Xue Xiang used a classic dialectic. Everyone said that Junshu was invading the interests of merchants, but Xue Xiang believed that Junshu had no intention of infringing on the interests of merchants. It was just that the merchants lacked protection, so they suffered accidental injuries.
Looking at the entire national system, almost all systems are to safeguard the imperial power, followed by civil servants and officials. Only the legal system emphasizes the defense of personal rights and interests.
The conclusion reached is naturally based on the legal system of public security and prosecution.
Although this is not the first time that Xue Xiang praised the Public Security Bureau, during the last court hearing, the Public Security Bureau helped him appeal and he reciprocated. Everyone can understand it. But this time, the Public Security Bureau is biased towards Jiangnan businessmen and allows them to appeal. You To put it this way, it's very puzzling.
The reformists feel that it is very shameful. Could it be that our new policy cannot be separated from the public security organs and the judiciary?
Increase the popularity of others and destroy your own prestige!
Deng Wan was also confused and asked Wang Anshi in a low voice: "Ms. Wang, what's going on?"
Wang Anshi said with a calm face: "In the court of the Public Security Bureau, it is normal to say a few good words about the Public Security Bureau."
Even so, there was still a hint of unhappiness between his eyebrows.
Of course this was not what he taught him. He was determined not to say such words, and Xue Xiang did not discuss it with him.
I have to say that this really made him a little unhappy, but mainly because he didn't really agree with some of Xue Xiang's behaviors in this regard, but he didn't care that much, for example, he liked giving gifts, flattering others, etc.
He thought that Xue Xiang was trying to please the public prosecutor and beg for mercy. From the side, Xue Xiang believed that Wang Anshi was no longer strong enough to protect himself.
However, the conservatives are not very happy either, especially the censors and admonishers. They believe that Xue Xiang's remarks imply that there was a problem with the previous system, but they believe that this is the problem with your new policy.
When the New Deal came out, there was no public security law.
This doesn’t make sense!
As a prosecutor who is famous for his meticulousness, Zhang Fei would naturally not let go of such details easily. He first smiled and said: "I am very grateful to Ambassador Xue Fayun for his praise of our Public Security Bureau, but as far as I know, the New Deal will not be released after the promulgation of the new policy. At the beginning, there was no Public Security Bureau Law, which means that the Ordinance Department of the Second Government certainly did not take the Public Security Bureau Law into consideration when designing the new policy. However, Xue Fayun emphasized that the solution to these problems is the Public Security Bureau Law. Can I think that the Public Security Bureau Law? The Ordinance Department of the Second Government has no thought of preventing these problems from happening."
Sima Guang, Liu Shu and the others nodded their heads.
Good question!
very very good!
Very fair and impartial, and was not fooled by Xue Xiang's rhetoric.
Xue Xiang asked back very calmly: "Prosecutor Zhang may lack administrative experience."
Oops! He even fought back. Zhang Fei smiled and said: "It's not that it's lacking, but it's very lacking. Please ask Xue Fayun to give me some pointers."
"Don't dare! Don't dare!"
Xue Xiang smiled modestly, and then answered calmly: "This is actually just a very simple question."
"Yeah?"
"Yes."
Xue Xiangdao: "A new policy is often divided into two steps. The first step is to design a solution based on the problem.
The second step is to make corresponding adjustments based on the problems encountered during the implementation after implementation.
Any policy will inevitably have some minor problems when it is implemented. There are no exceptions.
As I just said, there is no problem with the concept of the equalization method, and there is no problem with the design. It not only saves a lot of expenses, but also can make some surplus to make up for the transportation costs, and at the same time reduce the burden on the people. Kill three birds with one stone and improve the situation.
The imperial court's bad governance in this regard.
The reason why I advocate the Public Procuratorate Law is to solve the problems encountered in implementation. If there is no Public Procuratorate Law, the Ordinance Department of the Second Prefecture will also make adjustments. Wang Xianggong once made adjustments based on the situation of Hezhong Prefecture.
Many adjustments.
Now that we have the Public Procuratorate, there is no need to think of other methods. After all, Wang Xianggong is dedicated to serving the country and the king, rather than being competitive. Since the Public Procuratorate is easy to use, why not use it?"
pattern!
