Da Ming: I told you to die for your cause, why are you actually going to die?

Chapter 115 A Plea to the Emperor! Abolish Confucianism—! [Bonus Chapter 14 for Monthly Tickets]

Outside the Fengtian Hall, the group of upright officials, whose knees were numb from kneeling, whose throats were hoarse from shouting, and whose beliefs had been shattered by Zhang Biao's "enthusiastic guidance," were now in a state of unprecedented confusion and embarrassment.

Should I continue kneeling? The Emperor is clearly avoiding me.

Should they just leave like this? They were unwilling to give up, and it would seem like a half-hearted end, making them a laughing stock in the court and among the people.

Just then, the figure that they both hated and feared, and which they found inexplicably eerie, reappeared in their sight.

Zhang Biao looked at his demoralized 'teammates', sighed, and gave them a 'you guys are hopeless' look.

"I say, gentlemen."

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly: "What's the use of you kneeling here begging the Emperor to kill me? Even if the Emperor really kills me, will the problem be solved?"

What do you mean?
Doesn't he want to die?

The upright people looked up and stared at him blankly.

"You keep saying that I'm disrupting the imperial court and bringing disaster to the country and its people?"

But Zhang Biao let out a cold laugh and began his frenzied outpouring of thoughts:

"Have you ever thought about why I was able to disrupt the imperial court? Why is it so easy for a 'madman' to disrupt the imperial court?"

"It's because the government itself is flawed! It's built on a castle in the air!"

"You've spent your whole lives studying the classics, spouting Confucianism and morality, using archaic phrases and classical allusions. But what else can you do besides kneeling here chanting slogans, offering your own deathbed remonstrances, and engaging in moral blackmail?"

"The Ministry of Revenue's accounts are unclear; you have no jurisdiction over them!"

"You can't find out that the Ministry of War is receiving salaries for no work!"

"You can't see the corruption in the Ministry of Works' projects!"

"You cannot save the people from hunger and cold!"

"All you do is cling to a few ancient books from a thousand years ago, spending your days figuring out how to kowtow to the emperor more loudly, how to write more ornate memorials, and how to find fault with others in terms of etiquette and rules!"

"You think this is how you govern the country and bring peace to the world? Bah! This is the greatest inaction! The greatest hypocrisy!"

"you--!"

The upright officials were red-faced with anger after being scolded. Some tried to refute, but were completely overwhelmed by Zhang Biao's imposing manner.

"As the saying goes, tracing back to the source!"

Zhang Biao's voice suddenly rose, booming like thunder: "The root of the problem is not me, Zhang Biao, alone! It lies in the very things you believe in! It lies in this pedantic, empty-talking, and misleading philosophy of Confucianism!"

"What!?"

Everyone present, including not only the group of upright individuals, but also Shen Lang and his group, Fu Youwen and his group in the duty room, and anyone who could hear Zhang Biao's voice, was stunned by these words.

Their minds went blank, as if they had lost the ability to think.

How could anyone dare to say such a thing?!

Is this an attack on Confucianism?!
Thinking about this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

Even Li Mo couldn't help but shout, "Brother Biao—!"

However, Zhang Biao ignored him and continued walking in the square of Fengtian Hall, speaking eloquently:
"The problem lies with this pedantic Confucianism! A huge problem!"

"It has produced a bunch of useless people like you who only know empty talk and are clueless about practical matters!"

"It bound the hands and feet of the monarch, trapping him in cumbersome formalities!"

"It numbs the minds of the people, making them content with poverty and lowliness!"

"It is precisely this system that makes our Great Ming Dynasty appear glorious on the surface, but inside it is rife with corruption and deeply entrenched problems that are difficult to reverse!"

"What I've done today is merely to prick this festering sore! Even if it weren't for me, Zhang Biao, Wang Biao or Li Biao would have done it!"

"You don't want to kill me, Zhang Biao!"

"What you should really be petitioning for is to abolish this Confucian orthodoxy that is misleading the country and its people! To smash these shackles that bind our minds! To open up a new path of seeking truth and being pragmatic!"

At this point, he suddenly raised his hand, pointed at the Fengtian Hall, and with all his might, let out a thunderous shout: "If you really have the courage and the heart to serve the country and the people, then stop begging to kill a mere censor like me!"

“You should stand up, straighten your spines, and tell the emperor inside—”

"Your Majesty, we beseech you to abolish Confucianism, establish a new school of thought, seek truth and be pragmatic, and save the Ming Dynasty!"

"boom!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt from the heavens, hitting all the upright officials hard on the head!

They were cleaved in two, their souls scattered and their livers and gallbladders shattered!
It's chaotic, completely chaotic, and the situation is starting to get out of control.

Some people were enlightened and their thoughts became clear.

Someone was stepped on and started cursing wildly.

What Zhang Biao said was truly earth-shattering.

To abolish Confucianism?! To abolish the orthodox Confucianism that has been passed down for thousands of years since Emperor Wu of Han?!
This is not just arrogance, this is digging up the ancestral graves of the entire civil service!
It is to deny the value of their lifelong beliefs and their very existence!
It's about overturning the entire world order!
This is ten thousand times more insane than Zhang Biao's audit of the emperor's private treasury! Ten thousand times more terrifying!
All the upright officials, including the white-haired old censor Li Tiesheng, were so frightened that they collapsed to the ground.

Their faces were ashen, their fingers pointed at Zhang Biao, trembling all over, unable to utter a single word.

