The investigation by the procuratorate was relaxed and pleasant, but the court was already in a state of panic and fear.
This situation is too common. In the eyes of many people, Xu Zun is Wang Anshi's man. He will definitely expand the scale of the impeachment. I am afraid that those who are impeached will not be able to escape. This is a signal of party struggle.
The most anxious among them was of course Su Che, but he acted very cautiously. Although many ministers spoke up for Su Shi at this time, he knew that the more it was at this time, the less they should get involved with them.
He rushed to find Sima Guang as soon as possible.
"Master Sima, my brother is innocent."
Su Che said anxiously: "My brother did not expect to use this lawsuit to stop the new law. He just felt that some of the regulations of the equalization law were not perfect. Therefore, he hoped that through this lawsuit, the two government regulations office could reconsider it carefully. At the same time, he also wanted to see whether the judiciary could restrict the two government regulations office. He had no intention of forming a clique for personal gain.
The other party is obviously trying to undermine the judicial supervision of him by doing this. If they succeed, there will be no talk of Sima Xueshi’s judicial reform.”
Just these few simple words directly brought benefits to Sima Guang.
My brother does not form a clique for personal gain.
The one who was hurt at the same time was you, Sima Guang.
...
...
Sima Guang said: "Perhaps Wang Jiefu had ulterior motives, but he did not intend to undermine the judiciary. He just used the rules to achieve his own goals. Because your brother did make some mistakes, he put his own political ideas first, not the law. If your brother succeeds, the judiciary will lack justice and fairness and become a weapon for political struggle."
Su Che said: "But the other party is accusing me of forming a clique for personal gain, not accusing my brother of dereliction of duty."
Sima Guang smiled and said, "I believe Xu Zhongtu will enforce the law impartially. As long as your brother does not form a clique for personal gain, he will definitely not falsely accuse your brother."
The other party strongly recommended Xu Zun. How could Su Che believe that Xu Zun would let them go?
At this time, the old servant came in and said, "Mr. Junshi, someone has come to the palace. Please come into the palace to discuss matters immediately."
When Sima Guang heard this address, his expression changed and he said to Su Che, "Also, your brother needs to learn a lesson for his bad mouth."
Su Che looked at Sima Guang in a daze.
How could he know that the title "Junshi Xianggong" was taught by Su Shi.
Sima Guang did not explain, but said: "The emperor asked me to come to the palace to discuss matters. I guess there is news from the procuratorate."
Su Zhe asked, "So fast?"
"This isn't a big case. How long will it take to investigate?"
Sima Guang stood up and said, "You go back first. I believe there will be news soon."
Su Che felt relieved after hearing this. The longer a case like this is delayed, the more serious the consequences will be. He turned his eyes and said, "I just want to borrow Song Xing Tong from Sima Xue Shi. I wonder if Sima Xue Shi can let me read the book here for a while."
Are you still in the mood to read a book? Sima Guang didn't point it out, but smiled and nodded: "It's up to you."
Sima Guang was very calm in his heart. It was not that he believed in Wang Anshi. If given the opportunity, Wang Anshi would definitely weaken the procuratorate. After all, this was a hidden danger.
But he knew that Zhao Xu would not weaken the Procuratorate because the current situation was very much in line with Zhao Xu's interests.
Sometimes, the basis of trust lies in checks and balances.
To put it bluntly, forming a clique for personal gain is also a pocket tactic, and it is specially prepared for the emperor. It mainly depends on whether the emperor believes it or not.
......
When he arrived at the Chuigong Hall, he saw that all the prime ministers were present, including Fu Bi and Zeng Gongliang, two people who had been recuperating from illness for many years. It can be seen that Zhao Xu also knew the sensitivity of this case. In addition, there were Xu Zun and Cao Ping who were responsible for investigating this case.
"Have you found out the result?"
Zhao Xu looked at Xu Zun with slight surprise.
Xu Zun said, "Your Majesty, this case is not complicated, and Su Shi and Fan Chunren quickly confessed the truth. There is nothing to investigate. Here are the confessions of Fan Chunren and Su Shi. Please review them, Your Majesty."
