Saving the Ming Dynasty: I can exchange bodies with Chongzhen

Chapter 5 The Bullets Just Started Flying
As soon as Chongzhen's decree was issued, all the nobles and officials in Beijing knew the news at the first opportunity.

For a moment, all the officials in Kyoto City walked around and started talking.

The emperor called on his officials to donate money once when Emperor Tianqi was in power. In the fifth year of the Tianqi reign, he ordered Zhang Wenda to donate 100,000 taels of silver to support military construction. Later, Zhang Wenda passed away, and at the request of the governor Zhang Weishu, the donation was waived by half.

Because of this incident, Zhang Wenda went bankrupt.

In addition, civil and military officials in Nanjing and Beijing also donated a lot of money. Taking Nanjing as an example, even the county magistrates donated at least one year's salary.

With past experience as a lesson, everyone is afraid that they may become the next Zhang Wenda.

In the British Palace,
Duke Dingguo Xu Yunzhen, Duke Chengguo Zhu Chunchen, Duke Weiguo Xu Hongji, Duke Yingguo Zhang Zhiji, Duke Wuding Xu Xideng, Duke Yangwu Xue Lian and a large group of other nobles gathered together.

Duke Dingguo Xu Yunzhen was furious and spoke first, "You've all heard that His Majesty is asking us for money. Let's discuss what we should do?"

"Why do you ask us for money? Our ancestors fought for the Zhu family and shed blood." Yangwu Hou Xue Lian had an unpleasant expression.

Duke of Wei Xu Hongji: "Asking for money... No! Why doesn't His Majesty ask those vassal states for money? They are well-paid and numerous, and most of the finances are eaten up by them."

"The Duke is right. There are also eunuchs. Eunuchs also have money. Why doesn't Your Majesty ask the eunuchs for money?" Wuding Hou Xu Xideng echoed.

Duke Chengguo Zhu Chunchen said, "Your Majesty is an emperor who cares about his reputation. Now he has lowered his face to ask us to donate money. If we don't donate a penny, I'm afraid the matter will still not be resolved."

Xu Hongji frowned, "It's not okay to not get through! Once the hole is opened, it's like jumping off a cliff. There's no way to stop it afterwards."

……

The civil service group also gathered together.
They were more numerous than the nobles and seemed more angry.

"We are clean-handed and live on the Ming dynasty's salary. Where can we get money?"

"That's right. Now that salaries can't even be paid in full, how dare you ask us for money?"

"If you ask me, we should ask the people for the money. If we make them suffer a little more, the money will come, right?"

"I heard that this was an order from Lord Wen. Let's go find Lord Wen."

"Let's go find the elder."

A group of people came towards Wen Tiren's residence.

When they arrive,
I found that there were already many people gathered outside Wen Tiren's house.

Upon asking, I found out that Wen Tiren had closed the door and refused to see anyone.

Everyone looked forward and saw that Xue Guoguan, Censor Shi Fan, Gao Jie, Assistant Minister Tang Shiji, and Deputy Chief Censor Zhang Jie, all of Wen Tihen's confidants, were also there. Now they were all outside the door, and it was obvious that they had not seen Wen Tihen either.

The concierge shouted to the noisy crowd outside, "The master is not here, so don't wait any longer. Go back first."

go back?

How to go back?

The emperor actually wanted to take money from them, which was tantamount to asking for their lives. How could they go back?

"Drive~"

The sound of horse hooves rang out, and several tall horses galloped all the way until they stopped in front of Wen Tiren's mansion. They were Duke of England Zhang Zhiji, Duke of Guo Zhu Chunchen and others.

After getting off their horses, they walked straight to the gate of Wen Mansion, "Where is Wen Tiren?"

"The master is not here..."

Before the doorman could finish his words, Zhang Zhiji pushed him aside and asked, "How could I not know whether Wen Tiren is here or not?"

He didn't care about the fallen doorman and strode in.
When everyone saw the Duke of England and his party go in, they all followed them in.

