MLMD -Chapter 420 Chongzhen’s Expectations

Time quickly came to September of the eleventh year of Chongzhen’s reign.

On this day, Chongzhen was in the Warm Incense Pavilion, concentrating on reviewing memorials, with Wang Cheng’en attending him as usual. Suddenly, Wang Cheng’en noticed the head eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Cao Huachun, hurrying in from outside.

Seeing Cao Huachun’s anxious and hurried demeanor, Wang Cheng’en’s mind stirred. He glanced at Chongzhen, who was still engrossed in the memorials, then took a few steps forward to intercept Cao Huachun.

Cao Huachun stopped when he saw it was Wang Cheng’en. Though he was now the Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial and Wang Cheng’en merely an elderly servant attending to the emperor’s daily needs, the influence of a eunuch was not determined solely by rank—it depended on the emperor’s favor and one’s proximity to him. Despite Wang Cheng’en’s old age and lack of official position, he spent nearly twelve hours a day attending Chongzhen, and even Empress Zhou had to show him respect.

“Eunuch Cao, what brings you here?” Wang Cheng’en asked.

Cao Huachun cast a quick glance at the emperor, still working at the memorials, and lowered his voice: “Good news, Your Majesty. The autumn taxes from Shandong and Shanxi have arrived in the capital this year.”

Wang Cheng’en’s eyes brightened. “Oh? How much?”

Before Cao Huachun could answer, Chongzhen’s voice rang out: “What are you two whispering about? Is there something you’re hiding from me?”

Startled, the two turned and saw Chongzhen staring straight at them. They quickly hurried to the emperor. Cao Huachun hurriedly reported, “Your Majesty, this humble servant has good news to present.”

Seeing Cao Huachun’s cheeky grin, Chongzhen couldn’t help but scold him playfully: “Oh? What good news do you have for me? If it displeases me, I’ll punish you!”

Having served the emperor for so many years, Cao Huachun knew this was a joke. He did not kneel in fear; instead, he smiled and said, “Your Majesty sees everything clearly. I guarantee you’ll be pleased.”

Chongzhen sighed and scolded lightly: “You rascal, now you’ve learned to tease me. Speak plainly—what is it?”

Cao Huachun bowed with a grin: “Congratulations, Your Majesty! This morning, the taxes from Shanxi and Shandong have been delivered. Shanxi paid 1.5 million taels of silver and 1 million dan of grain. Shandong paid slightly less, but still 1 million taels of silver. Finally, the Ministry of Revenue has silver again.”

“Oh… indeed? This Yue Yang really managed it!” Chongzhen was first surprised, then pleased. “Now the national treasury can catch its breath. That Cheng Guoxiang won’t have to keep complaining to me every day.”

Chongzhen’s teeth gritted slightly in frustration. Last time, Yue Yang had captured a large group of tax-resisting merchants and gentry in Shandong and unearthed 10 million taels of silver. Such a huge sum had drawn many envious eyes. The ministers of the six ministries, their eyes red with greed, nearly came to blows over the money in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. In the end, Yue Yang suggested allocating seventy percent to the imperial treasury and the remaining three million taels to the Ministry of Revenue.

In theory, three million taels should have been enough for Ming to breathe easy. But the empire was so poor that the sum quickly ran out. Within six months, the silver in the Ministry’s treasury was gone. During morning court sessions, Cheng Guoxiang and other ministers would clamour for the emperor to refill it. Chongzhen naturally refused—not because he was stingy, but because he knew if he indulged them, the treasury would bleed out like a leaky vessel, leaving it empty again in no time.

One side asking for money, one side refusing—it had been a source of great worry for Chongzhen. Now, with Shanxi and Shandong having paid early, his immediate crisis was relieved.

“Good… good!” Chongzhen stood excitedly and paced in the study, murmuring to himself: “This Yue Zhenghong is truly a capable minister. He’s only been in Shandong a short time and has already collected a year’s taxes. If all officials were like him, I, the emperor, would have much less to worry about.”

Seeing the emperor so delighted, Cao Huachun joked: “Your Majesty, think about it—if all officials were as competent as the Duke of Loyalty and Courage, where would you find so many princesses to marry off to him?”

“Oh… hahaha…” Chongzhen paused briefly, then laughed again.

Chongzhen’s impression of Yue Yang had gone through several stages: curiosity, admiration, fear, helplessness, and now affection, almost like a full cycle. Even recalling it made him marvel.

