Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 261 Bao Qingtian

The next day.

The winter wind of the first year of the Jiayou era was so strong that it stung your face, but the banks of the Cai River were bustling with activity.

"Smash it! Smash this entire mansion! Not a single tile, not a single beam, is allowed to remain!"

The newly appointed Prefect of Kaifeng, Bao Zheng, stood on the ravaged riverbank, dressed in a scarlet official robe.

His face was frosty as he stared coldly at the collapsing mansion before him.

Right in front of him, the craftsmen and yamen runners of Kaifeng Prefecture, like tigers released from their cages, used axes, chisels, and hammers to smash down one after another, and the villas, waterside pavilions, and exquisite rockeries and flower gardens collapsed with a deafening roar.

Scattered wood chips, shattered glazed tiles, and collapsed Taihu stones, mixed with frozen soil, piled up on the banks of the Cai River, which had been compressed to only half its original width.

The Cai River originally flowed around the southern part of Kaifeng's outer city like a celestial ribbon, but because of its beautiful scenery and relatively cheaper land prices compared to the inner city, many powerful eunuchs and nobles purchased real estate there.

If it were just about buying houses and land, that would be one thing, but instead they all extended their mansions towards the Cai River, building pavilions and towers that jutted into the riverbed so they could better enjoy the scenery.

As a result, the originally wide Cai River became extremely crowded, effectively blocking the lifeblood of Kaifeng's southern city.

The severe impact of last year's devastating flood, which submerged half the city and caused widespread suffering, on people's lives was largely due to the reduced flood discharge capacity of the Cai River.

Therefore, upon hearing that the newly appointed prefect of Kaifeng was forcibly demolishing mansions along the Cai River, more and more ordinary people gathered to watch.

Wrapped in tattered coats and hunching their shoulders, they watched as the once unattainable mansions of the powerful and wealthy were reduced to ruins.

Someone spat out a low "Pui!" and quickly lowered their head, revealing their inner satisfaction.

Lu Beigu was on the outskirts of the crowd, and the mule cart from the Imperial College was parked not far away.

Lu Beigu was on his way to Song Xiang's residence. He certainly wouldn't have come to join in the fun if it were anything else, but he still wanted to take some time to see the famous "Judge Bao governs Kaifeng".

Just then, a sharp roar came from afar.

"Stop! Stop it all!"

Taking advantage of his height, Lu Beigu looked into the distance and saw on the opposite bank of the river a wealthy servant dressed in brocade and wearing a sable hat, surrounded by several equally arrogant servants, waving a beautifully scrolled paper and angrily approaching Bao Zheng, who was dressed in a scarlet robe.

"Prefect Bao! You've gone too far! This is the residence of Prefect Shi, who lives in the Forbidden City! The land deed is right here, in black and white, clearly demarcated by area! How could it have encroached on even a fraction of the river channel? You've destroyed property without any evidence; what is your punishment?"

The servant stiffened his neck and held the land deed high in his hand; in the sunlight, the vermilion seal looked somewhat dazzling.

The crowd of onlookers on the riverbank fell silent instantly, leaving only the howling of the cold wind.

Shi Duzhi was one of the emperor's favorites, holding the positions of Palace Garden Commissioner, Lizhou Inspector, and Deputy Director of the Inner Palace, Shi Quanbin.

The large number of onlookers was also due to the great fame of the luxurious "Stone Mansion" in the area. The people's eyes were focused on Bao Zheng, wanting to see if this newly appointed prefect of Kaifeng was really so fearless of the powerful and influential.

Upon receiving the land deed, Bao Zheng didn't even lift his eyelids, uttering only one word.

"Verification."

The Kaifeng Prefecture official who had been waiting nearby immediately stepped forward, raised the official measuring rod, and began to measure the land inch by inch, foot by foot, and zhang by zhang, following the boundary marked on the land deed.

Seeing this scene, Hao Nu broke out in a cold sweat, and his eyes began to dart around.

