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

Chapter 14: Are we interrogating you, or are you interrogating us? [New book, please add to your favorites]

Zhu Biao's funeral seemed to have drained the last bit of life from Yingtian Prefecture.

The entire capital was immersed in a somber and oppressive atmosphere, and even the autumn sunlight seemed weak and listless.

But deep inside the imperial prison, Zhang Biao lived a rather comfortable life.

Juxianlou's roast chicken lived up to its reputation; the skin was crispy, the meat tender, and the aroma was irresistible. He ate it with gusto, his mouth greasy, and he even sucked the bones clean.

Zhu Gaosui kept his word and even brought him a pot of warmed yellow wine.

"Tsk, this prison is a bit worse than the dormitory, but it's quiet and the food is good!"

Zhang Biao picked his teeth, leaning contentedly against the thick, specially provided straw mat, wondering if he should try ordering braised bear paw tomorrow.

However, just as he was planning his grand scheme of ordering food in the prison, heavy footsteps broke the tranquility of the cell.

This time, the footsteps were orderly and heavy, carrying a cold, businesslike quality, unlike Zhu Gaosui's casual manner.

"Zhang Biao!" A cold shout rang out outside the prison door.

Zhang Biao lazily raised his eyes and looked up.

Three officials dressed in robes of different colors stood outside the fence, their expressions solemn and their eyes sharp.

Behind them were several yamen runners holding fire and water sticks, their faces expressionless, and a few imperial guards with expressions of watching a good show.

coming!

Joint trial by the three judicial authorities!

Zhang Biao's spirits lifted, and his death wish instantly kicked in.

He sprang to his feet with a quick flick of his wrist, brushing the straw off his clothes, and instantly switched his expression to that of a patriotic and fearless "die-hard remonstrance" meme.

"The Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review will conduct a joint trial! The criminal Zhang Biao, bring him in for questioning!"

The head official, the Vice Minister of Justice, spoke in a loud voice, carrying an unquestionable air of authority.

The prison door slammed open, and two constables rushed forward to grab the man.

"Wait!"

Zhang Biao flung his sleeves, raised his head high, and declared with righteous indignation: "I can walk by myself! Lead the way! I want to see which upright officials are trying to judge this treacherous scoundrel who disrupts the court and sows discord between the emperor and his ministers!"

His imposing manner startled the constable, who instinctively looked at the interrogating officer.

The Vice Minister of Justice frowned, then coldly snorted, "Still sharp-tongued even when facing death! Take him away!"

Zhang Biao was taken to an interrogation room that was several times larger than a regular cell and had better lighting.

The interior was simply furnished, with a long table behind which sat Wu Yong, Minister of Justice; Zhan Hui, Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate; and Chen Ying, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

The bailiffs stood in two rows on either side, pounding water and fire sticks on the ground, creating a solemn atmosphere.

"Criminal Zhang Biao, kneel down!"

Presiding Judge Wu Yong slammed his gavel and shouted sternly.

The sound echoed in the stone chamber, carrying an air of official authority.

Zhang Biao stood ramrod straight, motionless, and instead looked the three presiding judges up and down with an extremely strange gaze, as if he were picking out radishes and cabbages at a vegetable market.

"kneel?"

He chuckled, his voice not loud, but clearly heard by everyone: "I kneel to Heaven, Earth, and the Emperor! Are you gentlemen the Emperor? Or the God of Heaven?"

"Bold maniac!"

Wu Yong was so angry that his mustache stood on end: "How dare you be so insolent in this courtroom! Guards! Bring me here!"

"Hey, Minister, please calm down!" Zhang Biao suddenly raised his hand, interrupting the other party, a look of sudden realization mixed with a hint of mockery on his face: "I understand! You three are here to interrogate me on behalf of the Emperor and the laws of the court, right?"

"You know that, yet you still dare to be so insolent?"

"It's not that I'm being presumptuous, but I need to understand: are you going to interrogate me for spreading heresy? Or for sowing discord between the emperor and his ministers? Or perhaps for something I said in court that day that wasn't clear enough, and I need to explain it to the three of you again?"

He spoke slowly but clearly, each question like a small hammer striking precisely at the rhythm set by the three presiding judges.

They had prepared a whole host of stern reprimands and rigorous questions, but were momentarily stunned by Zhang Biao's series of counter-questions.

