Four hundred and fortieth eight chapters tax war (twenty-two)
Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, Sima Guang, and Lu Gongzhu did not leave immediately because Zeng Gong invited them to have a simple meal in the inner hall.
In fact, it is to ask them for advice.
"Zeng did not dare to pass judgment, but he was afraid that he would not consider it thoroughly and would end up with a wrong verdict."
After saying that, Zeng Gong extended his hands to the prime ministers and said: "All of you are the mainstays of our Song Dynasty. They are rich in experience and talented. I hope you can give some advice to Zeng."
"I don't dare, I don't dare, Governor Zeng said too harshly."
Fu Bi waved his hands repeatedly and said: "Actually, like you, I am often disturbed by it. I believe that when you were local officials, you also encountered the problem of illegal salt. I also dare to conclude that our judgments must be different.
.”
Everyone looked at each other and nodded.
Zeng Gong said: "I have sentenced no less than thirty people to selling illegal salt. According to the law, if the salt exceeds twenty kilograms, they can be sentenced to death. More than half of them can be sentenced to death, but I often only give them a warning.
No one's life was hurt. 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, selling private salt is not forced, and it is for high profits, so he should be given a severe punishment. 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 of Xuzhou is caused by improper government, should this be considered as appropriate?"
Wen Yanbo couldn't help but sigh: "Whether this evil law should be implemented or not is really a difficult problem!"
Wang Anshi said: "As Mr. Fu said, everyone's judgment is different. In other words, whether it is good or evil, everyone has different hearts. I think since it is a decree issued by the court, it should be implemented."
He completely forgot about the clan issues and was seriously thinking about this issue.
Sima Guang said: "But since ancient times, these evil laws have been difficult to implement. Laws that cannot be implemented are equivalent to being impossible."
Wang Anshi immediately said: "Therefore, it is necessary to reform and eliminate bad governance. This is the right medicine."
Sima Guang smiled and said: "But since ancient times, most of the evil laws came from reforms."
Fu Bi hurriedly said: "Zi Gu invited you here, not to listen to your quarrel."
Zeng Gong nodded repeatedly. He had heard about these enemies for a long time.
Fu Bi spoke, and Wang Anshi and Sima Guang also stopped their daily routine.
But then the scene became very quiet.
Fu Bi then said to Zeng Gong: "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.
There were more than a dozen prosecutors, and the prosecutors were slumped listlessly in their chairs, and the entire lobby was filled with frustration and disappointment.
They are eager to defeat Zhao Wenzheng in one fell swoop and become famous in one battle, and they are full of hope for this.
The result is that as great as the hope is, the disappointment will be as great.
"No need to be depressed, we did not lose."
I saw Xu Zunzong walking in from outside.
"Chief Inspector Xu."
A group of people stood up one after another and bowed their hands.
Xu Zun came to the main seat and sat down, and motioned for them to sit down too, and then said: "I know that 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 of the world
, our procuratorate can make the decision for them."
Everyone looked at each other, and Chen Bing sighed: "It's a pity that we didn't do it."
"Who said that."
Xu Zundao: "First of all, our procuratorate can bring Governor Zhao to court, which is a great victory. Governor Zhao cannot escape our prosecution, and tens of thousands of dollars are needed to fight this lawsuit. Who can avoid it?
Secondly, no matter what, it is impossible for the Kaifeng Prefecture to find Governor Zhao innocent, but the severity of the punishment differs. In this case, who is not afraid of our Procuratorate?"
Having said this, he paused for a moment, "As for defeating Zhang San, it is true that we cannot win, but we have also learned a lot. When collecting evidence in the future, we must examine it carefully and know how to examine it.
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 whispered: "I dare to ask, is Zhang San your son-in-law, Mr. Xu...!"
Xu Zun chuckled: "In court, especially when he stands opposite you, you will think that boy is disgusting. When I was in Dengzhou, I almost couldn't hold back and gave him a slap in the face.
I really wanted to teach him a lesson just now, but he was telling lies with open eyes, and he was so convincing. He shouldn't be my son-in-law, and I must avoid suspicion. Otherwise, I will have to go out and compete with him personally.
"
"hehe...!"
Everyone laughed immediately.
Xu Zun himself was also happy and said: "Everyone in the world has worked hard these days. Let's go back and rest early today. You will have a meeting tomorrow to discuss it carefully, Su...!"
Having said this, he looked around, "Where's Su Ziyou?"
Qi Ji immediately said: "Zi You just said to go to the tax department to ask about the situation."
Xu Zun nodded, but he knew very well what the tax department could ask if he and Zhang Fei were wearing the same pants.
...
Department of Taxation.
"no."
Li He shook his head and said: "Then there is no way Wang Hongjin can only sell illegal salt to Xuzhou."
Su Che immediately asked: "In that case, why did you only provide evidence that Wang Hongjin sold illegal salt to Xuzhou?"
The Procuratorate's evidence mainly came from the Taxation Department, but Su Zhe felt that there was something wrong with the evidence of selling illegal salt. The Taxation Department happened to only provide evidence from Xuzhou.
The relationship between the Taxation Department and Zhang Fei was very close, which made him a little suspicious.
Li He said: "Don't blame the prosecutor Su, we also have difficulties. Our tax department was established not long ago and the manpower is limited, so we can only focus on investigating their main income. Judging from the amount of private salt Wang Hongjin sells to Xuzhou, it should be him Most of the private income in our hands is easy to investigate. As for the details, we can only leave them alone. In the independent declaration, many scattered incomes are not included, because the smaller the income, for us, Therefore, more manpower and material resources must be invested in the investigation, and the losses outweigh the gains.”
