This sudden action by the procuratorate immediately caused a drastic change in the nature of the entire matter.
Previously, Sima Guang and Wen Yanbo also knew that these big landowners were deliberately making false reports and wanted to confront the tax department.
Although they did not say they supported this behavior, they still acquiesced in the support given to them by high-ranking officials in the DPRK.
Basically, you just have to stay out of it.
This is all because the recruitment law itself is controversial.
For example, those government households, female households, monks and Taoists did not have to pay this amount, but now they have to pay so much.
Of course, people are reluctant to compare their feelings with each other.
In the final analysis, this is still a dispute over political orders.
This is inevitable.
But now the situation has changed. Selling private salt and occupying official land are not government orders, but purely legal issues.
If this happened before, it would definitely have to be strictly investigated. The Kaifeng Mansion has punished this behavior many times, and it has also involved many high-ranking officials.
This should still be punished, but if you have a background, the sentence will be lighter.
But this does not mean that they turned a blind eye to the evidence. If this were the case, the judicial system of the Song Dynasty would have collapsed long ago.
Whether it was Zhongshu's subordinates or the Third Division, they immediately expressed their support for the Procuratorate in both the DPRK and China.
Zhao Xu was also furious and personally ordered the procuratorate to punish him severely.
You guys are still unwilling to pay taxes on this illegal income.
It's just too much of a lie.
...
Wang Anshi, Han Jiang, and Sima Guang finally understood that this was Zhang Fei's long-hidden trump card.
If you really only fine this small amount of money, then the other party will not be able to waste time with you until the end of time.
This is why, even if the Taxation Department wins consecutive battles, they still have no hope of victory.
But why did Zhang Fei take this detour and use his illegal income to deal with them, instead of directly increasing the penalty for falsely reporting property? In that case, wouldn't it be simpler and more effective?
In fact, this principle is similar to what Wen Yanbo and others did.
Even the tax exemption is a matter of great controversy, both in the government and among the people.
Never mind the rich or the poor, after all, this is asking the people for money, not giving money to the people.
To put it more bluntly, we need to increase taxes.
If taxes are increased and severe penalties are imposed, it will be like grabbing money with a knife.
The key point is that many prime ministers also believe that this recruitment law will increase the burden on the people. Not to mention Wen Yanbo, Sima Guang, and Zhao Bian, who has always been selfless, are also very opposed to it.
Therefore, the regulations revised by Zhang Fei are very, very mild. The tax is calculated based on income. From this calculation, it can be judged that the people will not be unable to eat after paying the money.
Moreover, since the declaration is made independently, the government will not be accused of arbitrarily assessing households, etc.
This is also what Sima Guang and Wen Yanbo are most worried about. Wang Anshi keeps saying that there were problems with the previous household level, but will there be no problem with the household level that you, Wang Anshi, have re-calculated?
You, Wang Anshi, want to make money for the country. If your household level is not high, how will you get the money?
Self-declaration will make their worries self-defeating.
Even for government households, it is mainly for additional income other than salary. If it only counts salary, you only need to pay 3%, and it only counts material money, which is cash and does not count as a subsidy.
At that time, it won the recognition of many officials.
Not only that, even the punishment has been revised.
As for the tax department's violence, it will only be used when the evidence is solid.
All these factors left Wen Yanbo and other ministers speechless.
This will indeed not increase the burden on the people, but the question is, can you raise the taxes?
Later, after the Taxation Department took over, Sima Guang and others began to worry that they would not be able to collect the tax money.
Even though the tax department is so powerful, they are still not optimistic about it.
The means are powerful, but they cannot solve the problem.
Only now did they know that Zhang Fei planned to use his illegal income to deal with them. The Tax Department was just an introduction, and the real move was the Procuratorate.
The procuratorate did not disappoint. After investigating the official land accounts of Xiangfu County, they found irrefutable evidence and immediately filed a lawsuit with the imperial court.
And they also went back and re-investigated the accounts of Qin Biao, Liu Ping and others.
...
Li's Bookstore.
But I saw a man with a Chinese character, a resolute face, and quite an aura. He frowned and turned his head to look at Li Guozhong, who was sitting on the head of the family.
This man's name is Xu Ji, and he is the judge of the Du branch.
"Judge Xu."
Li Guozhong was sweating a little on his forehead, "What are those incomes..."
Xu Ji said: "What if it's true?"
Li Guozhong swallowed, "If it is true, and the procuratorate has evidence, then...then I really can't help."
Xu Ji asked again: "Can't it be solved even by paying money?"
Li Guozhong said: "This...I'm really not sure about this. The key depends on the attitude of the procuratorate?"
In fact, it is a hint to Xu Ji, go to the procuratorate and find accommodation. If they want to sue you to death, then there is nothing I can do.
