Ming Dynasty 1566

Chapter 88

Zheng Michang thought more clearly, what he was waiting for was this moment, as long as the court has taboos, and it does not involve destroying dikes and flooding fields, and does not involve connecting Japanese, as Ting Ji said, "The crime of corruption of ink can still be determined according to the law." ", nothing more than ransacking the house, nothing more than wandering in vain, he stood there with a firm mind, and straightened his body, but his voice was a little hoarse: "The criminal did not quarrel. Members, please learn from the court!"

The intention of the cabinet and the supervisor of ceremonies was to retract the confession of the second criminal, which is still expected.However, the presiding judge Zhao Zhenji did not discuss with the jurors when he received such a letter from the court, but read it openly in front of the two criminals, causing the two criminals to retract their confessions in court, which is inexplicable.The air in the lobby immediately froze.

Wang Yongji immediately looked at Tan Lun, but Tan Lun lowered his eyelids and looked at the ground, and Wang Yongji looked at Hai Rui with concern.Hai Rui still looked at Zhao Zhenji without moving, waiting for him to finish reading Ting Ji.

Zhao Zhenji shifted his eyes to Tingji again and continued to read: "Zhejiang governor Zhao Zhenji and other officials appointed by the imperial court are ordered to preside over important cases. How prudent should they be? Now Zheng and He are allowed to transfer crimes and stir up troubles in the court. What is the sincerity? Now throw back the original confession, and retrial immediately, and report the truth to the court within seven days. If there are any untrue words, the questioner will be guilty of the same crime as the criminal!"

After reading this passage, Hai Rui immediately knew that Zhao Zhenji had already decided to overturn his original confession according to the wishes of the cabinet, inspector of ceremonies, retrial the second criminal, and cover up the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau and Yan Shifan's order to destroy embankments and flood fields, and to plead Japanese injustice. An important joint of the people.Suddenly, he thought of the letter Tan Lun wrote to himself at that time, and the life and death he had experienced in the past few months because of Yan Yan, and his lonely anger welled up, and then he looked at Tan Lun. Lun.

Of course Tan Lun would not make eye contact with him at this time, and his eyelids were still lowered.

"The criminal is willing to confess the truth again! But please interrogate Mr. Zhongcheng himself." He Maocai immediately shouted again.

Zheng Michang: "Criminals are also invited to interrogate Mr. Zhongcheng himself."

Hai Rui's gaze turned to Zhao Zhenji again, and Wang Yongji's gaze was also fixed on Zhao Zhenji.

Zhao Zhenji didn't look at anyone: "Oranges born in Huainan are tangerines, and those born in Huaibei are trifoliate oranges! The confession of the former interrogator is one way of saying, and the confession of the later interrogation is another way of saying it. Such a confession can be reproduced again." Will it be reported to the imperial court? The confession that was tried by the original is still the one who will try it now. There are still seven days to go, and the trial will be completed in two days, and on the third day, it must be sent to the capital within five days by eight hundred li express delivery!" After saying the last word, he picked up Hai Rui The confession of the original trial was thrown on the brick floor in the lobby, and then he left the case and walked to the side of the screen.

From the time when the court read out the retrial to the time when Zhao Zhenji disappeared behind the screen, it took less than a quarter of an hour before and after Zhao Zhenji stood in the hall.Now the only boss left in the lobby is Tan Lun, Hai Rui and Wang Yongji are silent there.

Tan Lun had no choice but to look at the two of them: "It's God's order, so we can only ask Hai Zhi County to re-examine, and Wang Zhi County will take notes."

"Of course I will re-examine." Hai Rui immediately replied, "Come here!"

Several prison guards rushed up.

Hai Rui: "Take Zheng Michang and He Maocai back to the prison."

"Yes." The four prison guards, two serving one, dragged Zheng Michang and He Maocai out of the lobby half-armed and half-dragged.

Tan Lun left his seat first, walked to the center of the lobby, picked up the confession that Zhao Zhenji had thrown on the ground, walked up to Hai Rui, and handed the confession to him with both hands with apologetic eyes.

Hai Rui didn't intend to accept his apologetic gaze, but just stretched out his hand to accept the confession.

Tan Lun tightly held one end of the confession: "You know the meaning of the court. The court's situation is the most important thing. The time limit is tight. Let's retry overnight."

"Zhao Zhongcheng gave me a two-day deadline, so I don't have to interrogate overnight." Hai Rui pulled the confession from Tan Lun, "I have to go back tonight and take a good look at what is wrong with this confession. Who is messing up the court situation." After speaking, he bowed to him and walked down the hall.

Tan Lun looked worried, so he turned to look at Wang Yongji.

Only now did Wang Yongji have a chance to speak, and he no longer concealed his dissatisfaction: "I don't know what the court thinks, but Zhao Zhongcheng and Mr. Tan know everything here better than anyone else. Now we have to push all the burden to Hai Gangfeng is alone, you shouldn't have recommended him at that time." After saying that, he bowed to Tan Lun and walked down the hall.

In the lobby, only the red torch with high fever was left shining on the lonely Tan Lun, who was lost in thought.After a while, he flicked the sleeves of his robe, turned around and walked towards the back hall in the direction of the screen.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, Hai Rui not only did not see the interrogation of Zheng Michang and He Maocai, but also disappeared after leaving the governor's hall that night.It was already nightfall the next day, and Wang Yongji, who had been sitting in front of the interrogation room to record the case, finally saw Hai Rui coming in with the case file, and stood up abruptly, "Where have you been these two days?"

