You will have to pay for what you have done.
Zhang San, who made his fortune by jumping from place to place, was really stabbed in the face this time.
The sad thing is, he still has to catch it with his face.
At this moment, he suddenly realized the extreme depression that Sima Guang and Wang Anshi had felt.
In fact, doing so is a good thing for Zhang Fei, but he still feels unhappy.
But then again, Yuan Jiang really had no choice.
He cannot stand with Zhang Fei because now that politics and law are separated, Zhang Fei cannot directly support his work. He still has to rely on the government system. It is not like Zhang Fei who can directly parachute in a system.
He thought that if the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs were put in place, they would inevitably offend people, so it would be better to use them to guide the salt administration.
You point out the mistakes and I correct them.
One of us plays the good guy and the other plays the bad guy.
...
...
When Yuan Jiang returned to the office, it was already dark. But when he entered the hall, he found that Wei Yingfang, He Chunlin and two or three other officials were sitting there.
"Why are you here?"
Yuan Jiang said in surprise.
He Chunlin immediately stepped forward, bowed, and then asked, "I heard that Zhang San just sent someone to invite Scholar Yuan to the imperial court to discuss matters?"
The news is quite well-informed! Yuan Jiang was stunned for a moment, then nodded and sat down again, pretending to be worried.
He Chunlin took two small steps forward and saw that Yuan Jiang remained silent, so he said, "Excuse me, may I ask you something about the salt notes?"
Yuan Jiang raised his head and glanced at them and said, "It seems like you all know."
Wei Yingfang on the side laughed bitterly: "The salt merchant is shouting everywhere, everyone knows it."
"It is indeed because of this matter." Yuan Jiang nodded, and then said: "Judge Zhang hopes that we can compensate the merchants according to the face value of the salt notes."
Wei Yingfang asked, "Did Scholar Yuan agree?"
"How is this possible?"
Yuan Jiang snorted, "I didn't issue more salt notes. Why should I bear all of this? When there is a financial shortfall, the court will only blame me."
He Chunlin asked cautiously: "What did he say?"
Yuan Jiang sighed, "The conversation ended unpleasantly, but I think the imperial court will most likely hold a trial on this case."
He Chunlin's eyes flashed with joy, and he immediately said, "Then let him judge. If there is a financial problem, let the court ask him to settle the account. We can't afford so much money."
Yuan Jiang glanced at him and asked with a smile: "If the court really blames us, do you think they will trouble him first or us first?"
Everyone fell silent.
If something really goes wrong, Yuan Jiang will definitely be held accountable.
The issuance of salt notes was never a local decision. It had always been done by officials appointed by the central government, because it involved many states and counties. If it was left to the local authorities, it would definitely be a mess. It was specifically issued by the Salt Administration, and the head of the administration was the Salt Envoy.
Yuan Jiang glanced at them and asked, "What do you think about the salt money issue?"
Although Wei Yingfang, as the Tongpan, had the power to interfere in the salt administration, they still had the final say on specific matters.
He Chunlin said stubbornly, "In my humble opinion, overissuing salt notes is not... a good thing, but we have no other choice. The imperial court has charged most of the military expenditures of the border states to our Hezhong Prefecture."
Yuan Jiang is also an acting talent. His brows were furrowed and his face was full of worry. "Go and get the account books of salt notes from previous years. We have to think of a countermeasure as soon as possible."
He Chunlin asked: "If the imperial court has sentenced us, do we have to execute it?"
Yuan Jiang said: "According to the rules and regulations, if we feel that it is unfair, we can appeal, and even take it to the Dali Temple and the Court of Justice."
He Chunlin asked again: "Is that all?"
Yuan Jiang's expression froze, and he said, "If you all don't want to care, actually...actually I don't object, but I don't know what the consequences of refusing to execute are yet?"
What I mean is, I don't object to you doing this, but I won't take the lead.
Just like Cai Yanqing.
He Chunlin and the others felt that this was unnecessary.
It is not their fault that salt notes are over-issued, and the compensation should be made by the treasury. They should stand up and make a fuss instead of taking all the responsibility on themselves.
