Judge of the Song Dynasty

What was going on?

Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian exchanged bewildered glances.

Why was there a case?

They were completely at a loss.

However, for the sake of ten thousand strings of cash, Zhang Fei reluctantly decided to work overtime.

He invited Wang Anshi into the shop.

Xu Zhiqian personally brewed a pot of tea for them.

“Academician Wang, what exactly is going on?” Zhang Fei’s joy at potentially earning money was replaced by confusion and curiosity.

If they could have sued, they would have done so earlier. The imperial court had already stated that if the contract taxes were paid this year, past evasion would be forgiven.

Wang Anshi said, “Didn’t I make myself clear earlier? I want you to sue these 108 landlords for tax evasion.” “One hundred and eight? If I sue all of them, won’t it cause problems?” Zhang Fei asked. “And didn’t the court say that as long as the contract taxes are paid this year, past evasion would be forgiven? We’re still within the deadline.”

Wang Anshi snorted, “That was my initial thought too, but these people are ungrateful and defiant, always opposing the imperial court. They won’t learn their lesson until they face consequences. The court did say that if the contract taxes were paid this year, past evasion would be forgiven, but that only applies to tax evasion involving unsealed contracts. These landlords have used various other methods to evade taxes.”

Zhang Fei blinked and glanced at Xu Zhiqian, who also looked bewildered.

She had never seen such an operation before.

“Can we really do this?” Zhang Fei asked naively.

Wang Anshi replied, “You’re the pen-in-cap. Why are you asking me?”

Right, I am the pen-in-cap, Zhang Fei thought. He rubbed his face, trying to get his brain to work. After thinking for a while, he said, “If we find other methods they used to evade taxes, then of course we can sue them. We could even hold them accountable for evading taxes with the unsealed contracts.”

Wang Anshi nodded, “That’s what I thought too. If we uncover other methods of tax evasion, they won’t be exempted under the current amnesty and can be held accountable as well.”

Zhang Fei said awkwardly, “That’s true, but didn’t the court avoid pursuing their tax evasion directly because they were worried—”

Before he could finish, Wang Anshi interrupted, “That’s why I chose to sue.”

Zhang Fei was stunned, “What do you mean?”

Wang Anshi countered with a question, “Let me ask you, if I successfully sue, will only these 108 landlords be punished, or will all tax-evading landlords be punished?”

“Of course, only these 108 landlords will be punished, it has nothing to do with the others.”

As soon as he said this, Zhang Fei suddenly realized, “Academician Wang, do you mean—”

Wang Anshi said, “As a participant in state affairs, I could directly petition His Majesty to pursue tax evasion comprehensively. However, doing so would certainly face obstacles in the court. If I just sue them, Sima and his ilk can’t stop me, and the number of people involved is limited.”

“Are you trying to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys?” Zhang Fei asked.

Wang Anshi nodded.

Xu Zhiqian suddenly interjected, “But that still won’t work. Those landlords won’t think that way. If you successfully sue some, who can guarantee you won’t continue to sue the others? They’ll certainly try to stop you with all their might.”

Zhang Fei nodded repeatedly.

Politics was a tricky business; no one would trust in your goodwill to let them off the hook.

If Wang Anshi won the lawsuit, those landlords would be like meat on a chopping block, leading to strong backlash. Even if you sue just one person, they would all come together against you.

Wang Anshi asked, “According to the law, do I have the right to sue?”

Zhang Fei nodded, “Of course.”

Xu Zhiqian added, “If it’s legitimate, you could even receive a reward.”

Wang Anshi said, “Then why would they stop me?”

“How would I know,” Zhang Fei replied. “They certainly wouldn’t use legal means to stop you; they’d use political methods. I’m just a pen-in-cap, I don’t really understand court affairs.”

Wang Anshi said, “Then what are you worried about?”

“It’s not that,” Zhang Fei said awkwardly. “I’m considering it for your sake, Academician Wang. Even if the separation of administration and law were completed, it might not apply to this matter. The consequences could be unimaginable.”

Wang Anshi’s sharpness dulled, and he sighed, “I don’t want to make things this tense either, but they forced me into it. Those landlords collude with officials. As soon as I make a move, they cause trouble and shift the blame onto me.

But if I compromise, they’ll only become more brazen. My new laws might not even make it out of the capital.

I have no choice but to use legitimate means to bring them to court and use the law to force them to pay up.”

He had also served as an official in the provinces and was well aware of the tactics used by those landlords. They would shift burdens downward, creating public discontent, and then put pressure on the court.

The other side had likely set a trap, waiting for him to fall into it.

If it were any other official, they would probably choose a combination of kindness and severity, sending someone to communicate privately to reach a mutual understanding or compromise.

But Wang Anshi was not just any official; he was extremely stubborn. If you tried to strong-arm him, he would never back down.

Don’t even think about it.

He would fight to the end, and whoever gave in was a coward.

This was his biggest difference from Fan Zhongyan. Fan Zhongyan could also be ruthless, but he didn’t have Wang Anshi’s do-or-die determination.

Sima Guang understood him very well and knew that Wang Anshi would find a way to collect the money.

However, Sima Guang never imagined that Wang Anshi would take such an approach.

He had anticipated that Wang Anshi might seek Zhang Fei’s help, thinking he would start with tenancy contracts. Zhang Fei had already made it clear that this would be difficult because most tenant farmers wouldn’t be willing to file complaints against their employers.

The court had already issued a decree of amnesty for past actions, making it impossible to prosecute.

But Wang Anshi was no fool. He knew his enemies were in the shadows and that he needed to drag them into the light, exposing them in a courtroom where they couldn’t deny anything.

