Meng Mansion.
"What is going on? Why would Fengyue News send people to ambush there?"
Meng Qiansheng shook the newspaper in his hand and said in disbelief.
To them, this was simply unbelievable!
It was totally unexpected.
"This is too strange."
Zhao Wenzheng consoled himself: "No one will believe it."
Xie Yun said, "It is indeed very strange that Fengyue Newspaper sent people to ambush the Liu family in advance. If it were just based on this, no one would believe it. But the newspaper also revealed that the police station also sent people to follow us, which is very disadvantageous to us."
"Isn't the police station on our side? We donated money to them not long ago."
"I am not sure as well."
"I really shouldn't trust the Cao family."
... ...
Fu Shichun's move really attracted a lot of attention.
Especially when public opinion was already boiling over, the sudden revelation of such explosive content caused a reversal of the entire incident.
The Fengyue newspaper, which had been hiding in the brothels, became famous in the capital overnight.
The sales volume of Fengyue Newspaper on that day directly broke the record set by Xinwen Newspaper, selling 10,000 copies within half a day.
This at least proves one thing, he printed ten thousand copies.
You have to know that with today's printing technology, printing 10,000 copies is not a small project!
It can be seen that Fu Shichun was well prepared.
According to the details disclosed in Fengyuebao, the tax police knocked on the door very politely, stated their purpose, and repeatedly asked the other party to cooperate.
However, the other party continued to provoke and insult, and even attacked the tax police with pebbles, which led the tax police to take action.
It even reveals every detail of their conversation.
Conspiracy theories are consistent with human nature, and most people immediately believed that this was a conspiracy against the Tax Commissioner.
The procuratorate immediately took action and brought Fu Shichun and Cao Dongdong.
"Master Fu, why did you send people to ambush the Liu family in advance?"
Su Che asked very confusedly.
Fu Shichun said, "Because I had heard that the tax commissioner would take action against Liu Ping, I secretly sent someone to lurk on a big tree near Liu's house that night to see how the tax police enforced the law. I knew that the people were very interested in this, and if I could reveal the details, my Fengyue Newspaper would definitely sell well."
Su Zhe was a little unconvinced and asked, "Master Fu, do you need this little money?"
Fu Shichun smiled and said, "This is not a small amount of money, and it is much more than growing crops."
Su Che nodded and asked, "Where did you get the news?"
Fu Shichun said: "I can't say this. If I say it, I won't be able to get this kind of information in the future."
Su Che said: "But if you don't explain clearly, how can people believe what you say?"
Fu Shichun smiled and said, "I don't care whether you believe it or not. However, my people also found two royal police officers nearby."
Su Che asked, "Why didn't you inform our procuratorate in advance?"
Fu Shichun smiled and said, "I spent so much energy not for your procuratorate, but to sell newspapers. If I informed the procuratorate in advance, how could I sell newspapers?"
... ...
At the same time, Cao Dongdong was also being interrogated by Qi Ji.
"Was it Deputy Superintendent Cao who gave the order for the two Royal Police officers to follow the tax police?"
"Is there any need to ask? Apart from me, who else can give orders?" Cao Dongdong was very unhappy. Are you questioning my authority
Qi Ji said: "For example, Superintendent Cao."
"My father is almost terminally ill and has stopped caring about anything." Cao Dongdong said carelessly.
What a filial son! Qi Ji sighed in his heart and asked, "I wonder why Deputy Superintendent Cao sent the Royal Police to follow the tax police?"
Cao Dongdong asked back: "Didn't you read the newspaper?"
Qi Ji was surprised and asked, "What report?"
"It's the Fengyue News from a few days ago."
Cao Dongdong said, "That newspaper published my remarks. Our duty as the Royal Police is to defend the legitimate rights and interests of the people. We will not let the tax commissioner do whatever he wants. That's why I sent people to quietly follow the tax police. If they dare to abuse their power and use their power for personal gain, then our Royal Police will never let them go."
