Chapter 228 Acting according to the ancestral system
Yu Shiyue’s old face has turned the color of pig liver, but there is nothing he can do.
Jin Yiwei is so cruel. I thought that confiscating Yanshenggong's mansion was outrageous enough, but now I realize that something even more outrageous is yet to come!
He raised his sleeves, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and took the opportunity to glance at the jury.
The emperor is still sitting upright with a smile on his face, as if everything happening here has nothing to do with him.
How could it be irrelevant?
Without the emperor's order, would Jinyiwei dare to arrest the people of Sanfasi directly?
Moreover, he directly attacked the Minister of Punishment!
Yu Shiyue suddenly felt that things might not be as simple as he imagined.
The investigation of Jiangnan smuggling cases implicated tens of thousands of people, and most of these people were local gentry and even court officials.
After returning to Beijing, he immediately attacked the Kong family.
First, they captured Duke Yan Sheng and attracted everyone's attention to the capital, but then they secretly sent out Jin Yiwei to directly raid the Confucius Mansion, a move that would drain the fire from under the cauldron.
Having said that, everyone knows exactly what the Kong family has done over the years.
We are both scholars and have been studying hard for more than ten years. Why?
In the end, it is nothing more than fame and wealth. Let alone Confucius, which scholar becomes an official and is not greedy for money or seeking profit?
Even though I am not greedy for money, I have been boasting that I have a clean life all these years, but how can the invisible benefits behind me be compared with money?
For example, if your son accidentally beats a scholar to death, you can settle it with just one sentence.
If it were anyone else, even if they had money, I’m afraid they wouldn’t be able to do it!
When it comes to seizing land, the Kong family won’t grab it today, but the Zhang family and Li family will grab it tomorrow.
As for the women who were victimized, they were just country women. At worst, they would have to pay some money.
We scholars have worked so hard to become officials, don’t we even have this little privilege?
Because of this, scholars all over the world will try their best to protect the Confucius family, because protecting the Confucius family is equivalent to protecting oneself.
However, these principles cannot be explained in detail.
Seeing that Yu Shiyue was forced into a desperate situation, Yang Shan, the censor of Zuodu, stood up.
"Commander Yuan, whether the things you said are true or not, they have nothing to do with this case. Today is the trial of the Yansheng Gong case by the Three Law Divisions, and other cases will be postponed!"
Yuan Bin turned to Yang Shan and asked: "The joint trial of the three justice divisions is a system of the imperial court, but what if even the three justice divisions are actually corrupt officials? How can the court redress the grievances of the people when the court leaves justice in the hands of people like you? In other words
, if the Sanfa Division misbehaves and disrupts the court, how should the case be tried?"
"You... don't slander anyone!"
Yang Shan's face turned red and he said angrily: "Let's not talk about whether Yu Shangshu's son really killed someone. Even if he did, it is his son's business. Yu Shangshu is at most a fault of lax upbringing. What does it have to do with this case?" Yuan Bin sneered: "Is it really that simple? Pan Chang of Shuntian Prefecture, who initially accepted the case, is now the head of the Criminal Department. What's the explanation?"
"That was what Yu Wentao did behind Yu Shangshu's back. If Commander Yuan accuses Yu Shangshu of accepting Pan Chang's bribe, please provide evidence!"
At this moment, they knew very well that it was almost impossible to exonerate Yu Wentao.
The only way is to postpone the matter and think about it in the long term.
Yuan Bin looked at Yu Shiyue and said sternly: "Master Yu, let me ask you for the last time, do you know what your son Yu Wentao did?"
Yu Shiyue was completely despairing and said hurriedly: "No...I don't know!"
"Really don't know anything?"
"No...I don't know..."
Yu Shiyue denied it, and he could only deny it.
Yuan Bin smiled and said: "It seems like you just have a bad education."
"If this matter is verified and it is indeed Tao'er's doing, I... I am indeed ill-bred. However, everything must wait for verification before we can make a conclusion. At the moment, the case of Yansheng Gong is being tried by the Three Laws Division.
Please ask Commander Yuan to hand over Tao'er's case to Shuntian Mansion!"
After Yu Shiyue finished speaking, he lowered his head.
At this time, his mind began to work desperately.
After all, people in high positions, after a brief period of panic, although they are still panicking, they have already begun to weigh the pros and cons in their hearts.
Maybe, we can only push our son to the front first.
Just make sure you're fine and think of a solution later!
Yuan Bin looked calm and continued: "Your son's case can be postponed, but your own... should you make it clear first?"
