The Sage of Confucianism and Taoism

Chapter 934: To punish past mistakes and prevent future ones, to cure diseases and save lives

The word "Get lost" was suspended in front of Shen Ming, and beads of sweat kept falling from his forehead. His face changed from red to purple, from purple to blue, and from blue to white.

The hall was quiet inside and outside, and nearly a hundred officials stretched their necks to look at the word "Get lost".

Ji Zhibai was the top scholar of Jing State and a student of the left prime minister. He was forced to say "Get lost", which showed how serious the situation was.

Tao Dingnian, Lu Hong, Wen Gu and others hurriedly held the official seal.

After a moment, Tao Dingnian suddenly raised his head and gritted his teeth and said, "Shen Ming! You old killer, you actually have a niece who is worse than pigs and dogs, and you dare to poison and murder the prime minister's two grandchildren!"

"Beast!" Lu Hong shook his head gently.

Wen Gu's eyes were red, and he said, "It's a pity that the Left Prime Minister and Ji Lord trusted you so much and let you take an important position. Who knew that you Shen family members were so inhumane! I really want to smash that bitch to death!"

"I heard that the Left Prime Minister was so angry that he left Beijing and I don't know where he went!"

"What, is it true?"

"My old friend in Beijing said that the Ministry of Personnel is in a mess now, and I'm afraid that the Left Prime Minister will be upset by this matter!"

"The Left Prime Minister has been kind to us, I wish I could kill Shen Ming, the beast!"

"Even if your whole family died, it would not be enough to bury the Left Prime Minister's grandson!"

"It's hard to describe the sins of this family!"

"Must be sentenced severely, and never let off lightly!"

Many officials shouted and cursed. If this was not the main hall of the county government, they didn't know what ugly words they would curse.

Many officials were so angry that they were crazy, not to protect the Left Prime Minister, but for themselves!

The left prime minister originally had high hopes for Ning'an County, hoping that the officials of Ning'an County could overthrow Fang Yun, or at least prevent Fang Yun from taking the palace examination.

But now, not only did everyone fail to stop Fang Yun, but the people of Ning'an County killed the left prime minister's grandson. In the future, when the left prime minister hears the officials of Ning'an County, he will inevitably think of a pair of grandsons who died in the womb.

Shen Ming's niece's poisoning almost cut off the promotion channel for officials from Ning'an County!

Many young officials were not only angry, but also panicked.

"It's over, our future is over..."

I don't know who said half a sentence and was blocked by someone, but the invisible panic spread among nearly a hundred officials.

Now who dares to say that Fang Yun is wrong is equivalent to saying that the left prime minister's grandson deserves to die, which is to wash away Shen Ming Lanxiang's guilt!

Fang Yun is not wrong, so naturally the officials are wrong!

Some officials looked at Fang Yun, who was sitting on the Diaoyutai in the main hall, and were terrified. Now everyone has been dragged on the pirate ship by Shen Ming, and it is neither staying nor leaving.

Sitting opposite was Fang Yun, a man who dared to take down a county governor on the first day of his arrival in Ning'an County, a man who could attract great scholars and scholars from various palaces to come and go. If he didn't take action, it would be fine, but once he took action, it would be earth-shattering.

He turned his hand to make clouds and turned his hand to make rain.

Some officials couldn't help but curse themselves in their hearts for being blind. Before, they had underestimated Fang Yun and thought that Fang Yun couldn't beat these officials at all!

Now it seems that Fang Yun didn't take the officials present seriously at all!

Before, Fang Yun was tolerant in order to lay out the palace examination. Now that the layout is complete, he brought Shen Ming to trial with thunder and lightning on the same day, and even deliberately used Shen Ming as bait, and all the officials in Ning'an County took the bait!

Shen Ming lowered his head, his face was gray. The reason why he was arrogant before was that he relied on his identity as a relative of the left prime minister. Now, this reliance is gone.

Some officials who were on good terms with him sighed in their hearts that Shen Ming was completely finished, and his energy and spirit seemed to have been drained.

Bang...

