Judge of the Song Dynasty

After court was dismissed, the cleanup work was naturally left to the clerks, while Lu Gongzhu and the other judges entered the inner hall to deliberate.

“Who exactly are we trying in this case?”

Yu Zaishen had barely sat down when he couldn’t help but complain.

Cen Yuanli sighed, “Indeed! I feel like we officials are the ones being tried.”

The other judges were all dejected as well.

After this case, the morale of the judges had become incredibly low.

It was truly a remarkable occurrence.

Li Kai chuckled, “That’s because you haven’t tried Zhang San’s cases before. That kid has plenty of tricks to embarrass our government – this is definitely intentional on his part.”

As Zhang Fei’s old adversary, Li Kai understood Zhang Fei very well.

Continuing, Li Kai said to Lu Gongzhu, “Prefect Lu, I don’t think this case can continue like this. After all this, the imperial court is practically being made to look like a den of thieves.” The other judges and assistant judges all nodded in agreement.

This was absolutely the most difficult case they had ever tried in their lives.

By the end of questioning, they were the ones who got hurt.

It was too difficult.

Lu Gongzhu pondered for a long while, then suddenly said, “Go investigate what Li Dacai and the others claimed. See if it’s true. Why did they have to pay triple taxes. What’s the real reason behind this?”

Li Kai and the others were all stunned, looking at Lu Gongzhu in confusion. Are you trying to make things even more complicated?

Lu Gongzhu explained, “Whether or not to continue this case is not for us to decide. What we can do is reform the administration of Kaifeng Prefecture to prevent such incidents from happening again. Otherwise, we cannot answer to the people.”

Everyone looked at each other. They suddenly realized that all these incidents had happened in Kaifeng Prefecture, which would make them the chief culprits, the ringleaders of thieves.

This…

Li Kai suddenly regretted helping Du Xiu and the others.

You’re not sabotaging Zhang Fei – you’re sabotaging me!

After all, Lu Gongzhu was about to be transferred soon but he would still remain.

Meanwhile, Zhang Fei hurriedly boarded his carriage and left the Kaifeng Prefectural Office. Without his characteristic wave goodbye, in most people’s eyes, he appeared to be fleeing in panic.

Objectively speaking, compared to the cases Zhang Fei had won before, this case indeed hadn’t gone as smoothly as desired.

On the contrary, the seven major notaries were ready to hold a victory celebration immediately.

Although they hadn’t initially anticipated that Zhang Fei would break through from the tenant farmer angle, they had prepared for it, and the process went exactly as they had expected.

It could even be said to be exactly as planned.

Everything was under control.

At the Li Family Bookstore!

“Everyone says that Zhang San is so formidable, but seeing him today, he’s nothing special! Haha…”

Du Shaojing held his wine cup, laughing heartily with joy. Thɪs chapter is updated by NovєlFіre.net

When he had appeared in court earlier, he had actually been very nervous, but unexpectedly, this was it!

Wow… it couldn’t have been easier.

Now they could fast-forward directly to the victory celebration instead of drinking to calm their nerves.

Li Guozhong cautiously said, “Mogul Du, don’t celebrate too early. The case isn’t over yet, and nothing is certain.”

“It’s already over.”

Zhou Cai said relaxedly and contentedly, “That kid must know something, which is why he doesn’t dare mention those land matters and can only talk about these unsealed contracts.”

Li Guozhong just smiled. Actually, he thought the same way. He said that only because he worried that if something unexpected happened, he shouldn’t be held responsible, since the case wasn’t finished yet.

Du Shaojing nodded, “Brother Zhou is right. We did indeed pay the supplementary contract taxes. As for using unsealed contracts to evade taxes, everyone does it, so they can’t do anything to us.”

Zhou Cai chuckled, “I estimate that tomorrow this case won’t even need to continue. If they keep trying it, the ones who’ll suffer won’t be us, but the imperial court!”

He was absolutely right. While they were celebrating their initial victory, many officials had already submitted memorials to Emperor Zhao Xu, detailing the court proceedings and strongly recommending that this case should not continue, as it would otherwise endanger national stability.

When these memorials were submitted, Wang Anshi happened to be reporting the situation to Zhao Xu as well.

Zhao Xu simply handed those memorials to Wang Anshi to read.

“Lord Wang, what do you think?” Zhao Xu asked.

