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

Chapter 113 Old Zhu: I'm tired, so tired inside [Seeking monthly votes]

"Brother Biao! Slow down! Think twice!"

"Imperial Censor Zhang! As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn!"

"They outnumber you and have the upper hand, don't do anything rash!"

"What would we do without you?!"

Shen Lang, Li Mo, Sun Gui, and others wailed all the way, trying to stop the 'spiritual leader,' 'pig's head meat advocate,' and 'head of the audit department' who was determined to die.

Zhang Biao, with a bloodthirsty expression that said "it's worth dying for," sped all the way to Fengtian Hall Square.

The scene was chaotic and absurd, like a poorly executed farce.

However, as they approached the Fengtian Hall Square, the scene before them made Zhang Biao click his tongue in slight disappointment.

A large group of officials knelt in the square, all dressed in blue robes and green gowns, their expressions solemn and tragic; the scene was indeed impressive.

They're so civilized! So orderly!

There were no chamber pot lamps, no broken shoe lamps, no straw mats for "lying dead," and no mournful roars like "If Heaven hadn't given birth to my brother Biao, the Ming Dynasty would have been in eternal darkness" or "Give me back my pig's head meat."

Only their neat kneeling postures, sorrowful expressions, and accusations delivered with dramatic intonation and quotations.

It was practically a large-scale, serious, and traditionally compliant live broadcast of a "literary remonstrance to the death."

In fact, this is the traditional meaning of dying for one's country.

While Zhang Biao's act of "remonstrating to the death" is also remonstrating to the death, it is completely different.

Because "dying for one's country" emphasizes actions taken for the sake of the country and its people.

Throughout history, countless loyal ministers and martyrs have worried about their country and its people, sacrificing their lives to uphold justice.

Things in the world are often complex and convoluted, so directly stating one's own opinion may seem rash, dry, or superficial.

That is, the situation is complicated and convoluted.

Therefore, the ancients always advocated that language should not be too direct, meaning should not be too shallow, the pulse should not be too obvious, and the flavor should not be too short.

To put it simply, "dying to remonstrate" doesn't mean actually wanting to die, but rather having the determination to die while indirectly expressing one's remonstrance to the monarch in order to persuade the monarch to accept the advice.

But this kind of "dying for one's principles" didn't suit Zhang Biao at all.

He disliked roundabout ways of speaking, and even went on to quote classical texts and give lengthy explanations in order to make Old Zhu understand him.

Putting aside whether Lao Zhu has the patience, he himself is simply wasting his time.

After all, he felt that staying in the Ming Dynasty world for even one more day was torture.

Therefore, he adopted the most direct and insane method of 'remonstrating with his life'.

If Lao Zhu can't solve the problem, then solve the problem with the person.

Anyway, it's fine if you can understand my advice, but it doesn't matter if you can't. Just kill me and I'll give advice again next time.

"Brother Biao."

Shen Lang cautiously leaned closer: "What do you think?"

"Boring"

Zhang Biao shook his head with a sigh, commenting with considerable disdain, "You're far inferior to them. You don't even understand performance art. Thumbs down!"

Meanwhile, in a nearby duty room...

Looking through the window at the dozens of upright officials kneeling neatly in the square, shouting slogans loudly, Fu Youwen couldn't help but curl a smug smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Gentlemen, did you see that?"

His voice was deep, tinged with a hint of self-satisfaction as if he had a plan in hand: "This is true power. It is not a weapon, yet it is more powerful than weapons. It is not gold or silver, yet it can shake the emperor's heart."

"A bunch of pedantic scholars, they're an eyesore most of the time, but they can come in handy at crucial moments."

Ru Chang stroked her fat belly and chuckled coldly, "A scourge to the country and its people, a threat to the very foundation of the nation—that's a perfect label! Let's see how Zhang Biao handles it!"

"The key to this matter lies in grasping the fact that national affairs have stalled."

Zheng Ci nodded slightly and replied with a smile, "His Majesty can tolerate madness, can tolerate insubordination, and can even tolerate using others to do his dirty work, but he will never tolerate anyone truly shaking the foundation of his empire."

As he spoke, he looked around at everyone and said in a deep voice, "This time, we have hit the nail on the head."

"and!"

Zhai Shan's young and sharp gaze swept across the square, and he added, "With these upright officials stepping forward, even if the Emperor realizes that it was us who were behind this, he will find it difficult to blame us."

