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

Chapter 226 Zhang Biao: Truth Lies Only Within Range! [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

The night was deep, and it was still that secluded dark room in the royal palace.

Inside the dark room, the candlelight was dim, casting the figure of the prince in the main seat into shadow.

He toyed with a warm, smooth jade pendant in his hand, listening to the report from the man in black below. His usual languor had been replaced by a cold, sharp expression.

"Your Highness, I have just received an urgent report. Zhang Biao... has not thoroughly investigated the corruption case in the Grand Canal transport, which implicates all the princes. Instead, he stopped at Jiujiang Guard on his way to Wuchang."

"Jiujiang Guard?"

The prince's fingers paused, the jade pendant resting in his palm: "What is he doing there?"

"It is said that he encountered people crying out for justice on the road and intended to seek redress for them, but the commander of Jiujiang Garrison refused to cooperate and even demanded that he bring documents from the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commissions, so he..."

"What is he?!"

The prince pressed on impatiently, even leaning slightly forward.

The man in black quickly replied:

“He used the ‘Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty’ as his basis, declaring that the ‘Ancestral Instructions’ superseded all procedures. Therefore, he forcibly broke into the garrison’s warehouse and discovered a batch of secret accounts for the transfer of military equipment based on ‘beast tokens’.”

"Currently, he is using this as a breakthrough point to incite the people to investigate the surrounding garrisons and to thoroughly investigate the garrison deficits and the abnormal outflow of military equipment."

"boom--!"

With a soft crack, the prince pinched the jade pendant in his hand, creating a crack.

The anxious look on his face froze instantly, and an incredulous glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

"The Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty? He actually dared to use his father's 'Ancestral Instructions'... to smash the locks of the garrison?!"

The prince's voice was filled with a sense of absurdity and a hint of anger at being completely disrupted:
"A madman! He really is a complete madman!"

"but."

As he spoke, he abruptly changed the subject, a playful smile playing on his lips, like a chess player seeing their opponent make an unexpected move:
“Using our father’s ‘ancestral precepts’ as a crowbar, he’s probably the only one in the whole world to do that.”

He slowly sat up straight, the candlelight illuminating half of his face.

It was a well-preserved face, making it impossible to guess its exact age, except for a pair of unfathomable eyes that seemed to hold endless storms and schemes.

He meticulously orchestrated a complex scheme involving the Grand Canal.

They even went so far as to personally enter the fray, throwing out smokescreens involving the King of Zhou, the King of Qi, the King of Chu, the King of Shu, and even the King of Yan.

They were just waiting for Zhang Biao, this mad bull, to charge in, get his head smashed and bleed, and hopefully provoke his father, the emperor, to be furious and crush this scourge to death.

But what about Zhang Biao?

He actually made a feint, abandoning the seemingly crucial canal transport lead and plunging headlong into the seemingly unimportant garrison quagmire!

"Jiujiang...garrison weaponry, 'beast-shaped' secret inventory..."

The prince muttered to himself, his expression growing increasingly grave: "How did that madman come up with this idea? Was it a lucky accident, or... did he see through something?"

An ominous premonition coiled around his heart like a venomous snake.

The loss of military equipment from garrisons was a relatively hidden but crucial link in the "bandit-raising" chain, serving as the source of supplies.

Once a breach is made here, the investigation can be traced back along the canal route...

The prince could almost picture the scene:

Holding the 'beast token' and the secret ledger, Zhang Biao, like a shark smelling blood, started from Jiujiangwei and headed towards the key points of the Grand Canal, and then towards the transit station of the Prince Zhou's Mansion.

Ultimately... it may very well implicate several beneficiary princes, and even expose the deeper cycle of 'raising bandits'.

This was far more dangerous than he had anticipated, with Zhang Biao entangled with the vassal kings on the Grand Canal.

This is a knife piercing straight to the heart.

"What a brilliant move by Zhang Biao! What a masterful feint!"

