It is really ironic to say that when Geng Ming's family was reunited, Wang Hong, who had been in great glory a few days ago, was being 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 hoped that this was all just a nightmare.
What a nightmare it all is.
It's so unreal.
But an ear pen made this nightmare come true.
This time Zhang Fei did not come to see him off in person, but stepped on him severely.
The reason is also very simple. When Wang Wenshan left, he was still an official, but he was just transferred out. Of course, it meant stepping on him, at least it was very satisfying!
This Wang Hong was sent to Qiongzhou, and he probably won't be able to come back, so there is little point in stepping on him.
Zhang Fei came and didn't know what to say.
However, some people came to see him off.
Just two or three miles out of the capital, I saw four middle-aged men in Confucian shirts standing next to a small tea shop. They were Gu Ji, the judge of Taifu Temple, Shen Huaixiao, the judge of salt and iron, and Cao Han, the transfer envoy. and Li Zhan, the imperial censor.
To say that Wang Hong has no one in the court, no matter how capable he is, he would not be able to rise so quickly. In fact, he has many supporters in the court.
In fact, they arranged this incident later.
However, it was self-defeating and completely destroyed a rising political star.
Those yamen officials were also very sensible. After receiving some reward money, they took wine and meat and sat under the thatched hut next to them and started eating.
They had long expected that this job would be a fat one.
Along the way, anyone who wants to see Wang Hong must give them some benefits.
"Brother Wang, I'm really sorry. We have tried our best, but..."
Li Zhan said with shame when he saw Wang Hong.
Wang Hong said nothing.
He really wasn't in the mood to say anything.
Cao Han said: "Brother Wang, don't be too frustrated. There is still a long, long distance from here to Qiongzhou. We have already made some arrangements to make them go slower and we will not let you on the road." Those who endure hardship, at the same time we will work hard in court to ask the officials to change the sentence, so you can just go and 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 in annoyance: "I didn't expect that we have so many ministers, but we are still no match for a small ear pen. This is really... alas..."
When talking about Zhang Fei, Wang Hong's eyes flashed with resentment, "If I had known this, I should have killed that little ear pen, maybe it wouldn't be as miserable as it is now."
Shen Huaixiao said: "The little ear pen is nothing at all, the key is the person behind it."
Gu Ji said: "Are you 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 about justice, and the rest of the time he is basically silent. I am talking about Wang Jiefu. All the time, at the back Those who support Na Er Bi are all Wang Jiefu. Haven’t you noticed that every lawsuit Na Er Bi fights is in favor of Wang Jiefu.”
Cao Han nodded and said: "Brother Shen is right. After this lawsuit is over, the biggest winner will be Wang Jiefu. Checking the land and paying taxes sounds nice, but in fact it is just to enrich the treasury. Isn't this what Wang Jiefu wants?" ? Just wait and see, this is just a test, he will definitely carry out land reforms by then, and none of us can escape."
Li Zhan sighed: "It's a pity that Sima University has to fight Wang Jiefu in the judiciary. He can't fight. Is this the case that Fan Sijian wants to fight? In the end, he loses every time. If I were him, I would have resigned and returned home." It’s not a shame to stay at home.”
...
Several people complained angrily, but as the protagonist, Wang Hong, remained silent.
Shen Huaixiao and others looked at each other.
The elder Gu Ji comforted him: "Brother Wang, now that the matter has come to this, you must take care of yourself so that you can keep the green hills without worrying about having firewood!"
Wang Hong was startled, looked up at them, and said: "Don't worry, everyone, I, Wang Hong, will not be defeated just now, but you just mentioned that you would check the land and pay taxes?"
Shen Huaixiao nodded and said: "The imperial court is using this lawsuit to inventory land in Kaifeng and Xiangfu counties. Although many people are dissatisfied, there is nothing they can do. If they don't appease the people's complaints, it will be difficult to do business."
