The First Yamen of the Great Song Dynasty

The human mouth is not only for eating but also for talking.

People in Mengzhou combined the two very well, and they were discussing the murder of Zhang Dujian's family during the meal.

"I knew it was going to happen a long time ago. Happy Lin waited for fat meat. Everyone was fighting for it, and it really killed someone."

"The government doesn't know what to eat, the murderer is so arrogant that he left his name: The murderer beat Hu Wusong! But he didn't even catch a hair!"

"Don't say that, be careful not to be heard by the government and you will be arrested and beaten."

"Tch, you can beat the common people and let the murderer go."

Moreover, Wu Song killed people all over the house, even the gatekeeper and the horse breeder, which made the people even more worried. After all, this is not revenge, but killing innocent people indiscriminately. In case I go to someone else's house to work , was also killed, what to do.

So the people who gathered together to discuss happily during the day, everyone shut their doors at night.

Gao Ming, the new prefect, felt the pressure.

Especially part of the pressure is still coming towards him.

"I heard that the new magistrate is Gao Qiu's son, and he became our local magistrate relying on his father's influence. What kind of capabilities does this kind of person have? How can he catch it?! It's over, it's over, Mengzhou suffers!"

"This son of Gao Qiu, who is not yet 20 years old, has no hair yet, so he came out to be the magistrate, what can he do? Don't talk about catching the murderer, I'm afraid Mengzhou will be more chaotic in the future!"

Shi Qian conveyed the news heard in the streets and alleys to Gao Ming's ears verbatim.

Shi Qian was also very worried, "My lord, I heard that Wu Song was born with supernatural powers and could lift a stone weighing three to five hundred catties. Now he has escaped to nowhere. How can he appease the worries of the people?"

Without waiting any longer, Gao Ming slapped the table and said loudly: "Pass on the order of the manor, immediately summon all the masters and head to the court!"

Hold a case analysis meeting!

There are three fires for a new official, and everyone is waiting for Gao Ming's first fire.

Gao Ming sat in the lobby with a sullen face, looked at the masters and petty officials standing on the left, and at the capital and arresting officers standing on the right, and said in a cold voice: "The reason why I called you here is because The government has discovered something, I don’t know if you have guessed it or not.”

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, not daring to speak, not even a clue, who knows what the magistrate is talking about.

It’s okay to guess right, but if you guess wrong, you will cause trouble again.

Seeing that the others were silent, Nie Liang volunteered: "You guys can't guess, please tell me clearly."

Gao Ming continued to sullenly, "Okay, then the government will make it clear. Because the government found that not only the case of Zhang Dujian's family in Mengzhou was not solved, but it was a big trouble, and the whole city knew about it. In recent years, the government has There are countless cases of disappearances that have not been solved, and the cumulative number is astonishing."

At this time, Master Jiangdong said: "My lord, these disappearance cases, because many of the missing persons and informants are not from the state, there is really nothing to investigate, so we only record them."

"That's all?" Gao Ming snorted, "My rough calculation shows that there are dozens of missing persons. They were reported to the police, but how many did not?! This is a living human life. There are people near Mengzhou. A tiger that eats people, or a yaksha that hurts people? So many people have gone and never returned! They just treat it as a normal thing?!"

Someone saw that the magistrate wanted to be held accountable, so he stood up and blamed the situation, "It is inevitable that there will be accidents when you are away from home. Our Mengzhou is originally an important road for communication. There are too many people who have passed here. They fell into the river, drowned, climbed the mountain, fell to death and died of illness on the road. It's impossible."

Gao Ming said angrily: "No way?! It's because you are so slack, and you just excuse yourself when things happen, which led to today's situation! Others can't do anything, and neither can the people who open the government and handle the case. No wonder the people complain, why support you? use?!"

Seeing that Gao Ming got angry, the servant immediately knelt down in fright, "My lord, forgive me."

Nie Liang took a step forward and said, "My lord, these disappearance cases, my subordinates will investigate now."

The others didn't dare to say anything, but obeyed orders.

Gao Ming patted the thick case file, "Let me give you a reminder, there is one thing in common in this case file, the place of disappearance is in a place near Mengzhou, you can find it yourself." He said and looked at the master, "Come on, let the case Curls for everyone, one for each."

