Chapter 1090
The Trial Only Needs to Ask Questions
Chapter 1090 The trial only involves asking questions.
In the lobby,
The atmosphere was so heavy it seemed you could wring water out of it. Zhang Jinyu's sharp eyes swept over the censor, who was weak and incompetent, yet still willing to act as an accomplice to evil.
Many officials felt a sense of satisfaction and watched the spectacle unfold, but Prince Zhou Lingguang of Han chuckled to himself.
"Oh dear, Marquis Luoyun, you know this is a joint trial by the three judicial departments. Lord Song will be the one to hear the case. Just because someone is your protégé doesn't mean you're going to protect them."
"Yes, Marquis Luoyun is meddling too much. Lord Song meant well. He didn't say that one can't study if one wants to be an official. If Magistrate Xu goes to the Imperial Academy to study, passes the imperial examination and becomes a Juren, and then takes the Jinshi examination, then he will have the qualifications to become an official."
Song Wang Zhou Jiansheng smiled knowingly. A county magistrate, yet only a scholar by training? How laughable!
Who knows,
Before Zhang Jinyu could speak, Xu Changwen burst out laughing, his laughter carrying a hint of stubbornness and unruliness. Seeing this, Imperial Censor Zhong looked displeased until Xu Changwen took a step forward, his oar touching the ground, and he spoke loudly.
"Your Excellency, please forgive me. In my opinion, the case involves a great deal of complex matters, and how can it be completely separated from the principles of worldly affairs? If we only discuss and debate the case, it will be difficult to find the truth and distinguish right from wrong. Or rather, Your Excellency is only looking at the case itself, or judging people based on their status, instead of relying on the laws of the Great Wu!"
His voice was loud and clear, and in the silent hall, it was deafening, like a clear spring flowing into the oppressive atmosphere.
Upon hearing this, Imperial Censor Zhong's face flushed with anger, and he was speechless. Perhaps due to a stroke, he suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed into his chair. Many of his servants rushed to his side.
"My lord, my lord, are you alright?"
"Quickly, carry him away and call the doctor."
In a flurry of activity, the Imperial Censor was carried away, a scene that Zhang Jinyu found utterly unbelievable.
The other officials were also dumbfounded. Some of them actually said things that made people so angry they almost vomited blood. This magistrate was something else!
Perhaps Song Zhen felt a chill run down his spine at what he was seeing, fearing that this young man was not someone to be trifled with.
"That's all nonsense!"
In a fit of anger, he shouted, but Xu Changwen didn't care. He straightened up, looked directly at Lord Song with bright eyes, and said loudly.
"Lord Song, you are mistaken. Changwen is not speaking recklessly. This case involves a wide range of people and is very complex. If we do not investigate its roots and clarify the interests involved, but only look at the surface facts, we may wrong many people and let the real culprit go free."
"I have received His Majesty's great favor and been appointed to an official position as a scholar. As the saying goes, 'He who eats the emperor's salary should bear the emperor's worries.' Today, I am here to reveal the truth to the world, even if it means being shattered to pieces."
His words were forceful and resonant, each syllable radiating righteous indignation, moving everyone in the hall. Even the princes frequently turned to look, especially the Prince of Jin, who seemed to have discovered something extraordinary, staring intently.
now,
On the main platform, Ma Fei, the Director of Ceremonial Affairs, saw that a mere scholar and county magistrate dared to openly contradict Lord Song, which was extremely arrogant. Fearing that this person might say something shocking, he slammed his hand on the table and rebuked him.
"How dare you, Xu Changwen, defy your superiors and show no respect for your elders! Guards, give him twenty lashes as a warning, to teach him a lesson!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than two bailiffs, wielding fire and water sticks, strode over menacingly. Little did they know that this action only further disgusted the civil and military officials.
"Wait a minute. Today's trial is just a formality. Lord Song, will you be the judge, or will he be the judge?"
Zhang Jinyu's eyes were unfriendly. Why would the eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial send these two people here? Did they come on their own, or were they sent by Dai Quan? If they were sent by Dai Quan, what was the meaning of this?
“Your Excellency is absolutely right. Today is the first trial, and we must go through the court proceedings first. Besides, everything Magistrate Xu said is true. How can you say he is contradicting you? Where is the dignity that a court official should have?”
These words were spoken by Prince Zhou Ding of Jin. They spoke of things that could be said but not done: those in the court, once they wore official robes, should maintain a respectable appearance. Perhaps this resonated with the sentiments of the officials, for most nodded in agreement.
