The People Judge an Official's Rise or Fall

"Leave it to the people? What do you mean by that?" Li Shun narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.

Kong Zhao snorted. His brows were drawn tight, as though he were holding back a host of grievances.

After a pause, he explained with forced patience, "The people also have the right to judge every civil and military official at court. Their judgment can shift an official's assessment by as many as two minor grades, up or down."

"Say a county magistrate is initially rated lower-upper and ought to be punished. If he has the people's wholehearted support, he could rise not only to middle-lower, but even to middle-middle."

"Conversely, if he is notorious among the people, he could fall as far as lower-lower. Then he might lose not just his post, but his head!"

"So the countless voices of the people can, in effect, sway an official's assessment by an entire major grade."

Displeasure covered Kong Zhao's face. "Junior Brother, you be the judge. How utterly absurd is this?"

"Illiterate country fools cannot even read. What do they know of benevolence, righteousness, honor, or shame? And now they can turn the tables and presume to decide our futures? It's the greatest joke under heaven!" Li Shun considered this for a moment but did not answer at once.

Instead, he pressed for details. "By what method will this so-called will of the people be measured? Surely they won't go door to door asking? Besides, the great lords of court sit far above the common folk. How would ordinary people know what they've actually accomplished?"

"Even I still can't recognize every civil and military official at court."

Kong Zhao grew more irritated. "That's precisely why the court is going to such lengths. The Mohist School has joined forces with the Heaven Oversight