Zhu Dongshan carefully opened the door and entered the house.
Opposite the door is a screen, but there are extremely strange patterns painted on the screen. It is a set of pictures of various punishments in the eighteen levels of hell. On it, the ghost officials are ferocious, and the innocent souls are miserable. The miserable howls seem to come from the screen.
Came faintly.
Ordinary people must be horrified when they see such a screen.
But Zhu Dongshan had long been accustomed to it. He walked around the screen. Behind the screen, a thin man under fifty years old was dressed in casual clothes. He was holding an extremely strange object in his hand. He was playing with it with interest and turned to look.
Xiang Zhu Dongshan smiled and said: "Dongshan, come and take a look at this."
"Master Bu Tang, what is this?" Zhu Dongshan stepped forward and saw that the object looked like a human hand, but also like a rake, but the sharp teeth were in the shape of a semi-hook. For Zhu Dongshan, who was used to seeing all kinds of torture instruments, it was strange.
It feels cold, but I've never seen it before, and it's a bit strange.
"I was just about to think of a name for it." Lu Junzhong said with a smile: "Half a month ago, Chen Xuanyang, the director of the Huzhou Criminal Department, sent someone a picture with this torture instrument drawn on it, and the dimensions and production method were written on it.
It is very clear and detailed on how to use it. He designed it himself and used it on criminals. He said it has excellent results. I had someone make a pair and sent it over last night, and then tried it.
, it’s really interesting.”
Although Zhu Dongshan wanted to report Qin Xiao's incident immediately, he saw that Lu Butang was in high spirits and did not dare to spoil his interest. He bowed his body and said, "Master Butang, how do you use this instrument of torture?"
The skinny man is naturally Lu Junzhong, the official of the Ministry of Justice.
Lu Junzhong has a sharp mouth, monkey cheeks, two ears that are much pointier than ordinary people, and a dark complexion. He is indeed ugly.
"Iron comb." Lu Junzhong suddenly had an idea, patted his forehead and said, "Yes, this torture instrument is called an iron comb, hahahaha!"
Zhu Dongshan bowed his body and said with a smile: "What a good name. Sir, you are so wise that you actually came up with such a shrewd name. Although Chen Xuanyang came up with this iron comb, if it is to be passed down through the ages, it would be millions of dollars without Mr. Bu Tang."
It can’t be done.”
Lu Junzhong's face showed excitement, and his eyes sparkled: "First, the prisoner must be stripped naked, and then his limbs must be tied to the iron bed so that he cannot move. Then he must be poured with boiling water.
, while pouring water, use this torture instrument to comb his body like combing his hair. Wherever it passes, the skin and flesh of the prisoner can be brushed away. In the end, the skin and flesh can be brushed away, revealing the white bones, hehe, and the prisoner is not dead for a while.
.Dongshan, let me give you a try later. Chen Xuanyang is really a talent. He actually came up with such a clever instrument of torture. If we transfer him to the Punishment Department later, we will definitely be even more powerful."
"That's what your Excellency said," Zhu Dongshan said hurriedly.
"Did the drumbeat just now come from in front of our door?" Lu Junzhong frowned: "Does anyone think that he has a long life? How did you deal with it?"
Zhu Dongshan said: "The official did not deal with it and asked him to wait outside the door."
Lu Junzhong raised his hand and touched the black goat's beard under his chin, put the torture instrument on the table, and then said: "You just said you had something to report, what was it?"
Zhu Dongshan immediately put away his smile and said: "Sir, there is a horse pulling a cart in front of the Yamen. There is a big drum on the cart, and they are beating the drum in front of the Yamen of the Ministry of Justice."
"Black Feathered Night Crow!" Zhu Dongshan said immediately: "Bu Tang, the person beating the drum is Black Feathered Night Crow."
Lu Junzhong was startled and asked in astonishment: "What did you say?"