Xu Ji didn't waste any time. He stood up and said, "I understand. I'll leave first."
"Judge Xu, walk slowly."
“Free delivery!”
After saying that, Xu Ji turned around and strode away.
Li Lei stepped forward and said worriedly: "Father, will they not trust us because of this?"
Li Guozhong stroked his beard and laughed.
Li Lei asked curiously: "Why is my adoptive father laughing?"
Li Guozhong glanced at him and said hehe: "You, you put your mind on the lawsuit, but you forgot the way of business. Think about it, if there is such a commotion, don't all those people have to come to pay the tax exemption?
, we want to earn more!
The key is, for things like this, we can only blame them for being careless, and it has nothing to do with us.”
...
When I got home, I saw a young man coming up to me and asked, "Brother, how are you doing?"
Xu Ji shook his head and said, "It seems we can only use our method."
With that said, he went into the back room. After a while, he came out with a small bundle and handed it to the young man, "Arrange for someone to send this to the procuratorate."
The young man took it and asked: "This... what is this?"
Xu Ji said: "Both the jade and the stone will be burned."
...
Early morning.
Xu Zun was the first to come to the Yali. The reason was that he had been living here recently and had not gone home. He had to keep a distance from Zhang Fei to avoid disturbing the truth.
I just came to the house and made preparations.
Su Zhe suddenly walked into the room quickly, without even bothering to salute, he directly handed three small books to Xu Zun, "Chief Inspector Xu, what do you think this is?"
Xu Zun took it and opened it. He couldn't help but look surprised. The small book was filled with information about the interests of Wang Hongjin and Zhao Wenzheng. He asked, "Where did you find this?"
Su Zhe said: "When I went out just now, someone entrusted me with a little baby."
Xu Zundao: "We have already found some problems with Wang Hongjin's income before, and they may be related to Governor Zhao. Now with this evidence, it is more confirmed that our investigation was correct."
Su Che suddenly asked: "Have Chief Prosecutor Xu ever considered why this person wanted to send us this evidence?"
Xu Zun kept his expression and asked: "What do you want to say?"
Su Che said: "Obviously someone wants to bring this disaster to the clan and force the officials to show mercy."
"You make sense." Xu Zun nodded and asked, "Then what do you think we should do?"
Su Che hesitated for a moment and said: "I thought that our procuratorate had to prepare for a fierce battle, and this matter might get out of hand."
Xu Zun smiled and nodded: "Our procuratorate must put evidence first in everything. As for what will happen, that is not something we consider. But if we deliberately conceal it, the entire public prosecutor's office may be ruined."
...
Compared with the chaos of the Imperial City, where everything is under control and the undercurrents are turbulent, Bianjing Law Firm is peaceful. Although Zhang Fei is actually the leader, on the surface Zhang Fei is just a hired tax department to provide services for those tax officials.
The police are involved in lawsuits, but now those people don't use force to fight against the tax department, so naturally it has nothing to do with Zhang Fei.
But that doesn't mean that Zhang Fei is very relaxed now. He has encountered the most difficult problem since he came to Bianjing, which is moving. In the history of his moving in Bianjing, he has never gone smoothly.
This time is no exception.
"One hundred and fifty coins a month? Why don't they try to steal it?"
Zhang Fei complained to Chen Maoqian very unhappily.
Chen Maoqian said: "Sanlang, you have to be reasonable. This has been postponed for a month, and you have to postpone it for another month. It's because you were not trustworthy first. Of course, the price will be increased."
Zhang Fei said: "As you know, my new house has been finished. It's true that my father-in-law is very busy right now and doesn't even go home. I have to wait for him to come back. I don't want to move to a new house!"
"
Chen Maoqian said: "This is your own problem. Anyway, the other party made it very clear. You can postpone it for another month, okay, one hundred and fifty coins, and you can't lose a penny."
Zhang Fei said: "You ask him to come, I will talk to him personally."
Chen Maoqian suddenly said excitedly: "Sanlang, I have worked really hard for your house. I have been working so hard, but you don't believe me?"
Zhang Fei said quickly: "Don't misunderstand me, I didn't mean that. I just said that if you don't want to argue with him, then I don't care."
"Hey young!"
Fan Li suddenly walked in, "I said Sanlang, there are more than a hundred swords, are you so fussy about it?"
Chen Maoqian said: "That's right, brother Fan, come and comment with us."
Fan Li sat down and said to Zhang Fei: "Sanlang, you are here to worry about these more than one hundred thousand dollars. The Li family is making a lot of money every day."
Chen Maoqian asked hurriedly: "Is someone going to pay back taxes?"
Fan Li nodded and whispered: "I can hardly sit down anymore."
Chen Maoqian said: "They have done a lot of selling private salt and occupying official land. How can they not be guilty of thief's conscience?"
