Chapter 101 History of the Palace Outside the Qing Dynasty (9-2)

"Returning to the adults, there is really no reason. Human life is the most important thing. Since death cannot be resurrected, this criminal is a child. He is not like a robber who kills and steals. Please ask the adults to interrogate him again." Lin Chun was so angry that he was too angry to speak, his chest heaved for a long time, and suddenly he asked calmly: "Lu Daling, I want to ask, what exactly are you going to do?" "Just because something is suspicious, please make a clear decision, my lord." "Could it be that you were heavily bribed by the prisoner's family and deliberately found an accident to reverse the case for him?"

Lu Xing was astonished and annoyed, but he had to argue calmly, "Where did my lord come from, I can't explain it." He said, "I haven't heard of the Hu Ti'an case until I arrived in the province. Commissioned and executed, I came to court early this morning to verify my body, and then I know what the prisoner looks like. How can you guess like this?" "Huh!" Lin Chun sneered, "Your behavior is so bizarre that people have to be suspicious. You are a Juren, and you think you have self-knowledge in your writing, and Chun Wei is hopeless, so you chose a big one. Your appearance and words can make princes and ministers fancy , Picking you is not an easy task. When you first enter the official career, you should be cautious and do your job well. If you mess around like this, you are ruining your future."

Speaking of holding a tea bowl, the footman in the corridor shouted: "See off!" Lin Chun didn't even have the minimum gesture of bowing to see off the guest, stood up and turned behind the screen. "My lord, my lord!" Lu Xing still wanted to chase in, but the footman blocked him, "Master Lu," the footman reminded him: "The rules of the officialdom are important." Lu Xing had no choice but to go back out of the yamen, and all the "guides" who were "on red errands" were placed in front of the yamen, which attracted countless ordinary people to watch.Hearing that there was no sound in the mule cart, Lu Xing asked, "How is the prisoner?"

"Prisoners stop complaining." "That, that," Lu Xing said with great difficulty, "then go to the execution ground!" When they arrived at the execution ground, the Dibao had already set up a case.Lu Xing got out of the sedan chair and rose to his seat. Seeing the guards get "Hu Ti'an" out of the mule cart, he slumped into a ball limply, and finally helped him to his knees. Suddenly, the prisoner shouted again: "Wrong! " He was knocked unconscious at first, now he played for a long time, with the cold wind blowing, he came back to breathe, his body seemed to be supported by muscles and bones, when he shouted, the common people who watched the excitement were all surprised, and there was a commotion all around.

"I'm wronged!" Wang Shuwen yelled sharply, "Where am I Hu Ti'an? They promised me that there was no death penalty, so why did they want my life?" The officers on duty swarmed up, some kicked him, some scolded him, some tried to cover his mouth, but Lu Xing stopped them all. "Stop!" He ordered loudly, "Bring the prisoner up." At this moment, the people all around squeezed in, and all the officers changed their colors, fearing that it would trigger a civil uprising, so there was a prison secretary with a gray beard who hurried forward to take care of Lu Xing: "My lord, don't interrogate me here." !"

Lu Xing was reminded that he is a very sensible and sensible person.I am the prison officer, and when encountering such a thing, I have to suspend the sentence and ask for instructions. If I interrogate without authorization, it will overturn the conviction and violate the order. Said: "It makes sense. Take the prisoner back and talk about it!" Detain there?Lu Xing is an alternate magistrate and has no yamen. If he is an ordinary prisoner, he can be sent to the first county for custody.There is no need to talk about the standard yamen, so when the criminal room secretary office asked about this level, Lu Xing couldn't help being dazed.

However, the crowd was turbulent, although they didn't dare to shout loudly, they were talking about it like a turmoil. No matter how exciting it was, they tried their best to squeeze forward from behind the crowd, and the circle of the execution ground became smaller and smaller. .Seeing this situation, the white-bearded secretary of the criminal room had to exceed his authority and take emergency measures. "I was ordered by the prison to behead the officials," he shouted in a very vigorous voice, "the robbers will be punished, they will be punished, and they will be brought to the governor's office for justice."

The governor is the highest official in a province, and Tu Zongying was educated by Zeng Guofan after all, and he also talks about Confucianism, so although he is known as a money addict, he dare not be openly greedy for ink, and only uses the books he has engraved, such as "Tai Chi Tu Shuo" And so on, to sell to subordinates.Compared with the integrity of brothers Li Hanzhang and Li Hongzhang, they are considered very virtuous.The official voice in Henan is not bad, and with the words "judgment with justice", the dissatisfied ordinary people calmed down in one breath, and Lu Xing took Wang Shuwen away safely.

Of course, along the way, people followed along the way, and when they arrived at the Governor's Yamen, the Fubiao Chinese Army had already received a report. They were afraid that the people would gather together to cause trouble, so they quickly dispatched powerful relatives, armed with foreign guns, and lined up at the east and west gates to guard them. A "high-footed signboard" and a big book "The important place of Fushou, idlers are not allowed to enter", so that people can stand on their shoulders and patrol outside the gate to prevent the people from advancing.