"Present it quickly."
The attendant immediately presented the confession.
Zhao Xu read it through at a glance, confusion in his eyes, and handed the confession to the attendant beside him.
The attendant then gave the confession to Prime Minister Fu Bi and others for review.
Almost everyone was like Zhao Xu, they took a quick look and then looked confused.
It’s that simple!
This is really a case of much ado about nothing!
Zhao Xu smiled and asked, "This confession is so simple that I don't quite understand it."
Xu Zun said: "Your Majesty, according to the duties of the procuratorate, if they believe that the new law violates the laws of our ancestors, they should actively investigate first. However, as they stated in their confessions, they have never investigated Mr. Wang or any officials of the two government regulations.
And he only discussed how to prosecute with officials who opposed the new law, which is enough to prove that Su Shi was indeed guilty of dereliction of duty. As for Fan Chunren, since he is not currently working in the procuratorate and is just a commoner, the procuratorate cannot hold him guilty of dereliction of duty. "
After these words, all the prime ministers present nodded slightly.
Nothing to say.
There is really no room for debate.
The Procuratorate, as the name suggests, focuses on prosecution, but Su Shi and Fan Chunren were only thinking about litigation.
Only Wang Anshi was dissatisfied, "Isn't this enough to prove that they are forming a clique for personal gain?"
A group of officials with common demands gathered together to discuss how to deal with the new policy. This is pure factionalism!
“It’s hard to say.”
Xu Zun shook his head and said, "Because according to the testimonies of officials such as Liu Shu and Qi Hui, they were mainly discussing how to fight this lawsuit, focusing on skills and laws, which is not much different from what Su Shi and Fan Chunren said.
But they all admitted that they were all dissatisfied with the new law, and that was why they came together. According to the confessions of Fan Chunren and Su Shi, they probably wanted to use the lawsuit to force the Regulations Office of the Two Prefectures to amend the new law or withdraw the decree. "
Fu Bi immediately said: "Then the key now is whether they are doing this for the public good or for their own benefit?"
Xu Zun nodded and said, "Mr. Fu is right. The reason why they committed dereliction of duty is that they had other intentions, and it was not based on the law. He also admitted this. The key lies in whether their intentions are public or private."
Wang Anshi immediately said, "Your Majesty, all cliques and plots are for personal gain."
Fu Bi smiled and said, "That may not be the case. If all the ministers present privately believe that the new policy is beneficial to the country and want to support it together, is that a private matter or a public one?"
Wang Anshi chuckled and said, "I think the key to judging whether it is private or public is whether they can benefit from it. If the procuratorate can win this lawsuit, then Su Shi will have a bright future and his reputation will soar."
Fu Bi said: "If they can win this lawsuit, it will at least prove that they are right, and the country will benefit from it, so it is only natural for him to be promoted."
Sima Guang suddenly had an idea, "Why not bring this lawsuit to see if they are all seeking personal gain or public benefit?"
Wen Yanbo nodded and said, "Mr. Sima's words make sense!"
Wang Anshi glanced at Sima Guang, and his eyes seemed to say, what the hell are you dreaming about!
Xu Zun said: "Master Sima, this is the law, not a joke."
Sima Guang hurriedly said, "I was just saying it casually, Prosecutor Xu, please don't take it seriously."
Wang Anshi said, "Let's not talk about their careers for now. Don't forget the Taifu Temple case. My equal distribution law is to solve the corruption that currently exists in the Taifu Temple. Gu Ji, who judged the Taifu Temple case, also supported Su Shi and Fan Chunren in suing for the new law."
Cao Ping immediately stepped forward and said, "According to my investigation, officials of the Imperial Palace often secretly sold rotten tributes and took the profits for themselves, but this batch of tribute peaches was recorded in the public account. We are still investigating."
Wang Anshi said: "Your Majesty, everyone knows about this matter. It is a waste of money and labor, and it harms the people. That is why I proposed the equalization of transportation to correct this bad policy."
Cao Ping glanced at Wang Anshi and found out that he was just bluffing.
