Interrogations resumed as usual, but they did not seem to be the same as before.

The trial here is Zheng Michang.

A big case, Tan Lun sat in the middle, and Jin Yiwei and another Jin Yiwei sat on either side of him. The scribe who recorded the confession sat in front of a small desk on the side, sweating and recording it quickly.

Zheng Michang's mouth was slowly narrating, but Tan Lun, the two brocade guards and the scribe were more and more shocked the more they listened.

Tan Lun didn't dare to move, only staring at him with a twinkle in his eyes.

The two Jinyi guards, who had always been as cold as stones, couldn't hold their breath at this time, and they both held the tea bowl in their hands. Jin Yiwei opened the lid of the tea bowl and kept chasing the floating tea on the water, without taking a sip. The other brocade guard drank the tea one by one, and after drinking, he picked up the pot and drank it again.

Zheng Michang didn't know what to say, the scribe stood up in fright, sweat blindfolded his eyes, he wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his left hand, looked at Tan Lun, and his voice trembled: "Big, adult, such a villain, I really dare not remember or record ......"

Tan Lun's face was already blue, and he didn't know how to answer the scribe's words, so he looked at Jinyiwei.

"Then stop for now, and don't want that part just now. Review. Jin Yiwei said, and slammed the tea bowl towards the big case, and the tea spilled.

"Re-interrogation, I say the same." Zheng Michang slowly opened his eyes and looked at Tan Lun and the two brocade guards, "Being an official in the same dynasty is like taking a boat, with wind and waves, no one can be spared if they fall into the water first and then fall into the water." Ladies and gentlemen, I am not the only one in the Ming Dynasty, Zheng Michang, and whoever is replaced by this official can only do what I just said. Master Tan, you are now an envoy of Zhejiang, and you will understand after working for a year and a half. ”

"Shut up!" Tan Lun was also angered by him, "You are a well-dressed beast, are the officials of the Ming Dynasty all beasts?" ”

Zheng Michang: "The civil official robe is embroidered with a bird, and the military attache robe is embroidered with a beast." Lord Tan, the two are on a mission, my Ming Dynasty scholar is only 158 taels a year, and I have been a governor for a year and more than 100 taels. An eagle and a tiger can't eat enough with these. Wearing this robe, which one do you say is not a well-dressed beast? ”

With an uproar, the bowl of tea in Jin Yiwei's hand rushed into a waterline with the tea leaves and splashed on Zheng Yuchang's face. Immediately, his face was covered with water and tea leaves!

Zheng Michang sat there and slowly wiped the tea off his face, and looked at the Jinyi Wei who splashed him: "Shangcha, if you treat me like this today, others may treat you like this tomorrow, why do you have to do this?" ”

Jin Yiwei threw the tea bowl at Zheng Michang's face, and the tea bowl smashed on Zheng Michang's mouth with a strong wind, and Zheng Michang fell on his back.

Tan Lun was startled, and quickly stood up and looked at Zheng Michang who was lying on the ground.

Zheng Michang was lying on his back on the ground, blood was flowing from his mouth, and then the mouth was swollen when he looked at it.

Jin Yiwei: "Son of a bitch!" is greedy and fat, but at this time, he is pulling things around, and he dares to pull it on the emperor! Lao Tzu told you that the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty exterminated the nine tribes at most, and my Ming Dynasty can destroy your ten tribes! ”

Zheng Michang, who was lying on the ground, was still gurgling blood from his mouth, his mouth was swollen even more, and his body was also convulsing.

Tan Lun had to control the situation, and immediately ordered the scribe: "Help him up and see how he is." ”

The scribe hurriedly walked over, picked up Zheng Michang's head, and helped him sit up on his back. Zheng Michang spat out a mouthful of blood, and there were still a few teeth in the blood!

Tan Lun said to the scribe with a gloomy face: "Let the Qin prisoner press the mold on the confession, seal it immediately, and hand it over to Zhao Zhongcheng!" After saying that, he shook his hand and walked out first.

He Maocai knelt there, that face was so terrifying! His face was full of blood, and his two eyes seemed to bulge out of his sockets.

It turned out that one brocade guard pinched his left wrist from behind to his right shoulder, and another brocade guard pinched his right wrist from his chest to the back of his right neck, and the two wrists were closer and tighter on the back of his right neck and shoulder, and the click of the bone joints could be heard!

He Maocai was curled up by two brocade guards, and his two prominent eyes stubbornly looked up at Hai Rui and Wang Yongji, who were sitting in front of the big case.

Wang Yongji couldn't bear to look at it, and slowly closed his eyes.

Hai Rui spoke: "Loosen the punishment and let him confess." ”

Where did the two brocade guards listen to him, they were still secretly exerting their strength. A brocade guard also asked: "If you say Yan Song, you will say Yan Song, and if you say Yan Shifan, you will say Yan Shifan, why do you pull it on the emperor!" ”

"Don't talk about it yet!" The other brocade guard then shouted.

He Maocai could not answer anywhere, and the sweat on his face was dripping like rain.

Hai Rui: "I said that he would confess to the loose punishment." ”

"Don't you dare to pull it!" The two brocade-clothed guards didn't let go and drank He Maocai.

With a "snap", Hai Rui slapped the startled wood and stood up: "Loose punishment, let him confess!" ”

Only then did the two brocade guards look up at Hai Rui.

Hai Rui: "Here Wang Zhixian and I are the presiding judges, and you don't talk about the royal law yourself, how can you call Qin a criminal law?" Loose punishment! ”

Wang Yongji also opened his eyes and helped Hai Ruiyan look at the two brocade guards: "The holy decree is for us to try the case, and the two superiors should always follow the order." ”

Only then did the two brocade guards slam their hands, and He Maocai fell to the ground.

The two brocade guards sat back on either side of Hai Rui and Wang Yongji with cold faces.

