Listening to the potter's urging and questioning, Zhuge Xuan no longer knew how to do it.
"This, this!" Zhuge Xuanqi's face turned red and he couldn't even form a complete sentence clearly.
Logically speaking, Zhuge Jin did not get married and did not pay the single head tax. This was originally a small matter.
But it is obvious that Tao Shang is making a fuss about this matter. After all, no matter how small the matter is, it still violates Han law. Tao Shang's arrest of Zhuge Jin is justified both emotionally and rationally.
To put it bluntly, whether it is a big or small matter, it all depends on how Mr. Tao wants to do it.
Zhuge Xuan's uncle and nephew felt depressed because of this, while Tao Shang was secretly sighing.
I finally saw the horror of feudal despotism. Even not paying the single tax can be used to make a fuss. This is such an evil and devoid of human rights way of governance. It is simply unconscionable and unreasonable!
But...it's so cool to say.
Zhuge Xuan had no choice, his only way out at this moment was to give in.
The old man bowed and said: "Mr. Tao, if Jin'er doesn't pay the head tax, it's really my fault. I'm willing to pay an extra fine for Jin'er. I'll accept whatever the young master says!"
The Tao merchant looked at Zhuge Xuan with a half-smile, shook his head and said, "Mr. Zhuge, are you slow to react? Haven't you understood the meaning of Tao's words? It's not about fines now! It's about Tao.
After Shang reported the matter to the court, Zhuge Jin was detained according to Han law and questioned about his tax evasion crime!"
Zhuge Xuan and Zhuge Jin suddenly panicked.
The penalties for not paying the single tax are ambiguous. At the most minor level, just making up the money will suffice; at the most serious end, if it is treated as tax evasion, imprisonment may also be possible.
Look at what this brat means... He's obviously going to make matters worse now!
At this moment, the young Zhuge Liang stepped out from behind Zhuge Jin, walked up to the pottery merchant, and bowed to him respectfully.
"Student Zhuge Liang, may I ask Mr. Tao how he plans to deal with my brother?"
Upon seeing Zhuge Liang, the potter's eyes suddenly lit up again.
Mr. Wolong, who will be famous in the future, is still such a cute child now...Little Dragon Man.
However, the question Zhuge Liang asked obviously also touched on the key point.
The boy took retreat as an opportunity to advance. Instead of asking Tao Shang for forgiveness, he kicked the ball back to him and asked him what to do with Zhuge Jin.
This matter is a test of emotional intelligence and face.
After all, the Zhuge family is a member of the Langya clan. Even if the pottery merchant caught him by the pigtails, it is not a big deal after all. It is nonsense to say that the court issued the document... If Zhuge Jin is really detained and convicted on this ground, I'm afraid
It would also cause considerable negative turmoil among the gentry in Xuzhou.
Forcibly sanctioning members of the gentry is likely to cause radical changes among the gentry in Xuzhou, which a pottery merchant cannot afford to pay for with a hundred heads.
What's more, Zhuge Jin's early crown ceremony was also to fulfill his filial piety. In this society where "filial piety" governs the world, Zhuge Jin's behavior still occupies the moral high ground.
And the most important point is that deep down in Tao Shang's heart, he just wanted to prevent Zhuge Xuan from moving south and leave Zhuge Liang behind, but he didn't really want to do anything to the Zhuge family.
So what the punishment measures are, is the top priority.
After all, the pottery merchant still had to save his face, and it was impossible for him to really convict Zhuge Jin too harshly.
Zhuge Liang's question hit the nail on the head.
The potter gently punched his right palm with his left fist and stared at Zhuge Liang closely with a look of approval on his face.
"Although your brother Zhuge Jin is guilty, his filial piety is moved by heaven and earth. His compassion is pitiful. Let's avoid the jail sentence for tax evasion and make up for the head tax of 120 yuan."
When Zhuge Xuan and Zhuge Jin heard this, they couldn't help showing happy expressions.
However, the young Zhuge Liang was obviously not as optimistic as them. Through the child's observation, he felt that Lord Tao would never be so simple and perfunctory.
Sure enough, after Zhuge Xuan's uncle and nephew were overjoyed, Tao Shang continued with a smile: "Zhuge Jin evades taxes. Although Zhuge Jin will not be sentenced for the time being, as a rising star of the next generation of nobles, if we continue to let him go unpunished,
, I’m afraid that’s not the case. I have to give the world an explanation.”
Zhuge Jin was a little unhappy when he heard this.
Look at what Mr. Tao Mansion said, I just didn't get married, how come I am at large? Do I have to give an explanation to the world?
"So, I have decided to detain Zhuge Jin in Xuzhou, and Tao will personally arrange a wife for him on behalf of the court until Zhuge Jin gets married."
After hearing this, Zhuge Xuan and Zhuge Jin's faces suddenly stiffened.
"Are you going to arrange a mother-in-law for me?" Zhuge Jin widened his eyes and said weakly.
