As a result, mafia groups from all over the country began to participate in the recruitment business, which led to an increasing number of violent incidents.
The Jing State government has taken strong measures to punish some gangs involved in organized crime, which has made them restrain themselves a little, but even so, people continue to fall victim.
Some officials petitioned the cabinet to ban this recruitment model that harmed the people, but Fang Yun, using his power as the left prime minister, forcibly suppressed all relevant memorials.
Fang Yun did not give any explanation, nor did he restrict recruitment, but he ordered the workshops not to bully any workers. He also set up new departments in places with many workshops, which were specifically responsible for investigating the treatment of workers in local workshops. If any illegal workshops were found, they would be strictly investigated.
At the same time, Fang Yun also issued a decree that anyone who has worked in Jingguo for five years can become a formal resident of Jingguo. If they can buy a house, their children and family members can all become Jingguo citizens.
As a result, large-scale construction began in various parts of Jing State, the construction industry flourished, and the government obtained a large amount of tax revenue to better develop Jing State.
At the same time, Fang Yun built a large number of public rental housing for workers, which neither hit the construction industry nor curbed the rise in land and housing prices. It just reduced the income of the state and big businessmen, but it also stabilized the situation and saved his conscience.
For the development of Jingguo and the human race, Fang Yun had to sacrifice those workers, but he was also doing his best to protect them. At the same time, Fang Yun asked the government to resolve the conflicts between foreign workers and local people and promote various positive images of workers.
Since they have to be sacrificed for the sake of humanity, we should not go even further and throw dirty water on them.
The population in various places has increased rapidly, and there are good and bad people mixed together. Naturally, there will be lawless people who take advantage of the situation. Fang Yun has not relaxed in this regard. He ordered the government offices in various places with many workshops to put development and public security on the same footing. If the local public security is not up to standard, the evaluation will be downgraded and no promotion will be allowed.
This has led to local officials maintaining high pressure on criminals in order to achieve political achievements, and serious cases have become increasingly rare.
In fact, with the power of local governments before, it was impossible to deal with a large number of lawless people, but Fang Yun had already cooperated with the Marshal's Office, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Justice to reform and expand the number of yamen runners in various places, mainly recruiting veterans. He also improved the status of yamen runners and listed yamen runners and constables as state public offices.
Before this, although constables and other types of officials had some small powers, they were all considered menial jobs and were subject to various restrictions.
However, there must be something hateful about pitiful people. Among the runners in government offices, there are often a large number of lawless people who use their small power to seek personal gain and often do some heinous evil things.
Not to mention Fang Yun, even Chen Sheng couldn't solve these problems immediately.
In fact, as long as there are people, something will inevitably happen and there will inevitably be some people who do that.
Therefore, Fang Yun did not carry out a massive reform this time. Instead, he started from all aspects and prepared to slowly change the situation. He worked with various departments to gradually implement it. Even if he could not completely eradicate the stubborn disease, he would control its harmfulness to the minimum.
The Peace Negotiation Division attracted attention in the Holy Academy, buying Fang Yun a considerable amount of time and allowing Jingguo to safely spend the summer.
As autumn approached, the Za family and the Qing Kingdom finally realized that they could not continue like this, so they joined forces with the Li Hall and the Dongsheng Pavilion to prepare to resolve the matter by force.
However, the Jingguo Cabinet announced that it was planning to establish the post of Minister of Rites in Jingguo, which would be the fifth minister. The scope of jurisdiction would be similar to that of the original Ministry of Rites, with some additional duties that were not noticeable. One of the duties was very strange: responsible for guiding public opinion, prospering Jingguo culture, and controlling foreign culture.
Another strange thing is that Fang Yun personally formulated the rules and regulations of Lixiang Pavilion, stipulating that everything in Lixiang Pavilion should be centered on the interests of Jingguo, enhance the influence of Jingguo culture, guide rather than control or suppress Jingguo culture and public opinion, and at the same time strictly prevent external cultural invasion.
In fact, the new duties of the Li Xiang Pavilion were not disclosed to the outside world, and were only circulated among the cabinet and a few officials. However, as the preparations for the Li Xiang Pavilion became more and more complete, the powers of the Li Xiang Pavilion were finally leaked.
In fact, most scholars' focus is still on the Ritual Hall and the Ritual Prime Minister.
In the eyes of most scholars, Fang Yun set up the Rites Pavilion in order to win over the Rites Hall, and the effect was immediate. The Rites Hall immediately withdrew many officials who were investigating in Jing State and even kept a distance from the Miscellaneous School.
However, knowledgeable people everywhere have been discussing the new duties and rules of the ritual hall.
Xiangzhou, Yueyang City, where friends live.
Ever since this restaurant was renamed Wenyouju because of Fang Yun's secret visit, it has become very famous. It has been continuously expanded over the years and its floor space is now five times larger than the original size.
Even so, whenever something big happened, Wenyouju was still packed, because the main hall of Wenyouju had become an important place for scholars in Yueyang City to discuss current affairs. Even though Yueyang City had opened a local school, scholars from all over the country still liked to come here.
Because the township school is only open to Jing people, but this Wenyouju can be entered by people from any country.
Now, Yueyang has become a famous city of the human race, and Yueyang Tower is also known as the No. 1 Tower along the Yangtze River. Every day, scholars from all over the world come here to visit famous places, mainly to look for everything related to Fang Yun.
