Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 19: Political correctness

How angry, angry, and ashamed this Sima Guang is, how happy Wang Anshi is as a bad friend and opponent.

A gentleman is magnanimous.

Wang Anshi didn't think there was anything to be shy about. He wasn't happy about the victory either. To continue the investigation and retrial, this lawsuit must be fought.

He just saw Sima Guang eat such a big slap, and he felt very happy. After all, he had seen Sima Guang's eloquence before, and he was rarely beaten to the point of doubting his life.

He was already laughing out loud in class, and now he is laughing all the way home.

Getting out of the carriage, I saw a middle-aged man in his thirties standing in front of the house, he was overjoyed, "Jifu!"

There is a saying that it is better to come early than coincidentally.

"Teacher."

The man also came forward immediately and made a salute.

This person's name is Lu Huiqing, he was born as a Jinshi, and now he is the collator of Jixian Hall. More than ten years ago, he had a relationship with Wang Anshi as a teacher and apprentice.

Wang Anshi said with a smile: "You came just in time, I must have a few drinks with my teacher today."

Lu Huiqing felt a little surprised, and asked: "Master is so happy, could it be that the Sima University scholar really lost in the hands of a person from Erbi?"

Wang Anshi laughed a few times and said, "Let's go, let's talk in the room."

When he came to the house, Wang Anshi first ordered his servants to bring the food and wine quickly, but before the wine was served, he couldn't wait to tell Lu Huiqing about Sima Guang's embarrassment in the hall.

He spoke with joy and vividness, but after Lu Huiqing listened to it, she frowned, groaned, and did not answer.

Wang Anshi was slightly embarrassed, and felt guilty again. Is it too gloating? What about dishonest gentlemen? So he asked, "Jifu, don't you think it's funny?"

Lv Huiqing was slightly taken aback, and hurriedly said: "Master should take advantage of the victory to pursue and defeat them in one fell swoop, so as not to have long nights and dreams."

Wang Anshi was stunned for a moment, then asked: "How do you say that?"

Lu Huiqing said: "At the time when my mentor and the Sima University scholar were arguing, the ministers of the DPRK and China had their own opinions. As far as the matter is concerned, whether the sentence should be commuted or not is reasonable, but it is different now. Now the debate is too defensive. Of course, the key is filial piety, so as long as the teacher insists on filial piety, the other party will have no power to resist, and even the teacher can win more support from the court to lay a solid foundation for the new law."

Wang Anshi's eyes lit up.

This is really a word that awakens the dreamer!

A few days ago, when discussing whether Dali Temple should retry the case, the intentions of both parties were very obvious, that is, to decide the outcome, and not to delay it any longer.

Therefore, on the second day after the trial, Song Shenzong summoned Sima Guang, Wang Anshi, and other judges for questioning.

After this meeting, Sima Guang looked really haggard, his dark circles were almost as big as the National Treasure, and he must have spent the whole night studying the case last night.

Song Shenzong came to the scene in person yesterday, and saw how embarrassing Sima Guang was. This was really unbearable, and said: "It's really hard for you."

Sima Guang hurriedly said: "Thanks to Your Majesty's concern, this is a matter of the minister's duty, and it is not hard work."

Looks slightly embarrassed.

Song Shenzong asked again: "Then I don't know if there was a result of the trial yesterday?"

Sima Guang said very cautiously: "Because the other party raised some new doubts, they are currently under investigation, and I dare not make a rash decision."

"Your Majesty, I do not agree."

Xu Zun immediately stood up and said: "Your Majesty, in fact, it was very clear yesterday that Ayun had no intention of murdering, but because she wanted to be filial to her mother, she wanted to stab Wei Ada and delay the marriage. , it was an excessive defense, and Ayun surrendered himself, so the crime should be reduced to a second degree. In addition, Ayun has been imprisoned for April and has received the punishment he deserves. I suggest that the court should be lenient and release Ayun immediately. .”

"The minister agrees."

