On the third day, Tietou still had to arrange for Tsing Yi Wei to blacken the eyes of the criminal department outside the Dongjiang Courtyard, Xu Liang grabbed him and scolded with a smile: "Ah Tie, are you good for a little bit?" ”

Tietou said blankly: "Why don't I have long eyes?" ”

Xu Liang glanced out of the gate and said, "Qiao Shangshu sent hundreds of people to guard outside the door this time, and you still want to go out and discount someone's legs?" ”

Tietou said disdainfully: "The soldiers of the Criminal Department are all dead strength, where is the opponent of our Tsing Yi Guard." Young master, don't worry, this time I will personally take people to go and beat those people down. ”

Xu Liang smiled angrily, "And then? Are you making such a big move, are you going to summon the Nine Cities Soldiers and Horses Division and the Jinyi Guard again? Staging an all-out martial arts parade in Beijing? ”

Hearing that Xu Liang's tone was wrong, he scratched his head and smiled, spread his hands and said, "Young master, what do you say you should do?" ”

Xu Liang sat comfortably on the bench, took a sip of Yahuan Rou'er's freshly prepared tea, and said indifferently: "It's rare that Qiao Shangshu sent so many soldiers to guard the door of our Dongjiang Courtyard, such kindness, I, Xu Liang, can only be ashamed." ”

After saying this, Rou'er covered her mouth and smiled.

Qiao Shangshu checked for several days, and finally sent someone to the Dongjiang Courtyard to summon Xu Liang to interrogate.

The place of questioning was in the Criminal Department, and when Xu Liang went, he called Wang Xian in the Ministry of Officials, Yu Dacheng in the Ministry of War, Wang Qinian of Guanglu Temple, and Fu Yu of Taichang Temple together, and a group of several officials went straight to the lobby of the Criminal Department.

In the lobby, Qiao Yunsheng, the secretary of the Criminal Department, and Zhang Nianyun, the imperial history of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, were waiting to ask about the case, and their eyes were straight.

Qiao Shangshu's eyelids jumped, looking at these officials. I couldn't help but ask angrily: "Lord Xu, this official only summoned you to come for questioning, and other unrelated people please avoid it." ”

Xu Liang smiled coldly. Said: "Lord Shangshu's words are wrong. As the saying goes, gentlemen are frank, villains are often relatives, about the case of Ma Xiangyang, a doctor of Taixue, impeaching the official for embezzlement of ink, the official believes that nothing can be said to others. The official has a clear conscience, and he doesn't want to be framed, so he asks for an adult. Lord Wang, Lord Yu and others came over to be a witness. ”

Zhang Nianyun saw that Qiao Shangshu didn't speak for a long time. Then he said in a deep voice: "Lord Xu, I called you over today, just for questioning, not for interrogation. A few adults will be in attendance. Please come back on the day of the trial. ”

Xu Liang looked at Zhang Nianyun coldly, for this Lord Zhang, Xu Liang knew that this person was just a dog raised by Cao Ge in the Imperial Procuratorate, and basically ignored him.

Taichang Siqing Fu Yu said proudly: "Lord Zhang is wrong. It is still possible to observe the trial in court, let alone the interrogation? The ceremony of offering sacrifices to the Taimiao Temple was jointly completed by the three yamen of the Ministry of Rites, Taichang Temple and Guanglu Temple. The official also wants to come and hear about it, so what is the doctor of Taixue. How to accuse a three-rank minister. ”

"This ......" Zhang Nianyun ran out of ideas for a while. However, Qiao Yunsheng, the secretary of the Criminal Department, waved his hand and said: "That's it, since you want to observe, then you can observe." It's just that there is a lack of chairs in the Criminal Department, and several adults insist on listening, so they can only listen standing up. ”

Fu Yu said: "It's okay. ”

Qiao Shangshu sat down and said in a deep voice to Xu Liang: "Since this is the case, the official will start to question." ”

"Wait." Xu Liang said in a deep voice.

"What's wrong again?" Qiao Shangshu glared at Xu Liang and asked.

