Chapter 273: Crooked Scum

Hongwu Fourteenth Year, the fifteenth day of the second month.

Yingtian Prefecture, the spring chill is biting.

In Qianqing Palace the charcoal fire burned brightly; Zhu Yuanzhang sat behind the imperial desk, a memorandum clenched in his hand, his expression growing ever darker.

On the desk lay two more memoranda, one from the Guangdong Bu Zheng Shi Si Official, the other from the Censorate.

Their contents were similar: Dao Tong, magistrate of Panyu, obstructed military affairs, formed factions for personal gain, and was corrupt and lawless.

"Fraudulent scum!" Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the memorandum onto the desk, startling the tea cups into jumping.

The eunuchs were so frightened they fell to their knees.

"Bring someone! Draft an edict! Dao Tong is corrupt and lawless; seize him immediately and execute him on the spot!"

As the words fell, footsteps sounded from outside the hall.

Zhu Yong strode in, followed by Zhu Biao.

"Father, I've come to pay my respects; Father, what's wrong?" Zhu Yong finished speaking, stepped to the center of the hall, and suddenly sensed the atmosphere was off.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face remained composed as he said, "It's nothing; a corrupt official, killing him saves us trouble."

Zhu Yong was startled and looked at Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao also sensed something amiss and bowed, saying, "Imperial Father, do you know who has provoked your anger?"

Zhu Yuanzhang tossed the memorandum to Zhu Biao, saying, "Read it yourself! Dao Tong, magistrate of Panyu in Guangdong, I sent him there to govern, yet he obstructs military affairs and forms factions for personal gain!"

"The Guangdong Bu Zheng Shi Si Official's memorandum and the Censorate's impeachment are both right here!"

Zhu Biao took the memorandum and skimmed it quickly.

Zhu Yong leaned over and glanced at it a few times.

The memorandum was detailed, stating that Dao Tong, magistrate of Panyu, relying on his background as an Imperial Censor, ruled the locality arbitrarily, not only obstructing stationed troops' training but also colluding with local gentry, embezzling taxes, and even falsely accusing Marquis of Yongjia Zhu Liangzu.

"Falsely accusing a marquis? Zhu Liangzu is our old brother, fought alongside us to seize the world; could he accuse a petty magistrate? This Dao Tong is getting fat with impunity!" Zhu Yuanzhang sneered.

Zhu Biao's brow twitched slightly, and he said nothing.

Zhu Yong said naively, "Father, the memorandum says Dao Tong obstructed military affairs—what specific duties did he obstruct?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was taken aback and looked at the memorandum.

The memorandum only said "obstructed military affairs" and indeed gave no specifics.

"This… regardless of the duty, he's just a petty magistrate; how could he impede the stationed troops' training?" Zhu Yuanzhang paused, then continued.

Zhu Yong scratched his head and said, "I just think, what if there's something else behind this? Should we investigate first before killing?"

Zhu Yuanzhang glared, "Investigate what? The Guangdong Bu Zheng Shi Si Official's memorandum and the Censorate's impeachment—could they be false? Zhu Liangzu is our old brother; could he falsely accuse a magistrate?"

Zhu Biao then spoke, "Imperial Father, may I daringly ask, when was Zhu Liangzu's memorandum delivered?"

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment and said, "Yesterday."

"And Dao Tong's memorandum?"

"Also yesterday."

Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Both memoranda arrived the same day—how coincidental."

Zhu Yuanzhang furrowed his brow and asked, "Zhu Biao, what do you mean by that?"

Zhu Biao bowed and said, "Imperial Father, I have no other intent; I just think, since both memoranda concern the same matter, perhaps we should wait for Dao Tong to come to the capital and question him face‑to‑face."

"If he truly is corrupt, executing him later is no problem."

"Wait for him to reach the capital… by then the daylilies will have wilted! We've already issued the decree—execute him on the spot!" Zhu Yuanzhang sneered.

