Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

A name that has been "dead" for many years, yet is repeatedly mentioned by different people.

“They will put forward someone,” Zhu Han said, “someone that everyone thinks is ‘suitable’.”

"Suitable responsibility?"

"It's appropriate to end this now," Zhu Han corrected.

Gu Qingping's brow furrowed: "Then this person..."

“I may not know everything,” Zhu Han said, “but I certainly know enough.”

Zhu Biao took a deep breath.

"so what should I do?"

Zhu Han looked at him, his tone suddenly softening.

“You don’t have to do anything more,” he said. “You just have to—wait.”

"Wait for what?"

“They went too far in trying to ‘end’ the situation.”

After those words were spoken, the inner study remained quiet for a long while.

Zhu Biao suddenly smiled, but there was no relief in his expression.

“I understand,” he said.

That night, the Crown Prince's Palace did not issue any new orders.

But in the city, some people didn't sleep all night.

On the morning of the fourth day, crying suddenly came from a small courtyard by the river in the north of the city.

She was crying very hard, but it was deliberately suppressed.

A crowd quickly gathered outside the courtyard, but no one dared to approach.

Because the people standing at the gate were not soldiers, but two civil officials in plain clothes.

Shortly afterward, a coffin was carried out of the courtyard.

It didn't alarm many people; it only added one line to the routine neighborhood records—

"Died suddenly from an illness."

When the news reached the Eastern Palace, Zhu Biao was having breakfast.

He put down his chopsticks and looked at the person who had brought the report.

"who is it?"

"Yes...it's the person whose name you saw yesterday."

Gu Qingping's fingers tightened slightly.

"understood."

After the visitor left, only the two of them remained in the inner study.

"They've made their move," Gu Qingping whispered.

“Yes,” Zhu Biao said, “and faster than I expected.”

"Then now..."

“Now,” Zhu Biao stood up, “it’s my turn to move.”

He did not rush to issue the order, but instead summoned the Ministry of Revenue's Bureau of Personnel.

On the evening of the third day, Chen Shu entered the study again.

“Your Highness,” he said in a low voice, “in two of those three places where the word was changed, people have already left the city overnight.”

"Can you get away?" Zhu Han asked.

"Half of them managed to leave," Chen Shu said. "The other half were stopped by their own people."

Zhu Han looked up.

"One of our own?"

“Yes.” Chen Shu’s tone was complicated. “They were afraid that person would go out and talk nonsense.”

Zhu Han sighed softly.

"It's too late."

On the morning of the fourth day, the Qing Li Si (official in charge of official duties) delivered the first batch of revised old dispatch documents.

Not many, but complete.

Zhu Biao read through the book page by page in the inner study.

There are no obvious violations of the rules in these texts.

Every single one is compliant.

When put together, they form an extremely clear network.

A network that connects all the labor services, warehouses, waterways, and storage facilities.

Zhu Biao closed the last page.

“I see,” he said.

Gu Qingping stood behind him and asked softly, "Now, what's still missing?"

Zhu Biao remained silent for a while.

“One more person is needed,” he said, “to step forward and say a word.”

"Who?"

Zhu Biao did not answer immediately.

He recalled what Zhu Han had said in the inner study—

You're not using my hand.

It was they who forced me to show you the way.

"Me," Zhu Biao said in a low voice.

Gu Qingping stood behind him, neither urging him nor asking any questions.

Zhu Biao raised his hand, rearranged the documents on the table, and ordered someone to prepare pen and ink.

"Don't touch the outside for now," he said. "Leave the Qing officials behind."

Before long, three officials from the Ministry of Justice entered, dressed neatly and looking cautious.

They have realized that the file transfers these past few days are not routine.

Zhu Biao skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point.

"From which year did you begin compiling this batch of old document formats?"

The leader replied, "Your Highness, starting from the fifteenth year of Hongwu, all matters involving the dispatch of laborers, the transfer of materials, and the storage of goods in river channels are included in this list."

Are there any gaps in the schedule?

The man hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "It has been three years, and the writing style is incomplete."

Which three years?

"From the twenty-first to the twenty-third year of the Hongwu reign."

Zhu Biao nodded, as if he had expected it.

"Why?"

"When the old files were transferred, they said they were damaged by water," the man replied confidently. "There was already a review record from back then."

Zhu Biao looked up.

"Is the person responsible for the review still around?"

This time, all three fell silent.

Gu Qingping noticed that their silences were not uniform. Some bowed their heads because they knew the outcome; others raised their eyes, pondering how to speak.

In the end, it was the leader who spoke.

"One person is still in the capital."

"who."

The person gave a name.

