Historically, after the promulgation of the Qingmiao Law, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, the two close friends, completely broke up and became strangers. The only project they cooperated on afterwards was to drag the Song court into the quagmire of party struggles, which was eventually ended during the Huizong era and almost lasted until the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty.
This is truly a great tragedy and very regrettable.
We all clearly know where the problem lies, and we all clearly want to worry about the world before we enjoy ourselves, but the result is the opposite of what we want.
However, due to the arrival of Zhang Fei, this situation has changed a little.
The two went from being in a life-and-death struggle in the past to being in a state of both competition and cooperation now.
Zhao Xu's original arrangement was that each of you would be in charge of one thing and perform your respective duties.
But in the end, the new policy is still the main focus, with judicial reform as a supplement.
The priorities are clear.
At that time, conservatives believed that judicial reform was only used to check and balance the New Deal and had no other use.
Therefore, the cooperation between the two has achieved considerable success in Hezhong Prefecture.
But the problem is that the success of Hezhong Prefecture led to many people in the court turning to truly support judicial reform. They began to believe that judicial reform was the real way out for the Song Dynasty and should be the main focus.
At the same time, many people believed that judicial reform was more terrible than the New Deal, so they began to lean towards the New Deal.
The priorities began to become somewhat blurred.
Conflicts are bound to occur.
Last year, everyone was more cooperative than competitive. Now, Wang Anshi asked to implement the Qingmiao Law in Dongjing East Road. Although this was an established plan of the Two Prefectures Regulations Office, it was a coincidence that Hezhong Prefecture did it. But at this moment, Wang Anshi's doing this was considered a form of competition by everyone.
Some conservatives believe that the new policy will not work without the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs. They are now too lazy to oppose Wang Anshi because they now have their own hopes and fully support the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs.
But the reformists believe that the public security, procuratorial and judicial systems are built on the financial basis of my new policy. Without my new law, you cannot build the public security, procuratorial and judicial systems.
Based on these views, it can be predicted that this year there will definitely be more competition than cooperation between the two.
... ...
Hezhong Prefecture.
"Master Yuan, what did you say?"
He Chunlin jumped up from his chair. "Let...let the merchants supervise our salt debts and salt notes?"
A group of officials, including Cai Yanqing, looked at Yuan Jiang in surprise.
This is really a strange story.
Let businessmen supervise the government, are you sure you are not talking in your sleep
Yuan Jiang explained: "It's not supervision, it's just ordinary business cooperation. We can check their accounts, and they can check our accounts."
Wei Yingfang said: "That won't work either. We are officials and they are civilians. It is natural for us to investigate them, but if we let them investigate us, it will be a laughing stock."
Cai Yanqing also asked in confusion: "Master Yuan, why did you agree to them?"
Yuan Jiang said: "I am purely motivated by financial considerations. If we are willing to let merchants supervise, then merchants will be willing to accept salt debts as collateral, which will enable us to sell salt debts better and more trustworthy."
Cai Yanqing nodded: "I see."
Wei Yingfang said, "So those merchants don't trust our salt debt?"
Then he added sarcastically, "Don't they trust the public security, procuratorate and courts?"
Yuan Jiang said: "These are two different things. The reason why I am willing to trade with businessmen has nothing to do with the public security, the procuratorate and the courts. It is entirely because doing so is beneficial to the finances.
We do not intend to use the salt debt and salt notes only once. We will issue them every year afterwards. If the salt bond collector agrees, you can borrow money directly from the salt bond collector with the salt debt. Then, you will have no worries when purchasing salt debts.
As for the face issue, I think the procuratorate will be more embarrassed. "
Wei Yingfang asked, "What do you mean by this, Scholar Yuan?"
Yuan Jiang laughed and said, "I want to use this opportunity to tell the procuratorate that as long as our government is willing, anyone can come to investigate. It is not just the exclusive power of the procuratorate. And the good sale of salt debts is not the credit of the procuratorate."
After these words were spoken, the officials present nodded slightly.
The procuratorate will come to investigate anyway, so it doesn't matter if the merchants come to investigate. Besides, they all know that once the salt debts are recognized by the warehouses, the salt debts will definitely sell better. Once the finances are improved, it will all be their political achievements. Moreover, they think that issuing salt bonds to improve the finances is better than forcing them to pay taxes!
Yuan Jiang added: "In addition, the tax commissioner asked us whether the salt debt and salt notes are trustworthy?"
He Chunlin asked, "Why are they asking this?"
Yuan Jiang said: "Because someone asked the tax commissioner whether it is possible to pay taxes with salt debts or salt notes."
