Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 628: I live in Cao Ying and my heart is in Han

Poetry cloud: Viewed horizontally as mountains and sideways as peaks, the distance and height are different.

Based on the different structure and interests, what everyone sees is different.

Whether it is the officials of the Hezhong Mansion, the scholar-bureaucrats, or the big landlords, they all think that the tax department is the murder weapon, because what the imperial court expects is to improve finances, and that is all.

This understanding is of course very accurate.

But they ignored a crucial plan, which is the salt debt and salt money they are holding in their hands now.

The reform of the taxation department may increase tax revenue, but in any case, it only maintains the basic market, because the basic finance of the country is tax revenue, which should have been collected, but the new tax law has become more Balance, instead of squeezing the poor to death, we need to collect more subsidies from the rich.

What those big landlords saw was that their illegal behavior might be discovered, so they tried to resist.

But they should have paid taxes according to the law.

This is perfectly normal.

But Wang Anshi came here for open source, and he needed economic growth.

Salt debt and salt money are catalysts for economic growth.

In addition, salt debt and salt money can also make up for the shortcomings of the limited development of the public security law. Now the public security law has been struggling for a year in Hezhong Prefecture to gain a firm foothold. It is impossible to expand to the entire Shaanxi Road at once. It is impossible for other state capitals to increase their tax revenue, and the financial contribution that a single state government can contribute is very limited.

But the salt debt and salt banknotes cover the entire northwest region.

Because a large amount of salt debts and salt banknotes were issued to the Bianjun Prefecture area, and then those merchants took the salt debts and salt banknotes to Hezhong Mansion to exchange salt.

This breaks through the limitations of the Public Prosecution Law, and the Public Procurement Law controls the core salt-producing area of ​​Xiezhou, and guarantees salt debts and salt money.

It's just that those big landlords only care about their own interests. He saw that it was the tax department, but he didn't realize it at all. In fact, the government has recently stepped up efforts to distribute salt money.

The salaries are all changed to salt notes, and the water conservancy and prison construction there are also paid in salt notes.

And those salt merchants came to Hezhong Mansion with salt money, and found that they could buy anything with salt money, and they were also using salt money.

A large amount of salt bills flooded into the market, but at the same time, the tax department and the public security bureau over there endorsed the salt bills. Many people have already paid the deed tax with salt bills, and this credit has become very strong. , Anyway, it is taxable.

However, the lack of currency in the entire Shaanxi region is also one of the reasons for the local economic sluggishness, because bartering is always difficult, so the monetization of salt money is a great stimulus to economic development.

In addition to the madness of business, there is also a crazy harvest in the farmland, and women account for the vast majority, because their husbands are working for the government to earn rations during this period. Although it is very, very difficult, they They are full of energy, even if they are tired enough, because they think that good days are ahead, as long as they get through this difficulty.

They are already thinking about next year.

They won't need to pay too much tax next year. If they don't have any debts, they will have enough money to spend the money. They can go to the city to work in their spare time, and their lives will get better and better.

In fact, for most people, they are not afraid of suffering or tiredness, let alone 996 or 997. .

And during this period, the taxation department was also making arrangements for tax collection. The students of the law school were all dispatched, and at the same time, many people from the Hezhong Prefecture Law Firm and various bookstores sent out to help for free.

Those bookstores sent people to help, not to do good deeds, nor to curry favor with the tax department. There will definitely be disputes inside, and they all want to get more detailed information as soon as possible.

Autumn has arrived, and many literati have come to the suburbs in this clear autumn, but this year they have no time to pay attention to the autumn scenery, and most of them focus on the tax collection points of the tax department.

Fan Zhen and Su Zhe also came to a tax collection point in the suburbs together.

"It's finally coming!" Fan Zhen seemed a little uneasy.

Su Zhe took a look at him, and couldn't help laughing: "It seems that we still have a long way to go for public security and law enforcement!"

Fan Zhen looked at him suspiciously, "Why did you say that?"

Su Zhe said with a smile: "Nowadays it's not about robbing houses, or increasing miscellaneous taxes, it's just collecting taxes according to the law, but even so, it still makes Fan Xueshi so uneasy, which shows that our public security law still needs to be improved in many aspects!" /

If you're so upset about something legal, it must be a problem with law enforcement.

Fan Zhen smiled and said, "The road is long and long, and I will search up and down."

After all, seeing that Su Zhe didn't respond, he glanced at him again, and saw him staring into the distance, so he couldn't help but follow his gaze, "Huh? Why are there so many people over there?"

Su Zhe said: "Could it be paying taxes?"

Fan Zhen shook his head and said, "Impossible, this place is for ordinary self-cultivators, and a lot of grain has not been harvested yet, so how can anyone come to pay taxes? Formal tax declaration."

