Liu Jing had already thought of recruiting Chu Fang before he took office, but after all, Chu Fang was not an ordinary Luli ranger, but a "general" recognized by Sun Jian.
Compared with Jingnan hegemon Zhang Xian, Liu Jing had no advantage at all. How could he win over Chu Fang? He spent a lot of thought on this, and the only feasible way was to use nostalgia to persuade him. In the end, he really succeeded in convincing Chu Fang. Chu Fang, this is definitely an unexpected surprise.
Chu Fang is serious, one is inside and the other is outside. I believe that even if Ling County is a real iron wall, it will be torn open.
After some contact and conversation, Liu Jing discovered that Chu Fang was not a martial artist who only knew how to kill. Although he was not very educated, his words could answer his questions and he was also organized, which was quite rare.
It's normal to think about it. The Chu family is not a surname in Lingxian County. He has achieved today's status and prestige entirely through his own hard work. This is definitely not what a martial artist can do.
Liu Jing deliberately asked: "I have just arrived, and Ling County is in chaos. I don't know where to start. Can Ziping teach me?"
Chu Fang did not rush to answer, but waved his hand to the boy servant standing beside him in the hall to step back. When the door closed, only four people, Liu Jing, Liu Liang, Ma Zhou and Yu Zheng, were left in the hall.
Chu Fang then said: "There are powerful people in Ling County, there are thieves and barbarians outside, and there is unrest both inside and outside. It will not be easy for the Ming Dynasty to govern Ling County."
Seeing Liu Jing smiling and saying nothing, Chu Fang stopped beating around the bush and said bluntly: "Let's not worry about the external harm first. The internal harm in Ling County is in the county temple and the Gong family. If the Ming court can kill the Gong family, there will be no internal harm." I'm worried. It's just that the Gong family is a common surname in Ling County, and its five brothers are county officials, in charge of both internal and external affairs. It's not easy to get rid of the Gong family."
Liu Jing's eyes were clear and he smiled and said: "Liu (Yan) Junlang went to Yizhou, and Liu (Biao) Jingsheng came to Jingzhou. They all killed powerful people and clan thieves, established threats and shocked the whole country. If Gong is guilty, It’s okay to kill.”
Chu Fang glanced at Liu Jing in surprise. This is not what the head of a county said. I am afraid that even Zhang Xian does not have such magnanimity. This is why Chu Fang always looks down on Zhang Xian. His pattern too small.
Chu Fang sighed: "Even if all the water of the Xiang River is poured out, it will be difficult to wash away the crimes committed by the Gong family."
"Oh? Ziping, can you come with me one by one?"
…………
Early the next morning, Liu Jing officially held a court meeting in the main hall of the county temple as the magistrate of Lingxian County, together with the county magistrate Zheng Zheng. More than a hundred county officials were all present, and no one was absent.
Chu Fang, wearing a black crown and black robe, carrying a knife and holding a sword, stood proudly beside Liu Jing. His face was serious and his eyes were like torches, which made everyone who saw him feel horrified.
Although most of the officials in the county had already known in advance that Chu Fang accepted Liu Jing's invitation and became the chief secretary, it can be seen that when they saw him, they still couldn't hide their surprise.
You must know that Chu Fang once served as a Sima of another department and led nearly a thousand troops across the three counties of Jingnan. If it weren't for his mother who suffered an accident and was paralyzed in bed, not to mention the small Lingxian County, Changsha. Jingnan can't trap him either.
Over the years, Zhang Xian has frequently sent people to give generous gifts, and tried his best to win over him. Isn't it because he thought that one day he would be able to use him for his own purposes?
According to common sense, Chu Fang's best choice was to defect to Zhang Xian. With his talents, prestige and past achievements, he had no worries about not being reused. However, he did not do so. Instead, he chose to serve the county court as a minor official of Baishi. .
All the officials looked at Liu Jing, who was sitting on the throne, with a hint of awe in their eyes.
There is no way, Chu Fang's influence in Ling County is too great. Liu Jing easily convinced Chu Fang as soon as he came. It is no exaggeration to say that from now on, no one can shake his position as the county king, not even Gong.
Neither can.
"I'm afraid the county temple will be lively in the future." The officials thought to themselves as they glanced at brothers Gong Ying, Gong Fu and Gong Wu.
Chu Fang and the Gong family have always been at odds. This is something everyone in Ling County knows. Liu Jing has no reason not to know. Under such circumstances, he still insists on asking Chu Fang to come out. His purpose is somewhat intriguing.
At least, Liu Jing wanted to use Chu Fang to balance the Gong family, and he was obviously dissatisfied with the Gong family's dominance in the county.
Compared to the second brother Gong Ying and the third brother Gong Fu, Gong Wu was obviously more out of control, his face was ashen, and his eyes were almost bursting with fire. However, although his personality was slightly impulsive, he was not stupid and did not do anything.
Something out of the ordinary.
More than a hundred county officials, led by Gong Ying, the meritorious officer, Chu Fang, the chief secretary, and Gu Mao, the court official, paid homage to Liu Jing respectively and expressed solemnity.
After everyone returned to their seats after the ceremony, Liu Jing slowly straightened his body and said: "The county magistrates are responsible for governing the people, showing good deeds and admonishing righteousness, prohibiting rape and punishing evil, handling lawsuits and pacifying thieves, caring for the people's current affairs, and holding classes in autumn and winter.
The plan is for the county and the country, and they have nothing to do within a hundred miles. They are important ministers of the country. Therefore, the emperor Ming Dynasty said in the past: "The county magistrate and the elders go out to kill hundreds of miles. If they are not his people, the people will suffer from it."
In the past, I went north to study and traveled around. I repeatedly heard that local commanders regarded killing innocent people as a prestige, gathering and organizing virtuous people as a prestige, treating themselves as pacifying the people as a weak person, and adhering to the law as a rule.
The disaster of overthrowing corpses is caused by joy and anger. He treats the people like bandits and enemies, and taxes them like jackals and tigers. I often lament in my heart that such a well-dressed beast acts as a local commander. This is a loss for the country and a harm to the people.
Thanks to the trust of the governor, he was promoted to the shogunate and appointed as the county governor. This court is very frightened and hopes to make some achievements so that the county government can be peaceful and the people can live and work in peace and contentment. Only in this way can we live up to the expectations of the governor.
However, in order to govern Ling County, it is not the work of this court alone, but requires the full help of all the kings."
"No." All the officials bowed down together.
Liu Jing added: "The so-called 'Laws establish criminal laws, etiquette and human relations' are the way to govern, and there is no fault of the two. Confucius said: 'Guide it with government, regulate it with punishment, and the people will be exempted and shameless. Guide it with virtue,
Treat them with etiquette, shame and dignity. 'As a politician, virtue is not the focus of punishment, this is my heart."
The meaning of this passage is: Manage by government decrees and restrain by criminal laws. Although the people dare not commit crimes, they are not ashamed of them; guide by morality and restrain by etiquette and law, the people not only abide by the law, but also take it as their own example.
Honor.
As a modern person, Liu Jing certainly doesn't believe in this in his heart, but he has decided to let Zheng Zhen come to the front and "play the bad guy" while he hides behind the scenes and "play the red face". This requires him to create a "kind character" to the outside world.
The image of "governing the county with etiquette".
As soon as Liu Jing said this, the effect was extremely good. Not only did all the officials secretly breath a sigh of relief, but even the Gong brothers also lowered their guard a little.
The reason why Liu Jing's words did not arouse doubts was because his actions were in line with his usual image. He was famous in Changsha for "working hard to support customers" and "quality of books to save neighbors". Naturally, he should be a "benevolent" person.