Chapter 26: The Palace Struggle Against Corruption

  Originally, Li Lianying was renovating his mansion outside the Huanghua Gate, modeled after the Prince's Palace. Upon entering the gate, a straight path led to the grand hall, and inside, the rooms were decorated with intricate carvings and glittering gold and jade. The artificial hills, winding corridors, and flower terraces in the courtyard were also newly renovated, each one unique. Who would have thought that during the renovation, his treasury was stolen, leaving him short of funds? He then wanted to withdraw some silver from the Imperial Storage Department again. However, the silver in the Imperial Household Department was being spent lavishly, and not much was left. Moreover, he thought that the saved silver was his own, so there was no need to take it out of his own pocket. He made an excuse to renovate the Beihai Park and discussed with Empress Dowager Cixi to instruct the Ministry of Revenue to increase the annual budget for the Imperial Household by 1.8 million taels.

  Cixi then summoned the Minister of Revenue, Yan Jingming, and asked him to increase the allocation for the inner court. Yan Jingming replied: "The Ministry of Revenue has not had much savings in the treasury recently, and since the Empress Dowager let the Emperor take over the Navy Department, it is necessary to revitalize the navy, which requires a large amount of funds. However, the annual surplus in the ministry is less than 10 million taels, but there are too many sudden events, and we can't afford to pay for them. The current expenses are not enough to cover the allocation, where can we get the extra money? Beidai was originally a place for the Empress Dowager's excursion, and it should be vigorously prepared for annual repairs, but I propose that after the major expenses are raised, they will be presented again!"

  Yan Jingming, also known as Dan Chu, was a senior official with a reputation for being honest and clean. However, he was also extremely stubborn in his handling of affairs. When summoned by Empress Dowager Cixi, she would address him as "Dan Gong", treating him with great courtesy. Unexpectedly, this time he met with a rebuff, so he spoke unhappily: "I do not lightly allocate funds, I know it is difficult for you to love, but this matter still requires your careful consideration, I will say no more!"

  Yan Jingming returned to the government office and immediately convened a meeting with the Manchu and Han officials.

  Yan Jingming strongly advocated for the rejection of the memorial, but everyone thought it was not feasible. They said that if the Empress Dowager was autocratic and did not listen to her, she would be lightly rebuked or severely dismissed from office. It was not worth it for this matter.

  Yan Jingming's neck stiffened as he said: "She is autocratic, I am well aware of it. But even if this is a great disaster, it is still an individual matter. The national treasury is being squandered like this, and only when the country is ruined will it be a catastrophic disaster! As brothers in charge of finance, we cannot but argue about this matter. If you gentlemen are afraid that there may be instability, I alone will take sole responsibility for the memorial!"

  Everyone who heard Yan Laowengzi's words was silent, and Dan Weng indeed single-handedly submitted a memorial to the throne, rejecting all the requests made by the Ministry of Works.

  Cixi was brief, didn't say anything to his face, but behind his back she had already made her move. I had just finished paying my respects when she handed me Yan Laozi's memorial and said with a huff: "You think that as the Son of Heaven you can say whatever you want? Look at this Yan Laozi, he dares to oppose me openly, not even listening to my words. How can we let someone like him off scot-free? Does he still have any regard for me?"

  I took the imperial edict and looked at it, smiling and saying: "Good! The emperor's strong point is indeed evident in this. It's truly rare for an empress to produce such a strong decree when she takes power! My child, not only should he not be allowed to retire, but his loyalty to the country should be greatly rewarded! This shows that the empress is broad-minded and loves talent dearly. This is what it means to be a wise and enlightened ruler!"

  Cixi shook her head and said, "Isn't it just 1.8 million taels of silver? The Ministry of Revenue of the great Qing dynasty may be poor, but it can't be that they can't afford this little bit of silver! I think he's intentionally trying to deceive me!"

  I said: "It's not difficult for the Ministry of Revenue of the Qing Dynasty to take out these silver coins, but the country is so big and there are many places to spend money. If you spend a little more here and a little more there, it will add up to a large number!"

