Chapter 185 Zeng Guofan decides the case at the opportunity (9)
On February 18, Zheng Dunjin arrived in Jinling and kept interrogating for fourteen days, but to no avail.
On that day, Ma Yuzhen, the son of Ma Xinyi, knelt down and said, "My father has never done anything to betray his friends. I hope Mr. Zheng will clear my father's innocent grievances."
Zheng Dunjin hurriedly helped him and said: "Nephew Ma Xian, please get up quickly. The rumors are full of loopholes and are not worth reading." In the fourth year of Tongzhi, Mr. Ma Xinyi was promoted to governor of Zhejiang Province. He had already left Huizhou, so how could he have sworn sworn ties with Zhang Wenxiang and Cao Erhu? The wise nephew thought that who was in charge of Mr. Ma’s assassination?
Ma Yuzhen looked around, but stopped talking.
Zheng Dunjin stepped back and said: General Kuiyu, Cao Governor Zhang Zhiwan, and former direct governor Zeng Guofan interrogated and succeeded, but none of them could confirm the truth. The empress dowagers of the two palaces were extremely angry. Even if Mr. Zheng had ten thousand pounds of liver and gallbladder, he would not dare to do anything. Secondly, my nephew, don’t worry, just speak up if you have something to say.
Ma Yuzhen said: On his deathbed, my father repeatedly warned me not to go to Beijing to file a complaint; only by swallowing my anger can I protect myself.
Zheng Dunjin said: Mr. Ma may know the person behind the scenes.
Ma Yuzhen said: In the sixth year of Tongzhi, when my father was appointed governor of Fujian and Zhejiang, he received an order and went to Beijing to see the Majesty for instructions. The Empress Dowager of the West Palace summoned him more than ten times. My father's clothes were soaked in sweat, his face was pale, and he was unhappy and worried. When he returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors, he was even more worried. The war was trembling; then he went to Fujian, and was transferred to Liangjiang on the way. He spent two long years and died in a foreign land.
Zheng Dunjin said: Mr. Ma is on horseback to hunt down thieves, and is off horseback to manage government affairs and work diligently. He knows everything about salt administration, river engineering, coastal defense, etc. It is a pity that the year does not take off, and only fifty years have been accumulated. Zheng is not talented. Please rest assured, my dear nephew. Zheng will handle the matter impartially and give justice to Lord Ma.
Zheng Dunjin bid farewell to Ma Yuzhen and urgently called Yan Shizhang, a doctor in the Ministry of Justice, and said: I have found out that Governor Ma's assassination was definitely not caused by personal grudges. Governor Ma died, and the only beneficiary was the Hunan people. At that time, Zeng Gongyi was busy dealing with the Tianjin religious case. When he was exhausted and exhausted, he might not be able to take care of the affairs of the two rivers. Furthermore, Zhili and Jinling were thousands of miles apart. Even if Zeng Gong issued orders, he would be beyond his reach. Who dares to brave the world? Attack fiercely?
Yan Shizhang said: If a criminal is extremely cunning and stubborn and refuses to tell the truth, why not serve him with severe punishment? Who can endure it under the pressure of sticks and sticks?
Zheng Dunjin said: Throw a rat into a trap! If you were in charge of the trial, would you dare to use punishment? It's a big deal, you and I can't bear it.
Yan Shizhang said nothing and retreated angrily. When Zheng Dunjin was feeling sad, Yuan Baoqing, the general manager of the Jiangning Camp Office, asked to see him.
Zheng Dunjin quickly said: Please come quickly!
After the audience ceremony, Yuan Baoqing said: I have something to report to you, sir, which may solve the mystery of the assassination of Sir Ma Xinyi.
Zheng Dunjin said: Please speak quickly!
Yuan Baoqing said: After the Tianjin church incident, foreign warships swarmed in and cruised in the Tianjin Haikou; Lord Ma Xinyi asked the Yangtze River Navy to mobilize and defend Shanghai in case of danger. On June 25, Huang Yisheng received the imperial edict to transfer defense. On June 26, a member of the University of Madam was assassinated during a shooting parade at the school grounds. All these are purely coincidental, and there is no causal relationship. Does Mr. Zheng believe it?
Zheng Dunjin sighed and said: The wind and cloud meet by chance, the cause and effect are coincidental, and the reveries are endless!
That night, Jiangning General Kuiyu came to visit. After a polite conversation, Kuiyu said: After the assassination of the former governor of Liangjiang, within three days, the imperial court issued four edicts, three of which were issued openly and one secretly instructing Anhui Governor Yinghan to strengthen the Yangtze River. Defense, prevent the rebellion in Liangjiang. The right and wrong are clear at a glance.
Zheng Dunjin said: "Since we know the right and wrong, why don't Kui and Zhang enforce the law impartially and eliminate this unprecedented danger for the court?"
Kui Yu said: Mr. Zheng is joking! I am a dull person, I am beyond my power, how dare I show off my strength! Master Zhang Zhiwan is even worse. It has become a joke that the commander-in-chief of the Cao Kingdom came to pay tribute and the two hundred elite soldiers were guarded.
Zheng Dunjin said: The rebellion poisoned China and killed tens of millions of people; the brave men of Hunan and Chu fought fiercely for ten years, and they were able to turn the tide and help the building that was about to collapse. Nowadays, in the south of the Yangtze River, the streets and shops are filled with music and music; the fields are not cluttered, but there are colorful fallen flowers. Even though Mr. Ma Xinyi is dead, he still has a smile on his face.
Kuiyu smiled and said: That's it, that's all!
After leaving Kuiyu, Zheng Dunjin visited Zeng Guofan overnight.
The feudal lord was so flattered that he personally brewed the tea and presented it to each other.
