After this case was over, there were no thieves in Xiangyang County for a long time. Knowing that Li Li was very powerful and good at catching thieves, the thieves did not dare to get into trouble in the limelight.
However, after a few years, the involution became serious and many people lost their income, so some started to engage in crooked ways, and some returned to their old jobs.
Li Li had a headache and had no idea what to do.
At this time, Tang Lu came back from the Western Regions. He went to the Western Regions to see the customs and customs outside. He found it very interesting and learned a lot, so as not to regret that he could no longer run when he was old.
When Li Li heard that Tang Lu had returned, he immediately went to ask him for advice.
Tang Lu had long heard that thefts had become popular in Xiangyang County recently. There must be a reason. He knew it well. After listening to Li Li's account, he was more sure of his guess. That was definitely not an accidental phenomenon. There must be an invisible force supporting it.
That is to say, a large invisible web, like a huge spider web, cannot be seen or is easily ignored, but it actually exists. It is intricate and unclear. It is very troublesome if you can't find the end.
It's very troublesome if you don't have a clue.
"Sir, there must be a big thief behind a thief, and there must be an exchange of interests. Big businesses compete with each other, especially those who are in business. Those who have made a fortune are worried that others will surpass them, so they may resort to dirty tricks such as petty theft to undermine the competition.
The opponent's money is stolen, leaving the opponent without working capital, or in financial difficulties, and temporarily misses the time to purchase goods. Because there is no money, it will also cause a certain loss of reputation. This suppresses the opponent, improves one's competitiveness, and slows down the opponent's reputation.
If you are slow, your opponent will be trapped in death. This is a struggle between big players. They use the hands of thieves to achieve their goals." Tang Lu said.
"That makes sense, but I don't know who it is."
"Are there several shops doing the same business in Xiangyang City?"
"Yes! Just like silk and satin shops, there are also rice and flour shops. As long as they are privately owned, there are dozens of them."
"It's not surprising. I'm afraid it won't work if I check them one by one. I have to wait for the thief to be caught. Presumably the rich people are on guard against each other and have strengthened anti-theft measures. Please be patient, adults. It won't be long before someone is caught.
He will be arrested and sent to the official." Tang Lu said.
"Really?"
"Yes, if you don't believe me, just wait. If there is no thief to send you to the official, I am willing to accept the loss and give you ten taels of silver." Tang Luyan said.
"Hahaha, that's good!"
Sure enough, on the third day, someone sent a thief to report to the police.
Li Li secretly said that it was strange that this man was really a god! He could actually see the future.
Therefore, Li Li hurriedly sent someone to invite him to attend the court hearing, that is, to appear in court, to see what progress was made and how best to deal with it, so as to avoid problems behind the scenes.
The thief claimed that he was not a thief voluntarily. After all, he had a guilty conscience and was entrusted by others, but he did not say who entrusted him.
"Who is kneeling?" Li Li asked.
"The younger one's surname is Li, and he is the fourth in the family. People call me Li Laosi." said the thief.
"Li Laosi, why did you say you were entrusted by someone to steal? This is the first time I have heard of it. Can you tell me who you were entrusted by?" Li Li asked.
"You can't say this. If you say it, the child will die, and if you don't say it, the child will not live well. The adults have learned from this." Li Laosi said.
"Are you kidding? In court, if you don't speak up, your skin will be damaged. Don't cover up for others, you can't bear this responsibility. You communicate with each other and cover up each other when committing crimes. Don't think that I am weak and curious. You can
I deceived you and did not hold you accountable. In fact, you were wrong." Li Liyan said.
"Sir, I don't dare to tell you."
"Is it a huge theft system? Why don't you dare to say it?"
"Yes, almost. Your Majesty, you have a clear understanding." Mr. Li said in four words.
Hearing this, Li Li took a deep breath. Sure enough, there was an inside story. It was exactly what Tang Lu said. He was truly a talented person who could predict the unknown.
Tang Lu quietly told Li Lidao: "According to Ming law, if the thief admits what he has committed, then according to the law the thief can only be punished, but not convicted."
"Understood." Li Li nodded and said.
"The only way to solve this problem is this." Tang Lu whispered to Li Li.
"Li Laosi, where are your relatives?" Li Li asked.
"Sir, my family's relatives are all in Xiangyang County. Only two families are in the suburbs." Li Laosi said.
"Okay, tell me the address and invite them to come to court." Li Li ordered.
"Isn't this, this, this bad?" Li Laosi said.
"What's good? I ask you to do this, otherwise, I will let you taste what torture tools feel like." Li Li said sharply.
"Don't, don't, don't, sir, don't be like this! I'm willing to say it, I am willing to say it!" Li Laosi said.
