Chapter 1767: Bring Us Our Blacklist!

"Ah, why does he never lack for silver? We have studied for so many years, so how is it that We are out of money again?"

Zhu Youjian sat on the imperial throne in the Chengyun Hall of the Xuanfu palace, muttering under his breath, saying a bunch of things that none of those below could understand.

Who was this person who never lacked for silver?

Besides, how old was the little emperor this year? How could he have studied for so many years? Even if he had started learning in his mother's womb, it still wouldn't have been that many years!

Zhu Youjian sighed and said in a low voice, "We can't count on his silver for the moment. We still have to rely on Ourself!"

Right, that "he" was still curled up in his mother's womb! Even once he was born, he wouldn't be of any use for a while yet!

At that thought, Zhu Youjian swept his gaze across the great hall. Most of his trusted ministers were present!

Among the civil officials were Governor-General of Yanyun Gao Hongtu, Governor-General of Xuanda Zhang Yiming, Governor of Shuntian Hong Chengchou, Governor of Datong Chen Qiyu, Governor of Xuanfu Yang Sichang, as well as Chief Military Advisor of the Headquarters Army Yang Gao, Hanlin Academician Qian Qianyi, Supervisor of the Household of the Heir Apparent Kong Yunzhen, and Junior Supervisor of the Household of the Heir Apparent Yang He (Yang Sichang's father had finally been restored to office).

Among the military officials were Regional Commander of Xuanfu Hei Yunlong, Regional Commander of the Headquarters Army Cao Wenzhao, Regional Commander of Miyun Hou Shilu, and the newly appointed Regional Commander of Changping, Zhu Mei.

In addition, there were Chen Bingzheng, Qi Benzheng, Zhang Chengqing, Wang Yongnian, Li Chengyun, and several other eunuchs deeply trusted by Zhu Youjian — all of them now senior eunuchs!

Oh, and there were also Luo Sigong and Luo Yangxing, the two military nobles in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. They had not been sent off by Zhu Youjian to die as martyrs; instead, they were kept at the Emperor's side as messengers to direct the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Although Zhu Youjian looked down on the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he still kept its leaders close at hand — those men were far more skilled at causing trouble than at doing real work!

"Gentlemen, speak up," said Zhu Youjian. "You are all Our trusted ministers. Now is the time for you to offer counsel on Our behalf... Tell Us whatever methods you know for raising money. It does not matter if you speak wrongly; We will not hold it against you. No one will be punished for what he says."

What a question... The civil and military officials and the palace attendants present all looked at one another. They were all officials with clean sleeves — even their trouser legs were clean. How would they know any methods for raising money?

The atmosphere turned cold at once. No one spoke. Even Shen Tingyang, whose family had been unscrupulous merchants for generations, dared not say a word.

Just as Zhu Youjian's expression was gradually darkening, Yang Gao, who had spent quite a few years in the Imperial Prison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, suddenly spoke up: "Since ancient times, whenever the court has needed to raise military funds to pacify the realm but has been unwilling to impose too many additional taxes, it has always resorted to selling offices."

"Yang Gao! What rotten advice are you giving His Majesty? Our Great Ming is as bright as the sun and moon — how can offices be sold? Your Majesty, Yang Gao is a treacherous sycophant. Do not listen to him!"

Before Yang Gao had even finished speaking, Governor-General of Yanyun Gao Hongtu had already leapt to his feet. Master Gao was a true gentleman of integrity, unafraid of the powerful. When Wei Zhongxian had tried to win him over, he had refused to fall into the trap, and instead submitted a memorial exposing Wei's villainy — for which he had been stripped of his rank and sent home.

Such a true gentleman naturally could not tolerate a treacherous minister like Yang Gao corrupting the little emperor, so of course he glared at him and rebuked him in anger.

Yang Gao had probably been locked up so long that he had lost his temper. Hearing this, he did not jump to his feet, but merely gave a cold laugh: "Governor Gao, His Majesty has already said that no one will be punished for speaking. What are you so worked up about? If you have a better idea, why don't you share it with His Majesty?"

"Your Majesty," Gao Hongtu said solemnly, "offices absolutely must not be sold. But there are still many treacherous ministers at court who once attached themselves to the traitor Wei. Every one of them is a corrupt official. If we sweep them all away in one stroke, we can not only restore discipline, but also confiscate a great deal of ill-gotten wealth for the state treasury!"

Yang Gao laughed. "That's just confiscating property. His Majesty is already doing that!"

Gao Hongtu had heard some rumors that His Majesty was skilled at confiscating property. Reminded by Yang Gao, he recalled it now, but then shook his head again: "Yet there are still so many treacherous sycophants who attached themselves to the traitor Wei and remain at large!"

Yang Gao said, "Don't be impatient. His Majesty has it all in hand. Not a single treacherous sycophant or corrupt official will escape!"

