After leaving the court, the cleaning work was naturally handed over to the civil servants. Lu Gongzhu and a group of judges went into the inner hall to discuss.
"Who is this lawsuit about?"
As soon as Yu Zaishen sat down, he couldn't help but complain.
Cen Yuanli sighed: "Yes! I feel that we officials are the ones being tried."
The other promoters were also dejected.
After the lawsuit was over, the judge's morale became extremely low.
It’s really a strange news.
Li Kai chuckled and said: "That's because you haven't tried Zhang San's lawsuit yet. That guy has a lot of tricks to embarrass our government. This is definitely what the guy did on purpose."
As Zhang Fei's old rival, Li Kai knows Zhang Fei very well.
With that said, Li Kai said to Lu Gong again: "Prefect Lu, I think this lawsuit cannot go on like this. After this, the court has almost become a den of robbers."
The other judges and judges also nodded.
This is definitely the most difficult lawsuit they have ever tried in their lives.
In the end, they are always the ones hurt.
too difficult.
Lu Gongzhu pondered for a while and then suddenly said: "Go and check what Li Dacai and others said to see if it is true. Why do they pay three times the tax? What is the reason?"
Li Kai and others were stunned and looked at Mr. Lu in confusion, do you think the matter is not complicated enough?
Lu Gongzhu explained: "We cannot decide whether to fight this lawsuit or not. What we can do is to rectify the administration of Kaifeng Mansion to prevent this kind of thing from happening again. Otherwise, we will not be able to explain to the people."
Everyone looked at each other, and they suddenly remembered that all these things happened in Kaifeng Mansion, so wouldn't we become the culprits and the bandit leaders?
this.
Li Kai suddenly regretted helping Du Xiu and others.
You are not playing with Zhang Fei, you are playing with me!
After all, Mr. Lu will be transferred soon.
On the other side, Zhang Fei hurriedly got on the carriage and left Kaifeng Mansion. He didn't turn around and wave in that signature way. In the eyes of most people, he was just running away in a hurry.
Talking about the matter, compared with Zhang Fei's previous lawsuits, this lawsuit was indeed not fought so satisfactorily.
On the contrary, the seven tea cannibals were already eager to hold a celebration banquet immediately.
Although they did not expect Zhang Fei to break through directly from tenant farmers at first, they were prepared for this, and the process was as they expected.
It can even be said that it is not bad at all.
Everything is under control.
Li's Bookstore!
"Everyone talks about how awesome Zhang San is, but when we see him today, it's nothing more than that. Haha."
Du Shaojing was holding the wine glass and laughing happily.
When he went to class before, he was actually very nervous. He never thought that this was it!
Wow, it's so easy.
Now you can fast forward directly to the celebration banquet instead of drinking to calm down.
However, Li Guozhong said cautiously: "Du Yuanwai, don't rush to be happy. The lawsuit is not over yet and nothing has been finalized."
"It has ended."
Zhou Cai said relaxedly: "That boy must know something, so he doesn't dare to mention those lands. He can only talk about this white deed."
Li Guozhong just smiled. In fact, he thought so too. He said that he was just worried that if an accident happened, he should not let himself take the responsibility. After all, the lawsuit has not been completed yet.
Du Shaojing nodded: "Brother Zhou is right, we did pay back the deed tax. As for using white deeds to evade taxes, everyone is like this, and they can't do anything to us."
Zhou Cai chuckled and said, "I guess this lawsuit won't need to be fought tomorrow. If it continues to be tried again, it's not us who will suffer, but the court!"
What he said was absolutely correct. Just when they were celebrating their victory, many ministers had already reported to Shenzong, telling them the whole process of the lawsuit one by one, and strongly suggested that the lawsuit should not continue, otherwise it would be a disaster.
It will endanger national stability.
When these memorials were handed over, Wang Anshi happened to be reporting the situation to Zhao Xu.
Zhao Xu simply showed those memorials to Wang Anshi.
"What do you think, sir?" Zhao Xu asked.
Wang Anshi put on a cynical expression again, "Your Majesty, I think these people are all serving as ministers in vain and should be expelled from the capital and never hired."
