Northern Song Dynasty Justice

Chapter 219 Life and Death and Taxes
After talking with Wang Anshi, Zhang Fei called Fan Li and the others to deal with the aftermath, while he went home with Xu Zhiqian.

Ten thousand?

For Fan Li, this is the biggest deal he has ever done in his life. Calculated according to the share, the firm can also get a profit of [-] yuan.

He couldn't make so much money a year before!

But for him, Zhang Fei's business is always painful and joyful.

More than 100 people were prosecuted at one time, and all of them were well-known figures in Kaifeng County and Xiangfu County.

This..

Can this really work?

Inside the carriage.

"What are you thinking?"

Xu Zhiqian couldn't help asking when she saw Zhang Fei's serious face and silence.

Zhang Fei turned his head to look at her, and said with a smile, "I know what you're thinking, but I'm sure it's not the same thing as you."

Xu Zhiqian asked, "How do you know?"

Zhang Fei said: "You must be thinking about the tenant farmers?"

Xu Zhiqian nodded slightly.

Zhang Fei said: "This is actually the last thing to worry about in this case. If we can really convict those big landlords, we will have the qualifications to negotiate with the landlords.

According to the laws and regulations of our court, tax evasion and tax evasion, and the circumstances are serious, can be punished with a cane up to [-], so that they can avoid the pain of flesh and blood, and in exchange for them to bear the little tax for those tenant farmers, they will definitely agree.

Because they just don't agree, they have to bear almost all the taxes and fines. "

yes!Instead, you can use punishment to trade with him.Xu Zhiqian looked happy, but then asked again: "Then what are you thinking?"

Zhang Fei smiled wryly, "I was thinking that it's really not easy for Master Wang!"

Xu Zhiqian pouted, "Who said otherwise?"

After a pause, she asked again: "If it really goes to court, can this lawsuit be won?"

"Tax lawsuits are actually the most cumbersome."

Zhang Fei glanced at those books, "One hundred and eight, with this little account, I am afraid that at most it can only meet the standard of prosecution. If you want to win a sure win, it may not be enough."

As he spoke, he pondered again.

After Xu Zhiqian saw it, she didn't bother him anymore.

When the carriage stopped, Xu Zhiqian saw that Zhang Fei was still thinking, so she couldn't help saying: "Zhang San, we are here."

"what?"

Zhang Fei was startled, and looked at Xu Zhiqian, "What did you say?"

Xu Zhiqian blinked, "I'm home."

"Oh."

"Get out of the car."

When we got off the carriage, it was already completely dark.

A lantern was raised at the door.

Just as Xu Zhiqian was about to ask, Zhang Fei was thinking about something just now, when he suddenly saw a person standing at the door, he was taken aback, and looked at Zhang Fei again.

Zhang Fei happened to look at her too, "Let's go to your house first!"

When I came to Xu's house, I saw Xu Zun sitting in the hall talking with a young man.

This young man is none other than Emperor Shenzong.

After Zhang Fei came back, Xu Zun's father and daughter left very wisely. They knew that the emperor came here for only one reason, and that was to come to Zhang Fei.

It's not worth coming here to find Xu Zun.

"Did Scholar Wang go to you just now?" Zhao Xu asked directly.

Zhang Fei nodded, and then looked at Zhao Xu suspiciously, "Why did Your Majesty lend money to Grand Scholar Wang?"

The implication is that we have already discussed the countermeasures, using tabloids to kidnap morality, force those scholar-officials to come forward, and make those landlords compromise.

Zhao Xu asked without answering, "Did you take it?"

Zhang Fei said with a sneer: "Xiaomin opened the door to do business, so I have to accept it!"

Zhao Xu asked again: "Then are you sure?"

Zhang Fei thought for a while, "I'm not sure right now."

Zhao Xu asked, "Why?"

Zhang Fei said: "Because the accounts provided by Master Wang are very limited and not detailed enough. If it is said to be handed over directly to the government, the government will send people to search, which may be useful, but it is not enough to go to court. Because the court The theory is about evidence, and it must be perfect, once the other party finds a loophole, it will be very passive."

Zhao Xu asked: "What if more evidence can be found?"

Zhang Fei said: "Of course we can win the fight. But... but can this really be brought to court?"

Zhao Xu showed hesitation on his face, and after a while, he sighed: "When Xueshi Wang came to me to borrow money, I was actually very entangled, after all, we have already figured out the countermeasures.

But Wang Xueshi's words made me change my mind. "

Zhang Fei asked, "What are you talking about?"

Zhao Xu said: "If you can't even collect the legal tax revenue, then what's the point of reforming the law? Therefore, Wang Xueshi thinks that this matter is God's help for him. If he can't pass this hurdle, the new law is promulgated, and it is meaningless, because They can also figure out ways to transfer tax revenues to ordinary people."

This is actually an important reason for the failure of the new law.Zhang Fei nodded slightly

Zhao Xu said again: "Actually, I have been thinking about this issue these days. There are complicated reasons why legal taxes cannot be raised. Local gentry, local officials, court officials, royal relatives, monks, Taoist priests, the relationship between them It's intertwined, and it affects the whole body. Even if I come forward in person, I will encounter great resistance, but if I can appeal to the court, I can cut it off with a single knife."

Tax collection in the feudal era was all a power game. Facing the entangled landlord class, the emperor had more than enough heart and power.

That's why they decided to play outside the box.

But that was only a temporary solution, not the root cause. Moral kidnapping was only temporary. After a few months, everyone danced and sang again. At that time, Zhao Xu's thoughts were to pass this hurdle first.

But now the situation has changed, that is, there is an additional option to sue, which was not available before. People dare not sue, and they can't sue. Officials can only sue, but suing is also a political game.

But the prosecution is different. In the case of a prosecution, both parties must present evidence.

