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

Chapter 118 Old Zhu: Kill—! [Bonus Chapter 15 for Monthly Tickets]

That bastard really isn't afraid at all!

He's even looking forward to us killing him!
Old Zhu was seething with hatred at Zhang Biao's "ready to die" expression.

But at the same time, a doubt arose in his mind.

Why would Zhang Biao oppose these upright officials? Logically speaking, wasn't he also part of the upright officials faction? Wasn't he also part of the civil service group?

Wouldn't doing this mean isolating oneself from the scholarly community?
From now on, besides Shen Lang and his group, which scholar would dare to stand on his side?
If intellectuals didn't band together, wouldn't their influence be greatly reduced? Wouldn't that make it even easier for us to kill them without any scruples?
You, Zhang Biao, are seeking death, but what about your brothers? Won't they still die after you?
Even if we don't want to kill them, like today, there will always be someone who jumps out and, in the name of 'righteousness,' pleads with us to kill them!
Won't all your efforts be in vain then?

Old Zhu couldn't figure it out, but he always felt that it wasn't that simple.

Just then, Jiang Huan returned, followed by several Imperial Guards carrying several thick account books and a scroll of land deeds. They came back with astonishingly fast steps.

Clearly, the professionalism of the Imperial Guards in raiding homes was ingrained in their very being.

Moreover, given Zhu's fury, how could Jiang Huan dare to be negligent in the slightest?

"emperor!"

Jiang Huan knelt on one knee, holding the account books and documents high above his head:

"The records of charcoal and writing implements issued by the Censorate and the Hanlin Academy, as well as the land registration records retrieved by the Ministry of Revenue, are all here!"

"Preliminary investigation has revealed numerous suspicious points. Your Majesty is requested to review this matter!"

There was no need for a detailed investigation; a mere cursory glance revealed the charcoal tribute records, which far exceeded the usual amount; the outrageous consumption of ink and paper; and the vast estates and mansions owned by the named officials and their relatives, utterly disproportionate to their salaries.
Everything is now crystal clear!
"bring here!"

Old Zhu's voice was icy cold.

Yunming quickly stepped forward to take it, and with trembling hands presented it to Old Zhu.

Old Zhu didn't even bother to look through it carefully. He just casually opened a page of the charcoal tribute record and compared it with the salary standards provided by the Ministry of Revenue. The veins on his forehead started throbbing.

He picked up another land deed, and looking at the familiar official names and the huge number of acres of land on it, the anger in his eyes finally completely overwhelmed the last trace of hesitation.

"I'm perfectly fine!"

Old Zhu's voice was terrifyingly low, like the deathly silence before a storm, "What a group of pure and upright officials! What a fine example of 'gentlemen make friends but do not form cliques'!"

He slammed the ledger in his hand down in front of Li Tiesheng.

"Censor Li, you keep proclaiming your loyalty to the emperor and your love for the country, and your concern for the court. Could you please explain this to us, and to your colleagues—"

"How did you manage to purchase those three hundred mu of prime paddy fields in your hometown of Ji'an Prefecture, Jiangxi Province, from a bankrupt local gentry at the price of wasteland the year after you passed the imperial examination?"

"Your third concubine, whom you just took this year, was originally a courtesan at the 'Ruhua Pavilion' on the Qinhuai River. She was redeemed for a thousand taels of silver. How did you manage to save up such a huge sum with your meager salary?"

"Also, that Ru ware brush washer from the previous dynasty that you display in your study is priceless. Who was the 'close friend' who gave it to you?"

"Ah? This"

Li Tiesheng was struck dumb as soon as he woke up, and he hesitated to speak.

He seemed never to have imagined that these matters could be investigated in such detail.

He trembled like a leaf, his lips quivered, unable to utter a single word, only able to kowtow, making a loud thud. The scabs that had just solidified on his forehead broke open again, and blood streamed down his face, making him look like a demon.

Jiang Huan looked at him with a complicated expression.

In fact, when they went to check the accounts, they couldn't find such detailed accounts at all.

But coincidentally, someone added detailed information to Li Tiesheng's file anonymously, but it's easy to guess who provided it.

