At the end of the Han Dynasty: a stingy husband from his hometown

Chapter 311 Judgment

After sending the opera hero away, the drunkenness on Zhuge Liang's face quickly dissipated, and a clear look appeared in his eyes.

He stood at the door, looking in the direction of Prince Chu's Mansion, and finally sighed slightly.

Zhuge Liang was quickly pushed to the forefront of the limelight as soon as he took charge of Jingzhou. First, under the hint of His Royal Highness the King of Chu, he had to strictly examine the talents selected by local officials.

Doing so will not only offend the scholars who were dismissed, but also offend their families and the local officials who recommended them.

You must know that those who are qualified to recommend Xiaolian are all highly respected local officials. The influence of these people in Jingzhou is extremely amazing.

Zhuge Liang was thinking about how to get out of the current predicament, and the successive attacks from the Jingzhou gentry were already coming.

Although he was unwilling to join the case, the governor Bian Rang deliberately let him handle the case.

Even if Zhuge Liang is as wise as a demon, without any background, he is like a lonely boat drifting in the sea, which may capsize at any time.

Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, Xi Zhong, the most difficult person to offend among the second generation, actually came to his house on his own initiative.

Xi Zhong did not hide the purpose of his trip at all. Not only was he conveying His Royal Highness the King of Chu's views on the case, he even hinted that Zhuge Liang did not need to be too rigid in his actions.

"call!"

Zhuge Liang stood at the door and thought for a long time. Finally, he took a long breath and his eyes gradually became sharper.

He originally thought that while he was in charge of Jingzhou, he would focus on learning and dormant, and wait until Zhou Ji inherited the foundation of Chu State in the future to show off his talents.

But now, Zhou Qi, the leader of Chu State, used such brutal methods to force Zhuge Liang into the whirlpool.

Since I was forced into the game.

Either he can overcome the thorns and waves, fight his way to a bright future, and become famous all over the world.

Or you can only be swallowed up by the difficulties and eventually retire sadly.

Although with Zhou Ji's relationship, no one would really do anything to Zhuge Liang, but once he failed in the political struggle, it would be difficult to get up in the future.

Fortunately, Zhuge Liang is not fighting alone.

Since His Highness the King of Chu has pushed it to the forefront, it is obvious that he has a very big plan and will not let this chess piece lose its effect easily.

This is true.

Xi Zhong came to meet Zhuge Liang today, which represents the attitude of His Highness the King of Chu.

With the support of His Royal Highness the King of Chu, as long as Zhuge Liang handles the case beautifully and no one can find any fault on the surface, there won't be any major problems.

After taking a reassurance in his heart, Zhuge Liang continued to read all the files on rape cases and went to visit the officials and historians to ask them questions.

The so-called history refers to the later work and forensic medicine.

As early as the late Warring States Period, there was the post of Ling Shi, who specialized in leading ministers to conduct autopsy and living examination, which naturally included the examination of injuries.

The word "wuzuo" first appeared in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, and at that time it referred to people in the funeral industry. It was not until the Song Dynasty that their duties gradually became similar to those of forensic doctors in later generations.

Therefore, in the Han Dynasty, it was not possible to call the person who examined the injury a wuzuo.

Zhuge Liang waited for many days in the Governor's Mansion, but never waited until the relevant personnel arrived in Xiangyang. He couldn't help but feel suspicious, and immediately sent someone to check.

Not long after, the officer in charge of the inspection returned and reported: "The defendant is seriously injured and is not suitable for traveling long distances. He is currently recuperating at the local county government."

Zhuge Liang couldn't help but frown slightly when he heard this.

Although the officer spoke cryptically, Zhuge Liang had already guessed the whole story. The prisoner should have been tortured.

Torture of prisoners was not prohibited in the Han Dynasty. For example, in history, Yang Qiu arrested Wang Fu and his son, and Cao Cao arrested Yang Biao, both of whom were severely tortured.

The law does not prohibit it, but it does not mean that you can do whatever you want.

If formal procedures are followed, officials should still focus on questioning the case repeatedly, then looking for flaws and forcing the criminal to confess.

As for torture, it can only be used if the chain of evidence is complete but the prisoner still refuses to admit guilt.

Moreover, the Han Dynasty had extremely strict requirements on the tools, sizes and methods of various tortures, and lynching was not allowed to be abused.

However, except in the peaceful and prosperous times, local officials often tortured prisoners in violation of regulations in order to quickly solve the case.