Hai Rui looked at Wang Yongji, and of course Wang Yongji understood: "Next, the trial." ”

Hai Rui turned to look at He Maocai, who was lying on the ground: "He Maocai, get up and talk back." ”

He Maocai's two arms were no longer strong, and at this time, he actually erected his body a little bit with his head on the ground, and knelt there: "What else do you want me to say?" ”

Hai Rui: "Tell me the truth." ”

He Maocai: "There is no truth under the heavy punishment. ”

Hai Jui: "That's right. You have been in charge of the sentence in Zhejiang for four years, how many heavy sentences have you used, and how many unjust souls have been sacrificed to death! If you want to be unretributed, you tell the truth. Truth be told, there are no heavy sentences. ”

He Maocai: "I'm telling the truth. ”

"Whether it's the truth or not, we know." Hai Rui's two eyes were like two knives stabbing at him, "Let me ask you, you just said that everything you did was done for the emperor, when did the emperor give you a will?" ”

He Maocai: "There is no will. ”

Hai Rui: "There is no will, why do you say that you did it for the emperor?" ”

He Maocai: "The Weaving Bureau is for the palace to be an errand, and the cabinet is also for the palace to be an errand, and what the Weaving Bureau and the Cabinet asked us to do was not for the emperor, but for whom." ”

Hai Jui said to the scribe of record: "Recorded. ”

"Don't remember that!" A brocade guard stood up again.

The scribe froze.

Hai Jui: "Give me the confession and the pen and ink." ”

The scribe hurriedly sent the confession, pen and ink, and put it in front of Hai Rui's case.

Hai Rui: "There's nothing to do with you here, you can get out." ”

As if the scribe had been granted amnesty, he hastened to withdraw.

Hai Jui picked up the pen and began to record it himself.

The two brocade guards both stood up: "Haizhi County, you have to understand the consequences of doing this." ”

Hai Jui: "You can quit if you are afraid of the consequences." ”

The faces of the two brocade guards changed abruptly. One brocade guard said to another, "Let's go!" ”

The two men strode out with the wind.

At this time, Wang Yongji stretched out his hand to take the offering paper and ink inkstone in front of Hai Rui: "You ask, I will record." ”

Hai Rui stopped him and showed his eyes: "No need. I'll ask and remember one person by one, and you can listen to it from the sidelines. ”

Wang Yongji still took the paper and inkstone: "The Qin case cannot be recorded by the official." If it is recorded, it cannot be filed. Then he reached for his pen.

Hai Rui glanced at him gratefully and handed over the pen: "Okay, I'll ask you to remember." ”

Zheng Michang's unfinished confession was sent to Zhao Zhenji's desk.

Although he was mentally prepared in advance, Zhao Zhenji was still shocked after reading the confession, and fine beads of sweat seeped out from his forehead. He picked up the handkerchief on the desk and wiped the sweat off his forehead, finished reading this page, opened it, and looked at the last page.

Tan Lun, Jin Yiwei, and another Jin Yiwei all sat there silently, waiting for Zhao Zhenji to finish reading the confession.

After Zheng Michang's confession was finished, Zhao Zhenji looked at Tan Lun, and then at Jinyiwei: "Crazy." The two were right to stop the interrogation. Such a confession must never be handed in. But the prisoner can't do without a confession, how to try it next, the two don't know if they have thought about it. ”

"Zheng Michang can't speak anymore." Tan Lun was obviously a little upset at this time, "I can only let him write his own confession." But in my opinion, it's still these things for him to write. ”

"Then hurry up and interrogate He Maocai first." Zhao Zhenji also felt that the difficulty of the trial was beyond imagination, "How did He Maocai's trial go?" ”

Of course, Tan Lun and Jin Yiwei didn't know, but the scribe on duty at the door answered: "Lord Huizhongcheng, the two superiors who judged He Maocai are here, waiting to see your lord." ”

Zhao Zhenji, Tan Lun and the two brocade guards felt different when they heard it, and they couldn't help but glance at each other.

Zhao Zhenji: "What about Haizhi County and Wang Zhi County?" ”

The scribe on duty: "Lord Huizhongcheng, Haizhi County and Wang Zhixian didn't see it, only two messengers were waiting in the front hall." ”

Zhao Zhenji: "Please come in." ”

The two brocade guards who tried the case with Hai Rui came in, and they didn't care about any etiquette, and hurriedly told Hai Rui about the trial process, and then sat aside with a blue face.

After Zhao Zhenji and Tan Lun listened, they sat there without saying a word.

At this time, it was getting dark, and the crows on the big locust tree in the backyard of the signing room had all returned to their nests, and a burst of wah-wow noises came in.

"Someone!" Zhao Zhenji suddenly shouted.

Several people were shocked by his sudden shouting, and they all looked at him.

The scribe on duty hurriedly came in: "Zhongcheng, what are your orders?" ”

Zhao Zhenji looked at the scribe: "Immediately ask a few people to tear down the crows' nests on the locust tree for me!" ”

The scribe had not yet woken up, and was stunned.

"Do you hear me?" Zhao Zhenji's voice became more stern.

"Yes." The scribe hurriedly withdrew.

Zhao Zhenji finished sending this open fire and slowly suppressed his temperament, and looked at Tan Lun and the four brocade guards: "Zheng Michang has already made up his mind, and he will not write a true confession even if he dies." Now the case can only fall on He Maocai. Lord Tan, you go to Haizhi County and Wang Zhixian County, and seal He Maocai's confession immediately and send it immediately. ”

Tan Lun slowly stood up: "I'll go." ”

The four brocade guards also stood up: "Let's also take our leave." ”

Several people walked out.

Outside the window, the crows in the backyard were loud.

Wang Yongji also sweated while recording. After recording this paragraph, he also picked up the handkerchief on the case and wiped his sweat.

Hai Rui looked at He Maocai again: "You said that Yang Jinshui instructed the destruction of the embankment, what evidence is there?" ”

He Maocai, this is the last card, of course, biting to death: "There is no evidence." If you want evidence, you can ask Grandpa Yang. ”

He Maocai was so cunning and stubborn that Wang Yongji was also angry: "He Maocai, you are also a two-list jinshi, don't you feel ashamed to push the evidence of the crime on a madman at this time?" ”

He Maocai: "It's none of my business whether he's crazy or not." ”

Hai Rui: "You are the envoy of Zhejiang, Hu Butang was the governor of Zhejiang and the governor of Zhejiang at that time, Hu Butang didn't know about such a big thing, and you didn't ask Hu Butang, you would listen to the words of the head of a weaving bureau?" Do you think you can get away with a confession like this? ”

He Maocai gritted his teeth and thought about it again: "Gonggong Yang said at the time that he asked us to do this at the behest of the above, and I can't help but listen." ”

Hai Rui: "Who's up there?" ”

He Maocai was asked.

