Since taking the throne, Zhao Xu has always emphasized his determination to work hard to govern.
But he has yet to show how decisive this determination is.
In fact, he also experienced a period when newborn calves were not afraid of tigers.
It's Ayun Yigu.
At that time, the minister asked him for a holy judgment, but after he made a holy judgment, he was rejected by the minister.
For the emperor, this was not very harmful, but it was extremely insulting.
The emperor of the Song Dynasty also wanted to save face!
After that, he knew that as an emperor, he must either not take action or take action, no matter how high the price, he must win.
Otherwise, the gain is really not worth the loss.
Therefore, in many disputes after that, he always hid behind, while Wang Anshi, Lu Huiqing and others were charging forward. He just saw that the heat was about the same, and then came out to push the boat along, without any direct conflict with the ministers.
Especially after Zhang Fei brought a lawsuit, he handled it with ease. If you really can't figure it out, just file a lawsuit.
But it is not enough for the emperor to hide behind him all the time; he must also establish his authority.
He hasn't done anything to establish his authority yet.
Zhao Xu decided to use this opportunity to establish his authority, and he happened to be facing the largest interest group in the Song Dynasty.
Let's compete.
Whether it’s a mule or a horse, it must be taken out for a walk.
And the other party also understood that Zhao Xu's idea was to kill them, because so many ministers had complained before, and the meaning was already obvious, but you still want to do it.
Even a fool knows what you want to do.
Today is the fifteenth day, a day to burn incense and worship Buddha. Many dignitaries came to Xiangguo Temple.
In a relatively remote wing of the temple, there were seven or eight people sitting, all dressed in rich clothes.
They are all well-known big landowners in Tokyo, among the top fifty donors to Xiangguo Temple, and they all have scholar-bureaucrat backgrounds. It would be difficult for them to reach this level in Tokyo without anyone in the court.
"Although the official has issued an order, don't panic. There are still many ministers in the DPRK who support us."
The white-haired old man sitting on the front seat said with a calm expression.
This person's name was Pang Huai, and he was from the natal family of Liu E, Empress Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty.
The 100 people Wang Anshi sued did not actually include the Pang family, but this was not a matter of 108 people, but a matter of the entire class. They never said that they would stay out of the matter and just watch the show. They all
It's a very active participation.
They knew very well that if they didn't help at this time, it would be their turn next time.
"Then what should we do?"
asked the person on the left.
This man's name is Zhang Zhen, and his grandfather was the commander of the capital in front of the palace during the Zhenzong period.
"Find a way to win this lawsuit." Pang Huai said: "This is the best response."
The person sitting at the end of the left said: "We are already preparing evidence. In fact, we have always prepared tax bills every year, just in case. But the most important thing is the accounts of the Third Division. The other party will definitely ask for it.
When the Kaifeng Prefecture obtains the accounts of the Third Division, no matter how fully prepared we are, it will not help because our names are not on the accounts."
This person's name is Zhou Cai, and he is the only one on the list.
Pang Huai said: "As far as I know, the Third Division is currently strictly monitoring those accounts."
Having said this, he whispered again: "What do you think?"
"Can you change those accounts?" Zhang Zhen asked Pang Huaiyan.
Pang Huai stroked his beard and said: "Wang Anshi filed a tax complaint for the previous two years. We can just change it. If you are the prefect Lu, they can't see that these are all newly written?"
"It's possible that Magistrate Lu can't see it."
"Don't think too much about this. Don't you know what Magistrate Lu is like?"
"Let's just set it on fire. There is no proof."
"Are you crazy? If you set fire to the imperial city, how many members of your family can fill it?"
"That's right. If you set a fire at this time, you don't have to think about it. It will be found on us. The matter has not yet reached this stage!"
Just then, the light suddenly dimmed.
Immediately afterwards, two more electric lights came in.
Boom boom boom.
A burst of thunder sounded.
Zhou Cai's eyes lit up, "Since fire attack doesn't work, then we can use water attack."
"Water attack?"
"It is true that a new ledger can be seen at a glance, but it is not so easy to see a ledger that has been soaked in water and dried."
In front of the Buddhist temple.
"It's going to rain!"
Cao Ping, who had just finished lighting the incense and came out of the lobby, looked up at the cloudy sky and said to Ma Tianhao beside him: "Fourth, let's go sit first and go back after the rain stops."
Ma Tianhao nodded.
The two went to a side room.
As soon as the front foot entered the door, there was a dense ticking sound outside.
"It's really dangerous."