Except for Dutou Nie Liang, the rest of the arresters had low literacy rates, so they didn't read them. Only the master and the scribes each got a few volumes and shared them.

Everyone thought that they could disband after receiving the file, but they didn't expect that Gao Ming had no intention of withdrawing from the class.

"Don't try to go home and be lazy, just show me here!" Gao Ming said coldly.

After hearing this, no one dared to say anything, and they all held their breaths to read quickly, and soon someone found something in common, "These people all disappeared near the cross slope. Saw their loved ones, but never again after crossing the slope."

Gao Ming nodded, "That's right, this residence also made this discovery, what do other people think?"

As for why the family members who came to search were not killed, it may be that they came out to find people in groups. There were too many people, and the black shop did not dare to attack. If they came out to find people alone, they would not escape Roubaozi's life.

After this reminder, other people have discovered something, "A family member here said that the big tree crossed the slope, who would dare to pass there? The fat ones were cut to make steamed bun stuffing, and the thin ones were used to fill the river. Suspected that their relatives were killed. A poisonous hand..."

"That's right! So with such obvious records, why can't the case be solved?" Gao Ming snorted, not because he couldn't solve it, but because he didn't want to solve it.

"My lord, someone went to see it before, and they didn't see anything unusual about that store."

Gao Ming raised his eyebrows, he didn't even bother to get angry, "Did you go there in the name of the magistrate's yamen in official uniform?"

Seeing the man nodding awkwardly, Gao Ming was helpless, "Go as a business official, you will be a ghost if you can find out, don't talk nonsense, Nie Dutou, you choose a few strong arrests, and sneak quietly tonight. Go to Shizipo, observe for a while, and then reply, remember, don't startle the snake!"

Nie Liang took the order, ordered four strong servants on the spot, and went down to prepare.

The rest of the people looked at Gao Ming, waiting for Gao Ming's orders.

Gao Ming said: "The rest of you should also go down and have a good rest, you will be busy in the next few days!"

Seeing that the magistrate was not in a hurry to arrest Wu Song, but asked about the disappearance of Shizipo, everyone was surprised, but they didn't dare to say anything, they just buried their doubts in their hearts and went about their own business.

-

Shizipo is on the border of Mengzhou, and there is a mountain in front of it. Only when you cross the mountain is the jurisdiction of other people's state capitals, so the relatives of those missing people all come to Mengzhou, which governs Shizipo, to report the case.

Nie Liang and the four policemen walked quickly, and arrived at the cross slope at ten o'clock at night.

There are many mountains and mountains, and the crows cry on a moonlit night, quiet and weird.

And on the slope below the ridge, there is a big tree that four people can't hug, entangled with ancient vines, looking from a distance, it is quite scary.

Turning around the big tree, there is a hotel with dilapidated wine flags and closed doors.

But Nie Liang and the others could see dim lights inside, and occasionally a figure swayed, and if they listened carefully, they could hear the faint sound of knives being sharpened.

Nie Liang and the others held their breath, bent their backs, and came to the back window of the hotel, tiptoedly raised their heads, and looked in through the gap in the window.

Seeing that it didn't matter, one of them fell backwards in fright. Fortunately, someone helped him up, so he didn't make any movement.

In the room, there was a lamp like a bean. Under the dim light, the knives were shining and shining coldly.

And there are a few sheets of skin hanging on the wall, some cut meat hanging from the beam, a salty and greasy smell comes out from the window crack, accompanied by the sound of cutting skin and meat, a person is working with his back to them in front of a skinning stool .

Nie Liang covered his mouth to prevent himself from spitting it out, turned around and crawled away. The other four tolerances, those whose legs were not weak, and those who dragged their legs forcibly and frightened them, also crawled.

The five people came to a secluded place in the distance, vomited first, looked at each other, couldn't say anything, and ran into the city.

The next day, he returned to the city at dawn and told the prefect exactly what he saw last night.

Gao Ming was not surprised, he just wanted to sneer, Zhang Qingsun Erniang and his wife, the serial killers on Shizipo, fell into the hands of our government, your end is coming.

