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

Chapter 81 Zhang Qianxian, we're on the same side! [Seeking first subscription]

"Quickly! Mortar! Add more!"

When Zhang Biao and his entourage arrived at the Ministry of Personnel in a grand procession, the officials, who had already received word, were busily directing craftsmen to build a new wall in front of the office, intending to hinder Zhang Biao and his group's reckless actions.

However, Zhang Biao almost burst out laughing when he saw their behavior. He then nimbly climbed onto a mobile audit vehicle that had been "debt-for-equity" transferred from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, and loudly proclaimed:
"You parasites inside! You're surrounded! If you know what's good for you, tear down the walls and hand over the ledgers! Otherwise, my auditing machine will be without a steering wheel and smashed to pieces by you!"

Upon hearing this, the wailing and the sound of bricklaying behind the wall became even more urgent.

Shen Lang, who was standing next to Zhang Biao, picked up a stack of account books and whispered to Zhang Biao:

"Brother Biao, we have too much stuff. If we crash into each other, a lot of things will definitely be damaged. It's not worth it!"

“Yeah, Brother Biao, my chamber pot lamp is out of oil. How about we refill it? Otherwise, the light source will be insufficient and our deterrent effect will be reduced!” Sun Gui chimed in from the side.

"besides."

Li Mo pointed to the large group of people behind him and frowned, saying:
“These people are different from us. We have too many debts to bear, but they are blinded by passion. As the saying goes, ‘I didn’t kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me.’ We can’t let them continue to investigate the Ministry of Personnel.”

“That’s right! Brother Biao, we can’t let them follow us.” Zhang Fengman nodded.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Biao looked around and thought to himself, "That's true."

This auditing machine is indeed too bloated.

More importantly, these veterans and their families who rushed over upon hearing the news were just acting impulsively; we can't let them be implicated.

Thinking of this, Zhang Biao immediately had an idea.

"Brothers! Veterans, uncles, aunts, and cousins!"

Zhang Biao suddenly shouted loudly:
"We've raided the strongholds of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, and gotten some compensation! These things were originally the hard-earned money of the people, and today they should be returned to you all."

As he spoke, he pointed to the pile of things at his feet and said decisively:

"Now! Listen to me, everyone. We'll distribute these assets on the spot to pay off the debts. The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War owe you all so much hard-earned money, blood money, and pensions—we'll use these assets to pay off those debts!"

After he finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent.

Zhang Biao raised his voice again and gave the order:
"Accountant Shen! Immediately check the IOUs for me. Verify them on the spot. Based on the amount of unpaid wages, and whatever items in the car that everyone has their eye on, use them as payment. Let's be rough around the edges, just make sure it's close enough!"

"Imperial Censor Sun! Maintain order at the scene and let the elderly, women, and children go first!"

"Editor Li! Make a register, record who took what, how much debt they paid off, and write it all down! Let the world see that we're not robbing, we're demanding justice!"

Boom!

The whole audience was shocked!

Some people clapped and cheered.

Some people were in tears.

Some people are eagerly anticipating it.

Everyone was impressed by Zhang Biao's move.

To be honest, the main reason they followed Zhang Biao was because of the unpaid wages.

Now that Zhang Biao has taken the initiative to settle the back wages, they are naturally very happy.

After all, not everyone is like Shen Lang and the others, whose lives are already bound to Zhang Biao.

Soon, an unprecedented debt-for-equity swap meeting was held in front of the Ministry of Personnel.

The officials in the Ministry of Personnel were dumbfounded, their faces filled with disbelief.

The ways these imperial censors take their places... they're all so unconventional!

Even Jiang Huan, who had been watching Zhang Biao and the others from afar, and the commander of a thousand men, were at a loss for words to say or record.

Shen Lang quickly checked the IOU and announced loudly, "Brother Liu! You owe wages for three years, totaling twelve taels! This rosewood table is yours!"

"Thank you, Imperial Censor Zhang! Thank you!"

An old soldier excitedly stroked the smooth tabletop, as if he were dreaming.

Military pay in the early Ming Dynasty was not high. After all, a county magistrate's monthly salary was only 2 taels of silver. This rosewood table was worth at least 20 taels, and it was enough to pay him 12 taels of back pay, which was a huge profit.

But Shen Lang and Zhang Biao didn't care about the money they made; after all, money stolen didn't count as money.

But then Shen Lang turned the abacus again, checking the bills, and said, "Sister Li! Your husband died in battle, and you still owe eight taels of compensation! Do you think these four rosewood chairs are enough?"

"Enough! Enough! That's enough! You are a just and upright official!"

A woman with a child was crying and about to kneel down when she was stopped by a low-ranking official from the capital.

"Alright, let's continue!"

Zhang Biao gave the low-ranking official in the capital an appreciative look, casually picked up an IOU, and loudly announced:
"Editor Zhao, you owe fifteen taels of silver! These reams of top-quality Xuan paper and that Duan inkstone are yours!"

"This...this...this humble official..."

A poor scholar was so excited that he became incoherent, clutching the Xuan paper as if it were a treasure.

