Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 772: See the dragon in the field

Fu Bi's words directly express the dilemma of conservatives represented by Fan Chunren and Su Shi.

They are actually right. This banknote is a double-edged sword. A slight oversight will cause a huge crisis. This is not alarmist.

But the problem is that they can't come up with a better solution to help the court, or directly help the merchants get out of the predicament they are facing.

Why did Jiaozi appear in the Song Dynasty?

It was not something that some financial genius came up with, nor was it brought about by time travellers, but was forced out. How difficult it was to force out paper money in ancient times.

First of all, when the Song Dynasty minted coins, they really lost as much as they minted, because the Song Dynasty minted coins in one country and could be used in Asia. Xixia and Liao really tried their best to smuggle currency from the Song Dynasty.

If this were paper money, it would be very cool, but the problem is that this is a copper coin.

Making copper coins requires manpower and material resources. No matter how developed the Song Dynasty was, it could not support their method of play.

Secondly, the speed of coinage in the Song Dynasty could not keep up with the country's commercial development. Coupled with the stimulation of the public security organs, the gap became even greater.

This is why, wherever the police, prosecutors and law go, business is prosperous first, and money is scarce second.

There is no such serious money shortage in other places. That is because Tokyo is a consumption-oriented area, which is different from any other place in the world because it has a huge consumer population.

For example, in Qizhou and Qingzhou, Wang Juqing and Zhang Dun also wanted to issue salt banknotes, but they only believed that issuing banknotes could stimulate business development, rather than encountering a money shortage crisis, so they issued banknotes.

The previous solution was to mint coins. If copper was not enough, we would use iron or various metal coins. This often led to bad coins driving out good coins, so everyone melted copper coins to cast bronze statues and used iron as much as possible. currency.

As for the currency problem, it has always been troubled by the Song Dynasty. There was no solution until its demise. To exaggerate, it even left this problem to the Ming Dynasty. If it weren’t for the money coming from overseas, the currency situation of the Ming Dynasty would have only deteriorated. Worse.

This also led to certain limitations in commercial development. Of course, the main reason was the system. Although the system of the Song Dynasty was more conducive to commercial development than any other dynasty, it still had the limitations of feudal society.

Now with the increasing improvement of the Public Security Bureau and the promulgation of the "Provisional Law", the system has begun to break through the limitations, so the currency issue has become more prominent.

The previous methods are even more inapplicable.

But this does not mean that Su Shi is wrong. If you don't raise these risks, how can you solve them?

Those who ask questions do not necessarily have to solve them. There are specialties in this technique.

Su Shi's article successfully attracted Zhao Xu's attention, so Zhao Xu summoned Zhang Fei into the palace today and asked him what he thought of Su Shi's article.

Zhang Fei also said truthfully: "There is no doubt that every word that Prosecutor General Su said is correct, and the crisis he believes is very likely to happen."

Zhao Xu frowned when he heard this and asked worriedly: "In this case, is it too rash to issue banknotes now?"

Su Shi said something so scary, and he was also very worried.

Zhang Fei said: "The best way is, of course, to obtain enough monetary resources, that is, enough copper."

Zhao Xu remained silent.

If it had, it wouldn't have come to this point.

Zhang Fei added: "If there is not enough copper, we must rely on a complete judicial system."

Zhao Xu glanced at him slightly doubtfully.

Zhang Fei said: "If your Majesty has read Mr. Su's article carefully, it is not difficult to find that all the threats that Mr. Su is worried about are all based on the imperial court breaking the rules and using its power to issue banknotes indiscriminately to maintain fiscal expenditures. ."

After Zhao Xu recalled it, he nodded slightly, "That's true."

Zhang Fei said: "Then the right way to prevent these crises is to strengthen the rules so that they will not be broken easily."

Zhao Xu said: "Public Security Bureau."

"Exactly."

Zhang Fei nodded: "The authority and credibility of the law are precisely the two most important attributes of banknotes. Therefore, your Majesty does not need to pay too much attention to banknotes. You only need to pay attention to the Public Security Law. As long as Your Majesty gives the Public Security Law enough authority, then the risk of banknotes will be difficult to arise.

At that time, we will hold a hearing and invite the three secretaries to come and give answers at the hearing. We will also ask the three secretaries to explain and explain the questions raised by Prosecutor General Su. ”

Zhao Xu said in surprise: "Hearing?"

