Chapter 226: Whether it is a mule or a horse, you have to take a walk
Zhang Fei, who had just said goodbye to Zhao Xu, was immediately "caught" by Xu Zun, who had been ambushing him for a long time.
"Why are the officials so anxious to find you?"
At this sensitive moment, the emperor suddenly wanted to see Zhang Fei, and Xu Zun was also very worried.
Zhang Fei truthfully informed Xu Zun about Han Qi's letter.
After hearing this, Xu Zun couldn't help but sigh: "Actually, what they said is right, the three feet of ice will not freeze in a day, and a lawsuit will not solve the problem."
Zhang Fei said: "This problem may not be solved, but it can solve another problem."
Xu Zun asked: "What's the problem?"
"imperial power."
Zhang Fei said: "Now that there are so many people opposed to it, if the government still wants to fight and win, it will be like Shang Yang standing on a tree."
Xu Zun was still worried, "This moment is not that moment. This will make many people wary of officials, and it may be more gain than loss!"
Zhang Fei frowned slightly: "But if we don't take this step, no one knows what will happen."
In fact, the root of keeping wealth among the people is that the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats rule the world together.
Since Zhenzong and Renzong, the two emperors have continuously delegated power for different reasons, which is a disguised expression of their willingness for the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats to rule the world together.
In the feudal era, this was really hard-won.
Scholar-officials also defended this hard-won political ecology.
Now Wang Anshi wants to concentrate wealth in the central government. This is actually a kind of centralization. If Wang Anshi really does it, who can restrain the emperor?
Why can't we increase revenue and reduce expenditure at the same time? This is one of the key reasons.
At this point, there is a sharp contradiction between the two.
Han Qi's letter and Shenzong's own concerns also alluded to this point.
Both sides are testing, and neither wants to break up.
Zhang Fei's charity organization solved Shenzong's worries very well.
Because of this charity, the wealth is still in their hands, not in the hands of the emperor, and it has given them legal status. But in the future, you people can't just talk without practicing, and you have the responsibilities you promised.
You can't say that if you don't hand over this money, if something happens, I, the emperor, will be the one to take the responsibility. This is unfair!
In fact, this still maintains the concept of the emperor and scholar-bureaucrats co-ruling the world.
Of course, this is definitely not what Zhao Xu wants. He doesn't want to be Renzong. He wants to be Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. However, the time is not mature enough at the moment and he still needs to be patient.
If this charity can be successful, it will already be a big step forward.
After all, the responsibility is still imposed on them.
As for Zhang Fei, he has only one goal, and this has never changed.
Ever since Empress Dowager Cao returned her power to the Yingzong, she has been chanting Buddha's name in the harem.
I don't care much about political affairs.
However, her prestige and status are still very important in the court.
Even a cruel person like Empress Dowager Gao now has to serve as a mascot in the harem.
Empress Dowager Gao really came to power only after Empress Dowager Cao and Shenzong died.
This incident has already alarmed the Queen Mother Cao, which shows that they have used all the connections at their disposal.
I am determined to make this lawsuit fail.
But they also underestimated Shenzong's determination.
Pantao Pavilion.
Zhao Xu supported Queen Mother Cao with both hands and walked on the path paved with warm stones.
"The official has lost a lot of weight recently. He has to take good care of his body. The government affairs will never be finished." Empress Dowager Cao looked at Zhao Xu and said with great distress.
Zhao Xu said with an aggrieved look: "My grandson is not afraid of being tired, but he is afraid that he has been busy for a long time and still cannot get things done."
Empress Dowager Cao exclaimed: "It seems that the official family has suffered a lot of grievances in the court!"
Zhao Xu said: "Madam, please be fair, what did my grandson do wrong?"
Queen Mother Cao asked: "But because of the tax lawsuit?"
Zhao Xu pretended to be surprised and said: "The eldest lady already knows."
Empress Dowager Cao exclaimed: "This situation has caused a lot of trouble in the city. Even if I hide in the Buddhist hall, I can't be quiet!"
Zhao Xu asked: "I wonder what the eldest lady thinks?"
Empress Dowager Cao smiled slightly and said: "I don't have any opinion. It's just that as an emperor, how can you be so humble? The court collects taxes legally, so of course, you have to go to court with them. After hearing this, I became an official."
I feel so sad!"
