Outside the palace gate, a dark-skinned naturalized Han man was kneeling. He wanted to ask to see the king but was stopped by the guards.
The guard sternly reprimanded: "If you have any grievances, go to the Central Court to beat the drums and complain. Don't stay outside the palace without permission. Go quickly, go quickly!"
Although this naturalized Han man has a dark complexion, he speaks fluent Chinese, and it is also Jianghuai Mandarin: "The grassroots people really have a great grievance. They complained from the town to the county, and from the county to the state capital. The local officials protected each other and took away the property of the grassroots people."
He said that they also sentenced the grassroots to serve in road construction for three years. After finally completing their service, the grassroots returned home to look for their wives and children. The wife had been forcibly remarried to a new immigrant. The grassroots wanted to ask for an explanation, but they were almost killed and silenced. The grassroots really didn't dare
If you go to the Grand Court, you can only ask the king for justice."
The naturalized Han took out an outline of the "Constitution of the Kingdom of Tianzhu", raised it high above his head, and shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, I wonder if the constitution you have decreed is still valid. The common people can not only speak Chinese and write Chinese characters,
I have also read the Four Books and Five Classics. The constitution says that regardless of race or gender, those who pass the official assessment are Han Chinese, and they are all Chinese brothers and sisters. No discrimination is allowed. Now, your constitution has become waste paper. How many people are there in Tianzhu?
Are you complying?"
The palace guard sighed and said: "Your Majesty is really not here, and I don't know how many days it will take to return to the capital. You should find a place to stay first. It's useless to shout here. The nobles inside can't hear you."
The naturalized Han Chinese was stunned for a moment, carefully put the "Constitution" away, and left the palace with unsteady steps.
He had no money left, so he had to sleep on the streets, his stomach growling with hunger.
After nightfall, two shadows came over and quietly put a rope around his neck, and then they worked together and pulled hard.
The naturalized Han man suddenly woke up and struggled desperately while holding the noose with both hands.
Due to the rain two days ago, one of them slipped and fell. Under the force of the rope, all three fell to the ground. The naturalized Han man subconsciously took out a dagger, swung it around and stabbed him. When he regained consciousness, one of them had fallen into a pool of blood.
In the middle, another person scrambled away in panic, also drew his sword and tried to kill someone.
The naturalized Han man was tired, hungry and scared. He took off the noose around his neck, turned around and ran away, shouting as he ran: "Killing, killing!"
The man raised his sword and chased after him, shouting: "The untouchables are killing the Han people, kill him quickly!"
Zhao Zhenji was washing her feet in the inn and planned to read for a while before going to sleep. When she heard the noise outside, she immediately ran out barefoot and opened the window to see what was going on on the street below.
Many residents were alarmed, and more than ten Han people surrounded the planned area.
The naturalized Han people shouted: "They want to kill people and silence them. Report them to the officials quickly!"
The man holding the sword shouted: "He is an untouchable thief. He has already killed my fellow villagers. Please end this man's life quickly!"
The naturalized Han threw away his dagger, raised his badge in one hand and the constitution in the other: "I am Han, certified by the government. I have the constitution in my hand appointed by the king. I came to the capital to complain. This guy wants to kill people and silence them."
. Report to the official quickly, report to the official quickly!”
The man with the sword rushed over and tried to kill someone while shouting: "Kill this untouchable and avenge our Han brothers!"
Just based on the words of the two people, we knew that the naturalized Han people were telling the truth, because he kept calling for the official.
However, many of the people who were watching the blockade were holding lanterns, which clearly illuminated the skin color of the naturalized Han people. On the spot, several Han people rushed over with sticks, hoping to beat the naturalized Han people to death.
The naturalized Han people shouted in horror: "I have the constitution in my hand, and whoever kills me will be guilty of treason!"
Everyone stopped immediately, and some upright and sensible people stepped forward to stop the man holding the sword, shouting: "Report to the official, report to the official!"
Tianzhu's judicial system is an independent system, with grassroots offices in villages and towns, four-level courts at counties, prefectures, prefectures, and provinces, and a central court in the capital.