Hai Jui: "Who is it?" ”

He Maocai: "How do I know what he said?" ”

Hai Rui turned to Wang Yongji: "Please record it." ”

Wang Yongji's heart was happier and he recorded quickly.

Hai Rui: "He Maocai, I will summarize your confession just now, and you can hear it clearly." You said that it was Yang Jinshui's idea to destroy the embankment and flood the fields in May this year. But Yang Jinshui is just the head of the Weaving Bureau, and he has no power to mobilize you to inspect the soldiers of the Yamen, and you say that Yang Jinshui is under orders, so you dare not disobey. When I ask you whose orders he has served, you say you don't know. Actually, you know. Yang Jinshui is directly under the supervision of the celebrant and the celebrant has always acted according to the order. The order you are talking about is the celebrant and the emperor. Isn't it? Lord Wang, please put my words on record. ”

"Slow! Don't record. He Maocai gasped a little, "I—I didn't say that." ”

Hai Rui stood up and slapped the shocked wood: "Then let me ask you one last thing, who told you to do the destruction of the embankment and flooding the fields!" ”

He Maocai was still silent.

Hai Rui: "Then let him draw this confession and send it to the court immediately." Draw a charge! ”

Where did He Maocai dare to draw a pledge on such a confession, he was stunned for a moment.

Hai Rui: "If you don't draw a hand, I'll ask someone to let you press the hand model." Come! ”

The door to the arraignment room slammed open, and two jailers rushed in.

Hai Rui: "The prisoner refuses to draw the prisoner, and he lays his hand on the shelf!" ”

The two jailers held He Maocai one by one.

He Maocai couldn't bear it: "I, I have another feeling!" ”

Hai Rui and Wang Yongji glanced at each other: "Then you go down first." ”

The two jailers put him down again, withdrew, and closed the door again.

Hai Rui's eyes stared at He Maocai.

He Maocai lowered his head: "The destruction of the embankment and flooding the fields was done by the elder Xiaoge who wrote to us to do it. But Father-in-law Yang also knew and agreed. ”

Hai Rui: "Does Hu Butang know?" ”

He Maocai: "I don't know. ”

Hai Rui: "Does Zheng Michang know?" ”

He Maocai: "Yes. ”

Wang Yongji recorded quickly, and nodded to Hai Rui when he was done.

Hai Rui looked at He Maocai: "Draw a charge!" ”

A few officers took two bamboo poles and poked the crow's nest in the locust tree.

The two crows' nests that were within reach of the bamboo poles were pierced, and the two crows flew loudly, so that the crows of a tree flew up, flying and screaming in the air in the twilight backyard, and the crows were shadowed in the air, and the yard was suddenly dark.

There are also a few crow's nests set up on high branches, the sky is dark and the bamboo poles are short, and a few errand servants jump and stab randomly, but they can't poke down.

The scribe on duty was anxious: "Move the ladder!" Bring a ladder! ”

Several of the officers threw away the bamboo poles and ran out through the round gate on the side.

Some crows flew back into their nests, while others were still flying around without their nests. The scribe on duty stood there looking up and waiting.

"Forget it, don't tear it down." Zhao Zhenji's voice came from behind.

The scribe was still looking up at the crows flying around: "You say you don't want to tear it down, Zhongcheng, you go and talk back!" ”

Zhao Zhenji saw that he didn't hear it, and he stopped talking, turned around slowly, and prepared to go back to the courtyard gate he had just entered. Another scribe came out panting.

The scribe ran to Zhao Zhenji and knelt down: "Lord Yuzhongcheng, Haizhi County and Wang Zhixian are here. I heard that He Maocai made an important confession! ”

Zhao Zhenji's eyes lit up and he strode out.

The scribe who demolished the crow's nest came to his senses and looked at Zhao Zhenji's back and stayed there.

Several officers came in through the round gate with a long ladder, and set up on the locust tree, and one of them climbed up.

The scribe on duty: "No, don't tear it down!" ”

The officer climbed the ladder and stopped, looking down at him.

The scribe on duty: "Don't tear it down!" ”

The messenger who climbed the ladder still looked at the errand clerk inexplicably.

All the lights were on, and all the people were called back again.

He Maocai's confession was placed on the big case, Zhao Zhenji was standing in the middle, Tan Lun was standing on the left, and Jinyiwei was standing on the right, all with wide eyes and looking at word by word.

Hai Rui, Wang Yongji, and the other three brocade guards sat quietly on their chairs and waited for them to read their confessions.

After reading the confession, all three people raised their heads, their eyes bright, but none of them spoke.

"I think this confession can be submitted to the court immediately!" Tan Lun broke the silence.

Zhao Zhenji turned his gaze to Jinyiwei.

Jin Yiwei: "Will Zheng Michang's confession be sent?" Also, can so many slanderous words of the Holy Majesty be sent as they are? ”

Zhao Zhenji: "What does that mean being on a mission?" ”

Jin Yiwei on the other side: "All words involving the Holy One must be deleted." ”

Zhao Zhenji looked at Tan Lun, Hai Rui and Wang Yongji again: "What do you see? ”

Hai Rui: "I don't see it that way. Slandering the saint can be seen that Zheng Michang and He Maocai are already fatherless and kingless people, and such people will do so many sins that have brought disaster to the country and the people. The "Da Ming Law" contains a clear text that all cases that are tried by order must be submitted to the imperial court without changing a single word of the original confession to the emperor. If it is changed, it is a bully. ”

Jin Yiwei stopped talking and turned to look at Zhao Zhenji.

