Dakui walked in, followed by Hong Wu and Gou Sheng. Gou Sheng was still holding an imperial chair in his hand. The secret room was clean and tidy. It used to be a vegetable cellar. Every big family had a cellar. When winter comes and fruits and vegetables disappear, it is natural to have a cellar. It was stored in a cellar, but at this time it was sorted out to store people.
Gou Sheng placed the Grand Master's chair behind Dakui, and Dakui lifted up his robe and sat in the chair.
"This is Mr. Zhang, Jiangnan's political envoy. I have something to ask you, and you must answer truthfully," Hong Wu said to Li Mazi first.
Although Li Mazi was frightened, he still stubbornly turned his head to one side. He knew in his heart that he seemed to be in danger. The person coming was a higher official than Lord Fu Yin. It seemed that even Lord Fu Yin was not in danger. It's hard to be alone.
Dakui sat down and asked warmly: "Li Mazi, my reputation and actions in the world have been fully investigated. Back then, you became a bandit but did not harm the people. You dared to lead hundreds of rebels." These officers are already aware of the confrontation with the Yuan soldiers, but there is something unknown to me. Why did you not surrender the red scarf and go to join Pan Ke? What you did is not a secret betrayal of the pearl,"
Hearing this, Li Mazi scolded him lightly: "Don't ask any more questions. You can kill or chop as you please."
Dakui then sighed: "If the matter is urgent, I won't make any detours with you. If you don't grasp the evidence tonight, I'm afraid it will take a lot of trouble tomorrow. You can say nothing, but there are some things I need to tell you." It’s a powerful statement.” After a meal, Dakui continued: “There is always talk of confiscation of homes when the government handles cases. You and Raozhou Prefecture Yin Pan Ke will definitely get all the stolen money from selling illegal salt back, and the real estate you have worked hard for a year to buy will also be recovered. After being seized, you still have your beloved wife and young children at home. Unfortunately, they will be helpless from now on."
Dakui sighed and glanced at Li Mazi's expression. Seeing that he was really moved, he continued: "A man should put righteousness first when he walks in the world, but you help the tyrants to do evil and do not distinguish between right and wrong. Pan Yan, the governor of Raozhou, is now gone. You Why should you be so stubborn?"
When Li Mazi heard Pan Ke's name, his face was startled again and again, and he said Ling Ran: "Everything I have is thanks to Mr. Pan. Now that the incident has happened, I, Li Mazi, would rather lose my head than betray Mr. Pan. You Just give up on this,"
Dakui chuckled and said: "I understand your feelings very well, but there is something I need to tell you truthfully." Dakui smiled slightly and said: "Your beloved wife was originally a maid in Pan Ke's house, but in fact she is Pan Ke's Concubine, the two of us are now separated from each other and often do sleazy things behind your back. Do you know, "Dakui's words were half true and half false, which really made people confused.
When Li Mazi heard this, he was like a thunderbolt, and shouted: "That's nonsense."
Dakui chuckled and said, "I have obtained solid evidence, and there is no falsehood in what I say."
According to the verification by his subordinates, Li Mazi's wife was indeed a maid of Pan's house in the past, but the theory that the maid was Pan Ke's concubine is purely based on Ziwu Xuyou. It is even more groundless that Pan Ke had an affair with Li Mazi's wife. Da Kui can't say so. It was just to shake Li Mazi's obsession. Li Mazi was passed down through three generations. If Dakui said so, then his son...?
Li Mazi didn't dare to think about it anymore, but he couldn't help but think about it. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and the more he felt useless. His face was also uncertain, and he suddenly yelled: "You're talking nonsense~," but he was already acting like crazy, thinking I tried to stand up, but my hands and feet were tied, so I couldn't do it.
When Dakui saw that the fire was almost done, he said: "I know that you really want to find out whether the child is yours. This officer can help you, but you must truthfully confess Pan Ke's criminal evidence and be willing to testify in court. As you wish, when the matter is accomplished, I will be extraordinarily kind and give you some silver to give you your freedom."
Things in the world are so strange. If they look fake, they will turn out to be true. Da Kui coaxed and lied to persuade Li Mazi. Li Mazi was like a drowning man grabbing a life-saving straw, saying repeatedly: " I'll do it, I'll do it all, I just hope that the adults can spare the villain's life and let me see my child," he said, but he was already crying.
Da Kui turned to Hong Wu and said: "Take the four treasures of the study to record his confession and draw a bond for him. Someone else will go and invite Mrs. Li and Young Master Li, and let their family reunite tonight. Also invite a doctor to come and escort Li Zhuangshi and Young Master Li." Recognize your relatives with blood," Hong Wu accepted the order and turned around to leave the secret room.
Hearing this, Li Mazi burst into tears of gratitude. He struggled to kneel on the ground and kowtowed to Dakui, thanking him profusely.
Dakui waved his hand and said: "I still have other things to do. You need to explain everything one by one. Whether you can survive depends on whether your confession is useful."
Li Mazi said anxiously: "I don't dare to hide anything, sir, please rest assured."
Da Quinn made a sound, stood up, dusted off his robe, turned around and left the secret room. There was another distinguished guest who needed to be served, and he must not be delayed. In a private room in the courtyard, the master of the Salt Service Department was still wrapped in a sack and leaning against the corner. , there are still two men in black guarding the side room. At this time, the two men in black have taken off their face towels, but there are two people with a dustpan and a bench.
As soon as Dakui entered the door, the dustpan and the bench were handed over and they greeted him: "Sir,"
After Dakui sat down on the imperial chair at the square table by the window, he said, "Untie him."
