It's really a situation where one crisis follows another!
The case of matricide in Guixiang has not yet cooled down, and the public security, procuratorate and courts, which have just arrived in Hezhong Prefecture, have once again become the focus of local people's attention.
This time, the attention paid to this issue is far greater than before, because this is not only a social issue, but also an issue that involves the interests of everyone, and it is also a very sensitive political issue.
Especially in Hezhong Prefecture, as long as it concerns salt profits, it is no small matter.
However, based on the case of matricide, the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs have won the favor of many people, and public opinion has not yet become agitated because many people believe that the royal court will give a fair judgment.
But the more this happened, the greater the pressure on the imperial court.
Because selling contraband salt is illegal, this is clearly stipulated in national laws.
However, the people have this mentality, which can be said to be interfering with the judiciary invisibly.
Royal Court.
Su Che handed a complaint to Zhang Fei personally, but he looked very tired.
...
...
Zhang Fei took the complaint and was about to ask a few questions when he suddenly heard Su Che say, "There is more than one way to solve the problem."
"Um?"
Zhang Fei looked at Su Zhe curiously, "What do you mean, Mr. Su?"
Su Che frowned and said, "Although the public security, procuratorial and judicial systems are good and the legal system is attractive, they may not appear at the right time and may make many problems more acute."
Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "I didn't expect that this small case would make Mr. Su so depressed."
Su Che said: "It is precisely because this is a common minor case that it makes people feel frustrated. To be honest, if I were not the Attorney General, I would never prosecute this salt merchant, because he is not guilty, but he faces the death penalty. Unfortunately, I am the Attorney General and I must act according to the law. This makes me feel very helpless."
At this point, he paused for a moment and continued, "However, such things are common and can be found everywhere, and they are all kinds of strange. Those people can find all kinds of problems to make things difficult for us. In my opinion, it will be difficult for the judiciary to do anything before the political and legal system is clear."
Although he served as the Attorney General, he was still a Confucian at heart. He believed that the fault lay with the court's policy, not the salt households. If he were the prefect, he would definitely take other measures to solve the problem, just like Cai Yanqing, giving different responses according to different situations.
But as the Attorney General, there is no room for maneuver.
It is clearly stipulated that if someone is caught red-handed, the procuratorate might as well close down if it does not prosecute.
You have to know that this kind of thing is easy for the other party to do and it's nothing, but it makes the entire public security, procuratorial and judicial organs feel very uneasy. The cost of the struggle between the two sides is not proportional, and there is no chance of winning at all.
This made Su Che question the entire public security, procuratorial and judicial system. Like Xu Zhiqian, he believed that if the political and legal system was not clear, law enforcement would be aiding and abetting the tyrant.
The salt administration exploited the people, and the laws exterminated them.
Under such a harsh salt policy, Bai Xin could only make a living by selling private salt, but the law imposed severe punishments, and selling ten kilograms of salt was a death sentence.
This doesn't make sense.
But if we want to change it, we have to start with the salt administration.
If the salt policy is not changed, this law will become an evil law, and there will be no pleasure in enforcing an evil law.
"I see."
Zhang Fei nodded and continued, "There is indeed more than one way to solve the problem. It doesn't make sense to stick to one path. But a broadsword can't be used as an embroidery needle. Although an embroidery needle is small, it is also indispensable. It's impossible for everyone to hold a broadsword. Someone has to hold an embroidery needle."
Su Che thought about it and realized that justice was also necessary. He glanced at him and said, "Then how do you plan to deal with it?"
“I still have to evaluate.”
Zhang Fei raised the indictment in his hand and said, "This indictment has been in my hand for less than an incense stick of time."
Su Che suddenly seemed to remember something, "Don't you have the power to judge? Can you change the salt law? If someone smuggles 10 kilograms of salt, he will be sentenced to death. This is too serious and difficult to enforce."
Use the strictest laws to judge the most common matters.
This is obviously wrong.
In fact, the Song Dynasty has made some improvements in this regard. It used to be five catties, but now it has been increased to ten catties.
But ten kilograms only cost four hundred and fifty coins. After deducting the costs, it is far from enough for those salt households.
Zhang Fei asked, "I wonder what kind of punishment Mr. Su Xiao thinks should be given?"
Su Che thought for a while and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Given the current situation of the salt households, a little disturbance could destroy their families."
Take Huang Tong, for example. Even if he was locked up in the police station for a month or two without any punishment, he might still lose all his wealth because he had to pay 120,000 kilograms of salt to the court.
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Let me take a look first."
Su Che nodded and said, "But there is nothing worth reading in this indictment."
"That's because your procuratorate is not working hard enough." Zhang Fei said half-jokingly.
Su Zhe nodded with a wry smile, "I hope so."
After seeing Su Che off, Zhang Fei immediately summoned their think tank, namely the four little Vajras Cai Jing, Cai Bian, Shangguan Jun, and Ye Zuqia, as well as the military strategist Xu Zhiqian.
"This is clearly a conspiracy."
Cai Jing said: "In my opinion, as long as the court is held, it will be a thankless task no matter what. The court has sent Yuan Daxueshi to be in charge of the salt administration. Why don't we transfer the matter to him?"
Shangguan Jun nodded and said, "This salt householder is really pitiful. It is really inappropriate to sentence him to death. The reason is the corruption of the salt administration and the harsh salt laws. The person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it!"
