Judge of the Song Dynasty

If it had been any other time, when Xu Zun merely spoke these words at the Court of Penal Review without even bringing them to the imperial court for deliberation, everyone would have at most mocked Xu Zun a few times for overestimating his abilities, just as they always had.

But at this particular moment, these words were enough to cause an uproar.

Because no one knew whether this was part of a continuing series.

In that lawsuit, the emperor’s attitude had made them all very worried.

Everyone was speculating whether the emperor really intended to do this.

Or perhaps this was some kind of test.

One key reason why literary culture flourished in the Song Dynasty was that the Zhao family gave scholar-officials many generous benefits, allowing them to live without worries about their future or livelihood.

If this were to be withdrawn, it would truly overturn the entire system.

The key issue was that the military generals wouldn’t accept it either. When the Founding Emperor relieved his generals with a cup of wine, that wine cup wasn’t filled with wine, but with gold and beautiful women. Although the Song Dynasty emphasized civil over military affairs, the military generals were quite wealthy, and their treatment wasn’t actually inferior to that of scholar-officials – it was just that their status wasn’t as high.

After this pamphlet came out, the entire Bianjing immediately went into a state of extreme nervousness, with everyone on edge. Even Han Qi and Fu Bi were alarmed.

At the Chamber of State Affairs.

“What exactly is going on here?”

Han Qi questioned Sima Guang with great displeasure.

Regardless of your original intentions, if you do this, the realm will certainly fall into chaos. Neither the civil nor military officials will agree to this – how can this possibly work?

Sima Guang explained with a dejected expression: “This really is just a misunderstanding. At the time, we were only discussing how to address the concerns of those large landowners about this legal change. Xu Zun really just mentioned it casually – Associate Minister Liu and the others can all testify to this.”

Fu Bi asked: “Then what about this pamphlet?”

Sima Guang said: “I’m currently investigating this matter.”

Wang Anshi snorted from the side: “Someone must be trying to use this opportunity to target Xu Zun, or perhaps even to retaliate against Zhang San. I was the one who wanted to file that lawsuit – Zhang San was merely hired to argue the case. Bullying Zhang San – what kind of gentleman behavior is that?”

Sima Guang became angry upon hearing this: “Stop stirring up trouble here.”

Han Qi looked at Wang Anshi with a headache, then said to Sima Guang: “You need to quickly investigate this matter thoroughly.”

Sima Guang nodded.

The Kaifeng Prefectural Office, which had just seen off Lu Gongzhu and had not yet welcomed its new master, was now surrounded by rumors, and even the guards at the gate felt somewhat uneasy.

This was definitely a time of many troubles.

“Do you think Zhang San will come?”

“That’s highly unlikely. He can’t come here to appeal injustice on behalf of the Court of Judicial Review – wouldn’t that be a joke?”

The guards had barely finished speaking when they saw a young man sprinting toward them at the speed of a hundred-meter dash.

“Zhang San?”

One guard cried out in surprise.

They saw Zhang Fei heading straight for the Grievance Drum.

Four bailiffs rushed forward and seized him.

“Let me go! Let me go! You’re preventing citizens from beating the drum to voice grievances – this is perverting justice for personal gain. Be careful, or I’ll report you all together.”

“Zhang San, calm down. Let’s talk this through properly. What grievance do you have?”

“I want to file a complaint against that pamphlet for fabricating seditious writings and spreading seditious words.”

Half an incense stick’s time later.

“Zhang San, what are you trying to do now?”

Li Kai looked at Zhang Fei with the expression of someone about to cry.

He now understood why Lu Gongzhu had fled so quickly.

Zhang Fei pulled out a complaint document: “I want to file a complaint against that pamphlet for bewitching the masses. They’re deliberately framing my father-in-law. I was the one who fought that lawsuit – if there’s an issue, come at me instead.”

Although his words were somewhat incoherent, Li Kai understood and asked: “Do you know who was behind this pamphlet?”

“I don’t know.”

Zhang Fei replied with righteous indignation.

Huang Gui said from the side: “If you don’t know, what are you filing a complaint about?”

Zhang Fei said: “This pamphlet is inherently illegal. Those who sell these pamphlets are all engaged in illegal behavior and can be prosecuted as accomplices.”

Huang Gui reminded him: “Our dynasty’s laws do not stipulate that pamphlets are illegal.”

