Chapter Fifty-Four: The Red Association Takes Shape

  "Your Majesty, my humble opinion is that we should unite our efforts and work together, ruler and minister as one, to get through this difficult period."

  "How to make it?"

  "Firstly, on behalf of the imperial court, to all people in the capital city, including scholars, farmers, workers and merchants, explain the difficulties currently faced by the imperial court, the hardships of the refugees in the camps, and call on all people in the capital city to contribute their strength and money to help the imperial court and the refugees get through this difficult time."

  "Your Majesty, this move will damage the dignity of the imperial court." Cheng Ji ordered another memorial to be submitted.

  Chongzhen Emperor ignored him. What's more important, face or life? Chongzhen Emperor was very clear about it. He said to Zhong Jinwei, "Master Zhong, please continue."

  "Secondly, the imperial court can take the lead in one aspect to compile a list of refugees who are able to work and the type of work they do, while on the other hand registering households in the capital that need labor for spring plowing and the type of labor needed. Then, match them up, allowing households that need labor after spring plowing to sign labor contracts with corresponding refugees in advance. First, help the refugees get through this harsh winter, and later have the households that hired labor repay the refugees' previous contributions. Of course, if the imperial court has the ability, it can also provide partial subsidies or other policy benefits to households that hire labor."

  "Anything else?"

  "Thirdly, if there are families without labor needs, they can also donate according to their ability, which can be money or goods, such as food, clothing, and so on."

  "Who will be collecting the donated items and how can we ensure they reach the refugees in need?" Wen Ti-ren asked Zhong Jin-wei.

  Chongzhen Emperor was delighted to see Wen Tianren pointing out the loopholes in Zhong Jiewei's method, so that this method could be improved, rather than simply opposing and attacking like some people.

  Zhong Jinwei nodded slightly, indicating understanding: "It's best to have the imperial court organize a special person to receive it, and the account should be transparent, with regular announcements, such as one announcement per day. This way, the donor can clearly know where their donation has gone. It's even better if there is another department that supervises the organization receiving the donations."

  Zhong Jinwei's method was just to let the imperial court take the lead and make the people the main force for disaster relief. For these people present, it seems that there is no conflict of interest. Compared with the previous method, it is like heaven and earth, so naturally no one objected.

  So when Zhong Jinwei's words fell, no one spoke up, and the Wenhua Hall was quiet again.

  Chongzhen Emperor looked at it and finally had a way that all the ministers could accept, and he also liked it. He looked down and asked: "Is there any supplement from you, gentlemen?"

  After a moment of silence, Sun Chengzong, who was in charge of military affairs, spoke up: "As for the matter of using labor mentioned by Zhongxingbo, not all refugees have the ability to work. How should we settle those who are old, weak, sick and disabled?"

  "This, I think, is everyone's effort. With so many officials and nobles in the capital, each mansion takes care of a few and does what they can. Shouldn't be too much pressure, right? Your Majesty, what do you think?"

  "Master Zhong is right, the court's difficulties are well-known to all of you ministers. First, the people have already made an effort. If all of you ministers just watch from the sidelines and the people don't have any opinions, I absolutely will not agree!" As he spoke, Emperor Chongzhen raised his voice, and suddenly the words "I absolutely will not agree" echoed in the grand hall, as if repeated several times.

  Chongzhen Emperor thought of something else and added, "The court is so difficult that it has to let the people make efforts to rescue the disaster. Whoever is still extravagant during this period, I will never forgive!"

  The Chongzhen Emperor spoke firmly and resolutely, his determination evident in every word. The officials below him dared not utter a sound, let alone oppose him.

  After a while, Wen Tianren came out and said: "Your Majesty, temples and Taoist temples do not pay taxes on ordinary days. They can also be ordered to take care of the old and weak."

  The Chongzhen Emperor nodded and then asked: "Is there anything else you gentlemen would like to say?"

  "Your Majesty, is there a deadline for acknowledging him?" asked Li Biao, the assistant minister below, implying that they couldn't raise him forever.

  He didn't need Zhong Weng to answer. After a moment's thought, Emperor Chongzhen said: "Wait until next year when the weather warms up and the enemy retreats."

  After the Chongzhen Emperor finished speaking, he waited for a while and didn't see anyone else speaking up. He then concluded: "Since all of you officials have no more opinions, let's discuss the details together. Master Zhong, you take the lead."

  Zhong Jingwei saw that Emperor Chongzhen had nodded his own name and was not dissatisfied, so he took the lead as it was his own idea.

  He then proposed: "There are several key points to this method. Firstly, who will write and how will the notice be written for the citizens of Beijing? Secondly, which organization will lead the acceptance of donations, how it will operate, and who will supervise it? Thirdly, who will follow up on and supervise whether the hired workers and adopted individuals will be treated inhumanely?"

