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

Chapter 190 Don't want to improve? We're not dead yet! [Requesting double monthly votes]

"The sky is the color of rain after a storm, and I am waiting for you."

The next morning, Zhang Biao, holding an oil-paper umbrella and humming a little tune, appeared at the gate of the Marquis of Zhongcheng's residence.

At this time, the Marquis of Zhongcheng's mansion was no longer the grand mansion it once was, unlike the former residence of the Duke of Cao.

The area in front of the gate was deserted, and the stone lions were soaked by the rain, making them look particularly desolate.

"Please inform him that my old friend Zhang Biao requests an audience with Lord Zhongcheng!"

Upon reaching the gate, Zhang Biao saw that it was tightly closed, with only two listless gatekeepers huddled in the doorway to avoid the rain. He smiled and said something, his tone as relaxed as if he were visiting an old friend.

Upon hearing the name 'Zhang Biao,' the two gatekeepers were so frightened they nearly jumped out of the doorway, their faces turning pale.

This guy is a notorious madman, plague god, and jinx in the capital!

It was he who caused my master to be demoted from Duke to Earl, and now he's locked up in the mansion reflecting on his mistakes!
"Lord Zhang, I heard you've been released. Congratulations!"

A doorman, mustering his courage, bowed with an awkward smile.

Another doorman echoed with a mournful face:

"Yes, Imperial Censor Zhang, please have mercy! My master is in seclusion, reflecting on his mistakes, and refuses to see any visitors!"

"Reflect on your mistakes? Reflect on what mistakes?"

Zhang Biao raised an eyebrow: "I'm here to help him 'reflect on his mistakes'!"

After speaking, his voice suddenly rose eight octaves:

"Go and report this immediately! Tell them that I, Zhang Biao, have brought a way to reinstate him to his original position, or even further! If you keep dawdling, you'll ruin your master's future. Can you afford to take responsibility for that?!"

His words were half true and half false, carrying an undeniable air of madness.

The gatekeepers exchanged glances, and finally, one of the more astute ones gritted his teeth, turned around, and went inside to report.

After a long while, the small door creaked open a crack, revealing a butler's face that looked both frightened and bewildered.
“Lord Zhang…please return. My master said that he has been devoted to Buddhism recently, and is not concerned with worldly affairs. He has no desire to advance his career. He appreciates your kindness.”

Zhang Biao pursed his lips, not annoyed at all, but instead laughed.

"Don't want to improve? You're kidding me! If you could really settle down and worship Buddha, I'd change my name!"

He cleared his throat, and instead of leaving, he took a few steps back and stood in the middle of the street outside the mansion gate.

Although this place is not a bustling area, there are still a few pedestrians.

Zhang Biao took a deep breath, then suddenly opened his throat and howled at the gate of the Marquis of Zhongcheng's residence in a heart-wrenching, mournful tone:
"Brother Li! My brother from Jiujiang! Open the door! I know you're home!"

"You can't let this get you down and give up!"

"Have you forgotten what we did in the imperial prison... uh, no, have you forgotten our lofty ambitions to discuss the world, vowing to rid the country of traitors and share the emperor's burdens?!"

"Now, the court is in a time of great turmoil, and the Emperor is eager for talented individuals. This is the time for us to step forward! How can you hide at home chanting scriptures?!"

"Are all your talents and skills destined to be buried in this desolate place of ancient temples and Buddhist scriptures?! What a waste! Our Great Ming Dynasty has lost a pillar of the nation!"

His voice was booming and full of emotion, as if Li Jinglong were his long-lost friend who had now seen through the vanities of the world. Passersby turned their heads and pointed at him.

Inside the mansion gate, Li Jinglong was eavesdropping behind the screen wall, trembling with anger and his face turning green.

"Shameless! Utterly shameless!"

He gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath, "That madman! Is he determined to kill me?!"

Zhang Biao's wailing and howling, seemingly meant to persuade him to take the throne, actually put him in a very difficult position.

What kind of talk is this about "discussing the world" and "eliminating traitors for the country"? If this gets back to the Emperor's ears, does Li Jinglong think he'll have a good time?
However, Zhang Biao's wailing continued:
"Brother Jiujiang! Have you forgotten? Have you forgotten that seven-colored glass wine vessel? Have you forgotten the vow we made?"

"You say a hero is like a hero! You're destined to be a war god of the Ming Dynasty!"

"puff--!"

Li Jinglong almost choked on his water:
"That damned Zhang Biao! When did I ever say I wanted to be the God of War of the Ming Dynasty?!"

Although he wished he could rush out and strangle Zhang Biao immediately, he couldn't let Zhang Biao continue to wail.

