Chapter Fifteen: A Salute

  "No silver? No armor? No military equipment?"

  Back in the Enduring Respect Palace, Zhu Ciyan was already exhausted physically and mentally. However, there was still some bad news waiting for him!

  "Yes, young master."

  Two trusted eunuchs retreated to either side, both kneeling before Zhu Ciyan. Qiu Zhizhong knocked his head on the ground and recounted the events of the day in detail.

  Zhu Ci Yun was so angry that his hands were shaking... However, he knew that the angrier he got, the calmer he had to be. So, with a smile, he said: "So, it seems that Prime Minister Wang is here to fight me?"

  "It's not that we can't get by with just the two of us." Li Jiye said: "The internal treasury is less than 200,000 taels, and it's very difficult for the emperor. As for armor and weapons, over the years, what could be issued has been issued..."

  "Is this all you have left?"

  Upon hearing this news, Zhu Ciwen was also shocked and asked: "Is Lian Rikuyu included as well?"

  "Yes, where is the treasury now? Just bring out whatever there is. Moreover, even gold and silver utensils have been melted down into silver coins. The pair of bronze cranes in front of the steps of the young master's palace were also taken away to be cast into coins. As for the emperor's place, I'll say something that might get me slapped... it's really come to the point where they can't even afford to cook a meal."

  In a country where silver is pouring in and the people are rich, the imperial court is surprisingly impoverished... Zhu Youjian felt like crying but had no tears to shed. No wonder Chongzhen wore patched clothes and his meals were simple, with only a few dishes. The expenses of the inner court were also frugal, and the eunuchs could hardly get any rewards, they could only barely avoid starving to death.

  "Furthermore, young master," Li Jiye said cautiously, thinking he should finish what he had to say. "The imperial guards have also not been paid for several months, and the emperor really has no solution. Now, only those who are on duty at night can receive a stipend of 100 coins per day, while others don't even get a single coin. Therefore, I think that if you give a few taels of silver to those who have been selected, they will be grateful and loyal."

  It makes sense to say so, but Zhu Ciyan's plan is to train these three hundred people into a first-class strong army, his most trusted confidants, pointing at them to protect the royal family and guard the imperial court... With such a heavy responsibility on their shoulders, they gritted their teeth and fought desperately, receiving a salary of 100 copper coins per day?

  Who would dare think like this? He must be crazy...

  "How much silver is available for use in the Eastern Palace?"

  Li Jiye said: "The young master's allowance is fixed, apart from the expenses for use, what's left is limited..."

  "Who told you this?" Zhu Ciwen said viciously: "Speak quickly, how much!"

  "Less than one thousand... Less than fifteen hundred..."

  "Damn it's really poor...... use it first."

  "I still have to go and search around..."

  "Alright... Oh no!"

  Before the army was formed, there were still such heartbreaking and tear-jerking things that even Zhu Ciyan himself did not expect... In the imperial court, laughing at the affairs of the world, but unexpectedly, the emperor inside, the entire palace was so poor that only a thin layer of fig leaf was left.

  No wonder the imperial relatives are becoming more and more disloyal, the Ming dynasty is indeed in a state of internal collapse. Such a scene, apart from the end of the world, what else can be said!

  If it were someone else, they would certainly be disheartened and even lose all hope.

  Zhu Ciwen was strong-willed and resilient. The setback in front of him, the raging anger that had just filled the sky, could be turned into a smile and forgotten.

  It's come to this, even Lao Tzu has acknowledged it. What more can be done about such a small matter? Isn't it just a lack of money? The people are already here, and the money will naturally follow.

  That's it!

  ……

  ……

  Three open wooden chests were placed in the courtyard, with a large amount of silver emitting a soft glow. Zhu Ciyan stood at the front steps of the hall with his hands behind his back, his face calm and collected, but his eyes were vigilant and alert, sizing up the imperial guards who were still standing at attention.

  The new army still bears the name of internal training, but in fact, according to the system, the imperial guard of the crown prince has hundreds of people, and there are more than a hundred people who beat flags and banners. There are also dozens of arrow guards, spear guards, and parasol guards... In the late period, these ceremonial guards were already frugal, and now they can't even afford to put on that show.

  Sound a good military horn, but it's not the right time yet. The prince personally asked the military officer to teach and learn riding, shooting, and drilling. It doesn't seem like much, just over 300 people. Outsiders also don't believe that the prince can do anything with so few men. Even Chongzhen didn't think there was anything serious about it... But to make a big fuss and give people something to talk about, isn't that a bit too foolish?

  So now these people are still called Taizi Nei Cao, together with the 14 military officers inside, exactly 365 people.

  Three hundred and sixty-five people... I'm relying on these people in front of me to survive... I want to live, and I will defy the heavens... Revive the Great Ming... No matter what!

  If it can be said that before diving into this chaotic situation, Zhu Ciyan had been working hard every day to seek his own survival, and going south was just a matter of fighting for his life!

