The light raindrops ticked on the eaves of the house at night, and the rain showers tonight were not strong but it was very soft. If such rain is in Dongting or Jiangnan, it may be able to experience about half a month, but in this Ganliang Mansion, the rain in the alternating spring and summer seasons may not be so extended.

There was a cool breeze at the door of the cell, and although there was no wind blowing in the prison, there was still some chill, and there was a chill here all year round.

Chen Renhai stared at the one-eyed man, his hands were chained to the "ghost sorrow" hanging on the wall, and his feet were chained to an iron ball weighing more than 100 catties, he was unable to move at this moment, his injured eyes were still a little painful, although he had been briefly bandaged in the palace, but the pain also made his head tremble slightly.

"The people of the Heavenly Dao Yellow Elephant really have backbone, but your backbone is probably a little out of place to use here. Chen Renhai asked.

The one-eyed man still didn't say a word, and Chen Renhai continued: "Not being afraid of death should be the way that people in the Heavenly Dao must cultivate, and the Heavenly Dao is the way to do it for the Heavens." But you don't even know what the way of heaven is and what is the principle of heaven, so you dare to say that you want to do the right thing for heaven?"

A sneer erupted from the cell, coming from the one-eyed man's nose. Chen Renhai said: "Of course, I'm afraid you won't listen to what I say, and I shouldn't have the luxury of being incompetent." ”

"Incompetent, incompetent and incompetent, it will take you so long to catch it, and I don't know who is incompetent?" the one-eyed man finally spoke.

Chen Renhai said with a smile: "But no matter how long it takes us to catch you, you will still be caught after all, and in the rivers and lakes, only those who are defeated will be incompetent." Your maverick behavior can be used to relieve the common people in the rivers and lakes, but you and others harm innocent people for no reason for personal revenge. General Zhou's wife and children, the children of that couple, were all poisoned by you, and they acted alone and did the right thing for heaven? What kind of way, good way, or evil way?"

The one-eyed man didn't reply, and Chen Renhai continued: "The way of heaven remains unchanged for eternity, and righteousness will always exist in the world. I know that you must have been persecuted by others before entering the Yellow Elephant, and I am afraid that those people are still related to the imperial court, otherwise you would not have taken such pains to do these things. ”

"Having said so much, your Excellency is not tired, if you want me to tell the case, your adult will not have to waste your efforts. My brother is the same, you don't have to interrogate, you just slashed me and the other four with a knife, in short, arrested more people, isn't it also a knife in the execution ground?"

Chen Renhai said: "If you say where the leaders are, we will definitely protect the lives of the emperor and others, and the emperor is generous, and I am afraid that he will recruit An Er ......and others."

The one-eyed man tilted his head and spat at the ground, and said, "Zhao'an, the adult is joking with me, then I advise the adult not to tell me this kind of joke, otherwise the next mouthful of phlegm will be spit directly on your face."

Chen Renhai said with a smile: "In the instructions for the heavens, don't you tell you not to be so rude?

One-eyed human: "Then I think adults don't know etiquette, and they will laugh with people indiscriminately, which is a loss of official demeanor."

"Say a word of peace, and you tell me that you have lost your grace. I really don't have anything to say to you, I don't know who made you so arrogant and stupid. You can be here for a while. Chen Renhai said. After that, Chen Renhai got up and said to the jailer outside the cell: "Have three meals a day with him, and don't use torture instruments on him." ”

The jailers all replied to the order, and Chen Renhai was released from prison. The poplar at the gate of the prison was looking at the raindrops on the courtyard at this time, Chen Renhai happened to come out, and when he saw the poplar, he asked, "Did Brother Bai ask for a clue?"

Bai Yang shook his head and said, "How can such a dead soldier want to kill himself when he is defeated in a fight with us, how can he confess so easily?"

The rain was a little hurried at the moment, and it was less than two quarters of an hour before dawn broke, and tonight was another sleepless night for the officials of Ouchi.

The rain stopped, and within a quarter the sky was glowing white, and the kitchen was busy preparing breakfast. Long Xiangtian didn't sleep well that night, although Chen Renhai and Bai Yang were interrogated in the prison, he still couldn't rest assured. Some of the Leng Du in the next room were also healing the person who injured his head all night, and Yu Wenfeng was the same, and he was treated all night.

Long Xiangtian entered the door of Leng Jie's room, and saw Leng Du lying on the table to take a nap, and the oil lamps around him were about to burn out. Seeing this, Long Xiangtian left the room and closed the door softly. After a night of drizzle, it was a little cold today, although he was not afraid of the cold, but when he saw the busy officials today, he knew that the weather had turned cold at this time. It's almost summer, and this is the last time that Ganliang Mansion turns cool in March, and in April it will be a different world.