He wouldn’t even give them a chance to smear him.

The problem was that doing so would be burning bridges, a major taboo in officialdom.

No one knew what consequences this might trigger, as too many interests were at stake. Which landlord didn’t evade taxes? If it was so easy, the imperial court would have already pursued the unpaid taxes; after all, the imperial court wasn’t uninterested in revenue.

Wait! Don’t be hasty! I’m working with His Majesty to deal with them. But Zhang Fei could not tell Wang Anshi this.

Suddenly, his eyes brightened, and he suggested, “Academician Wang, shouldn’t you consult with His Majesty first?”

Wang Anshi stroked his beard and asked, “Do you think I can come up with ten thousand strings of cash?”

Zhang Fei looked at him, puzzled.

Wang Anshi explained, “This is borrowed from His Majesty.”

Borrowed from His Majesty? Could it be that His Majesty had changed his mind? Zhang Fei was momentarily unsure.

Xu Zhiqian suddenly interjected, “But if you sue like this, you won’t punish those large landlords. They’ll still shift all the blame onto the tenant farmers.”

Zhang Fei nodded in agreement. “Yes, those large landlords mostly rent their land to tenant farmers. They can easily evade responsibility.”

“It won’t be that easy,” Wang Anshi said. “I’ve already thought it through. I’ll first sue the landlords based on the land registry. Once they present the tenancy contracts, I’ll sue the tenant farmers along with them.”

“What… how can you do that?” Xu Zhiqian exclaimed. “Those tenant farmers are innocent.” Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on N0v3l.Fiɾe.net

Wang Anshi smiled. “Qian’er, let me ask you, if I pursue them for the exact number of years they’ve evaded taxes, can those tenant farmers come up with that much money?”

Xu Zhiqian shook her head. “I’m afraid they couldn’t even pay for one year.”

Zhang Fei said, “If they can’t pay, the landlords will have to bear the cost themselves.”

Xu Zhiqian turned her head to look at Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei, deep in thought, said, “The court’s lawsuit for tax evasion targets the land. Although the contracts state that the tenant farmers bear the main responsibility, from the court’s perspective, both tenant farmers and landlords are responsible. If the tenant farmers can’t pay, the landlords must cover it all.”

“Exactly,” Wang Anshi said with a cold smile. “They want to use tenant farmers to threaten the imperial court? Fine, I’ll deal with the tenant farmers first, then come for them.”

Xu Zhiqian felt a chill down her spine, cold sweat breaking out.

This was a plan to utterly destroy the opposition.

But was this really the right thing to do?

The landlords might lose some skin, but the tenant farmers could lose everything.

This was something that Sima Guang had never anticipated—that Wang Anshi would sue the tenant farmers along with the landlords.

Zhang Fei pondered for a moment and said, “This is forcing others to the brink of death for survival.”

Xu Zhiqian asked, “What do you mean by that?”

Zhang Fei glanced at him and said, “As long as the charges are severe enough and the fines are excessive, and the tenant farmers’ share is not too high, the imperial court can treat them as a whole, forcing the landlords to bear the burden for the tenant farmers.”

Wang Anshi smiled and said, “That’s why I sought you out. I believe you can seek justice for those tenant farmers in court.”

He was also a legal expert with considerable knowledge of the law.

When he mentioned the survey earlier, it was not a delay tactic nor an act of cowardice; he was preparing for this move.

Zhang Fei said, “I have no issue with it. After all, I run a business, and if you’re willing to pay, I have no reason to refuse. But, Academician Wang, have you really thought about the consequences this might bring?”

Wang Anshi chuckled, “The reason I’m paying you so much is to ensure they understand you are working for money, not for me. As for me, you needn’t worry. If I can’t deal with these landlords, then I might as well go back and be a farmer instead of implementing reforms.”

He spoke with disdain towards the end.

He had always intended to deal with these large landlords, but the Balanced Delivery Policy and the Corvee Labor Law were still being formulated. He had to take one step at a time, and he was never afraid of them.

Zhang Fei quickly said, “Academician Wang, don’t say that. Ten thousand strings is a discount price. One contract of mine is worth thousands. You’re asking me to sue over a hundred people this time, not even counting the tenant farmers. And tax matters are the most complicated.”

Wang Anshi grumbled, “From what you’re saying, it seems like I’m underpaying.”

Zhang Fei replied, “Absolutely underpaying! When I helped Cao Dongdong with his case, it cost a thousand strings. For these 108 landlords, each one is more powerful than Lin Fei. Even if we count it as a hundred, plus suing the tenant farmers, it should cost a hundred thousand strings.”

Wang Anshi almost spat out blood at the price and jokingly scolded, “Why don’t you just become a robber?”

Zhang Fei responded, “Because being a pen-in-cap pays better than being a robber.”

Wang Anshi was speechless.

Zhang Fei continued, “Let’s be clear, I will do my best to file the suits, but I can’t guarantee they’ll be accepted by the court. If they aren’t, no refunds.”

Wang Anshi chuckled, “Try me.”

Zhang Fei said, “Refund five thousand?”

Wang Anshi stared at him without speaking.

“Seven thousand?”

“Final offer, refund nine thousand. I need money for the preparations too.”

“Fifty strings at most, that’s all I can afford. The rest of the money goes back to His Majesty.”

“Fifty strings? I might as well cover that for you and earn some favor from you, Academician Wang.”

“Deal.”

Zhang Fei sighed, “Robbers don’t earn as much as pen-in-caps, and pen-in-caps don’t earn as much as officials.”