Chapter 92: Does Emperor Chongzhen have ulterior motives?
Wei Zhongxian had barely returned to the Ming Dynasty when he couldn't help but sneeze loudly. He rubbed his nose and muttered to himself, "Could it be that someone is talking about our family?"
The early spring wind swirled fine snowflakes across the golden tiles of the Forbidden City. Wei Zhongxian tightened his sable cloak, the gold-embroidered hem brushing against the white marble steps in front of the Qianqing Palace. Several eunuchs, seeing his entourage from afar, immediately knelt by the roadside, their foreheads pressed against the cold ground, not daring to breathe.
They originally thought Wei Zhongxian's triumph wouldn't last long, but unexpectedly, Wei Zhongxian was recruited by a celestial being, and now Wei Zhongxian is unparalleled in the Ming Dynasty.
After all, the white light that shines on him every day when he leaves work on time can't be hidden from everyone.
"Get up, all of you." Wei Zhongxian waved his hand, a rare warmth appearing on his usually gloomy face. "It's freezing cold, don't hurt your knees kneeling."
The young eunuchs exchanged bewildered glances, almost unable to believe their ears. One of the bolder ones secretly peeked up and met Wei Zhongxian's ambiguous smile, then quickly lowered his head in fright.
Upon seeing this, Wei Zhongxian couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Oh dear, look at you cowards! I've been diligent in governing and caring for the people these days, do you still think I'm some kind of man-eating tiger?"
On second thought, he straightened his clothes and muttered to himself, "Maybe those simple villagers have even set up a longevity tablet for our family and offer incense to it every day. Tsk tsk, no wonder the old saying goes, 'Doing good deeds brings lasting blessings.' It's not so bad to be a good person."
Thinking of the people he had protected, Wei Zhongxian was quite proud of himself. He believed that no one could surpass him in his ability to please others—whether it was the emperors of the mortal world or the immortals who were high above.
However, there was an unexpected gain. Thinking of the elixir of immortality, Wei Zhongxian's eyes darkened. Unfortunately, the accompanying Imperial Guards were all in a hurry to report to the Emperor. He was a step late because he had "finished get off work," and the news had already reached Chongzhen's ears.
Upon hearing this, Cao Huachun, the eunuch in charge of the Eastern Depot behind him, quickly stepped forward and said with a fawning smile, "Your Excellency is absolutely right! News has just come from Shaanxi that the people are all keeping your longevity tablet in their homes!"
Pooh!
Wei Zhongxian squinted at the crows circling the palace wall in the distance and said meaningfully, "Little Cao, you know, sometimes when a person does all sorts of bad things, he can still do one good deed at the very end and win people's hearts more than a monk who chants sutras all day long, right?"
Cao Huachun didn't know how to respond, so he could only laugh awkwardly twice.
These days, Wei Zhongxian has indeed been in a good mood. Since being recruited by Magistrate Jiang, although he gets beaten every few days, he enjoys the beatings.
They had to use him even after they had hit him.
The Ming Dynasty was completely inseparable from Wei Zhongxian.
In particular, this young emperor seemed like a completely different person, summoning him to the palace for meetings every few days. Even more strangely, the emperor himself covered this eunuch with a blanket.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor is waiting inside." Wang Chengen came out of the hall to greet him and bowed respectfully.
Even Wang Chengen, the emperor's most trusted advisor, had to bow down to him.
Wei Zhongxian nodded, then suddenly lowered his voice and asked, "Eunuch Wang, how is the Emperor's mood today?"
After all, he didn't bring the emperor with him, but the mission was urgent, and Wei Zhongxian didn't want to wake the emperor and cause a commotion, which would take up a lot of time.
Wang Chengen hesitated for a moment, then answered in a low voice, "Last night, His Majesty dreamed of that crooked tree on Coal Hill again..."
