After hearing these two words, Li Ci's expression was cruel and frightened.
He was cruel because he resented Zhao Junchen's aggressiveness and deliberately targeted him, and he was frightened because he didn't expect that Zhao Junchen really wanted to kill everyone, and he didn't have confidence that he could withstand the torture.
So, Li Ci immediately shouted in protest: "I have the reputation of being a civil servant! My great-grandfather was the young minister of Taipu Temple! My great-great-grandmother was a fourth-rank imperial conferred by the imperial court! My grandfather was also an official of the imperial court! Now the evidence of the crime has not been confirmed, and the government
You can’t torture me at will!”
At the same time, the Xingzhou gentry who gathered outside the lobby of the Xingzhou government office and were nervously watching the progress of the trial were also in an uproar, and some faint voices of protest and dissatisfaction could be heard.
Zhao Junchen sneered: "Having such a large number of firearms and shells taken from your home...can't it be considered a conclusive crime?"
"That's a frame-up! It's definitely a frame-up! My Li family has been loyal and innocent for generations, how could it be possible to hide such a large number of prohibited soldiers? There are too many suspicious things about this matter, and we must investigate them one by one..."
Zhao Junchen was too lazy to continue arguing with Li Ci, and just smiled and said: "Okay! You have a reputation, you are a descendant of an official, and you are a gentry. You insist that you have been framed and you cannot be tortured at will! Okay, yes.
It makes sense! It all makes sense!”
Everyone was stunned when they heard what Zhao Junchen said.
Zhao Junchen actually gave in like this?
However, before Li Ci had time to relax, he saw Zhao Junchen suddenly wave his hand.
The next moment, several imperial guards behind him quickly dispatched, forcibly pushing through a group of gentry who had gathered outside the lobby to watch, and rushed to the vestibule of the Xingzhou government office, frightening the accounting gentlemen in the vestibule.
The chicken is flying and the dog is jumping.
In the end, several imperial guards ran directly to the accountant of the Li family and carried him to the government office lobby.
Seeing that the imperial guards suddenly escorted his accountant into the government office lobby, Li Ci immediately guessed Zhao Junchen's intention, and his expression changed again, and his face became paler.
While the Xingzhou government was investigating the Li family's conspiracy, Zhao Junchen did not interrupt the work of Mr. Li's accountant, and still allowed him to continue checking the accounts and collecting gold. However, the accountant saw that his master was involved in the conspiracy.
It is a serious sin, but he is frightened and frightened, and his mind is unsettled. There is no progress in his own work, and he only secretly pays attention to the trial process in the lobby.
This accountant was probably at the age when he knew his fate. He was tall and thin, with a shrewd demeanor. However, after he was caught by the Imperial Army officers and brought to the lobby of the government office, he was trembling like chaff and his face was bloodless.
Seeing that the accountant of the Li family was so frightened, Zhao Junchen comforted him and said: "Old gentleman, I know that you are busy calculating the amount of rice sold by the grain store and receiving gold subsidies, but at present, the Li family's conspiracy
I also need you to testify, so I have to delay your time a little! However, before you testify, there are a few things that I need to confirm in advance... Old gentleman, what is your name? Do you also have Juren?
Fame?"
"Xiaomin, Xiaomin's name is Xiao Shun. Xiaomin does not have the reputation of being a civil servant. He only has the reputation of being a child."
Zhao Junchen asked again: "Then...were your ancestors once high-ranking officials in the imperial court and received imperial canonization orders?"
Xiao Shun vaguely guessed something, and his expression became more and more panicked. He was about to cry on the spot. He shook his head with a bitter face and said: "Xiao Min, Xiao Min's family has been farming for generations. After he is not an official, he has never been canonized by the imperial court..."
Zhao Junchen smiled and nodded, saying: "In that case, it's easy to handle!"
After saying that, Zhao Junchen turned his eyes to Lu Wensheng again and said: "Although Li Ci swore that all the firearms and weapons in the Li family's ancestral home were framed by others, after all, it was only one side of the story. You cannot doubt it or believe it!
What matters most is that one person's testimony and physical evidence must be corroborated by multiple parties...
Therefore, I suggest that Lu Zhizhou should focus on interrogating the vassal servants of the Li family and verify the truth from them. These vassal servants have no fame or family background, so they can be tortured at will! As long as the vassal servants of the Li family go through several
Even after the round of torture, we still insist that the Li family is innocent, so let’s turn around and investigate the frame-up! And now... Lu Zhizhou will start interrogating the accountant!"
As Zhao Junchen finished speaking, Xiao Shun immediately collapsed to the ground.
*
Next, the investigation progressed very smoothly.
Not everyone is as courageous as Li Ci, who can still have a clear mind and quick reactions when disaster strikes.
When Lu Wensheng began to interrogate Xiao Shun, the accountant kept hesitating and evasive, and anyone could tell that he had something to hide.
