Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 663: Turning crisis into opportunity

Chapter 663 Turning crisis into opportunity

"I really don't know if we are helping Fan Jingren or harming Fan Jingren."

Liu Shu said with a worried face.

Many officials around looked at Sima Guang in confusion. The conservatives are very united. Although they hope to help Fan Zhen reinstate his post, but let Fan Zhen go to Xihe, this...!

Sima Guang quickly comforted him: "I dare say Fan Jingren will be very happy to hear this news."

Everyone looked at Sima Guang suspiciously.

Sima Guang said: "Now that Fan Jingren is in the Hezhong Mansion, with his personality, if he sees the people of the Hezhong Mansion become miserable because of the expansion of the Xi River, but they are powerless to stop them, they will definitely suffer too. If you let him go to Xihe at this time, he will be very happy."

"Teacher, they are really meeting each other, and they actually took this opportunity to force the officials to use that old man Fan Zhen again."

Lu Huiqing gritted her teeth.

At the beginning, he had a huge quarrel with Fan Zhen, and finally drove Fan Zhen out, but after a while, Fan Zhen was reinstated, how could he be happy? So much so that Wang Anshi didn't dare to tell him the truth.

Wang Anshi said: "This time we are not prepared enough, let them take advantage of it, but there will never be a next time."

"That kid did it on purpose."

Before Meng Gansheng left the door, from the corner of his eye, he glanced at Zhang Fei who was watching his heart, and then whispered to Zhao Wenzheng.

Zhao Wenzheng sighed: "We really can't do anything about his move. He's telling the truth, but the officials don't dare to let him remove the military power of those chiefs."

Meng Gansheng said: "Then we have to be careful recently, this kid is famous for his revenge."

In fact, they all knew in their hearts that if Zhang Fei could not be sent to the Xihe area this time, then Zhang Fei would definitely enter the procuratorate.

They have dragged on for long enough with the consent of the emperor and the prime minister, and they almost ushered in a turning point, but it is a pity that the devil is one foot ahead, and the road is one foot high.

This is the highest-level meeting of the Song Dynasty. The emperor made a decision at this meeting, and they also knew that they could not continue to delay.

But having said that, in fact, this high-level meeting is more of a formality. Everyone has already negotiated in private, and it is just for others to see. We are not compromising.

So, after the meeting ended, almost everyone had a resentful face, and no one was very satisfied with the result.

The reformers were very puzzled and thought it was self-inflicted, so they asked Fan Zhen to supervise themselves.

And conservatives think why they should go to this muddy water.

The opposition was depressed and did not send Zhang Fei away.

As for the depression on their faces, Zhang Fei could see everything in his eyes, and he was also worried about it. He knew that the compromise between the two parties was very fragile, and it was mostly because he was mediating in the middle. If he was not careful, it might break down.

As the saying goes, risks and benefits coexist.

Sanjiafan provided great convenience to Zhang Fei, a political amateur, and he was in no disadvantage. However, it was not easy to consolidate the three families.

After all the ministers left, Zhang Fei tiptoed to go out.

"Ahem!"

"Ah!"

Zhang Fei turned around, but seeing Fu Bi limping forward, he hurriedly bowed his hands, "Fu Gong."

Fu Bi glanced at him, "Stinky boy, you are so bold, you dare to speak nonsense in this palace, and you won't be afraid of being punished by the officials."

Zhang Fei pretended to be confused and said: "What kind of nonsense, the lower officials don't quite understand."

"Do you have to order me to wear it?"

Fu Bi asked: "Do you really dare to deal with those chiefs according to law?"

Zhang Fei said: "Of course I dare, but unfortunately everyone does not support me."

Fu Bi laughed and said: "I think you are sure, the officials and ministers dare not let you go."

Zhang Fei refused to admit it, and said solemnly: "How dare you! I am really sure."

"Really?"

Fu Bi smiled slightly and said, "Then you might as well try it in the capital to see if you can govern according to law."

Zhang Fei was dumbfounded immediately, and immediately said in a dazed way: "Fu Gong, I never thought you would use aggressive tactics with a brat like me."