Xu Liang glanced at Qiao Shangshu, bowed his hand respectfully in the direction of the palace, and said, "This official remembers that at the court meeting that day, His Majesty personally said that this case should be jointly examined by Jinyiwei and the Three Law Divisions. It's just that today the official only looks at the people from the Criminal Department and the Metropolitan Procuratorate, but what about the people from Jinyiwei and Dali Temple? Before Jinyiwei and the people from Dali Temple arrived, Qiao Shangshu was in a hurry to ask, could it be that he was despising His Majesty? ”

Qiao Shangshu was suddenly speechless with anger, and roared at the people in the Criminal Department: "Go and invite Jinyiwei and the people from Dali Temple to come over!" ”

The questioning could not go on for a while, and Qiao Shangshu and Zhang Yushi above looked at the officials standing in the hall and glared dryly. Below the hall, Xu Liang and Fu Yu, Wang Xian, Yu Dacheng and others talked and laughed softly, chatting about some interesting things, as if there was a tendency to treat the entire criminal department lobby as a teahouse.

Zhang Yushi couldn't stand it anymore, so he shouted: "A few adults, this is the lobby of the Criminal Department, not the vegetable market in the East Market!" Please be respectful! ”

Xu Liangha sneered and said, "Zhang Yushi's words are so fresh! We were called here by you, and the reason why we couldn't proceed with the case was because you weren't well prepared! Now a few of us are stacked here, and we are not allowed to speak without reading tea or giving seats?! Zhang Yushi is in charge of the heavens and the earth, and can he still control people's shit and fart? ”

"You?!" Zhang Yushi's face turned red and glared at Xu Liang.

"What are you?!" Xu Liang glared back and scolded angrily: "Zhang Yushi also knows that this is the lobby of the Criminal Department, not your Metropolitan Procuratorate, and Qiao Shangshu hasn't spoken, what kind of mouth do you have as an outsider?" ”

Zhang Yushi trembled with anger, but he couldn't refute it, so he arched his hand towards Qiao Yunsheng, the Shangshu of the Criminal Department, and said, "Lord Shangshu, you have something to say." ”

Qiao Shangshu pursed his lips, his face sank like water, and he didn't say a word.

Zhang Yushi was helpless, so he had to hold back his anger and sit down angrily.

After about half an hour, the commander of Jinyiwei made Luo Yanghe and Dali Siqing arrive in the lobby of the Criminal Department, and Qiao Shangshu could finally start questioning.

Qiao Shangshu first took out a thick account book, ordered someone to put it in front of Xu Liang, and asked in a deep voice, "Lord Xu, do you know this account book?" ”

Xu Liang flipped through it and confirmed that it was the general ledger of Guanglu Temple, so he said very simply: "This is the general ledger of Guanglu Temple's silver treasury." ”

"If only you knew it." Qiao Shangshu said: "After careful verification, the official found that there are many inaccuracies in the accounts of the Taimiao sacrifice in this account book, so I specially called Lord Xu here today to ask for clarification." ”

Xu Liang asked, "After careful verification?" Verified by whom? Is it Qiao Shangshu or Zhang Yushi? ”

Zhang Yushi interjected and complimented Qiao Shangshu: "Naturally, it's Lord Shangshu." ”

Xu Liang suddenly looked at Qiao Shangshu with a look of admiration, and said, "It turns out that Lord Shangshu is not only familiar with the laws of the Ming Dynasty, but also very good at auditing and auditing?" This official admires. ”

Qiao Shangshu's old face flushed, and he said embarrassedly: "This official is not talented." It is not good to check the accounts, but the official can find someone who is in the line to help with the verification. ”

"Oh?" Xu Liang said: "The official wants to ask Lord Shangshu to call out the person in charge of verification, and the official wants to confront him face to face." ”

Qiao Shangshu was stunned. "Okay." ”

After a while, Zhou Langzhong, who had been hiding in the yamen of the Criminal Department, appeared in the lobby of the Criminal Department.

