Yue Su instructed not to do anything else, but to ask Tong Xuan to inquire secretly when he arrived, and see how the magistrate of Daxing County was doing. If it is really a corrupt person, it will be done together.

Tong Zhou took Zhang Mingyi and more than a dozen servants to Daxing County, and notified the local county order to bring Liu Sheng and others to the case and went to Tongren Mansion together; On the one hand, he sent someone to secretly inquire about the official voice of the county commander Gu Min.

Gu Min is sixty-four years old, a thin old man, born as a jinshi, and has been a county magistrate in Daxing County for seven years. His official reputation is good, he is an honest official, but he is pedantic and cannot be regarded as a cadre, and he only knows how to do everything according to the book.

When Tong Xuan saw Gu Min for the first time, he saw that the old man had a vegetable on his face, not like an ordinary official, and his face was not full of oil, so he knew that he was not a corrupt official, and he was sure that he had just inquired. secretly thought, the reason why this Lord Gu couldn't conclude the case was that he only remembered the law that he entered the house at night and was killed on the spot, but he didn't know how to be flexible, so he was fooled by the villain. When you get to Tongren Mansion, let my family teach you how to try the case.

All the people involved in the case were brought together, and Gu Min also led 20 messengers to help escort them, and the party came to Tongren Mansion.

As soon as he returned to the Yamen, Yue Su was promoted to the court, and after learning about Gu Min's official reputation from Tong Xuan's mouth, he didn't want to blame this pedantic old man. In the public court, Gu Min solemnly saluted Yue Su, Yue Su invited him to sit and listen, and the other prisoners all knelt down the steps.

With a "mighty" sound left and right, Yue Su knocked the shocked wood and shouted: "The kneeling criminals are reported one by one." ”

"Liu Sheng, a grass farmer, is a native of Daxing County, running a liquor store and lending money for a living." The one kneeling in the middle was the first to answer.

"Zhang Mingyi, a grass citizen, is the younger brother of the deceased Zhang Mingren."

"Zhao Wu, a grass man, is a Chinese person who borrowed money from Zhang Mingren."

"Guan Yu, the grass people, is the head of the Liu Mansion Nursing Hospital." "Grass people Zhang Da is the Liu Mansion Nursing Hospital." "The grass people are the third small, and they are the guardians of the Liu Mansion." "Grass man Lu Xiaoming, Department of Liufu Nursing Hospital." "Li Jin, a grass man, is the Liu Mansion Nursing Hospital." "Grass people Zhou Ji is a neighbor of Liu's house." "Caomin Wu is a neighbor of Liu's Mansion." ……

The kneeling people reported their names one by one, and Yue Su held the list submitted by Tong Xuan and checked them one by one. Plaintiff Zhang Mingyi, Chinese Zhao Wu, defendants Liu Sheng, Guan Yu, and four Liufu nursing homes and four neighbors who testified were all present at the court.

"Liu Sheng, Zhang Mingyi accused you of blackmailing Zhang Mingren and instructed the evil servants to kill him, what do you have to say?" As soon as Yue Su saw Liu Sheng's face, he knew that he was not a good person, and he had already made up his mind in his heart. At present, there are many prisoners, and if he is interrogated one by one, he can easily find out the truth by means of fraudulent confessions. But at this moment, Gu Min was sitting on the side, he wanted to teach this pedantic old man how to deal with this kind of case of exploiting legal loopholes.

"Back to my lord, Zhang Mingyi is purely framing a good person, his brother Zhang Mingren stole into my house at night, intending to steal, and was killed on the spot, neighbors Zhou Ji, Wu San and others saw it with their own eyes, adults don't believe it, you can ask them." Liu Sheng said with a grin. It's as if I'm standing on the ground.

"My lord, Liu Sheng is pure nonsense, my brother Bai Yueli went with Zhao Wu to repay the money, and was beaten to death by him, Zhao Wu saw it with his own eyes, why did he come to steal at night, and I hope that my lord will know it." When Zhang Mingyi heard Liu Sheng's quibble, he shouted excitedly.

"This official will try the case, how can you be allowed to talk too much, if you talk more without authorization, don't blame this government for treating you in contempt of the court." After Yue Su finished speaking, he glared at Zhang Mingyi. He didn't ask the Chinese Zhao Wu, because Gu Min had already brought the confession of the court trial at that time, and Zhao Wu flatly denied that he accompanied Zhang Mingren to repay the money. It's redundant to ask now.

He looked at the witness Zhou Ji and asked, "Zhou Ji, according to what Liu Sheng said, Zhang Mingren entered Liu's mansion at night to steal, did you see it with your own eyes?" ”

"Back to my lord, Xiaomin was sleeping at home, and in the middle of the night, someone from Liu's Mansion called Xiaomin to the house, and I was called with my neighbor Wu San and others. When we went, we saw that Zhang Mingren had been kidnapped, and he had entered the house at night, not to steal, but to do something. When Zhou Ji spoke, he kept his head down.

