Chapter 120: Zhu Chongba! You’re Useless!
“Well said! I’ve had enough of being a doormat in the Ministry of War!”
Sun Gui suddenly stood up, his chest heaving:
“From now on, I’ll target those bloodsuckers who feast on soldiers! If I die, I die!”
Wu Nai Da’s eyes narrowed slightly, a shrewd glint flashing within them: “Since death is inevitable, let’s have some fun. The Ministry of Personnel’s accounts need a proper reckoning.”
His tone carried a newfound ruthlessness and proactiveness.
Zhao Fengman’s entire face turned red as he nodded vigorously:
“I’ll listen to you! Don’t let my size fool you! My legs are nimble! I can run errands, I can tail people! Whoever tries to harm us, I’m done with them!”
“I-I will write the memorials properly, and record everything I see and hear.”
Shen Lang said with a trembling voice, then suddenly recalled the night he was attacked, the fear of the soldiers coming to his door, and then remembered Zhang Biao patting his shoulder and saying, ‘Don’t be afraid.’
The five exchanged glances and extended their hands, speaking in unison.
“If we’re going crazy, let’s go crazy together! If we’re going to die, let’s die together!”
Li Mo’s words were like a massive stone dropped into still water, causing ripples that dispelled despair and confusion.
In their place arose a spirit of desperate resolve and a clear sense of purpose.
The five hands clasped tightly together. Although Shen Lang’s slight tremor and Sun Gui’s rough skin could still be felt, an invisible power seemed to transfer through their joined palms.
The oath echoed within the cramped official residence, low but firm.
After releasing their hands, the five sat down again, their gazes transformed.
The light of the oil lamp flickered on their faces, reflecting an unprecedented seriousness and brilliance of wisdom.
Li Mo, as the temporary core of their planning, spoke again, his voice much steadier:
“Now that our goal is set, we cannot act rashly. We must formulate a detailed strategy, each performing their assigned role, cooperating like a precision machine.”
He then looked at Wu Nai Da: “Brother Wu, your position in the Ministry of Personnel is crucial. Your task is to draw.”
“Draw?” Wu Nai Da raised an eyebrow.
“Yes!”
Li Mo nodded: “Draw a picture of our own network of relationships within the officialdom. Not just the apparent enemies like Fu Youwen, Ru Chang, Zheng Ci, and Zhai Shan.”
“But also to identify their core factions and where they are positioned in key roles.”
“Furthermore, which officials are disgruntled and could be secretly won over or utilized by us? Which are the seemingly neutral but crucial minor figures, such as clerks in the archive, or scribes who deliver documents?”
“These individuals can often play an unexpected role.”
Wu Nai Da’s eyes gleamed even brighter, and a calculating smile played on his lips:
“Understood. I’m good at this. The performance evaluations and promotion/transfer records of the Ministry of Personnel are the best sources of intelligence. I will compile a detailed list and relationship map.”
Hearing this, Li Mo then looked at Sun Gui: “Brother Sun Gui, you are in the Ministry of War, your task is to lie in wait.”
“Lie in wait?”
Sun Gui was taken aback, thinking Zhao Fengman had said he was going to do the tailing. How did it become his turn?
But he didn’t rush to question Li Mo.
Instead, he heard Li Mo say firmly: “Yes, lie in wait like the most patient hunter.”
“But…”
Sun Gui instinctively glanced at Zhao Fengman, still a bit confused.
Li Mo, as if seeing through his doubts, patiently explained:
“Brother Biao mentioned before that there was an issue with the silver allocated to the Ministry of War last year for manufacturing muskets. This is a breakthrough. But you absolutely cannot investigate actively; that would expose us immediately.”
“What you need to do is work as usual, even more diligently.”
“But keep an eye on all documents related to military equipment, provisions and pay, especially those concerning the musket silver, warehouse records, and account reconciliations. Note any subtle anomalies, any seemingly reasonable delays or vague treatments.”
