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

Chapter 17 Old Zhu is numb! [New book, please add to your favorites]

"curse?"

Zhang Biao chuckled, then revealed a meme-worthy expression of 'deathbed remonstrance' filled with pity and despair.

He abruptly stood up, disregarding the formalities between ruler and subject, his voice carrying a deafening question and a death-defying accusation: "Your Majesty! Do you still remember who you are? Do you still remember how this Ming Dynasty came to be?!"

Boom!

Like a thunderbolt from the heavens!

The blow caused all the eunuchs and palace maids present to turn pale instantly and tremble like leaves!
Even Jiang Huan's pupils shrank sharply, his face filled with horror!
This kid's gone mad! Absolutely mad!
How dare he?!
Zhu Yuanzhang's body suddenly swayed, his gloomy face instantly turning a terrifying purplish-red, his eyes blazing with unbelievable rage and murderous intent: "What...what did you say?!"

His voice was hoarse and roaring, like a wounded beast, making the palace beams vibrate!

A violent killing intent instantly spread out!
Zhang Biao, however, seemed oblivious to the overwhelming killing intent. He stepped forward, his aura soaring, his voice even louder, each word dripping with blood and piercing the heart: "You've forgotten! You've forgotten everything!"

"Have you forgotten the sight of countless starving corpses you saw when you rang the bell at Huangjue Temple back then!"

"Have you forgotten those poor brothers in Haozhou who dared to rebel against you just for a bite to eat!"

"You've forgotten those soldiers who shielded you from Chen Youliang's arrows on Poyang Lake, their bodies sinking to the bottom of the lake!"

"You've forgotten how you once pointed at those starving people and said to Commander Guo, 'The people are like water, and the ruler is like a boat. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it!'"

"Have you forgotten the grand vow you made on the day you ascended the throne, in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, before your officials and the people of the world: to expel the barbarians, restore China, establish order and discipline, and save the people!"

"you you you"

Old Zhu was so shocked by these words that his heart pounded and he couldn't even speak.

How does this guy know everything?

Who is he? ?

Just as Old Zhu was filled with shock and anger, Zhang Biao's voice rang out again: "The floods in Jiangnan have just passed, and the tragic scene of people exchanging children to eat is still vivid in our minds. That scoundrel Zhao Qian doesn't think about providing relief, but instead wants to increase taxes by 30%! What is he trying to do?! Is he trying to force those people who have just lost their homes and loved ones to rebel again?!"

"Your Majesty! Think about this carefully! Is this just a tax increase?! This is igniting a prairie fire of rebellion in Jiangnan! This is a shovel that will dig up the very foundation of your Great Ming Dynasty!"

Zhang Biao's voice was like a heavy hammer, striking Zhu Yuanzhang's heart repeatedly.

With each word he spoke, the purplish-red color on Zhu Yuanzhang's face faded a little, and his rage was replaced by a soul-stirring pain and memories.

Those memories of blood and fire, those unforgettable vows, surged forth like a tidal wave.

However, Zhang Biao had not finished speaking.

But then he said in a resounding voice, "Over the years, you have killed corrupt officials, skinned them alive, but why are there still more and more corrupt officials being killed? One after another, they keep falling into the trap!"

"You use harsh punishments, killing countless people, but can you eradicate the greed deep within human nature?!"

"Can you plug the endless stream of parasites emerging from those loopholes in the system?!"

"we"

Zhu Yuanzhang opened his mouth, as if to say something but then stopped, his chest heaving violently, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

Zhang Biao's words were like a red-hot iron, scalding the most painful spot in his heart that he least wanted to touch.

But he's the Hongwu Emperor! How could he possibly compromise so easily?!
He steadied himself, calmed his emotions, and immediately retorted to Zhang Biao, "So, according to you, corrupt officials shouldn't be killed? You say our system is flawed? Our system is the law for all ages! What do you know?!"

"In our opinion, those corrupt officials deserve to die! They are the ones who have caused the people to be displaced and starving! Our parents were killed by corrupt officials! And the reason we started this uprising is to stand up for the people!"

"We haven't forgotten! We haven't forgotten anything—!"

The voice, in its roar, was shattered by rage.

Zhang Biao remained calm: "Yes! Corrupt officials should indeed be killed! But can governing a country rely solely on killing?"

"absurd!"

