Judge of the Song Dynasty

“Uncle Sima has left?”

Shortly after Sima Guang departed, Xu Zhiqian entered the room.

Zhang Fei nodded, “Regarding legal aid, we have a preliminary plan. Grand Academician Sima suggested we first send people to the Bureau of Records. The litigants will apply there, and then the Bureau will assign the cases.”

Xu Zhiqian couldn’t help but smile, pleasantly surprised at the efficiency of the government. However, she quickly lowered her voice, “But the pen-in-caps in the firm seem quite unhappy about it. They’ve been complaining in private.”

“That was within my expectations.”

Zhang Fei shrugged slightly and smiled, “Everyone wants to make easy money, including me. But I’m not a fool. If they get injured on the job like last time, I’ll compensate them so they won’t suffer losses. However, if they want to get more money from me, they’ll have to prove their abilities. I’ll even put up a wooden board on the wall to record their achievements.”

Xu Zhiqian smiled faintly, “That’s quite a cunning move.”

Zhang Fei chuckled, “Once they start earning money, they won’t think so. We don’t need to cater to them too much; everything must be done according to the rules.”

Xu Zhiqian nodded and asked, “What about the tenant farmers?”

Zhang Fei shook his head, “I haven’t thought of a solution yet. But meanwhile, Proofreader Lu hasn’t approached me again, so they probably have other plans. This is a political issue, and there’s not much we can do.” He then looked at Xu Zhiqian, “You shouldn’t worry too much about this. Focus on our own responsibilities first.”

He didn’t plan to tell Xu Zhiqian about the pamphlet project. It wasn’t a matter of mistrust but rather the risk involved; ignorance could be bliss.

He wouldn’t tell Xu Zun either.

He was handling it all privately.

He was still waiting for news from the other side. Zhao Xu needed to arrange people and locations. Once everything was set, Zhang Fei would provide the technical support and ideas.

To avoid suspicion, Zhang Fei decided to personally oversee the legal aid project. This way, even if people suspected him, he’d have an alibi.

Of course, legal aid was crucial for their pen-in-caps.

If successful, it could legitimize their status in litigation, expand their team, and make legal disputes more standardized.

This would give them more opportunities to showcase their skills.

That afternoon, Zhang Fei held another meeting, completely ignoring the resentful looks from the pen-in-caps. He let them decide what types of cases they would handle based on their strengths.

The pen-in-caps also needed to specialize internally. After choosing their preferred types of litigation, they would focus solely on those cases.

To ensure fairness, different types of cases had different point values.

Contract disputes were the most common but also the most rewarding.

As for neighborhood disputes, these were also common but had fewer points since the government often aimed to mediate rather than litigate such cases.

At the Three Financial Bureaus.

”Brother Shen, it seems that Wang Anshi hasn’t fallen for it,” Du Xiu said, somewhat dejectedly, to Shen Huaixiao.

Shen Huaixiao furrowed his brows. “What do you mean?”

Du Xiu nodded. “Although His Majesty has already issued a decree to collect the summer tax from lands that failed to pay the contract tax, Wang Anshi hasn’t immediately ordered the collection. Instead, he sent officials from the Reform Planning Commission’s Policy Assessment Office, in cooperation with Kaifeng Prefecture, to conduct a survey of tenant farmers.”

Shen Huaixiao pondered for a moment and said, “Do you mean that Wang Anshi intends to back down?”

Du Xiu shook his head. “It’s hard to say! After all, His Majesty’s decree shows Wang Anshi’s determination to collect the summer tax. His survey could very well be part of a larger plan. He might be trying to persuade the tenant farmers or landlords to pay the tax voluntarily.”

Shen Huaixiao chuckled. “When it comes to tax collection, you and I both know that no one wants to pay taxes. Being an enforcer is the only way to collect tax money. Expecting people to pay taxes willingly with just a few kind words is wishful thinking, especially with those landlords.

This time, Wang Anshi is destined to lose. If he retreats, he won’t be able to collect the taxes. If he enforces it, how would he be any different from Wang Hong?

When that happens, we can petition the imperial court to clear Wang Hong’s name.”

Du Xiu nodded. “Brother Shen, you are right. Wang Anshi is indeed in a difficult position. We should start spreading the word in court that while Wang Hong made mistakes, he was acting in the interest of the state’s finances. What does a pen-in-cap know about the difficulties of tax collection?”

Shen Huaixiao nodded slightly and then suddenly said, “Speaking of that pen-in-cap, Zhang San, we can’t let him stay out of this.”

Du Xiu’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you have in mind, Brother Shen?”

Shen Huaixiao replied, “Doesn’t Zhang San like to stand up for the poor? Let’s find a few tenant farmers to ask Zhang San for help, pitting him against Wang Anshi.”

Du Xiu thought for a moment and said, “That might work, but doing so would end up in court again, and we…”

“Forget it! Just forget it!” Shen Huaixiao waved his hand repeatedly. “Let’s pretend I never said that. We absolutely cannot go to court this time. In the past, if we hadn’t gone to court, we wouldn’t have lost so badly. A few words in regular disputes don’t matter much, but losing in court carries legal consequences.”

The more he spoke, the more apprehensive he became. He then asked, “What’s Zhang San up to lately?”

Du Xiu replied, “I heard he’s arranging for legal aid.”

Shen Huaixiao nodded. “I’ve heard about that too. It was suggested by Academician Sima. It seems that Academician Sima has a good relationship with Zhang San.”

Du Xiu said, “I’m not sure about that, but I suspect Xu Zun might have been the intermediary.”

Shen Huaixiao snorted. “To be honest, Zhang San merely relies on women. If he hadn’t latched onto the Xu family, he wouldn’t be where he is today.”

