Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 448: Tax War (22)

Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo, Sima Guang, Lu Gong wrote that none of them left immediately, because Zeng Gong invited them to have a light meal in the inner hall.

Actually, ask them for advice.

"Zeng Moufei did not dare to make a judgment, but he was afraid that he would not think carefully and make a wrong judgment."

Speaking, Zeng Gong bowed his hands to the other prime ministers and said: "You are all the mainstays of my Song Dynasty, with rich experience and talents. I hope you can give Zeng some advice."

"Don't dare, dare not, prefect Zeng's words are serious."

Fu Bi waved his hands again and again, and said: "Actually, I am often disturbed by it just like you. I believe that when you were local officials, you also encountered the problem of private salt. I dare to conclude that our verdict must be Different."

Everyone looked at each other and nodded.

Zeng Gong said: "I have sentenced no less than 30 illegal salt sellers. According to the law, if they exceed 20 catties, they can be sentenced to death. More than half of them can be sentenced to death, but I am often just a moss. They never hurt anyone’s life. After all, they were forced to do it, and I always thought that the salt law was too harsh.

But now that the other party is a relative of the clan, selling illicit salt is not forced, and it is for the sake of high profits. He should be punished severely, but if it is true as Zhang San said, this illicit salt has saved countless people The fate of Xuzhou, and the suffering of the people of Xuzhou, was caused by improper government. Should this be considered as appropriate? "

Wen Yanbo couldn't help but sighed: "Whether this evil law should be enforced is really a difficult problem!"

Wang Anshi said: "As Fu Gong said, everyone's judgment is different, that is to say, whether it is good or evil, everyone has a different opinion. I think since it is a decree issued by the court, it should be implemented."

He completely forgot about the clan, and was seriously thinking about this issue.

Sima Guang said: "But since ancient times, this evil law has been difficult to enforce. A law that cannot be enforced is equivalent to being impossible."

Wang Anshi immediately said: "Therefore, it is necessary to reform the law and eliminate the bad government. This is the right medicine."

Sima Guang said with a smile: "But since ancient times, most of the evil laws come from reforms."

Fu Bi hurriedly said: "Zi Gu invited you here, not to listen to your quarrel."

Zeng Gong nodded again and again, he had heard about this pair of enemies for a long time.

After Fu Bi spoke, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang also stopped their daily routine.

But then the scene became very quiet.

Fu Bi said to Zeng Gong again: "Although we all have decisions in our hearts, they may be different, and it is difficult to distinguish right from wrong. In this case, why don't you make up your own mind."

Zeng Gong nodded.

......

Procuratorate.

A dozen prosecutors and prosecutors slumped listlessly on their chairs, and the entire lobby was filled with frustration and disappointment.

They are eager to win Zhao Wenzheng in one fell swoop and become famous in one battle, and they are full of hope for this.

The result is that the hope is as great as the disappointment.

"Don't be discouraged, we didn't lose."

I saw Xu Zuncong walked in from the outside.

"Xu Zhujian."

A group of people got up one after another and bowed their hands in salute.

Xu Zun came to the front seat and sat down, and motioned for them to sit too, and then said: "I know you have paid a lot for this lawsuit. On the one hand, you hope to defeat Zhang San, and on the other hand, you hope that justice can be done. Tell the people all over the world that our procuratorate can make decisions for them."

Everyone looked at each other, Chen Bing sighed: "It's a pity we didn't do it."

"Who said that."

Xu Zundao: "First of all, our procuratorate can sue Governor Zhao in court. Can it be avoided?

Secondly, in any case, it is impossible for the Kaifeng government to acquit Zhao Zhishi, the only difference is the severity of the punishment. In this way, who is not afraid of our procuratorate. "

Speaking of this, he paused for a while, "As for defeating Zhang San, it's really not our victory, but we have also gained a lot. When we collect evidence in the future, we must examine it carefully and know how to deal with it." Go to the prosecution, next time you encounter this kind of lawsuit, Zhang San will never win again, and he can't keep winning."

