Daming: I, the emperor who trains the carpenter

"Brother Huang, this case is too serious."

"We found a nest of moths."

Gu Yanwu flipped through the account books and lists and couldn't help feeling emotional: "Without exception, the three prefectures and seven counties under Yangzhou Prefecture have all been bribed and corrupted by this Zuixiang Building, and the owner of this Zuixiang Building has not been found out yet. , you know what you're doing."

Huang Zongxi said while writing a note to the cabinet: "The owner of Zuixiang Tower cannot escape."

"This Zuixianglou has government protection in both Yangzhou and Huai'an, and even Fengyang has their brothel painting boats. Can he hide for a while, or for a lifetime?"

In fact, up to now, this case is no longer as simple as a situation where bad local gentry unite with brothels to kidnap women and bribe officials.

Bribery of officials is difficult to prohibit. Now that the New Deal is fully implemented in the north, it is inevitable that there will be cases of corruption by gentry, merchants, and low-ranking officials, let alone the south?

The south has a developed economy and heavy taxation and food distribution. Naturally, this phenomenon is more common.

Originally, when the core of the imperial court was in Southern Zhili, it was unavoidable that a major corruption case would occur. With Chengzu moving the capital to Yanjing, the transfer of the core of the capital to the north meant that the Ming court’s control over the south would be weak.

After all, the sky is high and the emperor is far away, and the county magistrate, as the parent official of a county, controls the people's livelihood of the county from above. In this county, he is like an emperor, let alone a higher prefect?

Sitting on the head of a county and a government, with life and death and do-it-yourself control, and mastering power, there will naturally be people who flatter and respect you, and corruption is inevitable, even if there are people who are firm and confident and will not be swayed by money. There will also be people who will think about your preferences and try to pull you into the water.

For example, if you like books and paintings, we will send you historical sites of celebrities, such as the authentic works of someone in the Tang Dynasty, handwritten by someone in the Song Dynasty, etc.; if you like reading books, we will send you a bunch of books you like to read; , if you like any gadgets, I will get you good things made by craftsmen.
And people don't ask much, just make friends, it's convenient, you collect things, don't help once, don't help twice, they continue to send, this third time you can still turn a blind eye?
Therefore, corruption is always prohibited repeatedly. The closer you are to the core of the court, the clearer the government will be, and the farther you are from the core of the court, it is normal for officials to have problems.

Therefore, after the imperial court knew about corruption, it mostly focused on punishment, with small punishments and big warnings. After all, the imperial court still needs these people right now.

As for the kidnapping of women, this matter is more serious. After all, the imperial court has just issued a new order, requiring all localities to encourage women to work, not to violate women's wishes, respect women, etc. This kind of thing happened in Yangzhou immediately. The Yangzhou government did not act in accordance with the spirit of the above. If you grow up, you will blatantly slap the court and Zhang Xianggong in the face.

But whether it is corruption or ignoring the new government policies, compared with the hidden things in Zuixianglou, they are nothing.

What the hell did Zuixianglou do?
Zuixianglou won over most of the officials in Yangzhou, Huai'an, and Fengyang through wealth and lust. In the land of the three prefectures, it is as stable as Mount Tai, and even Zuixianglou's words are more effective than those of the government. Zuixianglou can control the government.

So are the officials of the three prefectures the officials of the imperial court, or the officials of Zuixianglou?

There are even people behind Zuixianglou, what does this mean?
This is an organized and premeditated control place, so what exactly is that person going to do?
In the heyday of the Spring and Autumn Period and the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty to control the place, what is he plotting?
This matter cannot be thought about, nor can it stand to be thought about.

After Huang Zongxi wrote the paper and covered it with wax, he blew air to dry the wax, and then handed it to Jin Yiwei beside him: "Send it to the capital quickly."

After Jin Yiwei left, Huang Zongxi packed up the files and books: "Brother Gu, Governor Wang is in trouble this time."

"He is to blame for things like this happening under his rule."

Gu Yanwu said: "The last time a student stormed the county government and brought the criminal official to the capital to sue, he has already committed a mistake. The last time he was punished with a small punishment, this time he will not be saved."

Huang Zongxi didn't say much. The last time a student went to Beijing to sue the imperial court, the aroused imperial edict re-propelled the whole country, which opened the second time since the early Ming Dynasty that the common people could supervise the officials, and forced the officials to be clean, so that the world's officials had to keep clean to avoid being corrupted by the common people. picket.

