After returning home, Zhang Fei had no choice but to talk some more and finally sent Cao Dongdong and the others away.
They just wanted to get some information and then go to Baifan Building to show off.
It goes without saying that everyone in the capital must be talking about this topic today.
So whoever has the first-hand information will be the most beautiful one.
However, Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian, who were participants, had already passed the excitement and only felt a little tired.
Xu Zhiqian always went back to rest directly.
At this time, it was already night.
Under the candlelight, a long shadow swayed in the hall.
"Um, ma'am... ma'am?"
"ah?"
Gao Wenyin stopped immediately, turned her head to look at Zhang Fei, and asked nervously: "Husband, what did you say?"
"Uh..." Zhang Fei blinked: "I just want to ask, Madam, why are you walking around so much? It's a bit dazzling."
I muttered to myself, "Why don't you look in the mirror? Don't you know how attractive your figure is? If you really make me angry, I will send Shi Tingxiu in first, force you to submit, and then get him out."
Hmm... this is a really good plan.
Alas....Why can't I do such a despicable thing
"I... ."
Gao Wenyin blushed and said, "Husband, how long do you think we have to wait for the verdict?"
As a woman from the county, her understanding of a lawsuit should be that the verdict should be made on the same day.
Now that the verdict has not been made, she is even more nervous and restless.
Just at this moment, Xu Zun and Xu Zhiqian came into the room.
Xu Zhiqian, who changed back into her daughter's clothes, looked particularly bright and charming.
"My benefactor!"
Gao Wenyin quickly bowed and opened her mouth, but she didn't dare to say anything.
Xu Zun smiled and said, "I know what Madam Zhang wants to say, but the result may take several days to come, so you don't need to be too anxious."
"A few days?"
Gao Wenyin said nervously.
Xu Zhiqian smiled and said, "Madam Zhang, please rest assured. Your husband is very capable and nothing will happen to him."
“Thanks for the compliment!”
Zhang Fei came over and gave Xu Zhiqian a praising look, and then said, "My benefactor, Madam Xu, please take a seat."
Gao Wenyin was also very considerate and said quickly, "I'll ask Xiaotao to prepare some refreshments."
Zhang Fei nodded.
After Gao Wenyin left, Zhang Fei asked Xu Zun again: "My benefactor, what is the situation in the court now?"
"What else can I do?"
Xu Zun smiled bitterly: "It's a huge quarrel! But Wang Jiefu has helped you share a lot of criticism. They have been arguing from lawsuits to reforms, and from reforms to the laws of our ancestors. Everyone has been arguing until their voices are hoarse. You see, I only come back after dark. I don't think it will be easy to get any results in a short time."
Zhang Fei asked, "I wonder what Grand Secretary Sima has to say about this?"
Xu Zun was slightly stunned: "Sima Junshi still seems to hope that everyone will pay more attention to this lawsuit. He doesn't seem to say much about Wang Anshi's new law."
At this point, he paused and said, "Although you performed very well in the court, you must not get carried away. This matter is really uncertain. Even the ministers who support Wang Jiefu's reforms are still very opposed to the ancestral law you mentioned."
Zhang Fei smiled confidently and said, "Don't worry, benefactor. I may not win, but I will definitely not lose."
Xu Zhiqian asked: "Why is this?"
Xu Zun also said: "Although I can see that Sima Junshi is secretly supporting you, at least he didn't trip you up, but the affairs of the court are not as simple as you think. The real game is never played in court."
Ultimately, it's a power game.
Zhang Fei said: "I don't really understand the complicated things in the court, but I can guess what one person is thinking."
"Who?" Xu Zun asked.
Xu Zhiqian suddenly asked: "Could it be the government?"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Smart!"
Xu Zun suddenly came to his senses, "Yes! The emperor definitely supports your statement. Good! Good! In fact, your statement seems to be helpful to Wang Jiefu and Sima Junshi, but the real beneficiary is the emperor."
The laws of our ancestors have the greatest constraints on whom.
Of course it’s the emperor!
Who else could it be
It has nothing to do with Zhang Fei.
Today's ancestral law is just a pocket law that binds the emperor tightly.
If the ancestral laws were made into regulations and concrete, the emperor would certainly have greater freedom.
Because the emperor can formulate specific policies based on the specific laws of his ancestors to avoid others using the laws of his ancestors as excuses.
The situation is unclear and the emperor doesn't know whether this violates the ancestral laws.
The ministers have the final say.
Shenzong was an ambitious emperor who wanted to break free from his shackles. The ancestral law defined by Zhang Fei was very consistent with his philosophy, so it was no wonder that the emperor would support Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei laughed and said, "If I use the law of our ancestors to sue someone, but it is not good for the government, how can I succeed?"
Xu Zun smiled and nodded, "You are really a far-sighted guy!"
He has always admired Zhang Fei for this, as he has strategies that are not in line with his age.
Xu Zhiqian asked: "But what I arranged before was to force the court to find out the real murderer. If the government supports you, will you win the case directly?"
Xu Zun waved his hand and said, "That will never happen. If we directly judge Zhang San as the winner, it will make the court lose face and the ministers will not agree to it. The emperor may support Zhang San's statement after this case."
