When Wang Chong, who has gray hair and beard, said these words, he was sincere in his words. It seemed that every word was spoken from the bottom of his heart.
When Chu Ge advanced the dungeon to the second stage for the first time, he was indeed confused. He didn't think of any reason to refute it, so the dungeon failed.
But things are obviously different this time.
Chu Ge couldn't help but sneer: "Speaking like this, Mr. Wang, is he really a loyal minister who serves the country and the people with good intentions?
"Is it possible that I, Yang Yan, misunderstood Mr. Wang?
"It's just that although I, Yang Yan, have a low official position, I have seen the sufferings of the people, and I am not that easy to deceive. Mr. Wang, you don't need to use the same tricks to fool ordinary scholars. It will only make the laughingstock more laughable.
"Master Wang, do you mean that for every one hundred kilograms of grain produced by the imperial court, Master Wang replaced it with three hundred kilograms of bran, saving three times the number of victims? Not only did it increase the quantity, but it also reduced levels of corruption and exploitation. , kill two birds with one stone?
"But is this really the case?
"I'm afraid that for every one hundred kilograms of grain produced by the imperial court, Mr. Wang's gang members embezzled sixty or seventy kilograms, leaving only thirty kilograms of grain in exchange for a hundred kilograms of bran!
"Master Wang, are you really so naive? You think that if you replace it with bran and grass, you won't have to worry about it, and you won't be greedy at all levels, right?
"Master Wang, where did your wealth come from? It couldn't have fallen from the sky, right? Master Wang, you took the lead in embezzling food, and you followed the example. The huge royal party regards you as the leader. If you want these people to be willing to work for you, always It is inevitable that the top and bottom management will share the benefits. I am afraid this is the truth that there will never be enough food for disaster relief, right?
"Mr. Wang's words made him feel clean, as if the corruption was all due to the hopelessness of those local officials, as if sharing profits was a last resort. Mr. Wang, as the most powerful official of our great Wei Dynasty, you , is so weak? This really surprised me!"
Wang Chong was silent for a moment.
The light was very dim, but Chu Ge could still feel that Wang Chong's initial confident momentum was greatly suppressed.
This shows that Chu Ge’s words worked!
Wang Chong's statement is indeed very confusing at first glance, especially for those scholars who lack grassroots experience.
If he were an ordinary scholar, Wang Chong's sophistry might even destroy all his ideals and beliefs.
This is exactly the purpose of Wang Chong's coming here: to beat Yang Yan into an idealist with naive ideas and accomplished nothing, and then everything will naturally develop in the direction Wang Chong prefers.
Whether Yang Yan bowed to reality, admitted his mistake to the emperor, or just became disheartened, his goal was achieved.
Unexpectedly, Yang Yan did not hesitate at all, but instead seized the loopholes in his rhetoric and attacked him head on!
However, Wang Chong is Wang Chong after all. If he were defeated so easily, it would be impossible for him to control the government for decades and survive repeated political turmoil.
Wang Chong sighed softly: "Then do you know how much food is left in the treasury? You only know that I have a fortune of tens of millions, but my little wealth is nothing compared to the annual deficit of the treasury!
"How many corrupt and honest officials have there been throughout the ages? Honest officials are as rare as a phoenix, but corrupt officials are like sand in a river. If I had relied on an honest official like you, I would have been locked up in jail long before you. Except for me, Is there any other way to use these corrupt officials?
"The national treasury is empty, and I can only be a paper poster, trying my best to help as many people as possible with limited money and food.
"Whether it's bran or fodder, the victims are not considered human beings at all. We can only save as many as we can!"
Chu Ge lowered his head and chuckled twice.
"Master Wang, I can hear your good intentions, and I also know that you are working very hard for your position below one person and above ten thousand people.
"Lord Wang, you have made great plans and have good intentions, and you have painted yourself and everyone in the royal party as good officials who serve the country and the people. Then I only ask you this: What if it triggers a civil uprising?
"Master Wang, how do you want to deal with it?
