Northern Song Dynasty Justice

Historically, 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 quagmire of party struggles. It was ended in the Huizong era, and it almost lasted until the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty.

This is really a great tragedy, and it is also 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 joy, 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.

Initially, 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.

Priorities are clear.

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 considerable success in Hezhong Mansion.

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

At the same time, many people believed that judicial reform was more terrifying than the New Deal, so they began to fall for 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. Doing, in the eyes of everyone, is a kind of competition.

Some conservatives think that the New Deal cannot do without the Public Security Law, and they are too lazy to oppose Wang Anshi now, because they now have their own sustenance and fully support the Public Security Law.

But the reformers believe that the public security law is based on the financial basis of my new policy, and without my new law, your public security law cannot be established.

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

River House.

"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.

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 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 incomprehensibly: "Bachelor 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 the salt debt as collateral. This will make our salt debt sell better and be more trustworthy."

Cai Yanqing nodded: "I see."

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

As he said that, he said in a strange tone: "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, you can borrow money directly from Jiekupu with the salt debt, then everyone will have no worries about buying salt debts. .

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

Wei Yingfang asked, "How did Bachelor Yuan say that?"

Yuan Jiang said with a sigh: "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 good sale of salt debt is not the credit of their procuratorate. "

As soon as these 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. Besides, they all know in their hearts that once the salt debt is released from the storehouse, the salt debt will definitely sell better. Once the finances come up, it will belong to them Moreover, they thought it would be better to issue salt bonds 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 do they ask this?"

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

Everyone was silent.

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

Everyone looked at Yuan Jiang eagerly.

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

If everyone can take 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 the 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 was 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 so, of course the common people can 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. Another reason was that the people hoarded a large number of salt bills without replacing them. Being able to pay taxes with salt debts and salt banknotes can also provide the government with a channel 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 would investigate. After all, many of our government accounts need to be kept secret, especially Hezhong Mansion, which also involves military secrets."

Yuan Jiang nodded, "Then follow what Wei Tong said."

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.

A guilty conscience flashed in Yuan Jiang's eyes, and said: "I don't know much about this, I haven't received any news."

How could they have imagined that Han Jiang was enjoying the flowers with his friends in Luoyang now, and he would come only after the Hezhong Mansion was 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.

But Wang Anshi may regret doing so now.

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

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

"That's a good thing!"

Xu Zhiqian hurriedly took the letter, and then read it carefully, seeing that Xu Zun said in the letter that more and more young officials joined the public security system and respected the rule of law. Seeing the end, she couldn't help but frowned slightly, "Xueshi Wang may immediately implement the young crop law on Tokyo East Road."

If there is no particularly important letter, Xu Zun rarely 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 might implement the new law on Tokyo East Road as soon as possible. This is a signal to part ways. Just write to Zhang Fei.

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

Zhang Fei tilted 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, it seems that the new law has been very successful in cooperating with the public prosecutor's law."

Zhang Fei said: "When we were in the capital, the cooperation between the two laws 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 Scholar Wang 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 could finish 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 completely perish. 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 gain glory and wealth. But if they cooperate with the public prosecutor's law, their usefulness may not be good. It's so big, if that's the case, why do they still support Wang Xueshi.

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

Wang Xueshi 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! "

Having said this, 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 advise Scholar Wang, you can write it for me."

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

After finishing speaking, 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 would seem that it would be unreasonable humanly."

"is it?"

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 up to something again.

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

And this official office is the Legislative Council.

According to the original agreement, the presiding authority of the chief judge is actually conferred by the Legislative Council, because the Legislative Council is to amend the relevant penalties based on the legal system. It depends on the Legislative Council to become a written law.

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.

Fu Bi didn't do anything this year, and he didn't care much about government affairs. He devoted himself to the revision of 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 some results to Zhao Xu.

Hanging Palace.

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 refer to the officials."

Fu Bi submitted a thick memorial, and said: "This time the law is amended, a total of 32 death sentences are changed to imprisonment, 76 sentences are reduced or exempted, [-] sentences are abolished and fines are replaced, and [-] items of moss are abolished. punishment."

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

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

Among them, the reduction and exemption of imprisonment and moss punishment are based on the concept of legal civil litigation. Most of the disputes between common people are still based on protecting the interests of both parties, and do not use penalties. "

In fact, there has been extensive debate in the judicial circles of the Song Dynasty about heavy punishment. Although Wang Anshi is a legalist, in this regard, he is actually more inclined to strict punishment. Especially in recent years, those who support strict punishment have occupied 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 buy some private salt. This also puts the government in a dilemma. This involves finances, and no one dares to take the blame.

