Chapter 23: You’re So Noble, You’re So Amazing! New Book Seeking Collection
Jiang Huan was becoming more and more confused by Censor Zhang’s thought process.
He felt his worldview was about to be overturned.
He used to serve Old Zhu and believed the Emperor was heaven; when he was angry, blood would surely be shed.
Yet, in just a few days, because of this junior censor named Zhang Biao, Old Zhu’s character setting in his mind was about to collapse.
Although he understood that Zhang Biao’s admonishments were indeed shocking and thought-provoking, shouldn’t a minister so audacious and disrespectful to the sovereign be killed?
Did His Majesty truly expect this junior censor to solve the problems he raised?
To be honest, Jiang Huan did not believe Zhang Biao had such ability.
Otherwise, why was he only promoted to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate today?
Also, if he kept saying he wanted to die, why didn’t he just find a knife and kill himself?
Did he have to make the Emperor kill him?
Isn’t that problematic?!
In Jiang Huan’s opinion, Zhang Biao was nothing more than a jester, a complete madman!
Therefore, after immense bewilderment, his expression gradually turned cold, and he said heavily, “Censor Zhang, that’s enough. Do you really think the Emperor’s patience is infinite? I have served His Majesty for so many years, and you are the first person to anger the Emperor without being killed!”
“Hahaha!”
Zhang Biao threw his head back and laughed, making Jiang Huan’s face grow colder. But he paid no mind, skillfully flipped open that weathered purple “We Want Our Blood and Sweat Money” book, pointed at the lines of illegible scribbles, cleared his throat, and in a clear, strongly accusatory tone, proclaimed:
“Reporting to His Majesty! Your subject, Zhang Biao, achieved Jinshi scholar status in the 20th year of Hongwu, and by the Emperor’s grace, was appointed as Investigating Censor of the Jiangxi Circuit of the Censorate, Seventh Rank! I have now been promoted to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Fourth Rank!”
He paused, then ignored Jiang Huan’s murderous gaze and continued, “The Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, I have not yet assumed office, so I will not speak of it for now. Let’s talk about the Seventh Rank Investigating Censor of the Jiangxi Circuit!”
“Since assuming office in the first month of the 21st year of Hongwu until now, it has been four years, eight months, and twenty-one days!”
“However!”
His voice suddenly rose, filled with grief and indignation, “Your subject’s salary has been in arrears for seven months and twenty-one days!”
Boom!
This statement, “in arrears for seven months and twenty-one days,” was no less than a thunderclap striking the roof of the Hall of Supreme Harmony!
The muscles on Jiang Huan’s face began to twitch uncontrollably.
He had imagined ten thousand scenarios for Zhang Biao’s next move – continued dying for a cause, weeping bitterly, offering his neck for execution.
He had never imagined that this fellow, enveloped by his killing intent and having just delivered a speech of dire warnings that could cost him his head ten times over, would pull out a tattered account book and demand his wages from Old Zhu!
Rustle!
With Zhang Biao’s cry full of grief and indignation, countless eyes were drawn to him.
Among them were those entering the palace, those running errands, those on duty, eunuchs and palace maids, and guards and soldiers.
Every gaze was filled with disbelief and astonishment.
Especially those gathered together, unable to help but whisper.
“Who is this person? How can he be so bold? Isn’t he afraid of the Emperor’s anger?”
“I think he wants to die, daring to ask the Emperor for his wages!”
“Yes! I think he’s crazy.”
Gradually, the tone of the conversation shifted.
“Wait, why does he look familiar? Isn’t he that…”
“Right, right! I also think he looks familiar. He’s that Zhang Biao, Censor Zhang, who voluntarily requested to be flayed and stuffed!”
“I knew it! Who would be so bold? It turns out to be Bold Zhang! Tsk tsk, there’s good drama to watch today.”
As the surrounding chatter grew louder, Jiang Huan could no longer hold back and immediately lowered his voice to scold, “Zhang Biao! What exactly do you want to do!?”
Hearing this, Zhang Biao glanced at him as if he were an idiot, then picked up the little book, “We Want Our Blood and Sweat Money,” and began flipping through it again.
Only when he found the content that satisfied him did he continue to shout loudly:
“May His Majesty see clearly! According to the “Great Ming Code,” your subject is Seventh Rank, with an annual salary of ninety *shi*! After deducting discounts for notes, silk, cloth, pepper, and sappanwood, the actual amount of rice received monthly is less than seven *shi* and five *dou*!”
Officials in the Ming Dynasty, starting from the early Ming, often had their salaries paid in kind.
The main reason was that in the early Ming Dynasty, due to a large shortage of copper, fewer copper coins were minted.
And silver was even scarcer.
Therefore, for most of the Ming Dynasty, salaries were paid in kind.
Furthermore, with Old Zhu vigorously promoting things like Precious Notes, inflation occurred, and salaries often depreciated.
Although Zhang Biao rarely lived in the Great Ming World and essentially never stayed a full day, before each morning court, he would listen to his colleagues discuss the daily rice prices. Over time, he gained some understanding of the economic situation of the Hongwu Dynasty.
It could be said that in his impression of the Hongwu Dynasty, both commoners and officials had a difficult time.
However, this did not prevent him from demanding his wages from Old Zhu.
Because before he transmigrated, his previous self was so poor that his underwear had holes in it, and he was still wearing that underwear now. His home couldn’t even produce an ounce of silver.
Not to mention food; even a mouse would shake its head at his rice jar.
If he didn’t demand his wages from Old Zhu, he would likely starve to death at home this month.
He even suspected that his previous self, seeing that he was about to starve to death, had fearlessly gone to advise Old Zhu on establishing the Crown Prince.
Alas! It’s all tears when you talk about it!
Zhang Biao sighed and shook his head, then began to count on his fingers, calculating an account that would make all lower-ranking capital officials want to cry.
“Your Majesty! According to yesterday’s market price, the price of rice in Yingtian Prefecture is one hundred and thirty *wen* per *dou*!”
“Your subject’s monthly salary can only buy seven *dou* and five *sheng* of rice!”
“Your subject is seven *chi* tall, and his daily ration is at least one *dou*! That’s three *dou* a month! This alone consumes most of his salary!”
“Furthermore!”
He said, glancing sideways at Jiang Huan, and continued, “My dormitory is arranged by the court, but I still have to pay rent monthly, one *shi* per month!”
“Firewood and charcoal cost five *dou* per month!”
“Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone are the foundation of an Investigating Censor’s work, consuming three *dou* per month!”
“Social interactions with colleagues, gifts for weddings and funerals, average two *dou* per month!”
“Your subject is an upright official, with nothing but clean hands. I can’t even afford a servant. If my clothes are torn, I mend them myself; if my shoes leak, I patch them myself!”
At this point, Zhang Biao fiercely threw the small notebook in his hand to the ground, as if it represented all his blood and tears of accusation:
“Your Majesty! Commander Jiang just told me to stop. Now I want to ask him, what does ‘enough’ mean?!”
“Oh, you all day shout ‘His Majesty is wise,’ ‘Long live His Majesty,’ receive all sorts of rewards, and live such a comfortable life! But you tell us not to bow for five *dou* of rice?”
“Yes! You are noble! You are amazing! You can let us starve to death now!!”
Whoosh!
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience erupted!
Some were flushed with excitement, some wept like rain.
And Jiang Huan was completely stunned.
Seeking monthly tickets, seeking recommendation tickets
