Chapter 88: If We Make Mistakes, Then The Great Ming Dynasty Should Perish! 【 Seeking Monthly Ticket 】
“His Majesty has woken up at just the right time!”
Seeing that everyone was flustered by the bell and his own reminder, Zhang Biao slapped his thigh again, as if he had heard the best news in the world, and said again:
“Brothers! Think about it, we just finished auditing the imperial ministries and noble mansions, and the accounts are clear with remarkable achievements! We were just wondering where to report our work!”
“What’s more, think about it, we haven’t been paid our salaries by the court, and we’re still working on auditing here! What does this count as? Overtime!”
Speaking of which, he suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Zhao Fengman, who had scars on his arm from accidentally being cut by roof tiles while climbing onto the Ministry of Revenue’s roof:
“Look! Censor Zhao even got injured for the sake of his work, so it should be considered a work injury, right?”
“Then if we go to His Majesty, we can get all our unpaid salaries, overtime pay, work injury compensation fees, and mental distress fees settled at once, right?”
Boom!
The whole place erupted in uproar!
Zhang Biao’s words were like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake, creating enormous waves.
It made everyone present’s scalps tingle and their eyes go blank.
They thought to themselves, what kind of logic is this now?!
Even Zhan Hui, who was about to stop Zhang Biao, and the Censors from the Censorate behind him were stunned by Zhang Biao’s remarks.
So, your words mean that His Majesty also owes you a huge favor?!
Has this world gone mad, or are they themselves not normal?!
The immense shock and absurdity left them no time to react, their minds went blank.
Zhang Biao, however, paid them no mind. He nimbly jumped back onto the ‘Audit Chariot’, stood on the pile of silver and miscellaneous items, waved his arm, and pointed towards the Imperial Palace:
“Let’s go! Brothers! Let’s bring our loot! Into the Imperial Palace!”
“Let’s show His Majesty our day’s work! And by the way—”
He paused, his voice rising, with an indescribable madness:
“Let’s settle our unpaid salary slips, as well as today’s overtime pay, work injury compensation fee, and mental distress fee with His Majesty!”
“Also, His Majesty has just woken up and definitely needs some joyous occasions to lift his spirits! We’ll go bring His Majesty good news now! Wishing His Majesty Dragon Body Healthy and Peaceful, may he live ten thousand years!”
Silence.
A deathly silence.
Everyone’s mouth was wide open, looking at Zhang Biao as if he were crazy.
Going to the Imperial Palace to bring good news?
Settling accounts with His Majesty?
And demanding overtime pay and work injury compensation?!
Has Brother Biao truly gone mad?!
Or does he not think he’s dying fast enough?!
“Brother Biao”
Wu Nai Da’s voice was choked with tears:
“Think thrice! If we go to the Imperial Palace to cause trouble again, we might not just be beheaded, but skinned alive, have our skin used as lanterns, and be executed by lingchi!”
“No, how can this be considered causing trouble?”
Before Wu Nai Da could finish speaking, Zhang Biao glared and interrupted him:
“Isn’t His Majesty human? Doesn’t His Majesty make sense? We worked hard for a day, recovered so much deficit for the court, and made such a great contribution, shouldn’t His Majesty reward us? Perhaps His Majesty will be so happy that he’ll even give us a banner for ‘Hongwu’s Best Audit Team of the Year’!”
“.”
The group of low-ranking capital officials were speechless.
They felt that Brother Biao had a misunderstanding of His Majesty’s temperament.
“But… but we previously…”
Zhao Fengman wanted to say that they had angered His Majesty three times before.
“That was a misunderstanding before!”
Zhang Biao waved his hand, cutting off what Zhao Fengman was about to say:
“That was us reflecting problems to His Majesty in the most intense way! Now that the problems are initially resolved, and His Majesty’s discernment is keen, he will surely understand our good intentions! This is called ‘not fighting, not knowing’!”
“But…”
“No buts!”
Zhang Biao impatiently interrupted everyone’s hesitation:
“What are you afraid of? If your head falls off, it’s just a big scar! In eighteen years, you’ll be a good fellow again! Moreover, we have valid reasons and account books!”
“That’s right! I support Brother Biao!”
Just as the low-ranking capital officials were hesitating, Shen Lang, Zhang Biao’s most loyal follower, stepped forward:
“Think carefully, of all the things we’ve done, which one wasn’t a world-shattering event? Which one wasn’t a life-threatening matter? If we back down now, wouldn’t that prove we were wrong?”
“However, were we really wrong?!”
“All the eyes in Yingtian Prefecture are watching! All the jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards in the court are watching! If we were wrong, then the Great Ming should perish!”
Rumble!
As soon as this was said, it was like lighting the fuse of the dynamite barrel Zhang Biao had set up earlier.
It instantly detonated the entire venue!
Everyone couldn’t help but think!
So that’s how it is!
To be put to death and then live!
So Brother Biao isn’t really crazy! He’s pushing them to the brink for survival!
If they didn’t continue to cause trouble, what would their fate be? Waiting for those they had audited to settle scores with them later!
On the contrary, if they continued to cause trouble, they could not only gain “righteousness” but also crush those people to death.
As long as they died, wouldn’t they live?!
Countless distractions, fear, and worries vanished at this moment.
The eyes of the low-ranking capital officials gradually cleared, and their hearts, which had been filled with fear, gradually regained their resolve to face death.
“Right! Support Brother Biao!”
“We are heroes, not cowards!”
“Heroes in the world are like fish eyes crossing a river, but even as fish eyes, we must ride the wind and waves, and swim against the current!”
