Chapter 217: Zhang Biao: I’m Going To Do Something Big! Seeking Monthly Tickets
“Clack—!”
The chopsticks in Zhang Biao’s hand fell onto the table, making a crisp sound.
The laziness and playfulness on his face vanished without a trace, replaced by extreme shock and coldness.
He suddenly raised his head, his gaze like two sharp swords, fixedly staring at One-armed Old Zhou.
“What did you say?! Colluding with rebels and harboring bandits? Raising bandits for self-importance?!”
“Old Zhou, explain yourself clearly! You’re not allowed to leave out a single word!”
Zhang Biao’s voice was suppressed extremely low, yet it carried an undeniable severity.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly tensed to the extreme.
Old Li, Old Sun, and Old Qian also put down their bowls, looking at Old Zhou with solemn expressions.
Old Zhou felt a prickle of unease under Zhang Biao’s gaze, but he knew the matter was of great importance and dared not conceal anything.
He took a deep breath and recounted the chilling clues they had pieced together.
Such as fine iron, saltpeter, grain, and cloth being transported to rebel areas, large quantities of military equipment with unknown destinations, and someone in the court facilitating these write-offs, and so on, he repeated it all, in detail.
He even took out the rough paper on which Old Qian had smudged the crucial information, pointing at the ink blot with a voice trembling with residual fear:
“Sir Zhang, it’s not that we are timid, it’s that this matter… this matter is too big!”
“We were so scared then… we didn’t dare to think any further, let alone record it…”
As Zhang Biao listened, his face grew darker and his eyes colder.
He didn’t interrupt Old Zhou until Old Zhou finished speaking, and a dead silence fell over the room.
The light of the oil lamp flickered, reflecting on Zhang Biao’s unpredictable face.
He tapped the table unconsciously with his fingers, making a “dud, dud” light sound.
【 Colluding with rebels and harboring bandits… Raising bandits for self-importance… 】
【 No wonder! No wonder the rebellions in various places always popped up like bubbles! 】
【 No wonder the border armies spent so much yet seemed ineffective! 】
【 So the root of the problem is here! 】
【 Someone is continuously ‘supplying blood’ to the rebels, feeding the enemy with the Great Ming’s flesh and blood to maintain their own power and status! 】
【 This is ten times, a hundred times more vicious than simple corruption in grain transport! 】
A cold rage rose from the bottom of Zhang Biao’s heart, but what followed was a clarity like the sun breaking through the clouds.
He had always thought his opponents were merely creating obstacles in grain transport corruption and misleading people.
Now, it seemed, his opponents’ methods and ambitions were far deeper and more ruthless than he had imagined.
Not only did they want to protect their corrupt gains, but they might also be using the grain transport network to carry out schemes that endangered the world.
And now, the other side had clearly sensed that his investigation was approaching the core.
That’s why they were so eager, even at the cost of exposing some princes, to fix his gaze firmly on the ‘princes’ grain transport corruption’ which seemed grand but might actually be only an outer perimeter battlefield.
If he had truly followed those ‘delivered’ clues and gone all out against Prince Zhou, Prince Shu, Prince Qi, Prince Chu, or even Prince Yan.
Not only would he be bogged down in endless quibbling and immense resistance, consuming vast amounts of time and energy, but it would also give the true mastermind a chance to calmly sever ties, destroy evidence, and even harm him and his men.
“A fine move, sacrificing a Rook to save the General, and diverting the disaster eastward!”
Zhang Biao sneered, a dangerous glint in his eyes:
“They want to use me as a pawn, to fight to the death with the princes, while they hide behind and watch, or even use this opportunity to clean house?”
Saying this, he suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the cramped room. His steps were not fast, but each one seemed to fall into a dangerous rhythm.
“Old Zhou, you and the others did the right thing!”
He suddenly stopped and looked at the four old soldiers, his eyes filled with unprecedented solemnity and a hint of admiration:
“You really couldn’t handle this matter. To discover it, to endure it, and to still be alive to tell me, you have already rendered great service!”
He changed tack, his tone becoming resolute:
“But now that I know, this matter cannot be let go!”
“Colluding with rebels and harboring bandits? Raising bandits for self-importance? This is using the blood of countless soldiers and civilians to fatten their own ambitions and power!”
Zhang Biao’s voice returned to calm, but beneath this calm was the thunder about to break:
“Someone doesn’t want us to investigate the true mastermind behind the grain transport, so they’ve thrown out a pile of the princes’ messy affairs to trap us.”
