Min Shitong did not know about Shuo Fang's 10 prisoners before. He has an old friend who is an official in Shangjun, and he came to Chang'an yesterday to report on his work, and by the way, he visited his old friend, and casually talked about the strange case of Zhao's unexplained death a few days ago. said that it was a strange case, because the deceased had a special identity, and he was actually a prisoner who came to Chang'an from Shuofang.

When he heard this, he was greatly surprised, it was not a murder, but a prisoner, which was really unheard of. At first, he felt that the officials of Shuofang County Prison were derelict in their duties, but after thinking about it deeply, if these ten prisoners were brought to justice on time, it would be an earth-shattering news.

He was suddenly extremely excited, and felt that this matter should be known to the government and the opposition, so he wrote a recital overnight. He tied the bamboo slips, sealed them with wax, and was about to seal them, when he suddenly thought that if it was just Shangshu, he would probably be shelved in Shangshutai and no one would pay attention to it, so he came up with the idea of impeaching Tingwei in court. The Prime Minister's Department has the responsibility of assisting the Prime Minister in supervising the hundred officials in the capital, so it is also within his duty to question the court captain. As for whether it is right or wrong, it has its own public opinion, and it has nothing to do with his questioning.

After saying that he had impeached Tingwei, he glanced at both sides of the hall out of the corner of his eye, and saw that Wei Xiang, Huo Yu and other ministers were stunned, and then peeked at the emperor's expression, he was also surprised, smug, and secretly worried in his heart, it was really a shock.

He raised his head and raised his chest, and said loudly: "The minister heard that there is a suspicious case of ten prisoners in Shuofang, and the county prison cannot be decided and all of them will be transferred to the court captain. However, the ten prisoners went to Beijing, but there was no jailer to escort them, and they were brought to justice on their own. ”

"I've heard of it." Yu Dingguo didn't know what his intentions were, hesitated for a moment, and replied.

"Heard? Do you know the details? ”

"The case files of the ten prisoners of Shuofang have been sent to the Tingwei Mansion, and I have reviewed them all and know the circumstances of the cases involved in these ten prisons. As for how they arrived in Beijing, the responsibility should be in Shuofang County Prison, not Tingwei. Yu Dingguo replied.

At this time, he realized that Min Shitong would question Zhao Wu's murder next, and he couldn't help but glance up at Liu Xun, who was high above. The emperor knew that Shuo Fang's prisoners and Zhao Wuxian were killed, and the emperor also read the case files of Shuo Fang's ten prisoners from the Tingwei Mansion. However, the emperor never mentioned the ten prisoners of Shuofang in front of him. Although he did not know the emperor's intentions, he could judge that the emperor did not want to make these things public. He muttered in his heart, "This Min Shitong, I don't know what he wants to do." Wei Xiang didn't restrain him either. Thinking of this, he turned his face and looked at Wei Xiang.

Wei Xiang grinned awkwardly at his gaze, and he thought the same as Dingguo in his heart, "The emperor intends to go with the flow, and he doesn't want this matter to make a fuss." ”

Both of them thought that Min Shitong would next mention the case of Zhao's unprovoked murder and investigate the responsibility of Tingwei's dereliction of duty and negligence. Unexpectedly, Min Shitong suddenly changed the topic and asked Yu Dingguo: "Have you ever heard of the case of letting the prisoner go to the Tingwei Mansion by himself, that is, arson." ”

"Not yet. According to the law, 'seeing and knowingly doing things' is a crime of dereliction of duty, and the relevant officials must be held accountable. Yu Dingguo thought that he was going to make a big deal of arson, so he said that he was in front of him.

Min Shitong changed the topic again: "Will any of the ten prisoners be sentenced to death?" ”

"It's hard to say, the case must be decided before the verdict." Yu Dingguo was at a loss for a while.

"So, for these ten prisoners, life and death are uncertain, or they will face the death penalty?"

Yu Dingguo suddenly noticed a sly smile on Min Shitong's face. He couldn't guess Min Shigong's intentions, and he was apprehensive, so he replied honestly: "Yes." ”

"Yes?" Min Shitong asked.

"Yes, yes." Yu Dingguo replied in an affirmative tone.

Seeing this, Min Shitong said: "If the ten prisoners of Shuofang are brought to justice on time, what does Tingwei think?" ”

"The Tingwei Mansion accepts the suspect and adjudicates the case according to the law." Yu Dingguo replied.

"That's all? All the princes here can have feelings. Min Shitong asked, turning to the sides of the main hall.

The ministers sitting on both sides of the hall were also full of interest and discussed at this time. A minister shouted: "It is foolish to think that the ten prisoners of Shuofang returned to themselves regardless of life and death, but they are also trustworthy." Many ministers nodded in agreement.

