Zhang Fei was not surprised that Ma Tianhao agreed to set up this charity so quickly. If he was not sure, he would not have said so, and he did not even try to fool him too much.

The reason is actually very simple, that is, the litigation is becoming public.

The previous trial method left a lot of room for shady dealings, but when litigation became public and witnesses went to court to debate, the room for shady dealings gradually shrank.

If it were in the past, would they have bothered to change the account books of the court?

There is absolutely no need for this.

Basically, no one can get to Lu Gong's place.

However, when spies go to court to argue, all the evidence has to be made public, and the two sides engage in heated arguments, and many things can no longer be kept secret.

In a sense, justice is served.

This had never happened before, let alone the Han and Tang dynasties, even the legalistic Qin Dynasty had never experienced such a situation. There was no way to learn from history, and this made wealthy businessmen, landlords, and literati feel an unprecedented crisis.

The crisis is not big, but it is unknown.

...

...

At this point, no one wants to be the first to take action, so we just have to endure it for the time being.

Is it just a temporary thing, or is there someone planning to push this matter?

Of course, they didn't really trust this charity. This was just an attempt, so Ma Tianhao deliberately let Ma Xiaoyi, Cao Dongdong and others cooperate with Zhang Fei in a playful way.

If it works, we’ll talk about it later.

If that doesn't work, I can let my son take the blame. These are just children playing around and it has nothing to do with them.

However, Zhang Fei has not yet started to work on this matter seriously. There is still a problem that needs to be solved, which is the nature of the charity organization.

Charity was actually commonplace in the Song Dynasty, and it certainly wasn't taxable, but there were no regulations in this regard in the "Song Dynasty Criminal Code".

I need to go back and study this carefully.

As soon as he returned home, he was captured by Xu Zun.

"So soon?"

Zhang Fei looked at Xu Zun in surprise.

Xu Zun said: "Sima Junshi held a meeting today to discuss this matter. Isn't this your plan? What? Are you not ready yet?"

Zhang Fei said, "I'm almost ready, we can start anytime. By the way, father-in-law, what did you say at that time?"

"It's basically what you said."

Xu Zun then told Zhang Fei all the discussions.

Zhang Fei nodded, and then said, "Father-in-law, you have to hold on. There will definitely be many people attacking you at the beginning."

Xu Zun laughed and said, "You don't have to worry about this. I'm used to it. I just mentioned it casually. They can't do anything to me."

"Dad, Zhang San, what are you discussing?"

Xu Zhiqian suddenly came into the hall.

Zhang Fei hurriedly said, "My father-in-law and I are discussing charity."

Xu Zun knew that Zhang Fei was not going to tell Xu Zhiqian, so he did not say anything more.

"charitable?"

Xu Zhiqian obviously quickened her pace and soon came in front of Zhang Fei, "What charity?"

Zhang Fei then told Xu Zhiqian and Xu Zun about his charity plan.

“What kind of charity is this?”

Xu Zhiqian said unhappily: "You are clearly helping them evade taxes."

Xu Zun, who was the judge of Dali Temple, felt very embarrassed sitting nearby.

Zhang Fei snorted, "This is real money donated, real money donated. As long as the land is donated to our charity, then these lands do not belong to them. How can this be called tax evasion? Father-in-law, please judge for yourself."

Xu Zun was really stumped by his question for a moment, and stroked his beard, "In fact, there are quite a few charitable organizations like what you said in our dynasty."

Zhang Fei asked, "Are you talking about the Futian Courtyard, father-in-law?"

Futianyuan is a place where the government provides free housing to the elderly, the weak, the sick and the poor. However, due to financial difficulties now, they still charge a fee. However, it is still much cheaper than renting public housing, and the environment is much worse.

Zhang Fei had learned about this when he was applying for a mortgage.

Xu Zun waved his hand and said, "There are more than just Futianyuan. For example, there are also government-run nursing homes and Anjifang, which are specifically for taking in orphans or homeless elderly people. There are also privately-run Wanguishe and Qi'anshe."

Zhang Fei asked: "How do they operate?"

Xu Zhiqian said: "Don't you know?"

Zhang Fei shook his head.

"That's true, you have never participated in the scientific examination, so how would you know?" Xu Zhiqian teased.

Zhang Fei tilted his head and looked at Xu Zhiqian depressedly.

Xu Zhiqian pursed her lips and smiled, and then explained: "This Wangui Society is dedicated to providing some help to those poor candidates who go to Beijing to take the exam. At the same time, they also sponsor some colleges, such as books and writing instruments. They even donated a lot of books to the Imperial College. The Qi'an Society is dedicated to providing some help to refugees during famines, but usually they send them some warm clothes in winter. I and a few friends have also joined the Qi'an Society."

Zhang Fei asked, "Really? Why haven't I heard you mention it before?"

Xu Zhiqian said: "What's so good about this?"

"All right!"

Zhang Fei shrugged slightly and asked, "Since there are so many charities, why did Ma Tianhao and the others seem so surprised when I mentioned this to them?"

Xu Zun said: "Whether it is Wangui Society or Qi'an Society, they are different from your charity organization. Wangui Society and Qi'an Society are all like-minded righteous people, or good friends. When they encounter the imperial examination year or the cold winter, they will take the initiative to give some money and food to help.

