Survival countdown

"Would you dare to dereliction of duty when you are on a business trip?"

"Your Majesty has the guts to ask, is this your Highness's intention or His Royal Highness's order?"

"Presumptuous! Don't you have to investigate the case if you don't have a job order?"

"Returning to Your Highness, it's not that the subordinate officials have neglected their duties, but that the confessions of 87 people have not been interrogated. If you whip them rashly, maybe there are a few people who were caught by mistake, wouldn't it be a trick for the subordinate officials to torture you? You can't rush with the confessions alone. To finalize the case, you have to ask the people below to check the person's neighbors and relatives to make sure that you are not lying, and then submit the dossier to the top for review by the magistrate, and then the case can be closed. A set of procedures goes down, and it takes less time to talk A few months."

Zhao Baiyu hastily argued again: "It's not that the lower officials are lazy, it's because there are too many people in the yamen, and they are dealing with the files sent by the county yamen, and they also have to maintain the law and order in the capital, and there are routine patrols, and fire extinguishing... Really. It's a shortage of manpower!"

"Push three obstacles and four obstacles! If there is a shortage of people, won't you recruit more people?"

"No money."

"you!"

"However, there are currently seven people who have been verified for their crimes. Gambling together, breaking the night ban, the evidence is solid, and they can be punished now! Eighty lashes, one lash must not be less! After they are beaten to death, they will be hanged at the gate of the yamen to let the world know who dares to break the law !" Zhao Baiyu turned around and pointed at Li Dong and the other seven people: "Your Highness, it's them!"

Seeing this, the seven of Li Dong were so frightened that they immediately knelt down and begged for mercy: "Your Highness, Your Highness, please forgive me, Your Highness, please save the little ones! The little ones are doing business for His Highness—"

"Shut up!" The fifth prince shouted angrily.

Zhao Baiyu said coolly: "Speaking of it, it is His Highness who helped me, and I saved the time of going to their house to collect evidence. And Li Dong, if he didn't recruit himself, he would find other accomplices who had neglected their duties. How about taking twenty lashes less for some credit?"

When Li Dong heard this, he quickly kowtowed: "Thank you Mr. Zhao, Mr. Zhao is so magnanimous, please spare the little one!"

The others glared at him: "Li Dong, you villain, it is clear that you bribed the jailer to let the jailer beat you, and let us help frame Mr. Zhao! Now you have lost [-] lashes by betraying us? I will beat you to death!" !"

Several people rushed to grab Li Dong, and a fat eight-foot man sat directly on Li Dong's buttocks.

Zhao Baiyu took two steps forward with a serious expression: "His Royal Highness, His Highness Fifth, the Xiaojun King, and this adjutant must have heard it all. Li Dong directed and acted to slander the lower officials, and even ordered his family to go to Yushitai, Your Majesty joined the lower officials. If it weren't for His Highness and the Xiaojun Wang who are so brave and discerning, even if the lower officials jumped into the moat, they wouldn't be able to wash away their grievances. I beg Your Highness to make decisions for the lower officials!"

The last sentence is especially loud.

All the people present were quiet, except for Zhao Sanlang, whose name was omitted, who was strangely unbalanced at that moment, and recalled the indiscriminate scolding just now amidst Zhao Baiyu's grievances, and suddenly fell into an extremely embarrassing situation.

The crown prince looked at the fifth prince, who lowered his head in embarrassment, as if he wanted to get rid of this matter and let it go.

The prince cleared his throat and said: "According to the law of the great scene, those who slander or slander others will sit back for the crime of slander. Because they slander the officials of the court, the crime will be added to the crime, and each person will be beaten sixty. But no more crimes. The case is over, and there is nothing to go out of the court—"

There was a sudden 'bang', which startled everyone and attracted their attention, but they saw that it was Huo Jingtang breaking the armrest of the chair and throwing the piece of wood casually, which made the sound when it fell to the ground.

Huo Jingtang said to himself: "I can't help knocking, it really is a Qingshui yamen, even the seats have been bitten by insects and ants, turn around and tell Your Majesty, don't let the majestic Kyoto prefecture be as poor as the yamen in a small northwest county. "

Turn around and tell His Majesty the Yamen of the Kyoto Prefecture?Don't you want to expose today's matter?

These seven people are all working under the household department, and they have a lot of relationship with the fifth prince, so it's okay to poke them out?

The prince quickly patted the gavel and said: "There are also crimes such as gathering crowds to gamble and breaking the night ban. They will be punished for several crimes and killed in court!"

