Li Shimin faked his death? Then I will be powerful enough to conquer the world!

When Chen Dezheng heard this, the muscles on his face stiffened, and then he burst into a shrill laugh, which broke the atmosphere around him.

He laughed and slapped his thigh, as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke of all time.

The children of officials around also started laughing when they saw this.

Some of them laughed so hard that the wine in their glasses spilled out.

Some of them covered their mouths with handkerchiefs, but still couldn't help sneering, looking at Wang Wen with contempt in their eyes.

In the eyes of these children of officials who have been living a life of luxury and enjoying the protection of their families since childhood, Wang Wen has a rustic air and is an out-and-out country bumpkin.

In their deeply rooted ideas, how can a farmer, no matter how well-read and knowledgeable he is, compete with their noble family background?

They stand at the top of society and have a natural sense of superiority and discrimination towards ordinary people.

Wang Wen looked at their mocking faces, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.

He really couldn't understand why everyone was laughing so hard when he just said what he was thinking and expressed the ideas advocated by His Majesty.

But he quickly calmed himself down, his eyes became calm, and he was not shaken by their ridicule at all.

He took a deep breath, puffed out his chest slightly, and looked carefully at the group of people in front of him who were laughing at him.

"Excuse me, what's so funny about this?"

Wang Wen spoke, his voice firm.

"I am indeed from the countryside, there is nothing to be ashamed of."

He paused briefly, his gaze meeting those of the crowd one by one, his eyes revealing a power that should not be underestimated. "However, Your Majesty has already declared to the world that everyone has the right to read and write."

"Men, women, old and young, rich and poor, should all receive education and acquire knowledge."

Wang Wen's voice grew louder, carrying a force that resonated with the mind. "Since the first year of the Qianwu reign, until today, a full sixteen years, our Tang Dynasty's literacy program has been in full swing, with remarkable results."

"Nowadays, almost everyone has the opportunity to pick up a book and learn to write and recognize words."

"Are you still so stubborn today, stubbornly believing that only children of officials like you are worthy of reading and writing, while we ordinary people are inherently inferior and unworthy of knowledge?"

There was indignation in Wang Wen's tone, and his questions were like sharp arrows.

"If that's the case, why did the imperial court still establish the imperial examination system to recruit talented people from all over the world?"

"Your Majesty, why do you spare no effort to continue to promote literacy?"

"Why does the imperial court go to great lengths to recruit talented people from the people?"

Wang Wen asked a series of questions in response, and the smiles on everyone's faces froze instantly. They looked at each other, not knowing how to answer.

"Or do you intend to openly defy His Majesty's orders?"

Wang Wen roared out the last sentence almost word by word, which was full of deterrence.

After hearing Wang Wen's logically sound words, everyone present was stunned.

They stared with their eyes wide open, their faces full of disbelief. They could never have imagined that Wang Wen, whom they regarded as a peasant, could have such excellent eloquence and his words were so reasonable and well-founded that they could not be refuted.

More importantly, Wang Wen quoted His Majesty's will in every sentence. Even if they were extremely dissatisfied in their hearts, they did not dare to refute it openly.

After all, who in this world dares to openly question Your Majesty's decision and say that Your Majesty is wrong?

That would undoubtedly be courting death. Once the news spreads, it will be completely drowned out by the saliva of the people all over the world and become the target of everyone's condemnation.

For a moment, Chen Dezheng was choked and speechless, and his face turned blue and white.

But he was the son of the Minister of Revenue after all. He had been pampered since childhood and was arrogant. How could he be suppressed so easily by a commoner?

After a moment, he quickly came to his senses, his arrogant expression reappeared on his face, and a flash of unwillingness in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, what you said is of course correct. Do you still need to nag at me?"

Chen Dezheng snorted coldly, squinting his eyes and looking at Wang Wen with disdain.

"I'm talking to you, a country bumpkin. Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself and consider your own status?"

"Why, do you think that just by reading a little and learning a few words, you can make great contributions to the Tang Dynasty?"

"Your Majesty is allowing a country bumpkin like you to learn to read and write. This is a great gift from His Majesty to you. Don't be so shameless!"

As he spoke, he took a step forward.

"How dare you, a mere country bumpkin, criticize His Majesty? Do you know that even if you read every book in the world and traveled every corner of the world, you will never be able to match the achievements of my father's generation?"

Chen Dezheng raised his head with his nostrils facing the sky.

"My father is the Minister of Revenue, and he worked tirelessly for the Tang Dynasty. You are just an ordinary citizen. After I, a meritorious official, speak, you dare to talk back?"

Chen Dezheng became more and more excited as he spoke, the arrogance on his face became more and more intense, and saliva was spitting from his mouth.

Hearing Chen Dezheng's words full of superiority, Wang Wen raised his head slightly, with an unyielding look in his eyes, and looked directly into Chen Dezheng's eyes without fear.

"Why don't you dare to refute? You are just the son of the Minister of Revenue."

Wang Wen sneered, his voice full of sarcasm.

"Your Majesty has repeatedly emphasized that workers and farmers are the foundation of our Tang Dynasty and the solid cornerstone supporting the national edifice."

"Don't say you're just the son of the Minister of Revenue. Even if your father, the Minister of Revenue, saw us workers and farmers, according to His Majesty's order, he should have exchanged greetings to show respect."

"Why are you acting so high and mighty in front of me?"

Wang Wen straightened his back and responded righteously, each word ringing with force.

Wang Wen's words were like a thunderclap, leaving Chen Dezheng speechless in an instant. He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word for a long time. His face felt hot, as if he had been slapped hard in the face.

Many children of officials around looked at Wang Wen with hostility. They felt that Wang Wen was so bold that he dared to openly challenge the authority of them, the children of officials, and stand in opposition to the officials.

Although His Majesty did say this explicitly, in reality, everyone knows that officials are superior.

After all, who in this world doesn’t want to become an official and enjoy wealth, glory and supreme power?

As long as this idea exists, how can the status of officials be easily changed by a few words from Your Majesty?

In their eyes, Wang Wen is just an ignorant peasant who has no idea of ​​the world's "unwritten rules".

Chen Dezheng was filled with anger, his chest heaving violently. Just as he was about to open his mouth to refute again, suddenly, a loud "OK" came from outside the crowd.

"Well said! That's a powerful statement. I like it."

The voice was as loud as a bell, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

Hearing this sound that slapped him mercilessly in the face, Chen Dezheng looked in the direction of the sound angrily.

But when he saw clearly who was speaking, the anger on his face disappeared instantly, and he shrank into place like a wilted eggplant, not daring to make a sound anymore.