"After all, those upright officials are upholding the imperial order, the established system, and the rules set by the emperor himself. If the emperor forcibly suppresses them, it will chill the hearts of scholars throughout the land."

"Hehehe"

The four exchanged a knowing smile, feeling a sense of exhilaration as if they were the masterminds behind the scenes in control.

They could almost picture Old Zhu, under pressure, having no choice but to order Zhang Biao's arrest or even execution.

And this crazy auditing farce will ultimately end in their victory.

"Look! Zhang Biao is here!"

Suddenly, someone exclaimed in surprise.

Swish!
The group of kneeling, upright officials, who were immersed in a self-righteous and tragic atmosphere, suddenly heard this exclamation and immediately turned to look in the direction of the sound.

Especially seeing Zhang Biao's nonchalant and smug attitude, which made him even angrier and more agitated.

"Zhang Biao! You treacherous villain who has brought ruin to the country! How dare you show yourself?!"

A rather passionate and outspoken official suddenly jumped to his feet, pointed at Zhang Biao, then at himself: "Look me in the eyes! You brat! Look what this court has become because of you!?"

"That's right! It's you! Zhang Biao!"

Another middle-aged man, with a stern face but filled with righteous indignation, also stood up and echoed:

"It is you who caused the Six Ministries to cease to function, and the nation to perish! Your Majesty, please execute this vile man immediately! To appease the people—!"

"Your Majesty, please execute this scoundrel immediately! To appease the people—!"

"Your Majesty, please execute this scoundrel immediately! To appease the people—!"

The echoes rose and fell, high-pitched and shrill.

The insults came like a tidal wave, colder than the golden bricks of the Fengtian Hall and sharper than the censor's pen.

If looks could kill, Zhang Biao would have been executed by slow slicing eight hundred times over by now.

The old censor Li Tiesheng was trembling with rage. Pointing at Zhang Biao, he cried out in a shrill voice, "Your Majesty! Do you see this? This scoundrel has no remorse whatsoever!"

"His demeanor is frivolous, showing utter disregard for the law and the court! Such a monster must be eliminated; it is an injustice to Heaven and an injustice to the law!" "Brother Biao."

Li Mo and the others had never seen anything like this before. They were so intimidated by the collective aura and scathing remarks of these upright officials that their legs went weak and they instinctively wanted to shrink back.

But Zhang Biao's eyes lit up.

That's it! That's the taste!
A criticism session! This is the standard procedure for facing certain death!

Far from being afraid, he straightened his chest, met countless angry gazes, and strode to the group of upright officials. He even straightened his clothes and cleared his throat, as if he were about to give an acceptance speech.

Then, he did something that left everyone speechless—

He bowed deeply to the group of upright officials who wished they could tear him apart, his face filled with sincere gratitude, and said in a loud voice, "Thank you! Thank you, my colleagues!"

boom!
The whole audience was shocked!

In an instant, the entire Fengtian Hall Square fell silent.

Even the angry curses were cut off.

"???"

All the upright officials were filled with question marks, wondering if this person had gone even crazier!
Shen Lang and the others couldn't help but twitch their lips, raising their hands to their foreheads, thinking to themselves that Brother Biao was having another episode!

As for Zhang Biao
He completely ignored everyone's reactions, straightened his back, looked around, and said with an even more sincere expression:

"To be honest, I never imagined our relationship would be so deep, really! I'm so touched!"

"I never expected that I, Zhang Biao, would be able to attract so many upright and honest officials to gather here and 'plead' for me!"

"What an honor!"

He paused, seemingly overcome with emotion, and continued, "My colleagues are right to criticize! Well said! Every word is heartfelt and precious!"

"I, Zhang Biao, am indeed arrogant! I deserve to die! I have disrupted the imperial court! I have shaken the foundation of the nation! I deserve to die ten thousand times! Even ten thousand deaths cannot atone for my crimes!"

As he spoke, he nodded vigorously, as if he completely agreed with the other person's criticism: "So, here I am, aren't I?"

"I am here to support you all! To uphold your righteous cause!"

"Your Majesty, I beg you to execute Zhang Biao immediately! He must be executed! Executed right now! Executed immediately!"

"Not executing them would not appease public anger! Not executing them would not uphold justice! Not executing them would be a disservice to your knees, which have ached from kneeling all day!"

