Judge of the Song Dynasty

Lu Shen stood in front of the restaurant, watching Deng Wan enter the imperial city. He then turned back into the restaurant and went straight out the back door to a small alley behind it, where a carriage was waiting.

“Lord Shen, I have spoken with him,” Lu Shen said quietly at the carriage window.

A voice from inside asked, “Will Deng Wan take the bait?”

Lu Shen hurriedly replied, “Please rest assured about that. I know Deng Wan very well. He has always been eager for promotion and has been flattering Lu Huiqing. If he can’t establish this connection now, he’ll fear that he’ll never get promoted in his lifetime.”

“Very well. Thank you for your trouble, Vice-Director.”

“Well…”

“Don’t worry, Vice-Director. I’ve already had someone purchase that residence you were interested in. Once this matter succeeds, it will be transferred to you through the Ma Family Pawnshop. Additionally, if you have a chance to go to the City Tax Bureau, we at the Three Financial Bureaus will support you secretly, ensuring your promotion and wealth.”

“Thank you, Lord Shen.”

For Zhang Fei, as a pen-in-cap, once a case was over, it was just business completed. But for the imperial court, the ripples continued to spread.

In that case, both sides had made it very clear that the Reform Planning Commission would be subject to judicial supervision. As luck would have it, Sima Guang, the future leader of the conservative faction, had just taken office at the Court of Penal Review and rumors had spread that he wanted to reform the judiciary.

With this development, the conservatives urged Sima Guang to quickly implement judicial reform. If it came after the new laws, they wouldn’t be able to specifically target the new policies with judicial reform, which would look too obvious.

Though it wouldn’t matter much if it came to that, the best approach was still to implement judicial reform before the new policies.

Sima Guang naturally went along with this and formally proposed judicial reform to Emperor Zhao Xu.

At today’s court meeting, the discussion wasn’t about Wang Anshi’s reforms but rather Sima Guang’s judicial reform.

After all, Wang Anshi’s side had already settled matters – the Reform Planning Commission was temporarily secure and currently drafting new regulations. Wang Anshi had originally planned to first implement the Balanced Delivery Policy, but later decided to include the Corvee Labor Law, which required careful consideration.

The Corvee Labor Law was extremely sensitive. If not for Zhang Fei’s previous case drawing widespread public attention, Wang Anshi wouldn’t have considered implementing it first. He too was going with the flow.

But Sima Guang was very cautious by nature. He didn’t rush to request the emperor to implement nationwide reform. Instead, he proceeded systematically, first proposing theory based on ancestral law.

Comprehensive order as precaution against malfeasance.

Separation of powers, checks and balances.

This led to a general framework centered on the separation of administration and justice, separating the marshals from prefectural and county offices to form a judicial department. The Court of Justice would also be separated to handle litigation, while prefectural and county offices would only handle administration.

He then suggested increasing enrollment in litigation studies at the College of National Scions to cultivate talent first.

“I support this.”

The first person to stand up and support Sima Guang wasn’t Wen Yanbo or Zhao Bian, but Wang Anshi.

All the officials present were stunned.

When did these two start working together? Even Sima Guang was dumbfounded.

I never agreed to mutual support with you.

Emperor Zhao Xu was also confused and looked at Wang Anshi questioningly.

Wang Anshi continued: “This works perfectly with our Reform Planning Commission’s plans to reform the Corvee Labor Law, which will aid Academician Sima’s reforms.”

Emperor Zhao Xu asked, “Is that so?”

Wang Anshi nodded: “In reply to Your Majesty, as Academician Sima just mentioned, many local government runners are inconsistent in quality. Beyond corruption and bribery, they even cause many wrongful convictions. This concerns the common people and can no longer be left to ordinary upper-class households. We need trained professionals to be specifically responsible for arresting criminals.

This aligns well with my Corvee Labor Law, which plans to allow upper-class households to pay money instead of serving their corvee duties. The proceeds can support Academician Sima’s judicial reforms.”

Zhang Fei’s system of public justice system centered on the separation of administration and justice. But an important foundation for this separation was professionalization – even the runners serving as constables needed to be professional.

To discuss law, one must be rigorous, and everything must follow rules.

Thus Sima Guang first proposed cultivating talent, but professionalization also required financial support.

