Chapter 297: This is What You All Asked For |
This verdict was obviously the result of careful deliberation, to the extent that many of the powerful ministers present felt as if they had swallowed a fly – deeply uncomfortable, yet unable to voice their objections.
It sounded reasonable enough – if you lost a lawsuit, there was nothing to be done about it. But it still involved street encroachment rectification, and whether this was just an isolated case or if there would be follow-up actions remained unclear.
This lingering anxiety simply could not be put to rest!
Gu Ji’s intestines turned green with regret. With an angry snort, he turned and stormed off in a huff.
This scene was caught perfectly by Xu Zhiqian’s eyes. She smiled sweetly and said, “Director Gu has truly capsized in the gutter this time!”
“Capsized?” Zhang Fei smiled slightly. “I don’t think that’s quite accurate.”
Xu Zhiqian tilted her head and asked, “Then what would you call it?”
“A total party wipe, of course.”
Zhang Fei chuckled. “You really underestimate my petty nature. If this were the only outcome, I wouldn’t have bothered with this lawsuit at all. They throw a piece of filth at me, so I have to tear down one of their houses.”
Zhang Fei glanced sideways at Cao Ping and smiled. “He’s already on the pirate ship – there’s no getting off now. You go back first in a while. I’ll go to the police station with the young masters.”
“Mm.”
“Sima Guang, do you think this matter ends here?”
Wen Yanbo glanced at Zhang Fei, who was packing up, and asked Sima Guang in a low voice.
Sima Guang shook his head. “Hard to say! I feel it probably won’t end here. Whenever Zhang San personally takes action, when has he ever settled for just this little benefit?”
He wanted to give Wen Yanbo a heads-up first.
He knew this matter was definitely not over.
“I think so too!”
Wen Yanbo nodded slightly.
Sima Guang asked cautiously, “If the other side pushes further, what do you think we should do, Lord Wen?”
Wen Yanbo pondered for a long while, then shook his head. “The timing isn’t good. The vehicle license matter is still being processed, and now this incident has erupted here. This will leave them gasping for breath!”
Sima Guang nodded slightly.
This was actually what he had been thinking too.
Wen Yanbo suddenly looked at Sima Guang. “What’s your view?”
Sima Guang had known all along, but was still very conflicted. After pondering briefly, he said, “Let’s not take a stance on this matter for now. Let’s see what the General Police Bureau has to say.”
Upon leaving the Bureau of Records, Xu Zhiqian took a carriage back, while Zhang Fei directly boarded Cao Dongdong’s carriage.
“Brother San…”
“Hold it!”
Upon boarding the carriage, Zhang Fei raised his hand to halt his fanboy Ma Xiaoyi’s rainbow flattery. “This is everyone’s achievement. I just showed up and made a brief appearance – nothing worth mentioning. You are the greatest contributors.”
The entire incident had been designed by them – there was no way they could lose.
Getting a pen-in-cap to break the law was actually a terrifying thing.
Driving the carriage under the shed wasn’t difficult – the challenge was getting the right wheel stuck in the ditch, which was why they had sought out Xie Hui the expert driver.
Cao Dongdong rubbed his nose a few times and coughed. “Speaking of contributions, mine was the greatest. I even had to deceive my father – that’s no easy task.”
Ma Xiaoyi chuckled. “Brother San’s contribution is second, mine is third.”
Zhang Fei smiled. “But now isn’t the time to distribute rewards based on merit. How much money did we get in compensation? It’s nowhere near enough to break even. We must go further and make those people respect our patrol police from now on.”
Cao Dongdong winked at Zhang Fei. “Zhang San, it’s all up to you in a moment.”
Zhang Fei nodded.
When they returned to the police station, Cao Ping was already sitting inside with an expressionless face.
“Zhang San, your performance earlier was quite good. I’ll send people to Spring Breeze Ten Li to supervise their rectification. This case ends here. Let’s focus on getting the vehicle license matter done first.”
The Cao family ranked first among the imperial relatives – they were definitely among the powerful elite.
The vehicle license matter was already like stabbing themselves with a knife. There was no choice since His Majesty was behind it. Now with blood still flowing from that wound, another knife was coming immediately – who could bear that!
