Judge of the Song Dynasty

Panic!

When the Left Court suddenly announced the public trial date, the court officials truly panicked.

For such a sensitive case, how dare a mere Left Court accept it without waiting for directions from the imperial court? Were they treating the officials as if they were dead?

It was truly outrageous.

Many officials, even retired scholars, pressured Lu Gongzhu, demanding he order the Left Court to reject the lawsuit. They argued the case couldn’t proceed – how could one government office sue another? Such a thing had never happened before.

Lu Gongzhu was caught in a dilemma. While he asked the Left Court to postpone, he also demanded that the officials provide him with sufficient justification.

The Left Court had intended to ignite this fire just to gauge everyone’s reactions, so they complied with Lu Gongzhu’s suggestion and postponed the trial for half a month.

However, judicial officials from the Court of Judicial Review, Court of Penal Review, and Ministry of Punishments were dissatisfied with this.

They argued there was no valid reason for postponement.

Anyone could see the problems with Wang Hong’s verdict! The opposition immediately resorted to their usual tactics, claiming that the Kaifeng County office was busy collecting taxes, and this lawsuit would interfere with state revenue collection.

But this time was different.

They were facing their colleagues, not Zhang Fei.

Many judicial officials fired back directly, arguing this was precisely about tax collection. It was because someone refused to pay taxes that the matter ended up in court, proving there were problems with tax collection. If the court didn’t severely punish such behavior, nobody would pay taxes – the consequences would be severe.

It made sense! Perfect sense!

(Zhang Fei rolled his eyes.)

Many officials pointed out that Sima Guang’s previous proposal for separation of administrative and judicial powers had already received His Majesty’s approval, and the facts had proven this suggestion was absolutely far-sighted.

Of course, this was Wang Anshi secretly stirring things up.

Sure enough, once he fanned the flames, the fire actually died down.

Many officials found themselves in a difficult position.

Wasn’t this judicial reform meant to deal with the Reform Planning Commission? How had it turned against them? Killing 800 enemies while losing 1,000 of their own? This forced all officials to reexamine Sima Guang’s judicial reforms.

After working hours.

Shen Huaixiao, whose lips were dry from arguing, left the courthouse still complaining to his friend Du Xiu.

“Those bookworms are truly pedantic. This is clearly just Zhang San trying to get revenge on Wang Hong, it’s that simple. Yet they insist on bringing up the New Policies and reforms, making everything more complicated.”

“Perhaps they see things clearly,” Du Xiu sighed.

Shen Huaixiao said, “If they know, they shouldn’t argue – aren’t they just helping Zhang San?”

But Du Xiu replied, “Perhaps they’re trying to take advantage of the situation.”

Shen Huaixiao understood perfectly well and gritted his teeth: “I really want to tell them I’ll agree to whatever they want as long as we get rid of Zhang San first. It’s always like this – that minor pen-in-cap could be crushed with one finger, yet someone always interferes.”

By the end, he was nearly going crazy.

Actually, Wang Anshi was more detestable and frightening, but he was the Chancellor – if he targeted you, there was nothing to be done.

But Zhang San was just a pen-in-cap who should have been easy to deal with, yet somehow couldn’t be eliminated.

Like a fly buzzing around them endlessly all day – that would have been bad enough, but what really infuriated him was that their own people had hidden away the flyswatter and insecticide.

Du Xiu was also speechless about this.

Just then, they heard an argument break out ahead.

“Wang Anshi, stop right there!”

“Have you gone mad, old man? Let go – you’re tearing my clothes!”

“You’re not leaving until this is cleared up today!”

Torn clothes?

The two looked at each other in surprise.

“Sounds like Wang Anshi and Sima Guang.”

“Let’s go see!”

Driven by curiosity, they hurried out of the corridor and saw two state counsellors grappling with each other in the clearing.

They both gasped, their pupils contracting.

It was just when officials were leaving work, and this was the main route out of the palace – many officials passing by stopped to watch.

“You’re a Hanlin Academician – how undignified to be pulling and grabbing like this. Let go!”