Zhu Youjian chuckled. "Both of you are Our trusted pillars, and both make good points. As for Minister Yang's proposal to sell offices, We think it is not entirely out of the question."

As he spoke, he glanced at Shen Tingyang. "Minister Shen, what do you say?"

At these words, all the officials present turned their eyes on Shen Tingyang, that wealthy young master — so your office was bought! No wonder you soared to the heavens and became Right Deputy Commissioner of the Inner Supply Depot! I wonder how much silver that cost?

Shen Tingyang, for his part, looked utterly innocent. He had never bought an office for himself! Besides, even if he were going to buy one, he wouldn't buy a worthless post like Right Deputy Commissioner of the Inner Supply Depot! There was no grease to be skimmed, and on top of that he had to audit the accounts of a bunch of eunuchs. It was nerve-wracking!

"Your Majesty, I — I..." Under Zhu Youjian's gaze, Shen Tingyang could only stammer his agreement. "I also think a few offices could be sold... As far as I know, there are some wealthy merchants in the southeast who do wish to buy offices."

"Oh?" Zhu Youjian responded. "Who wants to buy?"

"There are..." Shen Tingyang glanced left and right, thinking: can the matter of buying offices be discussed so openly?

"Who?" Zhu Youjian pressed again.

"There is — there is Zheng Yiguan!" Shen Tingyang said. "He was originally a great pirate of the southeastern seas, and he also does business."

Zheng Yiguan was not afraid of publicity!

"We know!" said Zhu Youjian. "We have already sent Pang Tianshou to negotiate with him!"

What? The ministers in the hall were all taken aback. They thought: he's already negotiating the sale of offices? The little emperor moves fast!

Zhu Youjian continued: "As for offices, a few can appropriately be sold — to men like Zheng Yiguan. If We don't sell him a few offices, won't he just seize an office for himself?"

Right — he could fight until the court had no choice but to grant him an office!

"Minister Shen," Zhu Youjian said to Shen Tingyang, "there should be quite a few men in the southeast similar to Zheng Yiguan. You can help Us contact them and ask whether they want to buy offices. We can appoint them as Regional Commanders, Vice Regional Commanders, Assistant Regional Commanders, and Mobile Corps Commanders of the naval garrisons!"

Well then — Shen Tingyang had just become the general agent for selling offices!

"This subject obeys the decree." Shen Tingyang naturally had to accept the order, because the post of general agent for selling offices was very promising — and there really were people who coveted the posts of Regional Commander, Vice Regional Commander, Assistant Regional Commander, and Mobile Corps Commander of the naval garrisons!

Because those who could trade back and forth across the southeastern seas were all ruthless men who were both pirates and merchants. But such ruthless men had no interest in overthrowing the Great Ming. Once they made their fortunes, they all wanted security and stability, so they would likely buy offices.

"But the homes of treacherous sycophants must still be confiscated!" Zhu Youjian's tone suddenly turned grave. "Li Chengyun, bring Us the list We compiled!"

A list?

A blacklist for confiscation?

Who was on it?

The officials present all felt a jolt of alarm, each worried that he himself or his allies might be on the list.

"Your Majesty, which list do you want?" Li Chengyun — Wei Zhongxian's adopted grandson, who had turned against Wei when Zhu Youjian struck — was now a brush-holding eunuch, specially tasked with keeping the blacklists!

Hearing this question, the officials below grew even more panicked — there was more than one blacklist!

"Bring the list of treacherous merchants!" Zhu Youjian swept his gaze across the hall. "It was not only treacherous officials who attached themselves to the traitor Wei — there were treacherous merchants as well! Several of those treacherous merchants not only attached themselves to Wei, but also colluded with the Northern Yuan and the eastern barbarians, trafficking with foreign nations and betraying the country! We have long wanted to punish them to the full extent of the law. We were too busy fighting wars before and had no time to deal with them. Now is the perfect time to settle accounts with them — confiscate a bit more silver so everyone can have a good New Year!"

Good — confiscating the property of treacherous merchants. That was fine!

Most of the officials breathed a sigh of relief. A few even glanced at Shen Tingyang — he was a treacherous merchant too!

"Luo Sigong, Luo Yangxing!" Zhu Youjian called the names of the Luo father and son. "Do a task for Us!"

Confiscate the treacherous merchants' property?

The Luo father and son immediately stepped out of line and bowed, saying with delight: "Your Majesty need only command us. We will exhaust our minds and spare no effort!"

Zhu Youjian nodded approvingly and smiled. "We issued a secret decree some days ago ordering the Duke of Ying, Cui Chengxiu, Li Zunzu, and Liu Chao to go to Luoyang and escort the Prince of Fu's family north. You two will make the trip to receive them, and then arrange for them to reside properly in the Nanhaizi traveling palace. There must be no mistake!"

(End of Chapter)