Chapter 161: Educating
“Well said!”
Emperor Zhao Xu, seated in the hall, listened to Zhang Fei’s argument with great excitement. He stood up, clenched his fists, and said indignantly: “These censors always love to confuse the public. If you talk about the ancestral law, they discuss the ancestral system. If you discuss the ancestral system, they talk about ancestral law. Today, they’ve finally been given a lesson. Good! This is truly satisfying.”
In his youthful exuberance, Zhao Xu spoke his mind without restraint.
Lan Yuanzhen, standing nearby, merely smiled without saying a word.
He had watched Zhao Xu grow up and knew how much he had suffered in the past. After all, Zhao Xu was young, and the court was full of senior officials from three reigns. He had to be respectful to everyone he spoke to, and the censors never gave him any face. This pent-up frustration had been brewing in his heart for a long time.
Zhang Fei’s exasperated speech undoubtedly delivered a resounding slap to Fan Chunren, making him wish he could find a hole to hide in. For a moment, Fan Chunren didn’t know how to respond.
Although Fan Chunren, through his one-for-one exchange strategy, had inadvertently created a prototype of a modern litigation system, his goal was not to develop litigation procedure but to confront Wang Anshi directly.
His mode of thinking was still limited to imperial court debates.
Court debates required citing classical texts and discussing the principles of Confucius and Mencius.
Clearly, he had not only confused ancestral system with ancestral law but also conflated morality with law. In court, it was about the law.
Cao follows Xiao’s rules?
Ridiculous!
The conservatives who had been smug earlier were now disheartened. They had managed to bring Wang Anshi out, only to have their first issue dismissed.
And this issue was crucial. Many felt a deep sense of regret now that it had been invalidated. Wang Anshi hadn’t even said a word.
Infuriating!
Even Wang Anshi felt displeased. He could have answered this question, perhaps not as sharply, but sitting there silently was not his style.
Han Qi turned to Fu Bi and whispered, “What do you think, Lord Fu?”
Fu Bi pondered for a moment and sighed, “In court, the law must come first.”
Otherwise, the boy would drag Lord Fan into it again, and it would never end.
Han Qi thought the same. Since the emperor had established ancestral law, the issue had to be discussed according to the law. The concept of ancestral system wasn’t suitable for a court of law because they had been altered many times. He coughed and said, “Ancestral system is ancestral system, and ancestral law is ancestral law. They cannot be equated.”
He paused slightly before continuing, “Unless it can be proven that there is a necessary connection between them, it is best not to discuss ancestral system to avoid confusion.”
Fan Chunren, hearing this, sat down dejectedly, his face as red as a monkey’s bottom.
Han Qi looked at Zhang Fei again.
Zhang Fei stood up but did not position himself in the center.
Xu Zhiqian immediately sent two questioning glances his way.
Zhang Fei waved his hand below, indicating that he didn’t need any documents, as he hadn’t prepared for cross-examination.
Xu Zhiqian, understanding, couldn’t help but show a hint of worry in her phoenix eyes.
Zhang Fei asked Qian Yi, “As a censor, you have the power to submit memorials based on hearsay, correct?”
“I object.”
Fan Chunren immediately stood up and blurted out, “What does this have to do with the case?”
If you won’t let me have peace, I won’t let you have peace either.
The conservative officials behind him clenched their fists in support.
Show no mercy, object till the end!
Zhang Fei calmly explained, “Since Censor Qian is the plaintiff in this case, shouldn’t we inquire about his motivations and reasons for filing the complaint?”
Fan Chunren was momentarily taken aback and asked, “But what does this have to do with the power to report based on hearsay?”
Zhang Fei replied, “I need to clarify whether Censor Qian has confused filing a complaint in court with submitting a memorial to the emperor.”
Fan Chunren snorted, “How could Censor Qian not understand such a distinction?”
Zhang Fei smiled, “Remonstrator Fan, speculation is not allowed in court. Everything must be backed by evidence. If we start making such assumptions, you might as well just rule against me, wouldn’t that be quicker?”
Han Qi added, “There is nothing improper about this question.”
Qian Yi gave Fan Chunren a calming look.
Fan Chunren sat down again, feeling disgruntled.
It seemed like Zhang Fei was in control.
Qian Yi met Zhang Fei’s gaze and nodded, “We censors do have the power to submit memorials based on hearsay.”
Zhang Fei asked, “Are all your memorials based on the law?”
Fan Chunren was itching to object again but wasn’t sure if he should. Suddenly, someone behind him whispered, “Calm down, don’t be impulsive. Let’s see how he questions. Your impatience will only make you a laughingstock.”
Fan Chunren turned behind to see Sima Guang nodding slightly. He took a deep breath to calm himself, thinking, yes, I was too impatient. This is different from a court debate. Let me see how he questions.
Qian Yi shook his head, “Mostly not.”
Zhang Fei asked, “Then what are they based on?”
