As a lawyer, Zhang Fei rarely says harsh words out of thin air, so this sentence is definitely not a joke.
If tax revenue really shows a cliff-like drop, then the central government will definitely hold people accountable, and it must conduct a strict investigation, because the central government will be worried that this will cause a chain reaction, and then the public prosecutor and the law will have to bear the main responsibility.
Because it is the police station that chooses to declare on its own. If you don't come, nothing will happen.
This will directly lead to the public prosecutor's decision to go to war with the landlords.
Then both sides can only fight hard.
Although Zhang Fei believed that it would not reach this point, Xu Zhiqian still felt very worried.
She followed Xu Zun to serve as an official in various places all year round, but whether she was a county magistrate or a magistrate, her first responsibility was to collect taxes.
She is very clear about the situation here.
If all farmers pay taxes based on their land deeds and the total tax amount cannot be reduced, then it is tantamount to breaking the existing tax system.
Because often large landowners do not pay taxes. They are powerful and can use various methods to avoid taxes. However, the government must receive enough local taxes, otherwise it will not be able to pay taxes. Therefore, this part of the tax will be
It will be shared among the second-class, third-class and fourth-class households.
If so many people share the taxes of a small number of people, if it is a good harvest year, the people can survive for the time being, and there is no way to object.
But once taxes are paid based on land deeds, the situation is reversed and taxes begin to flow upwards.
Large landowners may have to pay many times more taxes than usual.
But it would be extremely difficult to get even one more penny out of the mouths of the big landowners!
On the way back, Xu Zhiqian was very worried and said: "Those big landowners are very powerful in the local area. If they all conceal and lie, can we really fight against them?"
This is different from being in the capital. The capital has the support of the emperor and Wang Anshi, so of course there is no need to worry.
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "This is unlikely."
Xu Zhiqian asked: "Why?"
Zhang Fei said: "Actually, those landowners are not outside the law. They also have to abide by the law. And the only way they deal with the court is to incite the people to make trouble. Historical records record that the reasons for trouble and public dissatisfaction in the relevant places are astonishing.
's likeness'
Xu Zhiqian said: "Increase taxes."
Zhang Fei nodded and said: "In the peaceful and prosperous times, the landlords colluded with the government and used their privileges to avoid taxes, and the people could help them bear the burden. As long as there were no financial problems, the court would not strictly investigate. Everyone just muddle along and take stability as their priority.
Heavy.
However, once there is a financial problem, the court will inevitably choose to increase taxes and at the same time increase supervision. As long as the landlords are not stupid, they will definitely use the tax increase to provoke conflicts between the people and the court, stir up public dissatisfaction, and force the court to make concessions.
It can be seen that the root cause of this problem has never been the landlords, but the court itself, because the court always likes to bundle tax inspections and tax increases. To put it simply, it is a legislative money grab, and who can stand this."
Xu Zhiqian nodded thoughtfully: "Yes, I heard that when Mr. Bao was the transshipment envoy, he checked the taxes. Many landowners still paid taxes honestly, and the court did not increase taxes this time."
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "In fact, in a sense, taxes are still being reduced. In this case, it is difficult for landlords to create unrest when tax inspections are carried out, so they can only use legal means to avoid it."
Xu Zhiqian smiled and said: "If we fight with the law, how can they be our opponents from the public prosecutor and the law?"
Zhang Fei nodded and said: "That's right. The professionalism of the public prosecutor and the law is also one of the key reasons. Those officials in the past were very corrupt and did not respect the law themselves. Even if there were no problems, they could create problems in the process of collecting taxes.
.
Therefore, my suggestion to the police department is to charge as much as they come and charge as much as they say. Let us settle the accounts later. This is all to prevent them from inciting public dissatisfaction."
Xu Zhiqian said: "What if they incite people to conceal and report lies?"
Landlords don’t want to pay taxes, and neither do the people!
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "That doesn't matter, because we only catch them. These fish are all picked and killed, so there is no need to worry about the common people. This is a judicial issue, not an administrative issue. We can investigate whoever we want. No.
If they found it, it can only be said that they are lucky!
However, I don’t expect them to take this gamble. After all, the tax power is not in the hands of the public prosecutors and the law, but in the hands of the government, so they will not go too far. They are not completely sure now, and most likely will choose to hide in secret and wait.
Opportunity to fight back.”
The facts were just as Zhang Fei expected. In fact, the landlords had been secretly preventing the farmers from reporting, and they used various threats. However, because the royal police had previously helped the retired soldiers register, they had won the trust of the people.