"If everything is pushed to other government agencies, then what is the role of our public security, procuratorate and courts?"
Ye Zuqia snorted, "This is illegal and should be judged by our imperial court. Salt administration corruption is also illegal. Why don't we follow the clues, expand this case, and take the opportunity to rectify the salt administration. Let's see if they dare to use this kind of thing to embarrass us."
Cai Bian nodded and said, "I agree with what Brother Ye said. If every salt household can get 45 strings of cash and the court buys the remaining salt in their hands at a reasonable price, they will not sell private salt."
"Absolutely not."
Cai Jing said hurriedly: "We are new here and weak, while the salt officials and salt clerks are extremely powerful. If we continue to investigate, there may be no end, and we may even investigate all the way to the capital. By then, there will be no verdict, and the court will have to find us guilty. Since ancient times, such things are everywhere."
Cai Bian snorted, "If we are always looking ahead and behind, then what are we doing here?"
Cai Jing immediately retorted: "Everything must be done slowly and gradually. If you rush for success, you will often end up with a broken army."
Ye Zuqia said: "But if you compromise, you will only get more demands in return."
Shangguan Jun said: "It is better to keep a low profile and accumulate strength before making a breakthrough than to overestimate one's own abilities."
The four little Vajras immediately split into two factions and started arguing endlessly.
Xu Zhiqian looked struggling, she felt that what they said made sense, and she felt a sense of pain as if she couldn't have her cake and eat it too. She couldn't help but look at Zhang Fei, only to see that Zhang Fei was still in his signature posture during class, leaning against the table, with his hands folded across his chest, silent and silent.
After a while, the four little golden warriors were so thirsty from arguing that they couldn't help but look at Zhang Fei at the same time.
"Teacher, how do you plan to deal with this?" Shangguan Jun asked.
Zhang Fei was startled and looked up at them. After a while, he said, "What you said is beyond the law. We are judicial personnel. We hold the Song Dynasty Criminal Code in our hands, not the Sun Tzu Art of War. The law has not been explained clearly yet, and you are talking about those nonsense. Aren't you thinking too far ahead?"
At this point, he turned sideways, picked up the indictment on the table, and raised it, "Let me ask you, is there any problem with this indictment?"
The four of them shook their heads at the same time.
"Is there any problem?" Zhang Fei asked again.
The four of them looked at Zhang Fei anxiously.
Zhang Fei sighed deeply, "What do you usually do?"
The four of them pursed their lips in grievance.
Shangguan Jun asked: "Teacher, do you think there is a problem with this indictment?"
Zhang Fei said: "Of course there are problems. I have never seen such a crude indictment."
"ah?"
Several people looked at Zhang Fei in surprise at the same time.
Zhang Fei said: "This indictment does not clearly state that the salt sold by Huang Tong is private salt."
"???"
Several people were confused after hearing this.
Xu Zhiqian said: "Huang Tong himself admitted it."
Zhang Fei said: "What's the use of Huang Tong admitting it? We need to see the evidence."
"This is private salt."
Cai Bian said: "National law stipulates that salt households can only sell salt to the court and cannot sell it privately to others."
"But what if the court refuses to accept it?"
"Isn't that possible?"
"I'm talking about if. The government decree stipulates that the salt in the hands of salt households must be sold to the court, and the court must purchase the salt. On the other hand, if the court does not purchase the salt, does it mean that the salt will not be required to be sold to the court? It is impossible to divide it into two parts in one sentence. Then is this still considered private salt?"
".?"
The four little golden men were overwhelmed by what they heard. Can it be calculated like this?
Zhang Fei asked again: "Does the indictment state this?"
"Uh no."
"Also! If the government allows Huang Tong to sell the salt, you must remember that this is a decree, not a law. The law states that selling private salt is illegal, but what is private salt? According to the current regulations, what the government allows is official salt, and what it does not allow is private salt."
"ah?"
"You what? Are you going to find out?"
"yes."
"Also, does the imperial court have any regulations on the price at which the abundant salt should be purchased from the salt farmers?"
"It doesn't seem to be specified, but what does this have to do with this case?"
"How is it not related? The court stipulates that the salt produced by salt households must be sold to the court, and the court must also purchase the salt. This is not an obligation to hand it over, so it must follow the principle of buying and selling. It should be paid, no matter how much.
But if the court is unwilling to pay a penny, it is equivalent to the court voluntarily giving up the salt. Then it goes back to the previous question: when the court voluntarily gives up the salt, how to determine whether it is private salt or official salt. "
"If we investigate in this way, wouldn't it be exaggerating the case?"
Cai Jing said doubtfully.
"No, I just want to determine whether this salt is official salt or private salt."
As he spoke, Zhang Fei threw the indictment to Cai Jing and said, "Return it to the procuratorate and tell them that this is the crudest indictment our imperial court has ever seen. Also give them some pens, ink, paper and inkstone. The bill will be in my name. Tell them not to be too stingy with the pens, ink and paper."
“Yes, yes.”
Cai Jing nodded awkwardly.
Shouldn't we unite against the outside world now?
Why are they still fighting among themselves?
After they left, Xu Zhiqian asked, "What do you want to do?"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "I will give them a taste of their own medicine and make them unable to sleep or eat in peace."
(End of this chapter)
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