At this moment, the officials present were all reformists. Facing the arrival of the emperor, they were extremely excited. They knew what it meant.
Not only did it express the emperor's support for Xue Xiang in this case, but more importantly, the emperor had no intention of giving up the New Deal.
This is particularly important.
Because before this, many reformists were worried that the emperor would no longer support the New Deal. In the end, the emperor allowed Yushitai to make the judgment.
As for the people outside the fence, they were looking forward to seeing what the emperor looked like, and murmured a few words in a low voice.
The people in the capital did not have the same awe and worship for the emperor as they did for heaven. When the emperor of the Song Dynasty traveled, he often crowded with the people.
The scene of three cheers for long live is even more impossible.
The people came to see the lawsuit.
However, Zhao Xu also acted very low-key, hinting to the ministers that he was just here to watch the excitement, so don't think too much about it, let alone get close, and go about your business.
After the ceremony, the officials prepared to return to their seats.
It is enough for the emperor to come.
"Brat!"
Zhang Fei suddenly heard a low voice and turned his head to look, only to see Wang Anshi wink at him covertly.
Zhang Fei walked over and said, "Xueshi Wang, what's the matter?"
Wang Anshi hesitated a little and said: "There is something, I don't know if telling you now will affect your performance later."
Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, then said with a wry smile: "It has already been affected. If Academician Wang doesn't finish his words, the impact may be even greater."
Wang Anshi said: "Then Mr. Sima is kind to you for promotion. Right?"
Zhang Fei nodded, feeling even more confused.
Which one are you talking about?
Wang Anshi asked again: "If I asked you to drive Sima Xiao'er out of the government, you wouldn't be able to do it, right?"
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "I believe that Academician Wang will not make such a reasonable request. The key point is that I really can't do it. I am just a small prosecutor, and Academician Sima is the prime minister."
Wang Anshi glared at him and said, "But I got news that Mr. Sima plans to retire."
"Yeah?"
Zhang Fei was slightly surprised.
Wang Anshi nodded and said: "Although I didn't get the exact information, this is also very consistent with Sima Lao'er's behavior. He is not a human being inside and outside this time, so he is very likely to submit the case after the case is over. Submit your resignation.”
This is bad! Sima Guang can't leave. Once he leaves, a corner of my plan is missing. How can I support it so well? Zhang Fei frowned secretly and asked Wang Anshi: "Why did Bachelor Wang tell me this?"
Wang Anshi said: "Because I hope you can find a way to keep that old Sima."
Zhang Fei was shocked and said: "Why? Is it because hatred gave birth to love for Academician Wang?"
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
Wang Anshi glared at him angrily and said, "I just choose the lesser of two evils."
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "No, I don't understand very well."
Wang Anshi said: "Based on the current situation, if Mr. Sima leaves at this time, it is very likely that I will face Duke Wen, and then the matter will become more difficult."
Zhang Fei looked at Wang Anshi in confusion.
Wang Anshi further explained: "Although Sima Lao'er and I have completely different ideas, we both believe that the country needs reforms to become more prosperous and powerful. The only difference lies in how to change.
But Wen Gong was different. He was more conservative. He believed that the problem with the court was that it did not abide by the laws of the ancestors. He hoped to return to the system of the Taizu and Taizong period.
This is why Duke Wen wants to lead the Yushitai to suppress the public prosecutors. Perhaps judicial reform is not what he agrees with.
Sima Laoer can understand me a little bit, but Duke Wen almost completely denies my new policy, and his status in the court is so high, which is even more detrimental to me. "
Only then did Zhang Fei realize that Wen Yanbo was a conservative among conservatives. He nodded and said, "I understand, and I will find a way."
Wang Anshi said: "The reason why I am telling you this now is that I hope you will consider this later, but I hope this will not affect this lawsuit.
If you lose this lawsuit, it will be far more terrifying than facing Duke Wen."
Zhang Fei smiled confidently: "Don't worry, Bachelor Wang, I can win this lawsuit with my eyes closed."
And the conservatives over there also received the news that the emperor had personally visited the imperial court. They could only curse, "You little emperor has no moral ethics."
They agreed not to help each other, but you ended up acting like this.
If the decision was finally made in front of the emperor, who would dare to deny this verdict easily?
But they could only curse. The emperor didn't express his position at all. He just went over to take a look out of boredom and didn't say anything.
"Zhigui is here too."
