Chapter 230: Bullying
The scene of common people waiting in front of Zhang Fei’s gate had already occurred several times before.
Zhang Fei had grown accustomed to it.
However, the previous occasions had truly been filled with positive energy, with everyone cheering Zhang Fei on together, creating scenes that moved people to tears.
This time everyone was even more enthusiastic, shouting all the way as they followed Zhang Fei.
Except they were all hoping he would lose this lawsuit.
What happened to their sense of justice?
It could only be said that gambling ruined everything.
Money was capable of distorting all values.
While Zhang Fei was on his way to Kaifeng Prefecture, Li Guozhong and the others were already waiting at Kaifeng Prefecture – how well-behaved they were!
“Vice-Prefect Li!” “This humble one greets Vice-Prefect Li.”
Upon seeing Li Kai arrive, Li Guozhong and the others all rose to their feet, bowing respectfully.
Extremely deferential.
In that instant, Li Kai suddenly felt that he actually didn’t dislike these pen-in-caps – he only disliked Zhang Fei.
Look at these pen-in-caps, how lovely, how well-behaved, so endearing.
All being pen-in-caps, why was there such a huge difference?
Li Kai couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, and with a smile on his face said to Li Guozhong: “Chief Li.”
“This humble one is here.”
Li Guozhong bowed again.
Li Kai said: “Prefect Lu believes that the new trial process would be more fair. I wonder if you can adapt to it.”
Previously there had been no such thing as pen-in-caps confronting each other – this was something Zhang Fei had brought about, but it hadn’t been established what method of trial should be used or what the rules should be.
Before, all the parties would discuss things beforehand, but those were all unwritten rules.
Li Guozhong and the others exchanged glances.
For them, naturally the old way was more suitable, so Zhou Cai, one of the defendants who was standing nearby, suddenly stood up and said: “Vice-Prefect Li, this would be unfair to us! Zhang San has already fought several cases using this method.”
Li Kai beckoned with his hand.
Li Guozhong and Zhou Cai immediately walked with him to a corner.
Li Kai said in a low voice: “Actually, this trial method would be more advantageous to you.”
Zhou Cai asked: “How so?”
Li Kai said: “Have you forgotten that this new trial method was changed specifically to deal with Zhang San? If we used the old method, Zhang San could speak eloquently, and moreover, that boy dares to say anything – I’m afraid the defendants wouldn’t even dare to respond when the time comes.”
That method had been brought by Zhang Fei, but it wasn’t designed by Zhang Fei. In Lin Fei’s lawsuit, Huang Gui had come to help with the litigation, and later Fan Chunren appeared, demanding that Wang Anshi take the witness stand.
These were all to deal with Zhang Fei, not to help Zhang Fei.
Li Guozhong nodded slightly: “Vice-Prefect Li speaks reasonably. Actually, we’ve studied that new trial method for many days and made full preparations. We’re not afraid of him.”
“That’s good then.”
Li Kai nodded: “This case may take many days to try, so you’ll have time to familiarize yourselves. Don’t be too nervous. If there are any problems, I’ll give you signals with my eyes.”
“Oh my! We truly thank Vice-Prefect Li.”
“Beating that boy would be the best thanks you could give me.”
Li Kai handled dealing with outsiders, arranging these pen-in-caps, witnesses, and those guests who had come to observe the trial.
Meanwhile, Huang Gui handled internal affairs, responsible for preparing the documents that would be needed shortly.
For this lawsuit, the Kaifeng Prefectural Office had to prepare a great deal of materials. After all, it concerned the taxes of one hundred and eight people, and the Three Financial Bureaus had sent over two full cartloads of documents.
Kaifeng County and Xiangfu County had also each sent two or three cartloads of documents.
Huang Gui flipped through the wrinkled account books that had just been dried, then secretly glanced at Lu Gongzhu. “Prefect, won’t you take a look?”
Lu Gongzhu set down his teacup. “No need. Just prepare what we’ll need shortly. When they bring things up later, you can show them to me then.”
“Yes.”
Huang Gui nodded.
The archive’s account books had only been delivered yesterday, but Lu Gongzhu hadn’t looked at them even once, fearing they would dirty his eyes.
While they were preparing, the area in front of the gate was already packed with people, forcing the officials who had come to observe the trial to use the side entrance.
“Remonstrator Fan, what do you think?”
Qian Yi asked Fan Chunren beside him.
Fan Chunren shook his head. “It’s hard to say. The most important thing in this lawsuit is evidence, and currently they’re all keeping theirs hidden, not fully handing it over to the Kaifeng Prefectural Office. Who wins or loses will depend on what evidence they can produce in court.”
