Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 612: Yang Family Tiger
In the early morning, a scream suddenly came from the west courtyard of the Censorate where the officials of the Ministry of Personnel were detained and isolated.

Soon after, many clerks and servants who were watching the suspects in the West Courtyard heard the noise and ran over.

The officials of the Ministry of Personnel who were imprisoned in separate rooms all leaned their heads out of the windows and looked towards the source of the sound, not knowing what the terrified scream came from.

The night is July 15th, the day when the gates of hell are wide open. Could it be...that some evil spirit is wreaking havoc on the world?
Yang Yuan arrived at the gate of the yamen and walked in with Da Zhuang. Just after passing the ceremonial gate, he found that many officials and servants were gathered in groups of three or five, whispering. The atmosphere was a bit dull and weird.

Did something happen?

Yang Yuan suddenly stopped walking. Wen Tian, ​​who was seconded here, walked over from under the eaves of the signing room. He clasped his fists towards Yang Yuan and whispered, "Minister, something happened in the West Courtyard."

Without waiting for Yang Yuan to ask again, Wen Tian said, "The Ministry of Personnel reported that Zheng Gongqian, the Imperial Edicts Officer, hanged himself."

The Official Prosecution Office was in charge of the official certificates and titles of civil and military officials, generals and officers. For example, Yang Yuan was conferred the title of Marquis, and the Official Prosecution Office had issued the official document.

Yang Yuan was startled and rushed to the west courtyard. Seeing this, some officials and clerks behind him also hurriedly followed.

In a room in the west courtyard, Zheng Zhigao, who had hanged himself, had been taken down and carried into the courtyard on a door panel.

Yang Yuan walked forward to take a look, then quickly walked into the room, only to see that the room was in a mess.

Yang Yuan couldn't help but get furious and shouted, "Who made this place look like this?"

The clerks and servants in the West Court looked at each other in bewilderment, and after a long pause, one clerk stepped forward and said:
"Yang Qianxian, when I came to deliver food this morning, I saw Zheng Zhigao hanging himself. I was so frightened that I hurriedly called for help. Everyone rushed in to save him, and for a moment... I didn't care about so many things."

Yang Mu looked at the tables and chairs. There were messy footprints on them and nothing could be seen at the scene.

He returned to the courtyard again and took a look at Zheng Zhigao's body, which looked hideous.

With a "whoosh" sound, Yang Yuan covered his body with the white cloth again.

An officer said cautiously, "Yang Qianxian, I found... a blood letter on Zheng Zhigao's body."

He held a piece of white cloth in both hands and presented it to Yang Yuan. Yang Yuan took a look and saw messy threads on the edge of the cloth. This was because the lining of his sleeve was torn off and used as paper.

He opened the blood letter and saw only a few words on it: "Truthless official Yang Yuan, I will wait for you at the gates of hell."

At this time, Lu Chengze, who had just arrived at the yamen, also rushed over after hearing the news. He touched Zheng Zhigao's wrist and found that his skin was cold and it was difficult for him to bend his elbow.

Lu Chengze said angrily: "Who is responsible for patrolling this area? How come we only found someone hanging in broad daylight?"

Immediately, several officers stepped forward to apologize: "We are in charge of patrolling this area, but...Zheng Zhigao wants to rest, and he has closed the doors and windows, so we dare not peek... Please punish us, Censor Lu."

Lu Chengze was about to get angry, but Yang Yuan waved his hand and walked to the officers who were kneeling and asking for forgiveness. He slowly asked, "Since Zheng Gongqian was locked up here, who has he seen?"

A servant said, "Yes... yes, just before the court was dismissed, someone from the Ministry of Personnel came. Because Zheng Zhigao was detained in a hurry, many things did not have time to hand over, so the Ministry of Personnel sent someone here to inquire about some matters that were half-handled."

Lu Chengze asked, "Are you following me?"

Several servants grumbled and looked embarrassed. Who am I to stand there and stare at them? Am I worthy?
Yang Yuan said, "People from the Ministry of Personnel came, so we can meet them whenever we want? That shouldn't be the case, right? Who brought the people from the Ministry of Personnel here? Why didn't I know anything about this?"

"It's me, I brought people from the Ministry of Personnel here."

Following the sound, Xiao Hongji, the Left Vice-Minister of the Censorate, walked over with a gloomy face and glanced at the corpse covered with a white cloth on the ground.

"Yesterday, just before the end of the day, someone from the Ministry of Personnel came and found me. They wanted to hand over official business, which was a legitimate request, so I brought them here.

