Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 544 Disregarding Human Life! A God-Sent Opportunity!
Wu Dezhang smiled smugly.

The others laughed too.

He pointed to the silver notes on the table and said in a matter-of-fact tone, "The silver given to you officials is naturally allocated by the imperial court from disaster relief funds. Why should we officials use our own salaries?"

It turned out to be the case.

Zhu Yunwen's gaze instantly turned cold.

These parasites actually treated disaster relief funds as their private property to be taken at will, and even shamelessly called them "the emperor's reward," openly using them for bribery!
Zhu Yunwen stared at Wu Dezhang, his tone casual, but his words were like sharp blades piercing the heart: "You guys are quite good at making money, aren't you? You've turned this disaster relief money into your own little treasury, taking whatever you want without any scruples."

Wu Dezhang's face was plastered with a fawning smile as he waved his hands repeatedly, trying to explain, "Please don't say that, sir!"

"This money belongs to the Emperor. We take a little of it to better serve the Emperor."

He glorified his embezzlement as "doing things according to imperial orders," saying, "As long as we do a good job of the tasks assigned by the Emperor, then this inexhaustible disaster relief fund will be the Emperor's reward to us. It is all thanks to the Emperor's boundless grace."

Wu Dezhang leaned forward slightly, getting closer to Zhu Yunwen, and lowered his voice, saying, "The three thousand taels of silver is just a token of appreciation for the hard work of the brothers of the Tian Shu Division."

"As for your share, sir, I will prepare an extra portion. I will certainly not treat you unfairly."

Wu Dezhang subtly gave him a wink and whispered, "What I gave the lord just now was actually two hundred thousand taels of silver."

"Of those 100,000 taels, sir, were used to reward the brothers of the Tian Shu Division."

"The other 100,000 taels is a private tribute to you, sir."

His smile widened, trying to completely dispel Zhu Yunwen's doubts: "These are all funds from the imperial court, the Emperor's grace. Please accept them, sir."

Throughout the entire process, Wu Dezhang never inquired about Zhu Yunwen's true identity.

This is because Wu Dezhang was well aware that the Tian Shu Division was a highly secretive organization.

All he needed to know was that Zhu Yunwen was the leader of these Tian Shu Si guards.

Judging from the reactions of the other guards, this is beyond doubt.

As for the other party's specific identity, since they wouldn't say, Wu Dezhang wisely refrained from asking further.

In his view, the other party was someone close to the emperor, and it couldn't be wrong for him to try his best to curry favor with him.

Besides, just the fact that this matter was exposed today is enough to shut the other party up with 200,000 taels of silver, preventing him from filing a complaint with the emperor. So, the money is well spent.

Zhu Yunwen was so angry that he laughed instead.

However, when the Henan officials in the room saw him like this, they mistakenly thought that he had accepted money, and their attitude changed accordingly. They all breathed a sigh of relief, and their tense nerves relaxed a little.

One official began to complain bitterly: "In fact, Henan is a barren land, and it is really not as rich and prosperous as Nanjing."

"Although we are officials appointed by the imperial court, we are all honest and upright officials. Where would we get any extra money on a regular basis?"

"It was only because of the Yellow River's breach that, thanks to the Emperor's great favor, the court allocated a large sum of silver to our disaster area, which allowed us to receive a small share to supplement our household income."

Zhu Yunwen smiled faintly and said, "So, the reason why you gentlemen are able to live such good lives today is entirely due to the Yellow River's breach and the devastating disaster that Henan suffered?"

Upon hearing this, an official replied without hesitation, "It may sound harsh, but it's the truth."

He was completely oblivious to the cold sarcasm in Zhu Yunwen's tone, and instead exclaimed, "Even government offices everywhere were flooded, and my own house and fields were also flooded."

"Thanks to His Majesty's great fortune, a large amount of disaster relief funds have been allocated."

"In this way, not only can it make up for the losses caused by the disaster, but everyone can also make a small fortune, hahaha."

He laughed unrestrainedly.

The other officials joined in the laughter, filling the tent with a joyful atmosphere.

"Fortunately, the Yellow River breached its banks this time. This disaster was a good thing, a stroke of good luck!" Some officials even cheered without restraint.