At this time, a servant came to report and said, "Lord Chen and all the adults have arrived in the back hall, please invite Lord Long to the hall to discuss matters."

After Long Xiangtian replied, he was led to the back hall by the servant. After Chen Renhai and the others saw Long Xiangtian coming, they all got up to pay a visit, and after a few greetings, they all sat down and talked about it again.

Governor Ma said: "Ladies and gentlemen, now that those four people have been clawed, if they really can't be interrogated, it is better to put on some torture instruments, they can't stand it, and they will definitely confess." This is the case for such heinous people. ”

"I think Governor Ma knows a lot about this prison, but I don't know why he has to be tortured to get him to confess?" asked Li Defei.

Governor Ma said: "My lord doesn't know, although this kind of murderer looks extremely vicious, but his heart is as brittle as a bamboo, and he can't be called a strong man." Many people seem to have hard mouths, but when a round of whipping comes down, most of them confess. Xiaguan once caught so many people who killed people and oversold goods, and they all got stolen goods, but during the interrogation, they were tight-lipped and swore not to confess their accomplices, but Xiaguan only went to the stick again, and everyone confessed, and the confessions were the same, so Xiaguan cracked the case and arrested all the thieves involved in the case. This kind of bandit seems to be vicious, full of righteousness, but in fact, he does not understand morality at all, and is as timid as a mouse. All of you know that Qin Wuyang of the Warring States Period, he killed people at the age of thirteen, and people on the street did not dare to look at it, and Prince Yan called it

The warrior ordered him to assassinate Qin with Jing Ke, and then followed Jing Ke into the Qin palace to assassinate Qin, his color changed and he was frightened, and he made no achievements, and finally died in Qin. And now many bandits in the rivers and lakes are just Qin Wuyang's generation. ”

Long Xiangtian said: "I don't think these four people are like Qin Wuyang's generation, they wish we would torture them and beat them to death, but they were relieved." ”

Bai Yang nodded and said: "These four people seem to have enmity with the imperial court, they don't have the same background as the grandson of Qin Kai of Yan State, and they seem to have someone to guide them to do things, not like Qin Wuyang who only bullies the weak." Otherwise, the four of us would not have fought with them for so long, and we would not have been defeated and someone would have killed themselves. ”

Chen Renhai said: "Now that the torture is improper, I can only temporarily detain him and interrogate him slowly." ”

At this time, Gonggong Wei entered the back hall and said, "I heard that you have caught the thief of the yellow weevil, congratulations."

Li Defei said: "Father-in-law Wei can write to the emperor today to say that we have made progress and captured the thieves related to the Yuma case and the album. Gonggong Wei still needs to tell the emperor the 'facts' in your mouth. ”

"Master Li rest assured, the old slave will definitely inform the emperor in an impartial letter. It's just that the old slave has something to say about the trial. "Wei Gong is fair.

Chen Renhai asked: "If Gonggong Wei has any high opinions, you might as well speak up?"

Wei Gong said fairly: "If those four people have not confessed, we can't wait here all the time, there are many things in the palace, and the commanders of the Ouchi need to handle it, and the commanders of the Ouchi have the responsibility of supervising the six departments and guarding the palace." If several commanders have been handling cases here, the emperor may be dissatisfied. The progress of this case needs to be faster, and the old slave thinks that the torture tools that should be used can still be used, maybe these people will confess as soon as they see the torture tools? In this way, the waiting time for the adults to handle the case can be shortened. Now that the states and counties are fortified, the sergeants are patrolling everywhere, but so far they have found nothing, what is the difference between this and waiting for the rabbit and carving the boat for the sword?"

Long Xiangtian said: "What Gonggong Wei said, 'wait for the rabbit' and 'carve the boat for the sword'...... That Wei Gonggong can know that these four people are the Ganliang army, Ganliang catches fast, and 'guards the rabbit' and 'carves the boat for the sword' every day. If it weren't for us waiting here to 'wait for the rabbit' and 'carving the boat for the sword', I am afraid that Father-in-law Wei would not be able to talk about it here today, and I would have suggested how to investigate the case and try the prisoner. ”

Gonggong Wei didn't know how to answer for a while, Long Xiangtian continued: "There are more than a thousand guards in the palace, and the guard leaders have not left the palace. If the emperor is dissatisfied with us, he will definitely send the Iron Dragon Banner to order us and give another order. In addition, I am also responsible for maintaining the stability of the rivers and lakes and guarding the royal country. Now the rivers and lakes are in turmoil: officials in the southeast were killed, the Ganliang army was attacked, and the two cases were concurrent, shocking the government and the opposition. Ganliang Mansion is already in turmoil, if I don't wait for a thorough investigation of this case, I am afraid that the people's hearts will be unstable, and the rivers and lakes will make waves again, and then there will be another strange case in the imperial court, and the emperor will be blamed if he thinks about it. ”

Father-in-law Wei didn't reply, and Chen Renhai said: "I'll not talk about this matter for now, let's talk about the trial." Now that Gonggong Wei wants to use the punishment appropriately, I don't know what you think?"

