When He Chunlin went down, almost everyone thought that the question was enough, because He Chunlin did not argue, the evidence was conclusive, and the verdict could be pronounced directly.
boom!
Zhang Fei suddenly knocked the gavel and said, "Mr. Fu Wenxian."
Everyone present was shocked, and they all turned their heads to look at a healthy old man with white hair and beard sitting in front of him.
I saw this old man coming to the court and preparing to salute Zhang Fei.
Zhang Fei quickly stretched out his hand and said: "Old sir, no need to be polite, please sit down."
"Thank you!"
Fu Wenxian sat down.
Su Che asked slightly embarrassed, "Who is this old gentleman?"
Chen Qi shook her head.
The accident was not an accident, because when Zhang Fei was Erbi, he liked to call some surprising witnesses.
Zhang Fei asked with a smile: "May I ask, will the old man live a long life this year?"
Fu Wenxian cupped his hands and said, "I have reached the age of seventy."
Zhang Fei was surprised and said: "But the old gentleman still looks very energetic, which really puts us to shame."
Fu Wenxian chuckled and said: "At such a young age, President Zhang is already the president of the Hezhong Prefecture. Only an old man should be ashamed."
"I am over-flattered!"
When the surrounding guests saw the two complimenting each other, everyone broke into a cold sweat.
Hey!
This is a trial, what are you doing, exchanging pleasantries?
It's so unseemly.
Zhang Fei coughed slightly and said: "I am very grateful to the old gentleman for being able to appear in court to testify today. Could you please introduce your resume first?"
Fu Wenxian nodded and said: "Lao Zhuo is from Hedong County. He was not a Jinshi. When he was young, he served in the county government as a custodian. After that, he moved around in various counties in Hezhong Prefecture. About thirty years ago, , the government made an exception and promoted Lao Zhuo to be the chief administrator of Jiezhou, and later he served as the county captain of Hedong County, and later he served as the general magistrate of Hezhong Prefecture."
Upon hearing his resume, it was obvious that he was not from an ordinary background. Otherwise, it would be impossible for a former Yamen official to directly serve as an escort. Moreover, it is difficult for officials to be promoted, and they must have a background.
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "The old gentleman must be very familiar with the changes in Hezhong Mansion over the past few decades."
Fu Wenxian nodded and said, "It's relatively clear."
Zhang Fei lowered his head and glanced at the copy, and then asked: "Mr. Do you still remember in which year you served as the general magistrate of Hezhong Prefecture?"
Fu Wenxian thought for a while and said, "It should be the first year of Jiayou."
Zhang Fei said: "What was the situation of Hezhong Mansion at that time? Especially in terms of finances."
Fu Wenxian stroked his beard and sighed, shaking his head and saying: "The finances of Hezhong Mansion were really bad at that time."
Zhang Fei asked: "Why?"
Fu Wenxian said: "Before Jiayou, there were continuous wars in the northwest, and at that time, the salt administration in Jiezhou was extremely corrupt, illegal salt was rampant, and thousands of people were forced to serve. Alas..."
At this point, he sighed heavily, it was really unbearable to look back.
Zhang Fei asked again: "How did the court respond after that?"
Fu Wenxian cheered up and said: "After the war with Xixia stopped, the imperial court immediately sent people to rectify the salt administration, but the effect was not good. It was not until Fan Tixing came here to preside over the salt law that the predicament of Hezhong Prefecture was completely reversed."
"Fan Xiang?"
"Yes."
Zhang Fei asked: "Fan Tixing's Salt Law, but the salt banknotes mentioned just now, that is, the merchants took the money to Bianzhou to exchange for salt banknotes, and then took the salt banknotes back to Jiezhou to exchange for salt, and finally sold them to various places. .”
Fu Wenxian nodded.
Zhang Fei asked: "Sir, can you tell me specifically how much profit this salt method has brought to the court?"
Fu Wenxian said: "At that time, Lao Zhuo happened to be the general magistrate of Hezhong Prefecture, so he knew quite well. After Fan Tixing presided over the Salt Law, the Salt Administration went from a loss to a profit of more than 4 million yuan, and at the same time it saved the court money. The expenditure of more than 8 million guan has resulted in profits of tens of millions of guan for the imperial court."
Why did the imperial court always hope that the Hezhong Prefecture could try its best to solve the military expenditures in the northwest? It was during the previous war with Xixia Li Yuanhao that the Hezhong Prefecture's salt administration was corrupted and could not provide more support. The central government could only allocate funds, and the losses were very alarming.
At the same time, these 8 million yuan of expenditure savings also included working people. At that time, all working people were used to transport military supplies. These people were on the road every day and could not farm and pay taxes. Shaanxi's local finances directly collapsed.
