Chapter 211: Old Zhu: My Brain Isn’t Working Anymore! Monthly Ticket Bonus Update 23
“How much?! Fifty thousand taels?!”
Hearing Zhang Biao’s ‘unreasonable request,’ the Emperor Old Zhu’s temper, which had only slightly subsided from the deliciousness of instant noodles, flared up again with a ‘whoosh,’ and it was even more intense than before.
He pointed at Zhang Biao, his fingers trembling, so angry he almost couldn’t breathe:
“Zhang Biao! Do you think the silver in our Imperial Treasury is like it fell from the sky?!”
“Or do you think that my job as Emperor is just to be a big fool who doles out money for you?!”
“You insulted us! You disrupted the Court Order! You incited public sentiment! And now you dare to ask us for money?! Fifty thousand taels?! You… you are simply shameless to the extreme!!”
Old Zhu felt like his lungs were about to explode from this madman’s anger, thinking, ‘I ate a bowl of your instant noodles, and now you want to extort fifty thousand taels from me?! That’s more ruthless than robbery!’
“Your Majesty, please see the truth!”
Facing Old Zhu’s furious outburst, Zhang Biao appeared somewhat wronged and bewildered.
He blinked his eyes and said in a tone that suggested, ‘Why are you being unreasonable again?’:
“How can this be considered me asking you for money? This is clearly an investment!”
“Investment?”
Old Zhu was stunned by this new term, and his anger paused for a moment.
“That’s right! It’s an investment!”
Zhang Biao slapped his thigh and began his next round of persuasion:
“Your Majesty, think about it, what is the Anti-corruption Bureau for? It’s for investigating corruption!”
“Once corrupt officials are found and their illicit gains are recovered, how much will that be? It will be more than ten or even a hundred times this fifty thousand taels, right?”
“In other words, your investment of fifty thousand taels in me is like baiting a fish!”
“It’s using a small amount of money to leverage the funds of the Great Ming Dynasty that were swallowed by corrupt officials! This deal, no matter how you calculate it, is a win for Your Majesty!”
Having finished, he seemed afraid Old Zhu wouldn’t understand, so he began to count on his fingers to explain the accounts to him:
“Your Majesty, look, this fifty thousand taels, a portion will be used to recruit clerks who understand mathematics and dare to speak up. This is investment in talent!”
“Another portion will be used for collecting evidence and conducting secret investigations. This is investment in information!”
“And another portion will be used for rewarding anonymous tips. This is… investment in credibility!”
“As long as our credibility is established, and the populace and minor officials are willing to provide us with clues about corruption, won’t investigating cases be twice as effective with half the effort?”
“At that time, the recovered illicit funds will fill the National Treasury, and it will showcase Your Majesty’s sagacity!”
“This fifty thousand taels is well spent! Extremely well spent!”
Zhang Biao spoke with such fervor that he almost convinced himself.
Old Zhu listened to his ‘theory of investment,’ his expression shifting unpredictably.
He had to admit that this madman’s words seemed to have some logic.
Using fifty thousand taels to potentially gain hundreds of thousands of taels in recovered illicit funds, as well as achievements in rectifying official conduct… this…
【 No! 】
Old Zhu violently shook his head, dispelling the dangerous thought.
【 I almost fell into this scoundrel’s trap again! 】
“Eloquent but insincere!”
Old Zhu snorted coldly, “Even if funding is needed, it should be allocated by the Ministry of Revenue and go through the proper channels of the court! How could it possibly come from the Imperial Treasury?!”
He tried to pass the buck to the Ministry of Revenue, intending for Zhang Biao to argue with Yu Xin and those shrewd accountants.
Zhang Biao heard this and shook his head like a rattle drum, “Your Majesty, absolutely not! Absolutely not!”
“Why not?”
“Your Majesty, think about it!”
Zhang Biao had an expression of ‘How can you not understand this?’ and said with deep grief:
“Who is the Anti-corruption Bureau investigating? It’s potential major corruption cases involving Princes, Nobles, and even high-ranking court officials! If the funding comes through the Ministry of Revenue, can the information be kept secret?”
“If the Ministry of Revenue allocates funds today, then tomorrow all the worms in the Capital City might know how much the Anti-corruption Bureau has and what direction they are investigating!”
“By then, they will destroy evidence in advance and collude on confessions, and what will we be able to investigate?!”
“Allocated from the Imperial Treasury, it is secret! Efficient! And directly accountable to Your Majesty! This way, we can catch them off guard and unprepared! And we can catch big fish for Your Majesty!”
He once again unfurled the banner of ‘serving Your Majesty’ with great flourish.
