In fact, many powerful people in the court still hoped that Zhao Xu would not compromise. As long as the emperor did not compromise, they would be able to turn around sooner or later.

This will spread from top to bottom.

But they never expected that Zhao Xu did not delay for too long before deciding to hand over the inner treasury.

The signal is very obvious.

Because this is not a verbal compromise, but the handing over of real money.

So everyone received this signal very clearly. If anyone dares to shout at this time, it would be like lighting a light in the toilet and seeking death.

But no one said that the emperor should pay taxes.

The reason is simple. If the emperor paid taxes, they might not even have soup to drink. They still have privileges. It’s just that income outside the statutory privileges must be taxed. In addition, some privileges such as salt, iron, and wine are all converted into currency.

In fact, Wen Yanbo and others had never thought about it this way, because making the emperor pay taxes was purely formalism. It could serve as an example, but it did not have much practical significance.

But once the inner treasury was handed over, it was of great significance.

...

...

Because in feudal society, it is not the case that the money in the national treasury belongs to the emperor. If that were the case, then why would the emperor need an inner treasury?

When the emperor handed over the inner treasury, it meant that the state finances were unified and kept under the state system.

This also made people's hearts begin to unite.

These are all of great significance.

Especially at this moment.

This was also one of the reasons why Zhao Xu was willing to compromise. In fact, his reason told him that doing so would bring him huge rewards, but human nature made him very conflicted. If he had not been forced by external affairs, he really would not have surrendered.

This series of operations has also aroused everyone's attention to overseas business.

Because this judgment was beneficial to seafaring merchants, it could even be understood that the imperial court provided policy encouragement, and even the emperor himself pocketed the port taxes.

This is enough to prove that there is profit to be made.

It goes without saying that in the future, there will be more and more people going out to sea to do business.

However, the court did not actually attach much importance to this matter, and few people questioned the Grand Court's decision this time, because the court was more concerned about financial unification, weapons production, and territorial laws.

At present, the division of power is very clear. The Political Affairs Hall and the Three Departments are busy with financial unification and weapons production, while the Legislative Council is revising the Territorial Law.

Although the general policy has been decided, there are still many details worth discussing, so Fu Bi invited Zhang Fei, Zhao Yan, Xu Zun, Sima Guang and others to come here for discussion today.

"I asked you all to come here today because I have something to discuss with you."

Fu Bi said: "I recently looked through the hall records of the Xihe area and found that the customs of many local people are very different from those of the Central Plains, but some regulations in the temporary law are completely based on the customs of the Central Plains. Previously, President Lu and his team did not make judgments based on those regulations, which is also allowed. However, if it is based on the territorial law, there may be problems. When many vassal states are included in the territorial law, similar problems will arise."

Liu Shu said: "This is the difference between barbarians and civilizations. Our laws are based on Confucianism. If we follow the temporary law, it will enable the local people to make progress and will be more conducive to national unity."

The implication is that if everyone believes in Confucianism, they are naturally one family.

Xu Zun shook his head and said, "This is not the difference between barbarians and civilization, but the difference between nomadic and agricultural. Both the Han and Tang dynasties occupied the Western Regions for hundreds of years, but they did not change the local customs."

Liu Shu said: "There are still some changes."

Sima Guang said: "That is because the Han and Tang dynasties opened up farmland there, which changed the living habits of some people, which made their thoughts more inclined towards our Central Plains. On this point, I support Zhongtu's view."

"I think so, but that's also a headache. And."

Fu Bi said: "According to the letters from Judge Lu and Chief Prosecutor Fan, the local people are willing to submit to our dynasty mainly because of the public security, procuratorial and legal system, rather than Confucianism."

After these words were spoken, the judicial officials present felt a little unhappy.

Although this is the truth, you don't have to say it!

Fu Bi looked at Zhang Fei again and asked, "I wonder what the Grand Court President thinks about this?"