Wang Anshi once again put on his cynical demeanor. “Your Majesty, I believe these people are unworthy of being officials and should be expelled from the capital, never to be employed again.”

Under any circumstances, his attitude had to be extremely resolute. Taking history as a mirror, how many ancient reformers had failed precisely because their attitudes were not resolute enough?

Zhao Xu asked, “What do you mean by this?”

Wang Anshi declared boldly, “This lawsuit has indeed brought great embarrassment to the imperial court, but that is precisely because everything they said was factual. That is the problem. Yet as officials, not one of them has proposed solving the problem – they all hope to cover it up, deceiving themselves by burying their heads in the sand. Keeping such officials at court, how can the nation be properly governed?”

“You speak truly. I think the same way.”

Zhao Xu nodded thoughtfully, then asked, “Do you have a solution?”

Wang Anshi nodded. “I certainly do. But this matter is complex and involves too many people. We must proceed step by step. However, I believe the court can immediately re-legislate, emphasizing that taxes follow the land. Tenant farmers have no obligation to bear tax burdens, and landowners are not allowed to impose taxes on tenant farmers. The government will no longer intervene to collect taxes from tenant farmers.”

Zhao Xu said, “But landowners can still calculate taxes into the tenant rent.”

Wang Anshi replied, “Your Majesty need not worry. Although tenant farmers need land more, landowners also need tenant farmers. Without people to work the fields, they would still have to bear taxes annually. If tenant farmers cannot support themselves, they simply will not rent those fields. This is like buying meat at the butcher’s alley – although everyone wants to eat meat, if the price is too high, no one will buy it, resulting in mutual destruction.”

Zhao Xu nodded, then asked, “How should the corvee labor issue be resolved?”

If taxes followed the land, should tenant farmers serve corvee duty? If tenant farmers did not serve, the government would have no one available. Even if landowners were willing to serve, they were just individual households – tenant farmers were the majority!

Wang Anshi said, “Has Your Majesty forgotten that our Reform Planning Commission has been revising the Corvee Labor Law? When the time comes, landowners must pay money for exemption, while common people who serve will receive compensation. This way, it won’t affect tenant farmers.

If we don’t emphasize that taxes follow the land, then landowners might force tenant farmers to serve corvee duty in their place.”

Zhao Xu smiled and nodded. “You have considered this thoroughly.”

Seeing that Zhao Xu showed no trace of worry in his expression and appeared completely confident, Wang Anshi was completely reassured.

The reason he had rushed here first to report the situation to Zhao Xu was precisely because he feared Zhao Xu might listen to slanderous words and waver.

After Wang Anshi left, Zhao Xu said to the palace attendant beside him, “Send someone to the Zhang residence and tell Zhang San to exercise restraint.”

“This servant obeys your command.”

At the Zhang residence.

“No more fun to be had!”

Zhang Fei came to the study and said to Xu Zhiqian with slight regret.

Xu Zhiqian asked, “What do you mean?”

Zhang Fei said helplessly, “His Majesty just sent someone to tell me to exercise restraint. We had agreed to have fun for three full days, but he’s backing down after just the first day.”

Xu Zhiqian said, “Actually, His Majesty allowing you to do this is already remarkable. I think our purpose has been more or less achieved. I just had Qingmei go inquire, and everyone outside is now discussing tenant farmers. After this lawsuit ends, the imperial court will certainly treat this matter carefully and improve the situation of tenant farmers.”

Zhang Fei sighed, “But I still wanted to let Li Guozhong and the others perform well for a few more days to revitalize our profession.”

Xu Zhiqian rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you tired enough already?”

Zhang Fei said, “I just think that since we’re already this tired, why not gain more benefits from it?”

Due to Zhang Fei’s less than spectacular performance today – the main process being listening to tenant farmers pour out their grievances – this led to tenant farmers becoming today’s hot topic of discussion.

It also sparked heated debate among scholars.

Many people expressed that the current treatment of tenant farmers was too unfair.

Tenant farmers not only had to bear tenant rent, but also pay taxes, and even serve corvee duty.

How could such households have any surplus grain?

Yet they still demanded taxes from them – this was tantamount to forcing them to death.

Nevertheless, the tenant farmers in court had directed their criticism toward the government. They were all criticizing the imperial court and had not really criticized the landowners.

