When Shen Shixing ordered Sun Piyang, the secretary of Dali Temple, and Li Shida, the secretary of the Criminal Department, to take people to Dongchang to pick up people, both of them were taken aback.

First, they didn't want to offend Zhang Whale because of this, and secondly, Shen Shixing has always been steady, but he didn't act so rashly, and it was no good to go on like this.

Sun Piyang, Li Shida was hesitating, Yang Wei had already come forward and said: "Yuanfu, see if this is the case, Xiao Gonggong is also here, you let him send a message to Zhang Gonggong, and let him Dongchang escort Zhang Shen by himself, which also saves a lot of trouble." ”

Shen Shixing listened to Yang Wei's words and said: "Yang Gong's words are not unreasonable, but this person is quite afraid of sin, otherwise he will not go anywhere, unless he goes to the East Factory to hide, and does not send two adults to invite, I am afraid that please do not move." ”

Yang Wei pinched his beard and nodded: "Yes, what kind of place is the East Detective Factory, I am afraid that the face of ordinary people will not be sold." ”

After speaking, Yang Wei glanced at Xiao Yu intentionally or unintentionally.

Xiao Yu was already in a cold sweat and immediately announced: "The Criminal Department and Dali Temple went to Dongchang to pick up people, this matter is unprecedented, in case there is any misunderstanding......"

"Mr. Shen, Yang Shangshu, our family will tell the ancestors about the matter first, I don't know if it's okay."

Shen Shixing said: "According to Benfu, it is still Li Sikou, Sun Tingwei will accompany you on a trip, otherwise I can't understand." ”

Xiao Yuse changed and said, "I really don't dare to bother the two adults." ”

So Xiao Yu said to the two captains of Dongchang behind him: "What are you still doing in a daze?" Why don't you go and tell the governor? ”

The two captains of Dongchang said yes and left immediately.

They were instructed by Xiao Yu to stay for a while and then leave the palace and came to the Dongji Factory outside the Donghua Gate.

The East Factory was set up by Zhu Di, and at that time, the Zhenfu Division was outside the palace, and it was difficult to follow the rumors, so the East Investigation Factory was set up near the palace gate to monitor the hundred officials together with Jinyiwei.

The two lieutenants walked to the gate of the East Investigation Factory, and the people standing neatly in front of the door were all wearing pointed hats, white leather boots, and straight clothes.

The two of them checked the waist card and allowed them to enter the lobby, but they saw that there was a memorial arch in front of the lobby that was 'flowing for a hundred years'.

After passing the memorial arch through the instrument gate, that is, the hall, the hall hangs the portrait of Yue Fei, which reminds the cavalry to handle the case in vain.

The function of the East Factory is to visit the rebellion, the evil and the evil, etc., and the Jinyi Wei is equally powerful, and now it is completely above the Jinyi Wei, and the appointment of the commander of the Jinyi Wei must be through the East Factory Governor.

When the two lieutenants came, Zhang Whale was offering incense to the tablets of the previous governors of Dongchang.

Zhang Whale looked solemn, and led the Dongchang to take charge of the punishment, the punishment, the head of the class, and dozens of foremen kowtowed.

In the tablet of this governor, characters such as Wang Zhen and Liu Jin are impressively listed.

Zhang Whale got up after the incense, and the lieutenant of the Dongchang behind him also got up, they were dressed almost the same as ordinary fans outside the door, except that they were dressed in brown.

Zhang Shen was also listed behind, and Zhang Whale just asked this godson for the official title of a hundred households in brocade clothes.

Then the two lieutenants stepped forward and said, "The overseer is not in a good situation. ”

Zhang Whale waved his hand, waved away the smoke on the incense table, looked at the tablet with his hands behind his back and said, "Say it slowly!" ”

The two lieutenants will tell you about it.

After Zhang Whale listened, he remained silent, and the officials of the East Factory were furious.

"We only listen to the emperor in Dongchang, when can the civil servants also and pee on our heads?"

"Shen Shixing is so bold, he dares to face someone in front of us! No, if you don't give it, it's a big deal to bring the lawsuit to the emperor's side. ”

"Hmph, if Shen Shixing dares to make a move, we will turn our faces with him and see who can't get off the stage."

"Enough!" Zhang Whale interrupted everyone's words, looked at the first gentleman and said, "If you are told to go, you will go, what is there to be afraid of." ”

All the lieutenants were discolored, and Zhang Shen immediately said: "Godfather, I can't go, Shen Shixing is completely biased in favor of Lin Yanchao, and my trip will be over." ”

Zhang Whale said: "What if you don't go?" ”

One person said: "Governor, this Shen Shixing, Yang Wei is just a cruel word, come to Dongchang to mention people, and give them ten dares to be civil officials, when Zhang Juzheng was in the past, he didn't dare to do this, how old is this Shen Shixing?" ”

"Overseer, if you go, in the future, our Dongchang will be in Dali Temple, and the criminal department will bow in front of you."