Under any circumstances, his attitude must be very resolute. Taking history as a mirror, many reformers in ancient times failed because their attitudes were not resolute enough.
Zhao Xu asked: "Sir, what do you say?"
Wang Anshi Dasou: "This lawsuit is indeed very embarrassing to the court, but this is precisely because what they said is all true. This is the problem. However, as ministers, no one proposed to solve the problem. They all hope to cover up the problem.
If you hide your ears and steal the bell, and keep such ministers in the court, how can the country be governed?"
"Sir, you are right, I think so too."
Zhao Xu nodded thoughtfully and asked, "Sir, do you have any solution?"
Wang Anshi nodded and said: "Of course I have a solution, but the matter is complicated and involves too many people, so we have to deal with it step by step. However, I think that the court can re-legislate now, emphasizing that taxes can be paid anywhere, and tenant farmers have no obligation to bear taxes.
The owner will not be allowed to impose taxes on the tenant farmers, and the government will no longer intervene."
Zhao Xu said: "But the owner can still include the tax into the tenant rent."
Wang Anshi said: "Your Majesty, you can rest assured. Although tenants need land more, the owners also need tenants. If there is no one to cultivate the land, they will have to bear taxes every year. If the tenants cannot support themselves, they will not rent it."
Those fields are like going to the pig-killing alley to buy meat. Although everyone wants to eat meat, if the price of meat is too high, no one will buy it, and both sides will suffer."
Zhao Xu nodded and asked, "How will the guards solve the problem?"
If it is emphasized that taxes can be paid everywhere, will the tenant farmers serve in the army? If the tenant farmers do not serve in the army, there will be no one available to the court, because the head household is willing to serve, that is, it is just one person in the household, and the tenant farmers are the majority!
Wang Anshi said: "Your Majesty, could it be that you have forgotten that our Ordinance Department of the Second Government has been revising the service law. At that time, the owner must spend money to be exempted from service, and at the same time, the common people can still get remuneration for serving. In this way, there will be no
affecting tenant farmers.
If there is no emphasis on taxation, then the owners may force the tenant farmers to serve for them.”
Zhao Xu nodded with a smile and said, "It's better that you think carefully, sir."
Wang Anshi was completely relieved when he saw that there was no worry in Zhao Xu's eyebrows and he looked confident.
Why did he rush to report the situation to Zhao Xu as soon as possible? It was because he was afraid that Zhao Xu would listen to the slander and be swayed.
After Wang Anshi left, Zhao Xu said to the chamberlain beside him: "Send someone to Zhang's house and tell Zhang San that enough is enough."
"The villain obeys your orders."
Zhang family.
"No need to play!"
Zhang Fei came to the study and said to Xu Zhiqian with a little regret.
Xu Zhiqian said: "How do you say this?"
Zhang Fei said helplessly: "The officials sent someone just now to tell me to stop. I said it would be fun for three days, but I gave up on the first day."
Xu Zhiqian said: "Actually, it is not easy for the government to allow you to do this. I think our goal has almost been achieved. I just asked Qingmei to inquire about it. Now everyone outside is talking about tenant farmers. After this lawsuit is over,
The imperial court will definitely take this matter seriously and improve the situation of the tenant farmers."
Zhang Fei sighed: "But I also want Li Guozhong and others to perform well for a few more days, so as to revitalize our industry."
Xu Zhiqian rolled her eyes, "Aren't you tired?"
Zhang Fei said: "I just think we are already so tired, why not get more benefits from it."
Due to Zhang Fei's not very exciting performance today, the main process was to listen to the tenant farmers complaining, which also made tenant farmers a hot topic today.
It also triggered heated discussions among readers.
Many people say the current situation is unfair to sharecroppers.
Tenant farmers not only had to bear the rent, but also had to pay taxes and even serve in the army.
How can there be any surplus food in this house?
To impose taxes on them is tantamount to forcing them to die.
But because the tenant farmers were in court, the target of their criticism was the imperial court. They were all criticizing the imperial court and did not criticize the landlords much.
