Chapter 225: Emperor! Our Worldviews Have Been Completely Overturned! Monthly Ticket Bonus Chapter 29
Old Zhu took Song Zhong’s memorial, without lifting his head, he casually broke the wax seal and opened it to examine it.
The content at the beginning was as he had expected; Zhang Biao was indeed not ‘prying into other people’s business’ but was part of a premeditated action.
He had played a trick on himself and everyone else.
“That bastard thing!”
The veins on Old Zhu’s forehead bulged into a cross, but he forcibly suppressed his anger.
However, soon, as he read on, his expression began to change.
From doubt, to astonishment, and then to disbelief.
Finally, when he saw how Zhang Biao had taken out the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings**, how he used classics to refute Commander Wang, how he ‘followed the Ancestor Emperor’s instructions’ to break locks and enter the storeroom, and discovered the ‘Beast Token’ hidden accounts—
“Pfft—!”
Old Zhu spat out a mouthful of dark blood, staining the several memorials spread out before him.
His vision went black, his massive body swayed, and he almost fell from the dragon throne.
“Your Majesty—!!”
Yun Ming was so terrified that his soul scattered. He rushed forward to support him, his voice changing pitch:
“Imperial Physician! Quickly summon an Imperial Physician—!”
Fortunately, Yun Ming was clever and had already arranged for an Imperial Physician in the side hall.
In less than a moment, the Imperial Physician hurried in with his medicine box.
“Pinch his philtrum! Quickly pinch the Emperor’s philtrum!”
“Son of a bitch.”
Old Zhu gritted his teeth and uttered a few words, his hand gripping the edge of the imperial desk tightly. His chest heaved violently like a worn-out bellows, emitting a terrifying ‘heh-heh’ sound.
His face first turned a deep purple-red, then quickly faded to a terrifying deathly pale. Large beads of cold sweat seeped from his forehead.
“Your Majesty, please do not be angered, your lung ailment…”
The Imperial Physician, while supporting Old Zhu with Yun Ming, helped him to the dragon throne and advised him not to get angry.
However, Old Zhu paid no heed to the Imperial Physician’s advice. He merely stared blankly at the ornate well-patterned ceiling, filled with endless anger and a sense of utter desecration.
He, Zhu Yuanzhang! The Hongwu Great Emperor! Personally compiled the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings** as the unchanging law for all generations of the Zhu Ming dynasty, regarding it as divine, to restrain his descendants and regulate his subjects!
But Zhang Biao, this madman!
This wretch who deserves to be dismembered!
He actually… actually dared to use the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings** as a brick to pry open locks!
As a tool to deal with a mere Garrison Commander!
As a guise to mislead the populace and incite public opinion!
This was no longer mere arrogance; it was blasphemy!
It was digging at the foundation of the Great Ming Dynasty’s legal system!
It was trampling on his, Zhu Yuanzhang’s, supreme authority, condensed from a lifetime of effort, underfoot!
“How dare he… how dare he use our **Ancestral Teachings**… as… as…”
Old Zhu trembled with rage, unable to speak coherently, and erupted into another violent coughing fit.
“Your Majesty, smell this! It will help you regulate your qi. Your humble servant will help you with acupuncture!”
The Imperial Physician quickly took out a bamboo tube resembling a snuff bottle, placed it near Old Zhu’s nose, and then said to Yun Ming:
“Eunuch Yun, quickly fetch a bowl of warm water. I have medicine powder here; there’s no need to boil it. Give it to the Emperor first!”
“Oh, oh, oh, alright, I’ll fetch it right away! I’ll fetch it right away!”
Yun Ming nodded like a pecking hen, but was stopped by Old Zhu’s low growl: “Stand still for me!”
“Get away!”
After stopping Yun Ming, Old Zhu pushed the Imperial Physician away and then, forcing himself, sat up straight.
He closed his eyes, forcibly channeling the iron-hard willpower within him, suppressing the surging blood and waves of dizziness.
He knew he could not collapse at this moment, absolutely not.
After the great rage came a bone-chilling calmness, and a trace of alarm that even he was unwilling to admit.
He opened his eyes again. Although his gaze was still cloudy, it had regained the sharpness and depth of an emperor.
He stared intently at the report, his mind racing, analyzing the deeper meaning behind Zhang Biao’s seemingly mad actions.
【 That wretch… did he already know there was a problem with the Jiujiang Guard? 】
【 Or, did he not want to be led by the nose by the mastermind, and get entangled with the Princes… intending to find an alternative route, and accidentally stumbled upon a problem? 】
【 What a brilliant tactic, feigning a direct route while taking a secret one! 】
Old Zhu had to admit that Zhang Biao’s move had gone beyond everyone’s expectations.
