Chapter 006: The Empress Dowager's Manifestation

After listening, Zhang Mingwei did not wait for Emperor Chongzhen to ask again, but took the initiative to speak: "As for the present situation, I believe the most important thing is grain, followed by money. With grain and money, we can have troops, we can also resettle the disaster victims, stabilize the situation, and then plan for other matters"

Zhang Mingwei turned to Princess Kunxing and said: "Let's sit together and eat!"

Zhang Mingwei listened attentively and said, "Although I am familiar with major historical events, I am not well-versed in the details. I kindly ask Your Majesty to elaborate on the current situation so that I can provide my insights based on the specific circumstances."

Thinking this in his heart, he then asked the Crown Prince: "What kind of deity possesses you?"

Princess Kunning, after gazing into Zhang Mingwei's eyes for a moment, turned her head to look at her father, the Emperor. After all, having not experienced the affairs of the world and with her father present, she ultimately had to heed what Emperor Chongzhen had to say

This statement is indeed quite novel; it is fortunate that they had previously watched historical documentaries, otherwise, upon first glance, their worldview would surely collapse

At his words, everyone turned to look at him

Princess Kunxing, upon hearing this, clearly felt a surge of happiness. She gave Zhang Mingwei a slight bow and then took her seat

Zhang Mingwei felt a sense of regret in his heart, then turned to look at the astonished Emperor Chongzhen and said to him: "There is absolutely no Chang'e or Wu Gang on the moon! In my time, one could reach the moon simply by taking a spaceship. As for the tales of gods and spirits, I cannot say they are 100% nonexistent, but historically, there has never been any so-called divine manifestation. The so-called techniques are merely tricks to deceive the eyes, nothing but fraudulent nonsense." The tales of gods and spirits, I cannot say they are 100% nonexistent, but historically, there has never been any so-called divine manifestation. The so-called techniques are merely tricks to deceive the eyes, nothing but fraudulent nonsense.

In the end, he felt embarrassed to mention how much money he borrowed

Although Wang Cheng'en was also shocked, he managed to maintain a slightly better composure than they did. This may be due to factors other than being directly involved, or perhaps it is a result of having more life experiences.

Zhang Mingwei listened and let out an "oh," thinking to himself, wouldn't it be embarrassing to be slapped in the face? If that were the case, it would be too awkward

Zhu Cilang and Zhu Meisheng also wore expressions of fear and reverence on their faces. If their father, the emperor, had not pulled back from the brink all those years ago, it is possible that they would not have survived to this day

In the end, only Emperor Chongzhen, Zhang Mingwei, and Crown Prince Zhu Cilang were present.

Zhang Mingwei listened and smiled slightly, saying: "Your Majesty, my phone has only a little battery left. Please watch another documentary, and we will discuss this matter further."

At this point, he let out a heavy sigh, revealing a profound sense of helplessness

To speak frankly, during this period, not only did the Ming Dynasty suffer from a shortage of grain, but the Jurchens and various Mongolian tribes also faced a lack of food. However, there were also those who did not experience such shortages

The dinner was consumed in relative silence

However, it is evident that she feels a greater sense of gratitude towards Zhang Mingwei

His conclusion left Emperor Chongzhen astonished, his mouth agape, as it was truly beyond his expectations. Even Zhu Cilang and Zhu Meisheng, who were nearby, appeared to be extremely shocked.

Regardless of the circumstances, Zhang Mingwei could not completely let go; he was relatively restrained during meals, but at least he had eaten his fill

... ...

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen's eyes brightened, but soon, they dimmed again. He shook his head and said, "Sir, you may not be aware, but there have been previous attempts to borrow money from the noble families in the capital. However... however, the amount obtained was very little"

Zhang Mingwei reminded Emperor Chongzhen, saying: "Your Majesty, do you remember what was mentioned in the documentary about the bandits entering the capital and the pursuit of stolen goods to assist in funding? Although the claim that a total of 70 million taels of silver were plundered is debatable, it does indicate one thing: the wealth in the capital is undoubtedly substantial. Moreover, even if many people starve to death, can the nobles in the capital starve? Their reserves of grain are certainly considerable."

This point is felt even more distinctly in the Crown Prince Zhu Cilang. His gaze fixed on Zhang Mingwei was filled with gratitude

Such a shameless act naturally infuriated Emperor Chongzhen, who stripped Li Guorui of his title. A few days later, it was said that Li Guorui died from shock.

Emperor Chongzhen solemnly inquired, "Given the current difficulties of state affairs, I humbly ask you to instruct me, sir!"

It may be due to the principle of not speaking while eating or sleeping, or it could be the impact of what was just seen and heard, which is profoundly shocking for everyone and necessitates taking this opportunity during the meal to properly digest it

Emperor Chongzhen came to his senses and said seriously: "Sir, this matter is not to be taken lightly"

At this moment, when Emperor Chongzhen finally spoke of this matter after such a long time, it was evident that he still felt a sense of lingering fear

After Zhang Mingwei finished speaking, no one expected that it was actually the Crown Prince who first questioned his words: "I have seen one with my own eyes; if it were not for a divine being possessing them, it would be utterly impossible!"

