Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 617: Add fuel to the fire

In history, since the promulgation of the Green Crop Law, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, a pair of close friends, have completely broken up and become strangers. After that, the only project they cooperated with was to completely pull the Song court into the party struggle. The quagmire was finally ended in the Huizong era, and it almost lasted until the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty.

This is a great tragedy and a pity.

Obviously they all know where the problem is, and they obviously worry about the world's worries first, and then enjoy the world's joys, but the result is exactly the opposite.

However, due to the arrival of Zhang Fei, this situation has changed a little bit.

The two have changed from life and death in history to competition and cooperation now.

In the beginning, Zhao Xu's arrangement was that each of you was in charge of one thing, and each performed his duties.

But in the end, the New Deal is still the main focus, supplemented by judicial reform.

Primary and secondary.

At that time, in the eyes of conservatives, judicial reform was only used to check and balance the New Deal, and it had no other purpose.

Therefore, the cooperation between the two has achieved great success in Hezhong Prefecture.

But the problem is that the success of the Hezhong Mansion led many people in the court to sincerely support the judicial reform. They began to think that the judicial reform was the real way out for the Song Dynasty, and it should be based on this.

At the same time, many people thought that the judicial reform was more terrible than the New Deal, so they began to fall back on the New Deal.

The primary and secondary are starting to get a little blurry.

Contradictions are bound to arise.

Last year, everyone still cooperated rather than competed. Now Wang Anshi is demanding to implement the Green Crop Law on Dongdong East Road. , Wang Anshi did this, in the eyes of everyone, it was a kind of competition.

Part of the conservatives think that the New Deal will not work without the Public Security Law. They are too lazy to oppose Wang Anshi now, because they now have their own sustenance and fully support the Public Security Law.

However, the reformers believe that the public security law is based on the financial foundation of my new policy. Without my new law, your public security law cannot be established.

Based on these points of view, it is foreseeable that the two will definitely compete more than cooperate this year.

Hezhong Mansion.

"Bachelor Yuan, what did you say?"

He Chunlin jumped up from his chair, "Let the merchants supervise our salt debts and money?"

All the officials, including Cai Yanqing, looked at Yuan Jiang in surprise.

This is really a great anecdote.

Are you sure you are not talking in your sleep if you let the businessman supervise the government?

Yuan Jiang explained: "It's not supervision, it's just an ordinary business cooperation. We can check their accounts, and they can also check our accounts."

Wei Yingfang said: "That won't work either. We are officials and they are civilians. It is only natural for us to check theirs, but it would be ridiculous to ask him to check ours."

Cai Yanqing also asked inexplicably: "Scholar Yuan, why did you agree to them?"

Yuan Jiang said: "I am entirely out of financial considerations. If we are willing to let the merchants supervise, then the merchants will be willing to accept salt debts as collateral. This will make our salt debts sell better and be more exciting. Trust."

Cai Yanqing nodded: "I see."

Wei Yingfang said: "So, those merchants don't trust our salt debt?"

As he spoke, he said in a strange manner: "Don't they believe in the public prosecutor's law?"

Yuan Jiang said: "These are two different things. The reason why I am willing to deal with businessmen has nothing to do with the public security law. It is entirely because doing so is beneficial to finances.

We don't plan to use salt debts and salt banknotes only once, and they will be issued every year thereafter. If Jiekupu approves it, we can take the salt debt and borrow money directly from Jiekupu. Worry no more.

As for the problem of face, I think the procuratorate will be even more embarrassing. "

Wei Yingfang asked: "How does Bachelor Yuan say this?"

Yuan Jiang hehe said: "I want to use this to tell the procuratorate that as long as our government is willing, anyone can come to investigate, not only the exclusive power of their procuratorate. And the sale of salt debt is not their procuratorate Thanks to."

As soon as the words came out, the officials present nodded slightly.

Anyway, the procuratorate will come to investigate, and it doesn't matter if the merchants come to investigate. Moreover, they all know in their hearts that once the salt debt is released from the storehouse, the salt debt will definitely sell better. It all belongs to their political achievements, and they thought it would be better to issue salt debts to improve finances than to force them to pay taxes!

Yuan Jiang said again: "In addition, the tax department asked us whether the salt debt and salt banknotes are trustworthy?"

He Chunlin said: "Why are they asking this?"

