Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

"Gentlemen and virtuous elders, please understand! I am truly not a bad person!" The beggar knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly, and said, "I was originally from Enzhou, Hebei. But the Yellow River changed its course, the dikes breached, and my home was flooded. In order to survive, I had no choice but to beg all the way to the capital to beg for a bite to eat..."

Upon hearing this, the people silently stopped what they were doing and listened to him recount his suffering with a plaintive tone. The anger on their faces gradually dissipated, and they began to have doubts.

"My own child was also injured and disabled in the flood, not from being forcibly taken or mutilated! Who could bear to do such a cruel thing to their own flesh and blood! Waaah..."

The beggar cried out in a pitiful and mournful voice, like a cuckoo crying blood. The crowd was moved, and when they looked at the disabled beggar, their faces showed even more pity.

Gao Zhao remained unmoved. The Ma Xing Street in Tokyo was a prime location, bustling with people and offering endless business opportunities. Even begging was a lucrative business. How could a refugee from out of town easily take it over?

He didn't understand the Song Dynasty, but he understood human nature!

In later generations, even a street stall could lead to fierce fights, let alone this kind of business with no capital and huge profits!

Moreover, the beggar's words were clear, logical, and well-organized. He not only explained the reason for the child's disability but also used the father-son relationship to bind the two of them together, making it impossible for anyone to take the child away from him.

Is this something an ordinary beggar could do?

Most people would probably be completely flustered and incoherent if surrounded by so many people!

At this moment, several other beggars suddenly knelt down with a thud, shouting, "We can testify for him! We are all fellow villagers who fled from Enzhou together!"

"This child was like this after being rescued from the flood. Everyone said he wouldn't survive, but Wang Laowu just couldn't bear to part with him. Unexpectedly, he was lucky enough to live!"

"We've come all this way to the capital with great difficulty, and Wang Laowu has always said that the capital is a land of virtue, where everyone has the heart of a bodhisattva!"

……

Upon hearing this, the onlookers around them straightened their backs unconsciously, while also showing expressions of pity!

Gao Zhao watched coldly, becoming increasingly convinced that these people were part of an organized group!

These people's words were not just simple testimony; they also portrayed the beggar named Wang Laowu as a loving son, in an attempt to win public sympathy.

Then they praised the people of Beijing, saying that you are kind-hearted people with bodhisattva hearts, and how could you not offer a share of love?

This rhetoric was both offensive and defensive, turning the tide of the battle in one fell swoop. It could even be said that the situation had been under their control the whole time!

It's clear they had a plan in place and were well prepared!

Seeing that the crowd's reaction met their expectations, the beggars immediately burst into tears, crying out, "But we never imagined that there would be people in the capital who would even rob beggars of their money! Waaah... This is trying to drive us to our deaths!"

For a moment, the onlookers were both ashamed and indignant, and they all turned to glare at Gao Zhao. This spoiled brat's antics had caused them to lose all their sense of superiority and dignity as citizens of the capital!

However, they were afraid of Gao Zhao's status and could only dare to be angry but not speak out!

Gao Zhao met everyone's gaze, his eyes passing over them to the disabled little beggar. Seeing the fear and timidity in his eyes, he turned to look at the beggars kneeling on the ground and suddenly let out a disdainful sneer.

That single sneer was like stirring up a hornet's nest; the crowd erupted instantly!

Having committed such a heinous act and been caught red-handed, they not only show no remorse, but instead rely on their power to ridicule us!

They're not treating us like human beings at all!

The crowd was furious and indignant, and they began to shout and condemn.

However, despite the accusations, no one dared to step forward and take action.

Gao Zhao shook his head, secretly lamenting that they still lacked courage! They were all a bunch of people who shouted for battle but actually fought and retreated. No wonder the Song Dynasty was so rich, yet so weak!

Just then, a man stepped out from the crowd, strode forward, grabbed Gao Zhao's horse reins, and angrily said, "You have no merit, yet you rely on your father's protection to eat the people's blood and sweat without thinking of giving back. Instead, you flaunt your power in the streets, taking pleasure in bullying the weak. How are you any different from a beast!"

"Good! Well said!" Everyone cheered loudly when they saw someone step forward!

Gao Zhao looked down at the newcomer and saw that he was about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, dressed as a scholar in a blue robe, with a resolute face, glaring angrily at him!

Upon seeing this man's upright character, Gao Zhao immediately felt a sense of goodwill and mutual respect!

He leaned back slightly, raised his riding whip, and said contemptuously, "Who goes there? State your name!"

The scholar was even more enraged, thinking that the man wanted revenge, and immediately declared loudly, "I am Chen Dong from Runzhou, a tribute student of today!"

Gao Zhao had just learned about the imperial examinations yesterday and was familiar with the title of "Gongshi".

In April of this year, Huang Guan, a Xuanyi Lang, submitted a memorial to the court, suggesting that students who were promoted from township to county level and from county to prefectural school be called "selected scholars" and could call themselves "outer school students." Those who achieved academic success and were promoted to inner school were called "outstanding scholars" and could call themselves "inner school students." Among them, the best could be offered as tribute to the Imperial Academy and called "tribute scholars."

In other words, Chen Dong is a student in the outer dormitory of the Imperial Academy!

Well, since they are students of the Imperial Academy, they should take this seriously!

This isn't to say that the students of the Imperial Academy had a high status, but rather that they were reckless!

Once they get carried away, they're capable of anything, no matter who you are!

When Wang Anshi implemented his reforms, he dealt with a group of old party officials, including Wen Yanbo, Fu Bi, and Sima Guang. However, he was ultimately humiliated by these students from the Imperial Academy and had no choice but to resign and return to his hometown.

If even Wang Anshi was like this, then Gao Qiu was even more so!

If we really anger him, he might go back and make connections, and the consequences could be unimaginable. That would be a real disaster!

"So you're a student of the Imperial Academy, then you must know reason. Why are you acting like these foolish men and women!"

Gao Zhao knew the nature of these scholars well; if you spoke to them politely, they would put on airs!

When King Hui of Liang met Mencius, he was extremely polite, but Mencius lectured him like a grandson, using sophistry throughout his discourse on righteousness and profit.

When Mencius went to the State of Qi, King Xuan of Qi, that old rogue, immediately said, "I am ill!" Mencius, on the contrary, was very polite!

Therefore, when dealing with scholars, you can't be nice to them!

As expected, Chen Dong was taken aback upon hearing Gao Zhao's question, and asked in astonishment, "What makes you say that?"

Gao Zhao pointed his whip at the crippled child and sneered, "Have you seen his wounds? It's obvious whether they were caused by a sharp weapon or by the impact of water!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than some people suspiciously went to examine the wound. Several beggars' expressions changed drastically, and the one called Wang Laowu hurriedly explained, "That's because..."

"It's not important!" Gao Zhao waved his hand to interrupt him, and continued, "Even if we do as he says, the floodwaters are full of filth, the children are so badly injured, and they have no good doctors or medicine. How can they survive?"

The beggar hurriedly tried to explain, "That's because a deity saw how much I loved my son and bestowed upon me a elixir..."

"Fine! Just as you said!" Gao Zhao raised his riding whip again and pointed, saying, "Tear off the child's clothes and see how he loves his son!"

The beggars disregarded everything else and crouched down to squeeze into the crowd.

At that moment, someone ripped open the child's clothes, and with a loud bang, it exploded, revealing that the child was covered in bruises!