Chapter 73: Handling the Matter

A detailed list lay on the imperial desk in Zhaoren Hall, containing a consolidated inventory of assets confiscated from Fan Yongdou's eight families and the implicated officials and generals. Because so many people were involved, the list ran to more than a dozen pages.

Since Chongzhen had recalled some of the eunuch army supervisors from the camps last year, the eunuch garrisoning Xuanfu, Du Xun, was not on this list. He had served in Xuanfu for fully five years and had long since filled his coffers to overflowing. When news of the Zhangjiakou Fort affair reached the capital, Du Xun thought he had escaped disaster and secretly congratulated himself on his narrow escape. But how could Chongzhen easily let go of this man infamous in history as a treacherous turncoat?

From the eight families including the Fan clan, this time were confiscated 3.3 million taels of silver, more than 20,000 taels of gold, and over 200,000 dan of grain. The eight families owned more than a hundred shops in Xuanfu, Datong, Taiyuan, Xi'an and elsewhere. Other goods such as medicinal herbs, cloth, tea, silk, and ironware were too numerous to count. From the cellars of Wang Dengku's and Jin Liangyu's residences alone, several silver melons were dug out, each weighing several hundred jin — a testament to the wealth these families had accumulated over generations.

The implicated officials and generals were mainly from Xuanfu Town. Among them were three Guard Commanders from the guard stations, six of the eight Assistant Regional Commanders of Xuanfu Town, and five Mobile Corps Commanders. There were over a hundred Battalion Commanders and Company Commanders, and below them countless Centurions, Squad Leaders, and squad heads.

The civil officials were mainly from the Xuanfu Governor's yamen. The Provincial Administration Commissioner, the Left and Right Administration Vice Commissioners, and the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner were all involved. The clerks, secretaries, constables, and runners in the various offices of the yamen who were implicated were basically all connected to this case. Fan Yongdou and the others never stinted on money — anyone who could put in a word, regardless of rank, received holiday gifts. Thus in the officialdom of the Xuanfu region, no matter how big or small the matter, as long as the steward of one of the eight families came forward, it could be smoothly settled. Although the Xuanfu Governor and Regional Inspector were not personally implicated, their private secretaries and stewards had also received considerable benefits. Overall, while the Xuanfu civil official system was rotten to the core, its evil deeds were not too great — the most direct help to the eight families came from the military.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard confiscated from these households more than 800,000 taels of silver, over 5,000 taels of gold, and numerous shops. Years of soliciting and accepting bribes, even directly buying into their businesses — accumulated wealth vanished in the blink of an eye into others' hands.

Following Chongzhen's instructions, with the cooperation of Sun Chengzong and Yang Guozhu, and under the armed pressure of the Governor-General's and Governor's personal battalions, the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrested all military personnel implicated in the case and searched the residences of important generals. During this period, Zhang Zhenyuan, the Assistant Regional Commander of the Western Route of Xuanfu Town, voluntarily returned 20,000 taels of bribed silver. His subordinate Mobile Corps Commanders Jiao Zhigang and Geng Qing bribed the soldiers guarding them to pass messages out. Several Battalion Commanders and Company Commanders under their command rallied more than 2,000 of their men to attack the prison, attempting to rescue the two Mobile Corps Commanders. They were routed by the Governor-General's personal battalion. The rebels suffered several hundred dead and wounded; the rest either fled or surrendered. Sun Chengzong invoked the Imperial Command Banner and beheaded Jiao Zhigang and Geng Qing for the crime of rebellion, displaying their heads before the army to awe the petty and cowardly. After that, no further incidents occurred.

After roughly flipping through the list, Chongzhen set it down on the imperial desk. As emperor, there was no need to be as meticulous as a bookkeeper. He was well aware of the various irregularities in the confiscation process, but these were details. Wanting the horse to run while refusing to let it eat grass — that was muddled logic and thinking. Human nature is to pursue profit; even loyal ministers and righteous men must feed their families, no?

After pondering for some time, he spoke: "This affair at Zhangjiakou Fort is shocking. I never imagined the official armies of the Nine Border Towns could be so rotten. For personal gain, they disregarded the Ming dynasty's rivers and mountains and the lives of the common people, openly aiding the enemy! Troubled times require harsh penalties. The officials, generals, soldiers, and petty clerks at every level deeply implicated in this act of aiding the enemy have behaved no differently from the slave bandits! They must be severely punished!"

The Grand Secretaries Wen Tiren, Wang Yingxiong, Fan Jingwen and others, Chief Censor Li Banghua of the Censorate, Vice Chief Censor Shi Bangyao, the Ministers and Vice Ministers of the Six Ministries, Ling Yiqu of the Court of Judicial Review, and Luo Yangxing, the Regional Military Commissioner of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, all stood in solemn silence. Facing the civil officials stood a group of palace eunuchs headed by Wang Dehua, the seal-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Ma Shiqi, the Left Admonisher of the Hanlin Academy, sat behind a small table, writing furiously, recording Chongzhen's words for use when drafting the edict shortly.

"Xuanfu Governor Zhu Zhifeng and Regional Inspector Yao Yunxi, though strict with themselves and upright in conduct, failed to discipline their trusted subordinates tightly. Let the two of them be docked one year's salary and strictly control their confidants — no repeat offenses! The Provincial Administration Commissioner, the Left and Right Administration Vice Commissioners, and the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner — all beheaded! Their families exiled to Qiongzhou! The clerks and secretaries — property confiscated! Their families exiled to Lingnan!"

