Jiang Haoxuan finally found a commission to assist Debao, an official of the Criminal Department, in investigating the case of Yunnan Jietongguan's shortage of copper catties, but the criminal official was too cunning, and he didn't find a clue after a few days of investigation. Han Xiufeng said that he knew the prisoner and fought with the prisoner, Jiang Haoxuan was ecstatic, grabbed his arm tightly and asked, "Zhixing, tell me, how do you recognize the prisoner?" ”

"Master Jiang, don't worry, tell me what happened to Zhou Xingyuan first?"

"The dismissal began to be careless, causing the copper catties to sink and soak and damage, and only half of the catches were obtained, and it was suspected that he would sell the copper catties along the way, and the emperor was furious and ordered the criminal department to investigate and deal with them."

"How much is the deficit?"

"In this case, there is a deficit of more than 140,000 catties of copper."

"There was a deficit of 140,000 catties, and he managed to transport a total of 450,000 catties."

"You don't even know that!"

"When he passed through Ba County, he informed our master of Ba County, I have seen Yiwen, not only know how much copper he has transported together, but also know how many boats he has hired, how many catties of copper each boat contains, and how deep the draft is."

Jiang Haoxuan asked eagerly, "What about other than that?" ”

He couldn't say a word that shouldn't be said, even if it was a fellow villager standing in front of him, Han Xiufeng shook his head helplessly.

Jiang Haoxuan didn't believe that Han Xiufeng only knew this, and asked, "Didn't you just say that you fought with that criminal official and made a move, why did you have a grudge against him?" ”

"Master Jiang, when he arrived in the capital, he was a criminal officer who was to be investigated by you, but on the way to Beijing, he was the 'Copper Heavenly King' that no one dared to provoke! On the way to the capital, he not only connived at his family, officials, and boatmen to tie the ropes, extort the shipowners along the way, but also wanted to blackmail me. He knew that I had entered Beijing to confess, thinking that I had silver on me, and wanted to frame me and Du Qianzong, who had been sent to Guangxi a year ago, for stealing Yunnan copper. ”

"It's so hateful, he even dares to lie to you, and I don't know how many other cases of erosion are there!"

The surname Zhou is hateful, but there is a reason for the grudge with the surname Zhou.

Han Xiufeng didn't want to fall into the ground, let alone affect his friends in his hometown in Ba County, so he could only smile bitterly: "Master Jiang, Zhou Xingyuan's lack of more than 100,000 Yunnan copper is appalling, but he can't be blamed for this matter." If others don't know, you must know, the errand of the liberation of Yunnan copper is really not done by people, and he is destined to be investigated from the moment he is commissioned. ”

"It's unlucky enough to do this errand, but now there is so much shortage of copper catties, who will he do if he doesn't do it, how can he deal with the emperor if he doesn't do it?"

"Then do him, do what you have to do!"

Jiang Haoxuan didn't care about drinking tea, pulled Han Xiufeng aside, and said helplessly: "You think I don't want to deal with him, the key is to do it?" He was very cunning, changed ships several times along the way, and dismissed all his family and those servants in Yunnan, and all I could find were the shipwrights he hired later, and what he said now is unproven. ”

Han Xiufeng knew that the surnamed Zhou would not sit still, so he forced a smile and said: "Master Jiang, his family and those servants in Yunnan were only dismissed, and they didn't die, so why is there no proof of death?" ”

"Those people are not dead, and they are estimated to have returned to Yunnan. If the emperor doesn't make an order, Lord De can't go out of Beijing, and he can't go to Yunnan. Jiang Haoxuan sighed lightly, and then said: "Even if we can get the order and go to Yunnan to investigate, we may not be able to find those errand and shipwrights, after all, this case involves a wide range of people, and Yunnan officials will definitely help cover up." ”

Han Xiufeng thought to himself, even if the Yunnan officials didn't help cover up, you might not be able to find witnesses in the past. There are many ghosts surnamed Zhou, since he has dismissed all those people, he will not let you find them easily, and he will definitely ask his younger brother to take those people to find a place to hide on Tuesday, and return to his hometown when the rumor passes.