Perhaps even the mastermind hidden deep within had never imagined that Zhang Biao would abandon the seemingly core Grain Transport and instead strike at the seemingly insignificant Garrison system!
And… he actually guessed correctly!
No, it wasn’t a guess; this madman had calculated it!
【 Garrison corruption, empty salaries, bleeding the soldiers… I know all of this, these are accumulated malpractices! 】
【 But this ‘Beast Token’… the hidden accounts recording the allocation of military equipment and supplies… ‘Scar-faced Man’… transported via grain transport… 】
Old Zhu’s pupils suddenly contracted.
A clear, chilling thread connected in his mind!
Military equipment and supplies from the Jiujiang Guard were taken by a mysterious force using the ‘Beast Token’, transported through the grain transport network, the Prince Zhou’s Mansion might be a transit point, and ultimately flowed to… Prince Qi?
Or other Princes? Or even… the ‘bandits’ from abroad?!
【 Raising bandits for self-importance! 】
These four words, like a red-hot branding iron, seared Old Zhu’s heart.
His sons! His flesh and blood whom he had enfeoffed to guard the four corners of the empire! Someone was actually plotting rebellion!
Not a small skirmish!
It was so systematic, so covert, so malicious, that it was undermining the Great Ming from within, using his, Zhu Yuanzhang’s, money and weapons to fatten enemies who might, in turn, devour the Great Ming empire!
And this mastermind had already reached right under his nose!
How far was the Jiujiang Guard from the Capital City?!
A mix of the piercing pain of betrayal, deep anxiety for the fate of the empire, and immense killing intent surged within his chest like lava!
“Rebellious son… rebellious son!!”
He roared, his voice like a wounded beast.
At the same time, he felt extreme disappointment and anger towards the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commissions.
The Garrison system was so depleted, and abnormal military equipment had been flowing out for years. What was the Ministry of War doing with its endorsements?
Where was the supervision from the Five Military Commissions?
Were they all useless sacks of rice, or… had some of them been infiltrated and bribed?!
【 Damn it! All of you deserve to die! 】
Intertwined with his furious rage and cold analysis, Old Zhu’s imperial mind began to operate at full capacity.
Zhang Biao must be restrained immediately, but he must also be utilized.
The **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings** must not become a tool for his reckless actions, as that would shake the foundation of the nation.
But the line of ‘raising bandits for self-importance’ must be investigated to the end.
Zhang Biao’s accidental breakthrough, or rather, his precise calculation, must not be wasted.
After pondering for a long time, Old Zhu suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with resolute coldness.
“Yun Ming!”
“Your servant is here!” Yun Ming quickly responded.
“Ink and brush!”
Yun Ming immediately prepared ink and brush.
Old Zhu took a deep breath, dipped his brush in ink, his wrist steady, showing no tremor.
He first quickly wrote a stern reprimand to Zhang Biao.
【 Zhang Biao: You actually dared to misinterpret the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings**, blaspheme the ‘Ancestral Law’, mislead the populace, and shake the foundation of the nation, you are extremely arrogant! I wish I could flay you alive! 】
【 However, considering your potential merits in investigating military affairs, your head shall remain on your shoulders for now. 】
【 From this day forward, you are strictly forbidden from using the name of the **Ancestral Teachings** to conduct trials, mobilize troops, or overstep your authority! 】
【 If you dare to repeat your actions, you will surely be put to death without mercy! 】
After finishing, he changed to a new piece of paper, his tone softened, but the content was even more weighty.
This was a special decree.
【 Special Decree: Zhang Biao, Director of the Anti-corruption Bureau, I grant you permission to thoroughly investigate the Jiujiang Guard and its surrounding related garrisons. All military equipment, grain and provisions, troop rosters, and even suspicious personnel exchanges are within the scope of the investigation. 】
【 If you encounter any obstruction, you may present this decree. Local government offices and garrisons must cooperate fully. 】
【 I hereby order Song Zhong, Commander of the Anti-corruption Bureau, and his subordinates, to exercise the authority of the local Imperial Guard to mobilize troops, provide full assistance, ensure their safety, and guarantee that the investigation process is exhaustive. Report to me promptly! 】
He handed the special decree to Yun Ming: “Send this via urgent dispatch of eight hundred li to the Jiujiang Guard, deliver it personally to Zhang Biao and Song Zhong!”
“Yes!”
Yun Ming took it with both hands and immediately turned to make arrangements.
