As soon as Zhang Fei stood up, the discussions outside the court exploded.

"It seems that the imperial court is really protecting us civilians. We don't have to be afraid anymore."

"If the government asks us to pay more taxes in the future, can we also sue the imperial court?"

"That should be fine! We'll pay whatever the law requires us to pay, and we won't pay a penny more."

"It's hard to say. There's no word on when the compensation will be paid. If it's delayed, it might just be left unresolved."

"Even if we really lose money, we shouldn't follow their example. It's still unclear whether the Imperial Court is more powerful or Judge Zhang is more powerful. What if Judge Zhang is transferred? Those people will definitely retaliate against us."

"Yeah, yeah, the officials leave after working for a few years, but we've been living here forever. This is still unreliable!"

......

Once bitten by a snake, you will be afraid of ropes for ten years.

What's more, they have been bitten by snakes for ten years, so you can imagine.

...

...

Although the people were excited, they were still relatively calm. After all, in their opinion, Zhang Fei was also an official, and they had met good officials before. However, this man was in trouble, and Zhang Fei was not a superhuman being, so he could not take care of him.

"Brother Li, did we win this?"

Duan Chaobei and other salt merchants did not care about anything else and ran directly to the corridor to ask Li Min.

Li Min said: "Of course I won. Didn't you listen to Judge Zhang's verdict just now?"

Duan Chaobei said: "I heard it, but there is no time to compensate! We can't keep dragging it out, we can't afford it!"

As the saying goes, the longer the night, the more dreams you have. I feel uneasy until I get the money, especially when the people I face are government officials.

Li Min smiled and said, "Don't worry about this. The imperial court's judgment is different from the previous government. We must give an answer as soon as possible. It can't be delayed for too long."

As they were chatting, they saw officials walking angrily towards the back hall.

After seeing this, Li Min became a little worried. If the imperial court couldn't hold on, there would be no fun here.

On the contrary, Duan Chaobei and his men were not worried, because they had the secret support of many people for doing so. People were using them to deal with the imperial court, and they just wanted money. On the surface, the two sides were in a hostile relationship, but in fact, they each got what they needed.

......

In fact, for these officials, it is not that they cannot receive compensation, but this has to be an order from their superiors or a decision made by the government. You cannot order me to pay compensation.

This involves the issue of power.

In official circles, this is the most sensitive issue.

Because the imperial court has clearly stated that the public security, procuratorial, judicial and administrative departments are not subordinate to each other.

But your judgment has clearly prompted me to change my current policy.

Moreover, this is the second time, and it is even more serious than the last time.

Really aggressive.

Officials such as Yuan Jiang, Cai Yanqing, Wei Yingfang, and Cao Yi immediately followed.

Back hall!

Yuan Jiang said angrily: "Judge Zhang, you are clearly being arbitrary and abusing your power. This is my power, but now it has become that if I do a good job, it is your credit, and if I don't do it, then I have violated the law. This is really unreasonable."

Cai Yanqing saw that Yuan Jiang was acting so excessively, and thought, since you have already discussed it, I have to say a few words. He also frowned and said, "I also think that your imperial court has indeed gone too far in this matter. You have taken the limelight, but our government has lost all its authority. Who will obey our orders then? How can we manage this Hezhong Prefecture?"

Officials such as Wei Yingfang and Cao Yi were secretly delighted to see that the two bosses finally could not sit still anymore.

Facing their roars, Zhang Fei remained expressionless and said firmly, "First of all, I didn't mean to embarrass the government. Someone came to complain and produced sufficient evidence, so the court had to accept the case. But I also discussed with Master Yuan whether the two of you could reconcile privately. If Master Yuan doesn't agree, then what can I do?"

Cai Yanqing glanced at Yuan Jiang.

Yuan Jiang said nothing.