In desperation, Lu Wensheng had no choice but to follow Zhao Junchen's suggestion and torture Xiao Shun.
Seeing that the instrument of torture was about to be used on his body, Xiao Shun finally did not dare to hesitate anymore and cried loudly: "I'll do it! Don't use torture! I'll do it all! The Li family did purchase armor and firearms privately. Xiaomin was in charge of Li
The family’s income and expenditure account books, so I also know some inside information, and I have also seen Li Ci try out firearms with my own eyes... But Xiaomin really doesn’t know how many firearms and armors the Li family has purchased privately!"
Seeing Xiao Shun's confession on the spot, Li Ci couldn't help but become furious. He immediately spat out a mouthful of blood and almost fainted, completely losing his previous calmness and courage.
Zhao Junchen ignored Li Ci's ugly appearance and just took the opportunity to interject and asked: "I'll ask you again... does the civil unrest in Xingzhou some time ago have anything to do with the Li family? How much does it have to do with it?"
Since he had betrayed the Li family, Xiao Shun gave up and stopped hesitating and quickly replied: "As far as I know, the Li family had secretly stocked up on food before the civil unrest broke out. It was obviously early."
It was foreseeable that civil unrest would happen! He has been hiding behind the scenes to add fuel to the flames, not only concealing the benefits of agricultural reform from farmers, but also publicizing the disadvantages of agricultural reform everywhere, and constantly encouraging people to resist the government...
"
Zhao Junchen nodded slowly and sighed: "Sure enough, the civil unrest in Xingzhou... was deliberately provoked by some Jin gentry! They really have ulterior motives and are heinous!"
When he mentioned the words "part of the Jin gentry", Zhao Junchen turned his eyes and glanced at the Xingzhou Jin gentry who were watching not far away.
When the Xingzhou Jin gentry saw that the Li family's accountant had betrayed the Li family so easily and confessed to various crimes of the Li family, every one of them was shaking like chaff and looking pale.
After seeing Zhao Junchen say the words "part of the Jin gentry" while scanning himself with cold eyes, all the Jin gentry felt their scalps numb and their whole bodies chilled. Some of the less timid Jin gentry were even more frightened.
He collapsed to the ground on the spot.
Because they suddenly thought that they had brought their confidant Mr. Accountant to the Xingzhou government office today.
The reason why they brought their confidant, Mr. Accountant, to the Xingzhou government office was entirely due to Zhao Junchen's deliberate request.
According to Zhao Junchen, he needs to pay an astronomical gold subsidy to the Xingzhou gentry today, so he needs the gentry to bring their most astute accountant to the Xingzhou government office to be responsible for accounting and reconciliation.
But at this moment, after seeing the lessons learned from the Li family, the Xingzhou gentry finally realized Zhao Junchen's true intention.
Zhao Junchen specially asked them to bring his confidant accountants, not to check the accounts and receive subsidies, but to take the opportunity to catch all the accountants of the Jin gentry, and then use these accountants as a breakthrough to completely implement various tasks.
Various crimes of the Jin gentry!
Regardless of whether it is ancient or modern, at home or abroad, in any organizational force, when it comes to internal information, it is definitely the accountants and accountants who control the income and expenditure books. Everything cannot be bypassed or concealed from them.
But now, as the confidants of the Jin gentry have gathered together, Zhao Junchen only needs to take the opportunity to interrogate them one by one to quickly verify the various crimes of each Jin gentry!
Therefore, why did Zhao Junchen want to give them gold today? He clearly wanted to take away their wealth and lives!
After seeing the panic of the Jin gentry, Zhao Junchen still felt that his intimidation was not strong enough, so he quickly took over the proceedings and completely took over the trial, leaving Lu Wensheng unable to interrupt at all.
Under Zhao Junchen's activity, the Imperial Guards quickly took away the Xingzhou Yamen's jobs.
The first is to continue to summon witnesses.
Under Zhao Junchen's summons, the people in eastern Xingzhou who were deeply grudged and bitter were brought one after another to the lobby of the Xingzhou government office, where they excitedly accused the Jin gentry of various crimes in recent years.
Robbery, setting up private torture chambers, buying and selling by force, taking wives and daughters, and even committing murder...
The accusations one after another and the crimes one after another are all shocking and cruel.
But the Li family was not the only Jin gentry in the east of Xingzhou. Several other Jin gentry in the east of Xingzhou were also targets of accusations by the people.
Seeing that the Li family's conspiracy was becoming more and more implicated, the Xingzhou Jin gentry were collectively frightened, especially the few Xingzhou eastern Xingzhou Jin gentry who had been accused by the common people.
, or they were so frightened that they vomited continuously, or they simply collapsed to the ground.
Zhao Junchen still ignored them, but then sent people to arrest many members of the Li family and their vassals, and tortured them one by one for interrogation.
