While Zhang Fei was busy fiddling with legal aid, a strange wave of public resentment quietly poured into the capital from all directions.
The imperial city immediately exploded.
The ministers were discussing this a lot.
There was public dissatisfaction in the capital, and the emperor naturally knew about it very quickly, and he did not dare to be careless about it.
Chui Gong Hall.
"I have recently heard that there is widespread public dissatisfaction around the capital. What is going on?"
Zhao Xu asked with a confused look on his face.
I haven't done much recently, and there haven't been any natural or man-made disasters around me, which is really strange.
Lin Dan, the imperial censor, was the first to stand up and report: "Reporting to Your Majesty, as far as I know, the complaints from the surrounding people are caused by the inspection of land and the payment of deed taxes."
Zhao Xu frowned, "Inspecting the land and paying the deed tax are all things that benefit the country and the people. Why are the people resentful because of this?"
I remember that when the court first announced the replenishment of the white deed, the people were very happy.
Wang Anshi immediately stood up and said: "In my opinion, there must be some villain who is obstructing this."
Wen Yanbo said: "Scholar Wang has no proof, so it's unfair to just say that!"
Wang Anshi immediately said: "Although I have not found out about this matter, if what Lin Yushi said is true, there must be some villain who is hindering it."
Seeing that Wang Anshi's words were true but he had not found out, Zhao Pian couldn't help but curiously asked: "How can you say this?"
Wang Anshi said: "The inspection of land and the payment of deed taxes are mainly aimed at the landlords and rich gentry, not the common people. If there are grievances, it should be those landlords and rich gentry. It can be seen that the so-called public grievances are also caused by them.
The court doesn’t need to pay any attention to it.”
Wang Jiefu was really eagle-eyed. He did not send anyone to investigate, but as soon as he heard about it, he knew what was going on. Someone must be causing trouble.
The tone was very firm.
Lin Dan said: "Master Wang only knows one thing, but not the other! The land of those landlords and wealthy gentry is not cultivated by themselves, but rented to tenant farmers for cultivation.
Although the deed tax is paid by the landowner, the tax is usually included in the rent of the tenant farmers. Nowadays, after the land is inspected and the deed tax is paid, the tax is paid immediately. This makes many tenant farmers overwhelmed and causes resentment among the people."
Wang Anshi snorted: "According to your statement, the imperial court does not need to collect taxes?"
"That's not what I meant."
Lin Dan said: "I just think that the court's sudden inventory of the land and payment of deed taxes was too reckless and lacked consideration. I think what Duke Wen said at the time was very reasonable. This matter is related to people's livelihood, and the court should think twice."
Wang Anshi retorted directly: "Then let me ask you, should the imperial court think twice before issuing a salary?"
If the imperial court defaults on salary arrears, you will have to scold God. But if the imperial court collects taxes seriously, you will act as a good person and start to worry about the country and the people. You are really good at being an official.
Lin Dan was also angry, "You are simply using strong words to make excuses."
Wang Anshi hummed, "I'm just talking about the matter."
The tone seemed to be declaring, I've seen this kind of trick a lot, don't use it to fool me.
Sima Guang looked at Wang Anshi with a frown, "If you really want to discuss the matter, you should clarify the matter instead of hiding it here."
Wang Anshi opened his eyes angrily: "When did I cover up?"
Sima Guang said: "Then let Yushi Lin finish his words first."
"I thought he was finished."
Wang Anshi muttered and retreated.
Wang Anshi was indeed unable to parry Sima Guang's soft Tai Chi style at times.
Lin Dan glanced at Wang Anshi unhappily, then took out a contract and said, "This is a lease that I sent someone to find. After your majesty has read it, you will know why the people's resentment arose."
Zhao Xu waved his hand, and a eunuch immediately came over and handed the lease to Zhao Xu.
After Zhao Xu looked at it, he couldn't help but frown.
Lin Dan added: "Your Majesty, although many landlords use white deeds, the real beneficiaries are the tenant farmers, not the landlords."