Old Zhu was rendered speechless by his words.
Logically, there was nothing wrong with what Zhang Biao said.
The Anti-corruption Bureau was tasked with doing a job that offended people, and confidentiality was paramount.
But…
To have him take fifty thousand taels from his hard-earned Imperial Treasury and give it to this madman who had just angered him? That felt worse than cutting off a piece of his flesh!
He stared intently at Zhang Biao, his eyes weighing whether it was less costly to kill this madman now or to profit from giving him fifty thousand taels to cause trouble.
Seeing Old Zhu’s conflicted and contorted expression, Zhang Biao knew the time was ripe and decided to add a little more fuel, while also leaving himself an escape route.
He sighed, his tone becoming grave:
“If Your Majesty is truly in a difficult position… I have another method.”
“What method?”
Old Zhu asked subconsciously.
“A loan!”
Zhang Biao uttered two words.
“A loan?”
Old Zhu was bewildered, “Borrow from whom?”
“Of course, borrow from Your Majesty!”
Zhang Biao said righteously:
“Consider this fifty thousand taels as a loan from me to Your Majesty! Once the Anti-corruption Bureau achieves results and recovers the illicit funds, I will repay it double! No! Triple!”
He held up three fingers and swore earnestly:
“Consider it as interest earned on the money Your Majesty deposits with the Anti-corruption Bureau! That should be acceptable, right?”
Old Zhu: “…”
He felt his brain was not functioning properly.
This madman actually wanted to play ‘loans’ with the Emperor? And triple the repayment? Why didn’t he just rob a bank?!
But for some reason, the words ‘triple the repayment’ seemed to have a magical effect, stirring something within him.
【 Using the Imperial Treasury’s money to generate more money, this… 】
Seeing a flicker of interest in Old Zhu’s eyes, Zhang Biao secretly chuckled, knowing he had this one in the bag.
He struck while the iron was hot, bowed again:
“Your Majesty! If you are still not at ease, I can give you one year’s interest. Then, if you lend it to me, the risk would be smaller, wouldn’t it?”
“How is the interest calculated?”
Old Zhu asked subconsciously, as he was still very sensitive to the concept of ‘interest.’
A shrewdness flashed in Zhang Biao’s eyes, and he held up three fingers:
“Your Majesty, considering the Anti-corruption Bureau is just starting out and the risk is high, I’ll give you a preferential rate, an annual interest of… thirty percent! How about it?”
“Thirty percent?!”
Old Zhu gasped.
This interest rate was much higher than what usurers charged.
“Are you insane?!”
“Your Majesty, that is where you are mistaken!”
Zhang Biao immediately cried out in grievance:
“In private lending, the risk is borne by the lender. Our Anti-corruption Bureau is recovering illicit funds from the National Treasury; we are helping Your Majesty make money!”
“This thirty percent interest, while seemingly high, is actually compensation for the risk Your Majesty is taking, and it also serves as an incentive for everyone in the Anti-corruption Bureau!”
“At that time, everyone will be eager to repay the loan quickly, which will make them work harder on cases!”
He was skillfully distorting the meaning, framing the high interest as ‘risk compensation’ and an ‘incentive mechanism.’
Old Zhu furrowed his brows, calculating rapidly in his mind:
【 Fifty thousand taels, with an annual interest of fifteen thousand taels. If ten thousand taels in illicit funds are truly recovered, after deducting the principal and interest, there would still be a net profit of over forty thousand taels… this… 】
Seeing Old Zhu becoming increasingly tempted, Zhang Biao added more fuel, presenting an even more advanced financial concept:
“Your Majesty, if you still feel it’s not safe, I have a ‘gamble’ plan!”
“Gamble?”
Old Zhu was once again dazed by the new term.
“We’ll set up an agreement!”
Zhang Biao explained:
“This fifty thousand taels will be considered Your Majesty’s investment in the Anti-corruption Bureau! You will hold thirty percent of the dry stock! From now on, all illicit funds recovered by the Anti-corruption Bureau, after deducting costs, thirty percent will directly go into your Imperial Treasury!”
“This is called ‘benefit binding,’ sharing risks and profits!”
“This way, the more the Anti-corruption Bureau investigates, the more Your Majesty earns! If nothing is found, you will only lose the principal of fifty thousand taels, but if big fish are caught, the returns will be continuous!”
Zhang Biao’s voice was extremely enticing, constantly challenging Old Zhu’s limited financial knowledge:
“Your Majesty, this is equivalent to using fifty thousand taels to invest in a ‘Corruption Eradication Fund’ with unlimited potential!”