Chen Bing said in a low voice: "Your officer has the guts to ask, is that Zhang San the son-in-law of Mr. Xu who prosecuted you...!"

Xu Zun said hehe: "In the courtroom, especially when he is standing opposite you, you will think that kid is hideous. When I was in Dengzhou, I almost couldn't hold back and gave him a meal." Board.

Just now I really wanted to teach him a few words, but I was talking nonsense with my eyes open, and I said it so convincingly. He shouldn't be my son-in-law, I have to avoid suspicion, otherwise, I have to end the game myself and compete with him. "

"Hehe...!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Xu Zun himself was also happy, and said again: "Everyone in the world has worked hard these days, go back to rest early today, and you will have a meeting tomorrow to discuss it, Su......!"

Speaking of which, he looked around, "Where is Su Ziyou?"

Qi Ji immediately said: "Zi You just said to go to the tax department to ask about the situation."

Xu Zun nodded, but he knew very well in his heart that the tax department and Zhang Fei wore the same pair of pants, what could he ask.

......

Tax Division.

"No."

Li He shook his head and said, "It is absolutely impossible for Wang Hongjin to only sell private salt to Xuzhou."

Su Zhe immediately asked: "In this case, why did you only provide evidence that Wang Hongjin sold private salt to Xuzhou?"

The evidence of the procuratorate mainly came from the taxation department, but Su Zhe felt that there was something wrong with the evidence of selling illegal salt, and the taxation department just provided Xuzhou's evidence.

The relationship between the tax department and Zhang Fei is very close, which makes him a little suspicious.

Li He said: "Don't blame Su for prosecuting. We also have difficulties. Our taxation department was established not long ago and has limited manpower. Therefore, we can only concentrate on investigating their main income. Judging from the amount of illegal salt Wang Hongjin sold to Xuzhou, It should be most of the private salt in his hands, and this is also easy to investigate. As for those details, we can only leave them for now. In the self-declaration, many scattered incomes are not included, because the smaller the income, the more important it is for us. In terms of research, it is necessary to invest more manpower and material resources to investigate, and the gain outweighs the loss.”

After listening to Su Zhe, although he didn't completely believe it, he also felt that Li He's words were not unreasonable. There is no need to declare a few eggs and make a few small money, because it is also difficult to check.

If you need to declare, you may give the tax police a chance to do something.

......

Meng Mansion.

"It's unreasonable!"

Meng Gansheng said excitedly: "Zhang San is talking nonsense in the hall, calling a deer a horse. The evidence is as solid as a mountain. Why doesn't the Kaifeng government judge it?"

Xie Yun sighed: "Why else? Isn't it just the officials sitting there, as long as there is a trace of doubt, the prefect Zeng would not dare to make a judgment."

Pei Wen snorted, "If it were us, I'm afraid we'd already be in prison at this moment. Just now, did you see Governor Zhao's eyes? He's clearly provoking us!"

Meng Gansheng turned his face back, and said: "I have no prejudice against Governor Zhao, but if such a judgment is made, it will be difficult to convince the public. So what should Xu Yu, Qin Biao and others do?"

Pei Wendao: "What do Meng Zhiyuan think?"

Meng Gansheng said: "For example, Governor Zhao, he is originally a clan, with a generous patriarchal salary, and is also a member of Zhizong's official temple. In other words, it’s a drop in the bucket, isn’t there a financial problem? Then why not save it from here.”

Pei Wen said: "Yes, they are so capable, it's better to let them support themselves."

Xie Yun said: "But, will this affect our kindness?"

"...?"

A few people looked a little hesitant again.

Meng Gansheng said: "I'm not saying that the officials should not care about the clan, but it must be reduced. Otherwise, I'm afraid it will get worse in the future."

Everyone nodded again.

From now on, the money for the first year must be paid. After all, many officials have paid, but we must let the higher-ups know that our money is not easy to ask for. If you want it once, you have to take off a layer of skin , if this money is so easy to ask for, then you don't have to ask for it every day.

......

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night for Zhao Xu, so he invites his confidant to come to the palace to drink with him.

