Chapter 106: Censor Zhang Has Fallen Out Of Favor! Hurry Up And Kill Him! Requesting Monthly Tickets!
Outside the Gate of Heavenly Acceptance, Zhang Biao had just proudly finished shouting a slogan and was about to lead his team of trembling yet inexplicably excited members to the Imperial Treasury.
Suddenly, dense and heavy footsteps echoed from the end of the street.
Jiang Huan himself led a team, and a dark mass of Imperial Guard officers surged forward like a tide, instantly surrounding the Censorate so tightly that not a drop of water could get through.
Swords were drawn, crossbows strung, and the air was filled with killing intent.
“Crash!”
An Imperial Guard Captain, without a word, delivered a flying kick, smashing the plaque that had only recently been hung and whose ink was still wet: 【 Hongwu Audit Special Clearing Account Department 】 and 【 Imperial Treasury Audit Special Action Group, in preparation 】.
“By Imperial Oral Decree!”
Jiang Huan’s expression was blank, his voice cold. He channeled his internal energy, ensuring everyone nearby could hear:
“Zhang Biao is arrogant and reckless, overstepping his bounds and acting presumptuously. From this day forward, his so-called ‘Audit Department’ is sealed! He is forbidden from mentioning the audit of the Imperial Treasury again! Those who disobey will be killed without mercy!”
He turned his gaze to Zhang Biao, who wore an expression of ‘as expected,’ and continued:
“The Emperor has decreed: Zhang Biao and his related personnel are forbidden from entering the palace, forbidden from approaching the Imperial Treasury, and forbidden from accessing Imperial Family archives! From now on, the Imperial Guard will ‘escort’ and record all your actions! The Emperor does not wish to hear any further related remarks!”
Whoosh—!
The crowd erupted in an uproar!
This was no longer just a refusal; it was a complete shutdown!
Zhang Biao touched his nose. Instead of fear, he let out a sneer and shouted at Jiang Huan, “Old Jiang, go back and tell Old Zhu, this isn’t over!”
“Swish!”
Jiang Huan abruptly drew his Xiuchun Saber, “What did you say?!”
“I said, if you have the guts, kill me, right now, immediately! If you don’t have the guts, shut your mouth and watch!”
Zhang Biao was dismissive.
Shen Lang and the others nearly fainted, thinking, “Has he sought death to the absolute end?!”
Zhang Biao, unconcerned, spread his hands to the stunned citizens and officials around him and said loudly:
“Everyone saw it, right? This is the difficulty of audit work! Even the Emperor might not cooperate! It shows that fighting corruption and promoting integrity is a long and arduous journey!”
As his voice fell, he turned and patted Shen Lang’s shoulder, then shouted to the crowd of low-ranking Capital Officials:
“Brothers, it’s alright! If we can’t audit the Imperial Treasury, we’ll continue to audit the Six Ministries! Work must go on! Let’s go! Target: Ministry of Revenue Archives! Let’s go see if the National Treasury’s account books match the Imperial Treasury’s!”
With that, he actually swaggered out as if he hadn’t just received a stern warning.
Jiang Huan and the Imperial Guard officers, their faces grim, could only follow helplessly, truly beginning their task of ‘full escort.’
On the other side, inside the Ministry of Revenue office.
Fu Youwen had several seemingly ordinary account books spread out before him, but his finger pointed to a few thin sheets of paper tucked within them.
“Officer Zhao,”
He looked at a pale-faced confidant. “You have followed Zhao Qian for many years; you are most familiar with his seal and handwriting. These three ‘Zhao Qian’s directives’ must be made seamless.”
“It would be best to pin the whereabouts of the eighty thousand taels for the dam construction funds from the Zhejiang Provincial Administration on him. Remember, the date of the directive must be half a month before his execution.”
“Your subordinate understands.”
Officer Zhao’s hand trembled slightly.
“It’s just… it’s such a large sum, and Minister Zhao, before his death, did not seem to have…”
“He ‘seemed’ to have done many things!”
Fu Youwen interrupted coldly.
“The dead cannot speak. If you do this well, I will arrange for your family to be sent south and live in wealth for a lifetime.”
He paused, his tone suddenly turning cold, “If you fail, you know the consequences.”
Hiss—!
Officer Zhao gasped, then nodded heavily.