Zhao Junchen was obviously well prepared, and he could be said to have caught him right away. Not only did he quickly arrest all the core members of the Li family, but he also did not affect the grain sales of the Li family grain store.
Because he already had the testimony provided by Mr. Xiao Shun, the accountant of the Li family, Zhao Junchen naturally had no scruples when interrogating these people. Even the legitimate sons and grandsons of Li Ci, the head of the Li family, were tortured one after another.
There is no tough guy under torture.
Under Zhao Junchen's severe torture, the Li family members and vassals soon couldn't bear it any longer, and they soon admitted that the Li family had secretly kept soldiers and armor over the years, promoted civil unrest, bribed the government, and oppressed the people.
Various crimes committed by vigilante justice.
And this series of crimes added together is enough to punish the Nine Clans!
However, these Li family members and Li family vassals are not the head of the Li family after all. Many things are only known roughly. Therefore, if you want to fully implement the crimes of the Li family so that no one can find fault, you still need the head of the Li family, Li.
Only if you confess your sins personally.
As a result, everyone's eyes were once again focused on Li Ci.
At this time, when Li Ci saw that the situation was becoming more and more unfavorable to his family, he was so angry that he felt as if he had suddenly contracted a serious illness. His eyes were bloodshot, his lips were white, and his hair was disheveled.
And because during Zhao Junchen's interrogation of witnesses, Li Ci tried to interrupt him many times, so the imperial guard stuffed his mouth with a ball of cloth.
At Zhao Junchen's signal, the imperial guard finally took out the cloth ball from Li Ci's mouth, and Li Ci was finally able to speak.
Zhao Junchen took a moment to take a look at Li Ci's tragic situation, and asked slowly: "Master Li, are you willing to plead guilty now?"
But when things got to this point, Li Ci risked his life and shouted: "I admit all the crimes of promoting civil unrest, bribing the government, and oppressing the people! But I definitely don't admit the crime of hiding soldiers and armor! I will definitely not admit it!"
The Li family did have a little private collection of armor, but the quantity was definitely not that large! Someone must have framed them!
And privately misappropriating court firearms and stomachs to frame others is also a serious crime! This matter must also be investigated and clarified! No matter who deliberately framed my Li family, I will die with him! Even if he is a ghost, I will not let him go.
he!"
While speaking, Li Ci stared at Zhao Junchen fiercely, and then looked at Li He with a hint of hope.
Li Ci's meaning was obvious. He believed that Zhao Junchen sent people to secretly misappropriate the imperial firearms and armor, and then used these firearms and armor to frame the Li family, so he hoped that Li He could conduct an in-depth investigation in this direction.
, it is easy to seize Zhao Junchen's flaws, so that not only the "Zhou Party" has the opportunity to attack political opponents, but the Li family can also drag Zhao Junchen to be buried with him!
However, Li Ci became desperate the next moment, because Li He did not respond to his explicit instructions at all, and remained silent as if he was deaf and blind.
Seeing Li Ci trying to drag him into trouble at this time, Zhao Junchen sighed with regret.
This Li Ci, if you look at it aside from his position and virtue, he really has a bit of a heroic demeanor.
It's a pity that after all, he is just a gentry from a small place, and his vision and structure are too small. At this time, he still wants to counterattack Zhao Junchen through the truth, but he has no idea that in the face of higher-level interest exchanges, the so-called "
"Truth" is never trivial.
After shaking his head and sighing, Zhao Junchen waved his hand and said: "In that case, let's torture Li Ci!"
As Zhao Junchen finished speaking, several Forbidden Army guards rushed forward, pushed Li Ci to the ground, and then served him with a cane.
After twenty consecutive blows of the staff, Li Ci's clothes were torn to pieces and blood dripped with his continuous screams.
After the cane punishment was over, Zhao Junchen still asked calmly: "Li Ci, can you plead guilty?"
Li Ci had bitten the roots of his teeth under the severe pain, but he still held his neck and insisted on shouting: "Don't admit it! Someone is deliberately setting up a trap! Investigate! This matter must be thoroughly investigated... I want to die with you."
!perish together!"
"Continue the torture!"
As Zhao Junchen expressed his stance again, the well-prepared soldiers of the Forbidden Army brought bamboo sticks, and then they restrained Li Ci's body and inserted the bamboo sticks into Li Ci's hands and fingers one by one, making Li Ci endure the pain.
He couldn't help but scream loudly again.
After the stabbing was over, Zhao Junchen asked again: "Li Ci, do you plead guilty?"
"No, I will never admit it! We will die together... we will die together..."
"Torture again!"
The Forbidden Army guards took out sticks and clamped Li Ci's feet, and then they worked together to pull them outward.
The next moment, there was a faint sound of shattering... It was the sound of Li Ci's foot bones breaking.
