Chapter 696 of the Main Text of the Chief Justice of the Northern Song Dynasty, Hearing, thank you?
That’s it?
This passionate expression was met with just a "thank you".
Especially Zhang Fei's nonchalant expression, which even had a hint of impatience, made Wang Anshi feel offended.
Zhang Fei's next words made Wang Anshi completely angry.
"Does Master Wang have anything else to add?"
What I mean is that if you don't have anything to add, I have to ask you to leave.
Wang Anshi suppressed his anger and asked, "It seems that Prosecutor Zhang is well aware of the dispute between the East Flow and the North Flow."
Zhang Fei said hurriedly: "Oh, I don't know much about this."
Wang Anshi was very puzzled and asked: "Then why don't you ask clearly?"
...
...
Zhang Fei responded with an apologetic smile: "Please forgive me, Master Wang. First of all, we are very grateful that Master Wang can help us understand the whole picture of the whole thing.
However, this hearing mainly concerns whether to prosecute Deputy Envoy Cheng and Chief Supervisor Cheng, rather than discussing the dispute between the East Stream and the North Stream. This is not the responsibility of our procuratorate, and our procuratorate has no time to interfere in these matters. "
Wang Anshi was stunned for a moment, and suddenly reacted. Yes, this was a trial, but it was Han Qi who mentioned it first, and I just followed his topic.
However, Wang Anshi was also a veteran of many battles. After a brief pause, he said, "Many of the charges against Cheng Dujian stem from this dispute. Doesn't the procuratorate intend to find out more about this?"
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Of course we know that this case stems from water management, and we will certainly find out the relevant river works, but we hope to hear more professional and objective suggestions, rather than subjective policies."
Wang Anshi frowned and said, "Isn't my suggestion professional and objective enough?"
"Well, Master Wang was talking about policy choices, which include many factors, as well as defense against the Khitans, but that's not our focus. We're mainly talking about river defenses."
As he spoke, Zhang Fei suddenly lowered his head and quickly flipped through the documents. "But as far as we know, Mr. Wang does not have much experience in water control, nor has he published any articles that have received much attention regarding the technology of river defense works, and he has not even served as a water conservancy official."
Before Wang Anshi could refute, Zhang Fei continued, "Of course, I know that many water control policies were drafted by Wang Xueshi, but Wang Xueshi did not know whether the river should be widened by one foot or ten feet. These opinions are directly related to this case. Because we must find out whether Cheng Dujian has been partial to others in water control, such as deliberately adjusting the river to benefit some people. This is what we are very concerned about."
These words made Wang Anshi feel confused, and even Zhang Fei.
During the lunch break, they were all ready for a great river debate.
After all, this is a traditional political program of the Northern Song Dynasty, and as Han Qi said, it has been debated for decades.
This platform was something they had never tried before, and they found it very new. Sima Guang and Wen Yanbo were all eager to try it out.
As a result, it had just begun when Zhang Fei was poured with cold water from head to toe.
If Wang Anshi is not worthy of sitting here and talking freely, then they are not worthy either, because they are not professionals or technicians, and have not published any articles on water control.
In other words, it's over before it even begins.
However, some officials such as Cheng Yi felt that the procuratorate was fair and selfless, because they knew that the people who really had ulterior motives were Han Qi and Wang Anshi. They wanted to stir up a dispute between the East Flow and the North Flow, but the procuratorate simply didn't buy it. Isn't this impartiality?
This also made officials such as Meng Gansheng and Pei Wen feel extremely surprised and full of question marks on their faces.
They originally thought that the procuratorate deliberately wanted to stir up this matter at the hearing and then guide policy. This was also Zhang Fei's usual method. However, they never thought that the procuratorate had no such intention at all.
Wang Anshitou was so angry that he was disliked for being unprofessional in public. He stood up angrily, returned to his seat, and waited for Zhang Fei in a rage.
If looks could kill.!
Zhang Fei could only smile awkwardly. After all, he didn't even take care of his appearance, so what else could you expect from him? He nodded towards Wang Gong.
