Chapter III

Last time, he said that the doorkeeper and Wu Yuan walked outside: "Master Wu, let's go directly to the living room, we adults are having lunch in the living room now." Wu Yuanwai said, "Okay, I didn't have lunch either." The two of them came to the living room after a while, and the doorkeeper shouted, "My lord, my aunt from Qingyuan is here." After speaking, he invited Wu Yuanwai into the living room, and saw that Fan Zhifu's family was eating, so he withdrew with a polite word. Fan Tongzhang, the prefect of Qingzhou, saw that Wu Yuanwai was coming, so he got up and greeted him and said, "Brother-in-law is here, I have worked hard all the way, so sit down quickly and rest and eat." Wu Yuanwai said: "I won't eat the wine, just eat some food." Mrs. Fan and several of the children all greeted Wu Yuanwai. Then they all sat down and continued to eat. Fan Tongzhang saw Wu Yuanwai's somewhat sad face, and secretly said: "My brother-in-law must have come to me because something big happened at home." So he asked, 'Brother-in-law, is there something going on at home?' Wu Yuanwai said: "It's hard to say. Fan Tongzhang said: "Then don't talk about it yet, and then talk about it slowly after eating." So they all ate politely.

After lunch, Fan Zhifu and Wu Yuanwai came to the study, the two sat down separately, and someone brought up the best tea, and the two each took a few sips, Fan Zhifu put down the teacup and said: "Brother-in-law, what happened at home." Wu Yuanwai said: "It's another matter of Tianya." So he explained in detail what his second son Wu Tiande had done. Wu Yuanwai said: "In the past, the county magistrates who went to Qingyuan were very face-saving, why did Zhang Zhengqing, the magistrate of this county, not give you face at all, saying that if you arrest people, you will be arrested, and if you say that you will be sentenced, you will be judged, and you will not be taken into account at all." Fan Tongzhang sneered: "Brother-in-law, you don't know, this Zhang Zhengqing is a mindless person, admitting death and only talking about the Fa, and not talking about the feelings of colleagues is very difficult; because of this virtue, he has offended many big people, so he has not been promoted for several years, and he has moved a lot, and he has also done it with his talent; he knows that my prefect was bought, so he doesn't take this mansion seriously. Wu Yuanwai hurriedly said: "It's hard to be moral, and there is no help." Fan Zhifu said: "It can't be said that there is no salvation, salvation must be saved, but we must think of a foolproof solution." ’

It turned out that the official of the Fan prefect's mansion was bought with silver, and Wu Yuanwai also took a large sum of silver to buy him an official, no wonder Wu Ergongzi dared to run rampant in Qingyuan County, he always thought that his family was also half a prefect, so he was so arrogant.

Fan Zhifu and Wu Yuanwai planned in the study for a long time, and finally calculated a set of jihua to save people and harm people. Wu Yuanwai said: "Now that De'er is on the road to Hongzhou, I am afraid that I will have to suffer again when I arrive in Hongzhou." Fan Zhifu said: "Brother-in-law, don't worry, I will go to Hongzhou tomorrow." The next day, Fan Zhihuan and his arrester quickly went to Hongzhou with his own handwritten letter, hoping that the Hongzhou government could take more care of Wu Tiande. Fan Zhifu and Wu Yuanwai acted separately and asked Wu Yuanwai to return to Qingyuan County to act according to the plan. Governor Fan had already received news that Governor Li Shangliang and Lord Li would go to Qingzhou Mansion next month to inspect the area. This Li Shangliang did not receive many benefits from the Fan Governor's Mansion, so their relationship was not ordinary. A few days later, Fan Tongzhang put on civilian clothes and took an entourage out of Qingzhou Mansion, and secretly went to greet Governor Li and do their job of saving people and harming people.

