Idle courtiers

Chapter 311
If Lao Guo was an ordinary citizen, he would have let him go if he paid a fine.

The thing happened precisely because he was an official, and when he saw Zheng Tiju, he also played the signboard of the Pedestrian Department and threw out his official photo of suing himself.

Mr. Zheng took a look, haha, it turned out to be a member of the Pedestrian Division, isn’t your Pedestrian Division Qingliu, you will also specialize in impeaching people for a living in the future, today I want you to taste what it’s like to be punished by others.The arrest of Piao Xuan, a dignified pedestrian secretary, can make matters worse.

People in the officialdom are not afraid of trouble, they are afraid of small things.

Li Ding was originally a yamen servant at Shuiguan, and happened to guard Lao Guo who was detained in the prison.

Lao Guo promised to make a lot of money and asked him to bring a letter to Zhou Nan.

Li Ding didn't believe this poor little official at first, until he found Wu Yuanwai and others and got the foot money, then he hurried to the capital.

Li Ding: "Zhou Xingren, outside the military, they said, please go to Tongzhou to find people as soon as possible. They are waiting at the pier. The villain only has one day off, so he has to go back."

Zhou Nan said angrily: "Find someone, the one surnamed Guo committed his own crimes and can't live. I can save him for a while, but not for the rest of his life... Forget it, you go back first, I have my own opinion."

With Zhou Nan's temper, he really wanted to teach him a profound lesson this time, so that the bird man could prioritize.As for Wu Xinhua and the others, leave Lao Guo alone, and the boat will return to Huai'an.

After thinking about it, this is the capital, there are not many other things, but there are many officials in the yamen.With so many functional departments on the river, it would be troublesome for anyone to stretch out his hand. It is still necessary to let the official Lao Guo be escorted to Tianjin to be relieved.

Forget it, my lord will go to Tong County, it's not difficult.

Zhou Nan couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Why are my lord's subordinates full of thieves? Is there no gentleman?

To raise a gentleman, at least one must be the governor of a province.Zhou Nan is just a small pedestrian now, so naturally no one will come to vote
The so-called, Wu Dalang plays night owls - who plays what kind of birds - there are only three or five cats and dogs in the pocket, who else can use Lao Guo?

Immediately, Zhou Nan took a car to Tongzhou.

Tongzhou is only sixty miles away from the capital city. If you walk slowly for one day, you can speed up and get there in half a day.

Arriving at Shuiguan, Zhou Nan issued an official letter from the General Administration Department in accordance with the organizational procedures of the Ming Dynasty, saying that he wanted to ask an official of the Pedestrian Department, Guo X, about the case of whoring a prostitute, and do a research.

Zheng Tiju was a bit puzzled when he received the official letter. What is there to investigate about this official's prostitution.Your Department of General Administration is neither the Department of Jiaofang, nor the taxation department of the Ministry of Households. Why do you study this?

When I saw that the inscription was Zhou Nan, interim acting governor of the Department of General Administration, I understood.

Since Zhou Nan is a pedestrian, and Guo is also from a pedestrian department, the two must be related.This time it was the night owl who came into the house for nothing, so he must be begging for favors.

Zheng Tiju sneered in his heart: Pedestrians, Pedestrians, you are so big, scaring people, and I know who you Zhou is, why should I sell you favors?My lord is about to take the knife with the surname Guo, how can I let him go just because of your few words?
Mr. Zheng has a bright future recently. There are rumors that his superiors intend to promote him to a more important leadership position. What is lacking now is only good results.Guo was arrested, this is when he fell asleep and met the pillow.

He was determined to punish Lao Guo, so naturally he refused to talk nonsense with Zhou Nan, so he gave an order to his opponent: "Bring the criminal to the court, and I will interrogate him personally. By the way, please listen to Zhou Xingren."

The law is nothing more than human feelings, and he wants to go directly to the legal process, cutting off Zhou Nan's chance to speak up.

Zhou Nan originally planned to have a good communication with Zheng Tiju, sell him a favor, and if it is useful to him in the future, return him.

Brought to the lobby by the soldiers, seeing two rows of stern-looking yamen servants and Zheng Tiju who was seated behind the big case, he was stunned and felt a little bad.

