Before the trial started, Hong Danian saw the inspector and tolerance officer sent to Anren. He quickly stepped forward and asked in a low voice: "Is the matter done?" The inspector shook his head. "In that case, why did you come back like this?"
"Sir, Ge Sibao is nowhere to be found. The door of his home is locked. Neighbors say he has not been seen for several days, and his wife is also missing."
"Asshole! Why don't you look around?"
"Sir, I am being followed by a lowly person."
"What? What kind of person dares to follow someone from Gaotai Yamen?"
"Well, they are all hawkers selling cloth, pear candy... They are everywhere, and there are people watching even outside the toilet. The low-level people are really scared and dare not stay there. It’s….”
"Bastard, bastard!" Hong Danian was so angry that he stamped his feet repeatedly. He guessed what was going on, but there was nothing he could do without evidence.
Today's court hearing will be held, as usual, presided over by Mr. Sun, the censor of Jiangnan West Road, Mr. You, the prefect of Nanchang, and Mr. Hong Danian, the prosecutor of the punishment. Mr. You knocked on the gavel and ordered: "Bring the accuser and the suspect."
Su Hu went down to the hall and called Li Su in. Because he had an official status, everyone stood up to greet each other and asked someone to set up a chair on the east side for him to sit down. After a while, Cai Du came to report: "Sir, the suspect has been brought here." After saying this, he stood by the door.
Li Dan Shiran came in and held his hands: "Student, Yu Qian Li Dan, I would like to pay my respects to you all."
Li Dan's reputation as a scholar was second to none. The most important thing was that he had an honorary title. Officials below the third rank would take the initiative to salute him when they saw him.
So strangely, the three chief judges in the hall, as well as the complainant Li Su, all stood up and said in unison: "I've seen Lord Li, Lord Li is fine!"
"Everyone is well." Li Dan returned the salute: "Today Dan is the one who is on trial. Sirs, you don't have to be so polite. Please return to your seats and perform your duties." After saying that, he turned around and saluted Li Su: "My nephew, hello. Uncle, long time no see, uncle is well."
Li Sugang was about to sit down when he saw him coming to pay his respects and stood up to return the greeting, saying: "Okay, okay."
The three chief judges had different expressions when they saw him. They all thought that he would not look down upon Li Su well when they saw him. Unexpectedly, Li Dan was very respectful and couldn't find any fault with him.
Master Sun, the supervisory censor, had a smile on his face. You Zhifu twisted his beard and nodded, while Hong Danian sneered at Li Dan for being so hypocritical at such a young age.
He picked up the gavel and patted it: "Li Dan, please sit down first and let me ask you: Your uncle is suing you for four crimes. I wonder if you can plead guilty?"
"Is this Lord Gao Sihong opposite?" Han An, who came in behind Li Dan, suddenly asked.
"Who are you?"
"Student Yu Qian Han An is now hired as a litigator by Li Sanlang. Please take care of me." Han An, wearing a Confucian shirt, held his hand in a neither humble nor overbearing manner.
"The official is none other than Hong Danian."
"Master Hong, please explain to Rong Caomin that when Mr. Li was arrested in the inn where he was staying, the official showed him a document listing the charges. Although Mr. Li was confused, he still obeyed the official.
Since then, he has been detained in the government office. No one came to explain, and there was no interrogation. Therefore, Mr. Li is still confused about the charges listed for his arrest. He wonders why someone was sitting at home and disaster came from the sky?
I hope you can clarify it and give him a clean slate! "As soon as Han An finished speaking, students outside cheered loudly, and Su Hu was busy instructing the officers to suppress him.
When it was quiet down below, Magistrate You caught a glimpse of Hong Danian saying nothing. He reached for the gavel tree and knocked it: "Official secretary, please read Li Su's petition in front of everyone!"
The clerk got up hurriedly, picked up the paper and read it loudly. Then Magistrate You asked: "Do you understand, Li Sanlang? Can you plead guilty?"
"Let me tell you, sir, the student was trusted by the superior before and took orders to fight against the lake bandits and suppress the banditry in times of danger. He actually does not know where the crime is and why he was convicted? What are the various bases listed in the petition? I beg for clarification." Li Dan handed over his hand. answer.
