The Sage of Confucianism and Taoism

Chapter 1292 Ji Zhibai’s trial

The main entrance of the lobby of Ning'an County Yamen is open to the south, and there are only two people sitting in the lobby.

Both of them are wearing Jinshi uniforms. One is sitting on the main seat in the main hall. He is about forty years old. It is Fei Chang, the newly appointed magistrate of Qingwu Prefecture and acting magistrate of Ning'an County. He is looking at the person sitting on the left with a smile. Ji Zhibai.

"Brother Ji, I don't think it's better for you to sit here with me and just listen. Although I have been a Jinshi for many years, I have only served as some assistant officials in the state government and the capital. This is the first time I have been in charge of a place. But you have been in charge of Ning'an City. , and he once held an important official position in the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and his experience is far better than mine."

There was not a trace of blood on Ji Zhi's fair face, and the blow of his broken bile had not yet healed, and there was a hint of sadness between his brows.

Ji Zhibai smiled slightly and said: "Brother Fei, you're welcome. Although I was famous for a while, the Holy Court has ruled that I will never be an official, enter the Holy Court, let alone enter the Hanlin Hall, and the chance of promotion to the Hanlin is small. It's pitiful. In addition, my literary courage is damaged and my future is ruined. I can only be a staff member now. Brother Fei, please don't look at me with the same eyes as before."

Unexpectedly, Fei Changyan said seriously: "Brother Ji, what you said is wrong. Back then, I offended the former right prime minister and was demoted to Qingshui Yamen. I became the laughing stock of everyone and stayed there for three years. Fortunately, you, a little fellow, saved me from the fire and water. ,No The Lord Zuo Xiang only entrusted me with important tasks, and this time he directly appointed me as the governor of Qingwu Prefecture, becoming an important minister and honoring my ancestors. This great kindness will never be forgotten by me, Fei Chang. You will always be the planner in my heart. white."

"Alas..." Ji Zhibai shook his head gently.

Fei Chang said: "Fang Yun is dead, so the ban on the Holy Court will inevitably be loosened. In three to five years, the Zong family will definitely let you perform meritorious service and lift the ban. Furthermore, Fang Yun is dead, and the Zong Sheng's Saint The road must be unobstructed. Once the Zongsheng is promoted to the sub-sage and offers amnesty to the world, I am afraid that a holy word can restore your literary courage. "

Ji Zhibai's eyes flashed with joy, and then he smiled and said: "Yes, that scourge Fang Yun is finally dead! As long as he dies, everything will be solved. My mentor has decided that all affairs in Ning'an County will be handed over to me. Once If you have the opportunity, you will definitely continue to use me.”

Fei Chang's eyes flashed with worry and he said: "Fang Yun is extremely popular among the people in Ning'an City, and it was he who set up Liu Yu... In his words, he is a typical figure and role model. Defeating Liu Yu will indeed be a blow. Fang Yun’s reputation, but...if it’s not handled properly, it may lead to a mutiny.”

Ji Zhibai shook his head gently and said: "Back then, there was once a Hanlin scholar who was drunk and said at a cultural conference that it is very simple for the government to govern the people, as long as the people do not rebel as the bottom line. We are not destroying their livelihood. It’s not like they are starved of food and clothing, they will wait and see for a while. Once we are firmly established in Ning’an County, they will gradually stop resisting. What’s more, our punishment of Liu Yu is well-founded and the evidence is solid.”

"What you are saying is that the evidence is genuine and will be recognized by both the Holy Court and the Three Legal Divisions of Jingguo."

At this moment, the government officials outside escorted Liu Yuli to the main entrance.

Fei Chang formally ascended the throne, and then signaled the Yamen servants to escort Liu Yu in.

Fei Chang slapped the hall in shock and shouted: "Who are you standing in this hall!"

Liu Yu was dressed in a child's uniform, with white beard and hair, a slumped face, and red and swollen eyes, but his eyes were unusually bright.

"If you don't know who I am, how did you catch me?" Liu Yu sneered.

