The first Taoist priest of the Tang Dynasty

"Your servant can't be a witness. Others, did you see him carrying a burden yesterday?"

Afterwards, the county lieutenant began to question everyone present.

However, the county lieutenant's question was a little harsh, and even more majestic, as if he was instructing everyone that they must act and say what he said.

After all, he is a county lieutenant, and his official position is the highest among all the people present.

Similarly, among the people present, who would be willing to offend a county lieutenant? He is an official, and you are just a citizen. Even if you don't like it, you have to answer.

"I haven't seen it."

"I haven't seen it either."

"I didn't notice it at the time, and I didn't see it"

"..."

All the people present, no matter who they were, basically responded to the county captain's question, just saying, I don't know, I haven't seen it.

Although this case was done by Ye Ke, according to normal understanding, they really don't know whether it is money, jewels or clothes that were lost, not to mention, when they got off the boat yesterday, who would pay attention to these things.

Even if someone really saw that the merchant Wang Zhongzhi had a heavy burden on his back, who would speak up to explain at this moment?

No one, no one wants to get into such a big trouble, let alone participate in it.

It is common sense to have nothing to do with oneself, and it is common sense, let alone in this era.

"Reporting County Captain, none of the people present have seen him check into my guest house with a burden on his back, but he has turned my guest house into a black shop, and asked the county captain to make decisions for me."

Zhang Mingchen, the owner of the inn, was secretly happy after hearing everyone's responses.

In this matter, as long as it is confirmed that this merchant did not move into the guest house with a burden on his back, it can also wash away his reputation as a black shop in the guest house.

Of course, in his heart he would also demand compensation from the accuser. As for how much he should pay, it would depend on his mood.

The accusation of dirtying other people's guesthouses is a black shop. In this era, it is not easy to take away with a single sentence.

Reputation, here, is the most important thing.

"Wang Zhongzhi, the people present have never seen you carrying a burden, so what else can you say?"

The county lieutenant sat behind the desk, looked coldly at Wang Chongzhi in the hall, and asked sharply.

"County captain, I really have a burden on my back. County captain, I really have a burden on my back. There are a lot of money and jewels in the baggage. The county captain is the one who decides for me, woo woo woo."

The owner, Wang Zhongzhi, did not expect such a result. Everyone present was unwilling to stand up and testify for him. It is estimated that the money and jewels he lost would be difficult to return to his hands.

The grievance and pain in my heart suddenly rushed to my heart.

After nearly a year of hard work, the accumulated money disappeared overnight.

Anyone would have to cry in the yamen hall, let alone a merchant who valued money so much and was stingy and stingy.

Afterwards, the victim, Wang Zhongzhi, slumped down in the hall and burst into tears.

Zhong Wen, who was standing by the gate of the yamen hall, watched this very interesting trial, and felt that it was not as exciting as he expected, but thought it was as simple as a child fighting.

There is no so-called on-the-spot evidence collection, no so-called interrogation in isolation, and there is no detailed questioning of the victim's money and how much it is.

Some are just questioning the public in the government hall.

On the other side of the yamen hall, a clerk was holding a brush and writing something on the paper.

As for the other official, there are many books on the table, which are probably the laws of the Tang Dynasty.

Zhong Wen didn't know what kind of process the court trial was, and he didn't even know what the laws of the Tang Dynasty were like.

But according to the TV series that Zhong Wen had watched in his previous life, the scene in front of him is definitely not the so-called trial.

Of course, maybe there is a reason for this, or there are some regulations, he doesn't know either.

In fact, the interrogation of cases in the Tang Dynasty was indeed the case.The parties involved must go through the interrogation in this yamen hall, which is the so-called trial in court.

There is an interrogation by the chief officer on the top, and there are records of the officials on the side, and there is a basis for laws and regulations.

Everything seems to be in line with the rules, and also in line with the times.

Chapter 142

"Pindao saw this Wang Zhongzhi, and moved into the guest house with a heavy burden on his back."

The county lieutenant sitting in the yamen hall originally wanted to close the case and treat it as a slander.

However, just as he was about to speak, a palm was raised.

That's right, it was Zhong Wen who raised his palm and shouted.

Zhong Wen really didn't want this matter to end like this.

