Chapter 114: We Are Eliminating Evil For The Country! We Are Not Pursuing A Mutual Relationship With You! Requesting Monthly Tickets!
Inside the office next to the Hall of Supreme Harmony Square, the atmosphere suddenly changed.
“Why is he here?!”
The fleshy parts of Ru Chang’s face trembled, feeling an unease that the script had been disrupted.
“This is outrageous! Instead of avoiding suspicion, he comes here to show off? Is he truly mad, or does he have backing?” Zheng Ci frowned tightly.
Fu Youwen stared at Zhang Biao with sinister eyes: “Come to watch the show? To provoke? Hmph, he doesn’t know his limits! It’s perfect to let the Emperor see how arrogant and overbearing he is, utterly disrespectful!”
It was seen that Zhang Biao, far from being scared away by the shouts of “Impeach the Emperor! Execute Censor Zhang!”, instead sought cooperation with that group of pure stream officials, urging the Emperor to kill him.
Such an absurd and bizarre scene left the four of them astonished, their expressions gradually becoming solemn.
Zhai Shan was the first to react. He gasped sharply, a trace of horror flashing in his eyes:
“No! Esteemed sirs, look at Zhang Biao’s expression! He’s not afraid at all! Instead, he seems to be anticipating something! He’s deliberately provoking those pure stream officials!”
“I see it too!”
Zheng Ci’s hand, stroking his beard, paused, his expression slightly changing: “If he were afraid, he would be hiding in the Censorate or submitting a memorial to defend himself, not adding fuel to the fire here. His actions are as if he’s afraid the Emperor won’t kill him!”
“Isn’t this just like when they impeached Zhao Qian, Qi Tai, and Lu Ping? Trying to drag others down with him even when facing death!?”
The smugness on Fu Youwen’s face completely vanished, replaced by disbelief and shock: “The huge commotion he’s causing, auditing officials, even provoking imperial authority, is not about fighting corruption, nor about power…”
“From beginning to end, he just wanted to anger the Emperor and seek a quick death?!”
Boom!
As this statement was made, the four felt as if struck by lightning.
This conclusion was too incredible, making it difficult for the four to process for a moment.
Ru Chang’s mouth fell open: “Seeking death? Why? What is he after? Even madness has its limits, right?!”
“If he truly wishes to die, wouldn’t impeaching him be exactly what he wants?”
Fu Youwen’s gaze was sharp, rapidly analyzing: “The more we clamor for his head, the more likely the Emperor is to go with the flow and execute him, thus fulfilling his wish?”
The thought that their carefully planned fatal blow might have inadvertently assisted their opponent in achieving their goal sent a wave of frustration and coldness through the four.
“Then we…”
Zheng Ci said with difficulty: “Have we not backfired?”
Upon hearing this, the office fell into a brief silence.
They thought they had gained the upper hand, only to realize the other party might have deliberately stepped into a trap, or perhaps, this trap was the other party’s very objective?
This cognitive reversal left them feeling powerless.
“Not necessarily!”
Fu Youwen, after all, was a shrewd strategist. He quickly calmed down, his eyes flickering:
“Even if he seeks death, will the Emperor necessarily kill him? The Emperor was so angry before but held back, even promoting him. This shows there must be something the Emperor values in him. Perhaps… the Emperor wants to use him for more things!”
“What the Vice Minister says is extremely true.”
Zhai Shan nodded in agreement: “The Emperor’s intentions are unfathomable. Perhaps the Emperor already saw Zhang Biao’s desire for death, and therefore, refuses to grant it?”
“Our impeachment will only make the Emperor more vigilant, and more inclined to protect Zhang Biao as a tool to continue stirring up trouble?”
“Then…”
Ru Chang listened, feeling a bit dizzy, and couldn’t help but raise a hand to his forehead: “So, did this play of ours help the Emperor, or help Zhang Biao? Or did we just trap ourselves?”
“Regardless of the Emperor’s decision, the danger posed by Zhang Biao far exceeds our imagination.”
