A few days later.
The official documents from the Constitutional Yuan and Zhao Zhen's personal letters were sent to Bozhou.
At this time, Zhao Jun had been staying in Bozhou for half a month.
He is relatively slow in issuing official documents. When he comes from Huainan to Bianliang, he has to sail against the current, so it is normal for him to be slow.
Secondly, he deliberately spread the news slowly, waiting until the matter was settled and all the evidence was confirmed, then he sent all the news back to Bianliang and directly convicted these officials.
However, it was very fast to send the message from Bianliang to Bozhou. The main thing was to take a boat from Bianliang to the south, which was smooth sailing, so the speed was naturally much faster.
As he appeared in Bozhou, the news spread quickly, and all the officials on Huainan East Road knew of his arrival. For a time, the officialdom in Huainan was shaken and uneasy.
Zhao Jun actually didn't want to reveal his identity so early, because he mainly wanted to investigate the consequences of the drought in Huainan in the past two years.
Check to see if the government has properly resettled the victims, and whether there are corrupt officials who have embezzled disaster relief funds.
As a result, because Guo Chengyou's case was exposed in advance, other officials in Huainan's official circles will definitely prepare to deal with it as early as possible. It will be difficult to investigate and arrest corruption by then.
However, it is difficult to do but still has to be done.
At least for now, Bozhou's officialdom has been cleared, and Bozhou general magistrate Shao Jing is acting as the governor of Bozhou to stabilize the people's livelihood in Bozhou.
After the crackdown on corruption, there was another wave of crackdowns on gangs and evil. Landlords from all over Bozhou who colluded with the government to bully people and rob people of their land would be held accountable and their land would be returned immediately.
Strictly speaking, the number of such landlords in the entire Song Dynasty was not large, but it benefited from the large number of floating officials. If ordinary landlords did not have relatives in the officialdom as communication channels like the Wang family, it would be difficult for them to quickly communicate with local officials. Build good relationships.
Even if you want to collude with the government, you often collude with local officials, deceive the superiors and conceal the truth, and operate in secret.
Therefore, Zhao Jun in Bozhou asked officials from all over the country to clean up their local officials and reduce the occurrence of local tyrants colluding with the government to occupy people's fields and oppress the people like the Wang family.
Today, Shao Jingxian's court in the front yard is questioning the case. After Guo Chengyou's fall, a large number of Bozhou people came to beat drums and complain about their grievances. Some from Bozhou locals, some from local counties, sued officials, landlords and the like to express their grievances.
Zhao Jun in the backyard looked at the official documents handed over one by one. Basically, all the documents that Shao Jing had reviewed were handed over to him for review. There were no problems with the verdict, and it was considered effective if he signed it.
Guo Chengyou was the first to be sentenced. In addition to corruption and bribery, his crimes included withholding grain, criticizing propaganda, violating the law and misdemeanor, killing ordinary people, framing wealthy households, borrowing Hanlin weapons, carrying flags and guns in order to ban Soldiers and Zhou Wei and so on.
He entered the official position through his family background, not by taking the imperial examination. But basically, officials in the Song Dynasty were not punished. As long as they were civil servants, they were often treated lightly.
In the past, these crimes would probably have been dealt with by demotion.
But now Zhao Jun has been directly sentenced to death and is currently in Bozhou Prison, waiting for Zhao Jun to finally announce the processing time.
At this moment Jiang Dalang came in and said: "Zhiyuan, the imperial court sent a messenger to send an urgent message."
"oh?"
Zhao Jun was sitting behind the desk in the backyard room. When he heard Jiang Dalang's words, he raised his head and put down the official document in his hand and said, "Let people come in."
A travel-worn messenger came in, knelt down on one knee and said, "I went to the memorial hall to meet the magistrate."
Cao Di is not a person's name, but a job title. He is the person who is responsible for delivering messages to Jinzouyuan. Since messages are conveyed by ship and generally transported through canals, it is called Cao Delivery.
Zhao Jun nodded and said, "Is it the document from the Constitutional Yuan?"
"Yes."
The messenger opened the mailbox behind his back and handed over a volume of documents.
Zhao Jun took it and glanced at it.
The content inside was very simple. The people from the Constitutional Yuan told him that the imperial court would send people to resolve some of the matters he had investigated and secretly investigated in Yingtian Mansion.
In addition, regarding the Bozhou matter, the officials and the Constitutional Yuan meant that he would have full authority to handle it and there was no need to report it.
"Um."
Zhao Jun nodded.
The messenger added: "The official family still has a secret edict."
As he spoke, he took out a letter from his arms and carefully handed it to the desk.
Zhao Jun took it and opened it, glanced at it, and then nodded and said: "Okay, I understand, you go and have a rest, and then send my reply back to Bianliang tomorrow. Dalang, you have worked hard all the way to Cao Delivery, so I will reward you with two Money."
"yes."
Jiang Dalang agreed.
Caodi went back happily.
After everyone went out, Zhao Jun opened the letter from Zhao Zhen again.