A glint flashed in Wei Zhongxian's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and strode into the hall. Behind him, Wang Chengen stared at his retreating figure, a subtle, complex emotion flickering in his eyes.
Inside the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Chongzhen was bent over his desk reviewing memorials. In the candlelight, the twenty-four-year-old emperor already had a few strands of white hair at his temples. Hearing footsteps, he raised his head, his bloodshot eyes, etched with years of staying up late, staring directly at Wei Zhongxian.
He didn't want to become a ruler who lost his country, but he didn't have exceptional political talent. Even with Zhu Yuanzhang's guidance, he still had to work hard.
"This old servant pays his respects to Your Majesty." Wei Zhongxian performed the deepest bow with utmost care.
"Rise, Minister Wei." Emperor Chongzhen's voice was somewhat hoarse. "I summoned you here because I have important matters to discuss."
Wei Zhongxian stood up and looked at the memorials on the table, which were almost enough to drown the emperor.
"His Majesty..."
Emperor Chongzhen did not speak immediately, but gestured for his attendants to leave. Once only the two of them remained in the hall, the emperor slowly spoke: "Minister Wei, I had that dream again last night."
Wei Zhongxian understood. Ever since learning about history, Chongzhen had often dreamed of hanging himself on a crooked tree on Coal Hill. The dream was so vivid that the emperor would often wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat.
"Your Majesty, the dream is an illusion..."
"This is not a dream; this is the original history." Chongzhen had no intention of deceiving himself; he knew that all of this would come true—if he did nothing.
But change has already begun.
The realization that he would no longer kill Wei Zhongxian brought a bitter smile to Chongzhen's lips. Wei Zhongxian was indeed a very useful weapon, just as the founding emperor had said: even if it is dirty and smelly, as long as it can kill, it is a good weapon.
Wei Zhongxian raised his head and met Chongzhen's complex gaze. At that moment, these two former mortal enemies seemed to have reached a tacit understanding—one a monarch who needed a sharp blade, the other a powerful minister who needed protection.
"Your Majesty..." Wei Zhongxian's voice was unusually choked with emotion, "This old servant is willing to give his life to help Your Majesty turn the tide!"
Emperor Chongzhen nodded, then suddenly asked, "In your opinion, Wei Qing, what is the most urgent task to prevent history from repeating itself?"
This is both a test and a reliance.
A glint of light flashed in Wei Zhongxian's eyes, and he straightened his back and said, "Your Majesty is wise. In my humble opinion, there are three urgent tasks: first, to clean up the bureaucracy; second, to strengthen the military; and third, to ensure the well-being of the people."
"Go on," Chongzhen said, sitting back on his dragon throne. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. The founding emperor was right; Wei Zhongxian was indeed quite capable.
“First, the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard must be returned to Your Majesty’s direct control.” Wei Zhongxian’s words made Chongzhen raise an eyebrow. “This old servant is willing to relinquish all power. But please, Your Majesty, retain the Eastern Depot’s structure as a powerful tool for monitoring officials.”
Emperor Chongzhen nodded thoughtfully: "Continue."
"Secondly, the Liaodong campaign needs to shift from offense to defense. Although Yuan Chonghuan was executed by slow slicing..." Wei Zhongxian noticed Chongzhen's expression stiffen as he spoke, "but generals like Sun Chuanting and Lu Xiangshan are still capable. The most urgent task is to reorganize the Beijing garrison and guard against bandits."
Mentioning Yuan Chonghuan, a hint of regret flashed in Chongzhen's eyes. The loyal minister whom he had executed by slow slicing was recorded in history as a typical example of "Chongzhen destroying his own Great Wall." Now, thinking back, those accusations were mostly the result of factional struggles in the court.
"As for the people's livelihood..." Wei Zhongxian suddenly knelt down, "This old servant begs Your Majesty to allow the use of the imperial treasury for disaster relief, and at the same time to suspend the additional levies on the Liaodong military tax. The people can't survive, that's why they followed the rebel Li Zicheng in rebellion!"