He rushed over as soon as he heard about it, originally intending to use his position to intimidate others. But who would have thought that this Bao Zheng was completely different from the former prefect of Kaifeng, Zeng Gongliang, and didn't even give face to Shi Duzhi of the Forbidden City!
"Reporting to Your Excellency!" the assistant officer said after taking the measurements, "The southern boundary recorded on the land deed is 75 feet larger than the actual measurement! It is a clear encroachment on the river channel!"

Bao Zheng pointed his halberd at the ashen-faced servant, his voice booming like thunder.

"These parasites who encroach on the river channel and obstruct the flow of water must not be allowed to escape justice! Take them back to the government office for trial!"

Then, he looked at the people on both sides of the riverbank and shouted.

"What has been destroyed today is entirely their own fault. All the families involved, whether officials or nobles, will have their embezzlement investigated thoroughly by this prefecture. Anyone who makes false or concealed reports will be punished in the same way! All evidence, along with the names of the families in charge, will be truthfully reported to the Kaifeng Prefecture. Heaven will not tolerate such filth and corruption!"

The servant was immediately taken away by the yamen runners, his face ashen, while the people on both sides of the riverbank erupted in cheers.

Just then, another person came before Bao Zheng.

"Fu Zun!"

A figure strode quickly through the swirling dust and arrived before Bao Zheng, bowing deeply.

Lu Beigu looked into the distance and realized that the person looked very familiar.

It was none other than Wang Anshi, whom Lu Beigu had just met last night, who was in charge of "supervising the affairs of the counties and towns within the Kaifeng Prefecture."

"Jiefu, you've come at the perfect time." Bao Zheng looked with delight at the deputy he had personally chosen, pointing to the ruins of collapsed pavilions and towers behind him: "Jiefu, look at this. The powerful and wealthy have become the source of the river's floods. Today, I'm demolishing it to warn the monsters and demons of Kaifeng. Let them open their eyes and see that from now on, this place is no longer a place where they can act with impunity!"

"And Caihe is just the beginning. I have ordered a thorough investigation into all rivers and government land encroachments within the Kaifeng Prefecture. No matter who is involved, they must be cleared out within a specified period! At the same time, the land registers will be strictly investigated. Anyone found to have made false reports, concealed information, or forcibly occupied land will be punished in the same way as Caihe!"

Wang Anshi nodded, but did not speak.

Seeing this, the officials from Kaifeng Prefecture nearby consciously retreated to a distance.

"Your Excellency, I have something to say," Wang Anshi said in a low voice.

Seeing Wang Anshi's expression, Bao Zheng frowned: "Jiefu, has someone asked you to intercede on my behalf?"

Wang Anshi was taken aback and said, "No, it involves the abuses of the clerks."

“I have long considered the problems of the clerks and officials.” Bao Zheng breathed a sigh of relief and said, “I plan to open the gates of the prefecture from tomorrow and abolish the old system of ‘police officers’. All litigants will no longer be exploited and harassed by the clerks and officials. They can directly beat the drum to appeal their grievances and go straight to the main hall to present their case to the prefecture or the officials on duty.”

Hearing this, Wang Anshi was also relieved.

So he briefly recounted his conversation with Lu Beigu the previous night.

Bao Zheng frowned deeply, knowing that Wang Anshi was pointing to the root of the problem: "What this scholar said about 'lacking the means to support himself but having the ability to ruin his family' is very well said! In my opinion, what should be done?"

Wang Anshi clearly stated Lu Beigu's three countermeasures, and then said: "I think we can take this opportunity to implement the expenses for hiring clerks and the measures to supervise and restrict clerks in Kaifeng Prefecture. As for the matter of 'entering the official system from outside the system,' we still need to discuss it in detail."

"We can find a place to try it out first."

Although Bao Zheng was courageous and decisive, he was not a reckless person.

“Qingmingfang, under the jurisdiction of Kaifeng County, can be used as a testing ground,” Wang Anshi said.

Kaifeng Prefecture governed seventeen counties, including two "Chixian" (counties of the capital region) and fifteen "Jixian" (counties within the capital region).

