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

Chapter 247 Isn't this a rebellion ordered by imperial decree?! [Requesting monthly votes]

Zhang Biao's command, like a thunderclap, instantly silenced the previously noisy scene.

Everyone was completely stunned.

Traitor? Accomplice?

What's going on here?!

The old officials kneeling on the ground turned pale and trembled all over, completely bewildered as to why this "Zhang Qingtian" had suddenly turned on them and pinned such a serious crime on them.

Even the two Imperial Guards, Lao Zhao and Cao Ji, were stunned.

However, their long-cultivated sense of execution enabled them to immediately step forward and, without hesitation, subdue the low-ranking officials who were kneeling and crying.

"My...my sir! I've been wronged!"

The elderly official with gray hair at the head of the group suddenly realized what was happening and shouted in a hoarse voice:
"This old man was acting out of a sense of public duty, speaking out for the people. How could he be called a traitor?!"

"To speak up for the people?"

Zhang Biao sneered.

His voice, amplified through the paper megaphone, carried an undeniable authority:
"I ask you, you keep saying that the irrigation canals in Peach Blossom Village have been in disrepair for years, the treasury is empty, and your superiors are indifferent, is that the truth?"

"It's absolutely true, sir!"

The old official beat his chest and stamped his feet in frustration.

"it is good!"

Zhang Biao slammed his hand on the table and said:
"Then let me ask you again, in the annual memorials submitted to the court by the Huguang Provincial Administration Commission and Wuchang Prefecture, are the funds for water conservancy repairs and disaster relief recorded clearly, item by item?"

"This"

The old official was speechless for a moment, thinking to himself, "How come this is different from what Lord Pan expected?"

Zhang Biao's gaze, however, was sharp as lightning, fixed intently on the old official:

"What? Can't answer?"

"Since you keep saying that the Peach Blossom Ditch is in disrepair, the treasury is empty, and your superiors are indifferent, and that this is the truth, then I ask you, where has all the imperial funds gone?!"

"Did Provincial Governor Pan embezzle the money? Or did Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Huang pocket it?"

"Or perhaps, you clerks have been embezzling and lined up your own pockets, and now that things might be exposed, you're trying to play the villain by accusing your superiors first, putting the blame on them, and then forcing me, the imperial envoy, to clean up your mess so that I can use the imperial envoy's funds to cover your deficit?!"

Upon hearing this, the old official broke out in a cold sweat, his lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Would he dare to identify Pan Wenmao and Huang Yan?
He doesn't dare!
Because his family is still in someone else's hands!

But if they don't accuse them, wouldn't the charges of 'embezzling project funds' and 'deceiving the imperial envoy' be firmly pinned on these lowly officials?!
"grown ups."

The old official finally couldn't help but try to explain, but Zhang Biao didn't give him a chance. He turned directly to the sea of ​​people below the stage and said loudly:
"Fellow villagers, see this clearly! These people claim to be speaking up for the people, but in reality, they harbor malicious intentions!"

"They want to use your suffering to blackmail me! They want to use their so-called 'righteousness' to cover up their own despicable acts!"

"The irrigation canals must be repaired, the river embankments must be reinforced, the widowed and orphaned must be cared for, and the soldiers' salaries must be paid. This is a matter of course!"

"But who should pay for this?!"

Zhang Biao paused for a moment, then said firmly:
"The imperial court has already allocated disaster relief funds. Military pay is, in principle, the responsibility of the three provincial-level administrative offices in Huguang and the Wuchang prefectural government!"

"I am an imperial envoy, here to investigate a case, not to cover up their embezzlement!"

"Trying to put me on the hot seat with such a paltry trick? Dream on!"

After saying that, he turned around abruptly and gave orders to Lao Zhao and Cao Ji:
"Arrest these people, and all those who only complained about their problems but never mentioned any clues or evidence! Interrogate them thoroughly!"

"I'd like to see whether it's the people behind them who lose their temper first, or whether they're just being stubborn!"

"Yes!"

At this moment, Lao Zhao and Cao Ji were filled with admiration for Zhang Biao's quick wit and ruthlessness.

This move of "turning the tables" not only instantly broke through the other party's moral blackmail, but also directly directed the criticism at Pan Wenmao and others, and established a clear-headed and upright image in front of the people, showing that he was discerning and could not be fooled!

【Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!】

"Your Excellency is wise!"

"I knew it! What good official wouldn't care about repairing the canal? Turns out the money had already been embezzled!"

"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! Find out which corrupt official embezzled our life-saving money!"

The crowd below the stage was outraged, and public opinion instantly reversed.

The sympathy and expectations that had been stirred up earlier have now all turned into anger towards corrupt officials.

The old officials who were taken down looked ashen-faced.

They knew they were finished; not only had their mission failed, but they might also become expendable pawns, and even their families would be implicated.

However, the story doesn't end there.

Just as Lao Zhao and Cao Ji had taken down several veteran officials, an unexpected figure staggered and squeezed into Zhang Biao's table.

This was a woman in her thirties, dressed in coarse mourning clothes, with a pale face and eyes swollen like walnuts, tightly holding a memorial tablet wrapped in white cloth in her arms.

The profound grief emanating from her silenced the noisy crowd.

The woman did not kneel; she simply stared intently at Zhang Biao with her empty, desperate eyes, her voice hoarse as a broken gong:

"You...you're Zhang Biao? That Zhang Qingtian?"

Zhang Biao frowned slightly and nodded: "I am the official! Sister-in-law, what grievance do you have?"

"A wrongful conviction? Haha...a wrongful conviction?"

The woman seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, and let out a shrill and mournful laugh, filled with endless mockery and hatred.

She suddenly raised the memorial tablet in her arms, which was clearly engraved with the words "The Memorial Tablet of My Late Father, Chen Qianxiang".

[Chen Qianxiang's legal wife?! What's she doing here?!]

The two Imperial Guards tensed instantly, their hands gripping the hilts of their swords.

Zhang Biao's eyes suddenly sharpened.

"Zhang Qingtian—!"

The woman screamed, each word seemingly squeezed out from between her teeth, laced with blood and tears:
"My man, Chen Qianxiang, disappeared six days ago! He's nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead!"

Her voice suddenly rose, carrying a hysterical questioning tone:

"Aren't you the imperial envoy?! Aren't you a powerful and influential figure in Raozhou Garrison, a master investigator?! Don't you have extraordinary abilities?!"

"Why?! Why didn't you come to find him first when you got to Wuchang?! Why didn't you come to save him first?!"

"You knew perfectly well that he was in danger! You knew perfectly well that those people wouldn't let him go!!"

She approached Zhang Biao step by step, tears mingling with despair streaming down her face:

"If you had come sooner! If you had gone straight to the garrison to find him as soon as you arrived in Wuchang! If you had protected him! Perhaps he wouldn't have disappeared! He wouldn't have..."

She slammed the memorial tablet down hard on the table in front of Zhang Biao, making a dull thud.

She seemed to have all her strength drained away, collapsing to the ground and sobbing uncontrollably. Her cries were heart-wrenching and deeply moving.
"It was you! You killed him! Zhang Qingtian! Why didn't you come sooner?! Why—!"

“My man has waited so long… hoping that someone from the capital would come who truly dares to investigate the case and save him…”

"He waited for you, but you...you were too late! You were too late—!"

This tearful accusation, like a poisoned dagger, precisely stabbed Zhang Biao's reputation as an upright official and his sense of duty to his colleagues.

It's not that he lacked ability, but that he "failed to help," that he delayed the best opportunity to rescue his colleague because of his own plans.

This accusation is more unsettling than any corruption charge.

The crowd fell completely silent.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden accusation, which was filled with personal tragedy.

Many people's gazes toward Zhang Biao changed from one of admiration and expectation to one of suspicion and scrutiny.

"Yes... Madam Chen is right..."

"If Lord Zhang is really that capable, why couldn't he protect Chen, the Assistant Magistrate?"

"Could it be... that he isn't omnipotent? Or... that he never even tried his best?"

The old officials who had just been arrested on Zhang Biao's orders exchanged glances, a hint of smugness flashing in their eyes.

This move was a secret weapon sent by Zhou Wenyuan.

Its purpose is to use the most tragic personal tragedies to deconstruct the myth of the 'upright official' established by Zhang Biao.

The two Imperial Guards were both anxious and angry, and wanted to step forward to explain, but Zhang Biao stopped them with a look.