Zhang Fei said: "Why is the rule of law so popular among local people? It is because the specific concept of the rule of law is a consensus among people to defend their rights and interests. This consensus is naturally not divided by ethnicity. No one in any place naturally thinks that stealing is glorious."

Fu Bi nodded slightly, "That makes sense."

Zhang Fei said: "Therefore, I suggest that the Legislative Council extract the regulations that conform to the concept of the rule of law from the temporary laws and formulate a basic law. As for the rest, they can let the local areas legislate on their own, authorized by the court, and form a legislative council in the local area."

Sima Guang said: "But this will cause trouble for the court president. If the Xihe area legislates according to the customs of Tubo or Dangxiang, if the court president is transferred from the Central Plains, he may not be able to adapt to the local climate!"

Zhang Fei said: "After the local laws are enacted, they must be returned to the court and made into texts. As the president of the court, it shouldn't be a problem for you to read a few more laws and regulations."

Sima Guang almost laughed out loud, "Really?"

"Ahem, of course, personal habits are different. For example, I have a poor memory, so I can only look up books."

Zhang Fei said slightly embarrassedly.

Speaking objectively, he is actually quite good, because it is difficult for him to remember the current sentence format. The key point is that all those who can sit in this room are the top geniuses in the world. There is no comparison in terms of talent, and he never compares himself with others.

Comparing poetry with Su Shi and articles with Wang Anshi, you must be so narrow-minded to compare these things. In romantic occasions, it's okay to copy a little, pretend to be cool, and create an atmosphere. But in formal occasions, he usually just admits it and says, "I can't write well, I just hired a ghostwriter, what do you want? It's not that I don't try hard, but no matter how hard I try, I can't compare with you, so I might as well do what I'm good at."

Having said that, Sima Guang and Wang Anshi were actually used to it and seldom criticized Zhang Fei for this matter. But when Sima Guang heard Zhang Fei advising people to read more laws just now, he couldn't help it.

Fu Bi laughed twice and said, "What the Grand Court President said makes sense. Laws and regulations will not change easily. As long as the laws of various places are compiled into a book, it will not be difficult for judicial officials to remember them."

Zhao Yan stroked his beard and said, "In fact, the concept of the law of the legal system is not inconsistent with Confucianism. Although Confucianism emphasizes morality, it only binds interests to morality, while the law of the legal system only puts interests on the surface. In fact, for the law, it should be said to be more accurate. I think the difference between the Central Plains and the border states may only be that there will not be too many differences in the division of family property such as household marriage laws and inheritance laws. As long as they accept the law of the legal system, Confucianism will sooner or later affect them."

Sima Guang and the others nodded frequently as they listened.

If the legal system is not close to Confucianism, they will not support it. It is impossible to deviate from this core value.

Zhao Yan added: "However, these vassal states are usually located on the border and have frequent external contacts. I think there may be problems here. For example, the problem of smuggled salt. Is this mainly controlled by the local government or the imperial court?"

Zhang Fei said: "Tariffs are always set by the country, and border states cannot make their own decisions."

Zhao Yan asked, "If salt is banned in Xihe, the people of Xihe will not be able to eat salt. What should we do then?"

Zhang Fei said: "Don't worry about that, because the Grand Court President will definitely deny the court's policy. The policy cannot be at the cost of depriving the lives of the people. You can ban it, but you must make reserves in advance. This is the role of the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs. Of course, the Political Affairs Hall will definitely not like it."

Zhao Yan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded, "That's true. Nowadays, everyone says that it is getting harder and harder to be an official."

Fu Bi also smiled and nodded.

This is why he must come as the chief judge. If you don’t clear him, he will directly reject your application. What will you do?

After all, the power to interpret the legal system still lies in the hands of the Grand Court President, and they have to admit that there are some areas where they still cannot understand.

Just at this moment, an uninvited guest suddenly arrived. It was the censor Jiang Zhiqi.

"What's the matter, Censor Jiang?"

Fu Bi asked with a little surprise.

Jiang Zhiqi bowed first, then said, "In reply to Lord Fu, we have a case in the Censorate that requires the chief judge to go back with us to assist in the investigation."