Wang Anshi is a staunch supporter of Fan Xiang. This is financial management!
What’s funny is that this is exactly the reason why Sima Guang opposed Wang Anshi. The previous salt administration was so corrupt, not because officials questioned the law, official property, official sales, and official luck. The result was a mess. The people lived in dire straits, and the court couldn’t see it. penny.
Zhang Fei was shocked and said: "Is it so many?"
Fu Wenxian laughed and said: "If this were not the case, how could this law continue to this day? You must know that the previous salt law was changed every three years. Not to mention the people, even officials like us often didn't know what law we should respect."
Zhang Fei asked: "According to the old man's opinion, will excessive issuance of salt banknotes undermine the Salt Law established by Fan Tixing?"
"Absolutely."
Fu Wenxian said: "When Fan Tixing was in office, he repeatedly warned that salt banknotes must not be issued in excess. Fan Tixing even used the Changping method to balance the price of salt banknotes and stop them from hoarding and speculating."
Zhang Fei asked: "Mr. Do you think there is a new law that can replace the old law today?"
"No."
Fu Wenxian shook his head, "Anyway, I didn't notice it."
Zhang Fei continued to ask: "Based on Mr. Fan's experience, if Fan Tixing's Salt Law is destroyed, will the country's interests be harmed?"
Fu Wenxian nodded and said, "I will definitely do it."
Zhang Fei asked: "Why is Mr. Fu so determined?"
Fu Wenxian said: "Because after Fan Tixing was transferred, his successor once overturned Fan Tixing's Salt Law. As a result, the finances immediately returned to the past, and he was forced to return to Fan Tixing's Salt Law. Until now, it can no longer be done. It hasn’t changed.”
"I see!"
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "Thank you, Mr. Old, for appearing in court to testify."
"It should, it should."
A royal policeman came forward, but Fu Wenxian waved his hand, stood up, and walked down to the court with his hands slightly raised.
Everyone looked at Fu Wenxian with confusion on their faces. What does this have to do with this case?
Xu Zhiqian quietly came to Zhang Fei's side and put a copy of the copy on it.
"Thank you!" Zhang Fei nodded, stared at the copy for a while, then suddenly knocked the gavel, raised his head and said loudly: "It is said that Wei Yingfang, the general judge of Hezhong Prefecture, is here."
Wei Yingfang was not surprised, because Zhang Fei had already sent someone to inform him before that he might be asked to appear in court to testify. After all, the Hezhong Prefecture's trial involved finance and prison powers, so he immediately got up and came to the court.
"Wei Tong, please sit down."
"Thank you."
After Wei Yingfang sat down, Zhang Fei said: "I'm very sorry. Since Mr. Fu failed to provide the current financial situation of Hezhong Mansion, I can only trouble Wei Tongpan."
Wei Yingfang nodded and said, "President Zhang, please don't be polite. This is my duty."
"Thank you for your understanding."
Zhang Fei asked: "I wonder when Wei Tongpan came to Hezhong Mansion to serve as Tongpan?"
Wei Yingfang said: "The first year of Xining."
Zhang Fei said: "At that time, Ambassador Xue Fayun was still here as the salt-relieving envoy."
"right."
"What was the finance of Hezhong Mansion at that time?"
"very good."
Wei Yingfang nodded and said truthfully: "The government's finances are increasing every year, and the people's labor taxes are greatly reduced."
Zhang Fei asked: "But I don't know what wonderful method Xue Fayun used?"
Wei Yingfang said: "In fact, Ambassador Xue Fayun has always firmly supported Fan Tixing's salt law. He just combined the salt policy with the horse policy. As He Yanjian said just now, he saved more than 100,000 yuan in horse raising fees. At the same time, It also relieved thousands of people from the pain of labor, and during the period when Xue Fayun was in office, Hezhong Prefecture made millions of dollars in profit."
Zhang Fei asked: "Can I think that Xue Fayun's method was just to transfer the horse raising fees of more than 100,000 yuan and the labor of thousands of people to the salt merchants?"
Wei Yingfang thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it's partly responsible, but it's mainly because of the increase in military expenditures in the northwest that the government issues more salt banknotes every year."
Zhang Fei said: "Mr. Fu just said that excessive issuance of salt banknotes will definitely destroy the salt law. I wonder if Wei Tongpan agrees?"
Wei Yingfang hesitated for a moment, nodded and said, "I agree."
Zhang Fei asked: "I wonder what evidence Wei Tongpan has?"
Wei Yingfang said: "In the past two years, the number of salt banknotes sold by the imperial court has been decreasing, and the number of merchants willing to go to border states to buy salt banknotes has also been decreasing."
