After some questioning, Su Che said that he had no problem.
Zhang Fei then asked Qiu Zhengwen, "Does the Legal Aid Department have any questions?"
Qiu Zhengwen shook his head and said, "No."
The soldiers watching the trial in front of the door all looked at Qiu Zhengwen and Li Min at the same time.
That’s it?
In the previous trial, the case was mainly explained by the plaintiff, and these two or three sentences were enough to finish the question?
And the Legal Aid Department, why doesn’t it say a word?
It’s free indeed.
However, the officials present did not think so. After several previous lawsuits, they had a deeper understanding of this new litigation system.
Whether it is Erbi or the Procuratorate, they all like to prove their point from the mouth of a third party.
...
...
This is not difficult to understand. The confession of a third party is definitely more convincing.
They want to convince the president of the court.
The key point of this lawsuit is not Chen Guang, because what Chen Guang said is also recognized by the government. The most important thing is whether the government deliberately delayed or withheld military pay.
There are still real financial difficulties.
After Chen Guang left, Su Che stood up again and said, "It just so happens that Lei Hu, the captain who was in the same battalion with Chen Guang, has recently returned to Hezhong Prefecture. Chen Guang is a soldier under his command. I implore the judge to summon Lei Hu to testify in court."
"Leihu."
Many officials present immediately glanced at Zhe Jizu and others sitting opposite them.
The military commanders looked focused.
This case does not involve a dispute between civil officials and military officers. Logically speaking, civil officials and military officers should be of one mind. You want to appear in court to testify for the procuratorate. Can the Transportation Bureau give you a good result?
This captain named Lei Hu dared to testify in court, so he must have someone supporting him. Otherwise, there is no way he would affect his official career for a small soldier.
It goes without saying that this is definitely a way for them to return the favor.
Fuzhou is also their territory.
After a while, a burly man came into the yard.
Su Che immediately stood up and asked, "Captain Lei, from the fourth year of Zhiping to now, where have you been working?"
Lei Hu said casually: "I used to be the head of Fuzhou, and was transferred to Hezhong Prefecture this year."
Su Che asked again: "Do you know Chen Guang from Hedong County?"
"know."
Lei Hu said, "That kid, cough cough, after Chen Guang came to our camp, he has always been very brave in battle. At that time, our Commander Yang was very optimistic about him and planned to let him call his wife and children to Fuzhou and let him serve in Fuzhou forever."
Fuzhou is the base camp of Yang Ye's Yang family. They will select some brave and capable soldiers and incorporate them into their own Yang Family Generals.
"What a shame. Alas."
Lei Hu sighed regretfully.
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "It seems that this guy is really a man of character."
Xu Zhiqian whispered: "I am so sad, and you are still smiling."
Zhang Fei quickly restrained himself.
Fortunately, no one paid attention to him.
Su Zhe said, "Captain Lei, do you know how the military camp will deal with a situation like Chen Guang's?"
Lei Hu said: "Although this matter is not our responsibility, we also know that in a case like Chen Guang, the military camp will give him some food and an official document, let him return to his hometown, and then use the official document to obtain a pension from the prefecture and county."
Su Che asked, "Won't the military camp provide pensions?"
“Normally not.”
Lei Hu shook his head and said, "Food has always been in short supply at the border. Soldiers like Chen Guang who were allowed to return home will come back anyway, so it is better for them to receive pensions from the local authorities. However, the official documents from the military camp will describe the soldiers' situation in the camp, and the prefecture and county will give pensions based on these documents."
Release means repatriation, not discharge. Discharge requires submission of official documents. If the official document states that the soldier has been removed from the military register, he will be given a pension and his military register will be removed.
It is impossible to pay pensions to the front line. All of this is under the local management. After all, a large part of military expenditure is to transport food and fodder to the front line.
Su Che continued to ask: "What is your military camp's evaluation of Chen Guang?"
Lei Hu said: "But it's very good. When he came back, Commander Yang specially asked for ten stone of grain from Fuzhou for him. It is said that he can also get the thirty strings of compensation that he should have received, as well as part of the reward, but the exact amount is uncertain. It depends on how the prefecture and county will calculate it."
"Then have you ever heard that soldiers who bravely returned with injuries could not receive a pension?"
"Well, I've heard some, but I don't know why exactly."
Lei Hu, who seems carefree, still stutters when he mentions this.
It can be seen that this is a very common thing, so he is well aware of the pros and cons.
"Thank you, Lei Dutou, for being willing to testify in court."
"No thanks! No thanks!"
Lei Hu also defended himself, "I was just telling the truth."
Su Zhe smiled and nodded, then said to Zhang Fei: "I have no problem."
