I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 235 Moral Trial

Chapter 235 Moral Trial

At the Drunken Flower Pavilion, Wang Wenzhou knelt on the ground, while the babies, their faces filled with anger, sat in a row on chairs.

Wang Wenzhou set fire to Hanshan, killing 2 soldiers. Gao Yingxiang's army then marched straight to Chuzhou. Wang Wenzhou reported to the court that he had led the soldiers and civilians of Hanshan in a fierce battle, repelling the invading rebel army and beheading 3.

But the girls wouldn't stand for it! Wang Wenzhou killed innocent people and claimed credit for them, which the girls initially didn't know; they genuinely believed the rebel army was impersonating the Hanshan Guard. But after the incident, the girls learned the truth from their trusted confidants, and they were furious. Liu Rushi, in particular, was practically enraged.

Liu Ru pointed at Wang Wenzhou angrily and said, "Wang Wenzhou, you are despicable and shameless! More than 2 lives were lost at your hands! For the sake of high-ranking positions and generous salaries, have you lost even the last bit of conscience you had?"

Wang Wenzhou was very frustrated. Ever since he became the dominant husband, he would hold family meetings and the children would take off their pants and wait for him to spank them. But this time, the children were unusually united and collectively judged him.

Wang Wenzhou said righteously, "Babies, don't be angry. Can I say a few words first?"

"Shut up!" Liu Rushi said angrily, "Wang Wenzhou, do you know that if what you're doing is exposed, it will be considered treason, and your entire family will be implicated!"

This time, Sheng Lan also didn't side with Wang Wenzhou. She gently stroked the child in her arms and whispered, "Wang Wenzhou, you really went too far this time!"

“Babies, you have to think about it this way! If the rebel army breaks through Hanshan, how many innocent people will die? Hanshan has a population of one million. Once the rebel army breaks through the city, the death of 100,000 or 200,000 will be considered small!” Wang Wenzhou said.

"Hmph! That's just sophistry!" Liu Rushi said irritably, "Wang Wenzhou, don't be so shameless! We agreed to your marriage to Gao Guilan! We also agreed to your giving Gao Yingxiang 250 million taels of silver. But why did you still attack Hanshanwei?"

“Ruru, you have to think of it this way,” Wang Wenzhou explained. “Gao Yingxiang’s hundreds of thousands of troops passed through Hanshan without attacking? Moreover, Hanshan is so rich, even comparable to the capital. This simply doesn’t make sense! Only after a major battle, when we repel the enemy army, can it be explained!”

"Hmph! Sophistry!" Liu Rushi said coldly, "Wang Wenzhou, don't try to fool me! Haven't you put on enough shows? According to your logic, you could easily stage a play with the bandits. In the end, under your command, the people and soldiers of Hanshan bravely and tenaciously repelled the bandits!"

"Hehe!" Wang Wenzhou chuckled awkwardly. Actually, he had thought the same thing at first. But then he realized that Xu Yingjie's Hanshan Guard, stationed in Hanshan, was a ticking time bomb. That bastard Xu Yingjie was just looking for trouble. Many things might turn out badly because of Xu Yingjie's meddling.

Now, with eight years left before the fall of the Ming Dynasty, Wang Wenzhou cannot completely break ties with Xu Yingjie, as Xu Yingjie's backing is too powerful for Wang Wenzhou to afford. So he has no choice but to devise this plan to drive Xu Yingjie away.

Wang Wenzhou laughed and said, "Ruru, you're too naive! Who would believe a great battle without corpses? You can't expect me to kill the people of Hanshan, can you?"

Liu Rushi hadn't really thought about this question. She retorted, "You can discuss with Gao Yingxiang about killing some of the bandits!"

"Ruru, you've fallen into a trap!" Wang Wenzhou said righteously, "Ruru! How can you say that? Do you think the rebels deserve to die?"

"Hmph!" Liu Rushi said coldly, "The rebel army deserves to die! They killed and rebelled, committing all sorts of atrocities! If they don't die, who should? The innocent civilians they killed?"

Wang Wenzhou said with deep emotion, “When the state is well-governed, it is shameful to be poor and lowly. When the state is poorly governed, it is shameful to be rich and noble. The rebel army was once innocent civilians, but they couldn’t survive! These people were faced with only two choices: death or rebellion. If you were in their shoes, what would you choose?”

"Bang!" Liu Rushi slammed her hand on the table angrily and said, "Our Great Ming Dynasty is in its golden age, with all nations coming to pay tribute! How can it be that the country is without virtue?"

"Hehe!" Wang Wenzhou laughed and pointed to himself, saying, "Ruru, look at me. In the hearts of the people of Hanshan, I am a righteous official who wholeheartedly serves the people. Of course, you don't think so. Okay, even if I am a corrupt official, I have ensured that the people of Hanshan have a way to live, can have enough to eat and wear, and live a happy life. Am I wrong?"

Liu Rushi frowned and nodded reluctantly. Yes, her friend was absolutely right. When more than 10 refugees fled to Hanshan, any other official would have tried to drive them away. But Wang Wenzhou settled them down. Later, these refugees found work in Hanshan and gradually settled down there, becoming Hanshan residents.

Wang Wenzhou said with a smile, "There are just some idiots who always think that because they don't take money, they are honest officials and good officials who are dedicated to serving the people! But they have absolutely no ability to govern. Under their diligent governance, the people can't get enough to eat, can't afford houses, can't afford to go to school, and can't afford to see a doctor! The people can't survive, so they have no choice but to rebel!"

Liu Rushi frowned. She had realized that her nemesis's mouth was too sharp; she simply couldn't win an argument with him.

"Hmph!" Liu Rushi said irritably, "Wang Wenzhou, stop talking nonsense. I'm asking you why you killed innocent people and claimed credit for it!"

Wang Wenzhou laughed and said, "Are those people from Hanshan Guard good people? Since they came to Hanshan, how many scoundrels have they done? They dare to set up roadblocks and collect money anywhere! When they go to restaurants, they often refuse to pay. Not to mention those scoundrels who harass respectable women. The yamen runners can't do anything about it. If you try to arrest them, they just hide in the camp. Hanshan only has a thousand yamen runners, and Hanshan Guard has more than 20,000 men. How dare they go in and arrest people?"

“These are all minor issues! You’re killing them all just because they made small mistakes?” Liu Rushi said angrily.

“Ruru! This is your mistake! Why should the people of Hanshan, who live peacefully and honestly, be bullied by the soldiers of Hanshan Guard? Why should the people of Hanshan, who conduct business honestly, be extorted by the soldiers of Hanshan Guard? They make small mistakes, which are not punishable by death! But the common people have not made any mistakes, so they can only willingly suffer bad luck? No matter who it is, as long as they make mistakes, they should pay the price! Sometimes God is blind, so I can only help God, act as a chivalrous knight, and rid the people of evil!” Wang Wenzhou said in a serious tone.

Gao Guilan looked at Wang Wenzhou with shining eyes and said excitedly, "Go, Uncle! It is the act of a hero to stand up for the people and eliminate evil."

Zhang Jiaobao nodded and looked at Liu Rushi, saying, "Sister Liu Rushi, my husband didn't do anything wrong! Husband, please get up!"

Liu Rushi looked helplessly at Sheng Lan, who was equally helpless.

Wang Wenzhou laughed as he got up, lecherously saying, "The greatest heroes are those who lewd the country and its people! Babies, babies, let's fight three hundred rounds to celebrate our victory!"