Wang Gong stood up nervously and handed in a man named Dongsheng.
Hearing this name, everyone looked at each other in surprise.
Who is it?
No one seemed to know him.
All eyes were looking at the corridor where the witnesses were present. They also wanted to see who was the person who could surpass Wang Anshi.
After a while, a middle-aged man in his forties, with shifty eyes, thick limbs, a weather-beaten face, and wearing a short brown shirt, came up.
This is really shocking!
What the hell?
Even judging from his temperament, he doesn't look like some hermit or sage!
Zhang Fei extended his hand and gestured, "Uncle Dong, please take a seat."
"Thank you very much."
Dongsheng trembled his lips and replied vaguely. His rat-like eyes looked around again and muttered quietly, "Why are there so many senior officials here?"
Zhang Fei smiled gently again and said, "Please sit down."
"oh."
Dongsheng sat upright, as if he was under a magical command rather than doing it on his own.
Zhang Fei comforted him, "Don't be nervous, Uncle Dong. We asked you to come here today mainly to understand the water situation in Hebei."
"I know. The official told me." Dongsheng nodded.
Zhang Fei asked: "Can you first tell me where you are from and what you do?"
Dongsheng said, "I am from Chanzhou, and I am a river patrolman of the Transportation Bureau."
River patrol?
Wang Anshi almost fainted from anger. You asked me to go down and sit down so that you could ask this river patrol soldier to come up.
You are obviously trying to humiliate me on purpose!
This is outrageous!
Sima Guang and his men were also confused. What was going on? He was demoted directly from prime minister to river patrol soldier!
This gap is too big.
I have to admit that the value of this hearing has dropped sharply!
The atmosphere of the entire hearing did change due to Dongsheng's appearance.
Zhang Fei ignored them and asked, "Can you tell me more about the duties of the river patrol?"
Dongsheng said: "It's very simple. Just follow the river, sometimes walk along the embankment, sometimes take a boat, and then come back to report where the water is going, whether it is turbulent, etc."
Zhang Fei nodded. "How many years have you been a river patrolman?"
Dongsheng said: "I have been a river patrolman for twenty years, but I have been following my father in river patrol since I was a child, so it has been thirty years now."
Zhang Fei smiled and asked, "Is your father also a river patrolman?"
"Well, my family has had three generations serving as river patrolmen." Dongsheng said with a little pride.
Zhang Fei asked with a smile: "I heard that you also pointed out that the river map of the Transportation Bureau was wrong."
Dongsheng nodded
Zhang Fei asked again: "Then do you know that in recent years, the imperial court has been tackling the Hebei River?"
Dongsheng nodded and said, "Of course I know. I've been running myself crazy these past few years."
Zhang Fei smiled and nodded, saying, "I think the court should give you a horse or a donkey."
Dongsheng grinned and scratched his head, "How is that possible?"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Maybe it will be possible in the future."
Dongsheng was delighted and thought to himself, maybe what I said was right and there is a reward, that would be great.
He immediately sat up straight and perked up.
Zhang Fei asked again: "Since you are involved in these river defense works, what do you think about this?"
"snort!"
“Nonsense!”
As soon as these words were spoken, officials on both sides were immediately extremely dissatisfied.
You go to ask a patrolman about such an important policy, and leave us, the senior officials, to watch. Are you humiliating us?
Dongsheng was so frightened that he dared not speak.
Zhang Fei frowned and said seriously, "We have made the rules clear beforehand. If anyone interferes with the testimony of the witness again, we will invite them to drink tea in the wing room. In serious cases, we will even reserve the right to prosecute him. We in the procuratorate never joke around."
There was sudden silence.
But everyone's face was filled with dissatisfaction. Okay, this is your territory. We will settle the score with you after the hearing is over.
Zhang Fei said to Dong Sheng again: "Uncle Dong, you don't have to be afraid. Just tell the truth. No matter whether you are right or wrong, no one will blame you."
Dongsheng saw that the young man was so capable and gave him a lecture. The officials on both sides dared not say anything and breathed a sigh of relief. "I think the dredging work of the Ergu River was done very well. It took only a few days to block the breach. The official must be someone who knows how to control water."
