Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 86 Mind

Chen Qiyu said warmly: "Get up and speak, everything is determined by the court's law. As long as the facts and the truth are there, I and Mr. Chen will never bend the law for personal gain!"

Chen Liangmo also said in a deep voice: "Quickly explain the whole story of this matter, Master Futai and this official will be able to distinguish right from wrong!"

Li Shiqun got up and wiped away his tears with his sleeves. After returning to his seat, he told the whole story of what happened that day, and took out a complaint from his bosom, and the servant took it and handed it to Chen Qiyu. After passing by, there are also fingerprints of several shop assistants such as Zhang Er as evidence.

When Hou Dingguo ordered his followers to beat shopkeeper Xu to death, apart from them and his group, the most direct witnesses were only the shop assistants. Although there were quite a few people watching outside the shop, they did not dare to approach and their sight was obstructed. Didn't see exactly how.

Afterwards, the Fengyang government office received a report from a passer-by saying that a homicide had occurred in Li's business. When the magistrate Li Qimei sent people over, the door of the business had already been closed, and the guards entered the store from the backyard over the wall. Destroyed furniture, the scene is a mess, but there is no evidence that a murder occurred.

The police then questioned the shops around the firm. Several shopkeepers of the neighboring shops who had entered the store all insisted that someone was indeed killed, and that it was the old shopkeeper of the firm. They all witnessed the body with their own eyes.As for why the bodies disappeared, and none of the Dong family members were seen, everyone agreed that the Dong family had taken refuge.

The police went to a shroud shop not far away to investigate. The owner of the shroud shop confirmed that someone from Li's firm had indeed bought a coffin, but the whereabouts were unknown.

At this time, the police already knew that someone had been beaten to death, but the perpetrator was something they could not afford to offend. Who would dare to go to the Imperial Mausoleum Office to arrest someone?

So she hurried back to the government office to report the details to the magistrate. Li Qimei heard that there was a murder case involving people in the Imperial Mausoleum Office, so she didn't dare to make a decision at the moment, so she quickly drafted a document and reported the matter to Chen Qiyu.

Due to the small area under Fengyang's jurisdiction, there was no procuratorate for criminal punishment, and all civil and criminal cases were handled by Fengyang Prefecture.

But the murder case is the key to the promotion of local officials. Since the background of this case is complicated, Li Qimei must of course shirk responsibility. As long as it is reported to the governor, the final outcome of the case has nothing to do with him.

Chen Qiyu knew Li Qimei's little tricks very well. After all, he had seen big scenes and was a capable minister with a big picture in his heart, so he would disdain such little tricks.

After reading the documents of the case, Chen Qiyu's heart suddenly moved.

With the help of caring people, Chen Qiyu had already investigated and investigated the actions of Yang Ze, the eunuch guarding the mausoleum.

The so-called caring people are naturally the government and local gentry represented by Li Qimei.

The natural antagonistic attributes of literati and eunuchs made the gentry have a natural aversion to Yang Ze, not to mention Yang Ze's daily arrogance and greedy behavior, especially his godson Hou Dingguo who suffered a stroke among the people and guards. His evil deeds aggravated the dislike of civil servants and gentry groups, but they were unable to contend with them, so they forbeared until now. Chen Qiyu and Chen Liangmo sent people to secretly investigate the Fengyang Guard, which was fully utilized by the gentry after they noticed it. The direction of the investigation was intentional or unintentional. Directly pointing at Yang Ze and several senior guards who obeyed his orders.

The occurrence of the murder case made Li Qimei keenly feel that this is an opportunity, a good opportunity to overthrow Yang Ze and his lackeys in one fell swoop is in front of him, and there is a ready-made sharp knife in front of him - Lord Governor.

Li Qimei and others also talked about Chen Qiyu in private exchanges, and drew a conclusion from his resume and behavior after taking office: Mr. Chen is not reconciled to his current position, and he has the heart to strive for progress, but lacks the foundation to achieve his career. It is money and food. Although the emperor restores them, it seems that the family is prosperous, but if you can't make some achievements in Fengyang, it will be difficult to go further. Of course, the most important thing for the emperor is the ability to govern well. Minister, how can I be promoted without political achievements?

A place like Fengyang, which has been barren for ten years and nine years, is a trap for capable ministers. The previous governors of Fengyang have never entered the cabinet. And return.Don't you think you are great?Then why can't you get into the cabinet?

Li Qimei knows this very well, so he doesn't think highly of Chen Qiyu, even if you have served as governor of five provinces, so what?This place is not so much the emperor's consideration for you, but rather a tasteless place to make you give up.

But scrap iron can still be hammered with three catties of nails. Since the Governor wants to make His Majesty look at him differently, then go and fight Yang Ze.If Chen Qiyu loses, then he will walk away in despair; if Yang Ze loses, the same is true; if both losers, then let's get out together, no matter what kind of ending, it will not damage the interests of Li Qimei and others in the slightest.

Chen Qiyu knew that if he wanted to gain more fame, he had to pick a hard nut to crack, and Yang Ze was undoubtedly the best target.