“The returns it brings in the future may far exceed your imagination! This is much better than letting silver gather dust in the treasury!”
Old Zhu was dizzy from the barrage of ‘investment,’ ‘gamble,’ ‘dry stock,’ and ‘fund.’
He instinctively felt there was a trap, but the enticing prospects of ‘guaranteed profit’ and ‘continuous returns’ painted by Zhang Biao acted like a hook, constantly teasing his heart.
Especially the terms ‘Corruption Eradication Fund’ and ‘benefit binding’ made him vaguely feel that he might be able to slightly restrain this runaway horse, Zhang Biao, with the reins of profit.
He stared intently at Zhang Biao, trying to find any trace of deception on that lazy face, but Zhang Biao’s eyes were as ‘sincere’ as freshly baked sweet potatoes.
“Your Majesty, opportunity waits for no one!”
“Now that public sentiment is with us and public opinion has taken shape, this is the best time for the Anti-corruption Bureau to act!”
“If we miss this opportunity due to a mere fifty thousand taels in funding, allowing the worms to breathe, it will be difficult to achieve results even with ten thousand taels later!”
“Please, Your Majesty, make your decision!”
Having said that, he adopted an attitude of ‘I’ve done my best, it’s up to your courage.’
Old Zhu looked at his demeanor, his heart itching with anticipation.
And Huagai Hall fell into a deathly silence once more.
Old Zhu was seen pacing back and forth in front of the imperial desk with his hands behind his back, his brow furrowed, seemingly engaged in an intense internal struggle.
To give? It was truly painful, and who knew what other mischief this madman would cause after getting the money.
Not to give? What this madman said seemed to have some logic. What if he could really uncover something, recover illicit funds, and even shake up the official system…
To kill him? That would be quick, but the consequences would be endless…
After an indeterminate amount of time, Old Zhu suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at Zhang Biao with a complex gaze.
His eyes were a mixture of heartache, suspicion, helplessness, and a trace of decisiveness after being cornered.
“Fine!”
Old Zhu seemed to have made a great decision, his face showing a conflicted expression of heartache and anticipation:
“We’ll trust you this once! Fifty thousand taels from the Imperial Treasury, we’ll lend it to you! No, we… will invest!”
He chose the investment option that sounded more advantageous.
“It will be thirty percent dry stock, just as you said!”
“From now on, of all the illicit funds recovered by the Anti-corruption Bureau, after deducting your so-called costs, thirty percent will go back to our Imperial Treasury!”
“Your Majesty is wise!”
Zhang Biao laughed heartily inside, but his face showed admiration:
“Your Majesty indeed has courage and vision! This move will surely be recorded in history as a model of cooperation between sovereign and subject, and financial innovation!”
While flattering him, he inwardly grumbled:
【 Old Zhu, Old Zhu, you still don’t understand! The ‘deduction of costs’ is a deep rabbit hole! 】
【 Whether I say the cost is fifty thousand taels or one hundred thousand taels, that will be up to me! 】
【 This thirty percent dry stock, hehe… 】
Old Zhu looked at Zhang Biao’s triumphant expression, grinding his teeth in anger, but he couldn’t help but roar:
“Zhang Biao, don’t get happy too soon! I haven’t finished speaking!”
“Three months! I’m only giving you three months!”
“If within three months, you cannot uncover any decent cases, cannot recover illicit funds that are acceptable to me, and cannot prove the value of your ‘Corruption Eradication Fund’…”
Old Zhu’s gaze instantly turned chilling:
“Not only will I reclaim the principal, but your Anti-corruption Bureau will be disbanded immediately!”
“All your previous arrogant words, I will settle with you one by one! At that time, it won’t be as simple as ‘naked confinement’!”
“Did you hear me?!”
This was the final bottom line and warning.
Facing Old Zhu’s killing intent, Zhang Biao’s smile remained, he bowed, and his voice carried immense confidence:
“Your subject, Zhang Biao, obeys the imperial decree! Thank you, Your Majesty, for the investment!”
“Your Majesty, rest assured! Within three months, I will surely turn your fifty thousand taels principal into one hundred thousand, or even five hundred thousand, flowing back to your Imperial Treasury continuously!”
“If I cannot, I will present my head to you!”
He said this with absolute certainty, as if he could already see mountains of gold and silver.
Old Zhu looked at his demeanor, the lingering unease in his heart was once again suppressed by the anticipation of enormous returns.
He waved his hand, as if trying to drive away something unlucky:
“Begone! Yun Ming, take him to the Imperial Treasury to withdraw fifty thousand taels! Record the accounts clearly!”
“Your servant obeys!”