This pattern is huge!
But when Sima Guang listened, he felt the urge to vomit.
What caused the chaos on Jingdong East Road last year? Wasn't it because Wang Anshi wanted to be competitive?
Can you say this without blushing?
Even if you don't blush, Wang Anshi should blush.
Sima Guang looked up and saw Wang Anshi still maintaining a low-key smile on his face. To put it a little exaggeratedly, it was the smile of a king.
This directly made Sima Guang feel some physical discomfort.
Wow...how shameless.
Little did they know that Wang Anshi pretended to be angry with Sima Guang.
Deliberately.
In fact, Wang Anshi and Xue Xiang are different on this point. Wang Anshi has resisted the Public Security Law in his heart. It's not that he doesn't agree with it, but he just thinks it's not that important. It doesn't mean that without the Public Security Law, the New Deal will fail.
But Xue Xiang really agreed, not just to please, to beg the public prosecutor to let him go, or to flatter him.
This is why he has repeatedly praised the public prosecutor and the law. He is really not just trying to flatter someone without conscience.
Because from his personal point of view, the public security system is completely in line with his philosophy. He is relatively pragmatic and cares more about interests than morality, which is incompatible with Confucianism.
In the imperial court, Xue Xiang was an alternative, so he had always been ostracized.
The Public Security Bureau does not talk about this and focuses on evidence, and evidence is a pragmatic result.
From a policy perspective, Xue Xiang's philosophy is also financial management. It can be said that it is the logic of a businessman. The public prosecutor and the law are beneficial to businessmen, and of course it is also beneficial to his philosophy.
He really believed that the Public Security Bureau and the Procuratorate were the last piece of the New Deal.
At the same time, he does intend to side with the Public Security Bureau, but this does not mean that he surrenders to the conservatives, but that he believes that the Public Security Bureau can protect him and allow him to give full play to his abilities.
Because he is very pragmatic, he will naturally not make decisions that are not beneficial to him because of party disputes.
"Thank you Xue Fayun for your advice."
Zhang Fei smiled and nodded, "There is another very critical issue, which is the money shortage in Jinghu South Road and other places. I wonder how Ambassador Xue Fayun views this issue?"
Xue Xiang frowned slightly and said: "As for the money shortage in those places, I admit that this is an oversight by our shipping department, but we will make adjustments as soon as possible to avoid further exacerbation of the local money shortage."
Zhang Fei asked: "But I wonder if Ambassador Xue Fayun has a specific adjustment strategy?"
Xue Xiang pondered for a while and said: "This is not a very difficult question. We have many choices in front of us. For example, we can invest some coins to buy some light goods needed by the capital from Jinghu South Road and other places. The merchant just now also
Having said that, in these money-scarce areas, prices are relatively cheap. The court can raise prices through purchases and invest money in the local area. At the same time, the court will not suffer losses.
Also, we can imitate the salt banknotes of Hezhong Prefecture. I have carefully studied the salt banknotes and salt debt policy of Hezhong Prefecture. The key to its success is that the local government allows people to pay taxes with salt banknotes.
But this still needs the decision-making of the court, but I can guarantee that no matter what, the situation in those areas will improve next year."
Zhao Xu, who was sitting in the inner hall, couldn't help but nodded slightly. Now he no longer had the dramatic expression on his face. Instead, like Fu Bi and Han Qi, he was immersed in it and thinking about these issues and how the court should deal with them.
.
“Really looking forward to it.”
Zhang Fei asked again: "In addition, judging from the current accounts, the uniform loss method seems to have achieved great success, but apart from the remaining members just now, Judge He and Deputy Ambassador Xue have all mentioned a problem, which is that the uniform loss method has caused
Commercial taxes in various places have been reduced a lot.
So are there factors here that glorify the equal loss method? In fact, it is just misappropriating commercial taxes into the profits of the equal loss method."
This issue once again won the unanimous approval of conservative officials.
A very, very good question.
And the question was so direct, directed at us.
Almost everyone looked at Xue Xiang.
They also want to know the answer.
"of course not."
Xue Xiang shook his head and said with certainty: "This is a wrong understanding."
Not to mention conservatives, even reformist officials felt a little guilty after hearing this.