The letter said that Guo Chengyou was Zhao Zhen's East Palace attendant, and he had been with Zhao Zhen when he was very young.
Moreover, he is also the son-in-law of King Shu and a descendant of the founding hero of the Song Dynasty.
Therefore, I hope that Zhao Jun can keep an open mind for the sake of Zhao Zhen and King Shu. Even if Guo Chengyou's crime is extremely heinous, he should not be executed and just be exiled to Lingnan.
After reading the letter, Zhao Jun threw it on the table. Pile on the table next to him were the evidence of Guo Chengyou's crimes that Zhao Jun had collected in the past half month.
Opening a page at random, it clearly records how Guo Chengyou, as the magistrate of Bozhou, colluded with some businessmen and landlords in the city to buy and sell by force, take bribes and bend the law, and even withhold taxes and grain.
Even if the crime of corruption and bending the law was not punishable by death, for the Zhang family's painting, he framed Zhang Fu with crimes, tortured him to death, and exiled his family.
If Zhang Fu's best friend Tian Chang hadn't found Zhao Jun, I'm afraid no one would have vindicated Zhang Fu in his entire life.
The criminal process that Guo Chengyou downplayed fell on the heads of countless ordinary people, which was an insurmountable mountain. It leaves families broken and dead, wives and children scattered, and everything is devastated.
However, next to these evidences of crime, there is a plea letter sent by the Emperor of the Song Dynasty to this corrupt official. It must be said that it is also another kind of irony.
"The Emperor of the Song Dynasty kept saying that the people were his people, and then someone criticized his people so harshly, causing his people to suffer disaster. But the emperor wanted to protect those who abused the people. It was really a characteristic of the Song Dynasty, and it left people speechless. talk."
Zhao Jun sighed, shook his head, and thought to himself: "It's a pity that the phone has never been repaired. If I take a photo and show it to Zhao Zhen and Lu Yijian, Wang Zeng and the others, it will be a big joke in the Song Dynasty."
Wait a minute.
Since my phone is broken and I can’t take pictures, why don’t I find someone to draw it?
It would be a beautiful thing for Zhao Zhen to be famous forever.
Zhao Jun suddenly thought of it.
Whatever he wanted to do, he immediately sent someone to find a famous painter in Bozhou and asked him to use charcoal instead of a brush to paint the scene realistically.
As soon as the order from the Zhiyuan was issued, the Bozhou government took action and quickly hired a famous painter.
Although the prefecture's requirements were strange, and they had to use charcoal instead of a brush, the artist quickly painted this world-famous painting.
The content of the painting is very simple. It shows Zhao Jun sitting majestically in the hall. Guo Chengyou's criminal evidence is placed on the right side of the table. In the middle of the table is a letter from Zhao Zhen. The name of the painting is "The Official is Pleading for Love".
Even though the title of the painting seems to have nothing to do with the content of the painting, it is obvious that Lu Yijian and the others should be able to understand it if it is sent back to Bianliang.
Afterwards, Zhao Jun wrote another sarcastic letter, asking someone to give the painting and letter to the courier, and ordered him to send it back the next day.
The next morning, after the messenger left, Zhao Jun took his things to the cell.
Today is the day of execution.
Early morning hours.
In the prison, Guo Chengyou was still yelling and cursing.
He has followed the official family for many years and has long understood the official character.
So he was sure that Zhao Jun could not do anything to him.
He has been cursing Zhao Jun all this time, even when he was dry with saliva.
"Zhao Jun, so what if it was me who harmed the person? I admitted those crimes openly, so what?"
"Who are you, Zhao Jun? You came out of nowhere and stole a high position. When I was serving the official family, you were not even born yet?"
"Don't think that you can do whatever you want with me when you are in power. I tell you, you can't do anything, you straight bitch and thieves!"
In the cell, Guo Chengyou kept cursing with his hands on his waist.
For so many years, Guo Chengyou has never suffered such a great injustice due to his background as Zhao's son-in-law and an official in the East Palace.
Zhao Jun, who came out of nowhere to steal a high position, actually put him in jail so violently and humiliated him so much. At least Guo Chengyou felt very unhappy now.
However, just as he was yelling and scolding, Zhao Jun appeared outside the cell door and looked at him with interest.
Next to Zhao Jun was Tian Chang, a little old man.
Tian Chang was very happy at this moment. He had gone to pay homage to his friend these days. He had already sent people to pick up his friend's descendants, but unfortunately, his friend's mansion had been sold by Guo Chengyou long ago and he could not get it back.
However, Tian Chang was satisfied to be able to avenge his good friend, and he secretly swore in his heart that in the future, as long as he received orders from the Supreme Court, he would go through fire and water without hesitation.
Now seeing the enemy who killed his friend here, Tian Chang said with a smile on his face: "Zhiyuan, this guy seems to be quite unrepentant."
"It's normal. This kind of person won't shed tears until he sees the coffin."
Zhao Jun smiled.
Guo Chengyou's crime was so heinous that he would definitely not be able to escape the death penalty. But he thought that his backstage was strong and that no one in the Song Dynasty could touch him.