Of course, Lu Xing also got out of the sedan chair, and led the prisoner into the gate.As soon as he saw Fubiao Zhongjun, a third-rank general, standing under the screen wall, he hurried forward a few steps, and said to him, "My lord, I was ordered to be executed, and something strange happened. Please report to Futai, my lord. I request See." "Don't dare to do it," Fubiao Zhongjun returned a military salute, "Why did Mr. Lu get so many people here and cause trouble, I'm afraid I can't bear the responsibility for this!" Hearing this, Lu Xing felt a sense of reproach, and quickly replied: "The matter is helpless, please do your best to maintain it. The people are nothing but concerned about the prisoner's grievances. As long as the Futai orders and retrials impartially, the people will never dare to make trouble indiscriminately. "

"That's what I said. Once the people gather together, it will be difficult to disperse, and I'm even more afraid that there will be troublesome people inside. You made a big mistake in this matter, Mr. Lu. Don't gossip. Go and report to the comforter yourself." Taiwan, I am here to suppress." "Yes, yes!" Lu Xing strode into the yamen and handed over the notebook. The door also knew the seriousness of the situation and did not dare to make things difficult, but he never showed him a good face.He said coldly: "Wait in the official hall!" After waiting for less than ten minutes, a message came from the door: Futai received him in the flower hall.When they arrived at the flower hall, Tu Zongying was already standing on the corridor waiting, and when they met, he complained in a tone of complaint: "Why are you so troublesome! Did you come up with such a trick?" "Damn the humble job!" Lu Xing was angry, and slapped himself on both sides of the mouth, "I only read a few books for the humble job, and my conscience is still alive. Damn it, damn it!" Tu Zongying felt apologetic, and quickly waved his hands: "Why is this, why is this. Please come in and talk!" Lu Xing also felt that his angry posture was quite bad, so he entered the flower hall, changed his face and apologized, and then talked about the case in detail. Although Tu Zongying talked about Confucianism, he was not a mellow Confucianist, and he believed in ghosts and gods in the dark, so when he listened to it, he couldn't help feeling terrified and vigilant, thinking that there was a lot of reason for the mule to break into the Town God's Temple for no reason.It seemed that the prisoner had indeed been wronged, and he had to be rehabilitated. At this moment, the acting agent Nie Si Linchun rushed to the governor's office, and without waiting for a notification, he went to the flower hall, pointed at Lu Xing angrily and shouted: "Please make a decisive decision, my lord, if you don't impeach this person severely, this case will die. " Tu Zongying is peaceful in nature, "Dude, don't get angry." He comforted him and said, "Stagnation and anger hurt the liver, which is not the way to take care of yourself." "My lord," Lin Chun said angrily, "there have been many robbers in Henan in recent years, and heavy codes are not enough to protect goodness. There are iron cases that can be overturned only by the robbers being wronged when they are sentenced. How can one evade the laws of the country?" "This case is really a bit strange! It seems that the city god has appeared, so I have to believe it. Fortunately, it is true and false is false, so why not ask again!" "Why do you need to ask again. This 'Hu Ti'an' was explained layer by layer from Zhenping County. After more than ten sessions of questioning, the confession is consistent. My lord, if there is any grievance, why don't you say a word? I just said I was wronged, where is there such a thing in the world?" "It makes sense..." Seeing Tu Zongying groaning and showing signs of wavering, Lu Xing was of course anxious.Shicheng rides a tiger, he has to fight, otherwise his own punishment is still a trivial matter, he has already rescued a person from the well, but he is pushed down again, he will feel uneasy and unwilling all his life, so he interrupted loudly: The reason why he kept silent all the time was because the original people promised him not to die. This is a heinous case, and it is very clear." "It's just that you understand!" Lin Chunji pointed sharply: "You say, who promised him not to die? You say, you say!" Lu Xing retreated again and again, but he was not intimidated by his bullying arrogance, "Who promised him not to die, you have to ask the prisoner himself." He said: "Futai's instruction is very true, true, false If it is false, please ask again, sir." "That's right!" Tu Zongying said, "You can ask me here." Linchun still felt unwilling, but Fubiao Zhongjun was very worried, so he came here to report to the governor. If the case of "Hu Ti'an" is not clearly dealt with, and the people gather together and do not disperse, it will lead to agitation and trouble. It will be out of control at first.So something has to be appeased. "Brother, don't hesitate any longer!" Tu Zongying said this to Linchun, and then ordered Fubiao Zhongjun, "You discuss it with the copywriter, and immediately issue a notice to retrial impartially, and the people must not deviate." "yes!" The Fubiao Zhongjun was ordered to meet with the copywriting committee, and immediately issued a notice. The common people believed that Futai was fair and upright, and they dispersed