Northern Song Dynasty Justice

Chapter 199

It's really ironic to say that when Geng Ming's family was reunited, Wang Hong, who had been enjoying a lot of glory a few days ago, was escorted out of the capital by several government officials.

When Wang Hong looked back at the city gate, he couldn't believe it, how much he wished that all this was just a nightmare.

What a nightmare it all seemed.

is so unreal.

But a pen made this nightmare come true.

This time Zhang Fei didn't come to see him off in person, and stepped on him fiercely.

The reason is also very simple. When Wang Wenshan left, he was still an official, but he was transferred out. Of course, there was a sense of stepping on his feet, at least it was very refreshing!
This Wang Hong was dispatched to Qiongzhou, and he probably won't be able to come back, so it doesn't make much sense to step on it.

When Zhang Fei came, he didn't know what to say.

However, some people came to see them off.

Just two or three miles away from the capital, I saw four middle-aged men in Confucian shirts standing beside a small tea shop. Shi Lizhan.

If there is no one in Wang Hong's court, no matter how capable he is, it is impossible for him to rise so fast. He actually has many supporters in the court.

In fact, this incident was also arranged by them later.

Who knew that it was self-defeating and completely destroyed a rising political star.

Those yamen servants were also very sensible, and after receiving some rewards, they sat under the thatched shed next to them with wine and meat, and began to eat.

They had already expected that this job would be a fat job.

Along the way, anyone who wants to see Wang Hong must give them some benefits.

"Brother Wang, I'm really sorry, we've tried our best, but..."

When Li Zhan saw Wang Hong, he said with shame on his face.

Wang Hong didn't make a sound.

He was really in no mood to say anything.

Cao Han said: "Brother Wang, don't be too depressed. There is still a long, long distance from here to Qiongzhou. We have already made arrangements to make them walk slower and not let you on the road." Bear hardships, and at the same time, we will work hard in the court to try to ask the officials to change the sentence, so you should go to relax."

Hearing this, Wang Hong felt a little hope again, cupped his hands and said, "I'll leave it to you all."

He was very unwilling in his heart.

"Hi."

Gu Ji sighed annoyedly: "Unexpectedly, we have such a great minister, but we are still no match for a small Erbi. This is really... alas."

When talking about Zhang Fei, a look of resentment flashed in Wang Hong's eyes, "If I had known this, I should have slaughtered that little Er Bi. Maybe it would not be as miserable as it is now."

Shen Huai said filially: "The little Er pen is nothing at all, the key is the people behind him."

Gu Ji said: "You are talking about Xu Zhongtu?"

Shen Huaixiao waved his hands and said: "Then Xu Zhongtu is an honest man, at most he can only say a few words on the judiciary, and the rest of the time, he is basically silent. I mean Wang Jiefu. I have always supported that Erbi’s case is Wang Jiefu’s. Don’t you realize that every lawsuit that Erbi wins is in favor of Wang Jiefu.”

Cao Han nodded and said: "Brother Shen is right. After this lawsuit is over, the biggest winner is Wang Jiefu. Checking the land and paying taxes sounds nice, but in fact it is to enrich the national treasury. Isn't this what Wang Jiefu wants? Is it? You wait and see, this is just a test, and he will definitely carry out reforms on the land, and none of us can escape."

Li Zhan sighed: "It's a pity that the Sima University scholar wants to fight Wang Jiefu in the judiciary, but he can't fight. Is this the case that Fan Sijian wants to fight, and he loses once. If I were him, I would have resigned and returned to the court." It's not embarrassing to stay at home."

Several people complained angrily, but Wang Hong, who was the protagonist, remained silent.

Shen Huaixiao and the others looked at each other.

The elder Gu Ji comforted him: "Brother Wang, this is the end of the matter, you must take care of your body, so that the green hills are here and there is no need to worry about firewood!"

Wang Hong was startled, looked up at them, and said, "Everyone, don't worry, I, Wang Hong, won't be knocked down just now, but you just talked about checking the land and paying taxes?"

Shen Huaixiao nodded and said: "The imperial court wants to use this lawsuit to clear the land in Kaifeng and Xiangfu counties. Although many people feel dissatisfied, there is nothing they can do. If the people's grievances are not appeased, it will be difficult to deal with it."