Zheng Dunjin turned a blind eye and said: "What does Mr. Zeng mean by the assassination of the former Jiang Governor?"
Zeng Guofan said: The horse case involves a wide range of things. If you are not careful, it will be difficult to close the net. My intention is to follow the gourd and draw the ladle, and still play the knot according to the method originally played by Kui and Zhang Ergong.
Zheng Dunjin said: Zhang Wenxiang once rebelled and returned to pirates. Because Ma Xinyi punished the Nantian pirates and killed many of their gangs, he took revenge. Master Zeng, Kuiyu, Zhang Zhiwan and I all came to this conclusion, and the two palace disciples cried out!
Zeng Guofan said: Will the criminal be tried again?
Zheng Dunjin said: The oral confession is complete and has not been retracted, so there is no need to add any more.
On March 19, 1871, Zeng Guofan and Zheng Dunjin jointly submitted a memorial: The ministers and others will jointly review the reasons for the murder of the murderer. Please continue to formulate the charges according to the original plan and the criminals in the case as usual. The criminal Zhang Wenxiang was instructed by the pirates and carried out the assassination based on personal grudges. There was no other instigator or knowing accomplice.
This criminal had fought in rebellion and dared to assassinate a high-ranking official. He was extremely vicious. He was actually sympathetic to the rebellion. He should be questioned according to the law of rebellion and treason, and it was planned to be executed in a languid manner and his heart to be sacrificed.
Alternate Taoist Sun Yiyan was originally under Ma Xinyi. Although he participated in the trial, he did not dare to say anything. He privately told his friend Yan Shizhang: "The thieves are fierce and cunning. They can't get the truth without torture. But they are rebellious and have assassinated my minister. It is not the law." It is advisable to cut off the classics and use heavy scriptures to make the world fearful. But the prison has been set up and tied up, and the clothes have no promise. Alas! The reason why Yi Yan braved his stupidity and fought hard for Ma Gong was not because he was doing it for Ma Gong alone.
Yan Shizhang said: The horse stabbing case is related to the Hunan Army, and there is a big shot behind it. We can only understand it. Zheng Qingtian, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, felt guilty and wanted to leave Jinling before the imperial edict came. He felt guilty!
Zheng Dunjin, the imperial minister, refused to wait for the imperial decree and insisted on going north. Zeng Guofan was very embarrassed and tried to persuade him with good words, but he was sent 500 yuan as a gift as usual.
Zheng Dunjin accepted the five hundred grains of silver without saying thank you, and distributed them all to Yan Shizhang, Yiletong'a, etc., then boarded the ship and sailed away.
Zeng Guofan sighed and said: The fireworks are coming to Yangzhou in March, Master Zheng can't wait!
Zhao Liewen, the guest behind the curtain, said: "Qi Shuai, Master Zheng is angry because of the assassination of the former Governor!" Zheng Qingtian's reputation was ruined this day, An Neng could not be angry!
Zeng Guofan said: Mr. Zheng is not familiar with the affairs of the country. He only pays attention to the details, which is like a chicken intestine. I have been here for three years, and my sorrow is endless. The two palaces were ordinary and there was nothing to say when they met; the emperor was silent and unpredictable; the current situation was dominated by the military aircraft of Yi Xin, Wen Xiang, and Bao Yun. Prince Gong is extremely intelligent, but he is unstable and unable to gain a foothold; Wenxiang is upright but narrow-minded and does not know how to find anyone to help him; Baojun is more than loyal, but lacks prestige and has a shallow foundation.
Zhao Liewen said: In the Chuixiang incident, the two palaces only held the first culprit. After that, they worked with Prince Gong to assist the emperor, rectifying chaos and preventing dangers, which can be regarded as complementing each other. Now that Westernization is everywhere, the common people have jobs, and the dynasty is gradually reviving, it is said that it is heart-breaking. My idiot is just talking about a dream, but I don’t need to take it seriously.
Zeng Guofan said: "Huifu, please don't lie. Although I look forward to death day and night, I am worried that my life will be ruined again." The urgent task at hand is that the chaos in the northwest has not yet settled, and Xinjiang has been invaded by outsiders. The only thing I can do now is to raise more food and materials to help Zuo Gong achieve the great cause of the Western Expedition. It is difficult for me to recover from my illness. From now on, I can only rely on Zuo Gong and Li Shaoquan for state affairs.
Zhao Liewen said: I am reporting to Dishuai, both the Tianjin case and the Ma case have been settled, Zuo Gong has succeeded in suppressing the fennel, and the state affairs of the Qing Dynasty have gradually been settled, so Dishuai no longer needs to worry; now in the south of the Yangtze River, there are mixed peanut trees, kites flying and grass growing, if Dishuai If your mind is as calm as water, your life will be as long as that of Nanshan Mountain.
Zeng Guofan said: Huifu lied again. People say that if I kill thieves well, I will be a blessed general for the rest of my life; if I commit great crimes against the enemy, I will die three years early and I will be a perfect man. The disposal of Tianjin's religious cases has been almost wiped out for many years. People like Zheng Dunjin, a fellow from Hunan in the capital, are especially a great shame to the locals. However, when Li Shaoquan took over the Tianjin case, things went smoothly. Why?
Zhao Liewen, the guest of the curtain, said: I am referring to Di Shuai, Li Shaoquan. Di Shuai often said that he had a sharp eye and a sharp hand, and was especially good at official documents and well versed in foreign affairs.
Zeng Guofan said: The year before last, when the imperial seal was being suppressed, Li Shaoquan only sent one guest to hand it over. In the Tianjin case yesterday, Li Shaoquan moved flowers and trees, removed and retained them appropriately, and killed decisively. I can't do that! Li Shaoquan worked hard to become an official, he was really shrewd and clever!
