Chapter 181 Ji Xin’s Judgment
"My father, Uncle Zhou and three young apprentices were separated when they broke the stronghold," Qingxia said. 【Read full text】
Seeing what shopkeeper Chen was about to say, Ji Xin roughly understood what had happened, and waved his hand, "Since you are injured, send it to the doctor for treatment first."
Immediately, Qingxia and others were taken into custody first, and all their belongings and luggage were sent to the office. Shopkeeper Chen made a scene and didn't catch anything. Although he was relieved, he was afraid that if the Australians were cheated by this woman, he would be unable to eat and walked around, so he went back uneasy. .
Ji Xin called one of his indigenous clerks, gave him the information, and told him to immediately go to the prisoners to investigate the report materials of Shopkeeper Chen. Then he moved on to the next case.
The clerk came back more than two hours later. Ji Xin listened to his report. Sure enough, everything shopkeeper Chen said was true: Qingxia and the young man named Jiang Suo had been teachers in the countryside and had fought in watchtowers. Even Qingxia's archery skills were extraordinary, and someone said that Luo Tianqiu once gave her a bow.
As for Jiang Niang, she and a man named Zhou led Xiang Yong and the Australians to take over the battle. The man surnamed Zhou was killed in the battle, and Jiang Niang’s injury examination report at the temporary hospital also proved: She was indeed stabbed with a bayonet - this kind of weapon was not used by the aborigines, and it was absolutely impossible to be a so-called accidental injury during martial arts training.
The clerk's ability far exceeded his expectations. Not only did he understand the situation and collect testimonies, he also found the whereabouts of Qingxia's father and three young apprentices. They were all held in prison camps.
Ji Xin reviewed the report. From this point of view, except for Qingxia's father who was not involved in the battle, the three young apprentices could be released as they were at best local heroes and there was no public outrage. As for Qingxia, Jiang Suo and Jiang Niang, they are all bound to die according to the regulations this time.
Thinking of this, Ji Xin couldn't help but feel a little pity: It was too unfair to think that these people died: just to make money and eat, even the lowest "vested interest" group was not paid, so they had to accompany them The Luo family was buried alive, but it was true that they acted as teachers of local heroes and directly participated in the battle.
He discussed this issue with Wen Desi, hoping to see Wen Desi's attitude.
"If you are asking me for my opinion, my opinion is clear," Wen Desi said, "Follow the rules."
According to the regulations, it is execution. He then smiled: "Are these two girls good-looking?"
"Looks okay." Ji Xin replied honestly, "But I think they were a little unfair... The martial artists executed yesterday still received a few months' pay. These people didn't even get monthly pay. After all, I just lived in the Luo family's house for a few days and ate for a few days in vain..."
"If they didn't directly participate in the war, I think it doesn't matter whether they are executed or not." Wen Desi said, "But since they have directly participated in the war, this little girl may have killed and injured our people, so it is too cheap to forgive them. Of course, Now that you are the president of the military court, it is up to you to decide the verdict. I will never interfere."
"You're right." Ji Xin nodded. He had a lot of discretion in this matter, but he was afraid that his discretion would destroy the concept of "everyone is equal before the law" that he always adhered to. But he found it difficult to let go of ordering the execution of these people.
Wen Desi suddenly smiled: "It's okay if you want to take a liking to these two women..."
"No, I definitely don't like them -"
"Okay, brother, don't deceive yourself. If this group was all a few strong men, would you still be so entangled? At most, just sigh with emotion. We are all men, and this is a little bit of compassion. "I understand," Wen Desi said, "most of this group of people are women and children - what we are short of are women and children. I think you should treat them according to the idea of the local brave and the public's anger, so as not to If he dies, he will no longer be a slave."
Jiang Niang cleaned her wound at the temporary hospital. Seeing that her wound was severely inflamed, the hygienist not only gave her topical anti-inflammatory powder, but also gave her oral sulfonamide tablets.