In addition, the "zhou" in Tianzhu is different from the "zhou" in Ming Dynasty. It is similar to a county-level city directly under the jurisdiction of a province, while "fu" is a prefecture-level city.
That night, the two people who had a conflict were sent to the Peizhou Patrol Yamen for detention. Each of them made a record for filing, and then the case was transferred to the Central Court.
A few days later, Wang Yuan had returned to Beijing after inspecting the place, and the Central Court officially opened to hear the case.
Courts at all levels must conduct public hearings, allowing thirty civilians to observe, and three auditoriums must be reserved for reporters and ten for lower-level civilians.
This thing can actually exploit loopholes. For example, after Zhao Zhenji queued up to get a number, his number was not drawn. So he spent two silver dollars to buy an account from a civilian and successfully became an audience to observe the trial.
You are not allowed to kneel down in court, nor are you allowed to call the defendant a prisoner.
The chief judge is a disciple of the Jishi sect. He was wearing a black official uniform, smashed down the gavel and said: "You are not allowed to make noises without authorization, and you are not allowed to move around at will. The court will begin immediately. The facts of this case are complicated. Judge Liu, please state the facts of the case first!"
Judge Liu stood up and said: "Let's talk about the murder first. It happened around 9pm on the eighth day of June. According to the statement of the person involved, Zheng Bin, the deceased was a Han man named He Guangzong. He was 32 years old and lived in Shunguang Prefecture, Goa Province.
Xutuo County, I came to Peiyang with Zheng Bin to inquire about business information. The suspect Liu Hu, a naturalized Han from Xutuo County, killed someone because of his wealth. The murder weapon was a dagger..."
The justice said: "Submit the murder weapon."
Immediately, a legal official appeared in court holding a dagger and showed it to the staff and the audience.
The chief judge asked the naturalized Han man: "Are you called Liu Hu, and your family belongs to Sotuo County, Shunguang Prefecture, Goa Province?"
Liu Hu, a naturalized Han, replied: "The grass people are from Chengguan Town, Xutuo County."
The justice asked again: "Did you kill He Guangzong?"
Liu Hu replied: "I killed him."
The court was immediately in an uproar. A naturalized Han dared to kill a pure-blooded Han, which was simply treason.
The justice slapped the gavel several times: "If anyone makes a noise again, just throw it out!"
After it calmed down, the chief judge asked: "State the situation at that time."
Liu Hu said: "A grassroots man was sleeping on the street and was suddenly awakened. These two people put a rope around my neck. They wanted to strangle me to death. I struggled hard and stabbed one of them to death at random. Then I was so scared that I ran away."
Judge Liu said: "A rope was indeed found at the crime scene."
The justice said: "Send it up."
After the crime rope was taken out, the justice asked: "Liu Hu, are you using this rope to strangle you?"
Liu Hu shook his head and said, "I don't know. I was in a panic at the time, and it was dark and I couldn't see clearly."
The justice asked again: "Zheng Bin, is this rope yours?"
Zheng Bin denied it flatly: "No."
The justice asked again: "Liu Hu, why did you come to the capital?"
Liu Hu said:
"Your Majesty, Mr. Caomin was originally an orphan. He was adopted by the kind man Mr. Liu fourteen years ago. Mr. Liu is a businessman of the Tianzhu Cotton Association. After he came to Tianzhu to buy land, he took in more than ten orphans. He taught us how to read and write.
, choose those who are smart and hard-working, and keep them with you for a few years as your personal followers. Caomin is one of them."
"Later, when a neighboring country invaded, Mr. Liu took us to escape. The common people saved Mr. Liu's life on the way. Mr. Liu was kind and not only allowed me freedom, but also gave me a hundred acres of land and helped me choose a wife to start a family.
."
"Four years ago, Mr. Liu died of illness, and the land of grassroots people was targeted. The Zheng family in the same county was powerful and had relatives serving as officials in the county. They accused me of trying to seize Han people's land. Without proof or documents, they
The grassroots' land was taken away. The grassroots could not seek justice at the town hall, so they went to the county court to file a lawsuit. The county judge actually sentenced me to serve in the road construction service for three years."
