The Sage of Confucianism and Taoism

Chapter 1655 The Governor is Arbitrary

Through the efforts of Dong Wencong and Fang Shouye, the ships that had been forced to relocate returned to Baling Wharf, and the big wharf returned to its former busyness.

Fang Yun, who was in mid-air, nodded slightly, stepped flat on the blue clouds, and landed on the dock.

Many people in Baling City bowed to Fang Yun. Some asked their children to kneel down to Fang Yun, and some adults also knelt down to Fang Yun. Most of these kneeling adults had deep hatred against Qing Guo. .

The first thing Fang Yun did when he set foot on the dock was not to meet the officials of Baling, but to take a walk on the dock, talk to the boatmen, fishermen or the people of Baling City to learn about the local situation.

Fang Shouye and Dong Wencong were stunned for a while. Dong Wencong immediately asked someone to take out the Four Treasures of the Study, pick up a brush and draw, and draw the scene of Fang Yun talking to the people of Baling. Then he painted some officials in a distant place, and finally wrote a few comments.

"The Xusheng arrived and established the order at the dock; the governor first appeared, and the officials were far away and close to the people. Officials are like fish, and the people are like water. There is nothing better than this."

After finishing writing, Dong Wen handed the scroll to the staff around him and whispered: "Quickly pass it to the Editorial and Review Court of the "Wenbao" of the Holy Academy."

Dong Wencong's staff immediately left quickly.

The Xiangzhou officials present looked at Fang Yun surrounded by the people of Baling with expressions of disbelief.

"Does Governor Fang know the ways of officialdom, or did he stumble into it by mistake?"

"This man is probably the best at winning people's hearts among the ten countries." An old Jinshi sneered.

"If the way of being an official turns into pleasing the people, what kind of decency will it be?" Another Jinshi scolded in a low voice.

Some officials wanted to scold these Xiangzhou officials who supported the Qing Dynasty, but they could not speak because the Jinshi official was right. The way to be an official is to flatter the superiors and bully the subordinates. No matter how stupid you are, you will not please the people. Once you try to gain power by pleasing the people, you are violating a taboo in official circles and will inevitably be attacked by a group of people.

If you can get promoted by pleasing the people, where will the senior officials responsible for the promotion and demotion of officials be placed? It is simply subverting a country's political system.

However, these officials did not dare to attack Fang Yun on this matter. The governor was not terrible, but as a virtual saint, they could not use this kind of thing to bring him down. Once word spread throughout the world, it would only increase Fang Yun's reputation.

Fang Yun has long been beyond the reach of any country's bureaucracy.

Fang Yun chatted with the people of Baling City for a full hour before bidding them farewell and walking to the officials of Xiangzhou.

"Greetings to the Governor!"

All officials in Xiangzhou, led by Fang Shouye and Dong Wencong, bowed together.

"You don't have to be polite, just talk as we walk. Coming to Baling for the second time is also considered a revisit to the old place." Fang Yun said as he walked.

Many Xiangzhou officials who supported Jingguo showed a faint smile, because when Fang Yunwen fought against Qingguo and recaptured Xiangzhou, it was in Baling City that not only disgraced Qingjun's reputation, but also left many high-ranking officials of Qingguo helpless and became the Holy Yuan. The laughingstock of the mainland.

However, the expressions of those Xiangzhou officials who supported Qingguo remained unchanged.

"Let's walk back to the city together. Let's talk about Xiangzhou's affairs on the way. Wencong, can all the officials from all over the country come here?" Fang Yun talked while walking. He was younger than everyone present, but he sounded old-fashioned. , full of official authority, quite like the governor of two states, no official dared to look down on him, but felt pressured.

Dong Wencong said hurriedly: "Xiangzhou has a vast territory and governs more than 80 cities. It would take several days for the magistrates of some remote counties to arrive by ordinary carriage."

The area around Fang Yun suddenly became quiet, and many officials subconsciously slowed down their breathing for fear that their breathing would be too loud.

