Aspirations

Chapter 78
Xia Xiang pretended not to see the scene in front of him, and directly ignored Jiang Xiaoqi's disrespect towards him as a magistrate, but nodded and smiled at Dong Duan: "Dong Duan, I really haven't experienced the difficulty of being a parent. However, this official has a heart of a child who loves the people like a child, and Fu Ke murdered this official in public, let’s not mention it for now, this official will ask you, why did Dong Xian throw himself into the river?"

Dong Duan was shocked, and looked straight into Xia Xiang's eyes in disbelief: "The county and the county are going to try the case of elder brother throwing himself into the river?"

Xia Xiang said indifferently: "This official is just trying to hear the case of Fu Ke's murder of this official in public, and at the same time to understand the case of Dong Xian's throwing the river. You are the witness of the case of Fu Ke's murder of this official in public, and you are also the victim. You can talk to this official about anything related to this case.”

Dong Duan seemed to see the sun through the clouds, he couldn't stand still, and immediately fell to his knees with a plop: "Your Majesty Xia, please be respected by the little people."

However, Xia Xiang's heart was surging. As the parents and officials of the people, it is his duty to be the master for the people, but because of Pei Shuozhang's dodging, it became a gift from the officials to the people. ?

"Get up and talk." Xia Xiang showed kindness and power, and then nodded towards Xu Heguang, "Xu Xiancheng, today is not a formal trial, let Dong Duan, Wang Xianke, and Wang Sun sit down and answer."

Xu Heguang nodded in agreement, knowing that Xia Xiang was intending to moderate his anger just now, he hastily signaled the yamen servant to move the seat in fear and sincerity.Wang Xianke and Wang Sunshi tilted half of their buttocks and carefully sat on the side.

Dong Duan did not sit down, but stood up and said, "Xiaomin won't sit down anymore... Xia Xianzun, my brother is a businessman, and he goes south to Quanzhou for half a year every year. It’s okay to have an affair with Yan Sun, if you keep the wife’s way, you still want to make money and kill your life, and you want to kill my brother and rob my brother of the tens of thousands of family wealth that he has worked so hard to accumulate. Although my brother is not a famous family in Shile, he is one of the best in the family…”

"But the current board member of City Music?" Xu Heguang was surprised.

"Exactly." Dong Duan replied.

"It turned out to be the city's music, Dong Bancheng." Xu Heguang had long heard about Dong Xian's drowning in the river, but because he was so engrossed in things recently, he didn't have time to think about it, so he just regarded it as a common thing. It's not surprising that it happened, even though he was from a neighboring county, he didn't take it to heart.

It was also related to knowing that Xia Xiang was about to take office, and he devoted himself to how to deal with Xia Xiang's arrival, so that he could not care about distractions.When he heard that the deceased in the sensational suicide case in the past few days was actually Dong Xian, a rich man in the city, he couldn't help but shudder.No wonder Xia Xianzun passed through Shile and accidentally bumped into Dong Duan, who was blocking the street and shouting injustice. He had to spend a lot of time to bring Dong Duan and his party to Zhending.

Gao Ming, really brilliant, didn't see that Xia Xianzun was so young, and he was such a scheming corrupt official. He specifically asked about Dong Xian's case of throwing himself into the river, obviously trying to get some benefits from it.Dong Xian is known as Dong Bancheng, which means that Dong Xian's wealth can buy half of the city's Lecheng, which shows that Dong Xian's wealth is extensive.When Xia County Zun tried Dong Xian's case, there must be plenty of oil and water.

After thinking about this, Xu Heguang secretly ridiculed Xia Xiang for being too urgent and stretching his hands too far, even hitting the idea of ​​the rich man in the neighboring county.The same is true for Pei Shuozhang. Although it is related to the important matter of the resignation assessment, he can't let it go. He is too cautious not to take the fat he got.If it were him, he would definitely take over the case and try it carefully. Anyway, he could find a scapegoat and go to prison.

It's a pity, it's a pity, Pei Shuozhang was too timid and afraid of getting into trouble, so he was afraid of getting into trouble, so he dismissed the case.While Xu Heguang was secretly regretting, he couldn't help but take a look at Xia Xianggao. Xia Xianzun is such a visionary, courageous and greedy county magistrate. Maybe he will gain a lot of benefits from following Xia Xianzun in the future.Compared with Shi Le, Zhending's giant businessmen are truly rich and invincible.Don't talk about other families, just talk about Xuwangshan in the east of the city and Ma Qingyuan in the south of the city. The business of the two not only goes north to Mobei and south to Quanzhou, but also merchant ships go to Nanyang.

