Judge of the Song Dynasty Chapter 749: Treating guests to dinner again

If issuing banknotes can’t solve the problem, what else can we do, of course layoffs!

This is definitely not a joke.

Because the court really has debt restructuring, if the disaster is too serious, it can only lay off officials and reduce expenditures.

Some of the officials sitting here couldn't help but tremble slightly.

Of course, there were also many conservative officials who cast disdainful glances at Xue Xiang.

This is our philosophy, Xue Xiang, do you have the nerve to say it?

In other words, the ultimate goal of open source is to reduce expenditure.

This is truly a closed loop!

And this meeting ends here.

Fu Bi said that they still need to study the evidence handed over by Xue Xiang. After all, today's hearing touched on their blind spot.

And these evidences will play a decisive role. If you don't understand the principles behind it, you won't know how to ask questions.

The officials all shook their heads and left with sad faces.

After these two hearings, they felt unfamiliar and out of control.

There is a feeling of powerlessness.

In comparison, Zhao Xu looked relaxed and was not in a hurry to leave. Instead, he asked Zhang Fei: "How do you think they will oppose these two bills?"

Zhang Fei pondered for a while and said: "As for the warehouse tax, they must have directly stated that it is unfair to the landlords. After all, landlords have been collecting grain since ancient times. Moreover, they will also criticize the tax department for using this. To exploit the landowners’ food. As for the tax bill, we should oppose it based on the shortcomings of Jiaozi.”

Zhao Xu nodded and asked: "Then how do you think I should respond?"

Zhang Fei said: "I don't know about this. After all, they are not being reasonable."

"Haha!"

Zhao Xu laughed a few times and suddenly remembered something, "By the way! Regarding that kind of statistical method, you can give your husband some suggestions and tell him everything you know. In the future, financial accounts must be done this way. I don't want to keep doing it." Being kept in the dark."

"Yes."

After talking about this matter, Zhao Xu got up and went back to the palace.

Of course Zhang Fei knew very well that Zhao Xu had changed from passive to active, and the next step was to seek revenge and complain!

He hummed a tune and walked outside.

"Sometimes, sometimes, I will believe that everything has an end, there is a time to get together and leave, nothing will last forever!"

The singing stopped suddenly because there was a roadblock in front of me.

"Bachelor Sima."

Zhang Fei quickly stepped forward and bowed.

Sima Guang said expressionlessly: "If you are not in a hurry, sit down for a while and then go back."

Zhang Fei nodded.

Following Sima Guang to a rest room, and as soon as he sat down, Sima Guang said in a strange manner: "Okay! Even the three envoys will worship you as their disciple."

Zhang Fei smiled bitterly and said: "I knew that Bachelor Sima would misunderstand, but everything that happened today really has nothing to do with me. It was learned by the Third Commander himself."

Sima Guang snorted: "You think I will believe your nonsense, Xue Xiang is obviously imitating you."

"Ouch! Master Sima, please don't say that, it will ruin my reputation. The Third Secretary is really not very knowledgeable. Ahem, Cai Jing and the others are good."

Zhang Fei said very depressed.

Sima Guang said confused: "What do you mean?"

Zhang Fei said: "If he is my apprentice, then... basically, there is no suspense. The Legislative Council must pass it by me."

"Hey, your tone is really serious!" Sima Guang said with great interest: "I would like to hear the details. What would happen if it were you?"

Zhang Feiyun said calmly: "It's actually very simple. Just tell the previous disaster relief cases and there will basically be no suspense.

I have seen the government open warehouses to provide disaster relief, but it was a complete mess. Even these people were rescued half-dead. They had to wait in line for a long time and take a sip of porridge. Those who deserved to starve to death would still starve to death.

Otherwise, the imperial court would not have brought all the victims into the military camp. If it were me, I would first take various cases and criticize them all day long, and then give some guarantees to the tax currency bill. If the Legislative Council doesn't pass it for me, or it will still use the traditional way of opening warehouses for relief, then as long as people starve to death, it will be legislation. will be a problem. ”

".!"

The air seemed to freeze.

Sima Guang sat there blankly, without the aura of showing his teeth and claws just now.

After a while, Sima Guang coughed and said, "In other words, you also think that issuing tax coins is better than opening a warehouse for relief."

