Fang Yun slowly flipped through the documents, and there were a few of them that made him smile coldly. Those documents actually recommended Ge Yiming to start "Min Bao".
Moreover, one of them was the only editor of Xiangzhou Dibao.
When the Criminal Hall was investigating the incident of the supplement, Guan Yi was like an old turtle curled up in its shell, motionless, and there was no news about him. Now that the Criminal Hall has finished punishing him, he immediately pops up.
As the editor of "Xiangzhou Dibao", Guan Yi strongly supported Ge Yiming in launching "Minbao", and even pointed out that no matter who launched "Minbao" in Xiangzhou, the review authority must be in the hands of the Ministry of Rites.
Fang Yun continued to read the documents. Today, the officials of the Ministry of Rites were particularly unanimous. In addition to recommending others, they all claimed at the end of the documents that the Ministry of Rites had the censorship power over the Min Bao.
All officials of the Ministry of Rites put collective pressure on each other.
These Qing officials deliberately sang a different tune from Fang Yun and recommended forces closely related to the Qing Kingdom, but most of the Jing officials received hints from Dong Wencong and most of them recommended some scholarly institutions such as the Fang Family Library that were not for profit.
Afterwards, Fang Yun convened a meeting of all the officials in Xiangzhou. At the meeting, Fang Yun, except for presiding over the meeting at the beginning, listened to the officials' arguments without saying a word.
In the hall of the provincial government, officials were arguing with each other.
Official Qing and Official Jing had been arguing from the beginning, arguing about the qualifications of the founder of "Minbao", the founding time of "Minbao", the censorship power, the responsible government office, the length of the newspaper, the publication frequency, the selling price, and finally even arguing about who should write the two words "Minbao".
Fang Yun looked at the officials arguing on both sides of the main hall, and suddenly understood why most emperors in history died early. It was probably because they died of annoyance.
Now the struggle between Qing officials and Jing officials has become fierce. Although Jing officials occupy higher official positions, there are more Qing officials in the middle and low levels.
Qingguan’s view was that since the Xiangzhou Dibao had always been under the charge of the Ministry of Rites, the establishment of the Minbao and its subsequent management should also be handed over to the Ministry of Rites.
Jingguan’s view was that the state’s official bulletin had nothing to do with the Ministry of Rites but was the responsibility of the Jinzouyuan. Therefore, we should follow the example of the capital and set up a similar department in the Governor-General’s Office to be specifically responsible for reviewing the Minbao.
The dispute between the two sides became more and more intense. In desperation, Baling prefect Yan Xiao spoke without thinking, accusing the Xiangzhou Dibao of pure nonsense, saying that it was not worthy of the name of a "dibao" and could only be called a tabloid.
Guan Yi, the editor of Xiangzhou Dibao, was furious and blamed Yan Xiao.
As Guan Yi was speaking, Fang Yun spoke lazily, "Editor Guan, what Yan Xiao said makes sense. Why are you so angry?"
Fang Yun joined the discussion, and the main hall of the provincial government suddenly became quiet.
Guan Yi was a middle-aged man with three strands of beard, over fifty years old, with sallow skin and a gloomy face. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Excellency the Governor, my Xiangzhou Gazette has always been about facts and reason, aiming to convey the fastest and most truthful things to all officials. It has never been nonsense. Yan Xiao is really talking nonsense, and I dare not agree with him."
"Oh? The Xiangzhou Gazette tells the truth? Why do I see nothing but lies when I read all the issues of the Xiangzhou Gazette over the years? The same thing was building a papermaking workshop. When Qingguo Commercial Bank built it in Baling fifty years ago, you promoted how good the papermaking workshop was, such as being able to feed more workers and lower the price of paper; but not long ago, Baling was going to build a new papermaking workshop, but you didn't mention a word about the benefits of the papermaking workshop, and insisted that the papermaking workshop could discharge wastewater and kill people. As an editor of the Xiangzhou Gazette, don't you find it strange?" Fang Yun said.
Guan Yi raised his head and said, "I don't find it strange. Decades ago, it was because my Xiangzhou Gazette lacked experience and paid too much attention to the people's income that I supported the construction of the papermaking workshop. And the reason I opposed the papermaking workshop a few days ago was because I learned from the previous lesson. Even if a business in Qing State wants to build a papermaking workshop now, I will definitely oppose it."
"Oh, by the way, Lord Guan Yi, I find you very interesting in the past and now. Before the first battle of Liangjie Mountain, there were severe frictions between Jing Kingdom and Qing Kingdom, and small-scale battles were often fought. At that time, you wrote an article in the Xiangzhou Gazette, pointing out that land is the foundation of a country and not an inch should be ceded to Jing Kingdom. Decades have passed, and you instead wrote an article titled "What's Wrong with Giving Him Three Feet", arguing that Jing Kingdom should take the initiative to give the disputed Xiangzhou land to Qing Kingdom. I am very curious about what Lord Guan has experienced over the years and why his words and deeds are so contradictory." Fang Yun said.
Prefect Yan Xiao interrupted and said, "He has not changed. He has always wanted to be a Qing citizen. Unfortunately, the Qing people did not need him back then, and now Qing does not need him."
Guan Yi glared at Yan Xiao and said angrily, "What does my conversation with the Governor have to do with you? Governor, this man disturbed the state government and should be severely punished and expelled!"
Fang Yun nodded and said, "Guan Sizheng is right. Yan Xiao, do you admit your crime?" Fang Yun's expression suddenly became extremely stern.
Yan Xiao wanted to refute Guan Yi, but when he saw Fang Yun's horrifying expression, he quickly bent down and said, "I admit my guilt."
"That's good. You talked nonsense in the main hall of the provincial government and attacked the provincial right secretary. Now I punish you to stay indoors for three days, keep your mouth shut for ten days, and copy the Thirteen Classics ten times. Only then can you take up the post of prefect again!" Fang Yun said.
All the officials were stunned. Even Guan Yi did not expect that he had just said it casually and could not show weakness. He did not expect that Fang Yun not only agreed to expel Yan Xiao, but also punished him severely.
Yan Xiao looked stunned. He had never expected Fang Yun to be so cruel. Since the Governor-General had given the order, Yan Xiao had no power to resist. He lowered his head slightly and said, "I accept the punishment."
"Very good, Guan Yi, are you convinced by my handling of the matter?" Fang Yun asked.
Guan Yi said hurriedly: "I am convinced, your punishment is just right."
Fang Yun nodded and said, "If disturbing the state government hall needs to be punished, then what crime should be punished for disturbing Xiangzhou or even a country? Guan Yi, answer me."
When Fang Yun was speaking, a familiar aura appeared among the officials present. It was the aura of the Legalist code.
The officials were stunned. Didn’t Fang Yun gather everyone together for the purpose of establishing the Min Bao? Why did he suddenly start judging cases
Guan Yi blinked his eyes and said loudly: "If someone disturbs a country, he should be dealt with according to national laws. If there is no national law as a basis, we should consider not punishing him or even releasing him."
"Then why did you think it was just right when I didn't follow the law when I punished Prefect Yan?" Fang Yun asked.
Guan Yi was stunned, and after thinking for a few breaths, he said: "As the governor, such a punishment is within the limits of national law. The main reason is that you have not caused any serious harm to Prefect Yan. You just need to rest at home and not speak for ten days. If you impose some extremely severe punishment, even equivalent to criminal punishment, it will violate national law, and I will definitely oppose it."
The officials present had already understood that Guan Yi suspected Fang Yun wanted to punish him, so he answered very skillfully to avoid getting into trouble.
.(To be continued.)