with joy. Only a very small number of people stayed to watch the fun, and drove away the pro-army with guns And San, in front of the governor's yamen, quickly returned to tranquility. But inside the yamen, it was bustling.The Fuzhou Office does not deal with criminal cases, and all the policemen and instruments of torture, etc., that the court has accepted must be sent to the first county to handle the errands, and many people have been added out of thin air. The court is arranged in a cross-court in the governor's yamen.When Linchun was promoted to the hall, he brought Wang Shuwen up, only to hear the clang of iron cables, the whole court was solemn, and there were also some people watching the trial. He opened his eyes wide to see how Linchun would bury this tricky anecdote. "Hu Ti'an," as soon as Lin Chun opened his mouth, he could see that he did not admit that the prisoner was the most culprit, "Why are you making trouble before your execution? It's extremely abominable! Please understand that the death penalty is inevitable, and if you suffer a living crime, you are asking for trouble." "The villain is not Hu Ti'an." Wang Shuwen said in a crying voice, "The villain has never been a robber." "You're not Hu Ti'an. Humph, then, what's your name?" "The villain's name is Wang Shuwen." "Can you write?" "The villain can't." Wang Shuwen said, "I can read a few words." "Then you always know your name, Luo?" "I recognize the name." So Linchun took a piece of paper and wrote the name "Wang Shuwen" several times with the same pronunciation and different characters for the inmates to identify. Wang Shuwen crawled on the ground, identified it carefully, raised his head and said, "My lord..." "Duh!" Zaoli next to him reprimanded, "You must call your lord!" "Oh, oh, my lord. Neither." Lin Chunyuan had a prejudice against him, and when he heard this, he felt that the prisoner was saying that he couldn't even write these three characters, and suddenly became angry, "You bastard," he shouted, "You said your surname The king?" "The King of Three Paintings." "Look, you can see that the bastard is evil. Isn't the first word Wang?" The first name was "Wang Ruwen", and Wang Shuwen said with a mournful face: "The second word is wrong! It's a tree of a tree." "Aren't you going to look for it again?" So Wang Shuwen searched again and finally found the tree character.But I couldn't find the third word, and I couldn't say it when I asked him.Everyone in the hall couldn't help laughing, even the name of the prisoner was not clear during the trial, it really became a muddle-headed lawsuit. However, Lin Chun changed his words after all, "Wang Shuwen," he said, "You have been in more than ten halls, and the name of your confession is Hu Ti'an, and now you say it is Wang Shuwen. What evidence is there?" This question made Wang Shuwen stunned, and he stammered and replied: "The villain has no evidence." "Without proof, it's just nonsense." Lin Chun shouted, "Hit it for me! It's such an abominable thing." As he spoke, he threw down a fire stick and stretched out two fingers at the same time: "two hundred!" The guards were about to drag Wang Shuwen over and hit him with two hundred boards. The criminal room book office on duty felt that something was wrong, so he took two steps and said in a low voice: "My lord, please calm down. I'm using the place to investigate the case at this moment. Once I move the punishment, The prisoner's cries shook the sky, alarming the Futai, causing a lot of inconvenience." As he spoke, he pouted at the hall. Linchun raised his eyes and saw many people from the Fuguan Department watching the trial in the courtyard, and he was immediately alert. This would bring a reputation of torture and extortion to the governor's ears. "Okay! Let's send this board on his dog's lap for the time being." He asked again: "Wang Shuwen, you said that there is no evidence, so does no one know your name is Wang Shuwen?" Only then did Wang Shuwen figure out what was the "evidence" mentioned in the classroom?He hurriedly replied: "Yes, yes! The villain is from Xixiang, Dengzhou, and everyone there knows that the villain is Wang Shuwen." "Who else is in your family?" "There is a father, a mother, and a younger sister." Wang Shuwen said, "My father's name is Wang Jifu." "What is it for?" "Farming." Linchun thought for a while and asked again: "You are from Dengzhou, why did you come to Zhenping again?" "It was Uncle Hu who passed by the villain and said that the villain was smart, so he gave my father two taels of silver and brought the villain to Zhenping County. Later, there was another Uncle Hu..." "Wait!" Lin Chun said annoyedly, "First there is Uncle Hu, and then there is Uncle Hu, you are talking nonsense." "Don't call me Uncle Hu," the criminal book on duty warned Wang Shuwen, "Just call them by their names. Who is the first Uncle Hu, and who is the next Uncle Hu?" "The former one was called Hu Guangde, and the later one is Hu Ti'an." "What are you doing at Hu Ti'an's house?" "Doing chores." Wang Shuwen said, "Sometimes I also help in the kitchen." "I thought you were just a servant of the Hu family, why would you be called to be the culprit?" Lin Chun had an idea, thinking that he might as well be charged with a crime: "Probably Hu Ti'an went to Guangzhou to commit crimes, and you followed him!" "It was Hu Guangde who arrived in Guangzhou..." Wang Shuwen stopped suddenly. "Speak!" Lin Chun slapped