Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 644: Pearl jade first

Chapter 644 Jewels come first

Fu Bi's guess is correct. Sima Guang has not disclosed the secret letter to anyone so far. It's not that he doesn't believe in Fu Bi and Wen Yanbo, but he thinks that Zhang Fei is an undercover agent. If you say it, you will be breaking Zhang Fei's trust, and this is not what a gentleman does.

In fact, Sima Guang, like Wang Anshi, is extremely principled.

But the difference between the two lies in the people around them. For example, on the conservative side, Wen Yanbo and Fu Bi would not blame Sima Guang even if they knew that Sima Guang had concealed something.

Just like during the celebration of the calendar, Ouyang Xiu made a memorial, which caused the reformists to collapse directly. They are good teammates, but Fan Zhongyan can only accept it, and he will not break ties with Ouyang Xiu because of this, because Ouyang Xiu did not intend to harm them. I just want to point out the nature of parties, not only villains form parties, gentlemen also form parties, this is an inevitable phenomenon.

In other words, Ouyang Xiu himself thinks that they Qingli gentlemen are cronies. We support each other politically and unite with each other. This is not what crony is.

But as far as the emperor is concerned, whether you are a gentleman or a villain, if you form a party, then I will be finished. I am so lonely, how can I handle you.

Fortunately, this is the Northern Song Dynasty. If you want to switch to other dynasties, if you directly admit to forming a party, you will definitely lose your life.

Because this is the most taboo of the emperor.

You prime ministers form a party, besides me, who else is worthy of your party.

On the other hand, the reformists are really a mixed bag of good and bad people, all of them gathered together because of their own selfish interests.

Because what Wang Anshi likes is the idea, he will use it if he agrees with the new law, rather than any moral quality.

However, Wang Anshi cannot be completely blamed for this. His financial management philosophy is different from Confucianism. Most Confucian gentlemen do not agree with him, so he can only find it elsewhere.

But it is also a big hidden danger.

In history, although the reformists were in power, they did not persist for many years, and immediately fell apart. On the other hand, although the conservatives have been suppressed and beaten, they have always been united. , everyone can still help and understand each other.

That is, the gentleman is harmonious but different, and the villain is the same but not harmonious.

And this is what Sima Guang pursued in the selection and appointment of talents.

It looks like a mother-in-law, not a person who does big things at all, but once it is formed, the inside will be very strong, but it may die directly.

Everything has two sides, it depends on how you choose.

But now on Shanxi Road, everyone's eyes are on Jingzhao Mansion, which is the lawsuit about the Juehutian tax.

In fact, this lawsuit is very simple, and there is nothing to question, but because there are so many people involved, this lawsuit is also related to how the public security law can gain a foothold in Jingzhao. It has been tried for a long time. Asking the Royal Police to summon all relevant officials and gentry for questioning is undoubtedly telling everyone that these officials and gentry must also cooperate with the investigation of the Public Security Bureau.

The results of the trial were finally announced recently.

"You must have received the results from Jingzhao Mansion."

Yuan Jiang asked.

Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Maybe later than you, I just received it this morning."

The verdict of the imperial court of Jingzhao Mansion was really delivered today, but in fact the big dog was reporting the situation there to him anytime and anywhere.

Su Zhe, Cai Bian and the others also lived up to expectations and properly solved the problem of the land tax on Juehu. farmer.

Farmers who have leased the land can take out a one-percent interest loan in Changping Division, once a year, to temporarily overcome difficulties, while those who do not rent the land can borrow interest-free, which can be regarded as a kind of compensation.

At the same time, there are also some work-for-relief, which are mainly livelihoods brought to the local area by the construction of public security laws.

Of course, there is also strong financial support in this, even if the transshipment department takes salt money to give them the bottom line.

Yuan Jiang sighed: "We are invincible when we cooperate in Hezhong Mansion. It's a pity that Chaozhong..."

Zhang Fei said with a smile: "We are not cooperating, but fighting."

Speaking, he looked up at the hut, as if to say, if we cooperate, why don't we hide in this hut and chat.

"Too!"

Yuan Jiang nodded with a wry smile. This is not something they can change, because they are just doing things, and they can't understand the difficulties in the decision-making circle. The matter has come to this point, and it is useless to talk more. It seems to think of something again, " By the way! Food prices have risen a bit recently."

Zhang Fei said: "I've also heard about this. I think there are two main reasons. On the one hand, the liberalization of winemaking has led to a lot of food being used for winemaking; Some rise."

