Reborn Tang Emperor Li Chengqian

Chapter 223 Presiding Judge Ma Zhou
Li Chengqian's career in politics for more than ten years was not given in vain.

At the beginning, Li Er asked Li Chengqian to try to write about the strategy of governing the country. As a result, Li Chengqian quickly filled three pages, and the content in it was very valuable.

Li Er was very satisfied after seeing it, and even proudly showed off his son's ability in front of the ministers.

Li Er often took out the strategy of governing the country written by Li Chengqian to show off to the officials: "The prince first discusses punishment and prison, and he has won the important points of the state!"

It is enough to prove Li Chengqian's ability. Now that Li Er is not in good health, Li Er naturally hopes that Li Chengqian can put his focus on the court and military and political affairs.

Trial of Zhang Liang's treason case, Li Er already had a suitable candidate in mind.

"Ma Zhou!" Li Erchao shouted to the ministers.

"The minister is here!" Zhongshu's servant Ma Zhou hurriedly stood up and came out, saluting.

"I ordered you to preside over Zhang Liang's treason case. You must thoroughly investigate the matter. When the case becomes clear, report it to the prince first! The prince will decide and then report to me." Li Er ordered Ma Zhou to interrogate Zhang Liang.

"I accept the decree!" Ma Zhou saluted.

"Come here!" Li Er shouted, and the guards waiting outside the hall rushed in.

"Release Zhang Liang to the position of Shangshu of the Criminal Department, and put him in the prison of Dali Temple to wait for his punishment." Li Er said.

The guards immediately stepped forward and took off Zhang Liang's black hat, and then took Zhang Liang to the prison of Dali Temple.

"That's it for today, everyone, let's leave! Retire!" Li Er said, turned and left.

"Back~toward~" Wang Yuan shouted at the top of his voice, and hurriedly followed Li Er.

His Majesty Li Er left the Taiji Hall amidst the ministers sending him off. After Li Er left, everyone got up and left the Taiji Hall.

"Ma Shilang needs to be more concerned about this matter." Li Chengqian took Ma Zhou's hand and said.

"Don't worry, Your Highness, I will do my best to handle this case. Let me go!" Ma Zhou saluted and withdrew.

After Ma Zhou left, he went to Dali Temple first, and asked the people of Dali Temple to arrest Gongsun Chang and Cheng Gongying who were also involved in the rebellion case.

Ma Zhou went to interrogate Zhang Liang himself, hoping that Zhang Liang would take the initiative to confess his crime.

The jailer opened the cell, Ma Zhou walked in, cupped his hands to Zhang Liang and said, "Duke Yun, I am here to try your case of treason on His Majesty's will. I think it's because of you and my colleagues. I advise you to confess and follow the law." wide, free from prison!"

"Ma Shilang, I, Zhang Liang, have been wronged. Some villains must have slandered and framed me. You must clearly investigate and clear up my grievances."

"I, Zhang Liang, are absolutely loyal to His Majesty. There must be a treacherous villain who framed me for rebellion. Ma Shilang, you must report this matter to Your Majesty!"

Ma Zhou looked at Zhang Liang calmly, whether Zhang Liang was wronged, the truth will come out after the investigation, this time to see Zhang Liang, Ma Zhou did not expect to get any answer from Zhang Liang.

There is no sinner who conspired, who would be so stupid to directly admit his crimes if he didn't complain.

At this time, a jailer came to Ma Zhou and whispered something in Ma Zhou's ear.

After Ma Zhou heard this, he said to Zhang Liang: "Mr. Yun, you are so lucky to stay here. If you are really wronged, I will naturally give you a clean slate."

After Ma Zhou finished speaking, he turned and left the prison. He was going to interrogate the informer Chang Dexuan, and the jailer re-locked the prison door.

Ma Zhou came to the court, and after arguing with Dali Temple Minister Sun Fujia, he sat on the head of the court.

Today is Ma Zhou presiding over Zhang Liang's treason case, so it is natural for Ma Zhou to take the lead.

Dali Temple Minister Sun Fujia is the chief official of Dali Temple, and Dali Temple is his home court. Ma Zhou still needs help from others, so Sun Fujia sits beside Ma Zhou to assist in handling the case.

Also on the jury is Di Renjie, the Shaoqing of Dali Temple. His ability to judge cases is one of the best in Dali Temple. With his assistance, the case can be heard quickly.

The most important point is that Di Renjie belongs to the Crown Prince of the East Palace, which is why Sun Fujia advocated that Di Renjie should be on trial.

It seems that Ma Zhou presides over Zhang Liang's treason case, but secretly the crown prince is the real presiding judge, and Ma Zhou is just an errand runner.

"Bring up Chang Dexuan from Shaanxi." Ma Zhou sat down and asked someone to bring the informer.

"I've seen the three masters!" Chang Dexuan knelt on the ground and said after being taken to the court.

"Let me ask you, do you have any evidence for accusing Zhang Liang, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment, of treason?" Ma Zhou asked.

"Zhang Shangshu's family raised 500 fake sons, all of whom are strong and powerful, and I heard that each of them is a master of martial arts."

"I saw with my own eyes that no fewer than a hundred people entered and exited Zhang Shangshu's house every day, and each person's body characteristics were different, no less than 500 people." Chang Dexuan said, he swore that he saw it with his own eyes.

Fake child refers to the son of the husband's ex-wife or the son of the wife's ex-husband.

The other refers to the meaning of adopted son and adopted son.

"These alone are not enough to prove that Zhang Shangshu has the intention of treason, but is there any other evidence?" Di Renjie asked.

Zhang Liang raised so many adopted sons, the most he could say was that he conspired against the law, and he was not up to the level of rebellion. If Chang Dexuan's words alone were not enough to convict Zhang Liang of rebellion.

Moreover, it remains to be verified whether Zhang Liang raised 500 fakes as Chang Dexuan said.

"This is a time when the villain was in a restaurant. I heard someone said that the other party was drunk at the time and told another person that Zhang Liang was going to rebel. That's why I came here to accuse Zhang Liang." Chang Dexuan said.

"Oh! Who said it, how to say it specifically, and why didn't you come to Dali Temple to complain, but go to the censor?" Ma Zhou felt that something was wrong, and asked hastily.

"I don't remember exactly what was said! But I know that the person is Cheng Gongying, and he said it after he was drunk."

"As for why I didn't come here to file a complaint, but told Yushi, that's because I didn't know that yamen can handle this case, and I was a little scared, so I didn't dare to come to the yamen to report."

"And there happened to be a censor living next door to me. After thinking about it, I decided to tell the censor about this matter." Chang Dexuan's words were reasonable.

Even so, it cannot be confirmed that Zhang Liang is treason.

"You go down first! When you need to testify in court, we will summon you to the court." Ma Zhou said.

The yamen guard kept Chang Dexuan down.

"What do you two think about this matter?" Ma Zhou asked Sun Fujia and Di Renjie.

"This matter has not yet been settled, but bringing the other two people who participated in the rebellion to the trial may have unexpected gains." Di Renjie said.

"That's right! What Di Shaoqing said is that I have exactly the same intention." Sun Fujia echoed, no matter what the result is, it is the same for Sun Fujia.

Ma Zhou saw that the first and second in command of Dali Temple had said so, so he naturally had no objection, and he also intended to bring Cheng Gongying and Gongsun Chang to trial.

Ma Zhou also hoped to dig out some useful information from Gongsun Chang and the others.

(End of this chapter)