But Old Zhu's questioning did not stop:
“Editor Zhao, you denounced Zhang Biao as a traitor in the duty room yesterday. What crime should you be charged with for secretly selling the Hanlin Academy’s rare copy of the ‘Map of Mountains and Rivers’ to a foreign envoy?”

“Qian, you impeached the border general for embezzling military pay. We still remember it vividly. But did you mention anything about your brother-in-law reselling substandard cotton-padded clothes from the army?”

"And you! You! All of you!"

Old Zhu's fingers swept across the few ashen-faced officials like he was pointing to generals:

"Your charcoal tribute is more than that of a prince! Your pen, ink, and paper allow you to open a bookstore! Your landholdings are so vast you could be a landlord! Is this what you call the classics?! Is this what you call integrity and uprightness?!"

"Your Majesty! We were wrong! We were really wrong!"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me! Your Majesty, spare my life!"

Finally, someone broke down, crying and begging for mercy.

"Wrong? Beg for mercy?"

Old Zhu grinned maliciously, a smile even more chilling than Zhang Biao's: "If we spare you, who will spare the Ming Dynasty's treasury? Who will spare the people you have exploited?!"

"Jiang Huan!"

"Chen is here!"

"kill--!"

Old Zhu coldly uttered a single word, then said with chilling murderous intent:
"Skin Li Tiesheng alive and use him as a lamplighter! Do it now! And those other bastards whose names we mentioned! Kill them on the spot!"

"Zhu Chongba—!"

Li Tiesheng screamed in terror, preparing to imitate Zhang Biao and curse Old Zhu before he died.

Old Zhu interrupted him with a burst of laughter: "Hahaha!"

"Fine! Fine! You ignorant fool!"

"Jiang Huan! Execute his entire clan! For every single word he utters, his entire family will be executed!"

"Pfft!"

Li Tiesheng instantly collapsed to the ground, wondering, "Why? Why?!"

If Zhang Biao can curse, why can't I?!
However, Old Zhu ignored him and instead looked bloodthirstyly at the other upright individuals:
"Strip them of their official robes and remove their hats! Throw them into prison and interrogate them thoroughly! Investigate them sternly! See what other demons and monsters are behind them!"

"After the investigation is completed, those whose property should be confiscated will be confiscated, and those whose property should be exiled will be exiled. If the evidence is conclusive, they will be executed without pardon."

"promise!"

Jiang Huan grinned and accepted the order, then waved his hand dismissively.

Soon, the Imperial Guards pounced on them like wolves.

Ignoring the cries and struggles of the officials, they roughly tore off their official robes and hats, dragging them away from the square like dead dogs.

"Ah, ah——!"

"No, no!!"
From the corner came Li Tiesheng's screams, as well as the mournful cries and pleas for mercy of the Qingliu people as they were dragged away by the Jinyiwei.

At the Fengtian Hall Square, all the officials from the Six Ministries who had been summoned knelt on the ground, their heads bowed low, not daring to even breathe, for fear that they would be next.

Meanwhile, Fu Youwen and the others in the duty room were also drenched in cold sweat, filled with lingering fear, and secretly relieved that they hadn't impeached Zhang Biao themselves. "Huff, huff."

Old Zhu was panting heavily, his chest heaving, clearly still angry.

He had killed countless corrupt officials, but every time he saw the filth beneath that sanctimonious facade, it still enraged him.

His gaze finally returned to Zhang Biao, the instigator.

Zhang Biao was watching with great interest, and even felt a little regretful that Lao Zhu hadn't broadened the scope of the attack.

When he saw Old Zhu looking over, he immediately put on that expectant expression again, as if to say, "Is it my turn now?"

Seeing his appearance, Old Zhu's anger, which he had just vented, flared up again.

That madman! He's the one who caused all of this!
Although a few corrupt officials have been exposed, his crimes of "slandering the sacred doctrine" and "recklessly advocating the abolition of Confucianism" cannot be forgiven.

"Zhang Biao!"

Old Zhu's voice carried a chilling aftermath of decisive action:
"Your auditing work is commendable; you have uncovered corrupt officials, which is one achievement. However, your arrogance and defiance, your slander of sacred teachings, your undermining of the nation's foundation, and your misleading of the people are crimes deserving of death!"