"yes,"
"The Crown Prince is absolutely right. We become officials precisely for this dignity,"
"Who says it isn't?"
Inside the hall, the officials were all talking at once, and Ma Fei, feeling somewhat caught in a dilemma, responded loudly.
"Of course, it's Lord Song who will handle the case. I'm just indignant that Lord Song's words were well-intentioned, but Magistrate Xu not only didn't appreciate them but also hurled insults at me. I couldn't stand by and watch."
finished,
He angrily sat down again, at least having a way to back down, but Xu Changwen held his head high and refused to agree with any of this.
“My lord, Xu Changwen’s words today are all from the bottom of his heart. How can you speak ill of him? What he just said was for the sake of the court’s discipline and the common people. If one is to be punished for speaking frankly, then what justice is there in the world? What righteousness is there to be found? If you act in this way, what is the point of dealing with those foolish people? Does the court still have a future?”
Every word was precious, resounding like a great bell, each sentence striking directly at Ma Fei and Song Zhen's vitals.
The officials in the hall were almost deafened and shocked. Even several vassal kings were shocked. The three princes opposite them, as well as the Prince of Beijing and others, actually felt a sense of admiration for their talents. How many honest and upright people in the world could have such courage?
a long time,
Song Zhen could no longer rely on his official power. He was somewhat surprised to see a county magistrate so assertive, something he had never encountered before.
"Xu Changwen, you are quite eloquent. Then tell me, what exactly is the so-called interest and root cause of your lawsuit against Shangguan Ma Guangcheng? If you can't explain it clearly, don't blame me for not giving you face."
After hearing this, Xu Changwen waved his sleeve, cleared his throat, and said slowly;
"My lord, Xu Changwen has only been in Jiangnan for a little over a month, and upon arriving, he saw countless disaster victims everywhere. It seems that the flooding was caused by the magistrate Ma Guangcheng's breach of the dikes, but in reality, it was the local gentry and powerful figures who colluded with the government to exploit the people and seize their taxable land."
These gentry and powerful families, relying on their wealth and influence, colluded with the government to oppress the good and bully the local people. After seizing land, the imperial tax revenue naturally decreased, making it difficult to implement the national policy of converting farmland into mulberry fields.
Xu Changwen suddenly raised his voice and pointed south.
"Moreover, that dam is almost unrepaired. Even if no one digs it up, it might still be washed away. I went to the dam and asked the Yangzhou garrison. They said that even the outermost layer of bluestone on the dam has been reduced by three layers. Gentlemen, where does the money that the court allocates to the river management department every year go?"
This time,
Even Zhang Jinyu secretly swallowed. How come he hadn't noticed before that this man was incredibly audacious? How could a mere county magistrate like him manage matters concerning the river? Besides, isn't the River Administration and the River Transport Commissioner the same agency? How could Shen Xueshi be in charge of both?
"How dare you, Xu Changwen! You have no evidence and dare to convict others based on mere speculation. There are many gentry and powerful people in this world. Are they all as despicable as you say? Matters concerning the waterways are naturally under the jurisdiction of the Waterway Governor's Office. It is not your place as a county magistrate. You are clearly spouting nonsense and maliciously slandering others."
"My lord, whether I am speaking nonsense or not, you will investigate. The case files and evidence collected from various sources have already been submitted. Prefect Jia knows the number of fields in Jiangnan best. You can ask Prefect Jia whether what I said is true. In Chunyang County alone, those gentry and powerful people annexed half of the taxable land in the first year of Yuanfeng. If not, how could the Textile Bureau and the Prefectural Government have gone astray? The evidence is irrefutable and cannot be denied."
Xu Changwen spoke with absolute certainty. He had already collected evidence from various sources and submitted it to the capital in three separate sessions, leaving Minister Song speechless. Perhaps encouraged by Magistrate Xu, Jia Yucun did not stand idly by. He stood up and cupped his hands in greeting to the officials around him.
"My lords, what Xu Changwen said is absolutely true. Not to mention Chunyang County, in the entire city of Jinling, which noble family doesn't own a dozen or so acres of paddy fields? This time, Lord Jing and I personally went to verify the measurements, and what we found was shocking. Of the taxable land designated by the court, less than half is actually taxable. And that's after confiscating those that were privately cultivated. If it weren't for these, Jiangnan, nominally under the court's control, is actually... well, let's just say it's a different story."
A hoarse, cold laugh sent chills down the spines of everyone present.
