Judge of the Song Dynasty

Fan Chunren’s two articles immediately pushed public opinion to its climax. The voices opposing vehicle licenses truly swept across the entire capital like an overwhelming tide.

From top to bottom, there genuinely wasn’t a single person who supported these license plates.

Having been gifted such publicity by Zhang Fei, the court officials naturally wouldn’t be polite either. They began using the public grievances to pressure the emperor and pressure Cao Ping.

The public grievances had already reached a boiling point – could they really continue to turn a deaf ear?

However, the greatest beneficiary among all this was none other than Authentic Books Store.

Regardless of the content, regardless of who was being criticized, the current direction of public opinion was completely controlled by the Scholar’s Gazette.

Even those opposing Zhang Fei praised the content in the Scholar’s Gazette.

This phenomenon was truly bizarre.

At this moment, dawn had not yet broken.

Dozens of people could be seen standing in front of Authentic Books Store, each restless and anxious, glancing at the main gate from time to time. “Why haven’t they come out yet?”

“Didn’t they say the fourth watch? It’s almost the fifth watch now. If they delay any longer, it’ll be too late.”

“Oh my! This is really killing me with anxiety.”

It turned out that all the major restaurants and inns had received word that Authentic Books Store would be releasing a new publication today, with content about the license plates.

Now that this matter had been stirred up to such a degree, anything about license plates would certainly attract great attention.

The owners of all the major restaurants had given their managers strict orders: no matter what, they must obtain this issue of the publication.

Because without this issue, there would definitely be no customers coming to their doors.

This caused the price of this issue to rise directly to fifty coins per copy.

That was roughly fifty times the profit.

However, for those restaurants, this didn’t matter at all. This publication had extended everyone’s dining time several times over, and customers were also continuously increasing.

Because everyone wanted to discuss matters, the time spent at their establishments naturally lengthened, and consumption naturally increased as well.

This was truly too profitable.

Creak.

The door of Authentic Books Store opened, and the people in front immediately crowded forward.

“I was here first.”

“I grabbed the spot first.”

“Hey! You dare compete with my Pan Inn?”

“I’m determined to get this newspaper – it won’t matter who comes.”

“Don’t push! Don’t push! As long as you’ve put down money at my shop, you’ll definitely get the publication – not a single copy will be missing.”

Hou Donglai raised both hands high and shouted a few times. Seeing that everyone was still unwilling to yield, he added, “Dawn is about to break. If you keep pushing like this and delay the time, don’t come blaming me.”

Everyone looked at the sky – it was about to be daylight, and they had to deliver the newspapers to their shops before opening. Breakfast was the best time for reading newspapers. If they read them at night, they’d have to wait until tomorrow to argue about them – how would people sleep then?

Only then did everyone hurry to form proper lines.

“White Crystal Inn.”

“Here, here, here!”

“This is for your shop.”

Two large baskets of publications were thrown out.

The workers from White Crystal Inn grabbed the baskets, got on their cart, and hurried back to the shop.

Because those customers liked to take newspapers with them, White Crystal Inn had to prepare over a hundred extra copies for contingencies.

When the newspapers were delivered to the shop, Fan Zheng wanted to take one copy first to check it over. If there was any prohibited content, they couldn’t easily distribute it.

“Zheng’er, I heard the new issue of the publication came out.”

Fan Yong walked over.

Fan Zheng nodded and quickly handed it over. “This is the latest publication from Authentic Books Store, the News Gazette.”

“News Gazette?”

Fan Yong quickly took it.

Fan Zheng said, “This was issued in the name of the Left District Patrol Office. It explains the process for handling license plates, and in seven days, they’ll begin processing license plates in the western part of the outer city. After one month, the patrol constables will strictly check license plates.”

Fan Yong was shocked and dismayed. “Have they gone mad? With public opinion like this, who would go get these license plates?”

Fan Zheng frowned. “I don’t know either. Recently, neither the young master nor Little Ma have been seen anywhere. I have no way to gather information from them. However, there’s one passage that’s worth our attention.”

“Which passage?”

“The fourth section.”

Fan Yong’s gaze shifted, and he exclaimed, “Limited licenses?”

Fan Zheng said, “Father, we can’t gamble on Zhang San not succeeding and then not get our licenses. If we don’t handle this now, and if they really do implement limited license later, our carriages and horses won’t be able to go on the streets freely. What will we use to transport goods?”

Fan Yong said incredulously, “Does he have that authority?”

Fan Zheng shook his head. “I don’t know either!”

With the publication of the News Gazette, this morning was destined to be anything but quiet.

The roof of the White Crystal Inn was nearly cursed off.