Zhao Baiyu raised his head sharply, his pupils constricted, and the seven people behind him knelt down and begged for mercy, and were dragged outside with their mouths covered for execution. He was beaten to death, and everyone in the hall looked as if they were used to it.

Even Huo Jingtang, who supported Zhao Baiyu, was indifferent, and Ji Zhifu, the most timid and fearful, looked indifferent.

Zhao Baiyu moved his lips, wanting to say that they were not guilty of death. He didn't want those seven people to pay for their lives. After thinking about it, he sadly realized that the purpose of Li Dong's slander was to put him to death.

The prince stepped down from the courtroom table, came to Zhao Baiyu and said: "The case is over, and you will continue to be your Shao Yin. I think you have done well in the past two years, and you have been conscientious in your position. I will mention you later." Mention, go to the Ministry of Punishment, and even come under me to do business."

Zhao Baiyu: "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness."

The crown prince nodded, and turned to face Huo Jingtang: "Zi'an is right, the yamen is indeed a little poor, so I will go back and talk to the household department and allocate a sum of money to repair it."

Huo Jingtang wrapped the Buddhist beads around his wrists, stood up and stretched his waist, and said, "Will the remaining 80 people be tried or not?" He looked at the fifth prince and asked, "Do you want to leave a prince to make him Zhao Bai?" The result of the trial within a few days?"

The fifth prince was overjoyed: "Yes!"

The prince frowned: "Fifth brother!"

"Second brother, you have praised him for his outstanding political achievements. Didn't I give him a chance to be transferred to the Ministry of Criminal Justice?" The fifth prince ordered Zhao Baiyu: "I asked the Ministry of Households to allocate you 5 taels of silver, and you use it Come to repair the yamen, recruit manpower, and the result of the trial will be announced within seven days! After seven days, His Highness will personally come to observe the sentence."

Zhao Baiyu responded calmly, with a tinge of anger in his heart, he used the lives of ordinary people as guns for personal grievances, no matter how good his temper was, he couldn't help it.

The prince's expression softened, and he greeted the fifth prince to leave.

Zhao Sanlang fell behind, not agreeing with the aggressive attitude of the Fifth Prince, he whispered to Zhao Baiyu: "The Fifth Prince just wants to make you feel bad, I'll go to intercede, and then you can make amends, this matter is fine." pass."

Zhao Baiyu: "Thanks. No need."

"You!" Seeing Zhao Baiyu's cold eyes, Zhao Sanlang was both angry and guilty: "You are a donkey with good intentions. If you are not from the Zhao family, who cares about you?"

Zhao Baiyu was puzzled: "Have you ever thought I was your brother?"

"I—" Zhao Sanlang choked, and walked away resentfully.

Huo Jingtang quietly came to Zhao Baiyu's side, Zhao Baiyu was startled, and found that Ji Zhifu and the adjutant were not there, only him and Huo Jingtang were left in the courtroom.

Zhao Baiyu took two steps back and bowed his hands to say hello, but Huo Jingtang didn't respond, his Liuli eyes stared at him, which made him feel inexplicably terrified of being stared at by a compassionate and indifferent Bodhisattva.

Huo Jingtang: "You're not scared, you're not happy, you seem a little angry."

Zhao Baiyu raised his eyes: "No."

Huo Jingtang asked: "Is it because of the seven people who were beaten to death just now, or is it because you are worried that you won't be able to explain it in seven days?"

Zhao Baiyu frowned, and said in a muffled voice after being silent for a few seconds, "Even if I risk losing my official position, I will keep the people under my subordinates."

Huo Jingtang couldn't help but curled his lips, stopped quickly, pondered for a moment and said: "Seven days should be enough for those ministers to discuss whether to cancel the night ban. According to my understanding of His Majesty, it should be inclined to open the night market. What's more, the proposal is really well written, detailing the shortcomings and supplements of the opening of the night market, and considering all aspects, not many people will object."

"That is to say, there will be objections?"

"The curfew has been in place since ancient times. The opening of the night market is a feat that has never been seen in a thousand years. Fire and public security are small problems. Taking the opportunity to form cliques and groups, to provoke troubles, disturb the people for no reason, and endanger national security are big problems. A piece of fertile land is staring at each other, and the borders are often fought with each other. Once the night market is opened, someone will sneak into the capital and endanger the emperor. So I guess someone will use this reason to try their best to prevent His Majesty from opening the curfew."

Zhao Baiyu was thoughtful: "You said... can you use this case to promote the opening of the curfew?"

