Chapter 75: Nobody Understands Censor Zhang Better Than We Do. Seeking Monthly Tickets
“Commander Jiang, what do you intend to do?”
As Zhang Biao’s voice fell, the surroundings fell silent like fallen leaves in an autumn wind.
Countless gazes turned to Jiang Huan.
This top enforcer of Old Zhu, the Imperial Guard Commander who had participated in countless major and important cases.
If he were to forcibly stop Zhang Biao and the others from demanding their salaries from the Ministry of Revenue, they would truly have no recourse against him.
After all, a yamen like the Imperial Guard never played by the rules.
They were the ones truly authorized by imperial decree to act first and report later.
However, upon hearing Zhang Biao’s question, Jiang Huan merely glanced indifferently at Fu Youwen, who was looking at him with eager anticipation, then at the proudly standing Zhang Biao, and left without a word.
Wow!
The entire scene erupted in an uproar!
What was going on?
Commander Jiang is abandoning us?!
Is he going to indulge this Censor Zhang and those low-ranking capital officials in their continued misbehavior?!
The officials of the Ministry of Revenue were dumbfounded, finding it hard to believe.
Behind Zhang Biao, the low-ranking capital officials were stunned for a moment, then their faces were filled with wild joy.
Our Brother Biao is truly awesome!
Even Commander Jiang can’t do anything about him!
Hahaha!
Indeed!
No one understands Censor Zhang better than we do!
Just as the low-ranking capital officials were filled with surprise and joy, Zhang Biao looked at the entrance of the Ministry of Revenue without any surprise and said loudly to the officials inside:
“All my colleagues at the Ministry of Revenue, listen up! Fu Youwen is corrupt and lawbreaking, and the evidence is conclusive! Are you going to be buried with him, or will you actively return the ill-gotten gains and seek leniency? Choose for yourselves!”
Rustle!
A commotion came from inside the doors.
Clearly, the other officials of the Ministry of Revenue were terrified, as who among them didn’t have something to hide?
This madman truly dared to flip the table!
“I’ll return it! I’ll return it!”
Someone timid among the Ministry of Revenue officials shouted.
Another clamor ensued from inside.
“I! I’ll return it too!”
“Censor Zhang! We’ll all return it!”
“Vice Minister Fu! Please think of a solution!”
Some persistent officials from the Ministry of Revenue tried to appeal to Fu Youwen.
But Fu Youwen had already collapsed on the ground, his face ashen, murmuring, “Open the door for him.”
He had already been driven to mental collapse by the accounting, only wanting to send these troublesome people away quickly.
“Did you hear that?”
Zhang Biao turned back with a proud smile at everyone: “Vice Minister Fu is magnanimous! He agrees to our ‘offsetting debts with assets’! Brothers! What are you waiting for? Let’s get to work!”
Rumble!
After a loud noise, the doors of the Ministry of Revenue were finally opened from the inside.
Inside, a group of Ministry of Revenue officials, pale-faced and trembling, cleared a path.
Zhang Biao led the way, bringing a group of low-ranking capital officials, like wolves and tigers, charging in.
“Accountant Shen! Estimate the value!”
“Department Director Sun! Provide lighting! Yes, shine it on that rosewood table! It looks valuable at first glance!”
“Editor Li! Record it in the ledger! Note down that huanghuali chair!”
“Censor Zhao! Take away those several fine pieces of Xuan paper! We’ll need them for impeachment memorials in the future!”
“Hey, you! Yes! Those two pots of Podocarpus macrophyllus by the doorway! Take them away! They’ll ward off evil spirits at home!”
Inside the Ministry of Revenue Yamen, an abstract zero-cost shopping spree was instantly staged.
Tables, chairs, benches, ink and brushes, paper, inkstones, antique vases, even the pots, bowls, ladles, and basins from the kitchen—
As long as they looked valuable, they were labeled as ‘debt-offsetting goods’ by this ‘salary-demanding team’ and happily carried out.
The officials of the Ministry of Revenue watched their offices being emptied bit by bit, their hearts bleeding, yet not a single one dared to stop them.