In this way, Li Laosi gave out the addresses of all his relatives, and the police recorded them one by one, and then went to the city and outside the city to pass on all the relatives.
When everyone arrived at the court, they all knelt down, forming a huge crowd.
"Everyone is invited here. It is a last resort. In order to teach Mr. Li a lesson, everyone has the responsibility and obligation to discipline him. Who made the family unfortunate enough to have a gentleman from Liang Shang? This responsibility should be borne by the old patriarch and other elders in the family.
, this is the result of neglect of discipline. Since you are reluctant to discipline, I will take over your duties to discipline Li Laosi on your behalf. Give him a good lesson and let him remember it for a long time. Let’s see if he dares to steal next time.
Let's do it." Li Li said, and ordered the yamen to tie Mr. Li to a pillar in the court hall, hugging the pillar, with his back exposed, and ordered the yamen to give him a thousand lashes. When everyone heard this, their faces turned pale with fright.
This is the rhythm of beating people to death.
As soon as the whip went down, Li Laosi screamed like a ghost, like a slaughtered pig. When the second whip went down, Li Laosi fainted. Then, he poured water on him to wake him up, and then continued the whipping. When he was tired, he changed people and continued.
When the beating reached a hundred lashes, Li Laosi screamed for his life, his voice shook the beams of the courtroom, and dust rustled down.
The relatives couldn't bear to hear the howling like a slaughtering pig, and they quickly kowtowed and begged for mercy, asking the adults to let Li Laosi go. If he were beaten again, someone would be killed.
Li Li is not afraid of losing his life. If the prisoner dies during the interrogation, he is not responsible. The most important thing at this time is that the interrogation will not produce a result. If the result is found, it will be easy to deal with the superiors. People generally believe that the thief will not be convicted, but he must be punished.
When punishing, at least everyone must know that he is a thief, and his face will be disgraced, so he will naturally be unwilling to be a thief.
If you want to punish, you have to start from this aspect.
"I can take your life, but there is a condition. I don't know if you agree or not?" Li Li asked.
"Sir, as long as you let the little one live, as long as he lives, any condition is fine. Everything is fine. As long as he lives." Li Laosi said feebly.
It seems that this whipping made him understand a truth, that is, Li Laosi understood this truth. Li Laosi also understood it immediately. He would not be whipped, his skin would be bruised, and he would not understand the rules. This whipping made him convinced.
, it can be said that he was overcome by pain.
"Okay, I won't whip you. As for you, you don't have to do anything, just do one thing." Li Liyan said.
"Big, big, sir, you can do whatever you want!" Li Laosi said.
"It's just an office errand."
"What kind of official business are you doing? Sir, please tell me!" Li Laosi asked.
"Oh, by the way, I want to confirm again and ask if you are still stealing?"
"Steal? Hey - even if you beat me to death and force me to steal with a knife, I won't do it anymore," Li Laosi said.
"Are you serious about not stealing anymore?"
"really!"
"What if I get caught secretly?"
"Sir, don't be ridiculous. If I, Li Laosi, still steal, I won't have to whip my fingers, I will just chop my fingers." Li Laosi said, looking like he was determined never to steal again.
"That's good! You have to correct your evil ways and don't leave a stain or infamy on future generations. I will spare you. If you don't want a whip, I will give you a tolerant job to make up for your mistakes. I will punish you by cleaning the streets in Xiangyang County and keeping the streets clean.
Keep it clean and hygienic, for the benefit of everyone, let everyone walk cleanly, and let those who want to take advantage of others and those who are ready to take advantage of others, stop and do not try the law. Otherwise, the law will be severe and the punishment will be severe." Li Li said.
"Sir, I am willing to sweep the floor. I am willing to sweep the floor, as long as I don't get whipped." Mr. Li said.
After the case was concluded, when the clerk brought the confession and interrogation transcripts and asked him to sign and deposit them, he had no choice but to comply.
Everyone dispersed, and from then on, there was a sweeper on the streets of Xiangyang, Li Laosi.
Cold comes and summer comes, spring, summer, autumn and winter, all year round, sweeping the floor makes Li Laosi miserable. If he works for a month or two, he will still feel fresh. If he continues to work, he will feel a little forced and very boring.
Spring, summer and autumn came, and trouble came in winter. It was too cold and he didn't want to get up before dawn. He couldn't even sleep in. He was in great pain. The whip marks on his body were still there, but the pain had been forgotten. He met Li Li
, so he begged: "Sir, I know I'm wrong. Cleaning the streets is too hard. As soon as the front feet are cleaned, the back becomes dirty. I have to sweep it again. I don't know why there are so many low-quality people who are not civilized."