At this time, Song Zhen,
The case file that Xu Changwen submitted the first time has been retrieved and reviewed repeatedly. It is indeed shocking. According to the laws of the Great Wu Dynasty, noble families are exempt from taxes. However, considering the numerous instances of extortion and plunder, which family hasn't done so? If the investigation is thorough, it will uncover even more, with irrefutable evidence.
If this were made public, it would surely cause a huge uproar and shake the foundations of the nation. How could he, a mere Minister of Justice, dare to take responsibility? He never expected that the most troublesome person would be him. Suppressing his displeasure, he closed the file in his hand.
He said in a deep voice;
"Even with this evidence, it cannot prove that they are related to this case. Xu Changwen, don't try to confuse the public."
"Whether this is a smokescreen or not, Your Excellency knows perfectly well. If we don't investigate thoroughly, once all the tax-bearing lands in Jiangnan have been annexed, the court will lose this fertile land. If, at that time, a civil unrest breaks out, it will be too late to regret it." Xu Changwen was upright and incorruptible, and his difficulty in dealing with him was something Song Zhen and the others hadn't expected. The eldest son, Li Chaosheng, had a glint in his eyes. He hadn't expected this disciple of Marquis Luoyun to be so formidable. He wondered if this was a blessing or a curse, especially since he stood between the three of them, shorter on either side, like a pen holder. What a Shen pen holder! This thought suddenly flashed through the minds of the civil and military officials.
Others, including Feng Yongwen, Meng Li, and even Chang Zuo, wore complex expressions. How difficult it was to say what no one else dared to say! They had served as officials their entire lives, yet they were not as capable as him.
Not to mention the civil and military officials who were on the jury, their thoughts varied: some were excited, some were afraid, some were jealous, and some were clueless.
Feng Yongwen was restless and sighed inwardly, lamenting his daughter's tragic fate. She had married such a man, and he feared she would not have a good end. He could only consult with the Marquis about finding a husband through the imperial examination. Alas.
"Xu Changwen, I have my own arrangements for this matter; there's no need for you to say anything more."
"My lord, as an official, Changwen only seeks the well-being of the people and is loyal to the court. If given the opportunity to eradicate these scourges that plague the region, I will do my utmost to live up to the trust placed in me by the court and the emperor."
Now that things had come to this point, Xu Changwen was unwilling to give up and pressed on with further questions.
"Xu Changwen, don't push your luck. Out of respect for your loyalty, I'm just giving you a piece of advice: mind your own business."
Perhaps seeing Lord Song being pressed further, Chen Hui, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, could no longer tolerate it, and his words carried a hint of threat.
But Xu Changwen was not afraid of such things. If he were, what would have happened since his earlier words? He bowed deeply to the civil and military officials around him.
"My lords, I know that I am of low rank and my words carry little weight. But speaking out for the people is my duty as the head of a county. Every word I have said is true. If I am punished for telling the truth, then what justice is there in this world?"
The author of this lengthy petition today believes that the officials of our Great Wu Dynasty still possess a sense of justice and conscience. The unrest in the southern capital has already revealed its true nature. If we cannot restore order and heal the wounds, will we still have a bright and just world if those treacherous cults were to return?
Xu Changwen's eyes were resolute as he glared ahead; his imposing presence and words were deafening.
"you you you!"
Eunuch Chen was at a loss for words. He managed to utter the word "you" three times, but his lips trembled and he could say nothing more, filled with horror!
Faced with a group of people in the palace with differing thoughts, Minister of Justice Song Zhen lost all interest in handling the case.
"Clerk, record this truthfully, have him sign and affix his seal. Today's hearing is adjourned. The next hearing will be held after the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet. They will be taken away. The memorial to the throne must be submitted today. Court adjourned."
"mighty."
After the trial concluded and the constables escorted the person back, the officials prepared to disperse. Outside the Ministry of Justice's main hall, their faces were filled with complex emotions as they looked in the direction Xu Changwen had left, their hearts brimming with complex feelings.
At this moment, Zhang Jinyu became somewhat displeased, raised her hand to stop him, and said loudly;
"Wait, Lord Song, there's no rush."
The civil and military officials, who had intended to leave hastily, all stopped what they were doing upon hearing Marquis Luoyun's loud call. They were unsure whether to stand or sit, each displaying an unseemly manner. Song Zhen, who had urgent matters to report to the palace, had no choice but to stop upon hearing Marquis Luoyun's address.
"Lord Luo Yun, is there anything else you need?"