"Lord Wen!" Zhang Zhiji shouted as he entered the courtyard, "Lord Wen, I know you are in there. If you don't come out, I won't leave."

"Yes, we won't leave!" everyone echoed.

Hearing the chaos outside, Wen Tiren knew that there was no point in hiding any longer, so he had to walk out of the house.

"Lord Wen, aren't you at home?" "Hey, I just took the medicine. I think the servants took the initiative to block everyone outside." Wen Tiren coughed a few times and leaned against the wall, looking very weak. "I know why everyone is here. Please be patient. Your Majesty's order has nothing to do with me."

"Your Majesty asked you to draft the decree. You say it has nothing to do with it?"

"Lord Wen, why didn't you try to persuade His Majesty?" The civil servants were filled with indignation.

We have no objection to you, Wen Tiren, controlling the court. After all, everyone can make money, whether you want credit or power.

As long as it doesn't harm my interests, we will support you.

But if you take money out of my pocket, that won't work.

Duke of Chengguo Zhu Chunchen: "Hasn't the court already allocated funds for the suppression? Why are they asking us to donate money again?"

"That's right, where do we have any money?"

Once the emperor opened this loophole, wouldn't the court have to borrow money from the nobles and civil and military officials when it was short of money in the future?
The money in the hands of the nobles and civil and military officials is their own, but on the surface they are poorer than ever, after all, the court is in arrears with everyone's salaries.

Wen Tiren looked at everyone, stroking his beard, with a helpless look in his eyes, "Everyone, His Majesty only asked us to donate, but he didn't tell us how much to donate or when it's due."

"I really don't understand, what are you panicking about?"

Zhang Zhiji looked at Wen Tiren for a moment, his eyes flickering.

No one in the court is a fool. When Wen Tiren said this, Duke of England Zhang Zhiji immediately understood something he didn't know, and hurriedly said, "Lord Wen, I don't mean to blame you, I just want to ask you, how much are you donating?"

"Yes, how much did you donate, Lord?"

Everyone looked at Wen Tiren.

Wen Tiren scratched his nose and said with a sigh, "All the money in my family is only one hundred taels. I am willing to give it all for the country and the people."

One hundred taels! ?
Only one hundred taels...

Everyone was stunned for about ten seconds before they reacted.

Then his expression relaxed, and he cupped his hands and praised, "Lord, you are so righteous."

"The elder's actions are of high moral character."

"Mr. Ge..."

The Duke of England also smiled as he returned the greeting to Wen Tiren, "Your Excellency is not feeling well. I have an old ginseng in my house. I will ask my servants to bring it to you when I return. I won't bother you any more."

"Please continue to rest!"

They came just to test Wen Tiren's opinion, and now after hearing what Wen Tiren said, they immediately understood his intention.

Great peace of mind.

As the Prime Minister, you only get 100 taels, and the civil and military officials have even less. Can you get more than the Prime Minister? Wouldn't that be a slap in the face of the old man?

……

at the same time,

Inside the palace, Wang Chengen told Chongzhen all the information he had heard.

"Don't panic, the bullets have just started flying!" Zhu Changgan didn't even raise his head and continued, "Has the captain you mentioned arrived?"

"Ah?" Wang Chengen was a little confused. He didn't understand the first sentence, but he understood the second one and said quickly, "I'm already waiting outside."

"Let him come in through the back door so no one can see him."

　Duke of Wei, Xu Hongji, succeeded in July of the 23rd year of Wanli, and was appointed as the secretary of Nanjing Military Headquarters. In the 35th year, he assisted in defending Nanjing. In April of the 37th year, he was appointed as the commander-in-chief of Caojiang.

　　In the first year of the Tianqi reign, he resigned due to illness and returned to Beijing, and was appointed as the Prince's Grand Tutor.

　　In the 14th year of Chongzhen, he guarded Nanjing again and was promoted to Taifu.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)