“At the same time, pay attention within the Ministry of War, to who is dissatisfied with Ru Chang, who might know something but has been ostracized.”
“Gather all information, but do not act, and wait for the opportune moment.”
Sun Gui finally understood, and gave a heavy ‘Mm,’ his gaze sharp as an eagle’s:
“Good! I’ll just wait! Let’s see what tricks they can pull! If there’s even the slightest slip, I’ll remember it all!”
Then, Li Mo looked at Zhao Fengman and Shen Lang:
“Brother Fengman, Brother Shen, you are censors, your task is to ignite the fire.”
“Ignite the fire?”
Zhao Fengman’s interest was immediately piqued, and he eagerly asked: “How do we ignite it? Who do we impeach?”
“Not blind impeachment.”
Li Mo shook his head: “You will use the power to report rumors to the throne, but you must ignite the fire precisely. The targets must be chosen according to several principles!”
“First, corrupt officials for whom evidence of guilt is relatively easy to obtain, and who have incurred significant public anger.”
“Second, preferably minor figures in Fu and Ru’s factions who are not core members and can be sacrificed.”
“Third, the timing of impeachment must be skillful, ideally to create chaos or to cover for our other actions.”
“For example…”
Shen Lang added:
“If Brother Wu discovers that a confidant of Ru Chang received an undeserved excellent rating in the Ministry of Personnel’s evaluations, we can impeach him for falsifying performance reviews. We might not find evidence of corruption immediately, but procedural unfairness can always be used as a pretext.”
“Exactly!”
Li Mo looked at Shen Lang approvingly:
“That’s right! It seems like a small matter, but it can stir up trouble and make them suspect each other.”
“Moreover, you must gradually change your style. Your memorials should be written with more reasoning and evidence, no longer like wild ramblings.”
“This way, we can gradually regain some influence, and even… make some people think we have reformed and lower their guard.”
“Understood!”
Zhao Fengman nodded with a sinister grin:
“It’s like a hidden poison needle in a sleeve. It looks insignificant, but if it hits the right spot, it can be fatal!”
Finally, Li Mo pointed to himself: “I am in the Hanlin Academy, and my task is to mine.”
“The Hanlin Academy’s collection of books is vast, and old archives are piled high.”
“Under the guise of compiling history or organizing classics, I will try to access archives related to the Ministry of Works’ construction projects, the Ministry of Revenue’s old accounts, and even past major impeachment cases.”
“I will look for similar patterns of corruption, for potentially forgotten crucial evidence, and for clues to major cases that have been suppressed.”
“At the same time, I will closely monitor the movements of the pure stream faction and the civil officials of Jiangnan, and analyze the changes in the court’s sentiment.”
“Perhaps I can find something that truly shakes the foundations of those enemies, or…”
His voice trailed off, his eyes narrowing with resolve and hope: “Find a glimmer of hope to save Brother Biao.”
Hiss—!
Mentioning ‘saving Brother Biao’ made everyone’s heart clench.
The execution after autumn was imminent, time was short, and hope was slim, but this had to be one of their ultimate goals.
“Then how will we contact each other? How will we pass messages?”
Wu Nai Da raised the most practical question: “We can’t meet like this often; it’s too conspicuous.”
Li Mo had already thought of it: “We will agree on a few seemingly ordinary signals and locations.”
Saying this, he looked around at the four, then continued:
“For example, if someone has urgent intelligence, they can tie an inconspicuous piece of cloth to a specific branch of Old Censor Wang’s crooked tree.”
“For ordinary intelligence, it can be mixed into official document delivery, using markings only we understand.”
“We will not meet unless absolutely necessary.”
“Good!”
The group spoke in unison again.
This time, no one would protect them; they could only rely on themselves.
This time, no one would teach them; there was only the unquenchable fire of justice in their hearts.
Meanwhile, in Huagai Hall, Old Zhu’s bedroom.
