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

Chapter 28 Imperial Censor Zhang is quite something! [New book, please add to your collection]

"Your Majesty, regarding the matter of official salaries forcing honest officials to become corrupt."

In the end, Zhang Biao compromised, but not completely.

But then he mumbled, "The root cause is that the salary is too low, and the in-kind compensation often depreciates, making it difficult to make a living. I dare to suggest that the proportion of rice actually received in salary should be increased, so that at least a seventh-rank official can eat dry rice every day and occasionally buy a pound of meat. Furthermore, with stricter oversight, the cost of corruption should be made unimaginably high! Of course, this requires money."

He stopped at the right moment, his meaning quite clear.

Your Majesty, the national treasury must be replenished!
Old Zhu remained expressionless, lightly tapping his finger on the armrest of the dragon throne, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Zhang Biao continued, "As for the princes, all of you are the Emperor's own sons, and you are unparalleled in loyalty and filial piety! However, the military power of the Three Guards is too great, which may not be a long-term solution."

"I believe that we could gradually reduce the number of guards? Or make it clear that princes are not allowed to leave their fiefdoms without imperial decree, let alone secretly collude with others? Or, we could select the best princes and their brothers to study at the Imperial Academy in the capital, which would not only show the emperor's favor, but also... well, allow them to get closer to His Majesty?"

This move is called 'proton,' but Zhang Biao put it more euphemistically.

Old Zhu narrowed his eyes slightly, and his fingers, which were tapping the armrest, stopped, as if he were thinking.

Finally, Zhang Biao spoke again about the succession: "The heir apparent is the foundation of the nation, and His Majesty's decision is solely his own; I dare not object! However, only when the foundation of the nation is settled can the people's hearts be at ease. Whether it is the grandson of the emperor or a virtuous prince, once the title is determined early, villains will have no opportunity to take advantage, and the people will be loyal! If His Majesty favors the grandson of the emperor..."

He recalled Zhu Yunwen's useless state and couldn't help but add, "Then we need to select renowned teachers from across the land to instruct him in the ways of an emperor, and we also need to find upright and incorruptible ministers who are not afraid of powerful figures to assist him, so as not to... well, so as not to be misled by the villains around him!"

They were practically calling Zhu Yunwen a complete waste.

But he knew he couldn't die here and plead with Zhu Yuanzhang not to make Zhu Yunwen the crown prince.

One reason is that Emperor Zhu had not yet decided whether to make Zhu Yunwen the Crown Prince. If he rashly said so, it would only increase Emperor Zhu's suspicion, rather than kill him.

Secondly, if Old Zhu doesn't kill him, trouble will follow one after another.

After all, the struggle for imperial power has always been brutal.

He might be assassinated one day.

Whether this assassination or the 'death by remonstrance' that resulted in Old Zhu's wrath would allow him to return to the modern world, Zhang Biao couldn't guarantee, nor dared to take the risk.

Therefore, he could only wait until the day when Zhu Yuanzhang made up his mind to make Zhu Yunwen the crown prince, and then deliver a fatal blow to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yunwen, so that he could be killed in anger and sent back to the modern era.

Of course, he was also afraid that Zhu would "keep asking questions until he got to the bottom of things" or be dissatisfied and "take him to the palace to be castrated," so he couldn't help but secretly check on Zhu.

Old Zhu remained seated there expressionless, like a silent mountain.

After a long time, so long that Zhang Biao wondered if Old Zhu had died, he finally heard a neutral, emotionless "Hmm."

Just one "hmm"! That's it?
Zhang Biao was filled with anxiety.

Is this a matter of satisfaction or dissatisfaction? Does it make sense, or does it seem like utter nonsense?
Just then, Old Zhu slowly stood up, his tall but slightly hunched figure bringing a tremendous sense of oppression.

He walked down the steps and stood before Zhang Biao, who was holding the silver and looked somewhat at a loss.

very close.

