"Provide legal aid to the government?"
Sima Guang looked stunned.
Xu Zhiqian also looked at Zhang Fei in confusion.
Does the government still need legal aid?
You are serious about being funny.
Zhang Fei nodded and asked, "Does Grand Secretary Sima know what those people outside are doing here?"
Sima Guang glanced at Xu Zhiqian, stroked his beard and smiled, "They are here for Lawyer Xu."
After those ignorant ladies shouted like this, this lawyer really became a synonym for female tyrants, and even Sima Guang called him that.
In fact, it all comes down to her appearance. If she were an old lady, people would probably call her Erbi. It's just that Xu Zhiqian is beautiful, well-educated, and comes from a family of officials, so calling her Erbi seems a bit rough.
A respectful title for lawyers.
...
...
Zhang Fei was very depressed about this. I am handsome too!
Xu Zhiqian said hurriedly, "Uncle Sima, thank you for the compliment. Qian'er knows in her heart that they came here for the free service."
As she spoke, her cheeks flushed.
"Zhiqian is right. To be precise, they really came here for the free service." Zhang Fei nodded and asked Sima Guang, "Then does Grand Secretary Sima know why Zhiqian wanted to fight for Liu Wu for free?"
Sima Guang answered casually: "To suppress the strong and support the weak?"
Zhang Fei said: "It is for the sake of justice."
Xu Zhiqian felt embarrassed when she heard Zhang Fei praising her, and she gently scolded him, "No way. Don't talk nonsense."
"To seek justice?" Sima Guang asked in confusion, "Isn't it to seek justice to help the weak and suppress the strong?"
Zhang Fei said: "The purpose of helping the weak and punishing the strong is for justice, not fairness. If Xu Zhiqian used her status to stop Huang Yongli's actions, this can be regarded as helping the weak and punishing the strong, while going to court to fight the case can be regarded as fairness."
"Well, that makes sense!" Sima Guang nodded slightly.
Zhang Fei said, "If Zhiqian didn't help Liu Wushi, Huang Yongli would sue through Erbi and want the house back. I would like to ask Sima Daxueshi, is this fair?"
"Is it fair?" Sima Guang frowned and pondered in silence.
Xu Zhiqian was also silent and thoughtful.
After a while, Sima Guang shook his head and said, "It's really hard to judge. I think if the government's punishment is fair, then it is fair. After all, Huang Yongli got the house back through litigation, not through coercion, inducement or other illegal means."
As he spoke, he saw Zhang Fei remained silent, so he asked again, "Isn't that right?"
Zhang Fei said: "Master Sima, please don't forget one thing. Huang Yongli asked for an Erbi, but Aunt Liu didn't."
Sima Guang sighed, "There is nothing we can do about it. In fact, the court restricts litigation for this reason. If litigation is allowed, the rich can treat guests to tea and food, but the poor cannot afford it. This is very unfair. It would be fairer if the government makes the decision."
At this point, he suddenly pointed at Zhang Fei and said, "To be honest, it's all because of you who broke the rules."
Although the Song Dynasty allowed litigation, before Zhang Fei, Erbi was never given legal status. Erbi only assisted the government in trying cases, or provided supplementary information. Whether Erbi could go to court depended entirely on whether the government was willing.
And Zhang Fei almost changed the status quo by his own efforts.
In the past, there was no mention of two Erbi arguing in the court, and most of the time they just handed over petitions and clashed with each other. Therefore, the status of the tea drinkers was obviously higher than that of the Erbi people.
But now this situation is changing, and Erbi is starting to become active.
The Kaifeng Prefecture allowed it, and the Court of Criminal Justice also allowed it, which made it difficult for the lower courts to refuse Erbi's request to come to court to argue the case.
Everyone started to get used to it.
And the reason is Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei smiled awkwardly: "But I don't think I am destroying, I am building. Litigation can make the trial fairer."
Sima Guang snorted, "Then tell me yourself, one side has the money to hire a pen, and the other side can't afford it, is this fair or unfair?"
“Not fair!”
Zhang Fei said: "But that was not caused by destruction, but by incomplete construction. If legal aid is added, it will become more fair."
Sima Guang said, "What do you mean by legal aid?"
Zhang Fei said: "It means helping people with lawsuits for free."
Sima Guang smiled and said, "You are willing to help people fight lawsuits for free, this is a good thing!"
Zhang Fei said: "But without the support of the government, our store is helpless."
Sima Guang said angrily: "The court is short of money now. What is the purpose of Wang Jiefu's reform? Isn't it just to make money for the country?"
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "We don't need the court to support us financially, we just need to provide institutional support."
Sima Guang was puzzled: "Institutional support?"
Zhang Fei nodded: "I hope the government will include legal aid in the trial process. In other words, if one party cannot afford Erbi, then the government will appoint Erbi to fight for them for free, and the shop will provide tea, snacks and Erbi, and the government does not need to spend a penny."
Xu Zhiqian, who was standing next to him, was confused. "What's the difference?"
Sima Guang took the lead and said, "Qian'er is right, what's the difference between you and me?"
Since it is free, someone will pay for it. The government does not need to pay, and it is still you who pays. Isn't it redundant?