Zhang Fei said: “But our dynasty’s laws stipulate that those who bewitch the masses can also be sentenced to death by hanging. Doesn’t distributing these pamphlets count as bewitching the masses?”

Li Kai asked: “On what basis do you assert that the contents in the pamphlet constitute bewitching the masses?”

Zhang Fei said: “This is what my father-in-law said, but he didn’t say it that way at all. The pamphlet added embellishments and fabricated things, intending to place my father-in-law in a position of disloyalty and unrighteousness. Moreover, I believe these seditious words have already caused unrest and can be punished under the crime of bewitching the masses.”

Li Kai and Huang Gui exchanged glances.

They really couldn’t refute what Zhang Fei said. Strictly speaking, such inflammatory speech should be controlled, but according to common sense, this was something the Kaifeng Prefectural Office should have done on its own initiative, not something they should wait for someone to come and report.

But Lu Gongzhu had just left, and Li Kai wasn’t clear about the situation above. After pondering for a moment, he said: “I’ll hold onto your complaint document for now. I still need to investigate whether the contents are as you claim. You may go back first.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei’s expression softened somewhat, and he bowed with his hands clasped: “This commoner takes his leave.”

As soon as Zhang Fei left the Kaifeng Prefectural Office, he saw Xu Zhiqian approaching him. “You were too impulsive.”

Zhang Fei said: “I was very calm. They just want to retaliate against me by attacking Father-in-law. Each person should take responsibility for their own actions – I absolutely cannot implicate my Father-in-law.”

Xu Zhiqian stamped her foot lightly. “This matter is not as simple as you think.”

“I know.”

Zhang Fei said: “I’m doing this to prevent the matter from becoming more complicated. In the courtroom, no one can speak recklessly. When the time comes, right and wrong will be judged by the law itself, and everyone will know that Father-in-law was framed.”

Xu Zhiqian pondered briefly. “But the best way to handle such matters is to let sleeping dogs lie. What you’re doing will only make things worse.”

Zhang Fei said: “The problem is they don’t want to let sleeping dogs lie. I’m also employed by Academician Wang. Instead of going after Grand Academician Wang, they’re coming after me. Isn’t this bullying? I absolutely will not let myself be slaughtered like fish.

No, I need to go find Academician Wang and reason with him. He bears responsibility for this matter too.”

“Wait, Zhang San!”

Xu Zhiqian initially wanted to chase after him, but on second thought, going to find Wang Anshi to think of a solution might not be a bad thing.

At the Wang residence.

“Academician Wang, you must stand up for me!”

Upon seeing Wang Anshi, Zhang Fei looked utterly wronged.

Wang Anshi also felt guilty and said: “How do you hope I can help you?”

Zhang Fei said: “I have already filed a complaint that the pamphlet committed the crime of bewitching the masses. I hope the Kaifeng Prefectural Office can hold court to hear this case.”

Wang Anshi said: “Currently, we haven’t yet discovered who produced this pamphlet. Whom are you going to sue?”

Zhang Fei said: “Those people distributing the pamphlets are also criminals!”

Upon hearing this, Wang Anshi quickly said: “That won’t do. Most of those people are innocent – they’re just trying to make a small profit. Their crime doesn’t warrant such punishment. If you sue them, that would be going too far.”

Zhang Fei said: “But now we can’t find out who the real culprit is. If I don’t sue them, I can’t get into court, and I can’t prove my father-in-law’s innocence. What I want to fight is the pamphlet’s slander of my father-in-law, not really to sue those distributing the pamphlets.”

Wang Anshi frowned and said: “But your father-in-law did indeed say similar things.”

Zhang Fei said: “I know that, but the pamphlet obviously took things out of context and added embellishments. I need to clarify this point to prevent others from misunderstanding my father-in-law.”

Wang Anshi thought again. “Alright, I’ll go help you speak about it, but it might not succeed.”

Zhang Fei clasped his fists and said: “Thank you, Academician Wang.”

But before Wang Anshi could go speak about it, the Kaifeng Prefectural Office had already reported the matter upward.

Once this was reported, the situation immediately became much more complicated.

It’s this trick again, this trick again.

We knew there couldn’t be any good intentions behind this.

Once this matter gets to court, heaven knows what else will happen.

This matter almost involves the interests of all civil and military officials – it absolutely cannot be argued in court.

This was truly too dangerous.

This time they went directly to the Chamber of State Affairs to make a fuss.

Han Qi, Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo and others couldn’t suppress it either. They also understood the concerns of all the court officials, so they summoned Xu Zun to get to the bottom of things.