Nie Liang was filled with righteous indignation, "My lord, let the villain go and wipe out their black shop!"

"This group of murderers must have some punches to do such a business in the rivers and lakes. I don't feel at ease when you few servants go. The government asks the soldiers to follow you!"

Zhang Qing and Sun Erniang are also mixed in the way. They are more than inferior than superior. If they confront each other head-on, casualties are inevitable. Gao Ming wants to minimize this danger.

He is the magistrate of Mengzhou and also in charge of the soldiers and horses of the state. Since he has soldiers and generals under his command, it is undoubtedly the safest thing to send them there.

Gao Ming wants to turn the Shizipo serial murder case into a big iron case.

Gao Ming immediately sent down an order for his subordinates, the governor, the capital supervisor, the Imperial City envoy, the regiment training envoy, the Zhi envoy, the tooth general, and the regular army to come over.

These are all the military officials of the state that he can manage. He has been in office for a few days and has never seen them. It just happened to take this opportunity for everyone to meet.

Unexpectedly, the order was passed on, after a long time, several regular soldiers and generals came one after another, and the envoys also came, but none of these generals were seen when the envoys went up.

Although both Zhang Dujian and Zhang Tuanlian were killed by Wu Song, there are two people in the local prison, and the other must be in office.

The immediate boss summoned him, but he dared not come, it was fine if he didn't come, he didn't even say hello.

At this moment, Shi Qian saw that Gao Ming's face was ugly, he leaned forward and said in a low voice: "My lord, I saw that you were busy with the case these days, and didn't tell you about these military affairs. Hong, who has been operating in the local area for many years, has gone through several prefects. The capital inspectors and regimental envoys under his command are all of one mind with him. Zhang Dujian and Zhang Tuanlian are both his people. Although they are dead, the other military officers have the same nostrils as him There are many others who vented their anger."

Gao Ming nodded expressionlessly, indicating that he understood.

In fact, he was well-prepared, even if the new emperor came to the throne, he might not be able to deal with some old military leaders, let alone a new young magistrate, these people probably thought he was young and incompetent, and didn't take him seriously at all.

There are some things in the local area that the imperial court is not easy to intervene in, and Gao Yanei didn't do anything to it, it was just passive sabotage, even Gao Qiu was not easy to get angry.

Shi Qian said worriedly: "Why don't you write to the Taiwei..."

"My father is busy with government affairs, so if I don't bother him, I can find my own way." Gao Ming said: "Now focus on the current case, these people can wait."

Seeing that the adults seem to have a plan in mind, Shi Qian retreated to the side.

Gao Ming looked at the regular soldiers and generals present and said, "This mansion has just taken office and encountered a big case..."

Before Gao Ming could finish speaking, someone interrupted, "It's the murder case of the previous capital prison. Your Excellency hasn't solved the case yet? What are you asking us to do? We only know how to fight and don't know how to solve cases."

At this time, the master Jiang Dongshu whispered in Gao Ming's ear: "This person is Li Yuan, the tooth general."

Sure enough, the master has to invite local people, otherwise these interpersonal relationships will not be clear in a short time.

Gao Ming didn't give him any face, and said directly: "I can't solve the case, but can I arrest people? The government is going to arrest a group of criminals now, and I need to borrow you to wait for the soldiers. Who is willing to go out on behalf of the government?" ?”

Li Yuan stood up abruptly, Gao Ming thought he was going to take the initiative to invite Ying, but he cupped his fists and said: "My lord, forgive me, I hurt my body during the exercise the day before yesterday, and I can't ride a horse. I can't walk this time."

If you can't arrest someone, what are you doing standing up? !But Gao Ming smiled slightly, "I see, then you can go back and recuperate."

Li Yuan was not polite, he clasped his fists, turned around and left.

Gao Ming smiled at the general who was still sitting below: "Who else is inconvenient, just go."

Everyone looked at each other, and no one got up to leave.

Gao Ming probably figured it out. The rest of them should not be in charge of Ma Hong's gang, but they are all of low rank. Li Yuan, who left just now, should just come over to see what's going on in Gao's office. If he sees nothing terrible, he won't give face gone.