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "According to the ancestral law, things must be prevented and things must be controlled. When faced with these doubts, the three secretaries must explain themselves. Otherwise, it will violate the ancestral law. ."

"Yes, this is the real violation of the ancestral law!"

Zhao Xu nodded, but then asked slightly worriedly: "But can the Third Secretary pass the hearing?"

Zhang Fei said: "If he can't pass, it only means that he is just tearing down the east wall and mending the west wall, and even he is not qualified for this position."

Zhao Xu chuckled and said, "It's really getting harder and harder to be the prime minister now."

Zhang Fei said hey: "Why does your Majesty seem to be gloating about others' misfortune?"

Zhao Xu's expression changed, "Nonsense, I. How can I take pleasure in others' misfortune."

Zhang Fei immediately returned to the topic and said: "Actually, I mentioned to His Majesty a few years ago that if the public security law is well established, it can lay the foundation for all of this and make everything simpler and more effective.

Now that we have passed the most difficult stage of not using the hidden dragon and entered the stage of seeing the dragon in the field, His Majesty was so persistent and built a whole set of public security and judicial system at all costs, so now we should be richly rewarded. This is all what His Majesty has paid for. ”

"See a dragon in the field?"

Zhao Xu was startled. Before he knew it, we had entered the next stage. He asked again: "Then how much reward can I get?"

Zhang Fei said: "If everything goes well, within three years, the national strength will at least be doubled."

Zhao Xu was shocked and said: "How much?"

"Twice as much."

"???"

Zhao Xu seemed to suspect that he was hearing hallucinations.

Zhang Fei explained: "First of all, the emergence of the Public Security Bureau and the Taxation Department can double tax revenue; secondly, the development of business can also double.

But it’s actually more than that, because banknotes bring not only business development, but also losses in the process, which can also save a lot of money. Double is a conservative estimate. ”

Zhao Xu gradually straightened his back, "If it can be doubled..."

Zhang Fei said: "Then we will have enough ability to deal with Xixia and Liao at the same time."

Zhao Xu nodded and asked greedily: "When can we reach the stage of flying dragons in the sky?"

Zhang Fei said: "Then we have to wait until all states and counties across the country have popularized the Public Security Law. However, the development speed of the Public Security Law will only become faster and faster in the future, because there are more talent reserves now. With the promulgation of the "Interim Law", everyone It’s much faster to learn.”

The corners of Zhao Xu's mouth couldn't help but rise, "This is really exciting."

Zhang Fei's words completely dispelled Zhao Xu's doubts, and the Third Division was also actively preparing.

After Wang Anshi’s article cleared the way for the Third Division’s public opinion, the Third Division officially announced the tax coin plan at the Dibao Yuan. This year, 3.2 million guan of tax coins will be distributed throughout the Gyeonggi area, and among them One million strings will be used in Hebei, and the rest will be used in Gyeonggi.

This immediately caused huge controversy among the people. You are asked to issue coins, but you are not allowed to issue so many coins. It is often several million coins. This is really scary.

Legislative Council.

"Block?"

Fu Bi, Sima Guang, Fan Chunren, and Su Shi all looked at Zhang Fei blankly with their mouths open.

"Of course!"

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "Mr. Su's article is really concise and to the point. Banknotes are so harmful to the country, and the Third Division did not give a specific reply. Our public prosecutors must follow the laws of our ancestors. To prevent and control, to defend the interests of the country."

A few people looked at each other.

Su Shi suddenly became angry and scolded Zhang Fei: "Zhang San, stop pretending to be a ghost here. Do you dare to say that you didn't write those articles?"

Sima Guang is also confused. You are jumping left and right, confusing us all.

Zhang Fei immediately raised his right hand: "I swear to God, it was all written by Bachelor Wang. If I get a little ink on it, I will die."

"You."

Su Shi said again: "Do you dare to say that it has nothing to do with you?"

Zhang Fei put down his hand and said: "Of course it has something to do with me, but it was Bachelor Wang who came to the door on his own initiative. It makes no sense for our genuine bookstore not to do this business."

"No need to quibble."

Su Shi said: "It's obvious that you are the one making the plans."

Zhang Fei said seriously: "Even if I have suggestions, it is still business, and it does not mean that I agree. I have always made a distinction between public and private."

Can this be called a distinction between public and private affairs?

Su Shi had a new understanding of Zhang San's lower limit.

Fan Chunren suddenly said: "In other words, you support what Zizhan said."