Emperor Chongzhen shuddered, recalling the account in the book of "welcoming the rebel king, refusing to pay taxes," and his eyes suddenly welled up with tears. He turned away, his voice choked with emotion: "I...I was actually deceived to this extent by those 'pure' officials..."
Wei Zhongxian took out a memorial from his sleeve: "This is a list of corrupt officials that I have secretly recorded in various places over the years, as well as... evidence of their bribes to the ministers in the court."
Emperor Chongzhen took the memorial, his fingers trembling slightly. He turned to the first page, which clearly listed the record of Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru accepting 100,000 taels of silver from salt merchants in Jiangnan, complete with the time, place, and witnesses.
"Very well, very well indeed!" Chongzhen laughed angrily. "I scrimp and save every day, while they..."
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger," Wei Zhongxian said in a low voice. "If we are to rectify official corruption, we must proceed step by step. This old servant suggests starting with a few insignificant officials, and then..."
"No!" Emperor Chongzhen slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups clatter. "What I want is to have the poison removed! Tomorrow morning at court, I want you to impeach Zhou Yanru in court!"
A glint flashed in Wei Zhongxian's eyes: "This old servant obeys the decree. However... please allow this old servant to make some arrangements first, Your Majesty."
As the fifth watch drum sounded, Wei Zhongxian left the Qianqing Palace with a faint smile on his lips. Gazing at the gradually brightening sky, he suddenly felt that the road to the pinnacle of power had never been so radiant.
Cao Huachun stepped forward and asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, what important matter has the Emperor summoned me for?"
Wei Zhongxian glanced at him and suddenly laughed, "Little Cao, there's going to be a good show at the morning court tomorrow."
The next morning, the morning bell rang throughout the Forbidden City. Civil and military officials entered the hall in turn, only to find an additional figure behind the curtain beside the throne—Wei Zhongxian, wearing an imperial robe and holding a whisk, surveying the assembled officials with a half-smile.
Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru's expression changed drastically, and he exchanged a terrified glance with Minister of War Yang Sichang. Both of these normally dignified leaders of the Qingliu faction had beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.
"Do any of you ministers have anything to report?" Chongzhen's voice was much calmer than usual, and his gaze swept over the assembled officials in the hall like a knife.
Wei Zhongxian stepped forward slowly, his voice booming: "This old servant has something to report!"
An uproar erupted in the court. The long-silent Grand Eunuch's sudden outburst sent chills down everyone's spines. Some officials who had once sided with Wei's faction beamed with joy, while the upright ministers turned deathly pale.
"Your Majesty, I impeach Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru for corruption, bribery, and forming cliques!" Wei Zhongxian pulled out a stack of documents from his sleeve. "These are the evidence; Your Majesty, please review them!"
Zhou Yanru, his face ashen, knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty, please see the truth! This is a frame-up by the eunuch Wei! I am as innocent as water, heaven and earth can bear witness!"
Chongzhen coldly said, "Minister Zhou, there's no need to rush. Minister Wei, do you have any witnesses?"
"Yes!" Wei Zhongxian clapped his hands three times, and the Imperial Guards outside the hall brought in a trembling merchant. "This is Zhao Dequan, a salt merchant from Yangzhou. Last year, he gave Zhou Yanru 100,000 taels of silver to obtain salt permits for Lianghuai."
The merchant knelt on the ground, trembling like a leaf: "I...I did indeed give silver...Lord Zhou promised to give me salt permits...but...but later he asked for another fifty thousand taels..."
The court erupted in chaos. Looking at his ministers, some terrified, others indignant, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly felt a pang of sorrow—were these the ministers he trusted to govern the country? Each and every one of them, outwardly righteous, yet inwardly greedy and insatiable?
