Under the coercion and inducement of Xu Zun and Zhang Fei, the unscrupulous son-in-law, the fearful Qi Ji could only lead a few people and call a few royal policemen to kill the Imperial City Division in a "mighty" manner.
The bad couple were sitting under the big tree in the courtyard, enjoying the cool air and drinking tea.
After all, this is an era without air conditioning and electric fans. It is better to sit outside. It is too stuffy in the house.
"Father-in-law, does the Chief Justice hold a grudge against the Imperial City Division?" Zhang Fei suddenly asked.
Xu Zundao: "It's not enough to hold grudges. I can only say that I am very dissatisfied with him. It's not just Mr. Zhao. In fact, most of the prime ministers are dissatisfied with some of the actions of the Imperial City Division."
Having said this, he paused for a moment, "But I was also curious before about why Mr. Zhao suddenly issued this order, so I also asked people to go to the imperial city to inquire about it."
Zhang Fei hurriedly asked: "Do you know the reason?"
Now that he has accepted this task, he has to understand that he doesn't know what else is going on here.
Xu Zun nodded and said: "It turns out that after this matter spread in the imperial city, many people were ready to take action, but Zhao Xianggong really did not want the justice to be used for political struggles like before, so he, Sima Junshi and the others After some discussion, they said that the Public Security Bureau will take the initiative to intervene in the investigation and will give everyone a fair result. However, they also asked them not to use the topic to add fuel to the fire and make the court fall into turmoil again. After all, this is not a big case. .”
Zhang Fei nodded, "It turns out that Princess Zhao intervened in this matter in the hope of settling the matter, rather than intending to stir up a bigger storm."
"That's right."
Xu Zun stroked his long beard and said: "But that also depends on whether the Imperial City Division will cooperate with the public prosecutor and the law. If not, this matter may not be suppressed!"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "That depends on the ability of our Inspector Qi."
Xu Zun suddenly whispered: "What about the official family?"
Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "On the surface, the officials still have to protect the Imperial City Division, but the plan has been set. It doesn't matter even if it causes trouble, it will be beneficial to us."
Zhao Xu only agreed that the matter should be handled by the public prosecutor, but he would not put pressure on the Imperial City Division. Not to mention that the Imperial City Division was his biological son. The key is that Zhao Xu would have to use his anger to target the Imperial City Division. , Xiang soldiers were transformed.
It was not until evening that Qi Ji returned to the courtyard dragging his aggrieved and tired body.
"How about it?"
Xu Zun knew this was troublesome as soon as he saw his expression.
Qi Ji said depressedly: "The Imperial City Division still refuses to let our procuratorate intervene."
Xu Zun frowned and said, "Didn't you show the imperial court's decree?"
Qi Ji nodded, "When I went there, I took out the decree from the Imperial Court, but the Imperial City Division said that they would not be under the jurisdiction of the Public Security Bureau, and they would hand the case directly to Dali Temple."
There is indeed a loophole in this connection. The Imperial City Division used to connect with Kaifeng Mansion and Dali Temple, but now it should be connected with the Public Security Bureau, but there is no explicit provision on it. It makes sense for the Imperial City Division to say so.
After all, your Public Security Bureau and the Procuratorate are not the highest court. There are Dali Temple and the Criminal Court above it.
Zhang Fei asked: "You didn't slap our indictment on their faces and tell them what the king's law is."
Qi Ji became even more depressed, "Shoot!"
Zhang Fei asked: "Then what did they say?"
Qi Ji said: "They really have royal skills!"
"Huh? What does that mean?"
Zhang Fei was immediately confused. Could it be that the royal method in our hands is fake?
Qi Ji suddenly said to Xu Zun: "Inspector Xu, do you know that in the second year of Xining, just after the Ayun case, the officials issued an edict."
"Ayun's case?"
Xu Zun stroked his beard.
I was the one who handled Ayun’s case! Zhang Fei thought for a while, "But what about absolving the crime?"
"no."
Qi Ji said: "It's about the Imperial City Division."
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "Then I don't know."
At that time, he was not an official and was concentrating on starting a business, so he didn't know much about these things.
"I remember!"
Xu Zun suddenly said: "There seems to be such an edict!"
"What is it?"
Zhang Fei asked quickly.