In addition to Xu Wangshan and Ma Qingyuan, Haojing Changzai is also one of the richest people. No, Haojing Changzai is the real richest man.In contrast, his Guangjin Firm was far worse.

Dong Duan continued: "Xiaomin has long been aware of Dong Li's and Yan Sun's affair, but his brother doesn't believe it. Xiaomin had no choice but to come up with a last resort, let his brother go home early, and bump into Dong Li and Yan. Sun's cowardice. I thought that my brother would break up with Dong Li and expel Yan Sun, but I didn't want my brother to be too kind, but I actually believed the lie that the two of them wanted to change their past..."

"I persuaded my brother to drive away Yan Sun no matter what. My brother promised, but he couldn't hold back the repeated crying of Dong Li's. He gave Yan Sun a month, and ordered Yan Sun to clear up his accounts within one month, pack his luggage and leave. Unexpectedly, suddenly My brother has a business to discuss, so he hurried south to Quanzhou. In Quanzhou, my brother met Ma Xiaosan and his wife who were looking for their son's whereabouts. The two were old and had no one to support. When the people returned to Zhending, they made them go on a road of no return. After my brother and the two returned, within three days, for some unknown reason, the three of them went to the Hutuo River in Zhending overnight and threw themselves into the river..." Dong Duan's eyes were red, and tears welled up in his eyes, "My brother and I have lost both parents since we were young. Ma Xiaosan and his wife are diligent and kind, what a good pair of old people. I am as filial as my biological parents. Who would have thought that Dong Li's and Yan Sun's The heart of the snake and scorpion, even the second old man will not let go!"

Xia Xiang coughed lightly, interrupting Dong Duan's narration, and asked: "Dong Duan, this officer asked you, you kept saying that Dong Li and Yan Sun killed Dong Xian and Ma Xiaosan, have you ever seen it myself?"

"No." Dong Duan's momentum was greatly reduced in an instant, but after a while he straightened his neck and said, "Although Xiaomin didn't see it with his own eyes, anyone who understands knows that my brother and Ma Xiaosan and his wife must have been arrested by Dong Li and Yan Sun. persecuted to death."

"I am judging the case. I am judging the case. I am looking at the evidence. I am not just judging Dong Li and Yan Sun guilty based on your one-sided words and assumptions." Xia Xiang patted the gavel with a dignified expression, "Dong In conclusion, if you cannot produce convincing evidence to prove that Dong Li and Yan Sun are the murderers who killed Dong Xian and Ma Xiaosan, this judge will convict you of false accusation and give you a severe punishment of [-] boards."

Under the coercion and intimidation, there must be something to ask for. Xu Heguang watched with cold eyes and laughed secretly. Whether Xia Xianzun is like a god, Master Qingtian, let it go. Naturally proficient.Dong Duan wants to win the lawsuit, and he doesn't even think about paying filial piety to Xia County Zun with real money.

Dong Duan's face was gloomy and uncertain, he changed a few times, and sneered: "Sure enough, the world is as black as a crow, Xia Xianzun, Xiaomin can't file a case in Shile, and he can't win a lawsuit in Zhending, so he went to Beijing to sue the imperial court. I must seek justice for my brother.”

"Fairness? Where is the justice?" Xia Xiang laughed, stood up and came to Dong Juan, "Fairness is not because you are full of righteous indignation, nor is it because you are eager for revenge. Fairness is an inference based on reason and reason, and it is an ironclad evidence with all witnesses and materials. case, Dong Juan, you believe with all your heart that it was Dong Li and Yan Sun who killed Dong Xian and Ma Xiaosan. Have you ever thought about how Dong Li and Yan Sun forced Dong Xian and Ma Xiaosan to leave Shi Le ran to Zhending and threw himself into the river? Why did Dong Xian and Ma Xiaosan not resist or report to the officials, but insisted on throwing themselves into the river overnight? When the three of them went to Zhending overnight, where were you and what were you doing? Evidence? Where and what are Dong Lishi and Yan Sun doing, do you have any evidence?"

