Although he only hit ten big boards, he still beat Liu Ying to a bloody pulp. Poor Jiao Didi, a person, was so tortured! However, this is also a rule. Magistrate Yue acted according to the rules, and it was hard for others to say anything.< /p>
"Liu Ying, what is your relationship with Shen Zhong? Why do you want to avenge him?"
"Folk girls and Shen Zhong grew up together since childhood and can be considered childhood sweethearts."
"Childhood sweethearts, are they having an affair?" Yue Weiping's voice was cold.
"Sir, the daughter of the people and Shen Zhong are innocent, how can there be adultery? Besides, we are both free now. He is unmarried and I am unmarried. Even if we are in love, we are upright. Where is the word 'adultery'? ?" Liu Ying's voice was low, but every word was logical. Don't look at such a delicate person, but she was not afraid at the critical moment.
"This~"
You can travel all over the world with reason, but you can't move without reason. Although Yue Weiping was on good terms with Shen Fuxiang, he did not dare to openly violate the court's rules and decide the case indiscriminately. He said helplessly: "These are all your words. When I meet Shen Fuxiang and Shen Zhong, After the interrogation, we will have a clear conclusion. If anyone comes, please take the woman into custody first and call Shen Fuxiang. Shen Zhong will be interrogated after he arrives in the hall."
The yamen officer went to summon him, but Yue Weiping cried out in his heart: Brother Shen Xian, brother Shen Xian, if this matter is true, I'm afraid I can't protect you!
Emperor Guangwu was a ruthless man. In order to provide sufficient labor force for the booming industry and commerce, he took an iron-handed approach to abolishing slavery. It was stipulated that slaves could only be slaves for one generation, and all subsequent generations would be released as slaves. Anyone who hindered the family from having children and regaining their freedom would be yokeed in public for three days; Those who use force to beat their children and cause them to be disabled will be exiled for thousands of miles; those who cause death will be beheaded.
According to this law, Shen Fuxiang beat Shen Zhong and forced him to re-sign the deed of betrayal. He could be sentenced to exile and would have to wear the shackles in public for at least three days.
??
Outside Shen Yuan's firewood shed, Shen Zhong's father Shen Fu advised Shen Zhong with tears, "Son! I have already begged the master. As long as you sign the deed of betrayal, there will be no further pursuit, and the master will continue to entrust him with important tasks. Wait." What's wrong with not having to worry about food and drink in the Shen family? How many people want to enter the Shen family but can't. Don't be stubborn, listen to dad's advice and sign as soon as possible."
He is also a son of the Shen family. He has been a slave for a long time and has developed a servile nature. There is nothing wrong with not learning. A slave from a wealthy family can at least have enough to eat and a monthly silver collar, and his life is much better than that of ordinary people. .In this case, what’s the disadvantage?
"No, dad, I can't sign. If I sign, I can't marry Ying Mei." Shen Zhong's words were as firm as iron.
"Hey! It's all the fault of this little goblin! Beauty is a disaster! If you have any shortcomings, who can your mother and I rely on?" Shen Fu's old tears wet the skirt of his clothes.
Shen Zhong suddenly smiled, "Don't worry, dad, Mr. Shen is a man who understands the law and he doesn't dare to beat my son to death."
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"Sir, since the imperial court abolished the salt tea monopoly, and the tea industry no longer needs a tea guide, the business of Shenji Tea House has flourished a lot. Not only have more than ten new tea mountains been added, but also a tea farm has been added, and more than thirty people have been added. According to this trend, it won’t be long before our Shen’s Yunwu Tea can be sold all over the country.” In Shen Garden, Shen Xing, the boss of Shen’s Tea House, reported to Shen Fuxiang.
In the past, tea was sold exclusively. The Ming Dynasty implemented the tea quota system. After paying taxes, the tea merchants were issued a transportation and sales license by the government, which listed the quantity and location of the shipment and sales, and were allowed to engage in trade according to the regulations. This system greatly restricted the tea industry. Development. After Emperor Guangwu abolished the monopoly on tea and iron, tea was no longer required to buy and sell tea, and the quality and output of tea were greatly improved. With the increase in output, tea taxes not only did not decrease, but increased.
Shen Fuxiang's face was so excited that he kept praising Shen Xing, "Thank you for your hard work! If you have any difficulties, just tell me."
"Master~" Shen Xing stopped talking.
Shen Fuxiang was displeased with "Just say it and do it hesitantly."
"Yes, sir. I'm getting older, and I had Shen Zhong help me with my accounts before. That young man was smart and good at keeping accounts. But he didn't know what to do, which angered me. Now the teahouse's accounts lack management. "Would you like to find someone else to take care of it? Please tell me," Shen Xingqiqi said.
Shen Fuxiang sighed, "You want to plead for Shen Zhong, right? I know that he is your apprentice, and we have a deep relationship with each other. In fact, I also admire this young man very much, he is smart and hard-working, and he is a businessman What a good young man! But this guy doesn’t know how to appreciate promotion. He leaves the servants of wealthy families alone and insists on becoming the so-called free people who are hungry and have enough to eat. What a pity! What a pity!"