Zheng Zhigao was not the only one who needed to hand over affairs. Many other officials also had pending affairs that needed to be explained to the Ministry of Personnel.

After handling the affairs here, I wanted to tell Yang Qianxian about it, but the court was closed and Yang Qianxian left. I didn’t expect... that something like this would happen. "

Yang Yuan said: "So that's how it is. Deputy Xian, why do you think Zheng Zhigao wanted to commit suicide?"

Xiao Hongji looked at Yang Yuan sharply: "What does Yang Qianxian mean by this?"

Yang Yuan was surprised and said, "I was discussing the cause of this person's death with the deputy governor."

Yang Yuan walked around Zheng Zhigao's body for a while and said, "This Zheng Zhigao died too hastily."

Xiao Hongji was stunned and said, "Did he die too hastily?"

Yang Yuan said, "Yes. They were detained yesterday and have not been tried yet to determine if they are guilty or not. If they are guilty, we don't know how serious their crime is.

We did not interrogate him, nor did we torture him. Zheng Zhigao must have been so eager to die. There must be a reason for that.”

Xiao Hongji's eyes flickered for a moment, and he said slowly, "I was negligent. At that time, I should have sent someone to watch them hand over and prevent them from having any chance to have private contact."

Yang Yuan said, "Who would have thought that someone in the Ministry of Personnel would take such a drastic action just after they were detained? Deputy Secretary Xiao doesn't have to blame himself."

Xiao Hongji was teased by him again, but he couldn't get angry, so he sighed and said, "I will report this matter to General Zhu and the Ministry of Personnel immediately... I'm afraid they won't let it go."

Xiao Hongji turned around and left in a hurry. Yang Yuan looked at his back deeply and walked out of the yard.

After taking a few steps, Yang Fa turned his head. Da Zhuang caught up with him. Yang Yuan whispered, "Tell Tong Zhou to keep an eye on Xiao Hongji."

Da Zhuang agreed and walked out quickly.

At this time, Lu Chengze rushed over and whispered, "Minister, someone has cut himself off from the Censorate. I'm afraid there will be trouble."

Yang Yuan said, "Isn't the price of Zheng Gongqian's life just to cause chaos? Don't worry about it. Let it be as chaotic as it can be. Just follow the established procedures to investigate the case. I will take responsibility for this matter."

Lu Chengze nodded and said sternly: "Come here, bring the Ministry of Personnel's Feng Langzhong Yu Yiting to stand trial."

After saying that, he walked out quickly.

Yang Yuan saw Wen Tian following into the West Courtyard, and waved to him again, saying, "Come on, follow me to see the Chief Justice."

……

When Qiao Zhen arrived at the yamen early in the morning, he held a cup of tea and thought about the situation in Lin'an Prefecture.

He didn't care how the outside world changed. He only cared about his own piece of land. As long as he took good care of it, he would be satisfied.

Now Lin'an Prefecture is short of a Tongpan for the East Hall, but looking at the current state of the Ministry of Personnel, it seems that this vacancy cannot be filled in a short time. The affairs of the East Hall will have to be divided among the South Hall and the North Hall, and he will have to take on some of them as well.

Before the emperor returned to Beijing, Lin'an was particularly sensitive. Lin'an Prefecture could not afford any more trouble. I have replaced all the judges under my command.

Not only that, Wen Tian and some clerks and constables were also transferred away, and some capable street guards, magistrates, clerks, etc. had to be transferred from various government offices to supplement them.

Just as Qiao Zhen was thinking this, Wen Tian poked his head in from the signing room door and asked with a smile, "Master Prefect?"

Wen Tian was still a resident of Lin'an Prefecture yesterday, so when he returned to the yamen today, many people had not yet reacted and did not treat him as an outsider.

Therefore, no one informed him and no one stopped him, so he went straight into the capital hall and came to Mr. Qiao's signing room.

When Qiao Zhen saw that it was Wen Tian, ​​she smiled and waved, "It's Wen Tian, ​​come in, come in, you left in a hurry yesterday, and there are some matters and things that you haven't had time to hand over yet?"

"no."

Wen Tian stood in front of Qiao Zhen, bowed respectfully, took out a letter from his bosom, and handed it to Qiao Zhen with both hands: "This is a letter from Yang Qianxian to the prefect."

What is Yang Yuan going to do again?

Qiao Zhen quickly took the letter, pulled out the letter paper, shook it open, and saw the words: "Si Gong."

Qiao Zhen had never been addressed in such a cheesy way by Yang Yuan before. Suddenly, she felt uncomfortable when he called her "old leader".

