HLnovel Chapter 64 Apology
Chapter 64 Apology
Chapter 64 Apologize
While Sheng Lan was still in a daze, Wang Wenzhou strode into the classroom.
"This is none of your business, you can go now," Wang Wenzhou said, waving his hand at the jailer.
Wang Wenzhou looked around at the prisoners in the classroom, cupped his hands in greeting, and said loudly, "Gentlemen, I was unaware of the situation just now. I not only misspoke but also did something wrong. I formally apologize to 080143 (Erheizi)."
080143 is Erheizi's serial number. 08 represents the eighth year of the Chongzhen reign, 01 represents the first phase of the labor camp, and 43 is Erheizi's rank among these hundred-plus prisoners.
Wang Wenzhou bowed deeply to Er Heizi and said, "I'm sorry! Please forgive me!"
"Ah..." The prisoners in the classroom erupted in chaos. In the Ming Dynasty, prisoners were treated like slaves, with no human rights whatsoever. If a jailer disliked them, they would beat them severely. The prisoners had never seen a jailer apologize to them, let alone the highest-ranking official in Hanshan, Magistrate Wang, apologize to them.
Erhei was terrified. He stood there dumbfounded for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and immediately knelt down and kowtowed.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Erheizi's forehead was bleeding from the impact.
"Stand up!" Wang Wenzhou frowned, and helped Erheizi up.
Although Erheizi was mute, he wasn't stupid. Having wandered the streets, he was used to the coldness and warmth of human nature. How could he dare to stand up? This was a once-in-a-millennium event; if he were to anger the county magistrate, he could lose his life. Let alone the magistrate, even an ordinary jailer could kill a prisoner as easily as crushing an ant.
Wang Wenzhou tried to help Erheizi up several times, but failed, and his anger flared up.
Wang Wenzhou has always believed that a man should only kneel in two situations: when kneeling to his parents who gave him life, and when kneeling to the woman he loves. Kneeling in any other situation is shameful.
In fact, the people of the Ming Dynasty were not weaklings, and the court did not require them to kneel down at the drop of a hat.
"Kneeling" was entirely a treatment given to Han Chinese by the Manchus. The Manchus were a slave society, with the emperor as the ultimate slave owner. Manchus took pride in being called slaves, and Han Chinese officials weren't even considered slaves. As for the common people, their servility was cultivated, and they would kneel before any official.
"Stand up!" Wang Wenzhou kicked Erheizi and roared.
Erheizi was terrified by Wang Wenzhou's imposing manner and stood up unsteadily.
Wang Wenzhou pointed at the crowd and shouted, "Listen up, all of you! A man's knees are worth more than gold! From now on, no one except your parents and the woman you love can make you kneel! Anyone who dares to kneel before me again, I'll break their legs!"
The prisoners stared at each other, not understanding what the adults meant.
"Did you hear that?" Wang Wenzhou asked.
"We heard you!" Perhaps Wang Wenzhou's words were too shocking. The prisoners answered in hushed tones.
Wang Wenzhou said angrily, "The voice is too soft! I can't hear it! Did you hear it?"
"I heard!"
"Did you hear that?"
"I heard!"
Wang Wenzhou asked loudly several times, and the prisoners' answers grew louder and louder. Wang Wenzhou never imagined that a year later, because of his apology, more than a hundred prisoners present would be willing to die for him.
More than a decade later, the labor camp was renamed the "Whampoa Military Academy," and the more than one hundred prisoners present were known as the first class of the labor camp. Most of them died in battle, and those who survived were either rich or powerful, becoming either generals, high-ranking officials, or extremely wealthy tycoons.
……
Nanjing.
“Young Master, we failed last time, and Fifth Young Master was lucky. How about we try again? This time, I will plan everything thoroughly and guarantee that Fifth Young Master will die!” Wang Fulai said.
Wang Wenhua shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Wang Zhixin isn't stupid. Man proposes, God disposes. Silly Xiao Wu's life isn't meant to end! If we make another move and that old dog Wang Zhixin finds out, things will get bad."