Yun Ming quickly responded.
Zhang Biao bowed again, then turned, preparing to follow Yun Ming to get the money.
However, at that moment, Old Zhu suddenly seemed to remember something and shouted loudly, “Stop—!”
Zhang Biao’s heart skipped a beat, thinking, ‘No way? You’re regretting it so soon?’
“Does Your Majesty… have any other instructions?” Zhang Biao mechanically turned his head to look back at Old Zhu.
He saw Old Zhu staring intently at him, and after a long pause, he got straight to the point:
“Zhang Biao! These messes you’ve stirred up! Causing such a commotion and unrest throughout the city, making people’s hearts restless! How can our Great Ming Dynasty remain stable?!”
“If the court is unstable and the world descends into chaos, what good is investigating corruption?! At that time, you, the ‘Censor Zhang,’ will be the first to be torn apart by the rioters!”
Old Zhu’s words were half threat, half fact.
The fire of public opinion had already been ignited by Zhang Biao. If it couldn’t be controlled, and it burned down the credibility of the court and caused turmoil, let alone the Anti-corruption Bureau, the entire Great Ming Dynasty could fall into chaos.
At that time, Zhang Biao, as the instigator, would undoubtedly become the target of various factions for ‘removing the ruler’s assistants.’
Hearing this, Zhang Biao, far from being afraid, seemed to be enlightened, showing a look of sudden realization, which then turned into a deep concern.
He frowned and paced back and forth on the spot, as if deep in thought.
【 Old Zhu is right. My goal is to stir things up through the Anti-corruption Bureau. Before the matter is resolved, the fire cannot burn too fiercely, otherwise, I’ll get burned first. 】
【 After all, abandoning halfway is not my style! 】
【 I need to find a suitable furnace for this fire, one that can generate sustained heat without getting out of control. 】
【 Also, I need to ensure one thing: at the end of it all, I can be ‘angrily killed’ by Old Zhu, and no one else should benefit. 】
With this in mind, Zhang Biao suddenly stopped and looked up at Old Zhu, his eyes burning, with an eagerness that suggested ‘I am sharing Your Majesty’s worries’:
“Your Majesty is wise! Your words have awakened me from my dream! It was my oversight, and I almost caused a great disaster!”
He first admitted a ‘mistake,’ smoothing Old Zhu’s ruffled feathers a little, and then changed his tone:
“However, it is better to channel than to block! Public grievance has already arisen, and doubts have been sown. Suppressing them by force might be counterproductive.”
“I have a plan that might kill three birds with one stone: it can pacify public opinion, appease the populace, select talented officials for the court, and even… pave the way for the great cause of anti-corruption!”
Old Zhu narrowed his eyes, his guard up, knowing this madman was up to something again, but he still said coldly, “Speak!”
Zhang Biao cleared his throat, held up three fingers, and said loudly:
“I suggest that Your Majesty issue three imperial decrees to announce to the world!”
“The first decree: Re-examine the court’s Salary system!”
Zhang Biao’s voice rose, “Publicly acknowledge that the current salary may be insufficient, causing some officials to live frugally and be prone to greed.”
“Order the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel, in conjunction with the Hanlin Academy, to broadly solicit opinions and redefine a salary standard that reflects the court’s consideration and ensures officials can live a basic life with dignity!”
“This move can appease the hearts of mid-to-lower-level officials, showcase Your Majesty’s benevolence, and also silence the public opinion that says ‘officials force the people to rebel’!”
Old Zhu’s eyelids twitched.
To redefine the salary? This was equivalent to admitting that his previous policy of low salaries was problematic!
This was practically slapping him in the face!
But Zhang Biao was not wrong; this was indeed the most direct way to appease officials and quell the public opinion of ‘officials forcing the people to rebel.’
He endured his displeasure and did not interrupt.
“The second decree: Organize a ‘Literary Grand Ceremony of the World’!”
Zhang Biao continued, his tone provocative, “Widely invite scholars and learned individuals from all over the world, those with academic talent, regardless of their background or region, all are welcome to come to the capital to participate!”
“The ceremony can include multiple subjects such as Classics, Policy Essay, Poetry, and even Mathematics and Craftsmanship. It can be presided over by Your Majesty personally, or important officials can be appointed to evaluate!”
“Those who distinguish themselves in the ceremony and prove to have real talent, regardless of whether they passed the imperial examinations, can be appointed to official positions through special recommendation!”
Hearing this, Old Zhu’s pupils contracted slightly.
This move was too insidious! And too brilliant!
The source of world unrest often lies not with illiterate bandits, but with those intellectuals who harbor rebellious intentions, possess culture and ability, but have no path for advancement.
