At the beginning of the civil castle, the Ming God of War was a little panicked

Chapter 216 To die or to live?

Luo Jindong took the lead and said, "How does Kongzhi County think this matter should be dealt with?"

Kong Chengping secretly scolded the old fox in his heart, the ball kicked at your feet, and you want to kick it back?
"This case involves the Confucian Mansion, and the lowly position should avoid suspicion. I hope the magistrate will deal with it fairly. If it is really the Confucian Mansion's fault, how should it be punished according to the law of the Ming Dynasty? Even if it is."

Luo Jindong still had a smile on his face, but he began to scold his mother in his heart.

What about dealing with it impartially, isn't it just asking the old man to protect your Kong family?
Over the years, the Kong family has done fewer things that bully men and women?

It's just that, for the sake of Duke Yan Sheng, no one dares to touch your Kong family.

However, these people don't know what it is, and they actually know to sue with a big letter, and they vaguely feel that this matter is not simple.

How could five people sue the same defendant at the same time?

What's more, these five people are not in the same case at all, and many of them are old cases, some from ten years ago, some from five years ago, and some from three months ago. In short, things are very strange.

Could it be that someone wants to target the Confucian government?
But, who in the world has the guts...

Luo Jindong thought about it, but he still couldn't understand it. To be honest, he didn't dare to offend the Confucius family. It seems that this matter can only be suppressed.

Kong Chengping seemed to have seen through the other party's intentions, and said: "But if someone deliberately framed him, I just ask the magistrate to return Confucius's innocence."

Luo Jindong scolded his mother in his heart, isn't this guy going to leave someone alive!

Wouldn’t it be okay for me to suppress the matter for the Kong family?
Kong Chengping, however, was at ease, if he didn't give these people something to try, he would think that the Confucius Mansion was a vegetable market, he could come and leave whenever he wanted?

Luo Jindong thought for a long time before saying: "It should be so."

Kong Chengping stood up and said, "Then I'll have to work, I'll take my leave!"

Luo Jindong hurriedly said: "Come all the way here, don't rush to leave, the house will arrange accommodation and meals right away, let's leave early tomorrow morning!"

Kong Chengping saluted and said: "The lowly position is an official appointed by the imperial court. You should understand the principle of 'Your salary, the people's fat and the people's anointment'. When you go out, keep everything simple, so you won't cause trouble to the magistrate."

Seeing that he insisted on leaving, Luo Jindong had no choice but to say: "Kongzhi County is really a model for my Qingliu. If this is the case, the government will not keep it. Please tell Kongzhi County to Yan Shenggong. This case will be handled fairly by the government. Please also ask Yan Shenggong Just wait for the good news.”

"Farewell!"

Kong Chengping came out from the magistrate's yamen, and the yamen servant Zhao Quan stepped forward and asked, "My lord, is everything going well?"

"Well, it's okay!"

"It's getting late, would you like to stay overnight and return to Qufu tomorrow morning?"

"That's good too, so that the coachman doesn't have to drive at night, you can watch the arrangement!"

Zhao Quan showed a mysterious smile and said, "Please rest assured, my lord, everything has been arranged for the little ones!"

Kong Chengping nodded slightly, turned around and got into the carriage.

Jining Mansion is not far from Qufu, and they often have business contacts on weekdays. The reason why they are willing to bring Zhao Quan out every time is because this guy can handle affairs.

For example, in the evening, it will be arranged in the best restaurant in the city. Needless to say, delicacies from mountains and seas will be served, and the most famous local oiran will be invited to come and perform songs and dances to add to the fun.

Of course, as a weak woman, it's dangerous to go home alone at night. Since everyone is here, she must sleep before leaving.

So, in the middle of the night, when Kong Chengping was laying on the oiran and working hard, there was a bang, and the door was kicked open!
He couldn't help shivering, and then scolded: "Who, a thing with no eyes!"

But the other party grabbed him off the bed and tied him up indiscriminately.

The oiran was so frightened that she thought a robber was coming, so she clutched the quilt tightly and shivered.

However, these people ignored her at all, and after they tied up Kong Chengping, they dragged her away like a dead dog.

Just after the Spring Festival, it was still snowing outside, Kong Chengping was naked, although he wanted to curse, but he was so cold that he could hardly speak, his nose and tears flowed, and then he was instantly frozen into icicles.

About half an hour later, Kong Chengping felt like he was going to die. Finally, he was taken into a dark room with a charcoal basin inside. He walked over tremblingly, only then did he feel that the lost life was slowly returning.

call!
Kong Chengping let out a long breath, then looked at the strong men beside him, and asked with lingering fear: "What... are you going to do?"

