Chapter 268 Who will win the destiny? (31)

Xue Juzheng, the Minister of Justice, was wearing a scorching official uniform and sat majestic in the hall. He slapped the gavel down heavily and said in a singular voice: "Wang Decheng, you are a vain official in the court, but you are corrupt and corruption in the pillars of law, causing tens of thousands of people to be buried in the flood. Killing you a hundred times is not enough to calm the public's anger."

The Ministry of Justice was the highest judicial institution of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Its duties were law, law, and other governments. It also belonged to four departments, divided into "Ministry of Justice", "Duguan", "Bi Department" and "Simen", each with a doctor as the supervisor.

After the Chanzhou Governor Wang Decheng and Sima Zheng Youlin were taken to Daliang, Xue Juzheng, the Minister of Justice, tried the case.

Shortly after Xue Juzheng became the Minister of Justice, he encountered this major case. What made him very pleased was that such a major case was tried very smoothly. Under the accusation of many witnesses, Chanzhou Governor Wang Decheng happily admitted that the money and grain allocated by the imperial court this spring was not used under the river bank. Wang Decheng admitted this matter. In Xue Juzheng's mind, the Chanzhou case was already a staring nail on the board and became an iron case.

Xue Juzheng touched the gavel again. The givel was very solid and would make a dull sound when knocked on the table, which was very similar to the sound of the killing stick slapping on the butt. "Wang Decheng, I have never tortured you in the same year. Since you admitted that the money and grain had not been built, where is this amount now?"

Wang Decheng had already changed from a governor to a prisoner. He took off his official uniform and changed into a prisoner uniform. At this time, he knelt in the hall, his face pale like lime used for disinfection in Chanzhou City. When he heard what Xue Juzheng said, he raised his head and said, "I have misled the emperor's grace. I regret not trusting Sima Zheng Youlin easily and handed over all the money and food to him."

Xue Juzheng did not expect him to say this, and said, "Nonsense, you are the governor of Chanzhou. Such a large sum of money did not pass through your hands? No one believed it even if you say it out loud." After Zheng Youlin was detained in Daliang, at least several ministers in the court pleaded for him openly or secretly. At this time, Wang Decheng pushed the matter to Zheng Youlin, which shocked Xue Juzheng.

Wang Decheng's eyes were empty and he said weakly: "The subordinate is incompetent, and he is called the governor of Chanzhou, but he has no right to be the governor. He allows the arrogant Zheng Youlin to act recklessly in Chanzhou. I have failed to fulfill his position as governor. I have let the holy grace betrayal."

Wang Decheng rubbed his eyes and said, "As for corruption, it has nothing to do with me. Zheng Youlin is a rogue who does not read the books of sages. He is incompetent and greedy for the paintings of the Tang people he collected. He is made by him and is in Chanzhou. The one who is really in charge is Sima Zheng Youlin. Please observe it clearly."

What Wang Decheng said is the truth. Zheng Youlin has a close relationship with the court. He is extremely capable. The governor of Chanzhou will not bring money and food to the Ministry of Revenue. Zheng Youlin came forward and could return with a full load every time. Therefore, shortly after Zheng Youlin arrived in Chanzhou, he managed the economic lifeline of Chanzhou.

Seeing Wang Decheng's troubles, Xue Juzheng couldn't help but say angrily: "Why didn't you talk about this just now, it's clearly a denial."

Wang Decheng was still weak: "Mr. Xue brought so many witnesses to the hall just to prove that the court's money and grain were not used on the river bank. I have already admitted this. However, Mr. Xue did not ask about where the money and grain were going." He suddenly sighed deeply and said, "Mr. Xue and I are the same year. You know me, when did you hear me say something about panic."

Xue Juzheng suppressed the anger in his heart and said, "Take Zheng Youlin to the court and confront you in front of you."

After Zheng Youlin was taken to Tianzhuo, he interrogated several times without saying a word. His butt had been opened and flowers were blooming, but there were many people pleading for him. The governor Wang Decheng honestly admitted that the court's money and food were not used on the river bank. Xue Juzheng did not continue to punish Zheng Youlin.

When Zheng Youlin limped to the court, Xue Juzheng said coldly: "Zheng Youlin. You are hard-mouthed and you don't speak. Today you will keep shut up. I see how long you can last." After saying this, he continued to ask Wang Decheng to interrogate Wang Decheng: "Wang Decheng, you said you have never used the money and grain allocated by the court. Can anyone prove this matter?"

Wang Decheng closed his eyes slightly, thought about what Hou Dayong said to him after joining the army next to him, and he silently said, "Even if Hou Dayong lies with me, he can only walk all the way to the dark."

"Xiao Qing, the deputy general of the Chanzhou military officer, and the Chanzhou minor officials, can prove that what I said is true. I am not afraid of being ugly. The people of Chanzhou secretly called me a living Bodhisattva, which means that I don't care about everything, just sit in the hall as a decoration."

Xue Juzheng did not believe Wang Decheng's words very much. He and Wang Decheng were a Jinshi for the first time. Although he had never worked with him, he had never heard of Wang Decheng so unbearable in the past ten years. He looked at Wang Decheng with a suspicious look and said, "Take Xiao Qing to the hall."

Xiao Qing, the record officer, went to Daliang City with Hou Dayong. Although he was an official in Chanzhou, his rank was lower than that of Wang Decheng and Zheng Youlin. What's more important is that after Chanzhou was flooded, he actively rescued and made contributions. Therefore, Hou Dayong suggested that he was temporarily suspended and awaiting trial in Daliang City, and he was not thrown into the heavenly prison.

"Xiao Qing, do you know about the money and food for the imperial court to build the river embankment in spring this year."

