A strange aura emanated from Ji Zhibai, containing the idea of being inclusive and eclectic, protecting Ji Zhibai's literary palace and literary courage.
However, Ji Zhibai's literary talent was still shaky, as thin as celadon, and could break at any time.
Yu Bachi looked at Ji Zhibai with satisfaction. The dispute over the holy way was dangerous, but it was equally dangerous for scholars to argue about politics face to face. Although Fang Yun's words seemed a little out of line, they were only half a step out of line. Not only did they not violate benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, trustworthiness, loyalty and courage, but they were also extremely consistent with them.
Yu Bachi looked at Fang Yun again, with a feeling of admiration rising in his heart. Fang Yun's previous remarks were not earth-shattering if you think about them carefully, but they had a great power to convince people. At the same time, he did not completely overturn the inherent concept of "protecting one's relatives". He started with etiquette and ended with law, creating the concept of etiquette and law.
"This scene is probably that Ji Zhibai is holding a broken shield that is conservative, while Fang Xusheng is holding an unmatched sword of innovation. With one slash of the sword, nothing can stop it." Yu Bachi thought to himself.
Fang Yun ignored Ji Zhibai, looked at Shopkeeper Gong, and then looked at the people outside the door.
The officials and common people outside the hall only felt that there was divine power ahead of them, so they instinctively lowered their heads and listened attentively to the holy teachings.
"Ritual is the ritual of the state, and then the rules of the human race, for the race, for the political system, and for everyone. Killing one's wife and children is like a monster or a barbarian, which is intolerable by heaven and is not worthy of being a human being. How can it be judged by ritual?"
Ji Zhibai's chest heaved and countless words appeared in his mind, but in the end he did not dare to object anymore, because once Fang Yun counterattacked, the miscellaneous strength he had cultivated for many years would definitely not be able to protect himself. No matter whether he used the strategist's strategy of changing sides between Qin and Chu or the military strategist's strategy of using all means necessary in war, no matter whether he used the Confucian strategy of changing circumstances at this time or the alliance under siege, none of them would be effective.
The power of a Jinshi is limited to begin with, not to mention that he is facing one of the four saints: a tongsheng, a scholar, a juren and a jinshi, who are genuine false saints!
Fang Yun looked at Shopkeeper Gong, slammed the gavel, and said, "What else do you have to say, sir?"
Shopkeeper Gong had been completely defeated by Fang Yun. He kept kowtowing like a chicken pecking at rice, begging for mercy: "I was wrong, please spare my life, Grandpa Xusheng! I was wrong, please spare my life, Grandpa Xusheng..."
Fang Yun said: "Since you have pleaded guilty, I can pronounce the sentence."
Ji Zhibai hesitated for a moment. He could not refute, but that did not mean he could not plead for mercy. He sighed and said, "What County Magistrate Fang said is absolutely right. Manager Gong did commit a serious mistake, but it does not deserve death. The reason why humans are wiser and progress faster than monsters is because we have a kind heart and can forgive the mistakes of others. If you have seen the executioner killing people on the execution ground, you will know how cruel it is. So, please show mercy. Don't do such a cruel thing."
Fang Yun looked at Ji Zhibai, narrowed his eyes slightly, and revealed an undisguised indifference in his eyes, and said: "If you had seen the scene where the innocent wife and children of Manager Gong died tragically. If you had seen the blood-stained house, you would not have said such cruel words! The kindness you give to the murderer is the evil you stab at the dead!"
Ji Zhibai's body trembled, and he felt a pain between his eyebrows. He thought to himself that it was fortunate that he was begging for mercy, otherwise if he refuted, his literary courage might be in trouble.
"Your Excellency is wise!" County Magistrate Tao Dingnian suddenly bowed deeply to Fang Yun. At this point, he was convinced.
"Your Excellency is wise!" Many officials, young or old, and whether or not they had been members of the Left Prime Minister's party, all admired him greatly.
Ji Zhibai gritted his teeth and stared at Fang Yun. He didn't expect that he, the top scholar in the country, would be left speechless by Fang Yun's refutation. What made him most angry was not the reactions of others, but the fact that he was almost convinced!
The kindness you give to the murderer is the evil you stab at the dead!
Ji Zhibai didn't even dare to open his mouth, because he knew that if he had the slightest intention to refute at this moment, his literary courage might be shattered.