Taifu Temple must be punished. After all, this incident has aroused public resentment, and someone has to pay the price. Instead of adding insult to injury, it is better to use it to promote the new law.
Zhao Xu nodded and said, "This bad policy must be corrected, otherwise I will not be able to explain myself to the people of the world."
"Your Majesty is wise."
Wang Anshi immediately bowed and glanced at Sima Guang out of the corner of his eye.
Sima Guang, Wen Yanbo and others, even if they were unwilling, could only bow their hands and say: "Your Majesty is wise."
Xu Zun said: "Your Majesty, although the Taifu Temple does support the prosecution of the Procuratorate, there is currently no evidence to prove that Su Shi and Fan Chunren have any connection with the Taifu Temple. Not only that, Fan Chunren and Su Shi also plan to sue the Taifu Temple immediately after suing the Two Prefectures Regulations Office."
Zhao Xu nodded, and then asked Xu Zun: "In your opinion, should they be convicted of forming a clique for personal gain?"
Xu Zun said: "Reporting to your majesty, judging from the whole case, it is difficult to judge whether they have formed a clique for personal gain, but they chose to go to court to fight the case. Although this lawsuit is against the rules and cannot be counted, going to court to fight the case is an upright way and the most fair way. Therefore, I do not recommend sentencing them for forming a clique for personal gain.
Moreover, if they were convicted of forming a clique for personal gain, officials would not dare to discuss current affairs in private, and no official would dare to give advice to the Regulations Office of the Two Governments, which would have a very bad impact.
Zhao Xu nodded slightly, and then asked everyone, "What do you think?"
Wang Anshi was the first to speak out and said, "Prosecutor Xu's words are convincing. I have no objection."
He also knew that this charge could not be convicted. He raised the question just now just to give Xu Zun a chance to perform. If he came out to express his support for Xu Zun, he could also show his selflessness. Even though they are targeting me like this, I am still willing to obey the law.
Fu Bi's eyes lit up, and he said, "I also think that what Prosecutor Xu said is very reasonable, and it also provides a very good precedent for the crime of forming a clique for personal gain. At present, there is no specific discussion or law on forming a clique for personal gain. No one can clearly say what exactly constitutes forming a clique for personal gain. As Ouyang Xiu said in the past, gentlemen make friends with the way, and villains make friends with profit. Birds of a feather flock together, and people are divided into groups. It is difficult to avoid it."
Zhao Xu's expression changed slightly.
Wang Anshi immediately said, "Mr. Fu is wrong. Profits cannot distinguish between gentlemen and villains. Only morality can distinguish them. A greedy person is not necessarily a villain, and a person who regards money as dirt cannot be considered a gentleman either."
Wen Yanbo said: "Fu Gong's words are about the principle and profit, which comes first."
Fu Bi looked at Wen Yanbo depressedly. Where was the tacit understanding they had agreed on?
He was not making a veiled criticism of Wang Anshi. He wanted to establish laws against forming factions for personal gain, so that to a certain extent he could avoid the kind of unbridled party struggles.
Wang Anshi retorted: "There is an old saying that goes, 'When the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they have enough food and clothing, they know shame. The people are starving, and you still demand morality from them. This is not what a gentleman does. Profit is the foundation of morality. Who do you think should come first?'"
Wen Yanbo argued: "The people are hungry because of the immorality of the ruler or the ministers. Who do you think should come first?"
Wang Anshi retorted: "The ruler and his subjects put the benefit of the people first, which is virtue. Benefit is below virtue, but without benefit there is no virtue. Which is more important?"
Zhao Xu said, "Please stop arguing. Today's meeting is mainly about the case of Fan Chunren and Su Shi. We will discuss this topic later."
But he glanced at Fu Bi out of the corner of his eye.
Fu Bi was completely depressed, and Wen Yanbo really did more harm than good this time!
Zhao Xu certainly did not want to condemn this factionalism, and at the same time he was very wary of these Qingli gentlemen, because these people had an important political idea, which was to limit the imperial power.
In fact, it was people like Fan Zhongyan who institutionalized the idea of the scholar-officials and the monarch governing the world together.
