After the hottest noon passed, the door of Kaifeng Mansion slowly opened.
In an instant, a huge dark cloud slowly pressed over from the gate, and in a short time, it enveloped the entire Kaifeng Mansion.
At noon in the scorching heat of early summer, the people who were watching were not persuaded to leave. The slightly wealthier citizens went to nearby tea shops and wine shops to take a rest. The poorer ones squatted under a big tree, ate something casually, and leaned against each other. The big tree squinted for a while.
If we don’t see the results today, who can sleep at home?
So as soon as the door opened, everyone immediately gathered around.
However, their enthusiasm made those officials feel even more anxious!
Although all of them are experienced, even in the intrigues and intrigues of the court, they will not be so anxious, because they have a good idea in their hearts and can roughly guess what the other party will do.
But in court, he knew nothing about what happened next. How could he not feel uneasy?
If I continue to ask, I will lose my face.
After almost two hours of rest, Zhao Pin seemed to be in high spirits and full of energy. He was having a great time interrogating. After sitting down at the chief interrogating position, he directly announced that Zhang Fei, Fan Chunren and the others were in court.
This is just an intermission, so there is no need to repeat the ritual of Kaifeng Mansion.
"Does Fan Sijian have anything else to say?"
Zhao Pin asked Fan Chunren directly.
Everyone saw the previous interrogation, and Wang Hong lost control. It was obvious that Zhang Fei had the absolute upper hand, and now the ball was thrown to Fan Chunren again.
If you can't catch it, you can only pronounce the sentence.
When the audience outside the door heard this, they knew that the verdict was about to be announced, and they were very excited.
The officials looked at Fan Chunren uneasily.
Now he has no confidence in him, and the key point is Fan Chunren's expression does not give him confidence.
Fan Chunren stood up and said, "The inference Zhang San just made is indeed very exciting."
Having said this, he paused for a moment and then said: "But he missed a key issue, which is why Wang Zhixian wanted to protect Wei Yushan. As we all know, the basis for sentencing crimes against others generally involves corruption and bribery, and private giving and receiving. But As far as I know, Wangzhi County has never accepted any bribes from Wei Yushan, and the other party has not provided any evidence to prove this."
As soon as these words came out, all the officials were startled.
yes!
How could this key argument be forgotten?
There is always a reason for shielding.
My confidence was instantly rekindled!
They also knew what kind of official Wang Hong was, and no one had ever mentioned Wang Hong accepting bribes in private.
After Fan Chunren finished speaking, he sat down and turned his head to look at Zhang Fei.
This is already his bottom line. Next, all he can do is watch Zhang Fei's performance.
He was also curious about how Zhang Fei would convict Wang Hong.
Judging from Zhang Fei's attitude just now, he definitely wants to put Wang Hong to death.
Wang Hong will never be allowed to walk out of this door arrogantly.
Zhao Pin nodded slightly and looked at Zhang Fei again.
Zhang Fei stood up and said: "I just provided evidence to refute Wang Zhixian's inadvertent 'ignoring' of Geng Ming's grievances. Facts have proved that Wang Zhixian is a habitual offender and Fan Sijian's reasons are untenable."
Zhao Pin nodded and said: "But everything has a cause and effect, why does Wangzhi County want to protect Wei Yushan?"
"Of course I will prove it."
Zhang Fei said: "I sincerely request the presiding judge to summon witness Geng Ming."
Zhao Pindao: "Pass on Geng Ming."
After a while, Geng Ming was seen entering the hall wearing a Taoist robe.
This is evidence of his escape and cannot be taken off.
He bowed respectfully to Zhao Pin. Seeing that he was wearing a Taoist robe, Zhao Pin had to give Sanqing some thin noodles. In addition, he also sympathized with Geng Ming, so he pointed to the witness chair next to him and said: "I allow you to Sitting on trial."
"Thank you, Mr. Zhao."
Geng Ming bowed and then sat on the witness chair.
Zhang Fei stood up and asked: "Geng Ming, where are you from and what did you do before becoming a monk?"
Geng Mingdao: "I am from Baima Township, Kaifeng County. My ancestors once served as commanders in the Guard Ma Army Division."
Cao Dongdong said excitedly at the door: "It turns out he is also a military household of our third government office."
Ma Xiaoyi asked: "Brother, why are military households in Sanya always bullied?"
Cao Dongdong said hurriedly: "I didn't bully the military households."
"...?"
He then heard Geng Ming continue: "Later, due to the decline of his family, he became a self-cultivated farmer. In my father's generation, he sold horses to the court and bought some land in his hometown."