Although he didn't like the merchant king Zhongzhi, he even couldn't understand the phenomenon of the local inn owner bullying outsiders.

Of course, there are some tricks involved in it, as for who is involved, Zhong Wen has no idea, but the owner of the inn, the staff, and the servants must all be involved.

"Whoever speaks, stand up and speak."

The county lieutenant of the ya hall looked at the man who raised his hand and shouted loudly.

Zhong Wen was not stage fright, he walked directly from the entrance of the yamen hall to the center of the yamen hall, and looked at the two victims on the left.

By the way, Zhong Wen really can't get used to the owner of this inn, he is tall and thick, and his eyes are always wandering, which makes Zhong Wen feel dishonest.

"Go back to the county captain, if the poor Taoist shouted, the county captain is well."

Zhong Wen saluted the county captain to show respect.After all, he is an official, and he is a foreigner. Although he has no relationship, he must save face under his rule.

"Oh? It turned out to be a Taoist priest. The Taoist priest is being polite. Since the Taoist priest just said that he saw Wang Zhongzhi as a burden, can you elaborate?"

The county lieutenant in the yamen hall saw a Taoist priest walking out, and immediately sat up straight.

And Zhang Mingchen, the owner of the inn standing beside him, began to feel unnatural. As for the two servants standing beside him, he didn't seem to have thought that the Taoist priest in front of him would stand up and speak.

Perhaps, in the hearts of many people present, they did not expect that the Taoist priest would stand up and testify.

And in the heart of the merchant Wang Zhongzhi, he did not expect it.

"Hui Xianwei, this person came here on the same boat as Pindao yesterday. Along the way, he was very fond of his own baggage, and he basically never left his baggage, even when he was staying in the guest house. Until today In the early morning, he said that he had lost his burden."

At this time, Zhong Wen stood in the middle of the yamen hall and told the county lieutenant.

All the people present hope that this matter will end as soon as possible and leave as soon as possible. After all, the boat waits for no one.

A little later, it is estimated that the ship has already left the shore and went south, which will delay everyone's itinerary.

However, the appearance of Zhong Wen aggravated the troubles of this matter, or it might drag on for a longer time.Because, if you really want to confirm the existence of the burden of that merchant, then the matter of throwing the burden will be suspected on everyone.

The ya hall was very quiet at this time, everyone was staring at Zhong Wen in the hall, and they were all blaming the Taoist priest for ruining them.

And among these people, the owner of the inn, the staff, and the servants began to hate the Taoist priest in front of him.

Although, they were not worried about this matter being exposed, after all, no one knew about the theft by the two night guests last night, so they felt at ease.

However, they didn't know that Zhong Wen took a real look at this matter last night, and it can be said that he caught the truth.

"Daoist, dare to ask, do you know who stole this baggage? Where is it hidden?"

The young county lieutenant sitting in the ya hall was looking forward to the Taoist priest in front of him to help him solve the case.

He had just taken office for less than two months, and he was a little bit embarrassed by the county magistrate and the local clan. He just broke the case to show his ability.

Maybe even solving a small case doesn't show how capable he is, but at least he can hold his head high in front of these clans.

The idea is good, and the wish is also good, but it all depends on whether Zhong Wen is willing to help him.

"Reporting County Captain, in fact, you have to separate and interrogate the people on both sides, such as the person in the inn, the owner and the servant. After all, only they are the most likely to see or come into contact with it. This burden."

It is impossible for Zhong Wen to directly tell what is hidden in this burden, but he will still provide some leading directions.

Moreover, until now, Zhong Wen felt that the young county captain gave him a good impression, and helping the county captain would also make a good relationship.

However, Zhong Wen's words offended many people.

After hearing Zhong Wen's words, the owner of the inn and several staff members began to panic.

The baggage was stolen by their partnership. If it is really investigated, there must be some clues, and no one can guarantee that it will not reveal some clues.

"What the Taoist priest said is very true. Where is the government office? Someone came to separate the personnel from both sides and sent them to other courts. I want to go through the trial one by one."

The county lieutenant sitting in the yamen hall, after hearing what Zhong Wen said, thought about it for a long time before making this decision.

Originally, when he first heard Zhong Wen's words, he didn't react. It wasn't until Zhong Wen winked at him that he realized in his heart that there must be something strange about this matter.