Hai Rui put the file on the desk, looked at Wang Yongji and smiled wearily: "Are you looking for me?"

Wang Yongji: "Zhao Zhongcheng and Mr. Tan are looking for you. Don't say anything, there is only one deadline left for tonight. Brother Gangfeng, hurry up and retry the case."

When Hai Rui looked at Wang Yongji again, Wang Yongji saw that his eyes were bloodshot, and his expression was already very solemn: "I will retry the case. I tried the original case, and I don't want to do anything about Zhao Zhongcheng. I don’t do anything about Mr. Tan’s business, and I don’t do anything about your Wang Zhi County’s business. The first two rankings were originally obtained from the township’s wish. This case will be tried by me, a person from Juren. Please avoid Wang Zhi County.” Wang Yongji Startled, of course he understood that Hai Rui didn't want to implicate himself, and at the same time, a kind of humiliation flooded up: "Hai Zhi County, you may not think too low of my officials who were born as Jinshi in Ming Dynasty. When it comes to the original case, you are not alone. If it is interrogated, my king Yongji's name will also be signed on it."

Hai Rui: "You are just a record of the original case, and the record is a matter for the book office. I will use the book office to record tonight. Please avoid it."

Wang Yongji simply sat down, lifted the lid of the inkstone box, and began to grind the ink.

Hai Rui: "If you don't evade, I won't interrogate tonight."

Wang Yongji still lowered his head and rubbed his ink: "Please go ahead. If you don't interrogate, I will interrogate."

Hai Rui couldn't hide his true feelings any longer, walked to the desk opposite Wang Yongji, grabbed his hand that was rubbing ink, and said in a low voice, "Wang Runlian, I still have mothers and children at home. You forgot what you promised me? "

Wang Yongji raised his head: "How many mothers and fathers in the world are weeping from hunger and cold! Brother Gangfeng forgot?"

This sentence pushed Hai Rui there, slowly let go of his hand, and sighed: "Sage Runlian, I am not as good as you." After saying this sentence, he went to the front of the case and shouted: "Bring Zheng Michang, He Maocai!"

Zhao Zhenji, who had been waiting at the governor's office for two days, couldn't wait anymore.

"It looks straight, but there is a heart for fame! You, Tan Zili, should know who that Hai Rui is by now." Zhao Zhenji had already put on the official uniform, and his hands were trembling with anger when he picked up the black gauze from the hat tube, " No need to wait, this person has fled back to Chun'an. Let him be scolded by everyone in the world, you and I must personally go to the trial of this case tonight. Tomorrow morning, together with the memorial of the retrial, attach the memorial to Hai Rui, and get rid of this person Official position, let's talk about crimes!"

Tan Lun had already put on the red official uniform, and was still sitting on the chair by the window: "Hai Rui should not be such a person. Let's wait for a while."

Zhao Zhenji: "We'll wait for him, but the imperial court won't wait for me. Come here."

A clerk came in, bent down and walked behind Zhao Zhenji to fasten the hatband of his official hat for him, and took the jade-encrusted belt from the shelf to help him go around and insert the buckle.

Zhao Zhenji: "Prepare the sedan chair, and go to the prison of the Niesi Yamen!"

Tan Lun had no choice but to stand up.

At this time, another scribe appeared at the door, panting and lowering his head, he said, "Master Zhongcheng, Haizhi County has found..."

Zhao Zhenji: "Where is it?"

The clerk breathed evenly: "Master Hui Zhongcheng is interrogating Zheng Michang and He Maocai in the prison."

Zhao Zhenji was stunned for a while.

The clerk who waited on him was ignorant, and asked in a low voice, "Excuse me, Zhong Cheng, do you still have a sedan chair ready, and do you want to go to the prison?"

Over the past few days, Zhao Zhenji had to deal with the unpredictable situation in the court, and Zhao Zhenji fought decisively all the way. At this moment, he suddenly looked embarrassed, and his face suddenly became gloomy. The scribe was about to be angered.

At this time, Tan Lun had already shifted his gaze to the side.

After all, as a Confucian official of the Taizhou School, a piece of Confucianism, the first is self-cultivation, "not to vent anger, not to blame" is the homework of daily practice.At this time, Tan Lun was beside him, and Zhao Zhenji immediately had a voice in his heart reminding him that getting angry at this time is just venting anger. This thought aroused shame, and said to the clerk lightly: "I won't go to the prison. Master Tan and I will meet tonight. Now that I am dealing with official business, I will inform the kitchen to prepare some meals. Also, as soon as Hai Zhi County and Wang Zhi County arrive, I will introduce you immediately."

"Yes." The scribe quietly retreated.

Zhao Zhenji looked at Tan Lun, and there must be an explanation for the speculation about Hai Rui just now: "It is easy to cultivate oneself, but it is difficult to cultivate an official. I was too worried about that Hai Rui's speculation just now. But it is too difficult for this person to act. It's common sense. It seems that the result of the retrial tonight will still make you and me embarrassed. In any case, I must be able to explain to the court in this position, brother Zili, you must be of one mind with me."

(End of this chapter)