This ban from the government immediately caused an uproar in the countryside.
Because this ban can be said to be very rare, but it can also be said to be very common.
The relationship between the squire and the emperor is not only the relationship between the monarch and the people, but also a cooperative relationship.
Generally speaking, squires will cooperate with the work of the court, and they have even implemented many government orders that they did not support in their hearts. It can be seen that squires still obey government orders.
But often the imperial court just promulgates policies, saying that low-interest loans are like this. If it were in the past, it would directly prohibit you from doing so, instead of saying that the patriarchal clan has no authority.
Because the patriarchal clan is the only system for the gentry to maintain rural stability, and it is also the basis for rural autonomy.
The emperor is very tolerant of the patriarchal clan. As long as it does not affect my political power, if you like to do it, just do it like this. Even if you soak the pig cage, the court will not interfere. If the officials want to take care of it, it is also the official's business.
Because the country is so big and customs vary from place to place, it is impossible to rule them all out by one law. The patriarchal system is a very good supplement to the unified dynasty.
There is a high degree of tacit understanding between the two parties.
But this time it was different. This time the government issued a direct order, clearly stating that the patriarchal clan had no right to do so.
This is extremely rare.
Those squires were already prepared to deal with it. After all, Yuan Jiang had already spoken harsh words, and they were also ready to fight. However, they did not expect that Yuan Jiang would be so cruel and directly issue a ban on the patriarchal clan.
This is the rhythm of turning defense into offense!
This has brought unprecedented unity within the countryside.
More than thirty squires rushed directly to the government office.
"Yuan Houzhi, why do you do this?"
Liang Youyi glared at Yuan Jiang and asked angrily.
An old man named Xu Bangsheng with pale beard and hair also said: "Scholar Yuan, what you did is really too much."
They all focused their attention on Yuan Jiang. Cai Yanqing, who was standing aside, did not exist.
But in fact, this ban was issued by the government, not the transportation department.
But everyone knows that it was the Transportation Department that forced the government to issue this ban.
Cai Yanqing would definitely not do this.
"Excessive?"
Yuan Jiang suddenly raised his hand and slammed the table, startling the old men present, "Who is too much? Usury has been rampant for a long time, and you don't care about it. But the court just announced the implementation of the Qingmiao Law in Hezhong Prefecture, and you know clearly that the Qingmiao Law will be implemented."
If the interest rate is two cents, then the interest rate is one and a half cents. If the imperial court goes to your village to lend money, it violates your clan law. What do you want to do? Are you rebelling? "
My 2 cents of interest is 1.5 cents of interest as stipulated by your clan law, so if I went to your village to lend money, it would be illegal to pay back!
An old man with a ruddy face and a slightly fat figure hurriedly said: "Hou Zhi, you have misunderstood. Our patriarchal clan only stipulates those households in the village. Our clan has no control over people from outside who go to lend money in the village, let alone
Talk about the imperial court."
These people can be said to be legal professionals.
When they decided on this clan law, they also considered various issues, but they could not let the government get hold of it. In the regulations, they only prohibited villagers from making loan sharks in the village. They did not say that outsiders were not allowed to make loan sharks in the village.
But the villagers believe that no one is allowed to come to the village to make loan sharks.
In fact, it is not accurate either.
"No misunderstanding."
Yuan Jiang said: "Everyone knows very well that I, Mr. Yuan, am not a prostitute. You must not say that I am doing this to help the court crack down on loan sharking."
"Assisting the imperial court is one thing, but on the other hand, we have long been dissatisfied with loan sharks exploiting the villagers. We really don't know what is wrong with doing this?" Liang Youyi said shamelessly.
Yuan Jiang sneered: "Then there is nothing wrong with the government doing this."
"You are using strong words to make excuses." Xu Bangsheng frowned and said, "Who gave you this power?"
Yuan Jiang raised her hands and said to the sky: "Of course it's an official?"
"Really? Is this an official order?" Xu Bangsheng asked immediately.
Yuan Jiang said: "Why trouble the officials for such a trivial matter, but the officials definitely have this power. Otherwise, you can also follow the regulations in your village's clan law that allow private brewing and salt production."
"You are simply being arrogant." Liang Youyi said: "Can this be the same thing? The court has express regulations on brewing wine and salt production, but the court's regulation on interest is between five and six cents. Under this,
They should all be allowed. As for the Young Crops Law, it is just a court policy or business, not a law."
They are all veterans of the officialdom, and they speak clearly and logically.
Yuan Jiang was not a good person either. He smiled and said: "You also said that the court stipulates an interest rate of five to six cents, but you stipulate an interest rate of one cent and five cents. What will the people think then? The court is not as benevolent and righteous as you? Are you like this?
Why are you so eager to win people's hearts?"
"You are just a slanderer."
Liang Youyi said: "Everyone knows that this five-cent interest can benefit the villagers, but the court prohibits us from lending at low interest rates for personal gain. Isn't the court afraid of losing the support of the people?"
Yuan Jiang smiled and said: "My ban does not prevent you from lending money at low interest rates. Of course you can do so, and the government also encourages you to do so. I just don't allow you to add this interest rate to the clan system. You are making such a big show of it, how can I not
Do you suspect you have ulterior motives?"
"The imperial court has never stipulated that we cannot do this."
"It's stipulated now."
"You...you don't have this power?"
"You have no right to disobey government orders."
"We don't have it, but we have the right to write to the court and ask for clarification."
"Please do so. But please remove this regulation from the patriarchal clan as soon as possible."
"You can't even hope to succeed. Farewell."
These scholar-bureaucrats would not be afraid of Yuan Jiang and would just stand up and leave.