Xu Zundao said: "At that time, the officials personally issued the edict, and the officials and relatives of the Imperial City Division had committed a real crime. It can be seen that the crime of using the stick of reason has been committed, so the Imperial City Division was dismissed."
"What do you mean?"
Zhang Fei asked.
Xu Zundao: "That is, if the officials of the Imperial City Division violate the law, it will ultimately be left to the Imperial City Division to deal with it themselves."
"ah?"
Zhang Fei was dumbfounded, "Father-in-law, Chief Prosecutor, you remember correctly, right?"
"Chief Inspector Xu remembers correctly."
Qi Ji said in frustration: "The Imperial City Division also came up with this edict, so we can't prosecute them at all."
Zhang Fei suddenly looked dumbfounded.
I have seen shameless people, but I have never seen anyone so shameless.
If I make a mistake, I will handle it myself.
Damn it!
Zhang Fei gained a new understanding of Zhao Xu.
Qi Ji asked again: "What should we do now?"
Xu Zun looked directly at Zhang Fei.
"Now.!"
Zhang Fei scratched his forehead in embarrassment and said, "It's getting late. Let's go back and rest first. Let's talk about it tomorrow."
Qi Ji glanced at Zhang Fei resentfully, weren't you very arrogant just now? Now it’s okay, you’ve been slapped in the face.
Zhang Fei also felt that he was wronged. How did he know that there would be such a rogue edict.
Xu Zundao: "You go back first, I have an appointment with a friend."
Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
Xu Zun must communicate with officials from North Korea and China to see what the current situation is like between North Korea and China. At present, Zhang Fei is actually more like a technical official. Although he often interacts with Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, he has not integrated into that officialdom. There are so many officials in the court, but no one invites him to dinner, usually Xu According to social media, he is also the prosecutor after all.
As soon as I arrived at the door and was about to get on the carriage and go back, I suddenly heard someone say: "I didn't expect that your Procuratorate is busier than our establishment of the Ordinance Department of the Second Government!"
Zhang Fei turned his head and saw Wang Anshi walking over with a smile. He first bowed his hands and said, "I encountered a rather difficult matter."
"Imperial City Secretary?"
Wang Anshi smiled.
Zhang Fei nodded.
Wang Anshi raised his hand, and Zhang Fei hurriedly stepped over and said, "Scholar Wang, please."
The two of them walked forward along the road, and Long Wu drove the carriage behind them.
"You are more careful when traveling than I am."
Wang Anshi glanced back and said with a smile.
Zhang Fei said truthfully: "After arriving in the capital, I was beaten several times immediately, and was assassinated again when I was on a business trip. Now I have offended no fewer people than Bachelor Wang. How can I be careless?"
"Then you don't know how to restrain yourself."
Wang Anshi said: "I have heard about the matter of the Imperial City Division. Those two soldiers were indeed too much. They said everything to the outside world. They brought it all on themselves. It is natural for the Imperial City Division to arrest them. You Why bother to join in the fun? Do you know that the Imperial City Secretary is the closest person to the official family, and you will offend all the official family."
"This is really unjust!"
Zhang Fei was about to cry but said: "Our procuratorate originally didn't want to take care of it, but the imperial court suddenly issued an order, so we have to take care of it regardless."
Wang Anshi said: "The orders of the imperial court must be followed. Why does he ask the procuratorate to investigate? And if you are so smart, you won't use regulations to refute the imperial court. You can do whatever he asks you to do. Isn't this the public prosecutor's office? Check and balance each other?”
yes! What about Wang Fa? What about the edict? There will always be flaws. Zhang Fei's eyes suddenly lit up and he lowered his eyebrows in thought.
Wang Anshi thought that he was thinking about how to respond to the imperial court, and he felt relieved in his heart, and said: "There are so many things going on in the court now, and Xihe, Jingdong East Road, and the Hebei area cannot be dealt with at all. You should be calm and deal with these first." We’ll talk about it after we’re done.”
Zhang Fei was startled and nodded quickly: "Yes, yes. I'll try my best, I'll try my best."
"I go first!"
Without saying "Bye bye", Wang Anshi waved his sleeves and left.
Of course he didn't meet Zhang Fei by chance, but deliberately arranged it. He didn't want to get involved in this matter, and he didn't want Zhang Fei to get involved either. The reason was the same as what Zhang Fei originally thought. Cheng Si, what would the emperor be thinking?