However, Ji Zhibai was unwilling to admit defeat. He turned his head to look at the relatives and friends of Manager Gong and winked at them.
Those people hesitated for a moment and then knelt down.
"I beg Saint Fang Xu to give Shopkeeper Gong a lenient sentence. He has a very good reputation among the customers of the grain shop and never shortchanges customers on weights!"
"I want to testify! Although Brother Gong beat his wife and children, he also provided them with good food and drink, and they lacked nothing."
"Yes, a few days ago I heard my third brother say that he wanted to buy some gold and silver jewelry for my sister-in-law."
"My cousin said that he thought his third uncle was a good person and he didn't blame him for beating him!"
"Yes, my sister-in-law complained to me a few days ago, saying that although the third child has a bad temper, he is not a bad person."
"They can testify, and so can we..."
After the relatives and friends of Shopkeeper Gong finished speaking, Ji Zhibai stepped forward and bowed, saying, "What Magistrate Fang said is very true. Zhibai has learned his lesson. However, a husband and wife are bound by love for a hundred days. Considering that they have been married for many years and raised their son for many years, they still have feelings for each other. I hope Magistrate Fang will exempt Shopkeeper Gong from the death penalty and spare his life to show your great benevolence and righteousness."
Fang Yun thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Master Ji is right. A husband and wife are bound by love for a hundred days. He still has feelings for his wife and children. This needs to be taken into consideration when sentencing."
Ji Zhibai was overjoyed and said, "County Magistrate Fang is wise!" After saying this, he didn't think there was anything wrong with what he said.
The Gong family members thanked Fang Yun one after another.
However, Gong Liu's family looked at Fang Yun in disbelief.
Some officials sighed softly, not knowing what to say.
Ao Huang was floating beside Fang Yun, very surprised.
"Hmm?" A faint voice came from the side door, and the little fox was seen sitting on the threshold of the side door, his eyes full of confusion.
"Thank you Grandpa Xusheng! Thank you Grandpa Xusheng..." Shopkeeper Gong was so moved that he burst into tears.
Fang Yun asked: "Manager Gong, do you really still have feelings for your wife and children?"
"Yes! I swear to God, yes! I really treat them as my family!" Shopkeeper Gong cried.
Fang Yun nodded and said, "Then I will formally pronounce the verdict. Gong Wu, the owner of Kaiyuan Grain Store, repeatedly beat his wife and children to vent his anger, and finally beat them to death today. His deeds are too numerous to list, and his crimes are too numerous to count. He is worse than a beast. According to the law, this beast should be beheaded. But..."
Fang Yun suddenly stopped and looked around.
An irrepressible joy flashed across Shopkeeper Gong's eyes, Ji Zhibai's mouth corners curled up slightly, and the Gong family breathed a sigh of relief.
Gong Liu's family was extremely sad, and the child's classmates gritted their teeth, clenched their fists, and had tears in their eyes.
Fang Yun continued, "But! This man clearly has feelings for his wife and son, but he still has the heart to kill them so cruelly. Wouldn't he be even more cruel to treat other people who have no feelings for him? If he can kill even his closest relatives, who in the world can't be killed? If this man is alive, he will be a huge threat to everyone! I hereby sentence Gong Wu to three levels of punishment for killing his closest relatives! Lingchi!"
"You..." Ji Zhibai pointed at Fang Yun, feeling dizzy and his body shaking violently.
Manager Gong looked at Fang Yun blankly, unable to believe the result. If it was a death sentence, it might just be hanging or beheading, which would not be too painful, but Lingchi was to cut off the flesh of a person piece by piece. The most successful Lingchi would require 3,600 cuts, and the last cut would kill the prisoner.
In folk culture, lingchi is commonly known as being cut into pieces, which is one of the most extreme punishments for human beings.
Gong Liu's relatives and friends knelt down crying.
"Thank you, Mr. Fang. My second sister's spirit in heaven must be bowing to you!"
"Thank you, Fang Xusheng! The beast Gong Wu should have died long ago! If you don't sentence him to death, I will avenge my second sister's blood relatives and kill this beast!"
"Second sister, did you see that? Fang Xusheng helped you get revenge!"
"Great!" Everyone outside the door cheered. (To be continued...)