At this moment, Fu Youwen turned to another person and said gravely:
“Director Sun, tomorrow morning, disguise yourself as a peddler going door-to-door and go near ‘Ink Fragrance Study’ south of the city. That bookworm Li Mo always goes there to buy old books on the third and eighteenth of every month. You will ‘accidentally’ drop this envelope.”
Saying this, he pushed over an inconspicuous grey cloth envelope:
“Inside is a copy of the transaction records between Ru Chang’s brother-in-law and border generals regarding private military equipment deals. Our traces have been removed, but it’s enough to lure them in.”
“Remember, act flustered, act natural, pick it up and run, and make sure he clearly sees the ‘Military’ seal on the envelope.”
“Your subordinate obeys!”
“And!”
Fu Youwen picked up a teacup and finally said to his strategist: “The letter to the Gu family in Jiangnan must be written in invisible ink and hidden within an ordinary family letter.”
“Tell Old Master Gu that he doesn’t need to attack Zhang Biao directly. Just have his disciples and old colleagues report in their memorials from various regions that ‘local clerks are too scared of the Capital Censors to do their jobs, leading to stagnation in governance and public resentment.'”
“Finally, further elaborate on the malpractice of ‘competing with the people for profit.’ This basin of dirty water needs to be thrown without making a sound, yet be everywhere.”
“Esteemed Master’s brilliant plan, I am impressed.”
The strategist smiled and stroked his beard, about to turn to carry out Fu Youwen’s orders.
Just then, a clerk rushed in urgently:
“Minister, something’s wrong! That Zhang Biao fellow has set up a new office at the Censorate, called the Hongwu Audit Special Clearing Account Department, and claims to be auditing the Emperor’s Imperial Treasury!”
“What?!”
Fu Youwen was greatly shocked, his face turning ashen, his fingers trembling so much he could barely hold the teacup.
The atmosphere in the entire office instantly dropped to freezing point.
In reality, if Old Zhu wanted to kill someone, he would just need to have the Imperial Guard investigate the accounts Zhang Biao reported.
He, Fu Youwen, would be absolutely doomed.
But Old Zhu didn’t do that.
Because killing one Fu Youwen was not his objective; he wanted to kill everyone involved with Fu Youwen and with the corruption in the Ministry of Revenue.
This was the essence of why he needed someone to step forward.
And Fu Youwen, naturally, knew Old Zhu’s intentions, which was why he kept destroying evidence and expanding his influence, gambling whether Old Zhu dared to kill them all.
However, the current situation was that Zhang Biao dared to investigate even Old Zhu’s Imperial Treasury. What were they compared to that?!
Did the influence you created compare to the influence of investigating Old Zhu’s Imperial Treasury?
“A madman! He’s a complete and utter madman!”
Fu Youwen’s face turned ashen, his eyes filled with fear and venom, “This isn’t auditing, this is digging up the roots!”
The Ministry of Revenue, in charge of the nation’s money and grain, had intricate and undetectable ties to the allocation of funds for the Imperial Treasury, the designation of imperial merchants, and the procurement of palace expenses!
Zhang Biao’s ‘curved path to saving the country’ was like a hand gripping his, Fu Youwen’s, heart!
Precisely so.
He immediately realized that Zhang Biao absolutely could not be allowed to continue this investigation!
“Quick!”
Fu Youwen stood up abruptly, his voice urgent:
“Immediately invite Minister Ru and several officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Personnel to come over! Say it’s a matter of utmost urgency to discuss!”
“Also!”
He stopped his confidant, his eyes fierce:
“Gather all account books from our Ministry of Revenue for the past ten years related to the Imperial Treasury, imperial merchants, and procurement, especially the old accounts before the fifteenth year of Hongwu! Let them be lost, let them be modified, and ensure it’s seamless! Not a single handle should be left behind.”
He had to unite with other departments that might be affected to jointly confront this crisis and destroy evidence immediately.
However, just then, another clerk ran in, panting:
“Minister, Censor Zhang’s 【 Hongwu Audit Special Clearing Account Department 】 and 【 Imperial Treasury Audit Special Action Group 】 plaques were dismantled by Commander Jiang and his men. There was also an Imperial Oral Decree forbidding Censor Zhang and his group from approaching the Imperial Treasury, or face death. The Emperor also said the matter of the Imperial Treasury will be discussed later.”