This time Cai Yanqing did not stand up to smooth things over. He knew it was meaningless, because the other party clearly wanted to target Qingmiao Fa. If they refused to give in, Yuan Jiang would not give up.
.......
Imperial Court.
"teacher!"
When Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian entered the conference room, Cai Bian and the others stood up immediately.
Zhang Fei was startled by them, "Wow...when did you become so polite?"
The four of them looked at Zhang Fei in surprise at the same time.
When it comes to words and deeds, we are much better than teachers!
They didn't dare to say it, but on this etiquette issue, they asked themselves, they could definitely kill Zhang Fei in an instant. As a teacher, Zhang Fei really couldn't stand or sit well.
But they had no time to worry about so much now, so Ye Zuqia said excitedly: "Teacher, have you heard about it?"
"What?"
Zhang Fei asked.
Ye Zuqia said: "It is the government order that prohibits the interest on loans stipulated in the clan law."
Zhang Fei nodded and said: "I heard, is this illegal?"
The four of them looked at each other and shook their heads at the same time.
Cai Bian said: "We don't know this clearly."
Zhang Fei said: "I don't know, it means it's not illegal. What does not breaking the law have to do with us?"
Cai Jing suddenly said: "But the students think they might come to our court to litigate."
Zhang Fei glanced at him, "How do you say this?"
Cai Jingdao: "They have only two options now, either to appeal to the imperial court or to our imperial court. However, the students think that there is little hope of appealing to the imperial court, because the imperial court has just announced the promulgation of the Young Crops Law. If they appeal at this time, they may still appeal.
They were reprimanded by the imperial court, but from a judicial perspective, they had an advantage, so the students thought they would probably come to our imperial court to appeal."
The other three people also nodded frequently.
If you want to appeal the ins and outs of this matter to the imperial court, not to mention Wang Anshi and Zhao Xu, you will have to scold your mother. You are not deliberately going against the imperial court.
“Very good analysis.”
Zhang Fei smiled and nodded, "Let's talk about it when we get here."
Ye Zuqia said: "If they really appeal to the imperial court and sue the Transportation Department, that would be a big deal! Do we have to prepare as soon as possible?"
Xu Zhiqian pursed her lower lip slightly, thinking, your teacher has been recuperating for many days.
Zhang Fei suddenly asked: "Have you received your salary now?"
The four of them were stunned for a moment, then nodded.
When I come to Hezhongfu, I always get it, don’t you know?
Zhang Fei said: "Then your task is to do things well now, rather than prepare for what may happen in the future. This is not a natural or man-made disaster, but it must be prevented in advance.
Now that the Imperial Court has a lot of things to deal with, you are still in the mood to think about other things. If you are so energetic, you can help at the door and build the house, and everyone is rushing to finish it."
"This is the student's verdict yesterday. Please ask the teacher to review it."
Ye Zuqia directly handed over his "homework".
Cai Bian also hurriedly changed the topic and said: "Teacher, all the lawsuits we have heard recently are about debt disputes. Aren't there still many lawsuits about nuisance, encroachment, etc. that are crowded in the court?"
Zhang Fei said: "Every type of lawsuit will be tried by the master first, and then handed over to you for trial. And what you are trying now is only a semi-finished product. After all, both sides have no ear to defend, so don't be too ambitious."
"is teacher."
"By the way! Have your assistants been arranged?"
"It's already been arranged."
"Then don't think about those who have something but don't have it. If you are too busy, just teach others and tell them about the legal system. They will do things well and you will be relaxed too!"
"yes."
.....
Next, Zhang Fei carefully summarized to them that they had reviewed the case recently and were really focused on it.
The four of them, on the other hand, still remember the government ban.
In fact, it is now very common to sue the government, but if this matter comes to the imperial court, it will definitely be the first time in history.
Because it involves patriarchal laws, political decrees and justice.
In the past, it was just a dispute between government orders and justice, which was relatively simple, with everyone performing their own duties. But with the addition of patriarchal clans, it becomes a three-party game, which becomes very complicated.
Because patriarchal law is a very special thing, it has both political and judicial attributes.
The key patriarchal system and the imperial court system were maintained by tacit agreement without explicit provisions.
Cai Bian and the others had no clue, so they hoped to discuss it with Zhang Fei, but Zhang Fei ignored them at all.
After the meeting, Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian left the meeting room with disappointed eyes.
"If this matter really comes to the imperial court, there seems to be no chance of winning."
Xu Zhiqian said curiously.
Zhang Fei asked: "Whose standpoint are you speaking from?"
Xu Zhiqian said: "Of course it's the Transportation Department. If they were lending money at high interest rates, then there would be no problem with this ban. But now they are lending money at low interest rates. This ban is both unpopular and unreasonable."
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "We still have to fight. There is no lawsuit in this world that cannot be fought."
Xu Zhiqian asked: "If I let you fight, what are your chances of winning?"
Zhang Fei said: "It depends on who the opponent is and who is the presiding judge, but there is at least a 50% chance of winning."
"so tall?"
Xu Zhiqian said in surprise.
Because the ban was at most 10%, in his opinion, it was unreasonable and untenable.
In particular, the Qingmiao Law is still under the banner of benefiting the people.
Isn't this a slap in the face?
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "Because there is no explicit stipulation on the relationship between the two, in the past, the balance was based on the subjective judgment of officials, but the imperial court is based on evidence, and both sides have room for maneuver. It depends on how they will fight."
At this moment, Li Si came over and said, "Third brother, Mr. Su Xiao is here."
Xu Zhiqian was stunned for a moment and said: "Mr. Su Xiao must have come here for this matter."
Zhang Fei chuckled: "Perhaps he has been gearing up for a long time."