Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 764 0759 [Simple crime]

Facing Chen Dong's questioning, Zhao Hui was silent for a moment: "You'd better ask the prefect about these matters. He should know more than me."

"Ah!"

Chen Dong knocked on the alarm again: "Take Jiao Yifeng, the former governor of Shaanzhou Prefecture!"

A young official, less than thirty years old, was quickly taken to the court to await trial.

Chen Dong's face was very ugly. He did not directly interrogate him, but said: "There is a Jiao family who moved to Danyang. I am also from Danyang. When I was a boy studying, my teacher's surname was Jiao. My teacher told me that I should be a human being. Fangzheng, derby is more important. My mentor also gave the example of his clan uncle. Of course, that clan uncle also had the surname Jiao, so he kept it secret. Have you ever heard of it?"

Jiao Yifeng was immediately ashamed, lowered her head and said, "It's my great-uncle."

Chen Dong added: "I heard from my teacher that your great-uncle went to Dali Temple to serve as an official, and when he retired and returned to his hometown, he had no house to live in. He had to rely on students' financial support to build a house, settle down, and live in his old age. He has a clean body and a clean body. The temple has overturned many unjust cases.”

After saying this, Jiao Yifeng raised her sleeves to cover her face.

"Being unworthy of our descendants will bring disgrace to the honor of our ancestors. If I can be buried after my death, please tell the Jiao clan to bury me far away from my ancestors' graves."

Fortunately, his feet were shackled and he couldn't stride.

Chen Hong is a native of Houguan County, Fuzhou. He was a Jinshi in the fifth year of Zhenghe.

The right minister of the Ministry of Punishment is Pan Lianggui, who was also a Jinshi in the fifth year of Zhenghe and had a good personal relationship with Ju Ming.

Pan Lianggui said with a gloomy face: "Others don't know, but I don't know. When you came to Beijing to take the exam, you had seven or eight servants around you. With your family's financial resources, how much bribes did Mao have to give?"

Xiao Xiaobu rushed to the pillar and hit his forehead suddenly. Blood gushed out but he didn't die on the spot.

"You have nothing to do with the big family in Quzhou, so why did you help Mao escape the crime?" Chen Dong asked.

The officials of the Sanfa Department stood up in panic and first asked the police waiting outside the hall to carry out rescue operations. At the same time, they sent someone to ask for the best trauma doctor in Tokyo.

Chen Dong roared angrily: "Everyone involved in the case will be tied to chairs and listened to the trial!"

Chen Hong allowed the officials to tie him up and said nothing the whole time.

Chen Hong still didn't speak.

Chen Dong slapped the gavel indiscriminately: "Bring up the former Henan Inspector Chen Hong. Tie him up, tie him up tightly!"

Jiao Yifeng, who committed suicide, had an uncle named Jiao Qianzhi. He was originally hired by Lu Gongzhu as a tutor for his son, but soon gained the favor of Ouyang Xiu. He was an outstanding talent, and he died as an honest official without leaving any money.

He began to persuade him with good words: "You and I both explained the case clearly for the sake of the prince in the same year. Maybe there is still some friendship to talk about. Back then, you and I were in the imperial examination together, and we drank and talked happily in Jinmingchi. You said you wanted to clean up the evil spirits in the court. Today you How are you different from those evildoers? Don’t make the mistake again!"

The officers who escorted him in had already retreated to both sides, unable to react at this time.

Ju Ming never expressed his position, but the officials liked to do so.

"Puff puff puff puff!"

Chen Hong said in an almost pleading tone: "I really took a bribe."

Chen Hong sighed: "I took money from the Mao family and helped them suppress the case."

"Ugh!"

After saying that, Jiao Yifeng suddenly rushed towards the pillar.

The reason for emphasizing the year of the imperial examination is because the prince was also a Jinshi in this year. If there are several officials with similar qualifications, political achievements, and connections, then Jinshi in the fifth year of Zhenghe will definitely be promoted first.

Pan Lianggui took a deep breath: "It seems that your matter is not a small matter, and if you tell it, it will definitely implicate the family. But can you really conceal such a big matter?"

Chen Hong's face turned pale and he remained silent again.

