Chapter 186: Shameless Either Way

Were there any idiots among the Ming dynasty's princedom kings? There certainly were — the Prince of Fu was a classic example of an idiot who just couldn't stop courting death.

But you could also say there weren't. Since the princedom kings were basically excluded from the succession, no great Confucian scholar would ever be so bored he'd go teach them the sayings of Confucius or the verses of the Odes.

Most princely households hired their own tutors, supplemented by instruction from the previous prince.

And even though the old Zhu clan raised the princedom kings like pigs, they still had the proper regalia, guards, and other educational resources.

That's why, after the Jiajing Emperor ascended the throne, even though he devoted himself to Daoist cultivation and never held court, he could still firmly control the government.

Of course, Chongzhen was a different case. Neglected as a child, it was only after his elder brother took the throne that tutors were hired to teach him to read — a pity they were all righteous gentlemen, and a perfectly good kid got talked into a cripple.

So when the freshly appointed Director of the Imperial Clan Court, Prince Rui Zhu Changhao, along with Left and Right Administrators of the Imperial Clan, Prince Hui Zhu Changrun and Prince of Zhou Zhu Gongxiao, received the summons to an audience with Chongzhen, they had a pretty good idea of what was coming.

After the three princes had performed the ritual obeisance to the Son of Heaven, Chongzhen immediately called out to Wang Cheng'en: "Quick, bring chairs — let the three Imperial Uncles sit and speak."

Once the three had expressed their thanks and taken their seats, Chongzhen spoke first: "Prince Rui, you are Our elder and now serve as Director of the Imperial Clan Court. We wish to hear your views on the matter of Imperial Uncle Prince Fu."

Prince Rui, Zhu Changhao, very much wanted to say he had no damn views at all — you've already made it plain you want Prince Fu's life, what views could I possibly have?

But what he thought in his heart was one thing. After all, the little brat before him was the Emperor, and he truly could not ignore his question.

After weighing his words carefully, Zhu Changhao said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Fu Zhu Changxun has lost his senses and injured the benevolence of our founding emperor, Taizu. In this subject's opinion, he should be stripped of his title and demoted to commoner."

Originally, this was a face-saving formulation — after all, once demoted to commoner, Prince Fu would hardly fare well. But Zhu Changhao had still grossly underestimated the lower limits of the Chongzhen Emperor's moral character.

Chongzhen gave a cold laugh and said: "A commoner? Imperial Uncle Prince Fu has been oppressing the common people like this — he's digging up the very roots of the Great Ming! And merely demoting him to commoner is enough? He wants to dig up the Great Ming's roots — We'll dig him up first!"

Zhu Changhao, Zhu Changrun, and Zhu Gongxiao were all badly startled by these words.

The Chongzhen Emperor was simply too shameless. Even if you planned to send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to assassinate Prince Fu after demoting him to commoner, to say it so nakedly — and right in front of court officials like Wen Tiren — wasn't that going a bit too far?

But before Zhu Changhao and Wen Tiren could offer further remonstrance, the Chongzhen Emperor cut in first: "Issue Our edict: Prince Fu has lost virtue, and the people of Luoyang have long suffered bitterly. The Imperial Clan Court is to strip his title.

Prince Fu Zhu Changxun, along with his consort, heir, and the rest, are all granted death by their own hand."

Once the Chongzhen Emperor's words were spoken, there was absolutely no taking them back. Zhu Changhao, hearing this, could only helplessly respond: "This subject obeys the decree."

Only after receiving the decree did Zhu Changhao continue: "Reporting to Your Majesty, how should the entire property of the Prince Fu estate be disposed of? Confiscated into the privy purse or deposited into the state treasury?"

The Chongzhen Emperor, with extreme shamelessness, said: "This is fundamentally a matter of the imperial house.

The entire property of the Prince Fu estate is to be jointly seized and inventoried by the Embroidered Uniform Guard along with the Eastern and Western Depots, then confiscated into the privy purse to support state expenditures."

Just as Wen Tiren was about to remind the Chongzhen Emperor that the state treasury also had no surplus funds, Chongzhen continued: "Oh, right — after the seizure is complete, We shall allocate a portion to the state treasury, to keep it from running empty."

... Very well. Very shameless. You truly have inherited your ancestors' legacy! Wen Tiren had no choice but to bow and say: "This subject thanks Your Majesty on behalf of the Ministry of Revenue."

Chongzhen grunted an acknowledgment, then continued: "That being the case, is Our eastern expedition now feasible? Can the state treasury support it?"

Can you stop fixating on the eastern expedition! The eastern expedition! You're the Emperor, not a great general!

Wen Tiren pondered the matter from every angle before remonstrating: "Why must Your Majesty personally lead the campaign? The ailment of Liaodong is merely skin-deep.

As long as the follow-up supplies keep flowing, combined with the Duke of Hu's containment, the Jianzhou barbarians will inevitably withdraw. But the great drought in Shaanxi is in the flesh — if neglected, I fear it will reach the marrow."

Chongzhen, however, said: "So long as the Jianzhou barbarians do not retreat, Our heart will not know peace. If we lose Dongjiang, the Jianzhou barbarians will have a place to rely on, and I fear the calamity will deepen by the day.

As for the Shaanxi region, since we have already purchased grain, then distribute relief freely. Wasn't it said in court before that we would use work-relief, rebuilding the river channels and irrigation ditches in the Shanxi-Shaanxi region?"

This time, it was not Wen Tiren who spoke. Xu Xianchun took up the thread: "Reporting to Your Majesty, of the relief grain destined for the Shanxi-Shaanxi region, not three or four parts in ten reach the disaster victims!"