They have the ability to incite the populace and organize resistance.
Zhang Biao’s ‘Literary Grand Ceremony’ was equivalent to using a huge, legitimate, court-led channel for advancement to attract all talented but ‘unstable factors’ to the capital and keep them under watch!
Granting them fame and official positions, using the court’s favor to buy them over and divide them!
Turning them from potential opponents into beneficiaries and guardians of the system!
This was far more sophisticated than mere military suppression!
Old Zhu instantly weighed the pros and cons.
Although this move would impact the existing imperial examination system and cause dissatisfaction among some conservative officials, compared to the possibility of a nationwide intellectual rebellion, this price was insignificant!
He could even imagine how many frustrated scholars would be overjoyed by the imperial decree and shift their focus from criticizing the court to striving to excel in the ceremony!
“The third decree!”
Zhang Biao’s voice rang out again, with an undeniable firmness, “Implement the ‘Anonymous Complaint Box’ system to deter corruption throughout the realm!”
“Your Majesty can issue an imperial decree, announcing that the ‘Anonymous Complaint Box’ is a powerful tool for the court to broaden its avenues of speech and combat corruption, not Zhang Biao’s private instrument!”
“Official complaint boxes should be set up uniformly at the doorways of all Provincial Administration Commission offices, prefectures, departments, and counties, as well as at various important government offices in the Capital City. The Surveillance Commission or designated incorruptible officials will be responsible for collecting and verifying them regularly!”
“And reiterate the protection for whistleblowers and rewards for valid reports!”
“This move will formalize the ‘complaint boxes’ that were previously privately discussed and speculated about by the populace into the court’s legal framework!”
“It not only responds to public demand for anti-corruption and demonstrates Your Majesty’s determination to eradicate corruption but also allows this supervisory force to be controlled by the court, preventing it from being exploited by those with ulterior motives!”
“Furthermore, it will make corrupt officials throughout the realm truly feel the dual pressure from the court and the populace, and they will not dare to act recklessly!”
Three imperial decrees, interconnected!
The first appeases the official system, the second buys over the intellectual group, and the third responds to grassroots public opinion and strengthens supervision!
It covered almost all current potential destabilizing factors!
Old Zhu stared intently at Zhang Biao, as if re-evaluating this madman.
Each of these three suggestions precisely targeted the core of the current public opinion storm, and each provided a highly actionable solution.
Especially the ‘Literary Grand Ceremony,’ it was a stroke of genius, transforming a potential crisis into an opportunity to consolidate rule!
This fellow… is he really just a madman who makes trouble?!
No, he sees clearer than anyone!
His previous madness was more like a carefully calculated grand strategy!
He was indeed pushing for his reforms!
Using madness to force us to reform!
Old Zhu’s heart was filled with mixed emotions: the shock and apprehension of being outmaneuvered and trapped by Zhang Biao, as well as the frustration and helplessness of having to adopt his suggestions.
He knew that once these three imperial decrees were issued, Zhang Biao’s reputation and reforms would permeate every corner of the Great Ming Dynasty, and the Anti-corruption Bureau would gain unprecedented ‘official endorsement’ and room for activity.
This was equivalent to, with his tacit approval or even promotion, making Zhang Biao’s ‘mad blade’ even sharper and giving it greater scope to wield!
The risk was enormous!
However, without doing so, how could the current public opinion crisis be resolved? How could national stability be maintained?
Of two evils, choose the lesser.
After a silence that felt like an eternity, Old Zhu finally spoke slowly, his voice carrying extreme fatigue and decisiveness:
“Granted.”
A single word, yet it seemed to drain much of his energy.
“Draft the decrees as you have said.”
He waved his hand, giving instructions to Yun Ming, then looked at Zhang Biao, his gaze as sharp as ever, but deep down, he harbored a re-evaluation of this ‘madman’ and a trace of very faint reliance, which he himself had not yet noticed.
“Zhang Biao, I will follow your wishes on these three decrees. If you dare to deceive me…”
Old Zhu did not finish, but the threat was implicit.
Zhang Biao said seriously, “Your Majesty, I, Zhang, conduct myself with integrity throughout my life and never deceive anyone!”
Old Zhu snorted coldly, clearly unconvinced.
But Zhang Biao showed a smile from the bottom of his heart.
【 It’s done! Old Zhu, you still have to follow my script! 】
【 Hehe, watch me create a big show for you, making you unbearable, and forcing you to kill me! 】
He withdrew from Huagai Hall, content, feeling one step closer to his ‘ultimate goal.’
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