Yuan Jiang frowned and asked, "Is it because the government issued too much money?"

He is very cautious about salt bills, because he has learned the lesson of Jiaozi before, and this salt bill system was established with great difficulty. It won the trust of the people again and solved many problems in the government. Come.

Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "I don't think it was caused by the excessive issuance of salt bills. Most of the tax revenue was recovered before, and there were not many salt bills in the market. On the contrary, it was because of the lack of coins that led to transactions. Difficult, the price of this product is generally low, which is considered a normal phenomenon at present, and there is no reason for us to panic about it.”

"I didn't think of this." Yuan Jiang nodded frequently, and said: "But high food prices will hurt the people. We have to find a way to prevent food prices from rising."

Zhang Fei said: "Last year, so many soldiers were laid off, and there should be enough food for the promotion of Changping Division."

Yuan Jiang said: "But most of them are to deal with the famine, and we don't know yet how much grain we have to sell outside to stop the price of grain from continuing to rise."

Zhang Fei pondered for a while, and said: "Actually, taxation can be used to adjust."

"Taxes?"

"Yeah."

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "Wine making doesn't necessarily require grains, but fruits are also fine. If you sell fruit wine, the income you get can reduce the tax by half. There will inevitably be many people brewing fruit wine, which can reduce food consumption. .”

Yuan Jiang nodded slightly, "This is a way."

Zhang Fei said: "But at the same time, the promotion of Changping Division still has to release some food, especially now that winemaking has just started, everyone will think that there is a lot of profit in it, so many wine merchants will scramble for food , thus driving up the price of grain, once the imperial court starts to release grain, they will not rush to buy grain, I believe this will effectively stop the price of grain from continuing to rise.”

Yuan Jiang thought for a while, "Okay, I will release some food first. But you also have to talk to the tax department, whether it can be done, the tax revenue of this fruit wine will be halved."

Zhang Fei said with a smile: "Please rest assured, this Yuan bachelor, the tax department will definitely be able to do it. At this time, the tax department is only worried about one thing."

"What is it?"

"No one dares to evade taxes."

"Huh?"

"Because in that case, we will not have a bonus."

"Oh ha ha!"

Yuan Jiang laughed and said, "So I wanted to stop the tax department, so I just paid the tax truthfully."

Zhang Fei smiled and said: "That's right, but in the face of interests, there are bound to be people who will take risks. If it's not possible, then the Jingzhao government will come to help. The tax department will never be short of bonuses. of."

Boom boom boom!

There was a sudden knock on the door.

"Third Brother, Mr. Fan and Mr. Lu are here."

"Got it, I'll be right over."

"Are you here to talk about rural law?"

Yuan Jiang asked.

Zhang Fei nodded.

Yuan Jiang said: "I have also heard about the "Lantian Township Agreement", and its purpose is to stop the public prosecutors from going to the countryside."

Zhang Fei nodded and said with a smile: "Actually, as long as everyone abides by the written rules we all agree with, then I don't care."

After chatting for a few more words, Yuan Jiang got up to leave.

He is much busier than Zhang Fei now, the road has been paved, and now he has to do his best to improve his finances, and he has to implement all the methods of equal loss and exemption.

Fan Zhen and Lu Xiaosheng came here this time mainly because of the regulations of the law enforcement officers in the village. They expressed their willingness to accept Zhang Fei's suggestion and did not ask too much. The money is used to hire or train township police to enforce township contracts.

To put it simply, we should handle it ourselves, so you don't come here.

Everyone is so straightforward, Zhang Fei can't be too picky, just see how many people are willing to accept this "Lantian Township Pact".

The key point is that Zhang Fei's current focus has shifted from Hezhong Prefecture to the whole country, mainly Bianjing and Jingdong East Road.

The next day, he came to Big Dog's restaurant.

"What is it?"

Zhang Fei sat down and asked.

The big dog said: "Brother Bao heard the news that Jingdong East Road has begun to distribute the third round of young crop money, but most of the profits have gone into the pockets of the government and those rich people. It is those first- and second-class wealthy households. Unlike those big rich men, they have enough wealth to lend money slowly, and they have enough strength to get the money back.

If the money cannot be borrowed, or cannot be recovered, they can only pay back the Qingmiao money with their own money. It can only be repaid by borrowing money from those big landlords.

Many states and counties now have a messy account. If someone buys the debts of these wealthy households at this time, they will definitely be willing. "

"It's only the third round and they can't hold on. Those wealthy households only have this strength?" Zhang Fei wondered.

