People in the Qin Dynasty, entertained during the Warring States period

But even if he knew, he didn't care.

He's not bragging, but he could talk nonsense no matter which of the twelve companies present he was sitting in.

"You've also told stories and written novels?"

Jing Ke, representing the Mohist school, was filled with surprise and excitement. "Brother, tell me about it sometime!"

As a young swordsman just starting out in the martial world, Jing Ke was most interested in these things.

Cao Ze smiled and said, "Of course."

He dares to sit in the position of a novelist, and he will absolutely not be intimidated by anyone's doubts.

But Cao Ze did not expect the doubts to come so quickly.

The first to jump out are the disciples of the Yin-Yang School, after all, the last novelist on the Hundred Schools Forum even criticized their leader for being a coat hanger.

They were only reprimanded by Shao Siming Bai before giving up.

Bai hesitated slightly, then explained to Cao Ze that this seat wasn't for just anyone.

Cao Ze said, "It's alright, I know a little bit about novels."

Under the "Lecture Room" program, students from various schools of thought discussed the topic extensively.

Zhao Qian, who was given a rare day off after being granted a break, left Guo Kai's Prime Minister's residence, ready to begin his day of tyrannical rule.

Before long, my attention was drawn to the noise from the lecture hall.

When Zhao Qian heard that they were talking about Cao Ze again, he immediately perked up his ears.

It seems to be a questioning of Cao Ze.

Having learned his lesson after several losses, Zhao Qian cautiously kicked the lackey and went over to inquire more carefully.

A moment later, the lackey returned, beaming with joy: "Your Highness, what a great opportunity! That Cao Ze has actually messed up the Hundred Schools of Thought case!"

Zhao Qian frowned; he didn't understand what this "Hundred Schools Case" was.

He went up and delivered another flying kick, yelling, "Explain yourself clearly!"

The lackey was a minor nobleman from Handan who knew a lot. He quickly got up and explained it to Zhao Qian.

Zhao Qian slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "He's fucking asking for death!"

The lackey chuckled, "Your Highness, we've found out that Cao Ze has never told a story or written a novel. We'll just have to make him suffer!"

Zhao Qian kicked him again, his eyes wide as he shouted, "Are you sure?"

The lackey scrambled to his feet, "Confirmed! Confirmed!"

"Give it a reward!"

"Come on, let's trample Cao Ze together with me!"

Zhao Qianxing, accompanied by seven or eight henchmen, charged over once again.

He was determined to avenge himself and wipe away the shame, making Cao Ze's reputation utterly ruined!

Cao Ze had no idea that Zhao Qian was holding a grudge against him again and had come to cause him trouble.

At that moment, he was sizing up the representatives from all walks of life present.

The one who caught his attention the most was Li Si, who was sitting at the Legalist wooden table and was also Han Fei's junior brother.

Although Li Si's reputation is currently mediocre, even less than his own, he has at least graduated from Xunzi's school and published a few articles, which is enough to represent the Legalist school.

He thought for a moment and realized that Han Fei was still wandering around the State of Qi, so Li Si was probably just passing through Handan and hadn't gone to intercept Lü Buwei yet.

After Gongsun Long finished burning incense, he said, "Everyone, thank you for coming to attend my lecture. For the next month..."

Before Gongsun Long could finish his opening remarks, Zhao Qian shouted, "Master Gongsun, there are charlatans here who are not qualified to teach. We cannot allow such a scoundrel to tarnish the lectures of our seniors!"

Cao Ze looked around, his face showing strangeness and surprise. Had Zhao Qian made such great progress?

They have a whole set of theories to tell you.

Zhao Qian remained arrogant, habitually looking down on everyone, and said, "Cao Ze, why don't you get down here right now? Aren't you embarrassed enough already?"

Seeing the silence all around him, he felt very pleased.

This group of lackeys is quite good; they're as cultured as Guo Kai, and their words are indeed very straightforward.

I've decided in my heart that when I get back, I'll ask the lackey who's been giving me advice and making plans in my head to become an even bigger lackey.

Gongsun Long said angrily, "Your Highness, what are you saying! If you don't explain yourself clearly, I will definitely have the King punish you properly!"

As a renowned master and a native of Handan, Gongsun Long once had a heated argument with King Xiaocheng!

This bastard dares to disrupt his path, so he'll beat him up on the spot!

As a master, Gongsun Long's anger exuded an aura that almost made everyone hold their breath.

When Zhao Qian saw Gongsun Long get angry, he instinctively shrank back.

