Judge of the Song Dynasty

Wang Anshi had calculated everything, but he never expected his New Policies would begin with a lawsuit.

Even he found it hard to believe.

But this proved that Fu Bi’s words had been quite reasonable.

Once a precedent is set, others will inevitably follow suit.

When Zhang Fei sued the imperial court before, Wang Anshi had argued eloquently in support. Now he had to accept this same demand.

Similarly, if Wang Anshi claimed to act for the country and thus censors couldn’t oppose him, then in the future anyone claiming likewise couldn’t be opposed by censors either.

Everything had two sides, and the duality of politics was highly sensitive. Side effects were inevitable – no matter how beneficial one aspect might be, you had to consider what problems the other aspect could bring.

Except in times of life and death, most politicians would rather have fewer benefits while minimizing negative side effects, because stability is key in politics.

This is because from the common people’s perspective, good policies are taken for granted, while they reject any side effects.

But all policies have both advantages and disadvantages – there are no perfect policies. Often when decisions are made, the people don’t understand. They think “This problem is so simple, I could solve it myself, why don’t you just do it this way?” They fail to consider that solving one problem might trigger even more serious issues. The problem of excess officials seemed simple – just lay people off. But who could guarantee that wouldn’t end up laying off someone like Li Zicheng – who was fired from his government job at a waystation and ended up leading a rebellion that ended the Ming dynasty.

This is exactly what “comprehensive order as precaution against malfeasance” referred to.

The core was “preventive governance,” not aggressive reforms and bold actions.

At this point, Wang Anshi could only accept it. After leaving the palace, he immediately went to see Zhang Fei with Lu Huiqing.

Zhang Fei, that minor player, had suddenly become critically important.

Xu Zhiqian bowed to Wang Anshi and tactfully withdrew.

“You little rascal, you’ve really gotten me into trouble this time!” Wang Anshi sighed as he sat down.

What nonsense – before, we were cooperating for mutual benefit, but when problems arise it becomes “helping me”? Zhang Fei thought to himself. But he was also very surprised and said with a hint of complaint: “Academician Wang, surely you’re not going to let them take this to court?”

Wang Anshi fell into an awkward silence.

Lu Huiqing explained: “They’ve been attacking my teacher over your lawsuit, and even dragged His Majesty into it. They implied that if the court doesn’t give Qian Yi a chance for trial, then the ancestral laws His Majesty established based on your case would also be questioned.”

Zhang Fei furrowed his brow as he listened, thinking that it seemed he would have to take the blame for this.

Seeing his apparent lack of confidence, Wang Anshi immediately asked: “Are you certain you can win?”

“Well…” Zhang Fei sighed. “I told Mr. Lu very clearly before – the courtroom is like a battlefield, anything can happen. Even if I were certain of victory, I couldn’t make such a promise to you.”

Wang Anshi asked: “But do you think you can win or not?”

Zhang Fei pondered briefly: “This case is actually very favorable for you, because the current ancestral laws can be interpreted in many ways. They are the attackers while we are defenders – for us, not losing is winning. In a fair environment, I don’t think I would lose this case. Of course, it also depends on who will preside over the trial. If they protect their own, there’s nothing I can do.”

“It hasn’t been decided yet,” Wang Anshi thought for a moment. “But I certainly won’t be presiding.”

Zhang Fei asked: “Could it be Academician Sima?”

“Him!” Before Wang Anshi could finish, Lu Huiqing suddenly said: “I don’t think that’s likely either.”

Zhang Fei asked: “Why not?”

Lu Huiqing said: “Because if he loses, it would affect his prestige at court.”

“True,” Zhang Fei nodded slightly.

Sima Guang was currently the only one in the imperial court who could rival Wang Anshi, whether in age, prestige, or experience. Crucially, Sima Guang also had the ability to implement reforms.

However, Sima Guang had already lost to Zhang Fei once. Losing again would be a significant blow to his position at court.

But litigation wasn’t Sima Guang’s strong suit.

So to protect him, they likely wouldn’t have him preside.

“Then who will it be?” Zhang Fei asked again.

Lu Huiqing said: “I still think Lord Fu has the best chance.”

Wang Anshi nodded, “If not for Lord Fu and Chancellor Zhao, this wouldn’t have made it to court. But since Chancellor Zhao heads the Censorate and many censors are involved, he probably won’t preside. Having Lord Fu preside would be relatively fair.”

