Li Hanzhang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, Meng Zhao, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and Chen Dong, the left capital of the Inspectorate, are all standing in front of the father and son at this moment.

Zhu Guoxiang didn't speak, just sat and listened.

Zhu Ming took out the private message sent by Bai Chongyan and said: "The murder suspect's surname is Mao, and his ancestral home is Jiangshan County, Quzhou. His grandfather, Mao Zongheng, who was an official in Shaanzhou 40 years ago, moved with his family, which was still under the jurisdiction of Shaanxi at that time and is now under the jurisdiction of Henan Province. The officials went to check on Mao Zongheng! ”

"Yes."

Li Hanzhang took the order and personally led people to look through the archives of the former Song Dynasty.

The others sat and waited, the atmosphere was quite solemn, and they did not speak again.

After waiting for about three hours, Li Hanzhang found the files of the former Song Dynasty officials: "The Mao family is a royal family in Quzhou. The former Song Quzhou Mao clan had a total of 58 Jinshi, while the Jiangshan Mao clan accounted for 51 people. In the former Song Jiangshan County, there were a total of 64 Jinshi, and the Jiangshan Mao family accounted for 26 people. ”

Zhu Guoxiang asked: "Xu Fuyan, the secretary of the Criminal Department, is from Quzhou, right?" ”

Li Hanzhang has already prepared: "Judging from the archives of the Ministry of Officials, the Xu family of Quzhou who have produced Jinshi include Xi'an Xu, Changshan Xu, Jiangshan Xu, Kaihua Xu, and Longyou Xu. And Xu Shangshu of the Criminal Department is from the Xu family in Xi'an. ”

"Xu Shangshu's great-grandfather, Xu Yu, was the first Jinshi in Quzhou in the former Song Dynasty. Xu Mi has a son-in-law who is very famous, and he is also a native of Xi'an, Quzhou, that is, the iron-faced imperial history Zhao Luan, who is an official to the deputy prime minister. ”

Zhu Ming said with a smile: "There is still a record of in-laws in the archives of the ministry? ”

Li Hanzhang said with a serious expression: "There is no record in the archives of the ministry, but this iron-faced imperial historian Zhao Luan is the mentor of the minister's great-grandfather. And Chen's great-grandmother is Xu Shangshu's aunt. If this case is really related to Xu Shangshu, please recuse yourself immediately. ”

"There's no need," Zhu Guoxiang said, "Your great-grandmother is Xu Fuyan's aunt, how far away is this relationship?" ”

Li Hanzhang added: "Chen's grandfather and grandmother are cousins and sisters, and my grandmother is also from the Zhao family in Xi'an. Those big families in Quzhou have been married for generations, and no matter which family is involved in this case, they are all relatives of my Li family. ”

Zhu Guoxiang smacked his lips: "Then you can avoid it." ”

Zhu Ming asked Chen Dong: "When the people complained about the imperial history but ignored it, what is the origin of that imperial history?" ”

The files of the inspectorate officials are more detailed, and they must register their in-laws within three generations.

Chen Dong took out a piece of paper: "This imperial history is called Ying Shan, a native of Guixi, Xinzhou, Jiangxi." Xinzhou and Quzhou are next to each other, and the former Song Dynasty belongs to the Liangzhejiang Road. The Ying family has in-laws with Jiangshan Zhou and Jiangshan Mao, and they are also ...... Dexing Zhang and Fan are each other's in-laws. ”

The atmosphere is becoming more and more solemn, Dexing Zhang's family is the family of the crown princess Zhang Jinping, and it is also the family of the retired Prime Minister Zhang Gen.

This is a very large network of bureaucratic in-laws, and it is connected to the families of the crown princess, the official department, and the criminal department.

There is no need for these bigwigs to take action in person, and it is even possible that the bigwigs don't know about it. But all kinds of officials involved in this case, in order to please the relatives of the big shots, coupled with the tandem dredging of the murderer's family, will be very sensible to work together to suppress the case.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Organize the trial of the three law divisions, and all the officials involved in the case will be recused!" ”

……

Forty days later, all the people involved were taken to the capital.

The three halls of the Inspectorate, the Criminal Department, and the Dali Temple were tried, and Chen Dong served as the chief person in charge of the case.

The first to appear in court were several witnesses, who knew that perjury was a crime, and they were so frightened that they could not walk at all, and they were dragged in by the official messenger.