Zhao Zhenji knew that the most important thing at this time was the attitude, so he thought about it and said slowly: "The Law of Da Ming has clear regulations. But as a courtier, he knew that the rebellion was to avoid the crime and slander the saint, and he couldn't bear to send such a rebellious remark to hurt the holy name. Haizhi County, can He Maocai be retried, and submit another confession according to what the Zhenfu Division just meant? Speaking of this, he turned to look at Tan Lun again, his eyes were meaningful.

Tan Lun immediately understood the stakes, but he was really not sure that he could persuade Hai Rui to accept this proposition, and he was stunned for a while.

Hai Rui immediately spoke: "Of course, you adults can try He Maocai again, and you can also try Zheng Michang again. But this confession was interrogated by me, and I had to submit it to the imperial court in its original form. ”

Jin Yiwei was anxious: "What will happen if such a confession is handed over to the imperial cabinet?" What will happen to the celebrant after seeing it? How to play the emperor? ”

Hai Rui: "Play the emperor truthfully." On Rabid Dog Barking Day, I don't know why you have so many taboos. ”

All of them were speechless.

Zhao Zhenji lowered his head and thought about it, and raised his head again after a long time: "It's tomorrow to send it to the imperial court." You might as well go and rest and think again. ”

This is obviously to leave a last resort. Everyone will understand, but they will not be silent.

Zhao Zhenji looked at Hai Rui and Wang Yongji: "The two of you have also worked hard today, let's go back to the official post to rest first." ”

Hai Rui and Wang Yongji stood up, waved to Zhao Zhenji and Tan Lun, and walked out.

Hearing the footsteps go away, Zhao Zhenji immediately faced Tan Lun and the four brocade guards: "He Maocai's confession is not trivial. is really as confessed, Shen Yishi's case can be concluded immediately, and those people behind him are innocent! But now, in order to evade responsibility, the guilty offender has insinuated the emperor again. This is the dilemma. Lord Tan, you have to work hard again, go and talk to Haizhi County, it is better not to present the confession to the imperial court like this. ”

Tan Lun had no choice but to stand up again: "I'll go and say." But if he insists on presenting, we can't refute him. ”

Zhao Zhenji: "He insisted on going his own way, let's find another way." What do you think? ”

Jin Yiwei on the other side: "Lord Zhao, this is Lao Chengmouguo, we all listen to you." ”

Zhao Zhenji looked at Tan Lun again: "I don't have to sleep, Lord Tan has worked so hard." ”

"I'll go." Tan Lun arched his hand at them and walked out.

A few large lanterns were raised high with bamboo poles, illuminating the backyard and the locust tree. The crows whose nests had been torn down were still hovering and chirping over the courtyard.

Zhao Zhenji was wearing a close-fitting short suit, with his hair tied and looking up at the tall locust tree, looking at the shadows of the crows in the sky in the courtyard.

A few scribes and a few of the servants stood behind him with bated breath, not knowing what he was going to do.

Soon, two servants came carrying the long ladder and set it up on the locust tree.

The scribe on duty asked quietly, "Lord Yuzhongcheng, the ladder has been erected, should it be dismantled now?" ”

Zhao Zhenji didn't answer his words immediately, and read the poem to himself: "When you sing about wine, life is geometric." For example, if the morning dew is gone, there will be a lot of hardship. …… The moon stars are scarce, and the black magpie flies south. Three turns around the tree, no branches to perch on. ”

A few scribes and a few of the servants were even more confused, and they all looked at him from behind.

"Pick up all the branches that you have dismantled." Zhao Zhenji still held his head up.

The scribe on duty didn't understand, and didn't dare to ask, but looked at the other people.

One of the officers understood, showed a look, and took the lead in picking up the nest branches that had been poked down in the evening. The others also understood, and picked up the nest branches on the ground.

"Come on, hold up the ladder." Zhao Zhenji said again, and he actually climbed the ladder to climb up.

The scribe on duty was the first to be frightened: "Quick, hold the ladder!" ”

Two or three messengers hurried over and clung to the ladder.

Zhao Zhenji had already climbed to the remnants of the nest in the middle of the tree, and shouted down, "Hand me those nest branches." ”

Then the people understood what he meant. In a panic, I thought about it very quickly. One of the officers untied his belt and tied a handful of branches: "Bring me a bamboo pole!" ”

Another errand picked up a bamboo pole and lowered the pole head, and the bundled branches were tied to the tip of the bamboo pole, and the officer who took the bamboo pole slowly straightened the bamboo pole and slowly stretched the bundle of branches to Zhao Zhenji on the ladder.

Zhao Zhenji took off the bundle of nest branches, put it between the branches of the locust tree, picked them up one by one, and built them on the remnants of the nest.

Under the tree, those people were stunned.

"You're too extreme! Zhao Zhongcheng is not the kind of person you say! Tan Lun looked very excited, his tone became intense, and he said to Hai Rui, "You Hai Gangfeng is an upright person, and you are worried about the society and Li Shu!" But I, the Ming Dynasty, are not the only one, Hai Rui, worried about the country and the people! Have you always heard of the 'Four Commandments of Vietnamese-Chinese'? Have you always heard of the 'Three Sons of Wuwu'? They are all direct ministers who dare to impeach Yan Song's father and son. And who is saving these seven people? It was Xu Ge who gave up his life to save them. Zhao Zhongcheng is a student of Xu Gelao, he may not hate Yan Dang? Maybe you don't want to clear the Jun side? It's because there are lessons to be learned! The strict party has controlled the government for more than 20 years, and there are more than 100 Qingliu who bluntly said that they participated in their impeachment. Among them, more than 20 were killed and more than 30 were exiled. Those who have survived the punishment and have been dismissed do not know how many! Why is this happening? It was because Yan Song isolated the emperor and blocked his speech, and secretly implicated all the despicable things they did on the emperor. So that as long as the impeachment of the Yan Party becomes an attack on the Holy One. Today, they finally got to the point where the treasury was empty and unsustainable, and they did what these gods and men in Zhejiang were angry about. When these things were presented to the imperial court, it was the day of the fall of the Yan party. The work of eternity, one step away. Zhao Zhongcheng also called me to persuade you because he knew that he had learned from the past. In the case of Zhejiang, the saint must not be involved, once the saint is involved, the previous achievements will be wasted, and the strict party will still not fall, and it will cause trouble to the people who recommended you and me in the DPRK and China. Brother Gangfeng, things can be done from the scriptures, and you can also follow the power. Don't you understand this either? ”

