The Jingzhao Mansion was also at a loss and pushed the case to the Criminal Department. In the afternoon, Dugu Ming returned from the Criminal Department.
"The Ministry of Criminal Justice has accepted this case, but they said there are too many backlogs and they can't take care of it for the time being."
Dugu Lie frowned, "When will that happen?"
"I looked at their numbers and it will be at least three months or half a year before this case comes up."
Dugu Lie understood that this was actually a procrastination strategy. After three or five months, no one would pay attention to it. Then the major issues would be reduced to trivial matters, and the case would be closed. Governments from ancient times to the present have been very good at this.
one move.
"We have no choice but to jointly appeal!"
In the evening of that day, twenty-six families of Guanlong clans gathered in Dugu Mansion to speak out for the misfortune of the Changsun family. They quickly reached an agreement and wrote a letter of appeal, signed by the heads of the twenty-six families, demanding severe punishment for the murderers.
On the surface, they are fighting for the injustice of the Changsun family, but in fact they are worried about their own fate. With the resignation of Dugu Lie, Yuan Yuan and the leaders of the three major Guanlong families in the south of Changsun, they are even more marginalized, and there is no longer any senior official in the court.
The faculties represent their interests.
This time, Changsun Tai was killed, which made them feel a strong crisis. Each family abandoned their past grievances and quickly reached an agreement.
Even a group of ants can still have good fighting power, such as the peasant uprising, not to mention the Guanlong nobles who once ruled the Sui and Tang dynasties. Even if the Guanlong nobles declined and became the Guanlong gentry, the camels that starved to death were bigger than the horses.
A joint letter signed by twenty-six Guanlong nobles was quickly put on Emperor Li Heng's case.
Li Heng did not dare to neglect, and immediately summoned five ministers, as well as the chief officials of the Ministry of Justice, Dali Temple and Yushitai, to come to the imperial study room to discuss the matter together.
Li Heng threw the joint letter heavily on the table, "Take a look! Changsun Quanxu's son was cut to death by Li Baochen's son in Taibai Restaurant. I don't know, I thought they were jealous and had a conflict over a woman. In fact, there was no conflict at all.
I don’t even know each other, and without even saying a word, just because the stairs were narrow and there was a collision, I drew my knife and killed someone. Is this ridiculous? This is simply a devil. What should you do?"
No one said anything, and Li Heng asked Du Hongjian, the Secretary of the Ministry of Punishment, "Does the Ministry of Punishment know nothing about this matter?"
Du Hongjian said quickly: "Your Majesty, this happened just the day before yesterday. I don't know about it yet. I will investigate it immediately when I get back."
At this time, the left prime minister Li Xian said: "Your Majesty, Li Baochen's son Weichen has heard some rumors. He and several other hostages from the feudal town hang out together all day long, claiming to be a feudal town party, and doing random things in Chang'an, which makes people's faces change.
Last time, Wang Xima's wife and daughter were kidnapped and violated by them on their way to incense, and they are still unconscious.
The killing of Changsun Quanxu's son this time seems to be an accident, but in fact it is inevitable. Either the Changsun family or the children of other ministers' families were killed, so Wei Chen suggested putting the five of them under house arrest last time. This time Wei Chen once again
We appeal that they must be restrained, otherwise greater disasters will happen."
When mentioning the feudal town party, Emperor Li Heng immediately pretended to be stunned, "I remembered, weren't they the group of people who killed Jin Wuwei?"
"Your Majesty, it's them. They have done many evil things and should have been put under house arrest long ago. Your Majesty, make up your mind!"
How is it possible to put them under house arrest? The signed contract clearly stipulates that imprisonment or house arrest of hostages is not allowed.
Li Heng said for a long time: "Restraining them is a matter for the future. What should we do with this case now?"
Right Prime Minister Pei Mian said: "Your Majesty, I would like to suggest that you understand the case first. After all, what your Majesty saw was only one side of the story."
