Chapter 016: The Wind Blows

There is the Yangtze River flowing through Jiangning County, and there are countless Zhuangzi around it, most of them are rich people, and the Zhang family is no exception.

The time was in the evening, and there were still some small stones that could be illuminated by the sun, Liao Yaowen stepped forward and kicked open the door of the Zhang family, with great force, Chen Cao stood outside the gate with his hands behind his back, with an arrogant face.

"Who, you're confused, dare to come here to make trouble..."A member of the Zhang family walked to the gate angrily: "Wang Ba Lamb..."

Before he finished speaking, Liao Yaowen had already taken out the embroidered spring knife, gently put it on the neck of the family, and said coldly: "Tell your family master to come out, and say that Jinyiwei has something to find him." ”

"It's... Be... It's..."The family stammered a little when he spoke, not because he had a knife on his neck, but because Liao Yaowen reported his own home.

Although the people at the bottom of the Ming Dynasty are afraid of Jinyiwei, these rich foreign owners have no sense of identity with Jinyiwei, and Jinyiwei generally handles big cases, as long as they are not involved in rebellion or the like, even if Jinyiwei comes to the door, they are not afraid at all.

However, the performance of this family member is a little too exaggerated.

"Zhao Xin," Chen Cao didn't turn his head: "Did you threaten them last time you came to their house?" ”

Zhao Xin smiled and touched his head: "They refused to open the door, but they put a few arrows inside and injured a few people..."

Zhao Xin thought that Chen Cao was going to get angry, but where did he know that Chen Cao said: "Well, next time you encounter this situation, show our driving post, and if you don't obey, kill a Liwei first." ”

Zhao Xin's eyes lit up: "Okay..."

"Zhang Youcai, a grass man, has seen adults."

The person who came was about 50 years old, and it was Zhang Liang's father, Zhang Youcai, the owner of the Zhang family.

Chen Cao raised his feet and walked inside, regardless of Zhang Youcai kneeling on the ground: "Show our driving post, go into the house to arrest people, and restrain Zhang Youcai first." ”

"Yes..."

Without waiting for Zhang Youcai to shout, Zhao Xin quickly stepped forward and punched Zhang Youcai in the abdomen, the poor old man was dozens of years old, and he was hit by Zhao Xin, a strong man, and immediately fainted in pain, but he was also ordered by Zhao Xin to go inside.

The brocade guard with the embroidered spring knife appeared in the Zhang family, and the Zhang family once again jumped up and down, but after all, he was an official, and he was all caught in the hall of the Zhang family in half a tea time, and knelt in the hall in turn according to his status.

"My lord, my family has always kept to themselves, and has never done anything evil, why is this? Why? Zhang Youcai, who woke up, immediately burst into tears.

Chen Cao didn't care about this, stared at the more than 20 people in the hall with a cold face, and then asked, "Where is your daughter-in-law Zhang Chen?" ”

Zhang Youcai heard Chen Cao ask where his daughter-in-law was as soon as he came, and immediately stopped crying, as if he had been hit by something, and he was a little speechless when he trembled.

"Bastard thing, Lord Qianhu asked, you actually avoided answering, come on, hit him ten times first, see if he is honest or not." Xu Kaixian stood aside and shouted angrily.

Ten killings, Zhang Youcai's body bones, five strokes are estimated to have to fall over, these words are naturally to scare Zhang Youcai, and then they don't know that this is a scare, and the ladies in the hall shouted and pleaded for mercy, crying one by one.

"This lord, this is under the rule of Ying Tianfu, my family is not a traitor, even if you are a Jinyi guard, you have to come up with a name to prove that my Zhang family has committed something, so that I can wait to be convinced, otherwise, today's matter, I will definitely report to the Yamen of Ying Tianxun."

"Oh.." Chen Cao sat up straight and looked at the person who was talking to him: "Who are you?" Some level of speech, reader? ”

"The good teacher knows, I am Zhang Ke, the forty-sixth year of Wanli raised people, and now I am waiting for the autumn at home, I have a meritorious name, it can be seen that the official does not kneel, but today I was forced by you and others to kneel down to you a thousand household officers, after this matter, I will definitely go to Nanjing Xuezheng Yamen to ask, our saints' children, can we be persecuted by you brocade guards at will."