Li Defei said: "If you want to use the punishment inappropriately, why don't you change me and Brother Long for interrogation today?"

"Then I might as well let Lord Li and Lord Long go to interrogate first, if they are not captured, how about I wait for the torture?"

Long Xiangtian got up and said, "Brother Li, please"

With that, the two went out of the back hall. Chen Renhai said: "Brother Ren, we will compile the events of the past few days into a dossier together, so that we can return to the capital and hand it over to the emperor." ”

Ren Chaoxian replied, and Bai Yang sighed and said, "I just don't know how to talk to that couple and General Zhou." ”

Bai Yang's words made everyone in the back hall pause their demeanor again, and Chen Renhai also sighed: "I have also thought about this matter, it is very difficult." If General Zhou knew, he would definitely kill those four people desperately to take revenge, and we would stop him, what is the difference between him and an accomplice?"

"This matter is also to blame him, if he is not with this group of people, he will definitely not end up like this, I heard that he is a little estranged from Liangzhou Hu Governor's Mansion, although his family is tied up, but he framed Hu Governor's Mansion is not only because of the threat of that gang of thieves" Wei Gong is fair.

Chen Renhai said: "My father-in-law's words are indeed true, but we also know General Zhou's helplessness, if the family is not tied up by those gangsters, I think General Zhou will not be like this." Although there was a conflict between Liangzhou Governor Hu and General Zhou, it was related to the imperial court, and Governor Hu was not at fault for being an official, so General Zhou framed Governor Hu for no reason, and I think he would not be like this. We need to trust the officials of the imperial court, and we should not speak easily without solid evidence. ”

Wei Gong said fairly: "What Lord Chen said is extremely true, the old slave wronged General Zhou, and his words were inappropriate, so I am here to make amends to all my lords." The old slave still needs to write a letter to the emperor at this moment, if it is slow, I think today's report may not be timely. Everyone, please take care of yourself, the old slave is gone."

With that, Gonggong Wei got up and walked out of the back hall.

In the cell, Long Xiangtian was interrogating the one-eyed man, and Li Defei was interrogating the other person.

Long Xiangtian said: "I interrogated you for a long time last night, except for the phlegm you spit on, it seems that I have nothing to gain." You're not going to spit here today, are you?"

The one-eyed man looked up at Long Xiangtian and said, "Then don't spit today, I don't know what the adults want to ask?"

"Since you won't say anything I ask, why bother to ask me more about what to say?"

One-Eyed said: "My lord won't let me spit, so I'll have to say something inconsequential here." ”

Long Xiangtian said with a smile: "This is what you call the way for the heavens? No wonder there are foolish people on the street who believe that you can change the world? In addition to engaging in some shady deeds, what else can you do? By the way, send out pamphlets to educate the foolish people, so that they will feel that they are no longer stupid, and there will be some benefits for following you?

Give them the benefits, tell them to kidnap other people's families, and then break their promises and kill them all?"

The one-eyed man didn't reply, and said, "My lord, you are surprisingly consistent with what the lord said last night, no wonder you can work hard for the imperial court and protect the emperor......

Long Xiangtian said: "Sure enough, you are stubborn, no wonder some people say that they want to torture you?" I don't think you're afraid of death, but if you say that, I want you to suffer a little flesh and skin. Someone's coming."

The jailer entered the cell, and Long Xiangtian said: "The cowhide whip is dipped in salt water, and he will be given ten lashes first." ”

The one-eyed man smiled: "It's only ten whips, it seems that the adult is the first time to torture to extract a confession, and the ten whips will not let me wait for any one of the yellow weevils to confess......" Before he finished speaking, the whip hit him Long Xiangtian couldn't get used to this person's arrogant words, although he didn't approve of the punishment, but the words of this person in front of him made him feel that even if he couldn't ask anything, he wanted to give the person in front of him a whip.

There were a few blood marks on the one-eyed man's body, but he said to Long Xiangtian: "These ten whips are really bad, I think this jailer brother can beat people...... But ten whips is really too little, my lord, why don't you just come with thirty whips and directly beat my skin and flesh?"

