This order caused a huge uproar.
This ban issued by the government immediately caused an uproar in the countryside.
Because of this ban, it can be said to be very rare, but it can also be said to be very common.
The relationship between the gentry and the emperor was not just a relationship between the ruler and the people, but also a cooperative relationship.
Generally speaking, gentry would cooperate with the court and even executed many government orders that they did not support in their hearts. This shows that gentry still obeyed government orders.
But often the imperial court would just issue policies, such as lending at low interest rates. In the past, it would directly prohibit this, and would not say that the clan system had no right.
Because the clan system is the only system for gentry to maintain rural stability, and it is also the basis for rural self-governance.
The emperor is very tolerant of the clan system. As long as it does not affect my regime, you can do whatever you want. Even if it means throwing you into a pig cage, the court will not interfere. If officials want to intervene, that is their business.
Because the country is so large and customs vary from place to place, it is impossible to rule by one law. The clan system is a very good supplement to the great unified dynasty.
The two sides have a high degree of tacit understanding.
But this time was different. This time the government issued a direct order, clearly stating that the clan system had no right to do so.
This is extremely rare.
Those gentry were already prepared to respond. After all, Yuan Jiang had already made harsh remarks, and they were also ready to fight. However, they did not expect Yuan Jiang to be so cruel and directly issue a ban on the clan system.
This is the rhythm of turning defense into offense!
This has led to unprecedented unity within the village.
More than thirty local gentry rushed directly to the government office.
"Yuan Houzhi, why do you do this?"
Liang Youyi glared at Yuan Jiang and questioned him angrily.
An old man with white hair and beard named Xu Bangsheng also said: "Master Yuan, what you did is really too much."
They all fixed their eyes on Yuan Jiang, pretending that Cai Yanqing beside them did not exist.
But in fact, this ban was issued by the government office, not the Transportation Bureau.
But everyone knows that it was the Transportation Bureau that forced the government to issue this ban.
Cai Yanqing would definitely not do that.
"Excessive?"
Yuan Jiang suddenly raised his hand and slammed the table, startling the old men present. "Who is going too far? Usury has been rampant for a long time, and you have ignored it. However, the court has just announced the implementation of the Qingmiao Law in Hezhong Prefecture, and you immediately set an interest rate of 1.5% even though you knew that the Qingmiao Law stipulates an interest rate of 2%. Does it mean that the court's loan in your village is a violation of your clan law? What are you trying to do? Rebellion?"
I charge an interest rate of 2%, but your clan law stipulates an interest rate of 1.5%. If I lend money in your village and don't pay it back, I'm breaking the law!
An old man with a ruddy face and a slightly plump figure hurriedly said, "Houzhi, you have misunderstood. Our clan law only regulates the few families in the village. If outsiders lend money in the village, our clan law has no right to control it, let alone the court."
These people can be said to be legal professionals.
When they were formulating this clan law, they also considered various issues. They must not give the government any handle to catch them. In the regulations, they only prohibited villagers, but did not say that outsiders were not allowed to lend money at high interest rates in the village.
But the villagers all believed that no one was allowed to lend money at high interest rates in the village.
In fact, it is not accurate.
"There is no misunderstanding."
Yuan Jiang said: "Everyone knows it very well. I am not a child. Please don't tell others that I am doing this to help the court crack down on usury."
"Assisting the court is one thing, but on the other hand, we have long been dissatisfied with the usury exploitation of villagers. We really don't know what's wrong with doing this?" Liang Youyi said shamelessly.
Yuan Jiang sneered: "There is nothing wrong with the government doing this."
"You are just making up stories." Xu Bangsheng frowned and asked, "Who gave you this authority?"
Yuan Jiang raised his hands to the sky and said, "Of course it's the government?"
"Really? Is this an imperial decree issued by the government?" Xu Bangsheng asked immediately.
Yuan Jiang said: "Why bother the government with such a small matter? But the government definitely has the power to do so. Otherwise, you can also make regulations in your clan law to allow private brewing and salt making."
"You are just making a fuss." Liang Youyi said, "How can this be the same thing? The court has clear regulations on brewing and salt making, but the court stipulates that the interest rate is between 5% and 6%. Below this, it should be allowed. As for the Qingmiao Law, it is just a court policy or a business, not a law."
They are all veterans in the officialdom and their words are clear and logical.
Yuan Jiang was not a pushover either, and said with a smile, "You also said that the court stipulated that the interest rate was 5% or 6%, but you stipulated an interest rate of 1.5%. What will the people think? Is the court not as benevolent as you? Why are you so eager to win people's hearts?"
"You are slandering me."
Liang Youyi said: "Everyone knows that this 1.5% interest rate can benefit the villagers, but the court prohibits us from lending at low interest rates for its own benefit. Isn't the court afraid of losing the support of the people?"
Yuan Jiang smiled and said, "My ban is not to prohibit you from lending at low interest rates. Of course you can do so, and the government also encourages it. I just don't allow you to include this interest rate in the clan law. You are doing it in such a big way, how can I not suspect that you have ulterior motives?"
"The court has never stipulated that we cannot do this."
“Now it’s stipulated.”
"You... you don't have the power?"
"You have no right to disobey government orders."
"We don't have it, but we have the right to write to the court and ask for clarification."
"Please do as you wish. But please remove this rule from the clan law as soon as possible."
"You're not going to succeed. Goodbye."
These scholars and officials were not afraid of Yuan Jiang and just got up and left.
