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

Chapter 214 Old Zhu: That madman has already swung his knife! [Requesting monthly votes]

The night was as dark as ink, but Zhang Biao's dilapidated courtyard was brightly lit.

The air was filled with the enticing aroma of instant noodles and a tense, excited feeling.

"The goal is clear!"

Zhang Biao's finger jabbed heavily on the area where the 'Henan Grain Gang' ships were moored on the sketch:

"It's that fat guy from Kaifeng with the mole on his lip, and that elusive 'Mr. Liu' behind him!"

"Old Zhou!"

He looked at the one-armed veteran and said, "Tell your brothers at the docks to keep a close eye on this fat man!"

“Write down who he met each day, where he went, how much illicit goods he unloaded, and even how many times he went to the outhouse each day!”

"Furthermore, and most importantly, make sure you see his identification badge!"

"understand!"

Old Zhou waved his one arm, his eyes gleaming with the light of a cheetah.

"Old Li!"

Zhang Biao turned to the lame veteran:

"You are in charge of expanding the scope of your 'extortion' investigations to include all officials who may have connections with the Grand Canal or Henan, especially those in the Henan Provincial Department of Revenue!"

"Try to find out more inside information about the 'subsidized grain' and 'replacing old grain with new'! The person in charge who lost the jade pendant is a breakthrough point. Try to 'bump into' him a few more times!"

"Leave it to me!"

Old Li grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"Old Sun, Old Qian!"

Zhang Biao looked at the blind and wounded veterans:

"Your men, continue to gather information in teahouses, taverns, and military settlements, focusing on collecting rumors about 'Mr. Liu' of the Zhou Prince's Mansion, the Vice Commander of the Henan Garrison, and the connections between them!"

"Don't overlook any detail!"

"Yes!"

The two responded in deep voices.

Zhang Biao surveyed the crowd, his eyes sharp: "Remember, we have limited manpower. The Emperor's fifty thousand taels of silver must be spent wisely!"

"Put those who need to be bribed, and bribe those who need to be bribed! I don't want hearsay; I want irrefutable evidence that can shake the heavens!"

"Furthermore, safety comes first!"

He raised his voice: "Li Mo is a cautionary tale! If you notice anything amiss, retreat immediately. Your life is the priority! Evidence can be found again, but once a person is gone, they're gone forever!"

"Rest assured, Imperial Censor Zhang!"

Several veterans echoed in unison.

Having spent years in the lower classes, they knew the dangers of it all and understood that Zhang Biao was treating them as one of his own.

the other side.

Inside the Hall of Literary Glory, candles were always lit.

Old Zhu looked at the latest secret report presented by Song Zhong, which detailed how Zhang Biao assigned tasks, emphasized evidence and security, and described the veterans' euphoric state after receiving their orders.

"Hmph, that does have some method."

Old Zhu snorted coldly and threw the secret report aside: "They know to grab clues first, and they also know to value their lives."

He secretly admired Zhang Biao's decisive and goal-oriented style.

Compared to those mediocre officials who only talk the talk or form cliques for personal gain, Zhang Biao at least did practical things, even if those practical things were driven by strong personal motives and a touch of madness.

“Your Majesty, with Zhang Biao’s method of investigation, we’ll probably be able to find that ‘Fatty Wang’ and ‘Mr. Liu’ very soon.”

Song Zhong whispered, "Once we get the evidence..."

"Once we get empirical evidence?"

Old Zhu interrupted him, a cold glint in his eyes: "Then let's see if Zhang Biao's knife is fast enough and obedient enough!"

He pondered for a moment, then instructed, "Have your men, while ensuring Zhang Biao's safety, 'appropriately' grant him some favors."

"For example, making it easier for his people to access some unimportant files, or, when his people are in trouble, 'just so' a patrolling soldier happens to be passing by."

Song Zhongxin understood: "Your subject understands."

He knew that this was to allow Zhang Biao to successfully find the person he "should be investigating," but not to let him slip out of his control.

"in addition!"

Old Zhu tapped his fingers on the armrest of the dragon throne: "How's your investigation going regarding Zhu Youxun and that 'Mr. Liu'?"

"Your Majesty, since Li Mo was attacked, Zhu Youxun has kept a low profile, but his household maintains close ties with several grain merchants around Kaifeng and a minor leader of the grain transport gang."

