A good memory is not as good as a bad pen.
Fang Yun plans to speed-read it again when he has free time. He will definitely make new discoveries and learn new things.
At this moment, the Queen Mother and the King could not participate in government affairs at all, which was quite similar to the concept of "ruling by sitting back and doing nothing" interpreted by the Miscellaneous School, which was to override the imperial power and let the officials rule. However, it was different from the true Confucian interpretation of "ruling by sitting back and doing nothing".
The Confucian understanding of "ruling by doing nothing" means that the monarch does not increase taxes and corvee labor, and the country will naturally prosper and the monarch will naturally be at ease.
While listening to the court meeting, Fang Yun looked at the gauze curtain. The empress dowager and the king were sitting inside, like clay sculptures or wooden carvings.
Fang Yun finally understood why the Left Prime Minister could go against the Queen Mother. The court discussions alone were not something that non-scholars could understand.
"No wonder the etiquette has changed..."
During the time of Confucius, various countries had not yet developed to this level. With the improvement of the imperial examination system, the power of scholars grew stronger and the changes in the court became more obvious.
Until this moment, Fang Yun finally understood why his essay "Improper Etiquette" was valued by the saints and asked to be studied by great scholars. This was because the saints used this kind of test questions and scriptures to subtly influence the human scholars to gradually accept the changes in "etiquette" and avoid the situation where some scholars' literary talents and palaces were damaged because they could not accept the changes in the saintly way.
Fang Yun suddenly realized that his most powerful strength was not the books in the world of strange books, but his ability to see through the future.
“Perhaps, my holy path lies in the changes of the holy path!”
The officials did not stop arguing at all and kept arguing until noon without any signs of taking a break.
"Mother, I'm hungry..."
The young prince said softly, and the Queen Mother immediately waved to the palace maid, asking her to bring the cakes that had been prepared long ago, and then whispered to the imperial kitchen to start preparing lunch.
"Cold food again..." The little prince complained in a low voice, but still ate slowly.
All the scholars present listened attentively. After the young king spoke, some officials stopped talking. The number of officials who spoke gradually decreased.
"I think that you should not abdicate easily while the country is still alive!"
"Mencius once said: 'The people are the most important, the country is second, and the king is the least important'! For the sake of the people, the country can be sacrificed, and the king can also be sacrificed!"
"It's almost noon, everyone, please have your meal." The Queen Mother's voice sounded.
Everyone was tired of arguing and gave thanks together.
The officials were used to it, but the newly-appointed Jinshi were very excited, because only after the palace examination would the emperor give a banquet to celebrate, and being able to dine in the palace now was a happy event.
Everyone left the Fengtian Hall and went to the side hall.
Preparing lunch for hundreds of people was not a difficult task for the imperial kitchen of the palace. It took half an hour for everyone to finish lunch and return to the Fengtian Hall.
This time it was not as formal as the morning court. The ministers only sat on the soft seats after the Queen Mother and the King took their seats.
Ao Huang was very obedient along the way, but his eyes kept turning, occasionally looking at a seemingly ordinary night-shining pearl in the Fengtian Hall.
As soon as everyone sat down, Zhuang Lu, who proposed that the King of Jing should abdicate, suddenly stood up, bowed to Fang Yun, and said, "I would like to congratulate Lord Fang on becoming the first place in the imperial examination. I also wish you the top place in the imperial examination. But... you are about to become a virtual saint of the human race, and your status is far higher than those present, so why don't you express your opinion?"
"Today's Fang Yun is the Jinshi Fang Yun." Fang Yun said.
Some old officials nodded slightly. Fang Yun's answer was very appropriate. If he was too modest, it would be hypocritical. If he was too weak, he would appear to be timid and humiliate the name of the Void Saint. He said that his current status was just a Jinshi, neither arrogant nor humble, just right.
"I see. Then I want to ask Fang Huiyuan, do you support the king's abdication if the war is not going well, or do you support the King of Jing firmly resisting the barbarians?"
Fang Yun vaguely realized that Zuo Xiang's party was coming for him, but he didn't know what they were doing, and his mind was racing.
