Chapter 33: Fleecing the Gentry of Beijing

“Isn’t that the young master of the grand Wuhu establishment? Why isn’t he focusing on business? What kind of stunt is this?”
“Who knows? You could say the wealthy really know how to play.”
“Just watch closely. The Ruan family is known for strict discipline; there must be a reason behind this.”
...
While the crowd murmured, boxes from four or five carriages were unloaded.
With a wave of his hand, Ruan Kangwen opened dozens of boxes simultaneously, revealing a gleam that sparkled under the morning sun.
“Silver—so much silver! Quite the sight.”
“These are standard silver chests, each capable of holding five thousand taels of silver. One, two, three... twenty chests in total—that’s one hundred thousand taels of pure silver. Incredible...”
“What’s he up to? Is he planning to distribute silver to us?”
“Are you still half asleep?”
“Quiet everyone, listen to what the young master has to say.”
...
“Many of you elders and fellow villagers probably know the history of how the Ruan family rose to prominence. Today, this humble descendant will shamelessly recount it once more, so consider it a bit of boasting.”
Ruan Kangwen spoke with passion and flair. When he reached the part about his grandfather donating silver to build the city walls, he gestured animatedly, taking nearly the time of a tea break to finish the tale.
“So, what now, young master?”
“I am donating this one hundred thousand taels of silver to the imperial court to aid the people of Shaanxi in overcoming this great disaster.”
“Donating to the court? Young master, what are you hoping to gain?”
“Nothing at all. My grandfather could donate silver to build city walls; as his grandson, I am donating silver to help the people of Shaanxi through their hardship. Isn’t that only natural?”
Before the crowd could comment further, Ruan Kangwen mounted his carriage again.
“Fellow elders and countrymen, the imperial court has just issued an edict guaranteeing no tax increases, and no taxation in Shaanxi for three years. Though my family is merely merchants, the Ruan family is patriotic at heart.”
“Have any of you ever seen people suffocated to death by eating Guanyin earth?”
“Have you witnessed exposed skeletons in the fields, a thousand miles without a single rooster’s crow?”
“Have you heard of ‘exchanging children for food’? This is the harsh reality facing Shaanxi’s disaster-stricken areas. These horrors recorded in ancient texts are now unfolding before us.”
...
“Last night, upon learning this news, I lay awake, pondering—if I were in the disaster zone, could I survive? Could I eat the bark, roots, or Guanyin earth just to stay alive?”
“My conclusion: I probably would. Knowing it might kill me, I would still eat it. Living one more day at a time, perhaps tomorrow would bring hope.”
...
“Indeed, hope has arrived for the people. The court first allocated one million taels of silver to purchase grain for the disaster areas, then issued these two edicts.”
“I heard that during the court assembly, His Majesty insisted on dispatching grain for relief despite strong opposition, nearly having an opposing minister executed.”
“Moreover, out of that million taels for relief, His Majesty personally contributed half a million from the imperial treasury. If the emperor can part with his private funds, why shouldn’t a merchant like me?”
“Fellow countrymen, I urge those who can spare it to donate a few taels of silver to help our kin in Shaanxi. A few taels might be the cost of a single drink for us, but in Shaanxi, it could save hundreds.”
“I hereby declare: for donations under one tael, customers purchasing fabric at my Wuhu establishment will receive a 50% discount; one to ten taels, a 10% discount; ten to a hundred taels, 20% off; over a hundred taels, a 30% discount. This offer is valid for three years.”
“Donors may register here.”
After speaking, Ruan Kangwen had tables set up in a row at the market entrance.
The crowd fell silent. Watching the spectacle was one thing, but donating silver directly affected their own livelihoods—they had to be cautious.
The atmosphere was somewhat tense. Ruan Kangwen scanned the crowd and subtly nodded toward several directions.
“Young master, I am old and have little spare money. These two taels were meant for my funeral expenses. I’ll donate them to Shaanxi instead, to accumulate some merit. Young master won’t mind, will you?”
A hunched elderly man timidly stepped forward and approached the registration table. From his pocket, he produced a worn cloth, revealing small pieces of fragmented silver.
Ruan Kangwen was momentarily taken aback; this man had not been arranged in advance, yet he stepped forward nonetheless.