Yu Shiyue panicked again and said quickly: "What...what do you mean?"
Yuan Bin continued: "Your son has admitted that your Yu family has made great progress over the years. Mr. Yu, what are your annual salary and rewards from the palace as a minister of the Ministry of Punishment? Let me ask you, you
Where did the Yu family get so much property?"
Yu Shiyue had blue veins popping up on his forehead: "You're talking nonsense. Since I became an official, I, Yu, have always been clean and self-sufficient. How can I earn a lot of money every day?"
Yang Shanhe followed up and said: "Exactly, it is obvious to all colleagues that Yu Shangshu is incorruptible. Even if Jin Yiwei wants to frame Zhongliang, there must be a limit, right?"
Xue Xuan then asked: "Could it be that Commander Yuan has ransacked Shangshu Yu's house and found a large amount of gold and silver?"
Yu Shiyue disagreed with this and looked confident.
Yuan Bin smiled faintly and said: "Master Yu really doesn't have any gold or silver hidden in his house, but..."
He paused and continued: "Master Yu's hometown is Suzhou Prefecture, right? There is also a younger brother named Yu Shiqing in the family, right?"
Yu Shiyue's expression changed and he said: "Since I was awarded Jinshi in the 13th year of Yongle, I rarely go back to my hometown. Everything there is taken care of by Shiqing. Is there any problem?"
"Excuse me, what does your brother Yu Shiqing do?"
"My ancestors have some land and some business, that's probably it. No matter how specific it is, I won't ask about it."
"So, your brother is a strange person. His family has more than three million taels of cash in cash. Not counting the house and land. I don't know what kind of business he is doing. It's a huge profit!"
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After hearing this, Yu Shiyue turned pale and shouted in panic: "You are framing this, this is slander... it is slander!"
Yuan Bin's eyes were sarcastic and he said with a smile: "Whether it is slander or not, you have to decide for yourself. Do you think I am here to talk to you? I have detained so many people from your Yu family. How do you think I captured these people?"
?I, Yuan Bin, act with integrity, so to tell you the truth, your hometown has been raided!"
"You...you copied my hometown?"
Yu Shiyue almost jumped up. He has always been known for his integrity, not to mention having a poor family, but it's pretty much the same.
That’s because all the money was sent to my hometown!
Otherwise, even if Yu Shiqing wants to do business, where will the capital come from?
Yuan Bin's face turned gloomy and he said: "To tell you the truth, your old house in Suzhou has been controlled by Jin Yiwei for a long time. Your brother, as well as the accountant and manager of the family, are now in Fusi, Beizhen. What should I say?
, they have already said what they shouldn’t say. Don’t you always like to quote laws and regulations? Don’t you keep saying that the ancestors made the law? Well, if the crime is determined according to the great edict of Emperor Taizu Gao, if you embezzle sixty taels, you will be skinned.
This is just a warning to others. Especially since you, as the Minister of Punishment, know the law and break it, you should be severely punished!"
The bad news came one after another without giving Yu Shiyue any time to react.
When he was still thinking about how to exonerate his son, he didn't expect that Yuan Bin had already prepared a large amount of personal and material evidence, and even the people from Shuntian Mansion had captured it.
When he was still thinking about how to quibble and find a way to rescue his son and give him a lighter sentence, he didn't expect that Yuan Bin had already pointed the finger at himself.
When he was thinking about how to defend himself, he found out that his hometown had been raided.
"I am the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, and you raid my house without permission?"
Yu Shiyue shouted loudly, with overwhelming hatred on his face.
Yuan Bin said calmly: "You are the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment, so you should know that what you control is the world's criminal name. Such heavy responsibilities are all tied to you alone. Now that it is reported that you are corrupt and perverting the law, the Jinyi Guards will conduct a thorough investigation. Of course,
Of course, in order to pursue justice and fairness, I will never wrong you. When I ransacked your home, I specially asked Dongchang to supervise the whole process, and also asked the Ministry of Punishment to inspect the matter.
Not only that, we also invited dozens of local people to witness together, so that they would know that I, Yuan Bin, am not like a corrupt official like you, who framed me and engaged in malpractice for personal gain!"
Today, Yu Shiyue has realized that he may really be tricked to death.
He couldn't help but said: "Is this how you retaliate? You are framing Zhongliang!"
Yuan Bin laughed and said: "If you are loyal, then everyone in the world will be loyal! You are right, your brother is indeed engaged in business, but he is engaged in maritime smuggling business. However, you are
You keep supporting the maritime ban in the temple, but you are so inconsistent, how dare you claim to be loyal?"