Upon seeing his expression, Emperor Chongzhen quickly explained: "A few years ago, the Marquis of Wuqing, Li Guorui, inherited four hundred thousand taels of silver from his father, but did not share a single cent with his half-brother, Li Guochen. Therefore, Li Guochen petitioned to donate his rightful share of silver to the court. I was pleased at the time and granted it. As a result... as a result, Empress Dowager Xiaoding has ascended to become the Nine Lotus Bodhisattva, manifesting divine punishment upon my fifth son... Alas..."

Since the gentleman has spoken, let us act according to his words, and remember not to go against his intentions! Emperor Chongzhen, whether it is due to Zhang Mingwei's words or for the sake of his daughter, will certainly not disagree

At that time, this matter caused quite a stir. Li Guorui said he had no money, but the emperor insisted on needing funds, so he went out to sell pots, bowls, and pans to raise money. Then, surprisingly, the national uncle Zhou Kui also suggested that if the emperor needed money, he would help gather some as well

Wang Cheng'en stood with his hands at his sides next to Emperor Chongzhen, while Princess Kunxing stood beside him without taking a seat, which compelled him to pause and say these words

There was no immediate outpouring of words; instead, caution was prioritized, which is the hallmark of someone capable of great undertakings. This detail made Emperor Chongzhen even more hopeful for the future. Therefore, he promptly summoned Wang Cheng'en to provide an overview of the current situation, while Zhu Cilang and Zhu Meishun listened in from the side

At this moment, he certainly could not immediately command Princess Kunxing. After all, even though she was a maid, she was still a princess, which set her apart from ordinary people.

After the meal and the departure of the guests, only a few of them remained in the hall, clearly intending to engage in a candlelit discussion through the night

Next, it is naturally time for a meal

Furthermore, no matter the circumstances, Princess Kunxing is still the daughter of Emperor Chongzhen, even though it was Emperor Chongzhen himself who requested his daughter to serve him. If he were to treat Princess Kunxing as an ordinary maid, he would undoubtedly feel uncomfortable in his heart

I didn't finish watching the film, and my phone ran out of battery completely

Zhang Mingwei listened and was left speechless; what else could possibly be deemed inappropriate

Zhang Mingwei is a historian specializing in the late Ming Dynasty. He has researched this particular information. Therefore, upon hearing it, he burst into hearty laughter, as if he had just received a very amusing piece of news, which instantly lightened the terrifying and heavy atmosphere within the grand hall

Zhang Mingwei, upon hearing this, could not help but remind once again: "Your Majesty, allowing them to volunteer will certainly yield little, but in times of national crisis, extraordinary measures may be employed..."

Zhang Mingwei listened and said seriously: "Since she is my maid, then I have the final say. From now on, we will eat together, and I will make the decisions."

Zhang Mingwei suppressed his laughter, then with a serious expression said: "Your Majesty, it is best to regard the tales of ghosts and deities with respect and distance. To address the matter at hand, what you have encountered is undoubtedly a conspiracy between the nobility and those within the palace, aimed at harming your son"

Whether it is the elevation of Empress Dowager Xiaoding to the status of the Nine Lotus Bodhisattva, or the collusion between the inner and outer palace, these are all extremely significant matters. It is impossible for Emperor Chongzhen to believe simply because Zhang Mingwei mentioned it.

Not long after, the fifth son of Emperor Chongzhen indeed passed away, which caused him great fear. He hastily conferred the title of marquis upon Li Guorui's seven-year-old son, Cunshan, and returned all the gold and silver he had contributed. Thereafter, he no longer mentioned the matter of soliciting money from the nobility.

At this moment, Emperor Chongzhen saw Zhang Mingwei treating his daughter with such courtesy, and immediately, he developed a favorable impression.

"May I ask why you are laughing, sir?" Emperor Chongzhen felt a bit awkward, as it was evident that he had made some mistake, so he could only inquire.

Before he finished speaking, Emperor Chongzhen understood his meaning and immediately shook his head repeatedly, saying: "It cannot be done, it cannot be done..."

After speaking, he opened his phone, pulled up a documentary about the universe, and projected it onto a white cloth, occasionally adjusting it. The main purpose was to show them what the Earth is really like, what the Moon is like, and what the solar system generally looks like

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen immediately nodded, but soon after, he frowned and said: "What you say is indeed true, but where will the money and grain come from? I suffer from headaches every day, all because of this! You may not know, but this money and grain... sigh..."

Subsequently, rumors began to circulate in the capital that Li Guorui was the grandson of the brother of Empress Dowager Xiaoding, and that Empress Dowager Xiaoding had ascended to immortality as the Nine Lotus Bodhisattva. She was said to be reproaching the emperor in heaven for his disdain towards the maternal relatives, declaring that each of the emperor's sons would meet an untimely death, with retribution first descending upon the emperor's fifth son

"Since I am the gentleman's maid, how could I possibly sit at the table with my master!" Princess Kunxing seemed to adapt to her role quickly and immediately responded.