As he spoke, he very considerately pointed to his neck and said to Li Tiesheng and the other veteran censors:

"When the Emperor arrives, please remember to put in a good word for me. Say that I have a good attitude in admitting my guilt and only ask for a quick death. It would be best if I could be sentenced to be skinned alive as a warning to others!"

"Don't be soft-hearted and sentence them to exile three thousand miles away, that's so pointless!"

After he finished speaking, there was complete silence.

Deathly silence.

On Fengtian Hall Square, only the faint sound of the morning breeze blowing through the official robes remained, along with a group of petrified Qingliu officials and an auditing team that was almost speechless with astonishment.

All the upright officials' brains went blank.

They prepared countless impeachment speeches, imagining many scenarios of Zhang Biao's sophistry, resistance, and even insults.
I never expected that the other party would come and express their agreement and demand that the effort be intensified!

It feels like punching cotton with all your might?
No, it hit the spring and bounced back, splattering all over its own face!
Li Tiesheng, the old censor, stood with his mouth agape, his finger still pointing at Zhang Biao, but he couldn't utter a single word. His old face was flushed red, as if he were about to follow in the footsteps of Guo Ying and Zhu De and faint on the spot.

How the hell can they impeach him?!
The other party admitted to everything!
They even demanded an even more gruesome death! How can this show possibly continue?!

Is it going to be turned into a signing ceremony for a petition unanimously agreeing to execute Zhang Biao?!

"Pfft——!"

Shen Lang, who was hiding behind, couldn't help but laugh out loud. He quickly covered his mouth tightly, his shoulders shaking as he tried to suppress his laughter.

Sun Gui, Li Mo, and the others also had distorted expressions, wanting to laugh but not daring to, wanting to cry but feeling it was absurd.

Meanwhile, inside the Huagai Hall.

Upon hearing Yunming's report, Old Zhu became as agitated as a lion trapped in a cage.

He paced back and forth in the hall, the cries of "Your Majesty! Execute Imperial Censor Zhang!" seemed to echo in his ears, but instead of arousing his murderous intent, they only fueled his anger.

"Shut up! All of you shut the fuck up—!"

He suddenly roared in a low voice towards the outside of the palace, but the sound was blocked by the thick palace walls.

He knows Zhang Biao too well, especially after their recent 'confrontations'; he has come to understand Zhang Biao's demands.

This is exactly the result Zhang Biao wanted. Whether it was his auditing of the Six Ministries, his auditing of nobles, or all the crazy things he did, he had only one goal: to force him to kill him.

And those upright officials outside who were willing to "die for justice" were exactly what he wanted.

Therefore, he would not only not stop those upright officials from petitioning for his execution, but would also add fuel to the fire, further forcing himself to kill him.

Just thinking about this makes Lao Zhu feel exhausted.

How can anyone be so careless with their life?!
Isn't it said that our bodies and hair are gifts from our parents? How come life is so worthless in Zhang Biao's eyes?!

Old Zhu couldn't understand it, so he wouldn't go to see that group of upright officials, much less kill Zhang Biao.

Because once they see that group of upright officials, they will inevitably lament Zhang Biao's crimes, and then what? What should they do then?
Kill Zhang Biao? That 'mad dog' couldn't be happier!
He might even shout "Auditing the imperial treasury is an honor even in death" before he dies, nailing him, Old Zhu, to the pillar of historical shame.

If Zhang Biao isn't killed, then this group of upright officials will never stop, and some might even die in front of the palace.

That would further solidify Zhu Yuanzhang's reputation as a cruel and ungrateful ruler who tolerated treacherous officials.

Of course, he didn't care about the infamy; the key was that he didn't want to kill Zhang Biao.

I don't want to yet, at least not right now.

"Yunming!"

"The slave is here!"

"Go tell those people outside that I am unwell and need to rest, and that I will not see anyone! Tell them all to disperse!"

Old Zhu chose the classic tactic of 'delaying'.

But then he gave another order:
"Send another decree to Jiang Huan, telling him to watch Zhang Jinbiao! That 'mad dog' is not to be allowed to approach the Fengtian Hall even a step!"

"And forbid him from submitting any more memorials! Especially those with the words 'auditing the internal treasury' on them. Burn one of them every time you see one!"

"promise."

Yunming accepted the order with a bitter face and left.

This job is fucking killing me.

(End of this chapter)