Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 243: Tax and kindness

Chapter Two Hundred and Forty-Three, Taxation and Charity

After Zhao Xu pretended to be coercive and established his prestige, Wang Anshi stood up: "Your Majesty, this case was caused by the tenant farmers, and during the trial process, the other party also once shifted the responsibility to the tenant farmers and the court, which made the court Shame.

Therefore, the minister suggested that the court should legislate to stipulate that the land should be paid anywhere, and the court should collect taxes from whomever the land belongs to, instead of transferring the tax, so as to avoid misunderstanding between the court and the people. "

Zhao Xu nodded, and before he could speak, Gu Ji, who was sentenced to the Taifu Temple, stood up and said: "I object. The rent is a contract of the people. The government has political laws, and the people follow the private contract. If the imperial court intervenes rashly, it may cause harm." As a result, the head household cannot find the tenant farmers’ land, and the tenant farmers lose their livelihood.”

Wang Anshi immediately retorted: "This is not a private contract, but a mutual contract. According to the existing laws, those merchants and head households can force the court to collect taxes from whomever they rely on a contract, and the court will instead become a Their accomplices, what is the meaning of the tax law established by the imperial court? This is really a joke in the world.

Moreover, many main households are in the middle, which is to take advantage of it. In case of crisis, it can also provoke the relationship between the court and the people, which is a major hidden danger and cannot be dealt with. "

Zhao Xu nodded and said: "Xueshi Wang is right. The imperial court had already lenient them and asked them to pay back the deed tax, so they can forget the past, but they didn't know what to do, and instead threatened the imperial court with tenant farmers. /

And in those white deeds, they have already taken at least half of the taxes from the tenant farmers, but they have also shifted all the responsibilities to the court and the tenant farmers. to change. "

The tone is very firm.

Sima Guang suddenly stood up, "Your Majesty, I also think that this law has many drawbacks and needs to be revised. However, the existing leases and taxes are all related to tenant farmers, and the number of people involved may be millions. It is not a trivial matter, and the imperial court should handle it carefully, so as not to cause greater misunderstandings."

Wang Anshi snorted: "Scholar Sima is a bit alarmist, but he just asked those head households to revise a contract. How difficult is it?"

Sima Guangdao: "I am definitely not scaremongering. If the imperial court orders, the tenant lease contract must be amended immediately. If the head household is unwilling to bear the burden and would rather farm the land by themselves, can this be used as an excuse to dismiss the tenant? They are all things that the imperial court needs to consider.”

Wang Anshi said: "Then let them go. If the field is left unplanted, it is not only the tenant farmers who will suffer losses."

Sima Guangdao: "You can't say that. If too many tenant farmers are dismissed in a short period of time, it will not only be a simple loss, but will also add a huge burden to the court. The gain is not worth the loss."

"This is the reason again."

Wang Anshi said with a sneer: "If you are tolerant to them, you will only gain an inch in return. If you stop and stop, you will be disturbed by it."

Sima Guangdao: "I am not opposed to amending this law. I suggest that the imperial court should consider it carefully to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. The law of the ancestors is to prevent things and control them."

Wang Anshi spread his hands, "If it drags on, I'm afraid it will be nothing."

Sima Guangdao: "I never said that it would be delayed. The imperial court can immediately order that from now on, the signed lease contracts can no longer be paid to the tenant farmers, but the lease contracts that have been signed before, The imperial court should also give the head household and tenant farmers some time to prepare.”

Han Qi stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I think that what Sima Xueshi said is reasonable. Regarding the problems of tenant farmers and Yaqian soldiers, the imperial court has given solutions to these problems before.

Although the method is good, it is often implemented for a period of time and ends without a problem. If His Majesty makes up his mind, he should consider it carefully and make adequate preparations to avoid repeating the same mistakes. "

Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo and the others stood up one after another, expressing their support for Sima Guang.

Lv Huiqing saw that the other party did not talk about martial arts, so she immediately stood up and said: "Your Majesty, this question is very simple in the eyes of the minister. It is a test of the court's determination. If the court does not make a decision immediately, it will give them illusions." , This will make the resistance even greater, and the more it is delayed, the more detrimental it will be to the court.”

Both factions have their reasons.

Because the Northern Song Dynasty did not suppress land mergers, the self-cultivating farmers are disappearing in large areas, and the tenant farmers have gradually become the main body. This is not a problem of a small number of people, but a problem of the main body. , must be thoughtful.

But Wang Anshi believes that this problem does involve many people, but this problem is very simple, and the solution is also very simple. Once you think carefully, things will become very complicated.

It is really difficult for Zhao Xu to control such a group of people.

But he is clear that this problem must be solved immediately, which concerns his authority. After thinking for a while, he asked Sima Guang: "Scholar Sima, can it be completed within this year?"

This year?

It's only half a year.

Sima Guang is one of the first two big, but Zhao Xu's tone is to imply him, if you say no, then I will hand it over to Wang Anshi, he cupped his hands and said: "I will do my best."

Zhao Xu nodded and said: "This law will be revised by the Judicial Court."

Speaking, he said to Wang Anshi: "Scholar Wang still has to focus on the new law."

Wang Anshi cupped his hands and said, "I obey."

Once this matter is settled, the meeting will come to an end.

Judging from the expressions of many ministers shaking their heads and sighing, it is clear how badly they lost this time.

It never occurred to them that the emperor would also play this trick.

It's really a dog.

