Fang Yun slowly flipped through the documents. There were a few that made him smile coldly. Those documents actually recommended Ge Yiming to open the People's Newspaper.
Moreover, one of them was the sole editor of the Xiangzhou Court Bulletin, Guan Yi.
When the punishment hall was investigating the supplement matter, Guan Yi was like an old tortoise hiding in its shell, not moving at all. There was no news about him. Now that the punishment hall was done, he immediately reappeared.
In his capacity as editor of the Xiangzhou Court Bulletin, Guan Yi strongly supported Ge Yiming opening the People's Newspaper. He even pointed out that no matter who opened the People's Newspaper in Xiangzhou, the authority to review it would definitely be the Bureau of Rites.
Fang Yun continued to read the documents. Today, the officials of the Bureau of Rites were exceptionally unanimous. Other than recommending others, they all claimed that the Bureau of Rites had the authority to review the People's Newspaper at the end of the documents.
All the officials of the Bureau of Rites collectively put pressure on him.
These officials purposely sang a different tune from Fang Yun, recommending powers close to Gyeongo. However, most of the officials had received hints from Dong Wencong and most of them recommended the Fang family library and other institutions that were not for profit.
Afterwards, Fang Yun called for a meeting of the Xiangzhou officials. In the meeting, other than presiding over the meeting at the beginning, Fang Yun listened to the officials argue without saying a word.
In the main hall of the government office, the officials engaged in a war of words, arguing endlessly.
The officials of the Qing and the Jing had been arguing from the very beginning. They argued about the qualifications of the person who opened the People's Newspaper, the timing of its opening, the authority to review it, the governing office, the length, the frequency of publication, and the price. In the end, they even argued about who should write the words "People's Newspaper."
Fang Yun watched the officials arguing on the left and right sides of the main hall and suddenly understood why the previous emperors had mostly died early. They had probably died of boredom.
The struggle between the officials of the Qing and the Jing had reached its climax. Although the Jing had a higher position, the Qing officials were more numerous in the middle and lower ranks.
The Qing officials' point of view was that since the Xiangzhou Court Bulletin had always been in charge of the Bureau of Rites, the opening of the People's Newspaper and its future management should all be handed over to the Bureau of Rites.
Jing Guan's point of view was that the country's Imperial Bulletin had nothing to do with the Ministry of Rites and was handled by the Imperial Court. Then, they should follow the example of the capital and set up a similar department in the Governor's Manor to be in charge of reviewing the Min Pao.
Both sides argued more and more fiercely. In a moment of desperation, the Baling magistrate Yan Xiao did not choose his words carefully and accused the Xiangzhou Court Bulletin of pure nonsense, that it was not worthy of the title "Court Bulletin" and could only be called a tabloid.
Guan Yi, the editor of the Xiangzhou Magistrate Bulletin, was furious and blamed Yan Xiao.
As Guan Yi was speaking, Fang Yun lazily opened his mouth and said, "Editor Guan, what Yan Xiao said is not unreasonable. Why are you so angry?"
Fang Yun joined the discussion, and the main hall of the state government quieted down instantly.
Guan Yi was a middle-aged man with three strands of beard. He was over fifty years old, his skin was sallow, and his expression was somewhat gloomy. He cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to the Governor, our Xiangzhou Court Bulletin has always been truthful and reasonable, aiming to convey the fastest and truest news to the officials. We have never spouted any nonsense. Yan Xiao is indeed making irresponsible remarks, and I dare not agree with him."
"Oh? The Xiangzhou Court Bulletin is truthful? Why is it that when I read the Xiangzhou Court Bulletin all these years, all I see is a page full of lies? Fifty years ago, when the Gyeongo firm was building a papermaking workshop in Baling, you advocated how good the papermaking workshop was. For example, it could support more workers and lower the price of paper. But not long ago, when Baling wanted to build a new papermaking workshop, you did not mention a word about the benefits the papermaking workshop would bring, and instead insisted that the workshop could discharge waste water and kill people. As the editor of the Xiangzhou Court Bulletin, don't you find it strange? "Fang Yundao said.
Guan Yi raised his head and said, "I do not find it strange. Decades ago, it was because my Xiangzhou Court Bulletin was inexperienced and focused too much on the income of the people that we supported the construction of the papermaking workshop. The reason why I opposed the papermaking workshop a few days ago was because I learned my lesson. Even if the firm of Gyeongo wanted to build a papermaking workshop now, I would still oppose it. "
"Oh, right, Guan Yi, Sir Guan, I find that you are very interesting in the past and now. Before the first Great Battle of Two Worlds Mountain, Jingguo and Gyeongo had a lot of friction and often engaged in small-scale battles. At that time, you wrote an article in the Xiangzhou Court Bulletin, pointing out that land was the foundation of the country and that Jingguo should not be given an inch of land. Decades later, you wrote an article, 'What's the harm in giving them three feet of land', saying that Jingguo should take the initiative to give the disputed land of Xiangzhou to Gyeongo. I am very curious about what Sir Guan has been through all these years and why his words and actions are so contradictory. "Fang Yundao said.
Magistrate Yan Xiao interrupted, "He has not changed. He has always wanted to be a Gyeongo man. Unfortunately, Gyeongo did not need him back then, and Gyeongo does not need him now."
Guan Yi glared at Yan Xiao and said angrily, "What does my conversation with the governor have to do with you? Governor, this person disturbed the main hall of the State Yamen and should be punished severely and expelled! "
Fang Yun nodded and said, "Minister Guan is right. Yan Xiao, do you know your crime?" Fang Yun's face suddenly became very serious.
Yan Xiao wanted to refute Guan Yi, but when he saw Fang Yun's face, he quickly bowed and said, "I know my crime."
"That's good. You spoke nonsense in the main hall of the State Yamen and attacked the Right Minister of the State Yamen. Now, you are punished to close your door for three days, keep your mouth shut for ten days, and copy the Thirteen Scriptures ten times. After that, you can take the position of Magistrate again! "Fang Yundao said.
All the officials were stunned. Even Guan Yi did not expect that Fang Yun would not only agree to drive Yan Xiao away but also punish him severely. He just casually said that he could not show weakness.
Yan Xiao was stunned. He did not expect Fang Yun to be so ruthless. Since the Governor had given the order, Yan Xiao had no power to resist. He lowered his head and said, "I accept the punishment."
"Very good. Guan Yi, are you satisfied with my punishment?" Fang Yun asked.
Guan Yi hurriedly said, "I am satisfied. Your punishment is just right."
Fang Yun nodded and said, "Disturbing the main hall of the State Yamen needs to be punished. Then what is the punishment for disturbing Xiang State and even a country? Guan Yi, answer me. "
When Fang Yun was speaking, a familiar aura appeared. It was the aura of the Legalism Code.
All the officials were stunned. Didn't Fang Yun gather them for the opening of the People's Newspaper? Why did he suddenly start to judge a case?
Guan Yi blinked and said loudly, "If someone disturbs a country, he should be punished according to the law. If there is no law, he should be considered not to be punished or even released. "
"Then why did you think that I did not follow the law when I punished Magistrate Yan, but you think it was just right?" Fang Yun asked.
Guan Yi was stunned. After thinking for a few breaths, he said, "As the Governor, your punishment is within the limits of the law. The main thing is that you did not cause great harm to Magistrate Yan. You just need to rest at home and not speak for ten days. If you were to punish him severely, or even torture him, then it would be against the law. I will definitely oppose it. "
All the officials present understood that Guan Yi suspected that Fang Yun wanted to punish him. Therefore, he answered very tactfully to avoid being caught in his own trap.
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