Governor Wang was greatly shocked when he learned of the matter.
"Imperial Inspector Wu was so troublesome, yet he was defeated so easily?"
He found it hard to believe.
"There was nothing complicated about it. In Jiangnan, such methods have long been common knowledge. It is only in the northwest, where folkways are simple, scholars are scarce, and everyone fears officials." Wenren Sheng spoke lightly.
"I see. I have also heard that in Jiangnan, whenever scholars encounter something unsatisfactory, they gather in groups and block the yamen gates. Even County Magistrates and Prefects must avoid their edge." Governor Wang nodded.
Wenren Sheng nodded as well.
In truth, the other man still underestimated the abilities of Jiangnan's scholars.
Governor Wang did not know just how formidable Jiangnan's scholars were, nor how much hidden influence they possessed.
They could manipulate the opinions of the scholarly world and even determine the Imperial Examination! They could decide who passed the provincial examination and who became a xiucai! Organizations such as the "Fushe Society" had even emerged.
That was the power of Jiangnan's scholars.
Although what they did was still hypocritical, still for their own interests, all cloaked in a layer of Confucian School morality.
At its root, however, both its nature and operation already resembled the form of local gentry recommending local self-rule in the late Manchu Qing.
Manipulating the Imperial Examination, manipulating public sentiment, manipulating officialdom—although most of it was done from selfish motives.
Those with genuine public spirit were exceedingly rare.
Yet under such a system, it was ultimately impossible for scholars to openly permit the slaughter of common people.
Things that were excessively greedy and excessively ugly still could not be done openly before the public.
Of course, there was no shortage of filth behind the scenes.
And oppression of that