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"Your Majesty, I am impeaching Yan Pengfei, the Minister of Justice, and Liu Quanan, the Inspector-General. They had ulterior motives and took advantage of the trial to beat them into submission. They also fabricated evidence to frame the court ministers!"
While all the officials were watching, Zhao Junchen said loudly. 【Read the latest chapter】
Seeing that Zhao Junchen not only did not defend himself against the various charges of impeachment, but instead used offense as defense to impeach Yan Pengfei and Liu Quanan, all the officials in the court were shocked.
It seemed that a smile flashed across Emperor Deqing's eyes, but then the anger on his face became even worse. He slapped the imperial case and shouted angrily: "Is this what I asked you to say? I asked you to say this. It’s Liu Yushi who impeached you, are the charges against you true? Why did you impeach Liu Quan’an and Yan Pengfei in turn? Don’t you understand what I said!?”
Regarding Emperor Deqing's angry rebuke, Zhao Junchen's expression was still neither happy nor angry, and he just said slowly: "Your Majesty, there is no need to worry about the crime of imposition, such as Liu Quan'an and Liu Yushi's impeachment. The charges are all made up out of nothing, completely fabricated, and completely unable to withstand scrutiny. I don’t think there is anything to refute.”
Emperor Deqing snorted coldly and said, "But I'm asking you to argue! Do you still want to resist?"
Zhao Junchen nodded and said: "In that case, I will obey the order!"
On the other side, seeing Zhao Junchen's blatant counterattack, and then seeing Zhao Junchen's calm and confident expression, Huang Yourong's complexion couldn't help but change slightly!
Huang Yourong thought that his layout was perfect and that Zhao Junchen could not resist it. However, when he was caught off guard, at a loss what to do, or had no other choice, Zhao Junchen's attitude and expression should never be like this!
Could it be. Did Zhao Junchen really have a counterattack strategy for his plan?
However, within such a short period of time. How did Zhao Junchen find the means to fight back?
Is it possible that all of this is really just Zhao Junchen's layout and trap?
The uneasy feeling that always floated in Huang Yourong's heart became even stronger at this moment!
What's more, although Emperor Deqing seemed furious at this time, he also indirectly blocked Huang Yourong's party's opportunity to interrupt during the questioning. And gave Zhao Junchen room to launch a counterattack!
As a veteran, Huang Yourong could naturally understand what this meant.
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After the order. Zhao Junchen turned around, looked at Liu Quanan coldly, and suddenly said: "Liu Yushi, you impeached me on the charges. I am too lazy to listen to them one by one. Now I only ask you, what you said Is there any evidence of guilt for these crimes? If there is evidence of guilt, where does it come from? "
During the questioning, Zhao Junchen had a condescending attitude, as if it was Liu Quanan who was being impeached now!
When faced with Zhao Junchen's arrogant tone, Liu Quanan didn't even notice anything was wrong due to Zhao Junchen's usual power. He just replied: "As the supervisory censor of the imperial court, I am loyal to your majesty and responsible for the imperial court. Naturally, I dare not make unreasonable accusations. The charges against you, Minister Zhao, are all based on conclusive evidence. They were all determined by the Ministry of Works and Household Affairs. The confessions made by the officials involved in the case have been repeatedly verified and cannot be false!"
Zhao Junchen sneered and said, "So, all the evidence of my crime was obtained through the interrogation of you and Yan Pengfei?"
"Of course!"
"So, during the trial, did you and Yan Pengfei deliberately induce or coerce confessions, or even resort to coercion, and deliberately implicate the officer with some unrelated charges?" Zhao Junchen asked again.
Liu Quanan was furious and refuted: "Shilang Yan and I are dedicated to serving your majesty and the court, and are loyal to the country. How could we do such a thing?! The charges against which I impeached you were all committed by the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Industry. The officials involved in the case from the Ministry of Household Affairs took the initiative to confess, and every sentence is true and well-founded! In this regard, Master Qin Huaiyuan, the young minister of Dali Temple, also participated in the interrogation and can testify! Zhao Shangshu, I advise you not to do anything at this time. It’s better to confuse right and wrong with luck, and if you simply plead guilty directly, Your Majesty, who has always been forgiving, may be able to treat you leniently!”
"Oh?" Zhao Junchen did not hide his suspicion at all, and turned to Qin Huaiyuan for confirmation: "Master Qin, is what Liu Quanan said true? During yesterday's trial, Liu Quanan and Yan Pengfei really didn't Lure a confession, force a confession, or use torture?"