"That 'Mr. Liu' is actually named Liu Kan. He was once a clerk in the Prince Zhou's mansion. He was skilled in mathematics. After the Prince Zhou was imprisoned, he did not leave Kaifeng. Instead, he became very close to Zhu Youxun and was suspected of managing some secret accounts for him."

“Our people are trying to get close, but this man is extremely cautious.”

"Keep a close eye on them!"

Old Zhu said in a chilling tone, "We need to know what else they're hiding behind the scenes, besides the petty profits from the canal transport!"

"Also, keep a close eye on the spies of the various princes in the capital, and see who reacts the most strongly to Zhang Biao's investigation of the grain transport!"

"Yes!"

After Song Zhong left, Old Zhu stood alone, gazing at the deep night sky outside the palace.

The madman had already swung his knife.

We'll see how much blood will splatter when this blade strikes, and how many demons and monsters lurking in the shadows it will unleash.

A few days later, night fell.

A light drizzle fell at Shuiximen Wharf.

The clever young man under the one-armed Old Zhou, named "Mudfish," was dressed in tattered clothes that were barely better than a beggar's. He was huddled behind a pile of discarded cables, his eyes fixed on the shadowy abandoned cargo ship not far away.

This was the secret rendezvous point he identified after tracking Fatty Wang for several days.

The sound of rain masked many noises.

When the loach saw Fatty Wang's plump figure reappear, it looked around and then nimbly scurried into the cabin.

Not long after, another figure wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat quietly boarded the ship.

The loach's heart was in his throat.

He remembered Old Zhou's instructions: "Make sure you see the waist tag!"

Using the shadow of the cargo pile, he crawled forward like a real loach, silently reaching the side of the ship.

The cabin was filled with hushed conversations, which were barely audible.

He risked sticking half his head out and peering through the crack in the broken porthole.

The candlelight flickered, and he saw the profile of the man in the straw raincoat. A scar ran from his brow bone to the corner of his mouth, making him look particularly ferocious.

More importantly, the man did indeed have a waist tag hanging from his waist!
Using the dim light, the loach squinted desperately to make out its features—

It didn't seem to be an official design. The material looked like ebony, and there was a beast head carved on it. It wasn't very clear, but it looked like a Pixiu, or some kind of deformed dragon son.

Just then, Fatty Wang's voice suddenly rose in the cabin: "They're pressing us hard! If we can't balance the accounts from last time, we'll both lose our heads!"

The scarred man's voice was hoarse: "What's the panic! 'Those above' have their own arrangements. Where's the 'new food' you were asked to prepare?"

"Still in the game, damn it, the inspecting censors have a dog's nose, things are getting tense lately..."

The loach was listening intently when suddenly a low growl came from behind him: "You little brat, daring to steal?!"

A large hand suddenly grabbed him by the back of his collar!

He's a night watchman at the dock!

Judging from the looks of it, they clearly mistook him for a petty thief trying to steal something.

The loach was terrified and struggled, shouting, "I...I didn't steal anything!"

The commotion startled the people in the cabin!
Fatty Wang and the scarred man rushed out of the cabin in an instant. Fatty Wang stared fiercely at the captured mudfish, then warily scanned the surroundings: "Damn it, there's an informant! Take him down!"

The scarred man moved even faster, without uttering a sound, and a dagger appeared in his hand, which he thrust straight at the loach's heart.

His actions were ruthless, clearly indicating that he was someone who was used to silencing witnesses.

At this critical moment, the loach was about to die on the spot!
"Whoosh!"

A very faint whooshing sound!

A sharp piece of broken tile shot out from the darkness on the side, hitting the scarred man's wrist holding the knife precisely!

"what!"

The scarred man winced in pain, and the dagger clattered to the ground.

It's Old Zhou with one arm!

He remained hidden in the shadows further away, secretly protecting the loach.

At that moment, he darted out like a cheetah, swung his one arm, and a sharpened iron rod pierced straight into Fatty Wang's face!

"There's an ambush!"

Wang Pangzi screamed in fright, his fat jiggling as he awkwardly dodged backward.

Old Zhou wasn't going to linger. He grabbed the terrified mudfish and growled, "Let's go!"

Taking advantage of the darkness and the piles of goods, the two ran wildly towards the outside of the dock.

"Chase them! We can't let them get away!"

Fatty Wang roared in exasperation. The scarred man, clutching his wrist, his eyes filled with malice, let out a sharp whistle!

