Chapter 7 Chapter VII
It was not yet clear the next day, and the people of Lanfang went to the county yamen one after another, and when the Shengting Hall was approaching, the yamen was already crowded in front of the yamen.One is that the yamen has not been opened for the past seven or eight years, and the common people all want to come and see something new; the other is that Qian Mou has committed all sorts of crimes in Lanfang all these years, causing anger and resentment, and now hearing that this bully has become a prisoner, everyone wants to come and see After all, to dispel the hatred in my heart!
The three-way drum sounded, and the gatekeeper had already opened the yamen, and the crowd poured into the lobby.After a while, the corridors and verandahs were packed with crowds of people.
Twelve hall guards, armed with whips and fire sticks, acted like wolves and tigers in front of the public case.I saw the opening of the curtain at the back of the courtroom. Mr. Di was wearing black gauze on his head, soap shoes on his feet, and a green brocade official gown from Yunlong out of the sea. He swayed into the courtroom and walked slowly to the high platform. The cadres stood on the left and right sides, and the old secretary and others stood on the side of the koan covered with a brand-new scarlet silk cloth.
Di Gong shouted "Ascension to the hall", and there was a complete silence in the hall.
Di Gong pulled out a fire stick from the stick and threw it down, and ordered the head of the hall guard to go to the prison to pick up the criminal.Fangzheng took the sign on the flagstone floor and led the second hall servant to pick him up.After a while, the criminal mentioned that it was none other than Qian Mou's older strategist.The criminal knelt in front of the high platform, not daring to look straight ahead.
Di Gong shouted: "Who is the culprit's name? What is his physiology? Tell me!"
The strategist replied: "My lord, the villain's surname is Liu and his name is Wanfang. Ten years ago, he was a housekeeper under Qian Mou's biological father, Qian Shouren, who helped him do some good deeds. After Qian Shouren died, Qian Mou stayed behind. The villain is accepted as a guest. In order to get food and clothing, the villain has to live under the fence and rely on others. But in the past ten years, the villain has never been a tiger, aided the evil, and done things that are unreasonable. Instead, the camera wholeheartedly advised Qian Mou to change his ways. The villain His words are true, and I hope that master Qin Jing hangs high, and he will be the master of the villain!"
Di Gong said coldly. "You have worked so hard to persuade good people, but you have achieved little! Your master has committed many crimes and has been promoted countless times. This county is investigating. How you suck carbuncles and hemorrhoids, and make friends with him, you will know by then. Now This county does not ask about minor crimes committed by Qian Mou and you, but only major crimes. This county asks you, how many lives did Qian Mou kill in Lanfang?"
"My lord, it's true that Qian Mou is corrupt and perverts the law. He is violent and violent. He is not a criminal. He acts recklessly. Everything is true. But as far as the villain knows, he has never intentionally killed anyone."
Di Gong shouted: "Lie! The magistrate of Bo County was brutally killed here. If it wasn't Qian Mou who was the murderer?"
"Master's lesson, Qian Mou was as surprised as the villain by this murder case!"
Di Gong was full of suspicion, and his eyes were directed at the criminals in the hall.
Liu Wanfang hurriedly continued: "Master Pan cannot tolerate Qian Mou's evil here, and is determined to get rid of him. We have heard about this for a long time. But County Magistrate Pan has just arrived, and there are only two clerks with him. From Mou's point of view, he was like a fly shaking a tree, and he was overconfident, so he didn't take him seriously, so he sat quietly for several days in a row, intending to see how the magistrate Pan would act. Later, one morning Two family members, Ding Fei, reported to Qian's house, saying that the county magistrate Pan was killed and his corpse was found on the bank of the river.
"Qian Mou was furious when he heard the news. He knew that the world would unanimously say that he ruined the life of County Magistrate Pan. Human life is at stake, not to mention that the victim is a prince of hundreds of miles! In order to get rid of the relationship, Qian Mou made a plan and hurried He forged a report and reported it to the governor, claiming that the magistrate of Pan County personally led the yamen, servants and people in the city to fight against the invaders by the boundary river, and was unfortunately martyred. Qian Mou also ordered his servants to sign and mark the report as a witness, asking Please come to the stage and treat County Magistrate Pan as a national mourning..."
Di Gong patted the startled wood, and said angrily: "You are talking nonsense, you are deceiving this official, how can you recruit if you don't fight! Left and right, serve with a whip!"