"Xiaomin, Xiaomin..." Dong Duan backed away from Xia Xiang's words, "Xiaomin was sleeping at the time, and didn't know that my brother and the second elder rushed to Zhending overnight. If he knew, he would stop them. Xiaomin The people live alone, and there is no witness. Dong Li and Yan Sun are sleeping in their own rooms, and there are maids to testify."

Not only was Xu Heguang surprised in the dark, admiring Xia Xiang's thoughtfulness, even Ma Zhanguo secretly gave a thumbs up, applauding Xia Xianzun's sharp questioning, and was also very surprised that Xia Xiangzun became a county magistrate just after being a Jinshi. How can you be so clear about how a case is tried if you have experience in trial cases?How could he be so aware of the loopholes in Dong Duan's words?What a genius.

"That's it." Xia Xiang nodded and said thoughtfully, "If Dong Li's and Yan Sun sue that you forced Dong Xian and Ma Xiaosan to death, you can't argue."

"Xiaomin was wronged, how could Xiaomin murder the elder brother of a compatriot with the same mother?" Dong Duan repeatedly called out his innocence, and hurriedly argued, "Xia Xianzun, Xiaomin and his elder brother are dependent on each other and have a deep brotherhood, why do you want to harm him?"

"Murdering for money." Xia Xiang spit out a few words lightly, as if he could say casually about life and death, "Dong Duan, I feel that once Dong Xian dies, Dong Li and Yan Sun enter You are the one who most wants Dong Xian to jump into the river and commit suicide, since all of the Dong family’s ten thousand property has fallen into your hands alone.”

"Xiaomin, Xiaomin..." Dong Duan fell to his knees with a plop, "Xia Xianzun, Xiaomin is not a murderer, Xiaomin is wronged. Xiaomin has no intention of murdering his brother, even if Xiaomin wants to. If you want to make money and kill your life, the little people are absolutely incapable of letting their brother run to the Hutuo River and throw himself in the river."

Xu Heguang's eyes widened, wondering what medicine Xia Xiang's gourd was selling, but he became more and more convinced that Xia Xiang was a downright corrupt official, and could not help but secretly feel sorry for Pei Shuozhang.The benefits of Tianda came to his lips, but they were taken away by Xia Xiang, which is a pity, a pity.Pei Shuozhang didn't even think about it. When Dong Xian died, Wan Guan's family wealth would either fall on Dong Li's head or Dong Duan's hands. No matter who was convicted in the end, the other party would be very grateful to the county magistrate, and it was inevitable that he would pay a lot of money.

Xia Xiangxian Xia Xianzun is really a smart person, he must have made up his mind a long time ago, to intimidate Dong Duan, let Dong Duan know the stakes, if Dong Duan is smart, he will obediently give the benefits.Otherwise, the official of Xia County opened his mouth. If he insisted that Dong Duan murdered Dong Xian and Ma Xiaosan, Dong Duan would not be able to argue.If severe punishment is used again, Dong Duan, a scholar, will definitely recruit whatever he wants.

High, really high.Xu Heguang narrowed his eyes, and thought complacently that it was a good thing Xia Xianzun was so greedy for money. There were a lot of wealthy people in Zhending County, and he would not worry about no lawsuits in the future.Once the lawsuit hits, the money will be spent, and he can gain some advantage by following Xia Xianzun.Okay, that's it. In the future, finding a way to let Xia Xianzun try more cases is the way to make money.

Ma Zhanguo was muttering in his heart, just now he thought that Xia Xianzun had a talent for judging cases, maybe he was another upright official like the legendary Bao Qingtian who judged cases like a god.Now he couldn't understand why Xia Xianzun called Dong Duan a murderer. Could it be that Xia Xianzun wanted to intimidate Dong Duan so that he could get some benefits?
"Get up and talk." Xia Xiang put his hands behind his back with ease, and motioned for Ma Zhanguo to help Dong Duan up, "In front of this official, don't kneel down at every turn."

But Dong Duan refused to get up: "Xianzun, Xiaomin is indeed not a murderer, I hope the county can learn from it."

Dong Duan was arrogant and respectful, and the original arrogance was completely gone. At this time, he complained one after another, and Xu Heguang secretly despised Dong Duan's lack of bones. He was frightened by Xia Xiang after only a few words. Xia Xiang lion opened his mouth, Dong Duan still can't let Xia Xiang ask for a price?
Ma Zhanguo used all his strength to forcibly pull Dong Duan up.Dong Duan wanted to argue a few more words, but when he heard the sound of the chain, Fu Ke went to court under the escort of Ding Ke.