"Wu San, Yang Qi, Zhu Xiaobao......" Yue Su said to the other three witnesses: "Zhou Ji's words are true. ”

"Lord Hui, it's completely true." The three of them replied in unison.

"In this way, Zhang Mingren entered the Liu Mansion at night to steal, and he was killed in front of you after being captured by the people of the Liu Mansion?" Yue Su asked quietly.

"Yes, sir." Zhou Ji, Wu San and others are still in unison. In the county hall, they replied in the same way. According to the law of the Ming Dynasty, if you enter a house at night, you will be killed when you board it. In their hearts, with this, Zhang Mingren was beaten to death, and he died in vain.

Yue Su was still calm, looked at Liu Sheng with a smile, and said, "Liu Sheng, Wu San, what they said is true?" ”

"Lord Hui, it's completely true." Liu Shengwan didn't expect that this prefect and the county magistrate Gu were so easy to fool.

Yue Su still smiled and nodded, and asked again, "Who is the one who killed Zhang Mingren?" ”

"It's my nursing home." Liu Sheng replied very casually.

Unexpectedly, after Yue Su heard this, he knocked the shocked wood hard, and shouted angrily: "What a big courage! Zhang Mingren entered the house at night, even if he was at fault first, but why didn't he hand it over to the government after he was captured, and he wanted to kill him privately, you are obviously despising the government and not taking the court law into account! Come on, pull Liu Sheng, Guan Yu and Liu Fu Nursing Home aside, and each of them will hit forty boards! ”

With that, throw the fire stick to the ground.

"Ah......" As soon as he heard Yue Su's words, Liu Sheng and his nursing home were all dumbfounded, and hurriedly shouted: "My lord, you have been wronged...... We didn't break the law, so why hit us......"

"Isn't it a crime to despise the government, then in your eyes, what is illegal! Give me a hard beating! ”

Yue Su waved his hand, and the left and right servants swarmed up, pressed Liu Sheng and the others to the ground, took off their pants, picked up the board and started fighting. "Crackling", the screams above the court are incessant. Six people were beaten together, how could the sound be good. Only then did they know that the adult above was not easy to fool, and this case did not know how to end. Although the other four witnesses were not beaten, they were all frightened, and the board did not hit them, which also made them tremble vigorously.

Zhang Mingyi on the side was really relieved, and he admired Yue Su in his heart.

After a meal, Liu Sheng and the others could only lie on the ground, unable to even kneel. Yue Su chuckled on it and asked, "After Zhang Mingren was killed, who was the first to denounce him?" ”

Zhang Mingyi replied: "Lord Hui, he is a grass people. The next day, the grass people saw that the elder brother had not returned overnight, and the sister-in-law was very anxious, so he went to Liu's house to inquire, but the people of Liu's house threw out his brother's body, saying that his brother entered Liu's house at night and was killed on the spot. Xiaomin didn't believe it, knowing that his brother Bai Yueli was going to Liu's house with Zhao Wu to repay the money, so he asked him, and he told me what happened, and I was angry and sued the county government. Who knew that when the county commander was arraigned, Zhao Wu changed his tone, and only said that he had never been to Liu's Mansion with his brother. ”

When he said this, Yue Su set his eyes on Zhao Wu, who was trembling and his head hung down. I thought about how I would answer if an adult asked.

But he thought wrong, Yue Su didn't ask him, but said loudly: "Zhang Mingren entered the house at night to steal, according to the law, he didn't deserve to die, Liu Fu subdued him, beat people to death without authorization, he should pay for his life, and he was sentenced to behead in prison." Guan Yu, Zhang Da, Wang Sanxiao, Lu Xiaoming, and Li Jin were accomplices, and they were assassinated with Liaodong Chongjun. Zhou Ji, Wu San, Yang Qi, and Zhu Xiaobao did not know about it, and the crime was reduced by one degree, and the stabbing was matched with Ji Zhen to fill the army. Let them draw a charge. ”

Seeing that Yue Su didn't even ask, and directly sentenced the case, everyone present was dumbfounded. Especially Zhou Ji, Wu San, Yang Qi, and Zhu Xiaobao, they were so frightened that they almost lost their paralysis. He secretly said in his heart: "I also accepted Liu Sheng's ten taels of silver, but I was charged with being a soldier, how can I afford this." Liu Sheng has now been sentenced to death anyway, so it is better to get out of himself. ”

Thinking of this, Zhou Ji was the first to say: "My lord, the grass people have been wronged." That night, the grass people were not at home, and when they came back the next morning, they heard about it. Liu Sheng gave me ten taels of silver, and asked me to go to the court to reply like this, and I hope that the adults will see it. ”

"My lord, the grass people are also wronged. That night, no one from Liu's house came to the door, and that morning, Liu Sheng came over, gave me ten taels of silver, and went up to me to testify in court, asking the adults to see. ”……

After Zhou Ji made his position clear, Wu San, Yang Qi, and Zhu Xiaobao told the truth in order to get rid of their crimes. Although perjury in court will also be sentenced, it is much lighter than confiscation. After all, everyone has a family and a business, and if they are in the army, what will happen to the family. You must know that in the Ming Dynasty, it was a felony to know and harbor people, especially those who harbored people, which were joint sitting, and were sentenced together with the criminals. Yue Su still agrees with this kind of criminal law in the feudal period, because in modern times, many people are afraid of getting into trouble, and some know who broke the law, but they dare not report it. There are restrictions on heavy canons, and there are far fewer people who do not know about it than in modern times.