The potter nodded and said with a smile: "Zhuge Jin, you have to thank the imperial court for organizing it. Even in the midst of your busy schedule, you help an older single man like you solve the major problems of getting married and giving you a daughter-in-law to sleep with and reproduce. We are big men.
The social welfare in North Korea is very good, you can go home and have some fun yourself."
Zhuge Jin's face suddenly turned pale with shock.
"Mr. Tao Fu, this matter must be discontinued!" Zhuge Jin was anxious. He was a rare rising star among the descendants of the Xuzhou gentry, and he had extremely high vision.
If he really agreed to the pottery merchant's offer, who knows what kind of woman this kid would get for him? If he deliberately mischief and arranged for a shrew with an extremely ugly appearance, wouldn't Zhuge Jin's life be completely ruined?
At this moment, the pottery merchant turned to look at Guo Jia and said, "Yesterday you counted the women in Xuzhou who are suitable for breeding with Zhuge Jin."
Guo Jia chuckled and said, "It all depends on Brother Zhuge's preference. There are all those in his thirties, forties and fifties!"
Zhuge Jin was shocked when he heard this.
"Mr. Tao Fu, this really can't be done!"
Tao Shang was not very happy: "Zhuge Jin, Tao no longer intends to pursue you for tax evasion? He even took the initiative to help you solve your marriage problem to prevent you from continuing to evade taxes in the future. If you don't thank me for my relationship with you, how come you are?
Are you pushing three or four? Is it possible that you still want to continue evading taxes and breaking the law? Boy, do you really think that I can’t cure you?"
Zhuge Jin shook his head vigorously, his voice visibly trembling: "Mr. Tao Mansion, our Zhuge family is about to move south. We must not delay here any longer because of my affairs..."
The potter smiled and said: "That's not up to you, Zhuge Jin. I'm not afraid to tell you the truth. Even after you get married, you can't leave Pengcheng. You were fourteen years old when you were crowned.
The fundamental reason why I, the great man, collects the poll tax is to get married and have children, so as to increase the population and contribute to the imperial court. If you have been crowned for more than three years, Tao will count one child per year. You owe the imperial court at least three children. You
If you don’t make these three children prosperous, you can’t even think about taking a step out of Pengcheng.”
As soon as these words were spoken, only Uncle Zhuge Xuan and his nephew's expression turned dark!
Since ancient times, we have only heard of forcing good girls into prostitution and raping women. When have we ever heard of raping women and men?
And not only getting married, but also having to stay here to give birth to three children for the imperial court!?
What is the difference between this and raping Zhuge Jin?
Zhuge Xuan stepped forward and said to Tao Shang tremblingly: "Master Tao, isn't this nonsense? Isn't there any other discussion on this matter?"
The pottery merchant said slowly: "There is no discussion. Zhuge Jin must stay here to give birth to three children with the woman I have arranged to contribute to the population development of the Han Dynasty. Otherwise, he will never leave Xuzhou."
Speaking of this, Tao Shang paused and said with a smile: "Zhuge Gong, Tao is acting in accordance with Han law. I will never wrong a good person, but I will never let a bad person go. The person punished in this case
Zhuge Jin is the only one, and the rest of us have nothing to do with this matter. You can go and cool off wherever you need to."
After that, he turned to the door of the post house and shouted: "Come here, take Zhuge Jin away for me, and send someone to escort the rest of the Zhuge family out of the city. Aren't they going to Yuzhang County? Let them
go!"
Outside the post house, a group of Tiger Guards led by Pei Qian rushed in.
I saw several Tiger Guard soldiers walking up to Zhuge Jin. One of them reached out to Zhuge Jin and said fiercely: "Mr. Zhuge, please!"
Zhuge Jin was completely panicked at this moment. He hurriedly dodged back and stood behind Zhuge Xuan.
"No, no! If I don't get married, I don't want to have children with the woman you arranged. Lord Tao, don't cheat me!"
The potter frowned and scolded in a low voice: "Zhuge Jin, don't be petty. The law of the Han Dynasty is here. It is your obligation as a Han citizen to have a child with a woman. This is not the same as
What does Tao have to do with it?"
Guo Jia also chuckled and said: "Mr. Zhuge, how could Mr. Tao Mansion trick you? The imperial court found you a wife and gave you a child. It was actually fulfilling your filial duty for you. Such a good thing would not be exchanged for anyone else."
Not every governor can do this in every state and county."
Zhuge Jin's face was livid, and he trembled: "Don't talk nonsense! You are clearly taking the opportunity to humiliate me! What kind of filial piety is this... What you are clearly doing is insulting, robbing, coercing, and raping."
!”
He even shouted "rape", which shows that Zhuge Jin is really anxious.
Poor young man of seventeen or eighteen years old from a noble family, he will not be able to remain innocent in this world after tonight.