Fu Bi and Sima Guang, who had arrived late, were preparing to enter the gate of the imperial court when they met Han Qi.
Sima Guang also quickly bowed his hand, and Han Qi was considered his old boss.
Han Qi nodded and said to Fu Bi: "Winter is coming soon. The weather is quite good today. Why not come here and sit and bask in the sun."
Fu Bi just smiled at this.
The reason why they came just before the court session was because they didn't need to think that they were all reformists.
At this time, the clerk in front of the door also came forward and said, "Three gentlemen, please come inside, please come inside."
After entering the court, they saw the emperor sitting in the most conspicuous seat. The three of them were stunned at the same time, but they quickly came to their senses.
Han Qi rubbed his eyes and muttered: "The sunshine is a bit dazzling today."
The three people came to Zhao Xu and were about to salute. Zhao Xu waved his hands and said, "Three gentlemen, there is no need to be polite."
But then he smiled and asked: "I didn't expect that the three of them would come here to watch the trial."
There is something in these words!
Han Qi hurriedly explained: "I saw that the weather is nice today, so I wanted to go out for a walk and bask in the sun, so I stopped by to take a look."
Sima Guang took advantage of the situation and asked, "I didn't expect that Your Majesty would also be here today."
Zhao Xu's expression changed and he said seriously: "I have read the judgment of Yushitai. I think there are no mistakes or omissions in Yushitai's judgment. I am very curious. Could it be that the imperial court found a different one?" Will the results come?"
Han Qi thought to himself, it seems that the emperor has grown a lot.
This is so cleverly said. I have always supported Yushitai's verdict, so I am also curious as to why the public prosecutor and the procuratorate need to retry it. Will there be a different result?
This actually brought out the curiosity in Fu Bi and Sima Guang's hearts.
The four monarchs and ministers chatted casually for a few more words, and Han Qi and the other three went to sit down below.
Naturally, they would not sit side by side with the emperor, as this was not allowed by etiquette.
After a while, Zhao Pian came to the president's seat, and the scene suddenly became quiet. Zhao Pian first saluted Zhao Xu, and then immediately announced the start of the trial.
Zhang Fei did not try to be mysterious and directly sent Xue Xiang to court first.
Xue Xiang came to the plaintiff's table and sat down with a calm expression.
Zhang Fei stood up and said, "Envoy Xue Fayun, do you know that the Yushitai issued a wanted order for you a few days ago."
Xue Xiang nodded and said, "I know."
Zhang Fei lowered his head and glanced at the copy, and said: "According to what we know from the procuratorate's investigation, the reason why Yushitai issued a wanted order for the shipping envoy was mainly because about two months ago, more than 130 people from all over the south of the Yangtze River were arrested. Came to the capital and sued the Shipping Department for illegally exploiting their money and property.
After being heard by the Yushitai, it was determined that the Shipping Department had committed many illegal acts. Among them, regarding Xue Shipunshi, they mainly charged three crimes. One was illegal taxation; the other was forming a party for personal gain and excluding dissidents. The third one was: Crime of unauthorized use of power. "
Although the Public Security Bureau announced that these were two cases, even if they were two cases, the two were causally related. It was precisely because of Yushitai's judgment that today's trial was held, because Xue Xiang sued Yushitai for unfair judgment. .
At this point, we must explain the causes and consequences.
After saying this, Zhang Fei raised his head again and asked, "Can Ambassador Xue Fayun plead guilty to the above three charges?"
Xue Xiang shook his head and said, "I don't admit it. I was framed."
Zhang Fei asked: "Why did Ambassador Xue Fayun think that someone had framed you?"
Xue Xiangdao: "First of all, I have not broken the law. Secondly, there have always been censors who impeached me. The main reason is that they do not recognize Wang Xianggong's new policy, and I shoulder the heavy responsibility of defeating the law, so they are trying their best to They want to drive me out of the government and opposition parties to undermine the New Deal."
Wang Anshi nodded desperately.
Zhang Fei asked: "Does Ambassador Xue Fayun have any evidence?"
Xue Xiang nodded and said: "The memorial they impeached me is the best evidence. The chief judge should also be very clear about this matter, because the chief judge also impeached me. If I was guilty, I would have left long ago. The imperial court.”
The implication is that they are all habitual offenders.
"Yeah?"
Zhang Fei glanced at Zhao Pian subconsciously and said: "Why does the chief judge need to impeach you? If the chief judge finds you guilty, he can directly summon you to the imperial court."