Old Zhu sat on the dragon throne, his gaze profound.
【 Zhang Biao, I have removed your excuse for acting recklessly, but I have given you legitimate authority. 】
【 Investigate thoroughly for me! Dig out all those vermin, and those rebellious sons who dare to betray the Zhu family! 】
Then, he thought of another matter, something that Zhang Biao had ‘enlightened’ him about in the Imperial Prison.
【 Tie Xuan… the one who achieved merit in Guangxi, was suppressed by Ru Chang, and was known for his integrity and competence, Tie Ding Shi… Zhang Biao said back then that he was capable of great use… 】
A sharp light flashed in Old Zhu’s eyes. The Ministry of War needed a sharp blade, a solid stone to rectify it.
“Pass down the order!”
Old Zhu said to the recording eunuch waiting outside the hall:
“Promote Tie Xuan, the Guangxi Grain Supervision Commissioner, to Vice Minister of War. He is to return to the Capital and assume his post immediately!”
“Tell him to clarify the Ministry of War’s accounts, personnel selection, and military equipment audits for me!”
“Anyone who dares to be insincere, tell them to come see me directly!”
He intended for Tie Xuan, this sharp blade, to cut into the rotten Ministry of War system.
As for the Five Military Commissions…
Because too many nobles were involved, he could not act drastically for now, lest he alert the enemy. However, he had already made a note of it in his heart.
After completing all this, Old Zhu finally felt as if he had exhausted all his strength and slowly leaned back on the dragon throne, looking up at the ornate ceiling pattern again.
The Imperial Physician silently began to administer acupuncture and regulate his qi.
But his anger continued to burn in his heart. The pain of losing a child and the betrayal by his other sons intertwined, but more than that, it was the emperor’s instinctive ruthlessness and calculation in the face of a great crisis.
Regardless of Zhang Biao’s objective, the fire that Zhang Biao had ignited had already started.
Now, his task was not to extinguish it, but to control the flames, to let this fire burn where it should, and to incinerate all the filth and conspiracies!
【 Come, let me see how many demons and monsters are hidden beneath the foundation of the Great Ming Dynasty! 】
On the other side.
Before Old Zhu’s imperial edict arrived, Zhang Biao’s “brilliant achievements” in the Jiujiang Guard and his “Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings Audit Method” spread like wildfire among the surrounding military households and commoners.
Soon, Old Sun, Old Qian, and others, carrying hundreds of condensed versions of the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings** and copies of the Jiujiang Guard’s “evidence of crimes,” rushed to various places.
They contacted prominent figures among the commoners, like Wu Dagen and Li Laoshuan, who had suffered greatly from the garrison system or whose relatives had been forcibly conscripted or unjustly treated.
Therefore, shortly after the farce in Jiujiang Guard subsided, the neighboring Anqing Guard received unwelcome visitors.
One early morning, as Commander Liu of the Anqing Guard opened the gate of his yamen, he was stunned by the sight before him.
Outside the yamen stood dozens of commoners, men and women, old and young.
They were neither making noise nor attempting to storm the official residence; they simply stood quietly, each holding a small booklet with a blue cover.
The person at the forefront was Zhang Dahua, the wife of Wu Dagen, who had cried out her grievances in Jiujiang Guard.
She held up a copy of the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings** high, her voice ringing out with the confidence of being “armed with truth”:
“Soldiers of the Anqing Guard! We are commoners from Wu Family Village and Li Family Village next door!”
“On the orders of Director Zhang of the Anti-corruption Bureau, upholding the spirit of the Ancestor Emperor’s **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings**, we have come to audit the garrison military households and military equipment accounts to prevent corruption and uphold the national law!”
Commander Liu of the Anqing Guard almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
What was this?!
A group of ordinary commoners actually claimed they were here to audit a court garrison?!
Was he still dreaming, or had these people gone mad?!
“Nonsense—!”
He shouted sternly, trying to intimidate them: “You unruly commoners, gathering to blockade the garrison yamen, are you trying to rebel?!”
“That’s where you’re mistaken, Sir!”
Zhang Dahua, having seen “great scenes” now, was not afraid. She opened the booklet and said loudly:
“The **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings, Chapter One**, states: ‘The people are the root of the nation, and the nation is peaceful’! The Ancestor Emperor taught us to care for the common people!”
“The **Ancestral Teachings, Law Chapter**, also says: ‘Any official who cruelly harms the people may be brought to the capital by good citizens’!”
