Emperor Chongzhen made a quick calculation in his mind.
Between the Three Great Camps, the Five City Military Commissions, the Imperial Guard, the Brocade Guard, the Eastern Depot, and the overdue pay for Tang Tong, there was a deficit of over nine hundred thousand taels of silver.
Excluding Wu Sangui, he needed to prepare at least 1.5 million taels of silver. A portion would be for rewards, a portion for grain and supplies, and the rest for recruiting soldiers.
"Wang Chengen, bring me the ledgers from the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Treasury!" Emperor Chongzhen commanded.
Wang Chengen dared not delay, personally handing the account books to the Emperor.
Opening the slightly worn ledgers, Emperor Chongzhen flipped through them page by page. The further he went, the faster he turned the pages. When he reached the final one, a sudden, fierce anger ignited within him.
With a loud *thwack*, he threw the ledger onto the floor and sat on the Dragon Throne, gnashing his teeth.
In the Great Ming Dynasty, the Imperial Treasury contained a mere three thousand taels of gold and ten thousand taels of silver.
In total, that amounted to only forty thousand taels of silver!
Forty thousand!!!
If he were to ransack the home of any official above the third rank in Beijing City, the wealth seized would exceed forty thousand.
He knew that since the Tianqi era, the treasury had been in a state of deficit.
When the Imperial Court lacked funds, the country would grind to a halt. The Tianqi Emperor had no choice but to dip into the Imperial Treasury. Fortunately, the Tianqi Emperor had Wei Zhongxian, who knew how to raise money.
And the result?
After taking the throne, Emperor Chongzhen had Wei Zhongxian beheaded!
He had been a fool!
Whether it was Wei Zhongxian or the Donglin Faction, whoever held power would engage in corruption. Yet, the silver Wei Zhongxian embezzled would eventually return to the Emperor’s hands, whereas the silver stolen by the Donglin Faction went straight into their own pockets.
Emperor Chongzhen picked up the Imperial Treasury ledger to examine it.
Treasury silver: forty thousand taels. Imperial Treasury: sixteen thousand taels.
Combined: twenty thousand taels of silver.
No wonder that in history, Emperor Chongzhen dared not move the capital south—he feared his soldiers would mutiny on the road due to lack of pay!
Looking at the cold, hard numbers, the Emperor’s heart gradually grew cold. The rage in his chest condensed into a blade ready for execution.
Gripping the armrest, he raged, "It’s one thing to be greedy in peaceful times, but now that the treasury is empty and the Imperial Court is on the brink of collapse, they still dare to embezzle! They are courting death!"
Nearby, Wu Mengming and Wang Zhixin lowered their heads, feeling a sense of dread. They understood clearly that while the Emperor was shouting at the ledgers, he was actually warning them.
Seeing their reactions, Emperor Chongzhen felt a measure of relief. The Brocade Guard and the Eastern Depot were his blades; he had to temper them before use to ensure they remained sharp.
He shifted his tone and said, "I recall that Commander Wu’s son is having his wedding the day after tomorrow. Wang Chengen, prepare a gift on my behalf."
Wu Mengming was stunned. The Great Ming was in turmoil, the rebel bandits were approaching, and the Emperor, burdened with countless affairs, was actually keeping his son’s wedding in mind.
"Your Majesty, I do not deserve such an honor!"
"You are my right-hand man. Do not refuse me."
"Your subject... thanks you for your boundless grace!" The ruthless Wu Mengming knelt, his eyes turning red.
Emperor Chongzhen turned to Wang Zhixin. "Wang Zhixin, you oversee the Eastern Depot; you need to keep your eunuchs in check."
Wang Zhixin looked bewildered. He bowed his head first, then asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, I am filled with terror."
"Terror? Is that all you feel? Du Xun was your subordinate. The reports claimed he died with honor, but according to my information, he defected to the enemy with Wang Chengyin!"
Defected?
Wang Zhixin’s face changed drastically upon hearing this. The Emperor’s words revealed two things: first, Du Xun had defected; second, the Emperor had obtained this information through other channels.
Yesterday, after Xuanfu fell, the Brocade Guard and the Eastern Depot had both learned from their respective channels that the former Director of the Imperial Banqueting Court, Du Xun, had committed suicide. That the Emperor had discovered the truth when they hadn't was a terrifying prospect.
Did the Emperor possess another intelligence organization?
Wang Zhixin shuddered, prostrating himself on the ground. "It is my failure in supervision. I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness."
Emperor Chongzhen glared at him, remaining silent. Wang Zhixin was greedy, and while his wealth couldn't compare to the nobility, it was still a massive sum compared to others.
The Emperor said nothing. He was debating whether to replace Wang Zhixin and Wu Mengming. The Eastern Depot and the Brocade Guard were blades that needed sharpening before he could strike. But... replacing them now would plunge the organizations into chaos. That might be fine in normal times, but with time so tight, neither he nor the Great Ming could afford the consequences of such turmoil.