Cao Ping let out a sigh of relief.
A young novice made a pot of tea for them and went out of the room.
Cao Ping said to Ma Tianhao: "It seems like there are a lot of people here today!"
Ma Tianhao chuckled: "They will never be captured without mercy."
Cao commented: "But I always feel that this is not a good thing. We cannot completely rely on them. We still have to find another way out."
When the Cao family held a dowry for Empress Dowager Cao, they were heavily in debt. Renzong refused to reward her, so she had to pay off the debt for many years.
It wasn't until Yingzong came to the throne that the Cao family began to turn losses into profits, taking advantage of the years when Queen Mother Cao was in power to quickly accumulate wealth.
I’m still afraid of paying off my debt.
And those officials and censors took strict precautions against their relatives.
Therefore, Cao Ping secretly placed many fields under the Ma family's name, and then transferred them from the Ma family to Xiangguo Temple.
Ma Tianhao asked: "Brother Cao, what do you think?"
Cao commented: "You should know that Dong'er and Xiaoyi went to the law firm that day, right?"
Ma Tianhao nodded and asked again: "Brother Cao wants to use Zhang San to avoid taxes?"
Cao Ping sighed: "Actually, I don't want to do this, but the attitude of the officials now makes me very worried. For us, if we don't go to court, everything is easy to say, but once we go to court, it will be a matter of life or death."
Life, we must guard against this trick. Since Zhang San said this, he must have a way. After this lawsuit is over, if those people lose, you can go and find out."
Ma Tianhao said: "That kid must have some tricks up his sleeve. He has hinted at this before, but I ignored him."
Cao Ping asked: "Why?"
Ma Tianhao said: "Brother Cao, you have never dealt with him, so you don't know what kind of person he is. That boy looks harmless to humans and animals, but he is also a man who eats people without spitting out their bones. This silent thing is what I have earned here.
I've gone for thousands of dollars."
Cao commented: "But you also made a lot of money from the mortgage."
"That's true." Ma Tianhao chuckled a few times: "I mean, we can ask him for help, but we must also be wary of him, especially his back-up. At first, the mortgage was said to be a one-time deal, but in the end
Later, he had one contract on the left and another on the right. We couldn't accept it, but the contract was too expensive, costing several hundred guan each, and he ended up earning several thousand guan from us."
Cao commented: "All in all, you still made a profit."
Ma Tianhao nodded: "That's right, all of his original promises have now come true. Our Ma's Pawnshop has indeed reached a higher level."
"That's fine."
Bianjing Law Firm.
"I've found all the evidence you want, including those from the tenant farmers. Don't let me lose."
Wang Anshi pointed to the large boxes of articles and told Zhang Fei.
In fact, Zhang Fei made two preparations. Wang Anshi sent people to check the superficial information. As for the shady information, it was the Imperial City Department who checked it.
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "Master Wang, when you win a lawsuit, you lose and you win!"
Before he could finish speaking, Wang Anshi interrupted him, "We must not lose this lawsuit."
Zhang Fei asked: "If you lose, you, Grand Scholar Wang!"
Wang Anshi said: "I'm fine. I said at the beginning that the Kaifeng government could sentence those tenant farmers to tax exemption. If I lose, I will have a way out."
Zhang Fei wondered: "If that's the case, why is Academician Wang doing so?"
Wang Anshi said with a concerned look on his face: "I'm worried about you. If we lose, they will definitely fight back. If they can't do anything to me, they will definitely come to find you."
I believe you are evil. Are you worried about me? Do you think I am stupid? If you lose, you will definitely lose more than me. Zhang Fei looked at Wang Anshi with contempt in his heart, but said: "Master Wang, at that time you could not
That’s not what you said.”
Wang Anshi said: "Who knew it would turn out like this."
"I."
Zhang Fei scratched his head depressedly and sighed: "I know, I will definitely try my best and I will never lose."
Wang Anshi nodded: "You must be careful."
In fact, Wang Anshi didn't really want to scare Zhang Fei. He and Sima Guang had the same intention. This lawsuit seemed very simple, but inside it was extremely dangerous.
Because the opponent is really capable of counterattacking, if the opponent finds out, he will definitely beat him to death, and he will definitely kill the chicken to scare the monkeys.
Zhang Fei must be that chicken.
Zhang Fei was confused in his heart. I am a professional. I don't know if it is dangerous or not. The hole has been dug, so I don't know who will be buried.
Wang Anshi was a busy man after all, so he left in a hurry before the rain stopped, taking a shower on the way.
