Chapter 108: Thank Goodness We did not Beat Him
No one could have expected it, but not only did Wang Anshi, but even Sima Guang had already secretly reached an agreement with Zhang Fei.
There were “bad” officials among them!
“Brother Sima, why did you agree to join that kid in causing trouble?” Liu Shu asked with a puzzled look after leaving the Hanlin Academy. “If he felt unjustly treated, he could seek redress at the Kaifeng Prefectural Office, but accusing the imperial court and invoking ancestral law—it is a violation of decorum!”
Qi Hui added, stomping his feet, “Oh dear! Academician Sima, you’ve been tricked! This is clearly a ruse by Wang Anshi and Zhang San to use this case to push the emperor into reform.”
Sima Guang stroked his beard and smiled, “How could I not see through that?”
Tang Jie, standing nearby, asked, “Since you saw through it, why did you still agree?”
Sima Guang replied, “If I hadn’t agreed, would His Majesty not have agreed?”
The group fell silent.
Everyone knew that Emperor Zhao Xu and Wang Anshi were in cahoots.
Sima Guang continued, “In official matters, the argument is based on reason. If they are right and can convince us, what reason do we have to oppose? If we don’t even allow Zhang San to present his case, wouldn’t that prove that we don’t have confidence the correctness of our position? How would His Majesty perceive us?” Tang Jie nodded, “You have a point, but you must also guard against Zhang San. This is a serious matter, and he must present concrete evidence. Without it, he cannot win.”
As conservatives, they were adept in using ancestral laws to back up their positions; no one was more skilled in ancestral law than they were.
So, there was no need to worry too much.
Sima Guang, slightly embarrassed, nodded, “I’ve already learned my lesson last time. This time, I won’t let that boy get away with it.”
But inwardly, he thought, where would he find concrete evidence? It would all come down to his rhetoric. Let’s see how that boy tries to spin it.
…
Wang Anshi did not leave immediately but was summoned to the palace by Emperor Zhao Xu.
“Did you know about this beforehand?” Emperor Zhao Xu asked Wang Anshi.
Wang Anshi nodded honestly, “Your Majesty, I did know about this in advance, but it was Zhang San who came to me. I only agreed to help him speak a fair word.”
Zhao Xu was curious, “How did Zhang San convince you?”
“With his courage.”
“His courage?”
“Indeed.”
Wang Anshi continued, “Your Majesty, consider why every time Zhang San goes to the Kaifeng Prefectural Office, it causes such an uproar, even shaking the imperial city and drawing your attention.”
Emperor Zhao Xu nodded, “I’ve noticed this too. Why do you think that is?”
“He dares to speak about things others don’t.”
Wang Anshi explained, “The issue of corvee labor has severely threatened national stability. If the imperial court continues to ignore it, a major disaster could occur. However, despite the problem being obvious, how many dare to act? Since the failure of the Qingli Reforms,[1] the officials have been choosing to avoid problems. But Zhang San has repeatedly forced the court to face these problems, even bringing them to the public eye.
That’s why he causes such a stir. Though he is just a young man, I greatly admire his courage to speak and act. I hope to use Zhang San to compel the court to address these issues and find solutions.”
By “solutions,” he referred to his reform proposals.
Emperor Zhao Xu had already guessed this and nodded slightly. He then asked, “But I am very curious, what does this case have to do with the decree of the First and Second Emperors?”
Wang Anshi frowned slightly, “I am not entirely sure about that.”
Zhao Xu asked, “He didn’t explain it to you?”
Wang Anshi shook his head.
Zhao Xu chuckled, “That’s right, he likes to keep things secret until the last moment to catch the presiding judges off guard. You must be careful.”
Wang Anshi laughed, “I am unlike Sima Guang. I do not see the presiding judges and the pen-in-cap as adversaries; they should complement each other. I look forward to Zhang San’s argument.”
Emperor Zhao Xu smiled, “So do I.”
…
After leaving the palace, Lu Huiqing approached Wang Anshi, “Master, did you know about the ancestral law issue beforehand?”
Wang Anshi shook his head, “If I had known, I would have discussed it further with him.”
Lu Huiqing cautiously said, “It seems this boy isn’t entirely on your side. He is still hiding things from you. I heard that Academician Sima also supports giving him a chance to argue, probably because of the issue of ancestral law.”
Wang Anshi frowned, “His Majesty also asked me about this. I’ve thought about this. If ancestral law supports my reforms, the other side would have nothing to say.”
Lu Huiqing replied, “But Zhang San hasn’t clarified this point.”
Wang Anshi waved his hand, “Though he hasn’t clarified it, think about it. He is targeting the corvee labor law. If he doesn’t prove that the corvee labor law has many flaws and violates ancestral law, how can he win this case? Conversely, if the corvee labor law violates ancestral law, then my reforms would be in line with ancestral law, wouldn’t they?”
Lu Huiqing nodded, “That’s true.”
Wang Anshi said, “I trust Zhang San, but I am wary of Sima Guang causing trouble in court. I will be prepared for that.”
Previously, he was entirely against the concept of ancestral law, famously saying, “Heaven’s mandate is not to be feared, ancestral law is not to be followed, and public opinion is not to be heeded.”
The reason was simple: ancestral law hindered his reforms.
Ancestral laws, also known as “ancestral instructions”, were mostly instructions given by old emperors advising their descendants on how to protect their throne. They were aimed at preserving power within the imperial family. The old emperors, on their deathbeds, were unlikely to consider the people’s welfare.