Yuan Jiang said: "Because someone asked the tax department whether they can pay taxes with salt debts and salt banknotes."

Everyone fell silent.

Yuan Jiang asked, "Why don't you talk?"

Everyone looked at Yuan Jiang eagerly.

Say what?

Isn't this salt money and salt debt a tool to make money?

If everyone can use these to pay taxes, isn't this going to be returned?

But they can't object. If they object, it's not telling others that this salt debt and salt money are not trustworthy, so who will use it.

The tax department is so disgusting from head to toe, including every question asked.

Sooner or later, they'll be done.

Their plan is really meticulous. Cai Yanqing praised this silently in his heart, and then stood up to smooth things over, "Didn't Bachelor Caiyuan just say that salt debts and salt banknotes are not a one-off sale. If that's the case, the common people can of course use them to pay taxes."

Speaking of this, he paused for a while, and continued: "The flood of salt bills in the past few years was not entirely due to the excessive issuance of salt bills by the government. For salt, if taxes can be paid with salt debts and salt banknotes, it can also provide a channel for the government to recover salt debts and salt banknotes.”

Yuan Jiang nodded with a smile and said, "Prefect Cai thinks the same as I do. In addition, if you pay taxes with salt debts, it doesn't count as interest. We will earn as much salt debts as we can recover from taxes."

Wei Yingfang said: "Scholar Yuan, Prefect Cai, I thought it would be better to see how they will investigate. After all, many accounts of our government need to be kept secret, especially Hezhong Mansion, which also involves military secrets."

Yuan Jiang nodded, "Then follow Wei Tong's words."

He Chunlin suddenly asked: "That's right! Why is the Han Temple matter still in the future?"

As soon as this remark came out, everyone suddenly realized that the Han Temple matter hadn't arrived yet, it should have started last year.

Guildness flashed in Yuan Jiang's eyes, and she said, "I'm not too sure about this, I haven't received any news."

Where did they expect that Han Jiang is enjoying the flowers with his friends in Luoyang now, and he will come only when the Hezhong Mansion is done. Wang Anshi asked him to come here, that is, to give these officials an expectation, so that they would not fight the public prosecutor to the end.

However, Wang Anshi may regret doing so now.

Imperial Court.

"Zhang San, I heard that Daddy has sent a letter."

Xu Zhiqian pushed open the door and asked excitedly.

Zhang Fei nodded.

Xu Zhiqian said: "What did Dad say in the letter?"

Zhang Fei said: "My father-in-law said that he is in good health, and more young officials have joined their procuratorate, advocating the rule of law."

Speaking, he handed the letter in his hand to Xu Zhiqian.

"This is a good thing!"

Xu Zhiqian hurriedly took the letter, then read it carefully, and saw that Xu Zun said in the letter that more and more young officials joined the public security law and respected the legal system. But at the end, she couldn't help but frowned slightly, "Scholar Wang may immediately implement the Green Crop Law on Tokyo East Road."

If there is no particularly important letter, Xu Zun seldom writes to Zhang Fei, but the implementation of the new law is closely related to the public security law. Xu Zun learned that Wang Anshi may implement the new law on Tokyo East Road as soon as possible. Signal, write to Zhang Fei immediately.

Xu Zhiqian glanced at Zhang Fei secretly, seeing that Zhang Fei was just playing with the teacup in his hand, she couldn't help asking: "What do you think?"

Zhang Fei turned his head to look at her, and said with a smile, "Actually, from the beginning to the end, Xueshi Wang had no intention of cooperating. When I came to Hezhong Mansion, from Xueshi Wang's point of view, we were also cooperating with them."

Xu Zhiqian said: "But so far, the new law is very successful in cooperating with the public prosecutor's law."

Zhang Fei said: "When we were in the capital, the cooperation between the two methods also made the exemption method a great success, but Wang Xueshi didn't think it was the success of the new method, maybe he feels the same now."

Xu Zhiqian asked again: "If the new law is separated from the Public Prosecution Law, can it be successful?"

Zhang Fei pondered for a while and said: "It depends on how Wang Xueshi will operate, but I guess there will always be some problems."

Xu Zhiqian said eagerly: "Then write a letter to persuade Bachelor Wang."

"It's useless."

Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "The reason I was able to persuade Wang Xueshi to accept my suggestion was that it could benefit the new law!"

