The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

The next morning, at the Kaifeng Prefectural Government Office.

"mighty--"

The deep, authoritative roars of the bailiffs echoed throughout the courtroom, and the gavel struck with a resounding "crack," like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

Bao Zheng sat upright beneath the plaque bearing the inscription "The Mirror of Justice," his face as black as iron, his gaze piercing.

Kneeling below was none other than Zhao Tong, the arrogant and domineering tyrant of western Beijing. Even now, Zhao Tong still stood ramrod straight, his face showing impatience and even a hint of mockery.

"Lord Bao, you've summoned me so early in the morning. If it's nothing important, I'm going back to my quail-fighting business."

Zhao Tong dusted off imaginary dust from his brocade robe and sneered, "Besides, this land deed dispute has dragged on for twenty years, and the Ministry of Revenue ruled in my favor. Aren't you afraid of burning your mouth by reheating old news? What if my brother-in-law, Vice Minister Wang, finds out…"

"Snapped!"

Another gavel snapped Zhao Tong out of his arrogance.

Bao Zheng stared at him coldly, as if he were a dead man.

"Zhao Tong, do you think I'm judging a land title dispute today?"

Bao Zheng leaned forward, his voice low and chilling, "Today I am judging those who murder for money! Those who forge official seals! Those who deceive the emperor!"

Zhao Tong's heart skipped a beat, but he still forced a smile: "Lord Bao, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want! Where's the evidence?"

"You want evidence? Fine, I'll give you the evidence!"

Bao Zheng waved his hand dismissively: "Bring it here!"

The first piece of evidence was the fake land deed copy that was re-examined last night by three experts in epigraphy.

"Zhao Tong, your land deed is dated to the fifth year of the Tiansheng era, but the seal uses the Nine-Fold Seal script, which was only introduced during the Jingyou era. What, do you possess magic? Can you make an official seal from over a decade in the future travel back in time to stamp it for you?"

Zhao Tong's expression changed: "This...this might be a personal habit of the engraving craftsman at the time..."

"Still making excuses!"

Bao Zheng sneered, "Bring the identification!"

The side door opened, and Saturday, the coroner who had been trembling with fear last night, was brought in by the bailiffs.

Upon seeing Zhao Tong on Saturday, he trembled with fear, but seeing Bao Zheng's dark face and remembering Jiang Lin's threats from the previous day, he immediately cried out:

"My lord! I confess! I confess everything! Master Sun didn't fall ill suddenly; Zhao Tong poisoned him with arsenic! He gave me fifty strings of cash to keep quiet! His remains are still in the mass grave; an examination will prove it!"

"You're spouting nonsense!" Zhao Tong screamed, trying to rush over and kick Zhou Liu, but was held down firmly by the constables.

"It's not over yet."

Bao Zheng picked up the moldy wooden box from the desk and slowly opened it.

A yellowed red contract bearing an old seal in "Seven-Fold Seal Script" was prominently displayed before everyone.

"This is the genuine land deed retrieved from the belly of the Earth God statue in the South City Temple." Bao Zheng's voice was like a judge reading from the Book of Life and Death. "Zhao Tong, the witnesses and evidence are all here. What else do you have to say?!"

All defenses collapsed completely at that moment.

Zhao Tong looked at the genuine land deed, then at Zhou Liu, who was determined to kill him, and finally realized that the situation was hopeless.

Murder, forgery of official seals, and encroachment on official land... any one of these is a capital offense!

"No...it's not my fault! It wasn't me!"

Zhao Tong's mental defenses completely collapsed. He slumped to the ground, tears and snot streaming down his face, pointing wildly in the direction of the palace and shouting:

"It was my brother-in-law! It was Wang Deyong! He made me do it! He said the villa in Songshan had excellent feng shui and a secluded location, perfect for 'keeping a mistress' so he and the nobles in the capital could enjoy themselves! He also gave me the arsenic! I'm innocent!"

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

A glint of light flashed in Bao Zheng's eyes. That's exactly what I was waiting to hear!

"Alright! Since you've confessed to being the mastermind, sign the document!"

The thunderclap in Kaifeng Prefecture instantly ignited the entire imperial court.

Bao Zheng immediately sent Zhao Tong's confession to the palace. Emperor Renzong Zhao Zhen, who was discussing matters with his ministers in the Chuigong Hall, was so angry after reading the memorial that he smashed his teacup on the spot.

