Chapter 721 of the Main Text of the Chief Justice of the Northern Song Dynasty: It is difficult to distinguish between friends and enemies. It is really not easy for Emperor Zhao Xu. It is so difficult to hide some private money, and he is also threatened.
Before, they had spent three years making a fortune by smuggling salt, but they were only happy for a short while before they had to give it all up again. Fortunately, the money was used on the northwest battlefield, which was the main reason why Zhao Xu could accept it. Otherwise, he would have really thought about it. He couldn't just give up the money for the sake of face!
But in the current situation, time is more important than money.
Time is quite tight now, because not only do we have to go to Jiangnan to investigate, but we also have to send a message to Ma Tianhao immediately and ask them to quickly revise some accounts.
Of course, accounts of this scale are not a difficult task for a lawyer, as long as Zhao Xu is willing to do it.
In the outer court, the reformists headed by Deng Wan were still quite powerful. They refused to give in and insisted on transferring the case to the public security, procuratorate and courts for trial. They even publicly stated that only the public security, procuratorate and courts could be convincing.
This really attracted the attention of many people. The people didn't understand what was going on here, and they also thought that the court suddenly avoided the public security, procuratorate and courts, and there must be something fishy about it.
Conspiracy theories are always the majority.
Of course, this also successfully angered the officials of the Censorate. They used this case to point their spearheads directly at the entire reformist faction, and directly designated Xue Xiang as the number one suspect. They did not pretend anymore and simply expanded the case.
So for the reformists, Xue Xiang cannot be lost. It's not that he is so important, but he is now at the center of the vortex. If he is not protected, a series of chain reactions will occur, which means a complete loss.
...
...
Both sides have already prepared for a decisive battle.
In an instant, the entire imperial city was filled with the smell of gunpowder.
But this also bought Zhao Xu, Zhang Fei and others enough time, because if the case was expanded, it would become complicated.
At noon, when the office was closed, officials came out of their offices one after another and walked towards the outside of the imperial city.
"I have to say, Deng Wenyue's plan is really brilliant!"
Meng Gansheng laughed and said, "The more we support the public security, procuratorate and courts now, the more reasons we will have to suppress them in the future. After all, even they themselves do not support the public security, procuratorate and courts. In the future, such cases will never be handed over to the public security, procuratorate and courts for trial."
Pei Wen nodded and said, "If we can sever the relationship between the Taxation Bureau and the public security, procuratorate and courts, the public security, procuratorate and courts will only be able to catch thieves in the future."
Meng Gansheng asked: "What do you think?"
Pei Wen said: "Since Duke Wen believes that officials who commit crimes should be handed over to the Censorate for trial, then the same should be done for officials who evade taxes. I think the Censorate is also happy to see this situation, because it will inevitably expand the authority of the Censorate."
Meng Gansheng nodded and said, "Although the Censorate is also quite hateful, at least we can still talk to the Censorate, unlike the public security, procuratorate and courts, where we can only sit
Before the emergence of the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs, the Censorate was definitely the office most hated by officials. They were basically omnipresent. But now the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs have successfully squeezed out the Censorate and become the office most hated by officials.
But in fact, officials all know that the public security, procuratorate and courts are far more fair than the Censorate. The Censorate can report on everything and has created many injustices, while the public security, procuratorate and courts place more emphasis on evidence.
But why do officials hate the public security, procuratorate and courts so much?
The reason is that the Censorate can fabricate unjust cases. They can slander good people, but they can also let bad people go. Moreover, they belong to the same system and have many common interests. For example, no matter how officials use the public money, most censors will not care. After all, everyone is interested in this money. Only iron-faced censors like Zhao Yan will care about such things.
But it's no use.
One tree cannot support the whole thing.
But it’s different with the public security, procuratorate and courts. If you embezzle public funds without permission, they will sue you so badly that even your mother won’t recognize you.
In addition, the Censorate has always existed and is a traditional old force, while the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs are new forces. When they come to power, they will inevitably squeeze out the old forces. Not only the Censorate, but many government offices will be oppressed. For example, the prefects and county magistrates are now purely administrative agencies.