"Presumptuous!" Fei Chang was furious.

Liu Yu snorted coldly and said: "I know your intentions very well. Isn't it because you want to take revenge on Fangxu Saint because of his death? Yes, I am his subordinate! He is alive, and I will regard him as my master in this life; he Sheng Yun, I will be a bull in the next life! I don’t have time to waste time with you here, hurry up and judge the case.”

Fei Chang suppressed the anger in his heart, looked at Ji Zhibai, and said, "I don't know the features of Ning'an County, so I asked my staff Ji Zhibai to assist me in the trial. Ji Zhibai, thank you for your help."

Ji Zhibai nodded and said, "I must obey your orders."

After finishing speaking, Ji Zhibai looked at Liu Yu and said coldly: "Liu Tongsheng, let me ask you, Fang Yun arrested a large number of cotton workshop owners back then, and one of them was named Hong Liao. Do you remember?"

"Of course I remember. I heard that Hong Liao had a good relationship with some officials. By the way, when I heard this rumor, it was when County Magistrate Ji was in office." Liu Yu looked at Ji Zhibai sarcastically.

Ji Zhibai asked: "Then Hong Liao depreciated and scrapped a batch of 80% new organs, and then secretly sold them to private workshops, earning 8,000 taels. Is this true?"

"This is indeed the case." Liu Yu said.

"Yesterday, someone reported that you worked with Hong Liao, and that you had collected black money from Hong Liao and helped him embezzle county government agencies. Is this true?"

"Nonsense! Because of this matter, I haven't seen Hong Liao for a long time!" Liu Yu said.

Ji Zhibai smiled coldly and threw a stack of documents towards Liu Yu.

Liu Yu hurriedly finished the work, and when he looked carefully, he found that there was Hong Liao's confession on it. After Hong Liao embezzled 8,000 taels of ink, he used half of it to make money, of which 20 taels were spent on Liu Yu and his apprentices.

Liu Yu was angry and anxious after reading it, and said angrily: "The twenty taels of silver were obviously a reward given to me by the county workshop that year. How can it be called a bribe?"

Ji Zhibai threw out another stack of documents.

Liu Yu hurriedly checked, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

These documents are all oral confessions, and they are the confessions of Liu Yu's apprentices. Someone mentioned it in front of Liu Yu back then, saying that these were Hong Liao's hush money, but everyone couldn't twist their arms and legs, so they could only ignore it by default.

Liu Yu's face turned green and white, and he sighed heavily, and said: "I have indeed heard about this matter. My family was seriously ill at that time, and I really had no money. I... That's all, I don't care how you convict me, but those twenty taels of silver , I have a clear conscience!”

After speaking, Liu Yu straightened his spine.

"Have a clear conscience? Ridiculous! What about these?"

Ji Zhibai said and threw some documents to Liu Yu.

Those documents were all confessions from Liu Yu's apprentices. Liu Yu once took some scrapped materials from the workshop home, made them into furniture or farm tools, and sold them himself.

Liu Yu was silent for a moment and said: "Those scraps will be transported away and discarded. They are not worth much in themselves, so I picked some usable items. You said that I am greedy for the materials of the ink workshop, but I have nothing to say."

"These, these, you see for yourself!" Ji Zhibai threw a thick stack of documents in front of Liu Yu without saying anything.

Liu Yu read quickly, his eyes dim. He remembered many things. Because he saw that one of his apprentices was pitiful, he asked someone to send him to a more profitable workshop; he also made mistakes at work, causing damage to some institutions...

After reading less than a third of the document, Liu Yu threw the document in his hand to the ground and said, "Convict yourself. These are facts. I can't quibble."

Ji Zhibai said: "You are obviously full of mistakes and despicable, but you teamed up with Fang Yun to deceive the world. You are really committing a heinous crime! However, I thought that since you are old and frail, and there are many people in your family, I will give you a chance. You just need to write a confession Book, admit that Fang Yun is giving you benefits for the sake of political performance and the imperial examination, regardless of the law, and let bygones be bygones!"

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