"This is actually one of my reasons for letting you stay in the capital."

Fu Bi said with a serious expression: "Although the Public Prosecution Law was first implemented in the capital, the governance is far inferior to that of the Hezhong Prefecture. If it fails to succeed in the capital, no matter how well the local states and counties implement it, it will only be a flash in the pan."

The reason why Zhang Fei's departure made the people of Hezhong Mansion panic is because the current society is a centralized society, and any reform must start from the central government. No amount of effort.

Although the public security law was first tried in Bianjing, it was actually only a semi-finished product. The reason is that for a long period of time, the Kaifeng government still controlled the judicial power. Judicial power was transferred from Kaifeng Mansion to the Imperial Court, but this was only brought about by the transfer of personnel, and the imperial court never made an express order.

In addition, there are central departments such as the Judicial Court, Dali Temple, Criminal Ministry, Yushitai, and Jianyuan, all of which can directly intervene in the public security law.

In this case, it is difficult to follow the idea of ​​the law of the law.

Zhang Fei understood the meaning of it, and said: "So Fu Gong put all this on me."

Fu Bi said: "Let's talk about Zhao Xianggong, he can also enforce the law impartially and impartially, but it's only about him personally. He still doesn't know how to play the role of the public security system. It can only depend on you."

Zhang Fei suddenly understood, "Don't worry, Mr. Fu, I will do my best."

Fu Bi said: "However, the most urgent thing is Jingdong East Road, and there must be no more troubles there."

The arrival of this great victory in the Northwest also made everyone forget that at this moment, Qingzhou is undergoing a vigorous debt restructuring.

This is an absolutely historic moment.

Qingzhou, Qiancheng County.

County lieutenant Li Meng returned home and saw that his incompetent son was still looking sleepy, so without saying a word, he raised his big palm fan and slapped him across the face.

Crack!

"Ouch!"

A scream also disturbed Mrs. Li, she hurried forward and saw her son lying on the ground, covering the left half of his face, she also screamed in fright, and hurried forward to protect her son, "Old man. Master, why are you beating your son?"

"When is this, you woman is still protecting him?"

Pointing at his wife, Li Meng opened his eyes as big as a copper bell, and said, "No matter how hard other people's children try to study hard and take the public security exam, this trash still hangs around the fireworks every day. Can you pass the exam?"

Ms. Li said: "If you don't pass the exam, you won't pass the exam. It's such a big deal. As long as you are well, sir, that's fine."

"I am worse than him now."

Li Meng said: "Do you know that now I have to go to the police station to take the exam, if I fail the exam, then our family is going to find the bark to eat."

Ms. Li was shocked.

The son said blankly: "Daddy, you are so old, you still have to take the exam?"

When Li Meng heard this, he immediately raised his left hand again.

"Daddy, please forgive me!"

The county lieutenant is the superintendent of the old system. In terms of power, he has been emptied by the police station, so he is naturally the key target. If the county lieutenant wants to stay in office, he must pass the police station's examination.

It can also be seen that this debt restructuring is really very ruthless, basically it is better to kill the wrong than let it go.

Although it was Wang Juqing who was carrying out the debt restructuring, he knew in his heart that the harder he did it, the more everyone would hate the public prosecutor and the law instead of targeting him, so of course he has no scruples.

No, there is still a business law behind it.

Qingzhou, Ministry of Public Affairs.

Shen Kuo, who was in charge of the career law, had just arrived in office, and immediately issued a registration notice to recruit for career hospitals, career colleges, and career residences.

This immediately aroused great repercussions.

But it is not opposition and hatred, but a very enthusiastic registration.

Shen Kuo was stunned.

This is a little bit different from the imagination!

If he is like this, let alone others.

Fan Chunren and Qian Wei also rushed here for the first time, the rumors were true, they saw that the courtyard was full of people, most of them were middle-aged, and there were even some gray-haired old people.