The last time judicial power was integrated, the imperial court also took back the judicial power of many government offices.
This is also why the reformists strongly supported Deng Wan’s strategy, and they refused to let it go even though Wen Yanbo refuted it harshly.
Its purpose is to severely damage the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs.
As long as the Censorate does not transfer this case to the public security, procuratorate or courts, then no official’s case will be handed over to the public security, procuratorate or courts in the future.
If you conservatives don't agree with it yourselves, why should you expect other officials to agree with it?
This will indeed have a huge impact on the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs.
Sima Guang was clear about this, but as far as this case was concerned, he actually did not agree to let the public security, procuratorate and courts try the case, because he knew that if Zhang Fei was allowed to try the case, Zhang Fei would definitely protect Wang Anshi and would not kill him. However, he also hoped to bring down Xue Xiang, because he did not agree with Xue Xiang at all, not to mention what he had done.
In his eyes, Wang Anshi had no moral problems. If you told him that Wang Anshi was corrupt, he would definitely not believe it. And the memorials he wrote to accuse Wang Anshi almost all contained the same point of view, that is, Wang Anshi was eager for quick success and appointed villains.
Translated, it means that Wang Anshi is a good man, with almost no shortcomings except that he is sloppy, but he is surrounded by treacherous people, such as Lu Huiqing and Xue Xiang.
However, he also does not want to see the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs suffer heavy losses as a result.
Today, he came to the procuratorate and talked to Zhang Fei to see how to avoid damage to the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs. "Now many ministers in the court have requested that this case be transferred to your procuratorate for investigation. Do you know about this?"
"Know."
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "But Sima Xueshi, don't be fooled. They are deliberately trying to sow discord. If we hand this case over to the public security, procuratorate or court now, they will immediately use the Censorate to attack the public security, procuratorate or court, and things will only become more and more complicated."
Sima Guang immediately asked, "So you also think that the case should not be handed over to the public security, procuratorate or court?"
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "I would definitely advise my father-in-law to refuse. Either hand it over to the public security, procuratorate or court from the beginning, or let it be tried by the Censorate all the time. If it is transferred now, wouldn't it imply that there is something wrong with the Censorate, which would make the public security, procuratorate and court the target of public criticism."
Sima Guang nodded and said, "You think the same as Duke Wen. But their disturbance is also very bad for the public security, procuratorate and courts."
Zhang Fei said: "In fact, it is not a bad idea to hand over such policy-related cases to the Censorate for trial. If we let the public security, procuratorate and courts try them, there will not be much room for maneuver, and sometimes it makes us feel very embarrassed. This is the case with Cheng Dujian.
It can only be resolved through a hearing. It cannot be brought to the Royal Court because the Royal Court is more concerned with evidence and the law.
Let's talk about this case again. As long as Fayun did not do anything illegal, our public security, procuratorate and courts would not be able to drag him into this. When we punish those corrupt officials, there will be a lot of debate among the higher-ups. However, the Censorate will not have any such worries and can hold their superiors accountable.
Our public security, procuratorial and judicial organs are mainly responsible for supervising the officials and guarding the bottom level. It is best for the higher levels to handle the issues themselves.”
These words really touched Sima Guang's heart, and he also thought so. In this case, the public security, procuratorate and courts can only conduct trials based on the criminal acts. Whether Xue Xiang will face punishment is still up to the emperor and the prime minister to decide, which is an administrative penalty. The Censorate can directly convict Xue Xiang, because the Censorate is not a pure judicial trial, but more of a mixture of administration and justice, and they can hold the prime minister accountable.
"Well, you're right. Two points is good."
Sima Guang nodded slightly.
Not to mention, Zhang Fei is really worried that the Censorate will compromise because of this. If that happens, things will become even more complicated.
However, this is impossible.
At present, no matter from which perspective, the Censorate always has the advantage.
Wen Yanbo is not a good person either. If he is not sure, he will not take action. Moreover, they seem to be slowly placing bets and expanding the case step by step.
He asked the Censorate to continue asking the emperor to audit the accounts.
