I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 744 Eight Honors and Eight Shames

Chapter 744 Eight Honors and Eight Shames

Wang Wenzhou looked around at everyone and asked, "Students, you are all scholars. I want to ask you a question: Why do you study?"

The civil and military officials exchanged bewildered glances. Although they were now forced to play along with the madman Wang Wenzhou, they had no desire to cooperate. In the current situation, anyone who dared to cooperate with Wang Wenzhou would surely be isolated by everyone; to cooperate with Wang Wenzhou was to aid and abet a tyrant, to be an accomplice to evil.

"Why don't you answer this question? Is it that difficult?" Wang Wenzhou was puzzled. Every single one of the civil and military officials present was usually quite talkative. What was wrong with them today? Even the military officers present were actually civil officials, because the Ming Dynasty controlled the military through civil means. For a true military general, becoming a general was the pinnacle of his career. They were not qualified to be present at all.

"Mad dog Wang Wenzhou, only a fool would listen to you!" Everyone pretended not to hear and silently stared ahead.

Wang Wenzhou pursed his lips, beckoned to Dayuer, and said, "Baby, have a drink!"

"Sigh..." Da Yu'er sighed helplessly, her face turning red to her neck in an instant. Being with her nemesis was truly embarrassing.

Seeing Wang Wenzhou drinking and carousing with a pretty girl, everyone was furious. That mad dog Wang Wenzhou had gone too far!

Wang Wenzhou took a sip of his drink and said with a smile, "Since no one wants to answer voluntarily, then I'll call on someone."

After saying that, Wang Wenzhou pointed at Kong Zhenyun and said, "Old Kong, you go first. Why do you study?"

“Hmm…” Kong Zhenyun thought for a moment and replied, “Reading can clarify one’s ambitions; in books, one can find beautiful women and riches…”

Before Kong Zhenyun could finish speaking, Wang Wenzhou interrupted him.

Wang Wenzhou said irritably, "Old Kong, you've gone too far! Where in the book is there a beautiful woman like jade? You masturbating to pornographic novels, does that count as a beautiful woman like jade? Everyone listen up, from now on, when you answer my questions in class, you must think carefully before you answer, and you must tell the truth. Anyone who dares not to tell the truth, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"Lord Wang, these are my heartfelt words!" Kong Zhenyun shook his head with a wry smile. What is that mad dog Wang Wenzhou up to now?

Wang Wenzhou waved his hand and quickly said, "Alright, Lao Kong, stop talking, sit down! Next..."

"Hmm..." Wang Wenzhou looked at the people present. He could only name a few of them. After all, none of the nobles were there, and Wang Wenzhou's reputation in official circles was so bad that no one wanted to associate with him. As a result, apart from a few important officials, Wang Wenzhou really didn't know many people.

Wang Wenzhou pointed at Zheng Sanjun and asked, "Little Zheng, why do you study?"

Zheng Sanjun said solemnly, "Since childhood, I have diligently followed my father's teachings and studied for the sake of revitalizing the Ming Dynasty!"

"Pah!" Wang Wenzhou cursed, "You Zheng, you are shameless! Studying for the revival of the Ming Dynasty? Then why did you become an official? Alright, you bunch of bastards, not a single word of the truth is out. I'm too lazy to argue with you. Isn't the purpose of studying to become an official? If you don't want to be an official, why did you take the imperial examination?"

"Hmm..." Everyone rolled their eyes. Well, that's really how it is, but coming from the mouth of that mad dog Wang Wenzhou, it sounds so awful.

Wang Wenzhou asked, "Then why did you become officials? Hey you, I'm talking to you! What are you looking at? Why aren't you paying attention in class? What are you picking your nose for?"

"Lord Wang, do you want me to answer?" the man asked.

"What's your name? What's your official rank?" Wang Wenzhou asked.

"I am Fan Jingwen, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices," Fan Jingwen said, bowing slightly.

Wang Wenzhou nodded and asked, "Xiao Fan, why did you become an official?"

Fan Jingwen thought for a moment and then replied, "Of course, it's about being loyal to the country and bringing benefits to the people!"

"Bah!" Wang Wenzhou cursed, "Do you have any shame? Under the rule of officials like you, the Ming Dynasty is beset by internal and external troubles, and the people are suffering. You call yourself loyal to the country? You call yourself bringing benefits to the common people? You are utterly shameless! Guards, this bastard is not telling the truth, slap him!"

"Yes!" A Jinyiwei guard stepped forward immediately and swung his arm, slapping the guard twice.

Fan Jingwen was stunned by the slaps. He was in his fifties and was considered young and strong among the civil and military officials, but those two slaps made his head spin.

"Lord Wang!" Kong Zhenyun hurriedly said, "What are you doing now? What did Lord Fan say wrong?"

Wang Wenzhou said irritably, "Old Kong, we usually have a good relationship, but you have to show some respect to your teacher in class. You should call me teacher or sir. This is a classroom, not a place for 'Lord Wang'."

Kong Zhenyun was furious. "You crazy dog, Wang Wenzhou, stop messing around!"

Kong Zhenyun said with a wry smile, "Teacher, what did Lord Fan do wrong?"

Wang Wenzhou cursed and said, "This guy is lying! I already warned you guys about your lies, and this guy still lies! Why do people become officials? Isn't it to make big money and grope women? And he keeps saying he's doing this for the people? Bah! If officials don't make money, the government's meager salary is barely enough to support their families!"

Kong Zhenyun was both amused and exasperated. Wang Wenzhou's words, though harsh, were true. Although Kong Zhenyun was known for his integrity and disliked the corrupt practices of officialdom, even if he didn't accept money from others, he still had to give them money. It was a matter of reciprocity; he couldn't go to a colleague's birthday celebration empty-handed, could he?

Wang Wenzhou continued, "It is because of your improper thinking that the Ming Dynasty is in its current state. For this reason, His Majesty specially ordered me to organize this training course. Alright, let's begin the lesson. Today's first lesson is about the Three Represents and the Eight Honors and Eight Shames!"

Wang Wenzhou waved his hand and instructed, "Jiang Zhenghe, distribute the textbooks."

Wang Wenzhou had lived two lives, but before his transmigration, how could he possibly be qualified to be an official? He hadn't even been a group leader in school. He knew absolutely nothing about reforming the bureaucracy; he could only rely on what he'd seen in the news to make up the numbers.

All the civil and military officials were given textbooks, but when they opened them, they found that they were filled with all sorts of nonsense.

Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "Classmates, I won't say much more. Oh, right, I almost forgot, we shouldn't start class now. We should bathe and change clothes before class and offer incense to the most revered sages and worthies."

"Oh?" The crowd was puzzled. When did Wang Wenzhou, this mad dog, become so polite?

"Alright!" Wang Wenzhou waved his hand and said, "Everyone, follow Jiang Zhenghe and let him take you to take a bath."

Jiang Zhenghe quickly cupped his hands to the crowd and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, please follow me."

Jiang Zhenghe led the way, followed by civil and military officials. Looking back, Jiang Zhenghe felt deeply frustrated. From this day forward, he had become Wang Wenzhou's accomplice, and the officials surely wanted nothing more than to kill him. He truly couldn't understand why Wang Wenzhou had gone to such lengths to target the officials. This was making enemies of everyone—a truly unwise move. Yet, despite his warnings to Wang Wenzhou, Wang Wenzhou simply didn't care.