Looking at the witnesses who were paralyzed on the ground, Chen Dong frowned and said, "Move a few chairs, let them sit honestly, and tie them to the chairs if they don't sit well!" ”

The chairs were quickly moved to the courtroom, and several witnesses were dragged up and pressed onto the chairs.

The right attendant of the Criminal Department is responsible for verifying the correct body, and Dali Siqing is a guest court clerk.

"Poof!"

Chen Dong was shocked, and several witnesses trembled.

"Shi Guang!"

"In ...... In the ......"

The witness, named Shi Guang, was so frightened that he wanted to kneel down and confess his guilt, but found that his knees were weak and he couldn't stand up.

Chen Dong asked, "Why is your confession inconsistent?" ”

Before this guy could answer, the smell of urine came from the hall, and he was scared to pee on the spot.

After a long time, Shi Guangcai, who was wetting his pants, said: "A few public officials came to the county government, saying that Mao Balang can reach the sky, even if the emperor comes to judge the case, he will not really care." He also said that if I talked nonsense again, I would be arrested and locked up in prison, and my mother-in-law would be sold to the kiln. I...... I was so scared that I couldn't sleep, and I ...... when I passed through the hall I changed my story. ”

Chen Dong asked again: "How many dukes are there that threaten you, are they the dukes of the county government or the dukes of the government office?" ”

Shi Guang shook his head and said, "I don't recognize it." They all wear official uniforms and speak with local accents. ”

"I recognize, I recognize, I want to make meritorious contributions!" Another witness suddenly shouted.

Chen Dong swept the witness information: "Your name is Yu Gui, working as a bartender in Yongcui Building?" ”

Yu Gui said: "I am Yu Gui." Half a month before Yao Erlang's death, he had a drink with Mao Balang in Yongcui Building. They asked for a pot of rice wine in the private seat facing the street on the second floor, and I can't remember what kind of snacks to eat. I forgot to give the steamer, so I gave it to them, and when I got to the door, I heard the two of them arguing. seems to be fighting for which little lady, Yao Erlang may not be able to compete, so he wants to accuse Mao Balang of cheating in the imperial examination. ”

The three presiding officers of the case were all shocked at this moment.

They have read the file in detail, and they have tried it back and forth several times, and there is no cheating in the imperial examination in their testimony.

Chen Dong asked: "When you testified before, did you confess that you heard about cheating in the imperial examination?" ”

Yu Gui said: "I said it when I testified for the first time, but I was not allowed to say it later. ”

The three inquisitors looked at each other, this was a windfall, and the officials involved in the case hidden inside were guilty of a serious crime. One is to help candidates cheat, and the other is to tamper with case testimony.

Chen Dong asked again: "You said you recognize those public people who threatened witnesses?" ”

Yu Gui said: "There is one who is Fa Cao's yaqian, I don't know his name, I only know that he is called Gu Da. There is another one who is not a duke, it is Sun Su, a slave of the Mao family, who wears a public uniform and pretends to be a duke. When I was retried again this year, I didn't dare to talk nonsense, and I had already confessed. Afterwards, Sun Su also took someone to beat me, and my left leg is now lame. I was also dismissed by Yongcuilou, and I didn't even pay for the last half month. ”

"Poof!"

Chen Dong slapped the shocked wood: "Take Gu Ren and Sun Su to the court!" ”

"Spare your life, spare your life......" Gu Ren began to cry while he was still outside the door.

Sun Su was a little confused, and he didn't say a word the whole time.

After verifying his identity, Chen Dong asked several witnesses: "Were they present when they threatened you to testify perjury?" ”

Most of the witnesses nodded hurriedly, but two couldn't remember clearly. Because I was too scared to look at those guys, I didn't see many faces at all.

Chen Dong asked, "Is it the Shaanzhou Mansion Fa Cao Yaqian?" ”

Gu Ren wiped his tears and cried: "I was also forced, it was Zhao Facao who asked me to do it, and if I don't obey, I will eat and hang up." The Mao family only gave six pieces of money, and Sun Su set up wine and invited my brother to eat. I didn't start beating anyone, I just scared and scared, and it was Sun Su who broke Yu Gui's leg later......"

Chen Dong asked again: "Who else is threatening witnesses with you?" ”

Gu Ren replied: "There are too many people, and I don't dare to have too many." In addition to Sun Su, I only brought two Fa Cao's brothers. One is my brother-in-law, named Li Yingfei; One is my righteous brother, named Dong Liang. ”

When Henan was retried this year, these people had already been interrogated, but they pretended to be stupid and denied that they had threatened witnesses.