Dustpan and Bench took the order, went over and unsealed the sack, lifted the bottom corner of the sack and poured out the master like beans.
There were candles burning in the room, and Dakui sat upright and looked at the salt master coldly.
According to the investigation, this master's surname was Ma, and his name was Ma Cuishan. All the accounts of the salt farm were controlled by this person. It can be said that if you want to obtain all the evidence against Pan Ke, Ma Cuishan's confession is the most important.
When Ma Cuishan saw the light, he lay on the ground and looked at Dakui carefully for a while, then stood up and brushed off the dust on his body. Judging from his posture, he was not afraid.
Da Kui didn't ask any questions and just looked at him like this. Unexpectedly, Master Ma had a mysophobia and would dust himself off endlessly. When there were stubborn stains, he would even pinch his sleeves with his hands to rub them. He was not in a hurry, but Da Kui was. I was in a hurry, it had been an hour since I caught him, and it would be hard to do anything if I delayed him any longer.
Dakui suddenly slapped the table and shouted: "Ma Cuishan, raise your head,"
Master Ma was startled, raised his head and looked at Da Kui, but in an instant he said proudly: "Don't show off, the whole city of Raozhou will be under martial law before tomorrow morning, and then we will conduct door-to-door searches, and none of you will escape." Don’t fall off,”
Dakui sneered: "I can cut you into pieces before martial law is enforced."
Master Ma chuckled and said: "What is the joy of life and the fear of death? How can we, the scholars, give in to danger?" After saying that, he lowered his head again to rub the dirt on his clothes. Most of his white robe was already soaked in mud and water. It was already extremely filthy at this time, and if it was rubbed like this, it would last until dawn.
Seeing his expression full of regret, Dakui couldn't help but hatch a plan.
"Come here, go to the toilet and bring a bucket of excrement. If he doesn't bother you, wipe it on him. If he doesn't bother you, feed him. If he doesn't bother you, drown him in the pit." After Dakui ordered, he smiled sinisterly and looked at him. Master Ma stopped talking.
Master Ma was horrified to death when he heard this. Not to mention drowning in a manure pit, even smelling it was a kind of torture. He never went to the toilet in his home on weekdays. Master Ma always had his own toilet, and before using it every time They were all washed very clean and soaked in spices. Before each use, Master Ma would cover his mouth and nose with a kerchief, which was also soaked in spices.
Today Da Kui wanted to smear his body with excrement, which would be even more uncomfortable than killing him. When the bench actually brought a bucket of excrement into the room, Master Ma waved his hands as if avoiding a snake and scorpion and screamed: "Take it away quickly. , take it away quickly," Dustpan reached out and grabbed Master Ma's arm, twisted and pressed it, and pushed him to his knees on the ground. Master Ma grinned in pain and screamed like a slaughtering pig.
Dakui sneered and said: "It takes some trouble to smear it. Just take a spoon and feed it to him directly. It seems that he won't confess."
Bench held the excrement bucket in one hand and covered his mouth and nose with the other. His stomach was churning several times and he felt nauseous. When he heard Dakui's instructions, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed: "Sir, this excrement has been around for a long time. It's so smelly that I can't stand it anymore." ,"
Dakui covered his nose and said, "If he doesn't want to eat, you can eat it. You can decide what to do yourself." Hearing this, Benchbu dared to be negligent. He turned around and went out to the kitchen to get a spoon. It was still blue and white porcelain.
"I'll do it all, I'll do it all..." Master Ma couldn't stand this kind of torture, and his spirit completely collapsed.
Dakui winked at the bench, and the bench immediately carried the dung bucket out, and when he came back he brought the four treasures of the study.
Dakui motioned to the dustpan and said, "Don't be rude to Master Ma. Come and record a confession for Master Ma." The dustpan accepted the order and let go. He came over to unfold the paper and grind the ink, and then picked up the pen to prepare the ink.
Da Kui said to Master Ma: "You know the accounts of the salt factory best. Where are the accounts of private salt?"
Master Ma quickly replied: "The accounts are settled every month. The general ledger is with Mr. Fu, but I also made a copy here. It is in my study room." Da Kui asked some more about the salt farm. Where is Master Ma at this moment? He dared to hide something and answered every question in detail. After the dustpan was recorded in detail, Master Ma was called to sign the deposit.
Dakui took the confession and looked at it before asking: "You need to tell me clearly where the account book is. If you can't find it, you will still be in the cesspool."
Master Ma nodded repeatedly and said, "I don't dare to hide it. The account book is the third from the second shelf on the shelf in my study."
Dakui nodded with satisfaction, stood up and said, "You are very aware of current affairs, but you don't know who is in your family."
Master Ma hurriedly said: "There are more than 20 wives and servants at home,"
Dakui asked again in detail where the study was, and then said: "You can tell me whatever you know about Mr. Salt Administration, I will come when I go." After saying that, Dakui ordered the dustpan and bench to record a confession for Master Ma here, and then Go out and go.
The skills of Da Kui's subordinates were all average. In order to avoid alerting others, they had to go and get the account books in person. Da Kui first went back to the back house and changed into night clothes, covered his face, and then left the room, disappearing into the night... ….
In the rainy night, Dakui was running all the way. From a distance, his figure seemed to disappear like a ghost.
Based on Master Ma's confession, Da Kui found Master Ma's home. He went to the outside of the courtyard wall and listened for a while without hearing anything. Just to be on the safe side, Da Kui picked up a few stones and put them in his arms. Then he jumped towards the wall with his hands on the wall.
Press the wall and use the force to swing over the wall and float down in the courtyard.