Zhang Fei asked: "How much land did your family have before?"
Geng Mingdao: "There are more than 430 acres of land in total, which belongs to the second-class households."
"This is a lot of land!" Zhang Fei asked curiously: "With such a family fortune, why do you want to become a monk?"
Geng Ming's face suddenly filled with anger, "This was all forced by Na Wei Yushan."
Zhang Fei said: "How did he force you?"
Geng Mingdao: "Three years ago, I was appointed as the Li Zheng of Baima Township, responsible for collecting taxes in the township. At that time, Wei Yushan was the richest first-class household in the township, owning at least thousands of acres of land, but he I tried every means, but not a single penny of tax was paid.”
Zhang Fei asked: "What method did he use?"
Geng Ming replied: "He relied on the ancestral business passed down from his family to lend money in the countryside. Especially when he was the head of Baima Township, he cleverly created a name to force the villagers to pay more taxes, but at the same time he secretly sent people to lend money. The villagers borrowed money to pay taxes, but as soon as the villagers paid the taxes, he came to collect debts again, and finally forced the villagers to sell the land to him, but he did not establish an official deed, so the taxes still remained on the villagers."
Zhang Fei asked: "Will the government not care about it?"
Geng Ming shook his head and said: "It is undeniable that although Wei Yushan cleverly created a name and received more tax money, he did not line his own pockets and paid all the money in full, because his purpose was to make money by lending money so as to annex the people's fields. Not only did the government not If you blame him, praise him instead.”
The officials listening to the trial were drowsy.
Boring.
Zhang Fei nodded and asked, "Did anyone target you?"
This chapter is not over yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading! Geng Ming shook his head and said: "That's not true. My family also had some money at that time and did not need to borrow money from him. However, my wife and I often helped some rural people who were driven into desperation by him.
The people are fully aware of his evil deeds."
Zhang Fei asked: "Are you helping the villagers free of charge?"
Geng Ming nodded and said: "Since my father's generation, I have often helped poor villagers. But unfortunately, my family does not have much money, and there are not many people who can help. If they come to my house to beg for food, I can only give it to them.
A bowl of rice to eat.”
There was a sigh of relief outside the door.
It’s true that good people don’t live long!
Wen Yanbo and Sima Guang both shook their heads and sighed.
This is the model they expect from landowners.
If there is a problem in the village, you, the well-off households, should help.
This is the cheapest way.
In this way, the court can hide wealth among the people.
The only flaw is that this model doesn’t seem to live long!
Zhang Fei said again: "Continue talking."
Geng Ming added: "I really couldn't see what Wei Yushan was doing, so I secretly investigated the acres of land he had hidden. At that time, I found out that he had hidden 1,200 acres. When it is my turn to be the governor, I will take the credentials.
Go to his house to collect taxes.
Unexpectedly, he not only kicked me out, but later also lied that he paid me taxes on 1,200 acres of land, and I hid those taxes."
Zhang Fei asked: "As far as I know, there are proofs for our tax payment. How could he wrongly accuse you?"
Geng Mingdao: "He did take out the tax money he paid at that time, but it was not given to him by me at all, and how could I take away the land tax of 1,200 acres by myself? This is simply
Impossible."
Zhang Fei asked: "What happens next?"
Geng Ming said: "After that, he and two corrupt officials blackmailed me and asked me to give him these 1,200 acres of land. Otherwise, he would sue me for seeking public benefits for personal gain."
"Did you make it up?"
"Because the tax money was real and I was afraid of getting into a lawsuit, I had no choice but to make up for it. But I never thought that the government would then count the 1,200 acres of land tax on me.
But my family also has more than 400 acres of land, so how can we afford the land tax of 1,200 acres?"
"Didn't you file a complaint?"
"I originally planned to sue the official, but at that time, Wei Yushan's daughter was favored by King Chang and was taken as a concubine by King Chang. Wei Yushan was even more unscrupulous in the countryside. How could I dare to sue the official? Besides, I
I knew very well that Wei Yushan was a man who would retaliate against evil. I was afraid of being retaliated, and I couldn't afford so many taxes, so I pretended to divorce my wife, sent them back to my parents' home, sold my property, and became a monk myself in the past three years.
, I have been hiding in the Taoist temple."
As soon as these words came out, many officials looked strange.
It is also related to King Chang.
This can be put to good use.
But the people at the door all had expressions of "I knew it was like this", and they all dared to be angry but dared not speak.
