Why did Emperor Chongzhen feel the need to build up Li Dingguo?
Li Dingguo had reached the age of thirty—the prime time for a man to establish his legacy. In the early Ming Dynasty, the great general Li Wenzhong had already become a commander-in-chief by the age of thirty. Compared to him, Li Dingguo’s rise had been somewhat slow.
Therefore, the Emperor had to build momentum for him, pushing him to mature and gain fame rapidly. As long as his reputation was grand enough, he would secure the support of the common people and the court officials. In the near future, he would become a commander of a great army!
Setting down the official gazette, Emperor Chongzhen began to fret again.
What was he fretting about? A lack of money.
There were two layers to this financial woe: one was the deficit in the national treasury, and the other was a shortage of currency.
Yes, the Great Ming lacked currency. After the silver standard was established, the landlords and gentry of Jiangnan began hoarding silver. They buried the silver they saved in cellars, intending to pass it down to their descendants. The Ming Dynasty had already been short on silver; these gentry and landlords, who held vast amounts, not only refused to spend it but hid it away. Combined with poor harvests caused by various natural disasters, the Great Ming found itself in a state of both inflation and deflation simultaneously. It was a very rare phenomenon.
Was the Great Ming only short on silver? Far from it.
Emperor Chon…
Chapter 989