“We, the commoners, are not rebelling; we are following the Ancestor Emperor’s teachings, helping the court, and supervising you to prevent you from becoming cruel and harmful officials!”
Her impromptu speech, though somewhat stiff, was eloquent and full of spirit, quoting classics.
The commoners behind her also shouted in unison: “Uphold the Ancestral Teachings! Supervise corruption! Give us justice!”
“???”
Commander Liu’s forehead was full of question marks. He couldn’t help but turn to look at the Commander and Battalion Commanders behind him, his face turning green and then white.
If they were asked to fight on the battlefield, they could handle it with ease.
But when asked to deal with a group of commoners lecturing them on ‘Ancestral Teachings’ and ‘laws’, it was their first time, like a farmer entering the Imperial City.
“Bastards! How dare you! This is outrageous!”
Commander Liu was so angry he stomped his feet, but he was helpless.
Even the soldiers guarding the yamen exchanged glances, feeling that the sabers and spears in their hands were a bit too hot to hold.
To take action? These people were constantly holding up the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings** and shouting loyalty to the emperor. If you attacked them, wouldn’t it confirm that you were ‘acting against ancestral institutions’ and ‘cruelly harming the people’?
To not take action? Should they really let these peasants audit the accounts?
At this moment, a quick-thinking Battalion Commander reminded him uncertainly:
“Boss, I heard a piece of news earlier that the Jiujiang Guard was audited by a Censor from the Capital. You say, are these unruly commoners brought by Censor Zhang?”
“Hmm?”
Commander Liu’s heart trembled, and he seemed to have heard of Zhang Biao: “Is this true?!”
“I’m not entirely sure, but these commoners are not to be trifled with!”
“Boss, why don’t we just ignore them? I don’t believe they’ll stay here forever!” another Commander chimed in.
Commander Liu frowned, then looked up at the commoners outside the gate and thought it made sense.
Since these commoners dared not storm the yamen, they would give them the cold shoulder and make them retreat.
“Alright! It’s settled! Close the gate immediately!”
Commander Liu made a decisive move, and soon, the gates of the Anqing Guard were closed by the soldiers.
However, how could Zhang Biao, who could incite the commoners to audit the garrisons, be so easily dealt with?
Not long after, something even more shattering to the worldview of everyone in the Anqing Guard occurred.
Around noon, during the shift change for meals, some soldiers were astonished to find their fathers, mothers, wives, and children appearing outside the garrison.
“Gou Dan—!”
The mother of an old soldier, leaning on her cane, pointed at her son’s nose and scolded:
“You unfilial son! Hurry up and open the gate to let the villagers in to audit the accounts! Do you want to defy the Ancestor Emperor’s teachings?!”
“Tie Zhu—!”
The wife of a young soldier, holding her child, wept as if flowers were falling from her eyes:
“Have you forgotten how your third uncle was conscripted to take someone’s place and died in Liaodong?!”
“Now that Censor Zhang and the Ancestor Emperor are backing us, are you still going to help these black-hearted officials guard the gate?!”
“Dad—!”
A half-grown child shouted with an innocent tone:
“Mr. Zhang said we must be loyal to the emperor and love the country, and follow the **Ancestral Teachings**! If you don’t let them investigate, does it mean you have something to hide?”
At these words, his father, a Battalion Commander, turned red in the face.
At this point, the morale of the troops was completely shaken.
Soldiers are also human; they have family and relatives.
Now, their own relatives were standing opposite them, holding the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings** and reasoning with them, recounting their grievances. How could they hold their sabers steady? How could they guard the gate?!
What was even more critical was that these commoners consistently maintained the bottom line of not storming the yamen, and then they simply refused to leave.
They would take turns guarding!
They watched while you ate!
They ‘comforted’ you during shift changes!
At night, they even lit bonfires outside the yamen and took turns reciting relevant chapters from the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings**, making the entire garrison restless day and night.
After a stalemate of a full two days, Commander Liu could no longer bear it. No, it was actually the garrison officers and soldiers who were worried about their relatives who could not bear it.
Their spirits were about to break, forcing Commander Liu to grudgingly order the yamen and storeroom opened.
“Investigate! Let you investigate! Let’s see what tricks you can find!”
He uttered this sentence almost roaring.
Then, he witnessed what was called the ‘vast ocean of people’s war’.
Although many people in this era were illiterate, this place was not far from the Capital. Old Zhu had made great efforts in legal education at the time.
Almost every household had a copy of the **Great Proclamation**.
Why? Because this **Great Proclamation** could save lives.