This is too dangerous.
Before Zhang Fei could recover, a long and narrow figure suddenly shone over again.
Zhang Fei was so frightened that he took a closer look and said, "Ouch! It's Bachelor Sima."
Sima Guang ignored his surprise, looked at Wang Anshi who had walked away, and asked: "That man is looking for you, but he wants you to let the Imperial City go?"
"Well."
Zhang Fei seemed a little hesitant.
"I knew this guy was going to cause trouble again." Sima Guang immediately gritted his teeth and said.
Zhang Fei said hurriedly: "Sima Scholar, please calm down. In fact, Academician Wang just thinks that the affairs of Hebei, Jingdong East Road, and Xihe Road should be given priority at the moment, instead of causing another disturbance, and let the court be quiet for a while."
"Don't listen to his nonsense."
Sima Guang immediately reprimanded: "Wang Jiefu deserves at least half of the credit for today's disaster."
Zhang Fei hurriedly asked: "How do you say this?"
Sima Guang said: "During the reigns of Emperors Zhenzong and Renzong, there were constant requests to limit the powers of the Imperial City Secretary. Although the Imperial City Secretary was not really restricted from the system, it also prevented the Imperial City Secretary from being too presumptuous.
But since Wang Jiefu entered the political affairs hall, he has been instigating officials to strengthen the power of the Imperial City Department. This is really Sima Zhao's intention.
He knew that his new policy would definitely arouse dissatisfaction among officials and people, so he wanted to use the Imperial City Department to silence everyone's mouths, so that Wang Anshi could turn his hand into clouds and rain down. "
Even though he didn't say anything, Zhang Fei also guessed this and asked again: "What does Bachelor Sima think?"
Sima Guang hummed: "If Mr. Zhao hadn't stopped him in front, I would have prepared a petition to impeach the Imperial City Department today. Did the soldier deliberately fabricate the facts? Or was he deceived and slandered Wang Jiefu?
What kind of justice is there for someone who tells the truth and yet suffers such unjust injustice? Moreover, there have been particularly many such things in recent years, and some marriage officials have even taken advantage of this to organize unjust prison sentences and extort money from the people.
However, this defense against the people is better than the defense against Sichuan. If the imperial court does not know the people's grievances in time and appease the people's sentiments, once it breaks out, the consequences will be disastrous. "
Zhang Fei asked: "So what does Bachelor Sima mean?"
Sima Guang turned his head and looked at him, with a firm expression on his face: "The Public Prosecution and Procuratorate must impose restrictions on the Imperial City Division, and they must not be allowed to continue to act illegally and wantonly. If they can get away with it and violate the law wantonly, then what will happen to the Public Procuratorate and Procuratorate?" How can we convince the world? By then, the entire judicial reform will fall short because of this."
Could it be that Zhang Fei was doing the same thing: "But this might offend the officials?"
Sima Guang said: "You just act in accordance with the law. As for things that offend the officials, I will do it. In short, this will definitely contain the Imperial City Division."
In Cheng Fang's lawsuit, Sima Guang initially only wanted to protect Cheng Yi and targeted Cheng Fang. He did not elevate the whole case to the level of eunuchs interfering in politics. He was willing to make compromises and did not want to offend the emperor because of this matter.
But facing the Imperial City Secretary, his attitude was completely different. He would rather offend the emperor than fight to the end.
These living enemies really can't get along! Zhang Fei sighed secretly and knew why there was a party dispute. Wang Anshi and Sima Guang were full of contradictions in almost everything, so he nodded and said: "Yes."
Sima Guang asked again: "I heard that the Imperial City Division refused to let your procuratorate intervene?"
Although he has not come forward, he has been paying attention to this matter. He came here this time to support Zhang Fei. If you really can't handle it, then we will put pressure on the emperor in the court.
Because if the Imperial City Division ignores the public prosecutor, they can only put pressure on the emperor.
You can't just let the royal police charge into the imperial city.
That would be rebellion.
"Um."
Zhang Fei added: "But they are not unreasonable, but they have come up with relevant express regulations. I have to go back and study this to see how to break through. In addition, I think that if you want to win this kind of thing, you have to win." They are convinced, otherwise, it would not be solved.”