the case hard, and shouted: "You must have joined Hu Guangde in the robbery. Tell me!" "I didn't know it was a robbery." "Then," Lin Chun asked without letting him catch his breath, "What do you know? Tell the truth, if you don't tell the truth, I don't need to pinch you!" Zaoli, who was in charge of the sentence, cheered on the hall and threatened the prisoner. With a "crash", he threw a pair of splints heavily in front of Wang Shuwen, causing his face to change drastically. "My lord, I really don't know. When I arrived in Guangzhou that night, in a very desolate place, Hu Guangde took off his robe and said that he was going to pay his respects, and asked me to guard the clothes and parcels for him. But he didn't know that he didn't come out until the fourth watch." Come back, I don't know what he did." "Hmph!" Lin Chun sneered again and again, "I mean, why don't you call others to be fierce, but you? It turned out to be like this. Well, tell me again, how did you make you stand out?" That's a long story.Wang Shuwen was also alert, he didn't bring out Liu Xuetai's name, and Lin Chun didn't ask in detail, he recorded his long-winded story and left the hall.Wang Shuwen was put in prison, and he went back to the Yamen by himself. Now it's time to think about how to recover.Going back and forth, I can't make up my mind.He didn't ask Mr. Zhang for advice, because he had lost confidence in this friend, but Mr. Zhang couldn't help but ask, so he came to see Linchun specially, and advised him to go to Futai that night, report the case face to face, and see what Futai thought. make sense. "I can't hide it anymore, so it's better to reply early. Dong Weng," Master Zhang tried to calm down, "it won't be a big deal." Linchun accepted his suggestion, and immediately "adjudicated" the review process in person. "This case is not difficult to get to the bottom of it." Tu Zongying said, "Just inform Dengzhou and Zhu Zhizhou to find Wang Jifu, let them confront their father and son, and know the truth." Of course Linchun also knew that this was the right thing to do, but he didn't want to do it in his heart, so he didn't mention this method. Since the governor explained it like this, and the reason was very clear, there was no excuse, so he could only agree: "Yes!" "However, brother, be careful." Tu Zongying reminded him, "This case must be done cleanly. If Hu Ti'an can buy people to be the most vicious, he will naturally do other tricks. If the matter is not confidential , or his hands and feet are too slow, let him take the lead, and make that Wang Jifu disappear, and it becomes a mystery that can't be settled. Wouldn't my brother and I's future be ruined by this Hu Ti'an?" Lin Chun was terrified by these few words, and the hidden warning made it very clear that Tu Zongying was absolutely unwilling to take responsibility in order to protect his own future.If he was late in doing things and couldn't catch Wang Jifu and couldn't verify the truth, then Tu Zongying could give Yan Shen a plausible name if he reminded him first, but his own future would be ruined by Hu Ti'an. Therefore, he tremblingly agreed, quit the fu office, ignored Master Zhang's obstruction, forced to do official business, notified "Nanru Guangdao" to transfer Nanyang notification, ordered Dengzhou magistrate, arrested Wang Jifu, and sent him to the province, so that he could follow him. Wang Shuwen confronted. The official business was delivered by special messenger. Since the deadline was set, every floor did not dare to delay, and it arrived in the hands of Zhu Guangdi, the magistrate of Dengzhou, on the fifth day.This person was born in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, with the word Xingzan, and he was born in Muyou. He admired one of his ancestors from the same hometown——Wang Huizu, a native of Xiaoshan, Zhejiang during the Qianlong period. magistrate.That place is full of Han and Yao people, and there are "traveling beggars" from outside the class. They are tyrannical and lawless, and it is a famous and difficult place to govern.As soon as Wang Huizu took office, he arrested their leader and put him in prison, while the rest of the gang were expelled from the country.At the same time, he wrote a notice in his own hand and posted it in front of the county government office, saying that the government and the people are one.The responsibility of the officials is to hear the case, and the responsibility of the common people is to pay the grain and pay the tax.If officials do not work diligently, it is hard to escape the blame, and if the people do not serve their duties, the law will not tolerate it.He made a special agreement with the people that out of the ten days, he would spend seven days sitting in court to ask questions, two days collecting food and taxes, and the remaining day, he would personally handle the official documents of the criminal name Qiangu and apply to his superiors.If the common people don't have trouble paying their food and taxes, he can save time and energy to deal with punishment. The magistrates used to handle official documents with many fake hands. This county magistrate is different, and he speaks very sincerely. The people of Ningyuan are grateful for his sincerity. It will be enough in one month. Wang Huizu also kept his word and saved his time to deal with criminal names.Since he was born in the Xingmu, he knew everything about the faults of the book office, so no one