Fu Youwen took a deep breath, looking at Zhang Biao, who was still ‘performing’ in the square, and the pure stream officials who were nearly driven to death by him, and slowly said:
“He doesn’t care about life or death, rules, or even the court’s structure. Such a person cannot be judged by ordinary standards, nor can he be controlled.”
His gaze swept over the other three, becoming extremely serious: “Our plan remains unchanged. The impeachment must continue, and the momentum must be amplified!”
“But the objective needs to be adjusted: it’s no longer solely about killing Zhang Biao, though that’s the best outcome. More importantly, it’s to demonstrate our strength to the Emperor, the importance of court stability, and force the Emperor to make a choice!”
“Even if the Emperor doesn’t kill Zhang Biao this time, he must know that tolerating such a person comes at the cost of court turmoil and the alienation of the civil official system!”
“If the Emperor still wishes to use him, he must impose constraints and define boundaries! And within these boundaries lies the space for our operations!”
“At the same time…”
Fu Youwen lowered his voice: “We must quicken our pace. Destroy any traces that need to be destroyed as soon as possible, and attend to any matters that need to be smoothed over. Regardless of the Emperor’s final decision, Zhang Biao must not be able to implicate the people behind us, otherwise, we will die horribly!”
The other three listened, their expressions solemn, and nodded one after another.
They put away their casual observer mentality and reverted to being the shrewd strategists who navigated the treacherous currents of officialdom.
They turned their gaze back to the square, their eyes now different.
No longer merely watching a play they had directed.
But examining a terrifying variable that defied ordinary logic, and contemplating how to better protect themselves in the ensuing storm, or even profit from the chaos.
On the other side.
Seeing the pure stream censors kneeling with contorted faces, their throats nearly hoarse from shouting, and no reaction from within the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Zhang Biao couldn’t help but wonder: “What’s going on? Why is Old Zhu not reacting at all?”
At this moment, Sun Gui walked over, holding a chamber pot lamp, and whispered: “Brother Biao, they don’t seem to be working! Why don’t we just go back? We haven’t accomplished anything, and those people in the Ministry of War keep saying ‘military secrets’. If we try to investigate further, Commander Jiang will directly draw his sword to stop us.”
“Go back for what?”
Zhang Biao asked with some displeasure: “How is the investigation into the Ministry of War going?”
“This…”
Sun Gui hesitated, then looked at Shen Lang.
Shen Lang then looked around and said: “There are many problems, but we haven’t accomplished anything. Those people in the Ministry of War keep mentioning ‘military secrets.’ If we try to investigate further, Commander Jiang will directly draw his sword to stop us.”
“Heh!”
Zhang Biao sneered, about to speak, when he suddenly heard a faint eunuch voice from within the Hall of Supreme Harmony: “His Majesty is unwell, esteemed officials, please return.”
Boom!
Everyone was like being doused with a basin of cold water, looking at each other, somewhat at a loss.
The Emperor won’t see us? How can this play continue?
That group of pure stream officials was immediately thrown into a dilemma.
Just then, a voice they hated to the bone, slowly sounded again: “Tsk tsk tsk, esteemed colleagues, your efforts are not enough!”
“Zhang Biao! Do not use eloquent words to erode our will!”
The old censor Li Tiesheng, furious, shouted.
“How can you say I’m eroding your will? It’s just that your methods are wrong!”
Zhang Biao sighed and shook his head, then walked outside the ‘cordon’ set up by the Imperial Guard. He crossed his arms and looked at them with a ‘disappointed in your lack of progress’ expression.
“What’s the use of just shouting slogans? ‘Impeach the Emperor, Execute Censor Zhang’? It’s too direct, too lacking in skill! The Emperor will only feel you’re trying to force his hand, to threaten him!”
Speaking of which, Zhang Biao immediately began a live demonstration: “You need strategy! You need methods!”
“???”
The pure stream officials were utterly bewildered.
You’re impeaching me, and you’re teaching us how to impeach more effectively?!
What kind of tactic is this?!
It’s completely throwing us off!
However, Zhang Biao ignored their confusion and continued his eloquent speech:
“First, you must highlight the danger! Don’t just say I’m disrupting the court; explain how I’m disrupting it!”
