The censors pressed forward as one, and Shen Duan naturally had nothing more to say.
Seeing that Shen Duan had withdrawn, Song Jing turned toward the Imperial Throne and said solemnly,
"Your Majesty, I have served in the Censorate for years and have seen all too many censors punished for their words.
Zhang Mao, Li Han, Zhao Ding-which of them did not speak with conviction and argue with evidence?
And what became of them? Some were demoted; others died.
Today, Wang Kan stood in this hall, removed his own Black Gauze Cap, and staked his life on his plea.
As his Exam Mentor, I find this truly painful.
Not because he is my pupil, but because his words...
Though some were excessive, and some expressions ill chosen,
his heart was set on worrying for Your Majesty, considering the court's welfare, and speaking for the common people."
"As for the passage Chancellor Shen quoted just now from the Zuo Tradition, 'Those who govern a state must be like farmers intent on weeding.'"
Song Jing's voice was as steady and heavy as bedrock. "I, too, shall quote a line from Discourses of the States.
Stopping the people's mouths is more dangerous than damming a river.
When a dammed river bursts, many will surely be hurt. So it is with the people.
Once the channels of speech are blocked, those above and below can no longer communicate.
Without communication between those above and below, obstruction and concealment arise.
Once obstruction and concealment arise, the state is imperiled.
Though Wang Kan's words today may have been unduly vehement,
the matters he pointed out and the abuses he described were all real.
I ask Your Majesty not to discard a man for his words, nor to discard words because of the man.
Investigate He Yanming