Over the past few years, it has been slowly revised, but not systematically.

This is why the law of the rule of law can gain people's hearts so quickly.

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

He knew very well in his heart that this Fu Bi incorporated the edict into the law in order to prevent the emperor from interfering with the law.

However, Zhao Xu had already compromised on this. It seemed that this deprived the emperor of the legislative power, but because the final result of the Legislative Council had to be approved by the emperor to be effective, the power was still in the hands of the emperor.

This was all planned by Zhang Fei before he left.

There seems to be little difference between the two, but it is actually 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 continued: "However, most of the regulations can only be enforced in states with public prosecution laws, and only a small number of regulations involving capital punishment 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 Imperial Court of Hezhong Mansion. It involved 'Ren Yi private contract, the official for the Ignore', if it is implemented without the public security system, it may give the government power over 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 taken aback, looking a little surprised, "Haven't the officials already decided 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 Qingzhou law be enforced in Qingzhou."

Fu Bi blinked, "Uncle Ouyang Yong?"

Zhao Xu nodded.

Alas. This Uncle Ouyang Yong really hasn't 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 had a calculation in his mind.

On the second day, Zhao Xu found Wang Anshi again and showed him Ouyang Xiu's memorial, and said that Ouyang Xiu was the elder of the three dynasties, and I have to look at the Buddha's face instead of the monk's face. The Qingmiao method will not be implemented in Qingzhou for the time being.

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 wanted to agree. After all, this was just a trial, and the loss of one state would not affect anything.

But he was full of anger and hated Ouyang Xiu to the bone. He always beat the dog in the water. I haven't fallen into the water yet, and I'm rising, so you beat it with a stick.

It really makes no sense.

Back to the Department of Regulations and Regulations of the Second Mansion, I met two lobbyists, Lu Gongzhu and Chen Shengzhi.

Lu Gongzhuo had always been caught between Wang Anshi and Sima Guang before, 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 did not bother.

Chen Shengzhi originally supported Wang Anshi, but he also had some reservations about the Qingmiao 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 prosecutor's law. Why don't you continue to cooperate with Sima Junshi?"

Lu Gong wrote with earnestness.

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 were opposed to the Young Crop Law, but if they cooperated with the public prosecutor's law, the Young Crop Law would be reassuring, so they wanted 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 glanced at the two of them, thinking of their friendship for many years, and didn't want to break up with them, so he took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, and said, "It's not my fault, it's Sima Junshi's fault. We have our own plan to set up the Second Government Regulations Department, and the reason why I chose Dongdong East Road is because Sima Junshi sent Fan Chunren to establish a procuratorate there long ago. Two years have passed, and it turns out that the public security law in Dengzhou has not yet been established. Not as good as Hezhong Mansion, I don't know what they are doing.

Moreover, the problem of the imperial court has always been the lack of finances, not the issue of law and order. Although the public security law has helped the New Deal to a certain extent, it was supposed to be him who cooperated with me, but now I accommodate him, and they are still procrastinating. Can't wait anymore, 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 the fiscal deficit will be filled by you?
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 hand.

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 were in awe of them, and even resisted my young crop method at a low price. , Speaking of this, I really have to thank the public prosecutor, are they cooperating with the New Deal?"

Mr. Lu was also anxious: "Why don't you listen to advice? If something goes wrong with the Qingmiao Law on Tokyo East Road, the new law may be ruined at once."

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 said, 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, "Men, are they here to persuade your teacher to cooperate with the public prosecutor?"

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 I hadn't let Yuanhou If they cooperate with them, how can they gain a foothold in the Public Security Bureau. 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 credit of the Public Security Bureau."

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 made concessions 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 Security Bureau, and 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: "Ji Xiang has already expressed his attitude before, and does not support the young crop law, so there is no need for my teacher to get angry with him."

"I'm not mad at him."

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

"Uncle Ouyang Yong?"

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

Wang Anshi then told Lu Huiqing about Ouyang Xiu's going to the official family.

"what?"

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 that 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. This time, promoting the young crop law on Dongdong East Road is an absolute must." There is nothing to lose."

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

"is it?"

Wang Anshi said.

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 delighted immediately, "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 policy before. It can be seen that these people are extremely selfish and have no country and monarch in their hearts."

After all, he continued: "However, we can use it to urge them to strictly implement the Young Crop Law."