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Then let them fight for a while. After they have gotten what they want, we can throw Feng Qi, Daniu, and Long Wu to Kaifeng Prefecture and let them figure it out."
He knew that this lawsuit needed to ferment because someone needed to get something out of it.
… .
Not long after Xu Zun returned home, Wang Anshi also went home in a carriage. Anyway, the old man always had to finish his last shift before leaving.
"Master, this is going even smoother than we thought!"
Lu Huiqing said excitedly.
Wang Anshi smiled and asked, "What do you mean?"
Lu Huiqing said: "If the laws of our ancestors are meant to prevent corruption, then the current corrupt policies should be corrected immediately. Doesn't this provide a good reason for our teacher to reform? The key is that this is also extremely beneficial to Your Majesty, so Your Majesty will definitely agree to it."
You must know that in history, when Wang Anshi launched his reforms, he first denied the laws of his ancestors, which led to his being criticized by Confucian scholars and even affected his historical status. Now that Zhang Fei has done this, the laws of his ancestors will definitely support his reforms.
This was something he had not thought of before.
In court, he was very excited. No matter what others thought, he regarded himself as the winner.
The key point is that this really benefits the emperor, and his reforms also require the emperor's support.
It's such a wonderful moment.
Wang Anshi stroked his beard and laughed, "Yes! Zhang San, you really didn't disappoint me."
Lu Huiqing nodded and said, "To be honest with you, Master, I was a little worried about that kid before, but now it seems that he is indeed on your side."
Wang Anshi nodded and said, "Such a talent cannot be let go!"
Then he turned to Lu Huiqing and said, "By the way! You have to quickly formulate the law of conscription and the law of equal distribution of labor. I believe the time will come soon."
Lu Huiqing nodded and said, "Teacher, please rest assured. I will never let you down."
... ..
How happy Wang Anshi was, how depressed the conservatives were.
This result was unacceptable to them.
How could it turn out like this
Looking back, it's like a nightmare.
Tang Mansion.
"That guy is clearly on Wang Jiefu's side. Look at how excited Wang Jiefu is. He is clearly well prepared."
Lu Hui was so angry that he paced back and forth in the hall, saying indignantly: "Wang Jiefu really overestimates his own abilities. If the taxes of the rich were so easy to collect, why would it be Wang Jiefu's turn to collect them? If he can't collect them, the officials won't be able to do their job, and he will have to force the people to pay. This is simply wishful thinking on his part."
Tang Jie glanced at Sima Guang and said, "Junshi! I also think Xian Ke's words make sense. Since ancient times, it has been easy for the court to increase taxes, but difficult to reduce taxes. Wang Jiefu said that he was thinking about the poor, but in the end he also found ways to increase taxes.
Once the tax goes up, it will be more difficult to reduce it.
What Xian Ke said before was right. Why has the current corvée law become what it is now? Isn't it also forcing the upper class to serve? He is fighting poison with poison, and the consequences will only be more serious. "
Sima Guang frowned and asked, "What do you think of the ancestral law mentioned by Zhang Fei?"
The two men's expressions changed.
Tang Jie whispered, "I don't deny that what Zhang San said makes sense, and this is also the original intention of Taizu and Taizong. But if the ancestral law is summarized into this one, what reason can we have to persuade the emperor?"
Lu Hui said: "Why would Zhang San say that? Can't Junshi see that? He wants to use the ancestral law to give Wang Jiefu a reason to reform."
Sima Guang then asked: "Do you think the policy mentioned by Wang Anshi before is a good policy or a bad policy?"
“It must be bad policy!”
Lu Hui was very firm in his words.
Wang Anshi hadn't said much before, but after what he said today, he was even more resolute in opposing Wang Anshi's reforms.
Sima Guang nodded and said, "Then does the law of our ancestors support or oppose his reform?"
Lu Hui was stunned for a moment and asked, "What do you mean?"
Sima Guang sighed, "It seems that the government has made up its mind. It is impossible to stop Wang Jiefu. The people also hope that the court can make changes. In this case, why not let Wang Jiefu give it a try? If it is a good policy, we will admit our mistakes to him. But if it is a bad policy, we must not let him do whatever he wants."
Lu Hui exclaimed, "The ghost of the Qingli New Deal is still lingering. You are also aware of the split in the court at that time. It was so terrible. If we are not careful, we will be doomed. If Wang Jiefu messes up the country, are you sure you can restore it?"
Sima Guang glanced at him and said, "I am thinking about this issue now."
... ...
Palace!
It's late at night.
Zhao Xu stood in front of the desk, splashing ink.
"Your Majesty, it is already three o'clock in the morning. It is time to rest."
The eunuch holding the lamp whispered a reminder.
Zhao Xu said nothing and wrote for a while before putting his pen down.
But what he was writing was a book, and on the first page of the book, there was a passage with ink that had not yet dried.
It was exactly the edict from Emperor Taizong.
Zhao Xu looked at it for a long time, then shook his head and said, "Putting it up there doesn't seem solemn enough."
Then he said to the young eunuch holding the lamp, "Go and give me the copy of Song Dynasty Criminal Code."