Judge of the Song Dynasty

Dreams were abundant, but reality was harsh.

The first day of license registration left the court ministers utterly astounded.

They simply could not comprehend it.

Although it was only a few hundred coins per year, that was still money, and the principle of common folk was to avoid paying if they could avoid it, wasn’t it?

When had the people of Great Song become so wealthy?

They were actually rushing to pay money!

But they had not considered that these common folk would never dare to gamble their entire lives on this single license.

The key was that even the merchants did not dare.

Super-wealthy establishments like the White Crystal Inn and Pan Inn were even more enthusiastic than the common people, because for them, transporting goods was absolutely essential.

However, if no one had come at the beginning, this law would surely have been abolished. Conversely, the number of people coming to register would only continue to grow.

“Zhang San, there are more and more people. Even if we worked through the night, we couldn’t handle them all. Look how exhausted everyone has become.”

Tao Yonghan, who had been shouting all day yesterday, said to Zhang Fei in a hoarse voice.

Cao Dongdong also said, “Zhang San, we don’t lack manpower. We could open several more registration points so we could finish earlier, and I can go claim credit.”

Zhang Fei looked at the faint slap marks visible on his face and said, “Do you really have a share in this credit?”

Cao Dongdong said proudly, “Yesterday I discussed it with Father – we’ll split it fifty-fifty.”

“Is that so?”

Zhang Fei chuckled, then said seriously, “We don’t lack people, but we have relatively few truly trustworthy ones. If we open more points and someone causes trouble or frames us, what would we do?”

“That’s true.”

Cao Dongdong nodded, then said, “So what do you suggest?”

Zhang Fei said, “A lottery system!”

“A lottery system?”

Several people said in unison.

Zhang Fei nodded. “That’s right! We can calculate how many vehicles we can register each day based on the time required for registration, then issue only that many licenses per day. This way, we can set up several points throughout the city for people to draw numbers, and they can come here at the designated time with their numbers to register.”

Ma Xiaoyi’s eyes lit up. “Brother San, that’s a brilliant idea!”

“Brilliant indeed!”

Zhang Fei then asked Tao Yonghan, “Old Tao, how many vehicles can we register in a day?”

Tao Yonghan thought for a moment and said, “At most, five hundred vehicles.”

Zhang Fei said puzzledly, “I say, Old Tao, your voice is already this hoarse, and you’re still talking about five hundred vehicles a day. Aren’t you afraid of dying here?”

Tao Yonghan was stunned and said, “I meant at most. Three hundred vehicles a day would be best.”

Zhang Fei asked, “Are you sure?”

“Two hundred vehicles?”

“Really?”

“One hundred vehicles?”

“I think the first batch of licenses wasn’t carved precisely enough. Could it be because we were too rushed?”

“Fifty vehicles.”

“You said it, so fifty vehicles it is.” Zhang Fei made the decision.

“What?”

Cao Dongdong said, “Fifty vehicles a day? When would we ever finish?”

Ma Xiaoyi nudged Cao Dongdong with his elbow. “Brother, fifty vehicles is more interesting. Let me handle this arrangement.”

Zhang Fei chuckled. “Little Ma is still the clever one.”

Cao Dongdong’s eyes shifted, and he suddenly understood. “Yes! Fifty vehicles a day means they’ll all have to beg us. Hehe.”

After a busy day and freeloading another dinner from Cao Dongdong, it was already nightfall when he returned home. Upon entering the gate, he saw Xu Zun and Xu Zhiqian sitting under a tree drinking tea.

“Father-in-law, Zhiqian.”

“You’re back.”

Xu Zun waved his hand. “Sit, sit, sit. Have some tea.”

After sitting down, Xu Zhiqian immediately poured Zhang Fei a cup of tea.

Xu Zun smiled. “I heard your vehicle registration is going very smoothly.”

Zhang Fei chuckled. “So-so.”

Xu Zun smiled. “Don’t be careless. From what I know, those officials don’t plan to register for licenses. When you start enforcing regulations, it might cause some conflicts. You need to pay special attention to this!”

Zhang Fei smiled. “Please don’t worry, Father-in-law. I’ve already prepared an escape route for them. There won’t be any trouble.”

Xu Zun said, “Really? What have you prepared?”

Zhang Fei said, “Didn’t my charitable organization set up a workshop for renting carriages and horses? When their carriages can’t go on the streets, they can rent mine. We all have licenses.”

Xu Zhiqian smiled with pursed lips. “They just want to show you who’s boss. How could they possibly rent your carriages?”

Zhang Fei said with slight regret, “Exactly! They’ll definitely rent from other businesses, not mine.”

Xu Zun asked, “Are you really confident about this?”

Zhang Fei smiled. “Father-in-law, please don’t forget who’s backing me. This time, we really are going to restrict their private carriages and make them rent instead, thereby reducing the number of carriages in the city.

Only after becoming a patrol constable did I realize how dirty and smelly many places really are. I need to clean things up properly.”

Xu Zun chuckled. “It seems you’ve become addicted to being a patrol constable.”

Zhang Fei smiled bitterly. “I just fear they won’t give me much time.”

Two days later.

Emperor Zhao Xu, who had remained silent all this while, finally convened a meeting in the Hall of Delegated Rule.

He immediately asked, “Deputy Commander, how are things progressing with the vehicle licenses?”

Cao Ping immediately stepped forward. “Your Majesty, everything is proceeding very smoothly. The people are eagerly going to the training grounds to get their vehicle license plates.”

“Really?”