His gaze softened. Though quick-tempered, suspicious, and irritable, Chongzhen was not foolish. In his eleventh year of reign, he had developed his own standards for judging ministers. Though Yue Yang appeared unruly and ambitious, he had achieved real accomplishments. Crucially, Ming had barely survived these past years without him. Eliminating northern barbarians and domestic bandits relied on him, and even the court ministers who slandered him could not deny this.

Chongzhen exhaled lightly and asked, “Daban, I haven’t seen Princess Kunxing for some time. What is she doing?”

Wang Cheng’en respectfully replied: “Your Majesty, the princess has been in her palace, learning embroidery from her ladies-in-waiting. I heard she is making a sachet for the Duke of Loyalty and Courage. By now, it should be nearly finished.”

“Embroidering a sachet for the Duke of Loyalty and Courage?” Chongzhen was slightly startled. Then he remembered he had betrothed his daughter to Yue Yang. In a few months, she would marry him. For some reason, the thought of his daughter of more than ten years leaving his home brought a tinge of bittersweet emotion—a feeling familiar to any father marrying off his daughter.

With a sigh, Chongzhen asked, “Cao Huachun, a few days ago I had the Grand Secretariat draft an edict to implement new policies in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Has it been drafted?”

Cao Huachun hesitated, stammering.

Seeing him, Chongzhen knew the outcome. Normally hot-tempered, he did not get angry this time. He merely sighed and shook his head. After a pause, he said: “The ministers call Yue Zhenghong a regional warlord, a traitor, a local bandit. But I don’t understand—why does this ‘bandit’ pay me substantial taxes and grain every year, while the so-called loyal ministers become timid and mute when I need them?”

The question was weighty. Wang Cheng’en and Cao Huachun did not dare answer hastily. Yet Chongzhen pressed on, pointing at Cao Huachun: “You, as the Director of the Directorate of Ceremonial, wield authority. Tell me—Yue Yang, is he loyal or treacherous?”

The question cornered Cao Huachun. Sweat streamed down his forehead as he stammered: “Your Majesty… this humble servant… really does not know.”

“Don’t know… humph! You dare not speak, right?” Chongzhen’s tone turned stern.

Cao Huachun, realizing the gravity, thought: Who have I offended to get stuck with this? If I mess up, even my position could be in jeopardy. With a bite of his teeth, he said, “Your Majesty, though I am not learned, I’ve heard a saying: judge a person by their deeds, not their words. I’ve met the Duke of Loyalty and Courage several times. He is reckless and perhaps unpleasant, but I have never seen him harm Ming’s interests. In contrast, the ministers…”

Here, Cao Huachun stopped. The meaning was clear.

Chongzhen sighed: “Indeed. If even a eunuch like you understands this, why can’t the ministers?”

The two eunuchs exchanged a glance and kept quiet. This question was too deep to answer lightly.

“Enough. Today is a good day. The Ministry of Revenue has silver again, and I can enjoy a few days of peace. I suppose Cheng Guoxiang won’t covet my assets any longer.” Chongzhen sighed and gestured for Cao Huachun to leave, but the eunuch remained awkwardly standing.

Chongzhen asked, curious: “Cao Huachun, do you have anything else to report?”

“Your Majesty… I do have one matter to report,” Cao Huachun said hesitantly.

“What is it? Speak!” Chongzhen grew impatient.

“Yes!” Cao Huachun, aware of the emperor’s temper, quickly said: “Your Majesty, I have received news that the Duke of Loyalty and Courage, taking advantage of lifting the maritime ban in Shandong, has begun rebuilding the navy. He is expanding the Weihaiwei port and constructing over ten new docks for shipbuilding. I did not dare act on my own, so I report this to Your Majesty for instructions.”

“Rebuilding the navy?” Chongzhen frowned, thinking for a moment, then asked Wang Cheng’en: “Daban, has Yue Zhenghong submitted any memorials on this matter?”

Wang Cheng’en frowned, hesitated, then said: “Your Majesty, I recall that last year, the Duke mentioned that to lift the maritime ban, a strong navy was necessary. Without it, Ming’s trade fleets would be at the mercy of others. So reopening trade requires a capable navy.”

“Hmm… that seems right.” Chongzhen recalled that Yue Yang had indeed said this last year. He then asked, “But rebuilding the navy requires a large amount of timber. Where did he get it?”