Speaking of which, he frowned, "There must be something wrong."

After all, many young students have been arranged to work here this time, but they don't have much experience.

So the two walked over quickly.

When I came to the door of the warehouse, I found barefoot farmers standing on the open space, tiptoeing, looking forward, seeming very anxious.

Seeing that some of them were holding salt notes in their hands, Su Zhe couldn't help asking, "Uncle, are you paying taxes?"

"Yeah."

The uncle didn't even look at Su Zhe, his eyes were fixed on the front.

Su Zhe and Fan Zhen looked at each other, then went to the front of the line, and saw two young people sitting at a long table, surrounded by three or five royal policemen patrolling to maintain law and order.

These two young people, Fan Zhen, know each other. They are law students Huang Zhibo and Wang Zongrui.

"Bachelor Fan, Attorney General Su."

When they saw Fan Zhen and Su Zhe, they were about to stand up and salute.

Fan Zhen hurriedly pressed his hand, indicating that they don't need to salute, and asked: "Isn't it still in the preparation stage now? Why did you start collecting taxes?"

Wang Zongrui replied: "Originally we were preparing, but the villagers around here always came to pay taxes, and then the tax department asked us to start collecting taxes."

Su Zhe looked at the farmers again, "The food hasn't been harvested yet, why are you rushing to pay the tax?"

The farmer hurriedly said: "Anyway, I have to pay it. It's better to pay it early. I feel more at ease."

Fan Zhen asked curiously: "But the food is still in the fields, where do you get the money from?"

"This is what I earned from my work recently. I didn't steal it or **** it." The farmer said, protecting the salt money in his hands with both hands.

Suddenly heard a discussion from behind, "What's going on in front? Why is it not moving?"

"What's up ahead?"

"Hurry up when the time comes, I'm still in a hurry to get back to work."

Seeing that the people behind were very anxious, Fan Zhen said, "Sorry for bothering you."

As he spoke, he and Su Zhe stepped aside.

The farmer hurried forward and handed over the land deed, household registration and a few salt bills.

Because they are illiterate, they probably did not hire Erbi, otherwise, they would not need to come in person.

Huang Zhibo looked at the land deed for a while and asked, "Is there any other income?"

The farmer said: "I just recently helped the government build river channels and earned some money."

Huang Zhibo asked: "Apart from this, is there any other income?"

The farmer said: "Does the chicken raised by oneself count?"

"How many do you have?"

"Five!"

"That doesn't count. Is there any more?"

"My wife also sews and mends to make some money."

"Any more?"

"It's gone!"

While they were asking questions, Wang Zongrui was helping to fill in the form, and it was all the way to the end.

"OK!"

Huang Zhibo accepted the two salt bills, added the remaining two between the land deed and household registration, and returned them to the farmer, and shouted back: "Next."

The farmer seemed relieved and secretly pleased.

Su Zhe nodded slightly, understanding why these farmers were in a hurry to pay taxes, but they were still worried that the tax department would not recognize the money.

Fan Zhen stepped forward, glanced at the form, and asked, "Don't you need to pay taxes on the money you earn from building rivers?"

Su Zhe whispered: "Master Fan may not know that helping the government build rivers is a relief from the government, so the tax department decided to exempt this part of the income from tax."

Fan Zhen nodded and said, "I see." Then he smiled at Su Zhe and said, "It seems that the tax department is not as unreasonable as the rumors say."

Su Zhe smiled and said, "Maybe they don't have that ambition."

Fan Zhen was taken aback for a moment, and then laughed out loud.

Another farmer came forward and said timidly, "I don't have a household registration."

Huang Zhibo immediately said: "Go inside first to apply for household registration."

"Yes."

In a blink of an eye, the team was reduced by more than half, and every farmer who had paid his taxes was secretly happy with his household registration, and he was full of praise for the salt money and the tax department.

This really stunned Fan Zhen and Su Zhe. They have been officials for many years, and they have never seen such a generous farmer.

In the western suburbs, I saw a carriage driving fast on the road.

"Impossible! This is impossible!"

Liang Youyi repeatedly waved his hands and said: "Collecting taxes is not an easy task. Now without the help of our squires, they have to prepare longer. At least every family should be informed. How could someone take the initiative to pay taxes now, old man I have lived for decades, and I have never seen such people."

Wei Yingfang said: "But some people have seen with their own eyes that some tax collection points have begun to collect taxes."

Liang Youyi said: "Could it be that they deliberately asked someone to create an illusion."

Cao Yi said: "It's possible, let's go and see first."

After a while, the carriage stopped slowly, and the three of them hurriedly got out of the carriage.

Looking up, I saw that the warehouse door was empty.

Liang Youyi immediately said: "Look! The old man is right! There is no one at all."

Wei Yingfang said: "Could it be that they got it wrong?"