He also had to consider the Cao family’s network of connections.
For now, no one was blaming him, since this was all Gu Ji’s own doing, but if they went any further, that would be crossing the line.
Zhang Fei said, “Commissioner, this is an excellent opportunity!”
“Shut your mouth!”
Cao Ping said, “I’m really beginning to suspect you people are behind this whole affair.”
“Father!”
Cao Dongdong at his side began to lose his temper again.
“You two brats get out first.”
“Your son takes his leave! Hmph!”
After Cao Dongdong spoke, he went out the door with Ma Xiaoyi, closing the door behind him.
When had this kid become so well-mannered, even knowing to close the door behind him? Cao Ping slowly stood up and walked leisurely to the door, then suddenly pulled it open.
Two heads slowly turned upward, looking at the furious Cao Ping, then quickly straightened up.
“Little Ma, let’s go take a look at Spring Breeze Ten Li.”
“Yes.”
The two young men left the courtyard with their arms around each other’s shoulders.
Cao Ping shook his head helplessly, then closed the door and returned inside, asking Zhang Fei, “Whose house do you want to demolish, you rascal?”
He almost wanted to tell Zhang Fei directly: my family has also encroached on the street!
Instead of answering, Zhang Fei asked in return, “I wonder why you agreed to fight this lawsuit in the first place?”
Cao Ping said, “That’s because Gu Ji was going too far, forcing us to take him to court.”
Zhang Fei smiled.
Cao Ping glanced at him. “What are you smiling about?”
Zhang Fei said, “I believe you had already prepared for the worst before this. But compared to one’s official career, demolishing one or two houses is completely insignificant.”
Cao Ping looked at him with surprise, said nothing, sat down, picked up his teacup, and took a light sip, but didn’t put it down – clearly his mind was elsewhere.
Zhang Fei continued, “Why did His Majesty establish the General Police Bureau? Why did His Majesty promote judicial reform? Why does His Majesty support the vehicle licensing? I believe this is definitely not for the Cao family’s sake.”
Cao Ping looked up at him but still remained silent.
Zhang Fei continued, “Rather, it’s because he hopes to govern this country well and eliminate corrupt practices. In other words, if the Police Commissioner cannot accomplish this, His Majesty will certainly replace him.
And in Bianjing, the Police Commissioner’s power is actually very crucial, and he enjoys His Majesty’s deep trust, both in terms of loyalty and ability. Based on this, you should not give up this position.”
“Nonsense!”
Cao Ping slammed his teacup down heavily on the table, spilling quite a bit of tea. “What right does a mere clerk like you have to say such things to an official?”
Zhang Fei acted as if he hadn’t heard and continued on his own, “And judging from the current judicial system, you will definitely offend people. If you don’t want to offend anyone, you might end up being taken to court yourself.
Cases like this could happen every day. If you want to smooth things over, the Prosecutor’s Office and Legal Aid Office will never agree.
This will force you to defend the law, and this also requires establishing authority, which is especially important for the newly established police bureau. If you can properly rectify street encroachment behavior, I believe your authority will be deeply rooted in people’s hearts.”
Cao Ping frowned. “Do you think this matter is that simple?”
Zhang Fei said, “Precisely because it’s not simple, it can establish your authority. Moreover, if executed properly, it’s possible to combine kindness with severity and reduce the resistance encountered.”
“Combine kindness with severity?” Cao Ping snorted. “Tell me, how can this combine kindness with severity?”
Zhang Fei said, “The Bureau of Records’ ruling is for rectification, not elimination. At the same time, it didn’t rule that street encroachment behavior is illegal, but rather ruled that Spring Breeze Ten Li’s street encroachment behavior posed serious traffic hazards.”
Cao Ping frowned. “Is there a difference?”
“Of course there is!”
Zhang Fei said, “If it were ruled illegal, there would be nothing to negotiate—everything would have to be demolished. But with rectification, one only needs to eliminate the hazards.
This creates room for maneuvering. When I investigated this case, I also had people collect information about street encroachment situations.
They can roughly be divided into three categories.