After Zhou Ji and the others told the truth about taking bribes and committing perjury, Yue Su snorted coldly and said: "According to what you say, you didn't see Zhang Mingren alive that night, but was only bought by Liu Sheng and went to the Yamen to commit perjury. ”

"Yes, yes......" Zhou Ji and the others hurriedly replied.

"Let the four of them draw a bet."

The clerk was able to do the order, and took the recorded confession and asked the four of them to draw the charge. Then Yue Su shouted: "Liu Sheng, you give and accept it privately, buy the certificate, do you know what the crime is?" This government asks you, how did Zhang Mingren die, if you don't explain honestly, you will be made to suffer! ”

Zhou Ji and others turned against the water, and Liu Sheng was now speechless. Zhang Mingren died in his home, and his autopsy had already been autographed, and he was beaten to death, no matter how much he quibbled, it was futile, and he had to be subjected to a senseless criminal law. did not hide it at the moment, said the matter, and killed Zhang Mingren, the causes and consequences are basically consistent with what is written on the pleadings.

After the narration, Yue Su ordered him to sign and draw the charge, and asked again: "Guan Yu, Zhang Da, Wang Sanxiao, Lu Xiaoming, Li Jin, when Liu Sheng ordered you to attack Zhang Mingren, who was the first to move?" ”

The five of them all know that the first person to do it is estimated to be sentenced heavily, and this is not the time to be angry. Zhang Da, Wang Sanxiao, Lu Xiaoming, and Li Jin all pointed their fingers at Guan Yu and said in unison: "It's him." ”

"Let them draw a charge!"

After finishing the drawing, Yue Su finally looked at Zhao Wu and said, "Zhao Wu, what else do you have to say, if you don't know about it, the county government hall has made perjury, do you know what the crime is?" ”

Yue Su hadn't mentioned Zhao Wu before, and he thought that after Liu Sheng confessed, the adults would be able to forget him. Now when he heard this, he was so frightened that he almost fainted, and said with a crying voice: "Back to my lord, the grass people didn't want to commit perjury, but they were intimidated by Liu Sheng, and they didn't dare to tell the truth. ”

"Humph!" Yue Su shouted: "If everyone in the world is like you, cowardly, fearful, and selfish, then where does the law of the country exist, how can the law of heaven be upheld, and where will the dead Zhang Mingren go to seek justice?" ”

After Yue Su finished speaking, he said, "Let him draw a charge!" ”

After all the prisoners were detained, Yue Su immediately announced the verdict, "Liu Sheng failed to blackmail, killed people, bought people's certificates, and sentenced him to be sentenced to imprisonment according to the law of the Ming Dynasty; Guan Yu, as the leader of the Liu Mansion Hospital, took the lead in killing Liu Sheng and sentenced him to behead the prison according to the law; Zhang Da, Wang Sanxiao, Lu Xiaoming, and Li Jin were accomplices in the killing of Liu Sheng, and they were sentenced to be confiscated as Jizhen in the army; Zhao Wu did not know about it, made perjury in court, deceived the public, hindered justice, reduced one degree from the main crime, and was sentenced to be confiscated to Liaodong; Zhou Ji, Wu San, Yang Qi, and Zhu Xiaobao accepted bribes, gave perjury in court, blinded the public, and wronged good people, and sentenced to confiscate all bribes, and each of them was fined 20 taels of silver, 80 rods, and imprisoned for half a year, in order to set an example! ”

Today, Tong Zhou brought back so many prisoners, of course, it attracted the attention of the people in Tongren City, and everyone ran to the second gate of the government to see the excitement, and saw Yue Su closing a public case lightly, and everyone clapped their hands and applauded loudly.

Gu Min, the magistrate of the county, who was sitting at the head of the hall, saw that Yue Su easily concluded this case that he had misjudged, and changed the justice of the sufferer, he couldn't help but not have the slightest resentment and fear, but sincerely raised a heart of respect. Secretly thought, no wonder the imperial court sent a young descendant to be the prefect of Tongren, it is indeed a wise person, I might as well too.

After the verdict was announced, Yue Su knocked the shocked wood again and said, "Put all the prisoners in prison and retire!" ”

However, as soon as his words were settled, he heard someone in the hall shout: "My lord, slowly leave the hall!" I have something important to report! ”