Jiang Niang was sent to the house where they were held - this was a large hall where many prisoners were held. Qingxia and others were placed in a corner. Qingxia's father and three young apprentices had been sent here. As they were crying, they saw Jiang Niang had also been sent back. The group was happy Sadness: In this incident, the whole group was finally reunited, but Uncle Zhou was already dead.
"I don't know what the Kun thieves want to do to us." Qingxia wiped her tears, "As long as they inquire, our affairs will be clear. People here may not hide it for us."
"So what? You'll probably die." Jiang Suo still looked fearless.
"I think we should just recruit people honestly next time we go to court." Her father sighed and said, "Please have mercy on Mr. Australia. I think they act very decently and treat the common people well. We are just a few entertainers. , there is no need to kill us."
"Isn't it common for officials to use the heads of ordinary people to demonstrate?" Jiang Suo muttered dissatisfied, "I would rather die to beg for mercy."
"If you insist on dying, then die." The old man got angry. After all, he was a man who had been through this and knew how valuable life was. He scolded Jiang Suo, "The head is not a carrot in the ground. It can grow back if it falls. Why are you so young and so anxious to die?"
Jiang Suo didn't dare to speak. He felt wronged. At the beginning, he was firmly opposed to working for the Luo family. It was because of his senior sister's willingness and his master's acquiescence that the situation turned into today's situation.
But speaking out will not only do nothing to help the situation, it will only make people sad in vain. Jiang Suo had no choice but to keep his mouth shut. Like most of the people in the team, he is a carefree person and has nothing to let go of behind his back. However, even if he said that he was not afraid of death, thinking that he might be hung alive on a shelf and kicked to death in a while, a chill went up his back.
"Stop daydreaming," said a sad-looking Xiangyong next to him. "Just because you worked for Mr. Luo...Luo Tianqiu as Xiangyong's teacher is enough to get you hanged. Australians treat the common people well, but you If you had picked up a knife and a gun to fight them, they would not have been merciless at all in killing people. The three brave teachers who were hanged yesterday were all greedy for Mr. Luo's eighteen taels of silver monthly money. Now it is better to leave the whole family behind. Xiao left by himself - they are strangers, and their families probably don't know that the person is dead..."
Qingxia cried: "If I had known this, I would have agreed to give the horses to the evil shopkeeper Chen. If I insist on showing off my strength, I will harm everyone..."
Jiang Suo didn't feel sad when he saw her crying. He didn't know what to say. The thought that he was going to die here without any reason made him instantly angry.
Everyone also felt that their future was at a loss, and the three young apprentices also started crying. The prisoners in the hall were already in a state of misery, but after being seduced like this, they all began to cry, making the huge hall look like a mourning hall. Finally, even the guarding sailor came in and scolded her seven or eight times before the crying stopped. Everyone stopped talking and bowed their heads in silence.
Seeing Jiang Niang being sent back, everyone was finally not so depressed. Quickly put her on the straw mat. I heard that Kun Tie helped her re-treat the wound. Now the wound is no longer swollen and painful, and her forehead is not so hot.
"Senior sister," Jiang Suo said in a small voice, "don't cry. I don't think the Kun thieves will kill us... They want to kill us, why bother treating Jiang Niang's injuries?"
Early the next morning, a clerk came to pick up the person, saying that the military court would continue the trial. After calling Qingxia's name, she was taken away. Jiang Suo was afraid that she would be tortured in court today. After all, the senior sister was a promiscuous woman. He was afraid that she would suffer too much, so he quickly asked himself to go to court with him.
"You don't have to go. It's none of your business." The clerk said expressionlessly and took Qingxia away.
When they arrived at the hall, Ji Xin asked people to present the testimonies of many people, and also found a bow from her luggage. Qingxia could no longer deny it, and knelt on the ground and begged, saying that her father was ill and owed the Luo family Later, he was favored by Luo Tianqiu, and he had no choice but to work as a local teacher for the Luo family.
