"Shrimp and pig heart?"
Zhang Fei looked at Sima Guang with a silly look on his face, "Master Sima, this... is this the name of a dish?"
Sima Guang walked over, with a smile on his face, but his sharp eyes seemed to say, "Don't act so young in front of me, it's not like we haven't fought before."
Zhang Fei coughed awkwardly: "Maybe... maybe what Sima Daxueshi said was to kill people and destroy their hearts. That's true. They have already restricted my qualification to sue, but they still want to beat me and kill me. This is really killing people and destroying their hearts!"
Sima Guang chuckled and said, "This is not called killing someone and destroying their heart, but it is self-inflicted evil, which cannot be saved. Alas... I have worked with him for so many years, and only then did I realize that he is narrow-minded."
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "This is all because of my low status. If I were higher, maybe this wouldn't happen."
"Ha ha!"
Sima Guang laughed a few times and said nothing: "Since you can see through everything, why do you reject Wang Jiefu's kindness?"
Zhang Fei was surprised and asked, "What do you mean by turned away?"
Sima Guang said, "I heard that Wang Jiefu wanted to recommend you for officialdom, but you refused. How many people want to be officials but cannot? Why don't you cherish this great opportunity?"
Zhang Fei was stunned, and half-truthfully sighed, "I have no achievements, and no family background. Even if I enter the government, I'm afraid I can only run errands for others. Rather than going to the court and getting frustrated, I'd rather stay in the market and be free and easy."
"Free and easy?"
Sima Guang shook his head and said, "You have offended so many people. I am afraid it will be difficult for you to be free and at ease!"
Zhang Fei said: "If you enter the officialdom, you will probably die a more miserable death. The stone beside the toilet is smelly and hard, and it may trip you from time to time, but no one will touch it. The porcelain cup on the table is exquisite and expensive, but it will eventually be broken, such as the porcelain cup in Wang Sinong's house."
Sima Guang laughed and nodded, "In fact, I have the same opinion as you. I also think that the identity of an ear-pen citizen is more suitable for you now. Entering the officialdom will restrict your talents and be detrimental to your future."
Zhang Fei was a little puzzled and asked, "When did Grand Secretary Sima care about me so much?"
Sima Guang glanced at him and said, "Why? Do you think I am the unreasonable person? Or the petty person?"
"I dare not." Zhang Fei turned and asked, "Grand Scholar Sima finally agreed with the verdict of the Ayun case?"
He knew that in history, Sima Guang was very upset about this case.
This is also the grudge between him and Sima Guang.
Sima Guang snorted, "Don't even think about it. In the case of Ayun, I just lost, but I'm not wrong. You just won, but you're not right."
Zhang Fei bowed and said, "Thank you for your understanding, Grand Secretary Sima. I'm not trying to prove that I'm right. I just want to repay you for saving my life."
Sima Guang smiled and nodded, "I know that. In fact, after a few recent events, I have also discovered that you are not a bad person. Moreover, at such a young age, you are not afraid of the powerful and dare to fight for fairness. This is really rare and precious. No wonder Xu Zhongtu thinks highly of you."
Is this old fox trying to trick me? Zhang Fei said with a smile, "I am really flattered that the Grand Secretary Sima suddenly praised me like this!"
Sima Guang laughed and said, "It's wrong to scold you, and it's not right to praise you. What do you want?"
Zhang Fei hurriedly said: "Then it's better to praise."
Sima Guang added: "In fact, regarding the case of Li Si, the right to restrict litigation, and the case of Wang Wenshan, I support you. At the same time, I also hope that you can use your talents to redress the grievances of more wronged people."
Zhang Fei's eyes flashed with doubt, but he sighed heavily: "I do want to, but now I can't even go to court, how can I speak up for the people."
Sima Guang looked at him sideways.
Zhang Fei felt a little guilty when he was looked at by him, "Why is Sima Daxueshi looking at me like this?"
Sima Guang chuckled and said, "Wang Wenshan has already been expelled from the capital, but you still refuse to give up and come here early in the morning to kick him. At the beginning, he only restricted your right to sue, but you took out a mortgage and made him sleepless at night. You are willing to endure this humiliation. I'm afraid you have already obtained the right to sue. Even if you haven't, it will probably be soon."
Wow... How long has this old fox been observing me? Zhang Fei said hurriedly: "Sima Daxueshi thinks too highly of me. I did that for survival, not for fighting."
Sima Guang said: "Okay! I will help you get the qualification to sue. It's just a piece of cake."
"Ah? Well, no reward without merit. Besides, I dare not trouble Sima Grand Secretary with such a small matter." Zhang Fei laughed.
He wanted to vent his anger himself. If Sima Guang helped him, he would not be happy. The key point was that he had already obtained the right to sue, so he just had to see when to give them a surprise.
Sima Guang pointed at Zhang Fei, "You kid...!"
He is obviously trying to win me over. What on earth do I have that he wants? Never mind. I have nothing to lose anyway. Since he wants to win me over, I will get the benefits first.