As one resounding affirmation after another echoed, their previously almost collapsed Dao hearts solidified and became even more indestructible at this moment.
Zhang Biao showed a faint smile, cast a satisfied glance at Shen Lang, raised his hand, and shouted: “My Dao is not solitary—!”
“My Dao is not solitary—!”
“My Dao is not solitary—!”
“My Dao is not solitary—!”
A tragic atmosphere of “breaking the pot and smashing it to pieces” and carrying the madness to the very end permeated the air.
This group of people started moving again, right in front of Zhan Hui and others, pulling the clanking Audit Chariot piled high with silver and all sorts of strange ‘offset debt goods’, and slowly advanced towards the Imperial Palace, which symbolized supreme imperial power, from where the bell chimed.
“Grand Censor, what should we do now? They’ve gone completely mad…”
Watching Zhang Biao and the others leave, a Censor from the Censorate cautiously and with a complex expression looked at Zhan Hui.
Zhan Hui’s face flickered with mixed emotions, he wanted to speak but stopped, and finally looked in the direction of the Imperial Palace, frowning, and said, “This matter is no longer something we can stop.”
“Then, Grand Censor, you mean we should just ignore them?” another Censor from the Censorate asked unwillingly.
He was a very rigid person and detested those who broke rules, so he naturally loathed Zhang Biao and his group, even though his own unpaid salary had not been issued, he still felt superior to Zhang Biao and his group.
Zhan Hui’s frown deepened upon hearing his question: “Who said we’re ignoring them? What I mean is, we can’t just deal with it ourselves!”
As soon as he said this, all the Censors from the Censorate understood that they needed to enlist more people to stop Zhang Biao and his group.
After all, there is strength in numbers.
Just like Zhang Biao and his group.
And as Zhang Biao and his group reappeared on the streets of Yingtian Prefecture.
The surrounding commoners all dodged, watching this strange procession, the items on the cart, and their direction of travel, all dumbfounded.
“They… where are they going again?”
“It seems to be the Imperial Palace?”
“Going to the Imperial Palace with these things? What are they trying to do?”
“They’re crazy… all crazy…”
The news spread like wildfire, faster than the Imperial Guard’s fast horses.
The entire Yingtian Prefecture once again focused its attention on this small group that was tugging at everyone’s nerves.
However, when they were still a hundred paces away from the Gate of Heavenly Acceptance, a squadron of Imperial Guards in black, with swords and Xiuchun Sabers, appeared silently like ghosts, blocking the road.
The leader was Jiang Huan, whose expression was as cold and stern as icy iron.
Jiang Huan’s gaze swept over the broken cart filled with silver and miscellaneous items, the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, and finally settled on Zhang Biao, his voice devoid of any warmth:
“Censor Zhang, stop.”
Zhang Biao stopped, the exaggerated smile on his face lessened a bit, but he still had a nonchalant air:
“Yo, Commander Jiang, you’ve come at the perfect time! Quickly help us announce that our Censorate Audit Team has returned triumphantly to report our work results to His Majesty! And by the way, ask His Majesty to settle our labor fees and the travel and meal expenses we’ve advanced…”
Jiang Huan’s eyelids twitched, and he forcibly suppressed the urge to draw his sword, his voice becoming even colder:
“His Majesty is recovering and needs rest; he does not see external officials. You should all retreat immediately!”
“Not seeing him?”
Zhang Biao raised his eyebrows: “Commander Jiang, you’re wrong! We’ve made a great contribution! When His Majesty hears this good news after waking up, he’ll be happy, and his illness will surely get better faster! This is called psychotherapy! Right, brothers?”
The people behind him chimed in unison: “Right! Psychotherapy!”
Jiang Huan’s face darkened completely, his hand rested on the hilt of his Xiuchun Saber, and a sharp killing intent permeated the air:
“Zhang Biao! Stop your nonsensical arguments! Today, even if I have to die with you, I will not let you see His Majesty!”
Die together?!
Good heavens!
He wants to take me and one of his dogs to our deaths?
And what’s worse, I can’t go back to modern times!
Zhang Biao looked at the murderous Jiang Huan in front of him, his mind racing.
Forcing his way through was definitely not an option; Jiang Huan would really act recklessly.
But to just leave in defeat? That wasn’t Zhang Biao’s style!
He rolled his eyes, a plan immediately forming in his mind. The stubbornness and arrogance on his face instantly vanished, replaced by an expression of sudden realization and willingness to go along.
“Oh—! I understand, I understand!”
He slapped his forehead: “It was my oversight! His Majesty has just woken up, and it is indeed not appropriate to disturb him! It was our fault!”
Jiang Huan was stunned, seemingly not expecting Zhang Biao to change his tune so quickly.
Then, Zhang Biao changed his tone, and the same enthusiastic smile that made Jiang Huan’s scalp tingle reappeared on his face:
“Since we can’t see His Majesty now, let’s deliver our work results and sincerity to His Majesty, and ask Commander Jiang to present them on our behalf. That should be acceptable, right?”
Before Jiang Huan could refuse, Zhang Biao immediately turned back and shouted at his subordinates:
“Brothers! His Majesty is unwell, we cannot go in and disturb him, but courtesy must be maintained! Quickly! Bring out the congratulatory gifts we prepared for His Majesty! And get paper and pen, I’ll write the work report into a memorial!”
Jiang Huan: “…”
He had an extremely ominous premonition.
The low-ranking capital officials: “???”
Congratulatory gifts?
What congratulatory gifts?
Didn’t we just finish confiscating property? What congratulatory gifts could we possibly have?!