"Your merits and demerits don't offset each other! Today we're removing you from your position as Left Vice Censor-in-Chief!"

"Jiang Huan! Throw Zhang Biao into death row! Execute him in the autumn!"

Old Zhu finally made his decision.

Without killing Zhang Biao, it would be difficult to quell the turmoil of the "abolition of Confucianism" and to intimidate the court.

But the fact that he would be executed after the autumn harvest, rather than immediately in the marketplace, made Zhang Biao feel somewhat displeased.

However, just as he was about to ask Old Zhu to kill him immediately, he suddenly remembered his previous experience of seeking death. The faster he sought death, the less Old Zhu would want to kill him.

So this time he was smarter and didn't waste any more words, directly replying loudly, "Your Majesty, I accept the decree and thank you! Your Majesty is wise!"

Whether you die sooner or later, you're going to die eventually, so there's no need to rush.

After all, Zhu Yuanzhang had already issued an order to kill him in front of so many people. Would he really go back on his word?
Haven't you heard the saying "A ruler's word is his bond"?!

However, when everyone saw Zhang Biao's reaction, they felt their scalps tingle again, thinking to themselves that this guy was beyond redemption.

Fortunately, Jiang Huan didn't care about that and immediately called two Imperial Guards forward to put shackles on Zhang Biao.

"and many more!"

Zhang Biao suddenly shouted, then patted the dust off his clothes. His gaze passed over Old Zhu and accurately shot towards several indistinct figures behind the window of the duty room on the side.

It was Fu Youwen, the Vice Minister of Revenue, and Ru Chang, the Minister of War, among others.

Fu Youwen and the others were watching the bloody purge outside through the crack in the window with trepidation when they suddenly met Zhang Biao's icy gaze, which seemed almost tangible. They all trembled and instinctively wanted to shrink back.

But it's too late.

Zhang Biao slowly curled his lips into an extremely ferocious smile, full of malice and mockery, and said, word by word, in a voice loud enough for the other side to hear clearly:

"Vice Minister Fu, Minister Ru, Minister Zheng, Vice Minister Zhai, and all the distinguished officials in the duty room."

"Was it good? Was the play good?"

Don't be too quick to celebrate, and don't be too quick to gloat.

His voice was like a curse from hell, carrying a chilling madness and unwavering certainty:
"The real show is just beginning!"

"Those who died today were just appetizers, there to fill your stomachs!"

"Don't be afraid."

Zhang Biao's smile grew increasingly ferocious and terrifying as he stared at the window, as if he could see through the wooden planks to the pale faces behind it.

"None of you will escape."

"You, and those behind you."

“They’ll all die!”

"I'll be waiting for you all! When the time comes, we'll die together! Hahaha—!"

The maniacal laughter echoed across the Fengtian Hall Square, and as he was escorted away by the Imperial Guards, it was deeply etched into everyone's hearts, bringing a chilling sensation.

Fu Youwen, Ru Chang, and the others were struck dumb. Their faces turned ashen, their hands and feet went cold, and they could even hear their hearts pounding wildly.

madman!

He's a complete madman!
"It's over, it's over, he could have died alone."

Fu Youwen was terrified and panicked: "Now we're going to be buried with them!"

"Li Tiesheng, you son of a bitch!"

Ru Chang lowered her voice, then couldn't help but burst out cursing, "You're a stubborn beast! Why did you drag Shen Lang and the others into this?!"

"Confucian scholars are ruining the country!"

"These pedantic scholars have misled us!"

Countless resentments, curses, and fears reached their peak the moment Zhang Biao was taken away.

As Shen Lang and the others watched Zhang Biao's retreating figure, an unnamed flame instantly ignited in their eyes.

As for Lao Zhu
He stood there, stunned, without saying a word, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

So that's how it is! That bastard had planned this all along!

Once all the enemies are taken away, who can threaten Shen Lang and his group's lives?!

He can leave this world peacefully.

At that moment, Old Zhu felt an unprecedented chill instantly surge into his heart.

He knew the real storm was coming.
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　[Thanks to Dingyuan for the 100000 Alliance Master Award] I've always remembered it, but I've been too busy lately to write it. I'll arrange for an extra chapter later.

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(End of this chapter)