"Oh? In Dean Hong's opinion, it is common for Ni Xian to bully dozens of people, burn them with fire, stab them with swords, strip them of their clothes and drink their urine?" Fang Yun asked.
Dean Hong said, "Ni Xian is a child after all. He doesn't know how to behave. I have already reprimanded him, and the previous county magistrate has already sentenced him. Why does County Magistrate Fang keep pursuing this matter? Ning'an County is so big, and the government affairs are heavy. County Magistrate Fang is entangled in a fight. Is it like Xiang Zhuang dancing with a sword, aiming at Pei Gong?"
Dean Hong was thin and serious. He looked at Fang Yun with a very cold gaze and obvious hostility.
Chief Registrar Shen Ming's eyes lit up. Among these cases, several were personally selected by Ji Zhibai, including this academy bullying case. This case seemed simple, but once Ni Xian was severely punished, the reputation of the academy would suffer a great blow. Other academies would not mind adding insult to injury, so Dean Hong would definitely do everything he could to prevent the heavy sentence in this case, otherwise he would not come here in person.
Dean Hong was not only a genuine juren, not only the dean of Wenfu Academy, but also the patriarch of a prominent family, with complicated connections in Ning'an County and even Qingwu Prefecture. Once such a person took action, he might not be able to compete with a county magistrate, but he would definitely be able to significantly reduce the grades of the imperial examination candidates.
Fang Yun was stunned at first, but soon understood why Dean Hong reacted so violently. It turned out that he might have violated the interests of the academy.
Fang Yun's face darkened, and he said, "What is Dean Hong saying? This county is just investigating the matter of a student being bullied. Why are you making such a fuss?"
"Ning'an County has many important matters. The beating of a student is just a trivial matter. I don't understand why the county magistrate sent people to the academy to disrupt the order of the academy! The behavior of County Magistrate Fang has caused dissatisfaction among the teachers and students of the academy. If it causes protests from students, don't blame me for not speaking out in advance!"
Fang Yun suddenly realized that it seemed that Dean Hong had already known about his sending Yu Bachi to lead people to the academy to investigate, otherwise he would never have been so tough.
Fang Yun corrected his mistakes as soon as he realized them, and with the official seal in hand, he completely blocked all contact between the main hall and the outside world. Only he could send and receive letters.
"It seems that President Hong is not aware of the seriousness of this matter." Fang Yun's tone softened a little, as if he wanted to turn hostility into friendship.
"This is nothing more than a prank between children. When they grow up, they will definitely restrain themselves." Dean Hong's voice was firm.
Fang Yun nodded and said, "There is one thing that is unclear in this county. Those traitors, those robbers and murderers are probably more sensible than these children. Have they restrained themselves when they grew up? No! Well, taking a step back, even if they restrained themselves, can Tian Lu's wounds heal? Well, taking another step back, even if Tian Lu's wounds healed, can his inner wounds heal? This county can also take a third step back and say that even if Tian Lu's inner wounds healed, can the wounds of those who were humiliated by countless 'Ni Xian' heal? No! Since they can't, don't pin your hopes on their restraint in the future, but let them get what they deserve, and let thousands of Ni Xian know that if they make a big mistake, they must be punished accordingly! Only in this way will they truly restrain themselves!"
Everyone outside the door said yes.
"The Dajing Law clearly stipulates that those who have not yet reached the age of twenty should be given lenient sentences and should be protected. Ni Xian is under the age of twenty, so I am also acting in accordance with the law." Dean Hong still looked at Fang Yun coldly, without any fear.
"Ni Xian harmed people, so he should be protected. But Tian Lu was harmed, so he doesn't need protection? The law is to protect young people, not young beasts! It's not to protect juvenile criminals! When juvenile criminals are protected, when they know that the cost of committing a crime is very low, they will be more unscrupulous in harming others! You have many students all over the world, and you are a dignified scholar. If you can't tell right from wrong, how can you have the face to talk about the law! This county will tell you how to protect real teenagers like Tian Lu, and that is to severely punish Ni Xian!"