Wang Hong suddenly turned his head and looked thoughtfully at the farmers who were working hard in the fields in the distance.

Cao Han was quite familiar with Wang Hong, and asked, "Brother Wang, what are you thinking?"

Wang Hong turned around and smiled coldly: "This matter is not over yet."

Shen Huaixiao cheered up, "How do you say that?"

Wang Hongdao: "Everyone should know that the vast majority of big landlords lease their land to tenant farmers for cultivation."

Several people nodded.

Wang Hongdao: "As far as I know, the contracts they sign with tenant farmers are generally divided into two types. One is to share the income [-]-[-]; taxes."

Gu Ji said: "Those tenant farmers usually pay the full amount of tax, and these fields will not have any problems."

Wang Hong said with a smile: "That is tax-paid land, and there are also a large number of tax-free land, which are also leased to tenant farmers for cultivation, but those landlords are not cheap to those tenant farmers. They just exempt taxes and include them in the rent. If the taxes are to be pursued, then who should bear this part of the tax revenue?"

Shen Huaixiao frowned slightly: "Those big landlords will definitely let the tenant farmers bear the burden."

Wang Hong said with a smile: "When those tenant farmers paid the rent, they had actually paid at least half of the tax. Now the imperial court wants to conduct a thorough investigation and make up for the land tax, which means that these tenant farmers have to pay another tax. This is really to appease the people's grievances ?"

Several people looked at each other in blank dismay, and all laughed.

Bianjing Law Firm.

"Yo! They're all back!"

When Zhang Fei returned to Bianjing Law Firm, he saw that the shop, which had been silent for half a month, suddenly became lively. Erbis were all busy in the shop, and Fan Li didn't stay at the counter to swatting flies.

"Zhang Sanlang!"

"Brother Zhang!"

When everyone saw Zhang Fei coming, they gathered around immediately.

"We shouldn't have blamed Saburo before."

"Yeah! It's because we are ignorant, Saburo is wrong."

"Actually, we are all responsible for this matter. We have to do things after we take the money. How can we blame Saburo entirely."

One sentence from you, one sentence from me, everyone apologized to Zhang Fei with shame on their faces.

They all went to see the lawsuit, they witnessed Zhang Fei seeking justice for them, they were moved, but also full of guilt, Zhang Fei shouldn't be allowed to bear all this alone.

Therefore, after the lawsuit was over, they immediately stopped their vacation and returned to the store at the same time.

But Zhang Fei said: "I compensated you at the beginning just because I was indeed wrong in that matter, and there is nothing worth discussing so far. As for me to seek justice for you, that is a matter of course, so you don't need to Apologize to me and don't need to feel guilty.

The only thing we have to reflect on is to gain wisdom from a pitfall. Although the current court allows us to continue to calculate taxes, we still have to think carefully and not act rashly.! "

Just as he was talking, a gust of wind blew past him.

Fan Li whispered: "It seems to be a Bachelor of Sima University."

Eating two meals is really a technical job!Zhang Fei sighed secretly, and then said to them: "You guys discuss it carefully first, what kind of problems will you encounter in this tax calculation business, and then we will hold a meeting to discuss it."

"Yes! We know."

Everyone nodded in unison, and their expressions became more relaxed.

They also gradually figured out Zhang Fei's temperament, he has the same attitude towards himself and others, if they do something wrong, Zhang Fei will scold them bloody.

But Zhang Fei himself did something wrong. Although no one scolded him, he would punish himself and try his best to make up for it.

This, on the contrary, relieved them of some burdens.

Everyone is the same, there is nothing to complain about.

It is still the words of the sage Confucius, don't worry about the few but the uneven.

The same is true of the workplace.

After explaining, Zhang Fei instructed Fan Li again: "Without my permission, no one can go to the backyard."

Fan Li nodded.

Zhang Fei wiped off his sweat, then walked nervously to the backyard.

When he came to the backyard, Zhang Fei saluted Sima Guang, "My little man, Zhang Fei, has seen Sima University."

Sima Guang turned his head and stared: "In the courtroom, did those last words help you win this lawsuit?"

Zhang Fei said awkwardly, "A little bit."