Xue Xiangdao: "There was no public prosecutor's office at that time, and the chief judge was still in the admonishment court."
"I see"
Zhang Fei nodded in understanding.
Zhao Bian glared at Zhang Fei, "Don't do this, kid."
This clearly implies that it is normal and understandable for the chief judge to frame people in the admonishment court, but it is absolutely impossible in the public prosecutor's office.
Han Qi burst into laughter upon hearing this.
Zhang Fei suddenly picked up a document and said, "President, these are some of the remarks and documents we found about the impeachment of Xue Xiang by the imperial admonishers. However, according to what we found, there is no evidence to prove their remarks."
"Submit"
After the evidence was presented, Zhao Pian looked at it hastily, suddenly raised his head, and said loudly: "I have spent time in Yushitai and Jianyuan, and I am familiar with this kind of impeachment, but this is different from Yushitai's. Trials are two distinct matters.
Impeachment is like an indictment by the procuratorate. Failure to prosecute does not mean that the procuratorate has committed the crime of slander. It's just that compared to Taiwan's impeachment, the Public Prosecution and Prosecution Law is more rigorous, because the Public Prosecution and Prosecution Law emphasizes specific evidence.
However, the judicial trials at Yushitai are also very rigorous. Therefore, the president of the court suggested that the procuratorate should not confuse this with this. "
After that, he put the copy in his hand aside and hinted, don't do this, the imperial court will not refer to these evidences. If you emphasize this, then your procuratorate's future prosecutions will be much longer. Be careful, because if you fail, you will slander me.
Zhang Fei said humbly: "Thank you very much for the testimony of the chief judge. Our procuratorate will pay attention to it."
Zhang Fei was calmed down by his momentum.
Wang Anshi glanced at Zhao Bian with dissatisfaction, and thought to himself, as the president of the court, you should be neutral, how can you speak for the other party.
Qi Ji whispered: "Although there is no Erbi on the other side, the president of the court is obviously biased towards Yushitai. This is even worse."
Zhang Fei smiled nonchalantly and said: "If it were me, I would also speak for the other party. After all, the other party has no future, so it will be more fair."
Han Qi couldn't help but murmured in a low voice: "You can't even believe Mr. Zhao?"
This is nothing more than a hint that if it is handed over to the public prosecutor and the court, it is impossible to favor Wang Anshi. In the end, the verdict is Zhao Pian, but Zhao Pian also hates Xue Xiang and opposes the New Deal.
The chief judges are all conservatives. What are you afraid of, making it so complicated?
Sima Guang couldn't help but look embarrassed.
Fu Bi glanced at Sima Guang, and then said: "It's not that I don't believe Mr. Zhao, but I'm too afraid of Zhang San."
Han Qi stroked his beard and smiled: "I see. That's right, haha..."
After Zhang Fei was slightly lectured by Zhao Pian, he calmed down a little and asked Xue Xiang: "Xue Fayun, let's start with the first crime, which is illegal taxation."
Xue Xiang immediately replied: "This is simply nonsense, because the purpose of our implementation of the equalization method is to reduce the burden of conversion on the people."
Zhang Fei asked: "Can the shipping envoy please elaborate?"
Xue Xiangdao: "The reason why the imperial court promulgated the equalization law is because the previous supply system for the capital was too rigid. This system was originally designed to meet the needs of the capital, but Emperor Taizong set the quota in the early years and it has never changed. .
However, the demand in the capital has been changing, and there is a big difference every year. This has led to some goods being rotten in the warehouse due to little demand in the capital. Some goods have been in great demand, and as a result, there is not enough in the warehouse. Due to the limited supply of goods, the court could only purchase them at high prices for the time being, which caused the court's expenses to continue to rise.
As for the people in various places, since the quotas are stipulated, once there is a lack of harvest, the people have to spend a lot of money to buy from profiteers in order to pay in full the quotas.
Many people were forced to lose their families and their families as a result. The purpose of the equalization method is to change all this. First, purchase according to the needs of the capital to avoid a lot of waste and additional expenditures by the court.
Secondly, we will no longer fix the supply quota of each region. As far as rice is concerned, if the rice harvest in a certain place fails and the rice price rises, we will collect money and materials instead, and then use the money to go to areas with good harvests to buy the rice in the capital. rice needed.