Cheng Fang smiled slightly when he heard this. This uncle has quite a good eye. No wonder the procuratorate specially invited him here.
Dongsheng suddenly changed the subject, "But I think the official might be a little anxious and didn't investigate the local river flow clearly."
Zhang Fei asked: "Why?"
Dongsheng said: "After dredging the Ergu River, we need to block the new river channel. However, the Ergu River has only diverted 60% of the water, and the officials want to block the new river channel. This requires a lot of people to block it. But in fact, if we wait until 80% of the water is diverted, I estimate that only 30% of the manpower will be needed, and the working hours will only be half."
After hearing this, Sima Guang couldn't help but look up to this guy, thinking that he was really capable.
Zhang Fei said in an encouraging tone: "Uncle Dong, please continue."
"yes!"
Dongsheng nodded, thinking, I guess I said it well. His confidence increased immediately, and he said, "Also, to dredge the Ergu River there, we must cut off most of the huge depression in the Ergu River. The depression is very important. Without the depression, once the flood peak is too strong, it will cause the Ergu River to merge with the new river channel, and then there will be a flood."
Zhang Fei asked: "The new river you are talking about is the North Flow?"
"Yes. It is what officials often call the North Flow."
Dongsheng nodded and said, "Moreover, according to my observation, the water of the Yellow River flows westward, but several rivers in the West Mountain flow eastward. The two rivers collide with each other. If a flood rushes in, the middle will become a vast ocean, and at least five states will be submerged."
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao Xu's expression changed drastically and he stood up suddenly.
Many officials also looked horrified.
Zhang Fei said, "Uncle Dong, we don't quite understand what you are saying. Can you draw it for us?"
"OK."
Dongsheng said confidently: "As for the river near Chanzhou, I can really draw it with my eyes closed."
Zhang Fei quickly had someone bring up a screen covered with a white cloth, and also prepared the four treasures of the study.
Dongsheng took the pen and started to paint. Although it was just a few hasty strokes and could not be considered beautiful, it had a different feeling. You would not feel that he was painting randomly, but gave people a sense of familiarity.
Some officials who are familiar with Hebei’s rivers nodded frequently as they watched.
But some civil servants turned their heads away. It was really embarrassing for a group of court officials to watch a small soldier painting!
Zhang Fei asked with a smile: "It seems that you draw often!"
Dongsheng nodded and said, "That's what we river patrolmen do. We must know where the river will flow. But I usually paint on the sand, and I have never painted on such a fine canvas."
As he spoke, his face showed regret, as if he had destroyed a piece of good cloth.
Zhang Fei tilted his head to look at the drawing board and said, "Uncle Dong, can you explain it to us again?"
"Is this okay?"
When Dongsheng saw that there were high-ranking officials on both sides, he felt a little uneasy.
Zhang Fei said: "It doesn't matter, just say it."
"Okay then."
Dongsheng explained again according to the blueprint where the depression was, where the dredging point was, and how the water would flow once a flood came.
Han Qi, Sima Guang and others also gradually became fascinated by the story.
Even though Wang Anshi was angry, he couldn't help but concentrate.
After Dongsheng finished speaking, Zhang Fei asked again: "Second Uncle Dong, since you are so familiar with the direction of the water flow, do you have a way to make the water in the new river return to the old river?"
Dongsheng shook his head and said, "I can't do anything about it. It's like pouring water into a jar. When it's full, the water will overflow."
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "But you can
Dongsheng shook his head and said, "How wide can this man dig a river? Can it be faster than the river water? The canal has been dug for so many years, how can it compare with the Yellow River? My father told me that where the water flows has its own reasons, and it cannot be changed."
Zhang Fei asked: "Have you told your superiors about this?"
Dongsheng thought for a moment and said, "It seems that I did say that, but who would listen to a little patrolman like me?"
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Thank you very much, Uncle Dong, for coming. You can go down and have a rest first. If there is any need, I will invite you up."
"Okay! Then I'll leave first."