His expression turned solemn as he helped the old man to the table. “Sir, on behalf of the people of Shaanxi, I thank you.”
After personally registering the donation, he declared loudly, “Having such elders among us is a blessing for the people of Shaanxi and for the Ming Empire.”
“Ah, I, Kang Qinghe, am considered a leading merchant in Beijing, yet when faced with matters of principle, I am ashamed to show less resolve than an impoverished elder.”
Then a middle-aged man approached the long registration table. “My Kang Rice Mill has little else, but we do have some grain. I donate one thousand shi of grain! May it help in some way!”
Their actions stirred compassion among the crowd, and one by one, others stepped forward.
“Boss Kang, my Tingxuan Inn will join in, donating one thousand taels of silver—just to accumulate some merit.”
“Ah, we just happen to be lucky to be born and live in Beijing. If we were in Shaanxi... I, from Hongyun Restaurant, donate two thousand taels of silver.”
...
Several of Ruan Kangwen’s friends also stepped up, each donating thousands of taels.
Yesterday, when Ruan Kangwen sought their support, they eagerly offered sponsorship. For them, a thousand taels was a small price to pay for a good reputation.
The onlookers were stunned—when had these wealthy people become so generous?
But no matter what, the donations were real silver, genuine and substantial.
Queues extended before more than a dozen registration tables. News spread rapidly, and people from all over the capital, including wealthy merchants, officials, nobles, and gentry, came forth.
...
Many of these attendees did not wish to come, but the donation campaign had become unstoppable, with government officials intervening. The final list would surely reach the emperor’s ears.
Some ministers even believed the emperor orchestrated this himself. Otherwise, how could the emperor declare at court that he would find a solution to the silver shortage, only for such a donation spectacle to erupt the very next day?
After the emperor reviewed the donor list, some merchants had not given a single coin. Would they be marked?
From these events, it was clear the new emperor was not one to be trifled with; a mere hint at a minister could spell trouble.
Though resentful of Ruan Kangwen, the donations had to be made—and could not be withheld.
Outside the market, over a hundred tables formed long lines, each guarded by a sword-bearing imperial guard assigned by Li Ruolian on the emperor’s orders.
On the first day, over seventeen thousand donors contributed 220,000 taels of silver;
the second day, over sixty-six thousand donors gave 480,000 taels;
the third day, 32,000 donors offered 190,000 taels;
...
The event lasted seven days in total, with over 160,000 donors—nearly twenty percent of Beijing’s population—giving more than 1.5 million taels of silver.
In the East Warm Pavilion, Emperor Chongzhen looked at Minister of Revenue Guo Yunhou with a light laugh. “Minister Guo, with a total of two and a half million taels, is that sufficient?”
Guo Yunhou grinned so widely his mouth barely closed. “Your Majesty is wise. This will sustain relief efforts until the autumn harvest next year, with a surplus of several hundred thousand taels.”
“Haha, I never imagined the people of the Ming Empire would be so generous at this critical moment, relieving our urgent needs!”
Listening to the emperor’s laughter, Guo Yunhou inwardly wanted to say, “Your Majesty, your performance is lacking. All the merchants and gentry know this is your handiwork; yet you continue the pretense.”
But regardless, the 1.5 million taels of pure silver had indeed entered the imperial treasury.
After Guo Yunhou departed, Chongzhen reviewed the compiled figures again, a smile unconsciously tugging at his lips.
One and a half million taels of silver equaled one and a half million shi of grain. Added to the previous one million shi, that made two and a half million shi—enough to sustain the disaster victims until August of next year.
By then, the potato and sweet potato harvests would come in, and the disaster in Shaanxi would be thoroughly resolved.
Moreover, with the newly built dense reservoirs, even if disasters occurred again, they would never be as severe as this year’s.
Unfortunately, such “free-riding” efforts can only succeed once; since no previous dynasty attempted this, future efforts will be less effective.
On the other hand, when the White Banner forces enter the capital to investigate and confiscate the properties of the eight major Shanxi merchant families, tens of millions of taels of silver, combined with the usual taxes, will sustain the empire for three years.
Three years is enough time to lay all plans, and funds will flow continuously.
“Daban, Fang Zhenghua, what do you think I should reward Ruan Kangwen with?”