Qian Yi nodded and sighed. “The leak at the Three Bureau Archives a few days ago was definitely no accident. I’m afraid Zhang San is in grave danger this time!”
Fan Chunren said, “I heard that you even submitted a memorial to His Majesty about this matter?”
Qian Yi nodded. “But without evidence, I didn’t dare speak carelessly. I only suggested that His Majesty send someone to protect the evidence properly. It seems His Majesty did send people to investigate, but they didn’t find anything.”
Suddenly they heard someone call out, “Remonstrator Fan.”
Fan Chunren turned around. “Su Shi.”
The newcomers were none other than the brothers, Su Shi and Su Zhe.
Su Shi stepped forward, first bowing with cupped hands to the two men, then asked with a smile, “Why didn’t they ask Remonstrator Fan to argue this time?”
Su Zhe beside him immediately wanted to go crazy at the impoliteness of his brother.
Are we really brothers?
Fan Chunren’s expression changed slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed as he said, “Perhaps they saw that I lost to Zhang San several times in a row, so they have no confidence in me.”
He didn’t want to defend those landlords. But with Su Shi asking like that, it would seem like he was making excuses if he said that. So he decided to speak directly.
Su Shi smiled. “Remonstrator Fan’s words are mistaken.”
Su Zhe quietly tugged at Su Shi’s sleeve and whispered, “Second Brother, please say less.”
Su Shi acted as if he hadn’t heard.
Fan Chunren asked, “What insights do you have?”
Su Shi said, “Actually, in the previous cases, you had chances to win. It’s just that you were too focused on morality and voluntarily gave up many opportunities.”
Qian Yi frowned. “What’s wrong with focusing on morality?”
Su Shi smiled. “Fighting a lawsuit is like fighting a war – the key is to defeat your opponent. As long as your methods don’t violate the rules, there’s no need to talk about morality. After all, the final judgment isn’t made by the pen-in-cap, but by the judge above.”
Fan Chunren pondered briefly, then nodded. “What you say is not without reason.” After a pause, he added, “I heard you want to enter the procuratorate.”
Su Shi smiled and nodded. “I do have such intentions.”
Fan Chunren chuckled. “I hope to see your performance in court then.”
Su Shi cupped his hands. “I’m grateful for your auspicious words. I hope to have that chance – I’ve long wanted to cross swords with that young Zhang San.”
Fan Chunren smiled. “If Zhang San can win this lawsuit, I think you should have that opportunity.”
Su Shi smiled slightly. “Zhang San will definitely win this lawsuit. I’ve even bet fifty strings of cash on it, though the odds are disappointingly low.”
Su Zhe suddenly said, “Second Brother, where did you get the money?”
“I…” Su Shi was immediately stunned.
Su Zhe scrutinized Su Shi. “You didn’t take it from under the bed, did you?”
Su Shi hurriedly said, “Aiya! Third Brother, how could you reveal where we hide our money?”
Fan Chunren and Qian Yi exchanged glances, both finding it both amusing and exasperating. They said “farewell” and went inside first.
Su Shi wanted to follow them in, but Su Zhe grabbed him firmly. “Second Brother, that’s our rent money for next month. How could you take it to gamble?”
Su Shi said, “Don’t worry. Your elder brother will definitely win.”
Su Zhe immediately replied, “Nine out of ten gamblers lose. How can there be any ‘definitely winning’?”
Su Shi knew his younger brother’s temperament. “Aiya! At worst, I will go to the pleasure quarters and sell a few poems for some money. We brothers have studied for so many years – we won’t starve to death.”
Su Zhe had a splitting headache. “Next time I’m hiding the money at Academician Sima’s house.”
“Ah?”
Not long after the brothers went inside, two old men could be seen arriving slowly in the shade, taking their time.
It was none other than Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, that pair of adversaries.
This time they hadn’t met at the entrance, but had encountered each other at the intersection ahead.
Apart from mutual sniping, the two men seemed to have no common language, since their shared interests were all so tediously boring.
“Sima Guang, have you been reflecting at home lately?”
“Reflecting?”
Sima Guang looked at Wang Anshi in puzzlement. “What should I be reflecting on?”
Wang Anshi said, “This is the result of your philosophy of ‘preserving wealth amongst the people’.”
Sima Guang snorted. “Have you ever reflected at home on the fact that when you fight a lawsuit, the roof of the Archives starts leaking? If you were to implement reforms, wouldn’t the Yellow River flood?”
Wang Anshi nodded. “To tell you the truth, I really have reflected on this.”
“Is that so?” Sima Guang asked. “Then do tell me what you’ve concluded.”