Zhang Fei asked: "Does Wei Tongjian think this will affect the national finance?"
Wei Yingfang nodded.
"Is it a big impact?"
"Quite big."
Wei Yingfang said: "If the merchants don't go, the imperial court can only transport military supplies and military expenses, which will inevitably increase the work of the people and increase losses."
Zhang Fei asked: "Does the court have any countermeasures at present?"
Wei Yingfang shook his head and said, "As far as I know, no."
"Thank you Wei Tongpan."
After Wei Yingfang went down, Zhang Fei did not call any more witnesses, but said: "If the plaintiff has no other demands, he can make his closing statement."
"We have no other demands."
Li Min stood up, "Because the factual evidence has proven that the government violated the contract without reason, and did not give a reasonable explanation afterwards. Instead, it kept delaying and using the means of issuing small banknotes to force several of my clients to bear the government responsibility." Losses caused by breach of contract.
In the past few years, several of my clients have invested all their capital in the salt banknotes and were unwilling to bear the losses. As a result, they have had nothing to gain and have been left with nothing. If the court fulfills the contract, based on calculations from past years, my clients will be able to make a total profit of about 10,000 guan in the past two years.
Therefore, I implore Judge Zhang to rule in our favor, and the government will exchange the amount of salt stipulated in the contract for the salt banknotes in the hands of my client, and compensate my clients with 20% of the total value of the salt banknotes. "
The surrounding officials looked at Li Min as if they were a fool.
What is he saying?
Are you blaming the government?
Gone!
This Er pen is really floating!
Will he survive tomorrow?
If Su Zhe said this, it would be normal. The procuratorate has the power to supervise, and he is here to accuse the government of not doing so.
But the problem is that Li Min is just an Erbi, how can he say that?
However, Yuan Jiang and Su Zhe, who had seen Zhang Fei's lawsuit, were not surprised at all. In comparison, this was really gentle.
Not a single sarcasm.
Zhang Fei knocked the gavel and said, "Adjourn the court for now."
Then he got up and went into the back hall with Xu Zhiqian, Cai Bian and others.
Some old men quickly stood up and stretched their shins. They really regarded the lawsuit as an entertainment activity and were extremely fascinated. It turned out that they had back pain.
Yuan Jiang also stood up, but frowned and looked at Wei Yingfang, "What Wei Tong said just now is really inappropriate!"
Wei Yingfang was stunned for a moment and asked quickly: "What do you mean, Bachelor Yuan?"
Cai Yanqing suddenly said: "It seems that he will probably award compensation."
As soon as these words came out, surrounding officials immediately gathered around.
Cai Yanqing explained: "Mr. Fu's confession and Wei Tongpan's confession just now have fully demonstrated that if you want to continue to maintain the current salt law, you cannot issue more salt banknotes. Otherwise, the national finance will be further affected." If the loss is huge, then the solution is naturally to compensate those salt merchants."
Yuan Jiang said: "Prefect Cai is right. In this situation, even if he decides to indemnify the government, what can you do?"
The surrounding officials suddenly understood.
I finally understood why Zhang Fei wanted Fu Wenxian to testify in court.
They used to think that this was very difficult to judge. If Zhang Fei dared to order the government to compensate, then if there was a financial problem, your imperial court would be responsible. But now their confessions have proved that if the government does not order compensation, the problem may be even bigger. .
How can we make trouble with the court?
Wei Yingfang was immediately annoyed and cursed secretly, this brat is so unpredictable! He argued again: "Mr. Fu has said that before. If I hadn't said that, how could I have said that?"
If he realizes this, he may change his rhetoric, but he dare not change the facts. There is evidence for these things. Everyone knows that salt banknotes are not selling well nowadays.
The reason is that the salt banknote has depreciated too much.
He Chunlin said eagerly: "What should we do?"
Cai Yanqing looked directly at Yuan Jiang.
Yuan Jiang frowned, "Let's take a look and talk."
However, the worries of the officials were seen by the salt merchants, and they were very excited. For them, this process was actually not important, because it must be a breach of contract by the government. The key lies in how the imperial court will judge, and the government Will it be executed again?
The expressions of officials are more important than the process.
After a while, Zhang Fei and others came out of the back hall. As before, everyone was standing and looking forward to it.
Zhang Fei knocked the gavel and suddenly saw that there was silence around him. He couldn't help but smile and said loudly: "According to the trial of this case by the president of this court, it was determined that the government breached the contract first. The amount of salt stipulated in the contract must be used." To exchange the corresponding salt banknotes, the government also needs to compensate the plaintiff’s losses with an interest of 6% per year.”