"Hmph, it seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin?" Hong Danian said.
"Master Hong, please be careful what you say!" Sun Yushi, who had been silent all this time, reminded him. After all, the other party had an identity. Hong Danian's tone was quite rude, and he had to bow to apologize when the Yushi reminded him.
"If Mr. Hong has prepared witnesses and evidence, please submit them." You Zhifu said angrily. He was also very disgusted with the rudeness of this procuratorate official.
"Bring witnesses!"
"Bring witnesses Shi Dajun and Sun She to court!"
"Shi Dajun, a low-ranking official, and Sunshe, a grassroots citizen, have met the chief judge."
Hong Danian glanced at Li Dan proudly: "Shi Dajun, please briefly describe your resume."
"Returning to your lord, I was originally from Poyang. Later, I escaped into the lake due to wounding and became a subordinate of Liaohuazi. I was captured during the attack on Yugan and later surrendered to Li Sanlang."
"Oh, so you used to be a Lake Bandit, and now you have been recruited into the group by Li Sanlang, right?"
"Sir, I originally had seven or eight hundred brothers under my command in Huli. Later, I joined the regiment to train and lead more than a hundred people."
"Wait a minute!" You Zhifu stopped the conversation: "Shi Dajun, you say you have a humble position, is it possible that you still have a position?"
"I dare not hide it from your lord. I am currently serving as the Ninth Grade Inspection Envoy, responsible for the Shigang Inspection Department."
"What's going on?" Sun Yushi sat up straight: "Master Hong, are you bringing him here to testify about the crime of harboring the bandit leader? Since he is an official with a position and rank in the imperial court, the word "harbor" cannot be ignored. Why talk about it?"
"This..." Hong Danian secretly screamed. How could he have thought that Shi Dajun, who was very popular and well-known in the group training, was actually a high-level official?
"The people below are not doing their job well..." He wanted to explain, but Sun Yushi waved his hand: "Okay, please step down, Inspector Shi!"
"Thank you, sir. However, for my humble position, I have to ask you to lead the way. We are still at war. If we don't have this humble position, we can't even get out of the city gate and we will be detained!"
"Huh? Lu Yin, shouldn't you go to the Commander's Office to issue an application?"
"Your Majesty, it is clear to me that Beizhi was tied up with a rope by them on the way back to the county seat. The commander-in-chief did not summon Beizhong to Hongdu. They may not even know that Beizhong is in Nanchang City."
"What? Nonsense!" Sun Yushi glared at Hong Danian, turned around and said as kindly as possible: "Go down and rest first, and then let You Zhifu write a prescription for you." Shi Dajun sang and retreated. .
"Go on." Sun Yushi frowned and said.
"Is this Sun Society down there?"
"That's what the grassroots are. The grassroots were coerced into joining the rebel army in Lou Zi's time and became a leader. They took the initiative to lead the team in front of Fengqiguan. Now they are working in the Anren Branch of the Raonan Merchant Group, doing prospecting, mineral processing, and mining. It’s my old profession.” Sun She answered with crossed hands.
"Sir, please allow the student to ask this witness a few questions." Han An smiled and bowed.
You Zhifu thought it didn't matter, so he nodded: "Just ask."
"Mr. Sun," Han An turned to Sun She: "Have you ever concealed the blood debt on your hands by surrendering?"
"Sun has no blood debts on his hands." Sun She replied: "All surrendered soldiers and prisoners have been screened by the governor. Those with blood debts were beheaded after they were discovered, and they will not survive today."
"Then why did Mr. Sun not continue to work hard in the group training after he was demoted, but instead went to work in the business group? Is he trying to hide something?"
"Sun was originally trusted by Saburo and had managed thousands of teams, but that was not my strength. Working in the business group is the only way to use my strengths and make Sun feel at home like a fish in water.
Moreover, the salary of the merchant group is very good. They can get a fixed amount of four taels and two cents of silver every month, so why do they have to be soldiers and fight? "
Han An nodded with satisfaction and raised his hand: "Sir, the student has finished asking questions."
