The Sage of Confucianism and Taoism

Fang Yun looked at the woman and said, "If you repent in time, the county will no longer punish you. Please exit the lobby first."

"Thank you, sir, for your kindness!" The woman in gorgeous clothes hurriedly left the hall.

"Zhuo Jing is reckless, thank you for your kindness." Ni Kuo endured the pain and raised his hands to thank him.

Fang Yun nodded and said, "Who in the hall can you name?"

Ni Kuo and the other seven defendants trembled and did not dare to say a word.

I saw the middle-aged man on the other side cupping his fists towards Fang Yun and saying, "Tian Fusheng, a young citizen, brings his son Tian Lu to pay homage to Master Xu Sheng."

"Why did you and your son take the four children to court?" After Fang Yun finished speaking, he looked at Tian Fusheng carefully. He was wearing old clothes. He was clearly just over thirty, but his temples were already gray.

Tian Fusheng looked sad and angry and said: "My son Tian Lu has been obedient since he was a child, down-to-earth and diligent. He has never bullied good people and is well-known among his classmates. However, because of some trivial matters in the academy, he had an enmity with Ni Xian. My son knows The Ni family is powerful , he was very tolerant and apologized many times, but Ni Xian went even further. Not only did he bully my son many times, but he also gathered his accomplices to intensify their insults, insulted my son, tore his clothes in public, beat him repeatedly, and forced my son to kneel down. All of this is very disturbing. Point out."

"How long will it last?" Fang Yun looked at Tian Lu, who was only thirteen or fourteen years old. The child lowered his head, clutching the scholar's robe with both hands, and his body was trembling. He could tell at a glance that he was a coward at heart.

"As early as March of last year, my son was verbally humiliated and beaten since May of last year. At first we saw some minor injuries on him, and we just thought they were caused by playing, until one day in March last year, he His clothes were torn and he went home crying with wounds all over his body. Only then did we learn from his mouth what had happened over the years.”

"What did you do after that?" Fang Yun asked.

Tian Fusheng looked sad and said: "We first went to Ning'an County to appeal. The previous Ji County Magistrate fined the Ni family and others to apologize to my son and pay five taels of silver as medical expenses. Although we are dissatisfied with this penalty, we are still There was nothing I could do. I thought this matter was over, but my son was still unhappy. , his ranking in the academy continued to decline, until one day when he was taking a shower, we discovered that there were many bruises on the areas covered by his clothes. Only then did we realize that they had turned from bright to dark, and they were no different than animals! ! I appealed again, but the county magistrate’s decision was the same as before!”

"What happens next?" Fang Yun asked.

"After that, I protested and took my son to Fucheng to file a complaint. However, Ni Kuo was a child, and his wife was the daughter of a famous family. I don't know what means were used. The government detained us on the grounds that Ning'an County had closed the case and could not appeal beyond the level. Drive out of the city! Afterwards, the Ni family sent a message saying that they were willing to pay three hundred taels of silver, otherwise they would make our Tian family uneasy!"

"Oh? Did you agree to keep it secret at that time?" Fang Yun asked.

Tian Fusheng's eyes widened with anger and he said: "My son was originally a promising boy, but he was bullied by Ni Xian and others, so that his studies were ruined and his future was ruined! Not to mention three hundred taels of silver, it was thirty thousand taels. You can’t exchange for my son’s education! I, Tian Fusheng, don’t want their dirty money, I just want justice!”

Tian Fusheng shouted the last four words.

Fang Yun looked at the young Tian Lu and said, "Tian Lu, what do you have to say?"

Tian Lu shook slightly, not even daring to raise his head.

Fang Yun frowned slightly, and Tian Fusheng said hurriedly: "My child has not been able to talk to others for many days, and there is nothing I can do."

Fang Yun glanced at the eight defendants and found that several of them looked at Tian Lu with a little contempt and a little sarcasm, and his face suddenly sank.