Sure enough, after only a few howls, the small door was flung open again, and the butler rushed out, his face ashen, almost pleading:

"Lord Zhang! Grandpa Zhang! Please stop calling! The Earl... the Earl invites you in to speak!"

Zhang Biao immediately fell silent, the grief on his face vanishing instantly, replaced by a 'should have done this long ago' smile, and patted the butler on the shoulder:

“That’s right. Brother Jiujiang and I are bosom friends, why be so formal?”

Having said that, he straightened his clothes and swaggered into the Marquis of Zhongcheng's residence through the small gate.

In the living room, Li Jinglong, his face dark, sat in the main seat, not even glancing at Zhang Biao, and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth:

"Zhang Biao! What exactly do you want?! Haven't you hurt me enough already?!"

Zhang Biao found a chair, sat down, crossed his legs, and said with a smile:
"Brother Jiujiang, you are mistaken. I was just helping you face reality and undergo painful but necessary reform!"

"Look, aren't you alive and well now? Although your rank is a bit low, at least you've saved your life!"

Li Jinglong was so angry he almost fainted.

Zhang Biao stopped beating around the bush, leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, but his tone carried a seductive power:

"Brother Jiujiang, would you like to... turn the tide?"

"What kind of comeback are you talking about? If it weren't for you, would I be in this state?! You still want to harm me?!"

“Li Jiujiang, you can’t say that. Back in the imperial prison, if I hadn’t shown mercy, would you have come out unscathed? Would you have even kept your earldom?”

"you"

Li Jinglong was taken aback. He recalled that Zhang Biao hadn't made things too difficult for him in the imperial prison, and his imposing manner weakened by a third, but he remained vigilant: "What exactly do you want?"

"I don't want to do anything."

Zhang Biao leaned closer, lowered his voice, and his eyes gleamed with a seductive light: "I just want to invite you to do a big job with me!"

"What's big?"

A sense of foreboding rose in Li Jinglong's heart.

"Audit the internal treasury!"

Zhang Biao spoke slowly and deliberately.

"what?!"

Li Jinglong was so frightened that he jumped up from his chair, his voice trembling:

"Are you crazy?! Auditing the imperial treasury?! That's the Emperor's private treasury! If you want to die, don't drag me down with you!"

"Hey, you can't say that."

Zhang Biao waved his hand dismissively:
"Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king. On the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king. The money in the imperial treasury is also the money of the Ming Dynasty, and even more so, the emperor's money! To audit it, to help the emperor manage the finances, and to eliminate corrupt officials—isn't this what a loyal minister should do?"

After speaking, he paused, looked at Li Jinglong's terrified expression, and added fuel to the fire, his tone becoming sinister:
"Moreover, the truth behind the Crown Prince's death has not yet come to light, and now there's the mystery surrounding the death of the eldest grandson of the Emperor. Aren't you curious if it's related to the imperial treasury? After all, it's hard for anything in the palace to be unrelated to the imperial treasury."

Li Jinglong's scalp tingled, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead: "You... what nonsense are you spouting! That's a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family! I won't do it! I'd rather die than do it!"

"Tsk, look at the guts you have!"

Zhang Biao gave him a disdainful look: "I mentioned auditing the internal treasury before. Although it didn't work out, the seed has been planted."

"The reason I'm coming to you now is because I know you have connections. You can embezzle tribute without being discovered, so you must know some secret methods related to the imperial treasury. Besides... you're unlucky enough and desperately need to make a name for yourself!"

After speaking, he paused, then added a threatening tone:
"Besides, Brother Jiujiang, do you think those henchmen of the Embroidered Uniform Guard wouldn't know I came to your residence today? If I go out now and tell everyone that I, Zhang Biao, came to see Marquis Zhongcheng, Li Jinglong, to audit the imperial treasury together and share the Emperor's burdens!"

"Do you think... the Emperor will believe you, or will he think you've gotten involved with this 'madman' of mine again, plotting something sinister?"

These words were like ice water poured over Li Jinglong's head, chilling him to the bone.

He knew all too well how suspicious and ruthless Old Zhu was!
Zhang Biao is right, he's in a terrible state now, like mud falling down his pants!

Being associated with Zhang Biao is something that's impossible to clear one's name from!
"You...you've killed me!"

Li Jinglong, his voice trembling with tears, nearly collapsed to the ground.

"Don't panic!"

Zhang Biao magically pulled out several sweet potatoes from his pocket and placed them on the desk: "Come on, try this, it'll calm your nerves."

Li Jinglong looked at the few dirty clods of dirt with disgust: "What are these things?"

"nice one!"

Zhang Biao smiled mysteriously, and without waiting for Li Jinglong's agreement, he picked up one and threw it into the charcoal stove in front of Li Jinglong.

