Chapter 220: Being Ruthless, Being Cunning, and Having Many Brothers
Why did Zhang Fei emphasize that to govern the country, one must first govern the bureaucrats? It was because the top ranks of the Northern Song Dynasty was quite impressive. It already had the capability to manage a commercial society, albeit a bit bloated.
The civil officials at the very top were all extremely capable managers who were not corrupt.
There was no issue with talent replenishment either.
Even the concept of governing the military with civil officials was actually sound in principle though often criticized by future netizens; after all, war was an extension of politics.
Even a thousand years later, in any mature political structure, it was the civil officials who make decisions. Surely military generals could not decide whether to go to war or not, because if generals made the decisions, wars would never cease.
How could generals get promotions if there were no wars?
The problem with the Song Dynasty was that the emperors and civil officials liked to remotely micromanage wars.
That was absurd.
Whether to fight or not should be decided by civil officials, but how to fight should be left to the generals.
The main issue in the Song Dynasty was actually at the grassroots level of bureaucracy, not the top ranks. The grassroots level was a mix of good and bad, fish and dragons mingling together, still using the old system of village heads and local chiefs.
Compared to the top level, it was like night and day.
The top level could handle the transition from agriculture to commerce. Figures like Fu Bi, Wang Anshi, and Sima Guang had a macroeconomic perspective and knew how to regulate the economy, though their ideas differed.
But the grassroots level was powerless in this regard.
Take tax collection, for example.
During the Tang Dynasty, with its equal-field system, fields were equally and fairly distributed to the peasantry for lifelong use, with the size of fields depending on the number of household members. Taxes were thus collected by knocking on each household’s door—simple and crude.
But in the Song Dynasty, this approach was entirely unfeasible. Land contracts and land taxes had to be the primary methods because land could be freely bought and sold. Tax collectors needed to be literate and skilled in arithmetic, updating the land registry at least twice a year.
Not to mention commercial taxes, which were ten thousand times more complex than agricultural taxes.
The current situation was that the system couldn’t cope, resulting in some commoners paying more taxes while some landlords paid less.
The grassroots level needed to be professionalized.
Professionalization would double the costs.
The Song Dynasty did want to professionalize, with some specialized roles like auditors and forensic experts, but there were too few of them due to lack of money.
Therefore, the first step must be the professionalization of tax collection.
Money had to be collected first to afford comprehensive professionalization of more industries.
Moreover, without professional support, tax administration wouldn’t last in the long run. It was impossible for every tax case to have the emperor or the chancellor’s backing.
Emperor Zhao Xu understood this!
Thus, he decided to give it a try without much hesitation.
When it came to national revenue collection, Wang Anshi was the most ruthless person Zhao Xu had ever met, bar none. But even the most ruthless Wang Anshi had never thought of collecting taxes from bandits.
It could only be said that there’s always someone better.
It was truly ruthless!
And he liked it!
You can rebel, but you absolutely must pay taxes!
This was proper revenue collection!
After sending off Emperor Zhao Xu, Zhang Fei ate a simple meal at the Xu family’s house and discussed this matter with Xu Zun.
Of course, he didn’t disclose his private conversation with Zhao Xu to Xu Zun; they talked about the lawsuit instead.
Xu Zun couldn’t offer much advice on this matter.
Legally, it was entirely permissible. Anyone could accuse others of tax evasion, and the imperial court encouraged it.
But logically, it was contradictory.
Wang Anshi, as State Councilor, already had the authority to investigate taxes. If there was evidence, he could directly send people to act; commissioning someone to file a lawsuit was redundant.
However, this didn’t matter for Zhang Fei. He got paid to do his job.
Next, he needed to write the complaint document and send it to the Kaifeng Prefectural Office.
Whether it would succeed or not was not his concern.
“Zhang San, you’re back.”
Gao Wenyin, as always, was exceedingly virtuous, welcoming Zhang Fei with a smile in the front yard.
Zhang Fei nodded slightly and suddenly looked at Xiaotao.