Although there is no guarantee that officials all over the world will be afraid of this power, at least it has formed a sharp knife hanging over the official's head, so that these officials can't help but think about it when they corrupt the law or do evil. What will happen to them after the imperial court is filed.

The Great Order cannot rule the world, but it can ensure that the officials in most regions will maintain a relatively clean and efficient operation, so that the court will not have any major problems.

It can be said that the student went to Beijing to sue the imperial court, which was a tacit cooperation between Wang Wenyan and the court, but those people were arrested as a typical example.

As for what happened in Yangzhou this time, it really wasn’t caused by Wang Wenyan. Even Wang Wenyan himself didn’t know that the situation in Yangzhou was so serious. After all, the development of Yangzhou is still possible. The problem.

Now that the lid of Yangzhou has been lifted by Huang Zongxi and Gu Yanwu, Wang Wenyan, the governor of Jiangnan, must take responsibility, and it will depend on whether Yuanfu is willing to protect him.

Soon, the capital also sent the latest orders from the cabinet.

"Brother Huang, what did Yuanfu say?" Gu Yanwu asked.

"Yuan Fu still wants to protect Governor Wang, Brother Gu, look." Huang Zongxi handed the cabinet documents to Gu Yanwu.

Gu Yanwu read softly: "The matter of Yangzhou is for the two of you to decide and handle it by yourself; Huai'an and Fengyang will be handed over to Jiangnan Governor's Office for disposal."

Huang Zongxi looked at Gu Yanwu who was still thinking and patted his arm: "Brother Gu, get ready, tomorrow is my first trial."

This is indeed the first time for Huang Zongxi and Gu Yanwu to hear a case. Before, they were just cabinet counselors, and what they did was organize memorials, serve tea and water, give some personal suggestions to the cabinet prime ministers, and act as secretaries. When it came time to try and decide the case in person, it was really the first time.

All night, Huang Zongxi and Gu Yanwu were sorting out the files and discussing how to deal with this case.

The verdict of Yangzhou prefect Wu Renxing and others is fine, but many of the women who were rescued from the Zuixiang buildings in various places in Yangzhou were sold to Zuixiang buildings by their husbands or natal families for money.

So how should the husband's and natal families of these women be judged?
On this point, Huang Zongxi insisted on handling according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty: "Brother Gu, the legal principle is greater than the sky. The imperial court repeatedly ordered that people are not allowed to sell people. Now these people are selling their daughters and wives to brothels. Shouldn't it be severely punished?"

Gu Yanwu said: "Brother Huang, apart from the legal principles, we still talk about human feelings. These people certainly sold their daughters and got wives. It is indeed despicable, but in their judgment, we should also take into account the thoughts of those poor people, right?"

"Today, if you and I decide to sentence the family members of those poor people, that's easy. If you need to be punished, you will be punished. If you need to be beaten, you will be beaten. But what about after that?"

"Do they still want to go home? How will they be treated when they go home? And how will their neighbors treat them? Will they think they are unfilial and disregarding the kindness of their parents?"

"What's more, are they willing to let us punish their parents and relatives?"

Huang Zongxi sighed: "Brother Gu, I have considered all of what you said, but if we start from human feelings in everything, what is the law?"

"Now that the imperial court's new policy is being implemented, it is precisely the need for severe punishments and severe laws to promote the new policy, so that people in the world know that the new policy cannot be violated. If the husband's family of these people broke the law, the imperial court must punish them according to the law, and they must be sentenced to serious crimes to deter the world. The hearts of the people, so that people in the world dare not easily sell their daughters and get wives; the world will be stable now."

"Otherwise, if we only talk about reason and these people justify their parents, what is the majesty of the court and the majesty of the king's law?"

"If this law can exonerate crimes just by talking about human feelings, wouldn't the world be in chaos?"

Gu Yanwu looked at Huang Zongxi's insistence, and sighed: "Brother Huang, if we end up with this sentence, the public opinion will scold you and me to pieces."

Huang Zongxi smiled and said: "Huang handled this case completely according to the law. He never had any selfishness. He did it for the country and the people. If the people want to scold them, let them go."

"Brother Gu, if you are worried, I might as well judge this case alone."