Wang Yongji was also enthusiastic by Tan Lun's generous statement at this time, stood up and said to Hai Rui: "What Lord Tan said is the truth and the truth. Brother Gangfeng, for the sake of the imperial court, for the livelihood of the world, the sages have learned, in order to live up to the 'Four Edicts of Yuezhong', the 'Three Sons of Wuwu' and so many people who have suffered disasters by participating in the strict party, you just listen to Lord Tan! ”

"I am not the 'Four Commandments of Vietnam', nor am I the 'Three Sons of Wuwu'. My surname is Hai Ming, Rui Zi, Ru Xian, and Gang Feng. Speaking of this, Hai Rui stood up, "I'm just a human being, born in a barbarian land on the island, without your Tan Zili's recommendation, I can't even be a county order, at most I will go home to wait for my mother when I finish this Nanping Sect." I don't understand, Zhao Zhongcheng, Master Tan, why do you take me Hai Rui so seriously! At this point he stopped.

Tan Lun was stunned, and Wang Yongji was also stunned.

"It's just that I, Hai Rui, are serious about my work." Hai Rui also raised his voice excitedly, "From March to Zhejiang, it has been less than half a year now, and what I have seen and known can only be said in four words, that is, shocking!" Zheng Michang, He Maocai and their former officials took millions of bribes just in Shen Yishi of the Weaving Bureau! There are also land taxes, salt and iron taxes, and canal dam projects, and I don't know how much I am greedy for ink! Yes, they are all members of the strict party, not only in Zhejiang, but also in the three capitals and thirteen provinces. Why have they been able to run amok for more than 20 years? It's because there are more spendthrifts ahead of them than they do! Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the princes and princes of the royal family have spread all over the world. According to the regulations, a prince should offer 50,000 pieces of rice, 25,000 pieces of money, 40 horses of brocade, 300 horses of silk, 500 horses of silk, 1,000 horses of lea, 1,000 pieces of winter cloth, and another thousand horses of summer cloth. The rest of the expenses are even more numerous. Have you ever calculated, a prince spends so much on state funds, and how much money is spent by so many royal clans in the Ming Dynasty! As for the granges annexed by the royal family, eunuchs in the palace, and officials at all levels, they do not pay half of the world, and the small people can cultivate less than half of the world's fields but have to pay the world's taxes, these are even more known to everyone. As far as Zhejiang is concerned, there are only 629,000 stone of grain and rice left every year, and 1.23 million stone of rice can be supplied to the royal family and the government of the government. The grain kept for two years could not be used for one year's rice for the royal family. However, the north invades every year, and the southeast is raging every year, endangering the world, but the soldiers' salaries and grass have to be scraped together! If these things are only impeached by Yan Song and Yan Shifan, can they be justified? As Lord Tan just said, those who have always participated in the impeachment of the Yan Party have suffered from their involvement in the royal family. In my opinion, it is the opposite, it is because they only dare to participate in Yan and dare not speak out about the big evils in the world, so that the Yan Party can hide the big evils and then wantonly greed ink without falling. If the world does not reform the evils, even if there is a strict party, there will be another strict party! The strict party wants to participate, and the emperor wants to admonish, and the monarch's father is Yao Shun, so as to avoid the hunger and cold of the people. Meng Ziyun's king is light, the community is secondary, and the people are important! I don't understand this reasoning, why don't you dare to speak to the emperor? Master Tan said that I was extreme, and this is my extreme. Please Lord Tan transfer my words to Zhao Zhongcheng, and you can also transfer them to King Yu, Xu Ge Lao, Gao Da, and Zhang Da. If this is the sin of Hai Rui alone, it has nothing to do with you. I have no party! ”

Tan Lun was stunned, and Wang Yongji was also stunned.

After a long time, Tan Lun spoke: "Since this is the case, I won't say more." Just say one sentence, or that sentence, I, Tan Lun, recommended you Hai Rui, and I will not regret it for the rest of my life! With that, he walked straight out the door.

Wang Yongji was still standing there, and only then did he raise his head and look at Hai Rui: "Brother Gangfeng, Brother Gangfeng, if you do this, I will have to find someone to take care of you." As he spoke, he walked out slowly.

This time it was Hai Rui's turn to stand there alone, slowly raising his head and looking at the sky above the courtyard outside the door.

There is no moon tonight, only a sky full of stars above the courtyard.

When only the morning star was left in the sky, a glimmer of white was already visible in the eastern sky. The leader of the eunuchs on duty led a number of eunuchs on duty and stood in two rows with lanterns in their hands, and the ancestor was about to speak.

There was a rush of footsteps, and two lanterns led the sedan chair through the courtyard gate.

"Good morning, Ancestor!" All the eunuchs bowed down.

The sedan chair stopped, and without waiting for the people outside to lift the sedan curtain, Lu Fang opened the curtain and got out of the sedan door.

"Press the car! Press the car! The head of the eunuch on duty shouted hurriedly.

The two eunuchs who carried the sedan chair in the back hurriedly lifted the sedan pole, and the sedan pole in front hit the ground, Lu Fang was still standing in the sedan pole, looking up at the sky, the morning star gradually faded away, and the white line in the eastern sky gradually widened, like a fish belly.

"What are you doing with the lights on!" The old ancestor, who had always been kind, was inexplicably angry today, "Are you looking at the endless money in the palace!" ”

At first, they were all stunned, but the head of the eunuch on duty immediately understood, and whispered to everyone: "Turn off the lights!" Put out all the lanterns! ”

There was a sound of blowing lights, and lanterns were blown out.

The sky was about to be dark, and it was hazy, and Lu Fang stood there and said again: "There is a day when you beg for food!" He put this sentence aside and walked straight to the courtyard.

All the eunuchs were nailed to the outside of the courtyard, and only the head of the eunuch on duty hurriedly followed: "Ancestor, slow down, don't dare to trip." ”

Lu Fang ignored him, lifted the corner of his robe and walked forward quickly.