He moved his butt, shook off the goose bumps, and looked again: "It's been a long time since I last saw you, and I've been dreaming about you. Yesterday, I went to see you, but I didn't get to light the candle in the west window and listen to your teachings. I'm very disappointed and sorry..."

It's all nonsense, just skip it and see what he is going to do.

Qiao Zhen read ten lines at a glance, skipped the flattery at the beginning and went straight to the main text.

Oh, you’re here for secondment again, just one person.

Old Qiao felt relieved and looked more carefully. He found that there was indeed only one person on secondment, Wei Shun, the warden of Lin'an Prison.

But..., he also wants the clerks and servants..., no, he just wants to replace a group of people with him.

Yang Yuan wanted to completely swap Luo Qiong, the bailiff of the men's prison of Lin'an Prison, Bai Ge, the bailiff of the women's prison, and some of their subordinate jailers with the Prison Department of the Metropolitan Censorate.

These people are not officials. They are either clerks or servants. As long as Master Qiao nods, they can be exchanged directly.

Will he nod his head?

……

At noon that day, Wei Shun, the prison warden of Lin'an Prefecture, summoned all the personnel in the prison and held a meeting.

Among the jailers, an acting prison warden, left and right bailiffs, and a group of prison bosses were urgently promoted.

Because Wei Siyu had to take Luo Ya Si, Bai Ya Si, and a group of people they were used to, to the Censorate.

Lin'an Prison was much larger than the Prison Office of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, so there were more jailers. Wei Shun simply selected a group of people from the Prison Office of the Metropolitan Procuratorate to take up his post.

Those who were urgently promoted among the people who stayed were naturally the people he valued.

Those people in the Prison Department of the Censorate were all "exiled" here, so it is naturally impossible for them to continue to occupy a management position.

Bai Ge Bai Ya Si has a nice name, but she is a broad-shouldered and fat-faced woman. But at this moment, her smile is like a flower.

I just helped Yang Qianxian take care of his woman for a few days, and then I was transferred to the Prison Department of the Censorate.

There is less work in the Prison Department of the Censorate, the environment is good, the pay is high, and all the guards are officials.

The families of those convicted officials were given generous gifts just to get the people inside to take care of them.

Yang Qianxian really repays his kindness.

……

Yang Yuan was a man who would not tolerate any injustice. Usually, officials would not easily put down their status and compete with some petty officials, as they would think it was shameful, but Yang Yuan did not mind. He would take revenge sincerely.

After Zheng Gongqian hanged himself, Yang Yuan immediately went to find Zhu Zhuo and asked for an immediate reshuffle of the Prison Department of the Censorate.

Zhu Zhuo had no choice but to agree. What if someone else leaked the information? What if someone else colluded with others?
Since someone is willing to compete with this, and even the problem of transferring personnel has been solved, he just needs to nod, so why not nod?

As a result, the entire Censorate’s Prison Department was replaced within one day.

The attack on Yang Yuan was as swift as his replacement of the Prison Office.

At the gate of the Censorate, Zheng Zhigao's family members who had rushed over after hearing the news were dressed in mourning, holding the spirit tablet and carrying the coffin, and crying loudly.

Soon, they found a group of musicians and started playing music in front of the gate of the Censorate.

Then, a group of subordinates of Zheng Gongqian, an official from the Ministry of Personnel, ran to the gate of the Censorate in an impassioned manner to appeal for his innocence.

They also raised a long banner that read "Zhuangyuanhong, Hedinghong, poisonous to people and poisonous to hearts, the evil tiger of the Yang family."

People from other government offices couldn't help but look sideways when they passed by the door, and many ordinary people gathered around to watch.

A group of people in mourning and crying loudly will always make people instinctively feel that they must be weak people who have been wronged.

This feeling will be particularly strong when there are old people, women and children among them.

So the onlookers were pointing fingers and Yang Yuan's reputation was also affected.

In the signing room, Xiao Yiran said nervously: "Secretary, you have to calm down. Although there must be something fishy, ​​the person is dead after all. They took advantage of this.

At this moment, if we want to calm things down, we can only show gentleness. Secretary, please don't show up. I will go and appease them and persuade them to go back with kind words. Let's calm things down first."

Lu Chengze retorted, "He hasn't been tried yet, and it's not clear how serious his crime is, but he's dead? Besides, the Official Complaint Office is not an important department in the Ministry of Personnel, right? Well, it's such a non-important official who died."

Lu Chengze sneered repeatedly: "This man has obviously been sacrificed by someone. He can be bewitched into committing suicide, so he must have a huge handle in the hands of others.