Seeing the Emperor’s silence, Wang Zhixin panicked. "I have failed in my duty. Please, Your Majesty, spare my life."
Emperor Chongzhen nodded slightly. "Since you acknowledge your guilt, I will give you a chance to redeem yourself during the morning court session."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"You are all my subjects. If you have faults, correct them; if not, strive for excellence. With the rebel bandits approaching, you must work together to help me defend against them."
"We obey!" Wu Mengming and Wang Zhixin bowed, though Li Ruolian looked somewhat dejected as he kowtowed.
Emperor Chongzhen took note of their individual expressions, his plan gradually taking shape. Wu Mengming was relatively fair but lacked decisiveness, usually taking his cues from the Eastern Depot. Wang Zhixin was capable and daring, but had a clear weakness: his love of money. Li Ruolian was loyal and did not covet wealth; he was a man who could be trusted.
Since that was the case, Wu Mengming would continue to work alongside Wang Zhixin; they would be the Emperor’s sword and spear. Li Ruolian would remain in the shadows, handling the dirty work.
"Wu Mengming, during the morning court session, you will record every word spoken between me and the officials. If there is a single error or omission, I will hold you accountable!"
"I obey, Your Majesty!"
Wu Mengming took out paper and brush, silently retreating to the side.
A short time later, Wang Chengen entered the side hall and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the twenty thousand taels of silver have been delivered to the Earl of Dingxi, Tang Tong."
"I understand."
"The Censor-in-Chief of the Left, Li Banghua, is waiting outside for an audience."
"Let him enter."
"Yes."
After the eunuch relayed the message, Li Banghua, his hair full of white, stepped into the hall. His cheeks were thin, his back slightly hunched, and in his worn court robes, he gave the impression of someone on the verge of breathing his last.
While performing the kowtow, Li Banghua kept his head lowered, his eyes scanning the hall. When he saw Wu Mengming and Wang Zhixin present, his heart skipped a beat: *Something is wrong.*
The heads of the Brocade Guard and the Eastern Depot appearing together never meant anything good.
Li Banghua swallowed hard and said cautiously, "Your subject, Li Banghua, has come by imperial decree."
Emperor Chongzhen smiled coldly. "Li Banghua, someone has accused you of forming cliques, engaging in corruption, and deceiving the throne. Do you acknowledge your guilt?"
Li Banghua cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, is there evidence?"
"Evidence? You entered government service at twenty-nine and now serve as Censor-in-Chief. Your annual salary is no more than a hundred taels. Tell me, where did your ten thousand taels of property come from?"
"Since the evidence is conclusive, please pass judgment, Your Majesty!" Li Banghua said, showing no fear.
He did not deny the corruption, but the corruption could not be blamed solely on him. The salaries of Great Ming officials were low, barely enough to get by. Furthermore, since Emperor Chongzhen’s ascension, the treasury had been empty, and the Imperial Court often failed to pay salaries. For the sake of their families, even incorruptible officials had to resort to corruption to survive. As time passed, desires grew, and gradually, a culture of corruption became rampant in the Great Ming bureaucracy.
"Pass judgment? Ha!" Emperor Chongzhen sneered. "You are the Censor-in-Chief. According to the Great Ming Code, what is the penalty?"
The Great Ming Code...
At the mention of these words, Li Banghua trembled. According to the Great Ming Code, those found guilty of embezzling over sixty taels were to be flayed, their skins stuffed with straw and hung on a pole for public display.
"Your subject... deserves death!" Li Banghua felt hollow, resigned to his fate. He only hoped that when Wu Mengming and Wang Zhixin carried out the sentence, they would be quick; his old bones could not handle torture.
"Sigh!" Emperor Chongzhen let out a long sigh. "You are innocent!"
*Innocent?* Li Banghua was stunned.
"I know that if you did not engage in corruption, your families would starve. Ultimately, the fault is mine for letting the officials of the Great Ming go hungry and cold."
"Your Majesty, I am terrified. I admit my guilt; it is my fault, not yours," Li Banghua stammered. He could not fathom what the Emperor was planning. One moment he was sentenced to death, the next he was innocent. Such erratic behavior must be part of some scheme.
"Sigh, what is done is done. I hope you will discipline yourself and others in the future, and serve the Great Ming with all your might."
Li Banghua swallowed, and after regaining his senses, he hurriedly kowtowed in gratitude. "Thank you for sparing my life, Your Majesty. I am willing to serve you with all my strength."
Emperor Chongzhen wanted to make good use of Li Banghua, but he had to temper him first so he wouldn't become too arrogant. However, it was only a tempering. Li Banghua was not afraid of death; in history, upon learning of Emperor Chongzhen’s death, he would leave behind three lines about his loyalty and duty before committing suicide for his country.
"Wang Chengen, show Censor Li the letter from Feng Yuanyang."
Wang Chengen hurriedly handed the secret letter to Li Banghua. After reading it, Li Banghua frowned, deep in thought.
"Censor Li, what is your opinion?" Emperor Chongzhen asked.
"Your subject believes this is a mediocre plan."