Qi Ji was a little confused. Are you helping the tax police or supervising them
Cao Dongdong sighed again, "I just didn't expect those servants to be so abominable. The tax officer spoke to them in a nice tone, but they actually retorted and even insulted me. In the end, they even threw pebbles at me. They really deserved to be beaten. It's no wonder that the tax officer resorted to violence against them."
Qi Ji asked again, "I wonder how the deputy superintendent knew that the tax commissioner would raid the Liu family? As far as I know, the tax commissioner's actions are always kept very secret."
Cao Dongdong blinked guiltily: "I have my own way, but I can't tell you, otherwise, who would dare to tip off me."
Qi Ji said: "If that's the case, why didn't the deputy superintendent take the initiative to inform our procuratorate before?"
Cao Dongdong glanced at him and said, "Why? Do you think that your procuratorate is above our police station? When my police station handles a case, we don't need to notify your procuratorate. When we have irrefutable evidence, we will come here and let you prosecute.
The last Qin Biao case was clearly the work of our police station, and we were the ones who investigated the entire thing. But in the end, all the limelight was taken by your procuratorate, and you didn't even mention our Royal Police during the court trial.
Also, you didn’t ask our police station to help investigate. Unfortunately, you didn’t have the ability to find evidence, and in the end you blamed us. This is really unreasonable.”
torment!
Communicating with this playboy is really a torture.
Qi Ji was too lazy to communicate with this guy.
Half an hour later.
Cao Dongdong and Fu Shichun came out of the procuratorate.
"Xiaochun, you didn't betray me, did you?" Cao Dongdong asked in a low voice.
Fu Shichun said: "This idea was mine, how could I betray you?"
Cao Dongdong said: "You must remember to keep this secret, otherwise my brothers in the Taxation Department will be finished."
"I know." Fu Shichun looked around and said, "Let's go back and talk about it."
As he was about to get on the carriage, Cao Dongdong pulled him away with one hand, "How can you walk in front of me? I am a royal policeman."
Fu Shichun smiled helplessly and stretched out his hand, saying, "Royal Police, please."
"That's better." Cao Dongdong jumped onto the carriage, and as soon as he lifted the curtain, he said, "Hey, you! You got on the wrong carriage."
He jumped down again in a hurry.
Fu Shichun was stunned. This is your carriage!
Suddenly, someone inside the carriage said, "Your Highness didn't get on the wrong carriage. I got on the wrong carriage."
Only then did Fu Shichun understand.
Cao Dongdong waved his hand and said, "Xiaochun... you go first."
Fu Shichun smiled and got on the carriage. He saw Zhang Fei sitting inside. He nodded with a smile and said, "Zhang San, how are you?"
Zhang Fei looked at him expressionlessly.
Then Cao Dongdong lowered his head and got on the carriage.
The carriage slowly drove away from the procuratorate.
There was silence in the carriage.
Cao Dongdong looked around but didn't dare to look Zhang Fei in the eye.
Zhang Fei suddenly laughed and said, "Yanei, let's not talk about brotherhood. I'm your spy, how dare you hide this from me? If something goes wrong..."
Cao Dongdong immediately pointed at Fu Shichun and said, "Xiaochun didn't let me tell you. He wants to sell newspapers."
Fu Shichun said depressedly: "It's obviously you who are hesitant, or me...!"
Cao Dongdong coughed, rubbed his nose, and whispered, "Do you still want to cooperate in the future?"
Fu Shichun was startled, and then said to Zhang Fei: "Zhang San, this will be more beneficial to you. After all, you are a hired tax commissioner. How can people be convinced by what you say? It is easier for people to believe what we say."
Cao Dongdong nodded and said, "Zhang San, don't get too close to us recently, lest they think we are in cahoots with each other."
"I bother!"
Zhang Fei snorted, "Yanei, don't think I don't know what you are thinking. You are just trying to conceal it and get more donations."