Li Ci's screams tore his throat for a while, and his body struggled violently and twitched. He quickly passed out, but was quickly awakened by cold water.
Just like this, after several consecutive tortures, Zhao Junchen asked again: "Li Ci, do you plead guilty?"
All kinds of cruel tortures were obviously inflicted on Li Ci, but the scalps of the surrounding Jin gentry were numb and their eyelids were twitching, as if these tortures were being inflicted on them.
At the same time, Li Ci was completely bruised and covered in blood. He finally reached his limit and broke his bones. While sobbing, he was dying and said: "Admit... plead guilty!"
Just like that, Li Ci finally confessed.
The once prosperous Li family in eastern Xingzhou will soon be wiped out as Li Ci confesses.
*
As Li Ci signed the confession and was dragged out of the lobby by the Xingzhou government officials, Zhao Junchen finally handed over the power of trial to Lu Wensheng, and shook his head hypocritically and blamed himself: "Alas! I just like this person.
To cause trouble for myself, I clearly agreed to let Lu Zhizhou be in charge of the trial, but in the end I couldn't help but meddle in my own business and took the spotlight...
Fortunately, the results were good, and the conspiracy was successfully detected! It was obvious that the Li family had evil intentions. They not only hid weapons and firearms secretly, but also deliberately provoked civil unrest. They must have wanted to take advantage of the chaos to rebel! Fortunately, this
The conspiracy was quickly eliminated, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous!"
Afterwards, Zhao Junchen looked at Lu Wensheng with a smile and said: "But in the subsequent interrogation, I will no longer interfere... It's just that for such a big case and such a serious crime, how should we deal with it next? Lu Zhizhou, you must
Do you understand?"
Under Zhao Junchen's piercing gaze, Lu Wensheng also looked pale. After a long silence, he finally said slowly: "Send the order to immediately seize all the property of the Li family and arrest all members of the Li family!
In addition, Zhou Xiling, Wan Zhihong, Yu Weida... I also hope that you will send messages to your respective clansmen, try to restrain them, do not let them leave Xingzhou City in the near future, and do not embarrass me, and how many of you
Please stay at the Xingzhou government office tonight and assist the government in their investigation!"
The crime committed by the Li family was a serious crime against the Nine Clan, and the people named by Lu Wensheng were all Jin gentry in Xingzhou, or had a marriage relationship with the Li family, were among the Nine Clan, or were also located in the eastern part of Xingzhou.
He has a close relationship with the Li family and was also accused by the people in eastern Xingzhou just now.
Therefore, these Jin gentry will soon be in trouble, and maybe the whole family will be buried with the Li family!
And these Xingzhou Jin gentry whose names were called were all so frightened that they became paralyzed and could no longer stand up. One of them even fainted from fright on the spot.
Zhao Junchen glanced at all the gentry in Xingzhou again, only to find that after they had witnessed the interrogation process with their own eyes, especially after witnessing Zhao Junchen's no room for mercy and torture, most of them were now paralyzed on the ground, and every one of them was paralyzed.
He was extremely frightened and trembling.
A trace of sarcasm flashed in Zhao Junchen's eyes, and with a false smile on his face, he said: "I thought this case would be finished soon, but I didn't expect that before I knew it, it would be evening! Everyone
Jin Shen Xian Da, I still say the same thing, as long as you have nothing to do with the Li family's wife, then there is no need to be nervous at all, just do whatever you need to do...
As for now, it is already late, and your grain stores are about to close, but the people's rush to buy is not over yet. We will need you to continue to help me sell grain tomorrow, so everyone should hurry up and return home to rest. We will still need you tomorrow.
Continue to work hard and count the gold that this pavilion subsidizes you!
However, all the accounting clerks of the Jin gentry will stay in the Xingzhou government office tonight. I still need to check the accounts with them again, in case I underpaid your subsidies and took advantage of you! Well, I just checked the accounts.
That’s all, don’t think too much about it!”
Zhao Junchen's "well-intentioned comfort" obviously had the opposite effect.
Especially when I think about the fact that the Li family was wiped out because of the on-the-spot betrayal of their accountant. Now Zhao Junchen wants all the Jin gentry to leave their accountants to stay at the Xingzhou government office overnight... Who knows?
What will happen that night? Will my accountant tell the story of his crimes just like Xiao Shun did?
Thinking of this, all the Jin gentry were frightened out of their wits, and looked at Zhao Junchen with extremely fearful eyes, as if they saw an evil dragon baring its teeth and claws at them, choosing to devour anyone.
At this time, Li He, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly turned his head and glanced at Song Songgong, the head of the Song family, and nodded slightly.
The next moment, Song Songgong rushed into the lobby of the Xingzhou government office, knelt down in front of Zhao Junchen with a bang, and cried loudly: "The common people are guilty! The common people are guilty!"