Huo Jingtang moved his eyes, motioning for him to continue.

Zhao Baiyu: "I hope that the fifth prince can come to the imperial court to read me a book."

Huo Jingtang thought for a while, then nodded: "Okay." After a pause, he took off the Buddhist beads and wrapped them around Zhao Baiyu's wrist, saying: "Those who have been consecrated by an eminent monk can ward off evil spirits and prevent all ghosts and ghosts from getting close."

Finished talking and left.

Zhao Baiyu stared blankly at the wrapped Buddhist beads, and a thought came to his mind, wouldn't Huo Jingtang think that he was the unjust soul of the seven people who were afraid of being beaten to death, asking for his life in the middle of the night?

Wait, why did he talk about the proposal so freely just now?

Is it because the proposal was submitted by the prefect Ji, so he thought that as a subordinate of the prefect, he should know about the proposal?

***

Seven days later, the results of the interrogation came out. A total of 80 people were sentenced to eighty lashes. The fifth prince came to watch the sentence in person, and of course he only watched it from a distance in the courtroom.

Outside the court, the people were attracted by the cries of the criminals' family members, and spontaneously gathered around to watch. At first, they could point and laugh, but after seeing corpses covered in white cloth being carried out, they felt mixed feelings and looked towards the capital. Fu Yamen's eyes were full of fear.

Thirty-seven people died, and the blood and water flowed into the puddles in the ground, and the world was darkened amidst the cries of grievances.

After watching the execution, the fifth prince patted Zhao Baiyu on the shoulder and said, "You are obedient enough."

Zhao Baiyu: "His Royal Highness promised to bring the subordinate officials to the Ministry of Criminal Justice, when will the subordinate officials report to the Ministry of Criminal Justice?"

The fifth prince laughed, laughing that Zhao Baiyu couldn't escape the desire of ordinary people who wanted to be promoted: "Wait for the news." After finishing speaking, he left.

Zhao Baiyu watched the fifth prince's back, put away his expression, his eyes were cold, and the left and right yamen servants came over and asked: "My lord, there are a large number of family members of the deceased blocking the yamen, do you want to send someone to drive them away?"

"No need." Zhao Baiyu: "Let them cry! How big it is, how big it is!"

The left and right yamen servants didn't know why, but they didn't dare to disobey the order, allowing the family members of the deceased to howl outside the yamen day and night, and even beat the officials when they were emotional. According to the law, they should be detained, but Zhao Baiyu stopped them.

The Yamen of Kyoto Prefecture is the face of Gyeonggi, and it is one of the representatives of the fair rule of law in the imperial dynasty.The gate of the yamen was usually solemn and quiet, but now the crying was so loud that it naturally attracted the attention of Yushitai.

The wrong Zhao Baiyu went back to Yushitai, so he paid attention to this person, and after being instructed by the fifth prince, he went to Zhao Baiyu again in the morning: "37 people were flogged to death in court, and those who brought the old and the old outside the yamen brought the old and dragged each other. The children and their daughters dragged their sons and daughters, and witnessed their relatives being beaten to death, as if they were all burned to death, utterly mournful, howling ghosts and gods, foggy and cloudy, and the world was dark! These 37 people are ordinary people and belong to a family Lord, without this pillar, who will support the elderly and children in the family? Are only 37 people dead? There are also unsustainable wives and children, old fathers and mothers, and more than a hundred people died! Your Majesty benevolent people love things, court officials love people You are like a child, but the people under our rule are tortured by cruel officials under our noses! Your Majesty! The cruel officials of the previous dynasty were cruel and cruel, devoid of conscience, and killed innocent people, causing dozens of large injustices involving thousands of people. heart. Reusing cruel officials and letting them go was the beginning of the decline of the previous dynasty."

A court official came out to report: "Zhao Baiyu killed 37 people in court, with cruel means and cruel heart. Although it cannot be compared with the cruel officials of the previous dynasty, it has the shadow of the cruel officials of the previous dynasty. What's more, the yamen of the capital government is the gate of Gyeonggi, and it should be maintained. While maintaining an image of justice and the rule of law, it also shows my benevolent side."

Another court official came out: "Your Majesty, please hold Zhao Baiyu accountable!"

Several court officials came out one by one: "Your Majesty, please hold Zhao Baiyu accountable!"

The court officials asked for blame, and Emperor Yuanshou had to agree to summon Zhao Baiyu to the imperial court for questioning.

In just one month, a mere seventh-rank official went to the imperial court twice, met the emperor twice, and he could brag about the glory for a lifetime on anyone.