Ni Xian and other defendants looked pale. Fang Yun's attitude was too obvious. If it were an ordinary county magistrate, they would even dare to make trouble in the lobby. However, the other party was a virtual saint. Even if they made trouble, they would only do it behind the scenes and would never dare to turn against Fang Yun openly.
Dean Hong retorted, "I have repeatedly educated Ni Xian and punished him by making him copy scriptures so that he could learn from the saints and become a new person. There is no distinction between the classes in education, and everyone can be educated. This is what Confucius said. And Confucius once said, 'The old and the weak should not be punished.' Could it be that Fang Xusheng wants to overturn Confucius' teachings?"
"Speaking in a flattering manner! The 'punishment' in this sentence refers to punishment, not punishment! Moreover, Ni Xian is strong and healthy, and he harmed Tian Lu to such an extent, how can he be called 'weak'?"
Dean Hong's expression eased, and he continued, "Confucius' teachings are that education comes first, and punishment comes later. If County Magistrate Fang really follows the holy teachings of the human race, please hand Ni Xian over to me for three years. If after three years, Ni Xian still refuses to change his ways and persists in his evil ways, then I will take this bad disciple with me and apologize for my crime!"
"Oh..." Fang Yun agreed indifferently, and then asked casually, "May I ask Dean Hong, how many years has Ni Xian studied at Wenfu Academy?"
It was a soft word, but it was like thunder out of the blue.
Everyone instinctively looked at Dean Hong and found that Dean Hong was at a loss for words.
"Well... In my opinion..."
Fang Yun slammed the gavel to interrupt Dean Hong's words and shouted, "I want to ask you, how many years has Ni Xian studied in Wenfu Academy?"
The powerful force of the literary advisor and the sound of the gavel spread in all directions, forming a powerful deterrent force. Even though Dean Hong had a literary advisor, he could not resist it and could only whisper: "Ni Xian has been studying in the academy for seven years."
"In seven years, you have taught such a stubborn student, and you even dare to shamelessly mention the teachings of Confucius. This is simply outrageous! In view of the bad deeds of Wenfu Academy and the fact that the head of the academy is protecting the unscrupulous, this county requests Jingguo Academy, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Justice, and the Holy Academy Criminal Court to re-examine the qualifications of Wenfu Academy! If Wenfu Academy harbors evil, it will be severely punished!"
Dean Hong's hair stood on end. He glared at Fang Yun and shouted, "Fang Zhenguo, what hatred do I have against you? You actually want to kill me and ruin my ancestral property! If anything happens to the academy, I will perish with you!"
"How dare you! Juren Hong Shitong has disregarded the law and is roaring in the court, trying to assassinate this county magistrate. Come, arrest him!"
The runners of the county government were stunned. Since they started working, they had never touched even a student or a scholar. Today they had just beaten a student, and now they were asked to touch a juren, who was the president of an academy. How could they do this
Dean Hong's face flushed red, and he straightened his spine proudly, saying: "I am a disciple of the Holy Academy, a candidate of the human race! If I have not committed a serious offense, even the Punishment Hall cannot arrest me! Let's see who can drive me away!"
"Oh, wait a moment." Fang Yun said, holding the official seal in his hand and began to pass the letter.
Everyone present was stunned. This scene was too familiar. Not long ago, Ni Kuo said that as a student he could not be tortured. However, Fang Yun quickly took out the documents from the Criminal Hall and forcibly tortured Ni Kuo to suppress his arrogance.
Dean Hong swallowed hard and said in a much lower voice than before: "I don't believe you can cover the sky with one hand in the Holy Academy!"
After a while, Fang Yun closed his eyes to rest, and the county government office fell into silence.
After a hundred breaths, Fang Yun suddenly opened his eyes, grasped the official seal, and saw a piece of text flying out of the official seal, hanging in the air to form a page of documents.