Zhang Fei asked as usual: "Is there any problem with the Legal Aid Department?"
"No!"
Qiu Zhengwen shook his head again.
The soldiers observing the trial all looked at the two mutes with strange expressions.
Are you two here to make fun of me?
Why don't you ask a single question?
After Lei Hu left, Su Che asked for the transport envoy Yuan Jiang to appear in court to testify.
Everyone immediately perked up.
The highlight is finally here.
Yuan Jiang came to the court with a very serious expression, completely unlike his usual cheerful and talkative self.
Zhang Fei saw this and laughed in his heart. This old man's acting skills are truly at the level of an award-winning actor.
Su Che stood up and bowed, saying, "Mr. Yuan, I am sorry for the injustice. Although our procuratorate is suing the Transportation Department this time, I also know that this matter has nothing to do with Mr. Yuan. After all, last year's military expenditure was not funded by Mr. Yuan."
Yuan Jiang smiled coldly and said, "I have also carefully investigated this case, and there is no problem with the Transportation Department."
Su Che smiled and asked, "In Yuan Xueshi's opinion, whose problem should it be?"
Yuan Jiang asked, "Don't you know about this financial difficulty?"
Su Che said: "Of course I know this, but this amount of money shouldn't be too much for the government to allocate, right?"
Yuan Jiang angrily rebuked: "This country has its own laws, and every family has its own rules. The government has not said that it will not give it, but it cannot give Chen Guang preferential treatment just because your procuratorate intervenes. It would be better for your procuratorate to manage the finances."
Well said!
good!
The officials standing by clenched their fists and looked excited.
This is how our officials testify in court.
Cai Bian and others looked at Su Che with sympathy.
Chen Qi and Wang Shen were unhappy. Why? When Zhang San asked, you were so honest. Are you bullying our procuratorate?
Qiu Zhengwen and Li Min were sitting in the back, trembling.
Su Che didn't care and smiled, "In that case, Master Yuan, why don't you tell us how the Transportation Department allocates military funds and the difficulties of the Transportation Department."
Yuan Jiang said: "The military expenses are mainly levied by local taxes. The specific amount of taxes levied by each prefecture and county is not managed by our Transportation Department, but by the local prefectures and counties. Once the taxes are collected and sent to the Warehouse Department, they will be managed by our Transportation Department.
But it is not that the amount of money that our Transportation Department allocates is based on the amount of taxes collected by local prefectures and counties every year. Specifically, we have to follow the instructions of the three departments. Our Transportation Department will first report the accounts to the court, and the three departments will then issue instructions on how much money to allocate to the national treasury. The rest will be distributed by our Transportation Department to various prefectures and counties, mainly to the garrison troops.
However, the military pay was still uncertain, because the three departments only determined how much money and grain to leave for the local areas based on the funds of previous years. In case of emergencies, they could only report to the court and the national treasury would allocate money.
It is normal that the pension cannot be paid for a while."
Su Che asked: "May I ask, Mr. Yuan, which government offices are responsible for distributing military funds?"
Yuan Jiang said: "It's mainly the military supply warehouse and the grain and food court. The funds for the pension department are also paid from the military supply warehouse. The transportation department will not directly allocate money to the pension department."
The amount of pension is completely uncertain. Generally, after the application is made, the military treasury will allocate it to the Pension Department.
Su Che nodded and said, "Therefore, the Transportation Department allocates the remaining money from military expenditures to these two government offices every year."
Yuan Jiang nodded.
“Is there a fixed number?”
"Of course there is."
Yuan Jiang said: "As I said before, the Transportation Department will divide the money and grain for each government office based on the expenditures of previous years."
Su Che nodded and said, "Thank you, Mr. Yuan, for testifying in court. I have no questions now."
Yuan Jiang was stunned and asked, "Are you done asking?"
"Yes."
Su Che nodded and turned to look at Qiu Zhengwen.
“We have no problem.”
Qiu Zhengwen spoke first.
Zhang Fei smiled and said to Yuan Jiang, "Thank you, Scholar Yuan, for coming to court to testify."
Yuan Jiang glared at him, stood up and went downstairs, but his face was full of confusion.
Whispers were also heard in the VIP seats on both sides.
That’s it?
They thought that since the prosecution was against the Transportation Bureau, the breakthrough must have come from Yuan Jiang, but they didn't expect that he just asked about some rules for the distribution of military funds.
Even Xu Zhiqian asked in a low voice: "Mr. Judge, can you see anything?"
Zhang Fei shook his head and said, "If he doesn't show the evidence, I can't see anything."
Su Che also requested the army to
Tang Zhongwen, the chief officer of the Treasury and a military officer, appeared in court to testify.