Zhao Baiyu knelt down and cupped his hands, and responded neither humble nor overbearing to the court officials' questioning: "80 people commit crimes at night, and eighty of them are whipped according to the law. If the subordinate officials enforce the law impartially, what is wrong with it?"

Yu Shitai: "The method is cruel, with dozens of casualties, do you still think it's right?"

Zhao Baiyu: "Those who break the law must be severely punished. There are laws to follow and law enforcement must be strict. Where is the mistake?"

Yu Shitai: "As the saying goes, the law is nothing more than reason, and the law does not blame the public. 80 people are the public, 80 people are old and weak, women and children, and more are middle-aged men. They are the only labor force in the family. They are being whipped right now. Eighty, death or injury, death or permanent disability, loss of labor force, loss of income, the whole family starves, and even starves to death, why did this result happen?"

"I only know that law enforcement is strict, forget about reason, don't know how to accommodate, don't know how to adapt, and can't empathize with the hardships of the people. How is it different from cold and ruthless objects?" A court official came forward to report.

"There is a saying in "Han Feizi": Entrusting right and wrong with rewards and punishments is a matter of weight and balance, not against the laws of heaven, and not hurting one's nature. To weigh the severity of a situation, the principles of heaven, reason, and law are indispensable. , before the law, before the punishment, 80 people committed a crime at night and were punished according to the law. But there are reasons for the incident. External factors, the great scene encourages trade, is driven by national conditions, and the corresponding system of the city is backward, suppressing the prosperous commodity trade in the government, the common people are poor, driven by profit, and risky crimes are human nature. There is a saying: human feelings are far away. The custom is to cherish, before falling into the law, you should consider the reason."

No one expected Chen Shidao to come out, what he said was pertinent, and he didn't seem to be on Zhao Baiyu's side.

"But the family has its own laws, the state has its own laws, and the etiquette and law are interdependent, and they are both external and internal. They cannot be abolished. Only when orders are enforced can they be banned. Although the antecedents of the crime in this case are reasonable, it cannot be said that they are punished according to the law. It’s wrong, it’s not that the purpose of law enforcement is wrong, nor is the law wrong, but the backward market system affects the backwardness of the law! That’s what caused today’s tragedy!”

"Instead of pursuing Zhao Baiyu's unreasonable law enforcement, it is better to destroy the old and establish the new to avoid tragedy."

The court officials who opposed Zhao Baiyu heard this, their faces were ugly, and they thought that Chen Shilang was selfless, and he was really planning to kill relatives righteously, who knew he was waiting here!

If you want to promote, you will suppress first, and if you want to get caught, you will play hard, right?

It's a pity that they miscalculated, they want to make Zhao Baiyu a cruel official today, and they don't believe that the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty can't help but a seventh-rank sesame official!

There was a boat standing on Zheng Guogong's mansion, and the court official who was about to take the opportunity to take revenge came out and was about to speak, but saw Chen Shidao kneeling and kowtowing suddenly, making a bang sound, so frightened that he immediately forgot to speak and missed the good opportunity to gag, so he heard Chen Shidao's sonorous and forceful voice To report:

"Your Majesty, please cancel the curfew, open the night market, and abolish the night law!"

Except for a few ministers, the rest were stunned. They didn't understand how the case of crusade against Zhao Baiyu turned into Rufeng's proposal to lift the curfew and open the night market.

but----

This kick is too fast, they can't keep up!

Fan Wenming, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, came out: "What Chen Shilang said is reasonable, let alone what reason should Zhao Shaoyin be held accountable? If Zhao Shaoyin is guilty, does it mean that the national law is wrong? Instead of looking back to the past, it is better to focus on solving the problem. Cancel the curfew and open the night market. It is a feat unseen in a millennium, creating what no one before has been able to achieve, and accomplishing a great cause for all ages, I ask Your Majesty to abolish the law of breaking the night and abolish the curfew!"

Then several courtiers came out and asked in unison to abolish the curfew.

The five princes who watched the whole process without speaking had an ugly expression on their faces. The prince pursed his lips and frowned, and just as he was about to object, he saw Zhao Boyong come out to play and ask for the abolition of the curfew. There was no angry, surprised look on his face.

This shows that the emperor had intended to open the night ban a long time ago, and the ministers before him had also guessed the holy intention, but they had no chance to persuade the courtiers. At this time, the case of Zhao Baiyu was handed over. Opening up, in this way, it is logical to abolish the law of breaking the night, and solve the occurrence of similar tragedies in the future, which can be said to be once and for all.