Sima Guang was furious – who asked for your money? Couldn’t he select people from the Three Military Divisions? Just as he was about to stand up and refute Wang Anshi, Emperor Zhao Xu nodded and smiled: “Excellent! You two ministers are truly my right and left arms. With you both, I have no worries! Proposal approved!”

Who wants to work with him? As Sima Guang tried to speak again, Wang Anshi stepped forward: “Your Majesty is wise.”

Chen Shengzhi and other reformists quickly stepped forward.

“Your Majesty is wise.”

Wen Yanbo and other conservatives couldn’t oppose it either and could only express their support.

Sima Guang was extremely upset. Leaving the great hall, he stormed off angrily.

Wang Anshi chased after him.

“Sima Guang! Sima Guang!”

Finally catching up, Wang Anshi quickly grabbed Sima Guang’s sleeve. “Sima Guang, I called you many times, why didn’t you answer?”

Sima Guang jumped up and cursed: “Wang Anshi, you shameless scoundrel, who wants your assistance?” Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novel[f]ire.net

He clearly understood that Wang Anshi was using his judicial reform to provide more legitimacy for his own reforms, and might even incorporate the judicial reform into his reforms.

You are making my reforms be built on the foundation of your reforms.

How could Sima Guang be happy about this? Wang Anshi pretended to be wronged: “Sima Guang, I’m trying to help you in good faith, yet you curse me. This is truly unreasonable.”

“Bah!”

Sima Guang spat directly in Wang Anshi’s face. “I don’t want your dirty money.”

Wang Anshi said, “You’re slandering me.”

“I’m slandering you?”

Sima Guang laughed coldly, “You just said you’d let upper-class households pay to avoid service. Let me ask you, won’t you use this to increase tax revenue?”

Wang Anshi hesitated and remained silent.

Sima Guang asked, “What? Nothing to say?”

Wang Anshi replied, “I’m increasing taxes on wealthy households, and using that money to employ poor people who lack livelihoods. What’s wrong with that?”

His main purpose for reforms was to improve finances – how could he improve them without increasing taxes?

Sima Guang’s lips trembled with anger: “Throughout history, everyone who raised taxes claimed it was for the people, for the realm. But what were the results? You’re just finding new ways to collect money.”

Wang Anshi also grew agitated, “Even if I am collecting money, I’m doing it for the state. You know very well the government runs a deficit every year.”

He had to admit, Sima Guang’s words always managed to hit a weak spot.

Sima Guang said, “The yearly deficits occur because the court spends too much, not because there isn’t enough money. We should find ways to reduce spending.”

At this point, he suddenly lowered his voice and said, “You, Wang Anshi, have read extensively through historical texts. Don’t you know that if you don’t advise the court to be frugal, no matter how much you collect, it won’t be enough? Think about it – since the Founding Emperor founded the dynasty until now, how much have revenues increased? And what’s been the result?”

Wang Anshi retorted, “Without spending money, how can we improve irrigation or expand territory? Spending isn’t wrong – it depends on how the money is spent and whether it’s used effectively. Look at wealthy merchants – though they earn a lot, they also spend a lot. This shows that money can generate more money if used well.”

Sima Guang said, “How can merchant principles be applied to governing the state?”

Wang Anshi asked, “What’s the difference?”

“That’s private money, this is public money.”

“The difference isn’t in the money, but in the people. That’s why we officials need to set an example.”

“Do you think this will work?”

“It has to work, even if it might not. Don’t officials also need to set an example for frugality?”

“I’m done arguing with you!”

As before, they had a big argument and parted on bad terms.

Sima Guang studied historical texts daily and saw through the past. He believed that the more you earned, the more those people would spend – it would never be enough. The only solution was to reduce expenditure, stop their spending, save the money, and keep it for emergencies.

But Wang Anshi looked to the future. He wanted to change destiny. He believed that mere frugality, without revenue growth, would leave the government unable to accomplish anything. Governing was like rowing against the current – not advancing meant retreating. If war broke out, they would immediately be strapped for resources.

Moreover, the Song Dynasty’s external environment was worse than any previous dynasty’s. They couldn’t create external conditions like the prosperous reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing of the Han dynasty.

The only solution was financial management.