Liu Wanfang cried out that he was wronged.The squad leader slapped his face left and right earlier than him to punish him.Immediately, all the servants rushed up, knocked him to the ground, stripped off his robe, revealing his bare back, and the whip crackled in the air.
With a whip and a blood mark, the whip pierced into the flesh.Liu Wanfang cried for his father and mother, but he still insisted that everything he confessed was absolutely true.
After being beaten with fifteen lashes, Liu Wanfang's back was already dripping with blood.Di Gong raised his hand, signaling to suspend the torture.He understood that once Qian Mou fell, Liu Wanfang would no longer cover up for him, and Liu Wanfang also knew that if he lied and confessed, he would be fully exposed if the other criminals acted truthfully, and the crime would be aggravated.The reason Duke Di gave him a taste of the leather whip was to beat him dizzy, so that he would not dare to take chances, so that he would confess all he knew.
The team leader gave Liu Wanfang a cup of strong tea.
Di Gong asked again: "If your confession is true, why didn't Qian Mou go and investigate the real culprit?"
Liu Wanfang's back was in unbearable pain, and he replied in a trembling voice with a bitter face: "Master...Master, Qian Mou already knew who the murderer was, so there is no need to investigate further."
Di Gong frowned when he heard the words, and said coldly: "The more you say, the more bizarre, the more absurd! Since your master knows who the murderer is, why didn't you take him to the state capital to report to the government? Is it trustworthy that Yousi came to power?"
Liu Wanfang frowned, shook his head, and said, "Master's inquiry, I am afraid that only Qian Mou himself can reply. Qian Mou is suspicious by nature, he discusses small matters with us, and never confides a word to us about important matters. This time, the master took him ten times." Several people, no one in the Qian house knows, there is no secret to keep, and the matter is extremely urgent, so we have to make an exception to discuss countermeasures with us. As far as the villain knows, there is one person who is deeply trusted by Qian Mou. We have to ask him for advice, but we can't guess who this person is."
"Qian Rate is courageous and resourceful, and he can handle Yu Ru's affairs completely, so why ask someone to help him secretly?"
"Qian Mou is indeed wise and courageous, but after all, he was born and raised in this land, and he has seen the world for a few days? He was able to subdue a few cowardly county magistrates in Lanfang, but how to deal with the governor who came to power and how to deal with the court? There is no regulation. Therefore, whenever there is an important matter, that person will secretly visit Qian's house and teach him face-to-face. Qian Mou is so clever and flexible in his actions, that the Governor-in-chief tried to inspect the Lanfang Shuzheng several times, but was stopped."
Di Gong leaned forward and asked, "Who is this mysterious dog-headed military commander?"
"Your Majesty, please allow me to report carefully. For the past four years, Qian Mou often had secret meetings with him at home. When the night was quiet, Qian Mou often ordered the villain to go to the ear door of the mansion to send an order to the doorman, saying that he had a visitor that night When they arrive, they will be led to meet each other in the study immediately. This man always wears a monk's robe and wraps a soap cap around his head, and comes on foot. Every time Qian Mou discusses with him in the secret room, he stays together for an hour or two. After talking, he still He left as quietly as when he came. Qian Mou had secret talks with him many times, but never revealed any news to us. As time goes on, we also understand that after every secret business, Qian Mou always has a big action. Xiao When one thinks about it, this person must have killed Pan County Magistrate first, and then informed Qian Mou. On the night that Pan County Magistrate was killed, he came to Qian’s house. He and Qian Mou had a big fight. I couldn't hear what was arguing, but they could hear each other clearly. Since that secret meeting, Qian Mou has been angry for several days."
Di Gong was so irritable that he said, "Let me ask you again, what about Qian Mou kidnapping the only son and eldest daughter of the blacksmith Fangzheng?"
Liu Wanfang replied: "My lord, the villain and his colleagues can answer these two things in detail. Fangzheng's son was indeed captured by Qian Mou's men. At that time, Qian's house lacked rough envoys and servants, and Qian Mou So he sent his men to the market to arrest people, and captured four young children successively. Three of them were sent home because their parents paid a ransom. Give the blacksmith some color, and he won't let his son go home.
