Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 103 Fighting Madness with Madness, Rottenness with Rottenness! [Bonus Chapter 8 for Monthly Tickets]

After Zhang Biao commented "Your skill is really bad," the other side fell silent for a while.

But Zhang Biao's voice rang out again, calm and disdainful: "You can't even threaten people? I wonder who invited you here!"

"It's always the same old story: the house floods, the carriage spooks, the child falls into the well. Can't you come up with something new?"

"Is this all your master taught you? He hired you to intimidate people, did he pay you enough? If not, tell me, and I'll help you get your wages."

opposite:"."

Zhang Biao patted Shen Lang, who was so scared he almost wet his pants, and then looked around at the pale-faced crowd. His tone suddenly became relaxed, even carrying a hint of disappointment:

"Did you all hear that?"

"That's the same old tactic of threatening people, it's so outdated!"

"Look how scared you are! Can't you be a little more dignified?"

"How did I teach you back then during the 'Death-for-Remonstrance Training Course'? Have you all forgotten?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang and the others felt a chill run down their spines, as if they were recalling the "Die-hard Training Course" from that night.

But then Zhang Biao continued, talking to himself:

"Why do they only dare to talk and not show their true colors? Why do they only dare to block us on this dark river? Why do they only dare to bring up our families but not dare to touch a hair on our heads?"

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose, booming like thunder in everyone's ears:

"Because they're afraid! They're afraid of the list we have! Afraid of the messes we uncover!"

"I'm even more afraid of me, Zhang Biao!"

"They don't dare to actually make a move, at least not now!"

"Because my 'audit chariot' hasn't been dismantled yet! I'm still a government official!"

"They've now harmed your family members, which is tantamount to open rebellion! It's like handing a knife to the Emperor! And the Emperor is just looking for an excuse to unleash a massacre!"

"So, they only dare to use such underhanded tactics to scare you, make you panic, and force me to stop the audit!"

As he spoke, he turned his head and glanced at the darkness opposite him, saying mockingly, "A bunch of cowardly rats hiding their heads and tails! That's all they're capable of!"

Boom——

Though the sound was soft, it was as powerful as a great bell, resounding and deafening.

It was like the sun breaking through the clouds, instantly making Shen Lang and the others much more awake.

Yup!

Although the Emperor seized the treasury, he didn't dismiss us from our posts!
Zhang Biao was still the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate!

We'll remain in our current official positions!
The auditing job is still nominally still in place!

If the other party dares to make a move now, they will be courting death!

Having figured this out, the fear in everyone's hearts suddenly subsided. Although the worry remained, at least they were not as desperate as before.

The people on the opposite boat were clearly not expected that Zhang Biao would not only be unafraid, but would also almost expose their true colors with his words, leaving them speechless for a moment.

But Zhang Biao pressed his advantage, suddenly turning around and pointing towards the palace, his voice booming like war drums:

"Brothers! The Emperor has treated us like 'mad dogs,' throwing us into a pack of wolves!"

"They want to scare us to death with their wolves, or make us panic and get bitten to death by them!"

"But he forgot!"

"I didn't raise dogs! I raised a pack of starving wolf cubs that will eat people!"

"We have nothing to lose, so we're not afraid of anyone! Anyone who dares to touch our family will face a fight to the death!"

"I'm going to beat the Dengwen Drum and smash the Jingyang Bell tomorrow! I'll write down every single house number, how many people are in the family, and the names of all their chickens, ducks, and dogs on the Dengwen Drum and the Jingyang Bell!"

"Let's tell them straight out! If a single hair on my brothers' or a piece of their skin is missing, I'll be sure it was one of those people on the list who did it!"

"I'll take you guys! We'll lie down in front of their house every day! Holding chamber pots and lamps! Lying there from morning till night! Not eating or drinking, just lying there! Let's see who goes crazy first!"

"Let's see if the Emperor will protect those parasites of the country, or us, this pack of 'mad wolves' who bite for him!"

crazy!

Totally crazy!

But these outrageous remarks acted like a shot of adrenaline, injecting a powerful dose of energy into the hearts of everyone in the 'audit team'.

Use madness to treat madness, and rot to control rot.

Expose your weaknesses openly and use them as weapons.

This is simply a stroke of genius.

Shen Lang and the others' eyes lit up instantly when they heard Zhang Biao's words.

My back straightened up involuntarily.

Yup!

What are you afraid of?
Those who have nothing to lose are not afraid of those who wear shoes; let's fight them.

Zhang Biao glanced one last time at the lifeless official ship opposite him, a sinister, wolf-like smile spreading across his face: "Go back and tell your master!"

"I appreciate his kind reminder! But let him listen to me!"

"My brothers are my own men! Anyone who dares to lay a finger on me, I'll chop off their claws!"

"By the way."

He paused, a cruel smile playing on his lips, and kindly reminded them, "Screw out all the filth they've been hiding in their den, and expose it to the entire population of Yingtian Prefecture!"

Don't believe me? Try it and see!

Having said that, he suddenly waved his hand and roared at the boatmen on his boat and the bewildered customers who were watching the spectacle:
"What the hell are you looking at? Never seen a 'mad wolf' cursing before?!" "Go! Ram him!"

"Damn it, someone's blocking my way to eat pig's head meat!"

The boatmen on the pleasure boat were dumbfounded, but seeing Zhang Biao's arrogant and murderous appearance, they actually subconsciously started operating the boat.

"boom--!"

The pleasure boat suddenly lurched forward and actually crashed into the larger official ship.