This matter doesn't need to be dealt with directly.
Their main purpose was to provoke Yuan Jiang to confront Zhang Fei.
We are all government officials here. Why should I listen to you? Can you refuse to execute my orders?
The current system is not perfect yet.
Wang Anshi would not agree to let the public security, procuratorate and courts decide everything.
Wei Yingfang hurriedly said: "Nothing is certain at the moment, let's wait and see."
......
On the other side, after getting Zhang Fei's hint, Li Min immediately raised the flag of Li's Bookstore.
In fact, this kid is also ambitious. He has always been suppressed by Li Lei in Kaifeng Prefecture, and he has never been able to take part in major lawsuits. He is very much looking forward to coming to Hezhong Prefecture.
"What? And... can you still ask for interest?"
Duan Chaobei and several salt merchants and banknote merchants beside him looked at each other in bewilderment.
This was something they had never expected.
Being able to get back the principal is considered good enough, but you still have to pay interest.
This spies from Kaifeng Prefecture are different!
The local informants didn't even dare to write a complaint, but not only did they dare to accept it, they also made such a reasonable request.
this...!
Li Min said: "This is natural. If the court had not violated the contract, you would have exchanged for salt and sold it to other places, making the money back, and then doing other business. Why would you stay in Hezhong Prefecture and hesitate?"
"Yes, yes, yes! Brother Li is right. If we could have exchanged for enough salt, we would have become rich long ago. This should be counted as interest."
"But this is a lawsuit against the government. What right do we have?"
"That's true. It's reasonable to ask for the capital. We have our grievances. But if we ask for interest, I'm afraid it will cause dissatisfaction among the government, and it might even be more trouble than it's worth."
"Why!"
Li Min waved his hands and said, "Brother Gao, you don't know. Litigation is actually the same as doing business. It requires bargaining. It's not like the court will decide how much we want. The government will definitely want to give us less. We want more, so even if the court reduces the amount, we won't lose money."
The salt merchant understood this principle very well and nodded repeatedly.
"I think so."
"Brother Li is indeed from the capital. His perspective is different from ours!"
"Yes! That's it."
They have already started a fuss, and they don't intend to do this business. They have no scruples. If they back off now, the officials will certainly not let them off easily, so they might as well just go for it to the end.
The two parties immediately signed an employment contract and then handed some evidence to Li Min.
Li Min also immediately wrote a petition and submitted it to the imperial court.
......
The four little golden men, who were still kept in the dark, were stunned when they saw the indictment.
“They even dare to ask for interest?”
"This Li Min seems to be the adopted son of Li Guozhong."
"So he's a spy from Kaifeng Prefecture. No wonder he's so cruel."
.....
As they spoke, the four of them looked up at Zhang Fei at the same time.
Wasn't this all started by Zhang Da'er?
Zhang Fei frowned, "I asked you to judge this case, what are you looking at me for?"
Cai Jing was startled and said hurriedly: "From a judicial point of view, the evidence is irrefutable and must have met the standards for opening a trial."
Zhang Fei asked curiously: "Besides the judicial system, what other angles can we look at it from?"
Cai Jing said awkwardly: "This case is obviously not in the government's favor. If we make the judgment and the government can't provide salt, what should we do?"
Zhang Fei asked: "So you think we should reject it?"
Shangguan Jun hurriedly said, "That won't do. The other party has provided sufficient evidence, and we have no reason to reject it."
"What should we do then?"
"Students are dull and don't know what to do."
"waste!"
“......!”
"The student is not talented enough to share the teacher's worries."
The four of them blushed and lowered their heads.
In fact, the four of them are not stupid, so they are at a loss because they are considering the overall situation. After the verdict, things may become more troublesome and unpredictable.
The government has done a lot of this.
Zhang Fei said: "You must remember one thing, every case we judge fairly will not be harmful to the country and the monarch, but will only benefit the country and the monarch.
You only see the immediate benefits and ignore the long-term. With the excessive issuance of salt notes, in a few years, will there still be merchants willing to raise military funds for the country and sell salt for the country? What should we do then?