"Manager Tang, regarding the pensions for the wounded and laid-off soldiers, is it your military treasury that is responsible for it?"
"Yes."
Tang Zhongwen nodded and said confidently: "Most of the money was allocated to the Pension Department by our military treasury, and some of it may be distributed by the Grain and Food Bureau."
Su Che asked again: "As for the monthly income of the soldiers' families, is it also the responsibility of your military treasury?"
Tang Zhongwen nodded and said, "We will give this money to the military camp, and the military camp will give it to the soldiers' families."
Su Che picked up a roll of cloth and asked, "Did this cloth come from your military supply warehouse?"
Wang Shen immediately showed the cloth to Tang Zhongwen.
Tang Zhongwen took a quick look and said, "I don't know if this cloth came from our military supply warehouse, but due to financial difficulties in the past two years, we did issue a batch of such cloth."
Su Che asked, "Manager Tang, how much is this cloth worth?"
Tang Zhongwen sighed, "This cloth has been stored in the warehouse for a long time. We know it's not very good, but we have no other choice. In the fourth year of Zhiping, war broke out in Suizhou. All the money and grain in our warehouse were supplied to the front line first. We really couldn't take out the money and grain, so we could only convert this cloth into military pay and give it to the soldiers' families."
Su Zhe nodded and said, "After Chen Guang came back, he immediately went to the military camp to apply for a pension. Did you know about this?"
Tang Zhongwen said, "I only found out about it later. His name was indeed on the list reported by the military camp. However, the remaining money and food in our warehouse are all in reserve. However, the expenses for pensions are also high, so we can only give priority to the dead. You have also seen the accounts of our military treasury."
Su Che nodded and said, "But Manager Tang, do you still remember that on the fifth day of February this year, you allocated a sum of money, about one thousand strings of cash."
One thousand strings of cash?
Everyone was shocked.
You still have questions about such a small amount?
You are thinner than Zhang San!
"February 5th? One thousand strings of cash?"
Tang Zhongwen muttered something and suddenly his expression changed. He looked at Su Zhe in surprise.
"What's going on?"
He Chunlin stood up excitedly.
The other officials also showed slight nervousness on their faces.
Su Zhe asked again: "Does Manager Tang still remember?"
Tang Zhongwen frowned and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Su Che smiled and said, "Our procuratorate has investigated the accounts of the diplomatic corps."
Hearing this, Tang Zhongwen glanced at him guiltily and said, "Remember. It was allocated to the Council of Ministers."
As soon as these words were spoken, the officials' faces were immediately filled with anger, and they looked at Su Che as if he were the enemy who killed their father.
Zhang Fei also noticed it and was extremely curious. What was going on?
Su Che asked again: "Why was it allocated to the Council of Ministers?"
Tang Zhongwen said: "Well, it seems so. It is used for Li Hao, the Imperial Censor, to practice."
Su Che asked again: "Mr. Tang, do you still remember that on the 23rd of the same month, you allocated another 2,000 strings of cash and 320 dan of grain to the diplomatic corps?"
Tang Zhongwen nodded slightly.
Su Che asked again: "Why?"
Tang Zhongwen began to have a headache, and covered his forehead with one hand. "I don't know either, but the Legation House wanted it anyway."
The officials standing by were also wiping their sweat.
Su Che said, "Mr. Yuan just said it very clearly. Each government office has a fixed amount of funds, and according to the system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs usually subsidizes the Military Treasury. Why is it that the accounts always show that the Military Treasury subsidizes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?"
Tang Zhongwen said vaguely: "I'm not sure, but it has always been like this."
"Wait a minute!"
Zhang Fei suddenly asked, "Prosecutor Su, I don't quite understand what this Legation House is used for."
When he asked this question, all the officials were stunned.
No way!
You don’t even know the Legation House?
Xu Zhiqian looked embarrassed and blamed herself deeply, thinking that she had failed in her duty!
Su Che quickly explained: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs mainly provides funds for receiving and sending officials, but according to our dynasty's tradition, if there is an emergency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' money can be used for military expenses."
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "I understand."
The funds for his visit were all paid by himself, and he was too lazy to deal with the government for a little money. After arriving in Hezhong Prefecture, no official invited him to stay, and they almost didn't even give him a salary. He knew nothing about this!
Looking around, it's no wonder that these officials are so angry when the Council of Legation is mentioned. It turns out that this is a department specifically for them to spend public funds. You are finished this time.
Cai Yanqing suddenly realized, "So he started from the Council of Ministers."
Wang Shao, who was standing by, said, "If he wasn't an official, he wouldn't know the mystery."
.
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