Looking back to drink a glass, the wine glass was placed heavily on the table, making a bang.

Zhao Xu sighed distressedly: "Although I already knew what happened today, when I was sitting on the sidelines listening to the trial, I had mixed feelings. Looking around, it was all bad governance."

He's really uncomfortable sitting there, not pretending.

It feels like the country is full of holes.

It's tiring to think about it!

But Zhang Fei said with a smile: "I thought the officials would be excited and excited, and could not sleep all night, so they asked me to drink and chat. I never thought that they would use alcohol to relieve their worries."

Zhao Xu was surprised and said: "All kinds of bad policies are lingering in my ears, how can I still feel excited and excited?"

Zhang Fei said: "Because this is enough to prove that the government's choice of reform is an absolutely correct path, and there is nothing to question."

Zhao Xu was taken aback, thinking that what Zhang Fei said made sense.

Zhang Fei said again: "Besides, if what is left to the officials is the rule of Zhenguan, then the officials may not have the ambition to work hard to rule, and it will be very boring.

And I personally think that it is even more difficult. If you inherit the rule of Zhenguan, if you do not do well, you will definitely be scolded. If you do well, you should, and it has nothing to do with you. Just like Tang Gaozong, in fact, during his reign, he achieved remarkable achievements, but it seems that everyone ignored his ability. As the saying goes, how can the officials not be excited when the times make heroes. "

As expected of a bosom friend!

These simple words immediately dispelled the haze in Zhao Xu's heart, and he felt full of strength. Yes, brother was born for this, and immediately raised his glass and said: "How can you not be excited when you are so good? I offer you a toast."

The two drank in one gulp.

Zhao Xu asked again with great interest: "By the way! Your lawsuit has also troubled me. I don't know how to make a decision. Do you have an answer?"

"No!"

Zhang Fei shook his head.

Zhao Xu said "ah", looking a little surprised.

Zhang Fei said: "Actually, this issue is simply a dispute between evil laws that are illegal and evil laws that are lawful."

Zhao Xu read in a low voice: "The evil law is illegal, and the evil law is also law."

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "The evil law is also the law. There is nothing wrong with judging according to the law, but the consequences are often very serious. But people are kind, and they often choose to follow the heart instead of following the law." The law may, over time, lead to the law becoming useless, which is not acceptable.”

Zhao Xu nodded frequently when he heard this. This problem is easy to encounter, and he asked: "I don't know how to solve this problem?"

Zhang Fei hesitated and said: "I have no answer for the time being, because good and evil vary from person to person and are very subjective. Based on this, evil laws will never disappear. Officials believe that the law of benevolence and righteousness Maybe in the eyes of others, it may be evil law.

For example, the dispute between Xueshi Wang and Bachelor Sima is like this. In the eyes of Bachelor Sima, the good law of Wang Xueshi is evil law. "

Zhao Xu nodded and said, "That's the truth, that's the truth."

In fact, he also knew that some of Sima Guang's statements were reasonable, but Wang Anshi was also reasonable, so if Wang Anshi could still make money, he would of course choose Wang Anshi.

Zhang Fei continued: "I think prudent punishment and light punishment can reduce the controversy as much as possible. If I go to the Salt Law, in order to prevent illegal salt, twenty catties can be sentenced to death, but in reality the common people The bitterness often makes officials choose vicious laws and illegal sentences, and give light sentences, and even turn a blind eye. If the board is punished and fined some money, it is estimated that the officials will choose the evil law and the law, but it can ensure the authority of the law.”

Zhao Xu nodded thoughtfully, and asked again: "Then what do you think Zeng Zhifu will do?"

Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "I really dare not judge rashly, but last time I asked the officials for the verdict record of Zeng Zhifu. Judging from Zeng Zhifu's previous judgments, he would often judge this Whether the crime stems from the tyrannical government, he will give great tolerance to the crime under the tyrannical government. Although Governor Zhao is not a poor person, the court also has an inescapable responsibility, so I think the possibility of my victory is still very high. "