A few quarters of an hour later, a strange, rich aroma, a blend of earthy fragrance and the burnt smell of starch, filled the study. Li Jinglong, who was both surprised and frightened, and whose stomach was empty, was startled by this overpowering fragrance he had never experienced before. His stomach rumbled, and he almost drooled.

"This...what is this?"

He couldn't help but ask, "Why does it smell so good?"

"This is called 'sweet potato,' an auspicious omen from a sacred mountain overseas!"

While skillfully flipping the grill with a knife, Zhang Biao made up a story on the spot:
"Eating it can strengthen your body, prolong your life, and even... improve your luck!"

"I see that you, Uncle Li, have been looking rather unlucky lately, and this is exactly what you need to change your luck!"

As they spoke, the sweet potatoes had already been roasted until the outer skin was crispy and the inside was golden and soft.

Zhang Biao picked it up with his knife, pried it in half with a whoosh, and, steaming hot, handed it to Li Jinglong: "Want to try some?"

Li Jinglong was skeptical, but the aroma was simply too tempting.

He carefully took it, blew on it, and took a small bite.

Instantly, the unique texture—smooth, sweet, and with a hint of charcoal—conquered his taste buds!

He had never eaten anything so...simple yet delicious!
“Smells good! It smells really good!”

Li Jinglong didn't care that it was hot; he quickly swallowed half a roasted sweet potato and looked at the remaining ones on the table with lingering satisfaction.

Zhang Biao looked at him with a smile, as if he were looking at prey that had fallen into a trap:
"See? I didn't lie to you, did I? This stuff yields a thousand catties per mu, enough to save countless people suffering from hunger."

"Work with me, and once it's done, you'll definitely get a share of the credit for promoting these sweet potatoes."

"When the time comes, your title will be restored, and you might even be promoted to a higher position. Wouldn't that be just around the corner? It's much better than you staying here living in fear, eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist prayers, isn't it?"

Li Jinglong licked his lips, looked at the remaining sweet potatoes, and then at Zhang Biao's seemingly honest but actually calculating smile, his heart torn between two conflicting emotions.

On one hand, there was the enormous risk of having one's entire family executed for 'auditing the internal treasury,' and on the other hand, there was the fear and resentment towards Zhang Biao.

On the other hand, there's the delicious sweet potato yielding a thousand catties per mu, the temptation of being reinstated to one's original position, and the cruel reality that Zhang Biao has already dragged him into this mess, and that not continuing might lead to an even faster death.

He wiped the soot from his mouth, his face contorted in a mournful expression, and let out a long, desperate sigh:

"I must have owed you something in my past life! Tell me, how exactly do you want me to help you..."

A smug smile appeared on Zhang Biao's face, but it vanished in an instant.

the other side.

Inside the Hall of Literary Glory, Emperor Zhu was reviewing memorials when Jiang Huan entered silently like a shadow and reported in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, Zhang Biao... went to the Marquis of Zhongcheng's residence an hour ago."

Old Zhu paused slightly in his grip on the pen, leaving a small ink dot on the memorial.

He raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Li Jinglong? What is he going to Jiujiang for?"

"According to the report from the person monitoring, Zhang Biao was making a loud noise outside the mansion gate, and his words seemed to be 'urging him to ascend the throne'. He was then invited into the mansion by Li Jinglong's steward and had a private talk for about 15 minutes."

Jiang Huan carefully chose his words: "When Zhang Biao left, his expression was as usual. Li Jinglong... seemed quite dejected, but also subtly resolute."

"Persuade him to accept the throne? Or resolutely refuse?"

Old Zhu's brows furrowed tightly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the imperial desk.

[That madman Zhang Biao, what good could come of going to Li Jinglong? "Advising him to ascend the throne"? What is he advising him to do? Rebel? Does Li Jinglong even have the guts?!]

He instinctively felt that this was by no means a simple visit.

Zhang Biao was like a catfish that had plunged into a pond; every time he moved, he inevitably stirred up the mud.

What exactly is he trying to do? Win over the nobility? Li Jinglong is just a figurehead now; what's the point of winning him over?

Or is he... plotting some crazy scheme against us again?

A shadow fell over Old Zhu's heart.

Zhang Biao's unpredictability made this all-powerful emperor feel extremely uncomfortable and vaguely uneasy.

"Keep a close eye on those two!"

Old Zhu's voice was cold and stern:

"Especially Li Jinglong! Watch what he does next! Report back immediately if anything unusual happens!"

"Yes!"

Jiang Huan accepted the order and was about to leave.

Just then, a eunuch hurriedly entered the hall carrying an urgent military report with feathers attached:
"Your Majesty, an urgent dispatch from Sichuan! Military report from Duke Lan Yu of Liang!"