Wang Anshi angrily said: "This is nonsense, and it is not the land that benefits.
Lord, is it the imperial court? The laws of our dynasty stipulate that taxes can be levied anywhere, so how can they transfer the taxes to the tenants? This contract should be deemed invalid. The taxes must be borne by the landowners and cannot be passed on to the tenants."
Wen Yanbo said: "If the contract is deemed invalid, the tenant farmers will have no land to farm. Who are you punishing?"
After saying that, he said to Zhao Xu: "Your Majesty, I think this matter needs to be considered as appropriate. Even if the court wants to inspect the land and pay the deed tax, there should be no rush. You can pay the deed tax this year first, but the tax will not be counted for the time being.
, Otherwise, many people will be overwhelmed."
The deed tax cannot be transferred to the tenant farmers. Whoever buys the land will bear it. But the problem is that once the white deed becomes a red deed, it will naturally enter the tax payment system, and this will be transferred to the tenant farmers.
"The summer tax is exempted, but what about the autumn tax?"
Wang Anshi said: "After paying back the deed tax, but not paying the tax in accordance with the law, the tax system will exist in name only."
His mind was still clear. He had already collected the summer tax before and was paying the deed tax again. It might not be in time, but he would definitely make it in time for the autumn tax.
After all, this is not of a national nature.
Wen Yanbo said: "Don't be alarmist. This is the land after the deed tax has been paid. The rest of the land still has to pay taxes normally. How can it exist in name only? Besides, this matter started because of a lawsuit, and the court had no idea.
Even if we are not prepared, the people are unprepared. It is reasonable and reasonable to wait for a year.”
"If something goes wrong again next year, will I have to wait for another year? Year after year, when will it be time to take a break?"
Wang Anshi then said to Zhao Xu: "Your Majesty, the imperial court collects taxes in accordance with the law. If this can be compromised, whenever the imperial court collects taxes in the future, there will be public resentment, and this precedent cannot be set."
He knows this trick very well. As long as he takes a step back, he can only take a step back.
Zhao Xu nodded, "It's better to investigate this matter first and then discuss it."
After seeing this, Wen Yanbo said no more.
After Wen Yanbo and the others left, Wang Anshi came out of the hall angrily. When he came to the steps, he suddenly stopped. There seemed to be someone standing next to him. He turned his head and looked. It was not Sima Guang. He asked: "What's wrong with you?"
See this?"
Sima Guang ignored him. He looked at his nose with his eyes, his nose at his heart, and chanted: "The people do not add taxes, but the country uses mercy. The people do not add taxes, but the country uses mercy. The people do not add taxes, but the country uses mercy."
"snort!"
Wang Anshi snorted angrily and rushed away.
Sima Guang raised his head, looked at Wang Anshi's back, and laughed, "I told you a long time ago that if you raise taxes rashly, it will inevitably fall on the people. You just don't believe it. Now it depends on how you don't increase taxes on the people."
And the state uses Rao."
Zhang Fei knew nothing about this, and he was now immersed in the joy of getting new equipment.
"How about it?"
Zhang Fei wore freshly made beach short-sleeves and big shorts with eagle embroidery, and a pair of big wooden clogs on his feet. With a click, he made a gorgeous turn in front of Gao Wenyin.
How refreshing.
Gao Wenyin looked strange and said, "These clothes can only be worn when sleeping."
Although she sewed it, she felt that it was not really beautiful.
"Just don't go out."
Zhang Fei moved his hands and feet, as if breaking through the restraints, and felt relaxed all over. Although the summer today is cooler in the morning and evening and not so hot, he is really not used to the clothes of the Song Dynasty, and he feels more uncomfortable when he sweats. Suddenly
Then I remembered something, "Just wait a moment."
He jumped to the bed again, squatted down, pulled out a small wooden cabinet from inside, opened it, rummaged for a long time, and took out a ball of red cloth.
"Madam, can you help me make another pair of these shorts?"
He shyly handed the ball of red cloth to Gao Wenyin.