First, landowners were also acting according to contracts, and the contracts were signed voluntarily by both parties – there was nothing wrong with that.

Second, if the people lived in hardship, that was indeed the court’s responsibility.

The next morning.

On the road to the Kaifeng Prefectural Office, Su Zhe stole a glance at Su Shi, who was still in a drowsy state, and asked, “Didn’t Second Brother say yesterday that you were going to sell your poems for money? How did you come back drunk?”

Yesterday, with just one remark, he had angered Su Shi, who went home and declared defiantly that a mere fifty strings couldn’t possibly stump him.

But once he left, he didn’t return until midnight, reeking of wine mixed with the scent of rouge.

It was obvious he had gone drinking with courtesans.

Su Shi yawned and said, “I sold my poems for quite a bit of money, so your elder brother had a few drinks to celebrate. What’s wrong? Can’t your elder brother drink now?”

Su Zhe quickly replied, “I didn’t mean that at all, it’s just… where’s the money?”

Su Shi’s expression froze, and he blinked. “Cough, cough… With so much money, how could I carry it all by myself? They’ll deliver it later.”

Su Zhe studied Su Shi and asked again, “What poem did Second Brother compose yesterday? Could you recite it for your younger brother to appreciate?”

Su Shi’s eyes widened. “You don’t trust your elder brother?”

“Your younger brother wouldn’t dare.”

“Then why are you asking? You clearly don’t trust your elder brother.”

“Your younger brother won’t ask then.”

“That’s more like it. Let’s hurry along, or someone else will take our seats.”

Su Zhe thought to himself that if it weren’t for you clinging to bed and refusing to get up, they would have arrived long ago. Now they’d probably have to stand during the trial.

Sure enough, when they reached the Kaifeng Prefectural Office, the place was already packed, and the brothers could only stand holding onto pillars.

“Yesterday so many officials submitted memorials, yet His Majesty remained unmoved. It seems His Majesty is truly determined to see this lawsuit through to the end,” Du Xiu whispered to Shen Huaixiao.

Shen Huaixiao smiled. “Then today we’ll add more fuel to the fire. Rest assured, His Majesty will be the first to give in.”

Du Xiu said worriedly, “But this is mutually destructive – we’re not gaining any advantage either.”

This indeed damaged the imperial court’s reputation, but it also brought shame to the officials!

Shen Huaixiao replied, “Currently, it’s His Majesty who chooses to blindly trust that Wang Anshi. We’re not the ones picking this fight – he can’t blame us!”

They were using the strategy of inflicting a thousand wounds on the enemy while suffering eight hundred themselves, to see who would break first. Their goal was to teach this young emperor a lesson, to tell him that there were some things he shouldn’t touch – his own hands weren’t clean either.

Suddenly, they heard jeering from the entrance.

Without thinking, they knew it must be Zhang Fei arriving.

This fellow was always the last to make his entrance, keeping a roomful of officials waiting.

Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian entered the courtyard with five pen-in-caps, including Qiu Zhengwen.

Shen Huaixiao was amused watching this and joked, “He can’t possibly think he lost yesterday because he was outnumbered.”

Fu Bi, sitting in the shadiest spot, whispered to Han Qi, “Chancellor Han, if today goes like yesterday again, we need to advise His Majesty. This can’t continue.”

Han Qi nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. Some problems do need solving, but discussing them here is rather inappropriate and might actually ruin everything.”

Mutual destruction was something no one wanted to see.

But things might develop in that direction.

Currently, neither side showed any signs of backing down.

Shortly after Zhang Fei arrived, Lu Gongzhu and the other judges came to the hall, all looking exhausted – yesterday’s trial had been hard on them too.

The courtyard gradually quieted down.

After the court opening ceremony, Zhang Fei immediately stood up and requested that the primary defendant, Zhou Cai, be summoned.

Li Guozhong couldn’t help but glance at Zhang Fei, noticing that this fellow’s demeanor seemed different from yesterday.

Zhang Fei suddenly turned to look at him, giving him a helpless expression.

Li Guozhong felt an ominous premonition and instructed Li Lei, “You need to be careful.”

Li Lei nodded.

