Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 305: Crossroads

“Heh heh. My great ritorious advisor has arrived. Please, quickly take a seat.”

When Emperor Zhao Xu saw Zhang Fei, he actually rose to greet him, and the table had already been prepared with fine wine and delicious food, all dishes that Zhang Fei loved to eat.

If Wang Anshi had witnessed this scene, he probably would have felt extrely envious!

“This humble commoner pays respects to Your Majesty.”

Zhang Fei hurried forward and perford a bow.

Zhao Xu feigned displeasure and said, “How many tis have I told you? When there are no outsiders present, you need not be so formal. Moreover, you have returned in triumph today.”

“I dare not! I dare not!”

Zhang Fei replied humbly, “Speaking of it, I am truly ashad. This entire incident only arose from my desire for revenge. That Your Majesty allowed to act recklessly without bla, I am already moved to tears of gratitude. How could I dare claim credit?”

Zhao Xu laughed happily and said, “Your desire for revenge truly ca at a wonderful ti! It also helped vent my frustration. Sit! Sit! Between you and , there is no need for restraint.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The ruler and subject sat facing each other and toasted one another.

Zhao Xu said with great interest, “Actually, I have long wanted to discuss with you the situation of street encroachnt in the city. Many ministers had previously offered suggestions, but they all ended up coming to nothing, dragging on until now with the matter still unresolved. Who would have thought that you could handle this matter within just one month? This truly amazes even ! What secrets were involved? I wonder if you could share them with .”

Zhang Fei pondered briefly, then said, “One word: speed!”

“Speed?”

“Correct.”

Zhang Fei nodded and said, “Simply put, it’s winning through speed. This kind of matter absolutely cannot be dragged out – it must be resolved quickly and decisively. Take those shacks, for instance. If you don’t demolish them, then you’re the one asking favors of them. But if you demolish the shacks, then it becos them asking favors of you. In this way, the initiative is in our hands, and the subsequent matters actually beco easier to handle.”

Zhao Xu’s eyes lit up, and he slapped the table. “I understand! I understand! What an excellent point about ‘demolish the shacks and it becos them asking favors of you!’ How wonderful! You’ve taken our dynasty’s ancestral law and used them in reverse!”

The ancestral law held that comprehensive order should be established as precaution against malfeasance and regulations should be detailed.

Everything had to be considered thoroughly. When those ministers ca to handle such matters, they would naturally look ahead and behind, considering this and considering that – they definitely couldn’t proceed with demolition.

The reason was that the common people’s lives were too difficult, and encroaching on streets to build shacks was purely an act of desperation.

The more they considered, the more they felt this was disturbing the people.

They could easily co up with ten thousand reasons.

But this was all based on before the demolition had taken place.

Once demolished, it would suddenly beco clear, because this transford into the people expecting compensation from the governnt, putting the initiative in the governnt’s hands.

Since you have requests of , then you must listen to .

Naturally, there would be no trouble.

“I dare not! I dare not!”

Zhang Fei chuckled and continued, “Actually, I also benefited from three major advantages. Otherwise, success would have been difficult.”

Zhao Xu imdiately asked, “What do you an by this?”

Zhang Fei explained, “First is the General Police Bureau. This is a completely new departnt, and its authority and limits exist in ambiguous areas. Especially internally, a system of mutual checks and balances has not yet ford, leading to smooth policy implentation during this period, which is why it could be resolved in such a short ti. If Kaifeng Prefecture had been asked to handle this matter, it mostly wouldn’t have been so easy, because the Prefect of Kaifeng is not only subject to checks from the Vice-Prefect, but also has many governnt offices below that can create resistance, and those powerful officials in court are all-pervasive.

Second is the ongoing judicial reform. Currently, what can check and balance the General Police Bureau is not the Chamber of State Affairs, but the Prosecution Office and Legal Aid Office – it must use law to create checks and balances. Street encroachnt is definitely illegal, which ans they cannot possibly seek legal recourse.

This is why, after we demolished the shacks, they could only make noise but didn’t dare order an investigation into the matter. Once investigated, they would only be lifting a rock to drop on their own feet.

Third is Your Majesty’s support. Without Your Majesty’s full support, this also would not have been possible to succeed.”

Zhao Xu nodded and said, “Indeed! The execution capability that the General Police Bureau demonstrated in this matter truly shocked greatly. But you need not belittle yourself. If I only needed to do this little bit to be invincible in all endeavors, then I wouldn’t need to be troubled at this ti.”

“Just now even Academician Wang praised you for your insight into human nature, how everything interlocks, and how you instead forced the opposition to beco hesitant, ultimately compelling them to hurry and let you finish your service.”

Zhang Fei said sheepishly, “Your Majesty flatters .”

Zhao Xu suddenly glanced at him. “Just an hour ago, Academician Wang ntioned you to , hoping to recruit you into the Reform Planning Commission. What are your thoughts?”

Zhang Fei’s expression changed slightly, and he frowned. After a mont, he stole a glance at Zhao Xu, only to see Zhao Xu looking at him with a serious expression, as if he was determined to get an answer today.

After another mont, Zhang Fei said sheepishly, “Your Majesty, we have discussed this matter before.”

Zhao Xu said, “What you spoke of was ‘let sleeping dragons lie.'”

Zhang Fei nodded.

Zhao Xu continued, “But your answer at that ti was cryptic. I now want to get a precise answer from you – do you believe the New Policies can succeed?”

Zhang Fei remained silent.