Gao Ming showed a big smile, "Since everyone is seated, then this mansion will get down to business. This mansion has encountered a serious case. There is a cross slope on the border of Mengzhou, and there is a black shop specializing in business that kills people. Our government intends to get rid of them today, but we are afraid that the Dutou Yamen will not be able to catch them, so I would like to invite everyone to help our government catch that group of people."

As soon as the words fell, the remaining few people said one after another: "It's not difficult, just tell us the place, order the soldiers and horses and leave."

Among them, Wen Rui, the envoy, said: "I will lead the troops to exterminate these bastards for my lord!"

Among the officers present, he has the highest rank, if he speaks, the others will leave it to him.

It seems that these few people are still cooperating, and it seems that he is not completely alone.

Gao Ming said quickly, "Then let's send 300 troops to capture those thieves!"

-

Recently, the business in Sun Erniang's store has been sluggish. Only the day before yesterday, a father and son passed by, and they made steamed buns.

She moved a stool, sat at the door and cracked melon seeds, lazily looking at the road ahead, hoping that there would be businessmen passing by.

Suddenly, she heard the clatter of horseshoes, and it seemed that there were military horses coming from the direction of Mengzhou City, but she didn't care, it must be that the magistrate dispatched troops and didn't know what to do.

But he didn't want to, those army horses came straight towards her, and the leading general on the horse held a big knife in his hand, pointed at her and said, "Are you Sun Erniang?"

Sun Erniang didn't know what the general was going to do, she retreated into the room and asked, "Is there anything urgent, Mr. Jun?"

It sounded like the person she was looking for, "Capture her!" Wen Rui roared.

Seeing this, Erniang Sun rushed towards the door, relying on her own kung fu skills, she rushed to the door: "Little Er, Xiao San, run!"

As soon as the words fell, the two men who were still skinning in the house jumped out of the window and ran, jumping over the dirt slope behind the house, which is the mountain.

But Wen Rui and the others had been prepared for a long time, and immediately sent people to chase after them separately.

And Sun Erniang wanted to jump out of the back window to escape with a steel knife in her hand, but she didn't want to be blocked by Wen Rui as soon as she went out. She swung two steel knives and slashed at Wen Rui. She was really a hag, very fierce. He definitely couldn't hold her, but Wen Rui was a professional soldier after all. He had been on the battlefield, and the two fought for several rounds, but they were still defeated by Wen Rui.

Sun Erniang had just been tied up, when she saw a 34 or [-]-year-old man walking along a small road carrying a load. Seeing the situation here, he froze for a moment, the load fell to the ground, and a few steamed buns rolled out.

Seeing her, Erniang Sun shouted, "Run!"

Seeing that there were hundreds of people on the opponent, Zhang Qing knew that he was invincible, so he turned around and ran, but after only a few steps, he was shot from behind by an arrow, which pierced the bone of his foot and fell to the ground. A group of people tied him up tightly.

The two men who escaped just now were also arrested and thrown together.

Wen Rui said to Nie Liang who followed: "Leave these four people to you, go back and hand them over to the magistrate."

Nie Liang and the yamen servants put the four people into the prepared prison cart and dragged them to Mengzhou City.

However, Wen Rui took the army horses under his command and did not leave in a hurry, but ordered: "Okay, let's start working now, the magistrate has ordered, all the things in the store are packed and brought back, and inside and outside the store, They dug three feet into the ground, and put everything they found into boxes."

The guards are not as tolerant of blood as the soldiers, so if they are asked to clean up the scene, they are afraid that they will all vomit and they will not be able to start work.

So Wen Rui brought the soldiers over to preserve these bloody physical evidence.

As soon as Nie Liang and others dragged Zhang Qing and Sun Erniang to show up in Mengzhou City, they attracted the attention of the people.

"Who, who are these? Could it be that Zhang Dujian's extermination case has been solved? These three men, who is that Wu Song?"

"This woman looks really scary, with a thick waist like a potter's wheel, hands and feet like a mallet, and skin like dead bark, ah, she really looks like a yaksha spirit."

The people pointed and pointed, and those who had something good to do followed the prison car all the way to the gate of the magistrate.