dared to deceive him.However, Wang Huizu's behind-the-scenes learning was not due to Chen Chenxiang's cause, and the case was judged by laws and regulations.He is well-versed in poetry and books, proficient in classics and evidence in ancient history, and sometimes the judgments he makes are not in line with laws and regulations, but they must be deeply satisfied with reason.At the same time, by nature, every time it is necessary to beat the prisoner, he always calls the prisoner to the front of the case and says in a very earnest voice: "The law is unforgivable. Your parents, don't hurt them, why do you do these illegal things, and make your parents feel ashamed and distressed for you?" Prisoners whose conscience has not faded away are often moved to tears of gratitude and weep.Wang Huizu was an orphan since he was a child. He missed his parents and often accompanied the prisoner Xueti.Therefore, in less than a year in Ningyuan, the number of lawsuits has dropped significantly.Sometimes the two parties confronted each other, because the wronged party repented and pleaded guilty in front of Wang Huizu, and the righteous side pleaded for the wronged party instead.This is the realm that Zhu Guangdi yearns for the most when he hears a lawsuit. In addition, Wang Huizu has many beneficial policies that are truly convenient for the people.One of the most beneficial things for the people is to let the people in Ningyuan change from Huai salt to Cantonese salt.Salt merchants pay taxes to obtain monopoly rights, and the marketing area has strict regulations. Ningyuan has a regular consumption of Huai salt, which runs from the Huaihe River to the Yangtze River—a section of the Yangtze River flowing through Anhui, through Jiangxi to Ningyuan in the north of Jiuyi Mountain in southern Hunan. I don't know how many times more than the price of salt?Therefore, it is not surprising that Ningyuan eats more private Guangdong salt that is close at hand, which is the case in almost every family. But smuggling and buying salt is against the law. The salt government yamen has a special anti-smuggling camp, and often sends troops to catch smuggling salt.As the saying goes, "the more illegal salt is banned, the easier it is to sell", because whenever there is an emergency of anti-smuggling, the price of salt will rise sharply. .During Wang Hui's Zubo visit, he found that the common people did not want to pick up cheap, but the official salt from Lianghuai, which was too expensive to afford.In fact, the people in Ningyuan paid much more for private salt than the people in Guangdong paid for official salt in their own province. So he personally drew up an official document and submitted it to the official, saying, "Private affairs cannot be indulged, but poor food can be dangerous. Please change Huai Yin to Yue Yin."The official document was reported, and before he got a reply, he issued a notice: Every household in the folks who stored less than ten catties of salt would not be punished for the time being.This is because the anti-smuggling soldiers harassed too much, so this expedient measure was made.The anti-private officials were very angry because he cut off their "financial resources", and sued him to the governor's office.The governor of Huguang was born as the number one scholar, and Bi Yuan, who loves talents and went to the soil, ignored the complaints from the private sector and ordered to support Wang Huizu's practice. All Cantonese salt purchased sporadically for food was prohibited. Wang Huizu has written two books, one is called "Conjectures of Learning and Governance" and the other is called "Zuozhi Yaoyan", both of which are true words of serving officials and gaining experience.Especially "Zuozhi Yaoyan", when Zhu Guangdi was a screen friend, he regarded it as a standard. He ruled prisons straightly, and was especially good at controlling robbers. He was very popular in Dengzhou. After receiving the official transfer from Nanyang Mansion, Zhu Guangdi knew right away that this case was not trivial.The strange incident of Wang Shuwen's grievance before execution has been known throughout the province. Zhu Guangdi thought: since Hu Ti'an has such supernatural powers, he can break through the joints layer by layer, and pretend to be true, so he will naturally know the truth of Wang Shuwen's confession. , it may be preemptive to deceive Wang Jifu into hiding, making it irrefutable.Or, the subordinate officials in this county were also entrusted by him, and when the news got out, they would first inform them, and when they ordered Wang Jifu to arrive at the case, they were already a step too late. Therefore, he kept his composure and only told him to go on tour.This is a common practice, and the guards don't take it seriously.Zhu Guangdi was very familiar with Dengzhou's geography. When he arrived in Xixiang, he called the local elders to talk at a Guandi temple to inquire about the local situation.In the middle of the conversation, he suddenly asked: "There is a man named Wang Jifu, is he here?" "Excuse me, my lord," someone asked, "I wonder if it's that Wang Jifu?" "It must be Mr. Wang who asked." Another person said. It turned out that there were two Wang Jifu in Xixiang, one was a farmer and was Wang Shuwen's father, and the other was a school teacher who taught Mongolian children a living and set up tents in the earth temple outside the village.It stands to reason that in the countryside, whenever