Sima Guang nodded slightly and agreed with this.
They used to make trouble with the emperor every day. From the Zhenzong period to the present, no emperor has actually restricted the Imperial City Division.
This is very difficult. You have to give a perfect reason to restrict the Imperial City Division.
The reason is also very simple. From the emperor's point of view, the Imperial City Division directly represents the imperial power. Of course, the emperor cannot limit his own power.
But from a minister's point of view, if your Imperial City Secretary is allowed to be questioned for his words, and they contradict the emperor, they will be sentenced to death.
If this civil servant doesn't say anything, he might as well go home and farm.
After all, the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats currently rule the world together. The scholar-bureaucrats know very well that the emperor's power of life and death must be restricted. Otherwise, how can they govern the world together?
However, due to the lack of the rule of law, the ministers can only keep an eye on you all the time. Anyway, as long as you commit a crime, I will definitely impeach you, and I will hold on to you as the emperor. You have more power, but I have more people, so I can go forward and succeed you. , As a result, although the emperor did not expressly restrict the Imperial City Division, he did not dare to act arbitrarily.
The emperor didn't want to have a quarrel with the ministers for the sake of one or two common people. The key point was that it was also very troublesome, so the emperor often restrained the Imperial City Division and asked them to strictly abide by discipline and not make trouble. However, I can only do it. Constraint, but you cannot constrain.
In essence, it is still a battle between imperial power and ministerial power.
And Sima Guang especially hated this kind of thing. After all, he was an old Confucian and was familiar with history books. He believed from the bottom of his heart that a wise leader must open up his voice and never use words to punish crimes easily, let alone punish this person. It is a terrible thing to expand this kind of behavior, so he has always been the most active in impeaching the Imperial City Secretary.
It just so happened that the Public Security Bureau and the Procuratorate were now in place, and their ministers also believed that there was an opportunity to truly restrict the Imperial City Division.
Zhao Pian was also very clear about this matter, but he considered that if you directly contradict the emperor, the emperor will be unable to step down, and it will make the matter more difficult to handle. It is better to leave it to us, the public prosecutor and the law.
After returning home and having dinner, Zhang Fei began to study relevant laws and edicts, while Xu Zhiqian helped with her pregnant belly.
"Unless we repeat our old tricks and sue in the name of our ancestors' laws, otherwise, it will be difficult to find a breakthrough!"
Xu Zhiqian put down the book in her hand and shook her head at Zhang Fei dejectedly.
After all, the emperor did not say that the Imperial City Division could break the law. He only stipulated that if the Imperial City Division violated the law, the Imperial City Division would deal with it internally and did not need to hand it over to the Kaifeng Mansion or the Criminal Court.
"The ancestral method is a trump card and cannot be used lightly. Moreover, officials also hate that others always use the ancestral method to suppress him."
Zhang Fei frowned and said, "Explain this edict to me carefully."
This ancient sentence can have several meanings. If you can find a different meaning, you might be able to break through it.
Xu Zhiqian said: "This edict is just one sentence. It really has no other meaning. If the officials of the Imperial City Division violate the law, the Imperial City Division can handle it themselves and does not need to hand it over to Kaifeng Mansion."
Zhang Fei said: "Write it down word for word first."
Xu Zhiqian has worked with Zhang Fei for so many years and knows that his habits are that he likes very detailed and lengthy writing style, but does not like short writing style. Even if the sentences are not fluent, he can accept it, but it must be written in very detail.
She immediately wrote down the meaning of this edict very straightforwardly.
Zhang Fei took the piece of paper and looked back and forth for half an hour, then suddenly murmured to himself, "What if it's illegal?"
Xu Zhiqian asked: "What did you say?"
Zhang Fei glanced at Xu Zhiqian and suddenly smiled and said: "Zhiqian, we have to work together as husband and wife."
Xu Zhiqian said in surprise: "Have you thought of a way?"
Zhang Fei smiled and nodded.
The next morning.
Zhang Fei came forward in person this time and came to the Imperial City Division with Qi Ji again.
What greeted them was an official named Liu Renzan, from the sixth rank. In fact, the rank of officials in the Imperial City Department was not high, and the highest rank was the sixth rank.
"We have always been fair and strict in public prosecutions and handled things neatly, but now it seems that the name does not live up to the name. Just like those censors, they know that they are always pestering and wasting the court's public funds."