When these words were spoken, everyone present was extremely shocked.

Arrest the Chief Justice in the Legislative Council?

You guys in the Censorate are having a lot of fun!

Xu Zun immediately became anxious, "Could there be some misunderstanding?"

Jiang Zhiqi smiled and said, "We just asked the Grand Court President to assist in the investigation. There is no misunderstanding for the time being."

Zhang Fei stood up and said calmly, "Don't worry, father-in-law. The Censorate will also ask for evidence, and they may even take it to the highest imperial court."

Jiang Zhiqi said: "The Grand Judge is really humorous. If the case really reaches the Supreme Court, it is impossible for the Grand Judge to judge it personally."

Then he added, "We in the Censorate have always been about evidence."

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "I've been there before."

Jiang Zhiqi asked, "Isn't he safe and sound?"

Zhang Fei said: "But I definitely won't stay in there this time."

"President please."

"please."

As he spoke, Zhang Fei bowed to Fu Bi and the others, "Sorry, I have to go to the Censorate first to assist Censor Jiang and the others in investigating the case."

After saying that, he left with Jiang Zhiqi.

Sima Guang looked at Xu Zun anxiously, "What on earth is going on?"

This is so sudden.

Xu Zun was confused and said, "I don't know either."

Fu Bi said, "Don't worry. Censor Jiang came to the Legislative Council to ask the chief judge to leave. If the chief judge is innocent, he will be safe."

Censorate.

"I'm sorry, but I'd like to trouble the Grand Judge to come here in person."

Feng Jing, who was waiting in the vacant seat at the Censorate, personally made a cup of tea for Zhang Fei.

Now no one dares to underestimate Zhang Fei anymore, because they have discovered that the authority of this chief judge is still quite great. If they try to offend him by doing something small and get caught, they will basically be finished.

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Mr. Feng is too polite. It is my job to assist the Censorate in the investigation. But I haven't figured out what it is all along the way. What is going on?"

Feng Jing thought for a moment before asking, "What is the relationship between the Grand Court President and the Charity Foundation?"

Zhang Fei was slightly stunned, and said, "I was the one who proposed the idea of ​​establishing a charity foundation. I was the person in charge before, but after I went to Hezhong Prefecture, I handed it over to Fan Zheng, the young master of Baifan Building. Now I can only be said to be a major donor to the charity foundation."

Feng Jing asked: "Are there still interests involved?"

Zhang Fei hesitated for a moment before answering, "Charity foundations are dedicated to donating to others. Unless you hold a position in it, there is no direct interest exchange. However, charity foundations are more involved in buying and selling, and they also have trading cooperation with my shop."

Feng Jing said: "But according to our investigation, many of the actions of the charity foundation were the ideas of the Grand Court President."

Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Yes. But I just gave suggestions, and they adopted my suggestions."

Feng Jing said, "So the charity foundation building a cargo ship at Dengzhou Port to do sea trade was also the idea of ​​the Grand Court President?"

"Yes."

"Does the Grand Judge know that the maritime merchants involved in the Dengzhou Strong Crossbow case that the Grand Judge heard last time actually had a close relationship with the charity foundation?"

"I'm not sure about that."

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "But now I know why Feng Zhongcheng invited me here. Feng Zhongcheng thinks I am seeking profit for the charity foundation."

Feng Jing said: "I don't think so, I just doubt it."

Zhang Fei said: "The real benefit that the charity foundation gained from the law was that the sea ban regulations were deleted when the temporary law was revised, and my judgment only allowed sea merchants to use crossbows to protect themselves overseas. If the Censorate accuses me of this, I will just shut up and say nothing, and the Censorate will not win."

Feng Jing smiled and said, "Of course we know that the Grand Court President is extremely wealthy, and he really doesn't care about the small profits of the maritime merchants."

Zhang Fei said: "Although I have never thought about this issue, what Feng Zhongcheng said is absolutely true."

Feng Jing said: "So, why do you think I asked you to come?"

