Chapter 51

Originally, Yang Yang Sichang merely submitted his memorial as a matter of routine.

He never actually expected it to be approved.

But against all expectations, the moment Yang Yang Sichang's memorial entered the palace,

within less than half an hour, it was returned with the vermilion approval of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Seeing that the funds came from the Inner Treasury, the court officials did not think much of it.

After all, the war effort was currently the most important matter for the Great Ming.

However, very soon, these civil and military ministers began to sense something amiss.

The next day, Bi Ziyan, the Minister of Revenue, submitted a request for three million taels of silver for disaster relief in the northwest.

The Minister of Works requested one million five hundred thousand taels for forging armor and weapons.

Approved again!

Immediately following, on the third and fourth days,

over fifteen million taels of silver were approved in scattered allotments from the Inner Treasury of the Forbidden City.

Looking at Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian, whose face glowed with ruddy confidence during the morning court,

and then looking at Zhou Kui, the father of the Empress, who had been on leave for many days,

every official in the court felt an ominous premonition rise in their hearts.

Could these damned funds being disbursed possibly be our own burial money?!

Hong Hong Chengchou was the first to snap out of his daze.

After the court dispersed, Hong Hong Chengchou did not even bother to take his sedan chair.

Upon exiting the palace gates, he immediately mounted his horse and galloped straight to the residence of the Earl of Retainer; upon arrival, he disregarded all etiquette.

He leaped off his horse and, while pounding on the door, roared:

"Old Blind Lamp! Where is my money?!"

53, Chongzhen: I never said the game was over; this chess match is not finished!

In less than half an hour,

the gates of the Earl of Retainer's residence were surrounded by civil officials, military officers, and nobles who had come to cause a disturbance.

These so-called "upright gentlemen," who were usually refined, spoke constantly of the common people, and acted solely for the rise and fall of the dynasty, at this moment completely tore off their fig leaves.

Everyone stood outside Zhou Kui's home, hoarse from screaming and cursing.

"Zhou Kui! Do you truly have no fear of death?!"

"My Zhang family has been loyal martyrs for generations; do your descendants not value their lives?!"

"..."

As for Zhou Kui,

he had long since rushed into the Forbidden City to play chess with Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian.

His own children and grandchildren had also been sent back to their ancestral home by Zhou Kui several days prior.

Zhou Kui saw the situation with perfect clarity.

His entire family had been thoroughly dragged onto this carriage by his good son-in-law.

If the Great Ming survives,

the Zhou family's wealth and honor remain the Zhou family's.

If the Great Ming falls,

there would be no need for the bandit Chuang or the Tartars;

before these civil and military dignitaries surrendered the city, they would have sacrificed his head to flag themselves.

Outside the gates of the Earl of Retainer's residence, the autumn wind blew bleakly.

Hong Hong Chengchou felt his blood rushing violently to his head.

The civil and military dignitaries of today were regretting it until their intestines turned green!

Among them, many had long suspected that Zhou Kui was nothing but a fraud.

It was impossible for such a profitable business to exist in this world.

But watching batch after batch of interest payments being honored,

their hearts were filled with greed!

Everyone had approached this with the mindset of making a huge gamble with Zhou Kui.

Some had even already drafted memorials impeaching Zhou Kui for forming factions and seeking personal gain.

Had Zhou Kui shown even the slightest sign of irregularity, they would have immediately used this as grounds to charge him with a crime punishable by the execution of his entire family!

But these scholar-officials, who prided themselves on being the realm's finest talents, ultimately missed one move.

The endless flow of silver from the Inner Treasury had already proven

that this entire affair was a setup orchestrated jointly by Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian and Zhou Kui!

Who could have imagined that behind Zhou Kui stood Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian?!

In truth, it was not that they had not thought of it;

it was simply that from beginning to end, they were unwilling to admit it.

This matter appeared to be a gamble between Zhou Kui and them,

but in essence, Zhou Kui was merely a mouthpiece.

The person they truly needed to contend with

was themselves.

More precisely, it was the greed deep within their own hearts!

Once greed arises, it will inevitably consume itself!

Hong Hong Chengchou, having been swindled out of more than half his family fortune, slumped paralyzed at the gates of the Earl of Retainer's residence.

Finally, Hong Hong Chengchou suddenly scrambled up from the ground.

6

Staring fixedly at the towering palace city in the distance, he gritted his teeth and said,

"This old man is now entering the palace to audience His Majesty!"

"Those who do not fear death, follow this old man into the palace!"

They were clever people, after all.

They quickly realized the truth.

What use was there in seeking out Zhou Kui?

The mastermind behind this was none other than...

It was precisely Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian, the very man they had once deemed the monarch who would ruin the nation!

Rage and despair instantly flooded the minds of the entire court's powerful nobles.

The moment Hong Hong Chengchou spoke these words,

everyone outside the Earl of Retainer's residence immediately rose up in unanimous agreement.

"The dynasty has nurtured scholars for three hundred years; how can we sit idly by and watch such absurdity!"

"Let His Majesty judge this matter for us!"

"..."

The entire court of civil and military officials, who had dispersed from the audience only moments before, instantly reversed course and once again marched in great numbers toward the Forbidden City.

Meanwhile, inside the Hall of Heavenly Purity,

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian was staring at the chessboard before him with keen interest.

Following the events of these past few days,

this former imperial prince, once titled the Prince of Xin,

under Old Zhu's personal tutelage, had finally acquired a measure of imperial bearing.

Zhou Kui, sitting opposite Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian, felt beads of sweat constantly seeping from his forehead.

The chess piece in his hand was already slick with perspiration from being clenched so tightly.

Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Zhu Youjian, however, remained completely unfazed.

He spoke softly and suddenly:

"Imperial Father-in-law, it is your move."