Looking at Zhang Keyi's words, Chen Cao felt that this kind of person could sacrifice his life for the country, and he must be beautiful and great, but now on this occasion, it is a little abrupt: "Zhao Xin, what is the situation of their family?" ”

Zhao Xin lowered his head and whispered: "The third son of the Zhang family, the eldest son Zhang Ke, the second son Zhang Hong, and the third son Zhang Liang, all three of them have meritorious fame, and only Zhang Ke is a lifter." ”

"Who is Zhang Hong?" Chen Cao didn't care about Zhang Ke's words, and asked loudly.

No one in the hall answered, but Chen Cao thought of something, and then asked: "The official asked one last time, where are Zhang Chen and Zhang Hong?" ”

Still no one answered, Chen Cao let out a breath, raised his hand and said: "Come on, arrest all the Zhang family except Zhang Ke and return them to the Zhenfu Prison, regardless of the men and women who are tortured and served, see if they recruit or not." ”

"Yes..."

Jinyiwei was about to make a move, Zhang Keda shouted: "You dare, what did my Zhang family do, if you don't name it, tomorrow I will go to Nanjing to convene the same year, to block your Jinyiwei yamen." ”

Chen Cao stood up and said coldly: "Zhang Ke, I respect you for not being easy to study, but don't be rash, what did your Zhang family do, I naturally know it in my heart, my Jinyi Wei is the pro-army of the Son of Heaven, and everything I do is a royal case, I really want to investigate it, don't say that you are a small lifter, even if the champion is here, it is not easy to make it." ”

As soon as Chen Cao's words fell, Zhang Youcai and Zhang Ke glanced at each other at the same time, both of them showed a look of fear in their eyes, Chen Cao was deceiving them, and the two of them naturally didn't know Chen Cao's deployment.

Chen Cao saw these subtle stubs in his eyes, and couldn't help but smile in his heart, and then searched in the crowd for a long time, pointing to a woman kneeling next to Zhang Ke and said, "Arrest her and torture her first." ”

The woman looked up and saw that it was referring to herself, and she was so frightened that she cried out, Zhang Ke also shouted angrily, and when Gao Chong grabbed her arm, the woman couldn't help shouting: "The second uncle and the third lady went to the capital to complain." ”

Zhang Youcai's body collapsed on the ground, and Zhang Ke scolded when he heard this: "Slut..."

It seems that the punishment is still useful, Chen Cao asked Gao Chong to pull the woman over, and then gave Zhao Xin a look, Zhao Xin stepped forward and walked to Zhang Ke's face, and also slapped it, with great force, Zhang Ke's big tooth was knocked out, and he spit out a mouthful of blood, and he couldn't stop shouting.

"It has been proved that the Zhang family is implicated in the case of Zhang Hong and Zhang Chen, and all of them will be sent back to Zhenfu Prison for a retrial at a later date." Chen Cao said coldly.

Zhang Youcai, who was already listless, hugged Chen Cao's thigh and cried: "Adults spare your life, spare your life... The grass people are willing to explain everything, and please spare our family for the sake of the grass people's family as victims."

Call...

Chen Cao breathed a long sigh of relief, and even Zhao Xin on the side showed a happy expression, that's right, Chen Cao was just guessing from the beginning, and there was no real evidence, the reason why he came overnight was to start with the Zhang family while there was still time, after all, only the Zhang family and Gu Linsheng, who might be the mastermind behind the scenes, Gu Linsheng Chen Cao didn't dare to do anything to him now, but as the Zhang family of the common people, then he could take it at will.

Therefore, from the time he entered the door to the present, Chen Cao has been betting on his luck, and when he thinks about it, his luck is still very good.

"This official asks you, did your second son Zhang Hong go to Beijing with Zhang Chen to file a complaint?"

Zhang Youcai nodded, and then said: "My lord is angry, the grass people don't agree to this matter, the death of my third son is really to blame, but someone came to my house a month ago and said that there was enough evidence to prove that the heavenly mansion should protect that Song Che, so that he was sentenced to exile, the grass people thought that it was my son after all, so they agreed to let the second son accompany the daughter-in-law to the capital, I received the news before, they were already on the way back to Nanjing, and now they want to come and be arrested by the adults." ”

"This official asks you again, who is the person who asked you to sue?" Chen Cao asked again.

