Northern Song Dynasty Justice

Chapter 237
Facing the boos all over the sky, Mr. Lu was a little embarrassed to shoot the gavel.

It can't be said, stop arguing, people are going to flatter our court.

How disgusting that sounds!
Written by Lu Gong, who is upright and upright, I really can't afford to lose this man.

I also complained about Zhang Fei in my heart. Forget about your flattering skills. The timing you picked shouldn't be too bad, and you will not be able to control yourself.

After a while, when their hisses subsided, he slapped the gavel twice, and shouted weakly: "Silence! Silence!"

It gradually became quiet in front of the door.

Lu Gong looked at Zhang Fei meaningfully.

Talk about the case, don't flatter.

The more you shoot, the dirtier it gets.

The shit on this ass needs to be wiped, not patted.

Don't you understand?
Zhang Feiquan acted as if he hadn't seen it, stood up, and said solemnly: "Yesterday, Du Shaojing, Li Dacai and others told about the suffering of the tenant farmers, and the culprit was the imperial court.

Yes, almost all of what they said was true, but the reason for this was the progress of the imperial court, not the regress. "

"My God!"

Xu Zhiqian saw that Zhang Fei could say such heartless words, she couldn't help lowering her head and raising her forehead, I am not very familiar with this guy.

Lu Gong's ears turned red when he heard it, and he said in an inconceivable tone: "So far?"

Han Qi, Fu Bi, Sima Guang and others looked at Zhang Fei in surprise.

What is this progress for?

"Yes."

Zhang Fei nodded and said: "The imperial court is making progress. It is these landlords who want to hold back the progress of the imperial court, so that there are so many grievances."

Speaking of this, he looked around, "Everyone, don't forget that tenant farmers have existed since ancient times, and it is not exclusive to our dynasty, but the form and name of existence are different.

In the Han Dynasty, tenant farmers were equivalent to slaves and maidservants. They could not leave their masters casually and had no household registration. Their wives and children were all vassals of the main household.In the Wei, Jin, Sui and Tang Dynasties, the tenants were called trilogy, and there is also a clear interpretation of the law in "Tang Law Shu Yi". "

He looked down at the copywriting and read: "'I have no return since I was a child, and I have devoted myself to clothing and food, and my master uses them as slaves. And when I grow up, because of marrying a wife, such people follow the master and have no household registration. If This class is called a part.'”

He raised his head and said to Lu Gong: "It can be seen that Buqu has no household registration, and even marrying a wife requires the consent of the master. The master can give it to him at will, or even kill it, and it is not illegal.

But our dynasty, first of all, our dynasty granted household registration to tenant farmers, the so-called "everyone is registered as a household, and there is no upper or lower trend". .

Secondly, during the Renzong Dynasty, Emperor Renzong once issued an amnesty decree, "Customers can move, let alone take the owner's proof." In other words, the law will ensure that customers can move at will, leave the main household, and even Work hard, buy land and become a landlord.Isn't this an improvement over the past? "

Lu Gong stroked his beard, but did not make a sound.

This is certainly progress.

Han Qi, Fu Bi and the others couldn't help showing a hint of relief.

If we compare vertically, the Song Dynasty has indeed made great progress in the legislation of masters and slaves, and we should be proud of it.

After all, except for Zhang Fei, who knows what will happen in the future.

"Take this case as an example."

Zhang Fei was eloquent, "Although Zhu Erjiu is Du Shaojing's tenant slave, in the legal sense, the relationship between them is still a subject-guest relationship, but Du Shaojing cleverly used the usury method to turn them into a real relationship." tenant slave.

From a legal point of view, they were only paying off their debts, not being enslaved. As long as they paid off their debts, Zhu Erjiu would immediately become an ordinary citizen.

This is all because of the court's legal protection, not because of Du Shaojing's kindness. "

After these words, everyone was thoughtful.

If in the past, do you still need to play this usury?
The key point is that you don’t have to borrow usury. Whether you borrow it or not is voluntary and forced by others, and you can leave as long as you pay it off.

But in the Tang Dynasty, once the trilogy was performed, they were not even eligible to pay back the money.

"You're playing tricks, Gu Zuo said to him."

Li Lei on the opposite side suddenly stood up, "Yesterday, it wasn't about this matter, but about the court's tax collection. Don't confuse the public here."