Because that ‘madman’ Zhang Biao was standing in the courtyard with his arms crossed, watching them with a smile that was not a smile. Anyone who dared to make a move, he would start auditing their accounts, and the effect was remarkable.
In less than half an hour, the vast Ministry of Revenue Yamen was almost a third empty, appearing exceptionally bare and desolate.
Zhang Biao looked at the loot piled high in the courtyard and nodded with satisfaction, then said to Shen Lang and the others, who were still stunned: “What are you all standing there for? Find carts to take it away! We’ll convert it to cash and pay everyone!”
Immediately, as if he remembered something, his gaze turned towards the direction of the Ministry of War Yamen, he stroked his chin, and a more chilling smile appeared on his face:
“The Ministry of Revenue’s accounts are settled, there are too many bad debts, and this little bit of stuff probably isn’t enough to cover all our unpaid salary.”
He said, glancing at Sun Gui, who was holding a chamber pot lamp high, his eyes darted, and he waved his hand:
“Brothers! Let’s go! Move to the Ministry of War! Department Director Sun is from the Ministry of War! I heard that the Ministry of War also has many bad debts from withholding military pay and reselling military equipment! Let’s go help Minister Ru ‘audit’ as well!”
“Let’s try to settle all the Six Ministries’ yamens today!”
Wow!
As soon as this was said, the entire scene erupted in an uproar!
Not only did Fu Youwen, who had collapsed on the ground, tremble all over, but even the Ministry of Revenue officials who had just been plundered couldn’t help but tremble and shake uncontrollably.
Jiang Huan, who had already left, stood in the shadows of the opposite street corner, calmly watching the chaos unfold, with people coming and going, carrying things.
A Battalion Commander beside him cautiously asked: “Head Jiang, it seems they’ve done our job. Are we really not going to intervene? This… what kind of order is this?”
“Intervene? How can we?”
Jiang Huan glanced at him, then looked deeply at Zhang Biao and his group, shaking his head slowly:
“The Emperor hasn’t woken up, and the decree hasn’t been issued. They are demanding their salaries, and it’s to offset debts. The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue personally agreed to open the doors. On what grounds can we intervene? Stop colleagues from lawfully defending their rights?”
Battalion Commander: “…”
What you said seems to make sense, but I feel something is wrong somewhere.
Aren’t we the Imperial Guard?
Since when do we reason things out?!
Jiang Huan paid no mind to the Battalion Commander’s speechless reaction, but quietly watched Zhang Biao directing with confidence and the Ministry of Revenue officials looking ashen, his lips twitching almost imperceptibly.
He understood everything clearly in his heart.
Zhang Biao was playing with fire and also forcing the issue.
Using such extreme methods, he was exposing the sores of the Ministry of Revenue and even the entire imperial court, forcing everyone, especially the comatose Emperor, to face these problems.
Either kill him, or change.
“Let him make a scene!”
Jiang Huan said abruptly:
“The bigger the scene, the better. Let the underwear of these vermin be revealed and exposed to the sun.”
“But… what if it really gets out of control?” the Battalion Commander still worried.
Jiang Huan glanced in the direction of the Imperial Palace and said:
“When the Emperor wakes up, he will make the final judgment. Until then, our task is to watch, record, and ensure no one is killed.”
“As for the items…”
“Let them move them. Record clearly how much they moved and where it went, not a single item should be missing!”
He paused, then added: “Also, send people to keep an eye on the Ministry of War and the residences of those nobles. To watch a play, you must watch the whole act.”
After speaking, he turned and melted back into the shadows, as if he had never appeared.
All that remained was the Battalion Commander, staring at the abstract farce at the entrance of the Ministry of Revenue, bewildered in the wind.
Emperor, if you don’t wake up soon, the sky of our Great Ming Dynasty will be overturned!!
……
Requesting monthly tickets~
Requesting monthly tickets, requesting monthly tickets, requesting recommendation tickets, requesting follow-up reads, requesting all forms of care!
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Finally, thanks to Third Prince Martial Uncle for the 1500 reward. Thanks to the book friend with the last four digits 2126 for the 100 reward.