Zhang Youcai shook his head: "The grass people really don't know, they only know that the person who came has some background, and they are accompanied by the local inspection department, so they must be officials in Nanjing City." ”

Chen Cao thought for a moment, and then asked, "Why do you say that your son is to blame?" ”

Zhang Youcai was stunned for a moment, and then felt that he had said the wrong thing, but now that Chen Cao had opened his mouth to ask, he had to bite the bullet and say: "He has been spoiled since he was a child, and the three sons of my family are famous, and I think he can have a good background by going to study in the country, but after coming back that night, Zhang Qi told the grass people that my son was provoked, and I don't know my son?" He must have provoked first, otherwise he wouldn't have done anything with anyone. ”

"Zhang Qi told a lie?"

Zhang Youcai said again: "The grass people asked him carefully, and they were going to deal with him the next day, but they didn't know that the guy ran away that night, and when the grass people asked them to look for it the next day, Zhang Qi's family was gone." ”

And sure enough...

Chen Cao was silent in his heart, Zhang Qi was the key person in this case, and then Chen Cao asked Xu Kai to record Zhang Youcai's words first, sign and detain, and then ordered someone to release Zhang's family.

Before leaving, Chen Cao looked at Zhang Youcai and said coldly: "Zhang Youcai, this official kindly advises you, this case has reached the heavens, Your Majesty Long Yan is furious, if your Zhang family wants to be safe and sound, you must be the head of the family to weigh it well, I have a clear law, the false accuser sits back, and the other party is an official, and the crime of the other party is added to the official, you can do it yourself..."

"Thank you, for your kindness..."Zhang Youcai knelt down and saluted Chen Cao, and then bowed down.

It was getting late, and even if he arrived in Nanjing, he couldn't get in, so Chen Cao took someone to the inn to rest, and then sent someone back to Nanjing to inform Han Shizhong and ordered him to come to Jiangning early in the morning.

"Zhao Xin, I remember that you said that you threatened and intimidated Qingpi, is there any news?" Chen Cao put down the dishes and chopsticks and pondered.

Zhao Xin got up and left the inn, and half an hour later, he grabbed a local green skin, and the green skin entered the door and saw a brocade cloth guard Qianhu official in a red robe, even if he was so frightened that he was urinating, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Chen Cao.

"Okay..."Chen Cao was a little bored in his heart, stared at Qingpi and said, "Say." ”

Qingpi raised his head and said in a trembling voice: "Greetings to the adults, the little Wu Qing, a native of Jiangning County, is the small leader of the local gang." ”

"A ruffian is a ruffian, if you dare to pretend to be big in front of adults, Lao Tzu will definitely unload your legs." Zhao Xin reprimanded angrily.

Wu Qing was so frightened that he hurriedly kowtowed again, and then said: "Lord Tongyu, the little one was ordered by Lord Zhao to inquire about the whereabouts of Zhang Qi's family, their family left in a hurry, and the small one inquired for a long time and there was no news, but the little one had heard Zhang Shishi talk about it by chance in the gambling house, and their family had an aunt who lived in Shangyuan County, if they didn't have a guide, it was very likely that they went to Shangyuan County to join their relatives." ”

"My lord," Zhao Xin arched his hand and said, "My subordinates have inquired about the houses in Jiangning County, but they have not issued a road guide for Zhang Qi's family. ”

"Hmm.." Chen Cao touched his nose and shook his head as if he was reading: "Go to Shangyuan County early tomorrow morning, you go to the county yahu room now, check Zhang Qi's ancestors' family, and then arrest all the people below the secretary, and if you don't confess, you will be tortured, whatever you do." ”

Zhao Xin frowned, as if he understood what Chen Cao meant, and left the inn without saying a word after hugging his fists.

...

Shangyuan County and Jiangning are governed by the same city, Qinhuai River is Jiangning in the north, Shangyuan is in the south, many villages and towns are under the jurisdiction, Shangyuan is attached to Guo Nanjing City in the early Ming Dynasty, and Jiangning is divided into the same county in the middle period.

Although the road guide in the late Ming Dynasty is a fictitious place, but it has always restricted the poor people, for Zhang Qi's slave identity, the road guide is indispensable, although Shangyuan and Jiangning are in the same county, but after crossing the river is many towns, there are more than ten places to set up a card inspection of the inspection department alone, if Zhang Qi does not have this kind of road guide, it is impossible to cross the river to Shangyuan County safely.

