Once the War Hall gets involved, it means that all the officials in Dingzhou who have resigned will not be able to escape, and they will have to confess everything honestly. Since the officials have colluded to fight against the Criminal Hall and the court, then the blame for the rebellion in Dingzhou will be borne entirely by them.
Countries would not kill scholars easily, but since so many people had died, including some from the Punishment Hall, the Punishment Hall would inevitably start a killing spree.
The whole matter was no longer under the control of any official present.
The so-called impeachment of Fang Yun has become a huge joke.
Many officials came out with memorials in their hands. It was not right to take them back, nor was it right not to take them back.
The atmosphere in the Golden Palace was more awkward than ever before.
After a few breaths, Wu Hanjiang said firmly: "We are impeaching Fang Xusheng not only because of the chaos in Dingfu, but also..."
He Mingxiang, the Minister of the Supervisory Yuan, shouted, "That's enough! When did the censors of our Supervisory Yuan become people who are good at flattery?"
Wu Hanjiang closed his mouth and clenched his teeth tightly.
He could oppose Fang Yun and impeach anyone, but if he opposed He Mingxiang, he would be impeached by most of the censors.
The other censors of the Supervisory Yuan looked at Wu Hanjiang with different expressions, but they all had one thing in common: they all felt a little regretful.
Indeed, judging from normal experience, the rebellion in Ding Prefecture was too serious, even the left prime minister could not escape blame, and impeaching Fang Yun was almost certain. Even if Fang Yun could not be forced to retire, at least he could be stripped of his title or demoted. Therefore, Wu Hanjiang's previous words were understandable.
However, Fang Yun relied on his previous layout and subsequent planning to forcibly reverse the situation in Dingfu and directly eliminate all officials in one prefecture and nine counties. This was beyond anyone's expectations.
Losing to Fang Yun is not shameful, it can even be said to be inevitable.
Therefore, no matter what their positions were, the other censors would not speak for Wu Hanjiang at this time.
This is the Golden Palace, an important place of the imperial court where all officials reside. If such words were spoken, not to mention an official of the third rank, even if the king and the empress dowager had failed in their provocation of Fang Yun, they would have to admit their mistake honestly.
Wu Hanjiang glanced at his former colleagues and saw his own end in their eyes.
He looked at the Minister of Rites Sheng Boyuan, who slowly turned his head away and didn't look at him.
He looked at the Queen Mother and Jing Jun sitting on the dragon throne, but he couldn't see the Queen Mother's appearance through the curtain.
Wu Hanjiang sighed and said, "I don't know how to employ people and supervise clearly. I am no longer suitable to serve in the Supervisory Council. Today, I will resign from the King and Queen Mother and return to my hometown to study hard. When I have learned something, I will serve the court again!"
The Queen Mother then tried to persuade him to stay, but Wu Hanjiang knew very well that he could not keep her, so he firmly refused and turned away.
Everyone looked at Wu Hanjiang's back for a long time in silence.
This is not the first official to leave because of Fang Yun, and he will certainly not be the last.
After a while, Sheng Boyuan coughed lightly and said, "Since the rebellion in Dingfu was taken over by the Criminal Hall and the War Hall, it has nothing to do with us. Let's continue with today's topic, how to deal with the families in various places."
Fang Yun said bluntly: "We should deal with it as we should. If the relatives of the robbers attack the court, will Minister Sheng also bring it to the court for discussion?"
"How can you treat the major families as robbers?" Sheng Boyuan said.
"Yes, the robbers are indeed not as evil as them. I apologize to the robbers." Fang Yun said.
Sheng Boyuan took a deep breath and said with a sullen face: "Since Fang Xusheng said so, then all local government offices should follow Fang Xusheng's words and handle official affairs impartially! However, I have one question to ask. If this matter is not handled properly and leads to more serious incidents, who will bear the responsibility?"
"Oh? This sounds a bit familiar." Fang Yun said lightly.
Some officials smiled secretly and said that Wu Hanjiang had not gone far.