The prince gritted his teeth, his tone carrying a hint of sternness, as if he had met his match.

"I... underestimated your insight, you madman!"

His previous strategy was to divert the trouble eastward, letting Zhang Biao weaken the other vassal kings and buy him time.

But now, Zhang Biao's departure from the chessboard might actually bring the fire directly to him, which is a very dangerous sign.

Anger? Perhaps a little.

But more than anything, it's a feeling of being challenged, of having one's rhythm unexpectedly disrupted, and of a rapidly rising, cold assessment.

"Your Highness, Zhang Biao's actions may disrupt our plans. Should we...?"

The man in black made a cleaning gesture, the meaning of which was self-evident.

"madness!"

The prince uttered two words in a low voice, which made the man in black lower his head instantly.

"If we move against him now, wouldn't that be telling Father Emperor and the world that the 'mastermind' who might be involved with Jiujiang Guard has been driven to desperation by that madman Zhang Biao?"

"That would truly throw yourselves into disarray and give others a handle to use against you!"

He stood up and walked to a huge, seemingly ordinary landscape painting on the wall, but his gaze seemed to penetrate the painting and see into the distance.

"If Zhang Biao wants to investigate, let him investigate."

The prince's voice was calm and unwavering:
"With garrison losses and arms being circulated, which border town dares to say its accounts are spotless? If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. It's normal to have some problems."

"If Zhang Biao were to investigate and find that all the garrisons of our Great Ming are as clean as water and as clear as a mirror, that would be truly unbelievable, and Father would be the first to disbelieve it!"

He turned around, and shadows once again enveloped most of his face, except for his eyes, which remained astonishingly bright.

"Send the order!"

The prince's voice regained its composure, carrying an undeniable determination:
"First, have our personnel in Jiujiang Guard and surrounding affiliated guard posts immediately eliminate all traces that might point to me and sever all contact!"

"Make sure that the 'beast tokens' and secret accounts that Zhang Biao finds can only be traced back to the Zhou Prince's Mansion, or... the Qi Prince, the Shu Prince, and the others!"

"Second, inform our people in the grain transport guild and the Ministry of Revenue to temporarily restrain themselves and reduce the movement of unconventional materials, especially those related to ordnance, in the near future."

"third!"

A ruthless glint flashed in the prince's eyes:
"Since Zhang Biao wants to investigate the 'bandit-raising' operation, let's give him a hand!"

"Try to send the 'insignificant' clues we have about the secret dealings between the King of Qi and the King of Shu and certain 'bandits' and 'chieftains' to Zhang Biao's men."

"It should look natural, like they found it themselves."

He decided to turn the tables on Zhang Biao. Since Zhang Biao wanted to investigate the "bandit-raising" scheme, he would guide his blade to strike the spot he wanted Zhang Biao to hit more precisely!

Let this fire burn even brighter, but it must burn in someone else's yard!

"in addition!"

The prince looked at the man in black and said in a chilling tone, "Send a message to Kaifeng: that idiot Zhu Youxun can't be allowed to live any longer."

“Make him disappear ‘quietly,’ make it look like he was avenged by his elder brother’s henchman. Stir up the waters completely!”

"We must not allow my father and Zhang Biao to focus their attention on the same thing!"

"Yes!"

The man in black obeyed the order and was about to leave.

Just then, a faint knocking sound with a distinctive rhythm came from outside the secret room; it was another trusted confidant in charge of emergency communications.

The prince frowned slightly: "Enter."

Another man in black quickly entered, knelt on one knee, and spoke urgently:

"Your Highness, we have just received news that the Duke... has dispatched his elite assassins to Jiujiang without authorization, intending to... assassinate Zhang Biao!"

"what?!"

The prince, who had been relatively calm just moments before, now had a clear look of anger on his face. He slammed his hand on the tea table beside him, making the teacups clink loudly.
"What an idiot! Is his brain filled with shit?!"