Cao Dongdong hurriedly said, "Don't accuse me wrongly. If I hadn't been waiting for Xiaochun to sell newspapers, I would have told you a long time ago."
Fu Shichun said unhappily, "I remember Yanei was very conflicted?"
Cao Dongdong said aggrievedly, "It's several thousand coins. Can't you be a little fussy about it? I haven't said anything to you yet. If you had printed a thousand copies, it would have been enough. But you were so greedy that you printed a full ten thousand copies. Otherwise, how could it have dragged on until now and let Zhang San misunderstand me?"
Fu Shichun also became anxious, "If I don't print 10,000 copies, how can I donate so much money to your police station? Who is greedy?"
"Ahem, stop talking nonsense!"
Cao Dongdong kicked Fu Shichun lightly.
These two guys are really smarter than each other. If you want to use them in the future, you have to be more careful! Zhang Fei asked, "How did you know about the actions of the tax commissioner?"
Cao Dongdong immediately said, "It was all Xiaochun's idea."
Fu Shichun said calmly: "The hermit has his own ingenious plan."
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "I hope you can keep using this trick."
There was a hint of pride in the eyes of Cao Dongdong and Fu Shichun.
Don't you think about where those tax police are trained? We have plenty of spies in the Department of Taxation, the Royal Court, and the Procuratorate.
Little did they know that all this was planned by Zhang Fei. He had deliberately made Cao Dongdong realize that the Royal Police could check and balance the tax police, thereby winning the support of the people.
Given Cao Dongdong's personality, he would be very eager to prove this.
The Commissioner of Taxation only took action after confirming that Cao Dongdong had contacted several tax police officers. Before taking action, it was confirmed that there were indeed Royal Police officers lurking, and the purpose was to use the Royal Police officers as witnesses.
Of course, the original plan was to let the matter ferment first, and then Zhang Fei would use the Royal Police to deal a fatal blow to the other party in court. However, unexpectedly, Fu Shichun actually got involved and even planned to use this matter to sell newspapers.
That being said, this is indeed much more convincing.
They did a really great job!
... ...
As for the procuratorate, after some investigation, it was confirmed that the two royal police officers and the people sent by the Fu family appeared near the Liu family, because many eyewitnesses saw them when they left.
At the same time, their testimonies were very consistent, especially the one sent by the Fu family. That guy even remembered the accents of the Liu family's servants, and could accurately identify who was cursing and who was throwing stones.
In fact, the tax police didn't see who threw the stone.
The procuratorate immediately withdrew the charges against the tax commissioner and then formally prosecuted Liu Ping and his servants.
The changes in the procuratorate have almost confirmed this matter.
Everyone is even more convinced of this.
Public opinion was almost one-sided.
... ...
Royal Court.
Lu Jiawen and six judicial officials came out of the house and sat back in their chairs.
"After consultation with six judicial officials, the presiding judge, Liu Chong and his 24 servants obstructed the tax police from enforcing the law. Among them, Liu Chong, Tian Ergen, Fang Dashu and other six people attacked and insulted the tax police. The circumstances were serious and they were sentenced to five years in prison without redemption.
The remaining 18 servants were sentenced to three years in prison, but since they did not commit the crime, they could each pay a ransom of 20 strings of cash to offset their sentence.
At this point, Lu Jiawen looked at Liu Ping in the dock again, "As for the suspect Liu Ping, he falsely reported property and evaded taxes of 180 guan, and the evidence is irrefutable. However, since there is insufficient evidence to prove that he instructed his servants to do this, and he was not at home at the time, this court will not pursue his criminal responsibility for the time being. However, since his servants did this, he is also responsible. This court will sentence him to pay a three-fold fine, together with the back taxes and late payment fees, a total of 729 guan."
Li Guozhong frowned. This court president really knows how to make money!
The servant Liu Chong took all the responsibility, and Liu Ping also borrowed Li Guozhong to provide proof that he wanted to pay the tax, so Liu Ping escaped. However, Liu Ping had to redeem the person, and he had to pay another 360 strings of cash, plus the fine, a total of 1,089 strings of cash.
