"This is a letter sent back by His Majesty from Suzhou. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info" Lu Xiufu strode in with a fold in his hand, with a deep puzzle on his face, "Song Rui, let's take a look first." ”

Wen Tianxiang and Su Liu Yizheng were standing in front of the table and talking in a low voice, while Xia Shilin, the secretary of the Criminal Department, was standing respectfully beside the two of them. Among the six Shangshu, most of them are either Ye Yingwu's henchmen (Xie Fangde, the Shangshu of the Household Department) or Ye Yingwu's elders (such as the Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry), among which the former Song officials remained in office, and there was no intersection with Ye Yingwu before, only Xia Shilin himself.

Although Xia Shilin is not a famous person in history, after all, he has been in the position of the secretary of the Criminal Department for a long time, and he is one of the few people with experience in the Criminal Department that Ye Yingwu can find at that time. And under the nose of the political affairs hall, it is not so easy for the criminal department to judge any unjust, false and wrongly decided cases. What's more, Xia Shilin was also the first few ministers to be loyal to Ye Yingwu after the death of the Song Dynasty, and in order to appease the rest of the former Song officials, Ye Yingwu must also use him as a benchmark.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the entire court has revolved around the Northern Expedition and the Southern Expedition, and the people have also wholeheartedly supported the Ming Dynasty to recover their homeland under the instigation of the Six Gates and the local state capital, and even the crime rate has dropped greatly. This also led to the fact that in addition to cooperating with the Ministry of War to form an institution similar to the military tribunal in later generations to try those generals and soldiers who were ineffective in combat, the Criminal Department was actually an idle yamen similar to the Ministry of Rites.

As a former Song Dynasty official with no foundation, Xia Shilin was naturally walking on thin ice in a high position, and such an idle career was naturally undesirable for him. After all, he gritted his teeth and took refuge in Ye Yingwu in that troubled world, mainly not for an official position, but to save his life. Now in a high position, it is very likely that he will be jealous and ostracized by the rest of Ye Yingwu's cronies and officials from Longzao, so Xia Shilin can't wait for the world to be peaceful.

But often create and make people, just when Xia Shilin thought that he might be in this lazy state until he returned to his hometown, such a big case actually happened when he said it happened. When he came to the government hall this morning, disheveled, he realized how heavy the burden was on his shoulders.

I'm afraid that even Yang Bao and Yang Feng, the two people in charge of arresting, don't know how many people their subordinates Shenwei and Liumen arrested that night, and the Imperial Court's Criminal Department Prison, Military Department Prison, Liumen Imperial Prison and Imperial City Heavenly Prison are all overcrowded, and even some traitors' families have to be temporarily imprisoned in several barracks in the city. Moreover, many of these people who were arrested in the pouring rain did not know why they were convicted, and basically everywhere in the prison was the sound of wailing and shaking the earth, so that the jailers did not dare to enter easily.

According to the report submitted by the Six Gates and the Divine Guard, there should be at least 2,000 people in prison, of which 1,000 are directly related to the traitors or accomplices, and 500 are directly involved in the rebellion, these 500 people, including Wu Ge, Zhao Yinfu and You Xuanfu, are all imprisoned in the prison.

And now Xia Shilin, the secretary of the Criminal Department, has a headache, which is how to convict these two thousand people. No matter how you say it, it is two thousand lives, maybe it is changed to the battlefield, it is just the number of people killed on both sides of a big war, but in this Chengping imperial capital, once the heads of two thousand people are rolled to the ground, it will definitely cause an uproar in the government and the opposition, and it will also smear Xia Shilin's career with a layer of gray.

So when Lu Xiufu strode in, Xia Shilin was at a time when he didn't know what to do. Hearing the doubts in Lu Xiufu's words, he also subconsciously took a step forward, after all, it could make Lu Xianggong so surprised, which showed that His Majesty's instructions were naturally different from what they had envisioned before.

Wen Tianxiang stretched out his hand to take it, opened it and glanced at it, and then frowned and spread it on the table: "The handwriting of this batch is delicate and elegant, and it is very mellow between the twists and turns, and Your Majesty's handwriting has always been large, and the iron hook and silver stroke have a strong meaning, which is easy to recognize, so this is not Your Majesty's handwriting." ”

Lu Xiufu nodded: "This is what makes people confused, such an important matter, Your Majesty did not personally give instructions." ”

"Which imperial concubine should have written it for Your Majesty, but several ladies in the harem should not have the audacity to tamper with the will, although this is not written by Your Majesty himself, but it should also be Your Majesty's original intention." Su Liuyi said softly on the side, "Your Majesty's instructions are very clear, the three divisions of the Military Department, the Criminal Department and the Imperial Historical Observatory will be interrogated, and then reported to the Great Zongzheng and Political Affairs Hall. ”

"Your Majesty doesn't plan to ask about the passage, as long as the result is over." Wen Tianxiang exhaled.