"Because the grassroots could write and do calculations and speak Chinese fluently, they were promoted to leaders during the construction of the road. Therefore, they did not die after three years of road construction. When the grassroots returned home after completing the road construction period, their wives had taken their children with them and they were forcibly remarried.
Two years were given to the new immigrants! The common people were dissatisfied and went to the government to appeal, but the provincial judge was unwilling to open a court hearing. The common people had no choice but to go to Beijing to file a petition and surrendered outside the palace gate. On the afternoon of the day of the incident, the man on duty at the palace gate
The guards can testify!"
The chief judge nodded and said: "Board Lin and Guard Yang were also invited today to invite two witnesses to the court."
The two palace guards appeared in court, took out their identification documents, and signed the testimony document after confirming that they had met Liu Hu.
The chief judge asked again: "Liu Hu, Tianzhu is full of land. Why did the Zheng family break the law and occupy your land?"
Liu Hu said: "Firstly, the land of the grassroots people is all farmland near the river; secondly, the grassroots people used to be untouchables. Although they were naturalized as Han people, they were always discriminated against because their skin was too dark. Even the big Han people couldn't stand me."
The justice asked Zheng Bin again: "You said you came to the capital to inquire about business information. What kind of business do you want to do?"
Zheng Bin replied: "The common people would like to come and find out how much the local specialties from Sutuo County can be sold for in the capital."
The justice asked: "Have you inquired?"
Zheng Bin replied: "Not yet."
The justice asked again: "Did you know Liu Hu before?"
Zheng Bin shook his head: "I don't recognize him."
The entire case trial process was recorded in detail by the clerk and signed by all parties involved.
The chief judge slapped his hand and said: "The case is too complicated and involves local and state capitals. It is difficult for this court to pronounce a verdict today. It needs to be reported to the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Ministry of Criminal Justice. Withdraw from the court!"
Although the results were not announced, it was still an eye-opener for Zhao Zhenji.
If it were an official from the Ming Dynasty, he would have been spanked first and then combined with the testimony and evidence from all parties, he would have been able to decide on a result.
Zhao Zhenji found a job in Peiyang, making money while working and observing the public sentiment.
After waiting for three full months, the case was finally pronounced.
The Chief Magistrate of the Goa Provincial Court and the Chief Magistrate of the Shunguang Prefecture Court neglected their duties and did not try cases in case they occurred. They were all dismissed from their posts.
The Chief Justice of Sutuo County, along with all the people who tried the case, were suspected of engaging in favoritism and dereliction of duty, and collectively colluded to create an unjust case. The least serious case was that they would be dismissed from office, and the most serious case would be sent to the north to open up, where there were a bunch of green believers waiting for them.
All officials in the Chengguan Town Hall of Xutuo County were dismissed from their posts, and those with the heaviest penalties were sent to the East African colonies.
As for the Zheng family who had invaded their land, their property was confiscated and they were sent to Madagascar!
Liu Hu's murder was justified in self-defense and he does not bear any criminal responsibility. Return Liu Hu's 100 acres of land, return his wife and children to reunite with their family, and allocate 50 acres of land to Liu Hu from the confiscated Zheng family property as compensation.
.
However, in order to prevent people from interfering with the Central Court and from shouting grievances outside the palace, those who engage in these two behaviors, regardless of the facts, will be fined to clean the streets of the capital for one month, and they cannot spend money to hire people to do it for them. Liu Hu must stay in
Peiyang sweeps the streets for a month.
This case caused a sensation across the country, and went down in history as the "Liu Hu Case."
Wang Yuan even issued an edict, telling the officials and people of Tianzhu: "Naturalized Han people are also Han people, regardless of race, regardless of skin color, regardless of gender, they are all your brothers and sisters, and they are all our Chinese people. If there is any unreasonable discrimination against naturalized Han people
, if the facts are conclusive, severe punishment must be imposed, the common people must be fined to serve, and the officials must be dismissed and investigated!”
Discrimination definitely exists, and the darker your skin color, the more likely you are to be discriminated against. Wang Yuan simply used this case to set the tone.
At least the officials were frightened. This time, a provincial justice was dismissed, and a third-level local official was kicked off if he asked!