After Su Zhe heard this, although he didn't completely believe it, he still felt that what Li He said was reasonable. The larger the income, the easier it would be to investigate. For example, if you declare independently, you raise two hens and sell a few eggs. , you can earn a few small amounts of money, but you don’t need to declare it. It’s just because of this that it’s difficult to check.
If you need to declare everything, you may give the tax police an opportunity to take action.
...
Meng Mansion.
"That's unreasonable!"
Meng Qiansheng said with an excited expression: "Zhang San talked nonsense in the hall and called a deer a horse. This is irrefutable evidence. Why doesn't Kaifeng Prefecture decide?"
Xie Jun sighed: "Why else? Aren't the officials just sitting there? As long as there is a trace of doubt, Zeng Zhifu would not dare to make a judgment rashly."
Pei Wen hummed: "If it were us, we would be in jail by now. Did you see Governor Zhao's eyes just now? He was clearly provoking us!"
Meng Qiansheng's expression calmed down and he said: "I have no prejudice against Governor Zhao, but it will be difficult to convince the public if he is sentenced like this. How should Xu Yu, Qin Biao and others be judged?"
Pei Wendao: "What does Meng Zhiyuan think?"
Meng Qiansheng said: "For example, Governor Zhao is a member of the clan. He has a generous clan salary, and he knows the official temple affairs of the clan. He has a salary and a salary. They also run so many businesses privately. To him, this clan salary is nothing." It’s a drop in the bucket, isn’t there a financial problem? Then why not save it from here.”
Pei Wendao: "Yes, they are so capable, why not let them fend for themselves."
Xie Yun said: "But, will this affect our Enyin?"
"...?"
Several people looked a little hesitant again.
Meng Qiansheng said: "I'm not saying that the officials should be independent of the clan. It has to be reduced no matter what. Otherwise, I'm afraid it will get worse in the future."
Everyone nodded again.
From now on, you must pay the money for the first year. After all, many officials have paid it, but you must let the superiors know that our money is not easy to get. If you want it once, you have to shed a layer of skin. If this Money is so easy to get, so you can’t ask for it every day.
...
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night for Zhao Xu, so he invited his close friends to come to the palace to drink with him.
He raised his neck and drank a glass of wine, then placed the wine glass heavily on the table with a loud bang.
Zhao Xu sighed distressedly: "Although I have known what happened today, when I sat aside and listened to the trial, I really had mixed feelings. Looking around, it was all bad government."
He was really feeling uncomfortable sitting there, and he wasn't pretending.
It feels like this country is riddled with holes.
It makes me tired just thinking about it!
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "I thought that the officials would be excited and sleepless because of this, so they came to me to drink and chat. I never thought that they would use wine to relieve their worries."
Zhao Xu was surprised and said: "All kinds of bad policies are lingering around 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. There is nothing to question."
Zhao Xu was startled and felt that what Zhang Fei said made sense.
Zhang Fei added: "Moreover, if what is left to the officials is the rule of Zhenguan, then the officials will no longer have the ambition to work hard to govern, which 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 and it has nothing to do with you. Just like Tang Gaozong, in fact, during his reign,
His political achievements are outstanding, but everyone seems to have ignored his ability. As the saying goes, times make heroes, how can officials not be excited."
You are truly a confidant!
These simple words immediately made Zhao Xu's heart dissipate. He felt full of strength. Yes, this is what I was born for. He immediately raised his glass and said: "How can you not be excited? I respect you."
One cup.”
The two drank it all in one go.
Zhao Xu asked with great interest: "By the way! This lawsuit of yours has also made me trapped in it. I don't know how to make a decision. Do you have an answer?"
"No!"
Zhang Fei shook his head.
Zhao Xu said "Ah", looking a little surprised.
Zhang Fei said: "In fact, 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, evil laws are also legal."
Zhang Fei nodded and said: "Evil laws are also laws, and there is nothing wrong with making judgments according to the law, but the consequences are often very serious. But if people are kind, they often choose to follow their hearts instead of the law. Maybe
Over time, it may lead to the law becoming ineffective, which is also unacceptable.”
Zhao Xu nodded frequently upon hearing this. This problem is very 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 used by others."
It seems that it may be a bad law.
Such is the case in the dispute between Academician Wang and Academician Sima. In the eyes of Academician Wang, the good method is a bad method."
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. If Wang Anshi could still make money, of course he would choose Wang Anshi.
Zhang Fei continued: "I think careful punishment and light punishment can minimize the controversy. For example, in our salt law, in order to prevent illegal salt, twenty kilograms can be sentenced to death, but in reality, the suffering of the people often
Officials are forced to choose illegal laws and give light sentences, or even turn a blind eye. If they catch salt smugglers and fail to judge them in accordance with the law, they may be impeached. But if they are only sentenced to ten slaps,
If you impose a small fine, it is estimated that officials will choose to follow the law even if it is evil, which will ensure the authority of the law."
Zhao Xu nodded thoughtfully and asked, "Then what do you think Magistrate Zeng will do?"
Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "I really don't dare to judge rashly, but didn't I ask the officials for the verdict record of Zeng Zhifu last time? Judging from Zeng Zhifu's previous judgments, he would often judge whether the crime was caused by
He will give great tolerance to the harsh government and crimes committed under the harsh government. Although Governor Zhao is not a poor commoner, the court also has unshirkable responsibilities, so I think the possibility of me winning the case is still very high."