The other party ignored him, but walked to the charcoal basin and took out a red-hot soldering iron from it.

Kong Chengping's eyes were straightened, this thing... seems to have been seen somewhere?

He suddenly reacted and shouted: "What are you going to do? I am an official of the imperial court. Are you planning to rebel?"

"Shout what?"

A strong man walked up to him and slapped him impatiently.

"You...you..."

"What happened to us?"

"I... I am the official of the imperial court!"

The other party smiled disapprovingly, then took out a waist card and waved it in front of Kong Chengping.

"do you know it?"

Kong Chengping suddenly felt like falling into the ice cave again.

This is Jin Yiwei's waist card, Jin Yiwei... why are you catching yourself?

"You are the county magistrate, and I am a hundred households. In terms of rank, we are at the same level, so don't be arrogant in front of me, come and meet some acquaintances for you!"

While talking, I heard a noise coming from outside the door, and then I saw a few people, ragged and bruised, being dragged to the front.

Kong Chengping took a closer look, the one in front turned out to be the accountant of the county government!
Looking behind him, there are his servants and county government servants. These people all have one characteristic in common. Immediately afterwards, another person was thrown in front of him. This person was covered with injuries, and they were all new injuries. He was staring at himself resentfully.

Isn't this Zhao Quan?

"do you understand?"

Kong Chengping couldn't help shivering, and asked, "Ming... understand what?"

"They found all the nasty things you did, and the confession has been written for more than ten pages. Just come and take a look. Is there anything to add?"

Kong Chengping looked at the stack of confessions in front of him, his face turned pale, his eyes turned dark, and he turned away.

…………

At dusk the next day, a fast horse rushed to Jining Mansion.

Zhengjiazhuang is a stronghold of Jinyiwei. It is in charge of a hundred households, and there are only a few people under it.

However, recently, a large number of people have been dispatched from the capital, and the small Zhengjiazhuang has become overcrowded.

"The humble job has seen Mr. Qianshi!"

Zhu Ji got off his horse and followed Baihu into Zhuangzi.

"How's it going?"

"My lord, Kong Chengping, the county magistrate, is a coward. He hasn't been sentenced yet. He's been recruited like a bean. He even said that when he was a child, he peeped at the widow next door taking a bath!"

"Do you have the evidence?"

"The evidence is complete!"

"Okay, take me to meet him!"

…………

Kong Chengping had long since lost his former arrogance, he knelt down in the hall obediently, and said with snot and tears: "I say, I'm willing to say anything, I just beg my lord to spare my life..."

Zhu Ji sneered, I braved the wind and snow and came all the way from the capital to see you begging for mercy?
He knew very well in his heart that this person had no intention of pleading guilty at all, and these confessions were just a stopgap measure.

Just wait for the limelight to pass, and with the power of Yan Shenggong's mansion, no matter how big the crime is, it can be washed away.

However, this time I am afraid I will disappoint you!

"I have read all your confessions. It is not an exaggeration to cut off your head immediately for all these crimes. Now I ask you, do you want to die or live?"

Hearing this, Kong Chengping's eyes were suddenly blazed with hope, and he hurriedly bowed his head and said: "I want to live, I want to live, please forgive me, my lord, I am willing to explain everything!"

Zhu Ji stared at Kong Chengping, and said calmly, "Are you aware of Yan Sheng Gong Kong Yanjin's intention to rebel?"

"what?"

If Kong Chengping was prepared, even if he was asked to plead guilty to a few trumped-up charges, as long as he survived, he would plead guilty.

However, the truth is a bit overwhelming when the hat is buckled down!
At this moment, he suddenly remembered that not long ago, Jin Yiwei had just sent a driving note to Duke Yan Sheng.

This incident caused a sensation for a while, and later Yan Shenggong went to Beijing to Dianmao himself.

It turned out that their target was not themselves, but Yan Shenggong.

And himself...became a pawn that Jin Yiwei used to bring down Yan Shenggong.

At this moment, he quickly thought about a question in his mind, who gave Jin Yiwei the courage to bring down Yan Shenggong?

Suddenly, a thought appeared in his mind, and his face instantly turned pale...

Who else could command Jin Yiwei?

Seeing that he didn't answer, Zhu Ji asked, "I'll say it again, do you know about Yan Shenggong Kong Yanjin's intention to rebel?"

Kong Chengping suddenly trembled like a quail that has shed its hair, "I don't know... I don't know..."

Because... I really don't know!
How could Yan Shenggong rebel?

But seeing Zhu Ji staring at him firmly, that look seemed to make people fall into the ice cellar.

"It seems that you are unwilling to fulfill yourself..."