Wang Wenhua is 39 years old this year. He is the third uncle of Wang Wenzhou and the eldest son of Wang Xiantong. He currently serves as a secretary in the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing, holding the official rank of fifth grade. The "silly little fifth" that Wang Wenhua mentioned refers to Wang Wenzhou.
Wang Wenhua was the eldest son in his generation of the Xinjianbo family, while Wang Wenzhou was the fifth.
On his way to take office, Wang Wenzhou fell into the water, which was an assassination attempt sent by Wang Wenhua. In the original history, Wang Wenzhou died in this assassination attempt. However, in this timeline, the Wang Wenzhou from the later era has traveled here, and this "Wang Wenzhou" has not died.
A few days ago, Wang Wenzhou announced a beauty pageant in Hanshan County, with a prize of ten thousand taels of silver. News of this quickly reached Nanjing. Upon learning of this, courtesans from Nanjing's brothels began heading to Hanshan County to participate.
Wang Wenhua was very displeased upon learning of this. His confidant, Wang Fulai, then suggested that he attempt the assassination again.
"Fu Lai, it seems we have to make a trip to Hanshan," Wang Wenhua said casually.
"Young Master, what are you going to do?" Wang Fulai asked.
"I want to go see what that old dog Wang Zhixin is up to!" Wang Wenhua said viciously.
“Old Steward, why do you insist on supporting the Second Master to inherit the title? Everyone knows the Second Master has always been in poor health. And the Fifth Young Master is a bit dim-witted,” Wang Laifu said.
"Sigh...yes! All the things that silly Xiao Wu has done in Hanshan might all be orchestrated by that old dog Wang Zhixin! I can't let that old dog continue like this. Otherwise, my second uncle might really take the title!" Wang Wenhua sighed.
Wang Wenhua is nearing fifty, spending his days idly, his greatest dream being to inherit the title.
His eldest uncle, Wang Xianjin, the previous Earl of Xinjian, had no sons. As the eldest grandson in the family, Wang Wenhua thought the title would eventually be his. However, after his eldest uncle's death, the old steward, Wang Zhixin, stubbornly insisted that his second uncle, Wang Xianjin, inherit the title.
The old steward, Wang Zhixin, had served Wang Wenhua's grandfather and uncle for many years and had quite a few connections. He even managed to pull strings and get Wang Wenzhou a real position as a county magistrate, which made Wang Wenhua very jealous.
During the Ming Dynasty, the titles of meritorious officials were passed down to their sons. If there were no sons, the title would be passed down from brother to brother.
Wang Wenzhou's father, Wang Xianda, was the second son. According to the order of seniority, the title should have been inherited by Wang Xianda.
However, Wang Xianda was frail and sickly from childhood, and coupled with the fact that "Wang Wenzhou" was simple-minded, practically a fat, mentally challenged fool, Wang Wenhua's father, Wang Xiantong, and his fourth uncle, Wang Xianfeng, both opposed Wang Xianda inheriting the title. Because of the issue of succession, the various branches of the Wang family fell into conflict.
Over the past month or so, Wang Wenhua had heard bits and pieces about what Wang Wenzhou had done in Hanshan County. He thought to himself, "Old Wang, you're really something! Giving that silly little Wu so much money! Making him buy his way into officialdom!"
Although Wang Wenhua held the rank of a fifth-grade official in the Nanjing Ministry of Rites, most officials in the Six Ministries of Nanjing during the Ming Dynasty were either provided for the retirement of high-ranking officials, or were demoted or marginalized ministers, or were sons of nobles. They simply held official positions and benefits, without any real power.
Wang Wenhua planned to invite a few friends to Hanshan, ostensibly for a trip, but he also had some ulterior motives and wanted to sabotage Wang Wenzhou. Old Wang, haven't you been plotting against silly Xiao Wu behind his back? I'm going to make things difficult for you!