The term "Chixian" refers to the counties that govern the city of Kaifeng and its surrounding suburbs. This includes Kaifeng County, which governs the eastern half of Kaifeng and its eastern and northern suburbs, and Xiangfu County, which governs the western half of Kaifeng and its western and southern suburbs.

"Ki-ki" refers to the counties in the Tokyo Kinki region, including Weishi County, Chenliu County, Yongqiu County, Fengqiu County, Zhongmu County, Yangwu County, Suanzao County, Changyuan County, Dongming County, Fugou County, Yanling County, Kaocheng County, Taikang County, Xianping County, and Xiangyi County.

Normally, an average state would have a maximum of three to five counties.

Therefore, Bao Zheng's "Acting Prefect of Kaifeng" and Wang Anshi's "Supervisor of the Counties and Towns within the Kaifeng Prefecture" actually possessed far more power and jurisdiction than ordinary prefectures and military units.

"Qingmingfang? You mean Rainbow Bridge?"

Bao Zheng astutely discerned Wang Anshi's intentions.

Wang Anshi nodded and said, "That's right! It is indeed the Rainbow Bridge! I have three reasons for choosing this place."

"Firstly, its location is crucial and affects the overall situation! Hongqiao is the throat where the Bian River enters the city, where water and land meet, and merchants gather. It is one of the most prosperous, chaotic, and deeply intertwined markets outside Kaifeng, where all sorts of people are deeply entrenched. If a pilot project is successful here, it will have a deterrent effect on all sides, and the experience can be quickly promoted to other neighborhoods, and even towns and counties."

"Secondly, the problems are deeply entrenched and the people are filled with resentment! The local officials are bullying and monopolizing the market and demanding exorbitant 'customary rates.' Merchants also openly shortchange customers and evade taxes by bribing officials. There are even cases of officials colluding with thugs and ruffians. These are all open secrets. The people around here are extremely resentful of this. Taking action here is in line with the will of the people and will gain them a lot of support."

"Thirdly, centralized affairs make it easier to establish rules! With a population of one million in Kaifeng, the most common affairs that the Kaifeng Prefecture needs to manage are actually the markets. The markets are a major area where clerks deceive their superiors and conceal their true intentions. The core of its rectification is the affairs of weights and measures, prices, taxes, public security, and dispute mediation. These things are relatively easy to formulate clear rules for and it is also easy to observe the effects."

Bao Zheng did not immediately reply to Wang Anshi, but he quickly began to think about it.

The Rainbow Bridge, controlling the throat of the Bian River and the lifeline of the Tokyo water transport, saw money and goods flowing like water every day.

The clerks, relying on their power to measure, collect taxes, and "mediate," manipulated things at all levels. Not only could they adjust the official scales, but they also had absolute authority over commercial tax collection. If merchants did not comply, they would be harassed and extorted, and they would even collude with thugs to beat them.

Bao Zheng was actually aware of all these things.

However, this is different from cleaning up the mansions along the Cai River. Rectifying the entire market in Kaifeng Prefecture is a much broader task that will offend more people.

Seeing that Bao Zheng was still hesitant, Wang Anshi advised, "Public resentment has already reached a boiling point; we cannot delay any longer."

“Jiefu, your choice to make your move at Rainbow Bridge is indeed like a hammer striking a rock; the noise is loud enough to intimidate the entire city.”

Bao Zheng pondered for a moment longer before finally making up his mind.

Behind him was the support of the prime ministers of the East and West prefectures. The achievements he made in Kaifeng Prefecture were exactly what Fu Bi and Wen Yanbo, who were being repeatedly attacked by Jia Changchao because of the "Six Towers River Case," desperately needed.

"As you say, the market boils down to a few things: whether the scales are accurate, whether the taxes are clear, and whether the market is fair. The foundation of reform in governance needs these tangible, hard stones to test it! So I grant your request!"

"Then I will obey Your Excellency's order!" Wang Anshi said with a bow.

Bao Zheng nodded, and just as Wang Anshi was about to leave, he suddenly said, "By the way, if you have time, could you please invite Lu Beigu, the scholar who came up with the idea, to come to Kaifeng Prefecture to see me?"

(End of this chapter)