"Slow down."
After Dongsheng left, the procuratorate summoned another person named Luo Jian.
This man was dressed similarly to Dongsheng, but was a little older, with scowls on his face and a look of deep hatred and resentment.
Zhang Fei asked, "Uncle Luo, please take a seat."
"Thank you very much."
Luo Jian sat down, his expression dazed.
Zhang Fei felt that asking one more question would be a sin, so he asked awkwardly, "Uncle Luo, can you tell us where you are from and what you do?"
Luo Jian said: "I used to be a dam inspector in Guantao County, and now I am a ship repairman."
"Is the dam patrol officer responsible for inspecting the dam?"
“And also responsible for building the dam.”
"How many years have you been doing this?"
"Twenty years."
"So what do you think of the river defense works in Hebei in recent years?"
Luo Jian tilted his head and stared at Zhang Fei blankly, "I only know how to build dams."
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Then let's talk about the dams of the river defense works."
Luo Jian thought for a while and said, "The dam is very solid and the technology is very high, but it is useless."
Cheng Fang was originally feeling comfortable listening to what was said, but after hearing the latter part, he glared at Luo Jian and asked, "Do you understand? If you don't understand, then stop talking nonsense, okay?"
Zhang Fei asked: "Why?"
Luo Jian said: "Because the river channel is too narrow, it is impossible to prevent it. The Zhang River has just been dredged for a year, and it has burst again.
In fact, dams can only prevent some minor floods, or slow down the flow of water. If a flood really comes, it cannot prevent it. Water prevention is just like fire prevention. We need to repair dams, maintain rivers, and make warnings. If the water level rises, we should notify the people to flee quickly and come back after the flood is over. "
Some officials nodded repeatedly after hearing this.
How can this man defeat heaven?
Zhang Fei glanced at the copy and said, "According to our investigation by the procuratorate, you once effectively predicted a flood and asked the local people to quickly take refuge in higher places."
Luo Jian nodded.
Zhang Fei said: "But unfortunately it did not succeed, and many people were killed."
Luo Jian nodded again.
Zhang Fei said: "You even lost your job as a dike inspector because of this."
Luo Jian nodded.
Zhang Fei asked: "Why?"
Luo Jian said: "Because everyone thinks I am spreading rumors."
"But it turns out you're not."
"But if I don't take responsibility, then the county magistrate will have to take responsibility."
The officials on both sides slightly covered their faces, after all, there were many people watching outside.
"That's true."
Zhang Fei smiled and nodded, "Then how do you predict floods?"
Luo Jian said: "After years of observation, I found that in some places where the river often breaks, as long as the river water rises to a certain level, there is a possibility of flooding. Therefore, I engraved scales on the nearby embankments. When the river water rises to the scales, I will run to inform the people to avoid the possible floods."
Zhang Fei nodded and continued, "Now that the court has dredged the Ergu River and diverted water to the east, Guantao County can be free from floods, and the people can have good farmland."
Luo Jianzhi shook his head and said, "I think this is even more dangerous."
Zhang Fei asked: "Why is this?"
Luo Jian said: "My family lives next to the new river. In fact, the water in the new river has been flowing for several years and has become stable. It's just that the court has always let the river flow on its own and has not reinforced the dam of the new river. This is why the river seems unstable. As long as the dam of the new river is repaired, the previous floods will not hurt too many people.
Now that the water is diverted eastward, the new river channel in Guantao County has been damaged again. If the flood returns, I am afraid no one will be spared."
Zhang Fei asked: "So you think it's impossible to return to Hedongliu?"
Luo Jian nodded and said, "As long as God is in a bad mood and it rains a lot, the river over there can't bear it, and the water will still flow here."
"Thank you Uncle Luo for coming."
After Luo Jian left, the procuratorate immediately summoned a witness named Li Tuo.
Zhang Fei never tired of asking him where he was from and what he did.
"I am from Huazhou and work in the River Repair Department."
"I wonder how long Mr. Li has held this position, and what are his responsibilities?"
"About fifteen years. I'm usually responsible for clearing silt from the river." Li Tuo replied.