The most widespread street encroachment involves commoners knocking down ward walls to open shops directly facing the street. Currently, throughout Bianjing, the ward system has become impossible to enforce, yet current regulations still follow the ward system.[1]
This shows that legal statutes have become seriously outdated.
If the imperial court proactively broke down the ward walls and abolished the ward system, it would be easier to manage. Then encroaching on ward walls to open street-facing shops, as long as it doesn’t cause road blockages, could be recognized by the court as legal behavior. This would benefit a large number of commoners.
We could even petition His Majesty to open the Imperial Avenue, giving those without shops more places to make a living. This would surely gain the support of most commoners.”
Cao Ping was slightly startled. “How could this be acceptable?”
Zhang Fei said, “You can go look at the Imperial Avenue now—what difference is there from it being open?”
The Imperial Avenue was explicitly forbidden to commoners, but currently the Imperial Avenue was bustling with traffic. This was what led to commoners chatting with the emperor by the roadside when Emperor Zhenzong and Emperor Renzong traveled.
In ancient times, this was truly unique.
Cao Ping still shook his head. “Though that may be so, if the court officially opens the Imperial Avenue, it can’t take it back.”
“If we can guarantee that we maintain the Imperial Avenue’s cleanliness daily, and if during special periods we can immediately seal off the Imperial Avenue to provide excellent road conditions for imperial travel, it would be far better than now. Why wouldn’t it work?”
Zhang Fei had long set his sights on the Imperial Avenue. So wide, so long, yet not open for civilian use—this was too absurd. One must know that land within Bianjing was already insufficient.
Cao Ping pondered silently.
Zhang Fei continued, “Second, there’s the powerful and wealthy occupying public areas to build houses. I believe you are very familiar with this.”
Cao Ping’s eyes immediately widened.
Zhang Fei chuckled and continued, “Then this situation can be judged in two ways: first, whether it blocks traffic and whether there are safety hazards. If not, there’s no need to demolish, but they must pay annual land tax.
According to law, the land doesn’t belong to them but to the state, so they must naturally pay certain land taxes. This would also provide the General Police Bureau with more funding.
The third situation involves extreme safety hazards—whether powerful or common people, everything must be demolished.
According to different situations, we adopt different measures rather than striking down everything with one blow. This way, we can combine kindness with severity and achieve multiple goals.”
After listening, Cao Ping suddenly looked at Zhang Fei. “I’m increasingly suspicious that this lawsuit was a conspiracy, and you’re the mastermind behind it.”
You’ve explained this too perfectly—clearly you’ve thought this through carefully.
Zhang Fei’s expression remained unchanged as he asked, “May I ask the Commissioner, what could I gain from this?”
Cao Ping frowned, looking curiously at Zhang Fei. “I’m also very curious about this—what are you after?”
Zhang Fei smiled. “Of course, it’s to not disappoint everyone’s expectations.”
Cao Ping looked at Zhang Fei in confusion.
Zhang Fei said, “Everyone can hire people to stand in for their corvee service. Only I cannot—because I have special talents, like shoveling manure. Those ministers think so highly of me and have such high expectations—naturally I can’t disappoint them. I must produce some results.
Just like this lawsuit—we were already submissive and deferential, yet they still pester us relentlessly. The only thing I can do is fulfill their wishes.”
Only then did Cao Ping suddenly understand.
Just one word—revenge!
Pure revenge, without a trace of impurity.
Cao Ping couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated, kindly advising, “Youthful impetuosity isn’t necessarily a good thing.”
Zhang Fei smiled. “But the fact is, I’m damned if I do, and damned if I don’t. I can only give my all.”
Sigh. This was all those officials’ own doing, bringing him here. And now… Cao Ping chuckled and said, “First write out your rectification plan in detail, and I’ll consider it carefully.”
“Yes, sir.”
Zhang Fei spoke very bluntly, but he had precisely hit Cao Ping’s weak spot.
The emperor’s trust.
This was crucially important for the Cao family. Although Cao Ping had maintained a very low profile since taking the position of General Police Commissioner, seemingly doing nothing, he actually valued this position greatly.