In addition, self-cultivators know very well that this kind of self-declaration will mean they have to pay a lot less tax, so instead of hesitating, they go to pay the tax in advance.
Once they run out, the landlords will be exposed.
Those big landowners can only go to the government to join forces first.
Guangji Temple.
But I saw more than ten people sitting in a large side room, all of them were potbellied and dressed in rich clothes.
They are all prominent landowners and wealthy men in Hezhong Prefecture.
"This self-declaration is child's play. I have already sent people to try it. The Royal Police did not ask questions at all. They only looked at the land deed you showed. They will collect the tax according to the amount marked on the land deed."
"I also know some people in the police station, and they all say they have never seen such an easy tax collection method. The police station reports whatever they collect."
"It's definitely not that simple. If it's just like this, can the government still collect taxes? There must be a conspiracy in this."
"Wei Tongpan, do you know what is going on?"
At this point in the discussion, everyone couldn't help but look at Wei Yingfang, who was sitting directly above.
Wei Yingfang was holding the cup, as if he was immersed in the fragrant tea. Seeing everyone looking over, he slowly put down the cup and said: "I have already inquired about this independent declaration. It is not a conspiracy, but a conspiracy."
"Conspiracy?"
Everyone was stunned.
"Exactly."
Wei Yingfang said: "Perhaps you don't know that independent declaration was born from the tax exemption. It was once implemented in Bianliang City and achieved great success, including large landowners who paid hundreds of dollars."
"Hundreds of strings?"
Everyone couldn't help but gasp in air.
A big landowner named Liu Changqing said: "How is this possible?"
Wei Yingfang said: “This independent declaration is exactly the opposite of the previous tax collection system, which was to find out everything before collecting taxes and then collect taxes.
With self-reporting, the taxes are paid first and then spot checks are carried out. The difference is that the former is less likely to break the law because if you don't pay taxes, you will be caught by the government immediately, so everyone will pay taxes.
But in the latter case, it is inevitable that some people will choose to take advantage of the situation, but once they are found out, it is illegal and they will be punished and fined. Some big landowners in Bianliang were directly sentenced to bankruptcy."
Those big landowners felt chills running down their spines.
In the previous method, the government officials came to collect taxes, and the two parties could engage in games and discuss anything. Generally speaking, it would not violate the law.
If it really doesn't work, then just hand it over.
However, self-declaration is very likely to be illegal.
Because self-declaration is subject to post-tax inspection, it is a foregone conclusion. Once caught, it is tax evasion and tax evasion will inevitably be punished.
Cao Yi on the side said: "It is said that this method is specially prepared for big landowners like you. First of all, ordinary people only have a land deed, so even if they want to hide it, it is difficult to hide it.
Secondly, if I were the superintendent, I would also choose to randomly check the big landowners first, because only the landowners can afford to fine them."
After everyone heard this, they all gritted their teeth with hatred.
"This is unreasonable! This public prosecutor is really cruel!"
"I knew they must have bad intentions."
"No! We must not surrender without mercy."
When it comes to money, there's not much to say.
It is unforgettable hatred.
There must be no compromise.
Dry!
"Wei Tongfan. This matter of tax collection has always been under the control of the government. Why do they, the public prosecutors and the law, get involved?"
"Also, what's going on with those sub-stations? The investigation of the military pay issue is almost complete, why haven't they left yet? Will the head of household here have to be abolished in the future, and their police station will be in charge?"
"Everyone, please be patient."
Wei Yingfang waved his hand, "Yes, we agreed to let the police station assist the government in collecting taxes. The police station does not have this power."
"Why?"
"Don't you all know about the previous lawsuits?"
Wei Yingfang said with a slightly excited tone: "You are afraid of being accused, and so are we. Now that politics and law are separated, we may also be accused. If you use the old method to collect taxes, if you are found by the procuratorate, you may be accused in the imperial court. Based on this, those who
Even the civil servants dare not collect taxes. In addition, many government officials have been transferred to the police station. How can our government have so many manpower to collect taxes?"
Liu Changqing said: "So, Wei Tongpan wants us to catch him without any help."
Wei Yingfang closed his eyes and sighed, "Fortunately, the terrifying tax department has not yet come to Hezhong Prefecture. Currently, the police station does not have the power to collect taxes or inspect taxes.