Fan Chunren walked up to a white-haired old man and asked, "Old man, I would like to ask, at your age, you are not included in the business law, so you don't need to apply here."

The old man immediately gave Fan Chunren a look of contempt, "Whoever comes here for that little salary, I come here for learning."

"Study?"

"Nowadays, the imperial court can be regarded as paying attention to law, medicine, and arithmetic. This is a good thing! The old man also wants to compare with others."

"???"

Fan Chunren and Qian Yi couldn't help but looked at each other in blank dismay.

Are these knowledge so popular?

Why didn't you know before?

Weird!

It turns out that the officials of the Song Dynasty, because they lived a good life all the year round and did not need to work, some people were obsessed with poetry and poetry, but many people went to study other knowledge. For example, many officials in the Song Dynasty knew everything because of leisure Too much time, always have to find something interesting.

But because these studies are not mainstream studies, the people who study these studies are limited to friends, which are very small and closed groups.

The career law is specialized in these kinds of studies, which arouses the strong interest of this group of people.

Especially, they are very interested in this exam. These literati love to compete, and they also want to take the exam to see where they can rank in this area of ​​knowledge.

Whether you want to go to college or not is another matter, but you must take the exam.

This is really unexpected.

Just at this time, Fan Chunren saw a familiar figure, and immediately walked over with Qian Yi.

"Chun Ren met Uncle Ouyang."

"Mr. Ouyang."

It's not who Ouyang Xiu is.

Now he is dressed in commoner clothes. When he saw the two of them, he just smiled and said, "You are here too! Don't call me Mr. Xianggong, I am just a commoner now."

Qian Yi nodded.

Fan Chunren asked: "Why is Uncle Ouyang free to come here today?"

Ouyang Xiu was slightly taken aback, and said, "Let's see, old clumsy, how does he take the exam in agriculture."

Fan Chunren blinked, and hurriedly said: "I almost forgot that Uncle Ouyang is proficient in cultivation and planting."

"A little dabble, a little dabble!"

Ouyang Xiu hehe said: "That's why I also want to come and see."

At this time, a knife and pen official quickly stepped into the courtyard, and whispered in front of Qian Yi: "Report to the chief judge, the grass bandit Zhentianhu of Baihu Mountain has been captured."

Ouyang Xiu was stunned for a moment, and said, "Shocking Tiger?"

Qian Wei hurriedly asked: "Mr. Ouyang knows this person?"

Ouyang Xiu said with emotion: "Why don't you know, this thief has been entrenched in Baihu Mountain, very cunning, the government has repeatedly encircled and suppressed him, but all ended in failure, and the loss is not small!"

Ask the knife and pen official again: "Who was captured?"

The knife and pen official said: "Tax Department."

Ouyang Xiu was surprised, "Tax and Tax Department?"

The Daobi official nodded and said: "It seems that Zhentianhu has 3,000 mu of land near Baihu Mountain, but he has not paid taxes."

Ouyang Xiu couldn't help being a little embarrassed.

It took ten years for the government to catch the thieves, but they were caught by the tax department because of tax evasion.

This.!

Just at this moment, another court policeman ran over, "Report to Judge Qian, the tax envoy said that he has something important to discuss with the judge."

Immediately, Fan Chunren and Qian Wei rushed to the imperial court, only to see a middle-aged man with bitter looks and deep hatred sitting in the hall.

The middle-aged man saw the two of them, and immediately bowed his hands, "Wu Daliang has met Prosecutor Fan."

This person is Qingzhou tax envoy, Wu Daliang.

"Sorry! Sorry!"

Qian Wei cupped his hands and said again: "Just now I heard that the grass bandit Zhentianhu of Baihu Mountain was captured by your tax police?"

Wu Daliang nodded and said: "I am here today for this matter. We have found that some businessmen have close contacts with Zhentianhu, and now we have persuaded those businessmen to testify against Zhentianhu and accuse him of tax evasion , I hope the imperial court can pardon the crimes of these witnesses.”

Fan Chunren immediately said: "That Zhentianhu has done so many evils, it must be a capital crime, why should the tax envoy do more?"