This will not only ensure that people in poor-harvest areas will not buy rice from landlords at high prices to pay taxes due to lack of rice, but also avoid low prices that hurt farmers, and the court can also save expenditures. It can be said that it kills three birds with one stone and relieves the burden on the people. burden and reduce the burden on the court. "
After these words, the people watching outside the hospital nodded repeatedly. This sounded so reasonable. How could there be a problem?
Sima Guang sneered at this.
Zhang Fei then asked Zhao Pian, "I beg the president of the court to summon witness Li Shuo to appear in court to testify."
"The witness Li Shuo."
After a while, a short man in his mid-twenties came to the court.
"Witness please sit down!"
Zhao Pian said.
"Ah. Oh."
It seemed that this man had witnessed the trial of a case in an imperial court for the first time. How could he still sit down for the trial? He sat down with trepidation.
Zhang Fei stood up and asked, "Li Shuo, where are you from?"
Li Shuo glanced around anxiously, not daring to speak.
Zhang Fei smiled and comforted: "You don't have to be afraid in the imperial court, just answer truthfully."
Li Shuo then replied tremblingly: "I am a farmer in Wuhu County, Jiangning Prefecture."
Zhang Fei asked again: "Why did you come to the capital?"
Li Shuo said: "I came to the capital to complain."
Although no one came to the Yushitai, they did not dare to prevent these farmers from the south of the Yangtze River from going to the imperial court to testify. They did not have this power yet.
Zhang Fei asked again: "Who are you suing?"
"Shipping Department."
"What did the Shipping Department do?"
"The Shipping Department is collecting taxes indiscriminately in Wuhu. Last year, our Wuhu County failed to collect taxes, so the Shipping Department decided to let us pay taxes at a discount."
"Isn't this a good thing?"
"It sounds like a good thing, but at that time, the price of rice in Wuhu County only rose to 45 yuan per dou, but the shipping department asked them to convert it at 90 yuan per dou, forcing us to go bankrupt."
At this point, Li Shuo suddenly lost his fear and shouted excitedly.
The people outside the hospital were also furious when they heard it, and they immediately started shouting curses.
Just saying it, they completely believed it, which shows that this situation is not an exception, but a very common occurrence.
Zhao Xu frowned slightly, with a look of doubt on his face.
Sima Guang glanced at Wang Anshi and shook his head with a sarcastic smile, as if he knew what he said at the beginning and what he said would be like this.
really!
At that time, Sima Guang, Su Che, and Su Shi all pointed out this point, and this would definitely happen.
Wang Anshi turned his face to one side and looked sideways, as if to say, let's wait and see.
Many officials present stared at Zhao Bian. Although you are not young, you usually drop the hammer quickly and powerfully. Didn't you bring the gavel today?
Zhao Pian pretended not to see it, and waited until they scolded each other for a while before banging the gavel and saying: "Quiet! Quiet!"
Not loud.
After scolding for a while, he gradually became quiet.
The president of the court will also have his own little thoughts.
Zhang Fei did not argue with Zhao Pian, but asked Li Shuo: "What reason did the shipping envoy give you to convert the price to double the market price?"
Li Shuo said: "They are saying that there is no harvest nearby. We have to go far away to buy rice. All the freight will be borne by us."
Zhang Fei asked again: "Then can you spend 45 yuan to buy rice and pay taxes?"
"no."
Li Shuo said: "You can only pay taxes with money."
"Thank you!"
Zhang Fei raised an account and said, "President, this is what we know from our investigation. The situation in Wuhu County last year. As Brother Li said, the shipping department did make the conversion at a price of ninety cents per bucket. At that time, the price of rice in Wuhu County was indeed 45 cents."
"Submit it!"
After the accounts were presented, Zhao Pian looked at them carefully and said, "It seems that Yushitai did not frame the shipping department, and there was indeed illegal taxation in the shipping department."
Zhang Fei looked at Xue Xiang, "I wonder what the shipping envoy has to say about this?"
Xue Xiangdao: "First of all, I didn't know the situation in Wuhu County at that time, and I only learned about it recently. Secondly, this kind of behavior is not allowed by our shipping department. Our conversion is generally based on the price in rice harvest areas."
"Shipper, please wait a moment."
Zhao Pian suddenly stopped Xue Xiang, and then said: "The president of this court has a doubt. Does your shipping department have a clear stipulation on this? All conversions are calculated based on prices in harvest areas?"