Zhang Fei was stunned. "I really don't know."

Feng Jing said, "We found out that as early as the beginning of last year, the Grand Court President had transferred at least 500,000 strings of cash through the Ma Family's Jieku Shop, and perhaps as much as 1 million strings of cash. Can the Grand Court President explain where the money went?"

Damn! It really takes ten years to sharpen a sword. I have made a lot of progress. You have found out all this. Zhang Fei suddenly realized, "Central Minister Feng will not suspect me of treason, right?"

Feng Jing said: "I am only investigating impartially. After all, the judgment of the Grand Court President is in favor of the production of weapons, and the charity foundation has been donating to the Military Equipment Bureau for a long time. This was also facilitated by the Grand Court President. At the same time, such a large amount of money disappeared without a trace. The only place it could have gone is probably overseas."

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "I really admire Feng Zhongcheng's imagination. He can actually connect these things together."

Feng Jing said: "So I would like to ask the Grand Court President to help me understand where the money went."

Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "Sorry, I can't say that."

Feng Jing said: "Grand Judge, you know the rules."

Zhang Fei smiled bitterly and said, "So I plan to stay here for a while longer."

Just at this moment, an imperial censor entered the hall and whispered something in Feng Jing's ear.

Feng Jing nodded and said to the censor, "Please help me entertain the chief judge."

Having said that, he said "Excuse me" to Zhang Fei again, then walked out the door.

When I arrived at the front hall, I saw the nobleman Lan Yuanzhen sitting inside.

"I heard that you arrested the chief judge?" Lan Yuanzhen asked directly.

Feng Jing said: "Mr. Zhong is too serious. We are not arresting him, but asking the chief judge to assist in the investigation."

Lan Yuanzhen asked: "What's the matter?"

Feng Jing said: "I'm sorry, the case is still under investigation and the news cannot be leaked for the time being."

Lan Yuanzhen said: "The government asked us to come here to ask."

Feng Jing said tentatively: "I didn't expect to disturb the emperor so soon."

Lan Yuanzhen was not fooled and asked again: "What is the case?"

Feng Jing had no choice but to tell Lan Yuanzhen the whole story.

After hearing this, Lan Yuanzhen thought for a while and said, "We understand. Goodbye."

After saying that, he left.

Lan Yuanzhen returned to the palace and immediately reported the matter to Zhao Xu.

“They actually found out.”

Zhao Xu frowned and asked Lan Yuanzhen, "Didn't you ask them to release the person immediately?"

Lan Yuanzhen said: "Your Majesty, it is very simple to ask the Censorate to release the person. Besides, they do not have enough evidence. However, the Censorate will definitely spread the news, and then they will definitely get to the bottom of it. There are many people in the court who want to strike down the Grand Court President.

So if this matter is not explained clearly, the rumors outside will bring a lot of trouble to the government and the chief judge, and may even affect the chief judge's reputation. "

Zhao Xu frowned slightly and said, "Just say that the money was given to me."

Lan Yuanzhen said: "Your Majesty, when the Chief Judge used this money, he was just a prosecutor. If Your Majesty said so, some people might question whether this Chief Judge was bought with money."

Zhao Xu said: "It's no accident that Zhang San is appointed as the chief judge."

Lan Yuanzhen said: "It is inevitable that some people will say this deliberately to slander the emperor and the chief judge."

Zhao Xu frowned, "Do you think I should tell you the truth?"

Lan Yuanzhen said: "Ever since the integration of the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs into the judiciary, the Censorate has been feeling aggrieved and trying every way to establish its authority. Now that they have finally caught this opportunity, they will definitely not let this matter go easily."

After Zhao Xu thought for a while, he nodded and said, "You have a point. It seems that I can't hide it anymore."

After weighing the pros and cons again, he ordered: "Go to the Censorate again and summon Feng Zhongcheng and the Grand Court President to the palace to discuss the matter with my order."

"Yes, sir."