"Move him aside with a chair," Chen Dong saw that he couldn't open his mouth, so he decided to interrogate other people first. "Bring the relatives of the deceased to the court without tying him up."

A large crowd was brought in, men, women and children.

The clerk began to read out the confession he had just recorded and asked: "The family members of the deceased, do you have any objections to these confessions? If there are any omissions or anything you disagree with, you can say it on the spot."

The family members looked at each other and found no objection.

Chen Dong questioned them one by one and took a lot of notes, filling in many details for the case.

The family members of the murderer were then interrogated, and the contents of their confessions were also similar.

Chen Dong suddenly pointed at Chen Hong and asked the murderer's father Mao Zhirou: "How did you ask the inspector to help cover up?"

Mao Zhirou replied: "I bribed five thousand guan in private, and then brought out the important officials in the court to scare him."

"Nonsense!"

Chen Dong banged the table and roared: "This man comes from the Chen family, a marquis, and his family has been engaged in maritime trade for generations. He lacks your five thousand dollars? His family's properties are not only one of the best in Fuzhou, but ranking among the top five must be more than enough." For a mere five thousand guan, he risked beheading to help you suppress the murder case?"

"Although his marquis, Chen, has no one in the court, he also has many in-laws who are local officials. In the same year when he was still the crown prince, he already served as an inspector in a province. Would he be afraid that you would randomly bring out a few important ministers to scare you?"

"Let me tell you, this case is no longer as simple as murder. Not to mention that your family has moved to Shaanzhou, even the authentic Jiangshan Mao family can't afford it!"

"Recruit from the truth!"

Mao Zhirou said with a sad face: "That's really it. Everything Xiaomin said is true."

The minister of Dali Temple was named Wu Mao. When Zhu Ming was the magistrate of Jinzhou, Wu Mao served as the observation envoy, which was equivalent to the secretary-general under Ju Ming.

Chen Hong's rank is deputy provincial level. Even if he is convicted and arrested, he will not be able to surrender.

The Mao Zhirou in front of him had no official status.

Wu Mao whispered: "Do you want to be tortured?"

Chen Dong said: "The officials and the prince have strict orders not to give in and beat them."

Pan Lianggui said: "It's already late, let's re-examine tomorrow. After dinner, the three of us combed through the files together to see if we can find anything from them." "That's okay," Chen Dong slapped the gavel, "withdraw! All of us." Wait, watch carefully, don’t let them seek death.”

One person has already died. After the case became too big, the pretty widow involved committed suicide out of shame.

As for Jiao Yifeng, who hit a pillar today, she has been rescued, but she is still in a coma after losing too much blood.

Chen Dong, Pan Lianggui, and Wu Mao led a group of trial officials to have dinner simply and quickly, and then gathered together to analyze the files.

There are not only today's confessions, but also files from previous trials.

When the sky darkens, everyone gathers together.

Chen Dong said: "The inspection censor has not yet been brought to trial. Maybe he is the key figure."

In the Inspectorate of the Ming Dynasty and the New Dynasty, there was an official position called Supervisory Censor. When they were sent to inspect local areas, they were also called inspection censors and inspection censors.

In order to prevent cheating in the examination, the Ministry of Rites is responsible for organizing and preparing for the exam, but officials from the Ministry of Rites are not allowed to preside over, invigilate, or mark exams.

Similarly, in order to prevent cheating in the rural examinations, the Chief Secretary is responsible for organizing and preparing for the examinations. The inspection censor is responsible for hosting, invigilating and grading examinations.

Pan Lianggui nodded and said: "I thought the cheating in the imperial examination was cheating in the county or government examination. It seems that it is most likely cheating in the rural examination, and it was the inspection censor who took the lead in cheating. He was caught and had to ignore the unjust case. Moreover, the Ying family in Guixi where this person lives is related by marriage to the Zhang family in Dexing and the Mao family in Jiangshan. He has the motive of helping the Mao family, and there is a family of the Crown Princess behind him..."

"It's still wrong," Wu Mao struggled. "What does this have to do with Chen Hong? He comes from a family of officials and is very rich in maritime business. As long as he doesn't get involved, who dares to do anything to him? Why did he help? To suppress the murder case and involve yourself so deeply?"

