Chapter 164: Closing Submissions
What the?!
Were these two working together to trick us?
After all this back and forth, it seemed like everyone except those two had become victims!
The Palace Secretariat and Military Commission were the highest institutions of the central government. If they were both subject to judicial oversight, then other departments…
Wang Anshi’s extreme strategy made many break out in cold sweat, constantly wiping their foreheads. The conversation grew more terrifying.
Even Han Qi and Fu Bi exchanged bewildered glances.
It was hard to tell who was the judge and who was the victim.
This trial was truly deadly! Fortunately the questioning phase concluded, so the witnesses could return to their seats.
Finally, they could leave this cursed place.
Wang Anshi stood up and walked wearily to the observation seats. Just sitting on the witness chair felt more exhausting than debating someone for an entire day! “Teacher’s responses just now were truly brilliant,” Lu Huiqing said excitedly as he stood to welcome Wang Anshi.
Judicial oversight didn’t matter as long as it was impartial. If the Palace Secretariat could handle it, there was nothing for the Reform Planning Commission to fear.
After all, they were a new department with no old accounts to settle.
Other departments might not be so lucky.
But Wang Anshi just gave him a bland look and said, “Is that so?”
Lu Huiqing seemed to notice something off about his master’s expression and just nodded awkwardly.
“Then you can go be the witness next time.”
With that, Wang Anshi sat down and yawned.
To him, this was extremely boring.
Everything he said was just repeating Zhang Fei’s arguments – they hadn’t managed to get anything new out of him.
Though he answered the questions, it felt soulless.
There was no sense of engagement in the game.
In these kinds of debates, he was used to being the star!
This time he had been reduced to a bystander.
Lu Huiqing sat down with an awkward smile.
Meanwhile, Qian Yi sat on the other side. Compared to Wang Anshi’s weariness, he appeared more dazed and confused, his mind nearly blank.
He could barely remember what questions he’d been asked, since they were all so ordinary. He didn’t even know what he had answered – it was too simple, requiring no thought.
But how had it turned out like this?
Based on Fan Chunren’s final question about whether they could still file complaints against the Reform Planning Commission in the future, it seemed they had already admitted defeat.
But most people hadn’t noticed this subtle detail and were still expecting a heated debate.
By convention, that was just the questioning phase – the key was supposed to be the submissions to the judges that followed.
The scholars especially loved that part.
But as presiding judges, Fu Bi and Han Qi knew it was time to conclude.
They glanced at Zhang Fei, then at Fan Chunren.
Time for a summary and to end early rather than drag things out.
Zhang Fei first looked at Fan Chunren and seeing his blank stare, stood up. Surveying the expectant faces in the crowd, he smiled victoriously, then turned to Han Qi and Fu Bi and began speaking methodically: “First, I must state that this should never have been a trial in the first place. There is absolutely no concrete evidence that the Reform Planning Commission violates ancestral law.
Clearly, the other side merely hoped to achieve their political aims through litigation.”
“I object!” Fan Chunren reflexively stood and shouted.
Zhang Fei just smiled slightly and ignored him, continuing: “I don’t know if the other side was deliberately or intentionally conflating ancestral law with ancestral systems.”
Why was he still talking? Fan Chunren looked at Zhang Fei in surprise, then at Han Qi and Fu Bi. Seeing the two judges unmoved, he suddenly realized they had entered the submission phase where objections weren’t allowed, and sat back down sheepishly.
But he wasn’t embarrassed anymore, having already experienced the most awkward moment of his life earlier.
Zhang Fei continued: “But I must clarify again that ancestral law and ancestral systems are not the same thing. Ancestral law cannot be changed – it is the fundamental law of the state. But ancestral systems can be changed – almost every emperor of our Song Dynasty has made certain adjustments to state institutions and the bureaucratic system.
The core principle of ancestral law is preventing and correcting malfeasance. Whether preventing or correcting, change is implied.
The country currently faces many problems – there is consensus on this both inside and outside the imperial court. His Majesty and Academician Wang established the Reform Planning Commission to lead reforms and eliminate these problems while promoting benefits. This absolutely follows ancestral law. I believe the spirits of our founding emperors would be pleased to see a wealthy and powerful Song Dynasty.”
Fu Bi and Han Qi exchanged glances and sighed.
Well then! First they defined the concept of ancestral law, now the concept of ancestral system had been defined as well.
The reasons they could use to restrict the emperor were getting fewer and fewer.
Zhang Fei glanced at some notes Xu Zhiqian had made earlier and said: “The other side’s core criticism was that the Reform Planning Commission has too much unchecked power. If true, that would indeed violate ancestral law.”
He looked up and chuckled: “But unfortunately, this is an utterly ridiculous criticism. If this was the era of the Shang Yang’s reforms or the reformist reign of Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty, they would have already lost their heads.
But now? They have sued the Reform Planning Commission in open court, and even forced State Counsellor Wang to testify and answer difficult questions. This is unprecedented not just in our dynasty, but even in the enlightened era of Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty.
They are acting like royal relatives who trample on farmers’ fields, and when stopped by the farmers, cursed them as troublemakers for daring to resist. How absurd!”
“Ahem! Ahem!” Scattered coughing broke out in the observation gallery.
There were quite a few royal relatives sitting there.
Was it really appropriate to call them out so directly without any face-saving?