“So… should we still investigate the docks?” Loach asked timidly.
“Investigate! Why shouldn’t we?”
A strange arc appeared at the corner of Zhang Biao’s mouth:
“Everyone thinks Zhang Biao will follow these obviously set traps, plunge headfirst into the princes’ quagmire, and fight them to the death, ultimately either being killed by them or angering Old Zhu and getting beheaded…”
“Heh! I *want* to be beheaded by Old Zhu!”
“But if I’m going to die, it has to be for a reason. To fulfill their wishes? They wishful thinkers!”
As his words fell, Zhang Biao slammed the table, his eyes shooting out sharp light:
“I’m not going to play according to their script!”
“On the surface, we still have to continue investigating!”
“And we have to do it ‘grand and vigorously’, so that everyone thinks I, Zhang Biao, am just a stubborn, single-minded madman, determined to go against a few princes!”
After speaking, he turned to Old Zhou, Old Li, and Loach, and quickly gave orders:
“Old Zhou, Old Li, take Loach and the reliable men we’ve recruited, and continue to investigate the docks with great fanfare!”
“Investigate Fatty Wang, investigate the ‘Bi An waist token’, investigate Prince Zhou’s Mansion, investigate Prince Qi, Prince Chu, Prince Shu, and Prince Yan!”
“The bigger the scene, the better! Make sure Song Zhong and all those hidden eyes are firmly drawn to the grain transport line!”
“Remember, the act must be convincing!”
“You can ‘accidentally’ discover some insignificant ‘new clues’, you can even deliberately ‘hit a wall’ and appear flustered!”
“We want them to think that Zhang Biao is still on their chessboard, following their script!”
He intended to use the tactic of “feigning an attack to the east while attacking in the west,” deliberately appearing misled to numb the opponent.
“But!”
Zhang Biao’s tone changed, his eyes sharp as knives: “In secret, our investigation direction must completely change!”
He walked to the table, dipped his finger in some noodle soup, and drew two circles on the greasy tabletop.
“See? Now everyone’s attention, including the mastermind’s, is focused on the ‘open line’ of grain transport, waiting to see how I will fight to the death with the princes.”
“Then let’s not play by the rules!”
He heavily pointed his finger at another circle: “We’ll open an ‘secret line’! A line they absolutely wouldn’t expect!”
“What secret line?”
Old Zhou couldn’t help but ask.
A sharp light flashed in Zhang Biao’s eyes, and he said solemnly:
“Have you forgotten? Why did I establish this Anti-corruption Bureau, why did I ask Old Zhu for power and money?”
“One was to help you solve the issues with the garrisons, and the second was to investigate the mastermind!”
“In my past life, no, not my past life, but last time, he played me and my brothers for fools, and almost killed Shen Lang and Sun Gui in the Ministry of Justice Prison. This time, I must kill him!”
“So!”
Saying this, Zhang Biao looked around at the old soldiers and continued, “We’re going to do something big! We’re going to audit the garrisons!”
“Audit the garrisons?”
The old soldiers were all taken aback.
“Yes! We’re going to audit the garrisons!”
Zhang Biao turned his gaze to Old Sun and Old Qian, his tone grave: “Old Sun, Old Qian, you two, take the most trusted brothers with me!”
“We’re going to do something big!”
“We’ll start investigating the garrison that bullies Old Zhou’s village!”
“The reasons are ready-made: military households being illegally replaced, the village chief wrongly exiled, and garrison officers being corrupt and rampant, embezzling military land, and bleeding the soldiers dry!”
“These are real tragedies happening to the common military households, evidence is relatively easy to obtain, and the resistance seems to come from local garrison officers, so it won’t immediately touch the true giants in the imperial court!”
“But don’t forget—”
Zhang Biao’s voice lowered, with a sharpness that pierced through the mist:
“In the ‘collusion with rebels’ clues you discovered, the military equipment with abnormal write-offs from the Ministry of War, and those un accounted-for supplies, many were leaked through the garrison system!”
“Investigating the garrisons, while seemingly addressing the grievances of the military households, is actually following the flow of supplies and military equipment upstream to find that truly big fish!”
“Moreover, we are acting under the banner of ‘pleading for the people’ and ‘rectifying military discipline’, which is righteous!”
“Even if someone wants to obstruct us, they will have to consider public opinion!”
Speaking of which, he looked at Old Zhou: “Old Zhou, your nephew was forcibly conscripted, and the village chief was exiled, this is our best entry point!”