His gaze carried a hint of killing intent, making Xiaotao shudder.
“Xiaotao!”
“Here!”
“From now on, you are not allowed to sunbathe or eat candied fruits in the courtyard,” Zhang Fei said sternly.
“I understand. Thank you for your concern, Brother San.”
“Concern?”
“Aren’t you worried that I’ll get sunburned?”
Xiaotao was touched. “It’s been so hot lately; I usually eat in the corridor.”
“!”
This girl was incorrigible. Forget it! Zhang Fei then looked at Gao Wenyin. “And you, my wife.”
“Me?”
Gao Wenyin looked at Zhang Fei in bewilderment.
Zhang Fei said, “You shouldn’t just help me drive away mosquitoes when I’m working. You should also do so when I’m sleeping.”
Gao Wenyin quickly responded, “I always check before you go to bed. Have you had mosquitoes recently?”
“Really?”
Zhang Fei blinked. “No wonder I’ve never been bitten by mosquitoes in my sleep. Thank you, my wife.”
Gao Wenyin nodded slightly. “No need to thank me. It’s my duty.”
Wait, what was I here for? This…! Zhang Fei slapped his forehead and sighed, “I really have terrible management skills.”
“.?”
Gao Wenyin and Xiaotao looked at each other in confusion.
Zhang Fei immediately gave up on lecturing them and turned to Feng Nanxi and Niu Beiqing, saying, “Nanxi, Beiqing, come here. I have something to ask you.”
Zhang Fei called the two men into the hall and asked, “Nanxi, I remember you mentioned before that you know many people from the pugilist world?”
Niu Beiqing immediately pounded his chest and said, “We have many brothers, in every state and county.”
“Don’t brag.”
Feng Nanxi glared at him, then turned to Zhang Fei and said, “Actually, we only know them through Big Brother and Second Brother. They know many pugilists.”
Niu Beiqing added, “The ones Big Brother and Second Brother know, I mostly know too, although some not very well.”
Zhang Fei asked, “The people you know from the pugilist world, what kind of work do they usually do?”
Feng Nanxi replied, “Big Brother and Second Brother make friends without asking about their background, so there are all kinds of people, like wandering doctors, merchants, constables, brokers, even monks and Taoists.”
“Second Brother?”
Zhang Fei was thoughtful.
The next day.
Of course, Zhang Fei did not go to the law firm. His immediate task was to write the complaint document with Xu Zhiqian.
This document would set a historical record.
They were going to sue 108 people and include the evidence in the document.
This was not a task of intellect but one of hard labor.
Therefore, Zhang Fei asked Feng Nanxi to come and help.
“Brother San!”
Li Si suddenly came to the door. “Someone is here to see you.”
Zhang Fei asked, “Who is it?”
Li Si replied, “The person said he was sent by someone to deliver a message to you.”
Could it be…! Zhang Fei blinked, thinking, it seems His Majesty is serious. Someone was sent over this morning. If my management skills are lacking, I’ll make up for it with intelligence!
Xu Zhiqian suddenly asked, “Could it be related to the lawsuit?”
Zhang Fei answered, “A senior brother of yours sent something to me.”
Xu Zhiqian was momentarily stunned and quickly said, “Then you should go!”
Just as he reached the front yard, Zhang Fei suddenly told Li Si, “Invite that person to the backyard.”
“Yes.”
Moments later, Li Si brought a man about seven feet tall and in his thirties to the backyard.
“Li Bao greets Zhang San.”
The man saw Zhang Fei and cupped his hands in salute.
“Zhang Fei.” Zhang Fei returned the salute and invited, “Brother Li, please sit.”
“Thank you!”
After sitting down, Zhang Fei asked, “Which office do you belong to, Brother Li?”
Li Bao replied, “I belong to the Capital Security Office.”
This was the highest intelligence agency of the Northern Song Dynasty, and it was also the Capital Security Office that had gone to Dengzhou to rescue Fang Yun.
Zhang Fei nodded and asked, “How many people in the imperial court know your identity?”