An inconspicuous old official who had served in the Qingli Division for nearly twenty years.

After listening, Zhu Biao made no comment, only ordering, "Bring it here."

When the old official was led into the inner study, his steps were light, as if he were already used to moving among the account books and documents. Most of his hair was white, but his face was thin and his eyes were clear.

"Your subject pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Biao gestured that he should dispense with the formalities.

"How long did you work in the Bureau of Censors?"

"Twenty-two years."

Do you still remember the flood in the twenty-first year of the Hongwu reign?

The old official's eyelashes twitched slightly, but he did not hesitate.

"remember."

"Is it really water damage?"

The old official raised his head and glanced at Zhu Biao.

In that glance, there was neither panic nor a sense of relief.

"No."

The inner study was extremely quiet for a moment.

Zhu Biao didn't press further, waiting for him to continue.

“Those three years were not for regular service,” the old official said slowly. “They were temporary transfers, nominally for river works, but actually scattered to different places.”

"Whose meaning is this?"

“There is no explicit order,” the old official replied very slowly. “It’s just that all the documents use the same format.”

Zhu Biao pointed to the document on the table.

"This is the set?"

"Yes."

"Who made that decision?"

The old official remained silent for a while.

"Initially, it was the Ministry of Revenue."

Gu Qingping's brow furrowed.

"Who?"

The old official shook his head.

“Not just one,” he said. “It’s the usual practice.”

"What's the meaning."

“That set of writing style existed even earlier,” the old official said. “It was just that it was used most frequently during those three years.”

Zhu Biao tapped the table lightly.

What is it used for?

The old official took a deep breath.

"Transfer people anonymously."

For the first time, Zhu Biao's gaze turned truly cold.

Why didn't you say so back then?

The old official lowered his head.

“At that time, I was just keeping records,” he said. “Besides… that’s not something I can talk about.”

"now what?"

The old official looked up, his voice steady.

"Now, someone has died."

These words were like a pebble thrown into water.

Zhu Biao did not deny it. "You know that person?"

“I know,” the old official said. “He’s just someone who took over.”

Would you like to write it down?

The old official did not agree immediately.

He looked at Zhu Biao, as if confirming something.

“Your Highness,” he said, “if I had written it down, things would not have ended here.”

“It wouldn’t have ended here anyway,” Zhu Biao replied.

The old official nodded.

"Then I will write it."

When the brush and ink were brought to him, the old official's hand was very steady.

He wrote slowly, but very clearly. He wrote about the origins of the style, the key points of its development, the traces of copying in various places, and even included which years and months it was used most frequently.

He paused at the end.

"There's one more thing."

Zhu Biao gestured for him to speak.

"That set of writing style is not only used for labor service."

"Where else would it be used?"

The old official looked at the register on the table.

“Use it on ‘people who shouldn’t stay’.”

"Write."

On the evening of the third day, Zhu Han entered the Eastern Palace.

He arrived discreetly, bringing only one attendant.

In the inner study, Zhu Biao handed him the confession.

Zhu Han was not surprised after reading it.

What are you planning to do?

"Go to court early tomorrow," Zhu Biao said.

"Just you alone?"

"It's just me."

Zhu Han looked at him.

"You're going to stand at the very front."

"They were supposed to be standing there."

Zhu Han remained silent for a while.

"So, how far do you want to go?"

Zhu Biao thought for a moment.

"Speaking of 'method'."

Zhu Han smiled.

"Just as I thought."

The next morning court session.

The atmosphere in the hall was more somber than usual.

Zhu Biao bowed as was customary, but did not immediately return to his place.

He stood there, waiting for the eyes of all the ministers to converge.

“There is something,” he said, “that you all need to hear.”

Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright on his throne, remaining silent, only raising his eyes to look at his eldest son.

That glance wasn't sharp, but it was extremely heavy.

Zhu Biao did not avoid the question and stood very straight. His voice was not loud, but it was enough to carry throughout the hall.

"Recently, the Ministry of Personnel was ordered to reorganize the old dispatch documents,"

He said, "Intended to check the inventory and labor transactions, we discovered a long-standing dispatch method in the old files."

"This method does not violate any regulations."

He paused briefly as he said this.

"But if it is used too often, it should not remain nameless."

There was a slight tremor in the hall.

Several older officials, whose expressions had changed, remained standing firmly without uttering a sound.

Zhu Biao continued, "This method, under the guise of river works, warehousing, and materials, is actually a temporary transfer of personnel. The documents are standardized and the flow is clear, but the roster is deliberately avoided and the whereabouts are not recorded."

He did not mention the names of any specific officials.

No charges were mentioned.