"...My lord is clear, civilian women really have no choice but to do so. Civil women are always confused and cannot distinguish between good and evil..." At this point, she thought of Luo Tianqiu who was hanging on the gallows, and her heart felt sour for some reason. She shed a few tears and said, "All the ideas came from Minv. She has brought trouble to everyone in the class. The blame is all on Minv alone. Please don't implicate good people..."
"It's good that you know you're confused." Ji Xin saw her crying sadly, her pear blossoms were as wet as rain, and her mind as dry as an ancient well had some ripples, so she quickly calmed down. Ordered the people to be taken down.
Then he drafted a verdict: Jiang Suo, Jiang Niang and three young apprentices were found guilty. Because his service time in the Luo family was short and he had never experienced public outrage, his crime was reduced to one level and he was not an indentured servant, with a term of seven years. Immediately sent to Lingao for listening. The old leader did not participate in the battle, nor was he a local hero, so he was acquitted.
As for everyone's luggage and belongings, they continue to be protected as personal property and can be taken with them to Lingao. Weapons confiscated. As for the public property in the class, it should be returned to the class leader.
The rest is Qingxia. Ji Xin originally wanted to spare her. But the testimony was very damaging to her. Not only did many local warriors testify that she fought bravely on the tower, but she was also seen shooting several sailors, one of whom seemed to be an officer - this officer was probably Shi Zhiqi.
For such a crime, even if President Wen agreed to use the power of amnesty to spare her life, many people in the Senate would strongly oppose it. From the perspective of legal fairness, it is impossible to explain why she was spared death while other rural teachers who also participated in the resistance battle were executed. They had only been here for a month or two, and there was no public outrage. .
Ji Xin sighed and signed the death sentence.
"In the name of the Senate and the people, I order the following persons to be dealt with as necessary."
He signed his name after this sentence. Then a sense of exhaustion and powerlessness enveloped his heart, just like when he encountered the accident of losing his wife. Sometimes, human power cannot defeat fate, and sometimes, human power cannot fight against society. Ji Xin shed tears when he thought of this.
The aftermath work in Sanliang City lasted for a week. During this week, fewer people were killed. But I got a lot of stuff. All reasonable burdens have also been levied. Wen Desi led his men to seize a large amount of loot and prisoners, and at the same time established an "underground government" in Sanliang City.
This underground government was led by Li Cun and Monk Daoliao as public figures. In recent days, they have come out to deal with the Australians, handle supplies, collect corpses, and other actions to maintain the place, which have been recognized by the local people. Among the three originally elected liaison officers, the innkeeper Chen was arrested for repeatedly extorting money and was executed the day before the evacuation. At Ji Xin's request, the body was no longer hung for public display after the execution, but was immediately buried and cremated.
The real power figure in the underground government is a sleeper team sent by the Foreign Intelligence Service. They have quietly entered Dongguan, and some of the various contract documents of the eliminated large gentry seized in Sanliang City have been quietly transferred to their hands. After the situation calms down a bit, the lurkers can openly take over the contracts and occupy these properties. The gangsters of the Crossing Group used this to penetrate into various villages and towns in the Pearl River Delta, and finally achieved the goal of "poisoning" and "transforming" from the grassroots level.
The task force's large-scale intrusion into the Pearl River Basin plunged Guangzhou into unprecedented chaos and instability. All kinds of news, true or false, flew to Guangzhou like a snowflake, causing great panic in the city. A large number of wealthy people began to flee Guangzhou. Li Fengjie originally urged Xu Ting and others to strengthen their war preparations and prepare to fight the Kun thieves before negotiating peace. Unexpectedly, the Kun thieves did not come to the Wuyong Fort where he was waiting, but instead looted everywhere. Emergency documents from various counties were scattered. Like flying into Guangzhou.
