roccoschili Chapter 5439 Winning People Over with Virtue
Chapter 5439 Winning People Over with Virtue
Chapter 5439 Winning People Over with Virtue
Outside the gate, the corridors of the Secretariat were bustling with noise and chatter. Fang Jun had come uninvited and with ill intentions. Even if the officials of the Secretariat were not necessarily loyal to their superior, Pei Huaijie, they had no choice but to block his way.
After all, there has been much speculation these past two days about whether Fang Jun would come knocking on their door. Now that he has indeed come, who wouldn't be afraid?
However, as officials of the provincial government, if they stood by and watched Fang Jun barge into the duty room and beat Pei Huaijie, they would be guilty of dereliction of duty. They had no choice but to bite the bullet and try to stop him.
Of course, if they can't stop him, then there's nothing that can be done. After all, everyone knows that Fang Jun is born with superhuman strength and is the bravest warrior in the army...
Pei Huaijie's heart was in his throat. He looked outside the door, then glanced back at the open window. Outside the window was a flower bed, and not far away was a palace wall. Beyond the palace wall was the Taiji Hall Square, next to the Drum Tower.
If he were a little faster, could he travel north along the palace wall before Fang Jun caught up with him, bypassing the Secretariat and reaching Wude Gate?
He sighed in frustration, thinking about his age, his recent lack of stamina in bed with his concubine, the soreness in his lower back and knees when he got up the next day, and the concubine's resentful expression.
They probably can't outrun Fang Jun.
If you can't escape in time and get caught and beaten, wouldn't that be even more humiliating?
But if Fang Jun were to beat him up in front of his subordinates, he would be just as pathetic...
After weighing his options in his mind, he moved towards the window, placed one hand on the windowsill, and then shouted, "What's all the noise outside?"
If Fang Jun rushes in and starts hitting people, I'll have enough time to climb out the window. Surely my subordinates can stop Fang Jun?
Although deserting in the face of battle is shameful, it's much better than getting beaten up on the spot or caught up and beaten up...
The door opened, and Fang Jun stepped in. Behind him, Cui Zhiwen, the Yellow Gate Attendant, was tugging at one of his sleeves, but he couldn't hold on no matter what he did.
Further back, a group of officials from the Chancellery had already surged to the entrance.
Then everyone saw Pei Huaijie standing by the window, one hand on the windowsill, his whole body already adjusted to the posture, ready to capsize the boat and flee at any moment.
Officials of the Secretariat: "..."
Although Fang Junwei was renowned and invincible, how could a high-ranking official like him not even have the courage to confront him head-on? He was such a coward.
If you're so cowardly, why bother spreading rumors and misinformation behind people's backs?
Pei Huaijie had no time to pay attention to the thoughts of his subordinates. His eyes were fixed on Fang Jun, and he said in a fierce but weak voice, "Fang Jun, don't push your luck. This is the Secretariat, the most important place in the central government. Do you still dare to hurt people?"
As soon as Fang Jun took another step forward, he would immediately jump out of the window.
Seeing this, Fang Jun chuckled: "What do you mean by that, Your Excellency? I've just returned from an overseas inspection tour, bringing back some specialties from foreign lands. They're not worth much, but they're a token of my goodwill. Many of my colleagues at court have sent some to their homes, and Your Excellency's share has already been delivered. I'm just on my way to the palace for an audience, so I stopped by for a chat. Speaking of which, this is my first time visiting since Your Excellency took office... Why are you being so unfriendly? Could it be that Your Excellency has done something wrong to me behind my back, and is now feeling guilty?"
Pei Huaijie: "..."
This guy isn't here to beat someone up?
They even gave gifts?
His mind was in turmoil, and he couldn't make sense of it all for the time being...
Cui Zhiwen pulled Fang Jun aside again and earnestly advised him: "The Grand Commandant is an important minister of the court, with unparalleled achievements and the respect of all people. You must not beat the Attendant in public, otherwise you will anger His Majesty and cause astonishment both at home and abroad, and it will be difficult to handle the situation!"
Fang Junqi asked, "When did I say I was going to hit someone?"
"This……"
Cui Zhiwen was speechless.
You came to the Secretariat in a huff, demanding to see Pei Huaijie. Isn't it obvious you're looking to settle scores with him?
Fang Jun was heartbroken: "You people believe everything you hear. I, Fang Jun, am a man of exceptional talent and wisdom, second to none in the world. I am determined to be a refined, gentle, and upright 'scholar-general.' How can you believe all those rumors and slanders? You are a dignified Gentleman Attendant at the Imperial Palace, a scion of a prestigious family, yet you lack the ability to make accurate judgments. It is truly disappointing."
Cui Zhiwen's face turned bright red. He looked at Fang Jun, then at Pei Huaijie, unsure of what to say.
You've perfectly replicated the idiom "to criticize indirectly"...
Pei Huaijie's face flushed red and then paled as he asked, "What exactly does the Grand Commandant intend to do?"
Fang Jun walked into the duty room with a smile: "I am also a dignified Grand Commandant, how come I am not even offered a cup of tea here?"
Pei Huaijie watched Fang Jun's footsteps, his whole body tense, until he saw Fang Jun sitting leisurely in a chair on the side of the desk, only then did he secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
It seems... they really didn't come here to beat people up?
A moment later, Pei Huaijie and Fang Jun sat facing each other across the tea table. Cui Zhiwen personally brewed a pot of tea and brought it over, then sat down beside them to keep them company, pouring tea and serving water. At the same time, he secretly instructed the officials to hide behind the door so that if a fight broke out in the duty room, they could rush in to break it up...
