RPAGF Chapter 4 Who will build my Italian cannon?
Chapter 4 Who will build my Italian cannon?
A change of heaven! Since the Donglin Party members like changes of heaven so much, then Zhu Ming's own people can also use changes of heaven as a shield.
This is an example of using someone's own methods against them.
Meanwhile, the Donglin Party and other civil officials originally intended to take advantage of this "heavenly upheaval" to put the Tianqi Emperor Zhu Ming and the eunuch Wei Zhongxian on a so-called moral high ground to be roasted and roasted, and incidentally kick the stubborn Minister of Works out of office, install their own people in power, further control the court, and then do whatever they wanted.
After all, the position of Minister of Works was a very lucrative post.
Emperor Tianqi Zhu Ming allocated a lot of funds this year for research and materials, and the recent development of some new weapons has made them even more envious!
After all, it would be a disservice to their official principles not to resell good weapons for profit!
Now look what's happened!
Not afraid of god-like opponents, but of pig-like teammates!
The Donglin Party members' expressions changed, and they were about to refute when Zhou Qiyuan, the Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, who was standing in the ranks of civil officials, coughed lightly and stepped forward.
His gaze paused, sweeping over Zhu Ming on the dragon throne, then over Wei Zhongxian standing beside Zhu Ming, and his voice rose:
"What Censor Gao says is absolutely right. Wanggongchang is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Works. The Ministry's money and grain are handled at every level. Is there any embezzlement or misappropriation? Is there any substitution of inferior goods for superior ones? Is anyone profiting from this, resulting in numerous loopholes in the management of gunpowder storage? I request that Your Majesty order a thorough investigation of the Ministry of Works' accounts over the years!"
Zhou Qiyuan stepped in to relieve Gao Panlong's predicament and skillfully shifted the topic, pointing directly at the Ministry of Works' financial problems, which struck a nerve with Dong Kewei.
As expected of the "Later Seven Gentlemen" of the Donglin Party, he was neither humble nor arrogant, fully displaying the true nature of the Donglin Party—the shameless nature!
Oh! Weren't the Seven Gentlemen of the Later Period wiped out by Wei Zhongxian in the sixth year of the Tianqi reign?
Even though they time-traveled, those horrific tragedies were still changed!
Of course, Zhu Ming did not consider himself a saint. If someone really had a problem, he would still arrest them or kill them!
Zhu Ming watched Gao Panlong and Zhou Qiyuan sing in unison, his face remaining calm as he looked down at Dong Kewei kneeling below.
"Dong Kewei, Minister Dong."
"Your subject is here."
"You've voluntarily resigned, which shows some responsibility," Zhu Ming said calmly, his tone unreadable. "But if you're dismissed, will anyone take charge of Wanggongchang?"
Dong Kewei kowtowed but did not reply.
Zhu Ming's gaze swept past Dong Kewei and across the assembled court officials, his tone remaining calm: "I would like to ask you all, my esteemed ministers, who among the entire court truly understands the gunpowder formula for Wanggongchang?"
The expressions of all the civil and military officials changed slightly, but they remained silent.
After a moment of silence, Dong Kewei said, "Your Majesty."
Who is the most knowledgeable about the casting standards for guns and cannons?
"minister."
Who is most familiar with ammunition distribution in the artillery battalion?
"……minister."
"That's right," Zhu Ming's voice was clear and distinct. "I use you not because of your merits, but because you are useful. Wanggongchang has been blown up, and we're out of gunpowder. The war in Liaodong is critical now. By the time the Ministry of Works reorganizes, the Liaodong defenses will have been breached long ago! And you, Dong Kewei, just pack your bags and leave. Who will build my Italian cannons? Who will update and upgrade the weaponry in Liaodong?"
Dong Kewei kowtowed and remained silent.
Everyone felt a slight chill run down their spines.
I thought Zhu Ming would either fly into a rage today because of the humiliating edict of self-reproach, or remain silent as usual.
But today the emperor speaks differently; he directly confronts his opponents, leaving the officials speechless.
Now it's even more direct; they'll rescue people on the spot without hesitation!
They not only rescued people, but also colluded with Wei Zhongxian to set a trap for civil officials. After setting the trap, they didn't forget to say that Dong Kewei was guilty and made mistakes, but he was useful and very useful!
Isn't this implying that these civil officials are just good-for-nothings who only know how to talk big?
it is good!
very good!