“Your Majesty, it is time for dinner.”
Yun Ming cautiously approached Old Zhu and bowed to remind him.
But Old Zhu remained deaf to him, his hands tightly gripping the armrests of the dragon throne, his knuckles turning white from the force.
As Emperor, he deeply understood that Confucianism was the foundation of his rule, the bond that maintained the hearts of scholars across the land.
Zhang Biao’s actions were no less than digging up his ancestral graves!
His heart deserved to be punished!
But on the other hand,
The disgusting accounts of Li Tiesheng and his so-called ‘pure stream’ faction filled him with extreme disgust and disappointment.
A pile of mud!
All mud!
I’ve killed so many corrupt officials, yet they still can’t be eliminated?!
These scholars who read the books of the sages are more rotten at heart than anyone!
Zhang Biao, like a ‘mad dog,’ charged into the mud pond without regard, not only stirring up the muddy water and splashing everyone, but almost digging up the pond bank!
Killing Zhang Biao was inevitable.
Not killing him would be insufficient to maintain the dignity of ‘Sacred Learning’ and to pacify the scholars of the realm.
Even if it was only superficial appeasement.
But after killing him? Would this mud pond become clear? Would the worms hidden in the depths disappear?
Old Zhu felt a deep weariness and powerlessness.
Throughout his life, he had been decisive and resolute, hating corrupt officials the most.
Yet, in the end, he found that corruption was like wild grass, burning one crop only to have another grow, and it even grew within the ranks of the ‘pure stream’ he relied on for his rule.
“Your Majesty!”
Just then, a young eunuch tremblingly presented two memorials.
One was from Duke Cao, Li Jinglong.
The other was from Marquis of Wuding, Guo Ying.
Old Zhu frowned, still saying nothing, and picked up the memorials to read.
Li Jinglong’s memorial was written with sincere emotion, even to the point of being humble.
He profoundly reflected on his own failure to govern his household properly and manage his subordinates effectively, which had led to deficits in his estate and had failed to live up to the Emperor’s grace.
He stated he had no face to remain in the Imperial Court and requested to resign all his official posts, attaching a thick list of his family assets, claiming he wished to contribute all his property to the National Treasury as a show of remorse.
The words were filled with dread and a plea of ‘I was wrong, please let me go.’
Guo Ying’s was much simpler and more direct, citing old age and frailty, and the recurrence of old injuries, as reasons for requesting to retire and return to his hometown of Fengyang to recuperate.
Although his tone was respectful, the sense of disheartened resignation and eagerness to escape the storm was almost palpable from the paper.
These two memorials, like two cold needles, pricked Old Zhu’s most sensitive and suspicious nerve.
Resignation? Handing over assets?
Retiring to one’s hometown?
Old Zhu’s eyes narrowed sharply. The weariness and powerlessness he felt moments ago were instantly replaced by cold suspicion and anger.
After Zhang Biao’s audit, these two were in a hurry to flee?
Li Jinglong even wanted to hand over all his assets? This wasn’t an act of repentance, this was fear! This was guilt!
They wanted to shut me up this way and beg for a way out!
Guo Ying, that old fox, also wants to escape? Go back to Fengyang? That’s my old home, not your safe harbor!
The more they acted like this, the more Old Zhu suspected!
Zhang Biao’s near-cursing laughter before he left must have uncovered something deadly! He must have caught them on a bigger handle!
It’s just that he didn’t have time to reveal it, or…
Did that lunatic intentionally keep it back, wanting to disgust me on his deathbed?
See, you’re so useless!
The problem has been presented to you, and you can’t solve it!
Just wait for your Great Ming Dynasty to perish slowly in decay!
Just wait for your descendants to die without a complete corpse under the butcher knife of another ‘Zhu Chongba’ who raises the banner of rebellion!
Hahaha!
Zhu Chongba! You’re no good!