"As for the matter of the girl, as far as the villain knows, one day Qian Mou passed in front of Fangzheng's blacksmith's shop in a sedan chair, and happened to see his eldest daughter Bai Lan. Seeing that she was born with a suitable appearance for a man, he became very fond of her and wanted to buy her for her. Concubine. Unexpectedly, the blacksmith Fang insisted on refusing. Qian Mou had money to buy a three-legged chicken. Isn’t it easy to buy a two-legged man? So I didn’t force it, and I forgot about it in a few days. Who knows Fang But the blacksmith kept coming to Qian’s house to ask for someone, claiming that Qian Mou had kidnapped his daughter. In a fit of anger, Qian Mou sent someone to burn down the blacksmith’s shop.”
Di Gong pondered, Liu Wanfang naturally wanted to defend himself, but the rest of the confession was clearly true, and his master Qian Mou had nothing to do with Bai Lan's disappearance.Right now, it is necessary to act quickly to bring to justice the evil party who secretly advises Qian Mou. If he is not captured as soon as possible, there will be endless troubles.Thinking of this, he shouted to Liu Wanfang:
"This county arrived here two days ago, how will Qian Mou act during these two days? Tell me!"
"Seven days ago, the county magistrate of Kuang handed over the official document of when the master will receive the certificate and when he will take office to Qian Mou. He thought that if he would be embarrassed to see the master at that time, he asked Qian Mou to let him leave Lanfang early that morning. Qian Mou He agreed, and ordered the whole county to ignore the master's coming here. In his words, he wanted to "give the new county magistrate a blow."
"So Qian Mou waited for the head of the prison to report the news. He didn't show up on the first day, but he finally came the next night and reported that the master wanted to arrest Qian Mou, and that the master only had three or four followers with him, but these few days Individuals are brave and fierce, and should not be underestimated."
Hearing this, Tao Gan was very unhappy.Of course, the three or four brave servants mentioned by the cell chief also included himself. It was the first time he heard such flattery in his life.
Liu Wanfang also said: "Qian Mou heard the news and ordered twenty of his men to attack the county government that night, capture the county magistrate alive, and capture the retinue alive. Soon, Ling Gang and other six soldiers returned to Qian's house and reported that the brigade officers and troops had quietly entered Lanfang. Although this letter was shocking, at that time Qian Mou was already drunk and fast asleep on the bed, and no one dared to wake him up. Early yesterday morning, the villain personally took Ling Gang to Qian Mou's bedroom to report the military situation. When Qian Mou heard the news, he immediately ordered the soap flag to be raised above the main entrance, turned over and got out of bed, and hurried to the hall, just as we were discussing countermeasures, the master and the second captain suddenly came and took us down together."
"What's the meaning of the soap flag rising above the door?"
"This is the secret signal to summon the military master behind the scenes. Every time the flag is raised, this person will come that night."
Di Gong didn't ask any more questions, and ordered the team leader to take Liu Wanfang to the hall.Immediately, he threw down another fire stick and ordered Qian Mou to go to court.
After a while, Qian Mou arrived.The crowd under the trial saw that the incomparable figure who had been riding on their heads for eight years was also here today, and there was a commotion.
Qian Mou was seven feet tall, with a thick back and a thick waist, round arms and a thick neck. One could tell at a glance that he was a villain who could lift a tripod.When he came to the hall, he cast a disdainful glance at Di Gong, then turned around and looked down upon the audience, smiled coldly, and still stood in front of the hall, refusing to kneel down.
Seeing that his enemy Qian Mou was still so arrogant and arrogant at this time, Fang Fang couldn't help shouting: "Evil thief Qian Mou, you are so brave, you have to leave early after seeing the master in the lobby!" kneel!"
Qian Mou always scolded people when he opened his mouth, and hit people when he stretched out his hand, but now Fang Blacksmith is so scolding at him, how can he stand it!He was so angry that his face was blue and purple, his pulse was tense, and his whole face was twitching horizontally.Just as he was about to open his mouth to scold, his nose suddenly ruptured, bleeding profusely, he felt golden flies flying around in front of his eyes, he couldn't stand up for a while, and collapsed to the ground.
The team leader then leaned over and wiped his face for a look, only to find that he was already unconscious.The team leader also ordered a waiter to bring a bucket of cold water, and untied Qian Mou's skirt to wash his forehead and chest, but it didn't help, Qian Mou still couldn't wake up.