Xiao Qing was not restrained in the hall and said, "I know a little bit about it. The river channel of Chanzhou is already a dangerous river. It had a flood last year and almost broke the dike. Therefore, this spring, the court allocated special money and grain to repair the river channel. However, these two adults did not use the money and grain to build the dike, which caused the disaster in Chanzhou today."

Wang Decheng and Zheng Youlin's eyes widened at the same time.

Xue Juzheng glanced at the hall, nodded, and said, "This is the lobby of the Ministry of Justice. If there is a half false statement, it will not escape the blame." After a pause, he said, "Xiao Qing, tell me in detail what the money and food are like,"

Xiao Qing entered the lobby of the Ministry of Justice and did not look at the two adults in the past with his eyes. He said indignantly: "Even if this is not the lobby of the Ministry of Justice, with the 150,000 unjust souls, I, Xiao Qing, say half a lie, and you will hit five lightnings in the sky, and you will not die well."

Xiao Qing pointed at Wang Decheng and said in a silence: "Wang Decheng is the governor, responsible for the important task of protecting the country and safeguarding the people. However, he did not do any serious work for a day and sent his subordinates to buy Tangren painting scrolls everywhere. I suggested to him several times that he should step up the construction of the dam in spring, but he ignored it. A month before the dam broke, he left Chanzhou for six days, saying that he had come to Daliang. After returning to Chanzhou, he happily invited several scholars from Chanzhou, saying that he was enjoying the paintings under the moon. He believed that Wang Decheng, as the governor, had an unshirkable responsibility as the governor."

Wang Decheng lowered his head, his face still looked weak, but he felt a little relieved: what Xiao Qing said was actually to liberate himself from another aspect, which means that he did not have money or food. It seems that what Hou Xiangjun said was not false.

Xue Juzheng also heard some smell from what Xiao Qing said and interrupted: "You mean that Wang Decheng has not handled money and grain. Then I ask you, who will handle money and grain?"

"Before Zheng Youlin came to Chanzhou, the money and grain were always handed over by Wang Decheng. Four years ago, after Zheng Youlin arrived in Chanzhou, all the money and grain were handled by Zheng Youlin. I have never handled money and grain since then. I guess only Zheng Youlin knew about the money and grain distribution this spring, but it did not spend half of it on the construction of the dike."

"Xiao Qing, the amount of money and grain in the imperial court this year is quite large. Zheng Youlin cannot experience everything personally. You are a record officer and joining the army. You must know who is helping Zheng Youlin handle money and grain among the six Caos."

Xiao Qing did not hesitate at all and said, "Si Gong participated in the military Zheng Peng, and Si Cang participated in the military Yang Beidao, which is his confidant subordinate. Both of them should know about money and food." Wang Decheng suddenly intervened: "Zheng Peng and Yang Beidao are both villains transferred by Zheng Youlin from Luoyang. They were like dogs, shook their heads and tails at Zheng Youlin, and roared constantly when they saw others."

Zheng Youlin looked at Wang Decheng and Xiao Qing with resentment.

Wang Decheng ignored Zheng Youlin's gaze and then said: "Zheng Youlin not only has minions, but also has accomplices in the court, otherwise he would not be so arrogant."

Xue Juzheng said in a row: "Wang Decheng, no criticism of the magistrate of the court."

Xue Juzheng turned his head and whispered to Yu Zhi, a doctor at the Ministry of Justice standing aside, saying: "Immediately send someone to strictly monitor Zheng Peng and Yang Beidao. They are important witnesses and need to send additional staff to strictly guard them. Also, Xiao Qing must be taken into the heavenly prison and cannot let him live outside again."

Yu Zhi whispered: "Hou Xiang took Xiao Qing back to Daliang and did not put him in the Heavenly Prison."

"Xiao Qing is a record officer from Chanzhou and is familiar with a lot of inside information. If something goes wrong, the case will be in trouble. He has not moved into the Marquis' Mansion. He is not a member of the Marquis' Mansion. I will report this to the Marquis' Prime Minister, so you can do it."

Xue Juzheng did not want Wang Decheng and Xiao Qing to lead the court ministers and ordered: "Take Wang Decheng and Xiao Qing down." When the two were taken down, Xue Juzheng slapped the agglomeration and said: "Zheng Youlin, Wang Decheng, are what Xiao Qing said true?"

Zheng Youlin's eyelids rolled up and did not answer.

Seeing Zheng Youlin's appearance, Xue Juzheng had already believed what Wang Decheng said. This person was so ruthless in the lobby of the Ministry of Justice. He must have been extremely arrogant when he was in Chanzhou. Wang Decheng was very angry, so how could he be his opponent?

Xue Juzheng frowned slightly, looked at Zheng Youlin under the hall, and said in his heart: "No wonder many people in the court want to plead for Zheng Youlin, but they are afraid that there is another hidden truth. Pei Xun, the old slippery man, was seriously ill at this critical moment. It was really what Yu Zhi said, he threw a hedgehog over."

"Zheng Youlin, if you don't defend yourself, even if you agree with the words of Wang Decheng and Xiao Qing, it will be extremely unfavorable to you."

Zheng Youlin was still silent.

Yu Zhiyamen, the doctor of the Ministry of Justice, quietly came in and whispered in front of Xue Juzheng: "Wang Xiang brought the message here. The case in Chanzhou must be tried impartially, but it cannot be tortured and forced to confess. Zheng Youlin is a meritorious minister and cannot be tortured."

Xue Juzheng asked in reverse: "Which king is the king?"

"Written by the King."

"Wang Zhu!" Xue Juzheng was a little surprised. Wang Zhu was ordered by Chai Rong to become the prime minister of the dynasty. He was low-key. Now that he suddenly interfered in the Chanzhou case, Xue Juzheng was quite surprised.
Chapter completed!