Wang Anshi immediately stood up and said: "I think the evidence presented by the other party is enough to prove that Ayun is a kind and filial child, not a cruel villain as the Sima University scholar thinks. The court should be lenient."

Sima Guang immediately retorted: "That's just some evidence, and the inferences of the people of Naerbi cannot be taken as definite evidence."

Wang Anshi argued: "But Master Sima couldn't find any evidence to oppose these evidences. Based on the suspicion of the crime, Ayun should be released."

Sima Guang said: "I just ordered someone to investigate, how do you know that I can't find any evidence? Besides, Ayun himself admitted that it was because Wei A was ugly, so he was assassinated that night."

Wang Anshi said: "The confession about Ayun has been proven invalid in court. If the murderer's confession can be used as strong evidence, then every murderer will not admit his crime. And I believe Xu Shi The temple will not provide perjury."

Sima Guang snorted and said: "Filial piety and murder should not be confused. This is a criminal case, not a person's morality. If in the future everyone decides a criminal case based on a person's morality, then What do you need the law for?"

Wang Anshi smiled slightly and said, "Major Sima, what law do you rely on to conclude that Ayun is a cruel and merciless villain?"

Sima Guang didn't judge the punishment based on the law. On the contrary, he was actually based on the law of etiquette. He just believed that although the law does not recognize the relationship between Ayun and Wei Ada, they are already husband and wife in terms of etiquette. Ayun should know in his heart that what she did was killing her husband, which is really a heinous crime.

"That's it!"

Song Shenzong suddenly interrupted the debate between the two, saying: "Since this case has been handed over to Bachelor Sima for trial, I believe that Bachelor Sima will give a fair verdict to the people of the world."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your trust."

Sima Guang breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "I will definitely not disappoint His Majesty's trust."

Hearing this, Wang Anshi stopped arguing, and a smile flickered in his eyes.

Xu Zun seemed a little surprised.

That's it?

Back in the mansion, he immediately called Zhang Fei and said, "You lost."

Zhang Fei looked astonished, "I lost?"

Xu Zun nodded, and said: "The officials have allowed Sima University to continue the investigation. No matter what the result is, no judgment will be issued within ten days at least."

Hearing this, Zhang Fei's self-confidence grew stronger, and he said, "Isn't it ten days yet?"

Xu Zundao: "As long as the officials allow the court to investigate, it is impossible to close the case so quickly."

Zhang Fei said: "But I don't have the habit of admitting defeat in advance, what should I do?"

Xu Zun hehe said: "Yes, please. Believe it or not. I tell you this, not to fear that you will renege on your debt, but to remind you, be prepared, Sima University is not so good right. "

Zhang Fei said confidently: "He will definitely lose."

Xu Zun was puzzled, who gave him the confidence?

Although Wang Anshi did not continue to compete with Sima Guang in front of Song Shenzong, when he returned to the Imperial Academy, he immediately attacked Sima Guang, accusing Sima Guang of being angry, for face, and because he did not want to admit that he had lost to a young man. baby, without objective evidence, and quoted Zhang Fei as saying that he is not professional and does not know how to handle cases.

Sima Guangniu's temper also came up, and he immediately turned back.

And this case was the chief culprit for splitting the court, and everyone stood in line because of this case.

The reformists around Wang Anshi also stood up and pointed at Sima Guang.

But different from before, this time the reformists have an absolute advantage, because most conservatives chose to remain silent, or chose to disappear.

The atmosphere in the court immediately became treacherous.

"Junshi, this case cannot go on trial, it must be closed immediately."

Punishment doctor Liu Shu found Sima Guang privately, and said anxiously.

Sima Guang wondered, "Why?"

Liu Shu sighed: "Because most people in the court are no longer willing to punish Ah Yun again."

Sima Guang frowned and said, "Is this related to filial piety?"

Liu Shu nodded.

