Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Chapter 339 The Golden Palace defends itself

"Your Excellency, a lot of security deposits have been collected from ordinary people in the past two days, and the families of the rich and powerful have received very little." Fan Ming said.

Jia Cong sneered and said: "I think these people saw that the trend in the court was not good for me recently, so they all pretended to be fine and turned against me.

Order the North and South Town Fusi to dig out the files. Anyone who doesn't pay will go from door to door to post a message. If you don't drink a toast, you'll have to drink a fine! We neither beat people nor arrest people. We enforce the law in a civilized manner and handle errands in a civilized manner. "

"Yes. Your Excellency is wise."

"In addition, don't be polite to some wealthy households who refuse to pay and have no foundation. I will catch a few of them and investigate and deal with them strictly to set an example for others.

I don't believe there's anything wrong with these people. "Jia Cong said coldly.

"Yes." Lei Tai bowed.

"Has there been any activity in the court recently?"

"Your Majesty, there has been a lot of quarrel in the court these days. These corrupt officials have become a tiger in numbers. They are trying their best to impeach you and your Majesty.

However, Manager Dai sent a message yesterday, saying that these tricks have been stopped, and the emperor also hopes that this method will be implemented, but it is difficult to offend by public anger. "Leitai said.

Jia Cong frowned and said, "Fat Feng and Prince Zhongxin didn't do anything?"

"Princes Zhongshun, Zhongcheng and Zhongcheng are the most violent in the clan, but there are not many people who respond. After all, there are still many poor people in the clan.

Prince Zhongxin has contacted many clan members in the past few days to speak for you, and his momentum is enough to overwhelm the Zhongshun party. "

"In the court, except for the Ministry of Household Affairs, officials from various ministries, old and new, gathered together to oppose this law. The six bachelors were helpless.

However, starting from the day before yesterday, Feng Shilang saw the direction of the trend and began to exert his efforts. More than a hundred censors from the Metropolitan Procuratorate, dozens of Hanlin Academy and six departments submitted a joint letter to Shizhong to support this method.

In addition, Qingshui Yamen such as Imperial College, Qintian Prison, Taichang Temple, Taipu Temple, Guanglu Temple, and Honglu Temple also submitted letters one after another to rectify the name of the "Good Deposit". The momentum was so great that they could even compete with it. "Leitai said.

"What about Xungui?"

"According to your instructions, we went to say hello respectively. The four princes, the six duke's mansions, and the Hou Bo's mansion who were familiar with Tan Mansion all took the lead in saying hello. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"The Marquis of Baoling and the Marquis of Zhongjing have no friendship, so brothers don't dare to offend them rashly."

Jia Cong snorted coldly, "Let's leave it alone. These two families think they are short of each other and want to pay more."

"Yes. In addition, no one from the powerful Hou Bo family has paid, and they have frequently written letters criticizing Your Excellency."

Jia Cong was about to speak when he suddenly heard a report from the captain outside.

"Your Excellency, the angel from the palace has arrived. Please enter the palace immediately to defend yourself!"

Jia Cong had already prepared and followed the visitor into the palace.

At this time, it was already in full swing, but the morning court had not yet ended. Several groups of people had been making noise in the Golden Palace for several hours, making the place full of smoke and chicken feathers.

It concerns everyone's vital interests. We must put aside all government affairs and figure this out first.

Wu Jiangyou, the bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, with a fluttering white beard, is at the forefront. He has persisted until now with the ginseng soup he drank in the morning. He quotes classics and quarrels with the ministers, and remains standing.

"Your Majesty, I believe that the method of making a good deposit is excellent. The profit is not much, but the benefits are great. It may seem like a small loss to the people, but it is actually a great benefit.

First, in the past, the law of protecting armor was not restricted by interests, but if someone committed a crime and lied about not knowing, it would get away with it. Now that we have a security deposit, who dares to commit crimes and hide evil?

For both, this method treats everyone equally regardless of high or low. Those who benefit more will pay more, and those who benefit less will pay less. This is fair and reasonable.

Third, people just want to live and work in peace and contentment. With the protection of this law, even if they are harmed, they can still get compensation. Therefore, ordinary people and merchants all pay enthusiastically.