Liu Renzan said with disdain.
It can be seen that they have no dealings with the censors, and they are not afraid of those censors at all. This may be the only case for both the government and the public.
Zhang Fei asked with a smile: "Where do you start talking about Mr. Liu?"
Liu Ren praised: "Yesterday I took out the official edict and showed it to Inspector Qi. Your procuratorate has no right to prosecute us."
"Yeah?"
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "I also want to see if it is really what you said."
"As expected of Erbi, his messy skills are really amazing."
Liu Renzan shook his head, "It's okay, I'll let you guys give up on this."
He then ordered someone to take out the edict and show it to Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei took it and looked at it, then suddenly looked at Qi Ji and said, "Inspector Qi, yesterday it was Mr. Liu who told you that the procuratorate has no right to prosecute officials in the Imperial City Division because they have official edicts?"
Qi Ji nodded.
Liu Renzan said contemptuously: "I am the one who said it. Is there any problem?"
"This is a big problem."
Zhang Fei directly took out a piece of paper, slapped it on the table, and said: "Liu Renzan, on behalf of the procuratorate, I am now officially prosecuting you for forging the edict."
"That's unreasonable."
Liu Renzan stood up directly and pointed at Zhang Fei's nose, "How dare you frame me."
Qi Ji also felt weak in his legs. This is the real emperor's edict, it cannot be fake!
Zhang Fei picked up the edict and said, "The officials wrote clearly in this edict that any official in the Imperial City Division who breaks the law must be left to the Imperial City Division to deal with it themselves."
Liu Ren praised: "Is there any problem with this?"
Zhang Fei said: "The problem is that when our procuratorate prosecutes anyone, it does not mean that the other person has broken the law and is a criminal. Only after the court's judgment can it mean that you have broken the law.
The official government only stipulated that after breaking the law, it would be handed over to the Imperial City Division for disposal. In other words, this edict only applies after the imperial court's judgment, not at the moment.
Because it is currently in the investigation and prosecution stage. You actually misinterpreted the edict in an attempt to prevent our procuratorate from investigating. Isn't this the crime of forging an edict? "
"you!"
Liu Renzan almost bit his tongue, he was a little confused. Is that what happened? If I break the law, you can't arrest me. If I don't break the law, you can arrest me. Is there any other method? He pointed at Zhang Fei with a ferocious expression, "How dare you set up a plan to frame me."
Zhang Fei spread his hands and asked with a question mark on his face: "Why did Mr. Liu say this?"
Liu Renzan pointed to the petition paper and said, "You have even prepared the petition paper, and you still say it's not the case."
Zhang Fei said: "The reason why I prepared the pleadings is because that's what you said yesterday to deal with Inspector Qi. I don't believe Mr. Liu has such courage, so I came here to take a look. I didn't know it was really the case. Who's here? Ah! Take Mr. Liu away."
Immediately two royal policemen came forward.
Liu Renzan shouted, "Who dares."
Suddenly more than ten Forbidden Army soldiers rushed into the house.
Qi Ji suddenly became panicked. It seemed like it would take a billion bits of courage to capture the marriage officer in the Imperial City Department.
Zhang Fei held up the edict, "Mr. Liu forged the edict. Anyone who dares to stop me will be guilty of the same crime."
After that, he shouted loudly: "Forge the edict, forge the edict."
When the Forbidden Soldiers heard this, they were a little at a loss. Although they only had to obey the emperor's orders, forging edicts was never allowed by the emperor. It was definitely a capital crime. What should I do?
"Forged edict!"
Zhang Fei shouted at the top of his lungs and winked at Qi Ji.
Qi Ji immediately reacted and shouted: "Forge the edict, forge the edict."
This shout made everyone feel frightened.
The office of the Imperial City Department is right next to the gate of the Imperial City. If the officials who come and go hear this, they will have to come and take a look.
"Ouch!"
Liu Renzan stamped his foot fiercely, "Stop shouting, stop shouting, why don't you let me go with you?"
Zhang Fei immediately stopped shouting and stretched out his hand to lead him to the door, "Mr. Liu, please."
"You're a cruel kid."
Liu Renzan said fiercely: "But don't blame me for not reminding you. It's easier to invite gods than to send them away!"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Just you?"