Xue Xiang shook his head and said: "I didn't say it specifically, but the explanation of the Regulations on Equalization of Transport contains this meaning. The reason why we collect goods in areas with good harvests and collect money in areas with poor harvests is to reduce the burden on the people. If we calculate based on rice prices in areas with poor harvests, wouldn’t it be superfluous?”
Zhao Pian asked: "Since you have considered it this way, why don't you write it clearly? In this case, there will be no objections."
Xue Xiang replied: "Because this cannot be written clearly. First of all, food prices are different in different places and change every day and every month. Secondly, there are more than one area with a good harvest, and food prices are also different in each area. Even if there is a good harvest in some areas, , food prices remain high.
However, we will compile price statistics in various places in a timely manner and distribute them to shipping departments in various places so that they can adjust their taxation plans. "
This time it couldn't help but Sima Guang. Even Fu Bi and Han Qi shook their heads. This reason was too unconvincing.
Since you can't stipulate it, then don't do it. If you don't clearly stipulate it, isn't it just giving people an opportunity to take advantage of it?
Even Zhao Xu shook his head slightly.
The reformist officials sitting here also became worried. This reason is untenable!
Zhao Peng stopped clicking and said to Zhang Fei: "I'm really sorry. The president of the court just wants to ask a question out of curiosity. Prosecutor Zhang, you can continue to ask."
"It's okay. The Chief Justice asked me exactly what I wanted to ask."
Zhang Fei just smiled slightly and didn't care, and said to Xue Xiang: "Xue Fayun, what do you think of the situation in Wuhu County?"
Xue Xiangdao: "I will never agree to do this because it goes against the idea of reform. Wang Xianggong's idea of reform is to enrich the country and the people. If I had known in advance, I would have severely punished the officials of the Wuhu County Shipping Department."
Zhang Fei asked: "Do you have any evidence to prove what you said?"
"have!"
Xue Xiangdao: "Since I took up the post of shipping department, I have been patrolling everywhere, traveling all over the Southeast Sixth Road, and I dare not neglect the slightest. In the prefectures and counties I have visited, the local shipping department all uses the price of rice in harvest areas to calculate prices, at least. It is one-third of the local rice price, and even directly reduced by half, which greatly reduces the burden on local people."
Zhang Fei nodded and looked at Zhou Zheng. Zhou Zheng immediately picked up a thick pile of evidence, stood up, and saw Zhang Fei pointing at the evidence and said: "This is where Xue Fayun has been inspecting various places in recent years. The official documents and the specific accounts of the local tax collection at that time are enough to prove that what Xue Fayun said just now is true.
Although there is no explicit provision, he has been implementing the concept of the new law, which is that the people do not increase taxes and the state uses money, so the national treasury saves expenditures and at the same time reduces the burden on the people. "
Zhao Bian said: "Submit it."
Wang Anshi immediately glared at Sima Guang with pride, since he is considered a villain and a villain by you, you are the villain.
After the evidence was presented, Zhao Pian couldn't finish reading it and just gave it to the assistant trial officer below. Zhang Fei then continued to ask: "But Ambassador Xue Fayun, you are in charge of the Sixth Southeast Road, and there is illegal tax collection. Do you think you are responsible?"
This sentence asks what everyone wants to ask, including the reformist officials. This situation is not fake. It really happened. There is no need to argue!
Xue Xiangzhan replied categorically: "I don't have any responsibility."
As soon as these words came out, not to mention Sima Guang and the others, even Wang Anshi was frightened. His answer seemed a bit shameless!
After Zhang Fei pretended to be surprised, he asked: "Why did Ambassador Xue Fayun answer so affirmatively?"
Xue Xiangdao: "If I knew about this situation, I would definitely handle it strictly, but my authority is to implement the new law. I have neither the power of supervision nor the manpower to supervise. Southeast Sixth Road is so big, how can I take care of it.
Of course, it is reasonable for the court to arrange this, because if the supervisory power is also in my hands, this is obviously a violation of the ancestral law.
I need the assistance of the Ombudsman's Office. Regarding what Brother Li said, it is obviously the Ombudsman's Office's dereliction of duty. If the Ombudsman's Office reported the situation to me in time and I did not handle it, it would be a dereliction of duty on my part. However, I have not received any relevant information. report on this. "
Zhang Fei asked: "Who does Xue Fayun refer to as the Supervisory Office?"
Xue Xiang said: "Yushitai."
(End of chapter)