Those famous cruel officials in history basically operated illegally and even beat prisoners into submission. They were criticized for this and most of them did not end well.

When Zhou Qi governed the Chu State, he did not copy the laws of later generations, but instead inherited the laws of the Han Dynasty as a whole.

Not only because the times are different, rashly copying the laws of later generations may be a bit acclimatized.

The most important thing is that in troubled times, heavy laws are needed, and complete monarchical centralization is more appropriate than blindly lenient.

Since the monarch is centralized, many of the methods used by the monarch may not necessarily comply with the law.

Zhuge Liang had read a brief file and knew that the local county magistrate had convicted the prisoner of rape in this case, and that he had a complete chain of evidence and basis for handling the case.

Even in this case, the man still refused to admit guilt, and was tortured to extract a confession.

From a legal point of view, what the local magistrate did was not illegal, perhaps it was just excessive punishment.

Zhuge Liang continued to ask: "Have you ever brought back the book of love?"

Yuanshu is a document in the Han Dynasty that records the confessions of prisoners. It includes the details of the officials' handling of the case, and even how to torture the prisoners must be recorded in the book.

Including the official's detailed judgment of the prisoner, it will also be written in the love book.

As long as you get the love letter, you can basically understand the details of the entire case.

The officer hurriedly said: "The original copy of the love letter has been sealed. I am worried that it will be damaged and I dare not touch it rashly. The county magistrate only asked me to bring back a copy. The content is the same as the original."

Zhuge Liang said: "No problem, just bring me the love letter."

After getting the love letter, Zhuge Liang asked the guards to leave, and then began to look at the details inside.

As Zhuge Liang expected, there were huge differences in this case, and the words between the plaintiff and the defendant were completely different.

However, because the plaintiff produced personal witnesses, physical evidence, and physical injuries, the county officials, after careful consideration, decided to adopt the plaintiff's statement and discard all the defendant's confessions.

After reading the love book, Zhuge Liang put it down and breathed a long sigh of relief.

"This case is quite interesting."

Time passed, and another five days passed. Somehow, this case suddenly spread in Xiangyang City, so that many people knew about the case.

He raped his fiancée and was brought to court. The criminal refused to plead guilty. Such a shocking event made many people very excited and eager to eat.

Just as everyone was looking forward to it, the plaintiff, defendant, local officials responsible for the case, Ling Shi, who was responsible for investigating the crime scene and the woman's injuries, finally arrived in Xiangyang.

Since the case involved secret matters, Zhuge Liang originally planned to try it secretly.

However, the news that everyone had arrived in Xiangyang spread like wildfire. With some people deliberately setting the pace, the people began to demand a public trial of the case.

Even Kuai Yue and other officials in the governor's office were in favor of hearing the case openly.

Zhuge Liang had no choice but to agree.

On the day of the trial, the gate of the government office was crowded with people, and many people who heard about it came to eat melon.

Even Xi Zhong, Dian Man, Xu Yi and Xiang Lin all came to the government office together to observe Zhuge Liang's trial.

Xi Zhong is the son of Xi Zhicai; Dian Man is the son of Dian Wei; Xu Yi is the son of Xu Chu; Xiang Lin is the son of Xiang Hong.

These four people can almost represent the most powerful Yuan Cong faction under Zhou Qi. Even though they are only the second generation of Yuan Cong, no one dares to ignore them.

Not only the other officials of the Governor's Office, but also Kuai Yue, the Jingzhou Biejia, ushered the four people into the government office with pleasant looks.

However, Kuai Yue's heart sank slightly at this time.

He had no backing for deceiving Zhuge Liang. This time he had summoned many famous scholars in Jingzhou to use this case to embarrass him.

No matter how Zhuge Liang resolves the case, he will be unable to step down.

Unexpectedly, the four people Xi Zhong, Dian Man, Xu Yi, and Xiang Lin came without warning, but Kuai Yue smelled something extraordinary.

He didn't believe that these most powerful second generations would have the time to watch Zhuge Liang solve the case if they didn't have any agenda.

However, the arrow had to be fired, and Kuai Yue could not drive the four people out of the government office, so he could only act according to the opportunity.

"Snapped!"

Zhuge Liang slapped the wooden door in the hall, and the servants of the government were neatly lined up on both sides, watching the people in the hall with eager eyes, full of oppression.