The big dog said: "Actually, it is the same as Hezhong Mansion over there. The rich households just have more fields and live a worry-free life, but they can't stand such a toss, and the repayment of the young crop money over there requires the repayment of coins. , but not every rich family has a lot of coins, and many rich households still need to exchange grain with the rich man for coins, or choose to endure the exploitation of conversion, anyway, there is another sum of money.”

Speaking, he added: "However, only a small number of wealthy households are suffering miserably at present. Most of the wealthy households can still sustain it, but many ordinary people can't sustain it."

If you collect them together at that time, it will inevitably arouse suspicion, and this must be done in batches. Zhang Fei pondered for a while, and said: "Well, you send a letter to Li Bao and ask him to think of a way to buy the debts owed by the wealthy households from those rich people. If there are still wealthy households who are able to repay them, then don't bother about it." .”

The big dog said: "But according to Brother Bao, the debts of rich households are very valuable. He has land mortgages, and the debts of ordinary peasant households are worthless."

Zhang Fei said with a smile: "We can bind a piece of income. We want to make those big landlords think that we are actually greedy for the fields in the hands of rich households, so we are willing to accept bad debts from ordinary farmers. would arouse suspicion.”

The big dog's eyes lit up immediately, and he nodded: "This idea is really wonderful! I understand. I understand."

Zhang Fei said again: "That's right! What's the current situation in Qingzhou?"

The big dog hurriedly said: "It is said that it is going well so far, because they have the support of Ouyang Zhifu, and the local officials have not made things difficult for them. Many people have already gone to the imperial court to sue."

Impossible! The Public Security Bureau is simply the natural enemy of the government. How could they not embarrass Fan Chunren and the others? Are all Qingzhou officials gentlemen? Or, does Ouyang Xiu really have that much prestige.

Zhang Fei thought for a while, "Keep staring."

"Hey!"

The big dog seemed to think of something, and said: "That's right! According to our people's inquiries, there are already fifteen villages in Guanghe East County who are willing to accept the "Lantian Township Covenant."

"Is that much?"

Zhang Fei exclaimed.

The big dog nodded and said: "Anyway, our people estimate that all villages may eventually accept it."

"Why?"

Zhang Fei asked.

The big dog said: "Because all the squires support the "Lantian Township Covenant" and are very united, and the squires control education, sacrifices, rituals, and relief. Although it is a free choice, if you don't join, You may not even be able to manage a funeral well.

Those people who were unwilling to join the township covenant moved directly to the city. Most of these people were mainly businessmen. "

"I really underestimated them."

Zhang Fei smiled, and said again: "Let them try it, in case this way of getting along is not bad."

Actually, he couldn't tell for sure. If he hadn't tried this kind of thing, how would he know the result.

Although he is more worried about etiquette, there are also problems in etiquette, and it is still unclear whether it can be developed.

The most important thing is that it is impossible to expressly stop the etiquette. If he dares to say this, he will be finished.

Back to the imperial court, Zhang Fei glanced at the sky and went straight to the garden, but saw a beautiful figure looming among the flowers, it was Gao Wenyin.

I don't know if it's because of the royal air here, but the village woman's temperament on her body has completely faded, and she looks more graceful and luxurious.

Zhang Fei walked over secretly, gently hugging Gao Wenyin's waist, "Ma'am."

"Yeah!"

Gao Wenyin was startled, she rolled her eyes slightly at Zhang Fei, "Scared me again."

She has been in Hezhong Mansion for so long, and she really doesn't even know where the Hezhong Mansion Market is.

Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Ma'am, you are more focused on watering flowers than others on reading books."

Gao Wenyindao~IndoMTL.com~ A person who is dedicated will also be very focused when doing other things. "

Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, "Madam doesn't usually go out, so who can I learn this from."

Gao Wenyin looked at him with a smile.

Zhang Fei hummed: "It must be that Zhiqian taught Madam badly."

"Rogue." Gao Wenyin gouged Zhang Fei with feigned anger.

Zhang Fei looked around at the stunning scenery of hundreds of flowers, and suddenly said: "Madam, if we want to leave here, will you be very sad?"

"Huh?"

Gao Wenyin exclaimed, "Are we leaving?"

Zhang Fei said: "Our home is in the capital, this time it's just a business trip."

Gao Wenyin nodded, "Yes, our home is in Bianjing."

Looking at her lonely expression, Zhang Fei asked, "What? Does Madam like this place very much?"

Gao Wenyin nodded slightly and said, "Compared to Bianjing, this place is quieter."