Just as Madam Chen finished wailing and successfully built up the atmosphere of sorrow and doubt to its peak, and the crowd was beginning to move—

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Three crisp, abrupt claps broke the somber atmosphere.

Instead of feeling guilty or offering explanations as everyone expected, Zhang Biao calmly clapped his hands, his face bearing an extremely glaring expression that was a mixture of mockery and sudden realization.

"Fantastic! Absolutely brilliant!"

Zhang Biao clapped his hands and exclaimed in amazement.

He walked around Mrs. Chen, who was slumped over the table and still sobbing, his gaze sweeping over her like a scalpel.

"Mrs. Chen, is that right?"

Zhang Biao's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a cold, penetrating quality that caused everyone's discussions to unconsciously quiet down.

Madam Chen raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears and a hint of barely perceptible panic: "It's...it's the widow..."

"The widow?"

Zhang Biao chuckled, then suddenly leaned down, his face almost touching Madam Chen's, his eyes sharp as a hawk's: "Your man, Chen Qianxiang, has been missing for several days?!"

"Six...six days..."

Mrs. Chen was startled by his sudden interrogation.

Six days! A full six days!

Zhang Biao's voice suddenly rose in pitch, like the bang of a gavel, echoing in everyone's ears:

"The Deputy Commander of Wuchang Garrison, a dignified third-rank military officer, has been missing for six days! What have you been doing for these six days, as his legal wife?!"

"me……"

Madam Chen was speechless at his question, and her face turned even paler.

"You've been waiting!"

Zhang Biao gave her no chance to think, his voice like a machine gun, each sentence more ruthless and venomous than the last:

"Aren't you waiting for your man to come back!"

"You're waiting for the right opportunity, waiting for a stage where your performance will be most effective!"

"You knew all along that your man was in huge trouble! You knew all along that someone wanted to harm him!"

"But in these six days, you haven't gone to the garrison to inquire, haven't reported the case to the government, and haven't even sought help from your 'official relatives' present here!"

Zhang Biao suddenly pointed his hand at the old officials who had come out to "plead for the people" earlier. His eyes were like knives, which frightened the old officials so much that they retreated in fear.

"You're like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, patiently waiting!" "Waiting for me, Zhang Biao, to arrive in Wuchang! Waiting for me to erect a sign here that says 'Accepting Injustices and Bribes'!"

"Then, you timed it perfectly, wearing this mourning clothes and carrying this memorial tablet that you probably bought from some coffin shop, and ran to this public place."

Zhang Biao's voice was filled with biting sarcasm and anger:
"You're not here to seek justice! You're here to hand a knife to your master!"

"You want to use this mournful tune, this 'husband who died before my eyes,' to stab me in the heart! To ruin my reputation! To make the whole city think that I, Zhang Biao, am a hypocrite who refuses to help someone in distress and seeks fame and fortune!"

"What a brilliant plan! What a brilliant plan!"

Zhang Biao suddenly straightened up and addressed the stunned crowd, his voice booming like a great bell:
"Fellow villagers, have you seen clearly? Have you heard clearly?"

"This woman didn't inquire about her husband's disappearance for six days, but only came to cry and complain when the imperial envoy arrived! Her heart is despicable!"

"She doesn't want to find her man at all! She wants to use his 'death' to obstruct my investigation and cover up for the real masterminds!"

He abruptly turned his head, his gaze like two cold lightning bolts, striking Madam Chen, who was trembling and pale, and shouted sharply:

"Speak! Who ordered you to do this?!"

"Is it Provincial Treasurer Pan Wenmao? Is it Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Huang Yan? Or is it Chief Clerk Zhou from the Prince of Chu's residence?!"

"Or perhaps it's that prince hiding deep within, 'raising a bandit to enhance his own power'?!"

"Where is your man, Chen Qianxiang, right now?! Is he alive or dead?!"

"I...I didn't...I'm not..."

Madam Chen was completely overwhelmed by Zhang Biao's rapid and intense revelations and questioning. Her psychological defenses collapsed instantly, and she became incoherent, only able to subconsciously deny the allegations.

"No? You dare to deny it!"

Zhang Biao laughed in anger: "Song Zhong told me long ago that you, Chen Liushi, are arrogant, domineering, stupid, and short-sighted!"