Fu Ke's hair was disheveled, his eyebrows were raised, and he looked like a bohemian ranger.After entering the hall, he raised his head and tilted his head, looked up at the roof, and didn't even look at Xia Xiang.

"Are you Fu Ke?" Xia Xiang asked lightly, his expression unchanged.

"It's right here." Fu Ke glanced at Xia Xiang proudly, and grinned, "Xia Xianzun first came out of the court, and only became an official in the local area. I'm afraid I don't know many rules in the local area, and I don't know what I am. The origin. It’s okay, I don’t care about Xia Xianzun, just let me go, the previous things will be wiped out, and I will not hold grudges against Xia Xianzun. In the future, Xia Xianzun will have any embarrassing things in office, whether it is true or happy , even if it is the surrounding prefectures and counties, I will do my best despite your orders."

Xu Heguang, Ma Zhanguo, Ding Ke and Yang Jiang all stared at each other. No one thought that Fu Ke would be so arrogant and openly challenge the county magistrate in the court. How to respond to the department.

Xu Heguang even thought maliciously that Xia Xianzun took over such a difficult case on the first day he took office. It is not his fault but his own fault for insisting on taking over the matter.Although Fu Ke is just a rascal in the Shile area, he is highly regarded by Pei Shuozhang. Many things that the government cannot handle are handed over to Fu Ke.After Fu Ke took over, he never missed a shot, and he caught everything.Such a character who takes both black and white and has not failed in Shile for more than ten years, will he have no backing and backstage?Xia Xianzun is young after all, and he insists on arresting Fu Ke to come here. It is easy to ask God to send God away, and maybe Fu Ke will make Xia Xianzun fall into a big fall.

Xu Heguang is not very clear about the origin and background of Fu Ke, but he has been in the officialdom for many years, and he knows in his heart that if Fu Ke has no support behind his back, he would have been imprisoned long ago. nothing?
Xia Xiang smiled silently. Fu Ke's tone of voice shocked him, and at the same time, he strengthened his judgment. Fu Ke must have a lot of history. , although it is a dangerous move, it may help him quickly open the situation in Zhending.

It is really a big county, a rich county, and an important place in the integration of the prefecture and county. Not only the prefect Cui Xiang is on the top, the officials are crushed to death, and there are many aristocratic families and giant merchants. Good and all kinds of human relationships are intertwined, by no means he can shake a small magistrate.Of course, Xia Xiang came here to be an official, not to change the status quo, but to do his best to share the worries of the emperor and be the master of the people.

But before that, he first had to see clearly how many dragons and tigers were hidden in the really fixed dragon pond and tiger lair, and he couldn't act recklessly to avoid being hurt by dragons and tigers.

"Fu Ke, you committed murder in the street of Shile and murdered the imperial court official in public, can you admit it?" Xia Xiang's face darkened.

"Admit it, I did it. I originally wanted to kill Wang Xianke." Fu Ke turned around and gave Wang Xianke a look, laughing loudly, "Unfortunately, I didn't kill him. Wang Xianke, if it wasn't for Xia County Your Majesty saved your life, you are buried in the ground now, you are really fateful, you are the first person that I want to kill, you can be proud of it. But I have to make one point, at that time I didn't know that you were a majestic county official, if I knew, I would definitely not dare to murder the imperial court official."

"So, if this official is not an official of the imperial court, but a commoner, you will kill him?" Xia Xiang laughed in anger, with a meaningful smile.

"If you kill it, kill it, what else can you do? Ordinary people, their lives are as cheap as paper, and they don't know how many people die every day. Who cares?" It’s the same, after all, with fame and fame, and being appointed by the official department, the emperor replaces the herdsmen of the sky, and the officials are entrusted by the emperor to share the herding of the world, which is not a life that the people of Pingguan can compare with..."

"What a cheap life and precious life." Xia Xiang was really annoyed by what Fu Ke said. Fu Ke was not a court official, and he had no fame. According to what he said, he was also a commoner with a cheap life, but he was humble. You are really ridiculous, hateful and angry, "Killing the common people is not a violation of the king's law, but killing a court official is a violation of the king's law?"

"It's not a matter of breaking the king's law or not?" Fu Ke smiled, raised his hands, and shook the chains on his hands, "If Xia Xianzun says, I have to wear a shackle and a chain. In a word, I am innocent, haha."

(End of this chapter)