"Yang Guozhu, Regional Commander of Xuanfu Town, though claiming no involvement in the case, cannot prove his own innocence! Though he had no authority to discipline the eight route Assistant Regional Commanders of Xuanfu Town, he utterly failed in his supervisory duty! Let him be demoted one rank, redeem himself through merit, and await evaluation!"

"Zhang Zhenyuan, Assistant Regional Commander of the Western Route of Xuanfu Town, promptly returned the tainted silver involved in the case, confessed his guilt with a good attitude. Let him be demoted two ranks, remain in his post, and redeem himself through merit!"

"The remaining implicated Assistant Regional Commanders, Mobile Corps Commanders, Chiliarchs, Centurions, Company Commanders and other officers — all beheaded! Their families exiled to Lingnan, property confiscated! Their vacant posts shall be filled by the Governor-General of Xuanfu and Datong, with military discipline officers dispatched by the Ministry of War and the Embroidered Uniform Guard to Xuanfu and Datong, who will closely interview the soldiers and strictly evaluate before promoting! Full authority for appointments rests with Governor-General Sun!"

"The implicated soldiers should all be beheaded, but I pity that they must support their families, and so specially grant them the chance to redeem themselves through merit! All implicated soldiers shall form a death battalion, to charge first when facing the enemy! One severed head pardons their crime; two or more heads earns reward! The fallen shall receive compensation for their families! Anyone fleeing the battle — his entire family executed!"

"The Xuanfu merchants Fan Yongdou and the other eight, in communication with the slave bandits, smuggled goods explicitly prohibited by imperial decree, enriching the enemy for private gain, disregarding the greater cause of state and nation! This is tantamount to treason! Their crimes are unpardonable! Let Fan Yongdou, Wang Dengku and the other eight be beheaded immediately! Their heads hung at the city gate of Zhangjiakou Fort! Their families, having long benefited from their treason, must also bear corresponding responsibility! All male members of the eight families aged sixteen and above — executed! The remaining family members exiled to Lingnan! No amnesty shall apply, and their descendants are forever barred from office! Their residences shall all be auctioned, proceeds going to the public coffers!"

Hearing this, some among the assembled ministers secretly thought: Why isn't he mentioning how the various shops and goods of the eight families will be disposed of? The confiscation at Zhangjiakou Fort had been going on for days, and news had long since reached the capital. Some people had already set their sights on the trade routes left behind by the eight families, hoping to buy up their assets and personnel at bargain prices to fill the enormous gap left behind. They had used their connections to reach the Grand Secretariat and other senior ministers, hoping to gain the first move when the government auctioned the assets. But the Emperor hadn't even mentioned the matter. No one dared ask now. It seemed they would have to find a eunuch after the meeting to sound out the Emperor's intentions.

After speaking at length, Chongzhen felt his mouth dry. He picked up his tea and drank it in one gulp, then cleared his throat with a dry cough and said: "Minister Hou, of the silver gained from this confiscation, your Ministry of Revenue alone receives 1.5 million taels. You must budget this carefully — many will come asking with outstretched hands, but you must weigh priorities. Aside from the monthly salaries of officials and clerks, all other expenditures must be clearly accounted for. I will send personnel to audit the books! If any problem arises, I will hold you accountable!"

Hou Xun, hearing that such a vast sum was entering the national treasury, his face — which had been wrinkled like a bitter gourd with worry — suddenly lit up with vigor. Beaming with joy, he stepped forward and bowed: "Reporting to His Majesty, your minister will ensure every single tael is spent with absolute clarity, and will not disappoint Your Majesty's painstaking efforts!"

Chongzhen smiled: "Minister Hou has worked hard these many days. Your contributions are remembered in my heart. The Ministry of Revenue should still think of more ways to open new sources of income — this kind of windfall is no long-term solution!" Hou Xun cupped his hands in acknowledgment and returned to his place in the ranks, his mind already beginning to calculate how to allocate this great fortune.

Chongzhen continued: "The Embroidered Uniform Guard began investigating those connected to Zhangjiakou Fort half a year ago. At the Fan residence, five Jianzhou barbarians were killed, including one niru commander — this merits first credit in the case! All personnel involved in handling the case shall be promoted one rank. Commissioner-in-Chief Luo Yangxing, who directed the operation with skill, is hereby granted the additional title of Left Commissioner-in-Chief! I specially bestow 20,000 taels of silver upon the imperial guard, with the specific reward amounts to be deliberated by the senior officers. Very well, draft the edict now. After sealing, send it by fast horse to Xuanfu. Civil officials may withdraw; eunuchs remain!" Luo Yangxing, filled with delight, stepped forward, knelt, and thanked the Emperor, then withdrew from the hall with the other civil officials.

The eunuchs exchanged glances, some secretly uneasy. After all the court officials had left, led by Wang Dehua — with Wang Zhixin, Cao Huachun, Gao Qiqian, Xu Gao and the others of the Directorate of Ceremonial — they all knelt in unison, awaiting Chongzhen's admonishment. For eunuchs were the imperial household's domestic slaves, and with outsiders gone, they naturally had to observe the household rules before their master.

After a long pause, Chongzhen finally spoke slowly: "I have considered the years of service you have rendered the imperial house, and so have not been overly particular about certain matters. Over time, some among you have come to think I am weak and easily bullied! Colluding internally and externally, treating the imperial house as if it were nothing! There is even a rumor that whenever I fail to comply with your wishes, you would see me end up like the Zhengde Emperor! I ask you today — is this true?!"