Sima Guang immediately retorted: "You should know that it is just Zhang Fei's one-sided statement, and there is no conclusive evidence to prove that A Yun committed the murder in order to defend filial piety."

Liu Shudao: "But the crux of the matter is not here anymore, because most people in the court believe that Ayun is indeed a filial daughter, and after Zhang San made such a fuss, if Ayun is severely punished, it will make people in the world feel loyal and filial. Doubt, when a person is faced with the problem of loyalty and filial piety, he should be stubborn and compromise. To be a person who is unfaithful and unfilial, the bad influence will be immeasurable!

Wang Jiefu and the others also took this issue and blamed us.

Then if we continue to argue, most people will choose to stand on their side, and we all know that Wang Jiefu is not fighting for loyalty and filial piety, but for the new law. Now he clearly wants to use this case to win Get more support so that he can reform in the future.

So no matter what, this case must be concluded, and we must express our understanding of A Yun's original intention. "

After hearing this, Sima Guang was dumbfounded.

Angry, depression, entanglement, struggle, pain, and many other expressions were intertwined on his resolute face.

At this point, he suddenly realized that he had already suffered a crushing defeat.

He also knew Zhang Fei's routine before, which was to use filial piety as a shield, but he ignored the political meaning of "filial piety".

Loyalty and filial piety are the foundation of Confucianism.

And the foundation of all governance is the so-called political correctness.

The literati and bureaucrats in the Song Dynasty were unwilling to destroy the meaning of loyalty and filial piety because of this small case.

During the two days here, many scholar-bureaucrats who had already retired came to the door one after another, hoping that they could give Ayun a light sentence and make a judgment that has far-reaching significance to society.

Wang Anshi launched another attack this time, and the conservatives are not united. Although some people still support Sima Guang, some people have already sided with Wang Anshi on this case. Of course, there are still many people Choose silence.

If Sima Guang continues to fight, officials who oppose the new law will be forced to be bound to Wang Anshi's chariot just because of this case.

As for the core members of the conservative faction, their main appeal is to oppose Wang Anshi's political reform. They have realized the seriousness of the problem. Well, Wang Anshi wished that they would fight with him, the longer the fight, the better, it would be best to directly convict them of murder.

One day later, there may be one more person standing on Wang Anshi's side.

A verdict must be given immediately.

Many conservatives stood up without waiting for Sima Guang to give a verdict, saying that they also supported the sentence of A Yun's excessive defense, and at the same time gave their own reasons.

This means obviously, we did not lose, and we do not admit that the previous judgment was wrong, just because now there is new evidence, and we agree, we are willing to withdraw the previous judgment, which just reflects our The fairness and justice!

Sima Guang is really an idiot, and I feel very wronged. I also admit the doubts raised by Zhang Fei. I just want to investigate the details of what Zhang Fei said. Isn't this okay?

The answer is no.

Because there is one thing that can be proved, that is, Ayun has indeed been serving his seriously ill mother, and he has indeed rejected his uncle with filial piety, which is enough to prove that she is a filial daughter, so no one is willing to do it for a little girl. To touch that bottom line.

No matter how bad-tempered Sima Guang was, he didn't dare to risk the disgrace of the world. The key point was that this involved political struggles, so he could only make compromises. After only two days, he gave the final verdict.

The longer this matter drags on, the worse it will be for him.

Ayun was convicted of excessive defense.

On the one hand, the verdict pointed out Ayun's violation of the law, but on the other hand, it also praised Ayun's filial piety to his mother.

This is actually telling the world that loyalty and filial piety are worth defending with life.

This sets up Ayun as an example, so of course he cannot be punished too severely.

Sima Guang also accepted Xu Zun's suggestion.

This is already an over-defense. Naturally, there is no such thing as a heinous crime. It must be applicable to voluntary surrender. In addition, Ayun has been in prison for several months. He has received the punishment he deserved and decided to release Ayun.

This is definitely not a legal judgment, but a political one.

But for a person of Erbi, it doesn't matter, as long as he wins.