On the fifth day of the seventh lunar month, the weather was fine, and a team of people and horses entered Qingyuan County, with Jinyi tolerance escorting in front and back, and a large sedan chair carried by eight people in the middle was hugged forward by the front and back. Some of those tolerances were carrying knives, some carrying sticks, and some holding signs, and the cards were written to be quiet and evasive, and the most striking thing was the sign that said the governor of the eight provinces. A group of majestic people are marching down the street with gongs and shouts. At this time, Wu Yuanwai walked to the center of the street to block the way, he knelt on the ground, held the paper in both hands and held it above his head, and shouted loudly: 'Wronged, wronged,' he kept shouting. As soon as he stopped like this, the governor's sedan chair also stopped, and the governor was in his fifties, and he said to his subordinates in the sedan chair: 'Ma Tao, go to the front and see what's going on. Ma Tao ran to the front in response, and saw that it was an old man who was more than five years old, so he stepped forward and asked: "Who are you and what are you wronged?" Wu Yuanwai said: "Wu Wangcai, a member of the city, this has a paper, and the reasons for the wrongs are all above, and I also asked the official to hand it over to the governor on his behalf, so that he can make the decision for the grass people." Ma Tao took the paper and said, "Okay, I'll give it to the governor." Ma Tao took the paper back to the sedan chair and said, "My lord, the person who shouted injustice is a member named Wu Wangcai, and there is a paper." So saying, he handed the paper through the car window. Li Shangliang and Governor Li took the paper and looked at it for a while and said, "We will now go straight to Qingyuan Guya and take Wu Wangcai with us." Ma Tao shouted and got up the sedan chair, and the gong sounded and shouted and headed towards the Qingyuan County Ya, and the people on the street were watching carefully on both sides.

Besides, after Zhang Zhixian sentenced Wu Tiande's case, he thought that Fan Zhifu would definitely come to Xingshi to ask about the crime, but he didn't expect that there would be no movement after half a month, and even Wu Yuanwai didn't come to the county government once, but the family sent some food and clothes, and now Wu Tiande has already gone to Hongzhou Prison. Zhang Zhixian felt that something was wrong, but he didn't know what was wrong, and he couldn't think of why. Today, I was working in the lobby and meditating, and I was in a restless mood. At this time, a catcher hurriedly ran into the lobby, panting and pouting: "My lord, the governor has come to Qingyuan County, and now he is coming to the county office. When Zhang Zhixian heard that the governor had come to Qingyuan County, he hurriedly stood up and tidied up his clothes and hats, and said, "Come out with me to greet the governor." After speaking, he walked quickly towards the entrance of the yamen.

It's no wonder that Zhang Zhixian didn't know that the governor had arrived, firstly, he did not give him any news, and secondly, he himself did not want to go around to find out the news and befriend the powerful, because in this way he was very excluded in Guantang.

Zhang Zhixian heard the sound of a gong as soon as he came out of the yamen, he hurriedly walked to the center of the street to look for prestige, and saw that the group of people was indeed the governor of the battle, and he was busy catching up. When he got closer, Zhang Zhixian Shi Li said: "Qingyuan County ordered Zhang Zhengqing to greet the late, and I hope that the governor will forgive me." When the man who was opening the road stopped when he saw a local official coming to greet him, Governor Li asked in the sedan chair, "Who is blocking the way?" Ma Tao replied: "It was the local officials who came to greet the adults, and I heard that it was the Qingyuan County Order." Governor Li said, "Tell him to lead the way before the head and go to the gate of the yamen." Ma Tao responded and ran to the front to Zhang Zhixian and said, "Our governor asked you to lead the way and wait at the entrance of the yamen." Zhang Zhixian agreed and took Master Wang and the crowd to turn back and leave first, and the governor also got up and followed, and the gong sounded again, and the shouting continued.

When the group arrived at the yamen and stopped, Governor Li Shangliang and Governor Li walked out of the sedan chair, and Zhang Zhixian came over to give a salute and said: "The lower officials are late to greet you, and please forgive the governor." Governor Li said: "You can't blame Zhang Zhixian, it's because the official didn't inform you a long time ago, let's go to the hall to talk." After speaking, he walked towards the yamen, Zhang Zhixian accompanied him on the side, and everyone walked into the county ya, the people brought by the governor stood on the left, and the county yashou stood on the right. Governor Li sat down directly behind the court and said to Zhang Zhixian: "Master Zhang, you can also move a stool and sit down." Zhang Zhixian asked Zhang Biao to bring a stool and put it on the side of the table, and Zhang Zhixian also sat down. Everyone sat firmly, and Governor Li said: "Today I picked up a case on the road, which is from your Qingyuan County, so I will borrow your county hall to try it today." Zhang Zhixian said: "Lord Li is polite, the lobby is the lobby of the imperial court, and the lord is the imperial court, so it is natural to use the lobby to do things for the imperial court, Lord Li, please." Zhang Zhixian secretly said: "I have long heard that the relationship between Governor Li and Governor Fan is extraordinary, and this time I came to Qingyuan probably specifically for Wu Tiande's case, anyway, I will also try this case and ask Ming, there is nothing to be afraid of, unless they are framed." ’