Zhao Xu looked puzzled. “But didn’t I hear earlier that this matter was causing widespread public resentment?”

Immediately, many ministers cast sideways glances of disdain at Zhao Xu.

If you had come out five days earlier, it wouldn’t have come to this. You deliberately chose this moment to appear – what exactly are your intentions!

Cao Ping understood perfectly and quickly said, “In this subject’s view, someone has been deliberately spreading discord, attempting to incite public resentment, but they have not succeeded.”

“Such a thing happened?” Zhao Xu frowned.

“Your Majesty.”

Lin Dan immediately stepped forward. “The one truly spreading rumors is Deputy Commander Cao. Speaking objectively about this matter, this policy ultimately requires the people to pay additional money. Regardless of the amount, there will naturally be complaints – this is human nature.”

Cao Ping smiled. “A mere five hundred coins can bring clean, tidy streets and unobstructed traffic. Is there any better bargain than this? Doesn’t Censor Lin know that what the people complain about most every day are precisely those congested, dirty, and chaotic streets?”

Zhao Xu nodded slightly, then turned to ask the several ministers standing beside him, “What do you gentlemen think?”

Many ministers couldn’t be bothered to respond to him.

At this point, you’re asking us what we think? How are we supposed to answer!

Wang Anshi responded enthusiastically, “Your Majesty, this minister believes that vehicle plates are to carriages what household registers are to the people. Is it easier to manage with household registers or without them? The answer is obvious.”

Gu Ji said, “Vehicle plates are not wrong in principle, but the error lies in the expensive licensing fees, which undoubtedly increase the burden on the people.”

Wang Anshi smiled. “Director Gu is being somewhat alarmist. Yesterday I personally went to observe, and no one was complaining. Instead, they were competing to be first, fearing they would be slower than others.”

Zhao Xu quickly asked, “Really?”

Wang Anshi nodded. “Absolutely true. Academician Sima was also there at the time.”

Zhao Xu looked toward Sima Guang.

Sima Guang hesitated slightly.

Liu Shu didn’t want Sima Guang to take a position and immediately stepped forward. “Your Majesty, the reason the people are competing to be first is because the newspaper from Authentic Books Store published alarmist reports, saying that licenses would be limited and the number of carriages in the city would be controlled to a certain amount. Therefore, the people fear they won’t be able to get vehicle plates and their livelihoods will be affected.”

Zhao Xu nodded repeatedly as he listened. “Indeed, we should control this. After all, the city is only so large. If there are too many carriages and horses, it will naturally cause many inconveniences.”

At this point, he paused slightly. “You ministers also frequently advise me to be frugal and avoid extravagance and waste. I also hope that you can lead by example – ride in carriages less and walk more. This saves money and provides exercise – it’s killing two birds with one stone.”

“Your Majesty is wise.”

Wang Anshi immediately said, “According to what I knows, court officials have not gone to get vehicle plates, presumably following Your Majesty’s words about frugality and economy.”

Many ministers were dumbfounded.

We didn’t go because we don’t plan to register at all – let’s see who dares to stop us.

What frugality and economy – you poor fool, if you don’t understand, don’t babble nonsense.

Zhao Xu nodded repeatedly. “I never expected you all to have such noble character. I am truly ashamed. In that case, all banquets and sacrificial ceremonies in the palace this year will also be simplified.”

“…?”

With such moral blackmail, the ministers truly had grievances they couldn’t voice.

Emperor Zhao Xu glanced at Sima Guang, Wen Yanbo, Zhao Bian and others, asking, “Why do you all remain silent? Do you not think the same way?”

“Your Majesty is wise and enlightened.”

Sima Guang immediately stepped forward.

Wen Yanbo, Zhao Bian, Chen Shengzhi and other Chancellors also stepped forward one after another.

They had always advised the emperor to be diligent and frugal. Now that the conversation had reached this point, if they didn’t take a stance, how could they advise the emperor in the future?

The key point was that these Chancellors all lacked carriages themselves.

Emperor Zhao Xu turned to Cao Ping with a chuckle, “Deputy Commander, it seems it will be very difficult for you to make money from my ministers with these vehicle plates.”

Cao Ping was desperately suppressing his laughter. “Your Majesty, I only wished to provide a better living environment for everyone and the people of the capital.”

Emperor Zhao Xu nodded. “But this requires everyone’s joint effort.”

“…!”

Emperor Zhao Xu observed their dejected expressions, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. “It seems you are all tired. Let’s end today’s meeting here.”

After the meeting concluded, the officials walked together in small groups, whispering among themselves.

“What should we do? Should we get these plates or not?”

“You’re asking me? How would I know?”

“Oh my! How did this matter turn out this way? Getting them is wrong, not getting them is also wrong.”

“How about we have our servants secretly go get them, then see how things develop?”

“Mentor, it’s exactly as you predicted.”

As soon as Wang Anshi returned to his office, Lu Huiqing came forward to greet him.

Wang Anshi was momentarily stunned. “What are you talking about?”

Lu Huiqing handed a newspaper to Wang Anshi. “This is today’s news report. It says that due to too many people queuing and excessively long waiting times, they need to optimize the vehicle registration process. Starting tomorrow, citizens will first collect ticket numbers from the Patrol Office, then according to the time on their tickets, go to the designated training grounds to register their vehicles. However, only fifty tickets will be issued each day, and freight vehicles have priority.”

Wang Anshi chuckled. “That rascal is playing quite ruthlessly. This is much earlier than I had anticipated!”