Hong Danian secretly gritted his teeth and asked maliciously: "Let me ask you, Sun She, are there many people like you who were originally in the bandit corps who are now either training in the group or in the business group?"
"Sir, it's true!"
Hong Danian was overjoyed and immediately asked: "How many similar examples can you name?"
"For example, Gao Hanzi, the commander who killed Yintuo's army and captured its flag, Gao Can who was the first to kill the enemy when capturing Yujiang and Yingtan, Lin Shuntang who was loved and respected by the soldiers as a father and brother, etc.
Although these people were once trapped in a bandit camp like me, Li Sanlang was able to appoint talents and make use of them, which made us happy to use them. This is the source of Raozhou regiment’s ability to fight without defeat, and it is also the reason why we admire his young hero... …. "
"That's enough!" Hong Danian became angrier as he listened and waved his hand: "Get off!"
"Thank you, sir, but ordinary people also need road guidance, otherwise Yu Gan's steamship company will not sell the ticket to me that time."
Sun Yushi smiled bitterly: "Is it possible that you were kidnapped too? Well, you wait outside first, and then you can go back to Magistrate You to handle it!" When Sun She went down, he looked at Hong Danian: "About this matter Guilty, does Mr. Hong have any other witnesses?"
"Well, actually, there was originally one, but that person suddenly fled and disappeared..."
"Well, there's no need to mention it, let's move on to the next crime." Sun Yushi shook his head.
Immediately afterwards, Dong Houyong and Yang Dayi were called to the hall. When they saw two fifth- and sixth-grade military attachés arriving, everyone was surprised and quickly stood up to greet them.
Sun Yushi quickly asked: "Are you two ordered by the capital commander Si to come to Hongdu to testify?" After receiving a positive answer, he took a breath and sat down to listen to their testimony.
Hong Danian first asked Yang Dayi why he left the team without permission. Yang Dayi replied that he encountered bandits in the lake and lost his means of transportation. In addition, Guangxin Zhucheng fell and the road to Fuzhou was blocked, so he was stranded.
Later, at Li Sanlang's invitation, he helped him train local warriors, organize team training, and even fight against the lake bandits. He has been appointed by Yugan County and Raozhou Prefecture successively to this day. He doesn't know where to start from leaving the team without authorization.
Seeing that Yang Dayi could not find any loopholes, Hong Danian turned to Dong Houyong and asked him why he survived when thousands of people died in the battle of Huangxi.
Dong Houyong frowned after hearing this: "What do you mean, my lord, fighting thieves can only lead to death but not survival, and the living are cowardly and greedy people? How can there be such a saying in the world?"
Just as Hong Danian was about to retort, he interrupted: "I and more than a hundred brothers retreated to Zhongzhou. Fortunately, the tide rose to stop the enemy. Otherwise, we would have become ghosts long ago.
He sent people across the river to ask for help, and sent the news to Lord Li. Only then did he get a boat to help him escape. Governor Zhao ordered us to guard the south gate of Yugan, killing and wounding many bandits.
Later, several captured brothers were rescued. Mr. Zhao ordered us to break up and organize them into regiment training, and assign them to each team's commander, town governor, and small flag to enhance the team's combat effectiveness.
The regiment training was able to defeat Anren and fight in Fuzhou, thanks to the command of the officers and soldiers, but I don't know what to blame.
The brothers still fought on the front line after escaping the danger, and they never hid or escaped. Is it inappropriate to accuse them of deserting? "
"Uh, this..." Hong Danian was speechless for a moment.
Next came the appearance of the "Duan Brothers". Hong Danian asked: "Duan Fang, where were you and what were you doing in November last autumn?"
"My lord, the student was still a subordinate of Yin Tuo at that time and was ordered to guard Ge Yang."
You Zhifu was surprised by his answer: "Duan Fang, why do you call yourself a student?"
"The prefect doesn't know something," Han An explained with a smile and cupped his hands: "This Duan Fang was originally admitted to the Civil and Military Examinations, but he was dismissed from the Civil and Military Examinations because of his appearance, and was dismissed from the Military Examinations for offending the examiner. He had no choice but to give up.