This is already a capital crime. Is it necessary to pursue tax evasion?

For this reason, the crimes of those profiteers are pardoned?

This is not superfluous, what is it?

Wu Daliang said: "Having said that, our tax department is about evidence. If no one accuses him of tax evasion, then it will be difficult for us to convict him. If we cannot convict him of tax evasion, then our tax department will be very It is difficult to get a fine."

Qian Wei was puzzled and said, "Is it worth it to let off those who commit crimes for this little fine?"

Wu Daliang clasped his hands and said, "I would like to ask Judge Qian to forgive me, our tax department is living on fines."

Fan Chunren said: "If I don't agree, what will the tax envoy do?"

Wu Daliang said: "If there is no evidence provided by our tax department, it will be very difficult for you to investigate those businessmen, and we will detain Zhen Tianhu until we find other evidence."

Fan Chunren said: "But the procuratorate can investigate your tax department."

"I know that, and we will also cooperate with the investigation of the procuratorate." Wu Daliang nodded, then changed the topic, and said: "To be offensive, if the procuratorate can find out the actions of our tax department, and even criminal evidence , then you will find the evidence very easily."

It's so domineering!

The corners of Fan Chunren's mouth twitched, but he also knew the methods of the tax department. But you also have to remember what you said today, and our procuratorate will definitely be able to find your criminal evidence in the future."

Wu Daliang took out a contract, "As long as the imperial court signs this statement, our tax department will formally file a lawsuit against that Zhentianhu."

Qian Wei took it over and took a look, "This is Zhang San's masterpiece!"

However, the tax department is not omnipotent. In fact, they are just like the soldiers.

In the rainy spring, on a low mountain in the suburbs, there were faint bursts of crying, but some women and children were seen kneeling in front of the brand-new graves, covering their faces and sobbing.

Besides, there were dozens of men standing, but I saw a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar standing at the front of the line, "Man dies for money, and birds die for food. There is nothing to complain about, but If we want to reduce the occurrence of such things, we must unite and complete the revenge of those evil thieves.

Our tax department will offer a reward of 10,000 guan to capture these villains until they pay their debts with blood. We will use this to tell everyone that once they mess with our tax department, their end will be a dead end. There is no possibility of a second outcome. "

"Blood debt paid in blood!"

"Blood Debt Blood Taste!"

Zhang Fei, who is in Bianjing, has no time to look east for the time being. He has to deal with the financial crisis of Hezhong Mansion quickly, because he dug this pit, and Yuan Jiang and the others are helpless. Yes, there is only so much in a year. If you were eating enough food at the beginning, you will definitely have problems today. You must find enough salt to make up for it.

And Zhang Fei's countermeasure is very simple, which is to smuggle cheap Xixia salt as a supplement.

As far as the matter is concerned, Xixia salt is not only cheap, but also very close to the frontier states. However, after Zhao Xu took office, he issued the strictest ban on Xixia salt smuggling, forcing Xixia's economy to deteriorate and preparing for a large-scale attack in the future.

Today, Li Bao came to the Zhang family with detailed information on the Northwest Salt Administration, and at the same time he brought bad news.

"The tax department encountered an ambush in Qizhou and lost more than 20 people."

"What happened?"

Zhang Fei immediately asked.

Li Bao said: "It's really not me making excuses, it's all because we expanded too early in the local area, and the tax department didn't go there too late, which caused some people to gradually lose patience, and after the news of Hezhong Mansion came, those people People have become more careful and guard against the people around them being bought by the tax department. This disastrous failure is because the people we recruited were bought by a local thief, and then tipped off to the other party, so that our tax police were ambushed. "

Zhang Fei frowned and said, "Are they capable of revenge?"

Li Bao nodded and said: "They have found out the real culprit, and they have already offered a reward of 10,000 guan. It won't be long before we can make those people pay with their blood."

Zhang Fei nodded, "Go and tell them, to deal with this wave of people, there is no need to keep them alive, and there is no need to give them a chance to plead their case. Just leave some witnesses and get the fine. It's time to tell everyone , the tax department will really kill people."

