Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 996 0991 [Qin Hui starts to move]

"Qin Hui hasn't confessed yet?"

"He just didn't say a word. He neither admitted nor denied it. He just sat there like he had lost his soul. Do you want to torture him?"

"Don't torture him to extract a confession. He is a minister after all. Just keep him awake and don't let him sleep. Let's see how long he can hold out."

"Yes!"

Throughout the dynasties, torture has always been a legal means.

Song followed Tang laws and prohibited the use of torture against people over 70, under 15, disabled people, and pregnant women. All other suspects could be tortured. If an official was killed accidentally, he would have to pay a fine. Killing too many people would affect his performance evaluation.

The Ming Dynasty Code directly prohibits torture and forced confessions!

But the officials below still had to judge the case, so they came up with various methods to ensure that the suspects would not be left with any scars after being tortured.

Fatigue interrogation quickly became popular and has become a regular feature of government offices at all levels.

In the dim interrogation room, Qin Hui's eyelids were drooping and he was about to fall asleep.

An official from the Ministry of Justice walked over and found ways to prevent Qin Hui from sleeping, without just shining his eyes or shouting.

He grabbed Qin Hui's right hand, pierced the fingertips with a thin needle, and then pinched the fingers to let out a few drops of blood.

There is an acupuncture point on each of the ten fingertips, collectively known as the Shixuan acupoints. They are usually used in Chinese medicine for emergency treatment. One injection can wake up a person who is unconscious or in shock.

Even in modern times, acupuncture at the Shixuan point can buy rescue time for patients with stroke, hypertension, and cerebral hemorrhage.

This official from the Ministry of Justice, after piercing the Shixuan acupoint, pierced three Jing points on the arms and palms one after another.

"Ok!"

Qin Hui groaned and suddenly woke up, feeling extremely tired but unable to fall asleep.

The clerk laughed and said, "Mr. Qin, I advise you to confess honestly. The ten Xuan points and the twelve Jing points, different acupoints can be pierced in different orders, and the combination of them can produce extraordinary effects. Even if all these acupoints are pierced, there are still other acupoints to pierce. Don't force me to use all the methods."

"My children are all minors," Qin Hui said weakly, "I need a promise. If I tell the truth, I can save their lives. At least, I want to pass on the Qin family's incense."

The official said, "This dynasty does not kill young children."

Qin Hui shook his head: "I will betray many people, and their relatives and friends may retaliate secretly. My children may die one day."

The official was angry and said, "I've already said that our dynasty will not kill young children. How else can you give me a guarantee?"

"I want the emperor to personally guarantee me. Now I only trust the emperor." Qin Hui was firm in his attitude.

Qin Hui in this time and space had his own children, three sons and two daughters.

The official was furious: "Just bear with it and see how long you can stay awake!"

Another two hours passed, and Qin Hui was awakened several times by the stabbing. He finally confessed one person: "Min Zishun, the Minister of Public Security."

When the name was mentioned, the clerk was so shocked that he almost jumped up and ran out in panic.

Qin Hui forced a smile, closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. He could finally get some sleep.

The chiefs of the three judicial departments were in the process of interrogating other suspects and soon received the news.

There was no time to continue the interrogation, so they gathered together immediately to discuss what to do next.

What?

Let's serve it cold.

Go and report to the emperor immediately!
After Min Zishun was recalled to the capital, he initially served as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and was then transferred to the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

The Minister of the Cangchang, commonly known as the Shangshu of the Cangchang, was responsible for managing the national treasury and the cangchang. He could even directly mobilize the imperial guards near the cangchang without relying on official documents from the Ministry of War.

This year, Min Zishun was transferred to the post of Minister of Tongzhengyuan.

Although the ranks of these three official positions have not changed, their actual powers are growing, and the next step is to enter the cabinet and become prime minister.

Hearing Qin Hui confessing Min Zishun, Zhu Ming was shocked: "How many did he confess?"