This time Cai Yanqing did not stand up to smooth things over. He knew it was meaningless because the other party was clearly targeting the Qingmiao Law. If they refused to give in, Yuan Jiang would not give up.
... ... .
Royal Court.
"teacher!"
When Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian entered the conference room, Cai Bian and the others stood up immediately.
Zhang Fei was startled by them, "Wow... When did you become so polite?"
The four of them looked at Zhang Fei in surprise at the same time.
When it comes to manners and behavior, we are much better than our teachers!
They dare not say anything else, but as for this question of etiquette, they asked themselves, they could definitely kill Zhang Fei in seconds. As a teacher, Zhang Fei really didn't know how to stand or sit.
But they had no time to worry about that now. Ye Zuqia said excitedly, "Teacher, have you heard?"
"What?"
Zhang Fei asked.
Ye Zuqia said: "It is the government's order to prohibit the clan law from stipulating loan interest."
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "I heard about it. Is this illegal?"
The four of them looked at each other and shook their heads at the same time.
Cai Bian said: "We don't know about this."
Zhang Fei said: "If you don't know, it's not illegal. What does it have to do with us?"
Cai Jing suddenly said: "But the students think that they might come to our imperial court to sue."
Zhang Fei glanced at him, "What do you mean?"
Cai Jing said: "They now have only two options, either to appeal to the court or to our imperial court. However, I think that appealing to the court is not very promising, because the court has just recently decided to promulgate the Qingmiao Law. If they appeal now, they may be rebuked by the court. However, from a judicial perspective, they have an advantage. Therefore, I think they will most likely come to our imperial court to appeal."
The other three people also nodded frequently.
If we appeal the whole story to the court, not to mention Wang Anshi, even Zhao Xu would curse us, saying that you are deliberately going against the court.
“Very good analysis.”
Zhang Fei smiled and nodded, "Then let's talk about it when we get here."
Ye Zuqia said: "If they really appeal to the Imperial Court and sue the Transportation Bureau, it will be a big case! Shouldn't we prepare early?"
Xu Zhiqian pursed her lips slightly and thought, your teacher has been gathering his strength for many days.
Zhang Fei suddenly asked: "Have you received your salary now?"
All four of them were stunned, then nodded.
Since I came to Hezhong Prefecture, I have been taking it all the time. Don’t you know
Zhang Fei said: "Then your task is to do well in the present, rather than preparing for things that may happen in the future. This is not a natural disaster or man-made disaster, so we still need to take precautions in advance.
There are still a lot of things that the imperial court has not yet dealt with, and you are still in the mood to think about other things. If you are so energetic, you can help out at the door and build the house. Everyone is rushing to finish the work."
"This is the student's verdict from yesterday. Please review it, teacher."
Ye Zuqia directly handed in his "homework".
Cai Bian also hurriedly changed the subject and said, "Teacher, all the cases we have been hearing recently are about debt disputes. Aren't there also many cases of disturbing the public and trespassing in the court?"
Zhang Fei said: "Every type of lawsuit will be tried by me first, and then handed over to you. What you are trying now is only a semi-finished product. After all, neither party has yet to have a defense, so don't be too ambitious."
"is teacher."
"By the way! Have you arranged all your assistants?"
“It has been arranged.”
"Then don't think about those things. If you are really bored, just teach them and talk to them about the law. They will be efficient in their work and you will feel relieved too!"
"yes."
... ..
Next, Zhang Fei carefully summarized with them the cases they had recently reviewed, and he was truly focused.
However, the four of them were still obsessed with the government's ban.
In fact, suing the government is very common nowadays, but if this matter were brought to the royal court, it would definitely be the first time in history.
Because this involves clan system, political decrees and judicial justice.
In the past, it was just a dispute over political decrees and judicial matters, which was relatively simple as everyone performed their duties. However, with the addition of clan system, it became a three-party game and became very complicated.
Because the clan system is a very special thing, it has both political and judicial attributes.
The key is that the clan system and the imperial court system are maintained by tacit understanding rather than explicit regulations.
Cai Bian and the others had no idea what to do, so they really wanted to discuss it with Zhang Fei, but Zhang Fei simply ignored them.
After the meeting, Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian left the meeting room amidst their disappointed gazes.
"If this matter really comes to the imperial court, it seems there is no chance of winning."
Xu Zhiqian said curiously.
Zhang Fei asked: "Whose side are you speaking from?"
Xu Zhiqian said: "Of course it is the Transportation Department. If they are lending at high interest rates, then there is no problem with this ban. However, the other party is now lending at low interest rates. This ban is neither popular nor reasonable."
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "There is still a fight to be had. There is no lawsuit in this world that cannot be fought."
Xu Zhiqian asked: "If I let you fight, what are your chances of winning?"
Zhang Fei said: "That depends on who the opponent is and who the chief judge is, but at least there is a 50% chance of winning."
"so tall?"
Xu Zhiqian said in surprise.
She thought that the ban was unreasonable and untenable because it was only 10% at most.
In particular, the Qingmiao Law was carried out under the banner of benefiting the people.
Isn't this just contradicting yourself
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Because there is no explicit regulation on the relationship between the two, it was previously balanced by the subjective judgment of officials. But the imperial court is based on evidence. Both sides have room for maneuver. It depends on how they will fight."
Just then, Li Si came over and said, "Third brother, Mr. Su is here."
Xu Zhiqian was stunned for a moment, and said, "Mr. Su must have come for this matter as well."
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "Maybe he has been ready for a long time."