"There is absolutely no way to be ambiguous about this matter. If we try to smooth things over or use diplomatic rhetoric, the abdication faction won't mind, but the war faction will certainly be disgusted. At this time, we must be straightforward. As for what happens next, I will take the responsibility! Our shoulders can bear it!"
Fang Yun made up his mind and said immediately: "As a citizen of Jing State and an official of Dajing, I must resolutely resist the barbarians! Even if the country exists, it cannot guarantee the well-being of the people of Jing State. If the country is destroyed, will Zhuang Sizheng be able to protect the safety of the people of Jing State, or who can do it?"
"So that's how it is. I admire you." Zhuang Lu sat down.
Ou Mo, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, said, "Fang Huiyuan, the Ministry of Personnel will consider the intentions of the Jinshi when assigning him to act as the county magistrate. I see that you are determined to fight against the barbarians. If I appoint you as the acting county magistrate of an ordinary county, it would be a waste of your talent. How about fulfilling your desire to fight against the barbarians and sending you to Ning'an County?"
The whole court was in uproar.
Ning'an County is not the northernmost county, nor is it the most dangerous county, but it is the hub of the border area. Most of the food, fodder and military equipment sent by Jing State to the three borders must pass through Ning'an County, which is of top priority.
The Left Prime Minister Liu Shan has been running Mizhou for many years, and has built a place that is like an iron barrel that water cannot get in. Both the civil servants and the state military of Mizhou are Liu Shan's disciples, and more than half of the people in the Academy of Literature are his followers.
Ning'an County is in Mizhou.
Even though Fang Yun had previously launched a series of attacks on Zuo Xiang's party, the power of Mizhou remained unshakable. This was the reason why Liu Shan dared to come to the court until now, and it was also the biggest reason why the Queen Mother was most afraid of Liu Shan.
Once Liu Shan is angered and Mizhou is tempted to defect to Qing or Wu, the barrier of the capital will be destroyed and the barbarian army will be able to arrive at the city and surround the capital within a few days.
Since Liu Shan passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, he has been managing Mizhou and is like the real master of Mizhou.
A shadow flashed through Fang Yun's heart. He felt that everything Zuo Xiang and his gang had done today was to force him to go to Ning'an.
"Minister Ou, please take back what you just said! Fang Xusheng is the pillar of the country and the backbone of the human race. If he did not die under the punishment of the Moon Tree God, but died in the internal strife, all the people would be angry! At that time, no one in the court could bear it!" said the Minister of Rites Mao Enzheng sternly.
The officials were extremely angry. The Minister of Rites Mao Enzheng was a well-known peacemaker and good guy. The fact that he was forced to say such words showed how serious the situation was.
Ji Zhibai said in a sinister voice, "Minister Mao is wrong. Even the divine punishment of Yueshu could not kill him. Ning'an County is not a den of dragons and tigers. How could it kill Fang Yun? Moreover, even I, Ji Zhibai, can serve as the acting county magistrate of Ning'an County and obtain the top scholar. Why can't Fang Yun? Does that mean that Fang Yun is not as good as I, Ji Zhibai?"
Ao Huang couldn't help but ask: "How many tens of thousands of Ji Zhibai are there in Fang Yun?"
“Hahaha…” A child’s laughter came from behind the gauze curtain, but then a hand covered the little prince’s mouth.
Many officials smiled with their heads down. Small monarchs could laugh without restraint, but they had to hide it.
Ji Zhibai was so angry that his face turned pale and blue, but he didn't dare to say a word to Ao Huang. He had already made an enemy with Fang Yun, and if he offended the real dragon in the Dragon Palace of the East China Sea, even Zuo Xiang would not be able to save him.
Ou Mo looked at Fang Yun and smiled, "Marquis Fang Wen, if you really want to fight the barbarians, why don't you go to Ning'an County? Ning'an County is the hub of the three borders of my Jing country, and you can better display your talents."
"Minister Ou is wrong. Ning'an County is the hub of the three borders, so Fang Yun, the current county magistrate, cannot exert his power. It is a military stronghold, and the highest-ranking government office in Ning'an County is not the county government, but the Transportation Department! If the Ministry of Personnel is willing to let Fang Yun serve as the director of the Transportation Department, I support Fang Yun to go to Ning'an County. Otherwise, it would be a waste of talent!" (To be continued...)