Yeah, it's a headache to throw garbage everywhere. I'm not their servant. I'm just a sweeper. I'm a public servant, but I'm not their slave. I'm being ordered around by them. It's really annoying! I beg you.
Sir, don't let me sweep the floor anymore, I can do whatever I want, just don't sweep the floor."
"How will that work? If you don't sweep the floor, who will sweep the floor? If no one sweeps the floor for a day, the streets will immediately become dirty and messy. If you don't believe it, you can try it." Li Liyan said.
"Sir, I know I'm wrong. I've been sweeping the floors for so long. I know it. I still want to do something else. I can't spend my whole life sweeping the streets, right? Is this all I can do to make a difference?"
"Okay, it seems that you are still a bit ambitious. Let's do this. You don't have to be disgraced. If you want to prove that you are indeed regretful and willing to repent, I can exempt you from the official duty. In other words, I can pardon you.
It's a crime, but you have to find someone to take over, that is to say, you can leave, but someone must sweep the streets. If no one takes over, you can't leave," Li Liyan said.
Li Laosi agreed wholeheartedly.
So, Li Laosi swept the floor while looking for someone to take over. As a result, the news spread like wildfire, and many people heard about it, especially those Li Laosi's associates. Some of them knew him, some didn't, probably
Everyone knew that Li Laosi was sweeping the floor with evil intentions and looking for someone to take over. They all ran away because they didn't know which street Li Laosi would appear on. Every time he went out, it was like a mouse avoiding a mouse. People
People are in danger, for fear of being recognized by Li Laosi, so they try to stay out at night and day, and make plans in advance.
The thieves in the city disappeared, and there was peace and tranquility in Xiangyang City.
Li Laosi didn't find a suitable one, so he still swept the streets by himself. He had no choice but to admit his defeat. He didn't pay attention to it and didn't accumulate it at ordinary times. When the critical period came, this problem appeared.
Li Li secretly admired Tang Lu's brilliant idea!
Later, Li Li himself felt sorry for Li Laosi, so he canceled his tolerance. After three years of torture, Li Laosi became numb, and Li Li achieved his goal. That is to let Li Laosi return to his old business, with hands and feet.
He has poor dexterity and poor eyesight, and is unable to complete high-risk and brain-burning tasks.
Li Li arranged for Li Laosi to leave and stop cleaning the streets. He was worrying about who would continue cleaning, and someone happened to ask to see him.
Li Li asked the visitor to come in and meet him. As soon as the man came, he knelt down and said, "I came here from Xiangzhou. I have run out of money and want to find a job to support my wife and me."
"Okay! Do you think you can do the job of cleaning the streets?"
"capable."
"May I have your name?"
"My name is Qin Xun."
"Where is home?"
"From Xiangzhou."
"Okay, let's get started. At the end of the month, go to the county government office to collect your wages," Li Liyan said.
"I would like to ask again, can I ask the old man's wife to come too?"
"Of course you can, but you can only pay one person's salary, and she is only here to help you." Li Liyan said.
"I understand, I understand, Xiaomin thanks you! You are really Xiaomin's parent." Qin Xun said.
Qin Xun started working as a street sweeper in Xiangyang City. He got up before dawn and worked until the lights were turned off. The workload was heavy and he had no regrets. While sweeping the streets, he also paid close attention to various wealthy households.
situation, as if looking for something.
Every time I sweep the floor at the door of a wealthy family, some doors are closed, leaving only the side door for people to enter and exit, and some doors are open, with a screen wall inside. If you want to see clearly what is going on in the courtyard, you need to develop good listening skills.
If your eyesight is not good, you can use your ears. Qin Xun specializes in this aspect.
When Qin Xun swept the floor to the door of Bu Fengzhao's house, he would often be driven away by the servants, saying, "Master Bu said, there is no need to clean the house. You can do it yourself."
Qin Xun was driven away by Bu Fengzhao's servants several times, but he still went because he heard a familiar voice, which sounded like the voice of his relatives.
He wasn't sure yet.
One time, he passed by Bu Fengzhao's house. Instead of sweeping the floor, the task had been completed. He was going to the vegetable market to buy some vegetables to take home. In order to try his luck, he went to see what happened.
This time it was strange. The gates of Bu Fengzhao's house were open, but the screen wall was still there, and the situation inside the courtyard could not be seen. What was strange this time was that there were children playing at the door. The child looked very familiar, his voice was his, and his image was also
, I’m not sure yet, because I usually don’t wear satin clothes, and I have a sallow complexion, but now I look good, my face is as round as a red apple, my eyes are bright, and my voice is crisp.