Zhou Nan cupped his hands slightly: "Pedestrians, Pedestrians, Zhou Nan, interim governor of the General Administration, has met Zheng Tiju."

Zheng Tiju nodded, and bowed his hands in return, and said in a nonchalant manner, "Long-awaited, take a seat." He said: "Master Zhou, I am interrogating a case today. If you have official business, wait for me to finish the trial first." Let’s talk about it later. Lead the prisoner!”

"Yes!" The yamen servant replied, and brought in the old Guo who was full of grief and indignation.

Lao Guo was born in Juren and was an official, so the people in Shuiguan naturally did not dare to abuse him.But after being locked up all night and the weather was cold, he still looked haggard.

Seeing Zhou Nan, he hurriedly shouted: "Zhou Xingren, save me!"

"Crack!" Zheng Tiju slapped the gavel hard: "Guo, you are an official of the court but you are a prostitute, can you be convicted?"

Hearing this, Zhou Nan's eyebrows were the same, and his eyes were full of anger.Good Mr. Zheng, it turns out that what you did for me was a business-like affair!Since you don't give me face, don't blame me for not giving you face later.

"Old Guo, hello, please answer Mr. Zheng's words. If you have violated the court's laws, I will not forgive you. But if you are innocent, no one can frame you." After finishing speaking, Zhou Nan closed his mouth tightly. Say nothing.

Lao Guo shouted: "Zheng Tiju, I have been wronged!"

"Everyone who came into my place complained of being wronged, and no one was willing to plead guilty honestly." Zheng Tiju sneered: "Bring people to testify."

Soon, another yamen servant brought in a group of people, who were Lao Guo's private prostitute, bustard and boatman last night.

Shuiguan was not polite to these people, they had already been beaten up last night.They naturally confessed, not only wrote a confession, drew a charge, but also testified against Lao Guo in court.

In addition to the personal evidence, the physical evidence is also complete. It is a pair of obscene trousers with traces of crimes on them. Needless to say, it is a remnant of Lao Guo.

Zhou Nan couldn't help looking at the prostitute, but she was a thick-handed woman in her forties, her face was covered with wrinkles.After applying a thick layer of makeup, her face fell down with a flutter.

He was so angry that he almost laughed out loud: What kind of taste does this Guo have?
"Now that the evidence is complete, let's see how you deny it? I think you've come to the end of your position as an official." Zheng Tiju asked triumphantly. Now, even if the case is settled, no one can protect the name. Guo's.

Old Guo refused to accept it, and shouted: "My surname is Zheng, there are too many brothels and Chu houses in Tongzhou City. Do you believe it or not? If you take someone to investigate now, you will definitely catch a few adults. Why are you only targeting me? Isn't it just entering the brothel?" Is it a crime, is it a joke?"

Zheng Tiju sneered: "My lord Guo, I have nothing to do with the affairs of Tongzhou City, but this water is the site of my water transport and water pass. I have the duty to arrest criminals. There is no such thing as the Tongzhou section of the Dayuan River. Painting and flower boats. Mr. Guo, you are a private prostitute!"

Hearing his words, Mr. Guo turned pale.

According to the system of the imperial court, officials who went whoring would be dismissed from office.

It's just that it's common for officials to enter brothels for entertainment, and no one takes it seriously.Otherwise, the officials of the Ming Dynasty will be smashed from top to bottom.Besides, a serious brothel is not something that ordinary people can open, no one has a background.

In this way, this decree is a mere formality, just because some officials report this kind of thing, most of them will not pay attention to it.

But Lao Guo went to a private brothel, touched the red line of private prostitution, the most terrible thing was that the dignity of the government and officials was lost by him, and he was doomed.

"Prostitutes, whores, who said that?" Zhou Nan interrupted suddenly: "This is not a small crime, Mr. Guo, don't charge yourself indiscriminately."

Zheng Tiju: "If it's not sex with prostitutes, what is it, Zhou Xingren, I want to ask for advice."

Zhou Nan: "Master Guo, this is a brave act."

"Brave for righteousness?" Zheng Tiju looked at Zhou Nan as if he was looking at an idiot.

Zhou Nan nodded, and said in an affirmative tone: "Yes, it means doing what is right. Not only is he innocent, but he also needs to be commended."

(End of this chapter)