"Just this one." Wei Liangchen said.

Zhu Ming ordered: "Interrogate him carefully. The more detailed the better. Don't let this guy make random accusations."

"As you wish!" Wei Liangchen bowed and took his leave.

Zhu Ming's words have two meanings:
First, you can investigate Min Zishun, but don’t arrest him for the time being. If you arrest the wrong person, it will have a bad impact.

Second, when it comes to important court officials, one must be extremely cautious to prevent Qin Hui from making random accusations.

Forty minutes later, Qin Hui was awakened by a needle again.

The chief officers of the three judicial departments have all arrived.

Wei Liangchen slammed the wooden stick: "Min Yintai is an old friend of your majesty. We went to Beijing together to take the imperial examination. In the same year, he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi of the former Song Dynasty. You dare to make random accusations against others in order to save your life. Do you want to add to your crime and die an even more ugly death?"

Qin Hui slept for a while, regained some energy, and asked, "Do you dare to investigate him?"

Wei Liangchen said angrily: "If you want to confess to an important official of the court, you must produce evidence. Otherwise, if you confess to all the officials in the court, do we have to arrest everyone? If you say that I am also guilty, do I have to judge myself?"

"How many of you are clean? Do you really dare to arrest them?" Qin Hui showed a mocking smile. Pan Lianggui even forgot to use the gavel, and directly slammed the table and shouted: "As long as you can produce evidence, I dare to arrest even the Prime Minister!"

Qin Hui remained silent and no longer acted arrogantly.

After a long while, Qin Hui spoke again:
"Feng Youlai, formerly the Langzhong of the Ministry of Personnel, has now been promoted to the Right Councillor of Shandong Province, in charge of the province's industrial and commercial affairs."

"He is the brother-in-law of Min Zishun's cousin Min Zimao. He joined Your Majesty after he conquered Sichuan. The year after Min Zishun was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel, he promoted Feng Youlai to the capital as well."

"Feng Youlai has arranged some officials for me. He also sent someone to the Ministry of Works to ask me to take care of him."

Pan Lianggui asked, "Do you have any financial dealings?"

Qin Hui shook his head: "No. I have never even met him alone. I only occasionally sent my confidants to treat him to a drink."

"Can they collude over drinking? Who would believe that there is no financial transaction?" Pan Lianggui said angrily.

Qin Hui said with a smile: "I was the Minister of Works at the time, and he was a low-ranking official in charge of selecting officials. How could we dare to have financial dealings? He helped arrange positions for the people I wanted to promote. He placed the people he wanted to send to make money in my Ministry of Works. It was just a convenience for each other, and there was no need for anyone to give money to anyone."

Wei Liangchen asked, "Who are the people that Feng Youlai arranged for you?"

Qin Hui began to confess his followers:

"Zheng Yinian is the son of Zheng Juzhong, the former prime minister of the Song Dynasty, and the grandson of Wang Gui, the former prime minister of the Song Dynasty. He is a relative of mine. Once he was transferred to Guangxi to serve as an official, but he was afraid of the miasma and was unwilling to take up the post. He asked me to help him find a solution, and I will send someone to contact Feng Youlai."

"After the two prime ministers reached an agreement, Zheng Yinian was transferred to Shaanxi to serve as a prefectural judge. Feng Youlai also sent a close confidant named Yao Xu to the Ministry of Works, and I transferred him to Jiangnan to work on returning farmland to the lake."

"That bastard Yao Xu is so greedy that he dared to do whatever he wanted even though it was a national policy to return farmland to lakes. If it weren't for the confidants I sent to be cautious and stop him at the critical moment, this guy would have been beheaded long ago!"

Wei Liangchen asked, "Did Zheng Yinian also commit corruption and abuse of power?"

Qin Hui said with a smile: "What do you think?"

Wei Liangchen continued to ask for details, and Liu Daming, the Minister of Dali Temple, quickly took notes.