So is this case in the father's expectation?Is it within the expectation of the prime minister?

Did Chen Shidao follow the holy will by chance when he made the statement, or was he instructed by others?

Did Zhao Baiyu know—no, he probably didn't know, after all, this case was initiated by the fifth brother himself, with no one to guide and drive it. Could it be that everything was a coincidence?

A chain of coincidences?

Why are you so wicked?

The prince couldn't understand it, and was soon taken away by new worries. Why did the minister know what Emperor Yuanshou was thinking but he didn't notice it at all?

The minister must have received hints when he spoke, but why didn't he hear the slightest word?

The prince was flustered, while the fifth prince was angry. He wanted to go out and reprimand Zhao Baiyu, but Li Dong, who was the reason for joining Zhao Baiyu last time, was from his household department, and it was too obvious to target Zhao Baiyu now.

While hesitating, there were more and more voices calling for the curfew to be lifted. Of course, they were not without objections. The two camps quoted scriptures and quarreled with each other, and quickly put Zhao Baiyu's problem behind them.

The fifth prince glared at Zhao Baiyu angrily, but when he saw the latter smiling provocatively at him, he was so angry that he could only hold back his anger.

Due to the seriousness of the matter, Emperor Yuanshou was unable to vote in the hall, so he had to withdraw from the court first and discuss it tomorrow.

As for Zhao Baiyu, let him go home first, and listen to the edict tomorrow.

On the palace road, Zhao Baiyu was stopped by the fifth prince.

"You instigated Chen Shidao to speak for you in front of the emperor? Do you have friends?"

"Since when is the relationship between a teacher and a student considered a crony? If it is considered a crony, your Highness cannot get rid of it."

"Slick tongue! Let me ask you, is Chen Shidao's proposal to open the night market today a way for you to privately discuss how to escape accountability?"

"Your Highness," Zhao Baiyu took two steps back, and shouted loudly, "Fifth Highness! Your Majesty will obey His Highness's orders, interrogate and punish 80 criminals within seven days, work hard and dare not be lazy, and fortunately fulfill your mission! Thank you, Your Highness, for your compliment—”

"Shut up!" There were so many court officials and imperial guards passing by on the palace road, there was no guarantee that no one would hear them, and when they turned their heads and presented them to the imperial court, the fifth prince was so frightened that he quickly stretched out his hand to cover Zhao Baiyu's mouth. "Zhao Baiyu, you are presumptuous!"

Zhao Baiyu dodged from left to right, with a smile on his face, and threatened in a low voice: "Your Highness has given you the prize, but I just want to keep this life and this official position. It is clearly His Highness's order, so I punished him to death. This morning, the next official If you didn't let go and say His Highness, it's hard to guarantee that tomorrow you won't let go when you get scared and lose your mind!"

The fifth prince laughed angrily: "Do you think all the officials will believe your nonsense?"

Zhao Baiyu blinked: "Your Majesty just believes it. At that time, the officials will say Li Dong's slander again, and Your Majesty will think that Li Dong and the other six people who slandered me are all working under your Highness. If you can't say it, you will doubt it." Your Highness, for your own selfishness, you have framed the court officials and killed innocent people in vain, and you are not assured that you are in charge of the country's financial power, and it is impossible to change someone to take your place..."

The Fifth Prince couldn't believe it: "You threatened me!"

Zhao Baiyu: "The lower officials are just talking about the pros and cons."

The fifth prince, Tian Huanggui, had never been angered by his subordinates. This was the first time he had experienced such anger. His lips trembled and his chest heaved incessantly: "Isn't Mr. Ge a threat? Believe it or not, killing you is as easy as crushing an ant." ?”

"If you haven't been sent to the Holy Majesty, I'll send you an official letter. But now that I'm carrying the civil and military expectations of the court, your life will suddenly become precious. If you die suddenly, I'm afraid you won't be able to explain it." Zhao Baiyu's expression was a little regretful, and his tone was a little bit cheap.

The fifth prince felt that his lungs were going to burst with anger, and he endured it several times before he gritted his teeth and asked, "What do you want?"

"The lower official said that he wants life and official position, but if you speak up, the lower official is bold and wants a good reputation."

"You fucking want a good reputation? You have a shitty reputation!"

"You can't say that. If it weren't for your order, my case would have dragged on for a year or so. When the law is changed, I will release everyone. How can I have the bad reputation of being a 'cool official'?" Zhao Baiyu asked. Hehe smiled, "Actually, I won't embarrass Your Highness, as long as Your Highness praises the officials' benevolence, uprightness, and integrity tomorrow morning, it will be fine."