Zhang Fei looked at Yuan Jiang again, "Mr. Yuan just said that if I do well, it is my credit, and if I do not do well, I am breaking the law. Then I can also say that if I make a judgment, I will offend people, and if I do not make a judgment, then I will be guilty of dereliction of duty. My duty is to judge, and everyone has their own duties. How can I say that I abuse my power?"

As he said this, he turned back to look at Cai Yanqing, "Prefect Cai said who would obey the government's orders? The government can also sue. If a merchant defaults on his debts, or embezzles government land or salt, the government can also sue. As long as the evidence is solid, the imperial court will also uphold justice for the government."

Cai Yanqing's eyes flashed with an imperceptible light, and he thought, yes! In the future, we can also use the imperial court to handle some difficult matters.

Wei Yingfang's heart skipped a beat. Good boy, you want us to kill each other. He immediately said, "If our government still needs the imperial court to make decisions for us, haha... In this case, the entire Hezhong Prefecture will be ruled by your imperial court."

Since the two bosses above have fallen out, he doesn't need to worry too much.

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "I am only referring to illegal matters or financial disputes. Of course, our public security, procuratorate and courts have the final say. I wonder who Judge Wei thinks has the final say?"

Cai Yanqing said: "But you also have to consider the overall situation and the financial difficulties. Your arbitrary judgment will put the government in a dilemma."

Zhang Fei said: "I have considered it very thoroughly. First, I asked Mr. Yuan privately and also asked Judge Wei in court, but the answer I got was that there was no way to solve the problem of over-issuance of salt notes.

Secondly, you all said that over-issuance of salt notes would lead to the destruction of the Salt Law, and the harm would be far greater than compensating the salt merchants.

Finally, I asked you several times whether you wanted to reform the Salt Law, and you said no. I then asked about the difference between the old and new laws, and everyone said that the old law was not applicable.

Tell me, how do you want me to consider the overall situation?"

After hearing this, Cai Yanqing was speechless. In fact, he had long known that Zhang Fei asked so many questions in court just to shut them up.

Yuan Jiang sneered: "This side is military expenses, and that side is compensation. Why don't you be a good person and teach us how to compensate?"

Zhang Fei said: "If I do this, then I am really abusing my power."

Yuan Jiang immediately said, "Then you are deliberately making things difficult for me."

Zhang Fei was so angry that he laughed and said, "If a fair judgment is considered by Master Yuan to be a thorn in my side, then I can only admit it. In addition, if lying, plundering, and defaulting on debts can improve the finances, then I can do it. Why did the court send Master Yuan here?

The predicament Fan Tixing faced back then must have been much more difficult than it is now, but Fan Tixing did not resort to such despicable tactics. "

Yuan Jiang was a little embarrassed, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "The court has no regulations that require the government to execute the imperial court's judgment. If I don't execute it, what can you do?"

Zhang Fei said: "The emperor did not tell me that in our Song Dynasty, which official can disobey the law."

"you...."

Yuan Jiang glared at him angrily and said, "We'll just have to wait and see."

Having said that, he shook his sleeves and left angrily.

Officials such as Cai Yanqing and Wei Yingfang also left.

"That's good!"

Cai Jing scratched his head and said with a headache: "We have offended everyone."

Zhang Fei glanced at him and said, "Cai Jing, do you know what your boss likes to hear the most?"

Cai Jing was stunned and shook his head woodenly.

Zhang Fei said: "It's the kind of constructive words, and the most annoying thing is the nonsense you just said. Tell me, how can we maintain judicial justice without offending them."

Cai Jing quickly changed his words and said, "The students are just worried about the teacher."

“That sounds like a sentence.”

Zhang Fei nodded and said, "I don't want to offend them, but I have done everything I can. They have repeatedly made things difficult for us and have never taken us seriously. If that's the case, there is nothing to talk about. Just do what you have to do and don't worry too much."

"Yes. The students know."

Cai Bian and Shangguan Jun, two young men, bowed.

Cai Jing and Ye Zuqia, the two little rascals, had worried expressions on their faces.

......