Zhang Fei frowned and said: "To be honest, I think tax coins are a double-edged sword. If used properly, it is indeed 10,000 times better than opening a warehouse for relief. But if the force is used too hard, the situation may It will be even worse than it is now, so I didn’t say anything. If it will definitely get better, then I will definitely tell Bachelor Wang, or I will do it myself.”

"You think you know the basics."

Sima Guang nodded happily. Zhang Fei’s words hit home in his heart, saying: "As long as they get a taste of it, this tax coin will definitely cause endless troubles."

After saying that, he looked at Zhang Fei again, "That's why I came to you. How can I prevent the passage of this bill?"

With Sima Guang's character, he would never support banknotes because the risk is too great, and he knows human nature well. As long as he tastes the sweetness, he will continue to use it, whether it is Sichuan businessmen or government officials. This has been proven by facts.

No matter who is issuing banknotes, they will inevitably issue them indiscriminately.

But to refute Xue Xiang, we must start from the evidence he submitted and find flaws in it. However, Sima Guang didn't understand much, so he came to Zhang Fei for help.

Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "Sister Sima, if I can really stop it, I would have already tried to stop it in Hezhong Mansion. Now that Hezhong Mansion has achieved great success, and there is still a drought at this time, this is even more hopeless. There's no way to stop it."

Sima Guang said: "But you also said that the harm is endless. Doing this is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst."

Zhang Fei sighed and said: "Actually, when we were in Hezhong Mansion, Prosecutor General Su and I also weighed this point and whether we should try our best to stop it.

But we have considered that if the government is resolutely prohibited from issuing salt banknotes, the public security organs, prosecutors, and law will not be able to enforce it, because the government cannot afford to pay, but legally, it must pay.

So from this point of view, it is the government that has made a compromise for the public security, procuratorate, and law. Therefore, we finally chose to take a step back, and at the same time, we gave the procuratorate great supervisory power and kept an eye on every aspect of the issuance of salt banknotes. ”

"It's useless."

Sima Guang waved his hand and said: "You can keep an eye on it for a while, but you can't keep an eye on it forever! If the three ministers use tax coins to help the country survive the drought, just wait and see. If you encounter any difficulties, you will be issued Paper money will gradually become a luxury for both the government and the public."

Zhang Fei said: "Could it be that Master Sima regards the public security bureaucracy as an emergency need rather than a long-term system?"

Sima Guang frowned when he heard this and sighed: "Of course I didn't think so, but judging from the facts, it is still unclear whether the Public Security Law can last forever. Now more and more people in the DPRK are aware of the constraints imposed on them by the Public Security Law . More and more public prosecutors and law enforcement officials are opposing it, but even if we return to the previous judicial system, the harm to the country will be far less than the harm caused by banknotes!"

Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "I don't think so. As long as the Public Security Bureau is there, even if a certain state or county is issuing banknotes indiscriminately, the Public Security Bureau can still let the court collect the banknotes, and the bleeding can be stopped in time.

Then again, if there is no public security, procuratorate, and law, can Bachelor Sima guarantee that banknotes can be stopped? To this day, some states and counties still issue Jiaozi, and the local people do not yet have the public security organs to protect their rights and interests. ”

Sima Guang looked hesitant, "So your opinion is to find a way to limit it?"

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "The possibility of preventing this matter is extremely small. In view of what many people have done before, the officials will definitely support the passage of these two bills."

Sima Guang said confusedly: "Did the official tell you something just now?"

Zhang Fei shook his head and said: "Of course the officials will not reveal their feelings to me. They will just explain the rationale. However, the officials currently have no reason to oppose these two bills."

Sima Guang nodded slightly.

Zhang Fei continued: "Instead of doing this, it is better to find ways to supervise. In fact, the questions asked by the chief judge were very good. At least they forced the three envoys to express their position that the tax coins are only for temporary use. . We should believe in the Public Security Bureau, because the Public Security Bureau and the Procuratorate were born to deal with such complex situations, and."

Sima Guang glanced at him and asked: "And what?"

Zhang Fei said: "And I think this is also an opportunity for the Legislative Council to leave an impression on everyone that it is fair and impartial."

Sima Guang stroked his beard and began to think deeply.

Inside the carriage.