Zhuge Liang first sorted out the whole story of the case with everyone. The people who didn't know the details of the case all exclaimed in amazement. They didn't expect that such a thing would happen.

"What a beast, he actually attacked his fiancée!"

"If the evidence is conclusive, even if you don't plead guilty, it is recommended that you be sentenced to death!"

"I never thought that this woman could be so strong-willed. She knew that bringing her fiancé to the government office would bring disrepute to her, but she still insisted on justice!" Since the local magistrate had already passed the verdict, most people believed in their hearts that the defendant had indeed behaved like a beast. For example, have sympathy for women.

However, there were also some objections.

"Now that we are engaged and we go to the house alone with our fiancé, does this mean we acquiesce in this matter?"

"It's just that she doesn't know how to keep herself clean, so she still has the face to sue her fiancé?"

"Sooner or later, we are husband and wife. Even if something like this happens, we shouldn't bring the matter to the government, right?"

Zhuge Liang ignored the chattering crowd outside the mansion and asked the pale defendant, "Zou Wu, can you plead guilty?"

Zou Wu's eyes were bloodshot and he gritted his teeth and said, "The common people are not guilty!"

Zhuge Liang continued to ask: "Did you rape the Wang family that day?"

Zou Wu turned his head and glanced at Wang, who was hiding his face with his head lowered. His eyes were full of hatred, and then he said categorically: "Although we did that kind of thing that day, it was voluntary between you and me, and there was no rape!"

Before Zhuge Liang could continue questioning, Kuai Yue had already shouted: "You were the only two people in the room at that time, and there was no witness to prove your innocence!"

"Now that the evidence is complete, how long will it take if you don't plead guilty now?"

Listening to Kuai Yue's shouts and questions, Zou Wu showed a look of sadness and anger on his face, but he also felt that he could not argue.

The local county magistrate who was in charge of hearing the case also shouted: "If this had not happened, how could the Wang family come to the government to sue Yu Qian at the risk of ruining her reputation?"

Zou Wu looked at the two men's slightly biased questioning, with a look of despair in his eyes, and couldn't help clenching his fists.

"Snapped!"

At this moment, the Jingtang was photographed again. Zhuge Liang glanced at Kuai Yue and the county magistrate, and said in a deep voice: "I am the presiding judge in this case. Before I complete the inquiry, I would like to ask you two to stay silent for the time being. To interfere with the trial process.”

"If you think there are problems with my trial process, you should wait until the trial is completed before raising any questions!"

Faced with Zhuge Liang's sudden strength, Kuai Yue and the county magistrate looked at each other and shut up.

Zou Wu, who was already despairing, once again had the light of hope in his eyes.

Zhuge Liang looked at Zou Wu and said, "Since you don't plead guilty, then I will present all the evidence!"

After speaking, Zhuge Liang immediately sent for the officer in charge of the case and asked: "After the government received the report, what did you see when you went to the scene of the crime?"

The police officer replied: "There are signs of fire at the crime scene."

Zhuge Liang looked at Mr. Wang, who was hiding his face with his head lowered, and asked, "Can the defendant Wang tell me where these fire marks came from?"

Wang cried: "Afterwards, I panicked and got into an argument with him. In my hurry, I knocked over the lamp and the screen was set on fire."

"While he was going to put out the fire, I fled the house in panic and shouted for help outside!"

"you are lying!"

Unexpectedly, after Zou Wu heard Wang's narration, he immediately became so angry that his body trembled and he pointed at the other person and yelled at him.

"quiet!"

The gavel hit the shore again. Zhuge Liang first yelled at Zou Wu, and then signaled to Wang that there was no need to continue.

He looked at Zou Wu and asked, "You two had a dispute in the house. Is it true?"

Zou Wu said anxiously: "It is indeed true, but the whole story is completely different from what Wang said!"

Zhuge Liang waved his hand and said, "In other words, you admit that you and Wang had a dispute at the crime scene?"

Zou Wu bit his lip, facing the hard facts, he could only nod his head dejectedly.

Zhuge Liang interrupted Zou Wu who wanted to continue to defend himself, and then warned the two of them: "I reiterate, you are not allowed to speak in the hall without permission. Even if you are asked, you only need to answer the officer's questions. No. Lots of other things to say!”

Obviously, even the last sentence of Wang's statement just now does not comply with the regulations.

Seeing that the two of them were frightened by him, Zhuge Liang continued to ask Wang: "Did the burning of the screen happen before or after the rape?"