Governor Li said: "Zhang Zhixian, have you recently sentenced a big case? Zhang Zhixian said: "Yes, it was Wu Tiande's forcible rape and murder case, do you want to bring the case file over and take a look." Governor Li said, "Okay, bring it to me and take a look at it, so that I can consider it." Zhang Zhixian asked Master Wang to take Wu Tiande's case file and hand it to Governor Li. Governor Li took the case file and flipped through it, and pretended to be surprised and said: "This is not right, the paper I received in my hand is also about Wu Tiande's case, saying that Wu Tiande is wronged, I think this case has to be tried, Zhang Zhixian, what do you think." When Zhang Zhixian heard this, he felt that something unexpected was about to happen, and secretly thought: "People are prepared, this governor wants to be retried, how can my little county order stop it." After a moment of contemplation, he said: "Since the governor wants to re-try, how dare the lower officials oppose it, it is all up to the governor." ’

Governor Li was also not polite, and said in shock: "Ascend to the court." The catchers shouted Tang Xian, and after the voice fell, Governor Li said: "Take the plaintiff Wu Wangcai." At this time, Wu Wangcai quickly brought Wu Wangcai into the hall, and Wu Wangcai walked to the lobby and knelt down and said: "Lord Governor, Lord Qingtian, you must be the master of the grass people, my son Tiande is wronged." When Zhang Zhixian saw that Wu Wangcai had become the plaintiff, he felt that something was wrong, but he didn't know how people were planning, so he had to take one step at a time. So he said: "The evidence of this case has been confirmed, and Wu Tiande has also confessed the facts of the crime, why does Wu Yuanwai want to overturn the case?" Zhang Zhixian said: "Li Laoshi is the victim and the real plaintiff." Governor Li said: "I received Wu Wangcai's complaint, so he is the plaintiff, Li Laoshi is not only the defendant, but also you Zhang Zhixian is also the defendant, now it doesn't matter who is the plaintiff and who is the defendant, the most important thing is to try this case clearly, this official can't listen to anyone's side of the story, although you are the defendant, didn't I tell you to sit in the lobby?" Zhang Zhixian has nothing to say, only let him try, and if you oppose it, you may be driven to the court. Governor Li continued: "Zhang Zhixian, tell your arrester to go and bring Li Laoshi, Zhao Wu, and Sun Dahu to the hall, so that the official can ask for clarification. Zhang Zhixian responded: "Haode, Zhang Zhutou and Li Zhutou, you two bring some catchers to bring these people to the lobby respectively." Zhang Biao and Li Hu responded and led a few catchers towards the outside of the lobby.

Zhang Biao and Li Hu started talking as they walked, and Li Hu said: "Brother Zhang, you see the strange arrival of the governor today, I think there is a possibility of overturning the case." Zhang Biao said: "This can be said, although the prefect did not come forward, who dares to say that he is not behind the scenes, seeing that the governor's attitude seems to be confident, this case must be turned over, maybe the prefect Fan and the governor have already calculated it." Li Hu said: "If this case is really overturned, I'm afraid you and I won't have good fruit to eat, we beat Wu Tiande so badly, and we will definitely take revenge on us when we come back." Zhang Biao said: "If that's the case, there is no way, so I have to think that I am unlucky." The two went their separate ways when they walked to the crossroads, Li Hu took the second arrester to find Sun Dahu, and Zhang Biao took the four arresters to Lijiagang Village in the east of the city.