Yu Shiyue's face became paler and his body slowly withered.
When things got to this point, he had no choice.
Yuan Bin stared at Yu Shiyue coldly at this time and said sharply: "Up to now, you have shown no sign of repentance. Since you want to act according to the ancestral law, someone will come and capture Yu Shiyue, the Minister of Punishment, and follow the ancestral law.
Skinned and stuffed as grass, his son will be handed over to Shuntian Prefecture for retrial!"
After giving the order, a school captain came forward to take someone away. Yu Shiyue was still unwilling to give in and shouted: "You have wronged me, you have wronged me..."
Yuan Bin turned around without even looking at him.
But the people around him consciously gave way to the road, and they all looked at Yu Shiyue with strange eyes.
Immediately afterwards, Yuan Bin turned to Yang Shan, the censor of Zuodu, and Xue Xuan, the minister of Dali Temple.
The two of them have begun to feel uncomfortable.
Yuan Bin immediately said: "What do you two think of the handling just now?"
Facing Yuan Bin's soul torture, Yang Shan and Xue Xuan couldn't help but look at each other.
In this current situation, all fools know that Yu Shiyue's crime has been proven.
The dignified Minister of Justice, that’s it!
If you insist on speaking for him, you will become a dignified official protecting each other.
But if the cut is made immediately, the three laws will fall apart instantly. In a sense, it is also a compromise for Jin Yiwei.
At the same time, it also means that Yan Shenggong cannot be saved.
So this battle is still lost after all!
The two of them had no idea and chose to remain silent.
How could Yuan Bin let them go and said sternly: "Why, don't speak? Aren't you usually eloquent? Or are you just colluding with him?"
Xue Xuan suppressed her blush, feeling that she had been insulted.
Yang Shanze was a little scared and hurriedly said: "If...if it is true, then...you deserve what you deserve..."
Yuan Bin stared at Yang Shan closely and said: "I still have some things to do here. Mr. Yang, let's discuss your affairs. What's going on in your family? Why is it so good and has a lot of money hidden?
Yes, how did you get your sixteen concubines? I heard that a few of them are...prostitutes?"
When Yang Shan heard this, he trembled. He looked miserable: "Commander Yuan, what do you mean?"
Yuan Bin said coldly: "What I received was just a tip. Some people said that in your hometown, you have purchased as much as 50,000 acres of land over the years. Where did the money for these land purchases come from?"
Yang Shan shook his head vigorously and said: "This is absolutely not the case!"
"You are the censor of Zuodu, with a high position. Your quality is related to the long-term stability of the country. In order to ensure that you are an upright and upright official, it is reasonable for the Jin Yiwei to check you out, right? Now,
The men and horses of Jinyiwei have surrounded your home and are waiting for your answer. If you can't clarify yourself, then all the brothers will have to go in and find out what's going on!"
Yang Shan was so angry that he trembled: "You...you..."
But Yuan Bin continued: "Don't worry, Jinyiwei will not frame you. This time, we will still invite the supervision of Dongchang, and then invite the head of the Sanfa Department, Shaoqing, the censor, and the common people to watch. If someone makes false accusations
, after the investigation is completed, we can restore your innocence!"
When Yang Shan heard this, he almost fainted.
"Commander Yuan, you...you..."
Yuan Bin said coldly: "I want your explanation!"
Yang Shan suddenly became confused and said quickly: "I... I have some money at home, but... but..."
"Then where does it come from?"
Yang Shan thought for a while: "Salary..."
Yuan Bin immediately said: "I have calculated all the salary you have earned during your years as an official. It is only five or six thousand taels of silver. Counting various rewards, it will not exceed ten thousand taels."
Yang Shan quickly said: "There are also ancestors' savings."
Yuan Bin said without hesitation: "I have also calculated the savings of your Li family. Just before you became an official, there was hardly much land and property."
"This..."
Yang Shan was sweating profusely and didn't know what to do.
The smile on Yuan Bin's face gradually disappeared and he said: "It seems that we need to find out clearly. Someone, let the other side do it!"
Yang Shan hurriedly shouted: "How dare you!"
Yuan Bin was still calm at first, but then he suddenly responded sharply: "You dare, so what?"
Yang Shan was immediately frightened and lost his mind. He turned to look at the judging panel: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Guards have gone too far to bully others. I beg your Majesty to make the decision for me!"