Having kicked over an enormous hornets' nest, Xu Xianchun had long prepared himself to receive the Chongzhen Emperor's thunderous fury — but, unexpectedly, it never came.

They heard the Chongzhen Emperor give a cold, dark chuckle, then continue: "Fine. I never imagined it would still be three or four parts in ten! I had originally thought one or two parts in ten would be considered good!"

Although the Chongzhen Emperor's tone was mild, to Wen Tiren and the others, it felt like enormous trouble was brewing.

Generally speaking, an emperor's anger was no great matter. Whether it was a scolding or a reprimand, as long as you could muddle through, you muddled through — and might even gain some advantage afterward.

But this lord was different. Every time his fury erupted, the calmer he appeared on the surface, the greater the suppressed rage beneath. Once it burst forth, the the the Caishikou execution ground execution ground execution ground would likely see an endless rolling of heads again.

Chongzhen, however, said coolly: "And what of the six or seven parts in ten? Don't tell Us the grain sprouted wings of its own accord and flew away?"

Xu Xianchun, bearing the pressure, bowed and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, calculating from ten full parts of grain: from the tributary states overseas to Dengzhou and Laizhou, between the men eating and the horses chewing, one part is already lost."

"After coming ashore at Dengzhou and Laizhou, traveling by canal transport to Tongzhou, and then from Tongzhou to Shaanxi, only five parts remain. By the time it reaches the disaster victims, only three or four parts are left."

Chongzhen grunted, then asked Wen Tiren: "Under normal circumstances, from Dengzhou and Laizhou to Shaanxi, how many parts ought to remain?"

Wen Tiren calculated in his head, then bowed: "Reporting to Your Majesty, under normal transport conditions, after wastage, six to seven parts should remain. After all, the prior leg came entirely by sea, so wastage was minimal. The bulk of the loss occurs during civilian porter transport."

Chongzhen gave another cold laugh, then pressed Xu Xianchun: "And the portions in between? Where did they all go?"

Xu Xianchun bowed: "One part lost at sea, one part lost in canal transport, another two parts lost along the way by officials at every level, and yet another two parts lost by the officials distributing the relief grain."

The Chongzhen Emperor was speechless for a long moment, then suddenly asked: "Have the previously issued edicts all been delivered? Is Shaanxi still stable?"

Xu Xianchun, hearing this, bowed: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the edicts previously issued by Your Majesty have all been received by the officials at every level. At present, the Shaanxi region is still relatively stable. However, there are already some signs of unrest."

Chongzhen gave a cold laugh: "Signs? I fear it won't be long before beacon fires blaze everywhere!"

Having said this, he asked Cui Chengxiu: "If trouble arises in Shaanxi, who can pacify the rebellion?"

Cui Chengxiu bowed: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject believes the Three-Border Governor-General Yang He can be appointed as Director-General, employing both suppression and pacification, with pacification as the primary approach."

Chongzhen shot Cui Chengxiu a surprised look. He had originally assumed this fellow would advocate suppression as the primary approach — he never expected him to say pacification should be primary.

Curious, Chongzhen asked: "Explain."

Cui Chengxiu deliberated carefully, then bowed: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the instability in Shaanxi stems from inadequate relief efforts. If the common people had grain, who would think of rebellion?

That is why this subject said pacification should be primary. As long as the follow-up relief grain can keep flowing, the unrest will subside on its own.

If there are still those stubbornly refusing to submit, it will not be too late to vigorously suppress them then."

Chongzhen grunted, then turned to ask Wen Tiren and Shi Fenglai: "What are the views of you two beloved ministers?"

Wen Tiren also bowed: "This subject seconds what Minister Cui of the Ministry of War has said. Whenever the common people can survive, they will not lightly rise in revolt. However, since Shaanxi already shows signs of instability, the court should still make more preparations."

Shi Fenglai also bowed: "This subject seconds."

Chongzhen, hearing this, pondered for a moment, then said: "In that case, send a secret order to Yang He to prepare for pacification. If necessary, troops may be transferred from the Xuan-Da region.

Pacify where pacification is possible; suppress where it is not. If any surrender and then rebel again, suppress them."

Having said this, Chongzhen continued to Xu Xianchun: "Who exactly along the route has been doing all this 'losing' — compile a list for Us. Order the Eastern Depot to verify."

Although Chongzhen did not say what would happen after the list was compiled, to Wen Tiren and the others, this was clearly no longer a matter of just one or two heads.

Wen Tiren, hoping to shift the topic, spoke up after Xu Xianchun had bowed and accepted the order: "Reporting to Your Majesty, during Your Majesty's earlier campaign, the spring metropolitan examination was completed. When does Your Majesty intend to hold the palace examination?"

Chongzhen thought it over. Since his plan to go to Liaodong was already half-dead and the likelihood of going was not great, he said: "Three days from now.

At tomorrow's grand court assembly, we shall first confer rewards upon the meritorious officers and soldiers, then proclaim Our personal campaign to the realm, so the common people can share in the joy."

——

The following words are free of charge:

I've caught a cold. After attending the company annual meeting on Saturday, I came home and developed a fever. Today I pushed through and went to a friend's child's one-month celebration banquet, and after returning, the fever has reached 39 degrees.

So I'll post one more chapter today. Tomorrow's update will likely be in the evening; there won't be another update in the latter half of the night.

Also, recommending a book by an author in the same group, "The Great Qin Dragon Sparrow":

At the foot of the Qinling range, the wheat fields are fragrant; green leaves and clear pools where mandarin ducks play.

In Huayin County, a fine young lad — he won't be a general, nor does he want to be a king.

Smoke-wolves rise, the four quarters stir; iron steeds and golden spears invade our homeland.

Southern savages, northern barbarians — do not run wild! If I command the troops, you shall surely perish!

(End of Chapter)