Zhang Biao continued, "And those few pieces of military equipment, although they're rusty, can be melted down to make a few kitchen knives and hoes! Any officer who needs tools can take them! They can be used to offset back pay!"

"Me! Me! Me! We want it!"

Several veterans happily carried away the rusty knives and guns. "Leather armor! It'll keep you warm in winter! Anyone with elderly relatives, come and get it!"

Pots and pans! You'll need them for everyday life!

"A Podocarpus macrophyllus? Who has a big yard? I'll take it home and keep it for fun!"

Those few old horses were also taken away by several veterans who owned land, who planned to use them for plowing and pulling carts.

There was no chaos at the scene; instead, there was a strange sense of order and excitement.

People picked out usable items according to the amount on the IOUs, their eyes filled with gratitude.

Shen Lang quickly checked the IOUs and crossed out each old debt.

Li Mo carefully recorded the allocation details.

Soon, the mountains of 'spoils' dwindled at a visible rate, turning into real joy on people's faces and heavy objects in their arms.

Looking at the people who had received their items but were still lingering around, unwilling to leave, Zhang Biao took a deep breath and shouted again, "Everyone—!"

"The items have been divided, and some old scores have been settled! But!"

He abruptly changed the subject, his expression becoming extremely serious: "The show's over, it's time to go home! Listen up, everyone, take your things and head home! Lock your doors and don't come out again anytime soon! And definitely don't follow me!"

After speaking, he pointed to the wall of the Ministry of Personnel, and then pointed in the direction of the Imperial Palace:

"What we've done today is a monumental event! The Emperor hasn't woken up yet. Once he does, you all know what the consequences will be!"

"I, Zhang Biao, have a worthless life, and I'm not afraid to die! But you have families to support, and you can't die with me!"

"Listen to my advice! Live on! Making the most of your life is better than anything else! Now! All of you, get out of here—!"

These words, like a heavy hammer, shattered the joy of the moment and brought with them immense fear of reality.

The one-armed veteran looked at the table and chairs he had been assigned, then at Zhang Biao, suddenly put down his things, knelt down with a thud, and kowtowed heavily.

"Imperial Censor Zhang! We will remember your great kindness for the rest of our lives! Please take care!"

"Take care, Imperial Censor Zhang! Take care!"

The others also put down their things, bowed or kowtowed, their voices choked with emotion, then picked up their share, grabbed their families, and quickly disappeared into the streets and alleys, looking back every few steps.

After watching them leave, Zhang Biao looked at Shen Lang and the others and said with a smile, "Why don't you guys also..."

"Brother Biao!"

Zhang Biao was interrupted by Wu Naida before he could finish speaking:

"What nonsense are you spouting?! From the day we caused a scene at the Fengtian Hall court assembly and lay down together in the Fengtian Hall square, I never thought I would survive alone!"

"that is!"

Sun Gui held up the chamber pot lamp, and although the light was dim, his tone was firm: "Brother Biao, don't even think about abandoning us! Wherever the chamber pot lamp is, I'll be there!"

Li Mo adjusted his askew hat and solemnly said, "Mencius said, 'To sacrifice one's life for righteousness.' Today, I am able to walk alongside Brother Biao. Even if I die, I will have no regrets."

Zhang Biao was speechless, then looked at Shen Lang.

But Shen Lang said calmly and solemnly, "If the nobles of the Six Ministries don't die, Lang will die with his eyes wide open in disgrace!"

With just one sentence, he ignited the passion of all the low-ranking officials in Beijing present.

"Yes! We're not leaving!"

"If we die, let's all die together!"

"We're going to join Brother Biao in taking down the Sixth Department! We'll take down the nobility! We'll fight to the bitter end!"

The lower-ranking officials in the capital shouted in unison, their eyes filled with determination.

Looking at those faces filled with unwavering resolve, Zhang Biao felt a lump in his throat and laughed, cursing, "Damn it! You're all a bunch of idiots!"

After saying that, he waved his hand and said, "Since you don't want to leave, then none of you will leave! You'll have company on the road to the underworld! I'll lead you to make an even bigger hole in the sky!"

"it is good--!"

The low-ranking officials in the capital looked around in unison, their morale soaring once again.

Although the items were gone, the people were more united.

Zhang Biao kicked the old horse pulling the cart and slowly drove the almost empty, symbolic 'audit chariot' toward the blocked gate of the Ministry of Personnel.

He cleared his throat, and facing the back of the brick wall, he shouted with all his might the words that terrified everyone inside:

"Hey, you guys in the Ministry of Personnel inside—! Stop building! Aren't your hands getting tired?!"

"I am Zhang Biao, Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate! I have been ordered to audit all officials and investigate any illegal activities!"

"Open the door! Let's exchange our experiences on 'talent selection' and 'year-end performance evaluation'! I promise a civilized audit! No violence!"

As soon as the words were spoken, a deathly silence fell behind the wall.

Then, a voice filled with sobs and utter despair rang out; it was Zhai Shan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel: "Zhang Qianxian! We're on the same side—!"

(End of this chapter)