Zhang Fei asked: "Have you participated in the Hebei River Defense Project in recent years?"
Li Tuo nodded, "Yes."
Zhang Fei asked: "What do you think about this?"
Li Tuo said: "I am not optimistic."
"Why?"
"Since ancient times, it has been difficult to restore the original course. The reason is that if the river chooses another course, it is mostly because there is too much silt in the downstream, causing the upstream to burst. If you want to solve the problem, you should go to the downstream to dredge the silt, rather than divert the river upstream, and this may be counterproductive. According to my many years of experience, the water will silt up if it flows slowly.
Now that the water flow in the north is slowing down, we can see that the river is accumulating silt and is blocked. The court should quickly remove the silt in the north flow, otherwise it will be too late to stop the damage. "
"Based on your years of experience, how should this sludge be cleaned?" Zhang Fei asked.
Li Tuo said: "The best way is to maintain it constantly. We should not slack off. The reason why floods are so frequent in our dynasty is that during the chaotic times at the end of the Tang Dynasty, the river was neglected and severely damaged. We should strengthen the embankments on both sides, plant trees, and clear the silt in time. We don't seek to eliminate the floods, but to reduce them."
Zhao Xu in the hall nodded frequently when he heard this. A word of official business was much more pleasing to his ears than those of the ministers. During the chaotic times at the end of the Tang Dynasty, the river course was almost completely destroyed, leading to constant floods. Our Zhao family is here to clean up the mess, but it was not caused by our family.
After Li Tuo left, Zhang Fei summoned several more people to testify in court.
Without exception, they were all minor officials, but they all served as technical officials in river defense construction and had at least ten years of experience.
But according to their testimonies, no one believed that flowing back to the east of the river would be successful. They all believed that flowing north was the trend of the times.
The reason is very simple, because they are technical officials, politics and technology are two different things. Politics is purposeful, not just about water control, but in terms of technology, there is only what can be done and what cannot be done.
Afterwards, Zhang Fei finally invited Wen Yanbo up.
Everyone couldn't help but perk up again. There was a routine to this. After all, Wen Yanbo was also from the Eastern School, but he was the same as Sima Guang. He suggested taking it slow and governing slowly, and not being hasty.
The small soldiers in front all thought that the Eastern trend was not feasible, so inviting Wen Yanbo to come up at this time naturally gave them a chance to refute.
Zhang Fei asked: "Duke Wen is a veteran of three dynasties, he should be familiar with the cause of this matter, I wonder what Duke Wen thinks about this?"
Wen Yanbo was silent for a long time, took a deep breath, and said calmly: "I don't have much opinion on this."
Many officials were shocked.
Wen Yanbo has been in officialdom for a long time and has extraordinary eloquence. How could he not have an opinion?
Lu Huiqing was shocked and asked, "How could this happen?"
Wang Anshi gnashed his teeth and said, "We were all fooled by that kid."
"Hehe!" Han Qi lowered his head and covered his face with his wide sleeves. One could vaguely see his shoulders shaking rapidly.
Fu Bi, who was standing beside him, shook his head helplessly when he heard his proud whisper, thinking, this kid always manages to win by surprise!
Zhang Fei pretended to be surprised and asked, "Don't you have any opinion at all?"
Wen Yanbo glared and said, "No." At the same time, his eyes warned Zhang Fei, "Stop it, kid."
Zhang Fei understood what he meant, "Then I'll have to trouble Lord Wen."
Wen Yanbo immediately stood up and returned to his seat.
Zhang Fei looked at Sima Guang and the others again, and the latter turned their faces away.
Helplessly, Zhang Fei looked at the sky again and saw that the sun was setting, so he said with a hint of fatigue: "Today's hearing ends here. Our procuratorate will determine whether to file a lawsuit against Cheng Dujian and Cheng Fushi based on today's interrogation. If we feel that the evidence is insufficient and someone can provide new evidence, we will hold another hearing."
Wang Gong stood up, expressed his gratitude to everyone, and then officially announced that the hearing was over.
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