"You are dreaming!"

"The lower official was afraid, so his mouth became loose."

The fifth prince was grinding his teeth, wanting to cut off Zhao Baiyu's delicate neck, but he couldn't, not only couldn't, he was really afraid that Zhao Baiyu would say that his bald mouth would confess him tomorrow morning.

If the curfew hadn't been released, he wasn't afraid that Zhao Baiyu would speak out. After all, he could be said to be urging Zhao Baiyu to enforce the law impartially and not to be lazy.

But with the opening of the curfew, his urging would have been a mistake. If it wasn't for his urging, as Zhao Baiyu said, all the people would be released in a month or so.

What's more, Li Dong slandered Zhao Baiyu before. Li Dong and Zhao Baiyu had no grievances and no enmity, but they worked under him. The old and spicy Emperor Yuanshou could see through his role at a glance.

The fifth prince is a princeling, and the prince's mother's family is an aristocratic family, and the usual turnover can only rely on the fifth prince's management in the household department.It would be inconvenient if Emperor Yuanshou was afraid of him and restricted his power in the household department.

After weighing the pros and cons several times, the fifth prince endured today's grievances: "To save my life and my official position, just praise you a few times?"

Zhao Baiyu: "Naturally."

The fifth prince resented: "Okay. You'd better do what you say, and take the case to you. If you dare to say something related to me, I will kill you!"

Zhao Baiyu smiled, nodded, and sent off the fifth prince respectfully. As soon as he turned around, he was stopped by Chen Shidao: "Did you be threatened just now? Don't be afraid, wait for the master to catch his pigtails, and go to court to intervene with the fifth prince! Participate in death." he!"

Zhao Baiyu: "It's okay, the Fifth Prince is very kind to me."

Chen Shidao doubted: "Really?"

Zhao Baiyu nodded: "True! The Fifth Prince personally promised to promote me, and also said that he would praise me for my integrity in front of His Majesty!"

Some court officials who pretended to be passing by couldn't help being surprised when they heard the words, is it true or not?Isn't the fifth prince and Zhao Baiyu in the same situation?Why doesn't it sound like there is any enmity, but rather like being accepted as a sect party?

This Zhao Baiyu didn't lie, no one would dare to lie about this kind of thing, has the wind turned?

Zhao Baiyu watched the back of the court official with a smile, and was caught off guard by a blow on the head. Chen Shidao glanced at him and said, "You dare to plan even the prince, you are too courageous."

Zhao Baiyu: "The teacher even guessed the holy meaning in place, and the students are just messing with each other."

Chen Shidao laughed: "Speak carefully." When he walked to the gate of the palace, he whispered: "It was the king of the small county who came to the mansion to talk about the opening of the night market. I read the proposal and it turned out to be a great talent. The teacher never misjudged you .”

Zhao Baiyu was startled, what do you mean?

Looking up at the teacher, seeing the clarity in his eyes, he was suddenly enlightened, and instantly enlightened. It turned out that Huo Jingtang had already guessed the proposal for the opening of the night market that he presented to Huo Jingtang through Ji Zhifu.

Chen Shidao patted Zhao Baiyu's shoulder in relief and said: "The king of the small county has a great talent and a sense of tolerance. He is decisive in killing and not lacking in kindness. You are following the right person if you follow the king of the small county. The target is the king of the small county. He is a teacher. Only then can you rest assured."

Zhao Baiyu: "..."

Unexpectedly, as an ancient man, the teacher is quite open-minded. He thought that he would bow his head to the temple and ask the Holy One to take back the marriage. He thought of several plans to dispel the teacher's idea, but it didn't work. The teacher even blessed him and Huo Jingtang.

His pattern is still inferior to that of the teacher.

Chen Shidao was overjoyed and got on the sedan chair, stroking his beard and thinking, a scholar dies for his confidant, and following his lord is the fastest thing for a minister and an official.

***

The Kyoto government office is not far from Ouchi, just turn an alley at the end of Yudao.

In the early morning, Zhao Baiyu had to go back to the yamen to work, when he turned the corner at the entrance of the alley, he saw Huo Jingtang standing sideways with his hands in his sleeves, looking up at the sky.

Zhao Baiyu was silent for a moment, untimely thinking of the non-mainstream person who looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle in his previous life, but Huo Jingtang was tall and tall, and he was wearing loose and light clothes to make him look taller and thinner. Like someone who came out of an ancient painting.