Zhang Fei didn't care about being used at all, because this just proved that he was useful. He glanced at Sima Guang and sighed, "Even if I want to get my right to sue back, what I can do is very limited. It may not even be enough to support my family."
Sima Guang asked, "What do you want?"
Zhang Fei said: "In fact, I have always had a bold idea, but I don't dare to do it. If Sima Dashi supports it, then I won't be afraid."
Sima Guang asked: "What idea?"
Zhang Fei said: "Calculate the tax."
Sima Guang looked at him suspiciously, "Tax calculation?"
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "In fact, there are only a few criminal cases throughout the year, and they are unlikely to endanger national stability. The real cause of disputes is money, and the most important one is tax.
I want to use my knowledge of tax law to help people calculate taxes and provide legal guarantees, so as to reduce the burden on the people. "
Although he spoke very vaguely, Sima Guang understood it as soon as he heard it. If this plan could be successful, it would reduce the phenomenon of arbitrary taxation to a limited extent.
It is equivalent to building a wall among the people.
This is wonderful!
It is also in line with Sima Guang's political philosophy.
After thinking for a while, Sima Guang looked up at Zhang Fei in surprise, "Is this what you came up with?"
Zhang Fei nodded.
Sima Guang asked again: "How did you come up with this idea?"
To put it in a broader sense, it means having the world in your heart is better than complaining about all the injustices in the world.
Zhang Fei said awkwardly: "I told you, Grand Secretary Sima, please don't laugh at me!"
"explain!"
"The richest businessmen in this world are basically big landowners. The reason is very simple. Land can be used to grow food and mulberry trees. Food and cloth are essential to everyone's life. Besides that, taxes are also indispensable."
"I see!"
Sima Guang suddenly realized that everyone had to pay taxes. If one person came out to guarantee it and it was successful, he would make a lot of money. He no longer had any doubts and laughed, "I didn't realize you have a talent for business."
"No way! No way!" Zhang Fei said with a simple smile: "But even the Grand Secretary Sima knows that this is not easy. If...!"
Before he could finish, Sima Guang said, "I will definitely support you. I hope this can be accomplished as soon as possible."
The tone was very firm.
Zhang Fei hurriedly bowed and said, "Thank you! Thank you!"
But I was wondering in my heart, it seems like he really wants to win me over, is it because of my talent or my looks...
Sima Guang glanced at him and suddenly asked, "By the way, there is something I have always wanted to ask you, but I haven't found the opportunity yet."
"I dare not! I dare not!" Zhang Fei said hurriedly: "Grand Secretary Sima, please tell me what you want to say."
The tone sounds different.
Sima Guang asked, "How did you convince Wang Jiefu to guarantee the mortgage?"
Zhang Fei was stunned. He didn't expect Sima Guang to ask this question. He said, "Of course, we should appeal to his emotions and reason. Officials, merchants and the court benefit from mortgage loans. How can Wang, a scholar who serves the country and the people, refuse to accept the offer?"
Sima Guang stroked his beard and smiled, "I am not referring to the pros and cons."
"Who is Sima Dashi?"
"Based on my understanding of Wang Jiefu, he should have first thought of the court doing it itself, rather than handing over the mortgage to the merchants."
It seems that there is not only naked hatred between colleagues, but also a close understanding that is better than that between husband and wife.
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Grand Scholar Wang did mention this."
Sima Guang asked hurriedly: "How did you convince him?"
Zhang Fei said truthfully: "I came up with this idea. My request is to do it for the merchants. Although Wang Daxueshi is stubborn, he is also reasonable. If he takes my suggestion and does not agree to my conditions, this is not what a gentleman does."
Sima Guang slapped his thigh and said excitedly: "So that's it!"
Zhang Fei looked at Sima Guang in surprise. What was there to be excited about
Little did he know that Sima Guang had been thinking about this problem those days. At that time, he thought that Wang Anshi had changed his character, but later he found that it was not the case. Therefore, he guessed that this idea should not have come from Wang Anshi himself, but must have been from Zhang Fei. He was also very curious about how Zhang Fei convinced Wang Anshi.
After all, he was rarely persuaded.
Sima Guang didn't notice Zhang Fei's gaze, and asked again: "If you agree to Wang Jiefu, he might give you a more generous reward?"
Zhang Fei's eyes flickered, and he said, "I am where I am today because I have never done anything that harms the country and the people. If this matter is left to the court, it would be tantamount to competing with the people for profit, and the interests of the people are the interests of the court. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it."
"well said!"
Sima Guang suddenly became excited, "Such a simple truth, how could Wang Jiefu not understand it?"
Zhang Fei pretended to be ignorant and asked, "What do you mean?"
"he... ."
Sima Guang waved his hand, "This has nothing to do with you." Then he looked at Zhang Fei again, his eyes full of admiration, feeling that they had met too late. He raised his hand and gently patted Zhang Fei's arm, "As long as you remember what I said today, I will definitely support you."
Zhang Fei hurriedly said, "Thank you, Grand Secretary Sima."