Chapter 117: The Debate Between Purity And Turbidity Shocks The Great Ming For An Entire Year! Requesting Monthly Tickets!
The air in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony seemed to have solidified into ice, heavy and suffocating.
Old Zhu’s chest heaved violently, his eyes, which had weathered countless storms and seen through the hearts of men, were fixed on Zhang Biao, as if he wanted to devour him alive.
Killing intent, anger, and a hint of the frustration of being dragged into the mire by this madman intermingled and churned in his eyes.
How could he not know Zhang Biao’s intentions?
This madman, unable to find death for himself, was simply dragging everyone down with him.
Using the most brutal method, he was forcing this Emperor to confront the ugliness beneath the clean facade of these pure stream officials, forcing him to make a choice before the world.
Would he uphold a system that appeared glorious but was potentially rotten, or tolerate a “mad knife” that only knew how to destroy but occasionally could pierce a festering sore?
In the office, Fu Youwen, Ru Chang, and others, their palms slick with cold sweat.
They held their breath, their hearts pounding against their ribs.
They greatly feared that Old Zhu would truly agree to an on-site audit.
That would be a disaster that no one could control or escape.
The pure stream officials kneeling on the ground, including Li Tiesheng, were even more ashen-faced, their bodies trembling like sieves.
Some with weaker psychological fortitude had already collapsed to the ground, and some even showed signs of dampness at their crotch, a foul odor subtly spreading.
They, who usually held forth, impeached this one, lectured that one, never imagined that one day they would be audibly, in the most naked way, audited for their “innocence” before the Emperor?
“Your Majesty! Absolutely not! By no means—!”
Li Tiesheng let out a desperate wail, no longer caring about his composure, tears streaming as he kowtowed:
“These are the mad words of Zhang Biao before his death! His intention is to disrupt court order and slander loyal officials! Your Majesty is wise, how can you fall into this villain’s trap!”
“Indeed, Your Majesty! If this precedent is set, the nation will cease to be a nation!”
“We beg Your Majesty to swiftly execute this villain, and no longer listen to his wild words!”
“.”
The pure stream officials, realizing the gravity of the situation, began to cry and beg, trying to stop the terrifying on-site audit.
“Hahahaha—!”
Zhang Biao heard this, and suddenly burst into wild laughter, then turned his head to look at the group of pure stream officials, mockingly saying:
“Among you people, some are clouds, some are water, each claims to be a loyal minister! While we are traitors!”
“Little do you know, in the eyes of His Majesty, what kind of trash are you all?!”
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.
Even Old Zhu looked at Zhang Biao with a hint of surprise.
Then, Zhang Biao walked step by step on the Hall of Supreme Harmony Square, each word sonorous and deafening:
“The ancients called the Yangtze River ‘Jiang,’ and the Yellow River ‘He.’ The Yangtze’s water is clear, the Yellow River’s water is turbid.”
“The Yangtze flows, and the Yellow River also flows.”
“The water of the Yangtze irrigates the fields of several provinces on both banks.”
“The water of the Yellow River also irrigates the fields of several provinces on both banks.”
“One should not exclusively use the clear water and discard the turbid, nor should one exclusively use the turbid and discard the clear; this has been the case since ancient times.”
Saying this, he pointed at the old censor Li Tiesheng and said coldly:
“This old scoundrel does not understand this principle, and advises His Majesty to only use the Yangtze and discard the Yellow River. Can His Majesty do that?”
Li Tiesheng’s face instantly turned as pale as paper.
He never expected that Zhang Biao, who was usually known for his wild words, would utter such a shocking statement.
Stimulating!
So damn stimulating!
The historian not far away felt his life was now complete!
He was furiously writing Zhang Biao’s heroic and spirited image in the historical records, more excited than if a “sage” had descended.
Zhang Biao, however, ignored all the shocked gazes, and through the group of pure stream officials, looked towards the office adjacent to the Hall of Supreme Harmony Square, his voice suddenly rising:
“There is an ancient saying: ‘When a sage appears, the Yellow River clears.’ But when has the Yellow River ever cleared?”
“Conversely, when the Yellow River floods, it needs to be controlled.”
“This is why His Majesty killed Hu Weiyong, Guo Huan, and Li Shanchang, and abolished the position of Chancellor.”
“Conversely, when the Yangtze River floods, His Majesty also needs to control it.”