Before he finished speaking, Xu Zhiqian hurriedly said: "Now that the new law cooperates with the public prosecutor's law, 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, Xueshi Wang wants to take care of a large group of people. Those people who support Xueshi Wang's new policy want to get riches and glory, but if they cooperate with the public security law, their usefulness Maybe it's not that big. If so, why do they still support Wang Xueshi.

In addition, everyone will also give credit to the public security law. Regarding this kind of remarks, it has already appeared when the immunity law was implemented in Tokyo.

Scholar Wang is not only out of interest considerations, but also out of political considerations. If I write a letter to persuade him to cooperate with the public prosecutor's law, I can guarantee that it will backfire! "

At this point, he suddenly froze for a moment, then stood up abruptly.

Xu Zhiqian was startled, "What are you doing?"

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "You're right, I should write a letter to persuade Wang Xueshi, you can write it for me."

Xu Zhiqian said: "But you didn't just say that writing a letter to the past would backfire instead."

After that, she suddenly looked at Zhang Fei vigilantly, "Aren't you expecting Xueshi Wang to fail?"

Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "I never expected Xueshi Wang to fail, I just thought he wouldn't listen to me, but if he didn't write it, it seemed that it would be unreasonable humanly."

"Really?"

Xu Zhiqian looked at Zhang Fei suspiciously.

"Write it! Write it!"

Zhang Fei urged.

Xu Zhiqian pursed her lips and thought, this person must be planning something again.

When everyone's eyes are focused on the New Deal and judicial reform, they have overlooked a very crucial official office, an official office that can really check and balance the imperial court.

And this official office is the Legislative Council.

According to the original agreement, the presiding judge's right to precedent is actually conferred by the Legislative Council, because the Legislative Council is to amend the relevant penalties based on the legal system. Whether it can become a written law in the end depends on the Legislative Council.

All the judgments of the Royal Court of Hezhong Mansion, including those of Cai Bian, will be sent to the Legislative Council as soon as possible.

For the past year, Fu Bi didn't do anything, and he didn't care much about government affairs. He devoted himself to amending the law. Subconsciously, he has actually become the biggest supporter of the rule of law in the court and China.

This year has passed, and the Legislative Council has to show Zhao Xu some results.

Changing arch hall.

There are only Zhao Xu and Fu Bi and his ministers.

"This is the law revised by the Legislative Council in the past year in accordance with the law of the rule of law and the judgment of the chief judge of Hezhong Prefecture. Please review it."

Fu Bi presented a thick memorial, and said: "This time the law is amended, a total of eight death sentences are changed to imprisonment, thirty-two sentences are reduced or exempted, sixteen sentences are abolished, and fines are replaced. At the same time, seventy-six moss punishments will be cancelled.”

After Zhao Xu heard this, he was slightly startled, "Can reducing the penalty so much still deter the people?"

Fu Bi caressed his beard and said: "Officials use heavy codes in troubled times, but now that the country is already stable, many punishments will only backfire. This is why almost every monarch in the Song Dynasty has issued edicts since the Taizu to the present. , reducing some punishments, such as pardoning the death penalty for selling illegal tea and alcohol. This time, the old minister incorporated all these edicts into the law.

The reduction and exemption of imprisonment and moss punishment is based on the concept of civil litigation based on the legal system. Most of the disputes between people and people are still based on protecting the interests of both parties, rather than using penalties. "

In fact, there has been extensive debate in the judicial circles of the Song Dynasty about heavy punishment. An absolute majority, they think that many punishments are too heavy.

For example, selling illegal salt is punishable by death, but there are also people in some areas who cannot afford official salt, so they can only get some private salt themselves. The death penalty, but it involves finances, and no one dares to take the blame.

It has been slowly revised in the past few years, but it has not been systematically changed.

This is also why the law of the rule of law can gain hearts so quickly.

Zhao Xu glanced at Fu Bi and nodded, "I see."

He knew very well in his heart that Fu Bi incorporated the edict into the law in order to prevent the emperor from interfering with the law. It would be best not to issue an edict.

However, Zhao Xu has already compromised on this. It seems that this deprives the emperor of the legislative power, but because the final result of the Legislative Council must be approved by the emperor to be effective, the power is still in the hands of the emperor.

This was all designed by Zhang Fei before he left.

