Chapter 155: Doesn’t Matter Who’s the Judge
Fu Bi and Han Qi’s prestige and status would indeed be enough to quell this dispute and get everything back on track.
Wen Yanbo had to go find Fu Bi again and relay Sima Guang’s arguments to him.
Fu Bi suddenly felt it was somewhat unfair to simply pass this to Han Qi, especially since Han Qi was concerned that if he presided over the case, overturning his judgment might damage Fu Bi’s prestige.
He felt somewhat touched by this consideration.
At this point, Wen Yanbo persuaded him further, saying he had to step in since people were using him as an excuse to impeach Wang Anshi, claiming the previous ruling applied to the Reform Planning Commission. Given that his status and prestige exceeded both Wen’s and Sima Guang’s, they couldn’t really oppose him.
These words were a mix of truth and fiction.
Indeed!
Wen Yanbo and Sima Guang were caught uncomfortably in the middle.
After repeated persuasion, Fu Bi finally agreed to jointly preside over the case with Han Qi.
After this incident, he gradually began to understand Han Qi better. Originally, he had planned to resolve this issue in the most impartial way possible, but it had become complicated and messy, leaving him discouraged. He had initially decided not to get involved anymore and let them argue as they pleased. But Han Qi’s handling of such matters over the years, combining firmness with flexibility and wielding both favor and authority, was indeed superior to his own strict and impartial approach.
After getting Fu Bi’s agreement, Wen Yanbo and Sima Guang were greatly relieved! The two began building momentum at court, joining with various officials to petition the emperor, expressing their desire for a retrial and suggesting Fu Bi serve as the presiding judge.
Emperor Zhao Xu had already indicated that if they believed ancestral law was violated, they could pursue legal action.
He naturally wouldn’t refuse, so he sent someone to ask if Fu Bi would be willing to serve as presiding judge again.
Fu Bi expressed that he alone wasn’t up to the task, as the last trial had been a mess, and hoped to invite Han Qi to judge alongside him.
This caught Emperor Zhao Xu somewhat off guard!
Han Qi’s position was extraordinary, and he had provided great help when he had ascended to the throne, earning the emperor’s deep respect.
Who wouldn’t be intimidated by the combination of Han Qi and Fu Bi? So Zhao Xu immediately summoned Han Qi to the palace alone.
“I wished to follow in your example, implementing reforms and eliminating abuses for the public good, but who knew the court officials would all oppose it? I truly don’t know what to do!”
Meeting Han Qi, Emperor Zhao Xu sighed heavily, more like a junior complaining to an elder about being bullied outside.
The shrewd Han Qi immediately recognized that Zhao Xu was testing him and replied, “This old minister believes Your Majesty has handled things very appropriately.”
Zhao Xu perked up and asked, “Do you truly think so?”
Han Qi nodded and said, “Your Majesty is so open-minded and humble, willing to submit issues to a judicial court – what more could they complain about? In this old minister’s view, they are simply being unreasonable and making trouble without cause.”
Zhao Xu was even more delighted, “Do you also support my reforms?”
Han Qi answered, “If the new policies benefit the realm, then this old minister naturally supports them.”
This response was perfectly diplomatic – whether it’s a mule or horse, you have to bring it out first before I can give an answer.
It was essentially saying nothing while appearing to speak.
Han Qi’s attitude was very clear – each matter should be handled separately. He supported using the court as a means of resolving the dispute as that was the fairest approach.
As for the new policies, that was another matter to be discussed when they were implemented.
Zhao Xu nodded with an awkward smile, seeing that Han Qi still had major reservations about employing Wang Anshi’s reforms. He then asked, “Fu Bi wishes to invite you to jointly preside over this case – what are your thoughts on this?”
Han Qi bowed and said, “If Your Majesty requires it, this old minister is willing to serve.”
Emperor Zhao Xu was still somewhat inexperienced and no match for Han Qi. He bowed in return and said, “Then I’ll have to trouble you.”
As summer approached, the temperature gradually became hotter.
After dinner, Gao Wenyin and Xiaotao were busy cleaning up, while Zhang Fei sat in the courtyard with Feng Nanxi, Niu Beiqing and Li Si to cool off and chat.
There truly wasn’t much of a master-servant atmosphere in the Zhang household.
Feng Nanxi and the others quickly integrated, feeling relaxed and at ease.
“Nanxi, I often hear about corrupt officials exploiting the common people – how do they usually do it?” Zhang Fei asked Feng Nanxi.
Before Feng Nanxi could answer, Niu Beiqing’s thunderous voice immediately rang out, “There are so many methods, I could talk about them for an entire day.”
“Stop spouting nonsense,” Feng Nanxi immediately tried to stop Niu Beiqing.
Zhang Fei quickly said, “Don’t stop him.” Then to Niu Beiqing: “Well, then talk for an entire day, I don’t believe you have such eloquence.”
Niu Beiqing shook his head and said, “Benefactor, don’t doubt me, I really can talk for a whole day. Take three years ago, when Shi Tingjun and I went to do business in Jiangning Prefecture. While crossing the Huai River, we crossed three bridges in three days and paid three separate tolls. At the time we were puzzled about why there were so many rivers.
When we got to Jiangning Prefecture, we finally figured out that all three bridges were built on the same river, specifically to take advantage of us merchants from other regions.”
Zhang Fei said impatiently, “It’s your own fault for not checking the road conditions properly. Who else can you blame?”