"Teacher, please cancel the curfew at the court meeting today. Most of the court officials have attached meetings." Zhao Baiyu said quite sincerely: "You helped me again, thank you."

Huo Jingtang looked at his face first, and then at his wrist. The purple-black Buddhist beads were wrapped around his thin and fair wrist four or five times, and a piece of cloisonné enamel pendant was shaking and shaking. : "It's nothing more than a little effort. You gave the proposal for the curfew system, and you also thought of the way to use this case to promote the lifting of the curfew. At most, I can help you walk around and touch your lips. But this time the credit will fall on me. And Chen Shilang, but you who contributed the most were ignored, don't you feel resentful?"

Zhao Baiyu shook his head, looked at the breakfast booth outside Yujie and said warmly: "Little County King, you have never been a Shaoyin, so I don't know how many cases are handed over from 21 counties in a prefecture every year, and how many of them are Poor people took advantage of business prosperity to earn more money, but committed cases of night bans. My hands and eyes can't reach the counties below, and I can't stop cases of people being beaten to death and maiming. There are disputes due to insufficient management of the square and city, even at the capital of the capital and at the foot of the emperor, there are several murder cases every year. Every time I read the file, a few words are shocking."

He came from modern times with a high degree of freedom of personality, and he realized that even the dynasties that history has endowed with peace and prosperity are just to ensure that the people have no worries about food and clothing.

"If the proposal is passed, it may improve the future of the poor people, which is also a merit."

Huo Jingtang's glazed eyes stared right at Zhao Baiyu, and there seemed to be a bunch of light slowly blooming inside: "You have immeasurable merit."

He unconsciously lowered his tone of voice, which was originally a voice that scratched people's eardrums, but now it was more like whispering against the shoulder of the little lover.

Zhao Baiyu's shoulders went numb suddenly, he looked away and said, "What's more, besides, Your Majesty must not know who is the real author of the proposal?"

The light in Huo Jingtang's eyes became brighter, and the glazed eyes looked clearer under the sunlight. At first glance, he thought they were golden eyes.

"You know the Holy Majesty's temper better than the court officials who meet the Holy Majesty every day in the temple."

Zhao Baiyu waved his hand: "Don't tell me, it's not a good thing to figure out the holy will."

"Have you eaten?" After walking for a while, Zhao Baiyu tilted his head and said, "Please have breakfast."

Huo Jingtang is as good as others.

Zhao Baiyu took people to sit down at the breakfast stall opposite the gate of the Yamen in the capital, ordered three soup dumplings and two mutton buns, and took out a towel to wipe his chopsticks: "I dare to guarantee the soup dumplings and mutton buns here. It is the most authentic and full of ingredients in all of Kyoto, you must have never eaten it!"

He handed the wiped chopsticks to Huo Jingtang, and when he was about to wipe the other pair of chopsticks, a hand stretched out from the side and took away his chopsticks and towel.

"Reciprocity." Huo Jingtang raised his eyes, and stuffed the wiped chopsticks into Zhao Baiyu's hands.

"..." Zhao Baiyu held his chopsticks in silence for a long time, until the boss served the meal, he didn't find a chance to ask for the handkerchief that he carried close to him.

After breakfast, the two parted ways.

Huo Jingtang watched Zhao Baiyu enter the yamen, and the elusive adjutant suddenly appeared.

"General, where did you get this handkerchief? The style is a bit old, not like the ones used by girls."

Huo Jingtang tied the handkerchief around his wrist, glanced at the adjutant, and said calmly, "Return the gift."

And his father is returning the gift?Whose return gift?

The adjutant had a grim look on his face.

***

In the early morning of the next day, the ministers discussed the cancellation of the night ban, and the scene was unprecedentedly harmonious.From the content of the petitions of the first and second rank officials in the front row, it can be guessed that they had talked with Emperor Yuanshou at night by candlelight, and the tone of the proposal was basically set. Now it is just a process, and all other officials are excellent , Guess the meaning of the above and follow along.

The final link goes back to the original question, about whether Zhao Baiyu flogged and killed 37 criminals, whether his method was too cruel, and whether he could be called a cruel official.

It was Yu Shitai who stood up and insisted that Zhao Baiyu was ignorant and ruthless. If he was not in a hurry to close the case, he would have waited a day or two until the night crime law was abolished, and all night criminals would be released without any casualties. Case.

Some courtiers who originally supported Yushitai's point of view observed the fifth prince carefully, and couldn't figure out whether they should be listed. Are Zhao Baiyu and the fifth prince still cliques?