On the other hand, evidence unfavorable to the new policy continued to emerge, with one piece of evidence released every two or three days. Even the people who had doubts before, faced with the continuous negative news, coupled with the conservatives bringing up old issues again, citing the Qingmiao Law in Jingdong East Road and blaming Wang Anshi for Cheng Fang's incident, caused public opinion to begin to turn to the conservatives.
This kind of slow cooking over low heat is also very dangerous.
Wang Anshi was the first to lose his patience and said, "If you continue like this, the whole government and the public will be filled with news that is unfavorable to the new policy. How can you implement the new policy then?"
The public opinion created by conservatives gives off a feeling of a collapsing building.
And they can only stick to the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs.
The key point is that Wang Anshi couldn’t understand why Zhao Xu was so slow to make a decision?
Is Zhao Xu going to abandon the new policy?
This is impossible!
The Imperial Palace.
"Your Majesty, this is my resignation."
In anger, Wang Anshi directly handed in his resignation to Zhao Xu.
He had no choice but to explain everything to Zhao Xu. It was just an isolated phenomenon. Compared with the fiscal growth, it was nothing. He couldn't blame the heroes just because of a few ordinary people!
But Zhao Xu refused to make a decision, which really made him angry.
If you don't believe me, I won't do it.
Zhao Xu's eyes flashed with displeasure, but he said in shock: "Sir, what are you doing?"
Wang Anshi said expressionlessly: "Since Your Majesty does not trust me, I do not want to stay in the court any longer."
"Please don't misunderstand me, sir."
Zhao Xu hurriedly said: "It's not that I don't believe you, sir, but I also have my own difficulties!"
Wang Anshi kept silent.
Zhao Xu looked embarrassed and said, "It's true that they seem to know that I have collected some extra money."
Wang Anshi knew that the other party wanted to investigate the inner treasury, and he had guessed this, but he could not say it. If he said it, the emperor would think he was threatening him. Now that Zhao Xu finally admitted it, he immediately said, "They are secretly threatening your majesty, which is a capital crime. Why should your majesty be polite to them?"
Zhao Xu sighed, "I have thought about this, but I am worried that if I severely punish those officials who stir up trouble, some people will not accept it and file a lawsuit with the procuratorate."
Wang Anshi snorted immediately, "Now many ministers are puzzled by their intentional avoidance of the public security, procuratorate and courts, and they are unwilling to hand over the case to the public security, procuratorate and courts to prove their innocence. When that time comes, they want to sue the procuratorate, which is really a fantasy. The procuratorate is not run by their family. Your Majesty does not need to worry at all. Just let the procuratorate dismiss their lawsuit."
Zhao Xu said: "Sir, have you forgotten the system of the procuratorate? As long as they produce enough evidence, the procuratorate will definitely prosecute this."
Without waiting for Wang Anshi to speak, he immediately continued: "For this reason, I have specially summoned Zhang San to the palace to ask him about the relevant countermeasures."
Zhang San?
Wang Anshi was stunned for a moment, then asked, "What did Zhang San say?"
Zhao Xu said: "Zhang San thinks that the current situation is very unfavorable to you, but the public opinion in the court is in your favor."
This sounded like Zhang Fei's rhetoric, which made people seem to understand but not quite understand. Wang Anshi said, "Your Majesty is stupid and I don't know what you mean by this."
Zhao Xu said: "If what the witnesses said is true, the officials involved should be punished, but the public opinion in the court has locked its target on you and the shipping envoy. If the Censorate finds the shipping envoy guilty, then you can use this as an excuse to sue the procuratorate and have a chance of winning."
Wang Anshi had never thought about going to the procuratorate to file a lawsuit. After thinking for a while, he said, "Is it just a possibility of winning the case?"
Zhao Xu said, "According to the interrogation of the Censorate, Zhang San suspected that there must be someone behind the scenes directing these one hundred people, and these people may have interests in the new policy. As long as this is confirmed, there will be a chance to turn the tables."
Wang Anshi immediately said: "There is no doubt about this. There must be someone behind them. Otherwise, how could those common people reach Xuzhou without making any noise?"
Zhao Xu nodded and said, "I think so too, so I have sent people to Jiangnan to investigate the matter. I just want to discuss it with you after confirmation, so I have been delaying it."
