Fang Yun had long known that Zuo Xiang and his party would resort to various means, but he did not expect it to happen so soon.
"Well, thank you, Dianshi, I now know about it." Fang Yun said.
"This is all my responsibility. Even if I don't tell you, you will know it soon. Don't be impulsive. Discuss with your staff before making a decision. I will take my leave."
Fang Yun looked at Yu Bachi's back and nodded slightly. It seemed that this man not only had an upright heart, but also had meticulous observation and sharp thinking. It was absolutely impossible for an ordinary official to know so much from just a few clues.
This is talent. It may be difficult for him to make achievements in the imperial examinations, but if he is placed in the right position, he will definitely achieve something.
In a county, the highest-ranking officials are naturally the county magistrate and the county magistrate, who hold great power in the county.
On the second level are a few assistant officials with ranks, such as the county magistrate, chief clerk, registrar and captain of police.
On the third floor is the chief secretary of the ten rooms, who manages the other officials of the ten rooms.
The fourth level is ordinary servants and clerks.
Fang Yun had written two documents to Qingwu Prefecture yesterday. One was to expose the misdeeds of the current Dianshi Lian Huan and request the Ministry of Personnel to send someone to investigate. The other was to recommend Yu Bachi as Dianshi.
The county magistrate is not qualified to appoint or dismiss officials of higher ranks. Yu Bachi is now only an acting registrar, while Lian Huan, who was driven away by Fang Yun, has to go through a process in the Ministry of Personnel before he can completely lose his job.
Although the county magistrate cannot appoint or dismiss the registrar, he can recommend them, and the superior prefect will generally not refuse.
Afterwards, Fang Yun summoned aides who were well versed in political affairs to discuss the matter, but he found that these people had been heavily assimilated into the officialdom, and 90% of their response methods were to avoid mistakes rather than seek credit.
Those methods were not wrong. If it were before he became the magistrate of Ning'an County, Fang Yun would have chosen their methods, but now, Fang Yun did not want to use that method.
Fang Yun sat in the yard with his staff, listening to their conversation but looking up at the sky.
That's the direction of Caoman.
Afterwards, Fang Yun's gaze seemed to lose focus, passing through a realm and looking towards an unknown place.
"too slow… "
Fang Yun said to himself in his heart.
Two quarters of an hour later, Fang Yun stood up and said, "Well, I already know what's going on. You can go, but Ying Wu, Li Yong and Zhi Mo stay. I have something to tell you."
Fang Yun released his literary power to isolate the surroundings, and then talked to the three people. Soon, the three people hurriedly said goodbye.
Fang Yun returned to the house, chatted with Yang Yuhuan for a few words, then tidied his clothes and walked towards the lobby of the county government office with Ao Huang and the two dragon-veined horses.
Two Legalist scholars were already waiting in front.
One of the tall and thin scholars frowned and said, "Master, this time the left prime minister and his party have gone too far! Even if Ning'an County has a lot of backlogged cases, they should all be handed over to us criminal lawyers, and we will select the cases. Then you will preside over it. Trial is not like what is said in operas, where you have to go to court when someone beats the drum to complain, and you also need the police to learn the reason and submit the appeal. Otherwise, a county magistrate will have nothing to do."
Fang Yun nodded and said, "Jingen, I remember you have already handed in the list to the mail room. You two are responsible for the lawsuit. When will the criminal department contact you?"
The tall and thin Xia Jingen said, "It was mentioned just now, and the chief secretary of the criminal department used the excuse that we were new here and didn't know much about Ning An, so they chose the case. The case is in the hands of the chief secretary of the criminal department, and he didn't want you to see it in advance."
Fang Yun frowned and said, "I already read some documents yesterday. There are references to the case, but no detailed documents for each lawsuit. They actually asked me to read the documents on the spot before judging the case. Their evil intentions are obvious."
"If you don't go to court, those people will definitely cause trouble!" Xia Jingen said.
"Well, follow me to the court."
"Yes, sir!" the two responded in unison.
Ao Huang followed Fang Yun and whispered, "Your human race's affairs are so troublesome. If we, the dragon race, have to deal with disputes between water monsters, we don't waste time talking. We just fight! Whoever wins is right!"
"So the dragon clan was pushed off the throne of the number one clan in the universe by the ancient monster." Fang Yun said.
Ao Huang rolled his eyes and was speechless.
Fang Yun entered the lobby from the side door, walked towards the chair while looking towards the main entrance.
There was a huge crowd of people standing outside the main hall, including poor people in ragged clothes, wealthy businessmen dressed in silk and satin, students in shackles, and some women, all kinds of people.
In the main hall, County Magistrate Tao Dingnian, Chief Clerk Shen Ming, Registrar Yu Bachi, and clerks from the criminal department were in line. They stood up immediately when they saw Fang Yun.
When the county magistrate is trying a case, the county assistant, the chief clerk, and the registrar may all participate and speak, but they have no right to interfere with the county magistrate.
A shadow flashed across Fang Yun's eyes, but he still walked steadily to the warm room and sat behind the desk.
The chief secretary of the criminal department walked quickly to the table, handed over a document with both hands, and said, "Good morning, Your Excellency. I am afraid that the two criminal lawyers are new here and may affect your trial, so I will make my own decision and let you decide the case."
Fang Yun looked at the chief secretary of the criminal department, nodded, and asked, "Can you send all the backlog of case documents to my study this afternoon?"
The chief secretary of the criminal department hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "Sir, I'm afraid this is inappropriate, but since you have given the order, I will send all the documents to the study. However... you need to sign and seal. If there is any mistake in the case in the future, it will have nothing to do with me."
Fang Yun smiled coldly in his heart. This answer was exactly what he had imagined. Once he took away all the case documents, the people in the punishment room would definitely cause trouble. If he let the people in the execution room make arrangements, he would be led by the nose.
Fang Yun thought for a moment, took the document, and said, "Let's try the case first."
"I obey your command!" The chief secretary of the criminal department immediately stepped back.
Fang Yun quickly looked through the detailed documents and lawsuits of the first case handed over by the chief clerk of the criminal department. He had a rough outline in his mind, so he took the gavel and slammed it down.
"Snapped… "
“Court open…” the runners shouted.
Fang Yun, as the chief officer, sat on the chair without moving, while the three assistant officials, the county magistrate, the chief clerk and the registrar, remained standing.
"Please sit down." Fang Yun said.
The three officers then sat down.
The rest of the officials remained standing.
Fang Yun said, "Come here, bring some chairs, and have everyone sit down except the soldiers and servants."
Chief Clerk Shen Ming immediately said, "Your Excellency, it is not in accordance with etiquette for everyone to sit down."
"Which etiquette stipulates that clerks cannot sit down during the trial? In addition, bring a table, chairs and four writing tools, and let Xia Jingen and the other two record all words and actions related to the trial. This is called a record. From today on, all lawsuits must be recorded. If not, you will be punished for dereliction of duty!"
"Yes!" Although it was the first time Xia Jingen heard about taking a statement, she did not feel too strange because it was similar to recording a confession.
Shen Ming looked confused and uncertain, not knowing what Fang Yun was trying to do, and then looked at the county magistrate Tao Dingnian.
Tao Dingnian is a veteran in the officialdom. He has remained silent since yesterday and has never come out to oppose Fang Yun. He seems to be completely neutral.
Tao Dingnian shook his head slightly, not knowing why Fang Yun suddenly wanted to make a record. (To be continued...)