Judge of the Song Dynasty

The common people of the Northern Song truly turned pale at the mere mention of corvee service as a government runner, and although Zhang Fei had fought several lawsuits related to corvee runner service, he had never imagined that one day he would receive a service notice himself.

What was his status, Zhang San?

True to his name, he was someone who worked for three of the most powerful men and had a father-in-law from the Court of Judicial Review.

Make him serve corvee duty?

How was that possible?

Coming to his senses, Zhang Fei didn’t take it seriously at all and slept very soundly.

However!

The next day at noon, Fan Li hurried to the Zhang residence and told Zhang Fei some very troubling news.

“It won’t work?”

Zhang Fei looked at Fan Li in surprise. “Why not?” Fan Li also looked at Zhang Fei with a bewildered expression, shaking his head. “I don’t know either.”

Zhang Fei said excitedly, “Did you actually go or not?”

“I just came from Kaifeng Prefecture.” Fan Li spread his hands. “They just said it won’t work.”

Zhang Fei pulled him close and said in a low voice, “Did you not stuff enough money in there?”

Fan Li let out an “aiya.” “This is your business – I didn’t dare be careless. I stuffed a whole silver ingot in there for him, and they took the silver, but they still told me it won’t work.”

“Didn’t you say before that this was just a small matter?”

“It is a small matter.”

Fan Li nodded. “My family has always done it this way. I’ve never served corvee duty, and neither has my son. I don’t know why, but they just won’t let you pay to be exempted from service.”

Zhang Fei said, “Then I’ll hire someone to serve in my place.”

“That won’t work either.” Fan Li said, “After the people at Kaifeng Prefecture took my money, they made it very clear – there are orders from above that you must personally go serve.”

“I understand now.”

Zhang Fei’s face filled with anger. “I understand now – they’re retaliating. This is their revenge against me.”

Fan Li nodded. “That’s what I think too. Zhang San, this runner service can be deadly – they’re trying to work you to death.”

Zhang Fei panicked. “No, I have to go demand an explanation from them.”

He rushed out the door, got on a carriage, and headed straight for Kaifeng Prefecture.

This time the runners at the Kaifeng Prefecture gate didn’t stop Zhang Fei – they all greeted him with smiling faces.

“Pen-in-cap Zhang, please come in.”

“Wait a moment.”

Seeing how polite they were being, Zhang Fei suddenly felt like this was a trap. “Fellow runners, aren’t you going to… stop me?”

The runner said with a chuckle, “Stop you? We’ll be colleagues soon enough.”

All four runners revealed sinister smiles.

Damn! If I fall into your hands, do I still have a way to live? Zhang Fei quickly entered through the gate.

“Oh! Pen-in-cap Zhang has arrived.”

Li Kai also acted completely out of character – seeing Zhang Fei, he appeared extremely happy. When he saw Zhang Fei about to bow, he quickly said, “No need for formalities! No need for formalities!”

The corner of Zhang Fei’s mouth kept twitching. He lowered his hands and demanded, “Vice-Prefect Li, everyone can pay to be exempted from service – why can’t I?”

Li Kai snorted. “Who told you that everyone can pay to be exempted from service? Bring that person here and I’ll ask them. Those who can pay for exemption either have family difficulties or lack the ability to competently fulfill the duties, so hiring someone else can better help the government. If you can help Kaifeng Prefecture hire another Pen-in-cap Zhang, I’ll also allow you to pay for exemption.”

Zhang Fei’s eyebrow twitched as he said with a frown, “Vice-Prefect Li, let’s not exchange these pleasantries between us. This is you settling personal scores through official channels.”

Li Kai laughed. “Then go ahead and file a complaint against me! Aren’t you very good at suing officials?”

“…!”

How could he file such a complaint?

Although the court did have regulations in this regard – under certain circumstances, one could pay to be exempted from service, which didn’t constitute bribery – ultimately it still depended on whether the government agreed.

Many people wanted to pay for exemption, but the government wouldn’t allow it.

This wouldn’t become institutionalized until after Wang Anshi’s reforms.

Chief Clerk Huang Gui on the side couldn’t help but joke, “Zhang San! This is a case of ‘if you’re not family, you don’t enter the same door!’ Haha! You’re so fond of our Kaifeng Prefecture – now your wish has come true. Shouldn’t you be happy?”