At this time Nie Liang said loudly: "The magistrate has captured a couple who killed people in Shizipo, and the trial will start early tomorrow morning!" After finishing speaking, he entered the yamen.

It was the turn of the people to hug their shoulders and whisper, "Shizipo? What kind of case is this?"

"I heard that there are always people missing and being made into steamed buns. I don't know if it's this."

"But the case of the capital prison has not been solved yet."

"The fact that the capital prison case has not been solved does not mean that other cases cannot be solved. If there is nothing to do, come and have a look tomorrow morning to see what is going on."

Everyone muttered for a while, each had an arrangement, and then they all dispersed.

After Gao Ming asked someone to take care of Sun Erniang and Zhang Qing and his wife, he went to bed early. The serial murderer couple he will interrogate tomorrow morning is a big deal.

Early the next morning, Gao Mingsheng asked the case. This was his first case since he became the magistrate, and he had to handle it carefully.

Because he let the people listen, not only outside the lobby, but also the courtyard was full of people, wanting to see what the new magistrate looks like.

Someone in the front row saw Gao Ming's appearance and was disappointed. Sure enough, as the rumors said, the imperial court didn't pay much attention to Mengzhou and sent such an inexperienced young man.

"Let me go, let me go, my nephew went out to visit relatives the year before last and went missing, and today the grand lord's trial of the disappearance case is related to my nephew? Let me go forward."

At this time, an old man squeezed forward and said.

Besides him, there were several other people in the same situation as him, some pushed to the front, and some waited in the yard.

Seeing that it was almost time, Gao Ming winked at Nie Liang, and Nie Liang and all the yamen servants hit the ground with wooden sticks, and shouted in a low voice, "Mighty—"

As the mighty lingering sound fell, the courtroom was filled with silence.

Gao Ming knocked on the gavel, and said in a straight voice: "Today, the government will try the case of Zhang Qingsun Erniang and his wife murdering a passer-by in Shizipo! Come, bring the suspect Zhang Qingsun Erniang up here!"

Sun Erniang and Zhang Qing were put on heavy shackles and pushed into the hall. Seeing that Zhang Qing was shot by an arrow in the leg, he knelt slowly. Kneeled on the ground.

Sun Erniang was more sensible than her husband, so she was not beaten and knelt down obediently, but her eyes were still shining fiercely at this moment.

Gao Ming cleared his throat, and asked calmly: "Zhang Qing, I heard that your nickname is Cai Yuanzi. I asked you why you have such a nickname?"

Zhang Qing was hit just now, it will hurt very badly, big beads of sweat are rolling down, "Because the villain once planted a vegetable garden in Guangming Temple, hence the name."

"Guangming Temple? Is it the Guangming Temple that was set on fire and turned into a white ground?" Gao Ming said: "All the monks in the Guangming Temple were killed in one night, and the temple was burned to ashes. No suspects have been caught. Could it be possible? Did you do it?"

Zhang Qing used to work as a vegetable garden in Guangming Temple and grew vegetables for the temple, so he got this nickname, but one day he quarreled with the monk about some trivial matters, and when he got angry, he killed them all and set them on fire, because he knew him All the people who existed died, but no one found him. The Guangming Temple has been abandoned for several years, and no one knows to mention this matter.

Looking at the common people, someone exclaimed: "Yes, but the Guangming Temple has been burned for more than ten years, how did the magistrate know?"

Gao Ming didn't answer, but made an expression of "my lord knows everything, don't play tricks", and said indifferently: "Zhang Qing, I will ask you again, how did you know you as a bastard?"

Before her husband could answer, Erniang Sun said, "How did we know each other? What the fuck!"

Gao Ming curled his lips, and ordered Nie Liang in a cold voice, "Slap your mouth."

There were two servants holding short wooden boards and beating Sun Erniang like a pig butcher. After a few boards, her mouth was full of blood. Seeing Zhang Qing, she hurriedly said: "The villain talks, and the villain talks. After meeting the old father-in-law, it turned out that he was also a strong man, we did not know each other, so he took me away and betrothed Er Niang to me."