After a while, Zhou Cai was brought to the hall. This fellow was an old landowner from Kaifeng County. His ancestors had served as military officers during the reign of the Founding Emperor. The Founding Emperor had given very generous treatment to a large number of military generals in exchange for peacefully relieving them of their military authority. Though Zhou Cai’s ancestor wasn’t any great general, he had also received good treatment for voluntarily resigning his commission, and their family had used this windfall to become famous major landowners in Kaifeng County and Xiangfu County.

Unlike Du Shaojing yesterday, Zhou Cai was very relaxed and not nervous at all. He bowed respectfully to Lu Gongzhu and then went to sit in the defendant’s seat.

Zhang Fei glanced at the documents on the table, then said to Zhou Cai: “Mogul Zhou, according to my knowledge, you own at least 7500 acres of land in various villages in Kaifeng County and Xiangfu County.”

Due to the current highly fragmented nature of land ownership, with plots scattered here and there, even Wang Anshi couldn’t investigate everything thoroughly. What they had found was 7500 acres of land.

Zhou Cai nodded somewhat guiltily, “More or less.”

It was definitely more than that!

Zhang Fei said: “Of this, 750 acres were bestowed upon your family by the Founding Emperor, and is therefore exempt from taxes. But approximately 3450 acres consists of land that you rent out to tenant farmers under an unsealed contract.”

Zhou Cai nodded: “Yes.”

Zhang Fei said: “This 3450 acres of land has never paid taxes.”

Zhou Cai replied: “That’s because…!”

Zhang Fei said: “You only need to answer yes or no.”

Zhou Cai was stunned. Your attitude toward Du Shaojing yesterday wasn’t like this – do you think I’m easy to bully? Ignoring Zhang Fei, he raised his head proudly: “I’m not clear about that, because according to the contracts, those taxes are the responsibility of my tenant farmers. I’ve already sent people to tell those tenants about it. As for whether they’ve paid or not, I’m not entirely sure. But I immediately went to pay the taxes on the contracts.”

The same routine as yesterday – in one sentence: go ask my tenant farmers for the money!

However, this time Zhang Fei didn’t follow the expected script. He suddenly changed direction: “But according to my investigation, the remaining 3300 acres of land is neither tax-exempt land nor land rented out on unsealed contracts, yet you haven’t paid a single penny in taxes on it either.”

“I object.”

Li Lei suddenly stood up: “Your Honor, the opposing party is making slanderous accusations. Mogul Zhou pays taxes every year on those 3300 acres of land. We have tax receipts from the past two years as evidence.”

Lu Gongzhu said: “Present the evidence.”

Li Guozhong, Fei Ming and the others exchanged glances, feeling only slightly surprised but not panicked.

After all, they had made thorough preparations. Previously they had thought Zhang Fei would first prove these lands were evading taxes, then drag the tenant farmers into it. But after yesterday’s trial, they had come to believe Zhang Fei planned to use the tenant farmers as his breakthrough point.

They hadn’t expected Zhang Fei to execute a flanking maneuver.

After examination by a group of professional officials, they all indicated to Lu Gongzhu that these tax receipts were without problems.

Li Lei immediately added: “According to our dynasty’s system, the seals on tax receipts are crossed-out every year after taxes are paid, under official supervision. These tax receipts are sufficient proof that Mogul Zhou has not failed to pay taxes. Zhang San is purely making slanderous accusations and spreading false rumors.”

Lu Gongzhu looked toward Zhang Fei again.

Zhang Fei shook his head: “This is impossible. According to reliable information, the government’s ledgers show no record of Mogul Zhou’s tax payments.”

Shen Huaixiao, Du Xiu and the others exchanged knowing smiles.

“Bring the ledgers.”

Lu Gongzhu instructed Huang Gui.

Huang Gui immediately brought forward a ledger that had been prepared in advance.

Lu Gongzhu flipped through the wrinkled ledger, compared it with the tax receipts, then said to Zhang Fei: “Where did you get this information?”

Zhang Fei glanced at Wang Anshi.

Lu Gongzhu also glanced at Wang Anshi, then said: “Regardless of where you got this information, it’s not accurate. This ledger does contain records of Zhou Cai’s tax payments, and they match up with the tax receipts.”

Zhang Fei frowned and turned to look at Xu Zhiqian.

Xu Zhiqian’s acting was always been on point. She pointed to the documents in front of him: “Our information is right!”

Zhang Fei raised his head: “I don’t believe that ledger.”