As soon as these words came out, everyone seemed to be enlightened, and immediately woke up.

Right!

What was said yesterday was not about this matter, what was said was that Li Sancai and other tenants would rather pay high rent than pay taxes, because the imperial court's taxes were so high that it was frightening.

How do you wash it?
You can't just compare vertically, but not horizontally.

Avoid the heavy and take the light!
Faced with the other party's doubts, Zhang Fei couldn't help smiling slightly: "I implore the prefect's witness, Chen Feng, to testify in court, and then everything will be revealed."

Who is Chen Feng?

Li Guozhong and the others looked at each other in blank dismay.

Never heard of this person!

Rao Sima Guang, Wen Yanbo and others are also at a loss. Is there any truth to this matter that is on the table?
Only Wang Anshi watched it with relish. He just wanted to collect money for the country and discredit the court. This was not the result he wanted.

Lu Gong was also very curious and eager to hear the truth, so he immediately sent Chen Feng to testify.

After a while, I saw a middle-aged man in his forties coming to the hall. He was wearing a robe, and he didn't look like an ordinary farmer.

He bowed to Lu Gong and went to the witness stand.

Zhang Fei stood up and asked, "Chen Feng, where are you from?"

Chen Feng replied: "I am a second-class household in Xiaqu Township, Kaifeng County."

"Second class household?"

Zhang Fei asked: "Then you can serve in the Yaqian Army?"

Chen Fengdao: "Seven years ago, I served as the village official in Xiaqu Township."

Zhang Fei said: "What are you responsible for?"

Chen Feng replied: "A reminder to pay taxes."

Zhang Fei nodded, and said again: "Then do you know Li Sancai?"

Chen Feng nodded and said: "Yes, he is also from our village."

Zhang Fei nodded, and asked again: "Li Sancai once said that he paid three times the tax, is it true?"

Hearing this, Cen Yuanli, Yu Zaishen and the others couldn't help but look back at Lu Gong's work.

Let's take a step back.

Yesterday, Mr. Lu wanted to investigate Li Sancai's triple tax payment. Obviously, there was no need for this. Zhang San had already helped them investigate.

Chen Feng thought for a while, and replied: "I don't know exactly whether there are three times, but he must have paid a lot of tax money."

Zhang Fei wondered, "Why are you so sure?"

Chen Feng said with embarrassment: "I was the one who called for the payment."

As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar in front of the courtyard.

Aren't you throwing yourself into a trap?

And isn't that what Li Sancai said yesterday?
"quiet!"

Lu Gong patted the gavel.

Quiet immediately in front of the courtyard, at this time you have to close the door for trial, then who can sleep tonight must give us the result.

After the silence calmed down, Zhang Fei asked again: "Why do you ask Li San so much for tax money?"

Chen Feng sighed, "I can't help it either."

"No way?" Zhang Fei asked curiously, "How do you say that?"

Chen Fengdao: "Because the government collects taxes according to the cadastre, but many big landlords don't pay taxes, so they can only be shared by other farmers in the village. I also share some, but if I don't ask them to ask for more taxes, I will have to pay them all." I can't afford it alone."

Zhang Fei asked again: "Then do you still remember, who was Li Sancai paying the taxes for?"

Chen Feng said: "Du Shaojing."

Zhang Fei asked in surprise, "Why did you answer so quickly?"

Chen Fengdao: "Because Li Sancai's village is surrounded by Du's fields, and it is the same now, so don't think too much."

Zhang Fei suddenly realized and nodded, "I'm done asking."

This is really a big reversal!
Discussions suddenly sounded outside the door.

Dare to love Li Sancai to help Du Shaojing bear the tax, which led him to become Du Shaojing's tenant farmer.

This..

Du Shaojing listened to those discussions, bowed his head, showing shamelessness.

If I had known this earlier, it would have been better to pay the taxes back then. Those people above were really useless.

There is no way, the handle has been seized by the emperor, so we can only fight the law.

Li Lei stood up and said, "Brother Chen, did you ever collect taxes from the Du family?"

Chen Feng shook his head and said, "No."

Li Lei said: "It's you who didn't urge the payment and didn't perform your duties. How can you say that the Du family didn't pay taxes?"