The prince paced back and forth in the secret room, furious, and growled:

"Zhang Biao is like a raging fire right now; we can't even get out of the way, yet he's trying to put it out with his bare hands? Song Zhong is watching right there; is he afraid the Emperor won't know we're behind this?! He's more trouble than he's worth!"

However, just as he was cursing, the next words from his confidant instantly calmed him down.

“Your Highness, please calm down. There is another matter. Our men have discovered that the area that Zhang Biao’s old and disabled soldiers are exploring seems to be extending towards Raozhou Guard.”

"Raozhou Guard?"

The prince stopped abruptly, his anger replaced by a hint of seriousness.

He instantly understood why the 'Duke' had targeted Zhang Biao.

Raozhouwei, there is a more hidden node he has set up there, which may have clues that directly point to him.

But this somber mood lasted only a short time.

A sinister glint flashed deep in his eyes, and a wicked plan to use someone else to do his dirty work instantly took shape.

He didn't give the order immediately, but instead, seemingly casually, tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, as if suddenly remembering something insignificant, and abruptly asked:
"Duke of Liang...has he been summoned back to the capital? Judging by the dates, he should...be passing through the vicinity of Raozhou Guard, right?"

The two men in black kneeling on the ground understood the prince's intention instantly.

The first man in black immediately replied:
"Your Highness, the Duke of Liang will be arriving near Raozhou Guard soon. Moreover, I have heard that he has several adopted sons under his command, whose temperaments are... rather arrogant and fierce."

The prince's icy smile finally blossomed completely, like a poisonous flower blooming in the dark night.

“Arrogance is good… Young people, hot-tempered, can’t tolerate any nonsense.”

He spoke slowly and deliberately, his tone carrying an indifference that regarded human lives as mere pawns:
"I've heard that the Duke of Liang is extremely protective of his own and hates it when people don't give him face, especially... those who harm his adopted son."

He glanced at the second man in black and gave a casual order:

"Go, have our people in Raozhouwei help Lan Yu's adopted son find something to do."

"I am very interested to see what kind of...spectacular sparks will fly when our so-called 'God of War,' the Duke of Liang, clashes with our 'Imperial Censor Zhang,' the man of the world."

"My subordinate understands!"

"Furthermore, find a way to destroy Raozhou Guard's treasury! Even if it's just a clue pointing to me!"

"Yes!

The two men in black responded in unison, their eyes gleaming with excitement and cruelty.

Silence returned to the secret room.

The prince sat back down in the shadows, and the tapping of his fingers began again, steady and rhythmic, as if everything was under his control.

Zhang Biao's unexpected change of tactics, while causing some trouble, also delivered a new piece to disrupt the situation.

What he needs to do now is sit behind the scenes and watch Lan Yu, this incomparably sharp but uncontrollable mad blade, and Zhang Biao, this stubborn and troublesome troublemaker, engage in a head-to-head duel.

Regardless of who wins or loses, it's a good thing for him.

He even hoped that this conflict would help him find out exactly where his father's tolerance for Zhang Biao lay.

"Is the 'God of War' of the Ming Dynasty more important, or the 'Mad Doctor' of the Ming Dynasty?"

From the shadows came a barely audible whisper, filled with a chilling pleasure.

Meanwhile, Zhang Biao and his companions temporarily settled in a secluded inn.

Inside the room, the oil lamp flickered dimly.

Having just escaped the 'victory' of Anqingwei, the news brought by the messenger sent back by Lao Qian instantly brought Zhang Biao to his senses.

"My lord! As you instructed, we followed the clues of the 'beast token' and 'scarred face' and found that the last recorded place where goods were picked up with the 'beast token' was in Raozhou Guard!"

"It happened about two weeks ago! They took away a batch of gunpowder and standard-issue arrowheads!"

“We originally intended to follow the example of Jiujiang Guard and Anqing Guard and first go to investigate, but as soon as we arrived at the territory of Raozhou Guard, before we even got close to the guard post office, we were stopped by their patrol soldiers!”