Suddenly, from the darkness of the dock, seven or eight figures emerged, wielding sticks and short knives. They were clearly thugs trained by Fatty Wang, and they surrounded and chased after Old Zhou and Mudfish.

The rain was getting heavier, debris piled up on the dock, and the roads were slippery.

Old Zhou, with only one arm, was pulling the loach, his movements were restricted, and he was about to be caught up.

"Uncle Zhou, put me down! You need to go!"

The loach cried out in a sobbing voice.

"fart!"

Old Zhou cursed, his eyes resolute: "Stay close to me!"

He shoved the mudfish into a narrow alley filled with empty wooden crates, then turned around, leaned against the wall, gripped the iron rod tightly with his one arm, and faced the pursuing thugs, determined to hold them off with his own strength!
"Old guy, you're looking for death!"

The leader of the thugs grinned and swung his knife at them.

Old Zhou's eyes were icy cold. Instead of retreating, he advanced, dodging the blade with his side. His single arm moved like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, and the iron rod pierced the opponent's armpit with precision.

The thug screamed and immediately lost his fighting ability.

But more people gathered around.

Clubs whistled and knives flashed.

Old Zhou, unable to support himself with his single arm, was soon struck on the back with a blunt object, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and his movements slowed down.

He was about to be hacked to pieces!

"Whoa—" Suddenly, the sound of orderly footsteps and shouts of patrolling soldiers came from afar at the dock:

"Who goes there?! Gathering at night, are you planning a rebellion?!"

It's the night patrol team from the Five Cities Garrison!

And it sounds like there are quite a few of them, rushing this way quickly.

Fatty Wang and the scarred man's expressions changed drastically.

"Damn it, why are they patrolling at this hour?!" Fatty Wang was both surprised and furious.

"withdraw!"

The scarred man made a quick decision, glared fiercely at the stubbornly resisting Old Zhou, and led his thugs to disappear swiftly into the rainy night and the maze of goods.

Old Zhou, supporting himself with the iron rod, was breathing heavily. As he watched the rapidly approaching torchlight, a hint of doubt flashed through his mind.

The night patrol's arrival was too perfect a timing.

But he didn't stop. He pulled up the mudfish that was peeking out from behind the wooden crate and whispered, "Hurry up! Get off the dock!"

The two supported each other and staggered as they disappeared into another dark alley.

at the same time.

In a secluded, dark room, a figure almost blends into the shadows and kneels silently.

"Your Highness! Urgent report from Yingtian Prefecture!"

His voice was filled with barely suppressed fear and a sense of impending doom.

In the depths of darkness, the languidly reclining figure stirred slightly. The rhythm of tapping the armrest with his fingertips remained unchanged; he simply hummed softly, signaling to continue.

The subordinate took a deep breath, suppressing his fear, and began to report:
"The first thing is that His Majesty seems to have begun to suspect the harem. After the letter home, he ordered the concubines to elect a head of the six palaces. The concubines all had their own thoughts, and in the end, Consort Guo Hui was chosen by His Majesty to be the head of the six palaces..."

The sound of tapping on the armrest in the darkness paused for a very slight moment, then resumed.

A very soft, mocking laugh rang out:
"Ha, the Imperial Consort Guo Hui? My good father really is... sentimental."

"However, he underestimates his mother too much..."

"Did you think that by holding an election for the head of the harem, my mother would be tempted? That you would expose your true colors?"

At this point, a hint of disdain crept into his words, followed by a cold snort: "The Empress of this harem will be my mother sooner or later! It's the Zhu family that owes us, mother and son!"

Upon hearing this, the subordinate immediately fell silent, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

After a moment, the prince calmly and indifferently asked, "Is there anything else?"

"Reporting to Your Highness..."

The subordinate said in a trembling voice:
"The second thing is that after Zhang Biao was released from confinement, he first went to see Li Jinglong, and then went to the Huagai Hall. Finally, he obtained the Emperor's permission to establish some kind of anti-corruption bureau."

"However, what is puzzling is that he actually recruited subordinates of the Anti-Corruption Bureau outside Chengtianmen with high salaries, with the highest salary being five hundred taels, which caused quite a stir."

"What happened next was even stranger. Before the grand court assembly that was supposed to determine the heir apparent, he gathered a crowd outside Chengtian Gate and openly incited public opinion! He threatened to audit the princes, set up anonymous tip boxes, and even... audit the imperial treasury!"

"Finally...finally he even shouted in public...'Your Majesty, why are you rebelling?!'"