It simply lays out the word "method" layer by layer before everyone's eyes.

“This type of writing style was used most frequently between the twenty-first and twenty-third years of the Hongwu reign.”

Zhu Biao's gaze slowly swept over the officials, "It was during those three years that the old records stated the area was damaged by floods."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone in the hall finally took a deep breath.

Zhu Yuanzhang then spoke, his voice neither hurried nor slow.

"Your Highness, are you referring to the old practice?"

“It’s the old practice,” Zhu Biao replied quickly, “but old practices don’t necessarily apply in the past.”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

Who told you that?

“The old official from the Qingli Division, the one who reviewed the old files,” Zhu Biao said. “He is still in the capital.”

Zhu Yuanzhang did not ask for the man's name, but simply said, "Since he is here, then the matter is settled."

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly tensed up as soon as these words were spoken.

The accounts must be settled.

Zhu Biao did not follow up on that statement, but continued, "What I am saying today is not to pursue any particular person, nor to reopen old cases."

Some officials secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

“I just want you all to know,” Zhu Biao said calmly, “that this method is still being remembered.”

He paused.

"Moreover, it is still being used by others."

This time, even the military officers standing at the back raised their heads.

Zhu Yuanzhang tapped his finger lightly on the dragon table.

Do you have any proof?

Zhu Biao raised his hand and took a box from the attending eunuch.

When the box was opened, it did not contain any files, but rather several copies of documents from recent years.

"These are copies of the deployment reports submitted by various departments over the past three years."

Zhu Biao said, "The format and wording are the same, only the names are slightly changed."

Zhu Yuanzhang gestured for the eunuch to take it, glanced at it, and his expression remained unchanged.

"Your Highness," he said, "what brings you here today?"

He turned to the throne.

“Your subject requests the imperial decree,” he said, “that this method of deployment be temporarily suspended.”

"Sealed up?" Zhu Yuanzhang's eyebrows twitched.

"Yes," Zhu Biao said. "It will not be abolished or changed, but simply sealed away. From today onwards, all documents involving this type of format will be suspended until the old files are inventoried, at which point a decision will be made."

This is not a swift and decisive action.

Yet it is extremely accurate.

Someone in the hall wanted to speak, but found themselves unable to refute.

The method itself is not a law, and sealing it is not a crime; it is simply something to be left unsaid.

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent for a moment.

This time, he did not nod immediately.

Instead, he looked at Zhu Han.

"Seventh Brother," he said, "what do you think?"

All eyes in the hall instantly shifted.

Zhu Han then stepped out from the side and bowed.

“I believe,” he said, “that what His Highness the Crown Prince said is exactly what is right now.”

His tone was extremely calm, as if he were stating something that had nothing to do with him.

“If old practices are used for too long, people will easily take them for granted,” Zhu Han said. “Once a path is familiar, people will start to stray from it.”

He did not mention any specific consequences.

No one was mentioned.

He simply spoke the word "road" very steadily.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him for a while, then suddenly smiled.

“Alright,” he said. “Then it will be as you wish.”

"Seal off".

The words fell like dust settling.

The morning court session ended in an unusual calm.

After the court session ended, Zhu Biao did not leave immediately, but was kept behind by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Only the father and son remained inside the hall.

“You have said quite a lot today,” Zhu Yuanzhang said.

"It's something I should say," Zhu Biao replied.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him and suddenly asked, "Are you afraid?"

Zhu Biao was taken aback.

He hadn't expected his father to ask such a question.

"What are you afraid of?" he asked in return.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not explain, but only said, "You are standing too far forward."

Zhu Biao paused for a moment.

“If I don’t stand up,” he said, “someone will stand up for me.”

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him for a long time before finally nodding.

“Go ahead,” he said. “Stay home as much as possible for the next few days.”

Zhu Han turned into a side path, preparing to leave the palace, but was caught up by a palace attendant who whispered, "Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince has sent someone to invite you to the East Palace for a talk."

Zhu Han nodded and turned his direction.

The Eastern Palace was quieter than usual today.

Gu Qingping was personally overseeing the tidying of the desk in the inner hall.

She wasn't wearing the dark-colored gown that the Crown Princess usually wore today, but only a plain-colored everyday dress. She also reduced most of the gold ornaments in her hair, which made her look even more elegant.

When Zhu Han entered, she was handing a stack of old books to a female official. Hearing the sound, she looked up, paused slightly, and then bowed.

"Royal Uncle".

"No need," Zhu Han waved his hand. "How are you feeling?"

Gu Qingping smiled gently: "Thank you for your concern, Uncle. It's nothing." (End of Chapter)