Zhang Fei clicked his tongue: "If they want to find the Li family, we have no choice. Let's explain the matter of this house clearly first. More than a hundred dollars is a small matter, but I have never had a smooth move when I moved. Old Chen, you
It is responsible."
Chen Maoqian was also drunk, "If you don't want to, just move out. This matter of buying and selling is between you and me. We have nothing to fight for."
"I don't!"
"...?"
Chen Maoqian was completely speechless and wanted to get up and leave. Just then, Fan Zheng and Fan Yong and his son arrived.
"Third brother, many people want to donate land to our charity foundation today."
Fan Zheng had just finished speaking, and before Zhang Fei could react, Fan Yong hurriedly said: "Sanlang, you can't take this land. Nine times out of ten, there is something wrong with it."
Chen Maoqian reacted immediately, "Could it be that they want to donate some of the occupied official land to our charity foundation?"
Fan Yong nodded.
"You can't do that."
Chen Maoqian was so frightened that he shook his head repeatedly.
Several people looked at Zhang Fei with great anxiety. They knew that this skilled man was bold and dared to make any money.
"Look at what I'm doing?" Zhang Fei complained to Fan Zheng: "Fan Da, the charity foundation has been handed over to you to take care of. You come to me for big things, don't you think I'm not annoying enough?"
Fan Zheng was so confused that he asked, "Third brother, what happened?"
Chen Maoqian said: "That's really a trivial matter."
Afterwards, he informed Fan Yong and his son about the rent.
"...?"
After hearing this, both father and son were speechless.
Fan Yong didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "I say, Sanlang, how long has it been since this happened, and you are still entangled in such a trivial matter."
Zhang Fei exclaimed: "You don't understand. My move didn't go smoothly once. How can I not be upset? As for those things, they have nothing to do with us. Why are you worrying so much?"
Chen Maoqian was puzzled and said: "You were always the one meddling in it before."
Zhang Fei said: "I did it to make money."
Fan Zheng whispered: "It's okay if Third Brother doesn't get involved, but now this matter seems to be getting more and more serious."
Zhang Fei asked: "How do you say this?"
Fan Zhengdao: "There are rumors outside that the Procuratorate is investigating Governor Zhao of Zongzheng Temple."
No! The news came out so quickly. The procuratorate's confidentiality was really bad. Zhang Fei asked: "Is it true or false?"
Fan Zheng nodded and said: "It should be true. I heard that someone sent evidence to the procuratorate that Governor Zhao violated the law and discipline."
Zhang Fei couldn't help but frown and thought, Damn it! If I had known they were so cruel, I wouldn't have destroyed this god.
...
Zhao Mansion.
"Sir, the rumors outside are not groundless. According to the information obtained from inquiries, someone did send a piece of evidence to the procuratorate."
"But what did the Tax Department do?"
Zhao Wenzheng asked with a frown.
Wang Qingdao: "There is no evidence yet to prove who did it, but it doesn't look like the situation is like the Taxation Department. There are already some problems with the evidence provided by the Taxation Department to the procuratorate, so why didn't they do it more?"
boom!
As soon as Wang Qing finished speaking, Zhao Wenzheng swept all the tea sets on the table to the floor, "These ungrateful villains, I have worked hard for their benefit, and they sold me like this. At worst, we will all perish."
Wang Qing hurriedly said: "Master, don't be impulsive!"
Of course, Zhao Wenzheng just cheered and asked: "What do you think?"
Wang Qing asked: "Master, we have to prepare as soon as possible. Now that the news comes out, the procuratorate will have to investigate whether it is possible or not."
Zhao Wenzheng also started to panic. He came to Wang Qing, paced back and forth, and suddenly asked: "By the way, is Hong Jin reliable?"
A flash of pain flashed in Wang Qing's eyes, and he nodded and said: "Don't worry, sir, Hong Jin will never betray me, but... But now the procuratorate may not only have evidence of the income, but also evidence of the relationship between the master and Hong Jin"
Promote beneficial exchanges."
...
Meng Mansion.
"But what can you do?"
Meng Qiansheng looked at everyone sitting here. This kind of informing behavior was really terrible.
The people sitting shook their heads.
Pei Wen suddenly said: "But...but this is not a bad thing for us."
Meng Qiansheng asked: "How do you say this?"
Pei Wendao: "Now people below are panicked, and many people have begun to waver. They quietly sent people to Li Guozhong and asked him to negotiate with the tax department. If he pays back taxes, can he not be held accountable for these responsibilities? But if the clan can be dragged into the water, They may not be so afraid, and the officials will consider it as appropriate."
No one made a sound, and silence was better than sound at this time.
...
Inside the palace.
"Chief Inspector Xu, I heard recently that someone reported on Governor Zhao?"