Li Kai nodded repeatedly. “Chief Clerk Huang speaks reasonably.”

Seeing these two colluding together with their shifty, rat-like appearance, Zhang Fei knew there was no point in pleading with them.

Without saying more, he immediately took his leave.

Leaving the Kaifeng Prefectural Office, he immediately went to find Wang Anshi.

“Academician Wang, you must stand up for me! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have offended the Kaifeng Prefectural Office. Now they’re using the corvee labor system to settle personal scores against me, I… I…!”

Zhang Fei wept miserably, tears and snot streaming down his face as he made his pitiful complaint.

What nonsense – I’ve only filed a few complaints, but you had already offended them long before that. Wang Anshi thought one thing but said another: “How outrageous! How dare they act this way? Don’t worry, I’ll help you. Go home first and wait for news.”

“Thank you, Academician Wang, thank you, Academician Wang.”

After leaving the Wang residence, Zhang Fei thought to himself: The people who hate me in court far outnumber those at the Kaifeng Prefectural Office. Wang Anshi is just the leader of the reform faction – the opposition will definitely try to destroy me completely. No, I need to go find Academician Sima as well.

Damn it!

I’m working for the top three guys – if you think you can mess with me, dream on.

To be safe, Zhang Fei ran off to find Sima Guang.

“Corvee labor?”

Sima Guang stroked his beard and said, “Everyone must perform corvee labor, you…”

Have you ever performed it?

Zhang Fei immediately glanced at Sima Guang.

Sima Guang continued, “Of course, graduate-scholars who pass the civil examinations are exempt.”

“…!”

Fine! You win! Zhang Fei said sheepishly, “Academician Sima, I’m so busy – where would I find time for corvee labor? But it’s not that I don’t intend to fulfill this obligation. I’m willing to hire someone to go in my place – I’ll hire two people, no, I’ll hire five people. That should be acceptable, right?

But the Kaifeng Prefectural Office specifically demands that I go personally. This is clearly targeting me – it’s settling personal scores!”

Sima Guang nodded. “Very well, I’ll go ask around for you. It shouldn’t be a big problem.”

Zhang Fei bowed repeatedly. “Thank you, Academician Sima, thank you, Academician Sima.”

With the blessing of the twin stars of the Song dynasty, Zhang Fei finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He didn’t plan to ask Xu Zun for help with this matter. Speaking objectively, this was indeed his duty to fulfill, and it wasn’t currently unfair treatment. If Xu Zun helped him, it might constitute using public position for private gain.

However, when he returned home, he still told Xu Zun about it.

Xu Zun indeed found it inconvenient to say much. He only comforted Zhang Fei, saying that if the Kaifeng Prefectural Office wanted to settle personal scores, he absolutely wouldn’t let them succeed.

The implication was that if the Kaifeng Prefectural Office handled matters fairly and officially, he really couldn’t say anything about it.

The next day, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang actually did make some moves, helping Zhang Fei inquire why he wasn’t allowed to pay for exemption or hire someone as a substitute. The Kaifeng Prefectural Office had to provide an explanation.

But the result was a torrent of public opinion.

It would have been better if they hadn’t asked – once they did, all the officials knew about it.

They were overjoyed and danced with excitement.

Oh my!

Heaven above! Earth below!

Which genius came up with this idea?

It was absolutely brilliant.

Zhang Fei must perform this corvee labor.

No matter how much money he spent, they wouldn’t let him escape it.

Their hatred for Zhang San wasn’t just from the past day or two.

Having finally caught him once, they absolutely couldn’t let him go!

The censors and court officials made a huge fuss, declaring that whoever dared let Zhang Fei avoid corvee labor would be impeached to death.

Many officials and scholars even went to the Kaifeng Prefectural Office to tell Li Kai: “Don’t be afraid – we’ll block Wang Anshi for you. Just go ahead and deal with him as you see fit.”

At the Court of Judicial Review.

“Lord Xu, as you can see, I’ve done my best, but…”

Wang Anshi said to Xu Zun with a face full of shame.

Sima Guang beside him also stroked his beard and sighed, “This was originally a small matter, but the Kaifeng Prefectural Office is following regulations after all. With those people holding on so tightly, we’re powerless!”

With such a commotion, how could Xu Zun not know? This really couldn’t be blamed on the two of them. Those censors and court officials were truly giving Zhang Fei treatment befitting a chancellor.