Some hot-blooded young scholars were so angry that their eyes rolled back and they fainted.

Outside the Fengtian Hall, a deathly, extreme terror and silence reigned.

Soon, Zhang Biao's groundbreaking "proposal" reached Old Zhu's bedroom.

A young eunuch scrambled in, stammering, "Your Majesty! Disaster! A terrible disaster! Censor Zhang Biao is instigating those upright officials to... to..." "To what?! To rebel?!"

Old Zhu immediately rolled over and got out of bed. Just as Yunming had expected, he couldn't sleep at all. How could he possibly sleep?

Seeing the young eunuch in such a state, the ominous premonition in his heart reached its peak.

"It's not a rebellion, it's a..."

The young eunuch practically cried out, "Abolish Confucianism! Establish a new school!"

"Bang!"

The jade ruyi that Old Zhu had been holding in his hand to calm his nerves fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

He was frozen in place as if under a spell, his pupils suddenly shrinking to the size of pinpoints.

Abolish Confucianism?!
Has Zhang Biao gone mad?!
No! He is the devil! He is a demon from hell!

Although Zhu Yuanzhang himself disliked the pedantry of Confucian scholars and had killed many disobedient intellectuals, he knew better than anyone that Confucianism was the foundation for maintaining the rule of the Ming Dynasty and winning over the hearts of the people.

It is the cornerstone of the emperor and scholar-officials jointly governing the country.

Once the phrase "abolish Confucianism" is spread, it will trigger an ideological earthquake more terrifying than any peasant uprising or rebellion of a feudal lord.

Scholars across the land will immediately become disloyal and alienated, and the very foundation of the Ming Dynasty's rule will be shaken in an instant.

This isn't just a slap in the face; it's a direct demolition of the house.

They also set fire to the foundation.

"How dare he? How dare he?"

Old Zhu muttered to himself, his body beginning to tremble uncontrollably, not from anger, but from a fear that came from the depths of his soul.

For the first time, he discovered that there were truly beings in this world that he, Zhu Yuanzhang, could not control or even understand.

We can't hide anymore! We absolutely can't hide anymore!
This disaster must be stopped immediately!

"Yunming! Summon Jiang Huan!"

Old Zhu sat bolt upright as if on his deathbed, letting out a heart-wrenching roar: "Quick! Prepare the carriage! We need to go to Fengtian Hall Square—!"

He panicked completely, he was terrified!

He had no choice but to leave his dormitory!
He wanted to personally confront Zhang Biao, this madman who could cause a major upheaval!

About fifteen minutes later, he came out hastily, dressed in a dragon robe, without even sitting in a palanquin.

Although his face was still sallow and his figure was somewhat hunched, the burning anger and cold killing intent in his eyes were enough to make anyone tremble with fear.

Surrounded by Jiang Huan and a large number of Imperial Guards, he stepped out of the palace gate and walked towards the wide square in front of Fengtian Hall.

His appearance, with its palpable pressure, instantly enveloped the entire arena.

Those upright officials who were originally crying out, protesting, or terrified by Zhang Biao's "abolition of Confucianism" remarks suddenly fell silent, kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise their heads.

Old Zhu's gaze, like two incredibly sharp ice spikes, instantly locked onto Zhang Biao, who stood in the middle of the field with a 'you finally came out' expression on his face.

"Jiang Huan! Seal all palace gates! No one is allowed to leave! Anyone who disobeys will be executed without mercy!"

"promise!"

Jiang Huan agreed and withdrew.

"Zhang Biao!"

Old Zhu's voice was hoarse, yet carried the force of a thunderbolt; each word seemed to be ground out from between his teeth: "You're very good! You're really very good! You forced us out? Now we're out! What are your last words? Speak!"

At this moment, Old Zhu truly harbored murderous intent, an unprecedentedly strong murderous intent.

This madman has crossed the most fundamental line of his rule and must be eliminated immediately.

Meanwhile, in the offices on both sides of Fengtian Hall Square, many windows were quietly opened a crack.

Minister of War Ru Chang, Vice Minister of Revenue Fu Youwen, Minister of Works Zheng Ci, Vice Minister of Personnel Zhai Shan, and others were prominently featured in one of the duty rooms.

They peered through the crack in the window, watching the scene outside with a mixture of tension and excitement.

Seeing that Old Zhu had finally been forced out and was furious with murderous intent, the men all revealed uncontrollable smug smiles.

"It's out! It's finally out!"

Fu Youwen lowered his voice and rubbed his hands excitedly: "His Majesty is truly enraged. Zhang Biao is doomed this time!"

Ru Chang's fat face twitched, and a hint of pleasure flashed in his eyes: "Hmph, you reap what you sow! How dare you talk about 'abolishing Confucianism'? You've dug your own grave!"

Zheng Ci was relatively cautious, but he also breathed a sigh of relief: "With this villain eliminated, the court can be at peace."

Zhai Shanze's eyes flickered, and he said in a low voice, "I just didn't expect him to use such a cruel method to seek death. But as long as the effect is achieved, that's good."

They seemed to already see Zhang Biao's bloodied end and themselves safely weathering the crisis.

They might even be given more important positions in the future because of their "meritorious service in forcing the emperor to abdicate".

Faced with Old Zhu's overwhelming killing intent, Zhang Biao was not afraid at all. Instead, he showed a relieved smile. He even straightened his clothes and said loudly:
"Your Majesty, I have no other request but a swift death! I beg you to grant my wish!"

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(End of this chapter)