This position was responsible for the security of all of Bianjing. Even if it were only a Rank Nine position, it was extraordinary because it would definitely be held by an official the emperor trusted most.
As long as he remained in this position, it meant that the Cao family’s status was as stable as Mount Tai.
Grand Empress Dowager Cao also supported his role as Police Commissioner.
Therefore, the first thing he had to consider was the emperor’s attitude toward this matter.
So he drafted Zhang Fei’s plan into a memorial and secretly submitted it to the emperor.
If you agree, then I’ll do a good job. If you remain silent, then forget it.
However, Zhang Fei had already reported this plan to Emperor Zhao Xu long ago.
Without Zhao Xu backing him up, how could Zhang Fei possibly dare to act this boldly?
Zhao Xu absolutely supported it. He wanted to promote legal system reform. After receiving the memorial, he immediately summoned his team of chancellors to discuss the matter.
It must be said that this plan made Sima Guang, Lu Gongzhu, Wen Yanbo, and others’ eyes light up.
Before the meeting, when Zhao Xu said he wanted to discuss this matter, they all appeared very nervous.
They thought it would involve extensive criminalization—completely demolishing everything—but unexpectedly, it was about decriminalization, making things legal subject to the necessary foundations of traffic and safety.
This was very moderate.
Wang Anshi was the first to step forward and say, “I strongly support this plan. In fact, everyone knows that the ward system is no longer applicable to our dynasty. Having laws that exist in name only is equivalent to having no laws at all, which is why there are so many cases of street encroachment. If we want legal management, we must first make it legal.”
“Your words are reasonable,” Zhao Xu nodded, then looked toward Wen Yanbo, Sima Guang, Zhao Bian, and others.
Sima Guang remained silent. He actually liked this plan very much, but he felt guilty and embarrassed to speak up.
Zhao Bian, having no family ties or concerns, answered directly: “I believe every clause in this plan is written very well and very reasonably. As long as the General Police Bureau ensures they can execute it strictly, I absolutely support it. But if they execute it poorly or have ulterior motives, I will be the first to stand up and impeach them.”
Wen Yanbo said, “I second that.”
Only then did Sima Guang speak up to express support for Zhao Bian’s position.
This group of conservatives was deeply influenced by the Qingli Era Reforms. Although they served as chancellors, they completely distrusted the government’s execution capabilities.
This plan was written in great detail, with every clause being very reasonable, but it involved too many interests and too many opportunities for corruption.
Zhao Bian’s words were actually very blunt. “Ulterior motives” referred to the General Police Bureau using this as an opportunity to collect money illegally.
Could it be executed strictly?
The conservatives always harbored doubts about this.
Wang Anshi definitely supported it. This was also reform, aligned with his position. The more people who wanted change, the happier he became.
As for execution problems, he believed he could definitely accomplish it. He was inherently confident.
Without this personality, he couldn’t have succeeded, but ultimately he was also defeated by this same personality trait.
Sima Guang was exactly the opposite. Even with the smallest matters, he was cautious beyond measure, deliberating back and forth.
For example, he very much agreed with Wang Anshi’s memorial discussing governmental abuses, but he didn’t believe these abuses could be changed in a short period of time.
A lake does not freeze in a single day.
Just like the street encroachment issue—he also wanted to reform it in his heart, but he was afraid of causing chaos. Now, he was completely forced into it.
At this moment, he was very anxious.
Zhang Fei, can you really handle this?
Although this plan was good, it was also very complex. How would you determine whether safety hazards existed? And how many safety hazards were there?
He felt both anticipation and worry.
Zhao Xu’s determination for reform was unquestionable, and he also trusted Zhang Fei greatly. He said, “Let’s do this—first let the Chief Police Bureau try it out. I just ask all you ministers to supervise carefully from the sidelines. If there are any improper executions by the Chief Police Bureau, point them out immediately.”
All the chancellors bowed and said, “We obey Your Majesty’s command.”
[1] The Ward System was an urban planning system that strictly separated residential areas (wards) from commercial districts (markets), implementing walled enclosures, scheduled opening and closing of ward gates, and a curfew.