“The suffering you endured, the blood you shed, is now the sharpest knife to stab those worms!”
Old Zhou and the others listened with surging emotions.
They hadn’t expected that Zhang Biao could see such a far-reaching plan from their almost desperate plea.
Furthermore, he had cleverly combined their personal grievances with the grand goal of exposing the nation’s corrupt officials.
“Sir Zhang! We will listen to you!”
“Let’s kick their asses!”
“This time we’ll definitely expose those bastards who bleed the soldiers dry!”
Zhang Biao looked at the old soldiers who had rekindled their fighting spirit and nodded heavily:
“Good! No time to waste, prepare immediately!”
“The act on the surface must be realistic! The secret blade must be sharpened!”
“I’d like to see, when we blow a hole in the sky of the garrisons and trace the military equipment and supplies back to their lair, whether those hidden masterminds can still sit still!”
He revealed that familiar, characteristic smile, a mix of madness and wisdom.
【 They want to play sound and fury, signifying nothing with me? I’ll play them to death! 】
【 Old Zhu, and those rats hiding in the gutter, get ready to take my blows! 】
【 This time, I’m going to pull the rug out from under you! 】
On the other side, in the Eastern Palace, a side hall.
The candlelight was soft, but it couldn’t dispel the faint haze between Consort Lü’s eyebrows.
She sat upright on an embroidered stool, holding a scroll of 《 Admonitions for Women 》, but her gaze was not on the book. Instead, it seemed to look through the windowpane, as if towards the dilapidated small courtyard in the city.
Ever since Zhang Biao’s 《 Public Order Memorial 》 was delivered to Old Zhu, she could clearly feel that Old Zhu was no longer as unreservedly close and trusting towards her and Zhu Yunwen as he once was.
Especially since Old Zhu had recently begun a secret investigation into past events from the fifteenth year of Hongwu, she felt as if thorns were pricking her.
She knew that Old Zhu was beginning to suspect her.
Suspecting her of being involved in the death of Zhu Xiongying.
But she wasn’t particularly afraid.
Because in her opinion, that matter had been handled extremely discreetly.
Moreover, she wasn’t even a direct participant.
All possible clues had been cleared away or transferred by the true murderer, and she was confident that Old Zhu wouldn’t find any conclusive evidence.
After all, ten years had passed since that incident.
Ten years was enough time for even the landscape to change, let alone evidence.
As long as there was no ironclad proof, Old Zhu couldn’t do anything to her, the Crown Prince’s widow and the Imperial Grandson’s mother, based solely on suspicion.
Therefore, what she needed was patience, and time.
As long as her son could smoothly ascend to the position of Imperial Grandson, everything would be settled.
“Mother.”
Zhu Yunwen’s voice came from outside the door, carrying the clear tone of a young man, yet deliberately lowered in volume, sounding very respectful.
Consort Lü quickly concealed her outward emotions and put on her usual gentle smile: “Yunwen has arrived, come in quickly.”
Zhu Yunwen walked in.
He was dressed in a simple and elegant Confucian robe, his build slightly slender, his features delicate, his eyes clear, and his demeanor carried the obedience befitting his age, along with a hint of ‘benevolence’ that had been deliberately polished.
He first bowed respectfully to Consort Lü, then sat down beside her.
“Have you finished today’s homework?” Consort Lü asked softly.
“Reporting to Mother, I have finished,”
Zhu Yunwen replied respectfully, his tone calm: “To tell Mother the truth, I just went to pay respects to Father King’s spirit and recited the 《 Classic of Filial Piety 》.”
Consort Lü nodded with satisfaction: “Yes, filial piety is the foundation of human relations, and it must never be forgotten.”
She paused, as if inadvertently asking: “I heard you’ve been frequently asking Scholar Huang Zicheng for guidance on the ‘Literary Grand Ceremony’ recently?”
“Yes! Your humble servant believes this ‘Literary Grand Ceremony’ is a grand event for Imperial Grandfather to recruit wise and talented individuals!”
A hint of eagerness flashed in Zhu Yunwen’s eyes, but he quickly concealed it and said respectfully:
“Although Your humble servant is untalented, I also wish to understand more, perhaps I can comprehend Imperial Grandfather’s earnest efforts in governing.”
Consort Lü looked at her son and sighed inwardly.
How could she not know her son’s thoughts?
The appointments of Imperial Grandson had been disrupted twice by that madman Zhang Biao, and Yunwen’s hatred for Zhang Biao must have already reached the heavens.