Entering the inner courtyard, the four eunuchs were already standing at the door of the duty room and waiting, where the bright lights were still shining inside and outside the house.

The head of the eunuch on duty who followed in hurriedly shouted to the two eunuchs on duty in the courtyard: "Extinguish all the lanterns!" ”

The four eunuchs were stunned, and the two eunuchs on duty in the inner courtyard were also stunned.

Lu Fang stopped, and the mad man with two eyes today looked at the eunuch on duty: "Who called the lights out?" ”

It was the turn of the eunuch on duty to be stunned, and his panicked eyes were half raised to look at Lu Fang.

Lu Fang: "Stay in the dark field!" Then he walked into the door of the duty room.

The four eunuchs followed him in.

The fire at the end of the eunuch on duty was sprinkled on the two eunuchs on duty in the inner courtyard, and he shouted in a low voice: "Don't get out yet!" "I walked out first.

The two eunuchs on duty hurriedly followed out of the courtyard gate.

The trial confessions sent by the 800-mile rush in Zhejiang had already been pressed with paperweight and jade one by one in order, and placed on the big case in the duty room.

The lantern was shining, and Lu Fang's eyes quickly looked over from top to bottom and from left to right.

The four eunuchs had already seen it, and they all held their breath at this time and waited for Lu Fang to finish reading.

Lu Fang's eyes slowly raised, looking at the brighter and brighter twilight outside the door, and one hand slowly reached over to touch the tea bowl on the side of the desk.

Huang Jin picked up the tea bowl in time and handed it over with both hands, Lu Fang grabbed the tea bowl on the plate, and suddenly smashed it on the brick floor in front of the big case!

Fragments splash, tea splashes!

All four were startled.

"What the hell is Zhejiang going to do! Yan Song and Xu Jie, what are they going to do! Lu Fang had never been so angry.

"You want the heads of the five of us." Chen Hong, the chief eunuch of Bingbi, answered, "Yang Jinshui has ordered the arrest, and the Shangyi Supervisor, the Scarf and Hat Bureau, and many people in the palace are all investigating, and they still have to pull the matter to the palace and the emperor, and it is a big deal to behead the hundreds of thousands of people in the palace." ”

"There's a war ahead, and the treasury is empty, I really don't understand why they are fighting like this at this time." Another Bingbi eunuch also said very angrily, "Elder Yan Ge and Elder Xiaoge, even if they don't do well, they still have to rely on their people to stand up to them at this time." They all took Zheng Michang and He Maocai to open the knife, and what did they have to chase to destroy the embankment and flood the fields, and what to chase Inoue Shishilang, so that they will be killed and Hu Zongxian will be involved, and the battle in Zhejiang will not be fought! ”

"It's too late to put the gas in." As soon as these people made a fuss, Lu Fang quickly calmed down, "Such a confession must not be presented to the master." Say what to do. ”

It is not necessary to express the position, and the idea will be responsible for it in the future, and a few eunuchs who were very indignant just now were silent at this time.

Only Huang Jin was honest and looked at Lu Fang: "Godfather is worried." Such a confession is presented to the master, long live, that is, to force the master to make a decision to raise a prison, but at this time, how can the master make this decision. If you make it difficult for your master like this, we really deserve to die. Godfather, it's rare for us to bear this. ”

Lu Fang looked at Huang Jin deeply, with three points of gratitude and seven points of sadness in his eyes: "They have a big family and a big business, but they are not as good as you as a person who has no family!" He sighed and raised his voice: "But we can't get all five of us involved, the master handed over the celebrant to me, and I should bear this difficulty." Listen up. ”

The four eunuchs looked at him deeply.

Lu Fang: "The master hasn't repaired his hands and feet for twenty-one days, Jin'er, you go and fix all the nails for the master today, the more detailed the work, the better, give me two hours, don't let the master call me." ”

Huang Jin: "My son will go." ”

"There's no hurry." Lu Fang slowly picked up the two confessions on the big case, folded them and stuffed them into his sleeve, "I have to show the two of them the two confessions of Hai Rui and Wang Yongji. When I come back, I will immediately send it back to Zhejiang, and explicitly order Zhao Zhenji to be retried. Chen Gonggong. ”

"Godfather." Chen Hong hurriedly bowed down, "You still call me son." ”

Lu Fang glanced at him and said, "Yes." Father and son soldiers, you are the chief, I usually have to respect you a little, today I will call you Hong'er. ”

Chen Hong immediately answered at this time: "My son is here." ”

Lu Fang: "Send it to Zhao Zhenji's court and write it immediately, and ask him what his intention is to present such a confession!" After I finished writing, when I came back, I would send the two confessions of Hai Rui and Wang Yongji to Zhejiang for 800 miles, and ordered Zhao Zhenji to call Hai Rui and Wang Yongji for a retrial. ”

"My son understands." Chen Hong replied, but asked again, "If the master Long Live Lord asks about this before the fathers come back, how will the sons reply?" ”

Lu Fang glanced at him: "These confessions can't all be hidden from the master. The master really wanted to ask, so he submitted the two confessions of Zhao Zhenji and Tan Lun to their trial. At that time, my business should be done, and if you ask anything, you can't answer and push it on me. ”

Chen Hong looked at the ground with his eyes: "Don't worry, godfather, if you can drag your sons, you will definitely drag them until your godfather comes back." ”

Lu Fang looked at the other two eunuchs: "Hello, there is a word in the matter here, and you will be killed immediately!" ”

The two eunuchs: "My son understands!" ”

"It's almost time." Lu Fang stood up, "Immediately ask the wine vinegar noodle bureau to find a flower carving from the cellar of the first year of Jiajing, put it in my sedan chair, and I want to leave the palace." ”

History says that Yan Song has controlled the government for more than 20 years, but outsiders don't know that this control is obtained by getting up early and going dark. On the three hundred and sixty-fifth days of the year, at least three hundred days, Yan Song must get up early, rush to the Xiyuan cabinet at the beginning of the morning, and wait for Jiajing's summons at any time. How many recitals, how many admonitions to reprimand Yan Song, according to statistics, the most used is eight words: "Block the way of speech, or separate the monarch and ministers!" That's what it is.

