Chapter 319: Removing Fuel from the Bottom of the Pot

In this era filled with literary masters everywhere, this article that could be called “dog shit” had actually sparked the attention and heated discussion of the entire city’s populace.

This couldn’t help but make Wang Anshi question his life.

Actually, he had already known about the tribute peach incident beforehand and understood Zhang Fei’s publicity tactics – using facts to speak for themselves. However, he didn’t believe that such petty cleverness, casually paired with an article, could match his own exquisite piece.

He had deliberately refrained from volunteering to write this article, precisely because he wanted to see just how capable Zhang Fei really was.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Fei was even more audacious, personally taking up the pen himself – this truly set a new low for articles.

Yet the result was…

Unbelievable!

Wang Anshi truly couldn’t believe it!

He went out for a stroll himself, and indeed it was as Lu Huiqing had said – whether in the neighborhoods, entertainment districts, markets, or restaurants, everyone was discussing this tribute peach matter.

One must know that just the day before, the Procuratorate had officially filed charges against the new policies.

But that had only drawn the attention of court officials.

In fact, the heated discussion in the newspaper had even diverted the attention of many officials.

They weren’t interested in the content itself – they were curious about how such an article could attract readers.

“What mystery does this article contain that it could provoke so much discussion?”

Wen Yanbo held that newspaper, looking left and right, yet could only feel as if some street ruffian was communicating with him. What was good about it?

Sima Guang smiled bitterly: “Lord Wen doesn’t understand – this article is good precisely because it’s rather vulgar.”

Wen Yanbo immediately asked: “How so?”

Sima Guang explained: “Take Wang Anshi’s previous article – from our perspective, quite a few people discussed it, but that was only because those around us were people who could appreciate that article. In the neighborhoods, there actually wasn’t much discussion, because not many people could understand it.

This article is different – it’s full of marketplace language and crude expressions that common people immediately find catchy upon hearing. The rising discussion in the neighborhoods then drew scholars to join the debate as well.

Add to this that the matter is closely related to the capital’s residents and involves government insider information, which is why it caused such an uproar.”

Wen Yanbo pondered for a long while, then nodded: “That’s the reason, that’s the reason indeed!”

Sima Guang had collaborated with Zhang Fei several times and was quite familiar with these tactics. Like Xu Zhiqian’s article back then – while not quite “dog shit” level, it was merely mediocre, yet it also sparked extremely heated discussion.

Never mind this era – even in a future age of nine years of compulsory education, those who could truly appreciate Wang Anshi’s articles would be in the extreme minority.

Put a decent piece of classical prose alongside Wang Anshi’s article, cover the names, and how many people could distinguish which was better?

It was even more so now – crude people and illiterate people were in the majority. Even if read aloud to them, they wouldn’t quite understand.

But Zhang Fei’s article was different – even the old lady selling steamed buns, upon hearing people at tables discussing it, could immediately understand what was happening.

Add to this that the incident had occurred in the neighborhoods, so it quickly spread, even becoming folk songs mocking the court – something the common people were enthusiastic about doing.

“This bodes ill.”

Wen Yanbo suddenly frowned: “These tribute peaches are closely related to the Balanced Delivery Policy. Now that the people are so indignant about this matter, I fear that Su Zizhan and the others will not only fail to gain any advantage in public opinion, but might suffer a complete defeat.”

At this point, he asked again: “Do you think Wang Jiefu is doing this to take on this lawsuit?”

Sima Guang shook his head: “I’m not clear on that either.”

Previously, he had determined that Wang Anshi definitely wouldn’t take this case, but with this sudden move, he was somewhat uncertain.

Once public opinion arose, it would indeed be very favorable to Wang Anshi.

Wang Anshi might indeed fight this lawsuit.

If he won beautifully, he could gain popular support, which would indeed benefit the New Policies.

At the Procuratorate:

“To think people still call Wang Jiefu a great man – from what we see now, he’s nothing but a despicable scoundrel. Seeing that we’re about to prosecute him, he actually resorts to such tactics, wanting to use public opinion to force us to compromise. I suspect this tribute peach incident was arranged by him.”