Wang Anshi shouted at Sima Guang while tugging at his sleeve.

Sima Guang held on tightly, “Wang Anshi, you despicable wretch, using such vile tricks to sabotage my judicial reforms – you’ll come to no good end!”

“You’re the one who will come to no good end! When did I ever sabotage your reforms?”

“You still deny it?”

Sima Guang bristled with anger: “This is all your plot – you’re using this case to turn everyone against my judicial reforms so they’ll fail. Then there’ll be no one left to oversee your reforms. To think I once urged everyone to support your New Policies – and this is how you repay kindness with enmity!”

“Sima Guang, you are utterly shameless! Do you think I don’t know about your underhanded schemes? Supporting my reforms? I’ve never met anyone as brazenly shameless as you!”

“So you admit this is all your plot!”

Sima Guang immediately pointed at Wang Anshi.

“Bah! Complete nonsense! You’re making malicious accusations without any evidence, trying to frame me. I’ll definitely report you to His Majesty. Let go!”

Seeing more and more officials gathering around, Wang Anshi shook his sleeve free from Sima Guang and ran.

Sima Guang refused to give up, chasing after him desperately. “Wang Anshi, stop right there! We’re not done until this is cleared up today!”

At least thirty officials stood watching, witnessing everything.

They were all dumbfounded, speechless.

They could hardly believe their eyes.

They had never seen Sima Guang and Wang Anshi behave like this before. Thɪs chapter is updated by novel⸺fire.net

They were acting just like common street ruffians!

After escaping Sima Guang’s pursuit, Wang Anshi didn’t go straight home but ran to the Zhang residence.

Zhang Fei was sitting in the corridor having a quiet lunch with Gao Wenyin, listening to the cicadas and birdsong in the courtyard – quite romantic.

However, Wang Anshi’s arrival instantly ruined the atmosphere.

Seeing Wang Anshi’s furious expression and endless stream of complaints, Zhang Fei quickly sent Niu Beiqing, Li Si and the others to wait in their rooms.

He invited Wang Anshi into the hall.

As soon as he sat down, Wang Anshi started cursing.

“Outrageous! Outrageous! That little Sima has gone too far!”

“What happened, Academician Wang?”

Zhang Fei asked in confusion.

Wang Anshi was about to speak when he saw Gao Wenyin enter with tea and snacks. He just snorted angrily.

Gao Wenyin was startled.

Did I do something wrong? Zhang Fei quickly took the tea and snacks, softly telling Gao Wenyin: “Wife, please go rest in your room.”

“Oh.”

Gao Wenyin bowed to Wang Anshi, then left.

Zhang Fei personally poured a cup of tea for Wang Anshi and said, “Academician Wang, please have some tea first.”

Wang Anshi did feel thirsty, so he picked up the cup and drank most of it, then slammed it heavily on the table – after all, it wasn’t his own property. “I thought that old Sima would use some clever strategy to resolve this, but it turns out he only knows how to act like a ruffian.”

Zhang Fei was completely confused. “What ruffian tactics?”

Wang Anshi spoke with such agitation that spittle flew: “You don’t know – that old Sima just grabbed me in the imperial city, in front of many officials, and insisted this was my conspiracy, claiming I wanted to sabotage his judicial reforms.”

Zhang Fei’s eyes lit up. “That’s quite a clever move!”

“Clever nothing!”

Wang Anshi glared at Zhang Fei, spraying his face as he spoke, “This is just the behavior of a shameless ruffian.”

Before he finished speaking, laughter rang out from the courtyard: “When dealing with ruffians, one must use ruffian tactics.”

Wang Anshi looked up to see Sima Guang striding in confidently. Seeing his nemesis made his blood boil, and he immediately stood up. “Well well, Sima Guang, you’ve actually followed me here.”

Zhang Fei sighed – things were about to get lively.

Sima Guang entered the hall and snorted, “I’m here to catch conspirators.”

Conspirators?

Zhang Fei nearly cursed, and said awkwardly: “Academician Sima, that term seems a bit inappropriate. Perhaps you’d like to choose another?”