"Which counties are so poor that they don't even have a dragon horse? If you drive a dragon horse, even the county magistrate who is farthest from Baling can arrive within three hours."

Dong Wencong coughed lightly and said, "Perhaps the horses in some counties were used for other purposes and the county magistrate was unable to mobilize them, so he came here in an ordinary ox-carriage."

Fang Yun looked at the sun in the west and asked, "Will there be a formal ceremony tonight?"

Dong Wencong said hurriedly: "Xiaguan has already prepared for the new ceremony, and some officials from Jiangzhou will arrive before the new ceremony."

"Okay, if there are people who haven't been to Baling City before taking office, they don't need to come!" Fang Yun said calmly.

The hearts of many officials present sank. If Fang Yun was cautious or close to the people when he restored order before, then Fang Yun this time was demonstrating the majesty and power of the governor.

The governor has arbitrary power over officials below the third rank.

Whether he is a seventh-rank county magistrate or a fifth-rank magistrate, as long as he holds office within the two states, Fang Yun can directly remove the official positions of officials below the third rank in Xiangzhou and Jiangzhou without going through the cabinet, as long as he finds any small excuse.

The appointment of officials by Jingguo's cabinet in other states has nothing to do with Fang Yun, but as long as officials are appointed in Jiangzhou and Xiangzhou, everything below the third rank needs Fang Yun's approval.

As long as Fang Yun does not stamp the governor's seal, neither the four prime ministers nor the two state officials appointed by the Queen Mother have actual power and cannot take office.

It is precisely because the governor has great power that countries rarely set up one. Jiang Hechuan also spent a lot of effort to get Zuo Xiang to agree.

This is to give those Qing officials a warning. As long as those officials cannot come, Fang Yun can directly deprive them of their positions with just one charge of "disrespecting the superior officials".

The officials did not dare to answer, so Fang Yun continued: "Where will this cultural conference be held?"

Dong Wencong said: "There were originally five locations to choose from, namely Junshan, Dongting Lake, Zhouwenyuan, Lusu Yuejun Tower and Wangjiang Tower, the largest restaurant in the city. After thinking about it before going, the restaurant was too vulgar, and Zhouwen The courtyard is too old and Junshan is too far away, but the Lusu Yuejun Building is also considered to be on the bank of Dongting Lake, so it should be the best."

"Yes, then we will hold today's cultural gathering at the Military Parade Building."

Dong Wencong said: "I would like to remind you that as the top priority of this literary conference, you must write a poem."

"I naturally know this."

Fang Yun nodded lightly. These are the customs of the officialdom. Since he wants to serve as the governor of two states, he must learn to integrate into the officials.

"Where is Lu Ming, the magistrate of Taihe Prefecture?" Fang Yun suddenly asked.

I saw a middle-aged man wearing a Jinshi robe walking a few steps quickly and said, "I am a humble Lu Ming. I have met the Governor."

Fang Yun glanced at Lu Ming. He had an ordinary appearance and a mustache. He looked kind but also made people feel very shrewd.

"How did you find out about the Fuxing Society?" Fang Yun asked.

Some Qing officials suddenly became nervous, while Jing officials were much calmer.

"I have been interrogating the head of the society, Zhou Ziren, for one day. Since I learned that you were leaving for office early, I had no choice but to rush over." Lu Ming answered truthfully.

"What do you think of this case?" Fang Yun said.

All the officials present were wondering about Fang Yun's intentions, and many looked at Yan Wu, the prefect of Taihe, who remained silent.

Lu Ming said with a bitter face: "This case is a case assigned by Mr. Yan. The subordinate has only one opinion. He has more than enough ambition but not enough power. I hope other officials will accept the case."

"It involves disputes between the two countries and the people, which has alarmed scholars from all over the human race. You, the county magistrate, really cannot handle this matter. Prefect Yan, can you take over this case and get to the bottom of it as soon as possible."

"This... the lower official was unable to try the case because he was busy with business, so he handed it over to Lu Ming."

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