Because of Yan Song's early dynasty, getting up early has become the rule of Yan Mansion. In the summer, it is the time when the hundreds of roosters raised in the courtyard of the house croak three times. Listening to the rooster crows everywhere, eighty-one people, as in the past, carved python robes, carried by two maids out of the living room, the eight-lift sedan chair in the courtyard immediately leaned there, and the sedan curtain was lifted from the side.

Yan Song was carried and slowly walked to the side of the sedan chair, and the gatekeeper on duty that day rushed in from outside the courtyard gate, went straight to Yan Song, and knelt down on one leg: "Ge Lao, Gonggong Lu is here!" ”

Yan Song was already a little behind at this time, but he still seemed to hear this sentence clearly: "What did you say?" Which Father-in-law Lu came? ”

The porter had no choice but to stand up, bow obliquely, block his mouth with one hand, and leaned into Yan Song's ear: "Master Ge, it's Father-in-law Lu Fang." ”

"Open the middle door and welcome in!" Yan Song didn't have time to think about it, so he immediately ordered.

Lu Fang had already appeared in the courtyard gate, smiling, followed by a eunuch holding a jar of forty-year-old flower carvings.

Xu Jie also arrived not long after, and it was Lu Fang who sent someone to call at the same time when he left Xiyuan.

All the attendants and others were sent out, and Yan Song sat on the main seat at the square table in the dining room next to the large living room, Lu Fang sat in the first guest seat, and Xu Jie.

Yan Song had actually used it too early, but Lu Fang and Xu Jie still came on an empty stomach. Fortunately, there are chefs on duty in the kitchen of the Xiangfu for twelve hours, whether it is a meal or a casual snack. In the blink of an eye, the table has set up delicate four meat and four vegetarian hot and cold dishes, three drawers overlap the small steamer is steaming, from the first drawer you can see six small steamed buns of different shapes and colors: white is fine noodles, black is fine buckwheat, yellow is glutinous millet, fine grains and coarse grains, meat stuffing and vegetarian filling, omnivorous treasures, it can be seen that this old good will be healthy.

In front of each person is a pair of ivory chopsticks, a blue-glazed wine cup from the official kiln of the Yuan Dynasty, and a blue-glazed saucer from the official kiln of the Southern Song Dynasty.

Just last night, none of the three of them expected to have breakfast here at this time; At this moment, the three of them all knew that this breakfast was like six xiaolongbao in a cage, and no one knew whether it was meat or vegetarian before they were bitten.

The forty-year-old jar brought by Lu Fang was placed on his table. There was no attendant, so he just stood up on his own and picked up the jar.

Xu Jie immediately stood up, and Yan Song also made a gesture of standing up while holding on to the edge of the table.

"Elder Yan Ge, please take a seat." Lu Fang stopped Yan Song, but Xu Jie, who was opposite, stood by himself, holding the wine jar, "This jar of wine is the cellar of the first year of Jiajing, the emperor was the year he joined the unification, and our family also began to follow the emperor that year." It's been forty years in the blink of an eye. After speaking, he poured a full cup for Yan Song, but only half a glass for Xu Jie, and then only poured half a glass for himself, and put down the wine jar.

As the saying goes, wine is full of tea, and a thoughtful opening remark has made the two elders prick up their ears, so that pouring wine without common sense makes the two of them beat secretly. Yan Song and Xu Jie both looked at Lu Fang.

Lu Fang: "It's not easy for the emperor to be in the past forty years, it's not easy for Yan Ge Lao to be in the past twenty years, and Xu Ge has been in the cabinet late, and it's been more than ten years, it's not easy." As for our family, the emperor is just a slave by his side, so it is not enough. Although the three of us have different positions, we can drink the emperor's wine, whether it is bitter or sweet, sweet or astringent, and we don't know it without saying that our intestines know. Xu Ge Lao. ”

Xu Jie was still standing there: "Gonggong Lu, please give advice." ”

Lu Fang: "Our family poured a full cup for Yan Ge Lao, poured half a cup for himself, and only poured half a cup for you, don't you mind?" ”

Xu Jie: "Yan Ge is always the first assistant, and he always bears the burden in the court, and it is too much for me to drink half a cup with him." But the burden in the palace is all on the shoulders of Gonggong Lu, and he shouldn't only pour half a cup. ”

Lu Fang just wanted to tease him with this, and when he finished speaking, he picked up half of his glass of wine, and sent it directly to Xu Jie across the table and put it down: "Elder Xu Ge said this, our family is not even qualified to drink half a glass." This half cup salutes you old. Two and a half cups, adding up to one cup, Xu Ge Lao and Yan Ge Lao also had a tie. ”

No matter how deep Xu Jie's is, he is already shocked at this time: "It is difficult for me to accept what Gonggong Lu said. If there is any fault of Xu and what is the emperor's will, Gonggong Lu will please announce the decree. As he spoke, he left his seat, lifted his robe and was about to kneel.

"Don't pay for it!" Lu Fang has been on an errand with Jiajing for decades, and his agility is far better than ordinary people, so he bypassed the table in one step, and hugged Xu Jie before he knelt down, "Our family will make it clear, I didn't know when I came to the emperor this morning." ”

Xu Jie half-bent his body from shock to stunned, and looked up at Lu Fang.

Yan Song's eyes also showed surprise, and he looked at Lu Fang across the table.

"Sit down, sit down." Lu Fang grabbed Xu Jie, sent Xu Jie's chair, walked back to the chair but didn't sit down, and took out the two confessions of Hai Rui and Wang Yongji Zheng Michang and He Maocai from his sleeve, "There are two things here, which were urgently sent to the palace by Zhejiang last night for 800 miles, and I didn't dare to submit them to the emperor. As he spoke, he handed one of the two confessions to Yan Song and one to Xu Jie.