Zhang Biao could even smell the faint scent of sandalwood and aging emanating from Old Zhu, as well as the unfathomable weariness and an extremely complex, scrutinizing gaze in his bloodshot eyes.

“Zhang Biao!” Old Zhu’s voice was deep, carrying a strange calmness, yet containing immense power: “We’ve taken your words to heart. Some of them…are quite interesting.”

He paused, his gaze pressing down on Zhang Biao with an almost tangible intensity:
"We'll figure out the matter of official salaries. We know what to do with the vassal kings. As for the heir apparent, we have our own ideas!"

"you"

Old Zhu's gaze swept over the bag of silver in Zhang Biao's arms, then returned to his face. A barely perceptible twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth, a cold smile tinged with a hint of all-powerful amusement: "You better live well for us! Keep your body strong! Save your 'sane' for us! We'll need you in the future!"

After saying that, he didn't look at Zhang Biao again, as if what he had just said was just a trivial matter.

Then he turned around, put his hands behind his back, and walked slowly toward the dragon throne that symbolized supreme power, leaving behind only a lonely and pressure-filled figure.

"Jiang Huan".

"Chen is here!"

"Send him out."

"I accept the decree!"

Jiang Huan bowed in response, and the look in his eyes when he looked at Zhang Biao was completely different.

That kid is fucking weird!
No matter how much trouble they cause, they never die, and they even get promoted and make a fortune?!
Although Zhang Biao's fifty taels included a portion of his salary, he dared not take it and could only treat it as dog food.

Zhang Biao pretended nothing was wrong, taking it as a son showing filial piety to his father.

As for Old Zhu telling him to live well? What a joke! That's the most vicious curse ever!
The day Zhu Yuanzhang establishes Zhu Yunwen as emperor, he promises to die in front of Zhu Yuanzhang!
"It's Imperial Censor Zhang! Imperial Censor Zhang has come out alive—!"

Someone shouted something, and a crowd surged into the square outside the Fengtian Hall.

Most of them were seventh-rank censors of the Censorate, and some were low-ranking officials at the very bottom of the capital.

"Brother Zhang?"

At that moment, a voice that was extremely uncertain and even a little trembling rang in Zhang Biao's ear.

Zhang Biao turned his head and immediately smiled: "Oh, Brother Shen, all the colleagues are here?"

"Brother Zhang! Brother Zhang!"

Shen Lang rushed forward, disregarding all etiquette, and grabbed Zhang Biao's arm, his voice trembling with tears, "Are you alright, Your Majesty? Is Your Majesty alright?"

As he spoke, he made a beheading gesture, then glanced at the tightly closed palace doors with a look of terror in his eyes.

"No, Brother Shen!" Zhang Biao waved his hand dismissively, his voice filled with heroic spirit: "His Majesty is wise indeed; not only did he not execute me, but he also..."

He deliberately drew out the sound, enjoying the moment when everyone held their breath.

"What else?!" A fat, impatient censor couldn't help but ask.

"Cough cough."

Zhang Biao cleared his throat, his voice suddenly rising eight octaves to ensure everyone present could hear: "Your Majesty! Not only have you paid the back wages owed to me and Brother Shen, but you've also issued a special decree to reward Brother Shen with ten taels of silver so he can redeem his pawned ancestral jade pendant! A total of fifty taels of silver! Look!"

After saying that, he immediately broke open the small cloth bag in his hand, revealing five white, shiny ten-tael silver ingots.

Boom——!
Like a thunderclap from a clear sky!
In an instant, the group of low-ranking officials in the capital were scorched and torn apart, their bodies and horses falling to the ground!
At this moment, they looked at Zhang Biao's figure as incredibly tall, and even their eyes were filled with a lot of respect.

Moreover, they all felt that this "mad" Imperial Censor Zhang was a capable person; he was truly just when there was injustice, and he was truly willing to die for his cause.

Imperial Censor Zhang is a good man!
　Please vote for me! Please recommend me! Please vote for me! Please vote for me!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)