Pei Huaijie took a sip of tea to calm himself down and asked bluntly, "What brings you here today, Grand Commandant?"
He didn't think he had any friendship with Fang Jun; on the contrary, they had quite a few grudges. Since Fang Jun had come to his door, he must have come with ill intentions.
Fang Jun smiled and did not answer Pei Huaijie's question. Instead, he looked at Cui Zhiwen beside him and said, "As the saying goes, 'like general, like soldiers.' In the past, when Ma Zhou served as the Attendant-in-Ordinary, the entire Secretariat was busy with official duties and lived a simple and frugal life. Now, however, villains are in power and the atmosphere is chaotic."
Cui Zhiwen's face flushed red with shame and anger. He said, "Grand Commandant, please be careful with your words! How have we become villains?"
"Narrow-minded, judging others by one's own standards, spreading rumors and distorting the truth—what else is that but a petty person?"
Cui Zhiwen was speechless.
Although Pei Huaijie did all these things behind the scenes and had nothing to do with him, he could only keep quiet in front of Pei Huaijie, knowing that he would offend him no matter what he said. He was extremely frustrated.
Pei Huaijie, feeling insulted and unable to sit still, said, "Grand Commandant, please speak frankly about what you want to do. Don't interfere and smear my reputation."
"To smear someone's innocence?"
Fang Jun chuckled, put down his teacup, and looked directly at Pei Huaijie: "I have come here today only to ask you one question, Your Excellency: for the empire and for the people of Guanzhong, is the policy of 'filling Hebei with people from Guanzhong' more harmful or more beneficial than harmful?"
Pei Huaijie pondered for a moment, then said, "Naturally, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages."
Fang Jun then asked, "So, are the people of Guanzhong truly as furious and resolute as the rumors suggest regarding the implementation of this policy?"
Pei Huaijie remained silent, having somewhat understood Fang Jun's purpose in coming today.
It's not necessary to make him admit that he created and spread those rumors, but he must promise to stop this matter here.
After a short while, he shook his head and said, "Although public opinion is divided, most people in Guanzhong understand the advantages and disadvantages and will resolutely support national policies."
Fang Jun said, "But public opinion needs to be guided, either towards the good or the bad."
Pei Huaijie felt somewhat aggrieved; he was being forced to admit his mistake verbally.
But what could he do?
He could only nod and say, "Of course it's for the better."
Fang Jun then laughed: "Some things are just a lack of communication. A face-to-face talk can avoid many misunderstandings."
Then he looked at Cui Zhiwen: "I was right to say you are a petty person. Your fear that I will come to your door and beat you up is clearly an insult to my character and morality."
Calling him a villain from one end to the other, Cui Zhiwen became somewhat agitated and angrily said, "The Grand Commandant is upright in character, but his morality is not necessarily firm."
With all the shady things you've done over the years, how dare you boast and claim to be moral?
You're the one who's shameless!
Fang Jun laughed: "If I really wanted to beat someone, why would I need to do it myself? I could just have someone ambush him on the road he was sure to take, and then beat him up when he passed by. What could you do about it? Don't say things like beating up the Attendant is a serious crime. There are death warriors willing to die for me who can line up from Chengtian Gate to Zhuque Gate. Even if it's just about beating someone, or wiping out an entire family, there will still be people who are brave enough to rush forward and face death without fear."
Cui Zhiwen was speechless; he felt that what he said made sense.
I had preconceived notions about Fang Junzhi's behavior and personality. I thought that although he was a man of great achievements and both literary and martial talents, he was still a spoiled and arrogant playboy at heart, with no shrewdness or vision.
I was indeed being petty...
After a moment of silence, he cupped his hands in apology: "The Grand Commandant's reprimand is correct. It was my petty mind that led me astray... but I may not be judging a gentleman by his own standards, since the Grand Commandant is hardly a gentleman either."
When faced with threats from a high-ranking official of the state, including death squads and the extermination of entire families, what kind of gentleman can you be?
Fang Jun laughed loudly: "A gentleman can be deceived by his principles, but if he has too many weaknesses, he will inevitably be targeted by bad people. That's why I don't want to be a gentleman. I only believe in repaying kindness with kindness and revenge with revenge. If you repay evil with good, how can you repay kindness?"
Repay injustice with justice, and repay kindness with kindness!
Cui Zhiwen stole a glance at Pei Huaijie, whose face was embarrassed, and sighed inwardly. He was completely crushed by Fang Jun on the surface and didn't even dare to say a harsh word. He could only resort to some schemes and spread rumors behind the scenes. He was really not presentable.
Fang Jun stood up and looked down at Pei Huaijie: "This matter ends here. There won't be any reversals, right?"
Pei Huaijie, of course, understood which matter he was referring to, and, suppressing his frustration, nodded: "Of course not."
Fang Jun smiled brightly: "That's good. Although the Attendant-in-Ordinary is sometimes a bit muddle-headed, he can still be clear-headed at crucial moments. Very good. Then I'll take my leave. I still have to go and pay my respects to His Majesty."
"Respectfully seeing off the Grand Commandant!"
"Please wait."
Watching Fang Jun walk away from the provincial government office with his hands behind his back, Pei Huaijie, who had seen him off at the door, turned around and went back to his duty room, slamming the door shut with a "bang".
Inside the main hall and under the covered corridor, the officials of the Ministry of Personnel looked at each other, their thoughts unreadable. They exchanged glances to convey their opinions, and then returned to their respective workstations and duty rooms to deal with various official business in the government, all concealing their disdain and contempt for Pei Huaijie.