Chapter 243 Taxes and Charity
Chapter 243: Taxation and Charity
After Zhao Xu had shown off his power and established his authority, Wang Anshi stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this case was caused by the tenants, and during the trial, the other party also shifted the blame to the tenants and the court, bringing shame to the court.
Therefore, I suggest that the court legislate to stipulate that the land tax is based on the land. The court will collect taxes from whoever the land belongs to, and cannot transfer the taxes to avoid misunderstandings between the court and the people. "
Zhao Xu nodded, but before he could speak, Gu Ji, the judge of the Imperial Household Department, stood up and said, "I object. The tenant rent is a private contract. The government has the law, and the people follow the private contract. If the court intervenes rashly, the landlord may not be able to find the tenant to cultivate the land, and the tenant will lose his livelihood."
Wang Anshi immediately retorted: "This is not a private contract, but a public contract. If, according to the existing laws and regulations, those merchants and owners can use a piece of paper to force the court to collect taxes from whom, the court will become their accomplice. What is the meaning of the tax law established by the court? This is really ridiculous.
Moreover, many of the main households are in the middle and are taking advantage of the situation. If a crisis occurs, they can also sow discord between the court and the people. This is a major hidden danger that must be dealt with."
Zhao Xu nodded and said, "What Wang Xueshi said makes sense. The court had previously given them a break and let them pay the deed tax, and then they would be forgiven. However, they did not know what was good for them and threatened the court with tenant farmers.
In those white deeds, they have already taken at least half of the taxes from the tenants, but they still put all the responsibility on the court and the tenants. This is really unreasonable. The court must not let them do whatever they want. This law must be changed. "
The tone was very firm.
...
...
Sima Guang suddenly stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I also think that this law has many drawbacks and needs to be revised. However, the existing tenancy contracts and taxes are all related to tenants, and the number of people involved may be millions. This is not a trivial matter. The court should handle it carefully to avoid causing greater misunderstandings."
Wang Anshi snorted, "Mr. Sima is a bit alarmist. It's just asking the owners to modify a contract. How difficult can it be?"
Sima Guang said: "I am not exaggerating. If the court orders that the lease agreement must be revised immediately, if the owner is unwilling to bear the responsibility and would rather farm the land himself, can the tenant be dismissed on this ground? This is something the court needs to consider."
Wang Anshi said, "Let them be. If the land is left uncultivated, it will not only be the tenant farmers who will suffer."
Sima Guang said: "You can't say that. If we dismiss too many tenants in a short period of time, it will not only cause losses, but also add a huge burden to the court. The gains will not outweigh the losses."
"That reason again."
Wang Anshi sneered, "You are tolerant of them, but they will only push you further. If you hesitate to make a decision, you will suffer the consequences."
Sima Guang said: "I am not against amending this law. I am suggesting that the court should consider it carefully to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. The laws of our ancestors are to prevent accidents and to make rules for them."
Wang Anshi spread his hands and said, "If we delay this any longer, I'm afraid it will end in nothing."
Sima Guang said: "I never said to delay. The court can immediately issue an order that from now on, the taxes on the signed leases can no longer be borne by the tenants. However, for the leases that have already been signed, the court should also give the owners and tenants some time to prepare."
Han Qi stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I think what Sima Xueshi said makes sense. The court has also come up with solutions to the problems of tenant farmers and government servants.
Although the solution is good, it is often implemented for a period of time and then ends in failure. If Your Majesty is determined, you should consider it carefully and make adequate preparations to avoid repeating the same mistakes. "
Fu Bi, Wen Yanbo and others stood up and expressed their support for Sima Guang.
Seeing that the other party was not following the moral code of the army again, Lu Huiqing immediately stood up and said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, this issue is very simple. It tests the court's determination. If the court does not make a decision immediately, it will give them illusions, which will make the resistance even greater. The longer it is delayed, the more disadvantageous it will be to the court."
Both sides have their reasons for considering this.
Because the Northern Song Dynasty did not suppress land annexation, self-cultivating farmers are disappearing on a large scale, and tenant farmers have gradually become the main body. This is not a problem for a small number of people, but a problem for the main body. It cannot be imagined too simply. Once a problem occurs, it will be very troublesome. We must consider it carefully.
But Wang Anshi believed that this problem did involve many people, but the problem was very simple and the solution was also simple. Once you consider it carefully, things would become complicated.
It was indeed difficult for Zhao Xu to manage such a group of people.
But he knew that this problem had to be solved immediately, as it concerned his authority. He thought for a while and asked Sima Guang, "Master Sima, can it be completed within this year?"
This year?
Only half a year.
Sima Guang was in a dilemma, but Zhao Xu's tone hinted at him that if he said no, then he would hand it over to Wang Anshi. He cupped his hands and said, "I will do my best."
Zhao Xu nodded and said, "This law will be handed over to the Court of Criminal Justice for revision."
Then he turned to Wang Anshi and said, "Mr. Wang, you should still focus on the new law."
Wang Anshi bowed and said, "I obey your command."
After this matter was settled, the meeting came to an end.
Judging from the way many ministers shook their heads and sighed, one could tell how badly they had lost this time.
They never imagined that the emperor would resort to such tactics.
What a fucked up situation.
After they left, Wang Anshi and Sima Guang slowly walked out of the hall.
Wang Anshi looked up at the sky and sighed: "My life is really like that of an ox or a horse. I have to do all the dirty work, but the credit goes to others. Alas..."