Old Zhu temporarily suppressed his doubts about Zhang Biao, took the military report, and quickly began to work.

As he watched, his face gradually darkened, until finally it was ashen, and his eyes flashed with cold light.

In his military report, Lan Yu, in an extremely concise and even somewhat arrogant tone, reported that after defeating the main force of the rebels in Jianchang, he heard that there were still remnants of rebel forces ravaging the area in Sichuan. In order not to miss the opportunity, he led his elite light cavalry to Sichuan to provide assistance without requesting permission. Together with the local garrisons, they broke through several more rebel groups, beheaded thousands, and captured countless prisoners.

To deter the villains, all captured rebel leaders and key members have been buried alive.

[No time to request permission?! They were all massacred?!]

Old Zhu's chest heaved slightly as a surge of anger mixed with deep worry welled up in his heart.

He never doubted Lan Yu's fighting prowess.

This series of battles, which swiftly quelled rebellions in two regions, truly demonstrated the prowess of the Ming Dynasty's foremost general.

But it was precisely this fierceness and uncontrollability that made Old Zhu feel a chill to the bone.

[We're not even dead yet! And he dares to act first and report later, arbitrarily provoking conflict on the border and slaughtering surrendered prisoners! What if we die?!]

His gaze involuntarily fell on the memorial concerning the establishment of an heir, and the image of Zhu Yunwen, gentle and even somewhat timid, appeared in his mind.

[Yunwen...can he manage a proud and fierce general like Lan Yu?]

At that time, will the ruler be the guide for the subjects, or will the general's orders originate from the command headquarters?

Lan Yu was the maternal uncle of Crown Princess Chang and also Zhu Biao's maternal uncle, and theoretically had some kinship with Zhu Yunwen.

But Zhu knew all too well that in the face of absolute military power and an arrogant personality, this kinship was too fragile to withstand.

Lan Yu even dared to disregard the decrees of the founding emperor to some extent, let alone a young and weak imperial grandson.
Once Zhu Yunwen ascends the throne, Lan Yu and the Huaixi military group behind him will inevitably become a sword hanging over the head of imperial power!
At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang's determination to oppose Zhu Yunwen wavered like never before.

His previous inclination towards Zhu Yunwen stemmed from his appreciation of Zhu's 'benevolence' and his hope that Zhu could maintain stability in the court in a relatively mild manner and prevent fratricide.

But now, Lan Yu's military report was like a bucket of ice water, waking him up.

Turbulent times call for harsh measures, and perilous situations require a strong leader.

Zhu Yunwen's 'benevolence' could easily turn into 'weakness' when faced with arrogant ministers within the court and powerful enemies outside.

As for Zhu Yunwen... perhaps the fortitude and ruthlessness inherent in that child are the only option to deal with this situation? At least, he won't be as easily manipulated by powerful ministers and military generals as Yunwen.

If Yunhu ascends to the throne, it will likely be a bloody storm for his uncles, who are also princes...

On one side is the gentle and weak grandson who may be sidelined by powerful ministers, and on the other side is the fierce and resolute grandson who may trigger infighting within the imperial clan.

Zhu Yuanzhang is facing the most difficult and painful choice since he ascended the throne.

He closed his eyes wearily, leaned back on the dragon throne, and rubbed his throbbing brow with his fingers.

Zhang Biao's bizarre behavior, Lan Yu's unruly nature, the difficult choice of choosing an heir... all these things intertwined, like a huge, increasingly tight net, trapping him firmly in the center.

"Drafting an imperial edict..."

After a long silence, Old Zhu finally spoke, his voice hoarse and heavy with an indescribable weight:

"In recognition of his meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion, Liang Guogong Lan Yu is hereby awarded the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and bestowed with gold and silk. Furthermore... he is reprimanded for his unauthorized actions and ordered to relinquish his military power and immediately return to the capital to report on his duties."

He ultimately decided to appease Lan Yu first, transfer him back to the capital to keep him under his watchful eye, and then devise a plan for the future.

"Jiang Huan!"

When Old Zhu opened his eyes again, his gaze became cold and sharp.

"Chen is here!"

Jiang Huan immediately accepted the order.

But Old Zhu said calmly and indifferently:
“I remember you have some connection with Marquis Dingyuan, Wang Bi. We plan to send him to Shanxi to persuade people to recruit soldiers, and he will be in charge of Linfen, Xiangling, and Puxian. Go and ask him what he thinks.”

Marquis of Dingyuan, Wang Bi?
Isn't that Lan Yu's confidant?

Is the Emperor going to target the Duke of Liang?
Thinking of this, Jiang Huan dared not think any further and quickly bowed to accept the order: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Requesting double monthly tickets! There's a surprise event!
(End of this chapter)