Old Zhu scoffed, "You, a mere seventh-rank censor, dare to lecture me on governing the country?!"

"Indeed! I am but a lowly seventh-rank censor, and I am certainly unworthy to instruct Your Majesty in governing the country!"

Zhang Biao nodded, then changed the subject: "However, has Your Majesty considered that the root cause of the persistent problem of corrupt officials lies not in the individuals, but in the system! It lies in this system where official salaries are so meager that they can barely support a family, forcing even honest officials to take risks! It lies in the lack of effective oversight, allowing those in power to do as they please!" "Didn't we establish the Embroidered Uniform Guard to monitor all officials? Didn't we reorganize the Censorate?"

Old Zhu frowned, then sneered, "Otherwise, how would you, a seventh-rank censor of the Censorate, have the opportunity to stand in the court and spout nonsense?"

"Furthermore, you say our official salary is meager, that's because your rank is low! You yourself are not ambitious, yet you dream of high positions and generous salaries. There's no such thing as a free lunch!"

"Is that so? Does His Majesty really think so?"

"Otherwise, do you think you're completely in the right?"

"Very well! Since Your Majesty says so, then I have no choice but to settle accounts with Your Majesty!"

"What's the deal?"

Old Zhu narrowed his eyes, and Jiang Huan, who was not far away, immediately drew the Embroidered Spring Knife from his waist.

He had wanted to kill this Imperial Censor Zhang for a long time.

That's absolutely terrifying.

Based on what he said, not only should he be executed by slow slicing, but even the extermination of his entire family wouldn't be excessive.

However, Zhang Biao remained calm and said, "Let's settle the score! Let's see where the Emperor spent the money!"

"Is it what you call high-ranking official position and generous salary, or is it truly acting as a ruler for the people?"

"Zhang Biao!"

Old Zhu's face darkened, and his voice was almost spitting out from between his teeth: "Do you really think we wouldn't dare to kill you?"

"If Your Majesty were to kill me, I would gladly accept it!"

Zhang Biao smiled slightly, then said in a serious tone, "But before I am killed, I will still speak freely!"

"I recall that in the ninth year of the Hongwu reign, His Majesty established the stipends for members of the imperial family, with princes receiving 50,000 shi of grain and dukes receiving 6,000 shi. I wonder if I am mistaken?"

"Humph!"

Old Zhu snorted coldly, neither responding nor denying.

Zhang Biao then said to himself, "It seems I remembered correctly! So now, let's take the Emperor's twenty-three sons as an example, excluding the other princesses and the Emperor's other relatives, who are not considered for the time being!"

"Well, so far, apart from the princes who have not yet been granted titles, there are still twenty-two vassal kings in the Ming Dynasty who need the court to support them, including the Prince of Qin, the Prince of Jin, and the Prince of Yan!"

"According to the Emperor's regulations on the stipends for imperial relatives, a prince receives 50,000 shi of grain, and there are 22 princes, totaling only 1.1 million shi of grain, which doesn't seem like much."

"Then let's calculate it again. As for the stipends of the princes, I don't think His Majesty has set any limit on the number of descendants of the princes, right?"

"After all, they are descendants of royalty; the more offspring they have, the better, right?"

"Just spit out whatever nonsense you have to say!"

Old Zhu finally spoke up, his patience wearing thin.

Zhang Biao smiled dismissively, then continued, "We just calculated that the twenty-two princes would need 1.1 million shi of salary. What about the county princes? The Ming Dynasty currently only has one county prince!"

"But that's inaccurate, because forty-nine of the princes' sons are about to be enfeoffed as dukes!"

"In other words, the combined stipends of the princes and dukes of the Ming Dynasty require 1.3 million shi of grain from the imperial court to support them!"

"Of course! A mere 1.3 million shi of salary is not much compared to the total tax revenue of the Ming Dynasty, which is over 10 million shi. It's at most one-twelfth or one-eighteenth of that!"

"I wonder if my calculations are correct?"

Upon hearing this, Old Zhu was utterly astonished, and even the way he looked at Zhang Biao changed.

Zhang Biao, however, remained calm: "Don't be surprised. Although I am only a seventh-rank censor, I enjoy reading and have some knowledge of mathematics. There shouldn't be any problem, right?"

The six characters "merely a seventh-rank censor" weighed heavily on his mind.

Upon hearing this, Old Zhu was completely stunned.

(End of this chapter)