“This is why His Majesty killed Zhu Liangzu, Liao Yongzhong, Zheng Yuchun, and Mao Xiang.”
“What!?”
The four in the office, Fu Youwen, were stunned.
It was as if they were being hammered repeatedly on the head, their minds going completely blank.
However, Zhang Biao withdrew his gaze and once again focused on the group of pure stream officials, calmly and indifferently saying:
“Now, you all praise yourselves as pure stream officials before His Majesty, form factions, and hold the court hostage. What is the reason for this?”
Boom!
The words landed, shocking the Great Ming for a whole year!
The entire square was instantly dumbfounded.
Almost no one expected Zhang Biao to magnify the issue to such an extent.
This was no longer confronting one person.
This was a collision of eras.
This was giving them a taste of their own medicine.
You like to list your associates? I’ll list you all as accomplices in the three major cases!
You like to hoist the banner of serving the country and the people, and argue with reason? I will use reason to defeat you!
“Your Majesty! Zhang Biao slanders sacred learning, his crime is unforgivable!”
“Indeed, Your Majesty! Zhang Biao deceives the masses with demonic words and uses eloquent speech; if he is not killed, righteousness cannot be upheld!”
“Your Majesty—!”
The pure stream officials finally panicked, their fear causing them to lose all composure.
If this were to implicate others, tens of thousands would die.
Old Zhu’s face, too, had turned utterly grim, as if it could drip water.
His gaze swept over the pure stream officials exhibiting their grotesque behavior, then looked at Zhang Biao, who stood tall with an expression of “You decide,” and finally his gaze fell behind Zhang Biao, at those followers who were trembling in fear but still gritting their teeth and refusing to beg for mercy.
This Zhang Biao kid is capable, and loyal.
Although he is seeking death, he hasn’t forgotten to protect these “wolf cubs” under him.
This thought inexplicably flashed through Old Zhu’s mind.
He had killed countless people and seen too many faces of those who, facing death, would bite their companions and grovel for mercy. A madman like Zhang Biao, who sought death for himself but fought back fiercely to protect his own people, was something he had never seen before.
This, amidst his rage, stirred a strange sense of admiration in him.
But this hint of admiration was instantly drowned out by greater fury.
“All of you, shut your mouths for this Emperor—!”
Old Zhu roared suddenly, like a tiger’s roar in the mountains, instantly suppressing all the wails and pleas.
The entire square fell silent once more.
Everyone stared at the Emperor in terror.
Old Zhu stared intently at Zhang Biao, grinding out the words through his teeth: “Zhang Biao, do you really think this Emperor dares not let you investigate? Do you really think this Emperor will be blackmailed by you?!”
Zhang Biao showed no fear, even grinning, revealing his white, sharp teeth: “Your subject does not dare to blackmail Your Majesty. Your subject merely requests Your Majesty to see clearly!”
“Whether they are loyal or treacherous, pure or turbid, an investigation will reveal it!”
“Your subject is willing to wager his head that what lies beneath their behinds is not clean!”
“If your subject loses, your subject dies content! If your subject wins…”
His smile became more radiant, yet also colder: “Then won’t Your Majesty be able to clear out a batch of vermin? It’s a win-win, Your Majesty!”
“Bastard things!”
Old Zhu was so enraged he almost spat out another mouthful of old blood.
This madman was fanning the flames with every word.
But he had to admit, Zhang Biao’s words, like poisoned needles, pierced the most suspicious and darkest parts of his heart.
He, Zhu Yuanzhang, had risen from humble beginnings, and hated corrupt officials and engaging in self-serving practices the most.
He had long been displeased with the behavior of these pure stream officials, but due to the needs of governance and the unwritten rule of “not quarreling with the scholar-officials,” he had tolerated them until now.
Now, Zhang Biao had handed him a knife, forcing him to personally peel back that ornate skin.
Investigate, or not investigate?
To investigate might trigger a major upheaval in the court, and even shake the foundation of the nation.
Not to investigate would not only condone potential corruption but also be an admission to the world that he, Zhu Yuanzhang, was afraid, and had compromised with this madman.
Moreover, these pure stream officials would certainly become even more arrogant in the future.
More importantly, not to investigate would play into the hands of Fu Youwen, Ru Chang, and the others.
It would truly make them tools for borrowing a knife to kill.
