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

Chapter 65 Imperial Censor Zhang, put away your supernatural powers! [Seeking monthly votes]

He wasn't seeking death!

He wants to drag our Ming Dynasty down with him!

In just a moment, Old Zhu realized what was happening.

Only at this moment did he finally realize how terrifying Zhang Biao was.

What's truly remarkable about this Imperial Censor Zhang isn't his shamelessness or his madness, but rather the ideas in his mind that transcend his time.

He could list out all the country's ills in great detail.

He could rummage through everyone's underwear without restraint, and even check if the loose threads inside were aligned.

He's capable of doing anything, even risking his life.

Such ability, such ruthlessness, such methods—there has never been anyone like him in his entire life, no, in the entire course of history.

"shut up--!"

A roar suddenly rang out.

The sound was so loud that it even drowned out the roars in the square and Zhang Biao's maniacal laughter.

Old Zhu's body swayed violently, and he barely managed to stand by gripping the arm of the eunuch beside him with his withered hands.

His chest heaved violently, a sickly flush rose on his sallow face, and his deep-set eyes burned with an almost insane light.

He abruptly shook off the eunuch's support, staggered forward, and instead of pointing at Zhang Biao, he swept his finger across the nobles and high-ranking officials on both sides of the steps who were still shouting for the extermination of demons and the extermination of their clans.

"Shut up, all of you!"

This roar, like a tangible sound wave, made the eardrums of Li Jinglong, Fu Youwen and others who were closest to him ring. They subconsciously shut their mouths and looked at the emperor, who seemed to have gone mad, with horror on their faces.

Old Zhu's gaze, cold as ice, was fixed on Zhou Ya's face, which was contorted with excitement:

"Zhou Ya! You keep spreading heresies and misleading the public! You're plotting to endanger the nation! Fine! Very well!"

Zhou Ya felt a chill run down his spine under that gaze, and an ominous premonition instantly enveloped him.

"Jiang Huan—!"

Old Zhu's voice was hoarse and shrill, like the cry of an owl.

"Chen is here!"

Jiang Huan stepped forward, his hand on his sword, his expression extremely grave.

"Give it to us!"

Old Zhu's finger suddenly pointed at Zhou Ya, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a strong stench of blood: "Skin him alive!"

Wow——!
The whole place was in an uproar!

Almost no one expected that Old Zhu would actually make a move against Zhou Ya!

Even Zhang Biao and Shen Lang's group didn't expect this!

In an instant, the entire Fengtian Hall Square fell into a deathly silence.

Even the cold wind seemed to freeze.

All the shouts of killing, curses, and cries came to an abrupt halt.

Zhou Ya's face drained of all color instantly, turning deathly pale. He stared wide-eyed in disbelief, as if he couldn't understand what Old Zhu was saying: "Your Majesty?! Your subject is..."

"Didn't you want to peel the bark and husk?!"

Old Zhu abruptly interrupted him, his eyes filled with undisguised brutality and a near-out-of-control madness:

"Aren't you our loyal subject?! Aren't you supposed to be here to slay demons and set things right?!"

"Alright! We'll grant your wish! We'll use your loyal minister's skin to light a lamp for our Fengtian Hall Square!"

"Let the whole world see! Let them see how we treat loyal ministers! Let them see if we've been bewitched by demons!"

"Jiang Huan! Why aren't you making a move—!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

Jiang Huan shuddered, a look of horror flashing in his eyes, but without hesitation, he suddenly waved his hand.

Two fierce-looking Imperial Guards pounced on him instantly, dragging Zhou Ya, who was limp on the ground and urinating and defecating, up as if he were a chicken.

"No—! Your Majesty! Your Majesty, spare my life! I am innocent! I was only doing this for the country, Your Majesty!"

"Brother Huang! Brother Huang, save me—!"

Zhou Ya let out a shrill, inhuman scream, his legs kicking wildly in the air.

Huang Zicheng was stunned in the corner, thinking, "How could this happen? How could this happen?!"
However, Old Zhu ignored everyone else and calmly asked, "Who else?"

"Who else thinks Zhang Biao is a sorcerer? Who else thinks his entire family should be executed? Who else thinks he should be skinned alive?!"

"stand out!"

