Jing Jun looked nervous, like a student facing a surprise exam. He thought for a moment, coughed lightly, and said slowly, "Confucius believed that if we use administrative means to guide the people and use criminal law to govern and discipline the people, then the people will only be temporarily free from sin and have no sense of shame, but they do not want to commit crimes. But if we use morality to guide the people and use etiquette to discipline the people, then the people will not only have a sense of shame and will not commit crimes on their own initiative, but will also obey the rulers because of morality and etiquette."
"Good." Fang Yun nodded slightly.
Jing Jun couldn't help but smile and raised his chin slightly, feeling proud that he could win Fang Yun's praise.
The Queen Mother saw this scene out of the corner of her eye and frowned slightly.
Some officials noticed Jingjun's reaction and sighed in their hearts. Even if he was the king of a country, he still had to bow down in front of Fang Yun. Even though this little king knew that Fang Yun wanted to seize power in the court, he could not hide his admiration and envy for Fang Yun in his bones, and he could not help but feel proud when he was praised by Fang Yun.
The officials were helpless. Not only the king, but also they themselves would be overjoyed if they were praised by Fang Yun even once.
After all, Fang Yun is the number one person under all the saints.
Wu Hou's chariot turned slightly, allowing Fang Yun to face Jing Jun and his ministers sideways.
Fang Yun said: "Confucius said so, Your Majesty also understands this truth, I believe that my colleagues will not object to Confucius' words, right?"
Some officials rolled their eyes in their hearts. Fang Yun's words were too straightforward, like a direct hook to fish. No matter how stupid the officials were, they would not oppose Confucius' words.
There was silence in the Golden Palace.
Fang Yun sighed and said, "I have been an official in Jing State for many years. I have personally taken care of the government. I started from the prefecture and county, and I have also been the governor of two states. I know the sufferings of the people. I have been thinking about it all these years. The laws of Jing State are constantly improving, the national strength is booming, and there are more and more scholars. Why do some people still commit crimes? Why do some people still bully their compatriots? Why do some people still suffer from poverty? Why do some people still abuse their power? Why? Why!"
The officials listened attentively. Regardless of their positions, they all wanted to hear Fang Yun's insights on governing the country.
Fang Yun continued, "For this reason, I have been looking for various reasons. Is it because the laws are not strict enough, people's hearts are hard to predict, officials are incompetent, or it is destiny? In order to crack this problem, I even listed every reason on a piece of paper, so that I have 'set up thousands of questions and cracked them one by one'."
Everyone was moved when they heard this.
Some people were secretly happy and grateful at the same time. This was the way of learning of a great Confucian scholar and sage. He first set up thousands of questions, pondered over them, and then solved them one by one. It seemed ordinary, but it was also the most effective means. If you really encounter difficulties, you can learn this method.
"Even so, I am helpless. I have studied all the ancient and modern times, but why can't I solve even a very common problem? So, I traced the source and looked for a solution from the classics of the saints. Finally, I reread the Analects and found that all the truths were in the book. In fact, Confucius has already given the answer. There is no need for administrative measures or any punishment. All problems can be solved with morality and etiquette! I took a detour before!"
Fang Yun looked extremely distressed.
However, all the officials were stunned.
What was said before makes a lot of sense, and can even be considered eloquent and incisive, but why does it end up with such an absurd conclusion
What do you mean by "the criminal law and administration are useless"? If that were the case, what would the Legalists do? What would officials do? The human race would have been in chaos long ago.
What does Fang Yun mean by this
The officials were a little confused.
The Legalist officials looked alert, and even the old gentlemen in the Ministry of Rites who were conservative could not agree with Fang Yun's remarks that etiquette was the only thing that mattered.
Fang Yong said in a heavy tone: "Let me ask you, do the people of Jing have any complaints against us officials?"
No one answered, so Cao De'an said, "Replying to the Left Prime Minister, since ancient times, people's grievances have never ceased. Even the people of Kongcheng who have everything they need have some resentment towards the officials of Kongcheng."
Fang Yun said, "That's right. Then why do the people feel resentful? I have been puzzled for a long time, but Confucius gave the answer long ago. Confucius said: If you act for the sake of profit, there will be many complaints! My colleagues, Confucius is so right. If a person only does things for profit, others will feel resentful! Officials only do things for profit, do not care about the people, do not talk about benevolence, righteousness, etiquette and morality, the people do not know what to do, how can they not feel resentful? As Confucius said, 'The people are at a loss.' Your Majesty, please repeat this sentence in full."
Jing Jun coughed lightly and said in a clear voice: "If the name is not right, then the words will not flow smoothly; if the words are not flowing smoothly, then things will not be accomplished; if things are not accomplished, then rituals and music will not flourish; if rituals and music are not flourishing, then the punishments will not be appropriate; if the punishments are not appropriate, then the people will be at a loss as to what to do."
Fang Yun nodded, and then said to the ministers: "Confucius has made it clear. How do we judge the success or failure of the means of governing a country? We must use rituals and music as the standard! Without rituals and music, even if the laws are perfect, they cannot govern the people."
Lin Shouyan, Grand Secretary of the Hall of Rites, nodded slightly.
The Minister of Personnel Sheng Boyuan opened his mouth but finally closed it.
He was the Minister of Rites and a disciple of Confucianism. He had studied the sacred doctrine of rites in depth. If he spoke out against it when Fang Yun wanted to promote rites, it would not only affect his own sacred doctrine but would also offend the Palace of Rites, which he absolutely did not want to see.
Moreover, Fang Yun started every sentence with the words of Confucius. Although his explanation was different from some great Confucian scholars' annotations, Fang Yun was a great Confucian scholar in the four realms and was qualified and capable of interpreting the Analects. Sheng Boyuan was only a university scholar and did not dare to interpret the classics of the saints at will. If he opposed Fang Yun and Fang Yun deliberately put pressure on him, at best, his literary courage would be shaken, and at worst, it would bring disaster to the palace of literature.
Some officials noticed Sheng Boyuan's predicament and finally realized an important problem. Fang Yun and the royal officials seemed to be fighting fairly, but in fact Fang Yun was using the saints' classics and literary status as weapons, while none of the officials who opposed Fang Yun was a great Confucian scholar and none of them could explain the classics.
This means that whatever Fang Yun says is what it is, and they have no qualifications or ability to refute it!
Some officials turned pale when they thought of this.
Fang Yun's behavior is even more excessive than an adult bullying a baby.
When a baby is bullied by an adult, he can at least cry, but these officials dare not even breathe.
Who dares to say that Fang Yun is young? Who dares to say that Fang Yun does not have rich experience in political struggle
The officials fully realized that this was destined to be an unfair battle.
Cao Dean shook his head slightly. This was not a dispute between dynasties at all; it was simply a fair crushing.
Fang Yun then said: "We all know that the highest realm of Confucianism is benevolence. You will not object to this, right?"
Some officials almost rolled their eyes. Fang Yun was simply going too far. Benevolence was of course the highest realm of Confucianism, and no one would oppose it. Fang Yun said this to reinforce his own correctness and constantly attack those who wanted to oppose him.
"Confucius said that self-discipline and restoration of propriety are benevolence! As a scholar, since I have assumed the position of Left Prime Minister, I should inherit the will of Confucius and make the world benevolent! The first step to make the world benevolent is to promote propriety and eliminate the accumulated abuses!"
Fang Yun's words were powerful.