Despite public opinion being what it was, the Patrol Office actually disregarded popular sentiment and planned to begin processing vehicle licenses in seven days. The key was that the procedures were written so comprehensively, especially regarding fines.

There was talk of a twelve-point system, prohibited roads, and point deductions with monetary penalties.

It also stated that patrol constables only had the authority to issue tickets, and offenders had to go to the patrol office in front of the Bureau of Records to pay fines. Those who disagreed could go to the adjacent Legal Aid Office to file complaints.

So the Legal Aid Office was right next to where fines were paid.

The meaning was quite simple: either pay the money or file a complaint.

The choice was theirs.

Such a comprehensive system clearly didn’t seem fake.

What was even more infuriating was that it also indicated that due to the excessive population in Bianjing, there might be limited licenses in the future, limiting the number of carriages and horses within the capital to a certain amount.

All of this was touching their sensitive nerves.

Who gave them this authority? What right did they have to do this?

Within the imperial court, naturally there was no need to say more.

Since the Emperor didn’t come forward, they could only go to the Chamber of State Affairs to make a fuss.

This even brought out Fu Bi and Zeng Gongliang, who had been recuperating at home due to illness.

Chamber of State Affairs.

“No wonder when we went there that day, the shop next door was also being renovated. So that was the Patrol Office’s collection branch.”

Sima Guang said with sudden realization.

Lu Gongzhu nodded. “Zhang San really went all out, arranging the fine payment location right next to the Legal Aid Office. How convenient for people to file complaints.”

Wang Anshi said, “I have to admit, his design is quite ingenious. Separating tickets from fine payments is one thing leading to another, and it also conforms to our Great Song’s ancestral laws.”

Wen Yanbo sighed. “But the problem is that from top to bottom, no one supports this matter. Outside, public resentment is already boiling over. For him to directly implement this vehicle license law without calming public grievances, and to set down so many rules, this will likely cause trouble!”

Zhao Bian also said, “I also think the Patrol Office’s actions are ill-considered. The notice even mentions limited licenses – are they trying to cause a bigger fuss? No matter how ingenious his design is, doing it this way definitely won’t work.”

Vehicle licenses were already annoying enough, and now they were adding limited licenses. People would be even less agreeable. If they let him succeed, who knows if they’d even be able to get licenses in the future.

Fu Bi stroked his beard and said, “Are you all suggesting we petition His Majesty to issue an order prohibiting this matter?”

Wen Yanbo nodded. “I think we should. This is simply nonsense.”

But Wang Anshi said, “I think we shouldn’t be hasty about this. If no one goes to get these licenses, then we can discuss it further. What we’re hearing now might not represent everyone’s thoughts.”

Wen Yanbo glanced at him. “Is that so?”

But Zeng Gongliang also nodded. “Wang Anshi makes sense. Everything requires evidence. Now that this law hasn’t even been implemented yet, to issue a prohibition order without proof or evidence – what would we use to convince His Majesty?”

Sima Guang hesitated for a long while before saying, “I also think we should wait and see. Everyone is quite familiar with Zhang San’s character. He wouldn’t act without purpose.”

In his heart, he hoped Zhang Fei could succeed, as this could provide great assistance to his judicial reforms.

Wang Anshi thought the same way.

The final decision of this meeting was to wait and see.

But the meeting’s contents were quickly known to everyone, and people felt reassured knowing that the Chamber of State Affairs didn’t support the Patrol Office. They just wouldn’t go get the licenses when the time came.

Authentic Books Store.

“Old Hou, you’re in good shape! Despite such high-intensity work, you’re still so energetic.”

Zhang Fei looked at the spirited Hou Donglai.

Hou Donglai chuckled. “When you’re making money, how can you complain about being tired? Zhang San, you don’t know – now people from inns and taverns in Xiangfu County and Kaifeng County have also come to order our Scholar’s Gazette and News Gazette. One batch goes out as thousands of copies. The profit in this is really…”

By the end of his speech, he was grinning so widely he couldn’t close his mouth.

This was incredibly profitable.

He absolutely loved it.

Zhang Fei pointed at him with disgust. “Ugh! You’re drooling. Mind your image a bit.”

With a slurp, Hou Donglai wiped his mouth, then suddenly remembered something and said, “Oh right, I forgot to tell you something. Recently many wealthy households have wanted to order newspapers directly from us. But White Crystal Inn and Pan Inn have hinted that if we provide individual subscriptions to these wealthy families, they won’t order from us at such high prices anymore.”