The potter was too lazy to talk to Zhuge Jin, and then Pei Qian waved his hand and said: "Stop talking nonsense, drag it down, drag it down, and breed!"
After receiving the general's order, Pei Qian and others went up and reached out to arrest Zhuge Jin.
Zhuge Jin struggled hard, and while struggling he cried heartbreakingly: "Uncle, save me! I don't want to get married! I don't want to have children!"
At this moment, Zhuge Xuan's mind just felt like the world was spinning.
I am almost fifty, and I have never seen such strong winds and waves, but this situation... is really the first time I have seen it!
He strode forward and begged the pottery merchant: "Master Tao Mansion, please show mercy!"
The potter shook his head and said helplessly: "The national law is like this, and I can't do anything about it. Besides, if Zhuge Gong thinks about it from another angle, it's not uncommon for the court to find a wife for your nephew to have a child, and to spread the branches of your Zhuge family.
It's a good thing. In this case, you come with me back home to drink two cups of tea. When Brother Zhuge Jin is finished, I will send someone to pick him up and eat something good to replenish kidney qi with us... This is the first time, it's okay.
, it passed as soon as I closed my eyes.”
Zhuge Xuan heard this and wanted to give him two big ears!
Good thing? Good thing. Why don't you try it yourself?
"stop!"
Just when everyone was arguing, tearing, and arguing, an angry shout suddenly sounded outside the door of the post house!
Everyone turned their heads and saw Tao Qian leading Mi Zhu and Cao Bao slowly into the courtyard of the post house.
The governor's old eyes looked back and forth majestically at everyone in the place, from the trembling Zhuge Xuan to the embarrassed Zhuge Jin who was grabbed by the guards like a chicken, and finally fell on the pottery merchant.
Seeing Tao Qian arrive at the scene, the pottery merchant couldn't help but be stunned.
Strange, the old man and I didn’t seem to have arranged this step? Why did he come here on his own?
And what is the situation with Cao Bao and Mi Zhu behind him?
Tao Qian stared at the pottery merchant closely and said majestically: "What's going on?"
Although the pottery merchant didn't understand what Tao Qian was doing here, he still stepped forward to salute and said, "To tell you what my father is saying, I am dealing with the case of Zhuge Jin, a student from Yangdu County, Langya, who did not marry during the wedding ceremony and also evaded taxes."
Tao Qian's white eyebrows wrinkled slightly, snorted coldly, and said, "Then what was the result of your interrogation?"
"The evidence for the case of Zhuge Jin not marrying during the ceremony is conclusive, and it is indeed true."
Tao Qian replied slowly: "Then how do you plan to deal with this matter?"
The potter opened his mouth and was about to speak.
But little Zhuge Liang suddenly ran up and hugged Tao Qian's thigh, crying and pleading at the top of his voice.
"Dear father-in-law, please save us! Those two people are going to rape my brother!"
"What the hell?!"
Cao Bao and Mi Zhu, who were behind Tao Qian, suddenly took a breath of cold air, their eyes suddenly widened, and they looked at Tao Shang and Guo Jia in disbelief.
Guo Jia hurriedly raised his hand to wipe his sweat and stammered: "Little ancestor, please don't talk nonsense!"
Tao Qian had a dull look on his face, then slowly turned his head and stared at Tao Shang and Guo Jia with burning eyes.
The pottery merchant was even more confused.
Under Tao Qian's angry gaze, Prince Taiping couldn't help but raise his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
Zhuge Liang, this little bastard, is actually plotting against me?
Guo Jia awkwardly stepped forward with a smile, pulled little Zhuge Liang away from Tao Qian's thigh, and said with a smile: "Don't listen to his nonsense, please don't misunderstand, children don't understand anything.
What can a child understand?"
"He doesn't understand, but you understand very well!" Tao Qian gritted his teeth and stared at Guo Jia, wishing he could eat the prodigal genius.
"I'm just telling you, how come you two have been so inseparable since you returned to Xuzhou? I didn't expect that you would actually do such an immoral thing. You two are both young talents, so why not?
Did you say this? Tell me! When did it start!"
Tao Qian angrily called Tao Shang and Guo Jia back and forth with trembling hands.
Guo Jia was very unloyal. When he saw something was wrong, he immediately sold the pottery merchant.
"Calm down your anger. It's none of Guo's business that we are inseparable. I was kidnapped by your son! Guo didn't like him at first. He forced me!"
The pottery merchant couldn't help feeling dizzy after hearing this.
The person named Guo is so unloyal!
"Brother, don't talk nonsense." Tao Shang hurriedly stepped forward to stop Guo Jia, then smiled weakly at Tao Qian and said, "Father, things are not what you think."
Tao Qian couldn't listen to anything at this moment, so he stretched out his hand and said to the servant who was following him.
"Bring me my crutch!"
"Dad, can we talk about it easily?"
"You son of a bitch...there is no negotiation! No matter what I say today, you will have to lose one of your legs. You must die!"