This lawsuit was a case of much ado about nothing, with a strong start but a weak finish. The initial tone was so high, but in the end it turned out to be just a case of corruption.
Those ministers wanted to tell Zhang Fei directly that your trick of asking for a high price and then paying on the spot was really clever, and you should never use it again next time.
We can discuss everything.
However, they still don’t understand Zhang Fei. For Zhang Fei, a lawsuit is never about winning or losing, but about rights and interests.
As long as he can obtain the greatest interests for the parties involved, Zhang Fei doesn’t care whether the case is a win or a loss.
Of course, when filing a lawsuit in the Northern Song Dynasty, one had to consider one’s own safety.
He may not win the lawsuit, but he must not lose. If he loses, he may face very serious consequences.
Being an ear writer is a very dangerous profession.
... ... .
So after Zhang Fei communicated with them, Kaifeng Prefecture released Niu Beiqing, Feng Nanxi, and Longshan on the spot, and immediately returned the Shi family's house and land. At the same time, they used the Kaifeng Prefecture's decree to cancel Gao Wenyin's status as an official servant and declared the sale contract invalid.
As for the return of the historians' money and the 1,500 strings of cash, they will also be returned to them immediately. With the efficiency of the Song court at ordinary times, this matter would take a year or two to complete. This is certainly a shortcut.
When Zhang Fei brought Feng Nanxi and three others, as well as the official document home, Gao Wenyin, who had been in fear for many days, couldn't help but cry with joy.
Finally the clouds have cleared and the moon is visible.
The heart that had been hanging in the air finally settled down.
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "I hope Madam Gao will not be so sad in the future."
Gao Wenyin was startled, and her tears stopped. When she heard him change the way he addressed her, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and said with guilt, "I have caused you a lot of trouble these days. Wenyin would like to thank you for your tolerance and care."
Tears gathered in her watery almond eyes again, but this time she was grateful for the tears.
Zhang Fei just smiled and said, "This is my job. I save hundreds of people like you every year."
Xu Zhiqian rolled her eyes. This guy really knows how to brag.
But he was not exposed.
After all, it's harmless!
At this time, Niu Beiqing suddenly stepped forward, clasped his fists and bowed, "At the beginning, I was blind and didn't recognize the great man, and offended you, but fortunately you let bygones be bygones and helped us clear our grievances. I, Da Niu, hereby apologize to you. If you have anything in the future, just tell me to do it. Even if it means going through fire and water, I, Da Niu, will never frown."
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "There's no need to go through fire and water. I just hope that if I meet you robbing me on the road one day, you can let me live."
Niu Beiqing scratched his head awkwardly, "I... I'll just tell you how... how I became a robber."
Zhang Fei laughed and said, "If you don't become a bandit, you're really wasting your talent."
Shi Tingxiu burst into laughter when he heard this.
Zhang Fei suddenly glanced at Feng Nanxi, and seeing that she had remained silent, he suddenly asked, "By the way! What are your plans now?"
They all looked at Feng Nancy at the same time.
Feng Nanxi had been silent just now, as if she was worried about something. When she saw Zhang Fei looking at her, she opened her mouth and asked instead of answering, "Excuse me, is Judge Liu really the culprit?"
These words made their hearts rise.
"about this issue... ... !"
Zhang Fei frowned: "In fact, I also asked Prefect Lu, but the clues have been cut off here, and Prefect Lu also believes that the official silver is not much, and it is unlikely to involve more people, or more powerful officials."
Feng Nanxi still expressed doubt: "I have been in the government office before, and I know this very well. Even if Liu Tui is really the culprit behind the incident, we have offended many people because of this. Will we be retaliated against in the future?"
Gao Wenyin became nervous again as she listened, "Seventh Brother, this... this shouldn't be possible, right?"
Feng Nanxi frowned and said, "Even if they dare not act rashly for the time being, who can guarantee that they will not retaliate against us after this storm is over? After all, we are just ordinary people and we can never defeat them."
Xu Zhiqian, who was standing aside, glanced at Zhang Fei secretly and suddenly said, "Zhang San, I think what Brother Feng Qi said makes sense. Do you have any way to keep them safe?"
Zhang Fei said depressedly: "How can I guarantee this? I am just an informant. The only thing I can do is to help them win the lawsuit. It is not easy to achieve this."
Feng Nanxi hurriedly said, "My benefactor, I am not blaming you at all. You have done us a great favor, and we have no way to repay you. I am just worried about it."
Xu Zhiqian said again: "I do have an idea, I wonder if it will work?"
Gao Wenyin hurriedly asked, "What's your idea, Madam Xu?"
Xu Zhiqian suddenly looked at Feng Nanxi, "Brother Feng Qi, what are your plans next?"
Feng Nanxi shook her head and said, "I don't have any plans yet. I hope Madam Xu can point out a way for us?"