In the main hall of Wenyouju, there was originally a calligraphy copy of a master of the second realm, but now, it has been replaced by a handwritten work by Ruan Ling, a master of the fourth realm of painting and the third realm of calligraphy, and the content is exactly what Fang Yun said here that year.
“Who are our friends and who are our enemies? This is the primary question.”
In the corner of the main hall, some local scholars from Yueyang City sat together, including the owner of Wenyouju.
The owner of Wenyouju has gained two times more weight than in previous years and looks even more wealthy. Sitting next to him is a young scholar with an imposing manner.
There were many Jinshi and Hanlin scholars in Wenyouju, so a Juren would not attract anyone's attention. However, all the regular customers of Wenyouju would take the initiative to greet the shopkeeper and the Juren when they saw them.
The scholars in the nearby Yueyang City were also particularly respectful to this man.
This juren named Zhang Zongshi is no ordinary juren, but a member of the currently popular Fang Party. Thanks to his several encounters with Fang Yun, he rose to prominence and had already become the leader of the young scholars in Yueyang City.
“Brother Zhang, you were doing a good job in the Governor’s Office, why did you quit just like that? It’s a good thing you quit before, if you quit now, I don’t know how many people would point at your spine and scold you. Yueyang City can tolerate rebellious people, but it cannot tolerate people who betray Fang Xusheng.” The hotel owner said with a smile.
Zhang Zongshi smiled and said, "Don't talk nonsense. I resigned from the Governor's Office to prepare for the exam."
The shopkeeper was surprised and asked, "You were a student two years ago, and you passed the examinations of both the scholar and the juren last year, and you want to pass the examination of the jinshi this year?"
The scholars nearby were equally surprised, and even those further away looked at the shopkeeper and Zhang Zongshi. It was not uncommon to advance to higher positions in one year during the current period of massive enrollment expansion, but it was rare to see someone so young.
Zhang Zongshi smiled and said, "Why not? Originally, I wanted to lay a solid foundation and take the imperial examination in a few years. If I can get a high ranking, I can participate in the palace examination. But I recently realized that I have studied for more than 20 years and my foundation is already very solid. Now Jingguo is in need of people. Instead of wasting my time for a ranking, it is better to be promoted to an imperial examination early and serve the country."
The shopkeeper curled his lips and said, "Don't tell me such great truths. I guess you either just want to experience the imperial examination, or you are absolutely sure that you will pass. It's normal for you to experience the imperial examination, but if you are absolutely sure, then you are too arrogant, unless... uh... the previous rumor is true?"
Zhang Zongshi smiled but said nothing.
The shopkeeper stood up, put his hands on Zhang Zongshi's shoulders, and shouted, "You are so lucky, kid!"
At this time, almost half of the people in the main hall were looking over here.
Zhang Zongshi said helplessly: "Keep your voice down and don't disturb others."
The shopkeeper then reluctantly sat down, muttering, "Comparison is the thief of anger. I am just a rich man now, but who would have thought that you have soared to the sky. We are both ministers of the Holy Saint, but why is there such a big gap between us?"
A scholar nearby who was interested in news asked in a low voice: "Boss, what good fortune has Brother Zhang got?"
"I won't tell you, you think about it yourself." The shopkeeper felt a little depressed.
The man was stunned, thought for a few breaths, and suddenly said in surprise: "I heard that Brother Zhang got a holy apricot before, but I just thought it was nonsense. Could it be true? Apart from this, I really don’t know what counts as a great fortune!"
Everyone looked at Zhang Zongshi with envy, but Zhang Zongshi still smiled. Everyone had a feeling that Zhang Zongshi seemed to be denying what that person said.
The shopkeeper muttered, “Don’t forget, in addition to the Shengxing Literary Society, after returning from the Burial Valley, Fang Xusheng also hosted a banquet for guests at the Governor’s Mansion.”
The scholars nearby all gasped and looked at Zhang Zongshi in surprise, with intense envy hidden in everyone's eyes.
Because everyone knew that at that dinner, everyone could eat the divine object, and everyone in the Fang party had received gifts.
One person doubted, "That's not right. If I remember correctly, the guests at the banquet that day were at least seventh-rank officials, at least in charge of a county, and all had real power. The Hanlin without real power was not invited. Even though Brother Zhang is a core member of the Fang Party, he is not qualified to be seated, right?"
Zhang Zongshi smiled and said, "What you said is true. I did not receive an invitation. However, I was working in the Governor's Office at the time and was responsible for receiving guests. I also participated in the banquet."
When everyone heard this, they became even more envious. It was already a great honor to be in charge of receiving guests at such an important banquet, and they could even dine together. This was definitely a treatment only available to the backbone of Fang's party.
The shopkeeper laughed and said, "This kid ate the holy apricot first, then the divine object. He should have also received a divine gift that only the Fang party has. No wonder he wants to take the imperial examination this year! And you still say that you have a solid foundation after studying for more than 20 years. Aren't you ashamed?"
Zhang Zongshi laughed and scolded: "You treacherous businessman, I didn't ruin your business, why do you have to expose me?"
A group of people were chatting and laughing, talking about everything under the sun, and slowly, people nearby began to talk about Lixiang Pavilion.
Soon, Zhang Zongshi stood up with the others and walked to the center of the main hall.
At this time, people were sitting in the center of the main hall, with people standing in several circles nearby, people on the stairs outside, and people further away standing on the second floor. There were clear levels, but they were discussing the affairs of Lixiang Pavilion as a whole.