Northern Song Dynasty Justice

Chapter 448 Tax War (22)

Chapter 448 Tax War (22)

Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, Sima Guang, and Lu Gongzhu did not leave immediately, because Zeng Gong invited them to have a light meal in the inner hall.

In fact, ask them for advice.

"Zeng Mou is not afraid to make a judgment, but he is afraid that he has not considered it carefully, so that he will make a wrong judgment."

After speaking, Zeng Gong bowed his hands to the other prime ministers and said: "You are all the mainstays of our Great Song Dynasty. They are rich in experience and talented. I hope you can give Zeng some advice."

"Don't dare, dare not, prefect Zeng's words are serious."

Fu Bi waved his hands again and again, and said: "Actually, I am often disturbed by it just like you. I believe that when you were officials in the local area, you also encountered the problem of private salt. I dare to conclude that our judgment must be different. .”

Everyone looked at each other and nodded.

Zeng Gong said: "I have sentenced no less than [-] illegal salt sellers. According to the law, if they exceed [-] catties, they can be sentenced to death. More than half of them can be sentenced to death, but I often only use moss as a warning. No one was killed. After all, they were forced to do it, and I always thought that the salt law was too harsh.

But now that the other party is a relative of the clan, the sale of private salt is not forced, but for the sake of high profits, and should be punished severely. But if it is true as Zhang San said, this private salt has saved the lives of countless people. And the suffering of the people in Xuzhou is caused by improper government. Should this be considered as appropriate? "

Wen Yanbo couldn't help but sighed: "Whether this evil law should be enforced is really a difficult problem!"

Wang Anshi said: "As Fu Gong said, everyone's judgment is different, that is to say, whether it is good or evil, everyone has a different opinion. I think since it is a decree issued by the court, it should be implemented."

He completely forgot about the clan, and was seriously thinking about this issue.

Sima Guang said: "But since ancient times, this evil law has always been difficult to enforce. A law that cannot be enforced is equivalent to being impossible."

Wang Anshi immediately said: "Therefore, it is necessary to reform the law and eliminate the bad government. This is the right medicine."

Sima Guang smiled and said, "But since ancient times, most of the evil laws come from political reforms."

Fu Bi hurriedly said, "Zi Gu didn't invite you here to listen to your quarrel."

Zeng Gong nodded again and again, he had heard about this pair of enemies for a long time.

After Fu Bi spoke, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang also stopped their daily routine.

But then the scene became very quiet.

Fu Bi said to Zeng Gong again: "Although we all have decisions in our hearts, they may be different, and it is difficult to distinguish right from wrong. In this case, why don't you make up your own mind."

Zeng Gong nodded.

Procuratorate.

More than a dozen prosecutors and prosecutors slumped listlessly on their chairs, and the entire lobby was filled with frustration and disappointment.

They are eager to win Zhao Wenzheng in one fell swoop and become famous in one battle, and they are full of hope for this.

The result is that the hope is as great as the disappointment.

"Don't be discouraged, we didn't lose."

I saw Xu Zuncong walked in from the outside.

"President Xu."

A group of people got up one after another and bowed their hands in salute.

Xu Zun came to the front seat and sat down, and motioned for them to sit too, and then said: "I know you have paid a lot for this lawsuit. On the one hand, you hope to defeat Zhang San, and on the other hand, you hope to uphold justice and tell the people all over the world. , our procuratorate can decide for them."

Everyone looked at each other, Chen Bing sighed: "It's a pity we didn't do it."

"who said it."

Xu Zundao: "First of all, our procuratorate can take Governor Zhao to court, which is a great victory. Even Governor Zhao can't avoid our prosecution, and tens of thousands of dollars are needed to fight this lawsuit. Who can avoid it?

Secondly, in any case, it is impossible for the Kaifeng government to acquit Zhao Zhishi, the only difference is the severity of the punishment. In this way, who is not afraid of our procuratorate. "

Having said that, he paused for a while, "As for defeating Zhang San, it's really not our victory, but we have also gained a lot. When collecting evidence in the future, we must check carefully and know how to check. The next time he encounters this kind of lawsuit, it is absolutely impossible for Zhang San to win again, and he cannot continue to win."