Liu Shu was spitting with rage, extremely indignant.

Su Shi, however, laughed: “I actually think this isn’t necessarily a bad thing for us.”

Qi Hui asked puzzled: “How so?”

Su Shi said: “Actually, the chances of winning this lawsuit aren’t very high, and I’ve always believed that there are still many merits in the New Policies. What this article describes is indeed something the court urgently needs to change. This isn’t the key point of our prosecution and won’t have much impact.”

Liu Shu and the other officials all remained silent.

Su Shi’s purpose in fighting this lawsuit was partly to showcase himself, but more importantly, he wanted to use this case to insert his own ideas into the New Policies.

He had always felt that the Balanced Delivery Policy needed many improvements.

But the other officials didn’t think this way – they wanted to use this lawsuit to bring down Wang Anshi.

Reform needed momentum, which wanes and fizzle out.

The longer they dragged it out, the more advantageous it would be for them.

If they could ultimately win this lawsuit, that would be even better.

But since Su Shi currently controlled the Procuratorate, they found it inconvenient to argue with him.

Liu Shu looked toward his good friend Fan Chunren: “Chunren, why aren’t you saying anything?”

Fan Chunren said: “You mustn’t forget that this article isn’t telling stories – it’s exposing inside information about the Imperial Treasury. Our Procuratorate should intervene and prosecute the Imperial Treasury.”

As soon as he said this, everyone present was stunned.

Are you trying to make things even more chaotic?

Liu Shu coughed: “Chunren, the court allows the Imperial Treasury to sell tribute goods!”

Fan Chunren argued earnestly: “But they’re also not permitted to sell spoiled tribute goods to the people. The court has clear written regulations about this.”

Qi Hui said anxiously: “But this isn’t such a big matter. If you prosecute the Imperial Treasury, Wang Anshi will benefit – this would prove that what Wang Anshi did was right.”

Fan Chunren said: “We must handle each matter separately. The problems Wang Anshi pointed out are not wrong at all – it’s just that his New Policies are problematic.”

Liu Shu, knowing Fan Chunren’s character well, said: “Even so, we must prioritize. Right now we’re already prosecuting the Reform Planning Commission at the Kaifeng Prefectural Office, and if we simultaneously prosecute the Imperial Treasury, we’ll be overwhelmed. Besides, this requires evidence – at least we should wait until the investigation by the General Police Bureau is complete.”

Su Shi’s eyes lit up, and he nodded: “That makes sense. How about this – we prosecute the Reform Planning Commission first, then prosecute the Imperial Treasury.”

Fan Chunren hesitated for a moment, then nodded: “Fine. But we need to keep a close eye on this matter.”

At the Bianjing Law Firm:

“I’m convinced! Convinced! Convinced!”

Wang Anshi finally lowered his proud head: “I was wrong this time. From now on, all publicity for the New Policies will be entirely in your hands – I’ll never interfere again.”

This time he was truly convinced. The sensation caused by the two articles was incomparable.

He had also figured out the reasoning behind it.

No matter how well you write an article, the conservative faction would never change their beliefs, and those easiest to win over were precisely the common people.

His article had clearly been disconnected from the people.

No matter how stubborn Wang Anshi was, faced with such a huge difference, he had to acknowledge it.

Zhang Fei smiled: “Academician Wang, you’re being too hard on yourself. Actually, the difference wasn’t that great!”

Wang Anshi quickly asked: “Then exactly how much was the difference?”

He now regretted it immensely.

His stubborn character had caused him considerable suffering.

Zhang Fei said casually: “The difference is being natural.”

“Natural?”

“Exactly! I estimate that quite a few people now have guessed this was deliberately orchestrated by us,” Zhang Fei nodded.

Wang Anshi immediately understood. Actually, the best publicity would be to naturally guide the people to spontaneously pay attention to the New Policies. If this incident had happened first, the people would have felt hatred and anticipated that the New Policies would change everything. Then when the New Policies were introduced, the effect would naturally be much better.