One of the important reasons why Fan Chunren opposed the Equalization of Transport System was that he saw Wang Anshi wanting to centralize power, and more fundamentally, the emperor wanted to centralize power.
However, they believe that jointly governing the world is the foundation of the country and cannot be shaken.
It's just that no one dares to say this.
Sima Guang suddenly stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I am guilty."
Zhao Xu was stunned. "What do you mean by that?"
Sima Guang said, "I was too impatient. Seeing that Su Zizhan was quite talented, I was eager to appoint him to such an important position as deputy prosecutor, but I ignored his lack of experience and failed to teach him carefully, so that he made a big mistake. Alas... To be honest with your majesty, I am actually still perfecting the rules of the public security, procuratorial and judicial system. However, if the public security, procuratorial and judicial system is not established, many loopholes will be difficult to detect. In any case, I am unforgivable."
Wang Anshi immediately said, "Your Majesty, reforms are bound to have omissions. The key is to correct them in a timely manner. I also believe that Sima Xueshi will not make the same mistake again. I hope Your Majesty will show mercy."
Sima Guang glanced at Wang Anshi and said, "Thank you so much."
Does this require Wang Anshi to plead for mercy?
Of course not.
Wang Anshi actually said this for himself.
"This man is not a saint, so who can be without fault?" Zhao Xu sighed, and then said: "The same is true for Su Shi and Fan Chunren. Although he is guilty of dereliction of duty, as Sima Xueshi said, the public security, procuratorial and judicial systems are not perfect, and there are omissions, which is understandable. I don't want to punish them severely."
After hearing this, Sima Guang immediately looked at Xu Zun and said, "Prosecutor Xu, have Su and Fan realized their mistakes?"
Xu Zun nodded and said, "Su Shi has no complaints about his dereliction of duty."
Sima Guang said to Zhao Xu: "Your Majesty, as Wang Xueshi said, it is a great virtue to know one's mistakes and correct them. The moral character, ability and talent of Su Shi and Fan Chunren are highly praised by all the officials in the court. Now that they have made a mistake once, I believe they will never make it again. It just so happens that I plan to use several counties as pilot projects for public security, procuratorial and judicial systems. Why not send them to the local areas to help the court build public security, procuratorial and judicial systems, and let them make meritorious contributions while serving their sentences."
Zhao Xu asked, "What are your plans?"
Sima Guang said: "I suggest that Su Shi be sent to Yangzhou as prosecutor, and Fan Chunren be sent to Dengzhou as prosecutor."
Yangzhou?
Wang Anshi could not help but frown. This old man was really bad. He said hurriedly, "Although it is a great virtue to admit one's mistakes and correct them, according to what Prosecutor Xu said, it has not completely cleared them of the suspicion of forming a clique for personal gain!"
Sima Guang asked in return: "Then according to Mr. Wang, how should we deal with them?"
Wang Anshi opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.
To say that he was demoted to a commoner would be a bit too much. After all, Sima Guang had already taken part of the responsibility before, and the key point was that Zhao Xu would not agree.
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If they are to be punished, it would definitely be to demote them to local positions as officials. Sending Su Shi and Fan Chunren to serve as prosecutors in Yangzhou and Dengzhou would definitely be a punishment!
Zhao Xu smiled to himself and said, "Since I have entrusted the judicial reform to you, then I will follow your advice."
This was also said for Wang Anshi to hear, so that when you arrange the people, they will not be able to object.
Of course Wang Anshi heard the hidden meaning in these words, but naturally he didn't say much.
Sima Guang immediately said: "I will never betray your majesty's trust again."
Zhao Xu nodded and said, "As for the Taifu Temple case, all those involved will be dealt with according to the law. In addition, Gu Ji, as the judge of the Taifu Temple, has an obligation to do so. Let him go to Yizhou to serve as the Director of the School Affairs Office."
The Education Department was in charge of local education, and it was an unnecessary position. Gu Ji was bound to leave. If he didn't leave, how would Wang Anshi arrange someone to take over?
Chief Justice of the Northern Song Dynasty
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