The fifth prince didn't give a signal, and the prince didn't speak.

Then they will not move for a while?Let Yushitai take the lead first.

Yu Shitai pained Chen Zhao Baiyu, and gradually found that his allies were as silent as a turtle, and gradually fell silent.

He quietly turned his head and gestured to his allies with a wink.

what happened?up!Support the old man!

The allies stared at the toe of the shoe, turning a blind eye.

Yu Shitai: "..." A mouthful of old blood was in his chest.

At this time, the fifth prince came out: "I have something to say."

Yu Shitai suddenly burst into tears, His Highness personally supported him, and the scholar died for his confidant, it is not in vain for the old man to firmly support the eldest son.

Fifth prince: "If you don't break the law, you will not be punished. Those who break the order will be punished. This is the truth that three-year-old children understand. Perhaps Zhao Shaoyin is a little unreasonable, but he acts according to the law and has no fault. If he enforces the law impartially and is punished In the name of a cruel official, who else dares not to show favoritism? Can you justify it with reason? I think that Zhao Shaoyin is not only right, he should also be praised for his uprightness, integrity, and law-abiding, and he should be praised!"

Yu Shitai was dumbfounded, knowing that he was being used as a raft, but he couldn't complain at all.

In fact, Emperor Yuanshou didn't really want to punish Zhao Baiyu, no matter whether the reason was that Zhao Baiyu's proposal really showed that he was a talent, or because he thought from the bottom of his heart that love should come after the law.

As a ruler, we will not allow the principles of reason and nature to prevail over the laws of the country.

"It's also reasonable. Jurisprudence is nothing more than reason, but orders must be enforced and prohibitions must be prohibited. The laws of the country should not be easily accommodated to reason, but Zhao Baiyu, as a parent and official, should have a tenderness for the people in your heart. Responsive to the right to change. I know that you have a way to execute eighty lashes without killing a person, and there is also a way to break the hip bone with twenty or thirty lashes, but I will not pursue it, because this is my reason. Reason cannot override the national law, but the national law Now, you can open your eyes and close your eyes."

The words were so earnest that all the officials were so moved that they all knelt down and called out three times to Your Majesty.

Zhao Baiyu heard the cold and the hot, and felt the wisdom and sophistication of Emperor Yuanshou, who really played power tricks to the peak, and the cold was also terrible because of the emperor's mind.

"Therefore, I will not be held accountable for the completed case, but I will still punish you with salary to compensate your family. Zhao Baiyu, are you convinced?"

"Your Majesty is merciful, and I am grateful." Zhao Baiyu bowed his head and said, "But I still have something to say - I didn't flog the eighty poor people who committed night crimes."

As soon as this remark came out, the court officials were in an uproar.

Zhao Boyong, who hadn't looked back all this time, couldn't help but look back now, as if he was meeting Zhao Baiyu for the first time.The prince's face was slightly stunned, while the fifth prince was completely stunned, but Yu Shitai's heart skipped a beat, with a look of despair on his face.

Emperor Yuanshou's eyes flashed, and the performance of all the officials in the palace could be seen in his eyes.

"How to say?"

"At that time, the lower officials were interrogating 37 death row prisoners who were robbed or murdered in the street. Torture was unavoidable during the interrogation process. Thirty-seven death row prisoners were accidentally killed. Because the witnesses and the evidence are all solid, the reasons will be clarified at that time. It is also reasonable for Jiao Dali Temple to hold the subordinate officials accountable. As for the eighty common people who committed the night crime, they are still locked up in prison without torture."

Yu Shitai asked involuntarily, "Nonsense! Didn't you admit to flogging eighty ordinary people yesterday?"

Zhao Baiyu calmly replied: "What the lower official said is 'the offenders can be whipped eighty times according to the law. If the lower official enforces the law impartially, there is no mistake." I don’t know what’s going on, it’s obvious that the person who was killed was a death row prisoner, but when the news spread, it turned out that the officials used cruel methods and killed 37 ordinary people. The officials are the parents’ officials appointed by His Majesty, and since the day they became officials, they have felt His Majesty’s kindness , have always treated the people in the mansion with kindness, how could you kill 37 people?"

The Fifth Prince knew that he had been tricked, and was so angry that his liver hurt. Thinking about praising Zhao Baiyu himself just now, his eyes were dark again.

Zhao Baiyu, how dare you be a stinky and shameless person!

How could he act so wickedly?Where is the style of a gentleman?He is still a disciple of the saints