Fang Yun's authority, the pressure from the five great lineages, the ruthlessness of the Anti-Thug Office, the Hall of Punishment's fearsome reputation, Prince Kang's death, the destruction of one hundred and six lineages, the Ritual Hall's silence... all these factors combined utterly crushed Jing Kingdom's major lineages.
Even so, some lineages still fought like trapped beasts, even beginning to arm their own estates.
However, the Anti-Thug Office led Jing Kingdom's carriage troops from every region and launched merciless attacks in the name of exterminating rebels.
After the Anti-Thug Office announced that the fourth phase of the Anti-Thug Campaign, targeting local tyrants and evil gentry, had achieved major results, Jing Kingdom's Grand Secretariat convened a meeting specifically to discuss the campaign, analyze and summarize it, and gain valuable experience.
After the meeting, Cao Dean stopped Fang Yun. The two drank tea in an empty side hall while everyone else departed.
After a long while, Cao Dean set down his teacup, looked at Fang Yun, and said, "Void Sage Fang, you know that I have never opposed you in court. But this time, weren't you a little too ruthless? You needn't argue that these were the Hall of Punishment's methods. I understand the Hall of Punishment well, and I understand Grand Secretary Gao Mo as well. Without your forceful push, the Hall of Punishment would never have gone to such extremes."
"Old ginger is spicier. I never expected you to be certain that I was entirely behind this matter." Fang Yun smiled and drank a cup of tea.
Cao Dean sighed. "Those old fellows in the Sacred Academy... Ahem. To put it unpleasantly, they say I'm made of paper, but those grand secretaries are at most made of kraft paper. They aren't much stronger than I am. Their way of doing things