Not long after he left, Fan Li ran in from outside and patted the water drops on his body.
Zhang Fei came over and said, "Exceptor Fan, I will leave the affairs of this store to you for the time being. I have to go back and make preparations."
Fan Li groaned: "You should have gone back and prepared a long time ago. There is not much business in the store at this time. I really don't know what you are doing here."
Aren’t I going to act? You know what a hammer is? Zhang Fei said angrily: “This evidence has not been sent, so why should I stay at home and waste my energy on giving birth to a child?”
Fan Li smiled and said suddenly: "By the way, I just heard about something outside."
Zhang Fei asked: "What's the matter?"
Fan Li said: "Those people have hired the other seven major bookstores to fight this lawsuit for them."
"Yeah?"
Zhang Fei said in surprise: "Didn't they ask the officials of the imperial court for help?"
"No!"
Fan Li said: "Fan Sijian and the others have been defeated repeatedly, and no one dares to ask them for help. Therefore, these people chose to hire the seven major bookstores this time."
Zhang Fei nodded and said with a smile: "That should be the case. Although those officials are talented and have amazing memories, litigation is a very professional matter. Experience is very important, so they should seek help from us."
As he spoke, he said thoughtfully: "Tell me, do I have to let them know and let everyone know that it is better to find an ear pen than an official?"
When Fan Li heard this, he immediately started to go crazy, "I'm telling you, Sanlang, win the battle first and then don't play with those who have something and don't have it. Their life and death has nothing to do with us. If we lose, they will definitely come up." A few steps on it."
Zhang Fei pointed at Fan Li and said, "How many times have I told you that you need Da Ju Guan? It's useless for me to be popular on my own. Our industry must become prosperous."
Fan Li really wanted to strangle Zhang Fei, "What about the overall situation? I only know that for us, living is the most important thing."
"I'm really cheating on you if I don't tell you anymore. I'll go back when the rain stops, and I'll leave the business in the store to you."
After the rain stopped, Zhang Fei went back with the information sent by Wang Anshi.
Zhang's house, in front of the thatched house.
Zhang Fei looked at Li Bao with a speechless expression, "Brother Bao, couldn't you send this evidence in another way? You just hid it in the dung bucket. How could I do this!"
Li Bao said nonchalantly: "Don't blame me, Sanlang. This is the safest way, because the dung bucket has to be changed every day. We can go in and out without arousing suspicion. After all, there are so many eye spies in front of your house.
But don’t worry, Saburo, those buckets containing evidence are all clean, I just put a few buckets of feces next to them to hide them from others."
"Forget it, you have to do it more beautifully next time, so as not to tarnish the reputation of the Imperial City Division."
"Yes. I will find another way next time."
Not long after the evidence was unloaded, Xu Zhiqian rushed over. Seeing Zhang Fei sitting under a big tree to cool off, she immediately came over.
"I heard that the evidence has been sent."
"Um."
Zhang Fei nodded.
Xu Zhiqian said: "Then you are still sitting here drinking tea. We don't have much time left, so we have to prepare quickly."
Zhang Fei said: "Let's wait another day or two."
"Still waiting?"
Xu Zhiqian said: "I'll go take a look first."
After a while, Xu Zhiqian was heard exclaiming, "Wow, why does it smell so bad?"
Zhang Fei chuckled: "I told you to wait for a day or two, but you didn't listen."
at night.
Imperial City.
Two Forbidden Army soldiers were chatting in front of Duzhi Gate.
"Hey! Who are you betting on?"
"Li Baoguo and the others."
"You won't pledge Zhang San?"
"Others are betting on Zhang San, so that's it. We want to bet on Zhang San, but we are really stupid."
"how do I say this?"
"Do we usually stand in front of the Duzhisi door?"
"You mean they will!"
"I didn't say anything, but I knew this was what Judge Shen and the others asked for."
"Hey, you! If you hadn't told me earlier, I would have staked all the remaining money on Zhang San."
"Are you all-in?"
"In the past few times, they said Zhang San would lose. I believed them, but ended up losing several times in a row. This time I plan to get my money back."
Just as he was talking, several meows came from the roof.
One person looked back and said, "These cats are really strange. They go wherever people go."
Suddenly, a column of soldiers came over.
"You two go back and rest, we will leave this place to you."
The two soldiers looked at each other and thought, do we need so many people to guard the door?
But they didn't dare to ask any more questions and left quickly.
After they left, only two soldiers were seen holding their hands in front of the door, and the other four soldiers immediately entered the door.