Judge of the Song Dynasty

Zhang Fei’s logic truly bewildered Wang Anshi.

At first glance, it seemed to make sense.

If you went around calculating taxes, it would interfere with official tax collection. Regardless of whether you were right or wrong, the authorities wouldn’t let you act recklessly. This was about money, about flesh and blood – with the emperor being the biggest beneficiary, so naturally there was nothing more to be said.

Given that reality, he would submit and become the government’s running dog, helping them collect taxes.

This was supposedly turning over a new leaf.

Could anyone be more sensible than that?

But thinking carefully, this wasn’t turning over a new leaf at all – it was making things worse, adding fuel to the fire! Zhang Fei was originally just helping farmers calculate taxes. If he went to investigate the taxes of major landowners, that would be a whole different matter.

Wang Anshi glared at him and said with exasperated amusement: “Is this really turning over a new leaf? You’re just making things worse. Do you really think they punished you over a few coins? They’re worried you’ll harm their interests. How can you not understand such a simple principle?”

But as he spoke, he suddenly realized this youth didn’t fail to understand – he understood too well. “You’re planning to take revenge on them?”

Zhang Fei nodded. He had originally planned to work around the issue, but since that wasn’t possible, he could only confront it head-on.

What else could he do? This was exactly what Wang Anshi worried about, and he sighed: “Just stay quiet about this matter for now, we’ll discuss it later.”

But Zhang Fei disagreed: “Everything has its pros and cons. If we can take advantage of this timing, we can turn the situation around. Once the tax collection period passes, what excuse would we have to investigate taxes?”

Wang Anshi asked: “What authority do you, a mere pen-in-cap, have to investigate their taxes?”

Zhang Fei replied: “As long as I can get this matter to court, I can investigate.”

Wang Anshi earnestly advised: “They won’t give you that chance. When discussing this matter the other day, they weren’t talking about principles, but about tax money.”

Zhang Fei said: “That’s because I was indeed interfering with government tax collection. If I help the government collect taxes, what reason would they have to oppose me?”

Seeing the youth’s stubborn persistence, Wang Anshi spoke frankly: “But how will you get this matter to court?”

Even Xu Zun couldn’t help with this – only Wang Anshi could, but he dared not act rashly. He had his own reform plans; how could he engage in Zhang Fei’s reckless behavior?

Although he had many collaborations with Zhang Fei, the priorities had to be clear. He was the protagonist, his reforms were the main plot. Zhang Fei only received some benefits while assisting him. How could Zhang Fei’s scattered attacks here and there accomplish anything?

Zhang Fei pondered briefly, then said: “We can rely on Academician Sima to bring this matter to court.”

Wang Anshi started, coughing once: “Sima Guang won’t help you.”

But his eyes flickered with anticipation.

Zhang Fei said: “That’s not necessarily true.”

Wang Anshi became interested: “What do you mean?”

Zhang Fei explained: “We can use Academician Sima’s judicial reforms to force him to support us.”

Wang Anshi was puzzled: “What connection is there between these two matters?”

Zhang Fei said: “One important principle of Academician Sima’s judicial reform is the separation of administration and law.”

Wang Anshi nodded: “I know this.”

Zhang Fei continued: “But currently, judicial power still lies with the prefects and magistrates. Even if higher departments gave orders, those judicial courts won’t simply receive judicial powers while lying down – there must be a struggle.”

“Now that Academician Sima has proposed separating administration and law, we can use this to provoke conflict between the judicial courts and government offices, then benefit from it.”

Wang Anshi pondered for a while: “That seems difficult. The judicial courts and county offices have long had close relationships. It won’t be easy to drive a wedge between them, especially since the judicial courts are on their side!”

Moreover, judicial court officials also had close ties with the landowner class.

Zhang Fei said: “But in the face of power, all personal relationships become worthless. Once administration and law are separated, judicial courts will control tax law while prefectures and counties control tax collection. If we define this lawsuit as a dispute between tax law and authority to collect taxes, they will surely fight for it. Because if judicial courts cannot assert control over some financial matters, they will be constrained by prefectures and counties. Without financial support, how can there be mutual checks and balances?”

Wang Anshi’s expression gradually became hesitant: “You mean you want to file this lawsuit in the judicial court?”

“Exactly.”

Zhang Fei nodded and said: “Suppose the county office refuses to accept the case, but the judicial court demands to hear it – this would evolve into a executive versus judiciary dispute, and I would be able to bring this case to court as desired.”

Wang Anshi couldn’t help but look at Zhang Fei in surprise.

This kid.

What a vicious move!

Actually, Zhang Fei had learned from experience. Xu Zun had also audited land taxes, but why was Xu Zun fine while he nearly fell? The reason was that he was just a unruly commoners. It wasn’t possible for officials to be constrained by commoners, but official-versus-official conflict was fundamentally different.

If this succeeded, the biggest winners wouldn’t be him, but rather the judicial courts.

After pondering, Wang Anshi asked: “Can you convince the judicial court to support you?”

“Of course not,” Zhang Fei said.