To enrich the family, first enrich the state; to enrich the state, first enrich the realm; to enrich the realm, utilize heaven and earth’s resources.

However, their argument was just a small reflection of the open and hidden struggles at court. One thing was certain – interest groups were forming at court. Simply put, people with common interests banded together, as no one dared face this huge change alone.

Change moves interests.

Some wanted to defend their rights, while others hoped to profit greatly.

Any reform, no matter how noble its initial purpose or whether it was an ideological dispute, would eventually evolve into a conflict of interests.

This was inevitable.

Zhang Fei wasn’t paying too much attention to the court’s shifting politics now. With his current abilities, he couldn’t influence much anyway. His focus was on doing his own work well, advancing step by step.

Today, he planned to personally promote his tax calculation services in the outskirts of the capital.

At the Zhang family gate.

“Long Wu.”

Zhang Fei came out and asked Long Wu, who sat in the carriage, “Is it safe in the outskirts?”

Li Si quickly replied, “Not as safe as in the city – even the western part of the city is unsafe.”

Still traumatized from being beaten black and blue last time!

Zhang Fei, also scared of being ambushed, asked, “Should we bring Da Niu along? It would be safer.”

Long Wu looked troubled: “I can only protect you and Miss Xu at most, I can’t watch over Da Niu too.”

“…?”

Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment before understanding what he meant. He nodded awkwardly, “Alright then. We won’t bring Da Niu.”

He looked around again, “Is that woman still not coming out? Li Si, go hurry her along at the Xu house.”

“Yes!”

Li Si had just jumped down from the carriage when he said, “Brother San, Miss Xu is here.”

Zhang Fei turned to look and saw Xu Zhiqian approaching in men’s clothing, though her curvy figure immediately revealed she was a woman.

After staying home for two days, Xu Zhiqian finally ventured out.

When she saw Zhang Fei, her phoenix eyes flashed with shyness.

Zhang Fei walked over and smiled foolishly, “Zhiqian, you’re here.”

Xu Zhiqian nervously looked around, then glared and whispered angrily, “Who said you could call me Zhiqian?”

“Alright! My lady!”

“…?”

Xu Zhiqian nearly bit her tongue. This was even worse than “Zhiqian.” She spat, “I knew you had ulterior motives, you scoundrel.”

Zhang Fei complained, “You’re like someone who curses the cook after eating their fill. Weren’t you the one who asked for my help?”

Xu Zhiqian said, “But-but I never said you should propose marriage!”

“You didn’t say I should, but you didn’t say I shouldn’t either!”

“How was I supposed to know you’d propose?”

Xu Zhiqian had calculated everything but hadn’t anticipated Zhang Fei would be so bold.

“This is the optimal solution.”

“What optimal solution?”

“Think about it – you’ll have to marry someone eventually. If you marry someone else, you’ll just be a housewife raising children, which clearly isn’t what you want. Only by marrying me can you continue helping people seek justice with me. If that’s not the optimal solution, what is?”

Xu Zhiqian blinked her phoenix eyes and said, “Even-even so, you should have discussed it with me first. What right did you have to decide on your own?”

Zhang Fei said casually, “Because I knew you would agree.”

“Hmph!”

Xu Zhiqian said, “Who says I’ll agree?”

Zhang Fei said, “If you don’t believe me, let’s test it?”

Xu Zhiqian was startled, “How?”

Zhang Fei said, “Let’s pretend I’m discussing it with you, and see if you agree?”

Xu Zhiqian nodded, “Fine!” She thought, though you’re eloquent, I’ll just refuse no matter what sweet words you use, and see what you do then.

Zhang Fei took out a small rectangular wooden box from his waist, opened it to reveal a jade hairpin, and handed it over, “Xu Zhiqian, will you marry me?”

“…?”

Xu Zhiqian froze like a wooden chicken.

This… was so serious? What happened to being a scoundrel? “I-I…”

Xu Zhiqian’s cheeks turned red, her lips moved but no words came out. She wanted to refuse, but the words stuck in her throat. After a while, she gave Zhang Fei a sidelong glance and complained, “How silly!”

She snatched the jade hairpin and got into the carriage.

Zhang Fei looked at his empty hands and smiled, “Women!”