Long Xiangtian said: "No need, these ten whips just want to let me taste some flesh and skin." I know that even if I continue to fight, it won't seem to be of much use to you. I know that you are not subject to the imperial court, and the imperial court may have harmed you, or your family, or your friends, or the people you have witnessed who have nothing to do with you. Therefore, you want to oppose the court and become someone else's minions......"

One-eyed human: "Adults have also become other people's minions, they are all dogs that others bite people, is it biased to come here to teach me?"

At this time, a jailer summoned him and said, "Lord Long, another prisoner has confessed, and he has confessed where the rest of the rebel parties in the prefectures, counties, and towns live. ”

Long Xiangtian said with a smile: "It seems that you have indeed suffered these ten whips in vain, and you still want to defend here, but your companion has already confessed." Who confessed?"

The jailer said, "It is the man whose back is broken, he has awakened, and then the governor of Ma gave him three thousand taels of silver, and forgave him for his innocence, and he believed it, and after taking the silver ticket, he said it all."

The one-eyed man held his breath for a moment, trembling all over, as if he didn't believe that such a thing could happen, "he ......" the one-eyed man was a little incoherent.

"Hahaha...... You one-eyed dragon, come here, come on, pour a bucket of salt water on him" Long Xiang Tiandao.

After that, a bucket of muddy water splashed directly on his body, and he scolded: "A bunch of unscrupulous people, if they really buy it with money, they will definitely be bought by silver money to kill the dog thief, Han Zhuan, you can't die well" The one-eyed man shook off the salt water on it, endured the pain of the salt water soaking on his skin, and scolded: "You said you want to take revenge, but you are bought with money, you can't die well"

Long Xiangtian said: "Scold here." ”

At this time, Li Defei also arrived at the gate of the prison, and Long Xiangtian happened to meet him at this time. Both of them knew that someone had confessed at this moment, Li Defei said: "This is very good, that person is a stubborn stone, he has been tight-lipped, in order to prevent him from biting his tongue and committing suicide, we have temporarily blocked his mouth, and I can't ask anything......"

"It seems that the two people in prison are very determined, but fortunately, someone has already confessed. "Long Xiang Heavenly Dao. The two of them walked while talking, and were led to the guest room in the back hall by the officials, only to see Chen Renhai talking to the man who had recovered from a back injury, and said, "These two adults have come, let them tell you whether the two people in the prison have confessed?"

Only then did Long Xiangtian and Li Defei know that it was a plan made by Chen Renhai, so Li Defei stepped forward and said: "They did confess, but they did not avoid collusion, and the two of them still need to stay in prison temporarily." ”

The man said: "The two of them hate the court so much, confess, don't you play with me here" After that, he moved his back, at this time he leaned on a cotton chair, his back was cotton, and the back of his neck was attached to a fixed jade pillow This is the chair made by Yu Wenfeng for him, helping his back to recover, and the cotton is the medicine placed by Yu Wenfeng, and applying it to his back like this can help him recover. But Yu Wenfeng himself is not sure whether this person will be able to get off the ground in the future: his legs are no longer felt, only the back of his neck can move, and his back still needs his hands to support the armrests of the chair to adjust. At that time, his internal strength was not carried on his back, so his back was the most seriously injured.

Li Defei said: "If you can stand the torture instruments in that cell, you can say that we are playing." ”

"Pepper water, cane, whipping, soldering iron, tiger chair...... I wonder if you can stand it?" asked Long Xiangtian.

The man looked at the people left and right, and Chen Renhai said: "We didn't want to use torture, but their tone is too strict, so we can only use torture." ”

"I know that your Excellency is greedy for money. I think it was because I received money from Heaven, and I was afraid that I would get on the thief ship. I don't know how your Excellency is so short of money, of course, I don't want to pursue it. If you confess, we will make sure that you will not be killed. The two people in the cell, we just abolished their martial arts, locked up for three years and five years, and released them. If you don't confess, you won't be able to be like the two of them. A knife on the execution ground is fast, but for you, it will not be so easy, if you don't confess, these are the last two things you can choose. "Long Xiang Heavenly Dao.

The man fell into deep thought, and Chen Renhai said, "You should think about it here." ”

With that, everyone withdrew from the room and entered the back hall. At this time, Leng Du was already in the back hall, and said: "Everyone, that person can't be cured, and he has just swallowed his breath." ”

Everyone was speechless, they played this move in order to separate these four people, Chen Renhai was thinking that if he made this confession that was diagnosed, he would have a chance to capture the rest of the rebels, but if there was one less person, he would not be very stable.