"We'll grant your wish today! We'll let you all taste the bitterness of loyalty!"

"May you all become beacons illuminating this eternal night!"

"Come on—!"

Old Zhu's roar, like the final howl of a wounded prehistoric beast, echoed for a long time in the deathly silent Fengtian Hall Square with a madness that could destroy everything. Ru Chang, Fu Youwen, Zhu Neng, Guo Ying, Li Jinglong and others, as well as the nobles and high-ranking officials who had just been indignant and shouting for war, all lowered their heads, wishing they could bury their heads in their crotches.

Their bodies trembled like leaves in the autumn wind, and they didn't even dare to breathe.

They finally got it.

The Emperor did not intend to kill Zhang Biao.

The emperor was cornered by this madman.

He was driven to complete madness.

This madman recklessly brought trouble upon himself, so the emperor dared to use even more insane, bloody, and shameless methods to spread that fire to all of them.

Use their skin, their blood, their entire clan to be buried with this out-of-control 'demon'.

Zhang Biao used the phrase "inviting the Ming Dynasty to its death" to bind himself and the lower-ranking officials of the capital to the altar, and the emperor used the phrase "skinning and lighting lamps" to drag all the nobles of the court down to hell as well.

If we're going to die, we'll all die together.

This is no longer a question of whether or not to kill.

This is a competition to see who can be crazier.

It's a contest to see who's more reckless.

It's a contest to see who cares less about the Ming Dynasty's gambling game.

Zhang Biao looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, who was willing to sacrifice the entire court of nobles to break the deadlock. For the first time, the wild smile on his face froze, and a trace of extreme astonishment and solemnity flashed deep in his eyes.

This old beggar.
That's fucking insane.

Ruthless! Utterly cruel! Shameless!

"Zhang Biao, didn't you want to be our weapon? Didn't you want to kill all these wolves and tigers in the court? Then tell me, who here deserves to die?"

Old Zhu's cold voice rang out again.

A chorus of chattering teeth filled the air.

Some people have already begun to regret targeting Zhang Biao.

Zhang Biao frowned slightly.

Because this is no longer a way to break the deadlock; it's a suicidal tactic.

but
You ask me, who deserves to die?

He repeated Old Zhu's question, his tone as calm as if he were asking, "What are we eating today?"

The hand, with its distinct knuckles and a speck of dust, did not point at any of His Majesty's people.

Instead, he slowly, steadily, and with an undeniable resolve, pointed at Old Zhu: "Of course it's you!"

"What did you say!?"

Old Zhu's eyes were wide open, his killing intent surging.

But Zhang Biao remained remarkably calm, even displaying a hint of sarcasm:
"You use the imperial treasury to control the nation's money and grain, treating the nation's wealth as your private property. You have no regard for the country, only for your own small family!"

"You only care about your sister and your Biao'er. Now that they're dead, you treat everyone else like animals!"

"You are bloodthirsty and unfit to be a ruler! You are ungrateful, heartless, and cruel!"

"If you shouldn't die, then who should?!"

"puff!"

Old Zhu's already swaying body trembled violently from anger, and he collapsed with a thud.

"emperor--!"

Jiang Huan's eyes widened in fury, and he suddenly lunged forward.

"Protect the Emperor! Quickly, protect the Emperor!!"

The eunuch's shrill cries ripped through the deathly silence.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!!"

All around was filled with wailing.

The old doctor was practically crying his eyes out!

If he could, he really wanted to utter the most humble and helpless lament of his life to Zhang Biao.

Imperial Censor Zhang, please put away your supernatural powers!

Meanwhile, in a distant corner, the historian, already utterly shocked, shakily raised his pen, crossed out all the drafts he had prepared in his mind, and wrote in a crooked, illegible hand:
[In the ninth month of the twenty-fifth year of the Hongwu reign, Imperial Censor Zhang struck the Emperor three times in one day, each time causing him to faint.]

……

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　　Also, I'd like to add that I've read many Ming Dynasty texts that portray Zhu Yuanzhang (Emperor Hongwu) as a wise and benevolent ruler, which feels very awkward. Especially in the late Hongwu period, Zhu Yuanzhang's personality was that of a complete madman.

　　Oh, and by the way, remember to like and tip Pig Head Meat, thank you!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)