"What a fine Vice Minister of Revenue! What a fine Wang Deyong!"

Emperor Renzong, enraged, laughed bitterly. "My officials are not only corrupt, but they also dare to kill and rob? Do they treat the laws of my Great Song Dynasty like toilet paper?!"

"Issue the imperial decree! Wang Deyong is to be dismissed from his post and investigated, and imprisoned in the Dali Temple! Zhao Tong will be executed after his death! All related officials involved in the case will be removed without exception!"

Swift and merciless.

Tang Jie, the Imperial Censor who had originally intended to speak up for Wang Deyong, was so frightened by the irrefutable evidence that he shrank back and went home, claiming illness and refusing to leave.

This case was overturned too quickly, too ruthlessly, and too decisively.

Everyone could see that behind this was not only Bao Zheng's integrity, but also an unseen hand pulling the strings.

Jiang Lin, who gathered all the evidence in just one day, became a nightmare for all the officials.

Three days later, at the Songshan Villa.

Jiang Lin stood in front of the 300-acre garden, holding the brand-new land deed and the special approval document from Emperor Renzong.

The autumn wind blows, swirling up the fallen leaves. Although it is somewhat desolate, it cannot conceal the fact that this place is nestled against the mountains and by the water, with a serene and tranquil landscape.

"Sir! We've struck it rich! This time we've really struck it rich!"

Qian Duoduo, like a frolicking husky, ran around the park and then came back, panting, saying:

"This place is huge! It has fertile fields, orchards, and even ready-made pavilions and towers! With just a little renovation, it's a hundred times better than our dilapidated courtyard in Runzhou!"

Jiang Lin looked at the lush bamboo forest in the distance and nodded in satisfaction.

"Yes, it's a good place to study."

"Three hundred acres of land is enough to build a decent large academy."

He turned around, looked at the "Zhao Residence" plaque behind him that had already been removed, and said calmly:

"Chop it up and use it as firewood."

"From now on, this place will belong to the Jiang family."

Meanwhile, in the teahouses and taverns of Bianjing, the legend of Jiang Lin had been upgraded to a mythological version.

"Have you heard? That Mr. Jiang only took one day! He got Zhao Tong taken care of in just one day!"

"That's not all! I heard he knows magic, can predict the future, and even figured out that the land deed was hidden inside the statue!"

"That tyrant Zhao Tong ran rampant for twenty years, and even the censors didn't dare to offend him. But when Mr. Jiang arrived, he had Zhao Tong beheaded! Even the Vice Minister of Revenue was brought down with him!"

"Shh... Keep your voice down. Be polite to any young man in a blue robe you see on the street. We can't afford to mess with this guy."

After this battle, Jiang Lin's reputation as a "wise physiognomist in plain clothes" and a "legendary judge" was fully established.

Those powerful figures who had originally wanted to trip up Jiang Lin were now all behaving themselves. Even an official of Wang Deyong's rank had been easily eliminated by him; who would dare to provoke him?

Jiang Lin sat in the pavilion of his villa on Mount Song and took a sip of tea.

"We've gained fame, and we've also acquired land."

He put down his teacup, turned his gaze to the empty land, and his eyes gleamed with the light of a builder.

"Next, we should carefully plan what kind of 'Number One Academy of the Great Song Dynasty' should be built."

Just then, Qian Duoduo rushed over, holding a gold-embossed invitation in her hand.

"Sir! Lord Ouyang has sent someone with an invitation!"

Jiang Lin took it and looked at it.

"In three days, we will hold a literary gathering at Zuiweng Pavilion. We hope you will grace us with your presence. At that time, many literary figures will gather, which will be a good opportunity to promote Jingshi Academy."

The signature was the familiar three characters – Ouyang Xiu.

Qian Duoduo scratched his head: "Is Master Ouyang trying to back us up?"

Jiang Lin smiled and said, "Lord Ouyang wants to take this opportunity to let the world know that Jingshi Academy has gained the recognition of the literary leaders."

"but……"

He carefully put away the invitation, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"Ouyang Gong set up the stage, but the one who wanted to perform was someone else."

Qian Duoduo was taken aback: "What do you mean?"

Jiang Lin gazed at the distant sunset and said softly:

"Last time in the palace, I really made Han Qi and Sima Guang lose face."

"They will definitely flock to Ouyang Gong's literary gathering."

"This literary gathering is destined to be a trap."