Qian Yi answered methodically, “On moral standards, on the benefits and harms to the country, on the gains and losses for the sovereign, and on the rules of the imperial court.”
Zhang Fei nodded and asked, “Does Censor Qian agree that there are many problems in the state, including the Three Excesses?”
Qian Yi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Zhang Fei continued, “In facing these problems, should His Majesty act or not?”
Qian Yi replied, “Of course, he should act.”
Zhang Fei asked, “Does acting include making policy adjustments and personnel changes?”
Qian Yi hesitated again, “It depends on how the adjustments and changes are made.”
Zhang Fei pressed, “I’m asking if adjustments and changes should be made. Just answer yes or no.”
Qian Yi, after a moment of internal struggle, nodded.
Addressing problems, regardless of the policies’ quality, required adjustments and changes.
Zhang Fei asked, “Does His Majesty have the legal authority to establish temporary institutions to handle urgent state affairs?”
Qian Yi replied, “Although His Majesty has the authority, the state has the Palace Secretariat and the Military Commission. Why establish another institution?”
Zhang Fei said, “So Censor Qian acknowledges that His Majesty has the legal authority to establish temporary institutions to handle urgent state affairs but is skeptical about this particular action.”
Qian Yi looked suspiciously at Zhang Fei and nodded.
Zhang Fei smiled, “I believe Censor Qian is diligent in his duties and has the right to raise questions. But this also shows that Censor Qian’s complaint against the Reform Planning Commission for violating ancestral law is not based on the law but to pressure His Majesty for political purposes. Censor Qian knows the Reform Planning Commission is not illegal but believes it is detrimental to the country and the people.”
“I object.”
Before Qian Yi could respond, Fan Chunren stood up, shouting.
This time, he was genuinely anxious.
“I have finished.”
Zhang Fei sat down, smiling at Fan Chunren.
Xu Zhiqian, head lowered, whispered excitedly, “Your questioning was brilliant.”
Zhang Fei lamented, “I wasn’t even fully prepared. Otherwise, I could have made him doubt Confucian principles.”
Xu Zhiqian skeptically asked, “Really?”
Zhang Fei confidently replied, “Of course. These censors are used to speaking off the cuff. If I had the evidence, he’d hang himself when he got home.”
Wen Yanbo sighed, “Is it really that hard to defeat Zhang Fei in court?”
Sima Guang remained silent.
Lu Gongzhu remarked, “It’s not just hard; it’s a nightmare.”
Zhang Fei’s questions completely challenged their habitual thinking.
They never imagined that the role of censor could be such a significant opening for the other side.
After this round of questioning, everyone knew that Qian Yi’s complaint was politically motivated, not legally based. In a court of law, there are no pros and cons, only legality.
With the complaint’s basis invalidated, how could he even think of suing?
Han Qi and Fu Bi shook their heads.
Qian Yi’s answers were disastrous, akin to confessing.
Han Qi looked at Fan Chunren, hoping he wouldn’t disgrace his father.
Fan Chunren realized the situation was against him. He took a deep breath, recalling Zhang Fei’s questioning techniques, then asked Wang Anshi, “Academician Wang, could you explain the Reform Planning Commission?”
He glanced at Zhang Fei, who was still whispering to Xu Zhiqian, feeling slightly relieved.
Wang Anshi answered, “The Reform Planning Commission’s primary duty is to oversee reforms. In short, to change customs, establish laws, and benefit the country.”
Fan Chunren nodded slightly and asked, “Since it’s named the Commission for the Reorganization of the Two Departments, it must be related to the Palace Secretariat and the Military Commission.”
“I object.”
Zhang Fei stood up, “It’s too simplistic to assume a connection based on the name alone.”
Fan Chunren ignored him and asked Wang Anshi directly, “Does the Reform Planning Commission have administrative powers?”
Zhang Fei, unbothered, sat down.
Xu Zhiqian whispered, “That question is critical!”
Zhang Fei smiled, “Don’t worry, I already addressed it.”
Xu Zhiqian curiously asked, “You anticipated this question?”
Zhang Fei replied, “It’s the biggest flaw in the case. How could I not anticipate it?”
The Reform Planning Commission’s ambiguous nature left everyone unsure of its exact powers. Emperor Zhao Xu had only provided a vague explanation.
The conservatives were both eager and anxious, hoping Wang Anshi would make a mistake.
Any answer could be wrong.
It was a prime opportunity!
Wang Anshi shook his head, “It does not have administrative powers.”
The crowd was in an uproar.
Su Shi frowned, “Wang Anshi isn’t much better than Censor Qian.”
Fan Chunren, barely concealing his joy, asked, “Does it have fiscal powers?”
Wang Anshi shook his head, “It does not.”
“Does it have military powers?”
“No.”
Wang Anshi kept shaking his head.
Fan Chunren, overjoyed, quickly said, “No more questions.”