Old Zhu’s gaze swept again towards the direction of the office where Fu Youwen and the others were located. Although separated by a window, he seemed to feel their tense observation from behind.
They all want to use me? They all want to see me make a fool of myself?
An extreme wave of ferocity and a desire for control surged to Old Zhu’s head.
He suddenly made a decision.
“Good!”
Old Zhu’s voice, like the clashing of ice, resounded across the square: “Zhang Biao, this Emperor will give you this chance!”
“Boom—!”
This statement, like a bolt from the blue, exploded and sent all the pure stream officials into a state of utter despair!
Li Tiesheng’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
Fu Youwen and the others in the office were also struck with horror, almost collapsing to the ground!
The Emperor, the Emperor had actually agreed?!
Zhang Biao’s eyes suddenly lit up, like a hungry wolf spotting flesh: “Your Majesty is wise!”
“Wise my foot!”
Old Zhu interrupted him roughly, his tone grim, “But I have a precondition! Jiang Huan!”
“Your subject is here!”
Jiang Huan immediately stepped forward.
“You personally lead your men to the archives and accountant’s offices of the Censorate and the Hanlin Academy! Retrieve for this Emperor the records of Li Tiesheng, and…”
Old Zhu casually pointed at a few of the pure stream officials who had been shouting the loudest:
“And for these few, their charcoal tribute records, and ink and paper requisition records for the past three years! Then go to the Ministry of Revenue and retrieve the property and shop registrations under their names and those of their direct relatives!”
Although Zhang Biao’s debate on purity versus turbidity, and his theory of the Yellow River, made Old Zhu unable to consider other matters.
But Old Zhu still left room for maneuver, not expanding the scope on the spot, nor truly setting up a scene for accounting in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, but instead letting Jiang Huan retrieve evidence.
However, this was already lethal enough.
“Also, relay my imperial oral decree, summoning the duty officials of the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Justice, and the Supreme Court to come immediately! This Emperor wants to see what result can be found today!”
Old Zhu intended to keep the matter within the scope of “verification” rather than allowing Zhang Biao complete control over the “on-site audit” pace, but the deterrence was already sufficient.
“Your subject obeys the decree!”
Jiang Huan did not hesitate, immediately selecting a team of elite Imperial Guards, and departed swiftly.
The pure stream officials named by Old Zhu immediately looked as if they had lost their parents, collapsing to the ground, unable to even cry.
They knew it was over! It was completely over!
How could those accounts withstand the scrutiny of the Imperial Guard and several ministries!
Zhang Biao smiled with satisfaction.
Although Old Zhu did not let him audit personally, his objective had been achieved.
He believed Jiang Huan and those duty officials would deliver a “just” verdict.
He turned and looked at Shen Lang, Li Mo, and others, who were pale-faced, raising an eyebrow as if to say: ‘See, aren’t I awesome?’
Shen Lang and the others’ hearts were now filled with an extremely complex mix of emotions.
The relief of surviving, gratitude towards Zhang Biao, and fear of the bloody purge that was about to come, intertwined, leaving them weak and barely able to stand.
Old Zhu no longer looked at the pure stream officials, his gaze returning to Zhang Biao, his killing intent once again condensing: “Zhang Biao, now, it is time to settle your accounts!”
Even if he had to clear out the “pure stream” officials, Zhang Biao’s grave crimes of slandering sacred learning, advocating for the dismissal of Confucianism, and shaking the foundation of the nation could not be lightly forgiven.
Otherwise, where would his, Zhu Yuanzhang’s, face be? How would the scholars of the realm be appeased?
Zhang Biao heard this, and far from being afraid, he straightened his robes, once again revealing that satisfied expression of “I’ve waited so long, and today has finally come,” and said loudly:
“Your subject awaits the imperial decree to receive his punishment!”
His voice was clear and calm, even carrying a hint of liberating joy, echoing in the silent Hall of Supreme Harmony, appearing incredibly eerie and piercingly dissonant.
Old Zhu, seeing him like this, felt a surge of rebellious blood rush to his head, his temples throbbing.
This bastard…
This bastard thing!
Killing him would be completing him!
Not killing him, how could this anger be vented? How could the court order be rectified?!
But he was truly a talent!
The theory of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, the logic behind his killing, he had explained it so clearly!
He truly deserved to die!
Old Zhu was caught in an unprecedented fury and internal conflict.