"Why?!" Lu Xiufu's voice suddenly raised a section, "This is definitely not a trivial matter, the lives of two thousand people are the first rebellion since the founding of the Ming Dynasty." Only when the trial is reasonable, and even ruthlessly cut down the grass and eradicate the roots, can those with bad intentions be deterred later. ”

Wen Tianxiang shook his head: "Your Majesty's meaning can be vaguely figured out, at this time he is in the north, and the original contact with the DPRK and China will still delay a lot of effort by relying on the eight-hundred-mile expedited." Now that the power of life and death is in our hands, it is clear that we want to cut through the chaos quickly and quell this matter in the fastest way or even by thunderous means. ”

"When His Majesty was in Xingzhou Longqian before, he often liked to say, 'Troubled times use heavy codes', but now it is no longer troubled times, so as long as the verdict is fair." Wen Tianxiang said slowly, "Your Majesty has delegated the power of life and death, obviously believing that with the political affairs hall and the six departments and the imperial history platform, it is enough to show the people of the government and the opposition that the justice of the Ming court is not biased, and this is enough." ”

Su Liuyi and Lu Xiufu glanced at each other, but didn't say anything after all. Ye Yingwu asked the imperial concubine to write instructions on his behalf, and clearly asked the three divisions of the Ministry of War, the Criminal Department and the Imperial History Observatory to interrogate, looking like he didn't care about anything, definitely not wanting to be lazy, but wanting to tell them that everything was as usual in this matter.

"But ・・・・・・ like this," Lu Xiufu couldn't help but argue.

But in this case, it is easy to fail to play the role of killing chickens and setting an example.

"The Ming Dynasty is not a dynasty of killing, in the war with Mongolia, on the road to conquer the South Seas, we have killed too many people, and it is true to use heavy canons for rebellions, but heavy canons should be limited to a few people, and the rest of them are still lenient, so that they can not only deter the younger generations, but also calm the dissatisfaction of the government and the opposition with the killing." Su Liuyi looked at Wen Tianxiang.

"It's okay, I don't know what Ren Zhong thinks should be done with several first offenders and main accomplices." Wen Tianxiang said in a deep voice.

Su Liuyi was stunned for a moment, he didn't know much about this aspect, after all, he specialized in the art industry, and his eyes fell on Xia Shilin at the moment: "Xia Shangshu, this time the three divisions will be tried by the Criminal Department, I don't know if Xia Shangshu has any expectations about the punishment of the first offender?" ”

Xia Shilin subconsciously shuddered, looked up at Su Liuyi, and after being silent for a long time, he finally held back two words: "Ling Chi!" ”

Originally, the wind blowing in the summer was full of heat, but at this time, Su Liuyi and the others did subconsciously tremble. Although most of them didn't know much about punishment, Ling Chi's name was clear. This punishment, which originated in Liaojin, the sworn enemy of the Song Dynasty, has long been regarded as one of the rare tortures in the world, and even because the pain lasted longer and the whole execution process was just as shocking, it surpassed the five horses in the torture ranking.

It's just that the former Song Dynasty has always prided itself as a state of etiquette, and this cruel punishment has not been promoted, or even never used. Now that Xia Shilin suddenly came up with such a method, how could he not let Wen Tianxiang and them tremble.

swallowed a mouthful of spit, Xia Shilin didn't know how he spit out these two words just now, as if he was a ghost, and as if he wanted to take revenge on these former Song officials who had been secretly squeezing him out.

But since he said it, there was no room for remorse, and he said loudly at the moment: "That's right, if you want to play a role in deterring the rest of the young people, the best way is Ling Chi." Ling Chi is in line with the crimes of the main offender and the principal accomplice, but since several ministers want to not kill the blood, then there is no need to kill all the prisoners' families, and they only need to behead ordinary accomplices. The rest of the family members can be exiled, charged to the Church Division, and so on. ”

Wen Tianxiang and the three of them looked at Xia Shilin who was talking in surprise, just now this guy stood still like a stuffy gourd, but now he can't stop talking about it. However, I have to say that what Xia Shilin said also has some truth, after all, Wen Tianxiang and they don't want to use this kind of large-scale punishment of the Nine Clans.

Because once the Nine Clans are punished, there are too many people involved, and once they kill too much, there is no way to explain to Your Majesty.

"Then it's decided for now." Wen Tianxiang waved his hand, "Immediately, the Ministry of War, the Criminal Department and the Imperial Historical Observatory will preside over the trial of the three divisions, and all the necessary materials and prisoners will be provided by the Praetorian Guard, the Divine Guard, the Six Gates and the Nanjing Mansion, and the confessions during the interrogation will be recorded by the Hanlin Academy's competent personnel to assist the three divisions. And this matter is quickly reported to the Dazongzheng, please make a decision, and there can be no mistakes! ”

Su Liuyi and Lu Xiufu both hummed solemnly.

――――――――――――――――――――――

Imperial City Dungeon.

The cells were overcrowded, but the prison was quiet, and each prisoner was alone in a cell, and each cell was separated by thick walls to prevent communication between prisoners and prisoners.

As the highest status of all prisons, the prisoners not only have a high status, but also basically commit the death penalty. When a person steps into the prison, all that awaits him is death that is getting closer and closer. Even prisoners in prisons are often excluded from the list of amnesties.