Xu Zhiqian then said to Zhang Fei: "Zhang San, aren't you in need of help right now? Why don't you keep them here? With you here, the government won't dare to retaliate against them easily."
Feng Nanxi and Shi Tingxiu couldn't help but look at Zhang Fei expectantly.
After this incident, they were completely in awe of Zhang Fei, who was really using Kaifeng Prefecture like a toilet.
It would be best if I could stay with him.
Zhang Fei hesitated and asked, "Are you willing to...!"
Before he could finish, Feng Nanxi and Shi Tingxiu clasped their fists and said, "We brothers are willing to serve you, sir, to repay you for saving our lives."
Niu Beiqing, who realized it later, also quickly clasped his fists.
Only Longshan remained silent.
"Okay then! You guys stay here."
Having said that, Zhang Fei suddenly looked at Gao Wenyin again.
"I... ."
Gao Wenyin seemed a little hesitant.
She originally wanted to follow her late husband, but later she promised Zhang Fei that she would not commit suicide again. However, she had not thought about the future and did not know what to do.
But then she thought about it again. Zhang Fei had done her a great favor, and now he was willing to take in Shi Tingxiu and the others. She was very grateful in her heart. She felt that she owed Zhang Fei too much and hoped to pay him back. So she bowed and said, "Wen Yin is also willing to be your servant to repay your kindness."
Zhang Fei said, "Actually, I really want to keep Madam Gao. Since Madam Gao came, my family has been well managed. If Madam Gao is willing to stay, I will be very happy to be your slave. Madam Gao, you can do whatever you want, but on the surface, can we continue to maintain a husband and wife relationship?"
"ah?"
Gao Wenyin blushed and looked a little uneasy.
Zhang Fei hurriedly explained: "This is also my fault. At the beginning, those people came to congratulate me and said that my quatrain won the beauty home, which was a good story. I also... followed their words and said a few shameless words. If they knew the truth, I'm afraid they would laugh at me all day long."
Gao Wenyin was very conflicted and glanced at Shi Tingxiu secretly.
Shi Tingxiu didn't know what to do.
Xu Zhiqian suddenly said, "Sister Gao, I have something to say, should I say it?"
Gao Wenyin hurriedly asked, "Mrs. Xu, please speak?"
Xu Zhiqian said: “I just think that in the eyes of others, you are already Madam Zhang, and as far as they know, Zhang San is also seeking justice for Madam. If Madam suddenly declares that all this is fake.
I'm afraid someone will slander Madam, saying that Madam is just using Zhang San, which will cause more trouble. Since Madam has decided to stay in the Zhang family, it's better to put this identity aside to avoid unnecessary trouble. "
However, Gao Wenyin's heart is still with the Shi family. According to etiquette and law, this matter should be decided by Shi Tingxiu.
Shi Tingxiu had no idea. He really had a hard time dealing with this matter, so he looked at Feng Nanxi.
Feng Nanxi agreed very much with Xu Zhiqian's point of view. No matter what the facts were, in everyone's eyes, Gao Wenyin was already Mrs. Zhang. Going back would damage Gao Wenyin's reputation and add a lot of trouble.
Shi Tingxiu nodded slightly.
Gao Wenyin then said, "Okay! Just... just do as you say."
After they left, Zhang Fei suddenly looked at Xu Zhiqian and said, "Thank you so much, Madam Xu."
Xu Zhiqian snorted softly, "Even if I don't say anything, they won't dare to leave you, just like Li Si did back then. The key is that I think it's good for both of you if they stay with you. And you can also owe me a favor. It's not so easy to get Zhang Sanlang now."
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "I owe you the Xu family a favor, but I'm afraid I won't be able to repay it in this lifetime. Madam Xu, why bother with this?"
"That's what I owe to my father, it's not mine." Xu Zhiqian said.
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Okay! Just consider it as something I owe you."
Xu Zhiqian's guess was correct. Zhang Fei had decided long ago to keep these people by his side, but he knew that these people could not do without him. Feng Nanxi's worries were not unreasonable. The government had caused heavy losses to many people. If there was a chance, the government would definitely retaliate against them.
I can’t do anything about Zhang San, so why should I be afraid of you, Shi Er
Therefore, he behaved very generously at the beginning.
... ...
Three days later, Kaifeng Prefecture finally announced the result of this case.
They avoided the important issues and did not mention any ancestral laws. Instead, they informed the citizens of the case in detail and announced the punishment for Liu Jing and others. They will be punished even if they die.
At the same time, he stated that he would immediately return all the property of the historian and inform the people that the emperor had decreed that the court would reform the corvée law this year to ensure that such evil cases would not happen again.
The people of Kaifeng Prefecture cried with joy and ran around to tell each other the news.
On that day, Wang Anshi surpassed Zhang Fei and became number one on the hot list.
Almost no one mentions Zhang Fei.