Zhang Fei leaned back, and said in a low voice to Qiu Zhengwen and others: "At this time, we must object, because his words are inductive."

Qiu Zhengwen asked back: "Then why doesn't the third brother object?"

"Forget it, let me demonstrate it to you."

Zhang Fei stood up suddenly, "I object. The other party's question is obviously inductive, hoping to induce my witness to admit that it is my negligence. But the fact is that Du Shaojing has just admitted to tax evasion, using Bai Qi, monk Dao, female household, and other means."

Li Lei argued with reason: "I did not deny Du Yuanwai's responsibility, but it does not mean that this witness is not responsible for negligence of duty."

Lu Gong pondered for a while, and suddenly asked Chen Feng: "Why didn't you collect taxes from the Du family?"

Zhang Fei sat down.

Qiu Zhengwen asked: "Third brother, your trick is not easy to use!"

Zhang Fei said: "You are stupid! In a lawsuit, you have to use every opportunity to defend your employer. If you don't object, how can you remind everyone that Du Shaojing admitted the fact that he evaded taxes in advance? This is very important to us. Very beneficial."

Qiu Zhengwen nodded and looked at Chen Feng again.

Chen Feng replied: "Because Zeng Youli went to his house to collect taxes, but he couldn't collect them at all. A lot of land in his family has untransferred white deeds, so he can only collect taxes from the previous owners of the land. In all likelihood, the head of the household has already left, and can only be shared by other farmers. There are also some lands that are placed under the name of situation households, and we can’t afford to mess with them.”

Situation households are tax-exempt households, and most of them have official backgrounds, either scholar-bureaucrats or generals of the Imperial Army.

Zhang Fei immediately stood up again, "This coincides with what Du Shaojing said before."

Li Lei sat down in frustration.

Li Guozhong comforted: "Forget it, you have tried your best."

There was no way, Du Shaojing had already confessed everything before, and he didn't dare to refute. On this point, he could not win the opponent.

Zhang Fei looked around and said loudly: "The truth has come to light. It is true that the imperial court has indeed targeted some people and collected more taxes, but the root cause is that many big landlords like Du Shaojing have exhausted all means. Taxes are transferred to the people one by one, making the people unable to bear them, and thus become their tenants, or even their tenant slaves.

Is there any fault in the imperial court? Yes, but this is the only way in the process of improvement. For example, Emperor Renzong hoped to give the tenants the right to move freely, which is definitely beneficial to the people, but the landlord used usury to force the tenants to become In the true sense of the word.The court still needs to improve, but this is definitely not what the court wants. "

While speaking, Xu Zhiqian handed Zhang Fei a copy.Zhang Fei took over the copy, "This is the tax situation of Xiaqu Township in the past three years, but compared with the tax income stipulated in the cadastre, there is still a lot of difference. In other words, if everyone pays taxes according to law, the income of the court will Much more than now.

It can be seen that the imperial court is also one of the victims. Even in terms of its own interests, the imperial court cannot hope to see this situation. I also believe that after this case, the imperial court will immediately improve this point. "

"well said!"

Wang Anshi shouted excitedly when he heard this.

It's really worth the ten thousand pennies.

When he shouted, the people outside the door also booed and applauded.

It's not that everyone has no grievances in their hearts, but everyone still hopes that the imperial court can improve. The key point is that they can only count on the imperial court to improve, not the benevolence and justice of those landlords.

But many officials have mixed feelings.

It’s not good, it’s not good.

I could only try my best to squeeze out a gratifying smile, but my mouth felt as uncomfortable as eating shit, and my eye sockets seemed to be stuffed with stones, making me feel uncomfortable and want to cry.

But I can't cry.

Zhang Fei blinked at Xu Zhiqian.

Xu Zhiqian spat: "What are you proud of? It's been more than a quarter of an hour."

Zhang Fei asked in surprise, "Really?"

Xu Zhiqian said: "Of course it's true. Oh, tell me yours first, and we'll talk about it later."

"Oh."

Zhang Fei nodded, and said to Lu Gong: "On behalf of the imperial court, I will pursue Du Shaojing's tax of 50 guan."

"One million pennies?"

Du Shaojing jumped up from the chair, his eyes went dark, and he passed out.

(End of this chapter)