In fact, this is also the case. It is not that there have been impeachments by admonishers and censors over the years, but he has always stood firm. He was bounced around by many people, but he still acted as magistrate everywhere and harmed so many people. Anyway, he never collapsed.
So with confidence in his heart, Guo Chengyou was obviously not afraid at all.
"Zhao Jun!"
Hearing the conversation between Zhao Jun and Tian Chang, Guo Chengyou looked outside the cell door and immediately rushed over, lying on the pillar, looking at Zhao Jun fiercely and said: "Zhao Jun, let me out quickly, do you hear me?"
"If you let it go as you say, wouldn't I be embarrassed?"
Zhao Jun frowned and said: "I am the magistrate of the Constitutional Yuan, and all the officials have to give me some bad treatment. You broke the law knowingly and illegally in Bozhou, and I caught you. If you speak nicely, kneel down and beg for mercy as soon as possible, and confess your crime." If you give me an explanation on May 10th, you might be able to get a leniency. If you are so rampant now, you clearly don't take me seriously."
"what are you?"
Guo Chengyou said angrily: "My wife is the daughter of King Shu, and my grandfather was Zhongshu Ling. When the official family was still in the East Palace and I was the prince, I served around you. Where did you come from, you are worthy of my attention." inside?"
"It's interesting."
Zhao Jun smiled and said: "No wonder you are lawless and don't have the laws of the Song Dynasty in your eyes."
"Wang Fa?"
Guo Chengyou seemed to be extremely angry and laughed, pointing at the top and saying: "The King's Law, that is the royal law. If the officials want to change it, they have to change it. Can you be allowed to run wild? Do you believe it or not? You have arrested me now, no?" The pardon order from the Japanese officials will be sent to Bozhou soon."
"I believe this. He has already sent it."
Zhao Jun first picked up the document from the Constitutional Yuan and said, "This is the order from the Constitutional Yuan. Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng have signed it, which means it should be dealt with according to the law."
Deal with it according to law?
Guo Chengyou was stunned there with his eyes wide open. He never expected that the Constitutional Yuan would issue such an order.
"Actually, even if they give me an order to release you, I won't obey it. Because I am the President of the Constitutional Yuan, and they are just colleagues of the Constitutional Yuan. I am their superior. What qualifications do they have to order me? "
Zhao Jun said lightly: "Nowadays, all officials are controlled by the Political Yuan. I can remove anyone's office if I want. But I am a reasonable person. Whoever does a good job as an official can appease the local people and do a good job." If the people's livelihood of a place is improved, then I will promote him. If anyone is too busy to do things and his body is a bare meal, I will remove him. As for you."
Zhao Jun said with a sneer: "The evidence of your crime and the bad things you have done can be piled up on a table, and it will be enough to sentence you to death several times, so I sentenced you to death, so there should be no problem."
"You dare to kill me? You dare to kill me?"
Guo Chengyou shook the wooden pillar, the chains on his body rattled, and roared: "The officials will not let you go, the officials will not let you go!"
"I said it was me not letting him go, not him not letting me go."
Zhao Jun pointed at himself, then took out another letter and said: "This is a secret letter written by the official to me. I hope I can be merciful. In other words, this is your life-saving straw!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha."
Guo Chengyou said ecstatically: "I knew the officials would not leave me alone. Zhao Jun, you are such a madman, you dare to say that you will not let the officials go. If I sue the officials, you will die without a burial place." .Now that the officials have given you a secret edict, why don’t you let me out? If I was in a good mood, maybe I wouldn’t complain!”
"You must be out of your mind."
Zhao Jun looked at him with squinting eyes and said happily: "Putting aside, I will definitely not let him go. I will scold him severely when I get back. If he has a bad attitude, I may even punch him twice. In front of I said the same thing to him. Even if I was talking nonsense, how could you think I would let you go?"
Guo Chengyou opened his eyes wide, then looked at the edict in Zhao Jun's hand, stretched out his hand to grab it and said: "Zhao Jun, this is an official edict. He asked you to let me go. You are disobeying the edict!"
"oh."
Zhao Jun nodded, raised his head and looked at the lit torch in the cell next to him, and then said with a smile: "This is your life-saving edict."
Then he put the edict on the torch and lit it instantly.
"Now."
Zhao Jun looked at the burned edict in his hand and said calmly: "It's gone."
"Just like you once trampled on other people's lives, torn apart countless wives and families!"
Zhao Jun let go of his right hand, and the secret edict on fire fell down lightly.
Guo Chengyou watched helplessly as the secret edict turned into a ball of fire, then turned into ashes in the air and fell to the ground. He was even stepped on by Zhao Jun.
"The execution will be carried out this afternoon to avenge the people of Bozhou who were oppressed by him, as well as the people of other state capitals where he once served!"
Zhao Jun left such a sentence, turned around and left.
Tian Chang spit on the ground and left.
Only the desperate Guo Chengyou roared in the cell.
(End of chapter)