The game of power has changed from whether to pay taxes or not to whether the lawsuit can be accepted.

Arguing for the latter would certainly be in their interest.

Because the essence of the former is not a legal issue, but a money issue. It is arguing whether the court should ask for the money. Even if it is a legal tax collection, they can refute it from the benevolent government. If the people can’t pay it, you force them to rebel. ?
And the scope of the attack is wider, as long as you order, it will definitely be all cleared up.

The latter is not an issue of money, but a judicial issue. Even if I sued them for breaking the law, I didn't ask for their money.

The judge can rule them not to pay taxes.

And the scope of attack is very narrow, only one hundred and eight, one hundred and nine, even if it is tax evasion, he is not breaking the law, because no one will prosecute him, and the imperial court has not issued a government order to investigate.

One is a decree and the other is a judgment, which are completely different things.

After finishing speaking, Zhao Xu saw that Zhang Fei was silent, so he said again: "You also said at the beginning that only the legal system can enrich the people and strengthen the country. If the tax law is difficult to implement, there will be no other things to talk about."

Don't talk about anything without money.

Wang Anshi's reform is also to make money for the country.

Zhang Fei was startled, and hurriedly said: "I am dissatisfied with Your Majesty, I have been thinking about this issue on the way back just now."

Zhao Xu asked, "What do you think?"

Zhang Fei said: "It's not impossible to do this, but to govern the country, you must first govern the officials."

Zhao Xu wanted to cry but said without tears: "I can't wait any longer."

Zhang Fei said: "As far as the tax inspection is concerned, it can actually be completed quickly."

Zhao Xu cheered up and said, "How do you say that?"

Zhang Fei said: "Just now I said that I am not fully sure about this lawsuit. The reason is that the accounts provided by Senior Scholar Wang are limited, and the reason why Senior Scholar Wang cannot provide more complete accounts is because there is no strong tax inspection office."

Zhao Xu was startled: "The tax office?"

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "If you want to go to court and legalize taxation, evidence is the most important thing, so Your Majesty must set up a very powerful tax inspection department, otherwise, this is just a single case and cannot last long. "

Zhao Xu hurriedly said: "The imperial court has a yamen dedicated to tax inspection, and there are many more, such as the third department, the transshipment envoy, and the local government. They all have the power to investigate taxes."

Zhang Fei said with a chuckle: "Your Majesty, can they be called tax inspections? At best, they are just a group of strong and fearful thugs with no technical content. It would be strange to rely on them to do tax inspections."

The corners of Zhao Xu's mouth twitched a few times. You look down on the government office, who gave you the confidence, and asked a little uncomfortably: "Then tell me, how can it be called a tax inspection."

Zhang Fei said: "I think the minimum standard should also be to collect taxes from those grassroots."

".?"

Zhao Xu was stunned for a while, and asked dully: "How can the grass bandits pay taxes?"

Zhang Fei asked back, "Why don't the grassroots pay taxes?"

Zhao Xu said: "The grass bandits are doing illegal things. If they are caught, it will be a criminal case. Who cares whether they pay taxes or not."

Zhang Fei said: "Your Majesty is very unprofessional to think so."

Zhao Xu was displeased, "Unprofessional?"

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "It's two different things. Illegal is illegal, and tax money has to be paid. The grass bandit builds a house on the mountain and has to pay the deed tax. The grass bandit goes down the mountain to buy wine and meat and has to pay tax. This is the same as breaking the law and paying taxes. Doesn't matter."

Zhao Xu laughed angrily and said, "You are just talking nonsense. You have already turned into bandits, and they will still pay the deed tax?"

Zhang Fei said: "It depends on whether the tax inspection office is strong enough, as long as it is strong enough, the grassroots must pay taxes obediently."

Zhao Xu said: "There are some grassroots bandits that the officers and soldiers can't do anything about. Maybe this tax office is stronger than the officers and soldiers."

"It's a must!"

Zhang Fei said: "If the officers and soldiers are not as strong as they are, then why do we need to investigate. The most difficult thing in this world is not to fight wars, but to collect taxes. No matter how powerful the Han and Tang Dynasties were, they couldn't collect taxes legally."

Zhao Xu blinked and asked, "Then can we do it?"

Zhang Fei said: "Your Majesty can only do it if you are determined enough, and I can also provide you with some solutions."

"No need."

Zhao Xu waved his hand, "I'll leave it to you to do it."

"what?"

Zhang Fei hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I'm Erbi. I'm good at speaking, and I can make suggestions, but you let me do the execution, which is a bit difficult for others. As for my servant Xiaotao, every morning in spring, I sit in the yard. bask in the sun and eat candied fruit."

Zhao Xu snorted and said, "It was easy for you to say it just now. You called my officials rascals, and you called my officers and soldiers worthless. I want to see how powerful you are."

Zhang Fei cried: "Your Majesty, I will just talk about it."

"Tell me?"

Zhao Xu snorted and said, "You can only say this. Neither Wang Jiefu nor Sima Jun dared to let go of such wild words. You are not the only one to do it. Think about how you can raise the tax revenue of the grassroots, I will fully cooperate with you."

Before Zhang Fei could open his mouth, he continued, "There's also the matter of the tabloid. I don't intend to let it go. I'll save it for emergencies, and I'll leave it to you to arrange it."

".?"

Zhang Fei coughed a few times: "Your Majesty, we will talk about this matter later, let's get things done first. If we really want to file a lawsuit, the accounts are not perfect. Your Majesty must first secretly send someone to search for more evidence."

Zhao Xu snorted and said, "I will send someone to contact you tomorrow, you can arrange it yourself, I am not as capable as you, and I can't collect the tax from that grassroots bandit."

It's over!This cowhide seems to be blown up a bit.

(End of this chapter)