"If this happened every year, and the Yellow River breached its banks every year, that would be wonderful! We could all make a fortune!"

Other officials echoed this sentiment.

They completely ignored the cries and suffering of the people outside, only caring about their own selfish interests.

Zhu Yunwen felt a surge of indignation rising in his heart, almost bursting out of his chest, but he still did not immediately lash out.

He was curious to see just how despicable these officials could be, so he quietly watched their ugly performance.

Xu Miaojin also remained unusually calm, presumably with the same thought in mind, wanting to see just how shameless these parasites could be.

Since neither the emperor nor the imperial concubine had spoken, the other guards naturally wouldn't act on their own initiative.

Chen Guanlan, who had come with them all the way, could no longer suppress his grief and indignation. He opened his eyes wide, pointed at the greasy-faced officials in the tent, and sternly rebuked them: "You...you corrupt officials, how can you be so despicable and shameless?"

"The Yellow River breached its banks, causing an unprecedented disaster in Henan. Nearly 100,000 people were mercilessly swallowed by the flood, and millions were displaced, their homes destroyed, and their lives lost!"

"As officials appointed by the imperial court, instead of doing your utmost to relieve the disaster and comfort the people, you are only thinking about profiting from the national crisis?"

"How can you have the face to be officials? How can you have the face to be human beings?"

"You...you are worse than animals!"

The officials were caught off guard by the scolding and stood there stunned. The smiles on their faces froze instantly, and they all looked at him with shock and anger in their eyes.

"Who are you? How dare you spout such nonsense and utter such outrageous remarks?" an official rebuked angrily, his face showing offended and embarrassed. "We are all serving the court wholeheartedly and loyally to His Majesty. Haven't those millions of disaster victims already been given steamed buns and rice porridge?"

He pointed outside the tent and said confidently, "With such a huge disaster, not a single person has starved to death. Doesn't that prove that our disaster relief work has been done exceptionally well?"

"If the job is done well, how about we all share the profits?"

"This is a reward from His Majesty, a commendation for our diligent work and tireless disaster relief efforts!"

He became more and more assertive as he spoke: "The people in the disaster area received disaster relief funds from the imperial court, so it is only right that we officials who have worked so hard for the people should also get a share. Isn't that a matter of course?"

This person is clearly spouting fallacies and absurdities, yet he speaks of them with such confidence and without a trace of shame.

Other officials echoed this sentiment, and voices of approval were heard everywhere.

Just then, an official suddenly pointed at Chen Guanlan and cried out in terror, "You...you...you're that wanted criminal!" "How dare you be here?"

"Guards! Guards! Quickly, guards! Seize him and take him out to be beheaded as a warning!"

The shrill crack in his voice clearly indicated that he was quite frightened.

Zhu Yunwen gently raised his hand and said, "Chen Guanlan is both brave and resourceful, and I have already recruited him to serve in the Tian Shu Division."

"I humbly request that you gentlemen grant him some face and let bygones be bygones regarding his past actions. How about that?"

Wu Dezhang hurriedly smiled and said, "Since it is the magistrate of the Tian Shu Division who has pleaded for leniency, then of course there is no problem! This humble official will fully comply!"

He smiled at Chen Guanlan, his tone becoming unusually friendly: "This brother is truly blessed!"

"To be valued so highly by the lord and granted entry into such an important place as the Heavenly Pivot Division, one's future is limitless, and one will rise rapidly!"

"As for what happened before, let's just let it go and not bring it up again, okay?"

Zhu Yunwen and Xu Miaojin exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

According to the government's arrest warrant, Chen Guanlan committed a serious crime and should be executed according to the law.

However, Zhu Yunwen merely made a casual remark in his capacity as the leader of the Tian Shu Division guards, which immediately prompted Wu Dezhang to agree to let him go.

The Henan government is handling cases so carelessly and arbitrarily, killing and releasing ordinary people at will, treating human life as worthless and trampling on it wantonly!

Such acts of disregarding human life are enough to reveal just how utterly corrupt the officialdom in Henan has become!
Chen Guanlan was at a loss. He hated these corrupt officials to the bone, but now he was a wanted criminal.

If the warrant for his arrest can be lifted, it means he can save his life.