Wang Anshi said, “I wanted to use this lawsuit to see exactly what methods they have, so when I implement reforms, I’ll know how to deal with them.”
Sima Guang chuckled twice. “What you’ve seen is merely the tip of the iceberg!”
Suddenly, cheering could be heard from the main gate.
Sima Guang said, “That must be young Zhang arriving.”
Wang Anshi chuckled. “Did you hear that? Those who follow the righteous path have many supporters.”
Fortunately, they couldn’t hear clearly, or Wang Anshi would have been thoroughly embarrassed.
Zhang Fei had indeed arrived, but the cheering was rather absurd.
Zhang Fei stepped out of the carriage and waved his hand. “Stop shouting, stop shouting! I’ll do my best to lose, alright?”
“Thank you, thank you!”
“Zhang San, could you lose a bit faster? Preferably lose by morning – I’m counting on those gambling winnings to buy food for lunch today!”
“Damn! Have some shame, will you? This is outrageous!”
After cursing, Zhang Fei helplessly jumped down from the carriage and gently helped Xu Zhiqian down as well.
Xu Zhiqian pressed her lips tightly together, suppressing her laughter.
Zhang Fei whispered to her, “Hold it in. If you laugh, they might think we’re confident of victory, and then who knows how many people will jump off buildings – no, jump into the river.”
Xu Zhiqian shot him a look but indeed forced herself to suppress her laughter to avoid causing unnecessary panic.
Arriving at the prefectural office entrance, they saw Li Kai standing at the gate.
Zhang Fei quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “Oh my! What virtue or ability do I possess to deserve Vice-Prefect Li personally coming out to greet me?”
Li Kai chuckled. “Zhang Fei the Great Pen-in-cap, you have such prestige that if I didn’t come out to greet you personally, I’d probably be cursed by the people! Please, Great Pen-in-cap. Lawyer Xu.”
Calling him “Great Pen-in-cap” was one thing, but adding “Lawyer Xu” – you’re deliberately trying to mess with my mindset, aren’t you?
Zhang Fei felt depressed inside but had no choice. Nowadays, “pen-in-cap” had almost become his go-to title.
Entering the courtyard, they saw two very crude wooden pavilions set up in the yard – just a roof and four pillars each, though they were connected to the walkways on both sides, with two rows of long tables placed under the pavilions.
Even so, Zhang Fei couldn’t help but exclaim, “Vice-Prefect Li, the prefectural office has really taken care of us this time, setting up two such luxurious pavilions. This commoner is truly grateful.”
When Xu Zhiqian heard the word “luxurious,” she really couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.
Li Kai didn’t seem to think anything was amiss. “Don’t be too quick to thank me – you’re the ones paying for this.”
“We’re paying?” Zhang Fei blinked.
Li Kai nodded. “You each pay five hundred strings, totaling one thousand strings.”
“Well…”
Zhang Fei coughed twice. “When I said luxurious just now, I was only being polite!”
Li Kai said, “The pavilions are a small matter. The key issue is that every time you come, you cause so much trouble for our Kaifeng Prefectural Office. Look at all those chairs arranged in the walkway, and all the tea and water we’ve prepared – don’t manpower and goods cost money?
The key point is that your litigation fees this time have reached ten thousand strings, so asking you for five hundred strings is really quite reasonable.”
That’s based on my skill, while you’re purely using public office for private gain! Zhang Fei said sheepishly, “Money is a small matter, but if this precedent is set, I’m afraid some people might deliberately inflate litigation fees to exploit the common people.”
Li Kai immediately replied, “Don’t worry, this only applies to you, Zhang San. Everyone else will remain unchanged.”
Zhang Fei said resentfully, “This is bullying.”
“Yes, we’re bullying you,” Li Kai said. “Then don’t come!”
Zhang Fei replied, “If I don’t come, how can I earn those nine thousand five hundred strings?”
“Stop talking nonsense and go wait over there.”
Li Kai pointed toward the left pavilion.
Zhang Fei pursed his lips, tossed his head, and said, “Zhiqian, let’s go.”
Arriving under the pavilion, Zhang Fei saw Qiu Zhengwen holding a cloth. “Zhengwen, what are you doing?”
Qiu Zhengwen said, “I noticed the table was a bit dirty, so I’m wiping it down.”
“What?”
Zhang Fei said gloomily, “Five hundred strings for this kind of treatment – truly nothing is blacker than government offices. When bandits rob money, it’s illegal, but when the government robs money, we have to provide our own donkey cart to make it convenient for them to haul away the loot. This is truly outrageous.”
Xu Zhiqian whispered, “Stop speaking – there are officials all around here.”
Zhang Fei glanced sideways. “What’s there to fear? My father-in-law is one too.”