There was an uproar immediately.
Duan Chaobei and other salt merchants all looked at Zhang Fei with wide eyes and disbelief.
Sentence!
They actually awarded compensation.
Although they are not asking for 20%, they will be compensated at 6% per year. If it is three years, it will be 18%, close to 20%.
In fact, the key is not the question of how much, even if it is 0.1%, it is unprecedented.
Because in the past judicial system, the government had an absolute advantage. It was very, very rare to be able to compensate you in full and return it with interest. What the hell are you thinking about?
But the imperial court actually awarded compensation.
"Quiet! Quiet!"
Zhang Fei banged the gavel several times, and after the surroundings calmed down, he continued: "But given that these salt banknotes have been accumulated for two or three years, and Hezhong Mansion is currently financially strapped, it may be difficult to come up with so much money at once." Come on salt.
The finance of a government is related to the people of the government, and it also involves the supplies of the border army. In order to avoid the burden brought by this case on the people, the president of this court allowed the government to postpone the compensation, but a detailed compensation plan must be come up as soon as possible. And the consent of the salt merchants must be obtained. "
As soon as these words came out, the salt merchants were stunned again. Didn't they immediately pay compensation?
This has to be delayed again!
If you drag it, it will be gone!
Wei Yingfang and the others were also a little depressed. On the contrary, they expected Zhang Fei to pay compensation immediately. At this point, why are you still trying to delay the war? Can't you be firmer?
"also!"
Zhang Fei said: "In the future, the government must announce the amount of salt banknotes issued and must not hide anything about it."
"I object!"
Su Che immediately stood up and said: "The imperial court has no right to interfere with the salt administration. Why does President Zhang require the government to announce the amount of salt banknotes issued?"
He Chunlin wondered: "Are the Procuratorate and the Imperial Court on the same side?"
Su Che tried several times to overturn Zhang Fei's verdict.
Yuan Jiang whispered: "According to the system, the Procuratorate mainly supervises the trials of the imperial court. Therefore, the rank of the Chief Prosecutor is the same as that of the President of the Court. There is no distinction between superior and inferior."
Zhang Fei also explained: "The imperial court did not interfere in the salt administration, and has never thought about intervening in the salt administration. However, the imperial court must safeguard the legitimate interests of the people, because the salt banknotes are sold by the government to the people, and the people have no interest in it." Salt banknotes naturally have the right to know. The confessions and evidence just now can prove that the number of salt banknotes issued will directly affect the people's willingness to buy salt banknotes.
In addition, the government's actions will also be suspected of violating the ancestral laws of our dynasty. The Prosecutor General believes that the current decision to issue salt banknotes complies with the governing principle of preventing things and making mistakes. "
The people couldn't help crying with joy when they heard that we must protect our interests. Are you serious?
But Su Che was dumbfounded.
What the hell?
The ancestral method?
Chen Qi and Wang Shen were also dumbfounded.
Zhang Fei waited for a while before continuing: "All the officials' confessions just now did not give a solution. Obviously they did not consider the consequences of excessive issuance of salt banknotes. On the surface, this is not the same as the relationship between our ancestors. The law is contrary to the law. The president of this court also hopes that the procuratorate can supervise this aspect."
Su Che suddenly felt happy. It seemed that he and I had thought of it together. He nodded and said, "Our procuratorate will investigate this matter."
He originally wanted to investigate the matter, but Zhang Fei gave him an ancestral method, which was even more justified.
Wei Yingfang, He Chunlin, Cao Yi, Qin Zhongshou and other officials could not help but sweat profusely.
This hat is so good that everyone is confused!
Cai Yanqing looked puzzled and said: "Scholar Yuan, can the imperial court still judge whether it violates the laws of the ancestors?"
No government has ever ruled on a case that violates the ancestral law, because without this law, the ancestral law is just a reason to restrict the emperor.
How can ordinary officials afford this hat?
Yuan Jiang said: "Is it possible that Magistrate Cai still doesn't know that the first page of the new edition of "Song Xingtong" contains the ancestral law, how to prevent things, and how to control things, and it was written by an official. Written.”
In the past, the ancestral laws were not written regulations, but after the lawsuit, Zhao Xu personally wrote the ancestral laws into the "Song Xingtong" because Zhao Xu believed that it was unwritten and you used various ancestral systems to restrain me every day. But it's unfair. I wrote it directly into "Song Xingtong" and everyone was bound.
And there is an argument to be made.
I have Zhang Dar's pen, who am I afraid of?
Zhang Fei looked around and said: "If both parties have objections to this judgment, they can submit corresponding evidence to appeal. The trial ends here and we will leave the court."
(End of chapter)