Wang Hong suddenly turned his head and looked thoughtfully at the farmers working hard in the fields in the distance.
Cao Han was familiar with Wang Hong and asked, "Brother Wang, what are you thinking about?"
Wang Hong turned around and smiled coldly: "This matter is not over yet."
Shen Huaixiao perked up and asked, "How do you say this?"
Wang Hongdao: "Everyone should know that the vast majority of large landowners lease their land to tenant farmers for farming."
Several people nodded.
Wang Hongdao: "As far as I know, there are generally two types of contracts they sign with tenant farmers. One is a 50-50 share of the income; the other is a fixed amount of rent. But no matter what kind it is, most landlords ask the tenant farmers to bear the burden. Taxes.”
Gu Ji said: "Those tenant farmers usually pay their taxes in full, so there won't be any problems with these fields."
Wang Hong said with a smile: "That is tax-paying land, and there is also a large amount of tax-free land, which is also rented to tenant farmers for farming. However, those landlords did not make it easier for the tenant farmers. They just exempted the taxes and included them in the rent. Now the court If taxes are to be investigated, who should bear this part of the tax revenue?”
Shen Huaixiao frowned slightly: "Those big landowners will definitely let the tenant farmers bear the responsibility."
Wang Hong said with a smile: "Those tenant farmers have actually paid at least half of the tax when they paid rent. Now that the court wants to conduct a comprehensive investigation and pay back the land tax, it means that these tenant farmers have to pay another tax. This is really to calm the people's resentment." ?"
Several people looked at each other and laughed.
...
...
Bianjing Law Firm.
"Hey! They're all back!"
When Zhang Fei returned to Bianjing Law Firm, he saw that the store, which had been silent for more than half a month, suddenly became lively. The ear pens were all busy in the store, and Fan Li no longer stayed at the counter to swat flies.
"Zhang Sanlang!"
"Brother Zhang!"
When everyone saw Zhang Fei coming, they immediately gathered around.
"We shouldn't have complained about you, Saburo."
"Yes! We are all ignorant and wrongly blamed Saburo."
"Actually, we are all responsible for this. After we got the money, we have to do things. How can we blame Saburo entirely?"
...
You said something, I said something, and everyone apologized to Zhang Fei with shame.
They all went to watch the lawsuit and witnessed Zhang Fei seeking justice for them. They were moved but also full of guilt. Zhang Fei should not be allowed to bear all this alone.
Therefore, after the lawsuit was over, they immediately stopped taking vacation and returned to the store at the same time.
Zhang Fei said: "I compensated you in the beginning just because it was indeed my fault, and there is nothing worthy of further discussion. As for me seeking justice for you, that is natural, so you don't need to Apologize to me without feeling guilty.
The only thing we have to reflect on is that we gain wisdom every time we suffer. Although the court currently allows us to continue calculating taxes, we still have to think carefully and not act rashly...! "
As he was talking, a gust of wind blew past him.
Fan Li whispered: "It seems to be Sima Grand Bachelor."
Eating for two families is really a technical job! Zhang Fei sighed secretly and said to them: "You should discuss carefully first what kind of problems we will encounter in this tax calculation transaction. Then we will hold a meeting to discuss it."
"Yes! We got it."
Everyone nodded in unison, and their expressions became relaxed.
They also gradually figured out Zhang Fei's temper, and he had the same attitude towards himself and others. If they did something wrong, Zhang Fei would 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 actually relieved them of some burden.
It's the same for everyone, so there's nothing to complain about.
As Confucius once said, worry not about scarcity but inequality.
The same is true in the workplace.
After the explanation, Zhang Fei told Fan Li: "No one can go to the backyard without my permission."
Fan Li nodded.
Zhang Fei wiped his sweat and walked to the backyard anxiously.
Arriving at the backyard, Zhang Fei bowed to Sima Guang and said, "Zhang Fei, a humble citizen, has met Grand Scholar Sima."