Chen Bing said in a low voice: "Your officer has the courage to ask, is that Zhang San the son-in-law of Master Xu prosecuting you!"

Xu Zun said hehe: "In the courtroom, especially when he is standing opposite you, you will feel that the boy is hideous. When I was in Dengzhou, I almost couldn't hold back and gave him a hard time.

Just now I really wanted to teach him a few words, but I was talking nonsense with my eyes open, and I said it so convincingly.He shouldn't be my son-in-law, I have to avoid suspicion, otherwise, I have to end the game myself and compete with him. "

"Ha ha.!"

Everyone laughed immediately.

Xu Zun himself was also happy, and said again: "Everyone in the world has worked hard these days, let's go back to rest early today, and you will have a meeting tomorrow to discuss it, Su...!"

Having said that, he looked around, "Where's Su Ziyou?"

Qi Ji immediately said: "Zi You just said to go to the tax department to inquire about the situation."

Xu Zun nodded, but he knew very well in his heart that the tax department and Zhang Fei wore the same pair of pants, what could he ask.

Tax Division.

"No."

Li He shook his head and said, "It is absolutely impossible for Wang Hongjin to only sell private salt to Xuzhou."

Su Zhe immediately asked: "In this case, why did you only provide evidence that Wang Hongjin sold illegal salt to Xuzhou?"

The evidence of the procuratorate mainly came from the taxation department, but Su Zhe felt that there was something wrong with the evidence of selling illegal salt, and the taxation department just provided Xuzhou's evidence.

And the relationship between the tax department and Zhang Fei is very close, which makes him a little suspicious.

Li He said: "Don't blame Su for prosecuting. We also have difficulties. Our taxation department was established not long ago and has limited manpower. Therefore, we can only concentrate on investigating their main income. Judging from the amount of private salt Wang Hongjin sold to Xuzhou, it should be him. Most of the private salt in our hands, and this is also easy to investigate. As for the details, we can only put them aside. In the self-declaration, many scattered incomes are not included, because the smaller the income, for us, It is necessary to invest more manpower and material resources to investigate, and the gains outweigh the losses.”

After listening to Su Zhe, although he didn't completely believe it, he also felt that what Li He said was reasonable. The bigger the income, the easier it is to investigate. If you declare yourself, you raised two hens and sold a few eggs. , Earn a few small money, you don't need to declare it, isn't it because of this that it is also difficult to check.

If you need to declare, you may give the tax police a chance to do something.

Meng House.

"No reason!"

Meng Gansheng said excitedly: "Zhang San is talking nonsense in the hall, calling a deer a horse. The evidence is as solid as a mountain. Why doesn't the Kaifeng government judge it?"

Xie Yun sighed: "Why else? Isn't it just the officials sitting there, as long as there is a trace of doubt, the Zeng Zhifu would not dare to make a judgment."

Pei Wen snorted and said, "If it were us, I'm afraid we'd already be in jail at this moment. Just now, did you see Governor Zhao's eyes? He's clearly provoking us!"

Meng Gansheng turned his expression back, and said, "I have no prejudice against Governor Zhao, but if such a judgment is made, it will be difficult to convince the public. So what should Xu Yu, Qin Biao and others do?"

Pei Wendao: "What is Meng Zhiyuan's idea?"

Meng Gansheng said: "For example, Governor Zhao, he is from the clan. He has a rich patriarchal salary. He is also a member of Zhizong Zhengsi. It’s a drop in the bucket, isn’t there a financial problem? Then why not save it from here.”

Pei Wen said: "That's right, they are so capable, it's better to let them support themselves."

Xie Yun said: "But, will this affect our kindness?"

".?"

Several people looked a little hesitant again.

Meng Gansheng said: "I'm not saying that the officials should not care about the clan, but it must be reduced. Otherwise, I'm afraid it will get worse in the future."

Everyone nodded again.

From now on, the money for the first year must be paid. After all, many officials have paid, but we must let the higher-ups know that our money is not easy to ask for. If you want it once, you have to take off a layer of skin. It's so easy to ask for money, so you don't have to ask for it every day.

