There's no suspense in this case.
Cases related to land and property transactions exceed the statute of limitations after three years, and the government will not accept them.
(According to a Southern Song Dynasty legal provision recorded in "Ming Gong Shu Pan Qing Ming Ji": If land and houses are to be traded, and more than three years have passed before the debt is settled, the court shall not accept the case.)
Therefore, based on this provision, Prefect Xie could dismiss the plaintiff's claim in court.
However, Xie Zhihong was uneasy.
He glanced outside and saw He Youyou frowning.
If the case is rejected in court, will it make her feel...?
Too hasty?
Hmm, let's review it again.
Lord Xie patiently interrogated the suspect for another half a day.
They went through all the evidence submitted by both sides and questioned the witnesses they found several times.
The plaintiff's pawn contract was reportedly damaged and lost, but the defendant's sales contract still exists.
The neighbors who witnessed the event also gave their testimonies.
Moreover, all land sale contracts had to be verified by the government, and all contracts for which the government tax had been paid bore the official seal.
After repeated verification, Xie Zhihong finally made his judgment.
First, the statute of limitations for litigation has expired.
Secondly, with witnesses and physical evidence, the original sales contract is genuine and valid.
Therefore, the plaintiff's appeal is dismissed.
Lord Xie felt that his handling of the matter was flawless.
No one could find fault with him.
He glanced at He Youyou's expression out of the corner of his eye and noticed that she looked relaxed and even nodded slightly.
A huge weight has finally been lifted off my shoulders.
After the trial concluded, Prefect Xie adjourned the court.
The crowd began to disperse.
He Youyou was about to leave with Zhao Wenqi when she was stopped by a yamen runner.
"Madam, please come into the inner room. The prefect has something to discuss with you."
Huh?
He Youyou was taken aback.
However, she was not a timid person. She had seen many people of high status and position in her life. Since the prefect had invited her, she would go.
He Youyou, along with Zhao Wenqi and Qin Ming, followed the yamen runners into the second hall.
Above the door of the second hall hangs a plaque with three large characters: "Tai Si Tang" (Hall of Retreat and Reflection).
Xie Zhihong was already waiting there. When He Youyou came in, he bowed to her.
Qin Ming was shocked to see him like this.
Since ancient times, the people have bowed to officials, but officials have not bowed to the people.
Prefect Xie, this is...
However, He Youyou doesn't have a strong sense of hierarchy.
Seeing that Lord Xie was being so polite, she returned the greeting: "Lord Xie, you are too kind. I dare not accept such a compliment."
Perhaps noticing the shock in Qin Ming's eyes, Xie Zhihong felt a sudden unease.
He immediately realized that it seemed illogical for him to be wearing official robes, representing the imperial court, and bowing to a common woman.
He quickly added a few more words to salvage his image: "Thanks to Madam Han for noticing the insect plague early and informing me in time, the people of Jizhou were spared from disaster. Such righteousness is truly moving. I am not bowing to Madam Han, but to her benevolence, her supreme virtue, and her great righteousness!"
Xie Zhihong truly deserves his title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).
They have a strong ability to choose words and construct sentences, and their writing is very persuasive.
He Youyou was completely unaware of his thoughts, and even Qin Ming was taken aback: So that's how it is, this Lord Xie is quite sensible.
Not wanting him to perform a solo act, He Youyou quickly took over the conversation.
"Lord Xie, how is the pest control operation progressing?"
Xie Zhihong said, "After Madam returned yesterday, I had someone draft a document overnight and sent it to the subordinate counties. We have received a reply today. The counties are already searching for effective methods to control the pests and distributing them to the villages. I believe we will see results soon."
He Youyou praised, "Your Excellency acts decisively and cares deeply for the people. It is a blessing for us common folk to have such a benevolent official."
Just as the topic was about to be settled, Lord Xie quickly started another conversation.
"Madam, have you come here today to attend the trial?"
He Youyou: Uh, what else?
"Yes, I am quite interested in legal and criminal matters. I just happened to come here today to broaden my horizons."
Xie Zhihong was greatly surprised: I didn't know she had this hobby.
"What are your thoughts on today's court hearing, Madam?"
He Youyou had no opinion.
The case itself is quite simple, with nothing complicated or difficult to analyze.
but!
She did have something to complain about.
"I think the price of land in Jizhou has risen outrageously. In twenty years, it has increased fivefold, and the price of land at five taels per mu is unprecedented in this dynasty."
Lord Xie felt a chill run down his spine.
She was complaining that he was incompetent and hadn't controlled prices.
I immediately broke out in a cold sweat from the tension.
Before he could speak, He Youyou continued, "However, this is also because since the beginning of this dynasty, the government has been clean and efficient, taxes and levies have been light, and peace has lasted for a long time. There are fewer people abandoning their land, and the population has increased, resulting in more people than land, which has caused land prices to skyrocket."
Xie Zhihong nodded quickly upon hearing this: "That's right. At the end of the previous dynasty, taxes and corvée labor were heavy, and people abandoned their fields and fled. Large amounts of land were left uncultivated, and the price of land dropped to less than one tael per mu, yet no one was interested in it. The three wise rulers who founded this dynasty cared for the people and emphasized recuperation, which made the people rich and the country strong. Farmers worked hard and no one abandoned their land."
"However, high land prices are not a good thing in the long run. A large population and limited arable land can easily lead to a food crisis."
"In your opinion, how should this crisis be resolved?"
"If the trend of population growth is unstoppable, then the only solution is to increase arable land. There is no other way to increase arable land except to encourage people to reclaim wasteland. However, as far as I know, very few people are willing to do so. Prefect Xie, why do you think people are unwilling to reclaim wasteland?"
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