Sima Guang tilted his head and glared: "In court, will those last words help you win this lawsuit?"
Zhang Fei said sarcastically: "A little bit."
Sima Guang said: "You can tell that it was Wang Jiefu who gave the order?"
"no."
Zhang Fei shook his head.
"What did you say?"
Sima Guang immediately jumped up, "The key point is that your words are also generalizations, taken out of context, and make no sense. Who said that hiding wealth among the people refers specifically to the big landowners and squires? You are simply talking nonsense. .”
Although his judicial reform has been promoted, his political philosophy is still the Confucian set of frivolous corvee and low wealth, hiding wealth among the people. If you deny this, then he will not want to be an official.
He is neither greedy for money nor lustful. Like Wang Anshi, he wants to promote his own political ideas.
The key is that when Wang Anshi met him recently, he started chanting sutras to hide wealth from the people and hide wealth from the people...
It really pissed him off.
You must know that Sima Guang also played a role in being able to fight this lawsuit in the first place. He did not fully oppose it, 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 become. I have to talk to Zhang Fei. Where are you from?
Zhang Fei explained: "I am not generalizing or taking things out of context, but there are problems in hiding wealth among the people."
When Sima Guang saw that this kid was still fighting with him, he asked Zhang Fei aggressively: "What's the problem? What's the problem? Do you understand why I insist on frivolous corvee and low taxes, and hide wealth from the people?"
This old man is crazy! Zhang Fei couldn't help but step back and said: "Grandmaster Sima, please calm down first and listen to my explanation. Of course I understand how Grandmaster Sima hides wealth among the people."
Sima Guang pointed at Zhang Fei and said, "Then tell me."
"Master Sima, please sit down."
"Don't sit down!"
Sima Guang said angrily: "Do you know that just because of your words, that Wang Jiefu...!"
"What about Academician Wang?" Zhang Fei asked with a gossipy face.
Sima Guang said: "Don't change the subject and talk about yourself."
It's true that Old Man Wang just got the advantage, but he still had to anger the old man, and it was me who suffered. Zhang Fei nodded and explained: "Since ancient times, when landlords and gentry are exploited, the people's lives will only become more miserable."
Sima Guang snorted: "You know you still say that."
Feudal society was also a class society, not a legal society. There was no concept of equality for everyone. The reason why the emperor collected taxes from the landlords was that I was in a higher class.
This is why in feudal society, property redistribution was very difficult.
Transferring taxes from the common people to the landlord class is tantamount to letting the water in 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.
The big landowners live well, but the common people may not necessarily live well, but the land mainly lives badly, and the common people definitely live even worse.
Maybe for a certain period of time, the people can get a breather, but it will soon become worse than before.
Sima Guang read history books every day and wrote a general guide to governance. Therefore, he believed that the best way was to levy corvee lightly and hide wealth among the people.
Zhang Fei said: "But facts have proven that the current wealth hiding among the people actually has many problems, which is tantamount to slow death."
Sima Guang said excitedly: "That is better than Wang Jiefu's immediate death."
Zhang Fei immediately said: "So the Grand Scholar of Sima is just choosing the lesser of two evils?"
Sima Guang was stunned and hummed: "I never said that. Taking history as a guide, frivolous corvee and low wealth, and hiding wealth among the people is the only way to achieve long-term peace and stability."
Zhang Fei nodded and said: "I very much agree with these eight words, but how can Grand Scholar 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 cannot generalize and think that all squires and landlords are Wei Yushan's generation. There are still many squires and landlords. They are very Those who understand righteousness well, say that Geng Ming, he is also a landlord, wouldn't it be bad if wealth were in the hands of people like Geng Ming?"
Zhang Fei smiled and said: "In fact, Grand Scholar Sima has already pointed out that the biggest problem in hiding wealth among the people is currently."
Sima Guang was stunned, "What's the problem?"
Zhang Fei said: "It is Confucian morality."
