Chapter 5: Is Censor Zhang’s Approach So Wild?
“You say the country cannot go a day without a Crown Prince?”
Old Zhu said each word deliberately, his voice like a blade, scraping inch by inch against Lü Ping’s trembling back.
Then, he slowly stood up from the dragon throne, his imperial yellow dragon robe fluttering without wind: “The Crown Prince’s remains are barely cold, and this empire is already impatient to find a new ruler?”
“Your subject dares not—!”
All the civil and military officials simultaneously pleaded guilty.
Cold sweat also broke out on their backs.
Only Zhang Biao stood calmly in place, his expression blank, not flustered at all.
He even mocked the officials in his heart.
Dare not? Who doesn’t know what you old foxes are thinking?
Lü Ping is just the stepping stone you threw out!
In fact, according to the course of history, Old Zhu would indeed establish an Imperial Grandson next.
But the process of establishing the Imperial Grandson would certainly not be smooth.
It’s because Old Zhu’s feelings for Zhu Biao were too deep.
It can be said that in Old Zhu’s heart, only Zhu Biao was his son; the other sons were merely imperial princes.
When someone’s son’s remains are barely cold, and you want him to replace the old with the new, anyone would be furious.
Therefore, even though he knew proposing the establishment of the Crown Prince would lead to Old Zhu’s wrath and death, Zhang Biao did not mention it again.
After all, compared to his previous self, his moral compass was quite upright.
However, Brother Lü, your move has elevated my “seeking death” endeavor to a new height!
Just as the officials were all terrified by Old Zhu, a slightly young voice, filled with urgency, rang out. It was Qi Tai, the Vice Minister of War:
“Your Majesty, please quell your anger! Although Lord Lü’s intentions are earnest, his words are inappropriate. However, he is genuinely concerned for the nation. Currently, the remnants of the Northern Yuan are stirring, and Liaodong requires constant vigilance! Your Majesty handles countless state affairs daily; when the Crown Prince was alive, he could share your burden. Now, it has been three months since the Crown Prince’s passing, and the state affairs have only increased, not decreased. Your subjects worry…”
“Worry about what? Worry that I’ll work myself to death? What a fine way to show concern for the nation! If I don’t listen to you, will my Great Ming perish?!”
Before Qi Tai could finish speaking, Old Zhu interrupted him furiously.
Qi Tai, originally named Qi De, was an official who had committed no mistakes for nine years.
In the Hongwu Dynasty, this was almost as difficult as reaching heaven.
Therefore, Old Zhu greatly appreciated this official named Qi De and renamed him Qi Tai, intending to groom him as a key minister for Zhu Biao.
Although Qi Tai was a scholar and had never led troops, Old Zhu still appointed him as Vice Minister of War, which showed his standing in Old Zhu’s heart.
However, at this moment, Qi Tai also stepped forward to propose the establishment of the Crown Prince, directly striking Old Zhu’s nerves: “How did my Biao’er treat you all? And yet you abandon him so heartlessly and ungratefully?! Guards! Bring them—”
“Your Majesty—!”
Just as Old Zhu was about to unleash a killing spree, Zhang Biao decisively stepped forward.
Because, given Old Zhu’s disposition, if he killed others today, there was a high probability he wouldn’t kill him anymore. Therefore, he had to step forward at this moment to “die for a cause.”
“What Minister of Revenue Lord Zhao proposed, increasing taxes in Jiangnan by thirty percent, is a policy of national demise! Absolutely not!”
Boom!
The entire hall erupted!
The gazes, which had been drawn to the ‘establishment of the Crown Prince,’ now all focused back on Zhang Biao.
The face of Minister of Revenue Zhao Qian instantly turned as pale as paper.
Old Zhu, with bloodshot eyes, stared at Zhang Biao like a ferocious beast disturbed during a meal, his voice hoarse like sandpaper: “You also think my Great Ming is going to perish?”