As if hearing Zhang Biao’s mocking, unrestrained laughter, Old Zhu’s hands, clutching the memorials, trembled with rage.
And the memorials, due to his forceful grip, became twisted and torn.
As for Yun Ming beside him, and the young eunuch who presented the memorials, they were so scared they fell to their knees with a ‘plop,’ trembling and pale-faced.
But Old Zhu paid them no mind at all.
Extreme anger and pent-up frustration, grief, and indignation filled Old Zhu’s eyes with overwhelming killing intent.
You’ve been investigated and now you want to cut off your tail to survive? To escape the golden cicada’s shell?
Dream on!
I’m not dead yet!
This empire of Great Ming still belongs to me, Zhu Yuanzhang!
A surge of rage from being underestimated and fooled swept over Old Zhu.
He felt as if he saw those nobles and high officials mocking him behind his back, thinking they could get away with this ‘self-punishment with three cups of wine.’
“Very good…”
Old Zhu’s voice was like the cold ice of the netherworld, carrying bone-chilling killing intent: “You all want to play mind games with me like Zhang Biao? You all want to test my bottom line?”
He suddenly stood up and sternly shouted towards the outside of the hall: “Guards!”
“Your servant is here!”
Yun Ming crawled forward a few steps.
“Deliver an imperial edict!”
Old Zhu’s voice was decisive, allowing no room for doubt: “Duke Cao, Li Jinglong, failed to govern his household, has serious deficits, and his intentions are suspect! Marquis of Wuding, Guo Ying, is arrogant and a deserter in battle, betraying the Emperor’s grace!”
“Order Jiang Huan to have the Imperial Guard arrest these two… immediately! Strip them of their official robes and throw them into the Imperial Prison!”
“Interrogate them thoroughly! Especially Li Jinglong, verify whether his list of family assets is true or false, and cross-check it item by item!”
“Yes!”
Yun Ming, scared out of his wits, quickly received the decree and left.
Old Zhu panted, his eyes gleaming with cold light.
Don’t you all want to live in peace? Don’t you all want to distance yourselves?
I will not grant your wishes!
Since Zhang Biao has stirred up the water, I might as well catch all the turtles at the bottom!
Li Jinglong, Guo Ying, neither of you will escape!
And those hiding behind Fu Youwen and the others, none of you will escape!
At this moment, Old Zhu was not only angry because of Zhang Biao’s madness, but even more so by the soft resistance and probing of the noble faction.
He decided to play along, using the opening Zhang Biao had created to conduct a more thorough and brutal purge!
Thus, a dramatic scene unfolded.
Not long after, in the deepest part of the Imperial Prison, the death row section.
Zhang Biao was leaning against a corner, idly scratching something on the wall with his finger.
The sound of heavy chains and footsteps could be heard.
Clang!
The door of an empty cell opposite was opened.
Li Jinglong, pale-faced and utterly dejected, was pushed inside.
Immediately after, the door to the adjacent cell was also opened.
Guo Ying, with white hair and a ashen face, looking ten years older in an instant, was also escorted in.
The three of them, separated by the iron bars of their cells, looked at each other.
When Li Jinglong and Guo Ying saw Zhang Biao, the instigator, in the cell opposite, looking at them with a playful smile, their expressions were indescribably complex: fear, despair, and a touch of absurd comedy.
Zhang Biao looked at his two new cellmates, paused for a moment, and then, as if seeing something extremely amusing, couldn’t help but let out a low laugh, his laughter echoing in the eerie prison corridor, sounding particularly piercing.
“Oh?”
“Duke Cao?”
“Marquis of Wuding?”
“What a… pleasure to meet you, to meet you!”
“This is going to be interesting.”
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Thanks to Tiantian Tianqing 600 for the reward.
【 There is still one more chapter to finish writing. I originally planned to post them all together, but seeing brothers urging me, I’m posting these two chapters first and will post the other one when it’s done. Sorry, it will be very soon. 】