Lu Junzhong's face darkened, he glanced at Zhu Dongshan, sat down on a chair and said slowly: "Someone was beating drums in front of the yamen of the Ministry of Justice, and then the officials from other yamen saw it, and they laughed in their hearts, but you
but not
Deal with the man who beats the drum, Dongshan, are you still awake?"
Zhu Dongshan nodded.
"I got news a few days ago that Jiayuguan was blocked. Although the specific situation is still unclear, there must be a big change in Xiling." Lu Junzhong said: "At this time, Heiyu's people came to Beijing, and Heiyu must have sent them.
Send a letter." He thought thoughtfully and finally said, "There must be an urgent military situation."
Zhu Dongshan took a step forward and said softly: "The person beating the drum outside the door is a black-feathered night crow named Qin Xiao, who came to Beijing from Xiling."
Lu Junzhong stood up suddenly and lost his voice: "Are you from Heiyu?"
Zhu Dongshan said: "Qin Xiao came here to ask our Criminal Department to help find someone. According to him, after the three of them entered Beijing, the other two suddenly disappeared two days ago and there was no news at all. He searched everywhere, but there was no clue.
In desperation, he ran to the Ministry of Punishment. The man took out the tiger head jade pendant. After careful inspection by the subordinate, it was indeed the craftsmanship of Yu Zaojian. Back then, the saint rewarded the black-feathered night crow for his military exploits and ordered Yu Zaojian to make it.
Thirty tiger-headed jade pendants, and Black-feathered Nightcrow each holds one. That is a gift from the saint, and it also serves as proof of Black-feathered Nightcrow's identity. With the tiger-headed jade pendant in hand, there is no doubt that he is Black-feathered Nightcrow."
Lu Junzhong stroked his goat's beard, sat down slowly, was silent for a moment, and then said: "I came to Kyoto from Xiling to report the military situation, but suddenly my whereabouts are unknown. Dongshan, this place is by no means simple, but there is a lot to be said."
Zhu Dongshan said: "Qin Xiao said that there was a rebellion in Xiling, and he and his three people went to Beijing to report the urgent military situation."
"That's right." Lu Junzhong nodded slightly, but immediately asked doubtfully: "If you go to Beijing to report military information, what are you doing here at our Ministry of Justice? Shouldn't you be going to the Ministry of War?"
"The Ministry of War!" After pondering for a moment, Lu Junzhong suddenly said with an extremely certain tone: "The missing person must have fallen into the hands of the Ministry of War, and now it must be in the hands of Fan Wenzheng's old dog. The messenger went to the Ministry of War to report,
Fan Wenzheng detained the messenger."
Zhu Dongshan nodded and said: "The lower officials also have this suspicion. But... why is the Ministry of War detaining or even placing the messenger under house arrest?"
"The lower official also feels that there must be something fishy." Zhu Dongshan said: "It is impossible that those two people disappeared for no reason and suddenly disappeared. They were either killed quietly or imprisoned. But what happened?
Who is behind this? What is the reason for taking action against the messenger from Xiling?"
Lu Junzhong leaned on the back of his chair, pursed his lips, and motioned for Zhu Dongshan to sit down as well.
"Perhaps, but with Heiyu's temperament, it should be impossible for him to be captured alive." Lu Junzhong's small eyes became stern: "Maybe he died in Xiling."
Zhu Dongshan nodded slightly, thought for a moment, and then said: "If Xiling
"For what?" A sinister smile appeared on Lu Junzhong's lips: "Have you forgotten that Heiyu had left seclusion many months ago? Logically speaking, the generals commanding the troops have already arrived at the front line, and all the soldiers under his command have already arrived at the front line.
Naturally, Ma will arrive immediately, but so far, the Changsheng Army under Heiyu is still stationed in Woye Town, and there is no news that the Changsheng Army has left the pass. There is a rebellion in Xiling, and the Jiayuguan Pass has been closed. This has proved that the rebellion has
The army is gaining strength in Xiling..., maybe even Black Feather has fallen into the hands of the rebels."