Zhang Fei said: "It's very simple. After we go back, let's go to the suburbs and buy a big house, similar to this."

Gao Wenyin hurriedly said: "I can't, I can't, how much will it cost? The house in our capital is already the biggest house I have ever lived in."

But it is still nothing compared to this place, which was rebuilt from a palace.

Zhang Fei waved his hand and said, "Ma'am, I don't know. If I don't buy two big houses, I don't even know I'm a rich man. How annoying!"

Qingzhou.

When he was in Dengzhou, Fan Chunren was idle all day long, scribbling ink at home every day to vent his depression. Now that he came to Qingzhou, he is full of ambition and intends to show his ambition.

It turned out as they wished. Since Ouyang Xiu was in charge, the officials of Qingzhou were very polite to them, and soon, the official office was vacated for them. Of course, there was no such treatment as Zhang Fei. The emperor directly gave him the palace. , but also very nice.

As soon as the government office opened, people came to sue immediately, and the public security and law enforcement soon began to operate, which made Fan Chunren very happy.

Finally something to do.

But gradually, they realized that something was not quite right.

Procuratorate.

Fan Chunren and Qian Wei looked at the pile of papers, their eyes became dull.

After a while, Qian Yi slowly turned his head, "How many papers are there here?"

Fan Chunren said: "More than seven hundred copies."

".!"

Qian Yi felt dizzy for a while, "How can I pass the trial."

Fan Chunren said: "If there are just too many cases, that's fine, just send more people over, but the problem now is not that there are many cases, but that many cases are very difficult to try."

Qian Yi looked at him suspiciously.

Fan Chunren randomly picked up a few copies and handed them to Qian Wei.

Qian Yi took a quick look at them, and they were all usury lawsuits, lawsuits for arrears of military pay, lawsuits for arrears of wages, lawsuits for extinct land tax, and so on.

Nine times out of ten, this is either related to the government or the landlord.

"This is bad."

Qian Wei finally knew why Fan Chunren committed a crime, and in a moment, his face was covered with sweat: "These cases, Zhang San has given precedents in Hezhong Mansion, if we don't make the judgment, how can it be convincing, but if we If the sentence is so, will the government here agree?"

Fan Chunren said: "It is precisely because they all know Zhang San's judgment on such cases, so they came to sue."

When the government servants and soldiers heard about it, they realized that they were in arrears of wages and military pay, and they could still sue the government. If they didn't sue, they would be fools.

Qian Wei frowned and said: "Hezhong Mansion is thousands of miles away from Qingzhou, how could so many people know about it, you heard people talking about these things in Dengzhou before?"

Fan Chunren shook his head, "It's obvious that someone is behind the scenes."

Qian Yi probably also guessed who it was, and said: "Then what should we do, Zhang San is in Hezhong Mansion, and he mainly uses two methods to solve these problems, one is salt debt and salt money; the other is installment Repayment. But it may not apply to Qingzhou.”

Fan Chunren said: "No, he still has another move."

Qian Wei asked, "What trick?"

"Disarmament!" Fan Chunren said: "He first used the disarmament to lay a solid foundation for the future finances of the Hezhong Mansion, and then used salt notes and salt debts to pay the current compensation, and the finances saved in the future are just right. It can bear the interest brought by the salt debt."

Qian Wei said: "The Qingzhou garrison is no match for the Hezhong Mansion, even if it is laid off, it will not save much money."

As he spoke, his face was horrified, "You don't mean to dismiss officials, do you?"

Fan Chunren nodded and said: "These problems are all due to the heavy financial burden. Only by reducing financial expenditures can we use Zhang San's judgment to solve these problems."

Qian Wei frowned and said, "If we want to lay off officials as soon as we come up, I'm afraid it will offend many people, and it may not be successful.

Fan Chunren said: "But other than that, there is no other way. If we ask the government to pay for compensation, there will definitely be problems with the finance side."

Qian Wei thought for a while, "Well, let's discuss it with the prefect of Ouyang first."

Fan Chunren hesitated for a moment, and thought, yes, the imperial court can only order compensation from the government, but it cannot ask the government to dismiss officials. This requires the support of the government. Nodded: "Okay."

The two immediately went to find Ouyang Xiu.

"Ahem!"

When Ouyang Xiu heard Fan Chunren's suggestion to dismiss officials, he couldn't help coughing twice, and said: "At the beginning, I told your father that the disaster of this dynasty lies in redundant officials, but your father just thinks that it is caused by corruption. Over the past few years, the redundant officials have become more and more serious, and the talented people who were full of ambitions in the past are now trapped in the three redundancies. It is not easy to dismiss officials!"