Sun Dahu's family was in the city, and he soon brought it back, and Sun Dahu knelt down and bowed his head when he walked into the lobby. Governor Li said, "Someone from the hall will report their names." Sun Dahu said: "Sun Dahu, a grass man." Governor Li said: "In Wu Tiande's case, you testified that Li Laoshi and his daughter Cai'er came out of Wu Tiande's house. Sun Dahu said: "The grass people have not seen anything. When Governor Li heard this, he shouted angrily: "If you dare to rebel against your word, if you don't use the criminal law, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to tell the truth." Sun Dahu immediately begged for mercy and said: "My lord is angry, it's not that the grass people dare to talk nonsense, in fact, there is another reason. Governor Li's face softened and said, "It turns out that there is another reason, and what reason is not really recruited." Sun Dahu lowered his head and said: "It was two catchers who came to my house and asked me to say that, and gave me five taels of silver, saying that the county magistrate told me to do this, how dare the grass people say nothing."

Zhang Zhigu was shocked when he first heard Sun Dahu say that he had never seen anything, and now he trembled even more when he heard him say that he had instructed him to give false testimony. Zhang Zhixian thought that he might be in a catastrophe today, so he hurriedly shouted: "Sun Dahu, you are talking nonsense, when did I tell you to do this." Sun Dahu said: "The night before the trial, it was the county government that arrested Zhang Qi and Wang Ba, and I didn't dare to use the silver." Then he took out a bag of silver from his bosom and continued, "Fifty taels of silver are exactly the same." Sun Dahu said in his mouth, but he secretly said in his heart, "Don't blame me, Lord Zhixian, I was also forced to be impatient, I had to take care of the lives of the family, I know that you are a good official and a good person, but it is difficult to be a good person, and it is even more difficult to be a good official." ’

Governor Li said, "What do you have to say, Zhang Zhixian?" Zhang Zhigu said angrily with a blue face: "He is simply nonsense. He also said, "Where are Zhang Qi and Wang Ba?" One of the catchers answered: "They went out with Zhang Zhutou to run errands." Governor Li said with a smile, "Zhang Zhigu doesn't need to worry, he said this alone, and the official would not believe the elbow, and when Zhang Qi, Wang Ba, and Zhao Wu all came to the hall to see what they said." Zhang Zhixian was speechless, so he had to wait, and secretly said: "Waiting for the same result may be the same, and his road to officialdom will come to an end." ’

After a while, Zhang Biao and a few catchers came to the lobby with Li Laoshi and Zhao Wu. Governor Li said, "Someone from the hall will report his name." Li Laoshi and Zhao Wu each reported their names. Governor Li said, "Zhao Wu, in the case of Wu Tiande, you testified that it was Wu Tiande and Jia Ding who forcibly took Li Cai'er away, but it is a fact. Zhao Wu replied, "The grass people didn't sell Lai that day, and they didn't see it. As soon as the words fell, Li said in a hurry: "Zhao Wu, why are you talking nonsense like this, my family Cai'er was killed by them, and you still protect them, where is your conscience." Governor Li slapped the shocked wooden road: "Dare to stop me, and ask you later, if you dare to disturb the court, I will tell you to eat thirty boards first." Li was so frightened that he didn't dare to speak anymore, he looked at Zhang Zhixian with his eyes, and saw Zhang Zhixian shaking his head slightly, with an impatient look. Li honestly thought secretly, "Looking at the sample, Zhang Zhigu can't do anything." He really didn't dare to speak. Governor Li said again, "Zhao Wu, why do you still have to give false testimony. Zhao Wudao: "It was Zhang Zhixian who asked me to say this." Zhang Zhixian said: "When did I tell you to say that." Zhao Wudao: "The night before the trial, it was Zhang Qi who caught me and asked me to say this, and gave me five taels of silver, and Zhang Qi said that it was the county master." 'Zhang Zhi County said: 'Zhang Qi, Wang Ba, when did this county ask you to do such a thing?' Zhang Qi stepped forward and said, "The night before the trial, you called the eight brothers to the back office and ordered us to do it." Zhang Zhigu heard the smoke of the seven orifices, and held his breath for a while before coming up, but he brought out a mouthful of blood, and said hatefully: "You are talking nonsense, reversing black and white, and defiling the official. Zhang Qiwang just bowed his head and was silent.