As long as Yang Ze is brought down, in the eyes of courtiers and civil officials, he will establish a tall image of being upright and brave, which will lay a good foundation for a brighter career prospect in the future. He, Chen Qiyu, doesn't want to be a lonely minister.

What's more, judging from the information obtained in these days, this Yang Ze is indeed outraged by the heavens and the people: making various names, and then exploiting the common people in the name of repairing the imperial tomb; For the guards, he conspired with the generals of the guards to embezzle food and pay, and there was another crime that could kill Yang Ze: embezzling the emperor and taking out the silver taels for repairing the imperial mausoleum from the internal funds!I believe the emperor will be furious when he sees it.

Chen Qiyu had already prepared a memorial for Chongzhen, but after seeing Li Qimei's report, he added another crime to Yang Ze: conniving his subordinates to kill good people without reason.But the fly in the ointment is that the witness evidence is slightly insufficient.

The details of the murder case Li Shiqun mentioned today, as well as the complaint with the fingerprints of several witnesses, made the case clear. Chen Qiyu decided to immediately write a secret letter to Chongzhen, and attached a memorial to impeach Yang Ze, impeaching the mausoleum eunuch for all kinds of illegal activities. Disrupt the place, exploit the gentry; collude with the generals, and torture the soldiers.Once the emperor entrusts him with the right to dispose of the matter, he will take the opportunity to rectify the guards, give both kindness and power, promote talents, and build a new army to resist the thieves. That is the political capital he relies on.He is confident that with his own vision and layout, he can command this new army and shine again in the battle against thieves.

After reading it, Chen Qiyu put the complaint on the case table, and said with a solemn expression: "It is really outrageous that such evil things happened in broad daylight! In the name of repairing the imperial tomb, they seized the property of law-abiding merchants. This action is no different from robbers! The robbery is rejected, and the shame and anger kill the good people, this is the act of a beast!"

Chen Liangmo had heard about the murder case before, but he didn't know the details. Today he heard the reason of the suffering master, and the master messenger was an eunuch whom he hated deeply, and he was also filled with righteous indignation at the moment.

He said loudly: "It is these treacherous and villainous people who cause harm to the people and cause chaos in all directions! This official will go to the book and seek justice for the victims!"

Without waiting for Li Shiqun to express his thanks, Chen Qiyu continued: "Don't worry, Mr. Li, I will never allow the villain who is a remnant of the people to go unpunished. You go back first, and I will go to the court with Mr. Chen, and I will give you a piece of cake no matter what." Satisfactory answer! Go back and wait for news!"

Seeing that the two adults had expressed their attitudes one after another, Li Shiqun was also secretly relieved in his heart. He almost spent most of his family's wealth, but there is hope for revenge.

After he got up and kowtowed to thank him, he slowly exited the second hall. Chen Qiyu ordered his servants to inform Chen Qizhi, and he arranged to go to Nanjing to escort Yinzi.

Chen Liangmo said loudly: "Master Futai, now eunuchs are running rampant in Fengyang Mansion, repairing the imperial mausoleum has become Yang Ze's means of earning money, and the people of Fengyang who are already struggling to make ends meet are even worse! How can we who read sage books Let these villains continue to cause misfortune! Your servant will give me the emperor's copy, and implore the Holy One to punish this person severely! Please also add your name to the copy!"

Chen Qiyu glanced at him, feeling amused in his heart, he took out a memorial from the stack of official documents on the case table, tapped it in his hand, and said, "Shiliang, do you think I've been sitting in a sad city these days?" Is this official? I never fight uncertain battles. Without enough evidence, do you think you can convince the emperor with your enthusiasm? What I have in my hands is the ironclad evidence that can kill Yang Ze!"

Chen Liangmo hurriedly got up and took the playbook in his hand to look at it carefully. After a while, he closed the playbook, his face was full of excitement, and he said with a smile: "Your Excellency is better at chess! The next official will investigate for a few days. In the end, I couldn’t get to the point. I never thought that my lord would investigate the details of Yang Thief’s gang in such a detailed way without making a sound! I admire you! Haha”

Chen Qiyu curled his lips in secret. At the beginning, we agreed to investigate separately. I asked people to bring money down to investigate and spend money to buy news. You are good. Apart from changing your official uniform, you know that you have a dead face. See you on the road. People just inquire about eunuchs, commanders of guards, and the like, who is stupid? Isn't this kind of troublesome thing all about secretly inquiring about?You are afraid that the world will not know what is true.

He smiled and said: "I just happened to meet someone who knows his details. Shi Liang acted openly and aboveboard. I am also very impressed!"

Chen Liangmo was self-aware, he shook his head and said: "This official is not good at communicating with people, and knows little about civil affairs, and this is not what this official wants. The person I admire most is Hai Rui Hai Gangfeng! I would like to learn from Hai in this life. Pen holder! Make a sharp sword! Slash all the ghosts and demons in the court, clear up the evil spirits in the Ming Dynasty officialdom, even if you die for this, you will not regret it!"

Hearing this, Chen Qiyu was filled with admiration, he stood up, straightened his clothes, and saluted Chen Liangmo solemnly: "Shiliang's integrity is so noble, Chen can't match it!"

(End of this chapter)