Fortunately, he met Li Sanlang and asked his two brothers to work undercover in the enemy camp. Finally, they mobilized the entire city of Guixi and blocked Lou Zishi's road north to Anren. "
"Oh, so there is such a plot?" You Zhifu was surprised.
"In this case, the examiner is ignorant and does not recognize heroes." Sun Yushi glanced at Hong Danian, cupped his hands and said, "I'm sorry to disturb Mr. Hong's inquiry, but I don't know what Mr. Hong wanted to ask just now, but what else can I do? Do you want to continue?"
"I have nothing more to ask." Hong Danian was embarrassed. He originally wanted Ge Sibao to come and testify against Duan Yan, but that guy slipped away somewhere. Now the Duan brothers have said: We are undercovers!
Even if Ge Sibao stands here, the idea of secretly communicating with the bandits is untenable.
"Master Hong, after asking for a long time, three of the four counts are not established. Do we still need to waste time on this case?" You Zhifu asked very unhappy.
Hong Danian looked at Li Su: "Prosecutor Li Su, you said that Li Sanlang abducted a palace maid. What is going on? Are there any witnesses?"
"Sir, Li Dan kidnapped two beautiful girls from the Shangrao County Prince's Palace. He got married not long ago and took one of them into his family as a concubine. This was witnessed by hundreds of people in Yu Gan. Please be careful, sir!"
As soon as Li Su finished speaking, he heard a sharp voice shouting: "No need to investigate, our family is here. I can give you an explanation."
The three chief judges were stunned and immediately asked someone to let the speaker in. I saw a waiter walking up to the hall with a whisk in his hand. He first handed the sign to Cai Du at the door, and then bowed deeply:
"Hou Jing, the servant of Fengning County Prince's Mansion, has met all of you!" After saying that, he stood up and rolled his eyes at Hong Danian: "We were appointed by the county king to come to Yugan to serve Lord Huaiyu Township, but who would have thought that we would be here just a few days after we arrived? I caught up with my uncle and was taken away.
The old slave had no choice but to chase him to Hongdu to get him. The king of the country has his life. If my uncle cannot go back, the old slave will not be able to return it! Oh, how sad it is! "
You Zhifu chuckled, raised his hands and asked, "May I ask who the Lord of Huaiyu Township you mentioned is...?"
"Wu Shi Ning is the adopted daughter of the king of Fengning County. Her younger sister, Wu Shi Huan, was granted the title of Lord of Shaoyang Township."
"Oh, I understand. Waiter, please exit first and wait for me to make a decision later."
Hou Jing was also a good judge of expressions, so he knew what was going on with this naughty guy and gave him a generous gift.
You Zhifu looked around: "You two, this case no longer needs to be tried, right?" Sun Yushi nodded expressionlessly, and Hong Danian looked at Li Su with difficulty and nodded.
"So, there is insufficient evidence in this case. Li Sanlang should be released in court. Do you two have any opinion?" Seeing that the two of them had no objections, he said to Li Su, who was full of shame:
"Brother Yan Ruo, it seems that you have been deceived by your subordinates. You should think twice about doing things in the future and never do this. This will hurt your family's face and the hearts of your fellow tribesmen. Right?" After speaking, he turned to Li Dan: " Mr. Li."
"Students are here!"
"Although your uncle's report was based on various misunderstandings or hearsay, you must not have a malicious heart." You Zhifu means: If you have to be spared, please spare him. You, Li Sanlang, don't jump up and accuse Li Su. You can't do much. It's best if things go away.
"Students know. If you restrain yourself and return to etiquette, you should take today's events as a warning. If you correct something, you will be encouraged. If you don't correct it, you will be encouraged. You should always brush it off, cultivate your mind and nature, and do more useful things and good deeds for the people and your majesty. Don't dare to blame today. I complain to my senior about everything.”
Li Dan understood and immediately put the hat of admonition on Old Man You's head with his backhand.
You Zhifu smiled slightly: "Very good, very good, then let's do it. The defendant will be released in court without being proven guilty in a public trial. Exit!" After saying this, he banged the gavel and stood up. The government officials on both sides shouted: "The defendant is acquitted and withdraws from court!"
Some people died, but not completely...