Everyone was silent.
Yuan Jiang asked: "Why don't you guys say anything?"
Everyone looked at Yuan Jiang eagerly again.
say what
Aren’t these salt notes and salt debts tools for making money
If everyone could use this to pay taxes, wouldn't it all be returned to them
But they couldn't object. If they did, it would tell others that the salt debt and salt notes were not trustworthy, and then who would use them
The tax director was disgusting from head to toe, including every question he asked.
Sooner or later, it will be over for them.
Their plan was indeed meticulous. Cai Yanqing silently praised this in his heart, and stepped out to smooth things over, "Didn't Scholar Yuan just say that salt debts and salt notes are not a one-time deal? If so, the people can certainly use them to pay taxes."
At this point, he paused for a moment and continued, "The flood of salt notes in the past few years was not entirely due to the government's excessive issuance of salt notes. Another reason was that the people hoarded a large number of salt notes and did not exchange them for salt. If salt debts and salt notes could be used to pay taxes, it would also provide the government with a channel to recover salt debts and salt notes."
Yuan Jiang smiled and nodded, saying, "Prefect Cai and I think the same. Besides, if we use salt debts to pay taxes, there will be no interest. We will make a profit no matter how much salt debt we recover from the taxes."
Wei Yingfang said, "Mr. Yuan, Mr. Cai, I think we should wait and see how they investigate. After all, many of our government accounts need to be kept confidential, especially in Hezhong Prefecture, which also involves military secrets."
Yuan Jiang nodded, "Then let's follow Judge Wei's advice."
He Chunlin suddenly asked, "By the way! Why hasn't the Han Temple matter come yet?"
After these words were spoken, everyone suddenly realized why the Han Temple mission had not arrived yet. They should have set off last year.
Yuan Jiang's eyes flashed with guilt, and he said, "I'm not sure about this either. I haven't received any news."
They had no idea that Han Jiang was currently enjoying flowers with his friends in Luoyang. He would not come until the matter of Hezhong Prefecture was settled. It was impossible for him to really come and overturn the imperial court's decision. Wang Anshi asked him to come to give these officials something to look forward to, so that they would not fight to the end with the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs.
However, Wang Anshi may regret doing so now.
... ...
Royal Court.
"Zhang San, I heard that Daddy has sent me a letter."
Xu Zhiqian pushed open the door and asked excitedly.
Zhang Fei nodded.
Xu Zhiqian asked: "What did Daddy say in the letter?"
Zhang Fei said: "My father-in-law said that his health is still good, and more young officials have joined their procuratorate and advocated the rule of law."
As he spoke, he handed the letter in his hand to Xu Zhiqian.
“This is a good thing!”
Xu Zhiqian took the letter in a hurry and read it carefully. She saw that Xu Zun said in the letter that more and more young officials were joining the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs and advocating the rule of law. Her joy was immediately evident on the paper. But when she saw the end, she couldn't help but frowned slightly, "Master Wang may soon implement the Qingmiao Law in Dongjing East Road."
Unless there was a particularly important letter, Xu Zun seldom wrote to Zhang Fei. However, the implementation of the new law was closely related to the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs. Xu Zun learned that Wang Anshi might implement the new law in Dongjing East Road as soon as possible. This was a signal of parting ways, so he immediately wrote to Zhang Fei.
Xu Zhiqian secretly glanced at Zhang Fei, and seeing that Zhang Fei was just playing with the teacup in his hand, she couldn't help but ask: "You...what do you think?"
Zhang Fei tilted his head to look at her and said with a smile, "In fact, from the beginning to the end, Master Wang never intended to cooperate. When I came to Hezhong Prefecture, in Master Wang's eyes, it was us who cooperated with them."
Xu Zhiqian said: "But at present, it seems that the new law is very successful in cooperating with the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs."
Zhang Fei said: "When we were in the capital, the cooperation of the two laws also made the exemption law a great success, but Wang Xueshi did not think that this was the success of the new law. Perhaps he feels the same way now."
Xu Zhiqian asked again: "If the new law is separated from the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs, can it succeed?"
Zhang Fei hesitated for a moment and said, "It depends on how Master Wang will handle it, but I think there will always be some problems."
Xu Zhiqian said anxiously: "Then quickly write a letter to persuade Master Wang."
"it's useless."
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "I was able to persuade Master Wang to accept my suggestion because it would benefit the new law..."
Before he could finish, Xu Zhiqian said hastily: "Now the new law can cooperate with the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs, and it can also benefit the new law!"
