Journey to the West: Sun Wukong's Advice System-Chapter 208: Debate

Seeing these replies, Sun Wukong realized that the Zhihu users really knew quite a bit about Wang Mang, the mere mortal. He was delighted, but it made him curious about transmigrators.

He could kind of understand, but didn’t fully grasp it.

He promptly asked a follow-up question and quickly received a reply.

I just said, "You’re kidding me, right? What era are we in that someone doesn’t know what a transmigrator is?"

Back Home Before Dark, "This is a joke topic host, don’t take it too seriously."

Salted Fatty Beans, "Newbie here? This topic host totally acts like he’s Sun Wukong, always asking some common-sense questions, as if he’s afraid no one knows he is Sun Wukong."

Wind Gray Flower, "Is there a possibility that he is Sun Wukong?"

I am Qin Shi Huang, "Transfer fifty to me, what do you say?"

With such replies, Sun Wukong was already accustomed and didn’t reply to argue; whether these netizens knew he was Sun Wukong didn’t affect him at all.

He continued reading the replies, and someone did explain what a transmigrator was.

Slim Bamboo of Southern Mountain, "Transmigrators are those who travel through time and space, and they can go to the past, future, or even other worlds, or transmigrate within the same time and era."

Dark Circles, "Transmigration involves soul transference, physical transference, as well as rebirth with memories, known as fetal transmigration.

The reasons for transmigration are varied, such as dying from overworking on writing, car accidents, framed by a mistress, suicide, an assassin getting killed during a mission, transmigration during sleep, struck by lightning, or transmigrating while visiting an ancient site, etc.

Then, by using memories from their previous life, they achieve greatness, and in the end, most live shamelessly with one or several beauties they love."

"So that’s how it is," Sun Wukong said, scratching his head thoughtfully.

But what’s so novel about that?

With his current power, he could just pluck a hair off himself and send it for reincarnation.

Previously, Moluo and the Six-Eared Macaque sent a batch of their cult people for reincarnation with memories, didn’t they?

Moreover, these reincarnated cult members weren’t all that powerful; two of them, after ascension to the Heavenly Court, tried to lurk under the previous Ziwei Great Emperor Bo Yikao, but when they were found, they weren’t strong. In a hundred years, they were just low-level heavenly soldiers and fairy maids.

Sun Wukong’s doubts were cleared, and looking at the replies below, people were still discussing Wang Mang.

Eminent Spirit Arkham, "Haha, it’d be fun if Brother Monkey supported Wang Mang, let Liu Xiu hit the road, ha-ha!"

Ying Long in the Sky, "Are you jealous of Liu Xiu’s good fortune? Or do you find Wang Mang’s transmigrator persona more appealing?"

Flame Snow Like Ice, "Take Wang Mang as a disciple!"

Kung Fu Pitfall, "Brother Monkey could support Wang Mang, and his new policies might greatly promote the human path."

[You have received a new suggestion: Take Wang Mang as a disciple, support him in enacting new policies, greatly promote the human path, complete suggestion to win an eighth-grade treasure box]

"Oh?" Sun Wukong--his keen eyes blinked--saw that given the grade of the treasure box, this suggestion was not a simple one.

And who was Liu Xiu? Could he be a descendant of the Emperor of the Great Han?

He wanted to ask more, but quickly noticed that the replies below again mentioned this person.

He continued reading.

At the Bridge of Helplessness where fried dough sticks are sold, "Stop saying Wang Mang was a transmigrator. I think the vernier caliper just represented overlapping design ideas and that alone shouldn’t label someone as a transmigrator. What future generations can think of, previous generations could also conceive—after all, there’s not much difference in brain capacity."

Achang and the Mountains and Seas, "Actually, there is no evidence to suggest that the caliper was made by Wang Mang. Although it’s inscribed with ’The First Year of the Founding of the Nation’—after Wang Mang usurped the Han—it only means that the ruler was made at that time, not necessarily by Wang Mang."

Anyone with a grain of a peanut, "How about his social reforms? They resemble a certain period of ours quite closely."

Zhu Hao, "Exactly, look at the laws he enacted, they are just like those a transmigrator would enact—is he not a saint who thought beyond his times?"

Scattered Scholar of the Mo Yun Zhai, "It was merely modifying the old systems. Looking at Wang Mang’s reform initiatives, a single principle always ran throughout—which was to imitate the ancient systems."

The Silent Ken, "Indeed, he was attempting to revive what Confucius deemed the rites of the Zhou government. Everything returned to the age of rites and music extolled by the Confucians, enforcing the rites and regulations of the Zhou dynasty. He had nothing in common with a transmigrator."

All Methods Escape One, "The rites of Zhou couldn’t resolve the chaos of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, yet expected to resolve the social crises at the end of the Western Han Dynasty? Such wishful thinking!"

"Imitating the ancient systems, is that not outdated?" thought Sun Wukong.

He didn’t know much about the history of the human race, but he was aware that since the Vast Wilderness, the human race had undergone significant changes. The ancient systems couldn’t simply be replicated to govern the human race.

Thus, were Wang Mang’s capabilities not as great as his reputation suggested?

With this doubt in mind, he continued to read new replies.

Three Quality Products: "Wang Mang was a model of virtue at first, but later usurped the Han. He’s just a fame-seeking pretender."

Person, Hero, Spirit, Arkham: "A fame-seeking pretender? What’s wrong with usurping the Han?"

The Last Warrior: "Princes and generals, could there be any seeds among them?"

Nine Nue, "Duke of Zhou feared rumors by day; Wang Mang, modest before usurping, had he died then, who would discern his true nature throughout his life?"

The Salty Fish Headbutt, "Regardless, Wang Mang managed to solidify his reputation tightly before achieving his aim, which is truly undeniable."

"A fame-seeking pretender?" Sun Wukong scratched his face; if that was the case, then this man’s pretense was indeed impressive.

Flashy Bubbles: "It’s not just about shaping a persona. I believe that before he was close to grasping the imperial throne, he genuinely adhered to Confucian rites as a true gentleman. However, as his status increased, so did the desires in his heart."

Eastern Melon Gang Leader: "Judging by his actions after usurping the Han, this man is simply not up to par.

He had the chance to establish a new dynasty under favorable conditions.

But unexpectedly, with such a propitious start, he turned it all into a mess, never seen such a disastrous founding emperor!"

The Salty Fish Headbutt: "Indeed, don’t let the influencers fool you. Wang Mang did implement social reforms similar to ones in our time, but they were merely similar, not the same at their core.

Also, do you really understand his reforms?

He was constantly changing his decrees; for instance, repeatedly reforming the currency system, each reform harvested a vast amount of gold and silver from the common people, so don’t say he loved his people like his children.

He also nationalized salt, iron, liquor, coinage, and even mountains, rivers, and wetlands. But since these policies merely aimed at a nominal return to the ancient ways, many were contrary to the actual conditions.

Furthermore, his methods were improper, and after facing strong opposition, he tried to enforce them through harsh punishments. The numbers of nobles, ministers, and commoners punished were countless, exacerbating societal unrest.

It can be said that his reforms caused harm before any benefit was received. The constant changes in policy left officials and the populace unsure of what to follow, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among local powerhouses and commoners."

"Constantly changing decrees?" Sun Wukong shook his head gently, just this aspect was already problematic.