The subordinate, still shaken, said:
“They wouldn’t listen to us recite the ‘Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty’ at all, and they didn’t care whether we were from the Anti-Corruption Bureau or not. Their attitude was extremely tough!”

"One of the leaders, a commander of a thousand men, even declared that Raozhou Garrison was a strategically important military location, and anyone who dared to approach without a joint official document from the Five Military Commands and the Ministry of War would be killed without mercy!"

"When we tried to reason with them, they actually fired arrows to drive them away!"

"Several civilians who were nearby were injured. We only managed to retreat after we revealed our identities, but they threatened that if they dared to come again, they would kill us no matter who we were!"

"boom!"

A centurion slammed his fist on the table, his one eye blazing with fury: "They've gone too far! They're just feeling guilty!"

Another centurion also had a grim expression:

"My lord, the Raozhou Guard's reaction is so intense, even resorting to violence against civilians and officials, there must be a shocking case involved! That scarred man is probably closely connected to them!"

As officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, they had actually sided with Zhang Biao, leaving Song Zhong with an extremely complicated expression. Although he felt a sense of 'mission' to distance himself from Zhang Biao, he had to admit that Zhang Biao's personal charisma was indeed very effective at making people blindly follow him.

Upon hearing his subordinate's report, Zhang Biao unconsciously stroked his chin. Instead of showing fear, his face revealed the excited gleam of someone watching prey fall into a trap.

After a moment, he turned to look at Song Zhong, who had remained silent, and asked in a feigned manner:

"Song Qianshi, what do you think?"

"It seems that Raozhou Guard doesn't accept the 'Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty'? Should we go and educate them, or not?"

Song Zhong's lips twitched.

How could he not see that Zhang Biao was putting him in a difficult position?

Raozhouwei's attitude has fully explained the problem.

The secrets hidden there are probably bigger and more deadly than those of Jiujiangwei!

But it's even more dangerous there!
The other party has already shown a willingness to stop the investigation at all costs, and even dared to use force against officials. If Zhang Biao goes there, it will be like a lamb entering a tiger's den.

But Zhu's decree had not yet arrived. He had neither the authority to forcibly order Zhang Biao not to go, nor could he mobilize enough forces to ensure his safety.

"Master Zhang!"

Song Zhong took a deep breath and tried to persuade him:
"The situation in Raozhouwei is unclear. The other side is taking a hard line, and might even... resort to desperate measures. We are short-handed, and forcing our way there would be too risky!"

"Why not wait until the Emperor's decree arrives, then mobilize the troops from the surrounding garrisons, and then..."

"wait?"

Zhang Biao scoffed and interrupted him:

"Wait until it's too late? Wait until they've destroyed all the evidence and cut off the 'Scarface' lead?"

He paused, then looked at Song Zhong with a hint of provocation: "Song Qianshi, are you afraid?"

Song Zhong frowned: "It's not that I'm afraid of death, but it's my duty to ensure your safety and also to be responsible to the Emperor!"

"Responsible?"

Zhang Biao stood up, walked to the window, looked at the dark night outside, and spoke with a cold, mocking tone:

"By the time you report up the chain of command, by the time Old Zhu approves it, by the time the troops are mobilized... those parasites have already cleaned up their messes!"

"What if we come up empty-handed and find nothing? Will you take responsibility? Can you afford to take that responsibility?!"

"I……"

Song Zhong was speechless.

He knew Zhang Biao was right, but his responsibilities prevented him from acting as recklessly as Zhang Biao.

at this time--

"Whoosh—Pfft!"

Without warning, a crossbow bolt pierced through the window paper, accompanied by a piercing sound, and shot straight at Zhang Biao's back.

"Lord be careful!"

Always on high alert, Song Zhong reacted swiftly, lunging forward and shoving Zhang Biao aside.

The crossbow bolt grazed Zhang Biao's arm and, with a 'thud,' embedded itself deeply in the opposite wall, its fletching still trembling.

"There are assassins!"

"Protect your lord!"