Zhang Fei said: "But it is also possible that the new law will be completely destroyed. First of all, Master Wang has to take care of a large group of people. Those people support Master Wang's new policy for the sake of wealth and glory, but if they cooperate with the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs, their use may not be that great. In this case, why do they still support Master Wang
In addition, everyone will give credit to the public security, procuratorate and courts. Such remarks had already appeared when the exemption law was implemented in Tokyo.
Mr. Wang not only has to consider his own interests, but also political considerations. If I write to him to persuade him to cooperate with the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs, I can guarantee that it will backfire...!"
Having said this, he was suddenly stunned, then stood up abruptly.
Xu Zhiqian was startled, "What are you doing?"
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "You are right. I should write a letter to persuade Master Wang. Please help me write it."
Xu Zhiqian said: "But didn't you just say that writing a letter would be counterproductive?"
After that, she suddenly looked at Zhang Fei warily, "You... Are you expecting Master Wang to fail?"
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "I never expected Wang Xueshi to fail. I just thought he wouldn't listen to me. But if I don't write it, it seems that it would be unreasonable."
"Yeah?"
Xu Zhiqian looked at Zhang Fei suspiciously.
"Write it! Write it!"
Zhang Fei urged.
Xu Zhiqian curled her lips and thought, this guy must be up to something again.
... ...
When everyone's attention was focused on the New Deal and judicial reform, they overlooked a very critical office, an office that could truly check and balance the imperial court.
And this government office is the Legislative Council.
According to the original agreement, the Grand Court President's power to make precedents was actually granted by the Legislative Council, because the Legislative Council was to revise relevant penalties based on the legal system. However, only Zhang Fei understood this, so he was given the power to make precedents. However, whether it can eventually become a written law depends on the Legislative Council.
All judgments of the Hezhong Prefecture Imperial Court, including those of Cai Bian and others, will be sent to the Legislative Council as soon as possible.
During this year, Fu Bi did nothing and did not care much about government affairs. He devoted all his energy to amending the law. Gradually, he had become the biggest supporter of the legal system in the court.
This year has passed, and the Legislative Council must also show some results to Zhao Xu.
Chuigong Hall.
There were only two people, Zhao Xu and Fu Bi, the emperor and his minister.
"This is the law that the Legislative Council has revised in the past year based on the law of the rule of law and the ruling of the Chief Justice of Hezhong Prefecture. Please review it."
Fu Bi presented a thick memorial and said, "This amendment changes eight death sentences to prison terms, commutes thirty-two prison terms, cancels sixteen prison terms and replaces them with fines, and cancels seventy-six mole penalties."
Zhao Xu was slightly shocked after hearing this. "Can reducing so many punishments still deter the people?"
Fu Bi stroked his beard and said, "Your Majesty, in troubled times, severe punishments are used, but now the country has long been stable, and many punishments will only backfire. This is why almost every monarch of our Song Dynasty, from Taizu to now, has issued an imperial decree to reduce some punishments, such as pardoning the death penalty for selling illegal tea and illegal wine. This time, I will incorporate all these imperial decrees into the laws.
The reduction of prison sentences and molestation is based on the concept of civil litigation under the rule of law. Most disputes between the people are mainly resolved by protecting the interests of both parties without resorting to criminal penalties. "
In fact, there has always been widespread debate in the judicial circles of the Song Dynasty about severe and cautious punishment. Although Wang Anshi was a legalist, he was actually more inclined to cautious punishment in this regard. Especially in recent years, those who support cautious punishment have occupied an absolute majority. They believe that many punishments are a bit too severe.
For example, selling private salt is punishable by death, but the people in some areas cannot afford the official salt and can only make their own private salt. This puts the government in a dilemma. The crime is not punishable by death, but the law requires the death penalty. However, since this involves finances, no one dares to take the blame.
It has been slowly being revised over the past few years, but it has not been revised in a systematic way.
This is why the rule of law can win people's hearts so quickly.
Zhao Xu glanced at Fu Bi and nodded: "So that's it."
He knew very well that Fu Bi incorporated the imperial edict into the laws in the hope of preventing the emperor from interfering with the law again. It would be best not to issue the imperial edict, and let the Legislative Council do this task.
However, Zhao Xu had already compromised on this issue. Although it seemed that this deprived the emperor of his legislative power, the final result of the Legislative Council still had to be approved by the emperor to be effective, so the power was still in the hands of the emperor.
All of this was designed before Zhang Fei left.
The two seem to have little difference, but they are actually very crucial. This is to prevent the emperor from being willful and issuing imperial edicts to directly interfere with the law. This is the most sensitive thing in the judicial world and also the worst.