Li Bao nodded.

Zhang Fei didn't say much about it, because this kind of loss was expected, and he checked the information sent by Li Bao. After reading it for a while, he suddenly asked: "So, Qin and Wei State, also belongs to the desalination area?”

Li Bao nodded, "Yes."

Zhang Fei asked again: "Will the debt crisis cause panic in the local area?"

Li Bao said: "It will definitely be, and compared with other places, it is even worse, because that area used to have a salt shortage in the whole area due to the salt ban. I reckon Once the news spreads over there, there will definitely be salt merchants hoarding salt and waiting to sell it. This year, many salt merchants are waiting and watching, and dare not go to Bianzhou to buy salt banknotes easily."

Zhang Fei nodded, and asked again: "Is our smuggling in Xixia going well?"

Li Bao said: "Because Xixia has been trying to find a way to sell us salt in exchange for our tea, copper coins, and silk. As long as we let go, it will be very smooth. On the contrary, those people are so sophisticated, Let our people have some headaches."

Zhang Fei asked curiously, "Sophisticated people?"

Li Bao nodded and said: "Now there are two factions of nobles in Xixia who are fighting very fiercely, and Xixia Yanchi is in the hands of these two nobles. That may be subject to retaliation."

Zhang Fei asked: "What is going on here, please tell me carefully."

Li Bao nodded, "The Empress Dowager Liang is now in power in Xixia, but this woman is really weird. She is clearly a Han woman, but she has been trying to abolish the Sinicization policy promulgated by her husband Li Liangzuo before. After our army regained Suizhou, the Empress Dowager Liang became more radical, and thus won the support of some nobles in Xixia, but some nobles opposed it.”

Zhang Fei laughed and said, "If she doesn't treat the Han people a little bit harder, she won't be able to consolidate her dominance in Xixia, but we must be more careful when the Han people rule in foreign countries."

After that, he asked again: "What are the nobles who opposed the Queen Mother Liang based on?"

Li Bao said: "Those nobles who opposed the Queen Mother Liang, themselves admired our Han culture, and they also gained power by virtue of this policy.

But since our court still strictly prohibits the entry of Xixia salt, this faction does not have the upper hand. In fact, the faction that supports Queen Mother Liang also hopes to sell salt. They just hope to use military means to force my Song Dynasty to let go of the ban on salt. "

"So that's it!" Zhang Fei thought for a while, "You divide us into two groups first, and separate the business of these two groups, then I will have my own plan."

"Yes."

"Also, tell the officials that I have something important to meet."

Zhao Xu learned that Zhang Fei wanted to see him, so he immediately called Zhang Fei into the palace.

Zhao Xu said: "You are anxious to see me this time because of the salt debt crisis of Hezhong Mansion."

Zhang Fei shook his head, "No, the officials know about it. This crisis is within our expectations. We have already hoarded enough private salt to help Hezhong Prefecture resolve this crisis easily."

Zhao Xu nodded and looked at him suspiciously.

Zhang Fei explained: "The reason why I am eager to meet the officials is mainly because I think that the salt debt crisis of Hezhong Mansion can be used to help Xihe Road raise military rations."

Zhao Xu cheered up, "What's your plan?"

Zhang Fei said: "Originally our plan was to take advantage of the fact that domestic dignitaries favor green and white salt, disperse the smuggled clean salt, and quietly sell it to rich people in the country at a high price. Buy salt to prevent the salt debt crisis.

But now, I plan to adjust my strategy. Now the people in the Northwest are aware of the salt debt crisis, and they are all buying salt crazily. This happened before, when the people smuggled Xixia salt.

Since this is the case, why don't we use our tactics to make this crisis a reality, and calculate all the salt locked in the salt debt to the northwest region, causing a lack of salt in the local area, and then let people directly sell private salt in the local area, and use the money raised The money and food from the army will be transported to the Xihe area. In this way, it will not only save a lot of travel expenses, but also avoid the dissatisfaction of the soldiers on the northern line. "

After Zhao Xu heard this, he couldn't help frowning, "Such a large-scale occurrence of private salt will destroy my ban. Now the ban on salt has caused Xixia's financial crisis, so we can't let it go to waste."