The implication is that it is better not to file this lawsuit. You can simply order a direct taxation or a direct tax exemption.
Zhao Xu sighed: "To be honest with you, my grandson did this because he didn't want to pay the tenant farmers' taxes."
"Officials are benevolent and righteous, and this is the blessing of all people in the world."
After saying that, Empress Dowager Cao changed the topic and asked: "Then why don't the officials directly issue the decree?"
Zhao Xu said: "My grandson originally wanted to directly pardon the taxes of the tenant farmers, but if he did so, my grandson was worried that all the tenant farmers would refuse to pay taxes on this reason. Now the national finance can no longer make ends meet.
Therefore, the grandson adopted Xueshi Wang's suggestion and resorted to litigation to resolve the matter. Judging from Magistrate Lu's attitude, he would probably find a way to exempt the tenant farmers from paying taxes while avoiding aggravating the matter.
After all, a lawsuit requires someone to sue. This is different from a government decree. Wang Xueshi sued 108 people. No matter what the final verdict is, it only concerns these 108 people and has nothing to do with other people. My grandson also wants to
Use this to deter the landlords and wealthy people from pushing their limits."
"I see."
Empress Dowager Cao nodded slightly and exclaimed: "It's really not easy for officials!" After saying that, she added: "It's time to teach those people a lesson."
Zhao Xu couldn't help but feel elated.
Empress Dowager Cao's support is very crucial.
It turned out that when Empress Dowager Cao heard the news, she thought that the emperor was going to start a war with the big landowners. She had to stop him, because she also came from Qingli. Now that the emperor had just ascended the throne, his wings were not yet full, and he was not as good as her husband Renzong.
, this will mess up the country.
She did not expect that this lawsuit actually has limitations. It is different from the government decree. One prosecution will be tried one by one. Those who are not prosecuted will be fine.
The emperor wanted to use this to establish his authority, not to aggravate the matter, so of course she would not stop it, and her attitude was supportive of Shenzong.
The Empress Dowager Cao had fought with Han Qi several times, and she also knew the virtues of these scholar-bureaucrats. If you are weak, they will be strong, and they will never say they respect you more.
After receiving the support of Empress Dowager Cao, Zhao Xu did not immediately order the Kaifeng Mansion to hear the case. Instead, he chose to remain silent and quietly let people spread the word about Han Qi's letter.
When the officials heard the news, they were overjoyed.
Steady, steady!
No suspense!
The Empress Dowager and the three prime ministers all came forward.
If this person can be judged, then there is really something wrong with him.
Even the Kaifeng Mansion thought that this was definitely a dead end, so they did not examine the paper Zhang Fei handed over.
The key point is that Zhang Fei didn't do what he did before. When he was about to file a lawsuit, he practiced in seclusion at home. He still went to work as usual at 2:00 and 1:00 every day.
He even had time to discuss with Sima Guang about court assistance.
"Don't you know why Si Lusi delayed?" Sima Guang glared at Zhang Fei angrily.
Zhang Fei said depressedly: "Sister Sima, I am innocent. If they want to blame, they can blame Wang Keke. Moreover, this is to help the people, and the shop does not take any advantage. The service is free, even if it is to retaliate against me, take
It’s unjustifiable to use this as revenge!”
Sima Guang hummed: "First of all, you are not innocent. Secondly,"
He sighed, "If everyone could be reasonable in everything, there wouldn't be so many things. Okay, okay, don't worry, I'll ask someone later."
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "I actually don't care. I can wait for a year. I'm just afraid that this matter will damage the prestige of Sima University. Then my sin will be great."
"Don't stir up trouble here, or I won't fall for you."
Sima Guang glared at him, but he was also a little angry in his heart. After all, it was me, Sima, who was reforming the judiciary, not Wang Anshi. Who are you showing off to?
Thinking of Wang Anshi, Sima Guang asked again: "Wang Jiefu hasn't come to see you recently?"
"No!"
Zhang Fei shook his head, "So I don't have much to do now, but I think it doesn't matter if it's Grand Bachelor Wang."
Sima Guang asked: "How do you say this?"
Zhang Fei sighed: "He agreed at the beginning that if the fight fails, I will have to return the money to him."
Wang Jiefu even thought of a way out. It seems that this case really cannot be tried. Sima Guang cooed and said sarcastically: "This is very similar to Wang Jiefu's style, he is not willing to suffer any losses.