"So that's what happened."
Wang Anshi finally understood and hesitated for a moment before asking, "What about Xianyu's question?"
Zhao Xu said, "I have already done what they wished and let the Censorate make the decision. It is you who want to sue them, sir. It has nothing to do with me. If they bring this up to threaten me again, I will not let them off easily."
At this point, he looked at Wang Anshi and asked, "What do you think, sir?"
Wang Anshi hesitated and said, "I think we should wait until the results of the investigation are out."
Zhao Xu nodded.
After coming out of the palace, Wang Anshi went straight to Zhang's house.
"Master Wang is here."
"Um?"
Wang Anshi glanced at Zhang Fei and said, "It seems that you have expected me to come."
Zhang Fei said embarrassedly: "This matter has not been resolved for such a long time, I thought that Master Wang would come to find me."
Wang Anshi frowned and asked, "You have an idea, why don't you tell me?"
You are such a great guy, how could you accept my idea? Zhang Fei replied: "I didn't have an idea, but the emperor asked me to come over and ask for a solution, so I came up with this idea. But the emperor hadn't decided at that time, and I was afraid that Wang Xueshi would have a better solution, so as not to ruin Wang Xueshi's plan, so I didn't tell him."
Wang Anshi was embarrassed by this. He didn't have any big plans. He just liked to use his power to suppress others. Those who didn't obey were kicked out of the court. This was the Legalist method. But now the emperor's handle was in the hands of the other party, making the matter even more difficult. He asked again: "How sure are you about this?"
Zhang Fei pretended to think for a while and said, "I wasn't sure at the time, but now I am getting more and more sure."
Wang Anshi asked again: "Where did you get this from?"
Zhang Fei said: "If the Censorate only deals with the case, finds the officials involved guilty, and helps the people get justice, then I will be helpless. But if they want to frame more officials, including the Shipping Envoy, then there will be a chance to sue. In short, the bigger the fuss they make, the more likely we are to succeed, because there must be injustice involved. As long as we can grasp a little, we may be able to turn the tables."
Wang Anshi nodded and asked again: "But in the final analysis, this is just your last resort."
Zhang Fei knew that he was testing him, but he acted calmly. "Although it's not the best strategy, it's not the worst strategy either, because it can distinguish the official's personal behavior from the central government's decision. After all, the official's violation of the law doesn't necessarily mean that the policy is bad.
Also, the harsher they had suppressed Wang Xue Shi and Fa Yun Shi before, the more this reversal would help reverse the impression of the new policy in the eyes of the people.
There are still some benefits to the new policy.”
Wang Anshi lowered his brows and thought for a while. Suddenly, he glanced at Zhang Fei and asked, "Will old Sima allow you to do this?"
Zhang Fei said: "We in the procuratorate only look at the evidence."
Wang Anshi added: "But if you do this, you will be making an enemy of Sima Laoer!"
Zhang Fei spread his hands and said, "I can't do anything about this. We are following the rules. It's not me who asked Wang Xueshi to sue the Censorate."
Wang Anshi said, "Aren't you going to take revenge on them and kick the procuratorate out?"
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "Master Wang, you are too kind. Am I such a petty person?"
"Everyone knows that you, Zhang San, will never let go of any grudge. Wang Hong, the magistrate of Kaifeng, just beat up Erbi, the shopkeeper in your store, and now he is reclaiming wasteland in Qiongzhou."
".!"
The evidence was irrefutable and Zhang Fei didn't know how to refute it.
Wang Anshi smiled again and said, "If you win this lawsuit, it will be enough to prove that the Censorate cannot be above the public security, procuratorate and courts."
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Mr. Wang is wrong. The government asked me for advice, so I can only use my strengths and intervene through the procuratorate. If I win, the public security, procuratorate and court will naturally benefit. I didn't come up with this plan for the sake of profit."
"Yeah?"
"real."
Zhang Fei nodded.
Wang Anshi smiled and said, "I have learned almost everything now, so I will leave now."
"Master Wang, take care."
"Why don't you ask me if I have made a decision?"
"I really don't force this, because it will offend a lot of people."