Zhang Whale knew that what these people said was reasonable, in the past, he really dared to shoot with Shen Shixing like this, but today he has a big handle in Shen Shixing's hands.

Today, Shen Shixing is using this to cut his face.

Shen Shixing can also be regarded as leaving three points of leeway, if he really sent people from Dali Temple and the Criminal Department to invite him, then he would be embarrassed and thrown home.

But if you really go, it doesn't mean that there is no one in Dongchang to protect your own people, and from then on, the power of civil officials will overwhelm them, where will you put your own face as the overseer.

At this time, Zhang Shen said: "Godfather, help, Shen Shixing wants his son to take the blame, don't let your son go." ”

Zhang Whale glanced at Zhang Shen and said: "It won't be dead, anyway, Shen Shixing has no evidence in his hand, you just need to bite your mouth to death, and he won't dare to do anything to you!" ”

"That's what I said, but godfather, that's the prime minister of the court, the secretary of the ministry, and so many big people here, my son...... I ......"

"It's not a good idea! There is a godfather, I see who dares to embarrass you! ”

Zhang Whale gritted his teeth, revealing a calm look.

Que left door.

At this moment, all the members went to the north room on the side of the left door to rest, drink tea and chat.

Soon I heard a message from outside that Zhang Whale was coming.

Shen Shixing was slightly surprised.

Yang Wei sneered: "He is afraid that his minions will be bullied, and he is here to support him." ”

Shen Shixing smiled and said, "Then let's take a look!" ”

All the dignitaries came to the outside of the house one after another, and looked from a distance, but saw a four-person step from the direction of the temple, and the eunuchs wearing brocade clothes before and after, and the brocade guards came in clusters.

All the adults couldn't help but shrink their eyes when they saw this battle.

It is true that you don't need to look at the people in the step to know that it is Zhang Whale who has arrived.

Not everyone is eligible to ride in a sedan chair in the Forbidden City. The Ming system is above the three grades of the dynasty, and the sedan chair is allowed.

But in the Forbidden City, officials were not allowed to use sedan chairs.

Shen Shixing, as the prime minister, entered the palace on weekdays with a four-person step, and Zhang Whale usually used a two-person stool to carry a stool, and recently heard that Zhang Whale was rewarded by the Son of Heaven and took a four-person step, but I didn't expect it to be true.

But after all, the Son of Heaven is a reward, and the ministers are not good at saying anything in person, but they just guess how many rare treasures Zhang Whale has collected and presented to the Son of Heaven.

The officials just looked at Zhang Jing's majestic momentum, and Wang Xijue shook his head and said: "The eunuch boasts of the honor guard and swaggers through the market, which is not the blessing of the country. ”

Yang Wei said: "What's more, such a powerful eunuch has not ended well since ancient times!" ”

As he spoke, Zhang Whale's steps came to the left door of Que.

Zhang Whale stepped down, scanned the left and right with his negative hand, all the officials did not get up to salute, and Shu Yinglong, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, kowtowed to Zhang Whale in private, but which official dared to do this on the face, the imperial history would inevitably impeach and dismiss the official.

After Feng Bao, Zhang Whale has been in charge of the East Factory for more than five years, and under the prestige, several of the big players are a little at a loss at the moment.

Shen Shixing just summoned a Zhang gentleman, but he didn't expect to invite Zhang Whale to come.

Shen Shixing said on the steps: "Father-in-law Lao Zhang, come to Que Zuomen in person!" ”

Zhang Whale glanced at Shen Shixing, when he first voted for Shen Shixing, he knew that the other party was not a strong prime minister like Zhang Juzheng, so it didn't hurt to bow his head for a while, but today's Shen Shixing was indeed a little unexpected.

Zhang Jing said with a smile: "I heard that several adults are going to personally interrogate our family's unsuccessful godson, so I personally escorted him here, I don't know what major crime he has committed?" ”

Shen Shixing smiled and said, "It's just a question." ”

Shen Shixing said to Yang Wei: "Since Gonggong Zhang is here, let's continue to discuss in the court, and someone will move another chair." ”

Zhang Whale said: "No need. ”

Saying that, Zhang Whale sat in Xiao Yu's seat, and Xiao Yu waited aside.

At this time, Zhang Whale looked at Zhang Shen and said: "After a while, if you ask something, you will answer whatever the elder asks you, if there is a lie, our family will not be the first to spare you." ”

Zhang Shen saw a row of scarlet-robed officials on the seat, and he was playing a drum in his heart, but with Zhang Whale's words, his waist suddenly stiffened a little.

Shen Shixing nodded at Sun Piyang.