This was of course something Zhang Fei and Yuan Jiang had discussed. Since Yuan Jiang wanted to rely on both parties, Zhang Fei would definitely have a conflict with the government to create this condition for Yuan Jiang.

However, Zhang Fei is facing Sima Guang and Wang Anshi, both of whom are upright gentlemen, moral models, and both of them care about the country. Zhang Fei can eat openly, and we can have the best of both worlds.

However, the people Yuan Jiang faced were not gentlemen, but characters like poisonous snakes and fierce beasts. It was impossible to reason with these people. He could only use interests, which could only be done openly or secretly.

Although this is different from Zhang Fei's plan, Zhang Fei believes that this has both advantages and disadvantages for him. He does not need to compromise or think too much. He can maintain judicial justice.

Yuan Jiang would not do anything too extreme.

......

On the other side, after Yuan Jiang and other officials returned to the office, their morale was very high. They were united and tried their best to add fuel to the fire in front of Yuan Jiang and Cai Yanqing.

Dry!

Do it to death!

"Master Yuan, we don't need to pay any attention to him. He can't do anything to us."

He Chunlin said.

Liu Daxing said disdainfully: "We don't believe that he can arrest all of us, with only the police force?"

Wei Yingfang said, "Don't forget that the common people and merchants all support the imperial court. We are not in an advantageous position in terms of reason and law. If it were up to me, we would pay the full amount. When the Northwest General comes to demand military expenses, we would say we have no money and ask them to ask the imperial court for it."

Cai Yanqing glanced at him and frowned, "If we really want to bring in the Northwest Army, if something happens on the border, do you think any of us will be spared? The current emperor attaches great importance to the Northwest war."

Wei Yingfang forced a smile, "Don't blame me, Governor Cai. I was just too angry."

Guo Xiaofa said: "Why not file a petition to impeach Zhang San?"

After hearing this, Yuan Jiang smiled bitterly and said, "You don't know, Guo Tixing, that guy did something even worse when he was in the capital. The ministers who impeached him could line up from Kaifeng Prefecture to Daming Prefecture, but the final result was just to send him here. If you submit an impeachment, it may backfire. What if the emperor really issues an order to support him? In addition, I think someone has already submitted a letter to the court to impeach Zhang San."

He Chunlin said anxiously: "This won't work, and that won't work either. Are we going to be bullied by the imperial court?"

Yuan Jiang frowned and said, "We can't beat him in the judicial field. We must play to our strengths and avoid our weaknesses. We must take a long-term view and not act rashly. But no matter what, we must first withhold the funds of the imperial court and not give them any money, not even a penny."

He Chunlin asked: "What about the procuratorate and the police station?"

Yuan Jiang asked back, "Are you planning to offend them all? Su Zhe and Zhang San have fought several times in Kaifeng Prefecture. They are not on the same side. On the contrary, Cao Yanei has a good relationship with him, but the Cao family is an in-law and has considerable power in the northwest. Don't implicate them for now."

Cai Yanqing suddenly said, "We can talk about this later. The key point is how to solve the issue of salt notes right now."

Yuan Jiang looked at them and asked, "Do you have any solution?"

No one said a word.

There is absolutely no way out except paying money.

Yuan Jiang took a deep breath, "That kid is right. Cheating and cheating are not really a skill. Even if this matter is reported to the court, I will lose face. After all, the over-issuance of salt notes is indeed a problem. The court is already aware of it, and the government has appointed me this time to solve this problem."

Wei Yingfang said: "But this is simply unsolvable. There is only so much money. If we want to pay compensation, other places must reduce spending. And how many salt notes should be issued in the future? If we issue hundreds of thousands of less salt notes every year, it will be difficult to make up for it!"

Cai Yanqing couldn't help but look at Yuan Jiang.

Yuan Jiang frowned and said, "This is our responsibility. If we can't solve it, Zhang San will only laugh at our incompetence. If we can solve it perfectly, it will also boost our morale and win the recognition of the people."

.