Niu Beiqing immediately replied, “Benefactor doesn’t know, we can only use the official trade routes prescribed by the government. Otherwise we’d be punished. Merchants who know about this will slip money to the officials at the first bridge, who will then direct them to another route. If not, they make you cross all three bridges, going back and forth across the same river, wasting time and paying much more money.”
“That’s quite clever indeed.” Zhang Fei nodded slightly, then said, “Let’s set aside commercial taxes for now and talk about land taxes.”
“L-land taxes!” Niu Beiqing suddenly stumbled over his words and glanced at Feng Nanxi.
Zhang Fei noticed their uncomfortable expressions and asked, “What’s the matter?”
Niu Beiqing chuckled and said, “Nanxi, you’re more familiar with this, you tell him!”
Feng Nanxi glared at him, then seeing Zhang Fei looking his way, hesitated for a while before saying, “Benefactor may not know, but regarding land taxes, the Shi’s family actually benefits somewhat.”
“Is that so?”
Zhang Fei immediately perked up: “Tell me about it.”
Feng Nanxi said, “The Shi family made some money from business before and bought some land. But due to the chaos in our dynasty’s land registry, most of the land isn’t under the Shi family’s name. So the land taxes are borne by the farmers who had already sold their land to the Shi family but whose names are still on the register. Two of these farmer households were hired by Shi Tingjun to help farm the land, so he helps pay their taxes. But most of the farmers ran away after selling their land, and brother Shi didn’t pay taxes on those land.”
Niu Beiqing immediately said, “Actually brother Shi is still quite conscientious. Many landowners don’t pay a single coin in taxes for any land they buy. I know of one small landowner who has a thousand acres of land, but Benefactor, do you know how much tax he pays?”
Zhang Fei asked, “How much?”
“Just taxes for four acres of land.” Niu Beiqing held up four fingers.
“Four acres?”
Zhang Fei exclaimed.
The disparity was far too dramatic.
Feng Nanxi nodded and said, “Some landowners don’t even pay tax on a single acre.”
Zhang Fei asked, “Doesn’t the government investigate?”
Feng Nanxi said, “They check occasionally, but it depends on the officials. Some officials will check the land registry when they take office, but since officials serve three-year terms, the next one might not check at all.”
No wonder Wang Anshi wanted to implement the Equal Tax Law, a project to adjust the registration of land and thus also the tax registers by way of standardized square fields. Without a nationwide survey, this situation would be virtually impossible to address. Zhang Fei nodded slightly and asked, “Is this a very common phenomenon?”
Li Si suddenly interjected, “It must be very common.”
Zhang Fei turned to look at Li Si, “How so?”
Li Si said, “Even I know about it.”
“I see!” Zhang Fei nodded.
Niu Beiqing said, “You can’t just say it’s common – any household with over a twenty acres of land conceals quite a bit of land tax. Even the most honest ones only pay when the government comes to investigate.”
Zhang Fei nodded thoughtfully.
Feng Nanxi asked, “Why do you suddenly ask about this?”
Zhang Fei smiled and said, “I want to stop this practice.”
Feng Nanxi asked puzzled, “Benefactor, you’re not an official – how can you stop this?”
Zhang Fei said, “With my reputation as Zhang San.”
Just then, a sudden knock at the door interrupted their conversation.
“I’ll get it.”
Li Si quickly got up and went to open the door.
Feng Nanxi asked curiously, “Who could it be at this late hour?”
Niu Beiqing said, “Could it be Miss Xu?”
Zhang Fei said dismissively, “Have you ever seen her use the front door?”
Before he finished speaking, they heard Li Si say, “Brother San, it’s Proofreader Lu.”
Lü Huiqing walked in, and Zhang Fei frowned slightly.
Feng Nanxi and Niu Beiqing tactfully left, leaving only Lu Huiqing and Zhang Fei in the courtyard.
“There’s been a development,” Lu Huiqing said gravely.
Zhang Fei asked in surprise, “So soon? I heard from my Benefactor that the arguments would continue for some time.”
Lu Huiqing said worriedly, “They’ve invited Lord Han to step in and jointly preside over the case with Lord Fu.”
“Lord Han?”
Zhang Fei was slightly taken aback.
They hadn’t considered Han Qi in their prior discussions.
Lu Huiqing nodded: “This was indeed unexpected. No one thought they would ask Lord Han to step in, since he had previously remained completely silent on this matter, with no known opinion on it.”
Zhang Fei looked at Lu Huiqing and, seeing his worried expression, asked with a smile, “It seems you lack confidence in me!”
Lu Huiqing sighed and said, “Anyone facing those two would likely lack confidence.”
Fu Bi and Han Qi were like the North Stars of the Song Dynasty – even Wang Anshi felt daunted upon hearing this news, which was why he had Lu Huiqing rush to inform Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei smiled and said, “It depends on the matter. If those two were to take up swords and fight enemies, even common soldiers wouldn’t fear them.”
Lü Huiqing said, “That’s not comparable, in court…”
Before he could finish, Zhang Fei interrupted: “Proofreader Lu, litigation is a highly specialized matter, so it doesn’t matter who presides over the case.”
Lu Huiqing was stunned.
It was the first time he’d encountered someone who dismissed Han Qi and Fu Bi so casually.
After a long while, Lu Huiqing asked, “You’re truly confident you can win?”
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, “It’s impossible for me to lose.”