When Xu Liang saw it, he sneered: "It turned out to be Zhou Langzhong." ”

Zhou Langzhong first bowed to several chief judges, turned to face Xu Liang, smiled gloomily, stood in front of Xu Liang with his hands, and said, "Lord Xu." The account book of Guanglu Temple was checked by the official. ”

Xu Liang asked, "Dare to ask what position Lord Zhou is now?" ”

Zhou Langzhong raised his head and said loudly: "The lower officials are not talented, and they are the head of the household." ”

Xu Liang nodded. But he looked at Luo Yangxing, the commander of Jinyiwei, and arched his hand and said: "Governor Luo, this official has something unclear, and he has to work hard to solve his doubts." ”

Luo Yangxing smiled and said, "Lord Xu, please ask." The officer must know everything. There is no end to the words. ”

Xu Liang said: "Thank you, Governor." Since Lord Zhou is a member of the household, he is a member of the household, right? Since when did the household department become one of the three law divisions? ”

Luo Yangxing said: "The household department is naturally not related to the three law divisions. I have to ask Master Qiao for the reason. ”

Qiao Shangshu said angrily: "Zhou Langzhong was temporarily seconded by the official to Master Shangshu Bi of the Household Department to assist in the investigation of the case. ”

"Oh, I see." As soon as Xu Liang looked suddenly enlightened, he looked at Zhou Langzhong and said, "Since it is the account book verified by Lord Zhou, then the official may ask Lord Zhou." What's wrong with the ledger? ”

Zhou Langzhong originally wanted to show his face in front of several presiding judges, and he didn't want to be interrupted by Xu Liang like this. Xu Liang's meaning outside the words was actually to sarcastically meddle with his dog with a mouse, and he couldn't help but be ashamed and angry.

At this time, when he heard Xu Liang finally ask, he calmed down and said in a deep voice: "After careful verification by the lower officials, the accounts of the sacrifice to the Taimiao recorded in the account book of Guanglu Temple, although the accounts are consistent with the amount of silver allocated by the household department, but when it comes to each account, there are indeed many doubts. For example, the cost of the three animal sacrifices used in the sacrifice is 30% more than in previous years, and the cost of purchasing wine utensils and hiring porters, etc., are not in line with the market market......"

The more Zhou Langzhong spoke, the more slippery he became, and Qiao Shangshu and Zhang Yushi nodded again and again when they heard it, with a happy expression. Unexpectedly, Xu Liang interrupted him again and said, "Wait." ”

"Huh?" Zhou Langzhong asked, "What's wrong with Lord Xu?" ”

Xu Liang said: "Lord Zhou has said so much, but the official has something unclear. ”

Zhou Langzhong suddenly said angrily: "Lord Xu, is this suspicious of the lower officials? ”

Xu Liang shook his head and said, "Lord Zhou is a member of the household, so he is naturally more interested in verifying the accounts than this official. What you just said, the official has not looked at the account book carefully, and he does not dare to easily accuse Lord Zhou of not being right. It's just that the official remembers that the account book of Guanglu Temple was lost before His Majesty ordered a thorough investigation. Today, he appeared in the lobby of the Criminal Department, and it was carefully verified by Lord Zhou's hand, so the official wanted to ask Qiao Shangshu and Lord Zhou, how could you have the account book of Guanglu Temple in your hands? ”

Zhou Langzhong was speechless for a moment, the account book was originally stolen by Ma Xiangyang from Guanglu Temple, and the way was not appropriate, Xu Liang asked, he didn't dare to answer nonsense, so he looked at Qiao Shangshu.

Qiao Shangshu secretly said that it was not good, and said hesitantly: "The account book of Guanglu Temple was naturally searched from Guanglu Temple. ”

Xu Liang's sharp eyes stared at Qiao Shangshu and asked, "Dare to ask Lord Shangshu, which room in the yamen was the account book found?" ”

Qiao Shangshu said: "It's been several days since the day of the search, how can this official remember?" ”

At this time, Luo Yangxing, the governor of the Jinyi Guard, asked aloud, "No, Lord Qiao." In handling cases, the three legal divisions should have a detailed record of the origin of each piece of evidence. Master Qiao can't remember clearly, just take out the search records of that day and look at them. Come on, take the search records of the day, and the official will check them. ”

Qiao Shangshu sighed in his heart, knowing that if he continued to prevaricate, it would only get worse and worse, so he said slowly: "There is no need to check." The account book of Guanglu Temple was actually submitted by Ma Xiangyang, a doctor of Taixue in the country. ”