Even Wang Anshi himself believes that the equal loss method must transfer part of the business tax to his own profits, because the equal loss method does not need to pay taxes, and at the same time, the equal loss method is robbing businessmen of business.
Zhang Fei asked: "Can Ambassador Xue Fayun explain it in detail?"
Xue Xiang replied: "I have emphasized repeatedly just now that the equalization method is not for merchants. It is mainly for the court to adjust the supply system to save the court's expenses. This is the main purpose of the equalization method.
Of course, I do not deny that commercial taxes have indeed been reduced due to the Equalization Law, but this reduction is only due to some problems in the implementation of the Equalization Law, as well as misunderstandings among businessmen, etc.
This does not mean that the equal loss method will transfer business taxes to one's own accounts.
After the Public Security Bureau and the Procuratorate are removed, and these problems are solved, the result will be that the benefits gained by the law will not be reduced in any way, and at the same time, the commercial tax will definitely return to its previous performance, no, it may be even more."
This explanation made Sima Guang and Mr. Lu frown, and they felt like they couldn't turn their heads.
It is obviously that the equalization method encroaches on commercial taxes, but what Xue Xiang said seems to make sense.
Assuming that the equalization method really encroaches on commercial taxes, then as long as the equalization method exists, commercial taxes will inevitably decrease.
On the other hand, once the bad policies of the Public Security Bureau are solved, the profit of the average tax will definitely decrease, and the profit will return to the commercial tax.
But if the problem is solved and commercial taxes increase, while the profits of the equalization method remain unchanged, it is enough to prove that the equalization method does not encroach on commercial taxes.
Wang Anshi also thought for a while before figuring out the context. He looked at Sima Guang and the others again. Although their faces were dissatisfied, they seemed to have no words to refute. They were feeling uncomfortable. In their hearts, they secretly praised Xue Xiang and answered:
Perfect indeed.
Zhao Xu was also very interested when he heard it, and he was even more engaged when he watched it. This was much more interesting than a court debate.
If it were in the Chui Gong Hall, he would probably be as big as one or two.
But this hearing made him suddenly enlightened. The key was that all the interests and relationships were clearly laid out in front of him.
This guy is really a talent. No wonder he has been in charge of the Sixth Road for so many years without any big thunders. Zhang Fei also secretly praised him and asked curiously: "Why did Ambassador Xue Fayun determine that the commercial tax will be higher than before?"
Xue Xiangdao: "Because in fact, many businessmen evade taxes. I agree with what Yu Yuanwai said just now. If businessmen have paid taxes and lived in taxes, they will indeed have the confidence to sue here and lose the law.
But as far as I know, the taxes and housing taxes are all very low. I would also like to ask Prosecutor Zhang, will the public prosecutor, prosecutor and law protect the legitimate rights and interests of such a businessman who evades taxes?"
This question also made many people present fall into thinking.
This was the first time anyone linked tax payments with court responsibilities.
Should the Public Security Bureau and the Procuratorate protect those who do not pay taxes?
Everyone looked at Zhang Fei involuntarily, looking forward to this answer.
Wang Anshi nodded with great satisfaction. This is also what he hates the most. You profiteers and landowners plunder the interests of the people and don't even pay taxes. But if something goes wrong, the country will be responsible. The country will suffer the consequences.
Only those Jiangnan merchants were trembling there.
They are already a little dizzy. In order to win the prosecution and lose the law, is it worth it?
"That's a good question."
Zhang Fei nodded with a wry smile. Of course he would not say that as long as you pay taxes, you are the uncle. This is a feudal society. After thinking carefully, he replied: "As far as the public security system is concerned, if there is no evidence,
, the public prosecutor and the law will regard him as having paid taxes, but if there is evidence, they will definitely be punished."
Regarding the presumption of innocence, although Zhang Fei has never mentioned it, the Public Security Bureau has constantly emphasized that conclusive evidence is actually the presumption of innocence. Otherwise, there is no need to set up this hearing. It is just not that clear, and in some special cases
, the public prosecutor’s office can change it to a presumption of guilt.
Xue Xiang smiled and said: "So I think the business tax will definitely increase."