As soon as Wang Anshi left, Xu Zhiqian, who had been eavesdropping at the back, came out. She had already finished her confinement.
"It seems that Master Wang has seen through your thoughts?"
Xu Zhiqian said with a hint of worry.
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "I wanted him to see through it on purpose. Only in this way can he be determined to come to the procuratorate to sue."
"ah?"
"If I help out of kindness, or just to please the government, can he believe that I will do my best? Only if he knows that I have huge interests to gain, will he believe that I will do everything I can to win."
After that, Zhang Fei smiled coldly: "Those bastards, just based on this, want to kick me out, it's really a fantasy."
In fact, he felt the crisis from the very beginning of this case, but he had no way to intervene before because he could not show strong ambition. At that time, he wanted to take a step back and have a broader horizon.
Now that he has been given such an opportunity, he will certainly seize it and teach those people a lesson. If you want to get rid of the public security, procuratorial and judicial departments, you are probably still living in a dream.
Although Wang Anshi did not give a specific answer, he actually had no choice. The only thing he could rely on was the imperial power, which is why he always emphasized the Legalists.
At the beginning of this case, when he knew that the conservatives were going to let the Censorate try the case, he actually intended to exclude the public security, procuratorate and courts.
Because in his opinion, as long as he could win this game, the court would return to the Legalist path.
But he never expected that the emperor, out of consideration for his own reputation, did not give him his unreserved support, which forced him to return to the path of the rule of law.
The struggle has reached this level, if he loses, it will be all over.
However, he now also thought that once the Censorate made a ruling on the case, it would actually be extremely disadvantageous to the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs. Especially for Zhang Fei, the reformists and the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs had a common enemy.
In the end, Wang Anshi accepted Zhang Fei's plan. At the same time, they dragged on long enough, and a message came back from Jiangnan.
After getting Wang Anshi's agreement, Zhao Xu acquiesced to the final judgment of Zeng Gongliang and Chen Shengzhi through Wen Yanbo.
In fact, Zeng Gongliang and Chen Shengzhi could not hold on any longer. The pressure on them was too great. The main reason was that the current evidence was indeed very unfavorable to Xue Xiang. They had no reason to keep stopping him.
They can't just ignore their own careers for Wang Anshi. They are not Wang Anshi's lackeys.
Wen Yanbo immediately gave a verdict and listed the shipping envoy Xue Xiang as the main culprit.
As soon as the verdict came out, the conservatives were immediately jubilant. They had not expected victory to come so quickly, and their hideous faces were revealed. Not only did they immediately send people to capture Xue Xiang, they also prepared to weave a wider net to ensnare more reformists and defeat them in one fell swoop.
On the other hand, the reformists felt as if a building had collapsed and were all confused.
It's over!
The fact that the Censorate could make the decision must have been due to the emperor's tacit approval, which means that the emperor was ready to abandon the new policy.
this.!
However, no one knew that Xue Xiang had actually quietly returned to the capital, because Wang Anshi had already sent a letter to summon him back and was preparing to recommend him to be the Three-Division Envoy.
At this moment, Xue Xiang was in the procuratorate.
When Wang Gong, Qi Ji and others learned that it was Xue Xiang who came to complain, they were dumbfounded. Logically speaking, Xue Xiang was a fugitive!
You are walking into a trap.
However, it seems that you have chosen the wrong network. You should surrender yourself to the Censorate, not to our Procuratorate.
Xu Zun also met Xue Xiang in person.
"Envoy Xue, you are now guilty of a crime."
"I know, but this is all an attempt by someone to frame me and falsely accuse me." Xue Xiang said indignantly.
Xu Zun asked: "Do you have any evidence?"
“Yes.”
Xue Xiang immediately handed a document to Xu Zun, "This is only part of the evidence that can prove that I am innocent. There is another hidden story in this case. This is also the purpose of my coming to the procuratorate today. I want to sue the Censorate for fabricating an unjust case and framing others. I hope the procuratorate can clear my name."
Sue the Censorate?
Can we still play like this?
Everyone present looked at each other, including Zhang Fei. Of course, Zhang Fei and Xu Zun were just acting.
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