The Censor Zhongcheng Han Qi on the side had already scolded in a solemn voice: "Didn't I just order the Military and Horse Division to control the officials of the Ministry of Justice and search them all? Why would there be a chance to commit suicide by taking poison? There must be something wrong with you!"
Zhang Wei's face turned red, but he could not refute. It was the first time he worked for His Highness the Crown Prince, and he did it like this. He was also ashamed and ashamed: "The last general apologized. It has been found out that it was Zhou Guang, the deputy commander of the Military and Horse Division." He met Qian Zhi, the Minister of Punishment, and gave him poison, who also committed suicide."
Zhu Biao waved his hand to stop Han Qi who was about to reprimand him. He looked at Zhang Wei and said, "Zhou Guanghe is your adjutant. You will not be able to escape the crime of being lax in your command no matter what. After this is over, go to the East Palace to receive eighty Court staff."
Zhang Wei kowtowed fiercely, and then stepped back with a loud promise. The prince's great kindness would never be repaid by death. He would personally watch it this time, and no one would take advantage of the loophole again.
Han Qi was a little dissatisfied. It stands to reason that this person is also a serious suspect. Even if he is not severely punished at this time, he should be arrested on the spot. He will make a judgment when the matter is clear. However, this is not the censor's responsibility after all, let alone this. Anyone who picks up the board always goes to the East Palace to get it, which means that this person is a confidant of His Highness.
Zhu Biao was not surprised. Zhang Wei had just been transferred here, and he was not that capable. It was normal for him to be unable to control the people below him. However, this was not a reason for immunity. If he made a mistake, he would be punished. Otherwise, what are the rules?
The Minister of the Ministry of Justice knelt down and said, "Your Highness is saying that the Minister of the Ministry of Justice is an official subordinate to me. Since he committed suicide out of fear of crime, he must have done something corrupt and perverted the law, so he took poison and committed suicide in order not to implicate his family. As the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, I know people who are not aware of the improper employment of people, please Your Highness to imprison the low-ranking minister to set the record straight!"
Zhu Biao smiled and said: "It is not a serious crime to know someone poorly, but it is just that if you are not strict with your subordinates, the minister is a second-rank official in the dynasty, and even I cannot be imprisoned without an edict. Everything must wait for the Holy Majesty's will. "
Zhu Biao asked people to go back to the palace to report that the Minister of Punishment committed suicide out of fear of crime. Han Qi, the Censor on the side, looked deeply at the Minister of Punishment on the ground: "Someone can actually instruct the deputy commander of the Military and Horse Division to do it himself. How can this be fear of crime? Suicide is clearly a murder and silence, Your Highness, it seems that the Ministry of Punishment has a big problem."
Zhu Biao did not comment, and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice did not say much. So what if there was a problem. Once Qian Zhi died, no one could directly accuse him of corruption and bribery. The family's money had long been buried under the ground outside the house. He was the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, even His Royal Highness. It is impossible to extract a confession directly through torture.
It can be said that most of this calamity has passed. The worst thing is that he was dismissed from office and sent to the local area because of his lack of strict knowledge of people. With the relationship between the six departments, he will be able to come back sooner or later. After all, he has shouldered this wave for many people. storm.
Now the only problem left is the prison, but it shouldn't be implicated in him. After all, he has never accepted a bribe personally, and all the clues can only be traced to Qian Zhi, the Minister of Punishment.
At this moment, the people from the Yushitai came back to report. Seeing that the prince had no intention of speaking, Han Qi bowed to Zhu Biao and then asked. It turned out that the officials of the Ministry of Punishment who had just been sentenced had confessed, and they were arrested one by one. Then tortured, the ancient case was so simple, rough and efficient.
In fact, if Zhu Biao wanted to, he could directly take down the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment. He would have to recognize everyone during the several severe punishments. They are all delicate and noble officials. How could they endure such pain.
But after all, he is a dignified second-grade official, not to mention that his father has told him that he needs a blunt knife to cut meat and play with them. Anyway, the result is the same. If you kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, you have to kill them more harshly, otherwise these wild monkeys Those who are not afraid of heaven and earth will soon become the Monkey King.
People from the Military and Horse Command Department also came to report. They had just sent people to search the two houses and found that all the children had left the city a few days ago. Only the old, the weak, the sick and a few servants were left in the mansion. Now they have sent people to hunt them down. .
Hearing this, even the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, who was kneeling on the ground, was shocked. He thought that the two families would be silenced, but he didn't expect to be transferred in advance. What a big deal. The Holy Spirit only launched the attack today, and someone actually expected it in advance. But why didn't he be notified in advance? If he had been prepared, he would have taken it out long ago.
Zhu Biao nodded, it was interesting. He didn't know whether it was Hu Weiyong's handiwork or the method of the Minister of Civil Affairs. He probably guessed that he wanted to attack the Ministry of Punishment through the restoration of Dali Temple, so he made arrangements in advance. If he were more ruthless, I'm afraid The children of those two families were also silenced outside the city.
After all, as long as people are alive, there will be too many surprises. As long as they are completely dead, the pro-military captain's mansion will waste their energy on searching for the dead. In this era, just throw them into the mountains and forests, and nature will digest them. No one could find any clues.
Zhu Biao patted Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice on the shoulder: "Are Li Shangshu's family members still there?"
The Minister of Punishment immediately replied: "How can I let the young man run away if I have a clear conscience? If Your Highness is worried, you can send someone to supervise the home of the humble minister."
Zhu Biao ignored him and walked directly to the lobby where the officials of the Ministry of Punishment were detained. The officials inside were pale, but they didn't cry in shame. After all, they were from the Ministry of Punishment. They did this to others too. Maybe they just didn't expect it. I will also suffer from this.
When they saw Zhu Biao coming in, they all immediately knelt down and begged: "Your Highness, you are innocent, please show me justice!"
"What I said under severe torture can be proved. If someone randomly accuses Zhongliang, it will make me suffer humiliation in vain. Please be merciful, Your Highness."
"Your Highness, the punishment cannot be compared to that of a high official. The ministers are all officials of the imperial court. In the past, even if they had no merit, they still had to work hard. Why is it like this? Why is it like this!"
……………………
Zhu Biao listened silently for a while, while the torture in the next yard continued, with wailing and screaming sounds coming one after another. Zhang Wei didn't care about offending anyone now. If Qian Zhi died, he would continue to beat him. He had to ask the others out as well. , every once in a while someone would come into the house and lift the person away like a little chicken, and all the dignity of a scholar would be lost.
During this period, soldiers from the Military and Horse Division came over with whips to pick up people. Zhu Biao waved his hand to stop them and let them continue. The group of people suddenly became more energetic. Basically, they wanted to say that what they said under torture was not sufficient evidence.
When it was almost done, Zhu Biao said softly: "The biggest enemy of an official is neither poverty nor disease, but corruption, greed and evil. Poverty can change and disease can be cured, but only corruption, greed and evil are hopeless. What do you think?" ?”
The people below did not dare to reply. Behind Zhu Biao, a man was brought in. He was covered with whip marks but replied: "Wei Chen is a doctor of the Ministry of Punishment. I was innocent but was tortured. If it hadn't been for that villain who finally confessed. He made a false accusation, does that minister deserve to be beaten to death?"
…………………………………………