For example, if Zhang San was sentenced to exile, and his family had a copy of the **Great Proclamation**, he would not be exiled but imprisoned. If it was a capital crime, he could even escape with his life.
Therefore, it was normal for some literate commoners to be found around the Capital.
A group of literate old farmers and village women, holding the “evidence of crimes” from the Jiujiang Guard as a template, pored over the Anqing Guard’s account books, word by word.
“Here, why is the wastage half a point higher than in Jiujiang Guard? What is the basis? Did the Ancestor Emperor say such wastage was permissible?”
“This person’s name looks familiar. He seems to be Wang Lao Wu who drowned in our village the year before last? Why is he still receiving pay?”
They did not understand advanced accounting techniques, but they had life experience and the spirit to be serious to the end, and occasionally they would even debate with you using the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings**.
Even if the quoted chapters were not correct, the sheer force of their “righteous indignation” could make the best accountant spit blood.
Even some grandpas and grandmas who understood nothing came to join the fun.
They were illiterate, but they used tools.
For example, they used rulers to measure the size of armor, weighed the saber with their hands, and even used embroidery needles to poke at the armor joints, calling it “testing its sturdiness.”
“This sword is not as sharp as my kitchen knife! If the Ancestor Emperor knew you were using this thing to fight, he would have slapped you a few times!”
“This armor is as thin as paper. No wonder my son was injured last time! Did you embezzle the material costs?!”
“You… you…”
Commander Liu watched these “auditors” “running amok” in his storeroom, listening to their absurd “audit opinions,” and felt his temples throbbing, as if his blood vessels were about to burst.
Especially when he saw an old lady preparing to take the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings** to the Drum of Hearing Petitions because he could not explain the “reasonable wastage” of a box of arrowheads, he finally broke down completely.
“Ah—!”
Commander Liu suddenly drew his saber.
Everyone was startled, thinking he was going to commit violence.
But they saw him fiercely thrust the saber into the table in front of him, then slide to the ground as if his bones had been removed, covering his head with his hands, and letting out a despairing wail:
“Investigate! Investigate! Investigate! Investigate everything for me!”
“The account books are over there! The storeroom keys are here!”
“I quit! Whoever wants to be Commander can be!”
“I only beg you… please, for God’s sake, stop reciting the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings** to me!”
“I never memorized books this much even when I was seeing off my father to his final rest!”
Tears streamed down his face, and he looked like a madman.
An audit storm that should have been filled with flashing sabers and swords ended with overwhelming victory in an absurd, comical, yet tinged with a hint of tragedy and justice, manner that no one could have foreseen.
And such scenes were not only in the Anqing Guard; other garrisons were also experiencing similar events.
When the news reached Zhang Biao, he was leisurely drinking tea and listening to reports from various parties.
Song Zhong stood beside him, his face already numb.
He felt his worldview being repeatedly crushed and reshaped over the past few days.
“Lord Zhang… inciting the commoners and attacking the garrisons like this… I’m afraid…”
He tried to offer a final piece of advice.
Zhang Biao put down his teacup and looked at him in surprise:
“Investigator Song, what are you talking about?”
“I call this ‘mobilizing the masses and relying on the masses’! This is ‘arming the mind with the Ancestor Emperor’s thought and guiding practice’!”
“Look how effective it is!”
“Without shedding a drop of blood, so many problems have been uncovered!”
“This fully proves the greatness and correctness of the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings**! It proves the infinite power of the people!”
He picked up the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings**, which was already somewhat creased from his handling, and caressed it emotionally:
“I am increasingly convinced that Old Zhu… oh no, the Ancestor Emperor was truly wise and far-sighted!”
“He foresaw that there would be vermin in later generations, so he left behind this mirror to expose demons!”
“We must promote this audit model!”
“Let the radiance of the **Imperial Ming Ancestral Teachings** illuminate every garrison, every corner of the Great Ming!”
Song Zhong looked at Zhang Biao’s fanatical yet sincere gaze and was completely speechless.
He knew that an audit storm, more intense, more absurd, and more thorough than the one in Yingtian Prefecture, had been completely ignited under the leadership of this ‘Crazy Zhang’.
As for where this storm would eventually head and how many people it would involve, even he, and perhaps even the one on the dragon throne, could not predict.
He only prayed that Old Zhu’s imperial edict would arrive quickly, otherwise, he really couldn’t hold on much longer.
Zhang Biao gazed into the distance with a dreamy look, a smile playing on his lips.
【 Old Zhu, I am helping you educate your descendants and purify the army. You don’t need to thank me. 】
【 After all, the **Ancestral Teachings** taught me this! 】
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