After learning that the emperor had given in, these imperial censors were truly ecstatic.
This is truly a blessing in disguise.
Now we can accomplish our goal in one fell swoop.
As long as he won this lawsuit, Wang Anshi's reform would be aborted.
Could there be a better situation than this
It is precisely because of the huge benefits involved that they feel more nervous.
Because they had already received the news, Wang Anshi must have asked Zhang Fei to help him with the lawsuit.
Every failure makes you wiser.
Besides, this is not just one or two ditch.
Therefore, this time Liu Shu and his men no longer dared to be careless, nor did they dare to underestimate Zhang Fei. They sent the highest legal think tank in the court to help Qian Yi with advice.
They even swallowed their pride and asked to learn from Zhang Fei and prepare essays for class.
But Qian Yi was firmly opposed to doing so.
It's all in the mind.
Even the censors couldn't match Zhang Fei's tactics.
Who would copy books when debating in court
He is really not used to this rhythm.
Many imperial censors also felt that if they imitated Zhang Fei, they might end up making things worse, and that they should instead focus on what they are good at.
... ...
It’s really interesting to say that Zhang Fei was also studying their court debate records, and all these records were secretly provided to him by Wang Anshi.
With Xu Zun's level, he could only get some criminal cases, and many of the documents were not available to him. Only the Vice Prime Minister could be transferred from the Political Affairs Hall.
"That's it?"
Zhang Fei threw a document onto the table and pinched his nose, "What a waste of time!"
Xu Zhiqian was confused and said, "I think what was said above makes sense. If there is anything wrong with it, please tell me."
Zhang Fei rolled his eyes: "This is unreasonable, you put it better than them."
Xu Zhiqian said with shame: "I don't have this ability."
"Don't be modest."
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "When you said 'it's for my own good', I was speechless. They don't have the ability to do that."
Xu Zhiqian blushed and snorted, "Then... then I am right, okay? You... of course you are speechless. Humph!"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Then let me ask you, if I was taking advantage of the poor, soliciting business from the rich, helping the rich to annex land, and exploiting the people, so what? You can find ten thousand reasons to call me despicable and shameless, and that's all right. But as long as I am thick-skinned enough, these ten thousand reasons cannot constitute evidence that I have violated the law. This is the difference.
Everyone can explain the truth, and I may be able to explain it more profoundly than them. However, a lawsuit is not about reasoning, but about evidence. If they maintain this level, I can win against them even if I talk in my sleep.
Okay, I won't read it anymore. Reading too much of this will only numb me and make me proud and complacent. I'd better study the contract of my firm. I still have to make money to support my family."
"... ... ?"
... ...
On the other side, after Zhao Xu discussed with Wang Anshi, without any surprise, they decided to appoint Fu Bi as the chief judge.
First of all, they all believed that Fu Bi would conduct a fair trial without favoring any party, and both parties would agree.
Secondly, it is also hinting to Fu Bi that this is your request, so if the other party loses, he has to admit it, otherwise, you, Fu Bi, will be responsible for it.
In fact, Fu Bi didn't want to get involved. He was just trying his best to take care of the feelings of all parties and avoid party disputes. But now he had no choice but to agree.
This case was also scheduled to be heard in the Political Affairs Hall.
The reason for this arrangement is to emphasize once again that this is not a criminal or civil case, but a political event, and the public must not interfere with the court's policies.
"You came up with this idea, didn't you?"
After leaving the hall, Wang Anshi spoke coldly to Sima Guang.
Sima Guang laughed and said, "At least my method is fair and aboveboard. I am not like you, who use tyranny to deal with those who oppose you. Do you think you can fool anyone? It will only attract more people to oppose you."
Wang Anshi said proudly: "I will go even if there are tens of thousands of people against me."
Sima Guang looked disdainful and said, "You mean I will go? You mean I will kill. How can this be the way of a saint?"
Wang Anshi was also excited and said: "They are making up stories and slandering me. Am I just going to endure it and let them bully me? Is this the way of a saint?"
Sima Guang said, "You are really a bad guy who is the first to complain. When you petitioned the government to set up the Three Departments Regulations Office, have you discussed this with us?"
Wang Anshi asked, "Will you agree?"
Sima Guang said: "This means that you cannot convince the public."
Wang Anshi asked in return: "Fan Gong lived a flawless life, but he couldn't convince the public. How can you and I convince the public?"
Fan Zhongyan and his people are simply the super moderates among the reformists since ancient times.
It makes no difference.
Still, he was scolded badly.
The kingly way is useless, the only thing left is to use the tyrannical way.
Sima Guang had no way of denying it, and said, "Now we are competing in court, and you have to accept it even if you don't want to. What else do you have to complain about?"
Wang Anshi said: "I am not complaining, but I have also said before, this is just one time, you have to admit defeat, if you still pester me, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Sima Guang said, "I still say the same thing. One thing is one thing. If there is a problem with your new law, I will definitely point it out. But I can also guarantee that I will deal with it based on the facts, but I will never use the laws of our ancestors as an excuse."
Wang Anshi was puzzled and asked, "Why do you think there is something wrong with my new law?"
Sima Guang said unhappily: "Given your arrogant character, Wang Jiefu, this incident is also a warning to you. Reform is not as easy as you think. If you don't think it through, you will fail."