"Ridiculous!" Xu Liangdengshi's face was angry, and he shouted angrily: "Ma Xiangyang is a doctor of Taixue, and he has nothing to do with my Guanglu Temple. How could he have my Guanglu Temple's account book in his hand? Oh, the official understands, my Guanglu Temple account book is so good that it disappeared, it turned out to be stolen by that horse Xiangyang! Hmph, Ma Xiangyang impeached the official for being greedy for ink, but he himself became a gentleman on the beam! ”

After that, Xu Liang angrily bowed his hand to Luo Yangxing, the governor of Jinyi Wei: "Lord Luo, what should I do if I commit the crime of stealing for an official?" ”

Luo Yangxing said in a deep voice: "According to the law, you should be dismissed from your official position, exiled to the border at the lightest, and sentenced to capital punishment at the worst!" ”

Xu Liang said loudly: "This official will enter the palace and ask His Majesty for an order to punish this thief!" ”

With that, Xu Liang turned around and was about to leave the lobby of the Criminal Department. Qiao Shangshu above came back to his senses and shouted: "Xu Liang, the case is not over yet, where are you going?" ”

Xu Liang snorted angrily: "Don't you think it's ridiculous that Lord Qiao used an improper account book as evidence against the official?" Tomorrow morning, Lord Qiao will wait for the impeachment of this official! ”

After that, Xu Liang brushed his sleeves and left. Seeing this, Wang Xian, Yu Dacheng, Fu Yu and others all sneered a few times, and followed Xu Liang out of the criminal department.

Jinyi Wei Du Luo Yang stepped forward, grabbed the account book in his hand, and scribbled towards Qiao Shangshu and Zhang Yushi, who were frightened: "This evidence of Lord Qiao is not coming from the right way, and it is still debatable whether it can be used as evidence." This account shall be taken by the Governor for the sake of his Majesty, and shall be made tomorrow after it has been reported to His Majesty. Leave! ”

Luo Yangxing also left, and then Dali Siqing also followed, leaving only Qiao Shangshu, Zhang Yushi and Zhou Langzhong in the lobby of the Criminal Department.

Zhou Langzhong looked at Qiao Shangshu without tears: "Lord Shangshu, look at this ......"

Qiao Shangshu's face changed, he glared at Zhou Langzhong angrily, and scolded: "Look at what you are doing!" ”

……

The early part of the second day was very lively, and as soon as several cabinet ministers finished talking about a few major military events, Xu Liang, the secretary of Guanglu Temple, hurriedly walked out of the queue, holding a book high, and knelt down to Emperor Chongzhen, who was sitting at the top, and shouted: "Xu Liang, the minister of Guanglu Temple, impeached Ma Xiangyang, a doctor of Taixue, for being an improper official and misconduct, and actually burglarized the account book of my Guanglu Temple's silver treasury!" The minister impeached Qiao Yunsheng, the secretary of the Criminal Department, and Zhang Nianyun, the imperial historian of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, listened to and believed partially, judged the case unfairly, and actually used an account book with improper sources as evidence to accuse the minister of being greedy for ink! I respectfully ask Your Majesty to uphold justice for your ministers! ”

Xu Liang's words immediately shocked the ministers in the Jinluan Palace. Even Emperor Chongzhen on the dragon chair was startled, glared at Xu Liang, and shouted, "There is such a thing? Submit it quickly! ”

As soon as he finished speaking, another person stood up and bowed his hand to Emperor Chongzhen: "Chen Jinyiwei commanded Luo Yangxing to seconded Lord Xu of Guanglu Temple!" ”

"The minister seconded the proposal!" Taichang Siqing Fu Yu followed and stood up and bowed to Emperor Chongzhen.

Xu Liang sighed secretly: Wang Xian in the Ministry of Officials and Yu Dacheng in the Ministry of War are still too low in grade and are not qualified to go to court, otherwise, there will be two more people who second.

Emperor Chongzhen's eyebrows jumped, he took the notebook that the eunuch Wang Chengen picked up, flipped through it, his face was gloomy, and he looked at Qiao Yunsheng, the secretary of the criminal department who had already knelt in front of him in panic, and Zhang Nianyun, the imperial history of the capital, and asked: "Qiao Aiqing, Zhang Aiqing, what do you explain?" ”

Qiao Shangshu and Zhang Yushi kowtowed: "The ministers are negligent, I hope Your Majesty will forgive you!" (To be continued.) )