Of course, the reason why Zhao Xu compromised was because the Council of State often rejected his edicts, which made him very unhappy.
Fu Bi added: "But most of these regulations can only be implemented in prefectures with public security, procuratorial and judicial organs. Only a small number of regulations involving the death penalty and severe punishment can be popularized throughout the country."
Zhao Xu asked: "Why is this?"
Fu Bi replied, "This is because many regulations are modified based on the review system of the public security, procuratorial and judicial systems. For example, the lawsuit about judicial interpretation that was finally sent to the imperial court of Hezhong Prefecture involved 'freely following private contracts and officials not taking action'. If it is implemented without the public security, procuratorial and judicial systems, it may give the government the power to bully the people."
Zhao Xu nodded slightly and suddenly asked, "What do you think of the implementation of the Qingmiao Law in Dongjing East Road, Mr. Fu?"
Fu Bi was startled, looking a little surprised, "Hasn't the emperor decided to adopt Wang Jiefu's suggestion?"
Zhao Xu sighed, "It's like this. The governor of Qingzhou sent someone to deliver an urgent memorial, begging me to implement the public security law in Qingzhou first, and then let the Qingmiao law be implemented in Qingzhou."
Fu Bi blinked, "Ou... Uncle Ouyang Yong?"
Zhao Xu nodded.
Alas... This Ouyang Yongshu has not changed at all, and he only fears that the world will not be in chaos, but this fire can be burned. Fu Bi thought for a while, and sighed secretly, forget it, if I say a few more words, it will definitely make Wang Jiefu unhappy, and it will cause trouble to the Legislative Council. He said to Zhao Xu: "This old minister has been revising the law for nearly a year, and I don’t know much about government affairs. I have not been able to share the worries of the king. Please forgive me.
”
Zhao Xu hurriedly said: "Mr. Fu's ability to stay in the capital is already the greatest support to me."
But he already had a plan in mind.
On the second day, Zhao Xu called Wang Anshi again and showed him Ouyang Xiu's memorial, saying that Ouyang Xiu was a veteran of three dynasties after all, and he had to consider the Buddha's face even if he had to consider the monk's face. So the Qingmiao Law would not be implemented in Qingzhou for the time being.
Wang Anshi didn't say anything. After all, Ouyang Xiu's seniority was there. If Zhao Xu wanted to agree, he didn't have much to do. After all, this was just a trial, and losing a state would not affect anything.
But he was full of anger and hated Ouyang Xiu to the core. People always beat the drowned dog, but I haven't even fallen into the water yet and I'm just rising up, and you're hitting me with a stick.
This is outrageous.
When he returned to the Regulations Office of the Two Prefectures, he met two lobbyists, Lu Gongzhuo and Chen Shengzhi.
Before, Lu Gongzhe had always been caught between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, but after the Qingmiao Law, he began to lean towards Sima Guang's side, and some gaps appeared in his relationship with Wang Anshi. He tried to persuade Wang Anshi several times, but Wang Anshi ignored him.
Chen Shengzhi originally supported Wang Anshi, but he also had some reservations about the Qingmiao Law.
"Jiefu! It seems that the new policy is very successful in Hezhong Prefecture, proving that the new law is the best policy to cooperate with the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs. Why don't you continue to cooperate with Sima Junshi?"
Lu Gong said this earnestly.
Chen Shengzhi nodded and said, "Jiefu, don't be disturbed by those rumors. Those people are deliberately trying to sow discord. You have to put the overall situation first."
Both of them were against the Qingmiao Law, but they believed that if it was coordinated with the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs, the Qingmiao Law would be reassuring, so they wanted to persuade Wang Anshi to wait a little longer.
But they had no idea that Wang Anshi was already filled with rage. If it had been Sima Guang, the two would probably have fought.
Wang Anshi glanced at the two of them. Considering their friendship over the years, he did not want to break up with them. He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and said, "This is not my fault. This is Sima Junshi's fault. We have our own plans for setting up the two prefectures' regulations office. And the reason why I chose Dongjing East Road is because Sima Junshi had sent Fan Chunren to establish a procuratorate there a long time ago. Two years have passed, and the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs in Dengzhou are not as good as those in Hezhong Prefecture. I don't know what they are doing.
Moreover, the court's problem has always been financial insufficiency, not public security. Although the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs are of some help to the new policy, they should have cooperated with me. As a result, I am accommodating them now, but they are still dragging their feet. I can't wait any longer. If there is a big problem with the finances, who will bear the responsibility?"