Lu Jiawen added: "I will reiterate once again, whether you are a servant or someone else, you must cooperate with the tax police in enforcing the law. If there are any problems, you can appeal to the police station or the procuratorate afterwards. Otherwise, you will bear all the consequences yourself."
He looked directly at Su Zhe, "Prosecutor Su, do you understand?"
On the surface, this is a warning to the procuratorate not to sue if the tax police use violence.
But this is actually for everyone’s good.
This incident caused great distress to the procuratorate.
Now we have a rule that everyone must cooperate with the tax police in law enforcement.
Su Zhe certainly understood it in his heart, but he pretended to be very aggrieved and nodded, saying, "We understand."
Wang Anshi, who was sitting nearby and watching the trial, whispered to Lu Gongzhe: "Uncle Hui, your grandson's official power is greater than yours!"
Lu Gong said: "I don't blame him. At his age, how can he handle this matter without prestige?"
Wang Anshi nodded and said, "That's true, and his judgment is also for the sake of the imperial court. If this situation is not stopped, their imperial court will also be under great pressure."
What Lu Jiawen said means that as long as you hinder the tax police from enforcing the law, no matter what the reason is, the royal court will not hold the tax police accountable.
You know, the royal court was under tremendous pressure before, but now things have taken a turn, and public opinion is all on the side of the Commissioner of Taxation. This gives Lu Jiawen an opportunity, and he must seize it.
Lu Gong sighed and said, "But this matter is far from over!"
As he said this, he glanced diagonally across the street.
Wang Anshi followed his gaze and saw a group of people gathered around Liu Ping. He nodded and said, "More than a thousand strings of cash is nothing to them. They are still in an advantageous position at the moment."
Having said that, he suddenly looked towards the upper left corner and saw a man and a woman standing there.
It was Zhang Fei and Xu Zhiqian.
Xu Zhiqian also felt regretful and said, "After all, Liu Ping was not held accountable."
At this point, she tilted her head to look at Zhang Fei beside her, "Zhang San, this may not have a deterrent effect. Those people have so many servants, they will definitely find ways to deal with the tax commissioner. This is really hard to guard against."
Zhang Fei asked in return: "But if Liu Ping is sentenced to death in order to make an example of him, do you think it will have a deterrent effect?"
Xu Zhiqian hesitated for a moment, "Neither will I."
Zhang Fei nodded with a smile and said, "They had planned it before. They asked the landlords to stay at home as much as possible and go to the bookstore to provide evidence that they want to pay the tax. At the same time, they asked the servants to deal with the tax police. Even if any accidents occur, someone can take the blame. In a sense, this is actually a manifestation of law-abidingness.
If the imperial court were to forcibly kill a chicken to scare the monkey, violence would completely replace justice, and no one would obey justice anymore. It would not be like now, where they would obey the imperial court's judgment and pay all the fines. "
Xu Zhiqian nodded: "That being said, the situation is actually very unfavorable to the tax commissioner. If they investigate one person, it will take half a month. How can they make up for the financial loss of the hired labor? They are not in a hurry at all. When will this end?"
Zhang Fei laughed and said, "Don't worry, they will definitely reveal their flaws before the Tax Commissioner runs out of steam."
Xu Zhiqian asked curiously: "Flaw?"
Zhang Fei whispered, "Do you know that among Qin Biao and Liu Ping's income, a lot of it is illegal, including occupying official farmland and selling private salt."
Xu Zhiqian was shocked. "Does the tax commissioner have any evidence?"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Of course."
Xu Zhiqian asked: "Then why didn't you inform the procuratorate?"
Zhang Fei laughed and said, "This is to allow everyone to quickly adapt to the procedures of the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs. Moreover, if it ends too quickly, I am afraid they will not be convinced. We have to proceed step by step so that they will have awe of the judiciary. Now it is just an appetizer, the chicken has not been killed yet."