Because according to the previous system, if you don't pay taxes, you may not be punished. It depends on the person.
"I see."
Zhang Fei nodded with a smile and asked: "Just now, Commander Xue Fayun believed that after some adjustments, the current situation encountered by merchants will be improved, but I wonder if Commander Xue Fayun can give me a comparison."
The accurate answer is probably when we can see the business on Southeast Sixth Road become as prosperous as before."
Xue Xiang pondered for a while and said: "I can't guarantee this. First of all, I can't make the final decision on policy adjustments. Secondly, I think the best way to solve the problem is to build the Public Security Bureau on Southeast Sixth Road. This is something I have no control over.
of."
"That's true."
Zhang Fei nodded and asked: "Last question, what does Ambassador Xue Fayun think of the accusations made by those businessmen?"
Um?
Everyone looked a little surprised, obviously this question was beyond their expectation.
But this answer is worth looking forward to. Even Zhao Xu, who was sitting in the inner hall, looked at Xue Xiang with interest.
Xue Xiang was silent for a while and said: "Prosecutor Zhang is asking about me personally or the shipping department?"
"Xue Fayun personally." Zhang Fei said immediately.
Xue Xiangdao: "Personally, if it is in the public prosecutor's office, I am very willing to accept their accusation. Otherwise, I definitely don't like it."
"Why?" Zhang Fei asked.
Xue Xiang answered truthfully: "Fair."
"I am very grateful to Ambassador Xue Fayun for attending to testify. Ambassador Xue Fayun can go down and rest for a while."
"No thanks, this is my job."
Xue Xiang stood up, bowed his hands, and left the witness box.
Xu Zhiqian promptly handed over a copy.
Zhang Fei took it, looked at it, suddenly folded the copy, and said to Xu Zun, Wang Gong and the others: "I think it's over."
Qi Ji said: "Yes, it's already past noon."
Everyone was so engrossed that they didn’t realize that it was already past the meal time.
"No!"
Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "I mean, this hearing ends here."
Xu Zun was stunned for a moment, then tapped the list of witnesses in front of him with his finger.
Wang Gong even said directly: "Isn't it true that Bachelor Wang and several witnesses were not present?"
Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "It's not necessary."
Xu Zun asked curiously: "Why?"
Zhang Fei said: "Because the purpose of our hearing is to decide whether to prosecute or not, and Xue Xiang's confession was almost perfect, and he also made the issue of legal defeat very clear. If we continue to ask questions, it is just a waste of time and
It will not change the outcome of the hearing."
Xu Zun nodded, then looked at Wang Gong and Qi Ji, "What do you think?"
The two looked at each other and nodded at the same time.
After all, they were only attending a hearing and didn't know much about it.
Zhang Fei said: "We must also investigate whether their confessions are completely true. This rule cannot be broken."
Xu Zun nodded slightly, then knocked the gavel several times, and found that the surrounding area was completely silent. This may be the quietest court hearing in the public prosecutor's office, and everyone was thinking.
After hearing him bang the gavel a few times, everyone looked up.
Xu Zun said loudly: "This hearing ends here. Thank you very much for your participation."
Wang Anshi immediately showed a look of surprise on his face, buddy, I haven't even started yet, why is it over? He immediately asked: "Is it the end of the entire hearing, or is it a lunch break?"
How can you, the majestic King Jinggong, look at the water dispenser?
Zhao Xu also stood up and walked to the door, "Why is it over?"
He was enjoying listening to it!
Na Xu Zun replied truthfully: "The entire hearing is over. Unless someone provides new evidence, otherwise, our procuratorate will review all confessions and evidence, and then announce the final decision."
Wang Anshi couldn't help but look at Zhang Fei again.
Zhang Fei just gave him a look that meant he would explain later.
At the same time, the conservatives on the opposite side were also deeply surprised. In their opinion, a result has not yet been reached, or in other words, the winner has not yet been determined!
However, Sima Guang and the others had already stood up, rubbing their waists, and seemed ready to leave.
"My dear gentlemen, how can it end before the winner is determined?"
Liu Shu asked in confusion.
Sima Guang gently twisted his waist and said, "It's almost the same."
Liu Shudao: "This is a big difference!"
Han Qi suddenly laughed and said, "It's already very difficult."
