Volume One Chapter One The Fool Takes Down the Imperial Proclamation

“How dare you, you insolent commoner! To openly tear down the imperial notice—do you seek to anger the might of the dragon?”

“General Zhang, are you and your son making sport of His Majesty?”

“Your Majesty! Heaven and earth bear witness, Your Majesty, even if I were given a hundred lives, I would never dare! It’s just that my son is foolish and ignorant—may Your Majesty pardon him!”

…

Qingyun Continent, Great Wu, Golden Throne Hall.

On the palace floor knelt a father and son. The father, Zhang Wu, was the Grand General of the Central Army of Great Wu, holding the distinguished rank of second grade. Beside him, looking utterly bewildered, was his simple-minded son, Zhang Yan.

Yet the Zhang Yan of this moment was no longer the Zhang Yan of before.

Just half an hour ago, Zhang Yan had been in a nightclub, his arm around a voluptuous blonde, when after a single glass of wine, he suddenly found himself transported here. At the moment of his arrival, his predecessor had just torn down the imperial notice; terrified beyond measure, the fool had died on the spot, leaving Zhang Yan’s soul to take over.

Memories surged over him like a tide, and it was only now that Zhang Yan was barely able to accept the reality of his transmigration.

In those memories, the previous Zhang Yan was an imbecile, with the intellect of a four- or five-year-old child, commonly called “the fool’s son” by those around him. Still, simple as he was, he had the fortune of being the son of a second-grade general, and thanks to his kind heart, he managed to win some favor among others.

Yet it was precisely this kind nature that led him to ruin. In the recollections, some unknown voice had lured his predecessor to the site of the imperial notice, persuading him to tear it down. For this act, he had been summoned to the court, where terror killed him on the spot, allowing Zhang Yan to cross over.

Having sorted out these events, Zhang Yan looked up.

Upon the dragon throne sat a female emperor.

She appeared to be in her early twenties, not much older than Zhang Yan, her exquisite face expressionless, radiating an air of authority. Her figure was superb; from Zhang Yan’s angle, he could just glimpse a flash of snowy white as her legs crossed beneath the hem of her robe.

If only he could cling to those fair, shapely legs, wouldn’t he be able to stride through Great Wu without opposition?

Just imagining it delighted him.

At that moment, a minister stepped forward and spoke, “Your Majesty, in my opinion, General Zhang’s actions amount to deceiving the sovereign. It is well known that his son is simple-minded—how could he possibly be the capable hero to tear down the notice?”

As soon as one set the precedent, others immediately followed. “Your Majesty, the notice has been posted for half a month. Why did General Zhang’s son not tear it down before, and wait until now?”

“Indeed, Your Majesty, I believe General Zhang should be punished for deceiving the sovereign!”

Kicking a man when he’s down was second nature to these ministers.

Zhang Wu glared fiercely at the civil officials and burst out angrily, “To hell with you! You sanctimonious hypocrites—always eager to kick a man when he’s down! Ask you for ideas, you come up with nothing; but when it comes to slandering others, you spew filth with abandon!”

A rough-edged man who had risen through military merit, Zhang Wu was no match for the verbal sparring of the civil officials. All he could do was curse, venting his frustration.

“General Zhang, mind your tongue! We act solely in the interest of Great Wu. We have lain awake many nights seeking solutions to our troubles!”

“For the sake of His Majesty, for the future of Great Wu, what matter if we shed blood and sacrifice our lives?”

A few ministers looked at Jiang Zhiwan, their eyes brimming with feigned tears. They spared a few sidelong glances at Zhang Wu, inwardly snickering, certain they had the measure of this boor.

Atop the dragon throne, Jiang Zhiwan swept her gaze coldly over the hall, her eyes pausing on Zhang Yan.

Noticing Zhang Yan still gazing curiously about like an innocent child, she shook her head in silence.

Then, in a clear, icy tone, she pronounced, “Grand General Zhang Wu has failed to properly instruct his son. His son’s deliberate act of tearing down the imperial notice constitutes a crime of deceiving the sovereign. Yet, considering his years of loyal service and meritorious deeds in battle, Zhang Wu is hereby stripped of his title as Grand General of the Central Army and demoted to commoner.”

Such a punishment was indeed lenient for Zhang Wu.

After all, the crime of deceiving the emperor could easily result in beheading, or even the extermination of one’s entire clan.