Gu Yanwu also smiled: "I will receive the credit together, and you will bear the blame. How can there be such a reason in this world? You, brother Huang, are not afraid, so why should I, Gu Ning, be afraid?"

The next day, in the yamen of Yangzhou Prefecture, Huang Zongxi said to the yamen servant: "Post up the notice. Two days later, I will hear the case publicly."

Yamen servants posted notices one after another, and the people of Yangzhou City also knew that the censor from the imperial court was going to judge the corrupt officials in Yangzhou, the merchants who had been oppressed by these corrupt officials and extorting bribes, and those women who had been rescued from hell everywhere Well, there are also people from Yangzhou City who came to watch.

This trial is a public trial. If it is a trial in the yamen, it will naturally not be able to meet the needs of a public trial. Therefore, the yamen servants specially set up a public trial platform at Caishikou in Yangzhou Prefecture. Whether it is adjudicating the case or punishing it, it is under the public eye. It is supervised by the people of Yangzhou Prefecture.

On the day of the public trial, early in the morning, common people and merchants surrounded the place of the public trial. When the time came, Huang Zongxi and Gu Yanwu stepped onto the stage of the public trial. On the stage, there is also a plaque hanging high with a bright mirror, which represents that the trial and judgment of this case is handled completely impartially.

"My lord, it's time." Said the servant at the side.

Huang Zongxi nodded, picked up the gavel and patted it: "Lead someone into prison!"

Soon, Wu Renxing, the prefect of Yangzhou, and other prisoners were brought up.

Seeing these high-ranking officials in the past who worked as minions turned into prisoners, the common people and merchants couldn't help but widen their eyes and prick up their ears, for fear of missing something.

Huang Zongxi looked at Wu Renxing who was kneeling in front of him, and said loudly, "Wu Renxing, the magistrate of Yangzhou!"

Wu Renxing shivered: "The criminal is here, the criminal is here."

Gu Yanwu picked up the judgment and said loudly: "Wu Renxing, a native of Changning, Hunan Province, was elected in the 40th year of Wanli. The next year, he was awarded a Bachelor of the Hanlin Academy in the Imperial Academy. He then worked in a local area and accumulated meritorious service to the magistrate of Yangzhou."

"During his tenure as the magistrate of Yangzhou, he corrupted the law with corruption, disregarded the court's grace, and regarded the new government's law as nothing, causing disasters for the local area, and even business depression and people's livelihood was difficult."

"Not only did he not want to repent, but he still tried to deceive the court, collude with evil gentry, accept money from beauties, and let banditry run rampant"

"Punishment for several crimes. According to the new law, he will be beheaded immediately, his family property will be confiscated, and he will not be allowed to be an official for three generations!"

Wu Renxing cut him off immediately after hearing this, and his whole body immediately went limp, like a puddle of mud, as if he had been frightened and foolish.

Huang Zongxi took out a lottery and cast it: "Behead!"

The two yamen servants immediately took the once high-ranking magistrate to behead him.

The people around heard the trial and also shouted: "Cut! Chop! Chop!"

Li Shan and Zhang Xiaowan were also among them, Li Shan shouted especially happily now!
The imperial court really valued merchants, and this local high-ranking official of the fourth rank, a man of the government, would cut it off as soon as he said it.

I saw the yamen servants escorting their former magistrate to the execution platform and pressing him down. The executioner beside him sprayed a mouthful of liquor on the nine-ring knife, then raised the knife high, aimed at Wu Renxing's exposed neck and dropped it heavily. , Raised the knife and dropped it, Wu Renxing's head just moved like this, blood spattered all over the ground, attracting applause from the onlookers.

Immediately afterwards, another official was sentenced, and his property was confiscated, those who would never be hired, those who were exiled, those who were reformed through labor, and those who were beheaded.

Every time a criminal was sentenced, the people cheered and cheered, and these criminals were paralyzed with fright, especially those who were sentenced to beheaded, they were so scared that they peeed and feces, showing their ugliness.

After these criminal officials were sentenced to beheaded.

Steward Wang of Zuixiang Tower, the bustard, his thugs, and those vicious squires were also taken out of the prison.

Beheading, of course we have to go on the road together. Before colluding with each other to run amok in the countryside, now beheading together can be regarded as sharing life and death.