Liu Shu cupped his hands and said, "Liu Shu is stupid, I hope Mr. Han can give me some advice."
Han Qi laughed and said: "There are two most difficult things in the world. One is to let Wang Jiefu arrange flowers on his head."
Sima Guang suddenly felt embarrassed.
Wang Anshi added this allusion on the stone. He was one of the participants. Back then, Bao Zheng hosted a banquet for his subordinates. The atmosphere was very high. Everyone put flowers on their heads, sang and danced, but Sima Guang and Wang Anshi were not happy.
Both of them hated this atmosphere very much.
The country is so virtuous, how dare you dance?
In the end, Sima Guang gave in due to Bao Zheng's "obscene power", but Wang Anshi refused to intervene.
A similar thing happened when Han Qi was Wang Anshi's boss.
The King of Heaven is here, and I, Wang Jiefu, don’t even give me face.
Liu Shu subconsciously asked: "What is the second thing?"
Han Qi said: "It is to make Wang Jiefu admit the shortcomings of the New Deal."
"Ha ha!"
Fu Bi and the others all laughed.
As for the issues raised at the hearing, Su Shi and Su Che had actually raised them a long time ago, and they were almost accurate.
But Wang Anshi refused to accept it and did not make any changes in response to their suggestions.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! It’s not that Wang Anshi is stupid and thinks they are talking nonsense, but Wang Anshi thinks that this is not a problem at all, because the interests of those profiteers,
It is not worth protecting. Taking these interests back to the national treasury is the right choice.
If one carefully studies the new laws and regulations, it is not difficult to see that the villains set up by Wang Anshi are the landlords and profiteers, not the bureaucratic class.
But after Wang Anshi came to power completely, it is not difficult to see that it was not Wang Anshi who wanted to protect the bureaucratic class, but that he learned Fan Zhongyan's lesson. This bureaucratic class cannot be offended, and he must be patient and deal with the landlords and businessmen first to expand his own empire.
power, and then slowly solve this thorny problem.
So the question is, which good person will protect the rights and interests of those big profiteers?
Therefore, Wang Anshi's original solution was to drive their brothers out and directly deal with the person who caused the problem.
They are the ones I did, and you still intercede for them?
Doesn't this mean you are trying to be my enemy?
It can be seen that it is not that Wang Anshi is unreasonable, but that the results they predicted, a large part of them, are exactly the results Wang Anshi wants.
But there is one thing that Wang Anshi still recognizes, and that is the issue of officialdom.
Sima Guang has repeatedly emphasized this issue. Your idea is good, but the implementation is another matter.
Wang Anshi didn't listen on the surface, but in fact he knew very well in his heart. He just thought that if he aimed at reforming the administration of officials, he would be repeating Fan Zhongyan's old path, which was impossible.
You, Sima Guang, don't even dare to come to power to solve the problem of officialdom.
Later, Wang Anshi started to manipulate the imperial examinations, hoping for newcomers, and promoting lower-level officials, and slowly changed it.
It is precisely because of these very complex factors, all entangled together, that the two factions are in tit-for-tat opposition.
However, with the emergence of Zhang Fei and the Public Security Bureau, the two factions have changed from a life-and-death struggle in history to a struggle but also cooperation.
The main reason is precisely that Wang Anshi also agrees with the issue of official governance, and the Public Security Bureau and the Procuratorate are precisely aimed at this point, not his administrative decision-making, so he does not oppose the Public Security Bureau and the Procuratorate.
As for the conservatives, they actually never hoped to completely overthrow Wang Anshi by attacking the Uniform Loss Method, because the Uniform Loss Method did not involve the foundation of the Song Dynasty, and the Qingmiao Method was fatal.
They just ask that all problems be put on the table and forced to make changes. This is considered as achieving the goal.
For now, Sima Guang and the others are very satisfied.
Just admit it to Wang Anshi.
Wang Anshi didn't admit it before. Firstly, he really didn't agree with many issues. Secondly, given the political system at that time, if he had to admit it, the entire New Deal would be over.
The hearing is a brand-new system that will clearly explain the gains and losses, size, severity, and sequence. Even if there are problems, they will not affect the entire New Deal.