"Chen Qianxiang has secrets he will never tell you a single thing!"

"You were able to find this place so precisely today, and utter these piercing words, without someone teaching you?! Do you think I'm a fool?!"

"Somebody come!"

Zhang Biao didn't give her a chance to speak again, and sternly ordered the two Imperial Guards behind him who were already unable to hold back:

"Arrest this traitorous accomplice, this wicked woman with ulterior motives!"

"Take her away and interrogate her thoroughly! I want to see if her mouth is tougher, or if the torture instruments of the Embroidered Uniform Guard are tougher!"

"Yes!"

Two imperial guards pounced forward like wolves and tigers, lifting the limp Madam Chen from the ground, causing the memorial tablet to fall to the ground with a 'clatter'.

"No! You can't arrest me! I'm a government official's wife! I am..."

Mrs. Chen let out a pig-like scream and struggled in vain.

"Official's family? Bah!"

Zhang Biao spat: "Once I find out about your crimes of colluding with traitors and framing the imperial envoy, you will be a wanted criminal whose entire family will be executed!"

He stopped looking at Madam Chen being dragged away, and instead faced the crowd, which was now in complete uproar, yet also filled with sudden realization and anger, and said loudly:

"Fellow villagers, you've all seen it! This is the method of those parasites! They'll stop at nothing!"

"They don't dare to confront me directly, so they resort to these despicable tricks, trying to deceive everyone with tears and sentimentality to prevent us from finding out the truth!"

"But they miscalculated!"

"I, Zhang Biao, won't fall for that!"

"I just want to tell them, bring it on! Let's see if your schemes are more ruthless than my blade!"

This series of swift and decisive actions instantly transformed a "tragic kidnapping" of Zhang Biao into a victory where Zhang Biao exposed his traitorous accomplices and demonstrated his ruthless methods.

After a brief moment of shock, the crowd erupted in even stronger support and anger.

"Good catch!"

"That vile woman deserves to die!"

"Zhang Qingtian is wise!"

"Investigate further! Find all those heartless bastards!"

Zhang Biao looked at the crowd, which was now boiling over again, with a cold gaze.

He knew this was just the beginning.

The opponent's counterattack will only become more ferocious.

Therefore, he decided to take the initiative to attack, since he could now win the hearts and minds of the people.

He looked around at everyone, his voice carrying clearly through the paper megaphone to every corner:

"Someone just said that the irrigation canals in Taohuawan have been in disrepair for years, the treasury is empty, and the superiors are indifferent!"

"Some people also say that the soldiers' pay in the garrison has been embezzled at every level and hasn't been paid for three months!"

The kneeling officials felt a chill run down their spines, sensing something was amiss.

But then Zhang Biao's tone suddenly changed, becoming firm and forceful:

"As an imperial envoy, I am here on behalf of Heaven to inspect the land. Although I know that those corrupt officials are trying to use these matters to obstruct my investigation, how can I ignore such a matter of great importance to the people's livelihood?!"

"I don't believe it! Our Great Ming Dynasty's Huguang region is a land of plenty, a major tax-paying area. The imperial court allocates funds to it every year. How could it have fallen to the point where it can't even afford to build a canal or reinforce a river embankment?!"

"There must be something fishy going on here!"

Having said that, he turned abruptly, his gaze sharp as he fixed his eyes on the kneeling officials:

“You gentlemen are all veteran officials from the workshops, household registration offices, and garrisons. You are familiar with the situation and have the people at heart, which is perfect!”

"I invite you gentlemen to accompany me, the Imperial Envoy, to the Provincial Administration Commission and the Wuchang Prefecture!"

"Let's go and ask Governor Pan and the Prefect of Wuchang in person!"

"Investigate how much funding has been allocated for the project over the years, and where it has been used. Why hasn't the canal been repaired yet? Why is the river embankment still in danger?!"

"We also invite all the villagers present to come along if they have the time, and to be our witnesses!"

"Let's go together and ask the officials in Huguang: Where did this money go? Who's responsible for repairing this canal? Who's responsible for reinforcing this dike? Why haven't the soldiers' salaries been paid?!"

boom--!
These words were like pouring a ladle of cold water into boiling oil, instantly causing an uproar.

"Yes! Let's go ask together!"