There seems to be little difference between the two, but in fact it is very important. This is to prevent the emperor from being capricious and directly interfering with the law by issuing edicts. This is the most sensitive thing in the judicial circle, and it is also the worst.

Of course, the reason why Zhao Xu compromised was also because the Zhengshitang often rejected his edicts, which made him very unhappy.

Fu Bi added: "However, most of the regulations can only be implemented in the state capitals with public security laws, and only a small number of regulations involving the death penalty and severe punishment can be popularized nationwide."

Zhao Xu asked: "Why is this?"

Fu Bi replied: "This is because many regulations were revised based on the censorship system of the Public Procuratorate Law. For example, the last lawsuit about judicial interpretation sent by the Royal Court of Hezhong Mansion. It involved the 'Renyi private contract. If it is implemented without the public security system, it may give the government the power to fish the common people.”

Zhao Xu nodded slightly, and suddenly asked: "What does Mr. Fu think about the implementation of the Green Crop Law on Tokyo East Road?"

Fu Bi was stunned and seemed a little surprised, "Didn't the officials already decide to adopt Wang Jiefu's suggestion?"

Zhao Xu sighed: "It's like this. The prefect of Qingzhou sent someone to send an urgent memorial, imploring me to implement the public security law in Qingzhou first, and then let the young crop law be implemented in Qingzhou."

Fu Bi blinked, "Uncle Ouyang Yong?"

Zhao Xu nodded.

Oh, this Uncle Ouyang Yong has not changed at all. I'm afraid the world will not be chaotic, but this fire can be burned. Fu Bi thought for a while, then sighed secretly, forget it, if I want to say a few more words, it will definitely make Wang Jiefu unhappy and cause trouble for the Legislative Council. He said to Zhao Xu: "The old minister has been revising the law for the past year. He doesn't know much about government affairs. He couldn't share his worries for you. Please forgive me."

Zhao Xu hurriedly said: "Fu Gong can stay in the capital, which is already the greatest support for me."

But he already cares about it.

On the second day, Zhao Xu came to Wang Anshi again and showed him Ouyang Xiu's memorial, and said that Ouyang Xiu was the elder of the three dynasties. .

Wang Anshi didn't say anything. After all, Ouyang Xiu's seniority was there, and Zhao Xu didn't have much to do if he agreed.

But he was full of anger and hated Ouyang Xiu to the bone. He always beat the dog in the water.

It really makes no sense.

Going back to the Department of Regulations of the Second Government, I met two lobbyists, Lu Gongzhu and Chen Shengzhi.

Before, Mr. Lu had always been caught between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, but after the Qingmiao Law, he also began to fall to Sima Guang's side, and there were some gaps in his relationship with Wang Anshi. He tried to persuade him several times, but Wang Anshi ignored it.

Chen Shengzhi originally supported Wang Anshi, but he also had some reservations about the young crop method.

"Jiefu! So far, the New Deal has been very successful in the Hezhong Mansion. It proves that the new law is the best policy to cooperate with the public security law. Why don't you continue to cooperate with Sima Junshi."

Lu Gong's work is earnest.

Chen Shengzhi nodded and said: "Jiefu, don't be disturbed by those rumors, those people are deliberately sowing discord, you should put the overall situation first."

Both of them are opposed to the Young Crop Law, but if they cooperate with the Public Prosecution Law, the Young Crop Law will be reassuring, so they want to persuade Wang Anshi to wait.

But how did the two of them know that Wang Anshi had just held back his stomach, and if it was Sima Guang, they probably would have started fighting.

Wang Anshi took a look at the two of them, thinking about the friendship he had for many years, and he didn't want to break up with them. He took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, and said, "It's not my reason, it's Sima Junshi." We have our own plan to set up the Second Government Regulations Division, and the reason why I chose Dongdong East Road is also because Sima Junshi sent Fan Chunren to establish a procuratorate there a long time ago. Two years later, the Dengzhou The Public Security Bureau is not as good as the Hezhong Prefecture, and I don't know what they are doing.

Besides, the imperial court's problem has always been the lack of finances, not the issue of public security. Although the public security law has helped the New Deal to some extent, it was supposed to cooperate with me, but now I accommodate him, and they are still procrastinating. I can't wait now. If there is a big financial problem, who will bear the responsibility? "

This is very reasonable. The problem lies in the finances. Improving the finances is a top priority. Waiting for Sima Guang, it will be a year of the monkey, and you will make up for the fiscal deficit?