Du Xiu chuckled. “He’s lucky. What can we do?” Fınd the newest release on NoveI[F]ire.net

“Luck!” Shen Huaixiao sneered. “He’ll have his bad days, too.”

At the Court of Penal Review.

“I heard Wang Anshi is sending people to investigate the tenant farmers’ situation,” Wen Yanbo said to Sima Guang.

Sima Guang glanced at Wen Yanbo. “What do you think, Lord Wen?”

Wen Yanbo stroked his long beard. “I think Wang Anshi might have come to his senses. No matter what he does, the tax burden will always fall on the tenant farmers. It’s just that he spoke so firmly before and now can’t find a way out. Should we help him? After all, we know there’s someone behind this, so we can’t entirely blame Wang Anshi.”

Sima Guang laughed. “You haven’t interacted much with Wang Anshi, Lord Wen. He may not be reckless, but he’s very stubborn. Once he makes a decision, it’s hard to change it. He will definitely collect this summer tax.”

Wen Yanbo frowned. “Then he’s fallen into their trap!”

“He won’t care about that,” Sima Guang shook his head.

This time, Wang Anshi did not act impulsively. He requested an investigation first to see if the tenant farmers were truly in difficulty.

This earned high praise from Lu Gongzhu. As Wang Anshi’s friend, Lu Gongzhu was well aware of Wang Anshi’s temperament and feared his impulsiveness.

He really mobilized everyone he could.

After several days of intense inspections and visits, the results were disheartening.

“Indeed, many tenant farmers are struggling because they already bear high rents. Their household savings are limited, and the summer tax is primarily in currency. If we push for tax collection, they’ll be forced to sell their grain at low prices, which is adding salt to the wound,” reported Lu Huiqing to Wang Anshi.

Lu Gongzhu quickly added, “Anshi, see, I wasn’t lying. Those tenant farmers are really struggling; this will drive them to desperation.”

Tenant farmers already paid more rent than famers who owned their own land. Most tenant farmers had already paid half their taxes through rent, and now they had to pay taxes again, which was truly life-threatening.

Lu Huiqing said, “But this isn’t caused by the imperial court; it’s the landlords’ doing. They took at least half of the court’s taxes. Why should the court bear this loss?”

Lu Gongzhu replied, “I know that, but this needs to be handled gradually, not rushed.”

Lu Huiqing thought, at your pace, this would go nowhere.

But he didn’t want to argue with Lu Gongzhu.

Wang Anshi glanced at Lu Gongzhu and then asked Lu Huiqing, “Did you not discuss it with those landlords?”

Lü Huiqing replied helplessly, “Of course we did, but it was fruitless. They held up their contracts, claiming they were acting according to them. They also said…”

Wang Anshi frowned and asked, “What else did they say?”

Lu Huiqing replied, “They hinted that the heavy taxes left them with no room to help the tenant farmers, suggesting the court should reduce the taxes.”

This was a veiled criticism of Wang Anshi for prioritizing state revenue over the people’s livelihood.

Wang Anshi sneered coldly, “Seems like they want it the hard way. I don’t believe I can’t handle them.”

He stood up and walked out.

Lu Gongzhu quickly stood up, “Anshi, where are you going?”

Wang Anshi ignored him and headed straight for the palace after leaving the Kaifeng Prefectural Office.

“Lord Wang, what urgent matter brings you to see me?” Zhao Xu asked, having hurried to the hall without even finishing his meal, slightly out of breath.

It was clear Zhao Xu still valued Wang Anshi highly.

Wang Anshi bowed and said, “Your Majesty, could you lend me ten thousand strings of cash?”

“Ten thousand strings?” Zhao Xu was taken aback. “What do you need ten thousand strings for?”

He knew Wang Anshi’s character well. Although Wang Anshi was diligent in gathering revenue for the state, he personally had no interest in money.

Wang Anshi replied, “If Your Majesty lends me ten thousand strings, I guarantee at least a hundred thousand strings in tax revenue in return.”

“What?”

Zhao Xu was stunned.

Evening.

Bianjing Law Firm.

“I’m so tired!” Zhang Fei stretched his arms in front of the door and called inside, “Zhiqian, hurry up, the carriage is here.”

“Coming,” came Xu Zhiqian’s voice from inside.

A moment later, Xu Zhiqian emerged, holding a stack of documents. “Let’s go!”

Seeing Zhang Fei not responding, she glanced sideways and saw him looking to the left. Following his gaze, she saw Wang Anshi riding toward them, followed by three donkey carts.

This scene drew the attention of many passersby.

Wang Anshi arrived at the law firm entrance, dismounted, and first looked at Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian. “Are you about to go home?”

Zhang Fei nodded dumbly.

Wang Anshi frowned and said, “Young people should work harder. What are you doing going home so early?”

You think my whole life is just work, Zhang Fei thought. He awkwardly said, “Trying to have children.”

Xu Zhiqian elbowed Zhang Fei, scolding, “What nonsense are you talking?”

Zhang Fei whispered, “I didn’t mean you.”

Xu Zhiqian was relieved at first, but then her eyes blazed with fury.

Wang Anshi watched their playful banter and understood. He chuckled, “Even if you’re having children, there’s still the whole night.”

“Yes, yes!” Zhang Fei laughed and asked, “What brings you here, Academician Wang?”

Wang Anshi looked back at his attendant, who stepped forward and handed Zhang Fei a stack of booklets.

Zhang Fei examined them and, seeing no title, asked, “What are these?”

Wang Anshi said, “I want to sue these people for tax evasion. They must pay back all the taxes they owe, not a penny less, and also the fines.”

He stepped aside, looking at the donkey carts. “Here are ten thousand strings as your fee.”