Chen Cao slept for about two hours, Zhao Xin entered the inn with the lamp and woke up Chen Cao, and then reported the news one by one, the city gate of Nanjing opened early, and Gao Chong only took a stick of incense to go from Jiangning to Nanjing.

"My lord," on the way, Han Shizhong had already learned about Chen Cao's current situation from Gao Chong, besides, after Song Che's case was concluded, he had been investigating what Chen Cao had instructed him, and finally lived up to his high expectations: "My lord, my subordinates heard that Zhang Qi's family appeared in Shangyuan County, and then left, and then after many searches, they finally found their traces. ”

"Hmm..."Chen Cao didn't look up, just poured the tea into the teacup.

"It's in Chunhua Town, northeast of Jiangning." Han Shizhong added.

Zhao Xin also said: "My lord, what Lao Han said is right, after the subordinates were tortured, the little official in the household admitted to issuing a road guide to Zhang Qi's family, and the purpose was Shangyuan. ”

"This Zhang Qi is just a slave, so smart to go around in a circle and then go back to Jiangning, it seems that someone behind him really arranged for him again." Chen Cao drank the morning tea, and then stood up: "All the officials of the Jiangning household house are detained and returned to Xuanwu Lane, and the rest of the people will go to Chunhua Town together, I want to see how smart this Zhang Qi is." ”

Forty miles north of Chunhua Town is Zhongshan Mountain, under Zhongshan is the Xiaolingwei station, covering the jurisdiction of Nanjing City, the town is very large, there are more than 30,000 townspeople, two inspection divisions, responsible for the security of Chunhua Town.

In the gambling house north of the town, Zhang Shishi is gambling, today he has lost thirty taels of silver, if from the perspective of his origin, these silver can not only give him a wife and children, but also live a rich life for seven or eight years, but he has not lost in an hour.

"Fourteen, your silver is gone, if it is not enough, go home and withdraw it quickly, otherwise there will be no place for you." The dealer joked that although Zhang Shishi was from a bad background, he was rich, as long as you were rich, even beggars, these people would greet you like your ancestors.

"What's the matter, Lao Tzu, I lost thirty taels today, are you still afraid that Lao Tzu will have no money to give?" Zhang Shishi obviously blushed, and couldn't help shouting: "Hurry up and lend the money to Lao Tzu, Lao Tzu will pay you back when he turns it over." ”

The dealer looked at Zhang Shishi with disdain: "You lost so much today, do you still have money at home?" Don't sell your mother-in-law. ”

Hahaha... The banker's words caused a crowd of gamblers to laugh.

"Joke," Zhang Shishi blushed and said a little angrily: "Master Gu of Nanjing Taifu Temple Shaoqing is the master of Lao Tzu, Lao Tzu has money, don't look down on people." ”

The official body is a good envoy, the dealer saw that Zhang Shishi made a generous move, and moved out the high-ranking officials in Nanjing, how to believe a little, so he borrowed ten taels of silver from Zhang Shishi, so that he continued to gamble.

"Go and tell Master Zongqi that you have found Zhang Shishi..." a gambler walked out of the gambling house and whispered to an idler on the side of the street.

After Zhang Qi's family returned from his sister's house in Shangyuan County, they were arranged to live in Chunhua Town, which is close to Xiaolingwei, and the public security is also good.

However, slavery is slavery, even if he is so rich, Zhang Qi still bought a small farm yard on the edge of Chunhua Town, opened two acres of land, and lived a poor life.

Life is always unsatisfactory, but Zhang Qi, who has always been honest, has a gambling son Zhang Shixi, if it weren't for this, he would not have been able to help others sell his master, the young master.

Zhang Qi's old wife was planting vegetables in front of the door, Chen Cao and his party had already arrived, and it was someone from the local inspection department who brought them in.

"My lord, the people who live here are people from the county seat, and it seems that the surname is Zhang." The sergeant of the Inspection Division said to Chen Cao.

Zhang Qi's family is from Jiangning County, and they don't need a road guide, they want to check Zhang Qi's outsider, and go to the inspection department to ask, Chen Cao stood in front of the woman, looking at an old man sitting in the courtyard, who seemed to be sleeping.

