Finally, Fang Yun sighed softly, because Xi Sheng’s last words were to prevent him from misunderstanding. They were not trying to steal the credit, and the credit would still be counted to him.
"Does Xi Sheng think that I am usually bullied too much, or am I too strong?"
Fang Yun smiled helplessly.
Fang Yun sat on the armchair, closed his eyes and rested. After counting his breaths, he slowly opened his eyes.
"The road has been paved. If anyone still stands in the way, then sacrifice yourself for the greater good!"
Fang Yun's eyes were like lightning that cut through the night sky.
After resting for a while, Fang Yun left the Holy Academy and entered Kongcheng, where he met with the head of the Lu family. He read the chapter of "Lüshi Chunqiu" containing the original version of the Tianchang Fenshen Method and learned the complete Tianchang Fenshen Method.
Afterwards, Fang Yun entered the Women's Club and communicated with the women in the Women's Club. Before leaving, he left a meaningful sentence, which he had also said in the West Saint Pavilion.
"Now, it's just the darkness before dawn."
Fang Yun stayed in Confucius and Saint Temple for another three days. After finishing all the things he should do, he left quietly and went to Peng Zouzhao's tomb to offer wine and recite poems to mourn him.
After dealing with all this, Fang Yun returned to the Governor's Mansion in Xiangzhou and sent a letter to everyone, saying that he would host a banquet for all the officials in Xiangzhou tomorrow.
Fang Yun resigned as governor of the two states early on, but after he left, the Governor's Mansion was still being managed and was still one of the administrative cores of the entire Xiangzhou.
Some people in the court proposed to abolish all the institutions of the Governor-General's Office and change its name, but all the officials in Xiangzhou opposed it, and the Empress Dowager and Jingjun also said that the matter should be shelved and not mentioned again.
When the news that Fang Yun was going to host a banquet for guests at the Governor's Mansion spread, it did not cause any waves among the public. However, it caused a huge wave among the officials of Jing State and the high-level scholars of the ten countries.
When the letter was received, Xiangzhou Governor Dong Wencong, Governor Fang Shouye and more than a dozen senior officials were in the governor's office, discussing important matters.
After receiving the news, the meeting was interrupted and everyone looked at each other in silence for a long time.
Everyone's eyes were extremely complicated.
Ordinary people were not clear about Fang Yun’s intention, but the highest officials in the state realized an important signal the moment they received the letter.
Fang Yun is going to return to the political arena of Jing State!
After Fang Yun resigned as the governor of the two states, in order to avoid suspicion, even though he occasionally lived in the governor's mansion, he would not meet any officials there. When encountering problems, he would discuss them outside the governor's mansion, and sometimes even invited officials to the Jiaosheng Palace.
This time, Fang Yun actually hosted a banquet for all officials of the seventh rank and above in Xiangzhou at the Governor's Mansion. This was definitely not to let everyone see him off.
It’s definitely more than just a meal.
However, there are some things that the officials know in their hearts but cannot say out loud.
Dong Wencong smiled and said, "Since the Governor-General is hosting us at the Governor-General's Mansion, we will go to the banquet. What do you think?"
All the officials seemed to have forgotten that Fang Yun had already stepped down as governor and did not correct Dong Wencong's "slip of the tongue".
Fang Shouye laughed first and said, "How can I not go to the Governor's banquet? Don't you agree?"
Fang Shouye had a smile on his face, but there was a hint of coldness in his eyes as he looked at everyone.
The officials present smiled and said one after another that they would definitely attend the banquet.
No one objected.
Then, Dong Wencong said with a smile: "You guys are smart people. You know that when Fang Xusheng came back from the Burial Valley, he must have a lot of divine objects. If those divine objects were in the Holy Court, we would have no hope of enjoying them in this lifetime, but if we can participate in this banquet, we will have some chance. At least, if we are physically injured, it is easy to ask the adults for a life-giving fruit."
Fang Shouye nodded and said, "Back then, Fang Xusheng was helped by someone whose arm was broken. Fang Xusheng didn't have many treasures at that time, and he was only a juren, but he was willing to give the Shengshen Fruit to the person who helped him. We have served under him for many years, and this kind of affection still exists."
"The efficacy of your holy apricots has not yet been fully exerted. Those officials who have not received the holy apricots are probably cursing their mothers at this moment." Dong Wencong said with a smile.
Everyone agreed.
These two, the highest-ranking officials in Xiangzhou except Fang Yun, used both kindness and force to resolve the grudges in the hearts of other officials and ensured that this group of the highest-ranking officials in Xiangzhou would not encounter any problems.
After sending away other officials, Fang Shouye and Dong Wencong used the power of literary courage and the power of official seal to isolate themselves from the outside world. The two sat opposite each other with serious expressions, even a little gloomy.
Fang Shouye stared into Dong Wencong's eyes and said slowly, "Our Fang family and Fang Xusheng are in the same boat. If nothing unexpected happens, I will beg Fang Xusheng to merge my family into the genealogy of the Fang family in Ji County, so that I can enjoy the benefits of the Xusheng family. I, Fang Dayan, will not beat around the bush with you. What do you think of this matter?"
Dong Wencong smiled bitterly and said, "You and Fang Xusheng share the same fate, and so do I. When Fang Xusheng was not yet famous, I taught him the classics and articles. Whether I am now promoted in official rank or in literary rank, it is all thanks to him. If I betray him, my literary courage will be broken, and I will have no choice but to go down this path. I will not hide it from you. In my estimation, Fang Xusheng wants to enter the court directly and take charge of it."
Fang Shouye nodded gently and said, "I think so too. You know, although I am proficient in military tactics, I am far inferior to you in politics and official affairs. Can you analyze why Fang Xusheng is like this? Didn't he give up the way of officials and court a long time ago, wanting to avoid disturbances and concentrate on the way of the saint?"
Dong Wencong pondered for a long time and said, "At first, I was also puzzled, but when I thought of the experiences of some great scholars in history, I found a clue."
"What clues?" Fang Shouye asked anxiously.
Dong Wencong said: "When a human is promoted to a great scholar, both their body and mind will undergo changes. More than 20% of the great scholars have very different temperaments from when they were university scholars, and 30% of the great scholars have temperaments similar to university scholars, but more extreme. Some people have analyzed that this is because the great scholars have touched the edge of the Holy Way and have a deeper understanding of the Holy Way. They themselves are influenced by the Holy Way and will instinctively do things that are beneficial to their own Holy Way. In other words, since Fang Xusheng is an official again, it is very likely that he is involved in the Holy Way."
"Can't there be other reasons?" Fang Shouye asked.
Dong Wencong said seriously: "Yes."
"what reason?"
"Fang Xusheng is going to do something more important than canonizing himself!"
This sounded like nonsense, but Fang Shouye nodded slightly and thought about it carefully.
After a long time, Fang Shouye sighed and said, "I am a rough man. The way of saints is too far away for me. Before I met Fang Yun, even becoming a university scholar was a luxury for me. But now, I will become a great scholar! I have no choice, and I am very happy that I have no choice."
Fang Shouye looked at Dong Wencong with a calm and relaxed smile, as if he was not making a major decision in his life, but enjoying a good time.
Dong Wencong spread his hands and said, "I'm not happy, but I have no choice."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Zuo Xiang’s hometown is located in the Luopu Valley of Yuan County.
An old man clapped his hands and laughed.
"Fang Yun, you finally showed your true colors! God bless you!"