."
But as he said this, he suddenly frowned and said, "By the way! I heard that Wang Jiefu spent 10,000 yuan to ask you to fight this lawsuit."
Zhang Fei said hurriedly: "I am not taking advantage of this. I have sued more than a hundred people, and all of them have status. Ten thousand yuan is not much."
Sima Guang didn't seem to be listening, thinking, where could Wang Jiefu get ten thousand guan, unless...
He thought for a while and suddenly said to Zhang Fei: "You still have to be prepared."
Zhang Fei asked: "What preparations?"
Sima Guang said: "Prepare for this lawsuit."
This old man is really shrewd. Zhang Fei asked humbly: "How do you say this, Grand Master Sima?"
Sima Guang clicked his tongue: "Everything is prepared for danger. If you really want to fight, you must be careful."
"oh."
Zhang Fei nodded dullly: "I understand."
He knew very well, because Li Bao over there was still searching for evidence, which proved that the lawsuit would definitely be fought. The emperor's silence was just to buy time for Li Bao and the others to search for the evidence of those people.
as expected.
Seven days later, Lan Yuanzhen suddenly appeared in Kaifeng Mansion.
Mr. Lu was surprised, "How can a noble man have time to come to me?"
Lan Yuanzhen said with a smile: "It's no big deal. The officials asked me to ask how the trial went."
Lu Gongzhu asked in astonishment: "What kind of eucalyptus?"
Lan Yuanzhen said in surprise: "That's the wife of Xueshi Wang! Didn't Xueshi Wang not sue? I haven't heard of it!"
Mr. Lu couldn't help but look at Li Kai who was standing aside. Didn't you pat your chest and say that this case can't be brought to trial? How do you explain it now?
Li Kai looked innocent and stammered to Lan Yuanzhen: "We saw that the officials did not issue an order, so we thought there would be no trial."
Lan Yuanzhen said hurriedly: "What did Li Tongpan say? The officials said at that time that Kaifeng Mansion would try this case. This matter has been decided. You haven't tried it yet, right? What should I do when I go back?"
Pay a favor to the officials!"
Li Kai hurriedly said: "The trial is ongoing, but there are too many people. This is the first time that Kaifeng Mansion has encountered this situation. It is too busy for the moment, and we have to wait for a while."
Lan Yuanzhen nodded: "Then you have to hurry up, the officials have been waiting."
"Yes Yes Yes."
After Lan Yuanzhen left, Mr. Lu scolded Li Kai severely.
Kaifeng Prefecture started the review process that day, and also transferred people from the left and right departments to help.
As soon as this news came out, the civil and military officials in the entire court were shocked.
Isn’t it stable?
What the hell is going on?
Nothing special happened during this period. This is very unpolitical!
However, all the prime ministers stopped talking, and the silence was really scary.
In fact, Han Qi's letter was not to say that it was wrong to file this lawsuit, but to ask Shenzong if he had thought of a solution, the price to pay and the reward. You have to think carefully about this.
After many days, Shenzong still decided to fight.
This proves that he has thought clearly.
Naturally, Han Qi, Fu Bi and the others would not say anything more.
Watch you perform.
And in the political hall.
Needless to say, Wang Anshi was the one who filed the complaint. Chen Shengzhi definitely supported him, and Zhao Bian, who opposed the new law, also supported it. Wen Yanbo and Sima Guang had ambiguous attitudes, and they were not firm in their opposition.
The silence of the prime minister and the councilors proved that they supported the emperor, or at least did not oppose it.
In other words, there is no room for maneuver on this matter.
Shen Mansion.
"It seems that the officials are determined to support Wang Jiefu."
Shen Huaixiao frowned and said.
Tang Ji said anxiously: "What can we do? It's impossible to win."
Shen Huai said filially: "That's not necessarily the case. Don't forget that the evidence for this is all in our hands."
Du Xiu was a little worried, "Isn't this too risky?"
Cao Han said, "Brother Du, don't worry. It's impossible for just a few of us to do this. In less than half a day, many people will come to us. Then we will discuss what to do. If everyone participates,
Well, even if the officials know about it, there is nothing they can do about it."
Shen Huaixiao nodded: "Brother Cao is right! We can't blame us for this. Almost everyone is opposed to it, but the officials still insist on going their own way, so naturally we can't blame us for not obeying the rules."