"Greetings, Governor." The dozen or so officials simultaneously bowed to Fang Yun, who was sitting on the stone bench. Fang Yun did not look at them, minding his own business as he placed the tea tray and teapot on the stone table. He then began to boil water, leaving only one cup.
The officials straightened their backs and looked at each other helplessly. Everyone knew that Fang Xusheng was different from the rest. Even the old officials couldn't guess what he was thinking.
Dong Wencong was familiar with Fang Yun, so he walked forward with a smile and said, "This humble official didn't expect that Governor would personally come to the Northern Workshop District. This humble official is ashamed."
"Listening to you officials talking about this matter, you have a completely indifferent attitude. What is there to be ashamed of?" Fang Yun said indifferently.
The officials present were sweating. Just now, their rotation was normal. They had to maintain order in Xiangzhou, preserve the reputation of the Zhao Trading Company, and develop Baling City. They completely treated the common people as unruly. They didn't want to listen to what the common people had to say at all like Fang Yun.
Fang Yun looked up at the night sky and said slowly, "The world has been peaceful for a long time. The change of dynasties seems to have nothing to do with you and me. Therefore, no one is afraid of the common people who fought their way out of the chaos of war. Actually, you are right. The common people are the most patient. As long as they are fed and clothed, they won't rebel. Therefore, it doesn't seem wrong for you to be high and mighty and treat them like slaves. "
The officials were sweating profusely. Fang Yun was talking about the truth and the irony at the same time. His tone was calm, but his words were strange and worrisome.
This Governor was a terrifying figure who dared to make a bet with the Saints of the Demon Realm.
The courtyard was quiet. Fang Yun poured tea for himself and drank it. The fragrance of the tea spread, but the officials present didn't dare to breathe loudly.
After a while, Fang Yun asked, "Wencong, is there a conclusion on this matter?"
Dong Wencong hesitated for a moment and decided to tell the truth. "This humble official is ignorant. There is no conclusion yet."
"Then what do you lean towards?"
Dong Wencong hesitated again and said, "This official thinks that most of the people were instigated by outsiders to protest on the streets. As long as we catch the culprit, kill the chicken to warn the monkey, and do a good job of pacifying them. On the surface, we say that we are considering closing the workshops, but in secret, we will continue to build workshops. After a long time, they will know that it is hopeless to oppose and will forget about it."
"The main culprits? Are you talking about those ruffians, the county magistrate who fought over the papermaking workshop, Ge Baiwan of Qingjiang Trading Company, or the Emperor of Qing?" Fang Yun's tone was calm, but the officials felt a chill run down their spines.
Dong Wencong's arm trembled slightly. Only now did he understand why the officials of Mishou feared Fang Yun like a tiger. The other party was clearly just a young man, but with just a few words, he was able to make him tremble with fear.
The scariest thing was that Fang Yun had hit the nail on the head and pointed out the crux of the matter. Dong Wencong and the other officials only dared to catch those ruffians. They did not have the ability or courage to fall out with the Emperor of Qing behind the ruffians.
Fang Yun asked in surprise, "Why aren't you saying anything? You're right. Although the Emperor of Qing wants to rely on Gyeongo, he is still an official of Xiangzhou. No matter what, he receives a salary from Jingguo. No matter what, he is still one of us. When we encounter this kind of situation, it's fine if we just catch a few of their servants. How can we ruin the reputation of one of our own? As for those people who oppose, their lives have nothing to do with us. "
The officials lowered their heads.
"Yes, you must not be used to it. After all, it's good that everyone knows about it. It's not good to say it out loud." Fang Yundao said, "Kill the chicken to warn the monkey, and there is no hope for opposition. Well said. Let them fear, let them despair, and let them forget. Then you can act as if nothing happened and be promoted with a clear conscience. Well said. It's like teasing a dog or cat. Just appease them a little and it will be fine. Men doing this is already extremely benevolent. What else do they want? "
Baling prefect Yan Xiao said, "Governor, you misunderstood. It was me who advised Governor Dong to do this. This lowly official dares to use my head and future to guarantee that there definitely won't be any problems with the papermaking workshops. This is because half a year ago, this lowly official began to send out workers and scholars to observe the various papermaking workshops of the Zhao Trading Company. The conclusion we obtained is that the papermaking workshop of the Zhao Company is absolutely trustworthy. Building it outside Baling City will not cause too much of an impact. It is because of this that I believe that we can deceive the people. When the papermaking workshop is built, they will discover that it is not much different from before and will not oppose it. If the papermaking workshop discharges too much waste water and is as abominable as the Qingjiang Company, I will be the first to disagree. "
Fang Yun nodded lightly and said, "Prefect Yan, I know that you are a practical person. Regardless of whether it is the rumors or the people who oppose the papermaking workshop, they all say that you are a good official."
"You praise me too much." Yan Xiao secretly let out a sigh of relief.
"However, have you not thought about why the people who praise you will oppose the papermaking workshop on the streets? Why would they rather believe those ruffians or the people of the Qingjiang Company than believe you, a good official?" Fang Yun asked.
Yan Xiao was stunned and speechless.
"When you no longer care about the people, they will treat the government and officials as fart. What you say, to them, is all nonsense. I did not say this, but I heard an old man say it today. Then, tell me, Prefect Yan, where do you think the root of this matter is? "
Yan Xiao gritted his teeth and said, "I think the root is that the people are ignorant. They do not know that the technology of the Gong family is developing. They do not know that the court and the Gong family are trying to reduce the waste water. They do not know that once the papermaking workshop is built, the paper of the Baling Prefecture will be much cheaper. When they dislike the price of paper, they scold the government. Now that the government is trying to reduce the price of paper, they do not want to pay any price. "
The other officials nodded lightly. Yan Xiao said what they were thinking.
Fang Yun asked in surprise, "If they don't want to pay any sacrifice or price, then I want to ask you something. Those soldiers who died in the war in the Two Boundaries Mountain, the Sea of Confinement, and the north of Jing Kingdom, if they aren't common people, are they your fathers? When you needed them to farm, they worked in the fields, but did they complain on the streets? When you needed them to work in the workshops, they worked in the workshops, but did they complain on the streets that they were tired? Now, they have been deceived by you for so many years that they are afraid that you don't care about their lives. What's wrong with them? Even if they are ignorant, they have been deceived by you to be smart. They would rather spend more money to buy paper than die in the waste water of the paper workshop."
"I …" Yan Xiao was about to speak, but he was interrupted by Fang Yun.
"Just today, I have asked my friends in the Workshop Hall to investigate the papermaking workshop of the Zhao Trading Company. The Zhao Trading Company is indeed very conscientious. Their papermaking workshop is not as good as Gyeongo in terms of papermaking technology, but in terms of reducing waste water, it is much better than Gyeongo. The papermaking workshop is built outside of Baling city, so it will not have a negative impact on the lives of the people. If there is really a big problem with the papermaking workshop, why would I sit here and drink tea? "
The officials were puzzled. They really did not understand Fang Yun's thoughts.
"I will ask again, what is the root of the people's street?" Fang Yundao asked.
To be continued.
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