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night for Zhao Xu, so he invites his confidant to come to the palace to drink with him.

He raised his neck and drank a glass, and put the wine glass heavily on the table, making a bang.

Zhao Xu sighed distressedly: "Although I knew what happened today, when I sat aside to listen to the trial, I had mixed feelings. If you look around, it's all bad governance."

He was really uncomfortable sitting there, not pretending.

It feels like this country is in dire straits.

I feel tired just thinking about it!

Zhang Fei said with a smile: "I thought the officials would be so excited and sleepless all night, so they came to me for a drink and a chat. I never thought that they wanted to drink away their worries."

Zhao Xu was surprised and said: "All kinds of bad policies are lingering in my ears, how can I still feel excited and excited?"

Zhang Fei said: "Because this is enough to prove that the government's choice of reform is an absolutely correct path, and there is nothing to question."

Zhao Xu was taken aback, feeling that what Zhang Fei said made sense.

Zhang Fei said again: "Besides, if what is left to the officials is the rule of Zhenguan, then the officials may not have the ambition to work hard to rule, and it will be very boring.

And I personally think it is even more difficult. If you inherit the rule of Zhenguan and do not do well, you will definitely be scolded. If you do well, then you should. It has nothing to do with you.Just like Tang Gaozong, in fact, during his reign, he achieved remarkable achievements, but it seems that everyone ignored his ability. As the saying goes, how can the officials not be excited when the times make heroes. "

Really worthy of being a confidant!

These simple words immediately dissipated the haze in Zhao Xu's heart, and he felt full of strength. Yes, my brother was born for this, and immediately raised his glass and said: "How can you not be excited, I respect you A glass."

The two drank it all in one go.

Zhao Xu asked again with great interest: "By the way! Your lawsuit has also trapped me in it. I don't know how to make a decision. Do you have an answer?"

"no!"

Zhang Fei shook his head.

Zhao Xu let out an "ah", looking a little surprised.

Zhang Fei said: "Actually, this issue is simply a dispute between evil laws that are illegal and evil laws that are also legal."

Zhao Xu read in a low voice: "Evil laws are illegal, and evil laws are also legal."

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "The evil law is also the law. There is nothing wrong with judging according to the law, but the consequences are often very serious. But people are kind, and they often choose to follow the heart instead of following the law. Over time, it may cause the law to become useless, which is not acceptable."

Zhao Xu nodded frequently. This problem is easy to encounter, and asked: "I don't know how to solve this problem?"

Zhang Fei hesitated and said: "I don't have an answer for the time being, because good and evil vary from person to person and are very subjective. Based on this, evil laws will never disappear. Officials believe that the laws of benevolence and righteousness may be seen by others. Come on, it may be evil.

For example, the dispute between Bachelor Wang and Bachelor Sima is like this. The good law of Bachelor Wang is, in the eyes of Bachelor Sima, evil law. "

Zhao Xu nodded and said, "That's the truth, that's the truth."

In fact, he also knew that some of Sima Guang's statements were reasonable, but Wang Anshi was also reasonable, so Wang Anshi could still make money, so of course he chose Wang Anshi.

Zhang Fei continued: "I think prudent punishment and light punishment can minimize the controversy. If I go to the Salt Law, in order to prevent illegal salt, twenty catties can be sentenced to death, but the suffering of the people in reality is often Let officials choose evil laws and illegal sentences, give light sentences, and even turn a blind eye. If they catch salt smugglers and don't judge them according to law, they may be impeached. But if they are only sentenced to ten blows, A fine of some money, it is estimated that the officials will choose the evil law, but it can ensure the authority of the law."

Zhao Xu nodded thoughtfully, and asked again: "Then what do you think Zeng Zhifu will do?"

Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "I really dare not judge rashly, but last time I asked the officials for the verdict record of Zeng Zhifu. Judging from Zeng Zhifu's previous judgments, he often judges whether the crime originated from Under the tyrannical government of the court, he will give great tolerance to the crimes committed under the tyrannical government. Although Governor Zhao is not a poor man, the court also has an unshirkable responsibility, so I think the possibility of my victory is still very high."

(End of this chapter)