Gao Wenyin took it and spread it out to see that it was a pair of red shorts, "Who are these for?"
Zhang Fei said hey: "I can wear it."
These were the underwear that traveled with him, but he only had this pair and he really couldn't bear to wear them.
Gao Wenyin said in surprise: "Can Sanlang wear it?"
Could it be that she
Already know that I have extraordinary talents? Zhang Fei said shyly: "These shorts are elastic, you can pull them gently, but don't use too much force."
Gao Wenyin pulled it gently and said in surprise: "What kind of material is this made of?"
"It should be cotton," Zhang Fei said.
"cotton?"
Gao Wenyin took it and took a closer look, "Huh? What's the matter with the elasticity of these pants?"
"Oh, this is called an elastic band."
"Elastic band?"
Gao Wenyin hurriedly asked: "What is it made of?"
"Uh, don't ask, can you do this?" Zhang Fei asked.
Gao Wenyin asked: "Can these pants be worn to meet people?"
"Of course not."
Zhang Fei said hurriedly: "This is the underwear worn underneath, used to cover up the talent."
Gao Wenyin asked curiously: "What talent?"
Zhang Fei chuckled: "You will know later."
Gao Wenyin didn't think too much. She took the shorts and looked at them carefully and said, "If Sanlang still has these elastic bands, I can help make them. If not, I can only tie them with ropes, which may not change."
"
Yes, there are no elastic bands now, so how do you get this thing? If you are in a hurry to go to the toilet, you have to untie a few ropes and don't pull your pants down. Zhang Fei said frustrated: "Forget it."
He reached out and took Xiao Nenei from Gao Wenyin's hand.
Gao Wenyin said: "If it doesn't, it doesn't matter. If it's worn, I can help mend it."
The cloth can be mended, but the elastic band cannot remain elastic forever. Zhang Fei smiled and said: "Forget it! Just treat it as a family heirloom and pass it on to your son in the future."
"my son?"
Gao Wenyin looked stunned, but she quickly realized what was happening. Her cheeks turned red and she looked at Zhang Fei resentfully with a pair of bright almond-shaped eyes.
Zhang Fei knew that she was thin-skinned, but he couldn't bear to tease her anymore, so he said to himself: "Hide my vagina first."
He jumped to the bed again, put his underwear in the small box, and stuffed it under the bed.
Gao Wenyin couldn't help laughing.
As soon as I put it away, there was a knock on the door, "Third brother, my benefactor is here."
"Got it! I'll be right away."
Zhang Fei said to Gao Wenyin again: "Madam, I'm going out first."
"ah?"
Gao Wenyin hurriedly stood up and said, "Sanlang, are you going to go out wearing this?"
Zhang Fei said: "I'm too lazy to change. It doesn't matter to this family."
"But no."
Gao Wenyin hurriedly blocked the door, "How do you look like this?"
Zhang Fei blinked and said with a smile: "Madam, your tone is really like Madam."
"No, no, I..." Gao Wenyin stomped her feet anxiously, "If Mr. Xu knows that I made these clothes, he will definitely think that it is me!"
"Did you teach me bad things?" Zhang Fei said unsure.
"Um."
Gao Wenyin nodded repeatedly.
She is the kind of traditional woman who cares very much about this kind of thing.
"Do you have this ability?"
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "Okay! I'll change my clothes."
After changing back into his long gown, Zhang Fei came to the front yard and saw Xu Zun sitting inside with a solemn expression. He couldn't help but stepped forward and asked, "Father-in-law, what happened?"
Xu Zun glanced at him and sighed: "There is a problem with paying back the deed tax."
Zhang Fei asked: "What's the problem?"
Xu Zun told Zhang Fei the reason for the incident.
After hearing this, Zhang Fei couldn't help but sigh helplessly: "It is always the common people who suffer!"
The court wants money, and the landlords also want money. Where does this money come from?
Xu Zun added: "Now some people in the court are already discussing that the officials should not have demoted Wang Hong to the capital."
Zhang Fei frowned: "If he comes back, I will be in trouble."