Wang Anshi’s reforms aimed at strengthening the nation and military, which was related to but often conflicted with preserving imperial power, depending on one’s perspective.
The same was true in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Zhang Juzheng’s reforms during the Ming dynasty faced similar issues, but Zhang Juzheng was more cunning and farsighted, unlike the more aggressive Wang Anshi. Zhang Juzheng was the one who first raised the banner of ancestral law, leaving his opponents without that moral highground.
However, he was still posthumously persecuted.
…
With the support of Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, the case was indeed accepted for hearing.
Winning it was another matter.
Previously, almost all officials believed the court would not accept this complaint.
Many officials were ready to condemn Zhang Fei if the court rejected the case, as a rejected case would mean Zhang Fei had undoubtedly broken the law.
Though the Song Code of Punishments had no specific provision for this, the Song dynasty had many “omnibus crimes” like treason or great disrespect that were sufficient to ruin a person.
Now, hearing that the emperor not only accepted the case but also appointed the two great scholars to preside, along with officials from various judicial and legislative offices to assist, they were stunned.
Such a lineup might be seen in a case of a prince’s rebellion.
It was astonishing.
But there was no choice. With Wang Anshi and Sima Guang’s persuasion, key officials also expressed support.
Lower-ranking officials, though strongly opposed, were powerless.
As for the outcome, no one knew.
It had never happened before and theoretically should not have happened.
As the saying goes, heroes emerge in times of chaos.
…
At the Kaifeng Prefectural Office, Zhang Fei and Shi Tingxiu were released immediately.
Since the court had accepted the case, them bringing the case was not illegal, so they had to be released.
Everything would be decided in court.
Li Kai was relieved that he hadn’t beaten Zhang Fei. If Zhang Fei won the case, he might have been charged with an omnibus crime.
As Shi Tingxiu left the Kaifeng Prefectural Office with Zhang Fei in a grand manner, he truly believed that Zhang Fei wasn’t exaggerating when he said he could come and go as he pleased.
…
When Gao Wenyin saw Zhang Fei and Shi Tingxiu, she couldn’t help but shed tears. As a law-abiding woman, she feared such matters the most.
In contrast, Xu Zhiqian was indifferent. She had been collaborating with Zhang Fei for a long time, handling tough legal battles, and even teased Zhang Fei.
“How come there isn’t even a single lash mark on you? It’s unbelievable. What kind of lax ship is the Kaifeng Prefectural Office running?”
Zhang Fei was terrified, thankful that she spoke only after they left.
“Phew… it’s halfway to success!” Xu Zun exhaled in relief.
He was right. At least they were alive. Even if they lost the case, it would be hard to convict Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei smiled, “That means it’s not yet a success, but I won’t lose.”
Xu Zun chuckled, “Don’t get overconfident. This time, His Majesty has appointed Wang Anshi and Sima Guang as the presiding judges. They are both formidable.”
Zhang Fei whispered, “To be honest, Benefactor, if it were anyone else, I might not be so confident. But with those two, I am fully confident.”
Xu Zun was curious, “But they have completely different views on this matter. How will you balance it?”
Zhang Fei laughed, “My argument is comprehensive enough to overwhelm them. There’s no need to balance!”
Xu Zun didn’t fully understand but, recalling Zhang Fei’s clever use of the charge of deceiving the emperor last time, he didn’t doubt it. He chuckled, “I wonder where you learned these political tactics.”
Zhang Fei smiled wryly, “If I truly could wield political tactics, I wouldn’t need to put myself on the line.”
“Zhang San! Zhang San!”
“Brother San!”
…
Before anyone could react, the bumbling duo, Cao Dongdong and Ma Xiaoyi, burst in.
“Zhang San, no wonder you didn’t come out with us during the New Year. You were plotting a grand conspiracy at home!”
Cao Dongdong exclaimed excitedly.
“What grand conspiracy?” Zhang Fei replied, “I am openly filing a complaint.”
Ma Xiaoyi sulked, “Brother San, why didn’t you tell me first? If you had, I wouldn’t have accompanied the others. I could have helped you!”
Cao Dongdong, puzzled, looked at Ma Xiaoyi, “Little Ma, be honest. Wasn’t I the one accompanying you?”
“It’s all the same! All the same!” Ma Xiaoyi dismissed him and turned to Zhang Fei, “Brother San, do you need any more help? I’m at your service. You can have me lie down, and I won’t complain, as long as you take me to the Court of Judicial Review.”
He loved watching trials, and this one was against the imperial court itself, which thrilled him.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t at the Kaifeng Prefectural Office but at the Court of Judicial Review, where they couldn’t enter.
“Count me in!” Cao Dongdong whispered, “I tried pulling strings but couldn’t get in.”
Zhang Fei smiled, “Sorry, you’re too late. I’ve already chosen my assistant.”
Cao Dongdong immediately widened his eyes, “Who?”
“It’s me!” Xu Zhiqian replied.
Cao Dongdong glanced at Xu Zhiqian and blinked, “Ah! Lady Xu is here too. Greetings, Lady Xu.”
Zhang Fei patted the crestfallen Ma Xiaoyi on the shoulder, “Don’t be discouraged, Little Ma. You might still get a chance to participate.”
Ma Xiaoyi perked up, “Really?”
Zhang Fei smiled but said nothing.
[1] The Qingli Reforms was a reform attempt in 1041-1045 during Emperor Renzong’s reign. It was a short-lived attempt at reform that failed.