"Chen Xian, I will go. If his family wants to make trouble, they should go to the Ministry of Personnel. I will analyze the pros and cons clearly and let them fight each other. They are all bad people!"

Xiao Yiran said angrily, "Don't add fuel to the fire. Zheng Gongqian is willing to die, so he certainly has evidence, and the other party must have promised him conditions that he couldn't refuse. Even if his family didn't know about it beforehand, they should know it now.

Are they willing to let Zheng Gongqian die in vain and end up with nothing? We have to make peace now, so we can only give in, otherwise Yu Qianxian's reputation will be greatly affected. If we give in, it doesn't mean we won't investigate, we can just take it step by step."

Yang Yuan said slowly: "Isn't this the result they want?"

Yu Zeping, who had been silent the whole time, took a long breath and stood up with a serious face: "I'll take the blame! Just say that the people detained in the West Court are all my responsibility, and it has nothing to do with the deputy judge. I'll take the blame first and remove the deputy judge first."

Lu Chengze's eyes lit up: "That's a good idea."

"Bullshit!" Yang Yuan sneered, "That's nothing. We are not just dealing with the Ministry of Personnel, nor are we just dealing with officials below the level of Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel.

If you start to be soft-hearted, show weakness, and shirk responsibility at this time, what will happen next? You will all step up and replace one person with another, and this matter will just end there?"

Yang Yuan said, "Don't panic. You all have your own cases to deal with. I'll handle this matter."

After Yang Yuan finished speaking, he flicked his sleeves and strode out.

Since Wen Tian has been appointed as the head of the Experience Department and Wei Shun has been appointed as the head of the Prison Department, these people's responses have been quite timely.

There was just noise outside, but they closed the door, ignored it, and did nothing to escalate the conflict. They just played deaf and dumb.

Personnel entering and exiting the Censorate and delivering official documents all used the side doors, just like guerrilla warfare, suddenly going through this door, suddenly going through that door, for fear of being blocked.

When Yang Yuan arrived at the gate, he saw that it was closed and a large bar was pressed on the bolt, so he shouted, "Open the door!"

At the gate of the yamen, some were crying, some were cursing, some were shouting their injustice. They were making a lot of noise when suddenly, the gate creaked open.

Inside the gate, Yang Yuan walked out proudly and stood on the steps.

Xiao Yiran, Lu Zeping and even officials and clerks from other offices came after him and stood in the yard, watching his back.

Yang Yuan said loudly: "I am Yang Yuan!"

Many people in front of the door cried and cursed for a long time, but they still didn't recognize the person they were cursing at.

As soon as Yang Yuan announced his identity, there was an immediate commotion outside, and some of Zheng Gongqian's family members rushed up, shouting and cursing.

There was a sudden commotion in front of the Censorate, followed by a chaos of people and horses.

Those who roared and rushed forward to fight with Yang Yuan to the death, regardless of gender, age or young, all fell to the ground.

Yang Yuan didn't use his fists or feet, he just pointed at the crowd with his fingers and claws, and in a flash, he knocked everyone in front of him to the ground.

Yang Yuan took a fifty-year-old man by the shoulders and slowly laid him on the ground.

Half of the man's body was numb and he couldn't struggle for a while. He could only open his mouth, still cursing viciously.

Yang Yuan ignored his shouting and suddenly shouted louder than them: "All the people I have detained are suspects identified by Qiu Shunquan, the official in charge of selecting meritorious officials in the Ministry of Personnel. They are corrupt and have sold official positions and titles!"

Someone shouted, "But Zheng Zhigao is dead!"

"That's right! Zheng Zhigao is dead! He hasn't been tried, his crime hasn't been determined, and the torture instruments haven't been used. Why should he die?"

Yang Yuan immediately asked back: "Did he commit suicide or was he forced to commit suicide? Did he commit suicide out of fear of punishment or was he bewitched by someone and tried to kill others with his own death?"

"Yang Yuan, you cruel official! Zheng Zhigao is already dead, and you still want to throw dirty water on him."

Yang Yuan immediately looked at the man. Judging from his clothes, he should be a minor official in the Ministry of Personnel.

Yang Yuan said: "When the imperial court arrests criminals, does it mean that as long as one of them commits suicide, he will be automatically innocent? Otherwise, how can there be any talk of throwing dirty water on them?"

"When the imperial court arrests criminals, does it mean that as long as one of them commits suicide, the group of people can no longer be tried, because death is greater than the law?"

Yang Yuan has a strong voice and his tongue is like spring thunder.

These words were not only heard clearly by the people in front of the government gate, but also by the people watching from afar and many people who came to watch and keep watch.

