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

Chapter 23 You're so arrogant, so great! [New book, please add to your favorites]

Jiang Huan is increasingly unable to understand the thought process of this Imperial Censor Zhang.

He felt like his entire worldview was being turned upside down.

He used to serve Old Zhu and thought that Old Zhu was like a god, and that if he got angry, there would be bloodshed.

However, in just a few days, because of this young censor named Zhang Biao, Old Zhu's image in his mind almost collapsed.

Although he understood that Zhang Biao's remonstrances were indeed shocking and thought-provoking, shouldn't such an unruly and disrespectful subject be killed?
Does the Emperor really expect this junior censor to solve the problems he raised?
To be honest, Jiang Huan didn't believe Zhang Biao had such abilities at all.

Otherwise, why was he only promoted to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate today?

Furthermore, he keeps saying he wants to die, so why doesn't he just find a knife and kill himself?

Does the emperor really have to kill him?

Isn't this ridiculous?!

In Jiang Huan's view, Zhang Biao was a clown, a complete madman!

Therefore, after a moment of great astonishment, his expression gradually turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, "Imperial Censor Zhang, that's enough. Do you really think the Emperor's patience is limitless? In all the years I've served the Emperor, you're the first person to anger him and not be killed!"

"Hahaha!"

Zhang Biao threw his head back and laughed, making Jiang Huan's face grow colder and colder, but he paid no heed. Instead, he skillfully opened the well-worn book, "Give Me Back My Hard-Earned Money," and pointed to the lines of scribbles on it. He cleared his throat and, in a clear and accusatory tone, said loudly:
"Your Majesty! I, Zhang Biao, passed the imperial examination in the twentieth year of the Hongwu reign and was granted the position of Supervising Censor of Jiangxi Circuit in the Censorate by Your Majesty's grace. I am a seventh-rank official. Now I have been promoted to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. I am a fourth-rank official!"

He paused, then ignored Jiang Huan's murderous gaze and continued, "The Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate has not yet taken office, so let's leave that aside for now. Let's talk about the seventh-rank Supervising Censor of Jiangxi Circuit!"

"Since assuming office in the first month of the twenty-first year of Hongwu's reign, it has been four years, eight months, and three days!"

"Of course!"

His voice suddenly rose, filled with grief and indignation: "My salary has been in arrears for seven months and twenty-one days!"

Boom!

The announcement that "the arrears have reached seven months and twenty-one days" was no less than a thunderbolt striking the roof of the Fengtian Hall!
Jiang Huan's facial muscles began to twitch uncontrollably.

He had imagined a thousand possible actions Zhang Biao might take next—continue to remonstrate to the death, weep bitterly, or offer his neck for execution.
The only thing I never imagined was that after being consumed by my murderous intent and delivering a scathing critique of national doom that would cost me ten lives, this guy would pull out a tattered ledger and start settling accounts with Old Zhu! His wages?!

Wow!
Zhang Biao's cry, filled with grief and indignation, drew countless gazes.

They included those who entered the palace, those who served as waiters, those who carried out official duties, eunuchs and palace maids, and guards and soldiers.

Every gaze was filled with disbelief and wonder.

Those who were gathered together couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

"Who is this person? How dare he be so bold? Isn't he afraid of the Emperor's wrath?"

"I think he's got a death wish. How dare he ask the Emperor for his wages!"

"Yes! I think he's gone mad."

Gradually, the topic shifted.

"Wait a minute, he looks kind of familiar... isn't he that guy?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I also think he looks familiar. He's Zhang Biao, the Imperial Censor Zhang, who volunteered to be skinned alive!"

"I knew it! Who was so bold? It's Zhang Dadan! Tsk tsk, this is going to be good."

As more and more people around him started talking, Jiang Huan couldn't hold back any longer and immediately lowered his voice to scold, "Zhang Biao! What exactly do you want to do?!" Upon hearing this, Zhang Biao looked at him as if he were an idiot, then picked up the booklet "Give Me Back My Hard-Earned Money" and began to flip through it.

Only after finding content they were satisfied with did they continue shouting loudly:
"Your Majesty, please understand! According to the 'Collected Statutes of the Great Ming,' I am a seventh-rank official with an annual salary of ninety shi (a unit of dry measure). However, after deducting various fees such as paper money, silk, cloth, pepper, and sappanwood, my actual monthly salary is less than seven shi and five dou (another unit of dry measure)!"

From the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, officials' salaries were often paid in kind.

The main reason is that in the early Ming Dynasty, there was a severe shortage of copper, which resulted in fewer copper coins being minted.

Silver is even scarcer.

Therefore, during the Ming Dynasty, salaries were mostly paid in kind.

In addition, Zhu Yuanzhang's extensive promotion of paper money led to inflation, and salaries were frequently devalued.

Although Zhang Biao rarely lived in the Ming Dynasty and had hardly ever spent a full day there, he would listen to his colleagues discuss the daily rice prices before going to court each day. Over time, he gained a certain understanding of the economic situation of the Hongwu Dynasty.

It can be said that in Hongwu's memory, life was difficult for both ordinary people and officials.

However, this did not stop him from asking Lao Zhu for his wages.

Because before he transmigrated, his predecessor was so poor that his underwear was torn in several places, and he was still wearing those underwear. His family couldn't even afford a single tael of silver.

Not to mention the food they had to eat; even rats would probably shake their heads at that rice jar.

If he doesn't ask Lao Zhu for his wages, he'll probably starve to death at home this month.

He even suspected that his predecessor, seeing that he was about to starve to death, had risked his life to advise Zhu Yuanzhang on establishing an heir.
Sigh! The result is just too painful to recount!
Zhang Biao shook his head with a sigh, then started counting on his fingers, calculating an account that would make all the lower-ranking officials in the capital want to burst into tears.

"Your Majesty! According to yesterday's market prices, the price of rice in Yingtian Prefecture is 130 wen per dou (a unit of dry measure)!"

"My monthly salary is only enough to buy five dou and seven sheng of rice!"

“I am seven feet tall, and my daily ration is at least one liter! That’s three dou a month! This alone takes up most of my salary!”

"in addition!"

As he spoke, he glanced sideways at Jiang Huan and continued, "My quarters are arranged by the imperial court, but I still have to pay rent every month, one shi (a unit of dry measure)!"

"Firewood and charcoal require five bushels a month!"

"Pen, ink, paper, and inkstone are the foundation of an imperial censor's position, costing three bushels a month!"

"In social interactions with colleagues, including giving money for weddings and funerals, the average monthly amount is two dou (a unit of dry measure)!"

"I am an honest and incorruptible official, with nothing but clean hands. I can't even afford to hire a servant. I mend my own clothes when they are torn and patch my own shoes when they are leaky!"

At this point, Zhang Biao abruptly threw the small notebook in his hand to the ground, as if it contained all his blood and tears in accusations:
"Your Majesty! Commander Jiang just told me, 'That's enough!' Now I'd like to ask him, what does 'that's enough' even mean?!"

"Oh, you all keep praising the Emperor's wisdom and long live him, showering him with all sorts of rewards and living such comfortable lives! Yet you tell us not to bow down for a meager living?"

"Yes! You're so high and mighty! You're so great! You can let us starve to death now!!"

Wow!
As soon as these words came out, the whole place was in an uproar!

Some people blushed with excitement, while others burst into tears.

Jiang Huan was completely dumbfounded.

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(End of this chapter)