Judge of the Song Dynasty

Emperor Zhao Xu issued an edict maintaining the previous ruling. Supplementary deed taxes had to be paid according to law.

This immediately sparked fierce opposition from many court officials who believed it would not help ease tensions but rather further aggravate the situation and provoke more public resentment.

However, Emperor Zhao Xu remained unmoved.

The reform faction led by Wang Anshi naturally fought back in court, arguing there was nothing wrong with the government collecting taxes according to law. They suggested those who were so agitated must be evading taxes themselves. Wang even submitted a memorial to the Emperor proposing to investigate the tax affairs of officials who opposed the government’s tax collection.

Of course, the Emperor kept this proposal under advisement without acting on it. If such investigations were launched, the situation would become uncontrollable.

This made Fu Bi and other former ministers from the Qingli era deeply worried, as if the Qingli factional struggles were about to repeat themselves. They understood clearly why Wang Anshi refused to back down and why the opposition was so aggressive. The problem seemed unsolvable.

Sima Guang, as a conservative, had not made any comments on this matter as he was busy with his work on legal aid. Things were going very smoothly, though not everyone agreed with it – in fact, many had reservations or even opposed it, arguing it would encourage litigation. The notorious case of Zhang San the pen-in-cap was still fresh in everyone’s memory. They felt it was backwards to encourage rather than restrict litigation.

However, the timing was perfect – choosing the lesser of two evils. With everyone united against Wang Anshi, stirring up this issue would only distract attention and possibly let Wang succeed. Moreover, Sima Guang held the moral high ground – even without encouraging litigation, the common people who couldn’t afford notaries to write complaints were at a disadvantage anyway. It was inherently unfair for illiterate commoners in legal disputes.

Now the imperial court could help the people without spending money while gaining goodwill. This gained support from Zhao Bian, Wen Yanbo, Fan Chunren, Su Shi, and Su Zhe. It was accomplished easily, making Wang Anshi envious of how different the reception was compared to his own reforms.

In the Hanlin Academy, Sima Guang sat inside reviewing books about litigation while manning his final post. Though he had decided to promote legal aid and legitimize litigation, he still had some reservations. He was researching historical views on litigation to find ways to avoid its negative effects. Suddenly, the door opened from outside. Sima Guang looked up to see Wang Anshi storming in. The two men locked eyes. One lowered his head to continue reading while the other turned his face away haughtily – perfectly in sync.

After a while, Wang Anshi sat down across from Sima Guang and asked, “Why are you here?”

Without looking up, Sima Guang replied, “The Chamber of State Affairs is too noisy.”

Wang Anshi looked around mockingly, “Isn’t it noisy here too?”

Sima Guang closed his book, “It’s getting noisy now.”

Wang Anshi glanced at him and asked, “You’ve been quiet lately. Are you plotting some schemes in secret?”

Sima Guang chuckled, “You can barely handle my overt moves, why would I need secret schemes?”

“What overt moves?” Wang Anshi asked.

Sima Guang asked, “Are you determined to collect these summer taxes?”

Wang Anshi nodded, “That’s right.”

Sima Guang said, “What if someone secretly incites the bureaucrats to exploit the people, stirring up even greater public resentment? What will you do then?”

Wang Anshi dismissed this, “Right under the Emperor’s nose? They wouldn’t dare.”

Sima Guang smiled, “Don’t forget, you’re the one forcing them to collect taxes. When tenant farmers can’t pay, they’ll resort to any means necessary.”

Before Wang Anshi had even begun his reforms, Sima Guang had anticipated this day. History was a mirror revealing such patterns.

Wang Anshi said, “Sima Guang, you’re a state councilor yourself. You knew they would do this yet you waited to watch me fail. Isn’t that prioritizing your personal feelings over regard for the law?”

Sima Guang replied, “Remember what I told you – to govern the state, first govern the bureaucrats. When official conduct is not upright, even good laws become bad ones. And yours can hardly be called good law to begin with.”

”Let’s wait and see,” Wang Anshi said.

With that, he rose and left. Follow current novels on novᴇlfire.net

Upon leaving the Hanlin Academy, Wang Anshi quickly summoned Lu Huiqing and instructed, “Take the Policy Assessment Officers immediately to inspect and collect summer taxes. Don’t let anyone interfere.”

He had created the Policy Assessment Officer position in the Reform Planning Commission precisely to prevent such situations. He had anticipated there would be problems with implementation, but this particular issue wasn’t part of his plans, and he had temporarily forgotten about it.

Lu Huiqing immediately understood. “Teacher, are you worried someone might cause trouble?”

Wang Anshi nodded.

“Don’t worry, Teacher. I won’t give them the opportunity,” Lü Huiqing said.

As Lu Huiqing was about to leave, Wang Anshi suddenly called him back. “Wait.”

LüuHuiqing turned around and asked, “What else do you need, Teacher?”

“No, no, this is wrong!”

Wang Anshi shook his head repeatedly. “We can’t do this!”

“What do you mean?” Lu Huiqing asked.

“I promised before that we would increase state revenue without burdening the people. The new laws already lack support from landlords. If we lose public support as well, success will be impossible.”

Lu Huiqing quickly responded, “But many commoners benefit from this. They won’t have to bear taxes for land they don’t own. In comparison, the tax burden on tenant farmers is negligible. Besides, they’ve been evading taxes – making them pay is only right.”

Wang Anshi sighed. “That’s true, but if we force tax collection, we’ll be opposing the common people. This absolutely cannot happen.”