On the contrary, the princes of the Manchu Dynasty value profits and neglect justice, and it is better to fight against the small people. I am puzzled. "

Lu Jie, the right minister of the Ministry of Punishment, sneered and said: "Master Wu, what you said is wrong. The Jin Yiwei are the emperor's personal soldiers. They are responsible for investigating and handling major and important cases. What do they have to do with the common people?"

Even if the deposit is to be collected, it should be collected by the Shuntian Prefecture, the Infantry Commanding Yamen, and the Criminal Department.

It is clear that Jia Cong is manipulating the power of the Jin Yiwei, creating clever names and extorting money. If we stand idly by and watch, wouldn't we be worthy of His Majesty's holy grace? "

"Master Lu, what you said is absolutely true. Jia Cong is greedy, greedy for profit, acts recklessly, and betrays the grace of the saints. How can the Jin Yiwei fall into the hands of such people? I ask your majesty to choose another virtuous person and punish Jia Cong severely." Prince Zhongshun said.

"I second the proposal." About a dozen clan princes said in unison.

Prince Zhongxin hurriedly went out and said: "I have objections. After the deposit is collected, it does not belong to Jia Cong personally. You all participated in Jia Cong's violent expropriation. What is the matter? The so-called deposit is also a guarantee."

That is, a good person proves his innocence. If all the merchants in Shenjing use this as a guarantee, wouldn't the world be at peace?

If you are unwilling to pay this money, I would like to ask, if your shop in your home is ruined, are you willing to take responsibility? "

"I second the proposal." After King Zhongxin said this, dozens of clan members said in unison.

Li Meng, the right governor and Marquis of Guanyang, said coldly: "Your Majesty, if this case is started and Jia Cong changes his tricks again in two days, what other kind of deposit will the people of Shenjing have to pay?

Such unreasonable and unreasonable exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, all based on a child's slap on the forehead, are not a blessing to the country and the country. Your Majesty, please think twice. "

All the dignitaries agreed.

Niu Jizong sneered and said, "What Marquis Guanyang said is wrong. Just now, all your lords and princes have made it clear that this deposit is not for Dang Koubo's personal use, and secondly, it is to ensure the safety of the capital. You can talk about it and not pay it." , what does it mean?

Your Majesty, I have been blessed by the Emperor for a long time, but my qualifications are dull and my talents are mediocre. I cannot repay the Emperor's favor in case of emergency.

I have discussed with the loyal nobles of each family that we cannot share your Majesty's worries on court affairs. If we can contribute to the stability of Shenjing, it can be regarded as a partial act of loyalty and filial piety. Therefore, regardless of whether other families pay it or not, this money I have made a decision. "

"I second the proposal. As loyal and filial ministers, I dare not or forget to pay the deposit voluntarily to ensure the safety of Shenjing." More than a dozen distinguished nobles came out to announce in unison. Shameless! Who doesn’t know your relationship with the Jia family?

All the opponents cursed in their hearts. These bastards linked paying money with loyalty and filial piety, as if not paying money means being loyal or unfilial. This is not easy to argue with. If you are not careful, you will offend your majesty.

Suddenly I heard the eunuch at the door say: "First-class Dang Koubo and Commander Jia Cong of the Jinyi Guards are here to see you."

"Xuan."

"Xuan."

"Xuan."

The sound spread out layer by layer. Jia Cong walked into the hall and kowtowed.

"Your Majesty, Jia Cong, is here to see you."

"Pingsheng. Jia Cong, today all the ministers are talking about the 'goodness deposit' you made. There are many people who say that you plunder, amass wealth and wield power. Just defend yourself." Emperor Xifeng said.

"Yes, I obey the order." Jia Cong stood up and looked around. He couldn't help but roll his eyes when he saw the two fat men looking like they had worked hard and achieved great results.

"Your Majesty, this method was created by Cong recently. Your lords and nobles don't quite understand it, and they have misunderstandings about Cong. This is not surprising. There are three original intentions for the establishment of this method."

"The first is to let the shop owners express their feelings and prove their innocence. The bigger the shop, the more necessary it is. The reason is very simple..."

As he spoke, Jia Cong took out a dossier and read: "Cong will give you an example, all of you will understand immediately.