But Zhang Fei didn’t care – he meant to do it, since Fang Yun’s kidnapper was likely among them. He continued as if he hadn’t heard: “Therefore I won’t waste time addressing these criticisms further, as this trial itself provides the best explanation. The Reform Planning Commission’s power is entirely reasonable and not so great as to violate ancestral law.
Rather, the power that certain people have is truly formidable. They are able to bring an innocent matter to court. Where they should be submitting memorials that are advisory in nature, they bring a complaint in a court of law instead. This is clearly an abuse of power. Though not the subject of this trial, I believe the two judges should examine this issue carefully, as our dynasty’s ancestral law aims to prevent corrupt governance. That’s all from me.”
With that, he sat down.
His words left many censors and remonstrance officials red-faced.
You’ve already won – did you have to step on our faces too?
Meanwhile the reformists felt wronged to the point of tears.
Indeed!
We’re already being bullied like this, yet still painted as the villains.
Zhang Fei was right – how were we any different from those farmers being cursed as troublemakers by the royals?
This was too much! Han Qi looked at Zhang Fei with admiration – these words had managed to offend nearly every powerful person present. He whispered to Fu Bi: “In the future, you must not say this young man’s courage doesn’t match mine in my youth. I’m not his equal.”
Fu Bi smiled: “Not necessarily – outside the court, he wouldn’t dare speak like this.”
They both looked toward Fan Chunren.
No – everyone was looking at Fan Chunren.
They were full of anger but had to hold it in. Only Fan Chunren could help them fight back now!
Fan Chunren sat for a while before standing. He looked at Zhang Fei, then addressed Han Qi and Fu Bi: “I completely disagree with Zhang San’s words – this is not an innocent matter and this trial is not meaningless. But even if he’s right that this shouldn’t have come to court, the fault lies not with us but with His Majesty and Academician Wang.”
Fu Bi and Han Qi exchanged glances – this was truly one-upmanship.
One side mocked the royal relatives and censors, but you went straight for the Emperor and a state counsellor.
Did it really need to be this confrontational? It would be better to keep the peace!
If this continued, no one would come out well.
Emperor Zhao Xu, observing from the gallery, was caught in the crossfire and grumbled unhappily: “These censors really know how to shift blame and spout nonsense.”
But the censors and remonstrance officials had the power to point out the emperor’s mistakes – criticizing the emperor was routine, especially in the Song Dynasty.
Zhao Xu could only curse a bit in private to vent – what else could he do?
Fan Chunren continued: “It was His Majesty and Academician Wang who failed to adequately explain and consult with officials about establishing the Reform Planning Commission, acting secretively, which naturally aroused suspicion.
If this happens again, we will continue to file complaints. This has nothing to do with power – it concerns the common people and the fate of the country.
If certain people hope to use this to intimidate us and silence us, they are deluding themselves. Trying to prevent the people from speaking is more dangerous than blocking a river to prevent a flood – especially for a mere pen-in-cap.”
With that, he sat down.
But many observers on both sides stood up to cheer and support him.
“Well said!”
“Excellent point about preventing speech being more dangerous than floods. Well said!”
“We will not be intimidated by a mere pen-in-cap.”
Zhang Fei looked at the excited officials with disdain: “Usually only victors cheer – today we witness the losers cheering.” He looked back at the reformists with contempt: Damn! Have you all gone mute? What useless allies.
Noticing no reaction beside him, he turned to see Xu Zhiqian staring intently at Fan Chunren with clenched fists, seemingly excited. He called out: “Hey!”
Xu Zhiqian started and turned to him. “What?”
“Don’t tell me your heart’s with the enemy?” Zhang Fei examined Xu Zhiqian suspiciously but could discern nothing beyond her pure, aloof beauty and prominent chest.
Xu Zhiqian blushed. “No, no.”
Zhang Fei said: “Then why are you so excited?”
“I…”
Xu Zhiqian’s eyes suddenly gleamed mischievously: “Because I think this is good!”
“Good?”
Zhang Fei wanted to slap this traitor.
Xu Zhiqian nodded: “Of course it’s good! The more lawsuits they file, the more business you’ll have!”
Zhang Fei blinked, then suddenly applauded: “Good, good, good! Well said! Excellent! I support it too – keep suing!”
Xu Zhiqian giggled: “You unscrupulous merchant!”
What? The pen-in-cap Zhang San was also applauding – was he mocking us? When he started clapping, the room quickly fell silent.
Han Qi and Fu Bi glared at him – this was the Chamber of State Affairs, not his private courtyard.
Zhang Fei awkwardly lowered his hands. “I think I’ve been misunderstood.”
Xu Zhiqian smiled without speaking.
In the gallery, Emperor Zhao Xu frowned at this point and turned to leave through the back door.
Lan Yuanzhen whispered: “Your Majesty, they haven’t announced the verdict yet.”
Zhao Xu just glanced at him before striding away.
Lan Yuanzhen muttered: “Who exactly is the victim here?”
Sitting in the judges’ seats, Fu Bi and Han Qi exchanged looks. Fu Bi nodded slightly and Han Qi struck his gavel.
Bang!
The room gradually quieted.
Han Qi announced: “After this trial, Lord Fu and I both believe that the Reform Planning Commission does not violate ancestral law.”