The people on the opposite boat were clearly not expecting Zhang Biao to be so crazy, and a burst of exclamations and panicked curses rang out.

The official ship hurriedly swerved to avoid it, looking rather disheveled.

"Hahaha! A bunch of cowards!"

Zhang Biao stood at the bow of the boat, laughing wildly. The night wind blew his disheveled hair, making him look like a madman.

Then, he turned to Shen Lang and the others behind him: "Brothers! Did you see that? Kindness is often taken advantage of! That's all the courage they have!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he waved his hand and said, "Keep the music playing! Keep dancing! Tonight, we won't leave until we're drunk!"

"Tomorrow morning, come with me to collect the 'soothing money'! Then, we'll go door to door to wish them a Happy New Year!"

The pleasure boat sailed back towards the dimly lit area in the waterway that the other party had cleared.

The people on the official boat behind them, as if they had swallowed flies, silently disappeared into the deeper darkness.

On the river, only Zhang Biao's wild laughter and the somewhat off-key but exceptionally satisfying clamor that resounded again from the pleasure boat remained.

The members of the "audit team" were still shaken but also incredibly excited.

Looking at the figure at the bow of the ship, as steadfast as a pillar of strength, they realized for the first time the truth.

Following this "speed demon" might mean a bleak future, but the process is fucking thrilling.

However, just as they were feeling incredibly excited, an official ship belonging exclusively to the Embroidered Uniform Guard approached Zhang Biao and his group's pleasure boat.

The room was brightly lit, revealing Jiang Huan's expressionless face and Yun Ming beside him, who was carrying the imperial edict but staring at Zhang Biao with a wary expression.

"Imperial Censor Zhang!"

Jiang Huan shouted something when the official boat was less than ten meters away from the painted boat.

Zhang Biao and the others were slightly taken aback, and immediately looked in the direction of the sound.

"Oh, Commander Jiang?"

Zhang Biao laughed, even with a hint of anticipation: "Did the Emperor send you to arrest me? Is it because I tore up the imperial edict, a heinous crime deserving of being skinned alive? Slowly sliced ​​to death?!"

Jiang Huan: "."

Yunming: "."

Shen Lang and the others: "."

"Imperial Censor Zhang, receive the imperial decree—!"

Clearly, Yunming had grown accustomed to Zhang Biao's 'desire to die,' and immediately picked up the imperial edict and began reading it aloud:
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Zhang Biao, Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, has rendered meritorious service in auditing and has been courageous in taking on responsibilities. He is hereby promoted to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, in charge of all matters related to the clearing of accounts!"

"Furthermore, the officials who assisted in the audit, namely Shen Lang, Censor of Jiangxi Circuit of the Censorate, Zhao Fengman, Censor, Sun Gui, Assistant Minister of War, Li Mo, Compiler of the Hanlin Academy, Wu Naida, Principal of the Ministry of Personnel, and all other officials who assisted in the audit, will be promoted one rank."

"I urge you all to persevere and investigate thoroughly, so as not to fail the Emperor's grace! So be it—"

Wow!
After the decree was read, the pleasure boat fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was stunned, including Zhang Biao.

A promotion?!
Everyone got promoted!?
I've been promoted to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate?!

The general manager is handling the account settlement matters?!
Shen Lang and his colleagues were promoted, and the investigation is going to get to the bottom of this?!

What the hell is this plot twist?! What happened to the promised skinning and burning? What happened to the promised slow slicing execution?! How come they've all been promoted?!

For the first time, genuine confusion and wariness appeared in Zhang Biao's eyes.

What trick is this old fox playing now? This excessive praise is a bit too much!

Jiang Huan felt a strange sense of pleasure as he looked at Zhang Biao's horrified expression, but his face remained cold.

"Vice Censor Zhang, shall we receive the decree? The Emperor is waiting for you to continue to demonstrate your abilities."

Zhang Biao did not accept the imperial decree. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and stared at Jiang Huan, saying, "Old Jiang, what else did the Emperor say? For example, when will he kill me?"

Jiang Huan said expressionlessly, "His Majesty only ordered me to take over your temporary warehouse and be responsible for counting the stolen money and goods. As for the rest, you can ask Eunuch Yun."

"Eunuch Yun?"

Zhang Biao was taken aback for a moment, then stepped forward and asked Yun Ming, "What else did the Emperor say?"

Seeing him step forward, Yunming instinctively protected the imperial edict in his hand and said:
"His Majesty also said that Zhang Biao, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, has worked hard on audits and made great contributions to the country, which greatly pleases us. He is hereby granted three days of leave to rest and relax, and all expenses shall be recorded in the Imperial Treasury."

"Issue another decree to the Prefect of Yingtian Prefecture and the Military Command of the Five Cities: If, during your leave, Minister Zhang commits any acts of vandalism, looting, arson, bullying, or drunken disturbances along the Qinhuai River, as long as no one is killed, he shall be regarded as 'a man of character, straightforward and bold.' Do not interfere; simply record it and report it to Jiang Huan."

boom!
As soon as this statement came out, the whole audience was shocked!

Even Zhang Biao was taken aback.

Old Zhu is pushing them completely into a fire pit!
good good!
Is this how you play it?
Zhang Biao laughed in anger, then coldly glanced at Yun Ming and Jiang Huan, and said in a deep voice, "Go back and tell the Emperor that I, Zhang Biao, accept this decree!"

You received it?

He actually accepted the imperial decree?

Jiang Huan and Yun Ming were both quite surprised.

But at the same time, a bad feeling began to rise in my heart.

(End of this chapter)