Chapter 97: No Money? Doesn't Exist!

This Guo Shangyou had been one of those the Donglin Faction called the eunuch faction during the Tianqi reign. He was dismissed when the historical Chongzhen Emperor purged the eunuch faction, and now, like Feng Quan and Wang Shaowei, he had been recalled and restored to his former post.

The Chongzhen Emperor had once specifically looked into this man. He was said to be an official of reputed integrity — in the years of widespread famine in Shandong, he had scattered his family fortune to distribute porridge to the starving, and his reputation among the common people was fairly good.

In the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, when the Jianzhou barbarians invaded and besieged Weixian, Guo Shangyou and the then-magistrate Xing Guoxi pooled funds to rebuild the county, converting the earthen walls to stone and casting iron cannons to place in the corner towers. Though a mere scholar, he personally mounted the walls to aid in the defense, holding fast against the enemy for three full months.

To the Donglin Faction, the Emperor had not only a pack of lackeys in the capital, but had now built up a lackey force in Nanjing as well.

But Guo Shangyou and Ma Shiying alone were not enough to shake the Donglin bloc's position, so this was not yet the problem they needed to solve. The pressing matter was that one of their own had turned traitor.

Hou Fangyu was hailed as the foremost of the Four Young Masters. In many people's eyes, he was flawless in every respect — yet now that he saw himself about to be seized, his true nature was exposed at once.

This wretch clung to the leg of his former enemy Ma Shiying and pulled the trick of pointing the finger at Song Zhengyu. Poor little Comrade Song only woke up to the truth at the moment of his death, shouting that Hou Fangyu was shameless.

Song Zhengyu, also known as the Talented Scholar of Yunjian, had after all been an important backbone of the Fushe. To be betrayed by a former friend so muddle-headedly and sent out to the executioner's block — the Fushe members were momentarily seething with indignation and turned their spears against Hou Fangyu.

The wave of "marches and protests" by Jiangnan scholars had temporarily subsided, but for the Chongzhen Emperor, all manner of affairs still gave him no time to catch his breath.

A new problem lay before him: he hadn't hanged himself yet, but the money was gone.

The Great Victory at military pay and provisions had yielded rich fruits, yet the cost of battle was heavy, and everything had to be paid for by himself, the Emperor upon whom all eyes rested.

The government forces had not escaped without losses either. The statistical reports from the depots and guards had been presented yesterday, and after reading them the Chongzhen Emperor was again clouded with worry — who could he find this time to squeeze for some money to spend?

Of the sixty to seventy thousand troops from various regions who took part in the battle, over three thousand died that very night, and there were more than eight hundred severely wounded. A large portion of them could have been saved, but later died from the shortage of medicinal herbs.

The Chongzhen Emperor grieved over this. These eight hundred-plus men were all fine lads who had fought bravely for him; they had escaped with their lives on the battlefield, only to die for want of medicine.

Beyond that, several thousand lightly wounded men awaited treatment. If delayed too long, light wounds would turn severe, and non-combat attrition would follow.

The inner treasury still had the ten-plus million taels left over from the confiscations, but a portion of that silver had already been taken out to reward the three armies on the day of the Xuan Victory, to boost morale.

Also yesterday, Wu Youke had come to see him, saying the plague treatment was at a critical juncture and needed more hands and medicinal herbs — otherwise the work already done could very likely be wasted.

Had the historical Chongzhen Emperor heard such a threat-laden remark, he would likely have flown into a rage. But the current one, upon hearing it, found his thoughts on an entirely different channel.

Having seen *The Plague of Ming*, the Chongzhen Emperor still decided to trust Wu Youke, gritting his teeth and agreeing.

Thus, merely the daily herbs and supplies needed for plague treatment alone were already enormous, and now with the large number of wounded awaiting care after the battle, the herbs needed were no small amount either.

After the almshouses and the five-city porridge kitchens reopened, the Chongzhen Emperor's name for virtue and benevolence became known throughout the realm. This created a chain reaction: great numbers of refugees and starving folk, forced from their homes by years of successive disasters, kept streaming into the capital.

Supplies were strained on every front, and the court was again short of funds. Just as the realm was rejoicing over the "Great Victory at military pay and provisions" that would go down in history, the Chongzhen Emperor was once more in the Warm Pavilion, his youthful head turning gray with worry.