Chen Shengzhi hurriedly said: "I'm going to urge Junshi."

"Don't go, I remind you every day, but it's useless." Wang Anshi waved his hands.

Lu Gong wrote again: "But there is indeed a problem with your young crop method."

When Wang Anshi heard this, he couldn't take it anymore, and smiled coldly, "Yes! There is a problem! Therefore, after going to the Hezhong Mansion, those big landlords feared me like a tiger, and even did not hesitate to boycott me at a low price. Speaking of this matter, I really have to thank the Public Security Law, are they cooperating with the New Deal?"

Lu Gong was also anxious: "Why don't you listen to advice, if the Qingmiao Law goes to Tokyo East Road, if something really goes wrong, the new law may be ruined."

Wang Anshi said: "As long as you don't come to cause trouble, there will be no problems with this new policy. When I designed the new policy, there was no public security law."

"You!"

Lu Gongzhu also lost his temper and stood up, "It's unreasonable."

With that, he left angrily.

Chen Shengzhi struggled for a moment, then stood up, "Jiefu, think again."

Wang Anshi said: "Don't think about it, I have already decided."

When Chen Shengzhi saw it, he stopped talking, shook his head and sighed, and went out.

As soon as they left, Lu Huiqing came into the house, "Teacher, are they here to lobby the teacher to cooperate with the public prosecution?"

Wang Anshi slapped the table fiercely, "How would they know that I have already changed my strategy in Hezhong Mansion and used the promotion of Changping Division to increase financial revenue, so that it seems that the public security law has played a big role, if it weren't for me Let Yuan Houzhi cooperate with them, how can they stand on the public security law. When it comes to this matter, it is all the fault of Zhang San, who came up with such bad ideas, and now everyone thinks it is the public security law. "

He was full of grievances in his heart, and discussed the matter on a case-by-case basis. In the Hezhong Mansion, it is true that Xinzheng has been cooperating with the public prosecutor and the law, and he does not hesitate to change his strategy. If Wang Anshi did not agree, would Yuan Jiang make concessions repeatedly?

If Yuan Jiang hadn't given in at the beginning, the public security and law enforcement would have been very troublesome, and it was impossible to gain a foothold so quickly.

But now everyone thinks that this is the credit of the Public Prosecutor's Law. On the surface, it is the same, because the government has been forced to abide by the judgment of the imperial court.

Wang Anshi has always been proud and arrogant, how can he bear such grievances, and such remarks have a very bad impact on the New Deal.

Lu Huiqing said: "Jianxiang has already expressed his attitude before, and does not support the young crop law, so there is no need for my mentor to get angry with him."

"I'm not angry because of him."

Wang Anshi waved his hand and said, "I was **** off by Uncle Ouyang Yong."

"Uncle Ouyang Yong?"

Lu Huiqing was taken aback, "Isn't he in Qingzhou?"

Wang Anshi then informed Lu Huiqing of Ouyang Xiu's appearance in the official family.

"Huh?"

Lu Huiqing was dumbfounded, "Isn't this treating state affairs as a joke? The New Deal is a national decision. How could it not be implemented because of the refusal of a prefect."

Wang Anshi sighed: "But Uncle Ouyang Yong is not an ordinary official, he is a veteran of the three dynasties, and the meaning of the official is to imply that we should use our political achievements to speak and convince people with our political achievements. , there is absolutely no room for loss.”

Lu Huiqing immediately said: "Master, please rest assured that many officials on Tokyo East Road have changed to support our young crop law."

"Really?"

Wang Anshi Road.

Lu Huiqing nodded and said: "Now that they have heard about what the Public Prosecution Law has done in Hezhong Prefecture, they all support our new policy instead. The purpose is to hope that we can stop the Public Prosecution Law."

Wang Anshi was immediately happy, "These people are really the moths of the country!"

Lu Huiqing asked in surprise, "Why is your mentor?"

Wang Anshi said: "The reason they oppose the public prosecution law is exactly the same as the reason they opposed our New Deal before. It can be seen that these people are extremely selfish and have no country and monarch in their hearts."

After that, he said again: "But we can use it to urge them to strictly implement the Young Crop Law."