Wang Anshi glanced at Xue Xiang and asked with a smile: "Shi Zheng, the evidence you just submitted was prepared a long time ago or was rushed out last night. I heard that you stayed in the Third Division last night. ?"

Xue Xiang said truthfully: "Some of them were prepared long ago, and some were made temporarily last night."

"It was really a temporary preparation." Wang Anshi exclaimed: "Then your method of learning now and selling it is really eye-opening to me!"

Xue Xiang said modestly: "Actually, compared to Prosecutor Zhang, I still have some shortcomings. I watched Prosecutor Zhang give a deposition. He was able to connect many things together and put the other party into a dilemma. But I There's no way to do that."

"Don't compare yourself to that kid. I can't figure out the reason why that kid can survive until now. You've already performed quite well."

Wang Anshi smiled and said: "Of those people on the stage, which one is easy to offend?"

At this point, he sighed, "It's a pity that you stated on stage that the tax currency will only be used for this one time. In fact, as long as the paper currency is properly issued, it will not only be beneficial to the finance, but also beneficial to the people."

Since the last salt note incident, he has been very optimistic about this note.

Xue Xiang said hurriedly: "Although I said it would only be used this time, in fact it is not important. What is important is that as long as the people like it, it can be used for a long time. The same is true for Hezhong Mansion. At the beginning, Hezhong Mansion also It was only meant to be used for a while, but over time, the people thought that the salt banknotes were very good, so they are used to this day, but the court has no policy on this."

Wang Anshi thought for a while and nodded: "What you said makes sense."

Xue Xiangdao: "So I have been writing the bill for three years. As long as the people get used to using tax coins within these three years, it will be logical to issue tax coins in the future."

Although there have been many hearings, this one completely aroused public opinion, because the previous hearings all had specific cases. Although they involved some national policies, they still revolved around evidence, and those The policies have already been enacted, but this hearing was before the policies were enacted.

This gives people an unprecedented sense of participation and security.

If there is a hearing on a policy that has been announced, the people will only curse at most, and feel helpless at most. But it has not been promulgated yet, and everyone is more thinking and discussing, and the questions and answers at the meeting also make them I have confidence in my heart and think that the court will not mess around.

Alum Tower.

I saw a group of businessmen looking at Fan Yong.

Fan Yong felt a little embarrassed when they looked at him, "Ouch! Don't look at me like that."

"Old Fan, at this time, don't hide it. My son knows best what is going on in Hezhong Mansion. Don't say you don't know anything."

"You're right! Originally, I planned to make no losses this year, but the words of the Third Secretary gave me some hope. If I can make money, that would be the best."

Wealthy businessmen like them could withstand a disaster easily, but Xue Xiang’s words tickled their hearts again. After all, Xue Xiang’s reference point was Hezhong Mansion, and they They all know something about the situation in Hezhong Mansion, and the prosperity there is not false.

Fan Yong said: "Aren't many of you going to open branches there? Don't you know?"

Chen Maoqian said: "Your family doesn't know that. What are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid.!"

Fan Yong sighed: "To tell you the truth, according to what is written in Quanzi's letter, it is indeed because of the salt banknotes that the business of Hezhong Mansion has become more prosperous. The salt banknotes are convenient to use and can save money. A lot of losses.

In the past, people had to push grain to pay taxes, but now they can hand over the money at the entrance of the village. Even a five-year-old child can do it, and the government does not need many people to collect taxes.

But Hezhong Prefecture is Hezhong Prefecture, and this capital city is the capital city. I can’t guarantee whether the capital city can be as good as Hezhong Prefecture. ”

The paper merchant Huang Can suddenly asked: "In other words, what the Third Secretary said is right, but we just need to see whether the tax coins will be the same as the salt banknotes in Hezhong Prefecture."

"Yes."

Fan Yong nodded.

Huang Can added: "Why can Hezhong Prefecture make the local people believe in salt banknotes so much."

"Just because I can pay taxes."

Fan Yong blurted out.

The room suddenly became quiet.

In a large private room on the third floor, Liu Ping and other big landowners were all as restless as ants on a hot pot.

"It's Zhang San again, it's Zhang San again. If I have a chance someday, I have to chop that kid alive."

"We can’t control whether this tax is in currency or not. Anyway, we just don’t collect the tax currency. The key is the warehouse tax. If it really happens, then what should we do? There are two more people in my warehouse. A dozen coughs, some good food!"

