As soon as the five-member group of Qin Tai was established, the bodies of the three members had been sent to the capital, and after being reviewed by the Criminal Department, they could become people in the government. But they belong to Qin Tai's personal assistants, and if Qin Tai is transferred out of the Criminal Department or dismissed, their positions will be gone. This was the temporary official system in the Ming Dynasty.

Qin Tai and the others received the task of the Criminal Department and went to Jiangnan to conduct a triennial case review. Originally, the responsibility of the Criminal Department was to deal with major cases, as well as to verify the cases of serious offenders reported locally. But by the middle of the Ming Dynasty, local officials less and less regarded the Criminal Department, believing that the Criminal Department did not have any special talents. In order to establish authority and deal a blow to the local government, the Criminal Department from time to time sent experienced officials to the local government to handle cases. These officials not only have the right to directly handle cases, but also have the right to review or retry cases. When it is discovered that a local official has bent the law for bribes or has been unjustly falsely decided, he has the right to temporarily remove some officials from their posts while retrying the case. Until the new officials arrive, the local deputies are temporarily in charge of the premises in conjunction with the officials of the Penal Department. Therefore, local officials have a headache for people from the criminal department, but there is no effective way.

Qin Tai and his entourage disguised themselves as merchants who came to sell tea, and they wanted to encounter some unjust cases or bizarre incidents without taking the small road. It's a pity that this kind of thing is unavoidable, and a group of people set off from the capital and encountered a strange thing when they arrived in Anhui.

As soon as I entered Tongling, Anhui Province, I heard that a shocking tragedy had occurred here not long ago. Qin Tai sent Xiao Lingzi and Zhan Xiaoxiao to inquire, and the news they inquired about was the same, a room of dead people was found in a rented house in Tongling a month ago. The landlord who found the dead man had come to the rental house to ask for this month's rent. I knocked on the door for a while, but no one answered, and I got angry. This is the fourth time he has come to the door to ask for money, and every time he knocks on the door. Angry, he called a young man from his own family, and broke down the door only to find that the whole family had died inside. The rotting corpses stenched, and the room was littered with rats. Frightened, the landlord immediately ran away, and for a while everyone knew that a family had died here.

The landlord immediately reported the case to Lizheng here, and Lizheng didn't know what to do, so he reported it to the magistrate's yamen. The people in the yamen only came out to investigate the scene on the third day, and if it hadn't been for Youli Zheng who had sent someone to take care of the scene earlier, the scene would have been destroyed a long time ago. There were a total of three people from the yamen, two were from the yamen, and the other was from the yamen. The three of them only took a few minutes from entering to coming out, and they did not carefully investigate the scene at all. He called a few people to carry away the corpse, which was no longer in shape. I heard that in the past few days, the county magistrate is about to open a court to try the case.

When Qin Tai heard this, his brows furrowed tightly. The old drunkard on the side didn't say anything, just drank the wine that Zhan Xiaoxiao bought casually from the street.

Qin Tai said slowly: "The family died in their own home, and the door was locked from the inside, which is considered a closed room homicide." And it was a family that died, not to mention in a county, even in a prefecture, in a province, it is a big case. Why is the magistrate here so sloppy? ”

Zhan Xiaoxiao said on the side: "I heard that the trial will start tomorrow. I heard that this county is famous for its 'one class', which means that all cases are only tried once. Whatever the judgment is, it will be the case. I heard that he has been sentenced to a lot of confused cases. ”

Qin Tai said: "Okay, let's go tomorrow to see how this county official will try this murder case." If he doesn't judge the case fairly, I must take care of it. Brothers, we're going to get to work. Not only was he excited, but the others were also excited, only the old drunkard still looked like he didn't care.

Early the next morning, they came to the yamen and waited with a large group of ordinary people for the opening of the hall. But they waited until after nine o'clock and nearly ten o'clock before the yamen opened slowly. By the time the officials stood up and sounded the drums, it was almost noon. At this time, I saw the county magistrate who waited left and right, and came out after a long time. This county official has a tired face, as if he is very tired. It's no wonder that he, yesterday, played mahjong with the master in the yamen, catching his head for an afternoon and a night. When he returned to Houya, he was arrested by the three ladies and went to various rooms to "pay the public grain", squeezing out all his energy and physical strength. If he hadn't had to try the case today, who would have dared to wake him up. No wonder he got up so late and still looked listless. He was so tired, too "hard".

This county official named Jia Baishun sat in the hall and didn't know if he was listening to the report of the arrest. Before he could read the case report, Jia Baishun raised his hand and said, "Got it." Isn't it just a dead person? Rory's. Come, bring the prisoner up. Master Ben is going to pronounce the verdict on the case. ”

Soon, the arrest and the officials dragged a prisoner in his seventies and eighties, and everyone talked about it. Qin Tai also vaguely felt that something was wrong.