there are weddings and ceremonies, sales of land and properties, litigation disputes, side events and competitions to welcome the gods, as long as they touch the pen, or are related to the public, and need to come up with an idea, they must ask the tutor, and the county magistrate like this The big move to go to the countryside must be accompanied by the school teacher.Therefore, this person guessed that it must be because the pad master never showed up, and the county magistrate was puzzled, so he asked. "Back to the Eldest Master, Mr. Wang happened to go to Qiancun to see a doctor today." The person who answered earlier looked at the sky and said, "It's good to be back, I'll send someone to see it right away." Of course Zhu Guangdi understood, thinking to himself, this is a good misunderstanding, so he nodded and said: "If Teacher Wang comes back, I'll invite you to talk." Then he pretended to be curious and asked, "Who is the other Wang Jifu?" "The crop growers live on the other side of the stream, in Wangjia Village. They are peaceful and good people. Alas! I don't want to..." At this point, someone coughed repeatedly, but the person understood and fell silent. Zhu Guangdi knew it himself, and pretended to be stupid.After talking a few gossips and waving his hand, his confidant servant came to wait for orders. "Take a few people across the stream and go to Wangjia Village." Zhu Guangdi whispered into his ear: "Find it carefully, don't use force." The attendant responded: "Yes!" quietly retreated, and quietly took the messenger to Wangjia Village to look for Wang Jifu. But within half an hour, the two Wang Jifu arrived successively.The first one to arrive was Mr. Wang, a talented scholar, who bowed to each other without kneeling, and said "Old Grandpa" was long, "Old Grandfather" was short, and was extremely flattering.Zhu Guangdi also called him "brother" according to the etiquette of respecting people in clothes, which was quite polite. After circling for a while, he saw a group of people meandering from a distance, including his followers and messengers, followed by a dozen people, big and small.Needless to say, Wang Shuwen's father had already been found, so this group of people followed to watch the fun. He saw it, and of course the others saw it too, and the crowd was surprised, wondering what he did?At this moment, Zhu Guangdi suddenly asked Mr. Wang: "Dude, do you know who Wang Shuwen is?" "Wang Shuwen?" Of course Teacher Wang knew that it was just a serious case of robbery and Hu Ti'an was implicated. He was afraid of talking too much about Jia's troubles, so he shook his head and said, "Shangfu old ancestor, the students are not locals, so I don't know." This misses the show, obviously knowing that Wang Shuwen is a local.Zhu Guangdi was secretly amused, but at the same time he knew that it would be unnecessary to ask further questions, so he stood up and prepared to leave. "Pass the sedan chair!" The guard shouted loudly. The people present stood up one after another, and quickly lined up to send off the county magistrate.Zhu Guangdi said loudly: "Everyone heard clearly, I will bring that Wang Jifu back to the city, and I will never embarrass him. He did not break the law. I just sent him to be a witness. If you understand, I will probably send him to the provincial government. Going to the city to recognize someone. Everyone can guess, who is it to recognize?" So, either looked at each other in blank dismay, or whispered in private, but no one dared to speak. "Don't be afraid!" Zhu Guangdi encouraged, "Just tell the truth." "Old Grandpa," Mr. Wang bowed, begging for his fellow farmer with the same name and surname, "this Wang Jifu, usually keeps himself safe, and has never heard of him doing anything wrong." "I know. Seems like an honest guy." But the honest man made a mistake.Because he was honest and afraid of officials, and he was frightened because of his humility, when he saw Zhu Guangdi, he couldn't help shaking, so he couldn't control himself, and collapsed on the ground, his face was as white as paper, as if he was about to collapse. Zhu Guangdi has handled criminal cases from Youmu to Fuguan, and how many criminal witnesses have been interrogated?To be honest, I have seen a lot of people who are afraid of officials. Why do they look like this? I have a 20-30% foundation in my heart, and I want to take more people away. They brought the Dibao of Wangjia Village and Wang Jifu's left and right neighbors.It has been a rule for many years that the government will send someone to testify or have an interrogation, just send a messenger to summon it, and appear in the case within a time limit. If the person is not asked, he wastes time and wastes his career, and self-pays money. This is called "legal fatigue".However, Zhu Guangdi was very considerate, and spread the word to the neighbors of the Wang family, and gave each of them a sling of money, so that they could go to the city to pay for their food and lodging. After returning to the yamen, the trial began, but Wang Jifu was not mentioned. First, the left neighbor was also surnamed Wang, "Is Wang Jifu from your family?" he asked. "Yes. He is a brother of the little people." "So, where is Wang Shuwen?" Zhu Guangdi asked in a gossip tone. "It's the villain's nephew." It was immediately confirmed that Wang Shuwen was really Wang Jifu's son, so Zhu Guangdi asked again: "You and Wang Jifu are brothers and