"what?!"

In the darkness, the languid figure suddenly sat up straight.

The steady tapping sound abruptly stopped.

Although his face was not clearly visible, the sudden tension and anger emanating from him were palpable.

"Auditing the princes?! An anonymous whistleblower box?! And they even dare to shout 'Why is the Emperor rebelling?!' Has Zhang Biao really gone mad?!"

The prince's voice was filled with disbelief and shock, as well as a hint of apprehension that even he himself was unaware of.

"There's... a third thing..."

The subordinate's voice trembled even more:
"After Zhang Biao uttered those words, he was urgently summoned to the palace by the emperor. Soon after, the palace issued three imperial edicts: first, to reconsider the salaries of all officials; second, to hold a 'Literary Grand Ceremony' to recruit writers from all over the country; and third, to promote anonymous tip boxes nationwide to thoroughly investigate corruption!"

Upon hearing this, the breathing in the darkness became noticeably heavier.

"Reconsider salaries... to stabilize the court!"

"A literary festival...to win over scholars!"
"Anonymous tip-off boxes...unleash a nationwide wave of accusations against adulterers!"

The prince's voice turned cold and sharp: "Excellent tactic! Truly excellent tactic! Zhang Biao, to think of such a vicious plan!"

"No, this wasn't entirely Zhang Biao's doing; it was Father Emperor! He used Zhang Biao's words to carry out Qingliang's deeds!"

He instantly understood Old Zhu's intention.

These three decrees effectively brought the public opinion storm stirred up by Zhang Biao under control.

Moreover, it also solidified the anti-corruption bureau's operational capabilities, providing a new approach to stabilizing the country.

Especially that anonymous tip box, it's like a sword hanging over the heads of all officials, especially these vassal kings.

"Anything else?!"

The prince's voice became incredibly gloomy.

It was clear that he had realized the situation was not good.

"There's...there's one last thing..."

His subordinate's voice was already trembling with tears; he knew this news was the most devastating.
"Censor Li Mo... was assassinated in Kaifeng! According to... according to investigation, this matter may be related to Zhu Youxun, the second son of the Prince of Zhou!"

"As for Zhu Youxun... he had tried to contact Your Highness by secret letter many times before, but we stopped him each time according to your instructions."

"Now that Li Mo has been assassinated, it's likely that Zhu Youxun was driven to desperation by Li Mo, which is why he resorted to this desperate measure! I'm worried... worried that he might..."

The subordinate dared not say anything more.

"boom!"

A muffled sound!
It sounded like a fist slamming hard onto the armrest.

The prince in the darkness had completely lost his previous languor and composure.

"Zhu Youxun! That good-for-nothing idiot who's more likely to ruin everything—!"

He almost growled, his voice filled with rage and a hint of panic.

Li Mo is Zhang Biao's confidant, and he has his eye on Zhu Youxun!

Although the connection between Zhu Youxun and himself was secretive, it was by no means without clues!

Zhu Youxun knows too much!
Once Zhu Youxun falls into the hands of Jiang Huan or Zhang Biao, and spills out what he knows... even without direct evidence, it would be enough to make his suspicious father fix his gaze on him!
"Damn it! That idiot Zhu Youxun deserves to die!"

The prince said through gritted teeth.

Previously, he could sit back and relax, feeling that everything was under control.

But now, Zhang Biao's madness, Lao Zhu's counterattack, and especially the potential catastrophe brought by that idiot Zhu Youxun... all the crises seemed to erupt at the same time, making him feel unprecedented pressure!
In the darkness, only his heavy, suppressed breathing could be heard. His previous calculations and composure had vanished, replaced by a sense of anxiety and dread as the game was about to spiral out of control.

We must respond immediately!

After a long while, he forcibly suppressed his surging blood and qi, and his voice regained its composure, but beneath that coldness lay a dam bursting with killing intent:
"listen!"

He spoke very quickly, with an undeniable decisiveness:
"There are only two things that could drive Zhu Youxun to such a desperate situation: the secret of the leaked 'Red Lead Elixir' and the secret of the 'Grand Canal Transport'."

"If my father sends people to investigate Li Mo's assassination, they will definitely investigate these two matters."

"The first thing is something Zhu Youxun would never dare to reveal, because if he did, he would suffer a terrible fate. So, we don't need to worry about that for now. The most important thing is the secret of the 'Grand Canal'."