The three of them walked over again, and saw two students put the thick wad of salt money into the cash box.

Wei Yingfang walked over immediately and asked, "Where did you get the salt money?"

The two students recognized the three of them, first saluted, and then replied: "This is the tax paid by the nearby farmers."

Liang Youyi asked anxiously: "Has someone come to pay the tax already?"

"The two nearby villages have already paid. I'm going to collect taxes elsewhere."

"?"

Liang Youyi couldn't help opening his mouth wide.

Squire?

When your squire comes to collect it, I'm afraid the day lily will be cold.

Some time ago, the common people were desperately trying to get the salt bills. They would rather go hungry for two meals and keep the salt bills to pay taxes. Although the tax department has stipulated the price comparison between salt bills and grain, there is still loss ? I have to carry food on my back, how tiring it is!

They either go to earn salt money for government projects, or sell their chickens and vegetables in exchange for salt money to pay taxes.

Even third-class households and second-class households are eager to buy some surplus grain in exchange for salt money.

This coincides with the consumption of government officials.

There was the previous market prosperity.

The salt banknotes were obtained, but they were worried that the government would repent, so the grain was still in the field, so they came to pay the tax.

The salt money is convenient and does not need to be weighed. The income of the farmers is very simple, and they did not ask too much, and it was settled quickly.

One village is half a day.

The government also saves trouble. Originally, this is the busiest time for the government, but this year the government doesn't need to take care of anything, and there is no need to send people to transport food back and forth.

This even caused all the warehouse officials to feel very disappointed.

The power is falling to the side!

However, neither Yuan Jiang nor Cai Yanqing was idle. The emergence of salt bills also completely changed the government's financial operations. They had to redeploy, such as how to deal with the collected salt bills?

They decided that the transshipment department would take back some of them, and the other part would be left to the government for local loss expenses.

Now that salt money is so popular, officials are also in love with salt money. After all, you distribute food and salt, which is also a restriction. How about sending money directly? exchange.

The most leisurely place at the moment is the imperial court. While Ye Zuqia was also going to other places to enforce the law, Zhang Fei actually had time to sit under the big tree in front of the Big Dog Restaurant and drink tea.

Of course, he didn't come to drink tea, but to listen to the report.

"According to the news from East Jingdong Road, the Green Crop Law is very successful in the local area. Only a few counties have not lent all the green crop money, and the rest have been borrowed."

"Really?"

Zhang Fei asked: "Is it so smooth?"

The big dog said: "But our people think there are hidden dangers."

Zhang Fei frowned and asked, "What hidden danger?"

The big dog replied: "Many of them are quite blind. They see that others are borrowing, so they also go to borrow, thinking that they are taking advantage of it, but they forget that the local tax exemption will be increased this year. Most of these people There is still no money, and at the same time, part of the money for young crops is directly shared by the local big landlords.

And those big landlords also observed that many common people might not pay the government money, so they planned to wait until the common people did not pay the government money, and then they would lend the young crop money they got from the government to the common people at an interest rate of more than two cents, so If borrowing the new to return the old, those owner farmers will sooner or later become their sharecroppers. "

Zhang Fei said thoughtfully: "However, this can avoid direct conflicts between the government and the people."

Dagou nodded, "Yes. And not only the third-class and fourth-class households are affected, but also the first- and second-class households, and fifth-class households."

Zhang Fei asked: "How do you say that?"

The big dog said: "Because those big landlords took the initiative to help the government to share the money, this also forced those first- and second-class households to also share some young crop money, but they are not like those big landlords, they can easily lend money, and at the same time If they are sure of recovering their debts, they can only pay interest to the government.

Even some big landlords have taken aim at their first- and second-class households. They have land in their hands. Once they don't pay the young crop money, or they don't have enough coins in their hands, they have to borrow money from them. As for those fifth-class households, they can't borrow money for young crops at all. They will still mortgage some of their land to those big landlords as before, and thus become their tenant farmers. "

Zhang Fei said: "When the money they owed to the landlord is due, the government will just issue another round of money for young crops, which just happens to be able to borrow new ones to pay off old ones."

The big dog nodded and said: "Yes."

"It seems that they are better at playing than I thought."

Zhang Fei nodded slightly.

But Zhang Fei was not surprised by this.

Historically, the reformists and local forces had a hostile relationship, so the new law caused great problems locally, but this time is different, the relationship between the government and the landlords has become very close, because they have a common enemy, that is, The Public Security Bureau and the Taxation Department, they will cover each other, and they will become very cautious.

Zhang Fei said: "Then do they think these things can be hidden from the imperial court?"

The big dog said: "This is impossible, because many local officials are not facing Wang Xianggong, and there will definitely be people who will impeach the matter. But those self-cultivating farmers are not yet, and they will definitely borrow money from the landlord to pay back the court. debt, and those landlords are also prepared, this hidden danger can be covered up for the time being, and it will not cause public resentment."

