I was a conman in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 702 Arrogant and Domineering

Chapter 702 Arrogant and Overbearing

At the Luzhou government office, Xiong Wencan discussed the matter of appeasement with Zhang Xianzhong.

Xiong Wencan is now in charge of military affairs in six provinces: Nanji, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Huguang, and Sichuan. Xiong's recent bandit suppression work has been going smoothly because Zhu Youjian did not want to exterminate them all, so he wanted to appease Zhang Xianzhong.

Zuo Liangyu was very unhappy about this. He was now one of the most powerful generals in the Ming Dynasty and loved the work of suppressing bandits. The more bandits he killed, the higher his official rank would be, and the more money he would make. Therefore, he opposed the policy of appeasement. Also, because he had made many military achievements, he thought that Xiong Wencan, a civil official, was a cowardly and incompetent fool. He looked down on Xiong Wencan and was not willing to take orders from him.

Xiong Wencan asked, "Zhang Xianzhong, what's your decision? Will you accept the imperial court's offer of amnesty?"

“Hmm…” Zhang Xianzhong thought for a moment and said, “Lord Xiong, if I did not want to accept the offer of amnesty, I would not have come to Luzhou alone. However, there are some specific matters that need to be discussed further.”

"Hmph!" Zuo Liangyu snorted coldly and said irritably, "What are you still thinking? You rebelled and you think you've done something good? Now that you're surrounded, you should be thanking your lucky stars that the Emperor spared your lives. You're asking for it, aren't you?"

Zhang Xianzhong cupped his hands in greeting and said with a smile, "General Zuo, I also have my reasons. After all, I have so many brothers under my command, some of whom have committed too many sins and are deeply guilty. They are afraid that the court will settle accounts with them later."

Zuo Liangyu said irritably, "Tell them that if they don't want to surrender, they can expect to be surrounded and annihilated!"

Just then, a guard came and reported, "Reporting to Lord Xiong, there is a man outside who claims to be Wang Wenzhou requesting an audience."

"Oh?" Although Xiong Wencan had never met Wang Wenzhou, he knew about Wang Wenzhou's heroic deeds.

"Wang Wenzhou, the Earl of Xinjian?" Xiong Wencan was a little puzzled. What was Wang Wenzhou doing in Sichuan?

The guard replied, "This man did not mention his official rank or title. When we stopped him and said we should come in to report, he refused and ordered his servants to use force."

Upon hearing this, Xiong Wencan shook his head with a wry smile. Such an arrogant and domineering person must be Mad Dog Wang Wenzhou.

"Colleagues, please follow me to greet Lord Wang." Xiong Wencan hurriedly led his men out to greet him. Although he knew that Wang Wenzhou and Zhu Youjian were on bad terms, almost to the point of rebellion, no matter how much the mad dog Wang Wenzhou caused trouble, the emperor still treated him like his first love. Xiong Wencan did not want to offend Wang Wenzhou.

When Xiong Wencan arrived at the gate, he was completely dumbfounded. A group of people were fighting with the guards. A young man, with a beautiful girl on each arm, glared fiercely at the guards, cursing, "Damn it, you dogs look down on me! Who do you think I am? I can enter that pig Zhu Youjian's palace whenever I want, and nobody dares to stop me! Who does Xiong Wencan think he is? Is he more powerful than Zhu Youjian? If you're so capable, Xiong Wencan, go to the palace and sit on the throne!"

"Pfft..." Everyone was completely dumbfounded. Although none of the officials present had ever met Wang Wenzhou, they all knew something about Mad Dog Wang Wenzhou. This arrogant and domineering man also had a nickname, "Official Butcher." They didn't know why he had come here.

"Stop!" Xiong Wencan shouted, and the guards and Wang Wenzhou's men who were fighting stopped.

Xiong Wencan cupped his hands in greeting to Wang Wenzhou and said with a smile, "I am Xiong Wencan. Are you Wang Wenzhou, the Earl of Xinjian, or Lord Wang?"