As for your concerns, I am even more puzzled. The court pays so much salary to officials every year. Is it just to let them come here to enjoy the mountains and rivers?
I don't believe that there is no one in the world who can make something happen fairly without relying on cheating and deceiving others."
After hearing this, the four of them blushed with shame, stood up, and bowed: "Students have disappointed the teacher."
"Wow... your shame makes me feel as if this is the first time you've let me down. Don't you know I'm used to it?"
".
.....! "
In fact, they have already gotten used to it.
"The task of collecting evidence from the government will be left to you four."
"Student obeys."
The four of them escaped immediately.
......
But in fact, there is really nothing to check. The government openly refuses to pay its debts and does not try to hide it. It has been like this throughout history. Who would have thought that a public security, procuratorial and judicial system would be parachuted in, leading to the separation of politics and law, and making many things very strange.
After collecting evidence, the Royal Court immediately announced that it would open a trial for the case.
After the news spread.
The whole city was shocked.
Although Zhang Fei had ruled that the government had breached the contract once before, that ruling was based on Huang Tong's case of selling illegal salt.
This time is different. This is a direct lawsuit against the government for breach of contract.
However, what was unexpected was that the people became extremely excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood, and they ran around to tell each other and spread the news by word of mouth.
The news of this day spread throughout the city.
Almost all the people supported the salt merchants.
Although they also knew that these salt merchants were not good people and that they had contributed to the high price of salt, they were, in comparison, more severely oppressed by the government.
The government is refusing to pay its debts, and they really have no way to deal with it. No one can help them, no matter who they cry out to.
Now there is finally a royal court that can stand up for them.
How could they not be excited?
......
"This is ridiculous! Are they crazy? They are actually asking the imperial court for interest?"
When He Chunlin learned about the other party's complaint, he was so angry that he was fuming.
Has this reached the point where everyone is pushing down the wall when it falls?
Cao Yi smiled and said, "Don't be angry, Supervisor He, this is a good thing!"
"Good thing?"
He Chunlin looked at Cao Yi in astonishment.
Cao Yi said: "The more powerful the imperial court is, the more people will be afraid of it. Then everyone will stick together for warmth. What's the point of only the people supporting the imperial court?"
Wei Yingfang laughed and said, "Today I finally saw what it means to be a newborn calf that is not afraid of a tiger. Let's watch the show after the time is judged."
.......
Procuratorate!
"In fact, we should have thought of it a long time ago. The Royal Court will definitely accept it."
Chen Qi laughed and said, "When Zhang San was just an informant, he dared to sue the court. In comparison, this case is nothing."
Wang Shen said: "But this trouble will ensue. There are many cases where the government has breached its contract. If this continues, I am afraid that the public security, procuratorate and courts will become a thorn in the eyes of officials.
Chen Qi also had a worried look on his face: "Now that this matter has become so serious, it won't end well!"
At this point, he suddenly looked at Su Zhe, "Attorney General... Attorney General?"
"ah?"
Su Zhe seemed to be thinking about something and asked, "What are you talking about?"
Chen Qi asked: "What should our procuratorate do?"
Su Che said: "Responsible for examining evidence and supervising trial errors."
"Is that all?"
"Um."
Su Zhe nodded and added: "But I think we can actually do something."
Chen Qi and Wang Shen looked at each other and thought that it would be better not to do so.
Wang Shen asked cautiously, "What does the Attorney General think?"
Su Che did not answer but asked: "Do you think it was only the court that violated the contract?"
The two were confused.
Su Che said: "In the matter of salt notes, it is true that the imperial court violated the contract, but as far as I know, there are also many merchants who cheated the government in order to gain huge profits."
Wang Shen said: "But generally, businessmen who do this have backers."
Su Che asked in return: "Whose backer is more powerful than the government?"
Seeing that the two were silent, Su Che said, "We will not investigate the past, but we must pay attention to these situations in the future. Once we find anything, we must punish them severely. If we don't do this, the finances will not be improved."
Wang Shen and Chen Qi were both sweating profusely.
.
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