"Why panic, why panic."

Liu Ping stood up and said, "No matter how much food our family has, can we have more food than the gentlemen above? If they can afford it, then how can we afford it?"

A big landowner said: "But can this tax punish the gentlemen above?"

Liu Ping said: "At the hearing, Zhang San made it clear and clear that the reason why the situation in Xiangguo Temple is special is because there are many people in Xiangguo Temple. This is a special situation. If you use privileges In conclusion, Xiangguo Temple should be directly exempted."

"That's true. As long as we treat everyone equally, we are not afraid. The worst we can do is sell the food."

The businessmen were uncertain and hesitant, the landlords were uneasy and could not sleep, and the officials in the court were even more quarrelsome.

Some officials are firmly opposed to the warehouse tax and do not even mention the tax currency.

Some officials are opposed to the tax currency bill, but as for the warehouse tax, they remain neutral.

Some officials are opposed.

Some officials support it.

There are various positions, but generally speaking, most people are opposed to the warehouse tax. This is something that all landlords do not support. If a landlord does not hoard food, can he still be called a landlord?

If you force us to sell, it will inevitably hurt the farmers, and others will switch to other crops.

This seems to be back to the Qingli period, harassing the emperor every day and engaging in fatigue bombing.

It’s strange to say that no one bothered to pay attention to the Legislative Council.

Because they all know that this is really no small matter. If the emperor doesn't speak, your Legislative Council will dare to pass these two bills.

But this time they guessed wrong.

Fufu.

"What?"

Wen Yanbo was surprised: "Fu Gong plans to pass these two bills?"

Fu Bi nodded, "After our research, there is no problem with the evidence submitted by Xue Xiang. It is all true. We can find no reason to stop it."

Wen Yanbo said: "Is it the official order?"

Fu Bi shook his head and said: "The officials have not expressed their position yet, but I think they will definitely support it."

Wen Yanbo said: "If you do this, you will offend a lot of people. The opposition in the DPRK and China is becoming more and more fierce. Some people are even clamoring that if the court passes the warehouse tax, they will no longer grow food."

Fu Bi said: "But no one has ever told me this."

Wen Yanbo was stunned and said with a smile: "Does the rich man still care about this?"

"I don't care, but the Legislative Council must care."

Fu Bi frowned and said: "Now that politics and law are separated, the decision-making power of whether to pass or not lies with the Legislative Council. I had hoped that they could come to the Legislative Council to discuss it. If they presented strong evidence or said there was any inconvenience , we will all consider it, but the fact is that no one has ever thought of the Legislative Council."

Wen Yanbo said: "So the rich man wants to use this to establish his authority in the Legislative Council?"

Fu Bi nodded.

Wen Yanbo worried: "But this may arouse the resentment of many people, especially the warehouse tax, which many ministers are firmly opposed to."

Fu Bi said: "There is nothing we can do about it. This is my responsibility. I have also given them a chance. If I don't teach them some lessons this time, no one will take the Legislative Council seriously in the future. Here, the separation of politics and law is just empty talk."

Wen Yanbo glanced at Fu Bi in surprise.

Originally when Fu Bi returned to the court, he planned to support the emperor without fighting or grabbing. After all, he was old and he also knew that his era had passed. Wen Yanbo also knew this, but Wen Yanbo Unexpectedly, this public prosecutor's decision ignited Fu Bi's fighting spirit.

Given you the opportunity, you don't take me seriously. Do you really think that I am too old to carry a knife?

He told Wen Yanbo that it was purely out of friendship. In fact, Wen Yanbo had no control at all. The Political Affairs Hall and the Legislative Council were on the same level.

The only one who can control it is the emperor.

But Fu Bi knew very well that the emperor would definitely support it, so he decided to use these two bills to establish authority for the Legislative Council.

And he has already won the support of Zhao Pian, Sima Guang, and Xu Zun. Only Feng Jing is opposed. It’s not that Feng Jing really doesn’t support it, but that he is the censor Zhongcheng. Now many censors are very fiercely opposed. , he has to worry about his own identity.

But Feng Jing's opposition alone is of no use, and many judicial officials now serve in the public prosecutor's office, and Sima Guang controls the appointment of judicial officials.