“Uh, well…”
Zhang Biao, enduring the almost tangible killing intent, forced a look of concern for the nation and its people, grief-stricken, and holding his tablet, said:
“Whether the Great Ming perishes, this subject does not know. Even if it perishes, I will be the first to die. The key point is that what Lord Zhao proposed just now, increasing taxes in Jiangnan by thirty percent to fund military expenses, this proposal, while seemingly for the nation, will in reality bring endless disaster. I beg Your Majesty to discern!”
“!!!”
Minister of Revenue Zhao Qian’s forehead instantly sprouted three black exclamation marks.
Thank you so much! Dragging me down with you as you die?!
“Your Majesty must not easily believe Censor Zhang’s one-sided words. He… he doesn’t understand anything…”
Zhao Qian desperately tried to defend himself, but Old Zhu’s gaze became even fiercer.
Zhang Biao, however, indifferently continued: “Your Majesty, please consider! The floodwaters in Jiangnan have just receded, the people’s strength is exhausted, like a patient who has just recovered from a serious illness. Imposing an additional thirty percent tax at this time is no different from adding frost to snow! At best, it will lead to public grievance boiling over; at worst, it will incite rebellion. At that time…”
He took a deep breath, revealed his true intentions, and deployed the killer combo pack: “Internally, there are unaddressed worries of rebellion; externally, the threat of the Northern Yuan still exists; and the position of the Crown Prince remains undecided. The superposition of these three factors is an omen of national demise, Your Majesty!!”
Whoosh!
The entire hall was in an uproar!
Chaos, utter chaos, with the situation subtly beginning to spiral out of control.
Some people seemed like their tails had been stepped on, cursing loudly.
Others seemed to have received a divine revelation, their thoughts becoming clear.
Zhang Biao’s killer combo pack was earth-shattering, bundling together all the problems currently facing the Great Ming, catching everyone off guard.
However, he had not finished speaking.
“Oh, right.”
Zhang Biao seemed to remember something, turned to look at Zhao Qian, and said, “Lord Lü and Lord Qi were indeed guilty of discussing the Crown Prince, and they deserve death! But treacherous officials like Lord Zhao, who do not consider the people’s well-being, are more harmful than discussing the Crown Prince!”
“You, you’re spewing venom!”
Minister of Revenue Zhao Qian trembled all over with anger. He pointed at Zhang Biao, unable to speak coherently.
As for Old Zhu, he narrowed his eyes slightly, and his gaze towards Zhang Biao began to change.
This was exactly the effect Zhang Biao wanted.
He immediately straightened his back and, facing the direction of the dragon throne, let out his final, resounding, and fearlessly spirited cry: “Your Majesty! This subject risks death today to offer counsel, not for personal gain, but for the Great Ming Empire and its ancestral altars! To bring peace for ten thousand generations!”
“If Your Majesty believes this subject is alarmist, sowing discord between ruler and subjects, and has committed great disrespect, even disrupting the court…”
At this point, he paused, glanced at Censor Shen, who was trembling in the corner with vacant eyes, raised his face, and put on a tragic expression of ‘the wind howls mournfully, and the Yi River is cold,’ then declared forcefully:
“Then I implore Your Majesty to emulate the handling of Lord Lü, Lord Qi, and Lord Zhao, and give this subject a swift end! Of course, if Your Majesty feels that giving me a swift end is too lenient, you could also flay and stuff me! This subject is indifferent! I only beg Your Majesty not to increase taxes in Jiangnan, but to consider the livelihoods of the common people!”
“This subject! Dies! Without! Regret!”
When his words fell, the entire court was dumbfounded.
Especially Censor Shen, who had greeted Zhang Biao that morning, truly wished he could give him a thumbs-up.
Brother Zhang is awesome!
Silence!
A deathly silence!
The civil and military officials in the entire Main Hall were stunned by Zhang Biao’s ‘bundle sale’ plus ‘voluntarily asking to be flayed’ maneuver!
This… is Censor Zhang’s approach this wild?