Di Gong was so upset that he ordered the team leader to bring Liu Wanfang to the hall again.
Liu Wanfang knelt down again in front of the hall.Di Gong asked: "Is Qian Mou suffering from an illness?"
Liu Wanfang turned his head to watch, and saw his master lying on the ground, several hall servants were still pouring water on him, nodded and said: "Although Qian Mou is strong and strong, he suffers from a chronic disease. Divine decoction was adjusted, but it didn’t help. In the past, when I was angry and angry, I often fainted like this. It took several hours to wake up. The doctor said that the disease could be cured only by opening the head and releasing the poisonous gas inside. Hua Tuo, the reincarnation of medical skills, is nowhere to be found in the Lanfang medical circle."
After Liu Wanfang was taken away, four guards carried Qian Mou back to the prison.
Di Gong ordered the team leader: "You go and tell the prison leader that as soon as Qian Mou wakes up, come and report to me."
Di Gong thought about it, Qian Mou was in a coma, it was really bad luck!Finding out from Qian Mou's mouth which villainous bureaucrat he is behind the scenes is a top priority and there should be no delay.It is impossible to interrogate now, I am afraid that the night will be long and dreamy, and that guy will abscond in fear of crime.Di Gong didn't interrogate Qian Mou immediately after he took Qian Mou, so he couldn't catch his navel and complained secretly in his heart.However, Qian Mou has such an accomplice to help secretly, who can predict the foresight?Thinking of this, Duke Di sighed, sat up straight, slapped the gavel, and said: "For eight years, the bully Qian Mou has covered the sky with one hand, usurped power and messed up the government, so that he gained power at a young age, and good people were bullied. Today is over." Sunny, bring order out of chaos, from now on, Lanfang is expected to be revived, all wastes will be revived, adulterers will disappear, and bandits will hide.
"Qian Mou usurped the government and conspired against him, and his crimes cannot be punished. But he has been rampant in Lanfang for more than eight years, and his crimes are definitely not limited to this. Therefore, the county announced that it will be released from now on. The fathers and people in the county will avenge their injustices and revenge. When you sue Qian Mou, every case must be visited, mistakes must be corrected, and losses must be compensated. To satisfy the public's expectations, to reassure the hearts of the people, and to indignate the common people. But there must be words first, newcomers to the county, and all the affairs in the yamen. , so it is not possible to settle all the lawsuits in one day. But the whole county can rest assured that the county will believe what it says and do what it does. Wrongs will be cleared and justice will be done!"
When everyone in the hall heard this, they cheered thunderously, and all the hall servants hurriedly shouted Tang Wei to suppress it.While everyone was cheering, there were three monks in the corner of the corridor, but they were bending over and whispering.When the cheers faded away, they squeezed out of the crowd, shouting their grievances.The three monks approached the high platform, and Duke Di could clearly see that all those who called for grievances were thugs with crooked mouths and squinting eyes.
The three monks knelt down in front of the hall.
Di Gong asked: "Which of the three monks are you waiting for is the oldest?"
The monk kneeling in the middle replied: "How old is this old man?"
"What's your name? What's wrong with you?"
"The old man named Huihai, and his second junior brother became a monk in Guangxiao Temple in the south of the city. They prayed beads and wooden fish all day long, and practiced painstakingly. There is nothing valuable in the Vatican Palace, except for a golden statue of Nanwu Guanshiyin. Amitabha! A few months ago, Qian Mou and his gang broke into Jialan and took the Bodhisattva statue away. It's a sin! The monks are merciful and compassionate, and they can save all living beings. However, it is impossible to steal Buddha. How can you condone and raise traitors? Now that Qian Mou has been captured alive, the three of us implore the master to recover this sacred object and return it to the small temple; if Qian Mou has already burned the golden body of the Bodhisattva, we will pray to the master to give him gold and silver. , to make up for my loss. My master’s great kindness and virtue, my three brothers and sisters should be engraved on my bones, and never forget, Amitabha!" After finishing speaking, he knocked his head three times on the bluestone floor.
The common people watching the trial held their voices and listened quietly to the old monk's grievances, and they were still silent after listening to the whole class.Just now they had heard the rhetoric of the new county chief governing Lanfang, now they can see his intelligence in interrogation and judgment.