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "I think Mr. Su is very right."

Fan Chunren asked curiously: "Then why didn't you stop it?"

Zhang Fei said: "Have I not said this before? Whether to issue tax coins or not depends on administrative decision-making, and we cannot interfere."

Sima Guang was confused, "Then what are you doing now?"

Zhang Fei said: "Now that his policy has been introduced, but he has not given enough reasons, of course we, the Public Security Bureau, have to take action and hold a hearing to ask questions clearly to prevent this policy from causing harm to the country."

"Hearing?"

A few people were shocked again.

"Yes!"

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "We, the Public Security Bureau, are not assisting the court in formulating policies, and that has nothing to do with us. However, after the policy comes out, if there is any legal dispute, especially the ancestral law, then we Of course you have to take action and let the other party explain clearly.

The problem now is that the tax currency is a kind of contract, but it is also very special and different from ordinary contracts. If there is a problem, we must ask clearly how the public prosecutor and the law should judge it, so that we can follow it in the future. ”

"That's it."

Fu Bi nodded slightly.

Fan Chunren couldn't help but sigh: "This public prosecutor's law is really profound and profound, and we are far from understanding it."

Zhang Fei said with a smile: "You are just used to questioning and asking during the policy formulation process. But there is no perfect policy in this world, and there is often a policy that is right and reasonable." If you are right, every policy will be rejected and the existing problems will never be solved.

And this is the meaning of the existence of the Public Security Bureau, which is to prevent the shortcomings in the policy. The first point is to face the problem head-on. If there are problems, we should and must accept them. How should we prevent these problems from happening and achieve Exploit strengths and avoid weaknesses. ”

After hearing this, Sima Guang and Su Shi felt a little ashamed.

Recall carefully that the dispute between North Korea and China is just that. There is no policy that cannot be questioned, and all have its problems. The result is that nothing is accomplished.

At the same time, they have gained a new understanding of the public security law. Their responsibility is to discover problems and prevent them, rather than just letting them die once a problem is discovered, unless you can develop a more complete policy. policy.

But everything has two sides, and there is no perfect policy. If you want its advantages, you must accept its shortcomings. The solution for the public security bureau, procuratorate, and law is to use supervision to weaken the harm caused by these shortcomings.

This realization made Fan Chunren and Su Shi suddenly enlightened. They gradually understood how to get along with the administration.

After negotiating with them, the Procuratorate immediately held a hearing on the grounds of ancestral law and national interests, asking the three departments to explain the issuance of tax coins.

As soon as this news came out, many people were shocked.

Because many people know that Zhang Fei supports it, but they just announced the policy, and you come to oppose it again. Are you so fickle?

Or we have misunderstood Zhang Fei again.

But the Third Division responded immediately, and Xue Xiang agreed to come to the hearing to answer the procuratorate's questions.

The date is set for the next rest day, and the location is still set at Xiangguo Temple. Xiangguo Temple is very happy to host this kind of hearing.

Of course, this hearing was discussed by Zhang Fei and Xue Xiang a long time ago. Xue Xiang also knew that the success of Hezhong Prefecture Salt Banknotes completely relied on the supervision of the Public Security Bureau. It was he who needed the Public Security Bureau, not the Public Security Bureau who took the initiative to provoke.

Today is the day of the hearing.

The common people are no longer unfamiliar with hearings, and are not surprised by them. Although everyone is very eager for the government to issue tax coins, they still have doubts in their hearts, because Jiaozi appeared and had already told the people that these banknotes would have What harm, especially in such a huge number, only aggravated their doubts.

So, this hearing is also attracting much attention.

Both officials and common people.

Because officials are the ones who use tax coins, and businessmen and common people are the ones who collect tax coins, everyone is a stakeholder.

The spring breeze blows gently, the sun shines slightly, the peach trees are red and the willows are green, and the birds are chirping.

The front yard of Xiangguo Temple was crowded with people, and everyone's eyes were focused on the temporary venue in the middle. There was a little bit of expectation and a little bit of nervousness.

Deng Wan watched Xue Xiang come to the court confidently, but felt extremely uneasy in his heart. He whispered to Wang Anshi: "Ms. Wang, if every policy has to be asked like this, who will dare to do it in the future?" Help the officials share their worries!"

He would go crazy if he thought that one day he would come to answer the question. He also didn't understand why Xue Xiang was so keen and didn't try to refuse. Maybe it would be better.

This bad start is really a challenge for administrative officials.