Of course, he is not a master at judging cases, let alone an expert in this field. He was originally just a scholar, and he obtained the post of county lieutenant by relying on his family relationship.

Originally, he was young and had no experience to talk about, let alone experienced many things. Similarly, he was also a person who read by rote, how could he know how to solve the case.

In other words, the officials of the Tang Dynasty basically relied on their connections to get to the top. Of course, there were also people who were selected by the imperial examination, but there were not many.

After all, in this era, the nobles of the aristocratic clans control the whole world, and it is rare for ordinary people to be educated or educated.

If you can't get enough to eat, how can you read books?Either he was conscripted to fight, or he was sent to the corvée, so how could he have time to read any books?

And this county lieutenant of Badong County relied on his family relationship to get the post of county lieutenant.

Of course, he must have read a lot of books, otherwise, it would be impossible for a fool to come up to be a county captain. After all, every few years, there is a merit test.

Every few years, Wailang, a merit examiner of the imperial court, would go to various places to test the merits of these officials, and judge whether they are qualified or something.

"Daoist, please follow me to the other courtyard next door."

The county lieutenant came down from the hall, saluted Zhong Wen, and asked Zhong Wen to go to the next door to help him, but it was not easy to say it in front of so many people.

Zhong Wen didn't say much, the matter had come to an end, so he had to help the county lieutenant.

Speaking of which, in this era, monks and Taoists have a lofty status in the hearts of most people, whether they are officials or civilians, this is basically the case.

Otherwise, the county lieutenant would not treat Zhong Wen like this.

Of course, there are also some people who don't like people outside Fang, it's just that there are few such people, and it's impossible to say it out. If he really said it, he might be sprayed to death by everyone.

In other words, Zhong Wen's approach may be a bit too violent.

However, it's not that he doesn't have some ideas. After all, when one walks in the rivers and lakes, one must have some acquaintances.

Although, Zhong Wen had a list passed down to him by Li Daoling, there were also some like-minded people on the list, and there were even some officials and nobles.

However, these are Li Daoling's relatives, not Zhong Wen's. If something happened to Zhong Wen, these people would not try their best to help him.

That's why Zhong Wen came up with such a plan to help this county magistrate, so as to form a bond, maybe, one day, this county magistrate can also help him?

But at this moment, the two victims were escorted to the other courtyard next door, and Zhong Wen was invited over by the county captain.

"Daoist, I haven't seen the Taoist name yet!"

While leading Zhong Wen forward, the county lieutenant started digging toward Zhong Wen.

"The Nine Poems of the Poor Road, from Longquan Temple in Lizhou, passing through Gui County this time, intending to go to Chang'an."

Zhong Wen spoke bluntly to save the county captain from being suspicious of him.

Of course, Zhong Wen is judging the belly of a gentleman with the heart of a villain.

The county lieutenant really didn't suspect him, he just wanted to know the name of the Taoist priest in front of him, so he could have a name.

This county lieutenant was originally from Luoyang, and his surname was Zeng Mingfan.

Zeng's family is in Luoyang, so it can be said to be a big family, and there are people in the court, otherwise, it is impossible to help him get the post of county captain.

Although it is far away from the capital of Chang'an, the distance is not very far. If you walk by land, it is only a few hundred miles, and if you walk by water, it is relatively far.

"It turns out that the Nine Head Taoists are from Lizhou. Although Lizhou is remote, it is also a good place. I have traveled to Lizhou before."

After hearing Zhong Wen's words, the county lieutenant began to recall his past.

Everyone's experience is different, Zhong Wen didn't know why the county lieutenant had such an expression, as if he was recalling some experiences.

However, these have nothing to do with Zhong Wen. While walking, he was thinking about how to bring this matter to a perfect conclusion.

Up to now, this county captain has not introduced himself. Perhaps, a county captain has never introduced himself to ordinary people, even if the person in front of him is a Taoist priest.

Zhong Wen didn't care either, what was the name of a county lieutenant, after he went out, he could find out after asking.

The two came to a room in the other courtyard next door, but there was no one in the room.

"Master Daoist, may I ask, how do I know from the mouths of the victims of both of them whether this burden was stolen or lost?"

As soon as Zeng Fan's county lieutenant entered the room, he asked Zhong Wen impatiently.