Wang Anshi was stunned: “If you can’t, why are you talking about it?”

Zhang Fei replied: “If I could, I wouldn’t need to say anything.”

Wang Anshi looked at Zhang Fei in confusion.

Zhang Fei said: “Currently Academician Sima hasn’t begun reforms. Since no one at the top is making the decisions, power lies with prefectural and county offices. Who would dare to take the lead, unless…”

Wang Anshi suddenly understood: “You want me to support you.”

Zhang Fei nodded, thinking to himself that if he could handle it alone, he wouldn’t need to discuss it with anyone – he would just do it himself.

Stirring up conflict between the judicial court and county office sounded simple but would be extremely difficult in practice. They were in a superior-subordinate relationship and had shared interests – why would they take such a big risk for a mere pen-in-cap? What guarantee was there that this would create any real trouble?

Unless someone in a higher position supported it.

But Wang Anshi had his own plans and didn’t want to take this risk. This wasn’t about advocating for the common people, where simply speaking fairly would provide reasons to garner support his own reforms. This was a political conspiracy, and once involved, there might be no way out.

Besides, what difference would winning make? It had nothing to do with him.

Zhang Fei glanced secretly at Wang Anshi, knowing this wasn’t enough to move him. So he asked, “Do you know why Academician Sima wants to reform the judiciary?”

Wang Anshi started slightly and snorted, “Naturally it’s to check my power. But I, Wang Anshi, am an upright person – I’m not afraid of him using the judiciary to restrain me.”

Zhang Fei asked again, “Do you know who is supporting Academician Sima behind the scenes?”

After a brief silence, Wang Anshi said, “Those major landowners support Sima Guang to oppose with me.”

Zhang Fei continued, “Then would stirring up this conflict benefit or harm Academician Sima?”

“Of course it would-“

Wang Anshi’s eyes suddenly lit up as he muttered to himself, “Yes! On the surface, the judicial court seizing power would benefit Sima Guang’s judicial reforms, but it would also offend those major landowners.”

He laughed, “This would put Sima Guang in quite a dilemma! I’m very curious to see how he’ll choose.”

Zhang Fei said, “And all you need to do is to find someone to raise the banner of judicial reform. Even if it fails, it won’t affect you at all – I’ll be the one charging into battle.”

Wang Anshi glanced at him, “Are you really this kindhearted?”

Zhang Fei gave an awkward smile, “I do have one condition.”

Wang Anshi asked, “What condition?”

Zhang Fei said, “I want to file this lawsuit in Kaifeng County, so the person you find must be from Kaifeng County, not Kaifeng Prefecture.”

After pondering briefly, Wang Anshi said, “I understand – you want revenge on Magistrate Wang?”

Zhang Fei nodded, “I want to ruin his reputation.”

Wang Anshi frowned, “Is it worth going so far?”

“It is.”

Zhang Fei said firmly, “Actually, Prefect Lu and Vice-Prefect Li have also given me trouble, but at least they stood for fairness and justice. But that Magistrate Wang didn’t even treat us as humans. He can arrest people, but what right does he have to torture them just because he collects taxes for the imperial court? What kind of ridiculous logic is that? If I don’t take revenge for this grudge, I could be beaten anytime I file future lawsuits.” Follow current novels on novᴇlfire.net

It was like domestic violence – once it happened the first time, there would definitely be a second time. He had to fight this behavior to the end. If someone won through schemes and tricks, he could accept that, but if they tried to beat him into submission, he absolutely wouldn’t give in. Zhang Fei knew very clearly that once he submitted, the beatings would become a daily occurence.

Wang Anshi suddenly asked, “Do you have some deep grudge against people surnamed Wang?”

“Huh?”

Zhang Fei was stunned, “No! Why would you ask that?”

Wang Anshi said, “First it was Wang Wenshan, now it’s Wang Hong, and next… hehe, my surname is Wang too!”

Zhang Fei didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry, “Academician Wang, this is truly just a coincidence. I promise this is the last time. In the future, I’ll stay far away from anyone surnamed Wang.”

“You said it – the last time.” Wang Anshi laughed heartily, but then turned serious, “This matter is important. I need to go back and think it over carefully.”

Zhang Fei nodded.

“Alright, I’ll take my leave.”

“Let me see you out, Academician Wang.”

“No need!”

Wang Anshi waved his hand and left the private room, his expression flickering. He chuckled to himself, “Sima Guang, oh Sima Guang, you can’t blame me for being ruthless – I’m just an accomplice, the mastermind is that pen-in-cap Zhang San. This will be quite entertaining. Haha!”

Zhang Fei stood in the hall, watching Wang Anshi’s light footsteps. He knew this matter was nearly certain – given the grudge between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, Wang Anshi would likely join this game, if only to irritate Sima Guang.

But Zhang Fei was deeply worried. He thought to himself that he couldn’t abandon the great tree that was Sima Guang just for revenge – that would truly be losing the watermelon while picking up sesame seeds.

But how could he convince Sima Guang to stab himself?