It's true that the Donglin Party's officials were very sharp-tongued, but they always failed when faced with logical problems. After all, Confucianism lacked logical reasoning and empirical spirit, so it was out of touch with truth and science.
Zhu Ming saw this and led them into the trap step by step.
You Donglin Party members say the heavens have changed because the emperor is immoral! No problem: If I am guilty, it is not for the sake of the people; if the people are guilty, the guilt lies with me!
You Donglin Party members say it's a man-made disaster, a result of poor personnel management! No problem: Wei Zhongxian confessed and accepted punishment; the Minister of Works requested to be dismissed!
Issuing an edict of self-reproach and punishing those who neglected their duties are all perfectly acceptable!
But how should it be issued? How should it be punished?
It was up to Emperor Tianqi (Zhu Ming) to decide. If the Donglin Party were to make any more demands at this point, they would be pushing their luck and being unreasonable!
Therefore, at this point, Zhou Qiyuan appeared to be a bit smarter!
The criticism is now pointing directly at the Ministry of Works' financial problems!
Of course, Zhu Ming also had a way to deal with it!
Zhu Ming continued, "Dong Kewei's negligence in supervision is undeniable; he is demoted three ranks and fined one year's salary. The cause of the Wanggongchang accident must be investigated within a specified time. The Ministry of Works' financial accounts must be reconciled within a specified time, and a report must be submitted in full. There must be no errors!"
These words caused another stir in the imperial court.
"Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable!" Gao Panlong stepped forward, his voice filled with barely suppressed rage. "The Wanggongchang disaster has destroyed tens of thousands of houses, leaving tens of thousands homeless. The extent of the explosion's impact has shaken the entire nation. This is a calamity unprecedented since the founding of the dynasty! Dong Kewei, as a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Works, cannot escape blame. How can a mere 'one-year salary deduction' be enough to cover it up? I implore Your Majesty to severely punish Dong Kewei to uphold the law!"
"I second that opinion! Dong Kewei's crimes warrant more than dismissal from office to atone for the crimes committed by the people!"
"We humbly request Your Majesty to severely punish Dong Kewei!"
Officials from the Donglin faction stepped forward one after another, and for a time more than ten people knelt in the hall, their voices rising and falling, their momentum fierce.
They are determined to bring Dong Kewei down today—this is not just about Dong Kewei, it's a struggle for power in the court.
If the emperor could protect whomever he wanted and punish whomever he wanted leniently, how could these officials, who were supposed to offer advice and remonstrance, possibly do so? How could the rules of the Tianqi era be established?
Gao Panlong looked directly at Zhu Ming and continued to speak slowly. His voice was not loud, but every word was firm and resounding: "Your Majesty, if Dong Kewei is not severely punished, I fear that the people will not be convinced, and I fear that those who follow will be unscrupulous. I request Your Majesty to remove Dong Kewei from his post as Minister of Works and hand him over to the Ministry of Justice for trial."
That's right!
The civil officials of the Donglin Party and others like this; they take advantage of others' kindness and don't know how to be pleasing!
He considers himself a loyal and upright minister!
Zhu Ming could only chuckle. These Donglin Party members weren't Hai Rui, so what were they trying to prove they were Yan Song?
Zhu Ming then slightly tilted his head and glanced at Wei Zhongxian.
During the year that Wei Zhongxian was trained by Zhu Ming, he understood all too well the meaning behind that glance.
He spoke slowly, his voice high-pitched, "Imperial Censor Gao, you say the people of the land are not convinced?! Have you consulted the people? Do you, alone, represent the entire nation?"
Gao Panlong's face paled: "That's incorrect..."
"What's wrong with you?" Wei Zhongxian interrupted him, a smile that looked particularly sinister on his wrinkled face. "I've heard that after the disaster, Censor Gao has frequently met with Censor Zhou and others in secret at his private residence. Is it for drinking and merrymaking? Or is there some other scheme?"
"You're spouting nonsense!" Gao Panlong's voice trembled. "Wei Zhongxian, you, as a eunuch, dare to openly slander a court official in the imperial court!"
"A frame-up?" Wei Zhongxian asked calmly. "Why the rush, Lord Gao? I was just speaking offhand. Besides, how could a mere servant like me dare to frame a high-ranking official? I was just asking on behalf of His Majesty: Wanggongchang has been bombed. Instead of thinking about how to rebuild it as quickly as possible and how to restore the gunpowder supply, you're rushing to kill Dong Kewei, who understands firearms. Is this for the sake of the court, or for something else?"