"Go to hell! You are the Earl of Xinjian, your whole family are the Earls of Xinjian! I am now the King of Pig Slaughter!" The reason why Wang Wenzhou was so arrogant and domineering was that he was acting according to plan, wanting to provoke Xiong Wencan. Only in this way could he go to Zhu Youjian's court with Xiong Wencan.

Xiong Wencan frowned, puzzled. "I haven't offended you, you mad dog, yet you bite me right away. That's really going too far!" "Fine, I won't stoop to your level!"

Xiong Wencan cupped his hands in greeting and said with a smile, "Lord Wang, you flatter me. My guards were unaware of your identity. Please forgive them and invite me in!"

"Pah!" Wang Wenzhou stepped forward and began punching and kicking the guards at the gate, cursing as he did so: "You son of a bitch! You dare to stop me!"

"Lord Wang, we know we were wrong!" The guards hurriedly begged for mercy. They knew that even Lord Xiong dared not offend him, so they could only accept their bad luck.

"Sigh..." Xiong Wencan sighed. How could Your Majesty tolerate Wang Wenzhou's mad dog behavior for so long?

Xiong Wencan quickly stepped forward, pulled Wang Wenzhou aside, and comforted him, "Lord Wang, please don't be angry. I don't know how I offended you?"

"Slap!" Wang Wenzhou slapped Xiong Wencan across the face.

"Pfft..." Everyone was stunned. Who was Xiong Wencan? He was the Prime Minister of Military Affairs of six provinces and held the honorary title of Minister of War. He could attack a mad dog at will. This was outrageous.

"Wang Wenzhou! Stop messing around! This is Sichuan, not your Hanshan!" Xiong Wencan was stunned for a moment. He really didn't understand how he had offended Wang Wenzhou.

"Pah!" Wang Wenzhou cursed, "You bastard surnamed Xiong, I'm not finished with you! You dare to send an assassin to assassinate me? I'll write a letter to that pig Zhu Youjian and tell him to kill you, or I'll rebel!"

"Pfft..." The officials present looked at each other in dismay. They were all high-ranking officials who could follow Xiong Wencan. Wang Wenzhou was a nobleman of the Ming Dynasty and an official of the court. Not only did he disrespect the emperor, but he also kept talking about rebelling. It was really too much.

But no one dared to speak out against Wang Wenzhou. His reputation was too great; no one dared to offend him. Even the bigwigs of the Donglin Party couldn't afford to mess with him. He had killed Hou Xun's son and ruined Hou Xun's reputation, causing him to be dismissed and investigated.

Xiong Wencan shook his head with a wry smile. No wonder the mad dog Wang Wenzhou bit people as soon as he came up; he thought I wanted to kill him!

Xiong Wencan said helplessly, "Lord Wang, I don't know when you came to Sichuan, let alone what business you have here. How could I send an assassin to kill you?"

Xiong Wencan had half a sentence left unsaid: You're a mad dog, biting anyone you see. You've offended so many people, and there are plenty of people who want you dead. Don't wrong me!

"Huh? Is that really true?" Wang Wenzhou asked seriously.

"Lord Wang, we've never met before and have no grudges against each other. This is our first meeting. Why would I want to kill you?" Xiong Wencan explained helplessly. If it were anyone else, he would have already refused. But he really didn't want to offend the mad dog Wang Wenzhou.

Wang Wenzhou quickly winked at Gao Guiying, signaling, "Sister, it's your turn!"

Gao Guiying rolled her eyes at Wang Wenzhou. "You rascal! Not only is it embarrassing to go out with you, but I also have to play along with your act!"

Gao Guiying quickly stepped forward, took Wang Wenzhou's arm, and complained, "Boxin, I told you long ago that Lord Xiong wouldn't assassinate you! Look at you, you're drunk and causing trouble! And you don't even dare to apologize to Lord Xiong!"

"Listen to your sister and be a good man!" Wang Wenzhou quickly cupped his hands to Xiong Wencan and said sincerely, "Old Xiong, don't be angry, I've had too much to drink!"

Xiong Wencan shook his head with a wry smile. Even the mad dog had given him a way out, so he had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill.

"Lord Wang, please come in!" Xiong Wencan cupped his hands in invitation.