Wang Anshi was unimpressed: "I have never thought that reform is so easy, but... I will go even if there are thousands of people against me."
He flicked his sleeves and walked away.
... ...
Genuine bookstore.
"Saburo?"
When Hou Donglai saw Zhang Fei suddenly appear in the genuine bookstore, he felt like he had seen a ghost.
"Why are you so surprised?" Zhang Fei asked in surprise.
Hou Donglai hurriedly said: "Listen, listen... ..!"
Zhang Fei rolled his eyes: "Let's smooth out your tongue first."
Hou Donglai said: "I... I heard that you have a very important lawsuit to fight tomorrow."
Although the imperial court intended to control public opinion, the matter had already reached the Kaifeng Prefecture. No one could hide it from anyone as it had already spread throughout the capital.
Hou Donglai worked in a bookstore, so he was naturally well-informed.
"So if I come today, I will definitely be busy tomorrow."
Zhang Fei responded lightly, and then asked, "How are your preparations going?"
"ah?"
Hou Donglai seemed to have not come back to his senses yet. He nodded and said, "We are... preparing, but the movable type cannot be made in a short time."
Zhang Fei said: "I know this, so we are recruiting more craftsmen. How is the recruitment going now?"
Hou Donglai said: "It's not that fast to recruit people. We have only recruited four people so far."
"Four?"
“That’s a lot.”
“… … .!”
Zhang Fei said: "Go and find out how much the craftsmen in those small workshops can earn in a month. No matter how much, give them double the salary."
"Twice as much?" Hou Donglai asked in surprise.
Zhang Fei said: "I can't wait that long."
Hou Donglai said: "But... but this will cost a lot of money!"
Zhang Fei said: "As long as the skills are good enough, money is not a problem."
If money is not a problem, then Hou Donglai will not be a problem either.
Zhang Fei took out a few more contract templates and handed them to Hou Donglai, "Ask Master Hong and the others to make engravings based on these texts immediately."
In the past, those tea and snack merchants only did business one order at a time, but the business brought by the tax calculation business is open to everyone. Contracts can no longer be handwritten, and everything must be standardized.
These days, Zhang Fei only discussed the lawsuit after Xu Zun came back in the evening. The rest of the time, he was working on the contract text.
Hou Donglai took it and looked at it, and was immediately confused, "What are the dots on it?"
"What are dots? These are called punctuation marks."
Zhang Fei said: "It is used to punctuate sentences and mark them."
Hou Donglai said, "If you really want to break a sentence, just click it. Why do you have to click so many times? Is the contract charged by the number of words? And what are these water patterns for?"
"Water ripples?"
Zhang Fei was also confused, "What water pattern?"
"Isn't this a water pattern?" Hou Donglai pointed at the contract.
Zhang Fei tilted his head to look at it. "This is called a book title mark, and it also has watermarks. You're lucky you could come up with that. All right, let them carve it according to the above. If there's even one wrong point, I'll deduct one tael from them."
"One tael of silver?"
"Do you know that I may lose thousands of guan because of this one mistake? Is one guan a lot?"
"Okay... okay. I'll just keep a closer eye on you then."
Hou Donglai wiped his sweat and said.
Afterwards, Zhang Fei went to inspect the workshop again. The problem was still that there were not enough people. While they were making movable type, they also had to carve some book printing plates.
Because the genuine bookstores have already obtained the copyright of Su Shi, Yan Jia, and Wang Anshi, they can't wait for the movable type to be printed before printing.
Zhang Fei was also very generous and offered to give them some processing fees.
The manufacturing industry is different from the service industry. If you want to pursue efficiency and quality, you have to invest a lot of money in it.
If you are willing to pay ten times the salary, 996 is definitely a blessing. No one will complain about it. You reap what you sow.
Putting aside the salary and talking about 996, that is really more shameless than being a gangster.
Now that the firm has started to make a profit, Zhang Fei is not short of the money for the time being. He is more concerned about efficiency.
After staying inside for more than an hour and arranging the next stage of tasks, Zhang Fei left in a carriage.
“Ouch….!”
Halfway through the journey, the carriage suddenly stopped.
All I heard was a childish voice, "Are you Zhang San?"
Zhang Fei lifted the curtain and saw a little boy about ten years old standing next to the carriage, asking Li Si.
"I'm Zhang San."
"Oh, this is what an uncle asked me to give to you."
The little boy handed a letter to Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei took it.
The little boy left.
Zhang Fei opened it and saw that Tong Kong suddenly shrank. He suddenly cursed: "Fuck him! These beasts actually used this method."
Li Si was shocked to see him talking elegantly, "Third brother, what happened?"
Zhang Fei raised his head and glanced at Li Si, his brows furrowed, "Let's go to the residence of Grand Secretary Wang."
Long Wu didn't ask any questions. He just drove the carriage and changed the route to the residence of Grand Secretary Wang.
But halfway through the journey, Zhang Fei said again: "Don't go any further, let's go home first."
After returning home, Zhang Fei went straight to Xu's house.
"Didn't you go to the bookstore?"
Xu Zhiqian was a little surprised to see Zhang Fei's sudden arrival.
Zhang Fei said: "Something happened."
"What's the matter?" Xu Zhiqian asked.
Zhang Fei clenched his fists tightly: "They may have kidnapped Fang Yun."