Gu Ren, as a soap official of the government, was not honest in the face of the envoys, and he felt that the Mao family had the support of big people behind him.

Until now, when the emperor interrogated and asked the three law divisions to come to the trial, Gu Ren finally didn't dare to hide it.

Chen Dong shouted: "Take Li Yingfei and Dong Liang to the court!" ”

After some interrogation, Li Yingfei and Dong Liang admitted to threatening witnesses, and they were all pulled away by Gu Ren.

And Gu Ren said that he obeyed the orders of Cao Peng and Zhao Hui.

Soon, Zhao Hui was brought to the court.

This guy was born in the Zhao family in Xi'an County, Quzhou, and is still Li Hanzhang's distant cousin.

Two years ago, he was appointed to the Shaanzhou Prefecture Governor of Cao Peng, an official position in charge of justice.

The judicial system of the former Song Dynasty was much the same, and the county-level yamen could only hear civil cases. In the event of a criminal case, it must be transferred to the state court (similar to a municipal court).

After the preliminary trial of the state capital, it will be transferred to the provincial criminal department for review.

In ordinary criminal cases, the Criminal Division can make a final trial. Criminal cases of a serious nature must also be sent to the Criminal Department for review.

Zhao Hui, who is equivalent to the president of the city court, has been promoted to Hebei this year, and was arrested and returned to the capital a month ago while serving in Hebei.

Chen Dong asked, "Did you ask Ya to threaten the witnesses?" ”

Zhao Hui looked at the officials of the Three Law Divisions, his expression seemed to be a little regretful, but he chose to remain silent.

Chen Dong and Zhao Hui looked at each other for a long time and said, "You have done Fa Cao Peng, you should know the "Da Ming Law". It's already been tried by the three law divisions, the official family and the prince are looking at it, who else do you want to excuse? ”

"Alas!"

As soon as these words came out, Zhao Hui sighed.

Chen Dong said: "Confess truthfully, and maybe you can give a light sentence as appropriate." ”

Zhao Hui said: "The murderer's father was a classmate and friend of his father. Jiangshan Mao's family has been married to my Xi'an Zhao family for generations. Although the Mao clan in Shaanxi County is separated from the Mao clan in Jiangshan, it is only a matter of these two generations. The murderer's seventh brother had a marriage contract with my younger sister at the time. Because of the murder case, the marriage contract between the two families was also canceled last year. ”

Zhao Hui even deliberately slowed down his speech, and stopped after finishing a paragraph to facilitate the clerk of the trial to take notes.

When the clerk stopped writing, Zhao Hui continued: "Mao Jiabalang did not deliberately kill people, he and the deceased have always been friends. Because of the jealousy, the contradiction between the two is increasing. The deceased repeatedly threatened Mao Balang, claiming to expose him for cheating in the imperial examination. During the last dispute, Mao Hachiro was afraid and angry, and strangled the other party to death. ”

Mao Hachiro was so frightened that he went home, ran for a while and turned back, dragging the body into the river. He shouted for help by the river, later claiming that the deceased had accidentally fallen into the water. ”

But the families of the deceased thought it was too strange, because neither of them had any servants with them. During the autopsy, he also found a neck pinch mark. ”

The woman who led them to fight and be jealous was a young widow in Shaanzhou, who had an affair with the murderer and the deceased. It is about the reputation of the widow's husband's family and her mother's family, and the two families don't want to make a fuss, so let the Mao family discuss it with the family of the deceased to settle it. ”

"When I intervened in this case, the murderer, the deceased, the widow's husband and mother's family, in fact, the four of them had already negotiated. I overturned the case for Mao Balang, but I just pushed the boat down the river, and of course I also remembered the friendship between my Zhao family and the Mao family for generations. ”

Later, the case became big because the biological mother of the deceased went to the judge to complain and stopped the car that was inspecting the imperial history. Several other families were furious, and after a quarrel, the rest of the deceased's family was also angry and began to mobilize their connections to break the net. ”

"All the officials and families involved in the case have been involved and have to dredge up their relationships everywhere to cover up the case."

Chen Dong sneered: "You have said so much, it seems that something has been missed." First, why did the testimony of cheating in the imperial examination disappear from the file of multiple trials? Second, how was the former Henan envoy pulled into the water? Third, why did the Criminal Department take the risk to help you cover up? Fourth, why did the inspector ignore the case? ”

(End of chapter)