This is very reasonable. The problem lies in finance. Improving finance is the top priority. If we wait for Sima Guang, it will take a long time. Are you going to make up for the fiscal deficit
Chen Shengzhi hurriedly said, "I'll go and urge Junshi."
"Don't go. It's no use urging you every day." Wang Anshi waved his hand.
Lu Gongzhuo said again: "But your Qingmiao method does have problems."
Wang Anshi couldn't stand it when he heard this. He smiled coldly, "Yes! There is a problem! So after I went to Hezhong Prefecture, those big landlords were afraid of me like a tiger, and even resisted my Qingmiao Law by offering low prices. Speaking of this, I really have to thank the public security, procuratorate and courts. Are they cooperating with the new policy?"
Lu Gong was also anxious: "Why don't you listen to advice? If the Qingmiao Law is implemented in Dongjing East Road, and something goes wrong, the new law may be ruined."
Wang Anshi said: "As long as you don't cause trouble, there will be no problems with this new policy. When I designed the new policy, there were no public security, procuratorial and judicial organs yet."
"you... !"
Lu Gongzhe also got angry and stood up, "It's unreasonable."
Having said that, he left angrily.
Chen Shengzhi hesitated for a moment, then stood up and said, "Jiefu, please think about it again."
Wang Anshi said: "Don't think about it, I have already decided."
After seeing this, Chen Shengzhi said no more, shook his head, sighed, and walked out.
As soon as they left, Lu Huiqing came into the room and asked, "Master, are they here to persuade you to cooperate with the public security, procuratorate and courts?"
Wang Anshi slammed the table hard. "How could they know that I had already changed the strategy in Hezhong Prefecture and used the promotion of the Ministry of Revenue to increase fiscal revenue, so that it seemed that the public security, procuratorate and courts played a big role. If I hadn't asked Yuan Houzhi to cooperate with them, how could they have survived? Speaking of this, it's all Zhang San's fault. He came up with these bad ideas, and now everyone thinks that it's the public security, procuratorate and courts that have made a difference."
He was feeling very aggrieved. Speaking objectively, in Hezhong Prefecture, the new policy had indeed been cooperating with the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs, and was not hesitant to change its own strategy. If Wang Anshi had not agreed, would Yuan Jiang have made concessions repeatedly
If Yuan Jiang had not made concessions at the beginning, the public security, procuratorate and courts would have been in trouble and it would have been impossible for them to gain a foothold so quickly.
But now everyone thinks that this is the credit of the public security, procuratorial and judicial departments. On the surface, this is true because the government has been forced to abide by the imperial court's judgment.
Wang Anshi has always been proud and arrogant, so he could not tolerate such injustice. Moreover, such remarks had a very bad impact on the new policy.
Lu Huiqing said: "Prime Minister Ji has already made his position clear before, that he does not support the Qingmiao Law, so there is no need for you to be angry with him."
"I'm not mad at him."
Wang Anshi waved his hand and said, "I was irritated by Ouyang Yongshu."
"Uncle Ouyang Yong?"
Lu Huiqing was stunned. "Isn't he in Qingzhou?"
Wang Anshi then informed Lu Huiqing of Ouyang Xiu's memorial to the emperor.
"ah?"
Lu Huiqing was dumbfounded. "Isn't this treating state affairs as a joke? The new policy is a national decision. How can we not implement it just because a prefect refuses to do so?"
Wang Anshi sighed, "But Ouyang Yongshu is not an ordinary official. He is a veteran of three dynasties. Moreover, the emperor's intention is to let us speak with our achievements and convince people with our achievements. This time, we must not make mistakes in promoting the Qingmiao Law in Dongjing East Road."
Lu Huiqing immediately said: "Master, please rest assured. Currently, many officials in Dongjing East Road have changed their minds to support our Qingmiao Law."
"Yeah?"
Wang Anshi said.
Lu Huiqing nodded and said, "Now that they have heard about what the public security, procuratorate and courts have done in Hezhong Prefecture, they have all changed their minds to support our new policy, hoping that we can stop the public security, procuratorate and courts."
Wang Anshi was immediately amused, "These people are really parasites of the country!"
Lu Huiqing asked in surprise: "Why did Master...?"
Wang Anshi said: "Their reasons for opposing the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs are exactly the same as their reasons for opposing our new policies before. It is obvious that these people are extremely selfish and have no regard for the country and the monarch."
After that, he added: "But we can use it to urge them to strictly implement the Qingmiao Law." a>vas>div>Scan the code to download Hongxiu and Xiaoxiang to send benefits to newcomers for a limited time and free reading div>div>div>