Jia Baishun, who was sitting high in the hall, said majestically: "Zhang Er, a bold criminal, dares to kill someone." Now sentence you to fifteen years in prison and confiscate all your family property. The case was closed and reported to the prefect, Lord Chen. Retirement. ”

Qin Tai had never seen such a trial, neither checking the victim, nor interrogating whether the prisoner was in the same party, nor asking what the prisoner's motive for committing the crime was. killed the victim's family, but was sentenced to 15 years, and thus ended a tragic case. This is also too rash and too sloppy.

At this time, an insider on the side said: "This Zhang Er has been guilty of seven times." He has lived in the county jail for nearly 30 years. This is another case of confusion, and this county official is too irresponsible. ”

After hearing these words, Qin Tai finally couldn't help but burst out.

"Ma Sandao" and Xiao Lingzi opened the way for Qin Tai on the left and right, Zhan Xiaoxiao and the old drunkard followed behind Qin Tai, and the five of them broke into the lobby.

Qin Tai said loudly: "Tongling County walks slowly. No withdrawal is allowed. ”

Jia Baishun was about to go back to rest, but was stopped by a young man. With an unhappy look on his face, he said, "Bold." This is the lobby. Who allowed you in? Get out. Otherwise, the official will punish you for the crime of roaring in court and put you in prison. Let you taste the power of the eighteen torture instruments. ”

The officials also came up to catch up with Qin Tai and a few of them, and these rice buckets were pushed away by Xiao Lingzi and "Ma Sandao". Everyone who thought it was over is back again. This one is even better than the ascension just now.

Qin Tai took out his official credentials and said, "This official is Qin Tai of the Criminal Department's Criminal Department." It has the right to verify and review local cases. Where is Tongling County, come up and answer. ”

Although Qin Tai and Jia Baishun are of the same rank, they are both court officials of the seventh grade, and they are not subordinate to the same boss. However, Qin Tai came from the Criminal Department of the capital, and he had the power of review in hand, and he was a senior official. So he has the right to ask Jia Baishun to step forward and reply. If necessary, he can remove Jia Baishun from his post as magistrate and take over Tongling County.

Jia Baishun hurriedly came up, took Qin Tai's official certificate, and looked at it carefully over and over again. Ming officials have their own official certificates, which is equivalent to the work card of the current people. It contains the basic information and position of the official, as well as the official's signature, to prevent someone from impersonating or taking over. Qin Tai not only has an official certificate, but also a bronze medal. This bronze medal is different, it is a proof that he can go directly to heaven. As an inspector, he had the right to hear about the news, and his reports could only be read by the emperor and the eunuchs with the palm prints of the celebrants. The bronze medal bears the name of his official position and also has his portrait. With this bronze medal in his hand, he has the right to manage all cases, and he can also interrogate officials below the fourth grade. This was the right of Kedao at that time.

Qin Tai did not criticize Jia Baishun in public, because no matter what, Jia Baishun was also a magistrate of the imperial court, an official of the same level and quality as himself. You can't help but save face for the imperial court, and you can't let the people see the jokes of the officials.

Jia Baishun also knew that he was too hasty and didn't dare to say anything. Qin Tai knew that before the case was heard clearly, he didn't want to blame Jia Baishun too much. only took over the case, and he presided over the trial of this tragic case.

Through many understandings, the accounts of the landlord and several contacts of the deceased, Qin Tai learned several relevant information. First, the deceased's family had just moved to the county seat not long ago. There are seven members of the family, an old couple, a young couple, and a six-year-old girl. Second, all seven of them died in their own homes, and the doors and windows were locked from the inside and were not damaged. The landlord also carefully investigated after the incident, and there was no trace except for the door that he sent someone to break through. Third, they died together, but not by poisoning. Otherwise, how could the rats that ate their meat be fine? Fourth, there is no shortage of money in the house, which can basically rule out burglary and murder. Fifth, there are no other relatives of the deceased in Tongling, otherwise how could no one come to claim it?

Several neighbors who had been in contact with the deceased were asked, and they all said that the deceased was from a place called Satsuki Village. Hearing that there were monsters in Xiaoyue Village, their family was forced to leave and came to Tongling County.

Qin Tai analyzed the facts of the case and believed that this was not an ordinary homicide case, but a premeditated murder case. It must have been the family who knew something they shouldn't know that led to the murder. Xiaoyue Village should be the key, and Xiaoyue Village must have some ulterior secrets. Besides, there are monsters in Xiaoyue, and Qin Tai is more interested in meeting this monster. That's why the five of them decided to go to Satsuki Village.

Before leaving, Qin Tai instructed Jia Baishun a few things, the first thing was that the body of the deceased must be kept and not cremated. The second thing is to continue to trace the family background and interpersonal interactions of the deceased. The third thing is to take care of the crime scene, not to destroy it, let alone sublet it to others. Fourth, don't report this case to the prefect first, and wait for Qin Tai to come back from Xiaoyue Village before making plans. Jia Baishun agreed one by one, but he didn't think much of it behind his back, and finally brought a lot of resistance to solving the case.