Zhu Ji's eyes became pity, and Kong Chengping was full of grievances. Although he was only a county magistrate, because of the background of the Kong family, no one had ever looked at him with such pity in his life.

In the end, he gave in, and said in a tearful voice, "I know a little..."

Only then did Zhu Ji nodded in satisfaction, and said, "Then tell me everything you know!"

Kong Chengping's face was extremely ugly, and he thought to himself, what did I say?

"This... this..."

"Forget it, let me ask!"

Zhu Ji thought for a while, and asked the first question: "Have you participated, how much have you participated, and who is the mastermind?"

"No, no, no... I dare not!"

Kong Chengping waved his hands again and again, and said frightenedly: "I don't know anything, I just heard some implication from Yan Shenggong's words."

"What overtones?"

"It is said...the sky is about to change, and...there are many people in the court and field who are scolding the emperor behind his back."

"How did you scold?"

"I do not know……"

"Ok?"

"I've heard a few, and it's mostly about great success, cruelty and inhumanity, especially expressing dissatisfaction with the emperor's implementation of the New Deal."

Zhu Ji looked at him with interest: "It seems that you agree with this."

Kong Chengping hastily denied it and said: "The emperor's implementation of the new policy is the right thing to do. All the people in the world admire the emperor's kindness, and the ministers also... admire the emperor..."

Zhu Ji smiled even colder: "In that case, why didn't you report to the court immediately?"

Kong Chengping trembled, not daring to speak.

Zhu Ji said again: "It seems that you still refuse to tell the truth."

Kong Chengping's heart trembled again, and he kowtowed like garlic: "Say, I said... please forgive me..."

After finishing speaking, he wailed loudly again, and then he said with a sigh of relief: "Actually... In fact, I also have some complaints against the emperor. The emperor ascended the throne, reused Wang Zhen, and set up guarding eunuchs in Shandong... The land of the Kong family, Although it is not included in the collection of mining tax and commercial tax, but...but..."

"But the interests of your Kong family are also damaged?"

"Yes Yes……"

"Any more?"

"And there is... the New Deal, I also said that some of the New Deal is not..."

Zhu Ji continued: "No matter what happens, no one will blame Yan Shenggong, but you are different. Although you come from the Kong family, you are also an official of the court. Now you are being used by others without knowing it! "

Kong Chengping hurriedly said: "I know I was wrong, please give me a chance, I am willing to expose Yan Sheng Gong Kong Yanjin's crime of treason!"

Zhu Ji said coldly: "This is the last chance, if I don't explain things, I can't help you!"

Kong Chengping seemed to have made up his mind, and said: "Yanshenggong's mansion set up a private punishment hall, and ignored people's lives. Kong Yanjin once raped a woman. At that time, a bitter master came to the county government to file a complaint. Because of Kong Yanjin's influence, the lower officials dare not accept it. This case drove people away."

"Is that person still there?"

"According to the officials, the sufferer has been killed by someone sent by Kong Yanjin!"

"Is there any evidence?"

"There is no evidence, but there are witnesses. There is a servant in the Confucian mansion named Li Er. In fact, he is a killer supported by Kong Yanjin. He is usually responsible for killing people and stealing goods. Your lord can arrest Li Er, and you will know at the first trial! "

Zhu Ji nodded, and asked again: "Is there any more?"

"and also……"

Kong Chengping thought for a while, and said: "There are still a few cases. A few days ago they went to the county government to sue, but the lower officials didn't try them, so these people took the big patent and came to Jining Mansion to redress their grievances. These cases are actually Chen The year-old case was also committed by Kong Yanjin."

"These are not enough, I need you to provide evidence of Kong Yanjin's rebellion!"

"Conspiracy..."

Kong Chengping was really stumped. There were indeed many nasty things about Kong Yanjin's bullying of men and women, but when it came to treason, I really didn't know what to say...

As a descendant of the most holy teacher, the first scholar in the world, there is no reason...

Because whoever becomes the emperor, the Kong family will not be able to go any further, so why seek rebellion?
Zhu Ji said slowly: "Three months ago, the White Lotus Sect rebelled, you must have heard about it?"

"A little...a little knowledge!"

"Kong Yanjin has never been in contact with the White Lotus Sect?"

"This... I've never heard of it..."

"Ok?"

Zhu Ji's face was extremely ugly, with a questioning tone.

Kong Chengping changed the subject: "I haven't heard of it, which doesn't mean it doesn't exist. As far as I know, Kong Yanjin secretly contacted the White Lotus Sect a long time ago. The White Lotus Sect rebelled. It is absolutely inseparable from Kong Yanjin!"

(End of this chapter)