neighbors, so of course we often have contacts." "No. The villain doesn't get along with Wang Jifu, and they don't usually get along. The Elder Master wants to ask about Wang Jifu, he wants to ask Wang Tianci." "Who is Wang Tianci?" "Here, that's him." Follow his finger and look down the corridor, it turns out that it is Wang Jifu's right neighbor. "Okay, it's nothing to do with you, you should go back as soon as possible!" Zhu Guangdi sent a message to the left neighbor and the right neighbor: "What's your name?" "The villain's name is Wang Tianci." "Wang Jifu, who are you?" "A brother of our great-grandfather." Wang Tianci didn't look like a countryman, and spoke very calmly. "Do you have frequent contacts?" "It's a brother, and it's a close neighbor. Of course we often see each other." "Then, of course you are very familiar with Wang Jifu's family?" "I also know a little bit." Wang Tianci said, "But every family has scriptures that are difficult to recite, and there are some things that it is inconvenient for a villain to ask." "Those things?" Wang Tianci was taken aback for a moment, but blinked, with an expression that he couldn't remember for a while, and then said after a while: "When you go back to the old man, it's always about housework. I don't know which one the old man wants to ask?" "I asked about his son." Zhu Guangdi said, "Wang Shuwen is his son, isn't he?" "Yes. Wang Jifu is just such a son, and he gave it to others." "Since he is the only son, how can he be willing to give it to others?" "I don't know. The villain asked him before, but he just shook his head and sighed. It's inconvenient for the villain to ask again." "Wang Jifu's house, who usually come and go?" Zhu Guangdi asked: "You are his close neighbor and have frequent contacts. Naturally, you also know his guests?" "Yes, some do, some don't. All I know are locals." "That is to say, those who don't know are all outsiders." "Yes." Wang Tianci replied without hesitation. "Do you know Hu Guangde?" "I've never heard of this person." Wang Tianci said, "I might know him if we meet. Wang Jifu is an honest man, and he doesn't have much contact with him." "So," Zhu Guangdi asked, "how have you been in the past few months? Do strangers often come to his house?" "The villain doesn't know. The villain seldom goes to his house." "why?" Wang Tianci was eloquent and had been answering fluently all the time, but when asked this sentence, he hesitated to say it.This is very strange, if you can't answer what is very easy to answer, is it because he has something to hide personally, or is it because Wang Jifu is inconvenient to tell the truth? Zhu Guangdi felt the need to enlighten him, so he said sincerely: "Wang Tianci, you don't have to be afraid! You all know how this county treats you, and I will never bring you into lawsuits for no reason. This time The case has nothing to do with you. What do you have, what do you say? After you finish speaking, I will let you go back immediately. If you hesitate to tell the truth, I can’t do it if I sympathize with you. I can only hold you there and interrogate the truth slowly. You Think about it, isn't it because you are against yourself?" Wang Tianci was a sensible person, but he really wanted to prevent Wang Jifu from telling the truth, so he agreed: "Yes!" After thinking for a while, he said: "I can't talk about Wang Jifu's family for a while, and I can't remember it." .I don’t know what the Elder Master wants me to say?” After observing his words and expressions, Zhu Guangdi understood what he meant.He asked him to explain everything in detail, for fear that Wang Jifu would accuse him of betraying his brother afterwards, so it would be fine if he asked and answered a question, because under the authority of the official, it is a plausible excuse to say nothing. So, he thought for a while and asked: "Wang Shuwen is the worst culprit, you always know about this?" "Yes!" Wang Tianci nodded, "The villain is only for this level, so he seldom goes to his house." "Afraid of causing trouble?" "Yes." Wang Tianci replied in a low voice, "The villain originally wanted to advise Wang Jifu and save his son's life, but..." He swallowed, and finally said: "One time I saw a few dubious people and talked all night at his house. Wang Jifu had tears in his eyes. He asked him but refused to tell the truth. The villain was a little scared in his heart. The elder went to his house. This is the truth, if the elder asks the villain anything else, the villain will not know." "Very good! I'll send someone to take you to the inn to stay overnight, maybe I'll ask you a question tomorrow, and I'll let you go back after the questioning." "Thank you, Elder Master, for being considerate of the villain. However, the villain still has something to say, and I want to ask the Elder Master for his permission." After saying that, he kowtowed. "You say, if you can promise you, you will." "I think the Elder Master wants to ask Wang Jifu about the villain's words. Please don't confront him about the villain." "I understand what you mean. I promise you." Thus, Wang Tianci's testimony came to an end.Zhu Guangdi thought over the testimonies before and after, and he had a general understanding of the case, and then summoned Wang Jifu. This honest man is much calmer than before, because Zhu Guangdi strictly forbids subordinates to pretend to be tigers, and warns from time to time, "Treat them as human beings" to anyone who