Wang Anshi said helplessly: "This is better than quarreling in the court!"

Deng Wandao: "This policy should focus on authority, not reasonableness. I think this hearing is just causing trouble for the court."

Wang Anshi remained silent.

He also wanted to rely on his authority, because he admired Legalism, but the problem was that there was an emperor sitting on top of it. The hearing project was only possible because of the emperor’s nod. Today, Zhao Xu is also here. , he is also very interested in hearings, which allow him to see things that he cannot see in the court.

Sitting on the stage were Zhang Fei, Xu Zun, Zhao Bian and Cao Dongdong.

Of course, the protagonist must be Zhang Fei. To be honest, after watching so many hearings, whether it is Zhao Pian or Fu Bi, they still can't figure it out. They will subconsciously avoid some issues and don't think Able to ask in this situation.

After Xue Xiang came to the witness stand in front and sat down, Zhang Fei asked: "I'm really sorry. I also know that the three envoys have been very busy recently, but there is no way, because in the "Provisional Law", There is no bill about tax currency. We, the public prosecutor and the law, must know what this tax currency is and what legal effect it has.

In addition, we have read some cases about Jiaozi. Many shops that issued Jiaozi have closed down. So what is the difference between Jiaozi and tax coins? If they are the same, will the court also encounter problems? to these crises. Based on the ancestral law, things must be prevented and tunes must be controlled. We must inquire about this. ”

There has to be a law to follow, and the ancestral law is undoubtedly the best.

"I am very happy to answer this question, because it is also the responsibility of our third division to explain these issues clearly." Xue Xiang replied very calmly and calmly.

"Thank you, Third Secretary, for your understanding." Zhang Fei nodded with a smile, and then asked, "So, what is a tax currency?"

Xue Xiang replied: "A voucher that can be used to pay taxes to the country."

Zhang Fei continued to ask: "Is the tax currency a kind of contract? If so, does it have to follow the contract law?"

Xue Xiang nodded and said: "It is a contract, and contract law must be followed."

Zhang Fei asked: "According to contract law, a very important principle is consensus. Only a contract that both parties agree on is a legal contract."

Xue Xiang replied: "Anyone can refuse to accept tax coins, and when someone holds tax coins, an agreement with the court is reached."

Zhang Fei asked: "So can officials refuse?"

Xue Xiang hesitated for a moment, and then said: "There are two situations. Officials can refuse tax coins when buying and selling things in the market, but they cannot refuse the tax coins issued to them by the court, because the court has already The salary system has been changed, which is also the internal regulation of the imperial court, and officials are willing to accept it."

The officials sitting here were very angry when they heard it. Although it is not that everyone is opposed to it, but when will we be willing to accept it?

Do we have the right to say no?

Fuck!

Zhang Fei asked again: "About the equivalent system in contract law?"

Xue Xiangdao: "Each tax coin has a clear face value, one coin, fifty coins, one hundred coins, five hundred coins. In the process of paying taxes, it is equivalent to the same amount of copper coins. ”

Everyone present nodded frequently, as if they understood it very well. The reason was that they knew the contract law to a certain extent during the previous national law-discussing movement. Now that a case has appeared, they instantly understood what was going on here. legal relationship.

Zhang Fei said: "The imperial court issued tax coins last year because of a disaster. The incident happened suddenly and they chose to take extraordinary measures. Everyone can understand. This is also the reason why there was no hearing on this last year. But this year the weather is going well, why? The imperial court will also decide to continue to issue tax coins. As far as I know, this was the first thing you proposed by the Third Secretary."

"Yes, regarding this policy, it was I who first proposed it."

" Crisis.

After careful study, our three departments found that there were three reasons for this crisis. One is last year’s warehouse tax. Due to the warehouse tax, many wealthy households released the grain stored in their warehouses last year. At that time, due to the disaster, the people were short of food. A large amount of coins were taken away by the wealthy households, but the wealthy households could not spend the coins quickly. ”

Many big landowners present had tears in their eyes. Even if it was like this, I didn’t want to. We were not hoarding on purpose, but we had no reason to spend money.

Xue Xiang continued: "The second reason is that the imperial court achieved great success in providing disaster relief last year."

Zhang Fei asked: "Are you saying that the success of disaster relief has led to a shortage of money?"

The rest of the people also looked at Xue Xiang curiously.

"Yes."

