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Chapter 258: Autumn Fu Twenty-three
"Chen Minggang is the household secretary of this county. Why did you do this illegal thing? Could it be that you have a grudge against your master and want to take revenge?" Zhou Dongtian said in full.
"I don't dare," Zhou Qi quickly defended. He fully confessed how Chen Minggang planned to take advantage of the opportunity of handling grain requisition for the Australians to extort a large number of large households, how he took the initiative to propose "land management" as an excuse for extortion, and various tricks. come out. Finally, he cried and complained that because the big business owners wanted to file a lawsuit, he was ordered to bribe rogues to intimidate the big business owners.
These words were both sensible and reasonable when spoken, and more than 90% of them were true. The people listening to the trial couldn't help but not believe them.
Huang Hankun took a few sips of cold tea to calm down and recover from the huge shock just now. Thinking about the current situation in the court, it is a foregone conclusion that Chen Minggang is guilty, and even the Australians can no longer defend him, otherwise he will openly become an enemy of the gentry in the county - look at how the Australians behave this time He was probably planning to use Chen Minggang as a scapegoat. Huang Xunkun thought that if this was the case, the Australians would confront the subordinate officials, and they would not be able to take advantage of this group of "ground bugs" who were extremely familiar with the situation in the county, and they would be able to eliminate a big trouble.
"So, it is true that the gentry's reports that you openly asked for bribes to determine the amount of land and rice consumption are true."
"It's true. The several grain households that I handled were all following Master's instructions."
"Is there a booklet?"
"The records are all in Master's hands, we dare not hide them privately."
“Where did the knives and bows and arrows come from?”
"It's all given by Master." Zhou Qi said, "I don't dare to lie."
"Okay, please step back." Zhou Dongtian glanced at the Jin gentry, "It seems that Chen Minggang is the culprit in this matter."
"This man has committed a heinous crime," Sun Ruiwu quickly caught the opportunity and immediately echoed.
Seeing Zhou Dongtian's public stance, the Jin gentry all breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the final outcome of this lawsuit was in their favour. Thinking of all the harassment and intimidation they had received these days, they suddenly felt that the clouds were clearing, and they had a clear view on the Australians. I admire your work even more. Liu Dalin also secretly praised in his heart that if such a matter was handled by the county magistrate, it would probably get passed away like mud. Australians do things first, secondly, and clearly distinguish right from wrong.
"In that case, the messenger from his county household secretary——"
"Of course they will be dismissed immediately." Wu Ya immediately came out to express his position.
"Okay, Wu Zanfu and Mr. Sun are indeed clear-sighted and upright Lord Qingtian." Zhou Dongtian immediately brought a bowl of flattering rice soup. As expected, the Jin gentry joined in the fun and agreed together.
"The person who came here mentioned Chen Minggang and his gang."
"Here" Fu He worked very hard in order to make atonement for his crimes. He immediately took the fire sign and ordered about a dozen brothers in the fast class, and was about to go out. I saw You Guotuan coming over.
"Fu Tou, your men should stay here and let them go as you go." You Guotuan pointed at a dozen people behind him. These people were all wearing official uniforms of the yamen. Each of them was holding a weapon and looking murderous. steaming.
"Yes, yes." Fu He knew that these were the confidants of the Australians and did not dare to disobey.
Within half an hour, about twenty people had been gathered in the courtyard of the flower hall. Chen Minggang's apprentices, food servants, and helpers all from the city were captured and kneeled in the dark courtyard.
Chen Minggang was brought into the flower hall, and when he saw Zhou Qi kneeling aside, he suddenly felt something bad in his heart - this boy could not have sold himself out.
Regarding his crimes, Chen Minggang firmly refused to admit it. The expropriation of grain and land had the consent of the Australians. How could it be called "unauthorized"? As for the extortion of fees, it was natural that he had "disciplined" his subordinates. At best, he could be regarded as a leader. Mistakes. Zhou Dongtian only felt familiar when he heard it. This set of dare to love has been passed down for hundreds of years.
As for the matter of intimidating the gentry, that is even more nonsense - this is absolutely true - Zhou Qi must have done it himself, trying to take revenge on his master.
"Zhou Qi, regardless of his superiority and inferiority, repeatedly seduced the villain's concubine Qiu Hong. The villain thought of his master-disciple relationship and kept forbearing. He didn't expect that this evil beast would do such a thing." Chen Minggang choked up and cried when he said this. Tears down.
"Nonsense," Zhou Qi yelled, "Qiu Hong and I are innocent."
"Quiet!" Wu Ya was stunned, "I want you to speak before you speak."
"What a talented actor" Zhou Dongtian has no intention of getting entangled with Chen Minggang. This old official was sharp-tongued. Although he had experience in interrogation, it was quite inconvenient for him to speak and answer questions, and he had no time to hold a debate with him. Fortunately, Ming Dynasty is not a place that pays attention to justice and human rights. There is no need to cover up the torture and torture in a formal manner. We will just deal with him slowly in the future. Now open the breakthrough directly from under him.
No matter how sophistical he is, not all of his subordinates may be powerful, so he immediately summons Xiao Hu from the umbrella shop - according to the project materials of the General Administration of Political Security, Xiao Hu from the umbrella shop is the core of Chen Minggang's gang after Zhou Qi. figure. It helps to pry his mouth open.