After Qin Huaiyuan hesitated for a moment, he suddenly remembered the mysterious visitor who visited him yesterday, as well as the requests and benefits that the mysterious visitor made to him.
The promised benefits are very tempting, including thirty thousand taels of silver!
The request is very simple - you can be neutral or impartial, but there are some things that must be mentioned in emphasis when asked in the morning!
As one of the few centrist officials in the DPRK who had no factions or backers, Qin Huaiyuan was not willing to get involved in the party dispute between Zhao Junchen and Huang Yourong, but the benefits of 30,000 taels of silver were tempting enough, and the other party's demands were not much. , and does not violate his own position!
Therefore, after Qin Huaiyuan hesitated for a moment, he finally gritted his teeth and said: "Your Majesty, Minister Zhao, and colleagues, when I interrogated the case with Yan Shilang and Liu Yushi yesterday, they did not force or induce a confession. As a result of the torture, the officials involved in the case from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household Affairs all voluntarily confessed their crimes and voluntarily provided some evidence of Zhao Shangshu's crimes, but..."
After hearing the first half of Qin Huaiyuan's words, Liu Quanan and other officials of the Yellow Party all looked proud. However, after hearing the word "but" again, their expressions changed!
Zhao Junchen asked: "But what?"
"However, during the trial of the case, although Yan Shilang and Liu Yushi did not force a confession, induce a confession, or use torture, they repeatedly threatened the officials involved in the case from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household Affairs, threatening that if they did not confess again, they would not only be beaten with sticks, but also tortured. They would also search their property and not ensure the safety of their families during the search. The official felt it was inappropriate at the time and tried to dissuade them both from speaking and acting cautiously, but it had no effect." Qin Huaiyuan answered truthfully.
Zhao Junchen sneered: "Oh? How is threatening the safety of the families of the officials involved in the case different from extorting or inducing a confession? From this point of view, the officials involved in the case from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household Affairs. When it comes to this official, I’m afraid it may not be done voluntarily!”
Seeing that under Zhao Junchen's deliberate guidance, the situation was gradually developing in an unfavorable direction. Yan Pengfei finally couldn't hold himself back anymore and came out again, loudly saying: "Your Majesty, I did threaten the officials involved in the case during the investigation, but those threats were only necessary means during the investigation. I think every official will do it when he is investigating the case. It will be used more or less! I have done my best to punish evil. I have a clear conscience about this!
What's more, when I was reviewing the case, I never mentioned Zhao Shangshu's name! As for Zhao Junchen's crimes and evidence. Officials from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household Affairs took the initiative to confess in order to make meritorious service and mitigate the crime. Therefore, there is absolutely no way it is false, let alone framed by the minister and Liu Yushi! about this point. All officials from the three divisions involved in the trial can testify. I hope your Majesty will learn from this! "
At this time, Yan Pengfei looked completely clear of conscience - about this, he indeed had a clear conscience!
It's a pity that in the officialdom, right and wrong are inherently unclear. Even if someone really has a "clear conscience," there is still the theory of "framing."
So, Zhao Junchen sneered. Suddenly he asked Emperor Deqing for an order: "Your Majesty, I have new information and evidence here. It can prove that the officials involved in the case from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household put some charges on me because they were Forced and helpless! These charges against me were all framed and fabricated out of thin air!"
"Oh? What evidence is it?" Emperor Deqing, who had been silent, finally asked again.
Zhao Junchen replied: "Your Majesty, because the 'Huaihe River Flood Case' involved the Hubu Yamen, I did not dare to neglect it. I also sent people around to investigate the news, but found a very strange thing! - Those responsible yesterday The three government officials who went to the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Household Affairs to arrest people, and the six leading them, all of a sudden made a fortune, and went to Yanhualiu Lane to spend money! At that time, the minister felt that something was fishy, so he sent Xichang to Fan Zi caught them and questioned them carefully, but the result surprised me!"
On the other side, Huang Yourong felt more and more uneasy. He also saw that the atmosphere in the morning had changed drastically under Zhao Junchen's pressing and aggressive steps. He finally couldn't help but stepped out and reprimanded: "Zhao Junchen! Your Majesty just asked you to To defend your own crime, why do you keep talking about him? Is it possible that you have a guilty conscience?"
Emperor Deqing waved his hand and said, "Huang Aiqing, let him continue. I want to hear what he wants to say!"
Then, Emperor Deqing nodded to Zhao Junchen and said, "Go on, what did you find?"