Li Bao replied, “Only His Majesty knows about our small team.”
It seems His Majesty understands the intricacies of this. Zhang Fei asked, “How many people are in your team?”
Li Bao answered, “Six.”
“Six?”
Zhang Fei nodded and asked, “But I need to investigate the land taxes of 108 people in a short period. How can you manage that with only six people?”
Li Bao said, “I’m only responsible for contacting you. His Majesty will provide us with support. Please rest assured, Zhang San.”
Zhang Fei asked, “If His Majesty does not provide support, can you still do it?”
Li Bao paused, “It cannot be done in a short time.”
Zhang Fei couldn’t help but show a look of disappointment.
This made Li Bao feel quite humiliated. Investigating the taxes of 108 people with six people—did you think we were gods? Curiously, he asked, “Do you think we can do it?”
Zhang Fei responded with a question, “What do you think is most important in this line of work?”
Li Bao pondered for a moment, “Secrecy.”
“Wrong!”
Zhang Fei said, “In this line of work, there are three essential tools: being ruthless, being cunning, and having many brothers.”
Li Bao was bewildered, “Forgive my ignorance, but what do you mean by that?”
Zhang Fei explained, “Remember this: water flows downwards, taxes go upwards. Therefore, the sources of tax are actually at the bottom, not the high places. To investigate, you must start from the root. Having a large team is not useful; you need to know many people.
Thus, befriending a high-ranking official is far less helpful in tax investigation than befriending a constable, a port clerk, or a broker. If you know enough people, you alone can figure out the taxes of these 108 people.”
Li Bao nodded, “I understand.”
Zhang Fei said, “I will speak to His Majesty about increasing your funding. Making new friends tests not your skills or secrecy, but money. Additionally, I will introduce someone to join you. He can teach you how to make friends with common folks and pugilists.”
Li Bao said, “This is not for us to decide. It must be approved by His Majesty.”
Their team was not one that just anyone could join.
“I will handle that with His Majesty.”
Zhang Fei nodded and handed the information they had written the day before to Li Bao, “This outlines what you need to investigate and how to do it. Remember, use any means necessary. If you can’t complete it, then our association ends here.”
Li Bao took the information and cupped his hands, “Rest assured, Zhang San. We will complete the task.”
Actually, they had ample time to perfect the evidence.
Just writing the complaint document took three days, and organizing it took half a day.
That afternoon, Zhang Fei took a carriage to the Kaifeng Prefectural Office.
The sense of familiarity was overwhelming.
The four guards at the gate saw Zhang Fei. Two guarded the drum, and two blocked the entrance.
Such experience!
Zhang Fei cupped his hands and smiled, “Brothers, don’t be nervous. I’m no longer that reckless youth. Please inform Prefect Lu that Zhang San has something to discuss.”
A stick of incense later.
In the inner hall.
“Why are you here again?”
Li Kai saw Zhang Fei and felt nauseous, like he had morning sickness.
Next to him, Lu Gongzhu looked calm on the surface but was deeply frustrated inside. I’m about to be transferred soon. Can’t you come a few months later?
Zhang Fei smiled, “Vice-Prefect, please don’t blame me. I also don’t want to disturb Prefect Lu and you, but I have no choice. This is my job.”
Li Kai said, “You can file your complaint elsewhere—at the Left Court, the Right Court, the Bureau of Records. Haven’t you been to all of them?”
Zhang Fei said aggrievedly, “This case can’t be handled by the Left or Right Court.”
Lu Gongzhu’s heart skipped a beat.
Li Kai openly showed his frustration, “What kind of case?”
Zhang Fei quickly said, “Rest assured, Vice-Prefect. This time, the people involved are not high-ranking officials, just numerous. Only the Kaifeng Prefectural Office can handle it.”
So many people that only the prefectural office could handle it? That was unheard of. Usually, cases were brought here because high-ranking officials were involved, never because of sheer numbers.
Lu Gongzhu couldn’t help but ask, “How many?”
Zhang Fei replied, “One hundred and eight persons.”