Fang Yun suddenly slammed the gavel and said, "Where is the secretary of the household department? Come forward and answer."

All the officials were startled by the gavel and trembled slightly. After hearing Fang Yun's words, they were even more frightened.

Fang Yun was going to take action against the officials of Ning'an County!

Even if it was a day ago, if Fang Yun dared to take action, they would have dared to disobey collectively, but now they dare not.

The left prime minister was so angry that he left Beijing, who dared to say anything?

"The secretary of the household department is here!" Then an old scholar over fifty years old walked slowly to the door of the main hall, his legs shaking uncontrollably.

The household department is under the charge of the chief clerk, and the secretary of the household department is Shen Ming's confidant.

Fang Yun looked at the secretary of the household department coldly and said, "I heard that you have a close relationship with Shen Ming. Is your daughter married to someone from the Shen family?"

"Indeed." The secretary of the household department swallowed hard.

"Oh, what about the anonymous report? Are the charges that you and Shen Ming embezzled two county-owned workshops, resold grain, and embezzled money from land measurement true?"

"Your humble servant..." General Secretary Hufang did not dare to continue.

Fang Yun said slowly: "The policy of the county's administration is to punish the past and prevent the future, and to cure the disease and save people. The policy of treating suspects is to be lenient to those who confess and to be strict to those who resist. If you confess truthfully, I can give you a light sentence. If you are stubborn, the county will punish you severely."

As an old official, General Secretary Hufang naturally understood the meaning of Fang Yun's words. The so-called punishment for the past and prevent the future means to arrest all the people related to Shen Ming. The so-called cure the disease and save people means that if you sincerely repent and help Fang Yun expose Shen Ming, the sentence will be reduced, which is equivalent to saving them, and the death penalty will never be used.

Obviously, Fang Yun is well versed in the way of administration. He can compromise on sentencing, but he will never give in on right and wrong!

"Your subordinate... confess!" The head secretary of the household department half-knelt on the ground.

"You..." Before Shen Ming finished speaking, Fang Yun suddenly slapped him in the air, and the official seal mobilized the power of the holy temple and hit Shen Ming's face in the air.

"Pa..."

This slap made Shen Ming stagger and step back three steps, his face swollen, blood slowly flowing down the corner of his mouth.

"Hiss..." Shen Ming glared at Fang Yun angrily, covering his left face with his hand, but dared not say a word.

The officials were silent. Shen Ming was a Juren chief clerk after all. Fang Yun beat him as he said, which was to show his determination. Anyone who dared to jump out to defend Shen Ming would be ruthlessly suppressed!

"You confess your crimes one by one." Fang Yun looked down at the half-kneeling head of the household department.

"Yes..."

Next, the head of the household department began to confess, telling the story of himself and Shen Ming one by one, but most of them cleverly said that they were forced by Shen Ming and they were helpless. Finally, he confessed some of his own deeds. Although the crime was not light, it was not painful or itchy compared with the previous one.

During this process, Shen Ming just snorted coldly and said nothing.

After the chief secretary of the household department confessed, Fang Yun thought for a moment and made a judgment. His house was searched, all the property was confiscated, he was caned 40 times, paraded through the streets, and then sent to the army for ten years. If he made great contributions, his sentence could be reduced. His three sons participated in the division of the spoils, and they were all caned 60 times and sentenced to three years in prison. His wife also participated in the violation of the law, and was caned 20 times and sentenced to one year in prison.

"Thank you, sir!" The chief secretary of the household department was in a very complicated mood. Fang Yun did what he said and followed the principle of "curing the disease and saving people". He allowed him to reduce his sentence by making meritorious contributions, but he did not let go of his family members who participated in the crime.

The chief secretary of the household department looked up again and said, "Sir, I confessed voluntarily. Can I be exempted from parading through the streets?"

For scholars, parading through the streets is a heavier punishment than imprisonment and exile. Some scholars would rather die than parade through the streets.

Fang Yun said, "From today on, all corrupt officials must be paraded through the streets! If you don't want to be paraded through the streets, don't reach out!"