This time, Wang did not dare to say anything else and answered simply: "After the rape."

The clerks under the door kept recording Zhuge Liang's trial process.

Zhuge Liang also summoned Ling Shi, who was handling the case, and asked, "After the incident, did Wang have any injuries on his body?"

Ling Shi replied: "Wang has bruises on both her left and right arms."

Zhuge Liang asked: "Are there any other scars?"

Ling Shi shook his head and said, "No."

Zhuge Liang immediately turned to look at Wang and asked, "Where did the bruises on your arms come from?"

Wang said: "It was injured when Zou Wu violently resisted."

Zhuge Liang nodded slightly and said, "So, you two did have a physical conflict that day!"

Zhuge Liang continued to ask: "Did you escape from Zou's mansion after the incident, shouting words such as "help" and "rape", and then be forcibly dragged into the mansion by Zou Wu?"

Wang covered her face and sobbed: "That's true."

Zhuge Liang asked again: "Did this happen after the screen was burned down or before?"

Wang replied: "Later."

Zhuge Liang then summoned witnesses and asked: "On the night of the incident, did you see Wang running out of Zou Mansion and then being forcibly dragged in by Zou Wu?"

The witness hurriedly said: "Have you ever seen Zou Wu forcefully drag Wang?"

Zhuge Liang asked: "In what way?"

The witness said hesitantly: "The angel was dim at the time, so the people couldn't see it clearly. It seemed like it was pulling Wang's arms."

Zhuge Liang did not ask Zou Wu, but turned his attention to the county magistrate who had previously tried the case and asked: "There are four grounds on which you originally sentenced Zou Wu for rape."

"First, Wang, as the victim, personally complained about being raped by Zou Wu."

"Secondly, there were traces of fire at the crime scene, indicating that there had been a dispute between the two parties, thus concluding that Wang was not voluntary."

"Third, Wang has bruises on his arms to prove that he resisted when he was raped."

"Fourth, witnesses saw Wang escape from the Zou Mansion and then be forcibly dragged into the house by Zou Wu."

"Apart from this, is there any other stronger evidence?"

The county magistrate shook his head and said: "This happened in an extremely secretive space. There can be no other witnesses."

Zhuge Liang was noncommittal, then looked at Wang and asked, "Can you provide other more powerful evidence?"

Wang hurriedly said: "I am a relatively conservative person. I told Zou Wu long before we got engaged that we should keep ourselves clean before getting married and never do anything that goes against the bottom line."

"The matchmaker was at the scene when he said this."

Zhuge Liang did not even summon the matchmaker, but said: "A prior agreement does not mean rejection at the time of the incident. People's emotions will change with time, environment and mentality. This matter cannot be used as evidence to accuse Zou Wu."

Wang's expression obviously changed slightly.

Zhuge Liang continued to ask: "I want to confirm for the last time that you were sober when you were raped, you were not drunk, you were not drugged or tied up, right?"

Ling Shi had already checked these things and couldn't do anything false. Wang could only nod his head and said: "Yes!"

Seeing that Zhuge Liang only asked the Wang family but didn't care about his own opinion at all, Zou Wu was not only a little anxious and wanted to speak up to defend himself, but he was worried about disrupting the order of the government, so he had to worry in his heart.

Zou Wu's mother stood at the door, tears welling up in her eyes when she saw this scene.

After Zhuge Liang asked his subordinates to record all the questions he asked and everyone's answers, he suddenly shook his head and said: "Based on the existing evidence, it cannot be proved that Zou Wu has raped Mr. Wang."

"If the Wang family and the local county government cannot continue to provide more powerful evidence, I will find Zou Wu not guilty!"

"Wow!"

After saying this, everyone was shocked, and the people watching outside the door were talking a lot. Many people even secretly cursed Zhuge Liang for being stupid.

Not just for the melon-eating masses.

Even Xi Zhong, Dian Man, Xu Yi, and Xiang Lin opened their mouths in surprise.

Only Kuai Yue, Zou Wu and their mother had expressions of surprise on their faces.

　Brothers who read the previous chapter last night can go back and read the second half, which starts when Zhuge Liang meets Xi Zhong.

　　In the previous chapter, the part about Zou Wu's mother's self-defense has been deleted. If there is another problem later, the case will be over. Don't blame it for ending in an anticlimax.

　　

　

(End of this chapter)