhongxian was in power, the Fan family gave him 100,000 taels of silver every year in exchange for him turning a blind eye to their misdeeds.

After Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne, he purged the eunuch faction and rectified border affairs, thus blocking this source of revenue.

With the emperor currently "seriously ill" and Grand Secretary Wen Tiren busy dealing with the Jurchens, this presents a good opportunity to reopen old connections.

"Master Fan...you're very kind." Emperor Chongzhen finally spoke, his voice weak: "Rise, please have a seat."

A young eunuch brought over an embroidered stool. Fan Yongdou thanked the emperor and sat down, daring only to sit on one side.

"How is the harvest in Shanxi this year?" the emperor asked a trivial question.

"Your Majesty, it's alright," Fan Yongdou replied cautiously. "Last year's severe drought caused grain prices to rise by 30%. I have already organized caravans to transport grain from Henan to Shanxi to stabilize prices."

This statement is both true and false. The Fan family did indeed allocate grain, most of which was sold at high prices to grain merchants who hoarded and speculated, while a small portion was sold at "fair price" to gain a reputation.

"Hmm... okay." Chongzhen nodded, then suddenly coughed.

Wang Chengen quickly handed over a spittoon and brought over warm water.

After the emperor calmed down, Fan Yongdou cautiously asked, "Your Majesty is unwell. I humbly request that I possess a 300-year-old ginseng root in my household, perhaps..."

"No need." Chongzhen waved his hand, closed his eyes, and said, "The imperial physician said that my illness... requires rest. I'll leave the affairs of the court to Mr. Wen. And the affairs of the border... I'll leave to the border generals as well."

Fan Yongdou's heart raced.

The emperor opened his eyes and looked at the man: "The border is very cold, and the soldiers have it tough. If the merchant can offer some help, it would be a good deed."

"This humble citizen understands," Fan Yongdou quickly said, "The Fan family is willing to donate 5,000 shi of grain and 3,000 sets of cotton clothing to the front line of Xuanda."

"Hmm..." Chongzhen closed his eyes again: "You are sensible. In the future, you can discuss border trade matters with the border generals. I... I can't manage that much."

Fan Yongdou suddenly raised his head, a flash of wild joy in his eyes.

He had waited so many years to say those words!

"Discussing with the border generals" means that the emperor has tacitly approved! As long as the border generals in Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi are appeased, the Fan family's smuggling network can be put back into operation!

"This humble subject kowtows to express his gratitude for Your Majesty's great favor!" Fan Yongdou kowtowed repeatedly.

"Go..." Chongzhen's voice trailed off, "I'm tired..."

"This humble subject takes his leave."

Fan Yongdou walked backward out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. As he stepped out of the palace gate, his steps became much lighter.

Five thousand taels of silver for the emperor's tacit approval was well worth it, extremely well worth it!

He immediately instructed his attendants, "Quickly, go to the post station and send a message to Manager Fan in Datong via express courier: 'The road is open. Prepare generous gifts and go to visit General Yang and Lieutenant General Wang.'"

"yes!"

Watching Fan Yongdou leave excitedly, Chongzhen slowly sat up straight in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, showing no trace of illness.

"Your Majesty's acting is so convincing," Wang Chengen exclaimed.

"It's not that he acted convincingly; it's that he was willing to believe it." Chongzhen picked up his teacup and took a sip of the now-cold tea. "People always like to believe what they want to believe. Fan Yongdou wanted to resume his smuggling business, so I gave him that hope."

"But this would mean that ironware and grain would flow to the Jurchens..."

"Let them smuggle," Chongzhen said, putting down his teacup. "If we ban the Fan family, there are still the Zhang and Li families. Smuggling can't be stopped. Rather than letting them operate in secret, it's better to let them out openly and have the Imperial City Guard keep an eye on them. Once I've figured out everyone involved in this line, the harvest will be even greater when we wipe them all out."

Wang Chengen understood. His Majesty was playing the long game.

"The grain, fodder, and cotton clothing donated by the Fan family..."

"Take them all," Chongzhen said. "The soldiers at the front are in dire need of these. Sell them to them through private channels... As for the Fan family, they think they've pulled some strings... Let them be happy for a few days first."

Outside the window, the February wind swept across the palace walls, bringing a touch of coolness.

Emperor Chongzhen walked to the window and watched as Fan Yongdou's sedan chair gradually disappeared from sight.

The eight prominent Shanxi merchants, who were adept at navigating the Ming-Qing transition, have now all fallen into the trap he dug.

Zhou Kui's business is a scam.

Fan Yongdou's smuggling was a trap.

And those holes that are being dug...

One day, these pits will connect and bury all those who need to be buried.

"Your Majesty, a secret message has arrived from Shaanxi." A eunuch quietly entered, carrying a small bamboo tube in his hand.

Emperor Chongzhen took the bamboo tube and dismissed his attendants. Inside was a secret letter written in a code known only to him and Sun Chuanting.

He opened the letter and began to read it.

At the same time, in Shaanxi, about 300 li north of Yan'an Prefecture, there was Black Wind Ridge.

Sun Chuanting looked at the five hundred people in front of him, his brows furrowed.

It's very chaotic.

Five hundred people stood in a crooked line, some tall, some short, some skin and bones, some as strong as iron towers. Their clothes were tattered, patched upon patched. Their eyes all looked the same.

They all stared at the large pots in the middle of the arena with eyes like hungry wolves.

Some wild vegetables were added to the millet porridge in the pot. The aroma made many people's mouths water.

Sun Chuanting walked to the center of the arena and said loudly, "From now on, you are the escorts of the 'Yulin Escort Agency,' and I, Sun Chuanting, am your manager."

No one spoke. No one paid him any attention.

Everyone stared at the pots in the center of the field.

Sun Chuanting sighed inwardly. He understood that these people came here not out of loyalty to the emperor or love for their country, but simply to have something to eat.

Of the five hundred people, three hundred were miners, one hundred were blacksmiths, and the other one hundred were farmers who could no longer survive. They were all victims of the severe drought in Shaanxi, all unfortunate people driven to the brink of despair.

"There are only three rules in the escort agency," he said, holding up three fingers. "First, you must obey orders. If I tell you to go east, you're not allowed to go west. Second, you must be literate. From now on, learn five characters every day. If you can't recognize them, you won't get any food. Third... never mind, we'll talk about the third one after you've mastered the first two!"

Someone couldn't help but ask, "Manager Sun, can we eat now?"

Sun Chuanting glanced at the sky and nodded: "Dinner's ready!"