  Cixi said discontentedly: "But this is what I have already said?"

  I laughed: "The Empress Dowager is the mouth of a million gold, since she has spoken, it should be done! But which of our dynasty's expenses are not spent after the Empress Dowager speaks? This one was approved by her mother, and that one was also approved by her mother. You say let him how to decide? He can only pick the necessary money to allocate!"

  That ignorant Li Lianying chimed in from the side, saying: "These past few days, I've heard a nursery rhyme that says to eat, go to the Ministry of Revenue; to wear clothes, go to the Ministry of Households; to drink water, go to the Ministry of Works; to do evil, go to the Ministry of Punishments; and to starve, go to the Ministry of Rites. It's clear that there are still many corrupt things going on in the Ministry of Households! Is it possible that he's embezzled all the money into his own pocket and can't take it out?"

  I didn't respond to him, and instead said to Empress Dowager Cixi: "Your Majesty, I think Yan Jingming is indeed a rare honest official of the Qing dynasty. Look at his worn-out robes, they are all tattered and old! I think he has no other income apart from his salary!"

  Li Lianying immediately said: "It seems to me that Yan Jingming is a deceitful minister! Your Old Buddha, think about it, the Ministry of Revenue may be poor, but can't afford to pay salaries? He, as a Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, may be poor, but can't even buy a new official robe? If the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue is so poor that he can't even buy an official robe, then the Minister of the Ministry of Rites must be so poor that he has to hang himself!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, I slammed the table and shouted: "Li Lianying, you dare to meddle in politics? Are you trying to learn from Wei Zhongxian of the Ming dynasty? Do you really want to be a nine-thousand-year-old eunuch? You must be tired of living and looking for death! Come on, take this meddling slave out and beat him to death with a stick!"

  The guards I brought immediately came up, dragged him away, and Li Lianying was so frightened that she cried out: "Old Buddha, save me! I only told the truth for two sentences!"

  "I cursed: 'You good-for-nothing, is this a place for you to speak? You don't even weigh your own worth, no wonder outsiders call you Jiucheng Sui, saying you sell official positions and titles, collude with external officials, form cliques, raise dead soldiers. It turns out you really want to usurp power! How can such a slave be kept? Do you want to give the Qing dynasty's throne to him? Quick, take him away! What, the emperor's words are no longer effective? Is there someone who wants to abolish me now? Li Lianying has been saying everywhere that the Empress Dowager has already chosen a successor, it is the private son of the Empress Dowager and Ronglu, to replace the crown prince. Is this true? Bring out that person and let everyone see, does he have the head for being an emperor? I don't believe my Empress Dowager can be a chaotic force in the palace! I don't believe the Empress Dowager and that lecherous Ronglu would have an affair! Today, I will give the Empress Dowager a good name, by beheading this slave who sells favors!"

  Cixi hastily said: "How can those absurd words be believed! It's also because I've spoiled you, usually when there's a big or small matter, I often ask him two or three questions, and this has led to his habit of being ignorant of the depths. Quickly get out of here! From now on, when I speak with the emperor, you'd better not interrupt!"

  "I won't let him off: 'Can't spare him, I've recently heard a folk song that says the emperor is poor and borrows money, while the imperial manager is rich and lends money. The empress dowager has no money to repair the garden, but the imperial manager builds mansions everywhere! This is exactly what he's doing! I heard he recently built a mansion outside Huanghua Gate and is lavishly decorating it to meet the standards of a prince, using all the silver from the Imperial Household Department. Is this 1.8 million taels for another mansion? Does he want to build a golden house to hide his concubines? Are you not pure in heart? Do you need to be re-educated? The one who kidnapped my beloved Zhen was him, what use is such a servant? Will I keep him to disrupt the palace and harm the country? Now he wants to harm the pillars of our great Qing dynasty, tomorrow won't he want to seize power and usurp the throne? Keeping him will only bring disaster, take him away and beat him to death with rods! Send people to search his home and see if he has swallowed all the imperial money into his own pocket!"