The two of them immediately froze, both took the confession with both hands, and then each took out their reading glasses from their sleeve robes and looked at them solemnly. I don't know how long it took, but the two pairs of presbyopia finally read the two confessions of Hai Rui's interrogation of Zheng Michang and He Maocai. Yan Song raised his head slightly and looked at the front and upper parts of the table, and Xu Jie lowered his head slightly and looked at the two half-glasses of wine on the table.

"Let's play." Yan Song retracted his gaze, didn't look at Xu Jie, only looked at Lu Fang, "It's really as Zheng Bichang and He Maocai said, it was Yan Shifan who told Zhejiang to destroy the embankment and flood the fields, and if they dared to communicate with the Japanese, they should be beheaded all over the house!" ”

Lu Fang turned his gaze to Xu Jie: "Elder Xu Ge, have you heard what Elder Yan Ge said?" ”

Xu Jie slowly raised his head, and his head was so heavy: "But I don't know what evidence He Mao had to say that Yan Shifan told him to destroy the embankment and flood the fields and call him Tongwei?" ”

Lu Fang: "That's a good point! He Maocai talked about Yan Shifan in his confession, and also talked about Yang Jinshui. Asked him for evidence, but he said it was burned, which is obviously climbing! One instructed him to go insane, and the other instructed him without evidence. Zhejiang, however, presented such a confession. Elder Xu Ge, the emperor has read this confession, if you are asked to go to the old age to investigate thoroughly, can you find out anything? ”

Xu Jie: "Without evidence, no one can investigate thoroughly." ”

Lu Fang: "That's it. In May, the Xin'an River flooded and the dams in nine counties collapsed, and the reason for this was that the Hangzhou Prefecture, Chun'an County, Jiande County, and the River Yamen embezzled public funds for the construction of the embankments. In order to divide the flood, Hu Zongxian had no choice but to break the gap in Chun'an and Jiande, flooding one and a half counties and saving seven and a half counties. At that time, there were Ma Ningyuan and Li Xuan's confessions, and the case had already been decided. Now that those people have been beheaded, Zhejiang has pulled out another statement, involving Yan Shifan and Yang Jinshui, which can be investigated slowly. But what about Hu Zongxian? There is a war going on in the southeast, thousands of people and tens of thousands of Japanese pirates are fighting, and it will not be possible to send Hu Zongxian to Beijing to understand the reply at this time, so that the Japanese will occupy Zhejiang! ”

Yan Song was holding the card Hu Zongxian in his hand, but at this time, he was played out by Lu Fang, and he was even more sure in his heart, but said: "This matter has nothing to do with Hu Zongxian!" There is no need to involve the people in the palace, if you want to investigate, check Yan Shifan. ”

repeatedly greeted Zhejiang, the Zhejiang case could not involve these things, but these two confessions were all involved in black and white! What is Cho Jung-gil doing? What is Tan Lun doing? Can't even the two magistrates control it? Xu Jie was already in a state of confusion at this time, but he couldn't find out for a while. Lu Fang concealed it from the emperor, and came to see himself and Yan Song at this time with these two confessions, making it clear that he suspected that he and King Yu, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng instructed Zhao Zhenji and Tan Lun to deliberately disrupt the court in order to reverse strictness. If this suspicion is suspected in the emperor's heart, it is definitely not Yan Shifan, let alone Yan Song, but himself, I am afraid that King Yu will be involved! Arguments! At this point, you must defend yourself immediately!

Thinking of this, Xu Jie looked at Lu Fang and Yan Song, and said solemnly: "These two confessions were presided over by Juror Hai Rui, and Juror Wang Yongji recorded them, and there were no signatures of Zhao Zhenji and Tan Lun. This is not normal. I agree with Gonggong Lu's statement that such a confession must not be submitted to the emperor. Not only can't Hu Zongxian be involved, but Yang Jinshui can't be involved, and Yan Shifan has no reason to be involved. The Cabinet of Ceremonies and Celebrants should immediately ask Zhao Zhenji and Tan Lun, how could the case be done like this! What the hell are they going to do! ”

This state was so firm, Lu Fang was naturally satisfied, and Yan Song also slowly looked at Xu Jie, although his eyes were dizzy, there was a look of judging the truth inside.

Xu Jie: "The court of the celebrant has been arranged by Gonggong Lu. If the cabinet is not easy to write, I will write it. ”

Needless to say, Lu Fang stretched out his hand and poured the half glass of wine in front of Xu Jie's into Xu Jie's half glass, and Xu Jie's half glass of wine became a full glass of wine.

Lu Fang: "Speaking of this, our family also expresses its heart. Yan Ge has been drinking a glass of wine for decades, and that is the emperor's cup of wine. Xu Ge is more difficult, he has to drink both the emperor's wine and the wine of hundreds of officials, and two glasses of wine are not delicious. Or drink the emperor's cup of wine together. The two pavilion elders drank it. ”

Xu Jiezhi's embarrassment was indescribable, his eyes looked at the glass of wine in front of him, but he didn't know how to serve it.

Yan Song had half-closed his eyes at this time, obviously waiting for Xu Jie to pick up the wine glass.

Lu Fang: "Do the two elders think that our cup is empty, so they don't want to drink this cup of wine?" ”

The two men were still silent.

Lu Fang: "The two elders are all people who have a great family and five blessings, our family has no home, and many godsons are fake." Yang Jinshui was already on his way to Beijing, and the emperor would interrogate him when he arrived in Beijing, and at that time, our family was afraid that we wouldn't even have an empty cup. But the Ming Dynasty can't do without Yan Ge Lao at the moment, and it can't do without Xu Ge Lao. As long as the two elders work together, the world will not be chaotic. Even if the two elders are not for their own net worth, for the emperor, for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, are they still unwilling to drink this cup of wine? ”

Xu Jie slowly picked up the wine glass with both hands and raised it to Yan Song.

Yan Song also picked up his wine glass and faced Xu Jie.

Lu Fang's eyes were staring, and both of them drank the full glass of wine.

"I've been to the palace in the past few days, and I have to keep the two elders anyway. I also hope that the two pavilion elders will not see anyone these days, if you don't speak, the people below will not dare to make trouble! ”

Lu Fang smiled after speaking, but the smile was full of bitterness.