“Buzz—!”
The entire Ministry of Revenue office first hummed.
Then, there was a burst of laughter.
“Hahaha! Heaven aids me!”
Fu Youwen almost laughed until tears streamed down his face:
“The Emperor has grown weary of him! He’s treated him as a discarded pawn! Good! Very good!”
He immediately changed his previous order to destroy evidence: “No need to touch the account books! Contact Minister Ru immediately, and also several Vice Censors from the Censorate! Tell them, the mad dog is out of control, it’s time for us to pick up the dog-beating stick!”
He realized that the time to counterattack had arrived.
Dealing with Zhang Biao now not only carried no risk but might even be serving the Emperor.
On the other side, the same situation was occurring with Ru Chang, the Minister of War.
He sat in his office, still in his military uniform, with several burly generals standing before him.
“General Wang!”
Ru Chang’s voice was deep, carrying a hint of authority. “How have your men been training recently?”
General Wang understood, grinned, and said,
“Reporting to the Minister, the brothers are itching for a fight and want to find a tough field to practice charging formations! I heard the area outside the Gate of Heavenly Acceptance is large enough, and not far from a storeroom containing ‘stolen goods,’ which is perfect!”
“Mm.”
Ru Chang nodded expressionlessly, “Training should look like training. The horses’ hooves should be loud, the dust should be thick, and the shouts should be clear!”
“But remember, it’s training, not causing trouble. If you break any flowers or plants, remember to compensate.”
He added meaningfully, “Especially civilian residences, be extra careful not to disturb them.”
Another general whispered:
“Minister, from the Five Military Commissions, Duke Fu asked if he should…”
“No need!”
Ru Chang waved his hand. “If the old Duke moves, the nature of the matter changes. Your actions from below, taken spontaneously, are what represent the morale of the army. Go ahead and do it.”
The generals grinned and took their orders.
Ru Chang picked up a blank memorial, ground ink himself, pondered for a moment, and wrote:
【 Your subject Chang respectfully memorializes: I was shocked to hear of the Censors’ investigation, which has shaken the three armies. Soldiers in the Capital Garrison all say that provisions and pay are vital to their lives, and now it is as if bandits have passed through, I fear there may be internal strife. Although I have tried my best to suppress it, I am deeply worried that I may fail His Majesty’s trust. 】
Every word seemed to bleed, every sentence striking the heart.
At this moment, a clerk entered and reported the matter of Zhang Biao auditing the Imperial Treasury.
His reaction was even more furious than Fu Youwen’s.
His already obese body trembled violently with rage.
“Auditing the Emperor?! How dare that Zhang Biao! Why doesn’t he just die!”
Ru Chang roared, smashing a beloved inkstone, “And that fool Fu Youwen! If he hadn’t been so incompetent in the past and accumulated so much unpaid salary, how would he be pushed to this point by a mad censor today!?”
But he quickly calmed down, fear overriding his anger.
If Zhang Biao dared to audit the Imperial Treasury, then his attempt to connect with garrisons across the empire and expose the rotten accounts of all the garrisons, to prevent Zhang Biao from investigating, would be a huge joke, wouldn’t it?
After all, compared to the Emperor’s Imperial Treasury, the state of the garrisons across the empire was clearly more or less important.
“Prepare the sedan chair! Go to Fu Youwen’s mansion!” Ru Chang decided immediately.
At this moment, these officials, who might have been clashing with each other, had to temporarily form an alliance in the face of a common threat.
However, just then, another clerk came to report the same news.
Ru Chang’s reaction was equally swift, a sinister look flashing across his chubby face, “I knew it, how could the Emperor tolerate such a rogue!? It is as I expected!”
“Fu Youwen probably knows by now, and those old guys from the Five Military Commissions, it’s time for them to contribute!”
“Also, what about those princes? Beiping, Xi’an, Taiyuan, which one is clean?!”
“Heh!”
He let out a cold laugh and said,
“You like to audit, Zhang Biao? Let you audit! See if you live long enough to finish!”
“A disfavored harsh official is just a worthless life!”
As his words fell, he called out towards the outside, “Call General Wang and them back for me, and tell them, the training can be a bit more intense.”