"Don't be in such a hurry, Lord Song. Since I've summoned you, it must be for important matters. Lord Song just said that in three days, it will be the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet, a day of celebration for all the people, is that right?"
Zhang Jinyu had been pondering for a while. According to the Great Wu Law, officials without a conviction or direct evidence of guilt could not be detained, especially during a general amnesty when the emperor had already issued a decree.
"Of course, the palace has already decided that the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet will be held in the Qianqing Palace, a time of universal celebration and a general amnesty."
Song Zhen nodded. The Emperor has already left; everyone knows that. Why is Marquis Luoyun asking again?
“Very well, Lord Song is right. In that case, as far as I know, unless one has committed an unforgivable crime, there is a chance to be pardoned from the death penalty. So, can these people who have not yet been convicted return to their residences for the time being and reunite with their families, so as to save face for the court?”
A pardon is impossible, since the case hasn't been decided and it's outside the scope of a pardon. But how can we disregard human relationships, especially since Xu Changwen still has an elderly mother at home waiting for him?
Song Zhen hesitated for a moment, touching the dossier and confession in his hand. He thought about the laws of the Great Wu Dynasty, and indeed, there was such a conclusion. In addition, this time, the Emperor Emeritus held a grand banquet for his officials, publicly welcoming them, and a congratulatory memorial was read aloud to everyone. This was to boast about the prosperous era. There were so many officials in the capital, yet none of them were stripped of their official titles. They could be considered as part of the congratulations.
"What Marquis Luoyun said is not without reason. In the capital, all officials, regardless of their position or rank, are required to submit congratulatory memorials. After submission, the eunuch in charge will read them aloud in public to comfort the prosperous era. I hereby grant permission for the detained officials to return home, but they may not leave the capital and must be accompanied by personnel from the Imperial City Guard. As for the suspects who have already been executed, they shall remain in custody. Court adjourned."
This time, Song Zhen did not stop. He took the files and prepared to go to the back hall. Zhang Jinyu did not say anything more. After achieving his goal, he also left. The civil and military officials breathed a sigh of relief and gathered in twos and threes, whispering among themselves. In fact, very few people left.
The three princes were even more anxious, wanting to see Xu Changwen, but after the bailiffs took him away and handed him over to the Imperial City Guard, he disappeared without a trace. They could only stomp their feet in frustration.
At last,
The eldest son, Li Chaosheng, stayed behind, watching Lord Song, who was eager to escape. He then stopped, seemingly hesitant, and called out...
"Lord Song, are you still angry?"
The sudden question caused the two eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial, along with Meng Li and the others, to slow their departing steps considerably, listening intently.
"Young Grand Secretary, I am not angry, but rather lamenting that a mere county magistrate can be so aware of the court's shortcomings and dare to speak frankly, while we, in our high positions, are always cautious and have served as officials our entire lives without understanding how to conduct ourselves."
Song Zhen smiled self-deprecatingly. He hadn't expected to be able to preside over this case; before long, the whole capital would be buzzing with news of it.
"Lord Song, there is no need to belittle yourself. As someone in a high position, you must be even more cautious and consider the overall situation. Now is a crucial time, so please take good care of your health, Lord Song."
"Thank you for your concern, Young Grand Secretary. My health is still good, but let the people of the world judge the affairs of the world."
With a sigh, Minister Song seemed to have come to a realization. He gave a wry smile, took the dossier, and left the yamen. Just as he got into his sedan chair and drove away, the two eunuchs from the Directorate of Ceremonial, Chen and his companion, rushed over behind him, stamping their feet in anxiety.
"Oh dear, Lord Song, why are you in such a hurry to leave? I still have something to say."
"Oh? I wonder what Eunuch Chen has to say?"
The eldest son, who hadn't left yet, was somewhat surprised and replied...
"Oh dear, young Grand Secretary, it's easy for you to say that when you're not in the situation. The others are fine, but once Magistrate Xu is released, the people of the capital will think he's innocent. At that time, who knows how many rumors will spread? If someone with ulterior motives uses this to spread rumors, then we'll be in trouble."
Eunuch Chen looked anxious. This time, everything Magistrate Xu said was true, but how could the imperial court accept it? Therefore, if it was true, they absolutely could not admit it. But the facts were as they were; how could they deny it?
"Haha, Eunuch Chen, instead of worrying about that, you should be worried about the palace. The Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet is in three days; we absolutely cannot afford any mistakes."
"Thank you for the reminder, young master."
Chen Gonggong was startled and immediately summoned a carriage, hurrying back to the palace.
(End of this chapter)