Cutting the path is blocking the road and robbing, and a strong man is a robber. That is to say, Zhang Qing was robbing on the road and met the father of the old robber Sun Erniang, so he felt sorry for each other, and the old robber married his daughter to him.

Gao Ming sat down, listened calmly, and said, "Then, did your father-in-law teach you about the human flesh workshop business?"

The courtroom was quiet, Gao Ming spoke in a straight voice, the surrounding people heard it clearly, and were in an uproar for a while.

Beads of sweat dripped from Zhang Qing's forehead, but he didn't answer.

Gao Ming said coldly: "Why don't you speak? Otherwise, why do you think the government captured you here? Come and present physical evidence!"

As soon as the words were finished, an officer came in carrying the shelves covered with thatch, put them on the ground, and then lifted the tarpaulin abruptly, revealing the contents inside. There were several human skins and some wreckage.

The people could bear it, after all, it was a dynasty that could watch Ling Chi. Seeing such a scene, except for a few who turned their heads to go out, most of them didn't move a muscle, but they all let out bursts of surprise.

Gao Ming said: "Zhang Qing, these are the physical evidences found in your store. The boiled human head and the remaining human limbs are still there in this house, but I just can't bear to present them in court! What do you have to say? Your Shizipo The black spots of the people, drugged and robbed passers-by, how many souls died in your hands, it is not true!"

At this moment, someone exclaimed: "That's my uncle's tattoo!"

A man tremblingly pointed at the human skin in the evidence and said, "My uncle has a tiger's head tattooed on his back, that's exactly it! He went out to buy goods, but he disappeared, so he was killed by you!"

As he said that, he was about to rush in and beat people, but was stopped by the guards and pushed out.

The reason why this human skin is kept is that the tattoo pattern looks good, and it was collapsed on the wall as a mural for decoration.

Seeing that Zhang Qing didn't answer, Gao Ming took out two red command arrows from the wooden tube on the table. These command arrows were actually wooden sticks. Each stick represented a different level of torture, and each red stick represented ten boards.

Gao Ming threw two command arrows to the ground and said loudly, "Use torture."

Nie Liang and another guard came out and hit Zhang Qing with a wooden board, because it was a real fight, and most people can't stand it.

Soon, Zhang Qing's back was covered with blood.

"I recruit, I recruit—" Zhang Qing couldn't help it: "There is indeed a human meat workshop. Anyone who passes by is drugged by us. The big pieces of good meat are used as yellow beef, and the small pieces of minced meat are sold as meat buns."

In addition to the physical evidence, the clerk in their store was also arrested. If he doesn't say anything, he will be confessed later. It's better to say that he will suffer less flesh and blood.

He made a move, and the crowd was furious and cursed.

Gao Ming slapped the gavel, and the servants sang again: "Mighty——"

Finally, he calmed down again.

Gao Ming said: "Besides selling steamed buns in the store, where else are they sold? When I went to arrest you, you just came back from outside with a shoulder pole. Where did you go?"

Zhang Qing confessed to the murder, and the part of selling is ready, "The villain also picks some of the human-flesh steamed buns that are made and sells them in nearby villages..."

A crowd of onlookers shouted: "Is this a village near Shizipo? You're a murderer! You're missing a great virtue, and you're asking ordinary people to eat human buns!"

Gao Ming continued to question in a cold voice: "Tell me, how many lives did you kill?"

"Not many, just a few dozen." At this time, Erniang Sun said with bloody froth.

The onlookers were in an uproar, dozens of them, but not many?Does this woman think this is a small sum?And judging by her appearance, she was clearly telling lies, and the real number was more than this.

Excuse yourself, let alone how many this number really is, it makes people shudder.

Gao Ming was mentally prepared, and at this moment he just looked down at the serial killer couple with cold eyes.

The author has something to say:

Caiyuanzi Zhang Qing, although his nickname is very green and environmentally friendly, but behind the words Caiyuanzi is a temple extermination case, he is a guy who is worthy of Sun Erniang.

In addition, in the Water Margin, the cakes sold by Wu Dalang are closer to steamed buns in the modern sense.The steamed buns sold by Sun Erniang are in the shape of pasta with stuffing, which is closer to buns in the modern sense.