Sima Guang could hear the irony in his words and laughed, "You are not destined to be a beast of burden, you were just born in the wrong era. If you were born in the Han Dynasty, even if you were not Huo Guang, you would at least be someone like Wang Mang. If you were born in the Tang Dynasty, you would be someone like Zhangsun Wuji or Yao Chong. It's a pity that you were born in my dynasty."
Wang Anshi glanced at him and said, "You are like Wang Mang."
He waved his sleeves and left.
Sima Guang's meaning is very simple. I am not trying to steal your credit, but the emperor will not let you take on everything. It is impossible for you to be second only to the emperor in the Song Dynasty.
After Wang Anshi left, Sima Guang's expression gradually became solemn. He knew very well that getting this matter done would not be as simple as he had imagined.
As long as this period passes, it will definitely come back to life.
For example, Han Qi had made several reforms to the Yaqian service, but to no avail, and things gradually returned to being the same as before.
The Square Field System was not first invented by Wang Anshi. It was designed by Guo Zi and Sun Lin during the reign of Emperor Renzong. It was implemented several times and the court never said it would be abolished, but it eventually returned to the starting point.
This kind of reform involving interests seems to have a suction force. No matter how far you pull it, it can always be sucked back.
Sima Guang, who studied history, knew this very well. In fact, he was not sure that after the change, it would always be implemented in this way. On the contrary, he believed that after a few years, it would return to its current state.
He is pessimistic about this.
But for the moment, Wang Anshi is right. The landlord class is already in a panic. This is a perfect opportunity. We should push them forward in one wave and not give them a chance to breathe. Otherwise, things will become more difficult.
Now, there is no need for the imperial court to issue an order, as the landlords are already preparing to pay the tax on the white deeds.
But the problem is that the white deed is only a part of it. Do the lands stored in Xiangguo Temple and the lands stored in Situation House need to pay taxes?
If we don’t pay, will they sue us?
Not to mention the landlords, even the royal family were considering this issue.
Many people have already asked about this.
The white deed is definitely illegal, but it is placed in Xiangguo Temple to evade taxes, which on the surface is definitely legal.
Zhang Fei had just returned home and had not had time to hold a celebration banquet when Ma Tianhao and Chen Maoqian arrived right after and used Xiangguo Temple to consult him about this issue.
“It’s hard to say.”
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "According to the laws of our dynasty, there is a limit to the tax-free land of a family with a high status, and monks and Taoists need a certificate of ordination issued by the court to be tax-free. If the court takes back the certificate of ordination, they must pay taxes. And the certificate of ordination is only for individuals. If the court wants to sue, the lawsuit will definitely be fought."
Chen Maoqian asked: "In other words, all these lands must pay taxes?"
Zhang Fei was very puzzled and said, "The agricultural tax in our dynasty is actually not that high. We only collect one bushel of rice per mu of land. You two officials are so rich. Is it necessary for you to evade this little tax?"
Chen Maoqian said: "You don't understand this."
Zhang Fei asked, "I'd like to hear more details."
"I...."
Chen Maoqian suddenly shut up.
Ma Tianhao said casually: "There are only three of us here, there is nothing we can't say."
Then he said to Zhang Fei: "This agricultural tax is indeed not high, but as long as we pay the tax honestly, you will see that the tax will definitely increase year by year."
Chen Maoqian nodded: "Those officials are not good men and women, they all bully the weak and fear the strong. Why did those first-class families lose their families? They were not bullied by the landlords."
They are different from the literati. They are in the middle of the food chain and are very likely to be swallowed up.
Zhang Fei said: "If you pay taxes according to the law, if there are any problems, you can file a lawsuit to resolve them."
Ma Tianhao said: "Wouldn't that be more expensive?"
"......?"
Zhang Fei was speechless.
Chen Maoqian said: "It is difficult to resolve the issue by suing. For example, there are laws to deal with the transfer of funds, loss and depreciation, but this is a bottomless pit. If the court is short of money, can it really enforce the law impartially?"
Zhang Fei frowned and said nothing.
Ma Tianhao said: "We spend so much money in your store every year, you have to help us solve these problems."
Zhang Fei knew about these problems. He had studied this lawsuit thoroughly. He was waiting for Ma Tianhao to say this and pretended to be troubled. "If you two are just worried about paying too much tax, not not paying tax, then there is a way to solve it."
Ma Tianhao asked hurriedly: "What method?"
Zhang Fei said: "Charity."
"charitable?"
Ma Tianhao was stunned.
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "If you donate all the land, then you don't have to pay taxes."
Ma Tianhao was stunned for a while, then said with bulging eyes: "What's your idea? It's like you are afraid of getting sick, so you stab yourself to death. You won't get sick again, but you'll die."
Chen Maoqian also nodded.
Zhang Fei said: "You are donating to Xiangguo Temple, isn't that also a donation?"
Chen Maoqian whispered: "That's not a donation, that's a release. We have a contract between us."
“Okay, okay, okay!”
Zhang Fei said: "I won't donate it, so I'll release it for charity."
Is it so casual?
Ma Tianhao asked: "What do you mean by this?"
Zhang Fei said: "Don't you understand this? This is just like your cooperation with Xiangguo Temple. It's just that Xiangguo Temple is turned into a charity organization, dedicated to doing good deeds, and then you deposit the land in it."
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