  Now, what he has been thinking about is to ensure the safety of Chongzhen and his family, to protect their lives. He cannot bear to see Zhang Ping's arm being cut off by a sword, or to see the five-year-old girl Zhaoren being killed by Chongzhen's sword. Even more unbearable is the thought of his own mother, who has lived a simple and honest life, meeting a tragic end by hanging herself!

  It was Chongzhen, although there were reasons to take his life, but from the perspective of father-son emotions, and as a person in the midst of it all, he deeply felt the difficulty of being a monarch at the end of an era... If he didn't save him, how could he dispel the regret and longing in his heart?

  "This is 1,400 taels of silver," Zhu Ciyan smiled and said, looking at the neatly arranged guards: "Originally, I thought that each military officer would get 100 taels as a capital to boast about when they return home. Following the prince, indeed the imperial reward is generous. As for the soldiers, each one gets 50 taels, taking out such a big ingot is enough to intimidate people."

  The crown prince's previous speech was generous and stirring, but now it is humorous and interesting, already treating the people in front of him as his own confidants, with a frank and unreserved manner. The military officers present were all deeply moved in their hearts.

  "It seems that it can't be given now," Zhu Ciyan smiled again: "Yesterday, I went back and calculated the account, good guy, originally I was a prince who was poor and white, and all the family's belongings were just these in front of me..."

  "Whatever the prince says," a sturdy, compact man with bulging muscles, dressed in official attire, stepped forward. Zhu Ci remembered that this man was named Wang Yuan, also a renowned figure in the Imperial Guard, skilled in wielding a massive spear and an exceptional swordsman. He declared, "We follow Your Highness for two reasons: one is loyalty to our sovereign, and the other is to see if you can lead us out of the pass again to conquer the Eastern Barbarians! As for silver, although we are short on it, it's not indispensable. If we have food for three meals a day, we're content. Wasn't that how it was during the recent training exercises?"

  "Only inside the food and rice are all gravel, it's really hard to swallow."

  Having money is good, but without it, we can't just splurge and be extravagant, right?

  "There are still old and young people in the family..."

  Wang Yuan started, and naturally, the discussion began, with everyone having different thoughts. Although they didn't dare to scatter, their energy did relax a bit.

  Some people are loyal and willing to follow, ready to conquer the East and eliminate bandits in the future. However, such people are few, while most want to make a living for their families and improve their own situation. Once they hear there's no money, they become somewhat disheartened.

  "The silver is indeed just this much, today the crown prince has exhausted his wealth for the country, it's always been the case that emperors don't let soldiers go hungry, and the crown prince even more so can't do that." People have different minds, originally also within expectation, Zhu Ciyan was resolute in her heart, not flustered.

  He then took out a silver ingot and shouted: "Wang Xiao!"

  "I am here!"

  Wang Xiao is a military officer of the Shenji Camp, although he comes from a hereditary general's family, but the inheritance has been declining for a long time. He is also honest and simple-minded, not good at flattering, so his family situation becomes more and more difficult.

  At this time, hearing that the silver is not much, although it does not change the heart of loyalty, but in the heart, there is indeed disappointment.

  It was originally thought that the eunuchs would distribute them, but unexpectedly, the crown prince smiled and took the silver in his hand, as if he wanted to distribute it personally.

  He hastily stepped forward, arrived in front of Zhu Ciwen, first bowed his head and then stretched out both hands to respectfully receive the silver.

  "It's hard on you all, there's little silver, but I'll think of another way, won't let everyone suffer for too long!"

  The crown prince would always stand on the steps, relatively far apart, and although he spoke loudly, there was still a distance between them. Now they were less than a step apart, Zhu Ciwen's warm words of comfort, Wang Xiao's face flushed bright red, only feeling a surge of sour and hot air in his heart, rushing upwards, in an instant, his eyes were already brimming with tears!

  It's not that the martial officer is overly emotional, but at that time, the social hierarchy was very clear-cut and strict. A fallen martial officer like Wang Xiao, despite having excellent martial arts skills, was straightforward and taciturn by nature. Those big shots wouldn't bother to curry favor with him!

  Even if he is a prince, he's just a guard, an eunuch who serves the emperor, and can be ordered around like a dog!

  Now with silver in hand, although not much, Wang thought this trip was enough!

  At this time, he gritted his teeth and calmed down before saying to Zhu Ciyan: "Your Highness can rest assured, if there is anything you need me to do, I will definitely follow your orders. If I show the slightest negligence or lack of effort in handling matters, please heavily punish me... otherwise, I would not have the face to live on in this world!"

  "Great, you're absolutely right!"

  Zhu Ciwen was also deeply moved, and he believed that true heroes could only be found among the lowest classes of people.

  At this moment, he slightly retreated and bowed down, making a deep bow towards Wang Xiao!

  "If you don't have enough money, then just accept this bow from me!"