  My guard dragged Li Lianying out, scaring her into crying and shouting: "Old Buddha, save me! I, Li Lianying, am loyal and devoted!"

  Cixi waved her hand: "Let him go, he also has good intentions towards our family, don't make it difficult for him!"

  I reluctantly waved my hand and said: "Since the Empress Dowager has spoken, I will spare this slave's life this time. However, the Grand Supervisor of the Imperial Household cannot let him continue to occupy his position. The accounts he handled must be checked by someone from the Ministry of Revenue. We cannot let him ruin the Empress Dowager's reign and embezzle all her money! Moreover, we should also have the Department of Ceremonies re-examine his case, lest he becomes arrogant and tarnishes the Empress Dowager's reputation!" Then I shouted: "Qi De Fu, you immediately take over as Grand Supervisor of the Imperial Household and cooperate with Yan Daren from the Ministry of Revenue to investigate all accounts and goods during Li Lianying's tenure! If there is a discrepancy of even one stroke, I will have him beaten 100 times. See if I won't beat this dog slave into pulp!"

  Xiao Fu quickly knelt down and said: "Your humble servant has received your orders!"

  Cixi hastily said: "Wait, let the position of Grand Chamberlain be temporarily vacant for now. Xiaofuzi is still following you, and you can't leave him behind either! As for Li, I think he's loyal to our Great Qing..."

  I stood up and said: "Since the Empress Dowager is kind-hearted and cannot bear to deal with this slave, then I, the Emperor, will take the risk of disobeying orders today. Let's just kill him once and for all, to eliminate future troubles!" As I spoke, I took a gun from one of the guards, pulled back the bolt, and scared Li Lianying into hastily kowtowing: "Your Old Ladyship, please spare this slave's life! This slave is willing to resign and go home! This slave will never dare serve Your Old Ladyship again!" As he spoke, he even managed to squeeze out a few tears.

  "Alright, alright. Spare him the position of Grand Eunuch, let Xiao Fuzi fill in the vacancy and take over tomorrow. I'll assign another eunuch to be the Grand Eunuch for the Emperor. Li Lianying will stay by my side from now on!"

  I still resentfully said: "The emperor is watching, if there's any change in the Ministry of Revenue, it must be this slave who is behind it. I'll immediately have him killed to prevent him from messing up my Qing dynasty!"

  Back home, I and Xiao Fuzi laughed together with tears in our eyes. Just as we were laughing loudly, a message came from outside that Yan Jingming was waiting to see us.

  I was shocked, how did he know I protected him? His information is too well-informed, even such a clean official has connections with the imperial court, what can others do? No wonder people say that the Qing dynasty's officials are connected inside and out, it's really true!

  I had him taken to the Nourishing Heart Palace, and I tidied up my clothes and walked over.

  As soon as I entered the Nurturing Heart Hall, I saw an old minister with a white beard kneeling on the ground. I hurriedly went forward to help him up and said: "Old Dan, quickly get up! Old Dan came in the middle of the night, what important matter do you have?"

  I helped him sit down in the chair, and he said: "Jingming has a matter to consult with Wansui. Recently, Weng Tonghe and Weng Gong came to see me, saying that all naval fleets need to install new communication equipment, which requires 12 million taels of silver. I don't know if it's acceptable or not?"

  I made him so angry that he couldn't help but laugh, and I said: "It must be at ease, after putting it on, the connection and coordination between each ship will be much more convenient! Now they all rely on hand flags to communicate, and if they are a little farther away, they can't see them. Moreover, it is also very easy to expose to the enemy, which is not convenient for command!"

  "Can't we use the naval ministry's savings?" He went on to say.

  I shook my head and said, "No way, that money has already been allocated for purchasing equipment and building warships. The Qing fleet is already far behind, if we don't strengthen it, our generation will become slaves to the Eastern Barbarians!"

  He also shook his head and said, "But I heard Li Hongzhang say, 'After reviewing the naval preparations, from the perspective of the Bohai Sea entrance, we already have an unshakeable position.' This doesn't sound like what you just said?"