Zhang Fei asked: "In that case, why are you going to report Wei Yushan now? As far as I know, Wei Yushan's power is stronger than before."
Geng Mingdao: "Actually, over the past two years, I have been secretly investigating Wei Yushan, collecting evidence of his tax evasion, and waiting for the opportunity."
Zhang Fei asked again: "Then what did you investigate?"
Geng Mingdao: "I found out that in the past two years, Wei Yushan has intensified his efforts to force people to flee the countryside, and those fields have completely become tax-free fields. In the end, the government distributed the field taxes to the nearby people."
Zhang Fei asked: "Why does the government do this?"
Geng Ming said: "Because our government has regulations that when people sell land and houses, they need to ask their relatives and neighbors first. The government thinks that the relatives and neighbors are not supervising well and allocate the land taxes to the people nearby."
Zhang Fei nodded and asked: "Then why do you want to report Wei Yushan now? Aren't you afraid of Wei Yushan's revenge?"
Geng Ming's eyes suddenly turned red, "That's because... because my wife, children, and their orphans and widowed parents were not treated very well in their parents' home, they were wronged and bullied, and often suffered from hunger and cold. They couldn't live any longer.
I...I really had no choice, so I decided to come out and report Wei Yushan."
After speaking, he covered his eyes and choked up.
The people outside the door were also deeply affected and secretly wiped away their tears.
Is this the result of justice being done?
This government official is really harmful to people. If you are not cruel to the people, you will be doomed.
When Wang Anshi saw this scene, he was very happy. It was not that he was hard-hearted, but that this could provide sufficient evidence for his recruitment method.
Of course, this was also Zhang Fei's promise to him.
Zhang Fei saw that Geng Ming was crying uncontrollably, so he turned to Zhao Pin and said: "The presiding officer should have seen the evidence of Wei Yushan's tax evasion. It is easy to find out, including the fact that Wei Yushan was in Luomapo
Those 1,200 acres of farmland have only been paid taxes for two years so far, and all of them were paid by Geng Ming. This is definitely not a coincidence."
Zhao Pin nodded.
"I'm done asking."
Zhang Fei sat down.
Fan Chunren was stunned for a moment, his eyes full of doubts, and he stood up and said: "Geng Ming, Wang Hong was the magistrate of Kaifeng at that time."
Geng Ming wiped his tears and shook his head.
"I'm done asking."
Fan Chunren sat down.
I am here to defend Wang Hong. This matter has nothing to do with Wang Hong. As for Wei Yushan, he also thinks he deserves to die and has never thought about defending Wei Yushan.
Zhang Fei stood up again and said: "Please ask the presiding judge to summon Wei Yushan to court."
Zhao Pin first asked someone to take Wang Hong down to rest, and then sent Wei Yu to the mountain to go to court.
After a while, I saw a middle-aged man who was nearly forty years old coming into the hall. He had a Chinese character face, thick eyebrows and big eyes. He looked horizontally and vertically. He had a tall build and a dignified appearance. He really didn’t look like a criminal.
people!
"Wei Yushan, a small citizen, meets Mr. Zhao."
Wei Yushan bowed his hand.
Zhao Pin just nodded.
Just stand and judge!
There is no place for you to sit here.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Wei Yushan glanced at the seat and did not dare to say anything, just stood there honestly.
Before any questions were asked, the people at the door started to curse at Wei Yushan.
Normally they wouldn't dare to scold, but if they don't scold now, it will be much worse.
Many people who watched the trial actually wanted to vent their emotions.
Wei Yushan could only lower his head and cover his ears.
After all, Zhao Pin had been the powerful magistrate of the Kaifeng Mansion and knew how to deal with this situation. When the people had almost scolded him, he slapped the crowd in shock and said, "Quiet."
After the door gradually became quiet, Zhang Fei stood up and said: "Wei Yushan, regarding the case of Geng Ming three years ago..."
Wei Yushan nodded and said, "I did it."
As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar.
It's so easy for you to recognize me.
Zhao Pin, Han Qi, and Fu Bi all looked at Wei Yushan in surprise.
I asked you to plead guilty, but I didn't let you admit it so readily. Zhang Fei was also stunned, and said angrily and funny: "Then you can tell yourself."
Wei Yushan nodded and said: "At that time, among the first and second-class households in Xinma Township, the Geng family and my Wei family had the most authority. When I was the head of the household, I did not go to his house to collect taxes. He doesn't have to be upright, but as soon as he becomes upright, he comes to trouble me. I think he is using his public position to suppress our Wei family.