Zhao Xin stepped forward and said coldly: "Zhang Qi, your incident happened, come with us." ”

Zhang Qi's old wife trembled all over, and fainted coldly, Zhang Qiteng in the courtyard stood up suddenly, and saw people in robes of various colors standing in front of the door with knives, knowing that the matter had been revealed, he didn't dare to resist, lying on the recliner softly, waiting for someone to catch him.

"Where's your son?" Zhao Xin stepped forward and looked at Zhang Qi coldly.

Zhang Qi shook his head: "Back to my lord, I don't know." ”

Not long after, a Ti rode into the courtyard quickly, whispered in Zhao Xin's ear, Zhao Xin nodded, and arched his hand towards Chen Cao: "My lord, Zhang Shishi has found it." ”

When Chen Cao turned his head to look at Zhang Qi again, he found that his face was even whiter than before.

...

In Nanjing, Gu Linsheng and Zhao Cheng were drinking each other, they seemed to be in a good mood, and they were chanting poems from time to time.

"Brother Zhao, I'll just say, things are very simple, if the estimate is not bad, Master Zhang will arrive within three days, when the time comes, Chen Cao will definitely die, and I am ready to protect her younger sister, as for Li Fengchun, I will hand it over to Brother Zhao, anyway, you have a soft spot for her."

"Hahaha..."

...

Two days later, Zhang Wenda's boat arrived at the mouth of the Longjiang River, and the group did not arrive in Nanjing until the city gate closed in the evening after going ashore.

The officials who greeted him included Xu Hongji, the Duke of Wei Guogong, who was garrisoned in Nanjing, and the officials of the six yamen departments in Nanjing, Zhang Wenda was the secretary of the Beijing Division, who was in a high position and was appointed by the officials of the world.

The next day, the Nanzhen Fusi issued an order to suspend all duties of Chen Cao, who was in charge of the punishment of Qianhu, and to treat the guilty family. In the afternoon, more than 200 prisoners of Nanjing Guozijian took to the streets to show solidarity with the late prisoner Zhang Liang, and Professor Lu Wen of Guozijian personally wrote a banner with the inscription "Officials protect each other, and care for people's lives."

On the third day, due to the appearance of the Guozijian and the march of more than 200 prisoners, a total of 950 scholars from Shangyuan and Jiangning counties demonstrated at the gate of the Fusi Yamen in Nanzhen, and the momentum was huge, and the Yamen of Nanjing felt supreme pressure, especially the Jinyi guards guarding the Fusi in Nanzhen. Jin Yiwei didn't dare to do anything to them.

Nanjing Xuezheng Qin Weimin was greatly annoyed, and in front of him sat Zhang Wenda, the secretary of the Beijing Ministry of Officials, and Zhou Jiamo, the secretary of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites: "Two adults, there is really no way to go down to the officials, there are too many prisoners, and they are all people who study in my generation, and the officials can't stop them." ”

"Hmph..."A middle-aged green-robed official standing on the left side of Zhang Wenda sneered, and then said: "This official has a high ambition for the imperial history of the Imperial Inspectorate, and I want to remind Lord Qin that those prisoners are not counted, and a professor of Lu Wen is not good at teaching, but it adds fuel to the fire, if this matter is not handled well, after returning to Beijing, this official will definitely refer to you in front of His Majesty." ”

Qin Weimin sweated like oil, and kept wiping, although the official position of this imperial history in front of him was only seven grades, but it was this small official with the size of a sesame mung bean, but the power was very large, Li Rubai was forced to death by these officials, thinking of this, Qin Weimin swallowed his saliva and said: "My lords, the lower officials think that it is better to retry Zhang Liang's case as soon as possible, so as to give these people a reason." ”

"My lord, it's not good...", a guard on duty walked into the hall quickly, and arched his hand towards Zhang Wenda, who was in the middle of the main seat: "Lord Qiqi, the demonstrative scholars and the prisoners of the Guozijian want to rush into the Nanzhen Fusi and fight with the Jinyi guards on duty, and Wei Guogong has already transferred the soldiers of the Wucheng Soldiers and Horses Division to suppress it. ”

Zhang Wendalu stood up suddenly, and there was a conflict, no matter which side suffered casualties, this time the matter was big: "Quickly take my seal letter and tell Wei Guogong not to hurt the innocent." ”