Lu Huiqing cautioned: “Zhang San, Lord Fu is sharp despite his age, with eloquence rivaling my teacher and Academician Sima. You must be careful.”

“No one would dare be careless facing Lord Fu,” Zhang Fei smiled wryly, then asked: “Will they hire someone to argue their case?”

Lu Huiqing shook his head: “Probably not. Which pen-in-cap could match these censors in eloquence and intellect other than you?”

“Censors?” Zhang Fei just smirked dismissively.

Wang Anshi smiled and asked: “What? You look down on these censors?”

Zhang Fei smiled: “In court, I do look down on them somewhat. I won’t let my professionalism lose to their amateurism.”

Wang Anshi chuckled: “With those words, I can rest easy.”

Though Zhang Fei hadn’t guaranteed victory, Wang Anshi could see he was just avoiding making guarantees – he clearly had great confidence.

They went on to discuss the case details, especially the censors’ debate habits. In Zhang Fei’s view, debate and litigation were different, so leveraging this difference would be crucial.

The three talked for over two hours before Wang Anshi and Lu Huiqing left.

As soon as they left, Xu Zhiqian slipped back in.

“They’re really taking it to court?” Xu Zhiqian found it incredible too.

“Yes,” Zhang Fei nodded.

Xu Zhiqian asked nervously: “Are you confident you can win?”

Zhang Fei asked: “Why are you so nervous?”

Xu Zhiqian said: “I also support Academician Wang’s reforms.”

Woman, you’re still too young! Compared to the problems we’ll face later, this current issue is kindergarten-level. Zhang Fei smiled casually: “Actually in this kind of case, both sides have their points, but as the defender we have the advantage. I won’t lose.”

There was no need to hide anything from Xu Zhiqian.

Xu Zhiqian said: “Still, we should be careful. Let’s go back and prepare.”

Zhang Fei wanted to say this case was just a continuation of the previous one, and since he had set the precedent for interpreting ancestral law, there was no need to prepare like before. But seeing the time, he thought Xu Zun would be home soon, and he should ask him about the specific boundaries between the law and the rules of the imperial court.

So they immediately headed home.

Just as they got down from the carriage, Feng Nanxi hurried out.

“Benefactor, you’re back! Perfect timing, I was just about to look for you.”

“What for?” Zhang Fei felt alarmed.

Being in the spotlight now, even small disturbances worried him.

Feng Nanxi said: “Someone came earlier wanting to hire you for a case.”

Niu Beiqing squeezed forward, winking: “Benefactor, he brought a big chest that seemed full of money.”

Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian exchanged knowing glances.

“Let’s go see.”

Entering the courtyard, they saw a man in his thirties wearing fine clothes sitting in the hall.

Seeing them enter, the man stood up, looked Zhang Fei over, then quickly came out.

“You must be Zhang San.”

“Uh, yes.” Zhang Fei found this person completely unfamiliar.

“I am Chen Shen.”

“What brings you here?” Zhang Fei asked with clasped hands.

Chen Shen said excitedly: “I’ve come boldly today to ask Zhang San to save my father’s life.”

Zhang Fei asked: “Save your father’s life?”

Chen Shen nodded, then explained the situation.

He was from Dengzhou, where his family ran a silk business. One day his father was drinking at a restaurant and got into an argument with a drunk man. There was pushing and shoving, and his father accidentally pushed the man down the stairs to his death.

He was sentenced to death by the authorities.

After he finished explaining, two large men carried a big wooden chest before Zhang Fei.

When the chest was opened, revealing gleaming silver, Niu Beiqing and Feng Nanxi gasped.

“Here are 5,000 taels of silver. I was in a hurry and couldn’t bring more, but if you can save my father, I’m willing to pay 10,000 taels.”

10,000 taels?

Niu Beiqing’s mouth gaped wide enough to fit a hen.

Could litigation be this profitable? He’d never heard of such things before.

Zhang Fei glanced at the silver – 5,000 taels was already dazzling, how much more impressive would 10,000 be? Maybe he should find a way to take the money and then trick him.

Beside him, Xu Zhiqian whispered: “You’re not really thinking of taking it?”

Well, that won’t work! Zhang Fei pointed at Xu Zhiqian, saying uninterestedly: “You handle it!”

With that, he walked inside.