“Has this old man spoken wrongly?”

Sima Guang straightened his robes and sat down, his gaze sweeping across their faces. “You two are conspiring together, attempting to sabotage my judicial reforms. How utterly shameless.”

Zhang Fei clasped his hands in greeting: “I only want to seek justice.”

With just the three of them present, there was no need for pretense.

“Don’t try to quibble.” Sima Guang’s expression suddenly changed as he said with a smile: “I’m not here to condemn you. In fact, I should thank you for lending me a helping hand. I was worried about separating administration from the judiciary and possibly offending many people, but with the commotion you’ve created, everything will now fall naturally into place! Haha!”

Seeing Sima Guang’s arrogance, Wang Anshi was grinding his teeth in anger. His eyes flickered as he smiled and said: “Sima Guang, have you considered that my actions were precisely meant to help everything fall into place?”

Sima Guang waved his hand: “You’re just trying to save face!”

“Oh really?” Wang Anshi calmly explained: “Your judicial reform is nothing but an attempt to monitor my New Policies. Now just one Wei Yushan has given you such a headache that you’ve resorted to ruffian tactics. Think about it – how many more Wei Yushans are out there? I could send you a hundred each day until you’re in your grave. Would you really have time to monitor my New Policies then? Haha!”

A flash of fear crossed Sima Guang’s eyes, but his voice remained composed: “You really underestimate people. Such minor cases won’t necessarily reach my hands in the future. Keeping an eye on you will be enough.”

Wang Anshi’s mouth twitched. “You can keep an eye on me, but as a Hanlin Academy Academician, don’t resort to such thuggish tactics. I feel embarrassed for you.”

Sima Guang snorted, “I learned it from you.”

Wang Anshi said, “If you’re really learning from me, you should study my methods properly.”

Were they flirting? Zhang Fei, who had been left aside watching them at daggers drawn, awkwardly said, “The two Academicians must have just finished work and haven’t eaten. If you don’t mind my humble home…”

“I do mind!”

Sima Guang stood up, glaring at Wang Anshi. “But what I mind is the presence of a petty man. Farewell!”

He then stormed out.

Wang Anshi gritted his teeth and said to Zhang Fei, “I was too soft-hearted before. We should have been harsher. This really infuriates me.”

Zhang Fei broke out in a cold sweat and said, “Academician Wang, would you like to stay for a simple meal?”

“No! My anger has filled me up!”

Wang Anshi stood up and said to Zhang Fei, “Now that he’s made such a fuss, this case will definitely go to trial. When the time comes, prosecute Wang Hong and Wei Yushan to the fullest extent – show no mercy. I’d like to see if they won’t be scared then. I’m leaving.”

Zhang Fei was speechless.

Do they think my home is a public toilet?

Coming and going as they please! This is truly ridiculous.

After seeing Wang Anshi off, Zhang Fei returned to the back hall.

“Husband, what happened?” Gao Wenyin asked anxiously.

Who wouldn’t be scared when two powerful court officials suddenly burst into their home in such a rage!

Zhang Fei consoled her: “Don’t worry, dear. They just needed a quiet place to argue, and our home happens to be secluded.”

Wang Anshi came here simply because Sima Guang had angered him, wanting to vent and tell Zhang Fei to prepare since the case would definitely go to trial.

Sima Guang came just to show off and irritate Wang Anshi.

You wanted to target me?

Not only did you fail, but you actually helped me.

But it had to be said, Sima Guang’s move was brilliant.

Many people had doubted his judicial reforms, but after this incident, they seemed to wake up.

It turned out this was Wang Anshi’s scheme to divide and conquer, aimed at sabotaging Sima Guang’s judicial reforms.

The previous case had shown that the Reform Planning Commission was subject to judicial oversight, proving they took these judicial reforms seriously.

This explained why Wang Anshi was so determined to undermine Sima Guang’s judicial reforms.

Of two evils, choose the lesser!

In the end, Wang Anshi was the real boss.

All this over Wang Hong…

Oh right!

Who was Wang Hong again?