First of all, the landlord also acted according to the contract, and the contract was signed by Shuangfeng voluntarily. There is nothing wrong with this.
Secondly, it is the imperial court's responsibility that the people live in hardship.
The next morning.
On the way to Kaifeng Mansion, Su Che secretly glanced at Su Shi, who was still sleepy, and asked: "Didn't my second brother say yesterday that he wanted to sell his lyrics for money? Why did he come back so drunk?"
Yesterday, he made Su Shi angry with his words. When he got home, he dropped his harsh words. How could a mere fifty words stump me, Su Zizhan?
As a result, I came back in the middle of the night, smelling of alcohol with the scent of rouge.
Just by looking at it, I knew I was going to drink flower wine.
Su Shi yawned and said, "I sold some more money, so Brother Wei just had a few drinks by the way. What's wrong? Brother Wei can't even drink anymore?"
Su Che hurriedly said: "Young brother, that's not what you mean. Is it just money?"
Su Shi's expression froze and he blinked, "Ahem, that's so much money. How can I handle it alone? They will send it to me when the time comes."
Su Che looked at Su Shi and asked: "What words did my second brother write yesterday? Can you recite it so that my foolish brother can appreciate it?"
Su Shi stared: "You don't believe that we are brothers?"
"Foolish brother doesn't dare."
"Then why do you ask that? You clearly don't believe me."
"Foolish brother, just don't ask."
"That's pretty much it. Let's go quickly, lest someone else takes up your seat."
Su Zhe thought to himself, if you hadn't been lying on the bed just now and couldn't afford to wake up, we would have arrived long ago, and we would probably have to stand and watch later.
Sure enough, when they arrived at Kaifeng Mansion, it was already overcrowded and the brothers could only stand holding the pillars.
"So many officials complained yesterday, but the officials remained unmoved. It seems that the officials are really determined to fight this lawsuit to the end."
Du Xiu whispered filial piety to Shen Huai.
Shen Huaixiao smiled and said: "Then let's add fuel to the fire today. Don't worry, the first one to be unable to withstand it will definitely be the officials."
Du Xiu said worriedly: "But it's a lose-lose situation, and we don't claim to take advantage."
This indeed damaged the reputation of the imperial court, but it also brought shame to the government!
Shen Huai said filially: "Currently, the officials want to blindly trust Wang Anshi, but we are not the one to fight. No wonder we are the ones to blame!"
They used the trick of injuring the enemy a thousand times and damaging themselves eight hundred, to see who could not bear it first. The purpose was to teach the little emperor a lesson, telling him that you should not touch certain things, and your butt is not clean either.
Suddenly I heard a burst of cheering in front of the door.
You don't need to think about it to know that Zhang Fei must be here.
This kid is always the last one to appear, leaving a room full of prime ministers waiting.
I saw Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian entering the courtyard with five Erbi including Qiu Zhengwen.
Shen Huaixiao looked happy and joked: "He doesn't think he lost because of the number of people on the first day."
Fu Bi, who was sitting in the shadyest place, whispered to Han Qi: "Mr. Han, if today is like yesterday, we have to go and persuade the officials not to continue like this."
Han Qi nodded: "That's exactly what I meant. Some problems should be solved, but it's still inappropriate to say it here, and it will ruin things."
The jade and the stone are destroyed together, which no one wants to see.
But things may develop in this direction.
There is currently no sign of concessions from either side.
Not long after Zhang Fei arrived, Lu Gong and other judges came to the hall. They all looked tired. Yesterday's trial made them uncomfortable.
The courtyard gradually became quiet.
After the ascension ceremony, Zhang Fei immediately stood up and asked for the number one defendant, Zhou Cai, to be summoned.
Li Guozhong couldn't help but glance at Zhang Fei and saw that this guy's aura seemed different from yesterday.
Zhang Fei suddenly turned his head and looked at him, giving him a helpless look.
Li Guozhong felt something was wrong in his heart and told Li Lei: "You have to be careful."
Li Lei nodded.