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "There is a big difference. One is mandatory and the other is non-mandatory. I can fight for them for free, but I don't have the obligation to do so. I can refuse. Legal aid is mandatory.
Besides, a small shop opens its doors to do business, not to do charity, and offering services for free will also hurt the interests of the small shop."
Sima Guang still didn't understand, and asked, "If the Erbi and tea-making staff were hired by the government, then that might be different, but you just said that they were all sent by your store, and you didn't have to send them either, so isn't that the same?"
Zhang Fei explained, "Although I sent this person, it is still legal aid after all. If you want to hire someone to fight a lawsuit in our store, you still have to pay a fee. This can clearly distinguish the two. Secondly, it doesn't necessarily have to be our store that sends people. Other bookstores can also send people."
Sima Guang chuckled and said, "Who would be willing?"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "I believe everyone will be willing to do so."
Sima Guang asked, "Why are you so sure?"
Zhang Fei laughed and said, "Because I will only send some newcomers there for training. I guarantee that other bookstores will follow my example and send newcomers there for training."
Sima Guang was furious and said, "How can this be absurd? You are using other people's lawsuits to train your own troops?"
Xu Zhiqian also nodded.
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "That's what I mean. But for those who can't afford Erbi, it's better to have it than nothing! And it may be better than some paid ones."
Sima Guang shook his head and said, "Don't try to fool me, you think I don't know your little tricks. If the government introduces the court for assistance.
First of all, this is tantamount to implicitly recognizing the legal status of the Erbi, and the Erbi must be present during the trial process.
Secondly, this will let everyone know that free is not good, and we have to pay for you big pens."
Wow. This old man's mind works so fast. I went through such a big detour, but still couldn't get him in. It was really hard. Zhang Fei muttered to himself, and then said: "Sima Daxueshi is wrong. If the free one is better than the paid one, who would be willing to spend money? If no one can make money, no one will be a writer.
The reason why I say that free ones may be better than paid ones is because of money. Although the people I send are new, if they want to become paid Er Pens, they must accumulate their own reputation and show results. They will definitely try their best to fight for others. Some Er Pens don’t get much money, so they may not try so hard. "
At this point, he glanced at Xu Zhiqian again, "I originally planned to let Zhiqian help people with the lawsuit for free, because she is not short of money and has a warm heart."
He pointed to the door again, "But the facts have proven that
Ming knew that she couldn't help much by herself, and she couldn't expect others to be like her, helping others wholeheartedly without asking for anything in return.
The world is full of people who are all seeking profit. If you want to help more people, you must motivate them with money. Do you want to be Zhang Daerbi? It's very simple. Let your achievements speak for themselves. I was able to get to where I am today because I helped people with lawsuits for free at the beginning. "
Xu Zhiqian, who had not quite agreed just now, couldn't help but fall into deep thought at this moment.
She used to believe that one should not ask for anything in return for helping others, otherwise, it would not be called helping others.
But she is just an isolated case.
Not everyone is like her, who has no worries about food and clothing, and whose family members support her.
The key point is that her ability is limited. It takes several days to fight a lawsuit and she has to bear various risks. How much help can she provide?
Compared to the injustices in the world, it is just a drop in the bucket!
Zhang Fei's legal aid is completely driven by interests and has nothing to do with conscience.
But I have to admit that this can indeed help more people.
Sima Guang thought for a while and said, "But this will lead to more litigation and increase the burden on the government."
You support so many officials, and you are still afraid of the burden? This is the funniest thing about you Song Dynasty. Zhang Fei laughed and said, "I think the court made a lot of money from this deal."
Sima Guang was surprised and asked, "The court made a lot of money?"
Once litigation arises, disputes will become complicated and the government will have to invest more energy, so there is no way it can be said to be making a lot of money!
Judging directly based on the evidence saves a lot of time and effort.
Zhang Fei explained: "If we only look at it from the surface, it seems that the government's investment is increased, but why don't you think about where this investment is going?
It is to combat tax evasion, extortion, fraud, corruption and abuse of power, which are all invisibly damaging the interests of the country.
As for the imperial court's policy of amnesty, if the people could seek justice through prosecution, who would rebel? The imperial court would not need to resolve the problem through amnesty.
The cost of one imperial edict is enough to prosecute many lawsuits.
There is also tax evasion. If a piece of land that evades taxes can be found, the court will benefit for a long time. Although a lot of manpower and material resources have been invested here, as long as the judiciary is strict, it can reduce the burden of the court in all aspects and make a lot of money.
Also, small shops need to train new people, but doesn't the court need it? It's better to let those young officials go to the grassroots to gain experience than to let them study in the library. In fact, it doesn't require the court to invest too much. If this is not a big profit, what is it? "
Sima Guang nodded slightly and said, "You have some truth in what you said, but this is not a trivial matter. I still need to think about it carefully."
As he spoke, he looked at Zhang Fei again, "In fact, there is very little that can be done by starting a lawsuit. The ones who benefit are still you, the pen-wielding ones. If you really want to govern the world in a clean and honest way, you still have to rely on the laws of the court."
Zhang Fei nodded repeatedly: "Of course."
Sima Guang continued, "Now I am busy with judicial reform. I want you to join the procuratorate. What do you think?"
Xu Zhiqian's face lit up with joy, and she couldn't help but look at Zhang Fei.
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