Zhang Fei asked: "Then when do you think public grievances will erupt?"

The big dog immediately said: "I don't dare to say this. If there are natural disasters and man-made disasters, there will inevitably be a large number of people who will not pay the money. This will definitely not be covered up."

Yes! It is indeed very difficult to control this breaking point, unless I am the biggest creditor. Zhang Fei pondered for a while, and suddenly asked: "Does the official know about this?"

The big dog hesitated for a while, "The letter coming here from Jingdong East Road must pass through Bianliang, and the officials should know it."

Zhang Fei nodded.

The big dog said again: "Compared to Jingdong East Road, Jingzhao Mansion is more likely to have problems?"

Zhang Fei was slightly taken aback, "What do you say?"

The big dog said: "Now the people of Jingzhao Mansion are already making trouble. They demand to pay the same tax as the people of Hezhong Mansion, but the local landlords and gentry are strongly opposed. Unless the public security law leaves Hezhong Mansion now, Otherwise, there will be problems sooner or later.”

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "Prefect Lu really has the foresight. It seems that we have to go if we don't go next year. Let the people over there increase the publicity and let them know how happy the people of Hezhong Mansion are to pay their taxes. .”

"Yes."

"That's right! Now is the critical moment of tax collection, is there no news for me? At least I need to know how many lawsuits I will have to file next year?"

"It's unclear because most landowners haven't started paying taxes yet."

"I really don't want to die without seeing the Yellow River!"

Zhang Fei shook his head and sighed, and stood up, "Go and make arrangements, I will send a secret letter to the official within two days."

"Yes."

That night, Zhang Fei was sitting alone in the study room, and on the desk were the Tang Records sent by Cai Bian and Shangguan Jun, but he didn't seem to care about them.

Suddenly feeling warm, he subconsciously raised his hand to cover the soft and slender hand on his shoulder, "Thank you, madam."

But he heard a soft hum, and when he looked back, he was startled, "Zhiqian?"

Xu Zhiqian said sourly: "Only sister Gao will add clothes to you?"

Zhang Fei asked back: "Did you say that?"

Xu Zhiqian blinked in embarrassment, and from the corner of her eye she suddenly glanced at Zhang Fei holding her hand, and said, "Can't you tell the difference between my hand and Sister Gao's?"

"Ugh!"

Zhang Fei said: "Well, of course we can tell the difference. Her hands are softer and yours are smoother. It's really because there was another letter from Jingdong East Road today, which made me feel uneasy."

As soon as this matter was mentioned, Xu Zhiqian immediately put other matters behind her and asked, "What did you say in the letter?"

Zhang Fei secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and informed Xu Zhiqian of the situation on Jingdong East Road.

Xu Zhiqian was so angry that she stomped her feet, "They are simply working together, no different from animals. This will not only harm the people, but also harm Wang Xueshi's New Deal."

Speaking of which, she paused for a while, and looked at Zhang Fei suspiciously, "Is this what you expected?"

I talked about this issue last time, but Zhang Fei deliberately avoided it. Xu Zhiqian has always been very skeptical about it. At present, everyone knows that the two laws are in competition, and Zhang Fei must stand for the public prosecutor's law.

"If it's just that simple, then I don't have to worry about it."

Zhang Fei said: "This is adding fuel to the fire, don't be too simple."

Xu Zhiqian asked: "Then you want to help Bachelor Wang?"

Zhang Fei nodded.

Xu Zhiqian looked happy, she still wanted to be a reformist, "Then you can think of a way?"

Zhang Fei said: "At present, there is only one way to save everything."

"How?"

"Find a way to spend money to buy most of the debt contracts in the hands of those big landlords, so as to stabilize the situation."

"Huh?"

Xu Zhiqian was dumbfounded, it was the first time she heard such an operation, "Can this work?"

Zhang Fei said: "If the debt is transferred to us, it can be controlled by us."

Xu Zhiqian said: "But how can we have so much money to buy those debts?"

Zhang Fei said: "This requires a person to help."

"Who?"

"Official."

"Official?"

Xu Zhiqian froze for a moment, shaking her head like a rattle, "No! No! The government adopted the new law in the hope of improving finances. If the government takes on the debt again, wouldn't it be a waste of work? It is impossible for the family to agree."

Zhang Fei stood up suddenly.

"Why?"

Xu Zhiqian said in astonishment.

Zhang Fei stood up, stretched his hand towards the seat, and said with a smile, "So we have to write a letter to persuade the officials."

The next morning, a fast horse set out from the imperial court and galloped eastward.

On the slope, Zhang Fei looked at the fast horse, scratched his head, and complained: "It's really a skill to eat three meals!"