Li Heng nodded and said: "This case is led by the Ministry of Punishment. It will be jointly investigated by the three departments of the Criminal Ministry, Yushitai and Dali Temple. I will have the results in three days."
This was a case jointly submitted by twenty-six Guanlong clans. Li Heng had to give them face, so he used three divisions to review the case, and the result would be issued within three days.
When everyone dispersed, Li Heng thought for a moment and asked the eunuch Han Fengen to invite Li Fuguo.
Soon, Li Fuguo hurried over, bowed and saluted, "Old slave, see your majesty!"
"No need to be polite, Aweng, look at this!"
Li Heng handed the joint letter to Li Fuguo. Li Fuguo took it and read it again, frowning, "Li Baochen's son is in a little trouble!"
Li Heng nodded, "Why don't I know? I just called so many people just to show that I attach great importance to this matter. If I want to kill him, I would have killed him during the Jinwu Guard incident. Why wait until now?"
"It's really hard to move. He is a hostage. If you kill him, Li Baochen will rebel, and it will also trigger other towns to rebel. Whether the court has the ability to suppress the rebellion is secondary. The old slave is worried that Li Ye will find another opportunity to send troops.
.”
The eunuchs are all roundworms in the emperor's stomach, and they can grasp the main points in just one sentence.
Li Hengshen believed that people must not be killed, and the three towns in Hebei could not be forced to rebel because of the hostage incident.
"Then do you have any good suggestions?"
"Your Majesty, there are only a few ways. You can't escape by going around and around."
"Tell me, what can I do?"
"The first way is to change the hostages, send these people back and replace them with another group of hostages.
The second way is to ask them to apologize and go to Changsun's house to apologize and ask for forgiveness from the deceased. This is actually the best way, but it probably won't work. These guys probably won't apologize.
The third method is symbolic punishment, such as dismissal from office and fine, but the Changsun family will probably not accept it.
The fourth way is to capture Xiao Zhang and kill a few scapegoats, and then your Majesty will appease the eldest grandson Quanxu, promote him to the rank of general, and compensate him with his title."
Li Heng was very interested in the fourth plan. If combined with the third plan, it should be the most perfect plan. It would not only give an explanation to the Guanlong clan, but also not kill the hostages and injure their bones.
It is Li Fuguo who knows him best and can help him solve big problems.
The next day, Chang Cui, the minister of punishment, and Jing Yu, the censor Zhongcheng, hurried to the imperial study. Chang Cui put a report on the imperial case, "Your Majesty, this is the result of the joint trial of the three departments. Your Majesty, please review it!"
"Coming out so soon?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the case is relatively simple, and Wannian County Government has fully understood it."
"I'll look at the report later. You guys can talk about the case first."
"The deceased's eldest son, Sun Tai, was studying at Guozixue. Tomorrow is his weak crown's birthday. He planned to treat a guest, so he and his housekeeper went to Taibai Restaurant to book a private room. The housekeeper went to arrange a carriage. Zhang Sun Tai went upstairs to find the shopkeeper. He happened to be there
At the top of the stairs, I met a group of people from the Fanzhen Party coming down from the stairs. There were about twenty people.
Changsun Tai ran up the stairs faster and bumped into Li Baochen's son Li Huang on the shoulder. Li Huang drank too much and angered him. He grabbed Changsun Tai's hair, pulled out a dagger and cut his throat.
It’s the basic facts of the case, but there’s one point that’s not certain: did Li Huang do the killing himself?”
"Are there any witnesses or physical evidence?"
Chang Cui shook his head, "At that time, all the guests on the second floor of the restaurant were gone. There were Li Huang and his men in front and behind the stairs. Didn't you see who killed him?"
"Since no one saw it, why did the report say that Li Huang pulled out a dagger and cut Chang Sun Tai's throat?"
"Reporting to your majesty, it was because Li Huang said something when he went out that it is more refreshing to kill people than to slaughter sheep. Several bartenders heard it, so they concluded that he killed him."
Li Heng walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and asked again: "Have you ever interrogated Li Huang?"