"Young people don't know the importance of doing things. Please give them another chance."
"Well, I have sent his father to persuade him. The prodigal son will not be paid in exchange for his return. As long as he signs the deed of betrayal and continues to be a slave of my Shen family, he will be blessed in the future." Shen Fuxiang's voice floated like a fairy voice. .< /p>
"Master, Magistrate Yue has invited you." He was lamenting Shen Zhong's lack of appreciation, and his servants came to repay him.
"Oh, but please invite me to taste tea?" Shen Fuxiang said with a smile.
"Sir, something has happened! I heard that girl Liu Ying went to the magistrate's office to sue you."
"What! This little bitch is disgusting! What kind of world is it now? There are no rules up and down. How dare a slave sue his master!" Shen Fuxiang stomped his feet in anger.
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"Brother Shen Xian, is there a slave named Shen Zhong in your house?" Yue Weiping asked as soon as he saw Shen Fuxiang.
"Alas! This naughty slave saw me a few days ago and asked to be released to the people. I refused, so he instigated other naughty slaves to sue the master and ask the government for help," Shen Fuxiang admitted.
"Brother, you are in trouble. A few days ago, the Holy Father decreed the "Abolition of Slavery Law": a person can only be a slave for one generation, and the descendants of a slave are ordered to regain their freedom. Anyone who hinders the birth of a child and regains his freedom will be yoked. You will be shown to the public for three days; those who beat the family's children with force and maim them will be sent thousands of miles away; those who cause death will be beheaded. You hinder Shen Zhong from serving the people, but you only wear shackles to show to the public for three days, but you have others beat him and imprison him in a firewood. House, forced to sign a deed of sale, this can be sentenced to exile!"
After hearing this, Shen Fuxiang broke out in a cold sweat. He has a big family and a big business, but he often has little courage. He begged: "I was so angry for a while that I did this. Now I regret it very much, please take care of me."
"Oh, if I didn't want to take care of you, why would I ask you to come to the back house to have a secret talk? In my opinion, the only solution to this matter is reconciliation. You let Shen Zhong go, and he doesn't hold you accountable. In this way, a big matter will be reduced to a trivial matter. , everyone is happy."
"My little brother is all in line with the Lord."
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"Yingmei!"
"Brother Zhong!"
In the prison of the government office, Yue Weiping ordered Shen Zhong and Liu Ying to meet each other. As the two of them were intertwined with joy and sorrow, they suddenly appeared.
"Shen Zhong, Liu Ying, are you two willing to be together for eternity and never to be separated again?"
"The two of us wish to never be separated for the rest of our lives, and I beg you to grant your permission." The two of them hurriedly knelt down and begged.
Yue Weiping nodded, "I have investigated clearly and found that you two are indeed children of the same family and should be released as civilians. Shen Fuxiang did not know this law, which caused a misunderstanding. According to my opinion, it is better for enemies to be reconciled than to be knotted. It is not as good as yours When you reconcile with him, he releases you two as people and compensates Shen Zhong for ten taels of silver for his medical expenses. How about you no longer appeal?"
The two looked at each other. Shen Zhong had read books and understood the truth. It was easy for a magistrate to destroy a family, a prefect to exterminate a family, and an official to deal with common people like himself. The prefect had spoken and must not be violated, so he immediately replied: " The people are willing.
"That's good, that's good!"
Yue Weiping was so happy that he stroked his beard.
The case was reviewed the next day. He ordered Shen Zhong and Liu Ying to be released as civilians on the grounds that they were indeed the sons of the Shen family. As for Shen Fuxiang's obstruction of the release of slaves and beating of Shen Zhong, there was no evidence and no further investigation was conducted. He privately ordered Shen Fuxiang gave Shen Zhong ten taels of silver.
This case is over, and the situation should have calmed down.
There happened to be a man who liked to cause trouble and stepped in. When Wu Han, the censor of the Jiangxi Procuratorate, learned of the matter, he believed that Yue Weiping's verdict was unfair and that Shen Fuxiang was sentenced too lightly. He was suspected of committing malpractice for personal gain. Shangshu impeached Yue. him.
Zhu Hengjia in Nanjing saw this and fell into deep thought. It didn't matter whether Yue Weiping had engaged in fraud for personal gain. What was important was the impact of this incident. He was vigorously promoting the abolition of slavery law to release labor and revitalize industry and commerce, but many aristocratic families The rich people are doing the opposite, but the results are not obvious. Well, I just used this matter to make a fuss and kill the chicken to show the monkey!
Since he wanted to kill the chicken to scare the monkey, he naturally had to impose a serious sentence. Yue Weiping was dismissed from his post and Shen Fuxiang was exiled to Ningguta. When the news came out, the wealthy families were shocked. Within a month, tens of thousands of free people were born.