But her son had learned to be smart now, understood patience, and knew how to bury his hatred in his heart, appearing as a diligent, studious, filial, and virtuous Imperial Grandson on the surface.
This was a very good change.
“Yes, it is good that you have this intention,”
Consort Lü said slowly, lowering her voice slightly:
“Scholar Huang is deeply learned, so it is right for you to seek his guidance. However, you must understand that the current situation is delicate, and your words and actions need to be even more cautious. Some things cannot be rushed.”
Zhu Yunwen nodded obediently: “Mother’s teachings are wise, Your humble servant understands.”
But then a trace of unconcealed melancholy appeared on his face, and he said in a low voice:
“It’s just… Mother, Your humble servant feels that Imperial Grandfather seems to have… become much more distant from us recently.”
“Every time I go to pay my respects, although Imperial Grandfather shows concern and asks questions, there always seems to be something in between. Why is this?”
This was the greatest confusion and unease in his heart.
He could feel that invisible barrier, which made him fearful and made his dream of becoming ‘Imperial Grandson’ seem even more ephemeral.
Consort Lü’s heart suddenly tightened. Her smile remained unchanged, but her tone carried a hint of imperceptible perfunctoriness and evasion:
“Silly child, Imperial Grandfather is busy with state affairs every day, and he worries about the entire Great Ming empire. Naturally, he cannot be as close to you as a grandfather in an ordinary family is to his grandchild at all times.”
“You only need to do your duty, study diligently, and uphold filial piety, and Imperial Grandfather will naturally see it.”
She couldn’t tell her son that it was because his grandfather suspected his mother of killing his brother.
If these words were spoken, it would be a disaster of annihilation.
Zhu Yunwen looked at his mother’s evasive answer, and the melancholy in his eyes deepened.
He wasn’t a fool; he could sense that his mother was hiding something from him, which made him even more uneasy.
Just then, the respectful announcement of an imperial eunuch came from outside the hall:
“Reporting to the Crown Princess, Imperial Grandson Your Highness, His Majesty has an oral decree, summoning the Imperial Grandson Your Highness to Huagai Hall immediately to see him!”
【 Huagai Hall? Imperial Grandfather is summoning me?! 】
Zhu Yunwen was stunned for a moment, and then a great wave of joy surged into his heart, almost overwhelming his long-maintained composure.
【 Imperial Grandfather hasn’t summoned me alone in a long time! 】
He instinctively wanted to stand up, his face unable to hide the desire to smile.
“Yunwen!”
Consort Lü’s low reprimand, though not loud, carried an undeniable warning.
Zhu Yunwen’s body tensed, and he suddenly realized.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the surge of ecstasy, quickly adjusted his facial expression, and restored the look of respectful reverence with just the right touch of childlike affection, as if the Emperor’s summons was just a routine inquiry.
He stood up, straightened his robes, ensuring there were no improprieties, and then responded calmly to the voice outside the hall:
“Your humble grandson receives the decree and will go immediately.”
After speaking, he turned to look at Consort Lü.
Consort Lü nodded slightly at him, her eyes conveying encouragement and a reminder.
Zhu Yunwen nodded heavily and turned to walk out.
His footsteps were still steady, but the slightly quickened pace betrayed his inner excitement and anticipation.
Watching her son’s departing back, the gentle smile on Consort Lü’s face gradually disappeared, replaced by a deep melancholy.
【 Why would His Majesty suddenly summon Yunwen at this time? 】
【 Is it a simple test of his knowledge? 】
【 Or… has he heard some rumors? Does he intend to find a breakthrough from Yunwen? 】
【 Or perhaps… is it related to Zhang Biao, who is currently in the spotlight, and the escalating grain transport case? 】
She couldn’t fathom Old Zhu’s thoughts, which made her feel a sense of unease.
But she believed that as long as Yunwen performed well enough, ‘benevolent and filial’ enough, and ‘harmless’ enough, he could overcome any test.
Moreover, Yunwen knew nothing about that matter, so the Emperor couldn’t find out anything.
However, that Zhang Biao, who was like a maggot on a bone, and the Emperor’s unfathomable suspicion were always swords hanging over their mother and son’s heads.
【 It must be as soon as possible… to secure Wen’er’s position… 】
Consort Lü’s eyes flickered, and a vague and dangerous plan in her heart seemed to become clearer.
And the prerequisite for all of this was that her son must perform flawlessly in this sudden summons.
And that madman Zhang Biao, don’t stir up trouble again.
Seeking monthly votes~