commits crimes. Fear.Then he heard his cousin who testified earlier come and tell him: "The old man is very talkative, let me go after asking a few words." He became more and more courageous, although he was still a little trembling, but he didn't seem like he just saw him. The officer was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground. "Wang Jifu!" Zhu Guangdi comforted him first: "I know you are an honest person, you are forced by others, and there is nothing you can do. I think you also have a lot of pain and grievances. You complain. Don't you say so?" Hearing these words, Wang Jifu exchanged tears.Because the county magistrate's words penetrated into his heart, he wanted to say it but couldn't say it, "The real master Qingtian!" He let out a loud voice, "The villain is suffering!" "What does it look like?" the messenger scolded, "Don't cry!" "You follow him." Zhu Guangdi prevented the police from intervening, "The pain in his heart must be cried out." Not only to cry out, but also to confide in it.Wang Jifu passed by Hu Guangde, saw that Wang Shuwen was smart and sensible, and was willing to accept him as a young apprentice. He continued to talk about Wang Shuwen being regarded as the culprit, how did Hu Ti'an send people to use both soft and hard methods on him, threatening him and taking him at the same time? Silver stuffed his mouth.After talking for an hour, it just started to end. "The money given by the surname Hu was buried under the kang, so I dare not use it." Wang Jifu finally said, "It's a total of fifteen taels of silver, not a little bit." "Then why?" Zhu Guangdi asked, "Why don't you dare to use it?" "This is the money to sell my son's life!" Wang Jifu cried and said, "You must ask Master Qingtian to make the decision for the villain and save the life of the villain's son." “这……，”朱光第正色说道：“救你儿子，要靠你自己。我拿你解到省里去，臬台衙门大概会拿王树汶提堂，让你们父子对质。那时候你不要怕，有什么，说什么。你儿子的一条命，就有指望了。” “是！”王季福连连答应：“小人一定照大老爷的话做。” 到第二天，朱光第又派差人，将那十五两银子，起了出来，作为证物，然后打叠文卷，预备解送王季福上省。而就在这时候，开封陈许道任恺，派专差送了一封信来。 拆信一看，朱光第大为诧异。任恺居然要求朱光第，不必理会公事，也就是要求朱光第，不必将王季福解送省城，说什么“铁案如山，岂容狡犯翻供？”而实际上，朱光第很明白，任恺是怕案子一反，他也脱不得干系，因而设法要维持原谳。 “请上复尊上。”朱光第断然拒绝。“人命大事，我不敢马虎。王季福已当众传来，我亦不能无缘无故放掉他。这件事，我只有得罪了。” 任恺当然也知道朱光第是个“强项令”，一封文书，未见得乖乖听命，而且过去是他的直属上司，现在升了官，管辖不同，更不见得能让他买帐，所以托了好些人向朱光第苦苦相劝，却是徒费唇舌，一无效果。 说客也有好有丑。好的听了朱光第持正不阿的言论，面有惭色，改容表示愧歉，自然心无芥蒂，丑的却以为朱光第无事生非，不通世故，过去的上司给面子请他“高抬贵手”，居然不识抬举，岂不可恨？因而悻悻不免有些不中听的话。朱光第一笑置之，但躲在屏风后面窃听的家人，却大为不安。 于是他的长子朱祖谋便婉言谏劝。朱祖谋长于文学，拙于言词，又在严父面前，更加讷讷然不能出口，一句“明哲保身”还未说完，便让朱光第喝住了。 “你'读圣贤书，所为何事？'怎么说出这种话来！而且，我也说过不知多少次，你读你的书，不准你干预公务，何以又来多事？我看，你回湖州去吧，明年乡试，也该好好用一番功，莫等到临阵磨枪。” 河南多盗，朱祖谋自然不放心老父在此烦剧艰险之地。无奈朱光第认为他在衙门里，一方面可能会被人利用，怂恿“大少爷”包揽是非，说合官司，象从前余杭县知县刘锡彤，为了杨乃武一案，受“大少爷”之累，竟至古稀之年，投荒万里去充军；一方面又认为朱祖谋住在衙门里，所见所闻的是非太多，一定静不下心来读书，自误前途，所以逼着他收拾行李，派老底下人送回湖州上疆山麓的老家去闭门用功。 王季福当然要解送省城。这一案成了邓州的新闻，茶坊酒肆，无不谈论，因而也有许多谣言。朱光第有耳目在探听，所以这些谣言无不知悉，其中离奇不经的，可以置之不理，但有一个说法，却不能不引以为警惕。 这个说法是：王树汶真正的身分，只有等王季福解到省城，父子对质，方能水落石出。所以王季福成了全案的关键。如果这案一翻，从原审的镇平知县到南阳府，南汝光道及河东臬司，都有极大的处分。因此，上下合谋，预备在解送王季福时，中途劫人，搞成死无对证的情势，这一案方可以维持原审。 胡体安可能会动手劫去王季福，是在朱光第的意料之中。说上下合谋，也就是说有官员庇护胡体安打劫，似乎荒唐，可是，任恺将这一案既然看得如此之重，则此荒唐的传说，亦不是全无可能。 因此，朱光第特别慎重，起解那天，派了二十名得力的“小队”，夹护王季福所坐的那辆骡车，沿大道直奔开封府，规定迟行早宿，第一天住南阳府，第二天住叶县，第三天住许昌，第四天到开封。 一到开封府就不要紧了。押解的典史格外小心，进省城虽已天黑，却仍旧到首县祥符县去投文，要求寄押犯人。 祥符县的刑书，接过公文一看，写明的是“解送人证王季福一名”，当时便摇摇头，将公文退回。 “四老爷，你也是懂规矩的，明明是证人，怎么说是犯人？牢里是关罪犯的，不是犯人，怎么可以收监？莫非真的王法都不要了！” 县官称大老爷，下来是县丞、主簿，未入流的典史排到第四位，通称“四老爷”。四老爷专管监狱，所以那刑书说他“也是懂规矩的。”规矩自然懂，原是有意蒙混，既然混不过去，还有计较。 “那么，请在贵县班房里暂寄一寄。应缴的饭食银子，我照数奉上。” 如果先就按这个规矩做，没有办不通的道理。祥符县的刑书气他懂规矩不按规矩做，便冷冷答道：“这要得罪了！这件事我做不得主，要问我们四老爷，天这么晚了，我那里去寻他？相国寺前，多的是客栈，那里不好住？” 那典史无奈，到相国寺前找了家客栈住下。第二天一早到臬司衙门投文，吃过亏，学了乖，低声下气跟那里的韦办商量，无论如何要将王季福接收了去。不然住在客栈里候审，光是护送的那二十个人的食宿，就赔累不起。 总算遇着了好人，臬司衙门书办帮他忙，办了一道公事，将王季福发交祥符县看管。这一管管了十天，臬司衙门才“挂牌”，委派开封府知府王兆兰，候补知府马永修复讯。 到了第二天开审，先提王季福，照例问明姓名、年龄、籍贯。王兆兰先就提出警告：“强盗不分首从，都是部里公事一到，就绑出去杀头的罪名。你要小心，不可以冒认，冒认一个强盗做儿子，是丝毫好处都没有的，将来追起赃来，有你的苦头吃。” 王兆兰的话是在恫吓，暗示他不可相认，否则必有祸事，然而王季福是老实人，听不懂他话中的意思，只连连答说： “王树汶是小人的儿子，错不了的。” 那就只好让他们相见了。将王树汶提上堂来，到底骨肉天性，王树汶向堂上一望，便扑了过去，父子相拥，号啕大哭。 “拉开来！”王兆兰喝道，“假装是瞒不了人的！先将王树汶带下去。” 差役上前去拉，而王季福怎么样也不肯放手，只是禁不住差役人多力大，毕竟拆开了他们父子，隔离审问。 “你说，王树汶是你儿子，有什么证据？”王兆兰问道，“王树汶身上有什么胎记？你说！” “有的。”王季福一面拭泪，一面答道，“他生下来，背上就有一搭黑记。” "How big is it?" “有洋钱那么大小。” “还有呢？”王兆兰又问：“还有什么？” 王季福想了想答道：“肩上有块疤，是小时候烫伤的。” “左肩还是右肩？” 这就有些记不清楚了。王季福回想了好半天，才说：“好象是右肩。” “什么好象？”王兆兰将公案一拍，“你自己亲生的儿子，伤疤在什么地方都记不清楚吗？” 这时候王季福才发觉这位知府老爷，远不如本州的朱大老爷好说话，心里一着慌，“枪法”就乱了。 “是，是左肩。” 王兆兰便不再问，戴上老花眼镜去翻卷宗，翻到一张“尸格”样的单子，是因为他们父子即将对质，特意由差役将王树汶剥光了衣服，细细检查全身特征，一一记明。单子上写着王树汶肩上确有洋钱那么大小一块伤疤，但在右肩，不是左肩。 王季福第一次倒是说对了，一改口改错，恰好算是让王兆兰捏住了把柄，“好大胆！”他瞪着眼喝道：“你是受了谁的指使，胡乱冒充？” “青天大老爷屈杀了小人！”王季福情急大喊，“王树汶明明是小人亲生的儿子，这那里是假得来的？” “还说不假！你儿子的伤疤，明明不在你说的那个地方，可知是居中有人串供，才露了马脚。”王兆兰振振有词，气极壮、话极快：“我再问你。这一案全河南都知道了，既然你说王树汶是你儿子，为什么早不来出头认子？可知必是冒充！什么王树汶？还是胡体安！” 这一番质问，气势如疾风骤雨，王季福心惊胆战，听不真切，自然就瞠目结舌，无词以对。 “来！”王兆兰下令：“将这个王季福先押下去，好生看管。案外有案，非同小可，你们要格外当心，不准让他跟胡体安见面，更不准跟外人见面通消息，免得他们串供。” 开封府的胥吏也没有想到这件案子，又会反复，胡体安变王树汶，王树汶又变了胡体安。但情形很明白，王知府打算维持原谳。胥吏办案，全听官府的意旨，所以这时候对王季福便不客气了，上来两个人，反扭着他的手，将他押到班房，严密看管。 退了堂，王兆兰立刻赶到臬司衙门，向麟椿面陈经过，听完了，麟椿问道：“那么，照老兄看，这王季福到底跟犯人是不是父子？” 问到这话，王兆兰颇为不悦，事情已经明明白白，自己接受意旨，屈法周旋，不想他有意装傻，仿佛要将辨真假的责任套到自己头上似的，这就太不够味道了。 因此，王兆兰也就回敬了一句很有分量的话：“那要看大人的意思。” 麟椿默然。爱听戏的他，不由得想到“审头刺汤”的辙儿，自己不能象“汤裱褙”认人头那样一无顾忌，说真就真，说假就假。这一案不妨摆一摆，反正该着急的应该是镇平知县马翥和前任南阳知府任恺，看他们持何态度，再作道理。 “这件案子扑朔迷离，棘手得很。”麟椿拱拱手说：“老兄多费心，细细推求吧。” “是！”王兆兰有些困惑，一时辨不清他是何意思？ 回到知府衙门，自然要跟幕友商量。知府本来是个承上启下，不能有什么作为的职守，但开封府是首府，情形不同，有两件刑案，颇得臬司衙门毛师爷的包涵，所以这件奉委复审的临刑鸣冤奇案，照他的跟毛师爷互有勾结的幕友建议，还是得多方遮盖。 “担子要大家分担。”王兆兰说，“我看不能都由我们一手包办。” 于是他的幕友为他划策，首先要请麟椿设法关照会审的候补知府马永修，能够呼应连合，其次要由原审的镇平县官马翥，有一番巧妙的辩解，最后要把握住一个宗旨，案情即令有所不明，王树汶的罪名不错，他是一起行劫的从犯，依律仍然是斩罪。这一来才可以将未审出王树汶替胡体安顶凶的过错，含混过去。