The two centurions instantly drew their embroidered spring knives from their waists, stood protectively in front of Zhang Biao, and scanned the outside of the window with sharp eyes.

Song Zhong also rushed over immediately, cocked his crossbow, and surrounded Zhang Biao to protect him.

"Damn! They got here so fast?!"

Zhang Biao glanced at the torn sleeve of his official robe, his eyes instantly turning cold and violent.

Far from being afraid, he grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth:
"Looks like we've stirred up a hornet's nest! We absolutely have to go to Raozhou Garrison!"

Almost simultaneously, sounds of fierce fighting and screams came from outside the inn.

Clearly, there was more than one assassin, and they had already engaged in combat with the guards outside.

The other party was ruthless and had a clear objective: to kill Zhang Biao.

"Song Zhong! Take your men and guard the doors and windows! You two, come with me!"

At this moment, Zhang Biao displayed a calmness and decisiveness that was completely different from his usual madness, and quickly issued orders.

He ripped the tablecloth off the table and smashed the oil lamp on the ground. Flames instantly shot up, igniting the tablecloth and wooden furniture.

"Sir, what is this...?"

The two centurions were taken aback.

"Create chaos! They want to kill in the dark, but I'm going to make this place bright! And signal any possible reinforcements that might come!"

In the firelight, Zhang Biao's face was indistinctly lit, but his eyes shone with an alarming brightness.

The fighting outside grew increasingly intense, with occasional groans and thuds of Imperial Guards falling to the ground.

Song Zhong, holding a crossbow, stood guard at the door, his face ashen.

He brought only the best fighters, but the opposing team was clearly also elite, and outnumbered him, indicating they were well-prepared.

A member of the Imperial Guard, covered in blood, retreated in and hissed:

"Commander Song! The enemy has too many men, and they're ruthless. The brothers... can't hold them off!"

The defense line was about to be breached.

Song Zhong gritted his teeth and said to Zhang Biao, "Lord Zhang, let's go through the back window! I'll cover our retreat!"

"Walk?"

Zhang Biao chuckled, but instead of moving, he sat down leisurely and slowly pulled out a dark, strangely shaped object from his pocket.

The object was entirely black, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen in the firelight; it was his Glock pistol.

"Song Qianshi, have you forgotten that I'm not a pushover to be bullied?"

Before he could finish speaking, the door was suddenly kicked open.

Three masked men in black, wielding sharp blades, pounced in like ghosts, their blades aimed directly at Zhang Biao.

"Lord Zhang—!"

The two centurions, their eyes blazing with fury, rushed forward without hesitation.

Song Zhong also raised his crossbow, ready to shoot the enemy.

But the opponent was extremely skilled and coordinated perfectly, and was about to break through the last line of defense.

At this critical moment——

"boom--!"

A deafening, thunderous roar suddenly erupted in the small room.

Everyone was shaken to their core by the unprecedented and terrifying sound, and their movements involuntarily froze.

The man in black who was at the front suddenly had his head explode into a spray of blood. He was struck as if by an invisible giant hammer, flying backward and crashing heavily against the wall before sliding down, dying instantly.

A gruesome bloody hole appeared on his forehead.

quiet!
Deathly silence!

The remaining two men in black, along with Song Zhong and the two centurions, stared dumbfounded at Zhang Biao, at the 'firearm' in his hand that was still emitting wisps of smoke, as if they were seeing some kind of primordial beast.

What kind of weapon is that?!

The sound was like thunder, the power like a cannon?!

"Who else?!"

Zhang Biao's cold gaze swept over the other two men in black: "Anyone else want to try?"

"This"

The two men in black felt a chill run from their feet to the top of their heads as he swept his gaze over them, and they instinctively took a half step back.

The outside world seemed to pause briefly due to the sudden loud noise.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Song Zhong suddenly realized what was happening and shouted, "Take them alive!"

The two centurions also reacted and roared as they pounced on the two black-clad men whose minds had been taken aback.