Gao Panlong felt a tightness in his chest from these words.
He wanted to refute, but Wei Zhongxian's words, though seemingly crude, actually hit the nail on the head with every word—you Gao Panlong don't understand firearms, and no one in your Donglin Party can make cannons. If you remove Dong Kewei, who will manage Wanggongchang?
After all, scholars have always looked down on strange skills and tricks, and most of the officials in the Donglin Party had almost no corresponding talents, so they couldn't respond to Wei Zhongxian's words for a while.
A stalemate ensued in the hall.
Dong Kewei, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly raised his head.
"His Majesty."
His voice was hoarse. "Your Majesty has shown me great mercy by sparing my life, and I have no way to repay you. Wanggongchang is not only a place for storing medicine, but also a vital site for casting cannons, manufacturing guns, and preparing ammunition. In this disaster, the firearms manufacturing system that I have painstakingly built up over many years has been destroyed. I believe that Wanggongchang should not only be rebuilt, but should be built bigger and better than before."
He paused, then took a deep breath: "Your Majesty, I am willing to donate half of my family fortune and fertile land to help Your Majesty rebuild Wanggongchang!"
The entire hall erupted in uproar.
Half of his family fortune and fertile land!
The moment Dong Kewei uttered those words, the air in the court instantly turned chilling.
Some people gasped, some whispered among themselves... especially the officials from the Donglin faction, whose faces showed complex expressions.
Gao Panlong frowned deeply.
He suddenly realized that Dong Kewei's move was much more ruthless than he had anticipated.
It wasn't Zhu Ming who forced him to donate; he donated voluntarily.
This donation not only silenced everyone: he gave away half of his fortune, what else could you say about him?
More importantly, Dong Kewei was risking his life to surrender to the emperor.
Dong Kewei's back trembled slightly, and his forehead touched the ground.
He knew in his heart that if he donated half of his family fortune, his Dong family would have nothing left in the capital.
But he knew even better that if he didn't donate, he wouldn't get through this ordeal.
Even if the emperor saves his official position, the Donglin Party's impeachments will not stop, and he will be drowned in their spittle sooner or later.
Rather than that, we might as well bet everything on it – on the emperor, on Wei Zhongxian, on Wang Gongchang.
"I am very pleased that Minister Dong has such a kind intention," Zhu Ming said, his voice not loud, but loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear.
"Your Majesty," Wei Zhongxian straightened his robes and walked unhurriedly to the center of the steps, bowing to Zhu Ming. "Minister Dong has donated half of his family fortune. Although I am not in charge of the Ministry of Works, I am still a servant of the Ming Dynasty. How can I stand idly by? I owe everything to Your Majesty. This time, I am willing to donate 30,000 taels of silver to help Your Majesty rebuild Wanggongchang."
Thirty thousand taels.
When Wei Zhongxian said this number, it sounded so casual, as if it were insignificant.
But everyone present knew what it meant for a eunuch to take out 30,000 taels of silver.
"Your subject, Li Yongzhen, donates 10,000 taels."
"Your subject Tu Wenfu donates 15,000 taels."
"Your humble servant, Luo Sigong, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, donates 20,000 taels of silver!"
"Your subject, Cui Chengxiu, donates 25,000 taels!"
.....
One after another, the eunuch officials and eunuchs behind Wei Zhongxian stepped forward, their voices rising and falling.
When each person called out their number, they deliberately raised their voice so that every corner of the hall could hear it clearly.
This doesn't look like a fundraising event; it's more like a performance.
It was a meticulously choreographed performance intended for civil officials such as the Donglin Party.
Now that the eunuch faction has donated and Dong Kewei has donated, if you donate too little, you'll be considered stingy and a disgrace to the country; if you donate too much, you'll be considered corrupt officials! After all, where would honest officials get so much money?
Gao Panlong, Zhou Qiyuan, and others knew they had to donate, but how much to donate?
If you donate too little, you'll be ridiculed by the eunuch faction and the common people; if you donate too much, people will question the origin of your wealth.
Zhu Ming's move was ruthless; there were traps and pitfalls on both sides.
"Your subject...donates one hundred taels of silver," a hoarse, loud voice suddenly rang out!
One hundred taels, huh?
One hundred taels, haha!
One hundred taels, hahahahahahahahaha...