Wu Yong's face turned ashen: "Zhang Biao! Stop your nonsense! I'm asking you, on the 12th day of the ninth month of the 25th year of Hongwu, at the court assembly in Fengtian Hall, you..."

Oh! That day!

Zhang Biao slapped his forehead, as if he had just remembered: "I said a lot that day! Which sentence are you referring to, sir?"

"Are you saying that Minister Zhao's 30% tax increase is a policy that will lead to the downfall of the country? Or are you saying that Minister Lü and Minister Qi should be executed for making irresponsible remarks about the crown prince?"

"Oh, right! I also said that treacherous officials like Lord Zhao, who don't care about the people, are even more harmful. In the end, he even volunteered to be skinned alive! Do you three think that one of my crimes is not clear enough? Or do you think that the way I requested to die is not creative enough? Not exciting enough? Not enough to demonstrate the majesty of the imperial law?"

He spoke with increasing sincerity, his eyes fixed earnestly on the three presiding judges whose faces grew increasingly grim.

"You...you're just being unreasonable!"

Wu Yong's fingers trembled with anger: "I ask you, do you have any evidence to support your impeachment in court against Zhao Qian, the Minister of Revenue, for raising taxes, which you called a policy that would lead to the downfall of the country?"

"evidence?"

Zhang Biao exclaimed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world: "Does this even need evidence?!"

“I, Zhang Biao, am merely a lowly seventh-rank censor. When I saw these signs of harming the Ming Dynasty, I risked my life to stand up and speak the truth. Isn’t that loyalty to the emperor and patriotism? Isn’t that the duty of a censor? How did it become my fault in the eyes of the three of you?”

He took a sudden step forward, and although he was wearing prison clothes, his aura suddenly rose, his eyes sharp as knives as he scanned the three presiding judges:

"I would like to ask the three of you! Should Zhao Qian be executed for proposing heavy taxes and exploiting the disaster victims? Or should Lü Ping and Qi Tai be executed for their presumptuous remarks about the crown prince and their disregard for the emperor's will? Or should I, Zhang Biao, the one who dares to point out their problems and is willing to die to remonstrate with the emperor, be executed?!"

"You! You are so presumptuous!"

Zhan Hui finally couldn't hold back any longer and slammed his fist on the table, shouting, "How dare you roar in the courtroom! You're distorting the truth and confusing the public! Guards! Slap me in the face!"

Two constables immediately stepped forward, ready to take action.

"Wait!"

Zhang Biao shouted, his voice shaking the roof tiles and causing the yamen runners to pause in their actions.

He gave a cold laugh, his gaze shooting towards Zhan Hui like lightning: "According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty: a trial must clarify the facts and distinguish right from wrong. Your questioning is unclear and your logic is confused. I argued with reason, so how can you be yelling?"

“Every word I have said points to the faults of Zhao Qian, Lü Ping, and Qi Tai. How can you accuse me of distorting the truth? Why is the Left Censor-in-Chief resorting to torture without distinguishing right from wrong? Is he trying to extract a confession through torture? Or does he have something to hide and is afraid that I will find out something?”

He recited the articles of the Ming Dynasty law with perfect accuracy, instantly silencing Zhan Hui, who blushed and pointed at Zhang Biao: "You...you..."

He hesitated for a long time, but couldn't utter a single word.

Torture? Zhang Biao's every word revolves around the law and loyalty; wouldn't torture confirm a forced confession?
No torture? This guy's mouth is sharper than a knife!
Wu Yong and Chen Ying were also sweating profusely.

They had interrogated countless corrupt officials, all of whom trembled with fear and confessed their crimes. Had they ever seen such an arrogant, difficult, and seemingly eloquent criminal who was also well-versed in the law?

This isn't them interrogating Zhang Biao; it's Zhang Biao interrogating them!
Examine their capabilities, their stance, and whether they dare to seriously investigate the forces that may be involved behind Zhao Qian, Lü Ping, and Qi Tai.

An eerie silence fell over the interrogation room.

Only Zhang Biao stood there, his posture upright and his eyes looking down on everyone, as if he were the master of the house.

The three high-ranking judges were rendered speechless and completely demoralized by his witty and forceful rebuttal, which was full of allusions and references.

Zhang Biao felt the fire was almost done and prepared to add one last bit of firewood!

(End of this chapter)