So with the full support of Fu Bi, Zhao Pian, Xu Zun, Sima Guang and others, the two bills finally passed the Legislative Council.

This was really unexpected by everyone.

What's going on?

It just passed.

However, instead of reflecting, these officials felt that they had been stabbed in the back. Their opposition became more intense and they impeached them together with the Legislative Council.

The emperor has not even spoken, how dare you pass the Legislative Council?

You don't take the emperor seriously.

Many ministers even threatened to resign.

The people are also building momentum, and food prices are still soaring. If you charge warehouse taxes, I won't buy any food.

Zhao Xu, who had been silent for many days, finally summoned the ministers to Chui Gong Hall to discuss matters.

Inside the palace.

There was silence.

Because when the ministers came to Chui Gong Hall and were about to have a good talk, they suddenly found that there were fine wines and delicacies in the hall.

Isn’t it a matter of discussion?

Why are you holding a banquet?

Everyone stared at the delicious food on the table, feeling a little panicked. They had prepared a lot of things to say, but they didn't dare to say anything.

Zhao Xu, who was sitting on it, glanced at the ministers and asked, "Are you not satisfied with this dish?"

No one dared to answer.

Because no one knew what the emperor wanted to do.

Wen Yanbo replied: "Your Majesty, with the current disaster situation and the people not having enough to eat, the court should not be extravagant and wasteful. If this is spread, it will damage your Majesty's reputation. I hope your Majesty will think twice."

"Not bad for this meal."

Zhao Xu responded lightly, then looked up and sighed: "I still remember that Taizu hosted a banquet to entertain the heroes."

As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the ministers changed.

Brother, what are you saying is bad? What do you want to do when you say this?

The key point is that there are no generals here, they are all civil servants and dignitaries. Have you made the wrong choice?

Is the imitation of others?

Even Wang Anshi couldn't help but feel a little bit in his heart, and glanced sideways at Zhao Xu, only to realize that the emperor in front of him was so unfamiliar.

I also heard Zhao Xu say to himself: "At the banquet, Taizu promised to have meritorious officials, fertile land and beautiful houses, and wealth for generations. Do you think that the royal family has achieved this in more than a hundred years?"

The ministers nodded solemnly.

Discussing matters as they arise, we have indeed done so.

Zhao Xu nodded and said: "I don't dare to forget each other, so no matter how the imperial court reforms, I have not taken back the privileges in their hands. They are still rich and the family's wealth is increasing.

However, recently, I have been having trouble sleeping and eating. ”

Coming! coming!

It’s hard to sleep and eat again, can’t you say something else?

Isn’t it okay if I don’t object?

Some dignitaries kept wiping sweat from their silk handkerchiefs.

This statement is all too familiar.

I also heard Zhao Xu say: "Actually, I was present at the hearings on those two days. To be honest with you, I actually have doubts about the warehouse tax, and I even asked the Queen Mother for advice.

But what I didn’t expect was that I would encounter so many ministers’ objections, especially after the Legislative Council passed two bills. In this day, I received no less than a hundred memorials. It is these memorial orders I am so uneasy!

I can't help but wonder why you are so fiercely opposed. Is it because of wealth? Probably not. I have asked again and again. According to this bill, as long as you sell the grain, you do not need to pay the warehouse tax, and you are also exempt from commercial tax, and all the proceeds will belong to you.

The Legislative Council also stated that there are no problems with the two bills. So what is the reason why so many ministers in the DPRK and China even threatened to resign?

This reminds me of the rebellion case of Wu Tian in Qizhou two years ago. At that time, Qizhou was in turmoil and food prices soared. The people did not know where to buy food. However, the rebel Wu Tian bought food from the gentry and landlords. Get enough food in hand. Oh, it seems that the landlord Luo Hai is also a queen of meritorious service.

Yes! This food is more useful than money at critical times! Maybe you want more than just wealth. ”

Before he finished speaking, more than ten ministers quickly walked out of their seats, came to the middle, bowed and said: "I deserve death for my crime, please punish me."

Big beads of sweat kept dripping from their faces to the floor.

Zhao Xu looked at them for a while and said: "It's not even a crime that deserves death. I just want to tell you that I can't do without you for the wealth and honor that Taizu promised me, but I must not do anything else. Think more."