The dark and closed cells and the unknown fate often bring fear to people, while the prison brings prisoners less complicated, only one feeling, that is, death is getting closer and closer. Sometimes death is not terrible, what is really terrible is the process of death coming and being unable to do anything about it.

This feeling is also known as despair, or even worse than death.

Wu Ge had been sitting on the straw in the heavenly prison for a day, his originally soaked clothes had been replaced by dry prison clothes, his white hair was scattered, covering half of his old face, his hands were weakly digging at the straw and the ground, dyeing all his clothes and fingers gray and black, looking embarrassed and ugly, and even his body exuded an inexplicable smell of decay.

It was as if the old man had died and rotted here.

However, I have to say that as a first-class cell, the hygiene of the prison is still good, at least there are no rats or anything to snatch food from the prisoners. It's just that Wu Ge obviously doesn't have much appetite, and the lunch in front of him is only touched a little.

The door of the cell, which had been closed, suddenly opened slowly.

Wu Ge didn't react in the slightest, anyway, he had already predicted his fate, so there was no difference who he was. After all, it is a dead end in the end, and it is better to die cleanly, so as not to provoke others to despise by begging bitterly.

It's just a pity that his innocent wife and concubines and children will suffer together this time. Rebellion is a matter of rebellion, and throughout the ages, there has only been one way to deal with it.

"Get up, Chen Xianggong has come to see you!" A jailer stepped forward to drag Wu Ge, but was stopped by someone behind.

"Chen Xianggong?" Wu Ge still heard these three words keenly, muttered and repeated, slowly raised his head, and standing in front of him was Chen Zongli, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites. There was a look of surprise and surprise on his face, but Wu Ge turned his face cold again, and said in a low voice, "What are you doing again, to laugh at so-and-so." ”

Chen Zongli just looked at him with his hands in his hands, was silent for a long time, and said lightly: "Can the two of you step back first?" ”

The two jailers glanced at each other, and at the same time arched their hands: "Qi Chen Xianggong, this is the rule of the prison, we dare not neglect our duties, and please understand Chen Xianggong." ”

Don't look at these jailers are just ordinary clothes, but in fact, they all belong to the Praetorian Guard system, and the training they receive in ordinary times is no different from the rest of the Praetorian Guards.

Chen Zongli obviously also understood that since the two of them spoke, there was no room for maneuver, so he no longer insisted on it, and took a step forward and said: "The old man begged Xianggong Wen to come and see you and give you a ride." ”

Wu Ge sneered: "It's just a matter of becoming a king or losing a villain, what is there to give a ride." Although the old man is defeated and down, he doesn't need you to be pitiful. ”

"Win or lose?" Chen Zongli muttered and repeated, squatted down and said, "Do you really see it like that?" ”

"Isn't it?!" Wu Ge stood up, the shackles on his hands and feet rattled, he looked much older than before, he had to open his hair at this time, like a lion that could pounce on his opponent at any time, I am afraid that if the other party was not Chen Zongli but someone else, Wu Ge would have pounced on him a long time ago.

Chen Zongli waved his hand, so that the two jailers behind him did not need to be nervous, and also stood up with Wu Ge, and said lightly: "Becoming a king and defeating Kou, becoming a king and defeating Kou, but what is His Majesty Daming, and what are you Wu Ge?" Your Majesty fought in the south and the north, defeated Mongolia, leveled the South Seas, and fought Jia, which thing is not a great achievement that we dream of but are difficult to achieve? To have this majesty is a blessing for the people of China for thousands of years. There will be a king in five hundred years, and His Royal Highness King Ming is such a king. What's more, now the dredging of the canal and the development of the South Seas are all civil affairs that benefit the country and the people. ”

Wu Ge was stunned for a moment, his lips trembled slightly, but he didn't know what to say. As for the two jailers standing behind Chen Zongli at the same time subconsciously straightened their waists, what Chen Zongli said was that they admired and admired the Ming Emperor, for the sake of His Majesty, they were willing to go to the soup and die without turning their heels, in the final analysis, isn't it because there is a place for Your Majesty, there is victory and hope!

"Think about how you and I were suppressed by Jia Nidao in every way in the Lin'an court, how much I hope that when someone will come out of nowhere and break all this chaos and darkness!" Chen Zongli took a step forward suddenly, the old man's face was already red, obviously angry, "At that time, Your Majesty made Jia Yidao deflated, how did we cheer and celebrate?" But today, today, you stood up and rebelled, just because you were assigned a noble position?! You say that you have been wronged and your ambitions have not been rewarded, a certain understanding, but is this the reason why you stand up and rebel! Think about what you are doing, because of your own selfish desires to send your family to the execution ground, because of your own selfish desires, you want to wipe out all your majesty's new policies and your majesty's achievements! ”

Wu Ge seemed to have been drained of his last strength, and slowly fell to the ground in front of Chen Zongli, who was angrily scolding, he had all kinds of knowledge, but he didn't know how to refute at this time. (To be continued.) )