"Since Mr. Wang also knows that the treasury of our great Wei Dynasty is empty, the top is extravagant and the bottom is greedy, and the people are displaced. The building is about to collapse and the single tree cannot support it, but why do you still turn a blind eye and be indifferent?
"Master Wang is right when he says that the victims of the disaster are not humans, but animals, but animals can also eat people when they are anxious!
"How do you know that the victims will understand the difficulties of your well-clothed and well-fed Lord Wang and eat bran?
"How do you know that good grain has been turned into bran and fodder, and the victims will not feel resentful?
"Mr. Wang, how do you know that during the civil uprising, the angry victims would not skin you and the officials of the royal party and hang them from trees?
"Mr. Wang, your theory makes sense within a small area, especially among your party members, and it will probably be regarded as a standard. But once you look at the world, doesn't it seem ridiculous?
“There have been honest officials and corrupt officials in all dynasties. However, some dynasties are prosperous, the country is prosperous and the people are safe, while some dynasties are weak, the people are poor, and banditry is everywhere. What is the difference?
"In my opinion, it probably depends on how many people there are, Mr. Wang and me, Yang Yan!
"Master Wang, you don't have to wake up because you are immersed in the beautiful dream you have weaved, but when those angry victims rush into your mansion and hang you to death, don't forget what I said today!"
Wang Chong wanted to say something else, but Chu Ge continued to speak and interrupted him.
"Master Wang, you said that you have no other option but to use these corrupt officials. This also surprises me.
"I still remember that when I was the county magistrate of Li'an County, several other surrounding counties also suffered from drought like Li'an County. I think those county magistrates had the same difficulties as Mr. Wang, and had to use disaster relief food. , to fill the bellies of those subordinate officials.
"Later on, only Li'an County was safe and sound under my rule. Civil uprisings were triggered in several other counties. Some of the county magistrates were dismissed from their posts and some were beheaded.
"I was just a small county magistrate at that time, and I knew how to control my subordinates. How could Mr. Wang reach such a high position, but why did he not know about it? Instead, he was separated from those corrupt officials and couldn't do anything?
"If Mr. Wang feels that he is not strong enough, why not retire and return to his hometown as soon as possible, and let me take over Mr. Wang's position? What do you think?"
After Chu Ge finished speaking, he raised his head and looked proudly into Wang Chong's eyes.
You said you have so many difficulties, then do you dare to let me go?
I'm really good at fucking me!
As soon as these words came out, Wang Chong was completely speechless.
Because there is no way to refute these words!
Wang Chong always emphasizes that there are many corrupt officials and few honest officials. He must point his fingers at corrupt officials, so sharing so many benefits is a helpless move.
If a scholar with no ability hears this statement, he may not be able to refute it. After all, he has no ability to bypass these corrupt officials and provide disaster relief.
But Yang Yan is different!
Yang Yan had been the magistrate of Li'an County before, and his subordinate officials were also greedy and cunning. However, Yang Yan managed them to be docile. In several other counties, they were all provoked by the lack of food for disaster relief. During the civil uprising, only Li'an County was safe.
It was precisely because of his achievements in Li'an County that Yang Yan had the opportunity to become an official in the court.
Chu Ge seized on this and pursued Wang Chong fiercely!
Didn’t you say that only these corrupt officials can be used? If you can't do it, just take my place! I can distribute relief food to the victims without these corrupt officials!
The reason why Chu Ge had the confidence to say this was because everyone knew that Yang Yan was not a useless scholar who only talked and talked, but a good official who was capable and responsible.
The methods to refute Wang Chong are actually found in Yang Yan's resume, and you will find them as long as you dig deeper.
Wang Chong's face was uncertain, and in the end he could only stand up silently, turned around and left.
Because his little thoughts were completely exposed!
In fact, what Wang Chong said was very confusing. If it were anyone else, it would be easy to be persuaded by him and even become his partisan.
If there is a comparison between a "useful corrupt official" and an "incompetent honest official", the former will definitely win.
But it is a pity that Yang Yan is not an incompetent honest official, but a firm-minded and more useful honest official!
This little trick is like morning dew meeting the rising sun and disappearing immediately.