Zhu Yong, listening nearby, suddenly asked, "Father, how long ago did you issue the decree?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was taken aback and looked at the eunuch beside him.

The eunuch trembled, "Your Majesty, the edict has just been drafted and not yet sent out…"

Zhu Yong said naively, "That's good, that's good."

Zhu Yuanzhang glared irritably, "What's so good about it? What are you two doing today? Both of you protecting Dao Tong?"

Zhu Biao stepped forward solemnly, "Imperial Father, I'm not protecting him; I merely have heard of Dao Tong."

"Oh? You've heard of him?" Zhu Yuanzhang raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Zhu Biao nodded, "Dao Tong was recommended in Hongwu Third Year; after learning of him I investigated—he comes from a poor family but is upright and writes well.

The one who recommended him said he possessed the 'spirit of ancient remonstrators'; Imperial Father, do you recall?"

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment, a vague recollection stirring.

"Even if he's upright, he cannot obstruct military affairs!" Zhu Yuanzhang said.

Zhu Yong muttered softly beside him, "What if it's not obstruction, but Zhu Liangzu oppressing the people?"

"What are you saying?" Zhu Yuanzhang glared.

Zhu Yong scratched his head, saying naively, "I'm just guessing, Father—Zhu Liangzu is a marquis, a meritorious official of Great Ming; if he truly did something locally, would local officials dare to speak up?"

"If Dao Tong dared to intervene, perhaps he really did something?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's brow furrowed even tighter.

Zhu Biao seized the chance, "Imperial Father, the second brother makes a valid point; Zhu Liangzu has guarded Guangdong for years, holding Military Authority, and local officials dare not offend him."

"Dao Tong, a petty magistrate, would only accuse the marquis if he were driven to desperation, wouldn't he?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment, then asked, "Do you mean Zhu Liangzu has a problem?"

"Your son does not dare to jump to conclusions; I only think this matter concerns the lives of officials and should be handled cautiously. Imperial Father, perhaps you could first send someone to Guangdong to investigate; once the truth is clear, dealing with it won't be late."

Zhu Biao bowed.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Yong and asked, "And you! Do you think the same?"

Zhu Yong said naively, "I don't understand these twists; I only know that if we kill the wrong person, how unjust it would be!"

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at him for a while, then suddenly sighed.

You two… each one talks more than the other.

He waved his hand and said to the eunuch, "Hold off on issuing the decree; send someone to Guangdong to investigate and see exactly what this Dao Tong is."

The eunuch responded and left.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Yong exchanged a glance and both breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his two sons, then suddenly said, "Biao Er, Yong Er, do you know why we are angry?"

Zhu Biao replied, "Imperial Father hates corrupt officials."

"Exactly! What we hate most are corrupt officials! Back then we had to scrape by for food, knowing how hard the common folk suffered. These officials, holding court salaries, think nothing of serving the country, but instead oppress the people. How could we tolerate that?" Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table and said.

Yong Er said innocently, "Father is right; corrupt officials should be killed, but this Dao Tong might not even be a corrupt official."

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at him, then suddenly laughed.

"Alright, alright, you're right. Then first investigate, and once it's clear, we can kill."

He paused, then added, "Biao Er, keep an eye on this matter, have the Jinyiwei investigate, and don't alarm the local authorities."

Zhu Biao replied, "Yes, Imperial Father."

Coming out of Qianqing Palace, the two brothers walked along the palace corridor.

The February wind was still a bit chilly, making people hunch their necks.

Yong Er pulled his Great Cloak tighter and said, "Elder brother, do you think this Dao Tong could cause trouble?"

Zhu Biao thought for a moment and said, "Hard to say. Zhu Liangzu has been operating in Guangdong for many years; his influence is tangled like roots. Dao Tong is just a minor county magistrate daring to impeach him; either he's truly upright, or he has someone backing him."

"Then elder brother, which kind do you think it is?"

Zhu Biao glanced at him and laughed, "Second brother, what do you think?"

Yong Er said innocently, "I think he's upright."

"Oh? Why?"