This part of the power is still in the hands of our government, but you must ensure that this year's autumn taxes are not less than last year. In this case, we will not investigate carefully, otherwise, the procuratorate may intervene in the investigation, and
The procuratorate and the royal court have the power to judge tax evasion."
Everyone looked at Wei Yingfang.
As if to say, that’s it?
Then you might as well not say anything.
Once the farmers pay their taxes, the rest belongs to us.
Wei Yingfang said: "I can only help you so far. If you don't want to, that's up to you. But if something happens, don't come to me."
One person suddenly said: "The Imperial Court and the Procuratorate also have to tell us the law. As long as we can legally avoid taxes, they can't do anything to us."
Wei Yingfang immediately said: "That's right. As long as you can legally avoid taxes, I guarantee that the public prosecutor and the law will be helpless against you."
Cao Yidao: "But can you all achieve legal tax avoidance on all fields? Then you have experienced the investigation methods of the procuratorate and the trial methods of the imperial court. Are you really unable to find out?"
Everyone looked at each other with a guilty conscience in each other's eyes.
Temples can avoid taxes, and officials also have privileges, but they are subject to restrictions. A small official can only be exempted from about twenty acres.
Normally everyone turns a blind eye, but if we really want to check, how can we not find out?
The land cannot be hidden!
Liu Changqing suddenly said: "Magistrate Wei Tong, Judge Cao, this public prosecution law is very difficult for everyone. Shouldn't we help each other?"
They all know that Wei Yingfang and the others also hate the public prosecutor and the law very much. We are in the same boat!
At this moment, we should all be in the same boat!
"Of course."
Wei Yingfang said: "We have tried various methods before, and the lesson we learned is that using illegal things to compete with the public prosecutors and the law is only asking for trouble, so we can only find another way."
One person said: "The method of blocking young crops?"
"Exactly." Wei Yingfang nodded.
Everyone couldn't help but look hesitant again.
We had talked about it before, but they were reluctant and kept talking vaguely.
Wei Yingfang said: "Everyone must have heard that the judicial reform was presided over by Bachelor Sima, and the new law was presided over by Bachelor Wang, and most people in the court hope to use judicial reform to deal with the new law."
Before he could finish speaking, someone said: "But using low interest rates to deal with the Qingmiao Law is tantamount to us dealing with the New Law. Isn't this bringing up another powerful enemy?"
Wei Yingfang said: "Do you usually dare to do this? You are blatantly defying the imperial decree."
"We don't dare to do it now!"
"But today is different from the past. Now there is a separation of politics and law. As long as we don't break the law, why should they not allow us to lend at low interest rates? We can use the public prosecutors and the law to protect our rights. In this way, isn't it the public prosecutors and the law fighting against the Youth Law?"
Everyone communicated with each other with their eyes.
"But it is said that the Green Crops Law is to combat private loan sharking. If we all lend money at low interest rates, the Green Crops Law will be successful."
"Ha ha!"
Cao Yi burst into laughter upon hearing this.
"Why is Judge Cao laughing?"
"You are so naive." Cao Yida said: "The Qingmiao Law has caused controversy in the court for several months. If it is just to crack down on loan sharks, is it like this?
The purpose of Wang Xueshi's Green Crops Law is to make money for the country. Why did the officials use Wang Xueshi's reform? It was not for usury, but because the government's financial deficit was very large. Once the Green Crops Law failed to make money, the new law would become a joke. Wang
Bachelor's reform will fail, how can Bachelor Wang be willing to fail? They will definitely fight."
"The imperial court only saw usury, but it didn't realize how difficult it was to collect debts. It even had to send someone to keep an eye on it. The imperial court set a monthly interest rate of two, which is just over 20% per year. No matter how low it was, we wouldn't be able to earn it.
How much money do you get?"
"You can't make much money, but the existence of the police, prosecutors and law is to allow you to make several times more money every year. You should think carefully about it yourself."
All these big landowners looked troubled.
TMD!
It’s a loss no matter what!
It’s so hard to get them to cough up money!
In the end, they didn't give an answer.
After leaving Guangji Temple and getting on the carriage, Wei Ying asked conveniently: "Do you think they will agree this time?"
Cao Yidao said: "They have no choice. When the autumn tax cuts off a piece of their flesh and goes away, they will definitely be on our side."
They now also realize that the Public Security Bureau has broad support in the DPRK and the Central Government, and they cannot fight against it. They can only unite with the big landowners to provoke a struggle between the new law and the judiciary in Hezhong Prefecture. In this way, they can win the support of the DPRK and Central Ministers.