Daoqian Street is the widest street in Suzhou City.
Just because this is where all the major government offices in Suzhou City are concentrated, the streets are thirty meters wide.
At this moment, in addition to the crowds of people who had gathered on the street, a high platform with a height of two meters, a width of five meters, and a length of 20 meters was set up in front of the magistrate's office, with a set of public case tables placed in the center.
As time passed, and the people were anxious and impatient, Suzhou Prefect Zhou Tingru slowly walked out of the prefect's Yamen wearing a crimson official uniform and climbed onto the high platform in a leisurely manner.
Looking at the dense crowd, Zhou Tingru looked sternly: "My neighbors and fellow villagers, to be honest, you have disappointed me very much!"
The crowd was stunned as soon as he opened his mouth. Without letting them think about it, Zhou Tingru's voice suddenly rose a few points.
"I would like to ask you all, Jinyiwei has already mastered all the evidence, witness, physical evidence and oral confessions. Is it wrong to release the evidence of the crime?
Yesterday you gathered in front of the magistrate's office and clamored for an answer from me. I have promised to solve it for you before You hour today, but you came again at dawn today.
Are you so anxious to see the prefect’s jokes, or the court’s jokes?
Or cheer for them?
Just because our government has announced criminal evidence, which may implicate certain people, they use this method to put pressure on our government. If you follow this nonsense, aren't you indulging in them?
If there is a first time, then there will be a second time, and countless times. Once they feel that this method is effective today, they will definitely do it again as long as the government catches people who are corrupt, bend the law, and collude with government and businessmen.
You have done more than you did today. Have you ever thought about the consequences?
By forcing the government so hard, you are actually their accomplice, helping them oppress themselves. The long-term pain is worse than the short-term pain. Don’t you think everyone understands this? "
The hatred and disappointment in his tone shocked the hearts of the people.
At first glance, Zhou Tingru's words make some sense.
But when they think about it carefully, they start to refute it.
"Prefect Zhou, we don't quite understand what you mean about oppression or not, but we do know that right now we don't have enough food to eat.
We are all ordinary people. We have eaten one meal but not the next, and we are not full. How do you want us to think about the future?
If we were rich and the grain in the warehouse became moldy, or we would bite into a roasted chicken and throw it away, we would not rush it.
But do we have it? No, that's why we are so urgent, you are just standing and talking without back pain! "
"Yes, you are telling me about the government's jokes. Do you think we have the leisure time? Wouldn't it be a good idea to find some work to do during this time, earn a few copper coins, sell a few kilograms of rice and go back to make porridge?"
"And what you said about cheering for them, don't say we don't have it. Even if we do, there's nothing wrong with it, right?
They are exploiting and oppressing us, but at least we have something to eat from them, so that’s no problem, right? "
…
In an attic near the magistrate's office, Chongzhen, Li Ruolian and others watched quietly.
Chongzhen suddenly said: "Both sides hold different opinions. Who do you think is right?"
"Your Majesty, I think what Lord Zhou and the people said is correct? But what is the problem?"
After Cao Bianjiao finished speaking, Li Ruolian also said softly: "I think Master Zhou is right. If you endure it for a while and exchange for a quiet future, this deal is a good deal!"
"Commander Li, I think the people are right. I am from a poor family, and my family is starving to death. If I had not entered the palace, if I had not starved to death, I would have been like these people.
The first thing we poor people have to consider is filling our stomachs to survive, and everything else is secondary. "
"Both sides are right, they just have different standpoints!"
Chongzhen said slowly: "Position determines vision, and pattern determines the future. There are three levels of doing things. From high to low, they are doing the right thing, doing the right thing, and doing the right thing.
At first glance, do they sound similar? actually not,
Doing the right thing is decision-making, which is done by the people at the highest level. Doing the right thing is done by the middle people. Doing the right thing is done by the people at the lowest level.
Let me give you an example. I am the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. The first thing I want to do is to aim at the long-term peace and stability of the Ming Dynasty.
Taking this incident in Suzhou Prefecture as an example, I want to clean up the south of the Yangtze River, let the officials in the south of the Yangtze River govern the country, and let the people live and work in peace and contentment. This is my determination.
What Zhou Tingru has to do is to transform my idea into concrete, feasible, and controllable methods, such as the response measures he mentioned a few days ago.
The people below, such as the sixth branch of the prefect's Yamen, are the execution staff, responsible for thoroughly implementing Zhou Tingru's methods. This is the complete set.
All three are indispensable. Decision-making is the goal. If the goal is wrong, it will not be accomplished no matter how hard you try.
Decision-making is good, but if it cannot be translated into concrete methods, it is just rhetoric.
The method is done, but if the people below do not implement it thoroughly, it will be useless no matter how good the method is.
After I make a decision, what I want is the result, the people at the bottom want the process, and the people in the middle want both. They want to summarize, optimize, and form standards!
When doing things, you must learn to think from other people's perspective and strive to find a way to get the best of both worlds. If you cannot do it, then you can only find a way to maximize the benefits.
I say this, can you understand? "
Everyone was silent, but their eyes were thoughtful. The emperor's words deeply touched them.
Especially Li Ruolian, who controls the Jin Yiwei, has a lot involved, and needs the emperor's thinking, especially the last sentence, is urgently needed.
Just as he was thinking further, there was movement in front of the prefect's Yamen, interrupting his thoughts. He could only give up thinking and stare at the prefect's Yamen.
Groups of sergeants wearing armor and with stern faces came from a distance with neat and powerful steps, and stopped outside the common people.
The spears and light knives in his hands shone with dazzling light under the rising sun.
A chilling atmosphere gathered in front of the magistrate's office, like a dark cloud covering the hearts of the people, making them uneasy.
Two generals in armor walked from the crowd to the front of the high platform: "The last general, Yanshan Guard Commander Jiang Liang, and the Zhenfu Envoy Han Yang have met Zhou Zhifu, and have been ordered by the commander to come to assist Zhou Zhifu. Please Please tell me from the Prefect Zhou!"
"Two generals, please wait a moment. We will make arrangements after I have finished handling this place!"
On the high platform, Zhou Tingru's expression remained unchanged and cold.
"We don't care about what is right or wrong between us for now. We will figure it out in the future. But I have said that I will definitely give you an answer today, but I will never give in!"
After hearing this, he looked at the surrounding sergeants. While watching, Governor Sun Youzhi's heart skipped a beat and he shouted: "Zhou Tingru, what are you going to do?"
"Don't worry, Governor Sun. This government is not that stupid. We will never use violence to fight violence or suppress with force. Just keep an eye on it!"