Zhao Junchen looked solemn and said slowly: "Your Majesty, after arresting those officials from the Third Division who were acting suspiciously, and after interrogation overnight in Xichang, it was discovered that those officials from the Third Division had taken away the suspects before going to the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Household to arrest people. A bribe of 3,000 taels of silver. Although the identity and origin of the person who gave the bribe is not yet clear, he has ulterior motives and evil intentions! The Yamen of the Third Division are required to take the opportunity to threaten the officials involved in the case from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Households when arresting people. , let them put some trumped-up charges on the minister’s head when being interrogated! If the officials involved in the case from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household do not agree..."
At this point, Zhao Junchen sneered and glanced at Yan Pengfei, whose expression changed drastically, and continued slowly: "... When Shilang Yan is trying the case, he will clearly tell them what the consequences will be!"
Then, Zhao Junchen took out a piece of paper from his sleeve, held it on his head, and said: "In this regard, all the officials of the three departments involved in this matter have confessed. Here are the confessions and evidence. I hope your Majesty will be aware of it!"
As Zhao Junchen finished speaking, the expressions of all the officials from Huang Yourong's faction changed drastically!
Among them, especially Yan Pengfei and Liu Quanan, looked the most panicked!
The new information and evidence provided by Zhao Junchen clearly mean that the officials involved in the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household Affairs confessed to crimes involving Zhao Junchen because they were coerced by threats! The people who threatened and forced them were Yan Pengfei and Liu Quan'an who were responsible for interrogating the case!
Suddenly, the situation in the court reversed!
Zhao Junchen, who was originally impeached for nine major crimes, suddenly became an innocent person framed. However, Liu Quanan and Yan Pengfei, who were originally impeached, were suspected of having ulterior motives and framed the court ministers!
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In this way, when the situation changed, Yan Pengfei and Liu Quan'an saw that the situation was not right, so they both knelt down to His Highness and shouted that they were wronged!
"Your Majesty is aware that Zhao Junchen is deliberately framing me and Liu Yushi! I don't know anything about what those three government officials did!"
"Your Majesty! Zhao Junchen has always been in charge of Xichang. The so-called 'evidence' found by Xichang is not credible!"
I heard Yan Pengfei and Liu Quanan shouting that they were wronged. Zhao Junchen's smile became colder and he asked: "Oh? Shilang Yan knows nothing about what those three government officials did? It's a pity that those three government officials are not ignorant of what you did, Shiro Yan." What they know! At least, they know very well that you, Mr. Yan, will threaten the officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Household involved in the case during the trial! If you say that Mr. Yan has nothing to do with this matter, how can you convince others?
As for Liu Yushi, if you are not convinced by the evidence found by Xichang. Xichang can also transfer those three-division yamen officials to other yamen for review! You can even bring those three government officials to the court for interrogation by His Majesty himself! But I don’t know that at that time, if the final result remains the same, what should you do? "
Zhao party officials were still a little worried. Seeing that the situation has reversed, naturally they will not let go of this opportunity to add insult to injury. They all came out to speak and cheer for Zhao Junchen!
"Your Majesty. First, the officials of the Third Division were bribed before arresting anyone. They were asked to threaten the officials from the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household involved in the case, and to frame Zhao Shangshu. Later, Yan Pengfei and Liu Quan'an used threats to extract confessions during the trial. Now, it is Yan Pengfei and Liu Quanan who are framing Zhao Shangshu on trumped-up charges. I think there must be something fishy in this, and I hope that your Majesty will order a strict investigation!"
"Your Majesty clearly knows that I also believe that Yan Pengfei and Liu Quan'an are suspected of framed imperial officials with ulterior motives and evil intentions. They must not let it go easily! The case should be opened for strict investigation! In addition, since the Three Law Departments are also involved in the case, I think this matter It should be left to the East Factory or the West Factory to investigate!"
"Your Majesty, I also think..."
Zhao Junchen's officials, such as Zuo Lanshan, Minister of Industry, Zhan Shanchang, Minister of Household Affairs, Gu Quan, Zuo Qian of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and other officials under Zhao Junchen finally launched a counterattack after holding back for a long time. For a time, Yan Pengfei and Liu Quanan were being harassed by everyone. Under impeachment, it seems that the evidence of guilt has been confirmed and accused by all.
Seeing that the situation had changed drastically, Huang Yourong and his party naturally could not sit idly by and ignore it. At Huang Yourong's signal, Young Master Zhang Cheng, Minister of Rites Lin Wei and others also came out to refute.