Min Shitong turned around, bowed respectfully to Liu Xun, and said with a solemn expression: "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that first, after the ten prisoners of Shuofang left the county prison, the case file has been moved to the Tingwei Mansion, and the Tingwei has the responsibility of supervision. However, is it not a dereliction of duty to ignore and cause one of them to be killed? Second, the act of arson is unheard of. The ten prisoners of Shuofang were guilty, and their life and death were uncertain, and they did not return thousands of miles away. The minister thinks that the punishment is inflicted on the villain, and the righteousness is done by the gentleman. Shuo Fang's ten prisoners used to be villains, if they were brought to justice on time, it would be an unprecedented act of faith, and it was a legend of my Han Dynasty, whether they were guilty or not, they were also gentlemen. The court lieutenant does not know the severity, isn't it oversight? Therefore, the court lieutenant was derelict in his duties, and the minister therefore proposed impeachment. ”

Speaking of this, he was so excited that he couldn't help himself, his hands trembled uncontrollably, he swallowed his saliva hard, and it took him a long time to calm down, and he arched his hand to the emperor and said, "After the minister's words, I am terrified." After saying that, he glanced at Yu Dingguo, and then stumbled back to his seat, sitting upright without squinting.

The ministers exchanged heads and ears, and the buzzing of discussion filled the entire hall. They were amazed that there would be such a miraculous operation as arson. As far as the prisoners are concerned, they were originally thinking of escaping, and now if you let them go to prison on their own, won't they take the opportunity to escape? However, then again, it is true that as Min Shitong said, if these prisoners can be brought to justice on time, it will be an act of faith and righteousness in ancient times, and it is a legend of the Han Dynasty.

Yu Dingguo was embarrassed, standing in the center of the hall at a loss, he felt that he couldn't respond to Min Shitong's accountability, and stayed for a while before he arched his hand and said: "The minister is speechless." "Saddened.

The noisy hall suddenly fell silent, and everyone's eyes were on the emperor.

Liu Xun's heart was as calm as water at this time, he glanced at His Royal Highness's ministers, his eyes fell on Bingji, and said with a smile: "Doctor Yushi, how to deal with the matter of arson and imprisonment according to the law." ”

Bingji discussed this strange matter with the emperor, and he bowed slightly, and said, "The ten prisoners of Shuofang are still on the way to be delivered. Therefore, before noon on September 15, no one could be said to have been convicted. If the case is brought to trial on time, the officials concerned are not involved in 'seeing and knowing', and whether the ten prisoners are guilty or not will be decided by the court captain. ”

At this time, a minister stood up and asked Bingji: "Binggong, if you don't know anything, if you are suspected of making a mistake or escaping, what should you be guilty of?" ”

Bingji turned around, looked at him with a smile, and then said with a straight face: "If the suspect misses the deadline or escapes, he will be beheaded according to the law, and the officials involved will be held accountable." ”

The hall was suddenly silent, and Liu Xun also looked solemn.

Seeing this, the minister was apprehensive, and felt that his question was a bit embarrassing, so he arched his hand and said, "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that Si's straightforward words are reasonable. If the ten prisoners of Shuofang came and returned, it was done by a gentleman, and the court lieutenant must not ignore it. ”

The ministers seemed to have different opinions, and a few argued, and there was another buzz in the hall, and after a while, they found that the emperor did not squeak, and closed their mouths one after another, and waited quietly for the emperor to speak.

Liu Xun pondered for a moment and said, "Si Zhi impeached Tingwei for dereliction of duty and negligence, and it will be verified by the imperial historian." ”

Bingji replied respectfully: "Command." ”

"Okay." Liu Xun said that, and then stood up with both hands on the lacquer case. Xu Sang lost no time in shouting: "Retreat." The emperor is a hundred officials. The ministers stood up one after another, bowed to the emperor, and shouted in unison: "May Your Majesty live a long life and be happy for a long time." ”

Yu Dingguo stepped out of the hall, still reminiscing about what had just happened. Min Shitong impeached him in the case of Shuo Fang's ten prisoners, but he said it clearly. Listening to his meaning, it seems that he is accusing the Tingwei Mansion of failing to protect the suspects, but the Tingwei Mansion has not yet accepted the ten prisoners of Shuo Fang and has no responsibility to protect them. Min Shitong seemed to remind the emperor that this arson case is not about life and death, but about faith. However, he didn't know that the emperor had already known about Shuo Fang's imprisonment, and his anticipation was more urgent than him.

Yu Dingguo understood in his heart that what the emperor valued was whether the ten prisoners of Shuofang could return to the country, and whether they were guilty or not was naturally judged according to the law.

"Therefore, I should judge extraordinary cases according to the common law of the world." He smiled and slowly walked down the steps of the hall with his hands behind his back.