But seeing Sun Piyang stepped forward and said, "Is the person who came is Zhang Shen of the hundred households of Jinyi Wei?" ”

"Waste ......" Zhang Shen wanted to splash his skin, but seeing the righteous and awe-inspiring Sun Piyang, he swallowed the second half of the word and said, "The villain is." ”

"The official asked you, why didn't you come so many times in the first place? Don't you put the card ticket of Dali Temple in the bottom of your eyes? ”

Facing Sun Piyang's questioning, Zhang Shen's teeth trembled, thinking that he heard that Sun Pifu's six relatives did not recognize him, and it was the end of my fall into his hands.

"Why don't you speak?" Sun Pi drank vigorously.

"Master Sun, your words scared my godson."

All the adults looked at Zhang Whale, but when they saw Zhang Whale, they smiled neatly.

Shen Shixing was silent for a while and said, "Sun Tingwei, don't embarrass Zhang Shen. ”

With Zhang Whale's support, Zhang Shen was relieved and relieved of the burden of thousands of pounds on his shoulders.

Zhang Shen said: "If you go back to Lord Sun, I have been working in Dongchang for the past few days, where can I be free......

"Zhang Shen, you dare to despise the Dali Temple ticket?"

Zhang Shen bowed his hand to Zhang Whale and said: "Of course, the Dali Temple card ticket is good, but I am on a business trip in the East Factory, I don't know how the edict of the Governor of the East Factory compares to the card ticket?" Besides, didn't I come today? ”

Sun Piyang asked: "The official asked you on the sixteenth of this month, did you go to the Zhen Mansion?" ”

"Which Zhen Mansion?"

"Don't you even know your cousin-in-law's name?"

"Oh, I remember, I did."

"Was Aunt Zhen Lin Yanshou present at that time?"

……

Sun Piyang and Zhang Shen said a word to me, and when asked about Zhang Shen's request for a bribe from the Zhen Mansion on behalf of Zhang Whale, Zhang Shen denied it.

"There was no such thing, I drank and left that day, and I didn't mention it at all."

"Here is the Zhen family, and Lin Yanshou's confession testifies!"

"That's to exonerate Lin Yanshou! In the future, he will accuse the Zhen family of contempt for the law to Dali Temple and clear his son-in-law! ”

At this time, Zhang Whale spoke: "Lord Sun, you said that my godson is guilty, but you have no basis for saying four words, everyone here knows it. But this 12,000 taels of silver is real, it was Lin Yanshou who bribed Gao Huai, who was in prison, the empirical evidence is here, there is no denial, you don't go to check Gao Huai, but what did you find out about my godson? ”

Speaking of this, Zhang Whale walked to the three big wooden boxes at the bottom of the steps, knocked on it, and said, "Twelve thousand silver, how much is this Lin Yanchao a fourth-grade official?" You have to be an official for a hundred years to get together so much silver, right? ”

"Or bribe the eunuchs in the palace, or the people around the emperor? Master Sun, if the evidence is conclusive, you don't investigate, but find someone else, do you mean to shield someone? Or exonerate people? ”

Zhang Whale walked up to Sun Piyang and examined this third-grade minister.

Sun Piyang straightened his waist and said: "It is precisely because of the two nobles in the palace that this case has to be cautious!" ”

Zhang Whale said sharply: "Cautious? Where to be cautious? The case should be judged strictly and quickly, as the secretary of Dali Temple, the first person to ask should be Lin Yanchao, a bachelor of Hanlin, and then the emperor will deal with Gao Huai, the governor of the capital. ”

"After so many years, minister, do you want me to teach you to judge the case? Can't you understand this white silver? Is the silver fake? ”

As he spoke, Zhang Whale grabbed two ingots of silver from the box and threw them on Sun Piyang's body.

All the officials are discolored, Zhang Whale is too domineering, he dares to insult a third-grade member like this, not to mention that this person is still Jiuqing.

At this time, a sudden wind blew fiercely, blowing sand and rocks in Wumen Square.

Dark clouds swept by, obscuring the heavens and the earth.

Under the strong wind, Sun Piyang straightened his back again.

But seeing Sun Piyang covering his chest and nodding, he said stubbornly word by word: "Zhang Dugong asked well!" ”

After speaking, Sun Piyang picked up two ingots of silver from the ground and said, "Father-in-law, please look!" ”

After speaking, Sun Piyang smashed the two ingots of silver against each other.

An astonishing scene appeared, and everyone saw that the ingot of silver was actually cracked!

Sun Piyang broke open the silver, but saw that it was wrapped in real lead.

Is the silver fake?

This one thought exploded in everyone's minds at the same time.

Zhang Whale's color changed, he couldn't believe it, he picked up the silver ingot and broke it, but saw that the silver was broken in two, and the silver was really black as ink.

"Is this money really fake?" Zhang Whale showed an incredulous look.