Cao Huachun lowered his voice: “Your Majesty… the timber was transported from Liaodong.”

“Liaodong…”

A simultaneous exclamation filled the study. Chongzhen froze, then exclaimed: “What? Liaodong is held by the barbarians, and Yue Zhenghong is their mortal enemy. How would they sell him timber? Isn’t this… aiding the enemy?”

Chongzhen caught himself; speaking the words would be tantamount to condemning himself, so he left it at an ambiguous tone.

Cao Huachun smiled wryly: “Your Majesty, I do not know the details. But spies in Shengjing report that Yue threatened the barbarians to deliver large amounts of timber monthly, or he would attack Shengjing. The barbarians had no choice but to comply. I do not know if this is true, but every month timber is brought by sea from Liaodong to Weihaiwei, and grain and cloth are sent back.”

“Heh… this guy really makes things happen!” Chongzhen and Wang Cheng’en couldn’t help laughing. He had killed so many of their troops, indirectly caused the emperor’s death, and now threatened them: Give me timber, or else. Probably no one else in Ming could do this but Yue Yang.

“Alright, no matter what sensational thing he does next, I won’t be surprised,” Chongzhen muttered, sitting back on the dragon throne and pressing his temples.

After a moment, Cao Huachun cautiously asked: “Your Majesty, should I send someone to Shandong to ask the Duke his intentions?”

“No need!” Chongzhen waved his hand fiercely. “Daban, issue an edict in my name ordering him to come to the capital immediately. I want to speak to him personally and see what he wants. And, in a few months, I want to see how he will marry my daughter.”

Wang Cheng’en and Cao Huachun exchanged glances: That last part must be your real motive, isn’t it?

Indeed, Chongzhen was anxious. With Yue Yang’s growing power, the court increasingly relied on this man, once despised by the emperor. His two million taels of silver and over two million dan of grain accounted for nearly one-third of Ming’s taxes—and the proportion was rising. A man like this had to be turned into an ally before he became untouchable. Princess Kunxing would soon turn thirteen, and making him the emperor’s son-in-law was urgent.

While Chongzhen was scheming to secure Yue Yang as an ally, Yue Yang himself in Weihaiwei faced an unexpected situation.

“Guo Youji, I want a proper explanation from you!”

Yue Yang frowned at Guo Jingxian, who had barged into his mansion early that morning. Toothpaste still clinging to his mouth, Yue Yang decided that if this man did not provide a satisfactory explanation, he would make him clean the latrines for a month.

Guo Jingxian, seeing Yue Yang’s displeasure, knew he had come at an inopportune time. Anyone disturbed during a good morning would be upset. He grimaced and explained: “Lord, it was not my intention to disturb you, but an urgent matter has occurred. A fleet just arrived outside our dock.”

“Get to the point!” Yue Yang interrupted impatiently.

“This fleet… it is Dutch ships, and armed Spanish merchant vessels.”

“Armed merchants? Spaniards?” Yue Yang was startled. “Where did these Spaniards come from?”

“They came from Dayuan.”

“Dayuan?” Yue Yang paused. Of course, he knew Dayuan referred to Taiwan in later times. “What are they doing here?”

Guo Jingxian smiled wryly: “I do not know, my lord. But the armed merchants sent signals to dock, and the people at the port were unsure how to handle it. That is why I came to you for instructions.”

Yue Yang was furious. “Nonsense! If they came, let them dock. How many are there? What harm could they do? Why are you so afraid?”

“I was worried they might cause trouble,” Guo Jingxian replied awkwardly.

“Trouble my foot!”

Yue Yang shook his head. By all logic, Ming was relatively open to foreign contact, yet even a pirate like Guo Jingxian had such resistance to foreigners—showing how stubborn the later Qing would be.

He waved impatiently: “Let them dock. But tell them no firearms on shore, understood?”

“Yes, my lord!”

Seeing Yue Yang’s grim expression, Guo Jingxian practically ran out.

Outside Weihaiwei port, a fleet of three armed merchant vessels slowly approached. The lead ship, the largest, was a 600-ton three-masted merchant ship, with several Western men on the bow.

The first man, a soldier in his forties wearing gray-red uniform and carrying a saber, carefully observed the dock. Behind him stood three middle-aged men in ordinary clothing, also surveying their surroundings.

“They’re coming!” the soldier called.

Ahead of them, a fast, swallow-shaped vessel rapidly approached…