Zhang Fei said: "First of all, the chaos in Xihe breeds private salt, which is reasonable, and no one will doubt it. Secondly, after all the private salt has dispersed, the government can send people to investigate the matter. Then arrest a wave of private salt dealers."

Zhao Xu was stunned, "Aren't those private salt dealers ours?"

What do you want to do, I am currently the biggest smuggling leader, if I want to arrest someone, if someone finds out, then I will be finished!

Issuing the ban and smuggling by himself, he suddenly felt that he was completely taken into the ditch by Zhang Fei.

"It's just for show. Let's think of a way to transfer them to another place." After speaking, Zhang Fei explained: "We can also take this opportunity to provoke Xixia's infighting."

Zhao Xu was both surprised and delighted when he heard it: "Instigate Xixia's internal struggle?"

If you want to be able to deal with Xixia, go to the ditch.

Zhang Fei first informed Zhao Xu of Xixia's internal situation.

Zhao Xu nodded and said, "I know all of this."

The Secretary of the Imperial City is not a vegetarian. He is well aware of the situation in Xixia.

Zhang Fei said again: "Now I have asked Li Bao to divide our salt merchants into two factions to deal with the two forces in Xixia respectively. A private salt merchant cooperating with the Queen Mother.

Then, we will quietly release the news, saying that someone from within Xixia has filed a complaint, and the Empress Dowager Liang and the others will target the conflict against the opposition. military actions in the region.

The officials also weakened some of Chief Xihe's influence by mopping up private salt, and they can continue to maintain the ban on private salt at the border. "

Zhao Xu's eyes lit up, "That's right, we can control the borders between the Xihe area and Xixia and Tubo by cracking down on private salt."

"Officials are wise."

"It's your cleverness, keep talking, keep talking."

Zhao Xu is a bit superior. He is very interested in matters on the border.

"Yes."

Zhang Fei nodded, and continued, "The official ban on Xixia salt is to take the opportunity to hit Xixia's finances, but if they use all the profits from private salt for internal fighting, then We don't care.

According to our investigation, the faction of Queen Mother Liang obviously has the upper hand. After this incident, they will definitely intensify their efforts to suppress the opposition. At this time, we can use smuggled salt to give the opposition financial support Provide support to ensure that the two factions are in a balance of power, so that they continue to fight internally.

Anyway, the domestic dignitaries like green and white salt, and the smuggled green and white salt can be sold to them at a high price. "

"This is a great strategy!"

Zhao Xu nodded happily, but then asked excitedly: "If you really provoke them into civil strife, wouldn't it be a good time for our army to send troops."

Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, and said embarrassingly: "In theory."

Zhao Xu frowned and said, "Theoretically?"

Zhang Fei said awkwardly: "Officials, there is still a Liao country in the north. If I were from Liao, I definitely hope that Song and Xia will attack each other, but I definitely don't want to see either side be wiped out.

If we send troops on a large scale, the Liao Kingdom will never sit idly by, and it is very likely that we will provoke a war with our country in the north.

My suggestion is to let them fight internally as much as possible, and slowly eat away at the border, but don't easily resort to a large army. , we will become very volatile on both the west and north fronts. "

After hearing this, Zhao Xu seemed a little frustrated, "According to what you said, unless Liao or Xixia suddenly disappeared, we would never be able to send troops."

Zhang Fei said: "It is very difficult to expect them to disappear, but the government can allow our country to have the power to fight on two fronts, at least to be able to defend on the first line and attack on the first line.

In other words, after the war with Xixia, preparations must be made to defend the Khitans on the northern front going south. "

Zhao Xu asked: "Can we do this?"

He still feels a little afraid of the Liao Kingdom.

Zhang Fei said: "As long as the officials can be patient, I believe that the officials will be able to regain all the old places in the Central Plains."