After the interrogation of the first transaction was completed, they were asked about their second transaction.

"Duan Fu, my fellow countryman, is Mi Fu's son-in-law. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, he was an idle official in the Hanlin Academy. After being idle for several years, he could no longer bear it, so he asked me to help him to be transferred to another post. He looked for many people, not just me," Qin Hui said with a very provocative smile, "He should have also looked for Wei Yingshi."

When they heard the name "Wei Yingshi", the officials of the Three Law Departments breathed heavier.

When Zhu Ming was an official in Jinzhou, there was a drought. Qian Chen was ordered to buy grain and went to the Wei family.

After Zhu Ming occupied Hanzhong, he was short of food and smuggled food from Xiangyang. It was the Wei family who helped him. The Wei family was even an intelligence transfer station. All the news from Huainan and Henan were first sent to the Wei family for summary.

In the early days, Wei Yingshi followed Shi Yuangong to work on intelligence and also served as the first doctor of the Military Intelligence Department, which meant he was Shi Yuangong's confidant and successor.

Because he had to recuperate for several years due to illness, his promotion was seriously delayed, but he is still the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.

Wei Yingshi was not only Shi Yuangong's man, but also had a very good personal relationship with Qian Chen.

Pan Lianggui asked, "How could Duan Fu be related to Minister Wei?"

Qin Hui smiled and said, "He is Mi Fu's son-in-law. Wei Yingshi's grandfather was a close friend of Mi Fu when he was young."

Pan Lianggui asked again: "Are you sure that Duan Fu had financial dealings with Minister Wei?"

Qin Hui thought for a moment and said, "I'm not too sure whether there was any money or gifts given. But Wei Yingshi must have helped pass on the message, because when Duan Fu was sent out, he got a very lucrative job. This is not my credit, I just helped him get an ordinary official position."

Not bad, not bad, not bad!

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. If it was just because of old friendship, it wouldn't be a big sin to help say hello.

Although Wei Yingshi was only the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, his involvement was too wide.

He is not only the confidant and successor of Shi Yuangong, and not only has a close personal relationship with Qian Chen, but he also has connections with that group of meritorious military officials!
Wei Liangchen asked, "After Duan Fu was exiled, did he still keep in touch with you?"

Qin Hui said, "We didn't have much contact originally, but he happened to be a subordinate of Fan Tong when he was transferred for the second time. Of course you know Fan Tong, we were classmates and roommates. In terms of friendship, Fan Tong was closer to you at that time, right? Didn't he come to you to ask for help?"

Wei Liangchen was furious: "Tell me the case!"

"You should recuse yourself from this case, right?" Qin Hui said with a smile, "You and I, as well as Fan Tong, are all from the same hometown, classmates, roommates, and old friends. Even Duan Fu is from the same hometown as you, so how could you not know him?"

Everyone looked at Wei Liangchen.

Wei Liangchen slowly stood up and bowed to the other officials: "You continue the trial, I will go to the palace to consult His Majesty."

Pan Lianggui looked at Qin Hui and said, "Go on."

After Qin Hui began to confess, he was completely resigned, as if he had given up. He was no longer afraid or nervous, but became more and more relaxed, even yawning: "I am very sleepy and my mind is confused. If I don't get some sleep, I might make mistakes and omissions."

The trial will still take a long time, Qin Hui really should have a good rest.

Pan Lianggui said: "Except for Minister Wei, all those you mentioned are now serving as local officials. And after you confess the names of the two officials in Beijing, you can go to sleep."

Qin Hui yawned again and said, "You can arrest and interrogate the officials in the Ministry of Works who joined before I was transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. Haha, except for the Yellow River group, the rest are my people."

"Son of a bitch!"

Pan Lianggui was furious. Qin Hui was so arrogant and hateful that he could corrupt half of the Ministry of Works by himself.

(End of this chapter)