Law and benevolence could not both be fulfilled.
No matter which side Fang Yun favored, someone would inevitably attack him, and he would inevitably offend one faction.
Fang Yun thought, As expected of a pack of veteran clerks. They are incomparably adept at schemes to torment and harm people, yet utterly useless at governing a nation. Let alone the Jing Kingdom—even those singular figures throughout the ages have tried, yet none ever found a way to deal with these officials.
Without them, nothing could function, from a single county to an entire nation.
Fang Yun also wanted to cut through the mess with a swift blade, but if he did not suppress them through upright and honorable means, then once these officials seized upon any weakness, they could resign together. Ning'an County would fall into complete chaos. If he received the lowest Grade D in three categories, he would no longer qualify to become Zhuangyuan! At best, he could only become Bangyan.
It was like the Beginner Scholar Examination through the Metropolitan Graduate Examination: if one received a Grade D in any subject, one would certainly fail, even if every other subject received Grade A.
"Unfortunately, you have gotten one thing wrong..."
Fang Yun silently pondered this, then looked at Liu Quan, who could not repay his debt, and asked, "Do you resent Zhang Youde?"
Liu Quan froze, then weakly shook his head. "This commoner is grateful beyond measure. How could I resent him? Without him, I would likely have pawned off my house long ago and seen my family ruined."
"Good." After praising him, Fang Yun looked at Zhang Youde. "Do you resent Liu Quan?"
Zhang Youde sighed softly. "I do not resent him. He has also been driven into a corner."
Fang Yun asked, "If you were not