So I bribed two clerks. I really paid the tax money in exchange for the tax money. It was not a fake thing. I just thought of a way to prevent the grain from being put into the warehouse temporarily. So I used the tax money to scare him. Let him help me pay my taxes.
As for him later becoming a Taoist priest, it had nothing to do with me, and I didn't bother him."
After hearing this, Su Shi turned his head to his younger brother and said, "This man is really ruthless."
Su Zhe nodded and said: "Not only is he ruthless, he is also very cunning. Everyone thought he was forging tax bills before, which is a serious crime. They never thought that he actually paid taxes in exchange for it. I believe Geng Ming also never thought of it. .”
Zhao Pin was so angry that he stopped talking: "Geng Ming came to you with the receipt to collect taxes, but did he ask you for an extra tax?"
Wei Yushan shook his head and said, "No."
Zhao Pindao: "This is a legitimate tax collection. How can you think of it as someone suppressing you? Why don't you pay the tax?"
Wei Yushan said naively: "Reporting to Mr. Zhao, everyone... is thinking of ways not to pay taxes, even those third- and fourth-class farmers. If I pay, people will laugh at me for being stupid."
"...?"
Zhao Pin laughed when he heard this, but his smile was very bitter and he didn't know what to say.
Han Qi said: "This man is really smart!"
Fu Bi frowned and said, "Maybe there's someone from the back who will give me some advice."
Wei Yushan seems to be naive, but his answer to this question is very clever, and he does not blame everyone.
But no one thought that Zhang Fei would be the one giving guidance from behind.
However, Zhang Fei only told him what to do, but he did not teach him what to say specifically. This shows that Wei Yushan is indeed as ruthless and cunning as the rumors outside.
Zhang Fei asked: "So, do you admit all your tax evasion behavior?"
Wei Yushan nodded.
Zhang Fei asked again: "Are you acquainted with Wang Zhixian of Kaifeng County?"
Wei Yushan nodded and said, "I have a very good relationship with Wangzhi County."
Zhang Fei said: "As far as I know, not long after Geng Ming reported you, you immediately wrote a petition to report him. How did you learn that Geng Ming reported you?"
Wei Yushan said: "It was Wang Zhixian who sent someone to tell me."
Zhang Fei asked: "Did he teach you how to do it?"
Wei Yushan shook his head and said, "That's not the case. He just told me that I decided to file a counter-complaint."
Zhang Fei asked: "Then you didn't bribe Magistrate Wang?"
"No!"
Wei Yushan immediately said: "As we all know, Wang Zhixian is an upright official and never accepts bribes. I have never bribed him with money or land. You can check this."
As soon as these words came out, all the officials held their heads high.
Although Wei Yushan was ruthless enough, he still dared to take responsibility and did not pass the responsibility to others.
He is a man.
Fan Chunren looked at Zhang Fei in confusion and asked, how could you convict Wang Hong?
Zhang Fei asked curiously: "Since there is no money exchange between you, how did you meet him?"
Wei Yushan said: "I have always admired Wangzhi County's style of doing things. He is quick to do things and sticks to his word. Wangzhi County needs to build water conservancy, build roads, and provide disaster relief. I have donated a lot of money, and I get to know him every time I go there.
Yes, this... you can all check this, I evade taxes just because I am afraid that people will think I am stupid, but I am not stingy with the money."
Good guy, you are really good at talking. Zhang Fei asked: "Did you take the initiative to donate?"
Wei Yushan said: "That's not true. Usually we donate money only when the government sends people to inquire about it."
Zhang Fei said: "Then how much have you donated in the past two years?"
Wei Yushan thought for a while and said: "I don't remember the details very clearly, but there must be at least seven or eight hundred strings."
The officials became more and more excited as they listened. This was much better than they had imagined.
However, conservative elites such as Wen Yanbo and Sima Guang became more and more depressed the more they listened.
Especially Wang Anshi, he continued to send provocative signals towards Sima Guang.
Sima Guangquan pretended not to see it and listened carefully to the trial.
Hiding wealth from the people, hiding wealth from the people, it would be really embarrassing if the wealth was hidden in the hands of such people.
Geng Ming was their role model. As a result, Geng Ming's family was ruined and his wife and children were separated.
Zhang Fei asked: "Does Magistrate Wang know that you evaded taxes?"
Wei Yushan shook his head and said: "I don't know, I probably don't know."
Zhang Fei asked: "Did Wang Zhixian County send someone to check on you?"