As an ordinary citizen, Chen Guanlan did not have the courage to refuse such a "temptation".

Even though they hated these corrupt officials with a passion, they were at a loss for what to do and were caught in a fierce internal struggle.

"He's a wanted criminal, are you really going to let him go so easily?" Zhu Yunwen asked calmly, probing, "Then what should be done once the government issues an arrest warrant?"

Wu Dezhang disagreed, saying, "If it were someone else, it would be absolutely impossible. The rules are strict and cannot be changed."

"But since the Lord of Tian Shu has given his word, what is impossible?"

He said confidently, "That arrest warrant was issued by the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office."

"Since we can issue arrest warrants, we can also cancel them at any time. It's not a difficult thing."

At this point, Wu Dezhang revealed a smug look on his face and began to flaunt his power: "Ordinary county or prefectural governments don't have this much power."

"Once a case is settled, the list of criminals is reported to the Provincial Surveillance Commission, and an arrest warrant is issued, then they have no right to change it at will."

He patted his chest, his words filled with pride and arrogance: "But I am the deputy commissioner of the Provincial Surveillance Commission, and I have come to the disaster area to directly manage this matter."

"Therefore, I can add or remove anyone from this wanted list at will; everything is under my control!"

They really treat human life so carelessly!

Zhu Yunwen's anger intensified, and he continued to ask, "Are those people outside who are about to be beheaded and displayed to the public also people you dislike, or people who are in your way of making money?"

"Sir, you are truly amazing! You guessed it right away!" Wu Dezhang gave a thumbs up, his drunken face full of a fawning smile.

He had drunk quite a bit and was still somewhat tipsy.

Seeing that Zhu Yunwen had not refused his 'bribe', he thought that he had already dragged him into the mess, so he stopped hiding it and instead wanted to reveal his 'secret' to show his 'honesty' so that the other party would think that he was a friend he could make.

This is also one of the common tactics used in officialdom to get close to people and build relationships.

Wu Dezhang naturally employed these political maneuvering tactics.

As for the words that Zhu Yunwen and others had used to rebuke them, in his view, they were nothing more than righteous words on the surface, high-sounding words, but in reality, they were just trying to make money.

As a seasoned corrupt official, Wu Dezhang thought and acted in this way.

Extending his own experience to others, he also believed that these guards of the Heavenly Pivot Division were merely wearing different skins, and were essentially no different from himself.

He further confided in Zhu Yunwen, saying, "My lord, I will not hide anything from you. Among those people outside who are to be executed, there are basically none who have committed serious crimes such as rape, robbery, theft, murder, and arson."

Wu Dezhang waved his hand, as if he were talking about a trivial matter: "A few days ago, there were a few, but we cleanly and efficiently 'cut them up'."

"Now, the security situation in the disaster area has basically returned to normal, and no one dares to do evil so blatantly anymore."

"Those who are being arrested and beheaded now are some of the 'troublemakers' who used to frequently go against the government!"

“In the past, when the government collected taxes or did other things, these people were always dishonest and racked their brains to find ways to go against the government.”

"Even worse, some dared to file complaints against local officials at higher-level government offices!"

"Some people even wrote letters to the Censorate in Nanjing, reporting officials from Henan Province!"

In short, they're all troublemakers!

He spoke of these things with indignation, as if he were the victim: "But they didn't commit any real crimes. There were the laws of the imperial court in the past, and we couldn't do anything about them."

At this point, Wu Dezhang's resentment and anger intensified: "Although we are their 'parent officials' and they are our 'subjects,' they are usually very arrogant!"

"With the Yellow River breaching its banks, Henan has suffered an unprecedented disaster. The imperial court has given us the authority to act expediently and to restore order in the disaster area."

"Isn't this the perfect excuse to kill all these stubborn and unruly people!"

Wu Dezhang's eyes flashed with a sinister light: "In this way, the rest will all be honest and law-abiding citizens, which will be much easier to govern in the future. Even if we beat or scold them, no one will dare to utter a single word in return!"

"From now on, whatever amount the government demands, we will pay. No one will dare to object or cause trouble, let alone file a complaint."

His smile appeared unusually sinister: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a golden chance bestowed by God, and we cannot afford to miss it!"

……

(End of this chapter)