Fang Yun looked at Tian Lu and felt worried. It must have been Ni Xian and others who threatened Tian Lu that caused this. Although the plaintiffs were the Tian family's father and son, the victim was Tian Lu. If Tian Lu didn't open his mouth to tell the story in detail, he would be helpless even if he had the ability to be a saint.

Time passed slowly, and there was silence in the lobby, while some people outside the hall were discussing in low voices.

Not long after, Fang Yun was suddenly startled and said loudly: "Tong Sheng Tian Lu, what do you have to say?"

Tian Lu closed his mouth, lowered his head, his body trembled slightly, and said nothing.

Fang Yun took a deep breath, straightened his body, snorted coldly, and said: "Reading the books of saints, there are people who are brave, wise, sacrifice their lives for righteousness, and sacrifice themselves to become benevolent, but you don't even dare to say a word, where is your righteousness! You Where is your courage! Where is your wisdom!”

Fang Yun's voice became louder and louder, but Tian Lu didn't seem to have the slightest reaction.

"In the Jiagu Alliance, Confucius, as a mere mortal, blocked dozens of armed soldiers and angrily criticized the king of a country. Do you remember the courage of Confucius!"

Tian Lu didn't respond.

"Mencius met King Xuan of Qi, and King Xuan of Qi asked his ministers whether they could regicide. Mencius faced the king of a country and said that if he is not the king, he is a sinner. The ministers cannot kill the king, but they can kill the sinners! Have you ever remembered the bravery of Meng Sheng? !”

Tian Lu clenched his right hand tightly.

Fang Yun paused for a moment, pointed at Tian Fusheng, and said: "Your father is a white man, not yet a boy, but he is not afraid of the powerful. He travels between prefectures and counties for his son, and his temples are white with frost and he has no regrets. Your father's courage, Have you ever remembered?"

Tian Lu's body trembled slightly.

"There are countless kinds of righteousness and bravery in the book, but you dare not take any of them. You just study without thinking, and think without doing. It is worse than rotten wood and stubborn stone. How can you have the face to call yourself a scholar? It is like a piece of waste paper and a broken pen. One! Are you willing to give up the world to the enemy instead of fighting? "

Tian Lu couldn't bear it anymore, raised his head suddenly, and shouted loudly: "Student Tian Lu was born in a commoner's family, but he is only in his teens. He has high expectations for his family, worries about his parents, restless food, and sleeplessness. Ning, I'm so lucky to be a Tongsheng, but I can't help but offend a powerful person. What can I do besides being patient?"

With tears in Tian Lu's eyes, he suddenly tore open his clothes, leaving his upper body bare, revealing a body full of scars, including bruises, knife wounds, and burns, which were shocking.

Tian Lu's face turned red and he said: "I tried to compromise, but Ni Xian got worse! I reported it to the academy, and Ni Xian used his strength to suppress him! My father asked the government for help, but Ni Xian used his strength to resolve it! If I continue to fight, Ni Xian will cut off my frontline. Cheng, destroy my family, kill my parents, what can I do! How can a person of humble stature and low status defeat the powerful nobles! Fang Xusheng, tell me how! !”

At the end of the sentence, Tian Lu's tears welled up in his eyes and never fell.

The county government office was quiet.

"So, this saint is here!" Fang Yun's tone was gentle, as if he was afraid of hurting Tian Lu, but it was like a sharp weapon in the heart, making many people tremble.

Tian Lu knelt down on the spot, tears welling up in his eyes, and cried out: "Sir, the students are suing Ni Xian and others for collaborating with bullies to oppress the people! They killed their classmates! They brought trouble to the academy! They colluded with the officials! I beg Sir Xusheng to make the decision for the students and give them back a life." Justice! Bring peace to the world!”

"This county will give you justice! Let Ning'an live in peace!"

Snap!

Fang Yun slapped the cliff, and an invisible force spread in all directions. That force contained the anger of the lord of a county, and it was also like the roar of the people of the county.

"Ni Xian, what Tian Lu said is true!" Fang Yun looked directly at Ni Xian with eyes like a torch.