Zhao Xu looked sideways at Xu Zun.
Xu Zun hesitated for a while before nodding.
Zhao Xu asked: "Who reported it?"
Xu Zundao: "I don't know what to say to His Majesty yet."
Zhao Xu asked again: "Are those evidences true?"
Xu Zun glanced at Zhao Xu for a moment, thought for a while, and said: "Your Majesty, I have not been home for many days to investigate this case. Even my clothes were sent to the procuratorate by my dog."
Zhao Xu was stunned for a moment and said hurriedly: "Chief Inspector Xu, you don't have to work so hard, but you need to pay more attention to your health."
Xu Zundao: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. However, because my son-in-law Zhang San is employed by the tax department, I want to avoid suspicion, so I am not allowed to go home."
Zhao Xu awkwardly picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said, "I understand, please step back."
"I excuse myself."
Just after leaving the palace, a man suddenly came out from the roadside and grabbed Xu Zun's hand, "Zhongtu, why are the officials looking for you?"
Xu Zun turned his head and looked, seeing that it was Zhao Bian, he broke away without showing a trace, and said with his hands in his hands: "Sorry! Mr. Zhao, I have no comment on this."
Zhao Pian stroked his beard and said: "Recently, many people in our Admonition Yuan have been complaining, saying that your Procuratorate has usurped the authority of the Admonition Yuan. If your Procuratorate dares to bend the law for personal gain, even if I wear this official uniform, I will definitely do it." We will investigate to the end.”
Xu Zun bowed his hands and said, "Goodbye."
...
Lu Mansion.
"Grandson pays homage to grandpa."
Lu Jiawen bowed respectfully to Mr. Lu, but there was a hint of displeasure in his eyes.
Lu Gongzhu asked: "Wen'er, I heard that the procuratorate has prosecuted Xu Yu?"
Lu Jiawen nodded: "Yes."
Lu Gongzhu asked again: "Do you think you can sue?"
Lu Jiawen has been getting more and more unhappy recently. This Lu Gongzhu regards him as a baby in swaddling clothes and has to warn him about everything. He said: "Grandpa, you are the prime minister now, and Xu Yu's brother Xu Ji is also here." I am an official, so grandpa asks if there is something wrong with this."
"Asshole!"
Mr. Lu slapped the table and scolded: "How could you talk to grandpa like that?"
Lu Jia asked: "My grandson doesn't dare, but if he informs his grandpa, he is bending the law for personal gain. Grandpa often teaches his grandson that he must enforce the law impartially."
Lu Gongzhu hummed: "If an official asked you, wouldn't you answer it?"
Lu Jiawen was stunned for a moment, then rolled his eyes and said, "Grandpa, the reason why my grandson didn't tell you is because Sansi has a relationship with the Xu family. If the grandson told grandpa, wouldn't it ruin grandpa's reputation?
"
Lu Gong wrote: "What if the official question is not about Xu Yu's affair, but about Governor Zhao?"
Lu Jiawen hesitated for a long time and said: "If the officials want to ask questions, of course my grandson must report the truth."
Mr. Lu nodded, "You can go out first."
"Yes, grandson is resigning."
Just as Lu Jiawen left, someone walked out of the back room, it was Sima Guang.
Lu Gong said: "You have also heard that Wen'er is too young after all, he may not be able to withstand it, and he is very likely to make mistakes."
Sima Guang nodded and said: "Then who do you think should be tried if it goes to court?"
Lu Gongzhu thought for a while and said: "Zeng Zigu."
Sima Guang thought for a while, nodded and said: "If it involves the clan, it should indeed be tried by the Kaifeng Mansion."
...
The night is already deep.
Xu Zhiqian, however, had no intention of sleeping. She was sitting alone in front of the window, looking at the bright moon outside the window with concern. She suddenly felt a warmth on her shoulders and couldn't help but look back, "Why are you awake?"
"Urgent urination!"
"Pfft!"
Xu Zhiqian immediately gave Zhang Fei a roll of his eyes.
Zhang Fei sat down and said, "Are you still worried about your father-in-law?"
Xu Zhiqian nodded lightly and said: "Now this case involves the clan, which is very difficult. There have been several disturbances before, but they were all very dangerous. And with my father's character, he will definitely not do it because of the clan.
Just stay away."
Zhang Fei asked curiously: "Then why didn't you ask me?"
Xu Zhiqian glanced at him: "You are now working for the government, and this matter involves the clan. If I ask you, wouldn't it make everyone very embarrassed?"
For example, the Xu family rarely interfered with matters between Zhang Fei and the emperor. After getting married, Xu Zhiqian also rarely interfered.
Zhang Fei really didn't have much to say. After all, it involved the emperor's family affairs, so he just consoled him: "Don't worry, everything is still under my control."