After Lan Yuanzhen left, Zhao Xu felt something was missing, so he said to the eunuch beside him, "Call Duke Wen, Prime Minister Wang, and Minister Sima to the palace to discuss matters."

"Yes, sir."

An hour later.

Inside the palace.

Wen Yanbo, Wang Anshi, and Sima Guang exchanged glances with each other, but the answer they got was that they all knew nothing.

What on earth happened.

Zhao Xu suddenly said, "Central Minister Feng."

"I am here."

"First, tell all the gentlemen the whole story of this matter."

"yes."

Feng Jing immediately informed Wen Yanbo and others of the findings of the Censorate.

Everyone was shocked when they heard this.

Five hundred thousand strings of cash?

Still unwilling to tell the reason.

It sounds scary!

What on earth is this kid doing?

Zhao Xu said: "Please stop guessing. I borrowed the 500,000 strings of cash, and I didn't let him talk about it."

Feng Jing immediately asked, "Why did your majesty borrow money from the Grand Chamberlain? The inner treasury should not be short of money at that time."

It is obvious that he suspected that Zhao Xu was shielding Zhang Fei.

Wen Yanbo also nodded slightly.

This reason is not convincing enough.

Zhao Xu said, "Because I don't want anyone to know for the time being, and if I transfer 500,000 strings of cash from the inner treasury, the news will definitely leak out."

Wen Yanbo frowned secretly. Did he take the 500,000 strings of cash to trade with the Liao Kingdom? He asked rather unhappily, "I don't know what it is that Your Majesty needs to be so cautious and not let me know."

Zhao Xu said: "It is like this. Recently, the Military Equipment Bureau has developed a very powerful weapon, but it needs to be tested on the battlefield. It happened that the border of Western Xia was in chaos at that time, so I decided to secretly establish several Military Equipment Bureaus in the northwest to specialize in the production of this weapon, and then use those merchants to take it out for testing in Western Xia.

I didn't want to tell you at the time, firstly, because I was afraid that the news would leak out and Xixia would be on guard; secondly, I was worried that it would cause you to worry. I just wanted to test the weapons, not to change the country's strategy. I still hope that you can focus on domestic affairs. "

Is that the case?

In fact, they had long suspected that Zhao Xu and Zhang Fei were plotting something, but they had no clues.

But now that Zhao Xu confessed to them, none of the ministers present believed it.

What kind of weapon requires this kind of operation?

Feng Jing asked directly: "I wonder what kind of weapon it is that requires Your Majesty to take such a big risk? Can you let me see it for myself?"

Don't you believe me? Zhao Xu said with a little displeasure: "Since I have confessed this to you, I will let you see it. However, this is a top state secret. If anyone leaks the news, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"I obey your command."

Zhao Xu also made an appointment with them to go to Beiyuan Parade Ground tomorrow afternoon to see this new weapon.

The ministers were extremely curious about what kind of weapon it was.

In fact, they all knew that the Ordnance Inspectorate had developed a bamboo tube firearm. After all, the Royal Police were already using it, but that kind of weapon didn't really need to be made so mysterious.

After leaving the palace, Wen Yanbo tried to test Zhang Fei: "The Grand Court President is really generous. He gave 500,000 strings of cash."

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "I am not very interested in money. If Lord Wen wants to lend it to me, I will lend it to him."

"Yeah?"

Wen Yanbo said in surprise.

Zhang Fei nodded and said, "My wife donates tens of thousands of taels every year."

So arrogant!

Wen Yanbo just smiled and nodded.

After they left, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang flanked Zhang Fei on the left and right.

Zhang Fei said, "Don't look at me like that, I am really wronged in this matter. The official asked me to borrow money, how can I not lend it?"

Wang Anshi asked with a smile: "Is it as simple as just borrowing money?"

Sima Guang said: "According to what Feng Zhongcheng said, the time when you borrowed the money is highly consistent with your inspection tour to the northwest."

Zhang Fei said: "After all, this is a huge sum of money. If I don't go there in person, I won't be able to get the money out. But I handed the money to the designated person and didn't care about it anymore."

