Jing Jun's face was tense, as if he was a student facing a sudden exam. After thinking for a moment, he coughed lightly and slowly said, "Kong Sheng believes that by using administrative means to guide the people, and by using law to govern the people, the people are only temporarily exempt from sin. They do not have a sense of shame, and it does not mean that they do not want to commit crimes. But if we use morality to guide the people, and use etiquette to govern the people, then the people will not only have a sense of shame, but will also not commit crimes. They will also submit to the ruler because of morality and etiquette. "
"Good." Fang Yun nodded lightly.
Jing Jun could not help but smile. He raised his chin slightly, proud that he was able to receive Fang Yun's praise.
The Empress Dowager saw this scene from the corner of her eye and frowned slightly.
Some officials noticed Jing Jun's reaction and sighed inwardly. Even though he was the ruler of a country, he still had to lower his head in front of Fang Yun. This small ruler knew that Fang Yun wanted to seize power, but he could not hide his admiration and envy for Fang Yun. He could not help but feel proud after being praised by Fang Yun.
The officials were helpless. Not only the ruler, but even they would be overjoyed after being praised by Fang Yun.
After all, Fang Yun was the number one person below the Saints.
Wu Hou's carriage turned slightly, allowing Fang Yun to face Jing Jun and the officials.
Fang Yundao said, "Kong Sheng's words, Jun Shang also understands this principle. I presume that my colleagues will not oppose Kong Sheng's words?"
Some officials rolled their eyes in their hearts. Fang Yun's words were too straightforward, like fishing with a hook. No matter how stupid the officials were, they would not oppose Kong Sheng's words.
The throne room was silent.
Fang Yun sighed deeply and said, "This Prime Minister has been an official in Jingguo for many years. I have personally worked in the government, starting from the prefectures and counties. I have also been governor of two prefectures. I know the suffering of the people. This Prime Minister has been thinking for many years. Jingguo's laws are constantly improving, the country's strength is rising day by day, and there are more and more scholars. Why are there still people who commit crimes? Why are there still people who bully their own people? Why are there still people who suffer poverty? Why are there still people who abuse their power? Why? Why? "
All the officials listened attentively. Regardless of their standpoint, they all wanted to hear Fang Yun's views on governing the country.
Fang Yun continued, "For this reason, I have been looking for all sorts of reasons. Was it because the law was not strict enough? Was it because the human heart was unpredictable? Was it because the officials were incompetent? Or was it because of God's will? In order to solve this problem, I even listed every reason on the paper one by one, to the point that 'thousands of problems are solved one by one'. "
When everyone heard this, they were all moved.
Some people secretly rejoiced, and at the same time, they felt grateful. This was the learning method of the great scholar, Xusheng. First, he would set up thousands of questions, then he would ponder over them and solve them one by one. It seemed ordinary, but it was also the most effective method. If he encountered something difficult, he could learn this method.
"Even so, I am still helpless. This Prime Minister has studied from the past to the present, so why can't I even solve a very simple problem? Thus, I traced back to the source and searched for a solution from the scriptures of the saints. In the end, Ben Xiang re-read the Analects of Confucius and discovered that all the principles were contained in the book. In fact, Kong Sheng had already given the answer. There was no need for administrative measures, nor was there a need for any punishment. All that was needed was morality and etiquette, and all problems could be solved! This Prime Minister has taken a detour previously! "
Fang Yun had a pained look on his face.
However, all the officials were stunned.
The beginning of what he said was very reasonable, and it could even be said to be eloquent and incisive. Why did he come to such an absurd conclusion in the end?
What did he mean by 'law and administration are useless'? If that was the case, what was the use of legalism? What was the use of officials? The human race had long been in a mess.
What did Fang Yun mean by this?
The officials were somewhat confused.
The Legalist official became wary. Even the old men from the Bureau of Rites who were inflexible could not agree with Fang Yun's view of only respecting etiquette.
Fang Yun said in a heavy tone, "Let me ask everyone, do the people of Jingguo have any complaints about us officials?"
No one answered. Cao Dean said, "Left Prime Minister, since ancient times, the people have never stopped complaining. Even the people of Kongcheng, who do not lack anything, have some resentment towards the officials of Kongcheng."
Fang Yundao said, "That's right. Then, why do the people have resentment? I can't figure it out, but Kong Sheng has already given me the answer. Confucius said: 'Acting for the sake of profit, there is much resentment!' Dear colleagues, what Kong Sheng said is so correct. If a person only does things for benefits, others will have resentment! If officials only act for profit and do not care about the people, they do not care about benevolence, righteousness, and etiquette. The people do not know what to do, how can they not have resentment? Just as Kong Sheng said, 'the people do not know what to do.' Jun Shang, please repeat this sentence in its entirety. "
Jun Jing coughed lightly and said in a clear voice, "If the name is not correct, the words will not follow; if the words do not follow, the matter will not be accomplished; if the matter is not accomplished, there will be no rites and music; if there is no rites and music, there will be no punishment; if there is no punishment, the people will not know what to do."
Fang Yun nodded and said to the officials, "Kong Sheng has already made it clear. How should we judge the success of the country's governance? We must use rites and music as the standard! If there is no rites and music, no matter how perfect the laws are, they will not be able to govern the people. "
Lin Shouyan, the scholar of the Hall of Rites, nodded lightly.
Sheng Boyuan, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Appointments, opened his mouth but closed it in the end.
He was the minister of the Ministry of Rites and a disciple of the Confucian school. He had a deep understanding of the sacred path of rites. When Fang Yun wanted to promote rites and education, if he spoke out against it, not only would it affect his own path, but it would also offend the Hall of Rites. This was something he absolutely did not want to see.
Moreover, Fang Yun's every word began with Kong Sheng's words. Although the explanation was different from the annotations of some great scholars, Fang Yun was a great scholar of the fourth realm. He was qualified and able to explain the Analects of Confucius. Sheng Boyuan was only a great scholar. He did not dare to casually explain the classics of the sages. If he objected to Fang Yun, and Fang Yun deliberately put pressure on him, he would be shocked. At worst, it would bring disaster to the palace.
Some officials noticed Sheng Boyuan's embarrassment and finally realized an important problem. Fang Yun and the officials of the imperial family seemed to be fighting fairly, but in reality, Fang Yun was using the classics of the sages and literature as weapons. None of the officials who opposed Fang Yun were great scholars. None of them could explain the classics.
This also meant that whatever Fang Yun said, they had no right or ability to refute!
When some of the officials thought of this, their faces turned purple.
Fang Yun's behavior was worse than an adult bullying a baby.
A baby could at least cry when bullied by an adult, but these officials did not even dare to breathe loudly.
Who dared to say that Fang Yun was young? Who dared to say that Fang Yun did not have rich political experience?
The officials deeply realized that this was destined to be an unfair battle.
Cao Dean shook his head gently. How was this a court battle? It was simply an open and aboveboard suppression.
Fang Yun then said, "We all know that the highest realm of Confucianism is benevolence. You won't object to this, right?"
Some of the officials almost rolled their eyes. Fang Yun was simply going too far. Of course, benevolence was the highest realm of Confucianism. It was impossible for anyone to object. Fang Yun said this to strengthen his own righteousness and continuously attack those who wanted to oppose him.
"Kong Sheng said that to restrain oneself and return to etiquette is benevolence! As a scholar, since I shoulder the position of Minister of the Left, I will naturally inherit Kong Sheng's unfulfilled wish and let the world return to benevolence! The first step of returning the world to benevolence is to promote etiquette and get rid of the accumulated abuses! "
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