The little Hu from the umbrella shop came to the court. He originally wanted to defend himself a few times, but was beaten so hard that he cried for his father and mother. He immediately recognized everything. Including Chen Minggang's plan to force them to force the grain households to submit complaints and make the Australians think that Huang Hankun was in charge of the riots and grain resistance.
"A dignified household secretary actually instigated people to resist grain behind his back. What kind of crime is this?" Zhou Dongtian sighed in the flower hall.
"The crime is extremely evil, the crime is extremely evil." Sun Ruiwu came to join in the fun again. Wu Ya glanced at him contemptuously and remained silent.
Then more than a dozen food messengers came up. Those who saw the opportunity were so quick that they confessed without waiting for punishment, while those who didn't saw the opportunity had to suffer. The boards in the hall were crackling, and there was a sound of ghosts crying and wolves howling. The boards under Lin Changsan were stained red with blood. The gentry had never seen such a spectacular torture scene on weekdays, and they were all trembling. On the contrary, Huang Xunkun was calmer.
Chen Minggang knelt aside, watching his men confess one by one, and watching Zhou Dongtian look like he was going to get to the bottom of it. Although he was panicked, he still didn't understand why they did this. Although he was in the process of collecting food They made a huge fortune, but the benefits they brought to them were much greater. As for the matter of asking people to intimidate the Jin gentry, it was simply a fiction. Even Zhou Qi might not have the courage to do so.
"Okay, what else do you have to say?" Zhou Dongtian took the pile of confessions and asked Chen Minggang.
"The villain is indeed unjustly accused." Chen Minggang frowned, "Under the three trees, what can I ask for? Since you insist on accusing the villain, I want to see how I can collect this year's autumn gift."
"You don't have to worry about this." Zhou Dongtian knew that the Planning Committee had already stocked up enough Vietnamese rice, so that even if Lingao County could not collect even one rice, it would still be enough to complete the autumn harvest. It may be possible to use this to blackmail the county magistrate, but it is a pure joke to use it to blackmail the Chuan Chuan Group, which controls Vietnam's rice supply chain. "Take them down and put them in jail."
"You guys should be proud." Chen Minggang knew that the matter was irreversible. With the way Australians behaved, he would not survive. When death was imminent, the good feeling that he had been able to control everything with ease for many years completely collapsed, leaving only the rage in his heart, and he shouted, "You colluded with the bandits, and sooner or later you will go to the West City to cut them off. As for you big guys-" He glared at them fiercely. , "The days when the Australians will skin you are coming soon"
These words made everyone in the hall change their expressions. A few words touched everyone's heart. Zhou Dongtian was furious and said anxiously: "Tell him to shut up."
Immediately, someone came over and tied the prepared rope around his neck. Chen Minggang was speechless.
"Take him down," Zhou Dongtian roared.
After they stayed, the gentry no longer had the intention to sit for a long time and asked to leave one after another. Zhou Dongtian also refused to stay. Send an order to retreat. Naturally, everything in the flower hall was taken care of. Zhou Dongtian, Wu Ya and others came to sit down in the signing room at the back. Xiong Buyou has been waiting in the signing room for a long time.
"Chen Minggang hasn't confessed yet. Do you want another trial?" Wu Ya asked. Chen Minggang resolutely refused to plead guilty. In ancient times, confession was the most important factor in interrogations. A confession without the prisoner's signature meant that the case was not concluded.
Sun Ruiwu said: "It's just torture. Don't worry if he doesn't admit it. We must complete the case." He was frightened by Chen Minggang's words in the hall and had already decided to kill him.
"If this matter is really a case, it may not be easy to deal with." Wu Ya was still scheming, "What crime should I be charged with? If you want to ask for a death penalty, wouldn't it have to be reported to the Ministry of Criminal Justice for review?"
Subconsciously, they didn't want to report this matter again to avoid causing trouble.
"There is no need to complete a solid case. Now that the circumstantial evidence is complete, it is enough to remove his household registration." Zhou Dongtian said, "Just hand over him and his subordinates to us."
"This-" Wu Ya hesitated. In the hands of the Australians, Chen Minggang would definitely not survive. The problem was that the name of the prisoner to be transferred was difficult to handle.
"It's okay," Zhou Dongtian said, "Chen Minggang has just been dismissed from his position as household secretary. He can no longer stay in the county government. He can go wherever he wants. Why do you have to think about him?"
Wu Ya agreed, and after discussion, in the name of "extorting the local area and harassing the people", Chen Minggang was dismissed from his job with his household registration, and at the same time, Fu He, the leader of the Kuaiban, was also dismissed from his job, and was handed over to the Crossing Group. To deal with it privately.
As a result, two important shortcomings emerged.
"Zhou Qi will take care of the office of the household secretary," Xiong Buyou said. Household affairs are heavy, and there are also autumn affairs to take care of at the moment, so you can't be a novice, so it's perfect to go over there on Saturday.
Zhou Qi relied on betraying his master to get this job, so he must be incompatible with his colleagues. Only by serving the Cross Travel Group wholeheartedly can we save this job and our lives. ,.