Zhu Dongshan was surprised and said: "Heiyu became a prisoner?"
"Why would he do this?"
"Of course we have to buy time to drag people into the water." Lu Junzhong sneered: "Only if more people go into the water and share the responsibility for the loss of Xiling, the Ministry of War can avoid too much loss. The more people involved in the matter, the more likely Fan Wenzheng's position will be.
The more stable it is, that old dog must have thought so." His eyes sparkled, and he rubbed his hands together excitedly, like a hunter who had discovered the traces of his prey: "Dongshan, if he really seizes the courier, he will be ours.
What a great opportunity. Some people don’t know how great the emperor’s favor is and want to deceive the saint. We can’t let them go.”
If it really falls into the hands of the rebels, the Ministry of War will be in big trouble this time. The Ministry of War did not dispatch the Changsheng Army in time, and Black Feather has no soldiers and horses in his hands, so he cannot suppress the rebellion. The Ministry of War cannot absolve himself of the blame."
"That's right." Lu Junzhong said with a dark smile: "Of course that old dog Fan Wenzheng knows this truth. Once the responsibility for losing Xiling falls on the Ministry of War, his chair will no longer be able to sit still. Hehe, detaining the courier is natural.
I don’t want the military information to be reported to the saint in time.”
Zhu Dongshan was startled.
"More than ten years ago, She Yue was still a child." Lu Junzhong said calmly: "I entered the palace to meet the saint, and when I was leaving, I happened to meet She Yue. I was very respectful to her, but when she saw me, she unexpectedly
She laughed at my appearance, saying that I looked like a monkey in the Imperial Garden, and asked me to go to the Imperial Garden to stay with the monkeys." There was hatred in his eyes: "She is the apple of the saint's eye, naturally I can't do anything to her.
So, but if I have the chance to kill her lackeys, I would still be happy to do so."
Zhu Dongshan said cautiously: "Behind the Ministry of War and the Ministry of War, there is the shadow of Her Highness the Princess. Fan Wenzheng's backer is the princess. And the Ministry of War and us don't have much trouble, this matter...!"
"If there was someone else behind him, I might consider whether to put in the effort to deal with him." Lu Junzhong's eyes flashed coldly: "It is precisely because he is behind She Yue that I have to find an opportunity to put him to death."
Zhu Dongshan did not expect that Lu Junzhong, who had a vicious and careless mind, would have such worries in his heart. He was quite surprised to hear it from his mouth for the first time today, but Lu Junzhong was not the only one with such worries.
"Although we have made rapid progress in recent years, we have offended too many people." Lu Junzhong sighed: "How many people in the court want to kill us? Except for the saints, we have no one to rely on...!" Pressed down.
The voice said: "The saint has been addicted to elixirs over the years, and... hehe, his health is getting worse and worse. What if... what if she is no longer here one day, wouldn't we become lambs to be slaughtered?
?She Yue and many people in the court will not let us go. Without the saint, we are nothing."
Cold sweat broke out on Zhu Dongshan's forehead, not because Lu Junzhong held a grudge, but because Lu Junzhong actually told him about this scandal. If one day too many people knew about this matter, he would be the first person Lu Junzhong would kill.
Many officials of the Ministry of Justice under Lu Junzhong got up by raising prisons, but they also offended too many people and became a thorn in the flesh of countless officials. Everyone knew in their hearts that if one day there was no protection from the saint, the civil and military affairs of the entire dynasty would be in ruins.
I'm afraid they can tear the people in the Ministry of Punishment into pieces.
But no one dares to reveal such thoughts.
"I know you all have such thoughts, but you don't dare to say it." Lu Junzhong said calmly: "I have brought you to this day, and it is a great success, but you have been with me all these years, and I also want to think about you.
Thinking of a way out." He smiled strangely and said, "This time I just take the opportunity to find a way out for you."