Zhao Xu said, “The New Policies are about to be promulgated. If they are destined to fail, I must consider carefully, because with these reforms, I can say I am gambling everything. The risks involved are probably beyond what you can perceive.”

Zhang Fei hesitated briefly, took a deep breath, and said, “Does Your Majesty know why I was cryptic at that ti?”

“Why?”

“Because I was precisely worried that Your Majesty would consider carefully.”

“What do you an?” Zhao Xu asked in surprise.

Zhang Fei said firmly, “Because the New Policies will certainly fail – this is beyond doubt.”

Zhao Xu’s heart skipped a beat, and he nearly fainted.

Actually, this was not the first ti they had discussed this issue, but Zhang Fei’s advice had always been to suggest that Zhao Xu prepare for both possibilities – “let sleeping dragons lie” ant keeping sothing in reserve.

Zhao Xu had agreed at the ti, because keeping sothing in reserve was not a bad thing, but he still held extrely high expectations for the New Policies and still hoped they could succeed.

In other words, he had reservations about Zhang Fei’s advice.

If Zhang Fei had advised abolishing the New Policies, he definitely would not have agreed. Keeping sothing in reserve did not interfere with implenting the New Policies.

However, as Zhang Fei’s talents gradually beca apparent, Zhao Xu began to waver sowhat between Wang Anshi and Zhang Fei. It was not that he distrusted Wang Anshi, but rather that he felt he should give more consideration to Zhang Fei’s suggestions.

This feeling beca even stronger after this incident.

The reasoning was simple: the more outstanding Zhang Fei perford, the more credible his doubts beca.

And Zhang Fei’s attitude had never been very optimistic about the New Policies. As the New Policies were about to be promulgated, which made him very anxious.

He might not be able to afford to lose this battle.

If he lost, would “letting sleeping dragons lie” be able to turn the tide?

A bold idea even erged in his mind: what if he employed Zhang Fei?

Zhang Fei then continued, “Although the New Policies are dood to fail, Your Majesty must spare no effort in supporting the New Policies and must ensure they spread throughout the entire country.”

Zhao Xu was dumbfounded. What are you trying to do? Do you want to push into a fire pit knowing full well there’s a fire pit ahead? He asked in extre confusion, “If the New Policies are certain to fail, why should I still fully support them?”

Zhang Fei smiled and said, “Has Your Majesty ever rowed a boat?”

Zhao Xu shook his head.

Zhang Fei said, “Then does Your Majesty know that if you want a boat to move forward, you must paddle backward?”

Zhao Xu nodded and said, “I naturally know this.”

Zhang Fei said, “The principle is the sa. Your Majesty fully supports the New Policies, and the New Policies are dood to fail – this is like paddling backward, but as long as there is water below, the boat will move forward. ‘Let sleeping dragons lie’ actually has two anings. First, hide yourself well at the beginning of the New Policies. Second, reform during the process of reform, and do so secretly without letting people notice.”

“Reform during the process of reform?”

Zhao Xu asked in confusion, “You an use Academician Wang’s New Policies as a cover?”

“No!”

Zhang Fei said, “Academician Wang’s New Policies establish the soil for reforms – they truly exist. This is why Your Majesty must fully support the New Policies, using the promotion of the New Policies to spread the soil for reform throughout the country.”

Zhao Xu asked, “Then what is the true New Policy?”

Zhang Fei answered, “The people bear no additional taxes while the state’s resources beco abundant.”

“???”

When Zhang Fei returned ho, it had already grown dark.

Just as he stepped down from the carriage, he suddenly heard the sound of horse bells coming from ahead.

No way, there’s soone in this world even more hardworking than – how unreasonable.

Before long, that carriage arrived and stopped in front of the gate, and Xu Zhiqian erged from within the carriage with a slightly weary appearance, bowing as she stepped out.

“Oh!”

Seeing Zhang Fei standing beside the carriage, she couldn’t help but show slight surprise and delight: “How did you get back?”

Zhang Fei extended his hand to help Xu Zhiqian down from the carriage, smiling as he said, “I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?”

Xu Zhiqian pondered briefly, “The bad news.”

Zhang Fei said, “The bad news is that you’ve been laid off.”

“Hm?”

Xu Zhiqian didn’t understand.

Zhang Fei said, “That is, starting today, you’re no longer responsible for the grocery markets. This matter has nothing to do with you anymore.”

Xu Zhiqian asked in surprise, “Why?”

Zhang Fei said, “Shouldn’t you be asking what the good news is?”

Xu Zhiqian paused, “What’s the good news?”

Zhang Fei smiled, “The good news is that I’ve completed my service, and that’s why you’ve been laid off.”

“What do you an completed your service?” Xu Zhiqian imdiately beca angry: “They clearly want to use this opportunity to drive you out of the bureau.”

Zhang Fei said, “Isn’t that exactly what I was after?”

“But…”

Xu Zhiqian said, “But if you leave, wouldn’t all our previous efforts be wasted?”

Zhang Fei said, “Wrong! It’s mission accomplished. Things have reached this point – they can no longer turn the tables. The reason they’re driving away isn’t because they hope our previous efforts will be wasted, but rather as a preventive asure. If I continued to stay at the bureau, they would definitely think of every possible way to continue obstructing the street encroachnt fee and wouldn’t give any opportunity to reform anything else.”

Xu Zhiqian said dejectedly, “That may be so, but the reforms still haven’t been completed.”

Zhang Fei said, “Let soone else handle this! We have more important things to do.”

Xu Zhiqian asked, “What things?”

Zhang Fei smiled, “Charities.”