Di Gong sat in court to hear cases more than a thousand times, so he naturally understood the intentions of the people in the court.I saw him sitting firmly in the public seat, stroking his long beard slowly, thinking for a while, and then asked: "This golden statue is the only treasure in the temple. I think you and the crowd have always loved and cared for it and paid homage piously?"
The old monk didn't know what to do.Quickly replied: "The master is right. Every morning, the old monk wipes the dust with his whisk and recites scriptures."
Di Gong asked again: "Thinking about it in this county, your two juniors also work hard day and night to serve the Bodhisattva?"
The monk kneeling on the right saw the question and replied: "Return to the master to ask, the poor monk has since escaped to Buddhism and converted to the Three Jewels. He has devoted himself to cutting off evil and cultivating goodness. Therefore, twice a day in the morning and evening, he sings the scriptures and recites the Buddha's incense in front of the Bodhisattva. It has been several years since I looked up at your kind face!"
The third monk said: "Since Zhu Facong Buddha, I have been serving my great compassionate Nanwu Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's lotus platform every day. I am like a golden boy or a jade girl. I am inseparable. The only thing missing in my hand is the willow, Amitabha!"
After listening to this, Mr. Di smiled brightly, said "Good", turned to the old book office and said, "Go and give each of the three plaintiffs a piece of charcoal and a piece of white paper."
The three monks took the black charcoal and white paper in their hands, and they were puzzled and confused.
Di Gong ordered the monk on the left: "Go left to the left side of the high platform!" He also ordered the monk on the right: "Go to the right side of the high platform!" Finally Huihai was left, and Di Gong ordered: "Turn around, Facing the audience in the hall!"
The three monks had no choice but to obey their orders.
Di Gong ordered all the monks: "Kneel down, each of you imitates the golden body of Bodhisattva and draws a sketch and submits it to the county!"
When the idlers in the corridor and verandah of the hall heard this, there was an uproar, and all the hall servants hurriedly suppressed it loudly: "Silence! Silence!"
How could the three monks draw it? They scratched their heads and scratched their cheeks, sweating profusely. After painting for half a day, each of them drew a random portrait.
Di Gong ordered the team leader: "Get the portrait and have a look."
When Duke Di saw the three portraits, he pushed out of the case.The pieces of paper fluttered to the ground, and everyone could clearly see that the three portraits had nothing in common.One depicts Avalokitesvara with three heads and four arms, one with three heads and eight arms, and the third one with one head and two arms, with a girl beside her.
Di Gong sneered, and shouted with restrained expression: "You scum of the Shi family, how dare you create something out of nothing, make false accusations of corruption, disrupt the court, and deceive the official! Left and right, wait on you with a big stick!"
With a shout from all the servants, the three bald donkeys were overturned, picked up, and torn off. The bamboo boards danced in the air, whistling and blowing the wind.
Daban was ruthless, beating the three monks until they cried and howled like ghosts and wolves, begging for mercy.All the hall servants are willing to obey, and they will not rest until they have beaten twenty sticks.
The three monks were beaten so badly that they were bleeding and unable to walk.Some kind-hearted spectators stepped forward and dragged them away from the court.
Di Gonggong said with a smile: "Just now this county is going to tell the whole county that no one is allowed to overthrow others and fish in troubled waters. Unexpectedly, these three pestilent monks are obsessed with ghosts and come here to find trouble. From now on, if anyone dares to accuse them of false accusations , defying the law by oneself, these three monks are role models!
"In addition, from today onwards, Lanfang military control has been lifted."
After speaking, Di Gong turned to Hong Canjun and whispered a few words.Hong Canjun left the court in a hurry, and returned after a while, shaking his head.Di Gong said in a low voice, "Tell the cell boss, even if it is midnight, once Qian Mou wakes up, he will report to me."
Mr. Di held up the gavel, and was about to strike the case and announce his withdrawal, when he suddenly saw commotion at the entrance of the hall, a young man desperately pushing forward from the crowd.Di Gong ordered the second hall servant to bring him to the case.
Hou was panting and knelt down in front of the high platform.Di Gong took a closer look and recognized the person in the audience as the scholar Ding Yi who drank tea with him two days ago.
Ding Xiucai was still panting, and shouted: "Wrong! Wu Feng was so mad that he finally murdered my father! Please Master Qingtian decide on Xiaosheng's behalf and arrest the murderer. To clear the wronged soul and to rectify the law of the country!"
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