People like Fu Bi and other elderly officials couldn’t visit inns every day, but the problem was that newspapers were currently only distributed to these inns. They hoped to get individual subscriptions, but the inns certainly wouldn’t agree. They also knew that newspapers were very expensive, but they were willing to pay precisely because the inns had a complete monopoly.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Fei said, “Our current production capacity is quite limited, so let’s continue distributing only to inns. But you should also tell those inns that we completely allow them to deliver newspapers to their regular customers’ homes.”

Hou Donglai nodded. “I understand.”

Just then, Hong Zhong walked in. “Brother San, the new issue of the News Gazette has been typeset. This is the proof copy. If there are no problems, we can start printing.”

He handed the newspaper to Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei took it, opened it for a look, then said to Hou Donglai, “For this issue, the price is still fifty coins, but if the inns aren’t satisfied, we can lower it to a minimum of thirty coins.”

Hou Donglai nodded. “I understand.”

Just then, Li Si entered the room and said, “Brother San, the Deputy Commander has arrived, and he doesn’t look very happy.”

Zhang Fei merely smiled slightly. “Please show him in.”

Hou Donglai immediately left with Hong Zhong.

As soon as they left, Cao Ping stormed in angrily. “Zhang San, what kind of tricks are you playing?”

Today he had been thoroughly scolded, and the key issue was that he hadn’t known about it beforehand. He hadn’t expected Zhang Fei to implement the plan so quickly, while Cao Dongdong and Ma Xiaoyi, who had been responsible for training the patrol constables, also knew nothing about it.

This time Cao Ping truly couldn’t sit still.

Zhang Fei feigned surprise. “Deputy Commander, what do you mean by that?”

Cao Ping said, “The public resentment hasn’t even subsided yet. Who told you to start issuing vehicle licenses directly? When no one comes to get them, how am I supposed to save face? This is simply reckless.”

Zhang Fei smiled. “Deputy Commander, please rest assured. Everyone will definitely come actively to get their vehicle licenses.”

“That’s complete nonsense.”

Cao Ping said, “Those two issues of your Scholar’s Gazette that you published – almost everyone is criticizing you. They’ve already agreed among themselves that no one will pay any attention to you.”

In any case, those ministers certainly wouldn’t support Zhang Fei.

Wang Anshi and Sima Guang did want to support Zhang Fei, but did they even have carriages?

The carriages they rode in all belonged to their work units.

Zhang Fei smiled. “Deputy Commander, please rest assured. People will definitely come. If no one comes, I will take full responsibility myself.”

Cao Ping was stunned and asked in bewilderment, “Have you never left your house? It’s impossible for anyone to come.”

Zhang Fei said, “People will definitely come.”

“…!”

Cao Ping was so depressed that he nodded. “Fine! Fine! I won’t argue with you now, but if no one shows up, don’t blame me for not showing mercy.”

The implication was clear: when the time came, he would definitely stab Zhang Fei in the back.

Just two days later, the second issue of the News Gazette was published.

Just as Zhang Fei had predicted, when everyone saw the newspaper’s content, they immediately drove the price down to thirty-five coins.

What the hell kind of news was this? It was clearly just advertising, promoting himself.

The content indicated that a charitable organization invested in by Cao Dongdong, Ma Xiaoyi, and Zhang Fei would establish a carriage and horse transport business, and they were openly recruiting skilled drivers and vehicles.

There were roughly two methods: one was direct employment, and the other was cooperation.

You could bring your own horse cart to join the business, with profits split fifty-fifty, but the business would be responsible for paying all taxes and fodder for the animals, while you would only bear the transportation risks.

Everything else would be handled for you.

But there was one condition: you had to have a vehicle license. As long as you had a license, all subsequent licensing fees would be covered by the business.

That was the entire news story.

It was truly disappointing.

That was it?

They had thought Zhang Fei was preparing some major move, but it turned out he was just spending his own money to play by himself.

Based on the content, all you wanted was to get some vehicles and register them yourself. Well, go ahead and play by yourself – we won’t pay any attention to you anyway.

That was all. No further developments.

No new publications were released either.

The opposition continued.

And it grew even louder than before.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed, and today was the first day of vehicle registration.

The location was a training ground in the western part of the city.

Cao Ping had arrived early, but the scene before him left him dumbfounded.

He saw countless horse carts, ox carts, and donkey carts parked there, waiting to be registered – so many that he couldn’t see the end of them.

Fortunately, this was arranged in the outer city at a relatively spacious training ground. If it had been arranged in the inner city, even the longest Bian River Avenue probably couldn’t have accommodated so many vehicles.

This definitely wasn’t something Zhang Fei had paid people to stage – that would cost too much money. More importantly, where could he have found so many vehicles in such a short time?

Hadn’t everyone been opposed to this?

What was going on?