Seeing that Fang Yun had said this, the officials present understood that Fang Xusheng came to Xiangzhou not to be the governor, but to have aspirations far beyond those of an official.
All the tactics used in officialdom are useless against Fang Yun.
Many officials looked at Dong Wencong. At this time, they could only expect the head of the state to speak.
Governor Dong Wencong coughed lightly and said, "Since Fang Xusheng wants to hear the truth, then I will answer truthfully. The fundamental reason why the people took to the streets is that they have lost trust in our Xiangzhou officials."
"Not enough." Fang Yun said.
Dong Wencong said helplessly: "A small number of people have been oppressed by local officials and have completely lost hope in the state government."
The rest of the officials broke out in cold sweat. As senior bureaucrats, everyone knew this. But the problem was that they couldn't say these words because it would be like exposing the skin of all the bureaucrats.
"Yes, it's not that they are ignorant, nor that the workers are incompetent, and even those unscrupulous businessmen are secondary reasons. The main reason is that you bureaucrats are shameless and incompetent. However, the people have lost their trust or are in despair. In addition to your corruption, unclearness, and injustice, there are deeper reasons." Fang Yun said.
"Please give us some advice, sir." Dong Wencong was slightly surprised, and the other officials also showed curiosity.
Fang Yun said slowly: "Let's not consider the power of the saints. From the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and all the way to the Qin and Han Dynasties, once the people were living in poverty, someone would inevitably rise up. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were not even as good as Tongsheng, but they were recorded in history, with the same status as dukes, ministers, and great Confucian scholars; Liu Bang was just a Juren, just a village head, and could not even manage a county, but he finally became the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty. In those times, if the people couldn't survive, they dared to fight the kings and officials to the death. Are the kings, princes, generals, and ministers any different? Therefore, even if they lost trust in the officials, they would not despair. Back then, in addition to Xiang Yu and Chen Sheng, I'm afraid there were many people who dared to look at Xianyang and wanted to replace them!"
The officials present vaguely understood Fang Yun's intention.
"However, it is difficult for the people to live in poverty now, at least there will not be large-scale poverty. The most important thing is that when the people rose up, even if they could not overthrow the tyranny, they could shake its foundation, so that there would be righteous people to replace it. But now, the gap between the power held by the people and the government is getting bigger and bigger. The people have discovered that even if they rise up now, not many people will respond, and even if they do respond, they cannot shake the foundation of the government. In other words, the people have already realized that they have lost the power to restrain officials! Today's officials, let alone respecting the people, don't even regard the people as human beings." Fang Yun said.
The officials present were stunned. Even though they held important positions, they had never thought about this question.
"So, when they no longer trust officials, they can't really restrain them, so they can only huddle together for warmth and vent their anger by taking to the streets. A truly good official will defuse their anger before they take to the streets, instead of being like you, either knowing that they dare not rebel and therefore not caring, or thinking that they are ignorant and too lazy to educate them."
Dong Wencong was about to speak with a bitter face, but Fang Yun waved his hand to stop him, saying: "I know you will say that you have your own difficulties, difficulties and helplessness, but never forget that since you are the prefect and the governor, you should solve these problems. Those ordinary officials, ordinary clerks, and ordinary soldiers have no real decision-making power, so they can complain and complain. However, no one forces you officials to educate and help the people. You chose your current position, so you must do it! Otherwise, what can you do!"
All the officials present felt ashamed.
"Your Excellency's teaching is correct." Dong Wencong was convinced.
"I know I was wrong!" All the officials admitted their mistakes honestly.
Fang Yun snorted coldly and said, "Now, give me an answer on how to solve the problem of the papermaking workshop."
Dong Wencong said firmly: "Since the people are against it, we will cancel it immediately."
"Oh? If you cancel it because the people oppose it, how will you govern the state in the future? The papermaking workshop could have brought thousands of jobs to Baling, and it could have allowed a large number of scholars in Xiangzhou to buy paper at a lower price. Now all these good things are gone. Weighing the pros and cons, it seems that canceling the papermaking workshop will cause greater losses."
Dong Wencong smiled bitterly, completely not knowing how to answer and unable to understand Fang Yun's intention.
Yan Xiao, the prefect of Baling, said hurriedly: "In this case, all of our Baling officials will go to the workshop in the next few days to resolve the doubts and anger in the hearts of the people. As long as we treat people with sincerity and as long as we do what we say, the people will definitely support us, and in the end everyone will be happy about this matter."
"What can you do to convince them that there is no problem with the papermaking workshop?" Fang Yun asked.
Yan Xiao was silent for a moment, and then said, "We will do our best and use all the means."
"Yan Xiao, Wen Cong, and all the officials present here, tell me, are you sure that this papermaking workshop is beneficial to the state of Baling, and that the damage to the surrounding area is not enough to affect the health of the people?" Fang Yun glanced at everyone with a serious expression.
Yan Xiao was the first to say, "I dare to guarantee with my life and future that the papermaking workshop will definitely benefit the state, and will never damage the surrounding waters, let alone harm the nearby people."
Dong Wencong hesitated for a moment and said, "My humble servant has the same idea as Prefect Yan."
"I think so too!" All the officials present expressed their opinions.
Fang Yun smiled and nodded, saying, "Good! This is the responsible official of our Dajing country, this is a man who is ambitious and does practical things, different from those despicable officials who only care about promotion and wealth, and only want to satisfy their selfish desires and have their minds full of money, power and sex! I, Fang Yun, am proud to be an official in Xiangzhou with you! From today on, no matter when and where, I can proudly tell everyone that I, Fang Yun, have been an official in Xiangzhou!"
Fang Yun said this and stood up excitedly.
The officials present were also excited. It was a great honor to be praised so highly by the great Saint.
"But... you still don't have a specific solution to this problem, right?" Fang Yun said with a kind smile.
The officials nodded helplessly.
"I do have a plan that can not only solve this problem, but also demonstrate your official character and benevolence." Fang Yun said.
"Please give us your guidance, Governor!" All the officials asked respectfully in unison.
Fang Yun smiled and said, "It's very simple. From today on, move all government offices in Baling City to the vicinity of the papermaking workshop, or move the residences of officials of the seventh rank or above there! In this way, you can use practical actions to declare that there is no problem with this papermaking workshop, and use facts to prove that you have not deceived the people. You are all good officials with conscience and ambition! You are different from those dog officials!"
All the officials stood there in a daze. No wonder Fang Yun had praised them so highly before. Now when they looked down, they found themselves being roasted on the fire by Fang Yun.
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