However, at that moment, the two assassins exchanged a glance, a resolute glint in their eyes.

They abandoned their attack without hesitation and instead bit down hard on the poison sac hidden in their mouths.

"Uh……"

The two men convulsed violently a few times, black blood spilling from their mouths and noses, and collapsed to the ground dead in an instant, their faces bearing the coldness and relief of having failed in their mission.

All this happened in a flash of lightning.

By the time the Imperial Guards outside finally dealt with the remaining assassins and rushed in, the battle inside the house was already over.

Of the three assassins who broke into the house, one was killed by a mysterious firearm, and the other two committed suicide by poison. None of them survived.

Inside and outside the post station, there were five or six corpses of Imperial Guards and seven or eight corpses of assassins, the stench of blood was so strong it was hard to ignore.

Song Zhong's heart sank to the bottom as he looked at the assassin who had instantly committed suicide on the ground.

"They are all suicide soldiers..."

"Search for me!"

Without saying a word, Zhang Biao directly ordered: "Search carefully!"

Soon, a member of the Imperial Guard stepped forward and carefully removed the assassin's clothing to examine him.

When he turned the assassin's left arm inside, he paused: "Sir, we've found something!"

On the inside of the assassin's left arm, a beast-shaped pattern was clearly tattooed on the skin.

It's a Bi'an!

Zhang Biao's eyes were sharp as an eagle's. He squatted down and touched the tattoo with his hand. The texture was no different from skin, and it was definitely not something that had been temporarily pasted on.

"It's that persistent organization again! They're really well-trained, not even carrying a scrap of paper!"

Song Zhong leaned closer to take a look and gasped:
"Such a well-hidden mark...this organization is more sophisticated and terrifying than we imagined!"

Zhang Biao stood up, looking at the mess and corpses on the ground. Instead of lingering fear, his face revealed an even more excited and dangerous smile, though this smile carried a chilling undertone.
"They've even sent out assassins, and they're all wearing the organization's insignia... Are they afraid we won't know they're in a panic?"

After saying that, he suddenly looked at Song Zhong and said in an unquestionable tone, "Raozhou Garrison, we must go! Let's set off immediately!"

"Sir! It's too dangerous!"

Song Zhong said urgently, "The enemy has already gone so far as to use such elite assassins. If you go to Raozhou Guard, that would be..."

"What is that? Walking right into a trap?"

Zhang Biao interrupted him, saying:

"The more they act like this, the more it proves that Raozhou Guard is hiding something that could kill them! If I don't go, I'll be letting down the brothers who died tonight!"

He looked at Song Zhong and said, word by word, "Song Qianshi, if you're afraid, you can take the wounded back to report to Old Zhu."

"But I must get to Raozhouwei! I want to see if 'Truth' is within range!?"

Looking at Zhang Biao's stubborn and crazed eyes, then at the unpredictable firearm in his hand that had just taken a life, and then at the fallen comrades around him, Song Zhong knew that further persuasion was useless, and a surge of bloodlust welled up within him.

He gritted his teeth and then said in a deep voice:
"It is my duty, how could I desert my post?! Since you insist on going, I... will accompany you to the very end!"

He immediately summoned a Jinyiwei guard who was less seriously injured and ordered him to send a secret report, detailing the assassination attempt and the discovery of the 'Bi'an tattoo,' to the capital with utmost urgency.

Without taking a break or carefully treating their wounds, as soon as the sky began to lighten, Zhang Biao and Song Zhong, along with the remaining men, endured their grief and exhaustion and rode their horses towards Raozhouwei.

Zhang Biao rode on his horse, letting the morning breeze caress his cold cheeks.

He knew that the road ahead was bound to be a den of dragons and tigers.

But the blood and tattoos of the assassins acted as the strongest catalyst, making the flames in his heart burn even more fiercely.

Raozhou Garrison, here I come! Let's see if your city walls are stronger, or my resolve is stronger!

Please vote for me with your monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)