Xu Zhiqian looked at Chen Shen and said: “Don’t worry sir, just wait in the capital. The local prefecture has no authority to pass death sentences – they must be sent to the capital for review by the Court of Judicial Review, Ministry of Punishments, and Court of Penal Review. So the case can be tried here in the capital.”

Chen Shen hurriedly said: “But my father is elderly-!”

Before he could finish, Xu Zhiqian said: “Elderly yet able to push someone down stairs? Clearly your father is quite healthy, no need to worry too much. Also, my father is a judge in the Court of Judicial Review. He’ll be home soon, I can take you to meet him.”

Panic flashed in Chen Shen’s eyes as he quickly bowed: “Pardon the intrusion.”

He hurriedly left with his servants, carrying the chest of silver.

Zhang Fei had barely taken a sip of tea in the hall when Xu Zhiqian came in. “Wow! That was quick – didn’t they try to raise the price?”

Xu Zhiqian asked: “How much would it take for you to accept?”

Zhang Fei said seriously: “100,000 strings.”

Xu Zhiqian said: “Are you tired of living?”

Zhang Fei shrugged: “Taking money doesn’t mean you have to do the work, right? But a mere 10,000 taels isn’t worth the trouble.”

Xu Zhiqian humphed: “Such arrogance will be your downfall someday.”

“With you watching over me, I don’t need to worry about that,” Zhang Fei chuckled.

Xu Zhiqian glared at him, then frowned slightly: “I didn’t expect them to move so quickly.”

It was obvious they were trying to bribe him to go to Dengzhou immediately, preventing him from helping Wang Anshi. Paying 10,000 taels just for a pen-in-cap when even if Zhang Fei didn’t take the case, Wang Anshi himself might not necessarily lose – one could imagine how high the stakes involved were.

Zhang Fei sighed: “This is just the beginning. As the New Policies progress, they’ll stop at nothing – that’s what’s truly frightening!”

He had been very cautious about getting involved before because he knew what would happen.

When Xu Zun returned, they told him about this matter.

Xu Zun wasn’t surprised, but he couldn’t determine who was behind it, as many people were trying to stop Wang Anshi’s reforms, including most of the imperial relatives. But he was certain that Wen Yanbo, Sima Guang and their group weren’t involved.

They would disdain such methods.

That same day, when Wang Anshi learned of this, he immediately sent people to protect Zhang Fei’s residence and the Bianjing Law Firm.

This showed how critical this case was.

Meanwhile, Qian Yi was finally released by the Kaifeng Prefectural Office.

However, the prefecture still firmly rejected his lawsuit.

They couldn’t set a precedent of common people directly suing the imperial court over major policies – that would lead to endless troubles.

But the case would be tried internally by the imperial court.

The ruling class would handle it internally.

At the Liu residence:

“Thank you all for coming to my aid,” Qian Yi bowed to his colleagues.

Liu Shu immediately said: “Brother Qian risked his life for justice – how could we not help?”

Then he sighed, “But if we lose this case, Brother Qian may find it hard to return to court.”

Qian Yi said: “Throughout history, evil has never triumphed over good. With a fair trial, I don’t believe I’ll lose to Wang Anshi.”

Qi Hui said worriedly: “From what we know, Wang Jifu will likely have Zhang San argue the case.”

Hearing this, Qian Yi laughed heartily: “If he doesn’t dare debate himself, it only proves he has something to hide.”

Qi Hui and Liu Shu exchanged worried glances.

If evil never triumphs over good, does this mean that Zhang San has always been on the side of good?

Liu Shu, who had suffered at his hands, said: “Brother Qian, don’t be careless. Zhang San is eloquent and resourceful. His previous victories were no flukes – we must prepare thoroughly this time.”

The others nodded in agreement.

Qian Yi knew this, but he didn’t believe in such things. He snorted: “Wang Anshi uses reform as an excuse to try to overturn ancestral systems and monopolize power. The evidence is clear – how can that petty scoundrel argue against it?” ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NoveI[F]ire.net

Just present the facts and reason – there was nothing to worry about.

Just then, Sima Guang walked in and said: “Litigation differs from debate. I suggest you first review the court records of Zhang Fei’s previous cases. Know yourself and your enemy, and you’ll win every battle.”

Liu Shu quickly said: “Academician Sima speaks wisely. We must prepare well to prevent that youngster from succeeding again.”

Seeing Sima Guang say this, Qian Yi nodded.