Xu Zun looked utterly wronged and said: “This matter was because my son-in-law was too impulsive. I also don’t approve of taking this matter to court.”

Speaking to this point, he changed the subject, “But the contents of that pamphlet indeed has the appearance of stirring up trouble and making alarmist statements. Calling it the crime of bewitching the masses would not be excessive. On this point, Academician Sima and Associate Minister Liu can both testify for me.”

Sima Guang nodded directly: “This matter is indeed a misunderstanding.”

As he spoke, he became agitated, “I’m not stupid either. How could I possibly do such a thing?”

Wang Anshi immediately said: “On this point, I absolutely believe Academician Sima. He wholeheartedly has the landlords’ interests at heart – how could he possibly do such a thing?”

Sima Guang glared angrily at Wang Anshi, pointed at him, and said through gritted teeth: “Wang Anshi, you’re just adding fuel to the fire now. When this matter is over, I will definitely settle accounts with you.”

Wang Anshi said: “How about we debate this in court?”

Good heavens!

It’s you again!

This was absolutely a conspiracy!

“The crime of bewitching the masses?” Gu Ji sneered, “Xu Zun did indeed say similar things. How can this be considered the crime of bewitching the masses? Is telling the truth also a crime?”

Xu Zun said excitedly: “You also said ‘similar things.’ You must consider the circumstances at the time. This matter doesn’t have to go to court, but that pamphlet is truly too detestable. The court should issue orders to prohibit it.”

Liu Shu, Qi Hui and others all nodded.

Although they had never been on the same path as Xu Zun, on this matter they had to support him. Otherwise, people would suspect they were the ones who leaked the information.

Censor Li Zhan said: “If not for that pamphlet, we might still be kept in the dark. Anyone who talks about issuing prohibitions is acting with a guilty conscience, destroying evidence.”

“You!”

“Enough, enough.”

Fu Bi interrupted their argument, “In my opinion, this matter is just a misunderstanding. There’s no need for you all to seriously damage harmony over this. Let this matter end here.”

Speaking thus, he looked again at Xu Zun, “Judge Xu, you should also keep an eye on your son-in-law. Don’t let him run to the Kaifeng Prefectural Office to file complaints at every turn – this will only make things more muddled.”

Xu Zun nodded, “This official understands.”

But in this matter, neither Fu Bi nor Han Qi had the final say – the emperor still needed to step forward.

They weren’t afraid of Xu Zun; they were worried this was a serial drama, with Xu Zun just being a chess piece. Their agitation was a defense against the emperor. If the emperor didn’t speak up, this matter couldn’t pass.

Currently, no one could figure out what the emperor was thinking.

The imperial palace.

“The Kaifeng Prefectural Office?”

Zhao Xu glanced sideways at Lan Yuanzhen beside him.

Lan Yuanzhen nodded: “Yes, I heard Zhang San went to file another complaint. This frightened all the civil and military officials, fearing this was another conspiracy, and they’re trying hard to prevent it. This forced Lord Fu and Chancellor Han to step forward, barely suppressing it. However, they also had the Kaifeng Prefectural Office refuse to accept the case.”

Zhao Xu nodded and asked again: “What about that pamphlet?” The rıghtful source is noveⅼfire.net

Lan Yuanzhen said: “Academician Wang and Judge Xu have both proposed prohibiting the pamphlet, but most ministers support it.”

After hearing this, Zhao Xu almost couldn’t help but laugh. Zhang San hadn’t deceived him – in playing dirty tricks, his entire court of civil and military officials was no match for him.

The Xu residence.

“Outrageous, absolutely outrageous!”

Zhang Fei paced back and forth in the hall, “That pamphlet is clearly bewitching the masses, yet the court pays no attention.”

Xu Zun consoled him: “Enough. With your meddling like this, they’re even more convinced this is my conspiracy. Quick, go to the Kaifeng Prefectural Office and withdraw your lawsuit.”

“Yes, your son-in-law understands.” Zhang Fei nodded.

Xu Zhiqian said gloomily: “I advised you before, but you just wouldn’t listen.”

She had thought of this point earlier – once you file the complaint, it becomes even harder to explain clearly.

“They were the ones being bullies first.” Zhang Fei also looked aggrieved, then said: “Fine! Do they think they’re the only ones who can print things? I, too, have a printing workshop. We’ll also publish a pamphlet to clear Father-in-law’s name.”