  Chongzhen Emperor nodded and asked Zhong Jiawei: "What does Master Zhong think?"

  "Your Majesty," Zhong Jinwei said with some embarrassment, "I'm not good at writing notices. This one... I really can't write it."

  Chongzhen Emperor secretly smiled in his heart, but didn't show it. Instead, he turned around and asked: "Which official wrote this proclamation?"

  Wen Tianren looked around and then stepped forward to report: "I am willing to write."

  The Chongzhen Emperor nodded: "Very good." Then he looked at Zhong Jinwei, meaning that the problem of writing the notice had been solved, and you continued to speak.

  "This organization that accepts donations, I suggest letting the Imperial Guards handle it, with the Eastern Depot overseeing."

  "What? These two fierce tigers have just been locked up for a short while, how can they be released now? The officials below are getting restless and are strongly opposing this."

  "Your Majesty, absolutely not!"

  "Your Majesty, the guards are fierce and violent, this delicate work may not be suitable."

  "Your Majesty, we from the Ministry of Works can handle this matter."

  "Your Majesty, it is quite fitting for the Ministry of Revenue to take charge of this matter."

  "Your Majesty, it can be supervised by the Ducha Yuan."

  "Your Majesty,"

  For a moment, all the ministers spoke out and offered their plans, but in their hearts they thought that the imperial guards should continue to rest, this matter we can handle ourselves, do not dare to trouble you.

  At this time, Sun Chengzong and Wen Tiren also did not confront them head-on, but instead stood by and watched.

  Dong Chang Wang Chengen stood at the side, watching this group of civil officials surge in opposition, and hated to grit his teeth secretly.

  Zhong Jinwei took a look and saw that the East Factory and the Brocade Guard's re-emergence would not be easy!

  The Chongzhen Emperor furrowed his brow in consideration of this matter, and no matter how boisterous things were below, he was not annoyed, but sat on the imperial throne thinking to himself.

  After a while, Emperor Chongzhen knocked on the imperial desk and said: "It is my intention that the Ministry of Revenue should send someone to handle this matter, and the Censorate should dispatch an imperial censor to supervise."

  Upon hearing Chongzhen Emperor's words, all the officials breathed a sigh of relief and praised the emperor's wisdom.

  Zhong Jinwei was puzzled and couldn't understand why Emperor Chongzhen also disagreed with releasing the factory guard, so he had to talk to him again in detail.

  With a conclusion, the hall gradually quieted down. The third question was actually not a problem. Zhong Jinwei directly said to let the imperial historian follow up based on the conclusion of the second question. Others naturally had no opinion.

  The discussion on this matter has come to an end, and it's getting late, Emperor Chongzhen is about to adjourn the meeting, and the officials are also preparing to go home.

  Zhong Jinwei saw this situation and suddenly became anxious, shouting loudly: "Everyone wait!"

  The Chongzhen Emperor and his ministers all looked at Zhong Xian, wondering what else he had to say.

  "Your Majesty, this matter must be implemented, at least until tomorrow, to have an effect, there are still several days. We can wait, but the refugees in the refugee camp cannot wait, you haven't seen it, truckload after truckload of corpses being taken out for cremation. One more day means more refugees will die!" Zhong Jinwei said, and as he spoke, the flatbed trucks piled with corpses appeared before his eyes, and his voice was tinged with a hint of sorrow.

  Chongzhen Emperor was taken aback, his face slightly red, but he sat at the top and those below couldn't see clearly.

  "I almost forgot, Master Zhong, do you have a good plan?"

  "Your Majesty, can the Ministry of Revenue be allowed to distribute the relief grain and charcoal, combining two days' worth into one day's use, using up all the planned supplies first, so that the refugees can eat their fill, burn more charcoal, suffer less from the cold at night, and try to save as many lives as possible?"

  Minister of Revenue

  "I am here." Bi Ziyuan stepped out of class.

  "Can you hear what Master Zhong is saying?" Emperor Chongzhen asked this old minister.

  "I'll go and take care of it right away." Bi Ziyuan bowed his head.

  "Excellent."

  After getting permission, Bi Zhiyan took a few steps back, turned around and walked away with big strides. Today's events made him sigh in admiration. The patriotic and people-loving hearts of so many imperial courtiers from the Jinshi background were truly beyond compare to that of a young man who had just returned from overseas!

  "What else does Master Zhong have?" Emperor Chongzhen asked after Bi Zicheng had left.

  "It's over." Zhong Jingwei said, but in fact he still had something on his mind and just wanted to have a private talk with Emperor Chongzhen.

  Others saw that Zhong Jinwei was fine and let out a sigh of relief, then dispersed and left. Only Zhong Jinwei and Wen Tiren remained in the great hall.