Zhang Shen said in despair: "Impossible! ”

Suddenly, Zhang Shen grabbed the side of the wooden box, broke several of them, and there was solid lead inside, and he smashed the silver on the wooden box again, and muttered: "How is the silver fake, how is it fake?" ”

But seeing Sun Piyang turn around, he said to the adults: "Everyone, this is indeed fake silver, and it is full of real lead. This is true for all three boxes. ”

Sweat was dripping from Zhang Whale's forehead, and he felt that there was a big conspiracy, a big bureau waiting for him.

At this time, Xiao Yu came to the box and said to Zhang Whale: "Impossible, old ancestor, I have checked it with all the princes just now, this silver is real, Hubu Shangshu, Hubu Shangshu Song, haven't you just seen it?" ”

Song Qi nodded and said, "The ingot is indeed real silver, but why it suddenly became fake silver, I don't know." ”

Sun Piyang said: "Lord Song, the ingot is indeed real silver, and there were a few ingots of real silver on the surface of this box to hide from the sky and the sea!" ”

Xiao Yu's eyes lit up and said, "What a Sun Piyang, you actually dare to frame the old ancestor?" By the way, you transferred the silver? Real silver for fake silver? ”

Sun Piyang shook his head and said: "Where does this official have this ability, as soon as this silver is confiscated to the Criminal Department, it will be immediately sealed, and then handed over to Dali Temple, this Criminal Department, Dali Temple's seal, haven't you read it?" Did you confirm that it was correct? ”

"Then how do you know if the silver is fake? Have you seen that you secretly opened the seal? Xiao Yu said hurriedly.

Sun Piyang said: "Good question, the ins and outs of this matter, this official only learned yesterday, from the beginning of Master Lin did not want to bribe, he felt that Zhang Shen used this matter to frame him, so he asked his brother Lin Yanshou to use fake silver instead of real silver to transport." ”

"If the three chests of silver were seized, the counterfeit silver confirmed his innocence. Yesterday, Lin Yanshou informed the official of this matter and asked the official to take down Zhang Shen, but Zhang Shen was in the East Factory, and the official knew that he could not take people by himself, so he made a bureau in front of the hundred officials today and invited Zhang Shen to come here. ”

Zhang Whale and Zhang Shen are all pale as earth.

Li Shida, the secretary of the Criminal Department, said: "I see, but Sun Tingwei pays attention to the evidence for the crime, you said that the Lin Mansion designed to invite the king into the urn, in addition to these three boxes of counterfeit silver, is there any other evidence?" ”

"Of course, if the rank is correct, there is a letter of accusation under the third box!"

Under Sun Piyang's signal, everyone took out the counterfeit silver in the box, and really found a letter of paper from the bottom of the box.

The paper was already in the box, and it clearly explained the ins and outs of the matter, and clearly explained Zhang Shen's proposal to ask the Zhen family to bribe Zhang Whale with 20,000 yuan in the bank.

If Lin Yanchao really bribed Zhang Whale, he would not have hidden this envelope in the box at all, and he would have written it before the incident.

At this point, the truth has been revealed.

"Zhang Shen, at this moment, what else do you have to say? Was it instructed? Sun Piyang asked.

Zhang Shen turned his head and said in a trembling voice: "Godfather, save me!" I was wronged! ”

Zhang Whale's eyes turned, and he suddenly stepped forward and kicked Zhang Shen away and scolded: "You have done such an unsightly thing yourself, and you dare to push it on our family, what did our family say, our family is the first to spare you if something like this happens!" ”

Zhang Shen knew that confessing Zhang Whale at this moment was a dead word, and he said at the moment: "Godfather, they are the ones who want to harm me, I have never said this, and I have not asked the Zhen family for money!" ”

Sun Piyang stepped forward and said: "Yuanfu, first take this gentleman into custody and ask this case to the bottom of the matter!" ”

Zhang Whale glanced at Sun Piyang.

Shen Shixing glanced at Zhang Jing and then said, "Escort Zhang Shen down first!" And these things. ”

The officials cleaned up the things on the field.

Zhang Whale brushed his sleeves and wanted to leave, but Shen Shixing said: "Grandpa Zhang, please stay!" ”

Shen Shixing grasped the overall situation at the moment, and Zhang Whale could only stand aside at the order.

At this time, Shen Shixing got up and walked in front of the officials, glanced at them one by one and said: "This case is temporarily handed over to Dali Temple, in fact, Zhang Shen was called today, the most important thing is not to judge the case, but to return the innocence of an official!" ”

"An official's reputation is like a white wall, and the slightest flaw is like damaging the jade."

"Therefore, the first thing for the court lords is to be upright! Fortunately, we did not deny a worthy official because of one-sided remarks today, saved a talent for the country, left room for the imperial court to raise talents, and also left face for the system of meeting and pushing for generations! ”