After they left, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang walked out of the hall slowly.

Wang Anshi looked up at the sky and said with emotion: "My life is really the life of an ox and a horse. I do all the dirty work, but others deserve the credit. Alas."

Sima Guang couldn't hear his irony, he laughed and said: "Er is not the life of a cow and a horse, but you were born in the wrong era. If you were born in the Han Dynasty, even if you were not Huo Guang, you would at least be like Wang Mang. If you were born in the Tang Dynasty , that is Changsun Wuji and Yao Chong, it is a pity that you were born in my dynasty."

Wang Anshi glanced at him, "You are Wang Mang and his ilk."

He left with a wave of his sleeves.

Sima Guang's meaning is very simple. It's not that I take credit for you, but that the emperor can't let you take care of everything. If you want to be under one person and above ten thousand in my Song Dynasty, that's impossible. of.

After Wang Anshi left, Sima Guang's face gradually turned serious. He knew very well that it was not as simple as he imagined to get this matter done.

As long as this period of time passes, it will definitely be revived.

For example, Han Qi made several reforms in front of the Yaqian Army, but they were in vain, and gradually returned to the same way as before.

The Fangtian Method was not created by Wang Anshi, but was devised by Guo Zi and Sun Lin during the Renzong period.

This kind of reform involving interests seems to have a suction force, no matter how far you pull it, it can always be sucked back.

Sima Guang, who studies history, is too clear about this, but he is actually not sure. After the revision is completed, it will continue to be implemented like this.

He is pessimistic about it.

But as far as the moment is concerned, Wang Anshi is right. Now that the landlord class is already in turmoil, this is an excellent time. They should be pushed forward in a wave without giving them a chance to breathe, otherwise, it will become more difficult.

Nowadays, there is no need for an imperial decree, and those landlords are already preparing to pay the tax of the white deed.

But the question is, the Bai Qi is only part of it, the land in Xiangguo Temple, the land in Situ House, do we have to pay taxes on these lands?

If you don't pay, will you sue us?

Not to mention the landlords, even the relatives of the emperor are thinking about this issue.

A lot of people have been asking about this.

Bai Qi is definitely illegal, but it is definitely legal to put it in Xiangguo Temple to avoid taxes.

Not long after Zhang Fei returned home, Ma Tianhao and Chen Maoqian rushed over before he had time to hold the celebration banquet, and came to consult him about this issue through Xiangguo Temple.

"It's hard to say."

Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "According to the laws and regulations of our court, there is an upper limit for the tax-free land of the Situation House, and monks and Taoists need a certificate issued by the court to be exempt from tax. As long as the court withdraws the certificate, then Taxes must be paid. And the ultimatum is only for individuals, if the court wants to sue, this lawsuit will definitely be filed."

Chen Maoqian said: "In other words, all these lands have to pay taxes?"

Zhang Fei was very puzzled and said: "My agricultural tax is really not high. I only collect one bucket of rice per mu of land. Except for the two officials, if you are so rich, how can you evade this little tax?"

Chen Maoqian said: "You don't understand this."

Zhang Fei asked: "I would like to hear more about it."

"Me."

Chen Maoqian suddenly shut up.

Ma Tianhao said carelessly: "There are only the three of us here, so we can't say anything."

Speaking, he said to Zhang Fei: "This agricultural tax is indeed not high, but as long as we pay the tax honestly, you just wait and see. The tax must be paid more and more every year."

Chen Maoqian nodded: "Those officials are not good men and women, they are all bullying the weak and afraid of the hard, why those first-class households have their families ruined, they are not bullied by the landlord."

They are not the same as scholar-officials, they are in the middle of the food chain, and they are very likely to be swallowed.

Zhang Fei said: "If you pay taxes according to the law, if you have any problems, you can go to court to solve them."

Ma Tianhao said: "Wouldn't it be more expensive."

"?"

Zhang Fei was speechless.

Chen Maoqian said: "It is also very difficult to solve the lawsuit. There are laws to follow, such as transfer, loss, and change, but this is a bottomless pit. If the court lacks money, it can really be fair. Enforcement?"

Zhang Fei frowned and remained silent.

Ma Tianhao said: "We spend so much money in your store every year, you have to help us solve these problems."

How could Zhang Fei not know about these issues? He has studied this lawsuit thoroughly for a long time. He waited for Ma Tianhao's words and pretended to be entangled. , instead of not paying taxes, there is a solution.”

Ma Tianhao hurriedly asked: "What way?"

Zhang Fei said: "Charity."

"Charity?"

Ma Tianhao was taken aback.

Zhang Fei nodded and said, "If you donate all the land, then naturally you don't have to pay taxes."

Ma Tianhao was stunned for a while, and said with bulging eyes: "What's your idea? It's like, if you are afraid of getting sick, you stab yourself to death. You won't get sick again, but you will die."

Chen Maoqian also nodded.

Zhang Fei said: "You donate to Xiangguo Temple, isn't it also a donation?"

Chen Maoqian said in a low voice: "That's not donation, that's release. There is a contract between us."

"OK OK!"

Zhang Fei said: "If I don't talk about donations, then release them for charity."

So casual?

Ma Tianhao asked: "What do you mean?"

Zhang Fei said: "Don't you understand this? This is the same as your cooperation with Xiangguo Temple. It just turns Xiangguo Temple into a charity organization dedicated to doing good deeds, and then you deposit the land in it. "