"As for the 'Grand Canal transport,' based on my understanding of my father, he will definitely entrust this matter to Zhang Biao for investigation. Because only that madman Zhang Biao can find out the problem in such a short time..."

"Then...should we stop Zhang Biao?" the subordinate asked cautiously.

Why should we stop him?

The prince laughed: "We're not the only ones involved in the canal transport. In fact, we should deliberately provide Zhang Biao with some clues so that he can thoroughly investigate the canal transport!"

"The deeper he investigates and the more enemies he makes, the more advantageous it will be for us! When he is torn apart by various forces and overwhelmed with problems, that will be the safest time for us!"

Upon hearing this, the subordinate immediately understood the prince's meaning.

This is a scheme to use one tiger to devour another, and to divert the trouble eastward!
This would divert Zhang Biao and the emperor's attention to other powerful and suspicious vassal kings, buying time and space for their core network, and even allowing them to use others to eliminate potential rivals.

"As for Zhu Youxun..."

The prince pondered for a moment and said, "If I'm not mistaken, that kid should be under surveillance by the Embroidered Uniform Guard right now."

"but."

He then changed the subject and continued:
"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is not a monolithic entity. We need to find a way to make that kid believe that his elder brother, Zhu Youdun, is secretly gathering evidence against him in order to protect himself, and may even try to pin all the blame for leaking the pill formula, colluding with outsiders, and assassinating the censor on him!"

"We must instill fear in him, and make him resent!"

"Then, do him a favor and provide some 'evidence' pointing to his elder brother Zhu Youdun as the mastermind, and that Li Mo's assassination was a cover-up by Zhu Youdun!"

"Make him find a way to get this 'evidence' out, or have it 'accidentally' discovered by the Imperial Guards at his residence!"

"At the same time, our informants within the Prince Zhou's residence must cooperate in spreading rumors that the heir apparent is wary of his brothers and wants to get rid of them, creating the illusion of brothers fighting amongst themselves!"

The subordinate was shocked and had to admire the prince's wisdom.

This tactic of substitution and misrepresentation is truly ingenious.

All suspicion and anger were transferred to the Zhou Prince's residence and to the heir apparent, Zhu Youdun.

This diverted the attention of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the imperial court from the internal strife within the Prince Zhou's residence, causing them to overlook the potentially deeper connections behind Zhu Youxun.

"When the Imperial Guards successfully steered the investigation towards the Prince Zhou's residence, when Zhu Youxun, believing he had succeeded, lowered his guard, and when everyone's attention was drawn to the fratricidal drama..."

In the darkness, the prince's voice was as cold as ten thousand years of ice:
"Make Zhu Youxun 'commit suicide out of fear of punishment'!"

"The scene should be arranged to make it seem like he couldn't bear the pressure, or that he was driven to desperation by his brother, leaving behind a 'blood letter' pointing out Zhu Youdun before taking his own life."

"It must be clean, it must be as real as possible, so that this drama of brothers killing each other ends in the most tragic way!"

[What a brilliant move! No one can prove it, killing two birds with one stone!]

The subordinates admired the prince to the point of complete awe.

These two moves not only eliminated Zhu Youxun, the most direct hidden danger, but also confirmed the crimes committed by the Prince of Zhou's family. They might even drag the heir Zhu Youdun into the mess, further cutting off this clue entirely within the Prince of Zhou's family.

This is no longer a passive defense, but an active shaping of the situation, guiding the opponent to follow the script he has set.

"go a head."

The prince concluded casually, as if he had merely given an insignificant instruction:

"Remember, we're not hiding from the storm; we're going to create an even bigger storm."

"Yes! Your Majesty!"

The subordinates were shocked by this grand and ruthless plan, their hearts filled with trepidation, and they obeyed the order and left.

In the darkness, he was alone once again.

He slowly leaned back in his chair, his fingertips beginning to tap rhythmically on the armrests again, a cold and arrogant smile curving his lips.

[Zhang Biao, aren't you crazy? I'll let you be crazy to your heart's content, and let you bite into those even harder bones!]

[Father, didn't you want to investigate? I'll give you the 'truth'—the truth about fratricide and infighting within the royal family!]

While you struggle in this muddy water I've stirred up even more, who will notice that the real fisherman has already hauled in his net?

His eyes gleamed with a keen insight into human nature and a knack for manipulating power.

It seemed like everything was under his control.

Please vote for me with your monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)