Sima Guang said: "Wang Jiefu ordered you to say that?"

"No."

Zhang Fei shook his head.

"Not what you said?"

Sima Guang jumped up immediately, "The key point is that what you said was generalized, taken out of context, and made no sense at all. Who said that wealth is hidden from the people, but only those big landlords and squires? You are simply talking nonsense. .”

Although his judicial reform has been promoted, his political philosophy is still the Confucian set of light corvee and low tax, and wealth is stored in the people. If you deny this, then he doesn't even want to be an official.

He is not greedy for money, nor is he lustful. Like Wang Anshi, he wants to promote his own political ideas.

The key point is that when Wang Anshi met him recently, he began to chant scriptures, hiding wealth from the people and hiding wealth from the people.

It really pissed him off.

You must know that Sima Guang was able to fight this lawsuit at the beginning, and he also contributed to it. He did not oppose it with all his strength, and the reason was Zhang Fei.

As a result, he was stabbed in the back by this kid.

The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get, I have to talk to Zhang Fei, where are you from?

Zhang Fei explained: "I didn't generalize and take the meaning out of context, but there is a problem with hiding wealth from the people."

Sima Guang saw that this kid was still fighting with him, and asked Zhang Fei aggressively: "What's the problem? What's the problem? Do you understand why this old man insists on sacrificing corvee and sacrificing taxes, and hiding wealth for the people?"

This old man is crazy!Zhang Fei couldn't help stepping back, and said, "Scholar Sima, please calm down first, and listen to my explanation, of course I understand that Grand Scholar Sima hides wealth from the people."

Sima Guang pointed at Zhang Fei and said, "Then tell me."

"Scholar Sima, please sit down."

"Don't sit!"

Sima Guang said angrily: "Do you know that it's because of your words, that Wang Jiefu...!"

"What's the matter with Master Wang?" Zhang Fei asked gossipingly.

Sima Guang said: "Don't change the subject, talk about yourself."

That old man Wang is really good, it's enough to get a bargain, but he has to anger this old man, and it's me who suffers.Zhang Fei nodded, and explained: "Since ancient times, when landlords and gentry were exploited, the common people would only suffer more."

Sima Guang snorted, "You know you still say that."

Feudal society is also a class society, not a legal society, and there is no concept of equality for everyone. The reason why the emperor collects taxes from landlords is that I am in a higher class.

This is why property redistribution is very difficult in feudal society.

Transferring taxes from the civilian class to the landlord class is tantamount to letting the water of the dam flow from bottom to top.

But how is this possible.

Therefore, as long as the country increases tax revenue, no matter how you play, it will eventually be transferred to the bottom.

If the big landlords live well, the people may not necessarily live well, but if the land is mainly doing badly, the people must live worse.

Maybe for a certain period of time, the people can get a respite, but it will soon become worse than before.

Sima Guang read history books every day and compiled Zizhi Tongjian, so he thought that the best way was to lighten the corvee and thin the tax, and store the wealth in the people.

Zhang Fei said: "But the facts have proved that the current system of hiding wealth from the people actually has many problems. This is tantamount to slow death."

Sima Guang said excitedly, "That's better than Wang Jiefu's immediate death."

Zhang Fei immediately said: "So the Sima University scholar is just choosing the lesser of two evils?"

Sima Guang was taken aback, and snorted, "I never said that. Taking history as a mirror, sacrificing corvee and sacrificing wealth, and hiding wealth among the people is the only way to achieve long-term peace and stability."

Zhang Fei nodded and said, "I agree with these eight words very much, but how does Grand Master Sima explain Wei Yushan's phenomenon?"

Sima Guang said: "This black sheep is inevitable. There are many corrupt officials even in the court, but you can't generalize and think that the gentry and landlords are all from Wei Yushan's generation. There are still many gentry and landlords. Those who understand righteousness, let’s say that Geng Ming is also a landlord, so if the wealth is in the hands of people like Geng Ming, wouldn’t it be good?”

Zhang Fei said with a smile: "Actually, Grand Master Sima has already pointed out that the biggest problem of hiding wealth from the people is now."

Sima Guang was stunned, "What's the problem?"

Zhang Fei said: "It's the morality of Confucianism."

(End of this chapter)