At four quarters in the afternoon, around two o'clock in the modern afternoon, the officer who was ordered to go to the Ministry of War to collect the head finally came back.
Nearly 2 hours have passed since they set off.
The head was kept in two black lacquer boxes about two meters long and half a meter wide. The black lacquer boxes seemed to be very heavy. It was difficult for the four officers to carry them. They carried them to the court with heavy steps. Outside the black lacquer boxes
It is affixed with a seal bearing the seal of the Ministry of War.
When the black lacquer box was brought in, Liu Mu and Liu Dadao's eyes were red, tears were rolling in their eyes, they clenched their fists, and the veins on their necks were exposed. If Zhu Pingan hadn't comforted them in time,
I'm afraid they will lose control in the next second.
"Don't worry, little kid, I'll be able to take you back to our home soon." Liu Dadao muttered in a low voice, staring closely at the black lacquer box, thinking of his murdered wife and children, eyes filled with tears
It's already moist.
Liu Mu and others were also staring closely at the black lacquer box. Thinking of their parents, family members and fellow villagers, they couldn't help but burst into tears.
Zhu Pingan can understand the mood of Liu Mu and others. Human beings are not grass and trees, how can they be ruthless, let alone their dearest relatives.
The heavy black lacquered boxes were placed side by side in the courtroom. The ground shook when the heavy boxes were put down.
"Why is it so heavy?"
"Is this the Tatar head captured by Mr. Zhao?"
There were soft sighs in the courtroom. Some were curious, while others were more taboo about seeing the head. All the officials expressed various expressions.
"In today's case, the investigation of the head is a necessary step. It may cause discomfort to all of you, but as the saying goes, a coffin brings promotion and wealth. Sirs, please bear with me. Please come and open the museum.
.”
The chief judge in the courtroom stood up and bowed his hands to the adults in the hall, then asked people to remove the seal and open the black lacquered wooden box.
"As commanded."
Following the order, two officials from the Ministry of Justice came to the black lacquered wooden box and took off the seal.
Zhu Pingan followed the movements of the two officials and watched them take off the seal without blinking. After they took off the seal, Zhu Pingan couldn't help but shook his head and sighed.
This seal is wrong!
Judging from the actions they took off the seal, it didn't look like it had been glued on a few months ago, but rather like it had just been glued on a few hours ago. The seal was completely removed, and the paste had not dried completely.
There are also faint traces of moisture.
"Replying to your lord, the seal has been verified to be correct. It is the seal of the Ministry of War in September of the Gengxu year. The note is the fifty-nine items of the first tribute of Zhao Daying from one hundred households." After the official of the Ministry of Punishment took off the seal, he checked the information on the seal and reported to
Report in court.
"Circuit it for everyone to check." After the chief examiner verified it one by one, he ordered the seal to be circulated to everyone for verification.
"Well, that's right."
"Yes, it is the head that Zhao Qianhu presented back then. The date, time and seal of the Ministry of War are confirmed to be correct."
After reviewing the seal, the officials nodded.
"This official is confused about something."
When the seal was passed to Zhu Pingan, Zhu Pingan touched the seal with his hand, looked at the paste behind the seal, then took a step forward, raised the seal and said.
"Huh?" Wang Xueyi, the Minister of Criminal Affairs, looked at Zhu Pingan.
"The date of the seal is September of the Gengxu year. Why has the seal paste not dried out after several months?" Zhu Pingan took the seal in his hand, raised it high and shook it, and asked the presiding judge loudly.
Hey, is the paste really not dry yet?
At Zhu Pingan's reminder, the officials in the auditorium also noticed this and twisted the seal with their hands, and a piece of soft paste came out on their fingers.
for a while
Discussions began in the auditorium.
The seal paste has not dried completely. Doesn't it mean that the seal was just put on? If the seal was just put on, then there is no guarantee that the head in this wooden box is the one presented by Zhao Daying last year.
The first level of the batch.
It is entirely possible that he will be manipulated
Seeing the suspicion rising in the courtroom, Zhao Qiu, the left minister of the Ministry of Punishment, stood up and explained to everyone: "Let me explain this issue. My lords, what is stored in this black lacquered wooden box is Tatar.
As we all know, the head will rot if left for a few days. In order to preserve the head, our craftsmen from the Ministry of War filled the wooden box with stone powder. This wooden box can hold thirty heads.
, in order to preserve the head, the stone powder must be replaced regularly to prevent the stone powder from getting damp. According to the regulations, every time the stone powder is replaced, more than three officers from the Ministry of War must be present. The scribe will record the replacement on the spot, and the chief will sign and seal after confirming that it is correct.
The heads are consistent."
After Zhao Qiu finished speaking, Zhang Captou, who was in the hall, also promptly took out a booklet from his body and handed it to the clerk to present it to the court.
"Reporting to your lord, if it hadn't been for Mr. Zhao's reminder, I almost forgot about it. This book is the record of the replacement of stone powder by the Ministry of War in the past six months. I was ordered to go to the Ministry of War to inspect the head. Mr. Wang, the head of the Treasury Department of the Ministry of War, was worried that the hot weather today would not be good for the commander-in-chief.
In order to ensure that today's inspection goes smoothly, Mr. Wang ordered the stone powder to be temporarily replaced. In addition to the humble officials and others present, Mr. Wang, Mr. Liu and Mr. Zhao, the heads of the Ministry of War, were all present. After the stone powder was replaced, the three adults signed and used their seals in turn.
"
After Zhang Captou presented the book to the court, he first shouted guilty, then half-knelt on the ground and responded loudly.
"I wonder if Mr. Zhu has any other doubts. I will help Mr. Zhu clarify his doubts." Zhao Qiu glanced sideways at Zhu Ping'an and sneered, seemingly enthusiastic but actually sarcastic.
Sing and harmonize
confident
The reasons are sufficient and the evidence is in place. The doubts that just sounded in the courtroom have disappeared by now.
It seemed that Zhao Qiu had already thought of this and was prepared to deal with it. Seeing this, Zhu Pingan sighed slightly in his heart.
Yes, Zhao Qiu did a good job in preparation, and his explanations were very convincing. In order to preserve the head, the stone powder must be replaced regularly; according to regulations, more than three principals must be present when the stone powder is replaced, and it must be recorded in a book and signed with a seal.
I have just read the replacement record. It is detailed and has the signatures and seals of the three principals at the end. From a formal point of view, there is no flaw at all.
I am most afraid of being a gangster under the guise of the system.
No solution! Nothing can be done against him!
"Thank you, sir. I have no other doubts." Zhu Ping'an looked at Zhao Qiu, raised his hands and said lightly.
At this time, Zhao Daying had completely put his heart in his stomach. He looked at Zhu Pingan calmly and curled his lips disdainfully.
Zhu Pingan, don't you want a head? I'll give it to you. Anyway, the Ministry of War has plenty of them. Let alone fifty-nine, I can get one hundred more. Haha, Zhu Pingan, let me see what else you want to follow.
I fight. Impeach me? Haha, I will make you unable to eat and walk around in circles!