“Sigh.”

Wang Anshi sighed with great regret: “You should have stopped me at the time.”

“I…”

Zhang Fei wanted to spit in his face.

Wang Anshi glanced at him rather embarrassedly and quickly changed the subject: “What should we do next?”

Zhang Fei glanced at Wang Anshi and smiled sheepishly: “The other side has already formally sued the Reform Planning Commission, but Academician Wang hasn’t rushed to hire me to fight the lawsuit. Do you not intend to fight this case at all?”

Wang Anshi smiled and asked in return: “Do you think I should accept the lawsuit?”

Zhang Fei shook his head: “I think we absolutely shouldn’t accept it. Regardless of our chances of winning, this lawsuit alone could drag on for one or two months, or even longer.”

“Brilliant!”

Wang Anshi nodded with a smile: “I’ve long seen through their schemes, which is why I won’t fight this lawsuit with them at all. When the time comes, I’ll have someone impeach them for forming cliques for personal gain.”

After this incident, he trusted Zhang Fei even more.

This political struggle truly was brutal! Zhang Fei muttered to himself, then said: “If that’s the case, let’s wait until I publish my second article.”

Wang Anshi asked: “Why?”

Zhang Fei replied: “Because my second article will expose the transfers of benefits in this tribute system.”

Wang Anshi looked at him with confusion.

Zhang Fei said: “I’ve heard that Gu Ji has been actively opposing the new laws in court. Perhaps by then, Academician Wang’s impeachment will be more persuasive.”

Wang Anshi immediately understood and laughed heartily: “Excellent! Excellent! This plan is brilliant.”

His mouth couldn’t stop smiling.

Just one day later, a new issue of the News Gazette was freshly published.

The headline read “Flies Don’t Love Peaches That Are Not Rotten.”

In this refined Northern Song era, such a title was truly jarring to the eyes, but it also aroused everyone’s curiosity.

Because they had never seen this kind of approach before!

Although the article’s style still carried that marketplace flavor.

Compared to the previous piece, quite a few people’s evaluation of this article was slightly improved.

Though the writing was still simple and crude, the article cleverly used rotten peaches as a metaphor for the corrupt tribute system, while using flies as a metaphor for those corrupt officials.

This comparison was truly wonderful.

Using this perfect correspondence, the article exposed the transfers of benefits throughout the entire tribute system.

This made the common people absolutely furious.

From such great distances, exhausting the blood and sweat of corvee laborers, they finally managed to transport these tribute goods to the capital, only to find that they would either be left to slowly rot or the nearly spoiled ones would be sold in the market.

Even if we don’t mind that they’re spoiled and are still willing to buy them, but this is still a huge loss – after all, how much manpower and resources does the transportation cost!

What is this all for!

Just for the pockets of a few corrupt officials?

Looking back, everyone remembered that the court had recently been planning reforms, hadn’t it?

It seemed to be targeting exactly this problem.

Thus, Wang Anshi’s previous article returned to the people’s attention.

Combined with this problem, the article was indeed excellently written.

With facts as evidence, the common people immediately understood and couldn’t help but cheer.

Now the question arose.

Hadn’t the Procuratorate recently brought complaints against the new laws?

If these new laws were so good, why were they suing them?

Who were the people filing the lawsuit?

This nearly perfect logic was laid directly before the common people, who understood immediately and even felt smugly pleased, thinking they understood politics quite well.

No need to say more!

It was those corrupt officials who wanted to oppose the new laws.

Wasn’t this obvious?

Did this even need thinking?

However, just at this moment, Censor Xie Jing suddenly submitted a memorial, impeaching Su Shi, Fan Chunren, Liu Shu, Li Zhan, Lin Dan, Qi Hui, Gu Ji, and several other officials for forming cliques for personal gain, using public position for private benefit, and eliminating dissidents.

These massive accusations left Su Shi, Fan Chunren and the others completely bewildered.

Perhaps they had recently grown so accustomed to using judicial means to solve problems that they had forgotten the traditional methods of politics.

One could only say: you old fox, you don’t fight fair!