Chapter Twenty-Four: Strategies for Raising Military Funds

The reason for Wei Zhaocheng’s decline, to put it more specifically, was that he had served as the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet in the twelfth year of Chongzhen’s reign, having entered office on the recommendation of Xue Guoguan, a notorious remnant of the eunuch faction. Yet Xue Guoguan had always been at odds with the Donglin Party. Now, with the Donglin Party’s ascendancy following Zhou Yanru’s appointment as Grand Secretary, Wei Zhaocheng’s position became increasingly precarious.

What surprised Chen Xinjia slightly was that the person entering with Wei Zhaocheng was not the current Minister of Revenue, Fu Shuxun, but instead the Left Vice Minister of Revenue, Wang Zhengzhi.

Noticing this, Chen Xinjia narrowed his eyes slightly and, without drawing attention, shifted his steps toward the margins of the hall.

The winds of court seemed to be shifting today.

After Wei Zhaocheng and Wang Zhengzhi entered and paid their respects, Chongzhen waved them to stand aside and continued with his writing.

“Ma Shaoyu, Director of the Ministry of War’s Personnel Department, is quick-witted and articulate—a man of reliability… the matter of the mission to Liaoshen…”

A sudden crackling sound interrupted.

“Father…”

“I, Emperor of Great Ming, will neither address myself as vassal nor pay tribute, will not humiliate myself through marriage alliances, nor bear the shame of ceding territory. The Son of Heaven defends the gates of the nation; the sovereign dies for his realm!”

Crack!

The brush snapped.

The veins stood out on Chongzhen’s writing hand, and the fine wolf-hair brush broke with a soft sigh from its owner before being cast aside.

The three officials exchanged glances, momentarily stunned.

At this moment, Chongzhen finally looked up at the three ministers before him, frowning slightly as he asked, “Is Minister Fu not here yet?”

Upon his words, Wang Cheng’en leaned in and whispered, “Your Majesty, Fu Qimei is not at the Ministry of Revenue today. He received the summons late; he will be a little delayed.”

Wang Cheng’en then murmured a few more rapid words, audible only to Chongzhen. When he mentioned Zhu Cilang and the Ministry of Revenue, his voice slowed markedly and dropped even lower.

Chongzhen nodded slowly, glanced at the draft before him now so smudged as to be illegible, and waved for Wang Cheng’en to clear it away. Then he turned his gaze to Wei Zhaocheng, Chen Xinjia, and Wang Zhengzhi, letting his eyes linger briefly on Wang Zhengzhi.

A young eunuch brought over four chairs; the three ministers took their seats.

After this brief pause, Fu Shuxun arrived in haste. Seeing Wang Zhengzhi present in the hall, his expression darkened as he took the upper seat on the right.

Now that most had arrived, Chongzhen closed his eyes for a moment, leaned back in his chair, kneaded his temples, and said in a low voice, “Minister Chen, let us hear your view.”

Chen Xinjia bowed in gratitude and began, “The matter at hand concerns Liaodong. The Ministry of War proposes to transfer the White Rod soldiers under Qin Liangyu from Shizhu in Sichuan, gather the Wolf Troops from Guangxi, and combine them with the capital garrison to stabilize the situation in the eastern capital region. Once this is decided, the capital garrison must be reorganized at once: surplus strength harnessed, new recruits supplemented, training intensified, elite forces honed. The Ministry estimates that, as an initial step, six thousand of the old and infirm would be discharged, two new cavalry battalions and four infantry battalions established, with supporting units as needed—totaling a new military establishment of fourteen thousand. Transferring Qin Liangyu’s forces from Shizhu is a long and arduous journey, and though they are native troops who can partly provide for themselves, the central government must prepare rewards and supplies for the march.”

At this point, Wei Zhaocheng abruptly interjected, somewhat rudely, “The Pacification Commissioner of Shizhu is loyal and devoted; if his troops can successfully reinforce the capital, provisions should be made ready. However, the Wolf Troops of Guangxi have always caused disturbances wherever they have engaged pirates. Now, if they enter the capital, they must travel three thousand li, and the expenses would be incalculable. If the central government bears the full cost, it would be better spent on strengthening the capital’s own forces. If the central government offers no extra supplies, given the Wolf Troops’ habits, I fear they may cause chaos in the provinces. I propose that priority be given to the capital garrison.”

