Sheng Boyuan retorted: "Confucius once criticized Zichan, saying that Zichan was like the mother of the people, who could feed the children but could not educate them. In fact, Confucius was saying that Zichan's governance could only manage the people but could not educate them. Zichan was not a sage after all."
"If everyone can educate the people, then what is the need for Confucius? Being a mother is already extremely great, why nitpick? What's more, Zichan did not destroy the local school. Confucius said that if someone said that Zichan was not a benevolent and righteous person, he would not believe it. Confucius may not agree with all of Zichan's governing policies, but he highly agrees with the point that 'Zichan did not destroy the local school.' Your method of taking things out of context and transplanting flowers and trees is not clever." Fang Yun replied.
"Queen Mother, Your Majesty, I think this loophole must not be opened. Once opened, there will be endless troubles!"
Fang Yun asked in return: "What's the difference between this and tens of thousands of people gathering outside the palace gate?"
Sheng Boyuan stood there in a daze, speechless.
The officials stared at Fang Yun in a daze, and then they realized why Fang Yun was not afraid of Sheng Boyuan's interference at all.
Sheng Boyuan has been using those people to surround the imperial palace and government offices to attack Fang Yun, but Fang Yun used his own spear to attack his shield. Now everyone would consider, since the people have no place to vent, is it better to set up a controllable rural school, or let them run to the imperial palace or government offices to gather
Everything Sheng Boyuan said before was to help Fang Yun.
Cao De'an stepped forward, glanced at the officials, and said with a smile: "As you all know, everyone says that I am made of paper, clay, and rotten wood, but today, I, an old piece of wood, want to stand up and speak a few words of truth."
All the officials smiled kindly.
Although the people do not understand Cao De'an, most officials still recognize him. If Cao De'an had not used various means to restrain Liu Shan, whether he had surrendered to Liu Shan or was completely opposed to Liu Shan, it would have been more disadvantageous to Jing State.
"I think Fang Xusheng's proposal is not only very reasonable, but also the general trend. As early as several years ago, I discussed this matter with my colleagues. As the people's wisdom gradually increased, the number of scholars increased exponentially. How to deal with those new scholars? Not only did we not get any results at that time, not only could the various countries not find a solution, even the elders of the Holy Academy were helpless. Fang Xusheng's proposal today can be called a stroke of genius."
"This may seem simple, but if you think about it carefully, you will understand that our Jing country cannot accommodate so many scholars. So, instead of letting these scholars go and missing out on the potential talents, it is better to recruit them into the township school. First, it will give them something to aim for, second, it will appease the people, third, it will select talents that can be used, and fourth, it will ease the conflicts."
The last sentence of Cao De'an was very vague. He did not clearly state what conflict was to be eased, but the officials present understood what conflict was to be eased.
There are so many scholars but so few official positions. Over time, this will inevitably lead to a huge contradiction. You must know that most scholars study in order to become superior to others and to obtain a higher status.
Rather than letting them unite and pose a threat to the court, it is better to bring them under control.
After Cao De'an finished speaking, all the officials fell into deep thought, and many officials began to expend their talents in deduction and thinking.
The Minister of Rites Sheng Boyuan was also trying hard to think, with a hint of guilt occasionally flashing across his face.
Fang Yun glanced at the officials quietly. The united front is not just talk. It is not only useful in times of war, but can also play a role in various periods. However, many people have forgotten this method in many periods.
People from new social classes must be brought under the management of the imperial court. If they are suppressed for a long time or left to their own devices, they will sooner or later shake the foundation of the country.
It would be fine if you cannot see this point outside the court, but if you cannot see this clearly in the court, you are simply a figurehead.
The Council of State must be the top priority of government in the coming years, and its importance is no less than that of legal and industrial reforms.
In a sense, or just talking about the stability of the country and the foundation of its governance, the importance of mastering new social classes is no less than the separation of planters from pure gatherers and hunters in primitive society, and no less than the differentiation of professional pottery makers, professional recorders, professional managers, and so on from food producers.
If most of the previous reforms had a foundation but were simply made public and institutionalized, then the current Council of State was a first for the human race, and the so-called restoration of the township schools was merely an excuse.
The officials present all understood the real purpose and power of the Council of State. It could not simply be a place for the common people and scholars to discuss state affairs.
After an unknown amount of time, Assistant Prime Minister Yang Xuwen took a deep look at Fang Yun, and said to the Queen Mother, "I believe that the affairs of the Council of State are the foundation of the country. For thousands of years, those who follow it will prosper, and those who go against it will perish. If Jingguo can become a trendsetter, then there is hope for revival. If it lags behind, it will be too late to regret. For the sake of the king, the country, and the people, I ask the king and the Queen Mother to make a decision as soon as possible to prevent other countries from taking the lead and damaging the fortune of Jingguo."
When Yang Xuwen mentioned the word "national destiny", many officials present were shocked and woke up as if from a dream.
Many people had unconcealable smiles on their faces.
The affairs of the Council of State are a matter of national destiny for Jing State, and for scholars, they must involve the holy way!
Many officials looked at Fang Yun, unable to hide their admiration.
After the brilliant deduction just now, everyone realized the importance of this Council of State. This is a drastic change that can completely change the class of the human race.
This kind of change, after a long period of gestation, can completely form a semi-saint!
It can even be said that as long as the Council of State is established in half of the countries, even if Fang Yun sits at home eating, drinking and having fun and does nothing from now on, he will be promoted to Semi-Saint in at most forty or fifty years!
This is the leader of the human race, this is the teacher for all ages, this is the one who created his own holy path.
However, the matter has not been completed and the throne has not been determined, so the officials are reluctant to say it out loud.
The Queen Mother silently watched the reactions of the officials, and instinctively raised her hand to hold Jingjun's little hand.
Jingjun thought that all the officials were happy, so he was happy too. He looked up at the empress dowager with his childish smiling face, but when he found that the empress dowager's face was serious, he stopped smiling.
At such a young age, he didn't quite understand why the Queen Mother was unhappy even though it sounded like a great thing for Jing State.
The Queen Mother sighed softly and finally realized where her uneasiness came from.
When the people are in favor, the country will have great fortune.
National destiny is not just an illusory force, but also a kind of spiritual cohesion.
The reason why Liu Shan did not dare to seize power too radically before was because of the influence of national destiny, and the reason why Liu Shan decided to leave was because he realized that the national destiny had completely tilted towards Fang Yun.
Ever since Fang Yun took office as the Left Prime Minister, the Queen Mother has been on guard against him. However, her reason and emotions told her that Fang Yun was not a treacherous minister and would not actually kill the king and seize power. But she still felt uneasy.
It was not until now that she understood that the national destiny had favored Fang Yun a long time ago. Even now, the national destiny of the royal family combined was not as strong as that of Fang Yun alone.
If the country's destiny is a gambler, then now all the bets have been placed on Fang Yun.
The Queen Mother lowered her head slightly, her heart filled with reluctance and powerlessness.