After thinking carefully, Chen Dong said: "Let the Ministry of Civil Affairs assist in the investigation to see if any family members or in-laws of the officials involved in the case hold any important positions in Fuzhou. Since Chen Hong was not involved in the crime scene, it is most likely that he was in his hometown. !”

……

"In the official family, Xu Fuyan, the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, has been kneeling outside for a day. He fainted before and was revived. After resting for a while, he knelt again." The eunuch said in a low voice.

Zhu Guoxiang rubbed his forehead: "Bring him in."

Xu Fuyan was already very old. He knelt down and waited all day, which almost cost him half his life. He was helped in by two eunuchs.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Give me a seat."

"I dare not sit down," Xu Fuyan said.

Zhu Guoxiang said to the eunuch: "Help him sit down."

Xu Fuyan burst into tears: "I am so ashamed of my kindness to the emperor!"

Zhu Guoxiang asked: "How involved are you?"

Xu Fuyan replied: "I never knew about it, but that evil son..."

Zhu Guoxiang was silent, believing that Xu Fuyan was unaware.

Because Xu Fuyan is already old and will retire after a few more years of work. As long as everything goes well, he will definitely be given the title of cabinet minister when he retires, and he will return to his hometown in glory as an honorary deputy prime minister.

But he has a good son.

If you don’t know how to teach your children, who can you blame?

The first former Song Dynasty official to join Ju Ming was Gao Jingshan.

The first former Song officials to seek refuge with Zhu Guoxiang were Xu Fuyan and Liu Yao.

Xu Fuyan's official position in the former Song Dynasty was even higher than that of Gao Jingshan.

Zhu Guoxiang really didn't want to see this situation. He was not a cold-blooded emperor. He was much more gentle than his son.

"Tell me about it." Zhu Guoxiang sighed.

Xu Fuyan recounted in detail: "I was unaware of this matter until the official ordered a joint trial by the Three Legal Divisions, but as the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, I was ordered to recuse myself..."

"I have three sons. One son is an official in Shandong and the other is an official in Hunan. Only the youngest son is ignorant and has been with me all the time. He is also the first to join the official family and has already served in Hanzhong. Many years have passed, and he is still just a minor official in the capital."

"I was ordered to evade the trial of the Three Laws Division, so I guessed that it was related to that scoundrel. No matter how much I asked him, he refused to admit it."

"I secretly said it was a fluke, thinking that the Xu family and the Mao family were just related by marriage."

"It wasn't until yesterday that the scoundrel learned that many officials had been arrested and returned to Beijing, including officials from the Ministry of Justice, that he burst into tears and confessed to the old minister."

"This scoundrel was so bold that he took a beautiful concubine from the Mao family and also took away three thousand guan of money from the Mao family. He dared to interfere in a murder case for a woman and three thousand guan of money!"

"In the name of his minister, he invited Pan Zongdan, a doctor from the Ministry of Punishment, to have a drink and asked Pan Zongdan to help suppress the case."

"It is difficult for a doctor from the Ministry of Punishment to completely suppress a murder case. This scoundrel... This scoundrel actually took the review document prepared by Pan Zongdan and sneaked into the Ministry of Punishment, stole the seal, and stamped it on the pretext of delivering medicine to the minister. , and even imitated the minister’s handwriting and signed his name!”

The more Xu Fuyan talked, the more excited he became. When he talked about stealing seals and forging signatures, he was so angry that he was shaking crazily.

Often times, the truth is plain and simple.

Just like in real business wars, it is possible to just bribe the cleaning lady and pour boiling water on the enemy company's money tree.

The son of the Minister of Punishment came to deliver medicine to the Minister. Which official of the Punishment Department dared to stop him?

When Xu Fuyan saw his son coming to deliver medicine, he would only think that his son was very filial. How could he prevent his son from stealing the seal?

With a doctor from the Ministry of Punishment helping to cover up the ending, and with the seal and signature of the Minister of Punishment, a murder case can be suppressed easily!

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Your son can't be saved. Just pretend to be sick and go home to wait for the investigation."

Dare to steal seals, forge signatures, what else can you not dare to do?
Xu Fuyan's son must have committed numerous crimes and secretly made an unknown amount of money.

And there is probably more than one moth in the Ministry of Punishment.

(End of this chapter)