Watching the gangster Qiang Liang who is rampant in the countryside and those thugs from Zuixianglou being sent to the execution platform in groups, and signed with an order, these gangster Qiang Liang, who are arrogant and domineering as if they are not afraid of the sky and the earth, are here in Zuixianglou. The wanton thugs in the Xianglou were so frightened that they burst into tears and snot, without the usual arrogance.

"cut!"

With an order, a row of executioners raised their swords high, and as the lights of the swords flickered, blood splashed, and a row of heads rolled to the ground like this, causing the common people to applaud and applaud.

"It's these thieves who finally got their retribution today!"

"Seeing how tyrannical they are when they bully the villagers, it's really embarrassing to see them pooping out of fear when they're dying!"

"On weekdays, they dare to act fiercely against us ordinary people. When the court angel arrives, these people will be afraid. They are bullying creatures!"

"The Zuixiang towers are spread all over Yangzhou. How powerful they are, they have been uprooted by the imperial court. What a joy!"

"Oh, it's a pity that we won't be able to find such good courtesans and maikos as in Zuixiang Building in the future."

"This is what I said, there is no such thing as brothel painting boats, Zuixianglou has provoked the court, there are other things without Zuixianglou."

"It makes sense, it makes sense."

The common people and businessmen are constantly discussing, and the scholars are also discussing with each other. Compared with the people who hate Zuixianglou, some gentry, scholars and merchants are still discussing how evocative the women in Zuixianglou are. How soft the body is, and how delicate the baby is, Zhang Xiaowan and other people who have just stepped out of the clutches of the devil can't help but their eyes turn red when they hear this. In this prosperous Ming Dynasty, they who are already dirty still have a way forward future?

Today's prosperous age is the prosperous age of the world, but not theirs. Common people, merchants, gentry, students, and actresses all have their place, but what about them?
Zhang Xiaowan was sighing, when suddenly she heard Huang Zongxi say again on the stage: "Bring the second daughter of the Qiao family, Qiao Jin!"

Soon, a woman wearing silk and satin, who looked like a wealthy family, and two young girls were brought to the public trial stand. Now the people are a little confused. What's going on?
Gu Yanwu looked at the two daughters Qiao Ya and Qiao Wan beside him: "The second daughter of the Qiao family, is this your stepmother?"

Qiao Ya nodded: "Exactly."

Gu Yanwu nodded, and looked at the shivering woman like a quail and said loudly: "Sinful woman Qiao Jin! You are greedy for the wealth of the Qiao family, and you poisoned the head of the Qiao family, Qiao Zhengyan, causing Qiao Zhengyan to be poisoned. The second daughter of the Qiao family was sold to Zuixianglou with the intention of monopolizing the Qiao family's wealth, can you plead guilty?"

Qiao Jin shrank on the ground, lowered her head and dared not open her mouth.

Gu Yanwu snorted coldly: "Murdering for money and killing people, selling people by force, you woman has such a vicious heart, how can Wang Fa tolerate you, come here, behead!"

With an order, the yamen servant immediately dragged Qiao Jinshi away. At this time, Qiao Jinshi reacted, and she quickly cried: "My lord, please forgive me! I am willing to give all my wealth!"

"Ya'er, Wan'er, quickly beg my lord to spare my life, I never wanted to kill you guys."

And at this time, the common people also knew the reason, they poisoned their husbands and sold their daughters to brothels in order to monopolize the family wealth, what kind of vicious stepmother is this?

How could the common people tolerate such a femme fatale? They all shouted, "Kill her! Kill her!"

Huang Zongxi drew out the order sign: "Behead!"

Qiao Jin was dragged to the execution platform crying and screaming. As the executioner's sword fell, the poisonous woman's head fell to the ground, causing the people to cheer.

After the trial of Qiao's family, Gu Yanwu took a look at Huang Zongxi, and then said, "Take someone to commit crimes against Zhang and his wife."

Soon a couple who looked like ordinary people were brought to the public trial stand. Now Zhang Xiaowan was stunned. Aren't those on the stage her parents?

Realizing something, Zhang Xiaowan rushed to the public trial stand, but was stopped by the yamen guard: "Who are you?"

Zhang Xiaowan quickly said: "I am their daughter, I, I want to go up."

After hearing this, the yamen servant let go of the obstruction so that Zhang Xiaowan could go to the public trial stand.

Watching Zhang Xiaowan come to the stage, Huang Zongxi breathed out a foul breath: "It just so happens that Zhang Xiaowan is also here, let's start this case."