He shook his head and continued, “It’s my fault for being too hasty and overlooking this point.”

“But changing policies so quickly will lead to endless problems,” Lü Huiqing said.

“I know that, and we must collect the taxes.”

Wang Anshi nodded and added, “But don’t rush to collect taxes yet. First, work with the Kaifeng Prefectural Office to conduct a comprehensive survey. Investigate the tenant farmers’ current difficulties. We need to determine if someone is instigating this or if they’re truly struggling. We must find a way to shift this burden onto the landlords.”

Provoked by Sima Guang, he had actually become calmer. His reform principle was to reduce the common people’s burden while increasing taxes on the wealthy and landlords to fill the state treasury.

The shifting of the tax burden onto commoners was something he had to prevent. If he forced people to pay taxes just to maintain his authority, it would defeat the whole purpose.

This was absolutely unacceptable – his reforms needed public support.

He would not let this situation develop.

As for Emperor Zhao Xu, though he openly supported Wang Anshi, he now had another option.

There were three players at this table.

That night, Zhao Xu secretly summoned Zhang Fei to the palace.

Zhao Xu asked directly, “What’s your view on this matter?”

Zhang Fei replied, “I believe if this isn’t resolved, Your Majesty will continue to be constrained by it.”

Zhao Xu nodded, “You’re right. This is exactly what worries me. With any slight movement from me, they use the people to threaten me. In the end, I can only follow a policy of light taxation, but what’s the point if landlords become even more exploitative when the imperial court reduces taxes? I absolutely won’t do this.”

This was a major reason why he supported Wang Anshi over Sima Guang. If the government reduced taxes, state revenue would definitely decrease, giving landlords more room to exploit. This would result in landlords becoming richer while the government grew poorer, and wealth was tied to power.

Without money, even the army couldn’t be controlled.

He looked at Zhang Fei again and asked, “Do you have a solution?”

Zhang Fei pondered briefly before answering, “I’ve recently reviewed all laws concerning tenant farmers, but without exception, they all favor the landlords. We can only prosecute illegal informal contracts, but the court has already declared that past offenses will be pardoned if contract taxes are paid.”

Looking at the laws, the government and landlords were essentially one entity. The Song Code of Punishments clearly stated that if tenant farmers failed to pay taxes, the government would intervene to collect on behalf of landlords.

Emperor Zhao Xu’s brow furrowed with worry upon hearing this.

Zhang Fei glanced at Zhao Xu, thinking to himself that if he couldn’t help solve this problem, he probably wouldn’t deserve a seat at this table anymore.

The fact that Zhao Xu came to him proved he was still considered valuable and trustworthy.

But if he couldn’t help ease Zhao Xu’s burdens, the emperor would naturally drift away from him.

After pondering for a while, he said, “Your Majesty, I have two strategies – one addresses immediate concerns, the other long-term worries. Which would you like to hear first?”

Zhao Xu’s face lit up instantly. After brief consideration, he said, “Let’s hear the immediate solution first.”

Zhang Fei explained, “Your Majesty’s current worry stems from them controlling public opinion. Many tenant farmers have always been exploited by landlords without causing such commotion. Yet now, when the court takes action to legally collect taxes, public opinion floods against us. If Your Majesty cannot control public opinion, it will be difficult to turn the situation around.”

Zhao Xu nodded repeatedly and said, “But I only have one voice – how can I outspeak them all?”

Zhang Fei replied, “I have a strategy that could help Your Majesty reclaim control of public opinion, or at least achieve a stalemate with them.”

Zhao Xu eagerly said, “Tell me quickly.”

Zhang Fei said, “We should print and distribute pamphlets.”

“Print pamphlets?”

“Yes.”

Zhang Fei asked, “Has Your Majesty heard of movable type printing?”

After thinking for a moment, Zhao Xu replied, “I have.”

Zhang Fei continued, “My Authentic Books Store has been researching this technology, and it’s now mature enough to quickly print articles.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xu waved his hands dismissively, saying, “That’s not very useful. Public opinion needs reasoning. Even if you print articles, they can still thoroughly refute them.”

He knew he had the empire’s top civil officials – it would be crazy to compete with them in writing articles.

It would be better to just go to court.

Zhang Fei said, “That’s why we need to take a risk and write about topics they wouldn’t dare debate.”

Zhao Xu asked, “Such as?”

“Such as how the scholar-officials are useless.”

“What do you mean?”

Zhao Xu looked at Zhang Fei puzzled.

“Ahem, I mean we write about how scholar-officials are worthless, selfish, thieves of the state, and not to be relied upon.”

“…?”

Zhao Xu broke into a cold sweat. “Would they let you get away with writing such things?”

Zhang Fei said, “I never said I would publish them!”

Zhao Xu asked, “Then who would?”

“Besides Your Majesty, who else would dare?”

“Me?”

Zhao Xu’s face turned ashen. “Are you trying to harm me?”

Zhang Fei said, “How dare I harm you? I mean we should publish secretly, without letting them discover it. Only Your Majesty has the ability to do this. I can only provide technical support and ideas.”

Zhao Xu glared at him.

If he were caught, it would be the end of him. Offending all the scholars in the empire might even destabilize his throne.

However, the thought of criticizing those scholar-officials was quite appealing.

After careful consideration, Zhao Xu came up with a clever idea: “How about this – I’ll provide you with people and money, but you do it.”

“Huh?”