Sheng Boyuan insisted, "Excuse me, Fang Xusheng, if the local authorities fail to handle this matter properly, who will bear the responsibility?"
Fang Yun said, "Whoever violates the law shall bear the responsibility. As for the ineffective handling, the Supervisory Council will report it and the Ministry of Personnel will evaluate it. Minister Sheng does not need to worry about it. Since Minister Sheng is so concerned about this matter, may I ask if there is any good solution?"
Sheng Boyuan said: "I don't dare to take credit for this brilliant plan. Since so many people are against the overly harsh crackdown and reforms, as long as we hold off for a while, everything will naturally be solved."
Fang Yun asked, "May I ask Minister Sheng, if they oppose, the reform will be postponed. Does that mean that no matter what decree the court issues in the future, as long as there are a few people who oppose, the decree must be retracted? They oppose, but what about the more supportive people? Do you only see these tens of thousands of people who oppose, and can't you see the tens of millions of people who support? Minister Sheng, the affairs of the court are not about smoothing things over or negotiating business. As a court official, if you can't do your job despite opposition, you are only worthy of being called a peacemaker, not a parent official."
Sheng Boyuan said angrily: "Are we just going to watch those people eating, drinking, defecating and urinating outside and surrounding the palace? I don't care what you say. If this matter cannot be resolved, I will report you at every court meeting!"
Fang Yun no longer paid attention to Sheng Boyuan, but turned to the Queen Mother and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."
"What's the important matter, Lord Fang?" asked the Queen Mother.
Fang Yun said: "I heard that in the Spring and Autumn Period, the common people and scholars of the human race could discuss politics in the village schools, which was a virtuous thing. Our human race has gone through thousands of years, and we still have literary academies, but no village schools. Is this a step backward or forward? Confucius once praised the legalist sage Zichan, and Zichan did not destroy the village schools. How can we, the descendants, forget the teachings of the sages? Therefore, I want to reopen the village schools in various places to discuss matters, and set up an official office, called the Council of State, to record the opinions or suggestions of the village schools, compile them into a book, and give it to the cabinet officials to read and choose the good ones to follow. However, this matter is complicated and cannot be rolled out all over the country. A pilot project will be set up in the capital. I recommend Cai He to serve as the acting president of the Council of State."
The township school was the grassroots government-run school in ancient times.
Fang Yun suddenly raised the issue in public, and the Queen Mother was not in a position to answer immediately. She pondered for a long time and asked, "What do you think of the Council of State?"
Sheng Boyuan said, "Absolutely not! Once this precedent is set, everyone can make arbitrary comments on government affairs, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"
Fang Yun sneered, "If ordinary people and scholars discuss government affairs, it will lead to chaos in the world. There must be something wrong with the world first!"
"If everyone can discuss politics, what do we officials need to do?"
"If no one can participate in politics, what exactly have we officials done?" Fang Yun retorted.
Some officials cheered for Fang Yun in their hearts.
Sheng Boyuan was in charge of the Ministry of Rites and was very law-abiding. He was no match for Fang Yun in court debates. What's more, he was just opposing Fang Yun for the sake of opposing him, without any careful consideration or impartiality, so he was left speechless by Fang Yun.
Sheng Boyuan argued: "My Jingguo Taizu did not establish this rule."
"Taizu didn't say that Minister Sheng must be born and must grow up to look like you." Fang Yun said.
Some officials couldn't help but chuckle.
Sheng Boyuan said angrily, "You are just making up groundless arguments. You said a few days ago that if we restore the old customs, we will not allow it to be implemented if there are objections. Why are you going back on your word now?"
"This is law, not etiquette. Are you saying that Zichan casting the criminal code on the tripod is a etiquette and not a law?"
During the Spring and Autumn Period, Zichan, a wise man of the State of Zheng, once cast the laws in plain text on a large tripod so that the people could see them. This was also the first officially promulgated law in human history, as opposed to the previous "unknowable law and unpredictable power".
Therefore, the Legalists have always praised Zichan as the forefather of the Legalists.