But when Zhao Qian saw Cao Ze smiling, he was furious.

Ever since he met this guy, he's either been beaten or scolded! Even his mother doesn't help him!

"I've come here to expose him. He's not a novelist at all! Such a fraudulent act is truly unworthy of a teacher!"

Zhao Qian pointed at Cao Ze, outwardly furious, but inwardly praising his lackey for writing well and skillfully.

So much so that some uninformed disciples of various schools of thought thought Zhao Qian was some kind of moral defender.

Those Confucian disciples who knew the inside story, such as Zihan and the great Confucian scholar Kong Chuan, all knew that Zhao Qian was using this opportunity to stir up trouble and prepare for retaliation.

Gongsun Long frowned. He didn't know much about Zhao Qian; he was just a young master and not worth his attention.

Seeing Zhao Qian's appearance, Li Si shook his head slightly. In Zhao Qian, he had already seen the future of the Zhao state.

Gongsun Long said, "Your Highness, novelists are not like the other schools of thought. Anyone can be a novelist as long as they record folk tales and strange stories and compile them into a book."

Although he didn't understand why Cao Ze was sitting at the novelist's desk, it didn't stop him from helping Cao Ze.

In a way, compared to the other schools of thought, the School of Names and the School of Fiction are like brothers in misfortune.

In other words, they weren't very well-liked.

Novelists in the pre-Qin period were nominally recording customs and human relationships in order to help the ruler control public opinion in the country.

It can be said to be a combination of the earliest writers, self-media, and so on.

However, by the Warring States period, novelists had almost become synonymous with spies and traitors in various states.

Many countries send spies who like to pose as novelists to gather intelligence in various countries.

So much so that before Qin and Zhao fought over Shangdang, all the states launched a massive campaign to crack down on novelists.

Nowadays, novelists have almost completely declined.

They had to change things up, so they started telling stories and gossiping in an effort to keep the novelists alive.

This is why the previous novelist jokingly referred to the leader of the Yin-Yang School as a coat hanger on the Hundred Schools Forum.

Gossip can be so addictive!

Zhao Qian was stunned. What the hell? Everyone can be a novelist now?

How can this be!

The lackey who was writing the copy for Zhao Qian immediately leaned close to Zhao Qian's ear and whispered a few words.

"Senior Gongsun Long! That may be true, but Cao Ze has not written a single article to prove that he is a novelist!"

Zhao Qian glared at Cao Ze and said, "Cao Ze, let me ask you, have you ever written a novel?"

Gongsun Long couldn't help but look at Cao Ze, wondering if there really wasn't a single one.

Cao Ze said loudly, "Of course I've written about it, and quite a lot of it."

Before he time-traveled, he wrote countless short stories and anecdotes.

However, they are all modern in style and not suitable for the Warring States period.

Zhao Qian glared at him, "You're talking nonsense!"

Cao Ze narrowed his eyes and said, "Since Your Highness does not believe me, I will explain it to you on the spot."

Gongsun Long asked curiously, "What novel is it?"

"Journey to the West: The Tale of Exorcising Calamities".

Chapter 89 My Teacher's Surname is Netizen

Cao Ze left the wooden table and stood between the twelve wooden tables.

"This novel is a record of what my teacher saw and heard when he took me, a young boy, on a journey to the West, a trip of 108,000 li."

Pre-Qin novelists differed slightly from later novelists, placing greater emphasis on the authenticity of their accounts.

To add some authenticity and to explain the origin of his story, Cao Ze fabricated a background.

"One hundred and eight thousand li?"

Many people at the scene gasped.

Such a long distance is nothing special, but to say that someone has traveled 108,000 miles is like a myth.

Zhao Qian exclaimed, "How could there possibly be such a far place!"

Cao Ze scoffed, "A frog in a well has no idea how vast the universe is."

Gongsun Long asked with surprise and doubt, "Young friend, who is your teacher? Is he a celestial being?"

Traveling is not about rushing.

As a master of his field, he faced no pressure traveling through the seven kingdoms, but the journey only covered about 10,000 to 20,000 miles.

This is already quite arduous, let alone a distance of 108,000 miles.

Cao Ze said, "My master's surname is Wang and his given name is You. I don't know if he is a celestial being or not. He is now far away in the sky, and I don't know where he is traveling."

The great Confucian scholar Kong Chuan said, "No wonder you are so learned at such a young age. Traveling ten thousand miles is like reading ten thousand books."

Zhao Qian's lackey hurriedly whispered something in Zhao Qian's ear.