Wei Zhaocheng had often been judged mediocre in talent at court, but this analysis brought a glint of interest to Chongzhen’s eyes, and he nodded slowly, “Well reasoned.”

By the normal rhythm of deliberation, the Ministry of War would offer a proposal, a Grand Secretary would comment, and next the baton would pass to the Ministry of Revenue.

After all, Chen Xinjia’s words ultimately amounted to a request for funds, and the feasibility of military operations depended largely on whether the money and grain could be found.

In truth, most of the wrangling always happened at this stage. Chongzhen did not expect the Ministry of Revenue to offer much this time either.

Listening to the Ministry of War’s conclusions, Fu Shuxun felt a sinking in his heart as he calculated the costs. He was just about to speak when suddenly another voice rang out, loud and clear, causing Fu Shuxun’s eyes to widen in surprise.

“Your Majesty. For the discharge of three thousand old and infirm, each would require travel expenses home, one month’s medical care, food, and clothing—at a cost of five taels of silver per person. For new forces, each soldier would receive the same monthly ration as those stationed at Guanning: one tael, four qian of silver and one hu of rice per month—totaling sixteen taels, eight qian of silver and six shi of rice per year. For a force of twenty thousand, that amounts to three hundred thirty-six thousand taels of silver and one hundred twenty thousand shi of rice. Cavalry would require an additional one hundred thousand taels. In total, we would require four hundred fifty-one thousand taels of silver and one hundred twenty thousand shi of rice. If the Ministry of Revenue conserves funds for three months of capital expenses, postpones dredging the Yellow River in April, and defers appointments in Henan, we can raise three hundred thousand taels and one hundred thousand shi of rice.”

Wang Zhengzhi recited the numbers, one by one, in precise and orderly fashion, his logic unassailable. Fu Shuxun’s expression grew ever more grave.

Meanwhile, someone else was even more stirred.

Chongzhen leapt to his feet, fixing Wang Zhengzhi with a sharp gaze and demanding, “Minister Wang, do not jest before your sovereign!”

Simultaneously, Chongzhen’s mind was racing.

Since when had Wang Zhengzhi become so capable? When had the Ministry of Revenue’s situation improved so dramatically? When Li Shiwen headed the ministry, there had never been such abundance!

Although the sum Wang Zhengzhi claimed the ministry could raise still fell short of the actual need, the Ministry of War could make up the difference! The Ministry of War oversaw the Imperial Stud, which, as the body responsible for purchasing warhorses, also controlled a portion of land tax revenues! While Chongzhen could not entirely grasp the Ministry of Revenue’s finances, Chen Xinjia at the Ministry of War was a trusted confidant—he could surely gather the rest!

“Could it be that Heaven, in its pity, is granting my realm the chance to revive?” As this stray thought flashed through his mind, Chongzhen’s gaze returned to Wang Zhengzhi, and at once he noted the grim look on Fu Shuxun’s face behind him.

At this moment, Fu Shuxun’s spirits sank even further. He cursed the treacherous villain for endangering the state and began to ponder furiously.

Wang Zhengzhi was digging a pit for him! Clearly, Wang had the support of the clerks in the Ministry of Revenue—if they skimmed a little less, it might just be possible to raise four hundred thousand taels in military funds. Conversely, as someone whom the clerks now viewed as an enemy, Fu Shuxun could barely raise a hundred thousand taels, let alone four hundred thousand—even with a clever plan, if the clerks would not cooperate, nothing could be accomplished.

But could he speak of this before the Emperor? If Wang Zhengzhi could produce four hundred thousand taels, while Fu Shuxun could not even muster a hundred thousand, how humiliating would that be? As the head of the Ministry of Revenue, unable to control either his clerks or his deputy, it would mark him as thoroughly incompetent!