Usually only when impeaching a chancellor would they be this frenzied.

Xu Zun quietly suggested, “Could we recommend Zhang San for an official position to avoid this?”

Wang Anshi and Sima Guang exchanged glances.

Wang Anshi said, “Even if we two recommend him and His Majesty agrees, it would probably be too late. They would definitely find ways to delay it. Currently in court, only we two support Zhang San – counting Lu Huiqing, that’s just three people.”

Xu Zun sighed, “Actually, performing corvee labor wouldn’t matter much – I’m just afraid they’ll settle personal scores.”

Sima Guang immediately replied, “I estimate they wouldn’t dare, after all Zhang San is your son-in-law. Speaking of which, if Zhang San truly suffers injustice, given his temperament, he won’t just swallow his anger.”

Xu Zun added, “Zhang San has a weak constitution and has never done manual labor. He really can’t handle hard corvee work.”

Wang Anshi couldn’t help but frown.

Sima Guang immediately said, “I’ve inquired very clearly. The Kaifeng Prefectural Office’s reason for refusal was that Zhang Fei possesses special talents that the government lacks, so he cannot be released. This being the case, they’ll definitely have him do work related to legal matters.”

“Yes, yes, yes, Sima Guang speaks reasonably.” Wang Anshi nodded repeatedly, then added, “If the Kaifeng Prefectural Office dares to have Zhang Fei do work outside of legal matters, we’ll definitely impeach them.”

Xu Zun thought to himself that doing legal work wouldn’t be unacceptable. He asked again, “How long would this service last?”

Wang Anshi immediately replied, “Not long at all. Once my new laws are promulgated, one can pay money to be exempted from service – at most just one autumn season.”

Sima Guang couldn’t help but glance at Wang Anshi, muttering inwardly: we agreed to deal with Zhang Fei, so why are you bringing up your new laws again? That is simply using private matters for public gain.

Although Xu Zun was no honest man himself, he never would have imagined that Sima Guang would collude with Wang Anshi to jointly scheme against Zhang Fei.

This was simply impossible.

He could only blame his son-in-law for being too arrogant in court and accumulating too many enemies.

Returning home, Xu Zun informed Zhang Fei of the matter.

After hearing this, Zhang Fei found it incredible: “Neither Academician Wang nor Academician Sima could help me avoid this government service?”

Xu Zun sighed, “Throughout the court and beyond, except for those two, all the officials support the Kaifeng Prefectural Office. They too are powerless to support the situation alone!”

Zhang Fei immediately felt dizzy and disoriented upon hearing this. “Father-in-law, if I fall into their hands, I’m finished!”

Xu Zhiqian also realized something was amiss and said, “Yes! Father, from top to bottom in the Kaifeng Prefectural Office, there isn’t a single person who doesn’t hate Zhang San.”

Xu Zun replied, “It won’t come to that. I’ve discussed this with Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, and they’ve guaranteed you won’t suffer any injustice. Moreover, you’ll be engaged in legal work, and the term is only one season.”

Zhang Fei was still somewhat unwilling – this was definitely like sheep being sent to a tiger’s den. He said, “Perhaps I should go talk to His Majesty.”

Xu Zun thought for a moment, “For such a small matter, if His Majesty intervenes, it might arouse everyone’s suspicion and expose your relationship with His Majesty.”

Zhang Fei nodded repeatedly.

His relationship with Emperor Zhao Xu was a crucial card that couldn’t be easily revealed.

Xu Zun continued, “As a subject of our Great Song, it’s proper for you to do something for the country. Actually, I’ve always hoped you could use your talents to serve the nation. Although what can be accomplished through this government service is limited, I believe you can still do well.”

After hearing this, Zhang Fei knew this matter was definitely unavoidable. He said, “If it’s legal work, I suppose I can help out. I’m just afraid they’ll have me carry night soil – that would be…!”

Xu Zun reassured him, “Don’t worry, that’s absolutely impossible. Their reason for refusing your monetary exemption was precisely that you have special talents. The work they assign you will definitely be related to law. I estimate it will be some clerical work at the Bureau of Records.”

Zhang Fei sighed, thinking to himself: you’re all ruthless – this time I’ll admit defeat. But once this service is over, if I don’t turn the Kaifeng Prefectural Office completely upside down, I won’t deserve the name Zhang.