"I don't believe it."

"I don't believe it either."

"If you two don't believe me, there's nothing I can do."

Zhang Fei smiled bitterly.

Sima Guang snorted, "Just keep it a secret. If the Censorate investigates you, you might lose your job."

Zhang Fei said: "Then I will go back and be the Erbi."

"you."

Sima Guang angrily scolded: "You really don't know what is good for you."

After saying this, he waved his sleeves and left.

The emperor can talk about this kind of thing, they can guess, but Zhang Fei cannot confess, because he is the chief judge and he has to abide by the law!

After Sima Guang left, Wang Anshi suddenly asked, "Zhang San, what kind of weapon is this?"

Zhang Fei said: "It's a firearm."

Wang Anshi asked, "Can it replace war horses?"

Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, "Isn't it possible to replace it for the time being?"

Wang Anshi asked again: "Can it be replaced in the future?"

Zhang Fei said, "I don't know. I'm not very good at military affairs. Why does Master Wang ask this?"

Wang Anshi sighed, "Let's talk about it after this matter is over."

"oh."

After leaving the imperial city and getting on the carriage, they saw Li Bao sitting inside with an embarrassed look on his face.

"I have been investigating for such a long time, and you found out later than me. What on earth are you doing?"

Zhang Fei started complaining to Li Bao.

Li Bao said, "I'm really sorry. This is our negligence. We didn't expect the Censorate to have such means. We suspect that this may be the work of the newly established Judicial Supervision Department of the Censorate. This office is also quite mysterious. They may also be imitating the Taxation Department, and there must be someone from them in the Jieku Shop."

Zhang Fei asked, "A government office that has been established for less than two years has surpassed you?"

Li Bao said with a sweat on his forehead: "We will investigate this matter immediately. I hope Sanlang can help us to say a few good words to the government."

Zhang Fei said: "But I can't help you too much with this kind of thing."

Li Bao thanked him again and again.

Zhang family.

"There is a lot of discussion about this matter in the court right now. In just half a day, all kinds of rumors have emerged one after another. If the emperor doesn't speak frankly, this may really affect you!"

Xu Zun said with lingering fear.

Xu Zhiqian snorted, "I thought they would be more quiet, but I didn't expect them to change their bad habits and resort to such despicable means again."

"No wonder the Censorate, this fly won't bite an egg without cracks."

Xu Zun said to Zhang Fei again: "Your status is different now. Any flaws may affect your authority as the chief judge. You can't act recklessly like before."

Xu Zhiqian can complain, but as an elder, he still has to focus on teaching. Zhang Fei’s shortcoming is also obvious, which is that he is not very obedient.

This was no problem before, but now you are the Grand Court President. Your every move is related to the authority of the Grand Court President, and you can no longer be so casual.

"I will definitely keep my father-in-law's warning in mind." Zhang Fei nodded with a smile, "Besides, I don't think this is a bad thing."

Xu Zhiqian asked: "Isn't this a bad thing?"

"Of course not."

Zhang Fei said: "We believe in the public security, procuratorial and judicial system, not the chief judge, prosecutors or royal police. Today, the public security, procuratorial and judicial teams are getting bigger and bigger, and the affairs involved are also increasing. In the future, there will definitely be many bad apples in the public security, procuratorial and judicial teams, and this needs to be checked by the Censorate.

After this incident, I believe that the public security, procuratorial and judicial officials will have to think twice. Even the chief judge will have to go to the Censorate for tea. Will they let them go?

Overall, I am very satisfied with their performance.”

Xu Zhiqian asked, "Aren't you worried that the Censorate will frame you?"

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Now the Censorate also needs to file complaints through the Imperial Court. As long as they act according to the system, there is nothing to worry about. The stricter they investigate, the more stable the public security, procuratorial and judicial systems will be."

Xu Zun asked: "But will this affect the official's plan?"

Zhang Fei said: "It's unlikely now. Our current actions against Xixia are in line with the national strategy."