"Your Majesty!" Yang Sichang stepped forward and shouted indignantly, "Wei Zhongxian is eliminating dissidents and trying to revive the scourge of the eunuch faction! Such interference in politics by eunuchs is a great misfortune for the country!"
Wei Zhongxian calmly took out another account book: "Lord Yang, don't be impatient. This book records your acceptance of 50,000 taels of silver from Shanxi merchants and the private sale of military equipment to Mongol tribes. I haven't mentioned that yet." He narrowed his eyes. "By the way, that merchant's surname is Ma. He owns three silk shops in Taiyuan Prefecture. Should I summon him to the palace for questioning?"
Yang Sichang collapsed to the ground, his face ashen, completely unaware that his official hat had tilted to one side.
Emperor Chongzhen slowly rose, his voice as cold as ice: "Issue my decree: Zhou Yanru and Yang Sichang are to be immediately imprisoned and jointly tried by the three judicial departments! All other officials involved are to be suspended from their duties pending investigation!" His gaze swept over the assembled civil and military officials. "I want to see just how rotten this Ming court has become!"
After the court session, Emperor Chongzhen summoned Wei Zhongxian to the Qianqing Palace and said, "Minister Wei handled today's matter beautifully."
Wei Zhongxian bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise. However, this is only the beginning; the court is rife with complex and intertwined relationships..."
"I know," Chongzhen interrupted him. "What are your plans for the next step?"
"This old servant suggests establishing a 'Commercial Tax Bureau,' headed by one of Your Majesty's trusted confidants, to directly collect industrial and commercial taxes from Jiangnan, bypassing local officials." Wei Zhongxian's eyes gleamed. "At the same time, we should reorganize the imperial estates and restrict the privileges of the imperial clan."
Chongzhen's eyes lit up: "Good! You'll handle this..." He suddenly stopped, looking at Wei Zhongxian warily. This knife, though useful, had after all once wounded its master.
He was still not at ease with Wei Zhongxian.
Wei Zhongxian smiled knowingly: "Your Majesty, rest assured, this old servant recommends Ni Yuanlu, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy, to handle this matter. He is an upright and honest man, and I have never had any dealings with him." He paused, then added, "Of course, if Your Majesty has another preferred candidate..."
Emperor Chongzhen's expression softened slightly: "Minister Wei is indeed a man of great principle. By the way, regarding Liaodong..."
"This old servant has already secretly sent someone to contact the Khorchin tribe, promising them the benefits of trade, to restrain the Later Jin," Wei Zhongxian said in a low voice. "As for the bandits within the pass, some can be pacified, and the stubborn ones can be wiped out. However..." He hesitated for a moment, "we must first solve the livelihood problem of the people, otherwise we will never be able to eradicate them completely."
Outside the window, spring rain pattered, striking the glazed tiles of the Qianqing Palace with a crisp sound.
Looking at the powerful eunuch he once hated most, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly asked, "Minister Wei, will you always help me?" He regretted asking the question as soon as he did—it was too direct and almost exposed his weakness.
Wei Zhongxian was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Your Majesty, this old servant is ultimately a servant of the Zhu family."
Those arrogant words were ultimately just wishful thinking; there has never been a eunuch who became emperor in history.
After Wei Zhongxian's figure disappeared outside the palace gates, Emperor Chongzhen slowly turned around, his deep gaze falling on Wang Chengen. "Grand Master," the young emperor gently tapped the imperial desk, his voice tinged with contemplation, "why did Wei Zhongxian keep the matter of the elixir of immortality and the three thousand coins so well hidden?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Chengen immediately bowed and stepped forward, only to see that the emperor's brows were furrowed with even greater suspicion than before. Inside the hall, gilded incense burners emitted wisps of smoke, casting flickering shadows on the figures of the emperor and his minister.
"Do you think he had ulterior motives?"
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Author's Note: Wei Zhongxian is going to get beaten up again! [Rabbit head with upright ears][Rabbit head with upright ears]
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