For example, Wang Jiefu, Sima Junshi, and Wen Gong all donated a lot of money and grain to some colleges or refugees through Wangui Society and Qi'an Society. "

Zhang Fei nodded frequently, "No wonder I always heard that Grand Secretary Wang and Grand Secretary Sima often do charity work, but I never saw them take any action. It turns out that this is a specialized organization."

In comparison, the charity work in the Song Dynasty was actually very developed, which was mainly due to two aspects.

First, Confucianism. Today, all charitable organizations follow Confucianism. Most of the scholars of this period still believed in the idea of ​​helping the world when they are rich and improving themselves when they are poor.

From Fan Zhongyan, Bao Zheng, Fu Bi to Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, this group of literati were truly impeccable in terms of morality. As for political ideas and political struggles, they were another matter. Even when the treacherous minister Cai Jing was in power, he gave great policy support to Futianyuan and Juyangyuan.

The second is the general environment. Everything is inseparable from the relationship between supply and demand. Why was the charity industry so developed in the Song Dynasty? Because it was a commercial society, not a small peasant society, and everyone was responsible for their own affairs. This is also why the laws of the Song Dynasty were repeatedly changed, and the status of relatives and neighbors was changed, because neighbors began to become more important than relatives, and many people needed help from strangers.

Xu Zun added: "But the biggest difference between these and your charity is that they usually donate money and food when there is a need, or donate spontaneously, while your charity is more like a charity business."

Zhang Fei asked, "Does my father-in-law think this needs to be taxed?"

Xu Zun thought for a while and said, "Someone will definitely report you, but if you file a lawsuit, you will most likely win."

Xu Zhiqian asked curiously, "Dad, what do you mean by that? They are clearly trying to evade taxes."

Zhang Fei didn't argue with her because that was the fact.

Xu Zun said: "If those wealthy businessmen donated all their land deeds, it would be difficult to sue them for tax evasion. Compared with Wangui Society, his charity and Zhang San's charity are just donating money first, instead of waiting until there is a need before taking out money. In this sense, they are similar."

Xu Zhiqian asked: "Can't they take these lands back?"

If you can't get it back, then there's really nothing to say.

I can only say that you are cruel enough.

Zhang Fei said: "They will take it back in other ways, such as receiving wages."

After hearing this, Xu Zhiqian thought that this was simply blatant tax evasion and asked, "Don't you feel guilty about earning this money?"

"I have nothing to feel guilty about."

Zhang Fei said: "The money they donated is more than what they legally pay in taxes, and they continue to help those who are truly in need. Just wait and see, it won't be long before the money donated by Wangui Society and Anjifang combined is not as much as my charity."

Xu Zhiqian felt that it made sense. For a moment, she couldn't figure out whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.

Xu Zun said: "But you have to think carefully about this matter. The more you donate, the more land that does not pay taxes, and the tax revenue of the court will decrease. This may even affect Wang Jiefu's reform. He will definitely cause trouble for you, and you may not be able to succeed."

The problem is that his reforms ultimately failed to collect taxes from these super-rich people. Zhang Fei said: "But those people would rather donate their money than pay taxes. I don't think Wang Xueshi can collect their taxes.

If they do this, they can at least ensure that they will take out a portion of the money every year to help the people or the court, but they have the right to use it, and they can also prevent the money from being used by officials for drinking and prostitution. "

Xu Zhiqian was startled, then nodded and said, "That's right. Even if the tax money is collected, if half of it can be used by the court to govern the country, that would be very good."

As she spoke, her eyes turned, "Zhang San, why don't you let me take care of your charity organization?"

Zhang Fei was startled and waved his hand, saying, "Go away, don't get involved in this. Do you understand charity?"

When Xu Zhiqian heard this, her eyes immediately turned red with anxiety, "Why shouldn't I understand? I used to do charity work in Qi'an Society."

Zhang Fei rolled his eyes and said, "Don't show off your low-end craftsmanship of making quilts. It's embarrassing, okay? Don't you think it's shabby?"

Xu Zhiqian was dissatisfied and said, "Does charity have to be divided into noble and humble?"

Zhang Fei said: "It's not that they are divided, but the operation is divided. With the same amount of money, you may only be able to help one person, but I can help a hundred people. This is the difference."

Xu Zhiqian spat, "How shameless of you to say that."

Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "Okay, if you can do these three things, I will hand over this charity to you."

Xu Zhiqian asked: "Which three points?"

Zhang Fei said: "First, we need to attract more people to donate land; second, we need to make a lot of money every year so that the amount of money donated by charities will increase; finally, we need to help more people to the greatest extent possible and reflect our value."

Xu Zhiqian remained silent, her beautiful face flushed red.

Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "Just stand aside and watch. This is what charity is."

Xu Zhiqian snorted, "Okay, let me see what tricks you can come up with."

Xu Zun asked: "It seems that you have made up your mind to do this."

Zhang Fei said: "I have already discussed this with the government."

You should have said it earlier! Xu Zun remained silent.

The emperor has agreed, so why should he worry about it?

After discussing with Xu Zun, Zhang Fei returned home and immediately called Feng Nanxi.

"Seventh Brother, don't worry about the family affairs. Leave everything to Madam. I have a more important task for you."

"What mission?" asked Feng Nancy.

Zhang Fei asked, "Do you have any impression of Li Bao who has been visiting you frequently recently?"

Nancy Feng nodded, but said nothing.

Zhang Fei actually let him know something on purpose, and said, "From now on, you will be responsible for contacting him."