Fang Yun looked at Ji Zhibai with an expression of astonishment. "Secretary Ji, I know you did not minor in the Legalist School's classics, but I find it hard to imagine a Metropolitan Graduate uttering such twisted words. If all the Human Race's officials were like you, the Human Race would already be in chaos!"
"Absurd! What evidence do you have to call me twisted?" Ji Zhibai demanded haughtily.
Fang Yun said, "First, Xing the Lame teased the ox. He was at fault, so why should the innocent Zhang Yuanwai pay compensation? Whatever Zhang Yuanwai might usually be like, what wrong did he commit in this case? Do you understand the essence of this case? You declared a victim who lost his plow ox to be in the wrong and made him compensate the wrongdoer. How absurd is that! You treated the law as nothing but a worthless scrap of paper! What is goodness? Goodness means benefiting both sides. Harming one innocent person to help another is evil masquerading as goodness! What is true goodness? What does it mean to benefit both sides? A county magistrate ought to inspire Zhang Yuanwai to develop charitable intentions and voluntarily help Xing the Lame, then commend Zhang Yuanwai's good deed throughout the county! Forcing someone to do good through coercion is already evil, yet you went so far as to falsely accuse an innocent man. That is a monstrous evil!"
"You..."
Fang Yun cut Ji Zhibai off without mercy. "If Zhang Yuanwai is wealthy but heartless and has committed evil deeds, a county magistrate may rebuke him according to propriety and bring him to justice under the law. But choosing to punish him for something in which he is innocent turns the moral order upside down and throws propriety and law into chaos!"