“For example, because I’m auditing accounts, the Ministry of Revenue is paralyzed, leading to delayed military pay in the north and unstable border defenses!”
“The Ministry of War is in chaos, leading to loopholes in autumn defense arrangements, and the Tatars might take advantage of the weakness!”
“The Ministry of Works is stagnating, causing delays in repairing the Yellow River dikes. If they breach, it will lead to widespread suffering!”
“The Ministry of Personnel is at a standstill, causing local officials to be unable to be assessed and promoted on time, leading to neglect of local governance! You must describe the consequences as extremely severe, the kind that concerns the fate of the nation!”
“…”
The pure stream officials listened, stunned.
Although they felt this madman made some sense, why did it feel like he was helping them list his own crimes?
“Second, you must elevate the discourse!”
Zhang Biao became more animated as he spoke: “Don’t just discuss the matter itself! You must connect me with historical traitors!”
“For instance, I am Wang Mang reborn, appearing humble yet secretly ambitious! Or Dong Zhuo reincarnated, sowing chaos in the court… In short, insult me in any way possible! Make the Emperor feel that if he doesn’t kill me, he will become the most incompetent ruler in history!”
“Third, and most importantly!”
Zhang Biao lowered his voice, as if imparting a secret: “You must demonstrate a sense of tragic heroism! Don’t just kneel and shout; you must cry! You must kowtow! Kowtow until you bleed!”
“It would be best if a few elder, reputable officials were to faint on the spot!”
“Or take out ropes and gesture towards the pillars outside this hall, making it look like you’re about to ‘die for a cause’!”
“The bigger the commotion, the better! Only then can you force the Emperor to come out and see you!”
Holy cow!
What he said made so much sense!
The pure stream officials were utterly bewildered.
Is this… is Zhang Biao completely beyond saving?
He’s actually teaching us how to more effectively get him killed?!
The leading old censor Li Tiesheng, his beard trembling with anger, pointed at Zhang Biao: “You, you shameless scoundrel! Do not utter nonsense here!”
“How am I speaking nonsense?”
Zhang Biao spread his hands, feigning innocence: “Aren’t I helping you by offering advice, so you can quickly achieve your ‘Impeach the Emperor, Execute Censor Zhang’ request?”
“Don’t you want me dead? I also want to die! Our goals are the same! We should cooperate sincerely!”
“Pfft—!”
Several pure stream officials almost spat blood from anger at this bizarre logic.
Cooperate? Cooperate to get you killed?!
We want to eliminate a pest for the country, not have a mutual emotional journey with you, you lunatic! Damn it!
Zhang Biao looked at their wonderfully varied expressions and nodded with satisfaction: “Alright, I’ve taught you the methods. Whether you succeed depends on how touching your performance is.”
Saying this, he gestured to them: “Good luck! I have high hopes for you!”
As his words fell, he turned and left elegantly, then walked to the side to brief Shen Lang and the others on ‘final arrangements’.
Leaving behind a group of pure stream officials in disarray, their convictions nearly collapsing.
How are we supposed to impeach him now?!
The main target comes to give you technical guidance and wants you to impeach him even more?!
The tragic atmosphere was completely gone! It felt like they were participating in an absurd play arranged by a director!
Meanwhile, Old Zhu, inside his bedroom, soon received news of Zhang Biao’s ‘enthusiastic guidance’ to the group of pure stream officials to jointly kill him. He was so angry that he smashed the medicine bowl he had just picked up.
“Crash!”
“I have never seen such a shameless person!”
Old Zhu pounded the dragon couch, his anger unappeasable: “This bastard! He not only seeks death but also wants us and all the civil and military officials to accompany him! He wants to stir the water even muddier!”
“Then Your Majesty…”
“I will not see them! I will not see anyone! Especially Zhang Biao!”
Before Yun Ming could finish speaking, Old Zhu interrupted him angrily: “Just let those misguided pure stream officials and that ‘mad dog’ who seeks death cause trouble outside!”
“I want to sleep! I’m very sleepy now!!”
Yun Ming: “…”
No, Your Majesty, can you sleep? Censor Zhang is still waiting for you to execute him!