On May 200 last year, the shopkeeper of Yongpingfang Heshengdian defrauded the pawnbroker, forged a pawn ticket, and swallowed a pair of official kiln blue and white multicolored baby chicken bowls. The pair of bowls were worth only silver.

Because the matter involved nobles and nobles, the suffering owner came to Jinyiwei to ask for help. I would like to ask, should I put this debt on Guanyang Houfu? "At this point, the voice turned cold.

Many relatives and officials knew that Hesheng Dian was the property of Guanyang Marquis Li's family, and they all looked at him.

Li Meng sneered: "Are you saying that I am greedy for 200 silver to deceive a common person and destroy my own sign?

You ask all the adults, who believes it? But one person believes that what if I plead guilty and be punished? "

"I believe it." Feng Yuan raised his hand and said seriously.

"I believe it too." Prince Zhongxin also nodded, not wanting to be left behind.

Many people laughed out loud.

"You..." Li Meng was choked and couldn't speak, but he didn't want to offend two shameless fat men for such a trivial matter. His face suddenly turned the color of pig liver.

Jia Cong sneered and said, "If you say it's not true, it's not true. What's the use of the Imperial Guards? The property in your name, the common people, cheating and cheating, doesn't it have anything to do with you at all?"

This... is difficult for even the opposing party to refute, and Jia Cong's words are indeed reasonable.

"So Cong came up with this method, so that all proprietors can use the deposit to prove it, and he doesn't bother to commit crimes for petty profits.

For example, He Shengdian should pay more than 6000 taels of silver. If Marquis Guanyang paid this money, who would believe that he would be greedy for small things and abandon big things? This is the evidence.

If something like this happens again in the future, it can be concluded that the servant did it privately and had nothing to do with Marquis Guanyang. "

"What do you think?"

"Good! This method is wonderful." Wu Jiangyou, Xiang Ce and other officials all clapped their hands in praise.

"As for the second, it is to make all the proprietors have some scruples. They think that they still have a lot of money in the hands of Jin Yiwei, so they have to take good care of their own managers and servants and don't let them do anything wrong, otherwise they won't be able to get the money. came back.

In this way, wouldn't all the shops in Beijing be more honest and responsible, the people would benefit, and the court would be less troubled. "

"Well said! It makes sense!" Niu Jizong, Liu Fang and other nobles hurriedly agreed.

"Thirdly, if ordinary people are illegally harmed by the rich and powerful, it is extremely difficult to win a lawsuit, and it often takes a long time to get no results or compensation is delayed.

If there is a deposit, Jinyiwei can first compensate the plaintiff and then collect the money from the defendant. Presumably, the defendant does not dare to delay with Jinyiwei.

In this way, isn't it a good thing that justice is done and people put an end to lawsuits? "

Feng Yuan and Prince Zhongxin said in unison: "It is indeed a good thing that benefits the country and the people."

Emperor Xifeng nodded. Jia Cong, a young man, had quite a lot of ideas. He said calmly, "If you have any objections, just say it."

Prince Zhongshun sneered and said: "Your Majesty, Jia Cong's clever words and tricks are just to make money. There are countless shops in Shenjing. If they were all collected, I don't know how much wealth it would be. Who knows how to use the money Jia Cong got?

With a little effort, you can make a lot of money. He only asked me to wait to prove my innocence. I wonder who will prove his innocence? How to convince the public? "

Jia Cong smiled and said: "What the prince said is reasonable, but since Cong dares to propose this method, he naturally has some basis for it.

Your Majesty, the so-called kindness deposit is to protect kind people. After Jin Yiwei collects it, it will only be used to ensure the safety of one party. How dare Cong take it for himself? Your Majesty can send the Department of Accounts to check the accounts regularly.

If you princes and lords feel that Cong has embezzled money, you might as well transfer the business in your name. If Cong cannot return the deposit to you intact, please ask Your Majesty to punish me for the crime of shortfall and greed. Cong will have nothing to say. "

Everyone secretly cursed him for being shameless. If he wanted to prove his corruption, he had to give up his business first. If he didn't give up his business, he would have to keep the deposit.

What a nasty little rascal.

(End of this chapter)