The Chongzhen Emperor Owes Me Ten Billion Taels

The Ming dynasty fell because its finances collapsed. This is widely recognized as one of the reasons for its downfall. If Emperor Chongzhen had money, and someone lent Zhu Youjian a million, ten million, a hundred million, or a billion taels of silver, how would the story of the late Ming unfold? Xu Yuan, a transmigrator stirring up trouble in the late-Ming world and Chongzhen's biggest creditor, is bound to clash with the emperor. What kind of conflict will erupt between them? Xu Yuan: “Your Majesty, shouldn't you pay me back?” Chongzhen: “Xu Yuan! You built over a thousand estates and set up dozens of special zones in my Great Ming, leaving me in debt beyond my ability to repay. You scoundrel, I, I...” Xu Yuan: “If Your Majesty won't find a way to pay me back, are you planning to rebel instead?”