Xue Xiang nodded and said: "Because the imperial court provided work-for-relief last year to promote the development of commerce. According to last year's commercial tax, it was much higher than the year before. This has never happened since ancient times. , neither Emperors Yao and Shun, nor Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, nor Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, had ever done this. During the famine years, not only did the vast majority of the people not be displaced and starve to death on the roadside, but at the same time, commerce was able to develop and become more prosperous. ."

As soon as he said this, he immediately received a lot of contemptuous looks.

You are obviously trying to flatter the emperor.

The reason why Xue Xiang is so unpopular in the court is that he is relatively tactful in his conduct and likes to flatter others and give gifts and money.

Sima Guang and the others couldn't stand this kind of behavior the most.

Zhao Xu, who was sitting in the inner hall, blushed a little.

This flattery seems a bit excessive.

But Xue Xiang didn't think there was anything wrong and continued to answer seriously, "One thing that can be proved very well is that businessmen are petitioning the court, hoping to expand the city and let them build more workshops.

But as business prospers and transactions increase, the demand for coins will increase, which is also a reason for the money shortage.

Thirdly, as the value of money continues to rise, everyone is holding on to their money and not using it, further exacerbating the money shortage. ”

Zhang Fei asked: "So, the imperial court decided to issue tax coins to deal with this money shortage crisis?"

Xue Xiangdao: "This is the reason, and of course it is also the main reason for issuing tax coins this time, but our third division hopes to make the tax coins permanent. The reason is the recent tax law reform."

Zhang Fei asked: "What does this have to do with tax law reform?"

Xue Xiang nodded and said: "In the past, ordinary farmers mostly used grain and silk to pay taxes, and few used coins. However, some businessmen paid taxes on the goods they produced, such as candles, leather, tea, etc. Etc. The imperial court collected these goods, and then part of them were used for government needs, and part of them were given to officials as salaries.

However, due to the reform of the tax law, everything is now calculated based on total income. There is no provision for tea farmers to pay taxes on tea and silk merchants to pay taxes on silk.

This makes last year's situation extremely special. Last year, both people and businessmen paid taxes with tax coins, but not with goods.

At the same time, last year the imperial court distributed some tax coins to officials and soldiers as salaries.

This changed from the people delivering goods to the court, and the court issuing them to officials, to the people paying tax coins to the court, the court issuing tax coins to officials, and the officials then taking the tax coins to purchase the needed goods from the people. . ”

Zhang Fei asked: "So the Third Secretary thinks the latter is better?"

"Compared with the former, the latter is much better, which is why our three companies decided to try it." Xue Xiang explained: "Although it seems like there is just one more step in the middle, the results are worlds apart. Don't."

Zhang Fei pretended to be curious: "What's the huge difference?"

Xue Xiang replied: "When people use goods to pay taxes, they have to face discounts. If there are a lot of goods, they still hire donkey carts to transport them, or they carry the goods themselves. These are losses other than tax revenue. .

Similarly, for the tax department, counting is also quite cumbersome. If you use tax coins, it will be very convenient, and the loss in the middle will be almost zero.

Nowadays, most of Hezhong Prefecture pays taxes with salt banknotes. It takes three to four months for other prefectures and counties to complete the statistics, but Hezhong Prefecture only needs one month to complete the statistics, which can save a lot of manpower and material resources for the court. .

As for officials, in fact, each official's living habits are different, and the family population is also different. Some officials need more food, but some officials hope to get more candles. The former court can only decide based on official rank. It will not be issued according to your needs, so many officials need to take the goods to the market to exchange, not to mention that such a transaction is very cumbersome. The most important thing is that the prices of the goods are different, and sometimes they can be exchanged for more. A lot, but sometimes you get very little.

Officials often complain about these problems. If tax coins are issued, then officials can use them to purchase their own needs.

All of this is why business has become more prosperous last year, and it is also the key reason why many people have overcome difficulties. Officials and soldiers did not need to buy before, but now they need to buy, businessmen must expand production, then they need Recruit more people and provide more livelihood for the people.

Similarly, it can also eliminate the worries of wealthy households about warehouse taxes, because more people will buy food, and if the price is reasonable, they will not worry about not being able to sell it.

The imperial court will also benefit from this, which can reduce a lot of losses and effectively prevent corruption. It is difficult to know whether ten thousand shi of grain is one dou more or less than one dou, but if it is one hundred thousand guan tax coins , one less article will be discovered.

Ultimately, tax coins are good for everyone. ”