"Your Majesty, I believe that the evidence provided by Zhao Junchen is incomplete, and I don't know whether it is true or not! Even if someone bribed the officials of the Third Division and asked them to threaten the officials of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household involved in the case, there is currently no conclusive evidence to prove that The person who paid the bribe is related to Yan Pengfei and Liu Quanan, so it would be too far-fetched to convict him for this!"
"Your Majesty, I believe that, let alone the new evidence provided by Zhao Junchen, the charges against Liu Yushi for impeaching Zhao Junchen are not necessarily fictions. The intelligence and evidence provided by Zhao Junchen now may be A plan to confuse the public and divert the focus! I hope Your Majesty will not be deceived by Zhao Junchen!"
"Your Majesty is aware of this! I believe that even if the evidence and information provided by Zhao Junchen are true, there is still the possibility that the thief may cry out to catch the thief. After all, the identity of the person who bribed the officials of the Third Division is not clear, or it may be Zhao Junchen himself. Maybe it’s arranged..."
…………
During the fierce debate between officials from Zhao Junchen and Huang Yourong, Emperor Deqing finally finished reviewing the documents submitted by Zhao Junchen.
Emperor Deqing looked solemn, but without consulting the elders, he directly asked Zhao Junchen: "Zhao Junchen, I have read your report. Just as Lin Shangshu said, you bribed the officials of the third division. The identity and origin of this person is not clear. It is a bit far-fetched for you to impeach Yan Pengfei and Liu Quanan for falsely accusing you!
What's more, what Zhang Shaofu said is reasonable. You still failed to clarify the charges against Liu Quanan for impeaching you. Even if Liu Quanan and Yan Pengfei were really suspected of coercing confessions, it doesn't mean that the charges against you are false! Therefore, you still have to give me an explanation! "
Zhao Junchen smiled softly and said: "Your Majesty, from what I can see, the evidence is actually very conclusive! Yesterday when the officials from the Third Division went to the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Households to arrest people, I and the officials were still attending the morning court, and they were not there. would have known about the 'Huaihe River Flood Case' in advance, so the mastermind behind bribing the officials of the Third Division would be Inspector Liu Quan'an! Because Liu Quan'an has conclusive evidence of the 'Huaihe River Flood Case', except for him In addition, no one else could have predicted the development of the situation between the DPRK and China and bribed the Yamen of the Third Division to do things in advance! The confession of the Yamen of the Third Division was consistent with Yan Shilang's behavior during the trial. Obviously, this incident was closely related to It doesn’t matter to Shilang Yan! I hope your Majesty will learn from it!"
Seeing that Emperor Deqing was noncommittal, Zhao Junchen added: "As for the charges against Liu Yushi for impeaching me, I feel that I don't need to defend myself. I just need to bring the officials involved in the case from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Household to the Hall of Supreme Harmony for review by Your Majesty, and discuss with me." If you confront them in court, the truth of the matter will be revealed soon! All the charges for which I was impeached were confessed by them. If they still insist on what they said after I confront them in court, then I will have nothing to say. He said that he should plead guilty! But if their previous confessions were all due to coercion and threats, and they confessed the truth under His Majesty's royal trial, it could also be evidence that Yan Pengfei and Liu Quan'an framed me! I hope so. Your Majesty is aware of this!"
After hearing Zhao Junchen's words, the expressions of Huang Yourong and his party, especially Yan Pengfei and Liu Quanan, changed drastically after they thought of a certain possibility.
However, before they could speak, Emperor Deqing had already issued an edict: "Publish my decree and announce that all the officials involved in the 'Huaihe River Flood Case' should come to the Hall of Supreme Harmony! I will personally oversee the trial!"
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ps: Chongzi has been hiding the change of department from his family, but his family finally found out about it. Although the new department is free and can have more time to code and update, it is also a Qingshui Yamen with little future. My family Naturally, I objected, so I put aside all the quarrels. I was in too much confusion the past few days and couldn't update. I'm really sorry!
However, the discontinuation of "The Regent" and "The Rebellious Minister" has long been a problem for Chongzi, and Chongzi never dared to say the word "responsibility" again! So the bugs must be put to an end! If it continues to lose popularity, Chongzhu will have to finish the book seriously! So the bug has no regrets!
Today, the quarrel at home is finally over. Let’s upload a 5,000-word chapter first!
Will try to update more in the next few days! (To be continued...)