At these words, Zhang Wu’s face lit up with joy. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy. I shall never forget your grace!”

“You little fool, kneel and thank Her Majesty at once!”

Saying this, Zhang Wu reached out to press Zhang Yan to the ground in gratitude, eager to leave while their lives were still spared.

But Zhang Yan spoke up first, “Your Majesty, since this humble servant has torn down the imperial notice, I naturally have an idea in mind. Why not grant me a chance, Your Majesty?”

Zhang Yan recalled the contents of the notice—it spoke of the disasters plaguing Great Wu in recent years, and the looming threat from the northern Liang State, which had launched several incursions. The treasury was empty, long unable to fund recruitment or war.

Thus, Jiang Zhiwan had summoned men of talent and resource, seeking any with a means to generate funds. Those who succeeded would be rewarded with rank and titles, the most capable even enfeoffed as marquises or appointed as prime ministers!

This was the perfect opportunity to cling to a powerful patron. If he were simply branded a criminal, how could he ever seize the chance to hold fast to the Empress’s favor?

At his words, all eyes in the throne room turned toward Zhang Yan, confusion written on every face.

Most astonished of all was Zhang Wu himself.

‘What the—what is this fool son saying?’

‘Wait, is this really my imbecile son?’

Zhang Wu was filled with disbelief; his son had always struggled to say two coherent sentences, let alone devise a strategy.

Jiang Zhiwan also looked at Zhang Yan in surprise—was this truly the fool of rumor?

With that thought, she turned to the attendant at her side and asked in a low voice, “Qiuxue, have you investigated?”

As Jiang Zhiwan’s personal bodyguard, Shen Qiuxue understood her meaning. She replied softly, “Your Majesty, the matter has been investigated. General Zhang’s son is indeed simple-minded, and has been so for many years.”

“Oh?”

Jiang Zhiwan’s face showed a trace of suspicion; though reputed to be an imbecile, Zhang Yan’s demeanor suggested otherwise.

By now, Zhang Wu had come to his senses. Hastily pressing Zhang Yan’s head down, he pleaded in fear, “Your Majesty, my son is ignorant and has offended you—please, I beg your forgiveness.”

In his mind, Zhang Yan was still the same simpleton. If he said anything disrespectful, being demoted to commoner would be the least of their worries.

Yet Jiang Zhiwan regarded Zhang Yan with keen interest. “No matter. If you truly can offer a sound strategy to resolve Great Wu’s urgent crisis, not only will your crime be forgiven, but you shall be rewarded handsomely.”

“Her Majesty speaks wisely. General Zhang, since your esteemed son claims to have a solution, why not let him speak? It would be good for us all to broaden our horizons.”

“I, for one, am curious whether your son’s affliction has been cured. Perhaps he truly can say a thing or two?”

“Haha!”

The ministers immediately launched into mocking jeers, some even laughing without restraint.

This was a golden opportunity to undermine the military officers; naturally, they were delighted to see Zhang Wu humiliated, even imprisoned.

Could a mere imbecile truly surpass the wisdom of the court’s ministers? Impossible.

Zhang Yan glanced over the gathered officials—he didn’t recognize a single one. In the memories of his predecessor, the only minister he’d ever met was his own father.

But that didn’t stop Zhang Yan from memorizing their faces.

These old scoundrels wouldn’t even spare a fool; if he didn’t get back at them, he would write his name backwards!

Feeling weary from kneeling, Zhang Yan stood and dusted off his knees, a faint smile on his lips as he cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, this humble servant has three strategies—for filling the empty treasury, and for repelling the northern threat of Liang.”

“Nonsense! The empty treasury is the result of relentless natural disasters, and it is not the season for collecting taxes. How can the treasury be replenished?”

“The Imperial Scholar is right. You claim three strategies? What did you do—think them up while playing in the mud outside your house?”

“Indeed! If we, with all our wisdom, are at our wits’ end, how could a fool playing in the dirt solve this?”

“Such wild talk breeds chaos in the court—what punishment does that merit?”

Zhang Yan swept his gaze across the ministers, his face sporting an innocent, harmless smile as he said, “No need for such haste, honored gentlemen. My first strategy is quite simple. Since you all possess such loyalty and devotion to the state, why not confiscate your estates? That alone would fill the treasury.”