After hearing Fang Yun go this far, the officials present understood that Void Sage Fang had not come to Xiang Prefecture to blend in with the light and dust as governor-general. His aspirations reached far beyond those of ordinary officials.
The tricks of officialdom were useless against Fang Yun.
Many officials turned to Dong Wencong. At a time like this, they could only hope that the head of the prefecture would speak up.
Prefectural Governor Dong Wencong coughed lightly and said, "Since Void Sage Fang wishes to hear the truth, this subordinate will answer honestly. The fundamental reason the people took to the streets is that they have lost trust in us officials of Xiang Prefecture."
"Not enough," Fang Yun said.
Dong Wencong said helplessly, "Some of the people have suffered oppression at the hands of local officials and powerful families, so they have completely given up hope in the Xiang Prefecture government."
Cold sweat poured from the other officials' foreheads. As members of the upper bureaucracy, they all knew this. The problem was that such things could not be said aloud, because doing so stripped the skin off every bureaucrat.
"Correct. It isn't because they are ignorant, nor because the people of the Craftsmen School are incapable. Even those unscrupulous merchants are only a secondary cause. The main cause is the shamelessness and incompetence of bureaucrats like you. But beyond your lack of integrity, discernment, and fairness in office, there is a deeper reason the people lose trust or fall into despair," Fang Yun said.
"Please enlighten us, my lord." Dong Wencong looked slightly surprised, and the other officials also showed curiosity.
Fang Yun said slowly, "Leaving aside the power of the Sages, from Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou through the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, all