At the beginning, the gentleman party was full of spirit and wanted to do a lot of things, but now those people are grandparents, and their children and grandchildren are also officials, will they still agree?

The sooner this redundant official is dealt with, the better, it cannot be delayed.

Fan Chunren also knew the reason, but it was too late to regret, so he said: "It's not too late to make up for it."

After Ouyang Xiu thought about it, "I don't have much time left, so it doesn't matter if I promise you, but I'm afraid that it will implicate the public prosecutor. In this way, you should quickly write a letter to Sima Junshi and see him How to put it, if he agrees, then Lao Zhuo will use his last breath to help you."

Fan Chunren said: "It's Uncle Ouyang's consideration. My nephew will write to Bachelor Sima."

Therefore, he hurriedly wrote a letter and sent it to the capital quickly. On the one hand, he talked about redundant officials, and on the other hand, he asked Sima Guang to send more people.

This Qingzhou is not very far from Bianjing, and the letter will be sent to the capital soon.

When Sima Guang saw this letter, his head was all big. "He wants to follow Zhang San's example and take the opportunity to eliminate the disaster of redundant officials."

Wen Yanbo said: "I'm afraid that Chunren is imitating others. Why did Zhang San suggest disarming the army instead of laying off officials? Even he knows that laying off officials will make his efforts go to waste. The time is not yet ripe. .”

No one knows about the disaster of the three redundancies, but they dare not act rashly. Wang Anshi also found another way, which was not mentioned in his new law.

It can be seen how much resistance there is.

Sima Guangdao: "Then what should we do now, Fan Chunren must also follow Zhang San's precedent, but if the expenditure is not cut, Qingzhou Finance cannot support these judgments."

Lu Gong couldn't help but questioned: "It's really hard to say whether it is the success of the public prosecutor's law or Zhang San's success!"

Fu Bi opened his eyes, "On the contrary, this is not Zhang San's success, but Zhang San's troubles. His judgments are too outstanding, and they have never been seen since ancient times. Have you ever seen them?" The government has made such a large-scale compensation to the people, if Zhang San’s judgment had not come first, Chunren and the others would have been able to deal with it, and of course, not so many people would sue.”

Lu Gong nodded again.

Indeed, that kind of compensation is indeed scary, and it is really salt debt and salt money to cover the bottom, but Qingzhou does not have these conditions.

Fu Bi said again: "The only solution now is to transfer Zhang San back."

Sima Guang hurriedly said: "But we have already promised not to use Zhang San in front of the officials."

Fu Bi glanced at him and said: "Jun Shi, you are really brainless, you don't need Zhang San, you won't let him go to Qingzhou, but you can transfer him back to Bianliang, so that he can borrow the special status of the Beijing official, To influence the public security law in Qingzhou. It happens that Zhang San is almost three years old, so he should have been transferred."

Sima Guang still wanted to be upright, and he was full of confidence in the public prosecutor's law, so he said, "But far away water can't save near fire."

Wen Yanbo said: "What Fu Gong said is right, you are really dead-headed. Cases cannot be tried one by one. Let Chunren and the others try the ones that are easy to handle first. We still have enough time."

Sima Guang hesitated for a while, then nodded reluctantly.

Fu Bi said again: "Also, this manpower must be arranged immediately. The two of them are outnumbered. Don't delay."

Sima Guang hurriedly said: "I have already made arrangements for this candidate."

Wen Yanbo asked in surprise, "Why are you so fast this time?"

Sima Guang smiled coyly, and said: "At the beginning, this group of people was supposed to be dispatched to the Hezhong Mansion, but Zhang San trained a group of chief judges himself, and those people were also approved by the government, so I didn't do it again." Make arrangements."

Fu Bi asked, "Who is there?"

Sima Guang replied: "Liu Zhi, Liang Tao, Sun Gu.!"

He reported more than 30 names in a row.

All of them are Jinshi, one-third are from the Jiayou period, two-thirds are from Yuanyou and Xining, anyway, they are young and powerful with two rising stars.

Wen Yanbo laughed and said, "You really work slowly and meticulously!"

These people are impeccable, with excellent morals and talents.

In terms of knowing people, Sima Guang is indeed better than Wang Anshi by more than N grades. The only one who is mistaken is Zhang Fei. The most guilty things he has done in his life are all thanks to Zhang San. One exception.