Winning the great victory at military pay and provisions was a tremendous piece of good fortune, but after such a triumph, the Chongzhen Emperor naturally had to fulfill the promises he had so solemnly sworn to all the people of the realm.

Of course, the Chongzhen Emperor could learn from his historical counterpart and play the fool, letting the silver go unspent — but doing so would truly make him a man alone, and no soldiers would ever again fight desperately for him.

Therefore, the rewards absolutely had to be distributed.

First, a number of officers and men would be freed from their hereditary military household and tenant farmer status for their battle merits. Second, the tens of thousands who took part in the Battle of military pay and provisions would all be rewarded according to military merit as was customary.

Promotions and the remission of military household status were easy enough — at present it seemed merely a matter of a word from the Chongzhen Emperor. But the amount of reward silver needed for these tens of thousands was simply too great; even if the entire inner treasury were emptied, it would not suffice.

Early that morning, the Chongzhen Emperor, who had just dozed off in the Warm Pavilion, suddenly woke as if from a nightmare. Rising, he first quietly took a sip of strong tea and gazed out the window in deep thought.

Before long, the Chongzhen Emperor picked up the secret report from the Embroidered Uniform Guard at Zhangjiakou and said:

"Summon Chief Grand Secretary Wei Zaode, Embroidered Uniform Guard Regional Military Commissioner Li Ruolian, and Eastern Pavilion Grand Secretary Feng Quan to the Warm Pavilion at once!"

Looking at the ironclad evidence laid before them, Wei Zaode found it shocking, Feng Quan remained silent, while Li Ruolian was extraordinarily stirred. The three wore different expressions, but all had a clear understanding of the main reason the Emperor had summoned them.

Sure enough, while the three were still racking their brains for a way to respond, the Chongzhen Emperor slapped the table and rose.

"These eight men have for years supplied the Jianzhou barbarians with all kinds of intelligence, betraying the court for their own profit and reaping the spoils of chaos — they all deserve death!"

Having said this, the Chongzhen Emperor gave a cold snort, rose, and asked:

"My ministers, do any of you have objections?"

Hearing this, Wei Zaode's heart was in turmoil and he said nothing, but Feng Quan, quick of eye and hand, stepped forward first, his face wreathed in smiles as he echoed:

"Your Majesty is most wise. The deeds of these eight villainous merchants — I had heard of them at home before as well. They are truly tumors on the state. Were I not in the capital, I would hate that I could not personally rid the Great Ming of these eight villains — they should have died long ago!"

Li Ruolian then stepped out and volunteered:

"What the Eastern Pavilion Grand Secretary says is true. I am willing to personally leave the capital, select riders, and wipe out the eight great villainous merchants in one stroke!"

"With the words of my two ministers, I am reassured." The Chongzhen Emperor gave an "mm," cast a faint glance at the silent Wei Zaode, and without hesitation turned and barked:

"The Directorate of Ceremonial shall draft the edict: order Xuanfu Regional Commander Gao Jie to personally lead his troops to Zhangjiakou, and in coordination with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, seize Fan Yongdou and the other eight great villainous merchants' entire families and display their heads as a warning! Seal all the commercial houses of these eight families throughout the realm, inventory all their property, and confiscate it into the state treasury! Have the depots and guards supervise — if anyone dares break the law while enforcing it, they shall be judged by the same crime, beheaded, and their families confiscated!"

Pausing, the Chongzhen Emperor continued:

"Further, as Grand Secretary Feng Quan has been loyal to state affairs and diligent in his duties, he is promoted to Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, concurrently Vice Minister of the Right of the Ministry of Rites, to continue assisting the court in governance."

"Jingnan Earl Huang Degong has merit in the Battle of military pay and provisions; he is promoted to Jingnan Marquis, granted a charter of hereditary succession in perpetuity, with the added title of Left Commissioner-in-Chief of the Five Armies Command, and shall remain in the capital with his troops awaiting orders!"

"Dingxi Earl Tang Tong has merit in the Battle of military pay and provisions; he is promoted to Dingxi Marquis, granted a charter of hereditary succession in perpetuity, with the added title of Left Commissioner-in-Chief of the Five Armies Command. In addition, the post of Jizhou Garrison Regional Commander is reestablished, with Dingxi Marquis Tang Tong temporarily appointed to guard the Ji Garrison, remaining in the capital to await my further orders!"