The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 239

Xu Wan noticed the tense atmosphere and quickly interjected, "Wenxiu, calm down and sit first. This is just a competition; don't escalate it to personal attacks. Everyone has their weaknesses. Even if they aren't exploited now, there will always be others who might take advantage."

In truth, Zong Jincheng had hit a particularly sensitive spot. Many people dream of saving the world and are willing to lead the charge. But when it comes to their loved ones sacrificing themselves, even the most righteous individuals would struggle and suffer deeply.

Zong Wenxiu sat back down, took a deep breath, and tried to regain his composure. He continued, "It is precisely because of these corrupt officials that so many people suffer. That's why we need good officials to ensure that these corrupt individuals face the punishment they deserve. If I were to collude with corrupt officials to save my mother, then I deserve to be punished by good officials. That way, I can be true to both my country and my parents."

Baili Weihong smiled. This child had always been filial and upright, and she had always been proud of him.

As soon as Zong Wenxiu finished speaking, the two members of the affirmative team began to cheer, "Well said, Wenxiu!"

"With righteousness by your side, you're unstoppable!"

"We're definitely going to win today!"

"Jincheng, He Zheng, just admit defeat!"

He Zheng blinked, still not convinced by their optimism. Just you wait, your confidence won't last long. My big brother hasn’t even started using his trump card yet.

Just when everyone thought the opposing side would abandon this topic and move on to other arguments, the little devil suddenly raised his head and asked, "What if your country wrongs you?"

"Wh-what?" Zong Wenxiu was caught off guard.

The little devil spoke seriously, "What if the corrupt officials collude to frame you, causing your entire family to be imprisoned and your home destroyed? What if those in power know you're innocent but, for the sake of the bigger picture, abandon you time and time again until your family is left with no way out? In such a situation, would you still steadfastly remain a good official?"

The little rascal was recounting his brother's real experiences, only adding the hypothetical that even those in power were corrupt. If even the leaders were bad, then the belief in serving such people would crumble.

The adults who knew the truth frowned but did not interrupt the debate.

Zong Wenxiu's face grew paler. If this hypothetical were true... he was at a loss for words.

Shen Yibai and Wei Xinglu, who knew nothing of the situation, didn't realize that their strongest debater had already been defeated.

Wei Xinglu, armed with debating techniques he had recently learned from Jiang Yan, quickly took over, "Jincheng, you're dodging the main issue again. Very few people are forced into becoming corrupt officials. Most are tempted by power, wealth, and fame, amassing riches and harming the nation and its people. These are the great tumors of the court and must be eradicated."

After speaking, he looked around proudly, and Shen Yibai excitedly bumped his shoulder in approval.

"Eradicate them? That depends on when you do it," the little devil threw out a new line of thought, stunning everyone. "What if those in power are aware of the corrupt officials' actions and allow them to amass wealth? The taxes the court dares not collect, they dare to embezzle; the money the court dares not earn, they dare to take; the wealth of merchants the court dares not seize, they dare to plunder under the guise of their authority. Such a corrupt official is like a pig being raised by those in power. They watch as the piglet grows, feeding on scraps they themselves cannot consume, until it becomes a fat, plump pig. By then, when the leaders finally slaughter it, are they just killing a pig? No, they're gaining succulent pork, and that pork feeds the nation's people, benefiting all under heaven."

"..."

The study fell into dead silence.

Baili Xi, who had been lounging lazily, suddenly stood up from his seat, his gaze heavy as he stared at the nine-year-old boy who had just delivered such a profound argument.

Corrupt officials, pigs.

This was a completely new perspective, one that even history books had never recorded. Yet, this child had articulated it so clearly.

Even the most heinous corrupt officials, if used correctly, could become the sharpest blade, striking wherever directed and bearing all the blame for those in power. A triple win.

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

This child... this child was truly a prodigy. Why was he born into the Zong family? If only he had been born into the royal family, then...

Baili Xi suddenly recalled the rumors about the crown prince visiting once a month and the whispers in the capital... Good heavens, could he really be the crown prince's secretly protected child?

The little devil tilted his head and smirked at Wei Xinglu, challenging, "Go on, debate that."

Wei Xinglu: "........."

Damn it, big brother, why are you hitting me with such a strong argument?

What's the difference between that and dropping a stone lion weighing hundreds of pounds on a tiny ant?

If you're so amazing, why don't you go after Zong Wenxiu?

He's the one on your level!!!

The tutors exchanged glances, each seeing the shock in the others' eyes. Pan Hongzhi and Cheng Zhidong, who had heard the initial argument the night before, had already been stunned. Now, they watched the other three with expressions as if they had been struck by lightning.

It felt good, at least they hadn't been watched by so many people when they were shocked last night.

Zhao ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‍Yin quietly poked Jiang Yan and asked, "Brother Jiang, do they test this kind of thing in the palace exams?"

Jiang Yan swallowed hard and said, "I think I suddenly understand why I only managed to become a scholar. The gap in thinking is just too vast."

The four weaker tutors, who were only at the level of provincial scholars: "..."

This is bad. With the little devil's terrifying learning speed, I'm not sure if we'll even last two more years.

The most frightened was Pan Hongzhi, who thought to himself, I might not be able to tutor this little rascal much longer. My career prospects are looking grim...

Wei Xinglu couldn't come up with a rebuttal, and Shen Yibai's mind went completely blank. In fact, he was even thinking: If only there were more such fat pig corrupt officials...

Zong Wenxiu clenched his fists, his eyes red as he said, "Then what about the good officials, the common people, and the merchants who are oppressed by these corrupt officials? Should they just die? Is it a crime to possess wealth, to be deserving of being trampled by corrupt officials, only to be dismissed with the excuse that they were just pigs raised by the court? Is that justice? How do we explain this to loyal ministers like Fu Su and Yue Fei, who were wrongfully executed? Who would still serve the court and work for the people in the future?"

Compared to the others' shock, Zong Wenxiu's reaction was more one of indignation and injustice, as he put himself in the shoes of a good official. He couldn't comprehend the idea of raising corrupt officials like pigs. It went against everything he had been taught, everything he believed in. This was pure sophistry.

The brothers faced each other, emotions running high.

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The onlookers held their breath, waiting for Zong Jincheng's response. This debate was far more intense than anyone had anticipated.

The little devil looked at his brother, who was clearly shaken, and felt a pang of guilt. But the world wasn't just black and white. He had many historical examples he hadn't even brought up yet. If he did, his brother might be even more devastated...

The little devil glanced at Xu Wan, hesitating whether to continue.

He was afraid his brother couldn't handle the blow.