After careful consideration, Chu Ze decided to openly try the case of the housekeeper and the family of the Li Mansion.

The next day, a presentation board was posted on Yamen Square announcing the trial of the Li Fu case.

When the people of Fengyang heard the news, they all gathered around the Yamen Square to watch.

As soon as Li Yue, the patriarch of the Li Mansion, received the official summons from the Yamen, he immediately flew into a rage and scolded: "Chu Ze, this bastard, actually wants to openly interrogate the people of my Li Mansion!" He is intent on ruining the reputation of my Li Mansion! ”

An old minister of the Li family hurriedly persuaded: "The patriarch is angry, Chu Ze has the evidence in his hand in this matter, and we can only swallow our anger for the time being, and wait for the opportunity to take revenge." ”

Li Yue was furious and said: "I'm not done with him!" Don't think it's okay to arrest a few of my subordinates, I have to let him Chu Ze go bankrupt! ”

The old minister sighed and said, "Patriarch, the situation is unfavorable now, we can only give in first." The people all know that it was Chu Ze who stirred up trouble first and took it by force, and we can take the opportunity to establish an image of justice. ”

Li Yue snorted, and had to agree with the words of the clansmen.

At noon, the official escorted the housekeeper and the family of the Li Mansion to the high platform in the center of the square.

The housekeeper of the Li Mansion thought to himself: "I have followed the old man for so many years, but I didn't expect to fall into this step, and I regret that I participated in this conspiracy in the first place. ”

The Li family also blamed himself and said: "I shouldn't have followed the instructions of the housekeeper to burn the forest and destroy the railroad tracks, but now that I have been arrested, I can only accept my fate and suffer the crime." ”

They were all handcuffed with heavy shackles on their hands and feet, and their faces were gloomy.

In full view, they were deeply ashamed.

Chu Ze was wearing an official uniform, and he ascended to the high platform with an expressionless face and ordered the court to be held.

The housekeepers and housekeepers of the Li Mansion were interrogated one by one.

"What's your name and what is your position in the Li Mansion?" Chu Ze asked expressionlessly.

"Back to the prince, the villain's surname is Li, and the housekeeper of the Li Mansion." The butler replied tremblingly.

"What about you?" Chu Ze asked the other person.

"Back to the prince, my surname is Zhang, and I am a member of the Li Mansion." The guy was also scared and weak.

They all confessed to the crimes of the Li government for plotting to set fire to the forest and destroy the railroad tracks, and they did not hide it.

When the people present heard about the crimes of the Li Mansion, they were in an uproar.

"Oh my God, the Li Mansion is so evil, it actually wants to burn our forest!"

"And destroy the railroad tracks, almost killing us!"

They all thought that the Li Mansion was a decent family, but they didn't expect to do so many bad things in secret.

For a time, the people were enthusiastically discussing the crimes of the Li Mansion.

After listening to the interrogation, Chu Ze announced the verdict in a deep voice: "The housekeeper and the family members of the Li Mansion conspired to set fire, intending to destroy important projects in the imperial court, and the crime is extremely serious! Sentenced to ten years in prison in accordance with the law, and to compensate the imperial court for the damages! ”

When everyone heard the verdict, they all talked about the impact of this incident on the people of Meizhou.

"If our house burns down, the whole house will be ruined!"

"If the railroad track hadn't been damaged in time, maybe there would have been an accident in the future!"

Chu Ze saw the opportunity and immediately announced: "And the Li Mansion, as the Fengyang clan, is not strict in employing people, which leads to this kind of thing.

It not only destroyed the imperial court project, but also caused the loss of government property and casualties, seriously affected the progress of the government project, and had a bad impact on the people of Fengyang!

”

These remarks further aroused public outrage.

What the Li Mansion did was simply outrageous!

"It's so damnable!"

"We must not let them go! You must punish Li Fu severely! ”

Seeing that public opinion had reached a boiling point, Chu Ze immediately announced: "In view of the fact that the Li Mansion seriously endangers the interests of the people, our government has decided to impose a heavy fine on the Li Mansion and a fine of one million silver!" ”

"Yay!" "Li Fu deserves it!" When the people heard this, they cheered.

As soon as the news came out, the whole city was in an uproar.

One million silver is an astronomical amount for any family.

When the Li Mansion learned of the fine, the patriarch Li Yue was furious and immediately sent someone to the Yamen, claiming that the fine was too heavy and asking for relief.

"Governor Chu, the amount of the fine you issued is too much! Where did we get so much silver in our Li Mansion? The Li family pleaded.

Chu Ze sneered: "The Li Mansion is inescapable, one million is just a loss of wool, if you don't pay, I can directly take the land!" ”

The Li family defended: "How can our Li Mansion have such a serious crime? Why did you raid our house? ”

Chu Ze was furious, and said, "You still say no?!" ”

The Li family was so frightened by him that they could only say, "It's too difficult to raise so much silver...... Can it be reduced a little? ”

Chu Ze snorted coldly: "This official has already been gracious, if you don't pay it, you will bear the consequences!" ”

Seeing Chu Ze's resolute attitude, the Li family could only say that they would go back and report to the patriarch for discussion.

After the Li family returned to the Li Mansion to report, Li Yue roared like thunder from the Li Mansion: "Chu Ze! You wait! I must have your family forgotten and you won't die well. ”

After Chu Ze announced the punishment of the Li Mansion, he found that although it could deter Haoqiang, it had a limited impact on the lives of ordinary people.

In order to have a deeper understanding of the people's feelings and public opinions, and to better govern the people, Chu Ze decided to hold a large-scale public opinion forum.

As soon as this news came out, it immediately caused an uproar in the city.

The people were ecstatic to be able to express their opinions directly to the prince, and began to prepare what they had to say, hoping to take this opportunity to reflect their hearts.

After Li Kuo learned of this, he was so angry that he stomped his feet and said, "Damn, what kind of public opinion symposium is this Chu Ze doing?" It is clearly to buy people's hearts and blow the reputation of my Li Mansion! ”

An old minister of the Li family hurriedly persuaded: "Young master, this matter is indeed not good for my Li Mansion, we must make a stumbling block behind our backs and stir up this symposium!" ”

Li Kuo's eyes lit up and said, "Yes, we must prevent this symposium from being held successfully!" I'll go tell my Lao Tzu right now and ask him to send someone to make trouble!" ”

So, Li Kuo hurriedly came to his father Li Yue to report.

After hearing this, Li Yue said angrily: "Chu Ze, a brute, actually wants to win people's hearts!" He is intent on attacking my Li Mansion and making the people turn their backs on my Li Mansion! ”

Li Kuo hurriedly echoed: "The old man is wise! We must intervene in this symposium to embarrass Chu Ze and make a fool of himself! ”

Li Yue pondered for a moment, and a fierce cold light suddenly flashed in his eyes: "Since Chu Ze wants to buy people's hearts, we will spread rumors among the people to make the people suspicious and disgusted with him. When the time comes, the people at the meeting will surely question and attack him! ”

"The lord is far-sighted! We immediately arranged for manpower to spread rumors among the people and create public opinion that was unfavorable to Chu Ze. The patriarch complimented.

Li Yue nodded with satisfaction, and sent a team of family members to the streets and lanes of the market, spreading negative rumors about Chu Ze everywhere.

In order to complete the task, these family members performed hard one by one, and you spread rumors among the people one by one. (End of chapter)