After Jiang Haoxuan finished speaking, he wanted to speak and stopped, and Han Xiufeng suddenly realized that this matter was not so simple.

Because the imperial court should distinguish between "public crimes" and "private crimes" in the investigation and handling of officials, there was an edict as early as the Qianlong Dynasty: Although the matter is important, the situation is light; For private reasons, although the matter is subtle, the situation is serious. There is no big reason for forgiveness, and there is no small punishment for the reason, which is not easy to talk about ancient and modern.

In other words, if it is only verified that the surname Zhou is ineffective, it will lead to a shortage of copper catties. Then no matter how much you are lacking, it is all out of duty and a public crime. According to the rules, only fines, demotion, retention, demotion, dismissal, etc., can be offset by promotions and records, and those who are "blamed for their duties" can even take money to donate to reinstatement; If it is found that his prison guards have stolen from him, it is a private crime, and no matter how he is sentenced, he cannot be offset by an increase in rank or record, nor can he be reinstated with a donation of silver.

The surname Zhou must be guilty, but whether it is a "public crime" or a "private crime" is not up to the officials of the criminal department responsible for the investigation, this matter can be big or small. Thinking of this, Han Xiufeng asked quietly: "Master Jiang, where is Zhou Xingyuan now?" ”

Jiang Haoxuan said lightly: "Locked up in the prison of the Criminal Department. ”

"Did he cry out for grievances?"

"No, he was very honest on the surface, and when he mentioned it, he kowtowed, and said with tears and snot that he had a negative grace. No matter what we asked, we were sure that the ship capsized, the copper sank, and we couldn't catch it all. ”

Han Xiufeng asked: "If you don't admit to stealing and selling copper catties, you don't have much silver on you?" ”

Jiang Haoxuan couldn't hear the meaning of Han Xiufeng's words, and said bluntly: "When the lock was taken, I searched his luggage and his body, and counted the copper coins and scattered silver that were found, and the total was less than two hundred taels. Zhixing, you said that he was cunning or not, he must have hidden the silver money obtained from the theft and sale of Yunnan copper, and he really wanted money and didn't want to die! ”

"He doesn't have it on him, he can't have it at home, why don't you raid his home?"

"What if he didn't have one at home."

Han Xiufeng was almost certain that neither the fellow villager in front of him nor the official of the criminal department who hosted this case had ever thought of putting the Yunguan surnamed Zhou to death. After all, the Yunguan surnamed Zhou is indeed wronged, and if he really cuts off the entrance of the vegetable delivery market surnamed Zhou, he will not only offend those who are the same year as Zhou, but also offend the officials of Yunnan. It is likely that they just want to take this opportunity to make some money, but the dead pig surnamed Zhou is not afraid of boiling water and is unwilling to pay.

Han Xiufeng didn't know what to say, Jiang Haoxuan suddenly smiled and said, "Zhixing, no matter what you say you know him, he also knows you." Why don't you help me go to the prison of the Ministry of Punishment and help me persuade him to stop being obsessed. Tell him that Lord De is selfless with an iron face, and it is useless for anyone to intercede now! ”

"Master Jiang, don't be joking, I had a holiday with him, how can he listen to my advice."

"At this time and that time, if he wants to come out with all his mustaches and tails, and if he wants to be reinstated, he has to listen to your persuasion!"

Jiang Haoxuan was meaningful, Han Xiufeng realized that this was a kind of trust, so he could only agree: "Okay, I'll help you persuade you, but if he doesn't listen to the persuasion, I don't dare to guarantee the ticket." ”

…………

PS: I begged for a few days to subscribe, but it didn't seem to have any effect.

There are only two chapters a day, and one chapter is only 2,000 words, and it doesn't cost a few dollars to book it all for a month. It's not easy to code words, I sincerely ask all book friends who read Han Si's stories in other places to support the genuine version, come to the starting point to subscribe, just ask Lao Zhuo to smoke a box of cigarettes, and invite Lao Zhuo to eat a bowl of shredded noodles with cabbage and meat (tears).