After a while, I saw Zhou Cai coming to the court. This guy was an old landowner in Kaifeng County. His ancestors had served as military officers during the period of Boss Zhao. Because at that time, the military power was released by drinking wine, Boss Zhao gave a large number of generals very generous gifts. Although his ancestors were not great generals, they still received good treatment because of their resignation. With this wave of benefits, their family also became famous big landowners in Kaifeng County and Xiangfu County.
Unlike Du Shaojing yesterday, Zhou Cai was very relaxed and not nervous at all. He bowed his hands to Mr. Lu and then went to sit down in the dock.
Zhang Fei glanced at the copywriting on the table and said to Zhou Cai: "Executive member Zhou, as far as I know, you own at least 500 hectares of land in various villages in Kaifeng County and Xiangfu County."
Because the land today is very fragmented, with one piece in the east and one in the west, it was impossible for Wang Anshi to check all of it. He found only 500 hectares, which is 50,000 acres of land.
Zhou Cai nodded slightly guiltily, "Absolutely."
There must be more than this!
Zhang Fei said: "Fifty hectares of it were given to your family by Taizu, so they are exempt from taxes, but almost 230 hectares of land are white deeded land and are rented to tenant farmers."
Zhou Cai nodded and said, "Yes."
Zhang Fei said: "No tax has ever been paid on these two hundred and thirty hectares of land."
Zhou Cai replied: "That's because!"
Zhang Fei said: "You just need to answer yes or no."
Zhou Cai was stunned for a moment. You didn't have this attitude towards Du Shaojing yesterday. Do you think I'm easy to bully? Ignoring Zhang Fei, he raised his head and said, "I don't know, because according to the contract, all the taxes will be borne by my tenants. I have already sent people to tell the tenants, but I am not sure whether they have paid it or not, but I immediately went to pay the deed tax."
The same routine as yesterday, in one sentence, you go to my tenant and ask for it!
However, this time Zhang Fei did not follow the routine and changed the topic, "But according to my investigation, there are two hundred and twenty hectares left. It is neither tax-free land nor free land, but you haven't paid a penny either." Tax."
"I object."
Li Lei suddenly stood up and said, "Report to the magistrate, the other party is slandering people. On those 220 hectares of land, the officials have paid taxes every year. We have the tax bills from the past two years as proof."
Lu Gong wrote: "Submit the evidence."
Li Guozhong and Fei Ming looked at each other, slightly surprised, but not panicked.
After all, they were fully prepared. They thought Zhang Fei would first prove tax evasion on these lands and then involve the tenant farmers. However, after yesterday's trial, they thought Zhang Fei planned to use the tenant farmers as a breakthrough point.
I never thought that Zhang Fei would actually kill him.
After a group of professional officials reviewed it, they all told Lu Gongzhu that there was nothing wrong with the tax notes.
Li Lei immediately said: "According to the system of our dynasty, the seals on tax banknotes are all destroyed under the supervision of the governor after tax payment every year. These tax banknotes are enough to prove that Zhou Yuanwai has not failed to pay taxes. Zhang Sanchun He is just spitting blood and spreading rumors and slandering others."
Mr. Lu looked at Zhang Fei again.
Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "This is impossible. According to reliable information, there is no record of Zhou Yuanwai's tax payment in the imperial court's account books."
Shen Huaixiao, Du Xiu and others looked at each other and smiled.
"Get the account book."
Lu Gongzhu gave instructions to Huang Gui.
Huang Gui immediately put an account book that had been prepared on the ground.
Mr. Lu flipped through the wrinkled account books, compared them with the tax bills, and said to Zhang Fei: "Where did you get the news?"
Zhang Fei glanced at Wang Anshi.
Lu Gongzhu also glanced at Wang Anshi, and then said: "No matter where you got the information, your information is not accurate. There are Zhou Cai's tax payment records in this account book, and they can be matched with the tax banknotes." Worth it."
Zhang Fei frowned and turned his head to look at Xu Zhiqian.
Xu Zhiqian's acting skills have always been online. She pointed at the copywriting in front of him and said, "That's right!"