After all, the head follows the butt. People also know that Zhang Fei can only save his family at most. The one who can truly redress the grievances of the people of the world has to be the real man Wang Anshi!
In the previous debate, everyone knew that Wang Anshi wanted to reform.
The people are very much looking forward to it.
Wang Anshi won a great victory in this lawsuit.
This laid a very, very wonderful foundation for his reform.
The key point is that this also indicates that the reform is irreversible.
If we don't change, we will lose the trust of the people.
This shows Shenzong's determination to fight to the death.
Chuigong Hall.
The person standing here today is not Wang Anshi, but Sima Guang.
"I have decided to use Wang Jiefu to carry out reforms."
Zhao Xu said with a little guilt.
Sima Guang and Wang Anshi both proposed reform plans, and for Shenzong it was a choice between the two.
Now he chose Wang Anshi.
Sima Guang sighed in his heart, but said: "Your Majesty is willing to work hard to govern the country, which is a blessing for the people of the Song Dynasty."
In fact, he was not opposed to Wang Anshi's reforms. He was just worried because he understood Wang Anshi's temperament. Now that things had come to this, he might as well give it a try.
You can only tell whether it is a mule or a horse by trying it out.
Zhao Xu was overjoyed when he heard this and hurriedly said, "Your talent is also what I need. I also hope that you can do your best to help me govern the country. Lu Zhongcheng is ill and has taken the initiative to report that it is difficult for him to lead the Censorate. I plan to promote you to the position of Vice Minister of State Affairs and lead the Censorate."
Although nominally the prime minister of the Song Dynasty was Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, since Emperor Renzong, the Canzhi Zhengshi gradually became the real prime minister, and Tong Zhongshu Pingzhangshi became an honorary title.
It goes without saying that Wang Anshi will be promoted to the position of Vice Prime Minister by then.
This is the mind of an emperor.
There is no doubt that Zhao Xu trusted Wang Anshi, but as an emperor, he still had to balance the situation in the court.
Lu Hui was too straightforward. He had previously launched personal attacks on Wang Anshi, which fully demonstrated his personal disgust for Wang Anshi.
Everyone in the court knew that Lu Hui hated Wang Anshi very much.
The Censorate is for insulting people.
It was impossible for Zhao Xu to let Lu Hui continue to serve as the Chief Censor. Although Lu Hui was indeed ill, he did not resign on his own initiative. Instead, Zhao Xu hinted to him that if he did not leave on his own, he would be driven out.
On the contrary, Sima Guang never publicly expressed his opposition to Wang Anshi's reforms, and his argument with Wang Anshi was reasonable.
Shenzong wanted to put Sima Guang in power to appease the conservatives.
Let’s not make a fuss for now and put national interests first.
Sima Guang pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I am grateful for your grace. I also hope to continue to assist the Holy Lord, but I have other ideas."
Zhao Xu hurriedly asked, "What do you think?"
Sima Guang said: "I have been inspired by these lawsuits recently and found that the country's policies, whether they are good or bad, are ultimately reflected on the people. If there are bad policies, they will eventually be put into lawsuits. Therefore, I hope to lead the Criminal Court and assist Your Majesty in governing the country from the smallest details."
Among the current judicial and legislative departments, the Court of Criminal Justice has the greatest power. The power of the Court of Criminal Justice comes from the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple, and it has both legislative and judicial powers.
Zhao Xu's eyes lit up. Wang Anshi was in charge of the overall situation, while Sima Guang was in charge of the details. This was a good match for them, and it also suited their personalities. So he said, "I am deeply moved by your good intentions."
Having said this, he paused for a moment, "Just the position of Chief Censor?"
Regarding the position of Chief Censor, he would definitely arrange for a conservative to take over. As an emperor, no matter how much he trusted a minister, he would still keep some tricks in mind.
If the Censorate is controlled by Wang Anshi's people, who will monitor Wang Anshi then
Sima Guang had expected this, but he had originally planned to let Lu Hui continue to serve. However, he never thought that Lu Hui's straightforward nature would not hold true.
However, he had already thought of another candidate, "I suggest Duke Wen take the position."
The Wen Gong he mentioned was naturally Wen Yanbo. Now Wen Yanbo was semi-idle at home. A new emperor appointed new ministers. When Emperor Shenzong ascended the throne, he retired and was replaced by Chen Shengzhi.
Chen Shengzhi was recommended by Wang Anshi.
Sima Guang also said, "Duke Wen is wise and courageous, thoughtful, knowledgeable about laws, and also knows human nature. He once served as an imperial censor, so he is more suitable to be the chief censor than I."
Zhao Xu nodded slightly, but there was a hint of doubt in his eyes.
After all, Wen Yanbo's status is higher than Wang Anshi's, and he has even served as prime minister. If he were to lead the Censorate, wouldn't he be self-defeating
The key is that there is still one chess piece that is uncertain.