There is news everywhere that villages and towns have been captured, that wealthy gentry in various places have been killed, and that villages and towns have been forcibly "taxed." When the news that the Dongguan County Magistrate was forced to pay the "city redemption fee" to the Kun thieves reached his ears. Not only was Li Fengjie not angry about this, but he was also slightly relieved - at least the county seat was saved, otherwise the situation would have been even more ugly if the Kun thieves captured it.
The officers and soldiers were as afraid of the enemy as tigers and could not protect the people at all. The local warriors with strong combat effectiveness also retreated in front of the thieves. Shawan, Sanliang, Daojiao, Dafen... In a series of battles, the multi-village joint protection team was defeated by the Kun bandits who only had one-quarter or even one-fifth of their number. Originally, it relied on the villages and towns to be able to protect themselves, and the strong walls and clear fields forced the Kun thieves to retreat without supplies. Now the Kun thieves not only captured a large amount of loot, but the villages and towns they passed through had to provide them with supplies - with such sufficient Supply, they can stay as long as they want.
Li Fengjie was devastated and made a desperate move. He sent Humenzhai guerrilla Chen Qian to lead 2,000 newly recruited Shuiyong to attack, looking for an opportunity to eliminate the Kun thieves' small fleet. As a result, as soon as they left Wuyong, they were captured by a squadron of spy boats patrolling nearby looking for fighter planes. When they arrived, eight spy boats attacked the improvised navy equipped with salt boats and rice boats. After the first round of artillery fire, the sailors abandoned the boats and fled. In the ensuing battle, they were completely rabble-roused. The water braves had no intention of fighting and fled for their lives. Chen Qian's boat was quickly exposed to the muzzle of the spy boat. Under the fierce gunfire, the boat caught fire and almost died. Fortunately, the general rescued him in time and he escaped with his life.
This battle completely shattered Li Fengjie and others' hopes of fighting on the water. Neither the official navy nor the water warriors recruited were of any use under the gunfire of the Kun thieves. His last hope had to be pinned on Li Luoyou - he had secretly gone to Haojing to discuss borrowing troops with the Fo Langji people, but no news had been sent back until now.
Macao mén, Jesuit.
"Mr. Lando is back?" Geranzani asked with a frown.
"Yes, he said he had something urgent to report to the president."
"Let him in." Gelanzani remembered that he had just seen a letter from Jinlige not long ago. In addition to praising "the light of God shines into his dark soul", it also mentioned that the Italian soldier was in poor health. , living in an Australian hospital and dying, I am afraid he will be called by the Lord soon.
It's only been more than two months, and he has already recovered? Gelanzani was suspicious of this. He picked up an ivory ball and played with it in his hand.
Lando walked in still wearing his stylish clothes. His complexion looked very good, not sick at all. It made Gelanzani wonder if there was something wrong with Jin Lige's observation skills.
He knelt down and took the president's ring. Then he stood up respectfully.
"Sir, I have important news to report."
Gelanzani nodded to his servant, who immediately disappeared behind the curtain.
"My child, why are you so anxious about the news?" Gelanzani was a little dissatisfied. Although Lando was effective in doing things and contributed a lot to the Society of Jesus, after all, he was just a secular attaché of a priest. Even if there was something important, The news should be reported to Jin Lige or Lu Ruohua first, and they should report it to him. Such a leapfrog report would be too outrageous.
This soldier must have gotten some information that he thought was very important, so he thought of doing this.
"Chinese officials in Guangzhou are trying to harm the Australian people."
"What did you say?" Gelanzani's hand trembled. The ivory ball in his hand almost dropped.
Although Gelanzani is not a member of the Macao Municipal Council, he is one of the most powerful people in the city. Nothing can be hidden from him. He knew that in the recent days, envoys were sent from Guangzhou to negotiate with the Ming Dynasty officials on behalf of the Ming Dynasty to let the Portuguese help suppress the "Australian pirates" that were raging in the Pearl River inland.