Yang Yuan's voice was very loud: "What kind of result do you want from all of you gathered here? Do you want me to die, and let bygones be bygones, and all the crimes he committed be no longer investigated?
Or was it because Yang falsely accused him of a crime and forced him to death? Or was it because Yang tortured him and he couldn't bear it, so he committed suicide out of hatred? "

Zheng Gongqian committed suicide and had no injuries on his body. The group of minor officials from the Ministry of Personnel who came to show their support understood this.

It is hard to justify the claim that because he committed suicide, his sins were wiped out.

Yang Yuan gave them three choices. Even if some of them didn't want to be led by Yang Yuan, not everyone had the brains to do so.

Someone immediately seized on Yang Yuan's words and said something like "he framed Duke Zheng, and Duke Zheng committed suicide to show his determination."

Yang Yuan immediately said, "Okay! Then my Censorate will continue to investigate. Find out whether Zheng Gongqian is guilty or not, and make it clear to the world!"

Yang Yuan pointed at the officials of the Ministry of Personnel and shouted, "Our Censorate arrested the people that Qiu Shunquan confessed to yesterday, and they have not yet interrogated them. If Qiu Shunquan's confession is true, then do these officials have accomplices?"

Yang Yuan paced a few steps among the crowd staggering on the steps, pointed downwards and said, "Experience Wen, register the names and identities of these people from the Ministry of Personnel one by one.

If this case is traced back to them, it would be aggravated crimes of gathering a crowd to resist the law and confuse the public! Those who didn’t need to be put to death will be put to death this time! Those who didn’t need to be exiled will be exiled 2,000 miles away…”

As soon as Wen Tian waved his hand, a group of people rushed out of the Censorate and surrounded the officials from the Ministry of Personnel who had come to "stand up for justice and support" Zheng Gongqian.

Yang Yuan continued, "If they are not guilty, then is Zheng Gongqian guilty? If Zheng Gongqian is not guilty, what punishment did I receive? I will go to their homes one by one according to the list to inform them, so that they will know that my Censorate enforces the law impartially!"

When the officials from the Ministry of Personnel heard this, they were shocked and angry, and immediately started pushing and shoving each other with the people from the Secretariat of the Censorate.

As soon as the scene became chaotic, some people took the opportunity to sneak into the crowd and attempted to leave.

Yang Yuan looked at the Zheng family members who were in mourning again: "Zheng Gongqian died before the trial. This matter must be thoroughly investigated by my Censorate and announced to the world. If he was wronged, I have a great responsibility and must be punished.

If he is guilty, and even joins the case and fights the law with his death, putting me in an unjust position, then my innocence must be restored. I believe that you sincerely believe that Zheng Gongqian is innocent, and you sincerely hope to clear his name.

Now that Zheng Gongqian has committed suicide, his family is extremely angry. I also want to investigate the case as soon as possible to bring justice to the man. Therefore, I will put aside the others and investigate Zheng Gongqian first.

During this period, all the properties under the name of Zheng Gongqian and related properties shall be seized, confiscated, and frozen. I will go and get the "Notice" and "Sealing Post" right now."

After saying this, Yang Yuan turned away. Between being gentle and giving in, he chose to be tough.

Yang Yuan's words immediately caused a commotion and panic among the Zheng family members.

That cruel official applied for a "ban", he actually applied for a "ban"...

While continuing to cry and denounce, some members of the Zheng family decisively chose to go back and transfer their property.

At this time, Zhi scholar Lu Zhuwei had already arrived in Fuchun County.

What they learned was that the Fan family lived at the foot of Tianzhong Mountain in Fuchun County.

But the area at the foot of Tianzhong Mountain was not small, so in order to find the person as quickly as possible, he went to the county government office first.

Accompanying Mr. Lu was a minor official from the Ministry of Personnel.

Although he was just a minor official, he was from the Ministry of Personnel, which was enough for the county magistrate to treat him like a guest of honor.

What's more, although an official like Zhi Xue Shi has no real power, he can have a say with the emperor.

So, when he heard that they were going down the mountain to Tianzhong to look for a family named Fan, the magistrate of Fuchun hurriedly accompanied them to look for them.

At this time, another scholar, Ye Quan, also boarded the speedboat to Huzhou.

He went to Huzhou to visit the Fang clan members.

It is said that the Fang family originally owned a restaurant called "Shuiyunjian" on the bank of West Lake, which was seized by Yang Yuan through trickery.

Yang Yuan not only seized the other person's property, but also took his widow as his own. He was simply insane.

Mr. Ye went there to find evidence and make Yang Yuan infamous for all eternity!
(End of this chapter)