"Zhang Qingtian is right! The imperial court must have allocated the funds!"

"Let's go! To the Provincial Administration Commissioner's Office!"

"Go to the government office!"

The people's emotions were instantly ignited, shifting from lamenting their own suffering to anger and questioning of the government's inaction.

Zhang Biao not only took on the difficult task, but also kicked the ball, along with the goal, directly back at the face of the Provincial Administration Commission and the Prefectural Government.

The old officials were so frightened that they were scared out of their wits and turned pale.

They were sent to create problems for Zhang Biao, not to lead the way to raid his own base!

"My...my sir! You mustn't!"

The old clerk's legs went weak, and he almost knelt down again: "Sir...Sir has his own arrangements. How could we, mere lowly clerks, dare to..."

"Ok?"

Zhang Biao's expression darkened, and an invisible pressure emanated from him:
"Just now you all claimed to be speaking up for the people and to have compassion for humanity, but now that I'm going to take you to solve the problem, why are you making excuses?!"

"Could it be that what you just said was not to speak for the people, but rather that you were instructed by someone to deliberately make things difficult for me and test me?!"

"Or are you yourselves inextricably linked to the embezzlement of funds?!"

Questions about one's conscience followed one after another.

The veteran officials were sweating profusely and trembling like leaves.

Admitting they were instructed to do it? They wouldn't dare!

Admitting to embezzlement? That's a death sentence!
They are now in a predicament, caught between a rock and a hard place.

"It seems that you all agree to come with me to confront them."

Zhang Biao didn't give them a chance to think and directly gave orders to Lao Zhao and Cao Ji:
"Protect these 'wise and righteous' old officials; they are key witnesses! Let's go! Target: the Huguang Provincial Administration Office!"

"Yes!"

At this moment, Lao Zhao and Cao Ji were filled with excitement, and they admired Zhang Biao's "using his own methods against him" technique beyond words.

My lord, you're trying to use the other side's 'public opinion' to directly attack the highest administrative body in Huguang!

"Let's go! Follow Zhang Qingtian to the Provincial Administration Commission!"

"Ask Lord Pan, where did our life-saving money go!"

Led by Zhang Biao, the massive crowd surged toward the Provincial Administration Office like a flood bursting its banks.

The old officials, 'protected' by the Embroidered Uniform Guards, stood in the middle, their faces ashen, like prisoners being led to the execution ground.

……

Inside the Provincial Administration Office, Pan Wenmao quickly received the news.

"What?! He's coming this way with his men?! And with that bunch of idiots?!"

Upon hearing his confidant's report, Pan Wenmao was so shocked that he jumped up from his armchair, smashing the teacup in his hand to pieces with a 'crash'.

He originally thought that Zhang Biao would be troubled by livelihood issues or be killed by Madam Chen, ruining his reputation.

But to his utter surprise, the other party acted unpredictably, directly luring the beast of 'public resentment' to the very doorstep of his government office.

"Rebellion! Rebellion! Is he trying to start a rebellion?!"

Pan Wenmao trembled with rage: "He's gathering a crowd to storm the Provincial Administration Commission? Does he have no respect for the law?!"

The advisor, standing to the side, stamped his feet anxiously: "Master! This is not the time to talk about this!"

"Over a thousand people have gathered outside the yamen, their anger running high! Zhang Biao is using those old officials as witnesses and a bargaining chip; we have no way to avoid it!"

Yes, there's no way to avoid it!
Zhang Biao held an imperial edict; he represented the imperial court and the Hongwu Emperor!
Moreover, he now has 'witnesses' in his possession, which makes him even more lawless!

Isn't this a rebellion carried out under imperial orders?!

Filled with despair at his failed attempt to steal a chicken and instead losing his own, Pan Wenmao roared, "Quickly, summon Provincial Judge Huang and Vice Commissioner Wang to come and discuss this matter!"

For the first time, he truly felt how terrifying Zhang Biao was.

This guy doesn't play by the rules of officialdom at all; he's good at flipping tables.

However, before Huang Yan and Wang Tong could arrive, a deafening roar had already come from outside the yamen.

"Please, Lord Pan, come forward and give us an explanation!"

"Where did the money for repairing the irrigation canal go?!"

"Zhang Qingtian has stood up for us!"

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(End of this chapter)