Chapter 632: Missing the Opportunity and Falling into Deep Danger

Love Shenjing, outside the North City, Firearm Supervision Workshop.

Since the construction of the firearm workshop, it had played an important role in the war against the Jurchens, and it had become a vital military area in Love Shenjing.

At the end of last year, when the development of the rear-loading firearm began, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao sent an additional three hundred elite imperial guards to improve the workshop's security and defense.

Watchtowers were also built around the workshop, and the civilian houses within two miles of the workshop were relocated and settled by the Qinian Prefecture.

Within a few miles of the workshop, any movement would be discovered by the watchtowers.

Under Jia Cong's direction, the internal management of the workshop had also become increasingly rigorous.

The various craftsmen used by the workshop were selected by the Firearm Supervision from all over the country, not only requiring superb skills but also a clean background with no bad records, and their immediate family members followed them to settle in Love Shenjing.

The construction of various firearms in the workshop was broken down by Jia Cong according to different technical requirements into different construction rooms, and the construction work in each room was not connected.

The assembly of all firearm parts was carried out by other specialized personnel, with a very clear and detailed division of labor.

It could be said that the craftsmen in the workshop were all specialized in their own fields, but they were only skilled in part of the techniques for building firearms, except for Jia Cong, the Firearm Supervision Director.

This talent coordination model maximized the prevention of the leakage of firearm techniques in the workshop.

If someone wanted to steal the secrets of the Firearm Supervision, they would have to bribe all the craftsmen in each room of the Firearm Supervision, which was basically impossible to achieve.

At this moment, in the workshop's shooting range, gunshots rang out continuously.

Two workshop craftsmen held rear-loading sample guns and fired continuously at wooden targets in the distance, while someone nearby counted: "Twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven..."

Jia Cong, the Firearm Supervision Director, Deputy Director Liu Liu Shizhen, Manager Guo Huai, Gunpowder Master Hong Yongtai, Iron Casting Master Chen Ran, and other great craftsmen of the workshop were all watching the shooting effect from the side.

When the sound of counting the shooting times stopped at thirty-four and thirty-seven respectively, the faces of the two craftsmen responsible for the test firing were half-blackened by the diffused gunpowder smoke.

The reason for stopping the shooting was that the firing pins of the two guns had appeared to have failures such as cracks or deformation under continuous high-intensity shooting.

However, after the gunshots stopped, everyone present had a joyful expression. The hard work of the past half year had finally yielded a relatively satisfactory result.

Deputy Director Liu Liu Shizhen said to Jia Cong: "My lord, this batch of newly forged firing pins can fire thirty rounds continuously without appearing to have any usage failures, reaching the construction requirements proposed by you, my lord."

Jia Cong smiled and said: "If the firing pin can support thirty shots without failure, it has considerable practical combat availability.

Moreover, during actual combat, it is rare to fire thirty rounds continuously. With some pauses in between, the gun barrel and firing pin can get rest and cooling, and the actual number of rounds supported will be more than thirty.

When firearm soldiers go into battle, each person carries a few more firing pins for replacement, and the continuous firepower of the rear-loading gun can be guaranteed.

At this stage, the rear-loading gun can be considered successfully built. I have already drafted a memorial yesterday and will present it to the Emperor as soon as possible to ask for rewards for everyone!"

As soon as Jia Cong finished speaking, the craftsmen at the scene were jubilant. They had all witnessed the power of the rear-loading gun. Being able to make such sharp firearms, the imperial court would certainly reward them heavily.

Jia Cong said to Liu Liu Shizhen again: "Now the military situation in the Datong border town is frequent, and the remnants of the Mongols are harassing it deeply. The Ministry of War has repeatedly increased the military equipment of the Nine Frontiers.

Now that the rear-loading gun has been successfully built, the news will be presented to the palace, and the Emperor will likely have high hopes for this, so our firearm workshop will not be able to relax.

The fixed firing pins must be forged urgently for storage, and the quality must not be lower than the batch used today.

According to the assembly and grinding regulations of the sample guns, the construction of rear-loading gun components must also begin in large quantities.

Deputy Director Liu, please calculate the quantity of various raw materials needed. I will negotiate and report to the Ministry of Works and the Emperor to complete this matter as soon as possible."

Liu Liu Shizhen smiled and responded: "My lord, please rest assured. I will organize the quantity of raw materials tomorrow, and the construction of components will also be arranged immediately.

I heard that the palace examination results will be posted on the 15th. You, my lord, have won the top spot in the metropolitan examination. The palace examination will likely rank in the top tier, and there may even be the glory of winning the top spot in the world. Your subordinate offers congratulations in advance."

Jia Cong laughed: "Brother Liu is too flattering. Although I was lucky enough to get the top spot in the metropolitan examination, I dare not hope for the name of the top scholar. Being a successful candidate is enough for my wishes."

The two chatted for a few more words. Jia Cong's ability in firearm research and development, which was unique and thought of things that predecessors had not thought of, was like a divine skill from heaven, which had always made Liu Liu Shizhen admire him extremely.

Therefore, when Jia Cong first took office as the Firearm Supervision Director, he was only a successful candidate. Liu Liu Shizhen was much older than him and was a regular imperial examination successful candidate, but he was convinced by him and was willing to be his subordinate.

Now seeing him participate in the spring examination, and being able to win the top spot in the metropolitan examination under the condition of anonymous transcripts, it was all based on real talent.

Originally, he was still one step ahead in his studies, but now his achievements in the imperial examination were far superior to his own. He was truly a capable person who could do what others could not.

Fortunately, Liu Liu Shizhen had long been accustomed to Jia Cong's various strange things, and could only sigh that he was a genius born, and could not be measured by common sense.

Although Jia Cong had a unique talent, he had no bureaucratic style. When facing subordinates and colleagues, he treated them with sincerity, which made Liu Liu Shizhen feel that having such a superior was a rare blessing in the officialdom.

Love Shenjing, Court of Judicial Review office.

Yang Yang Hongbin took two followers and rushed to the Court of Judicial Review office.

He was proficient in interrogation and knew that in an hour, many things could happen in the criminal room, enough for Zhou Zhou Junxing to guide the overall situation, causing the Sun Dali Temple to lose the initiative.

The candidate Wu Liang was not only impeached in the Censorate's memorial, shocking the Emperor, but was also reported by someone this morning, and had already fallen into a dead end, I fear it would be difficult to save him.

With Zhou Zhou Junxing's arrogance and ruthlessness, he would not have the scruples of "punishment not applying to scholars."

A candidate who had no power to truss a chicken, when had he ever suffered? As long as major torture was applied, what confession could not be obtained.

He had just entered the main hall of the Court of Judicial Review when Zheng Zheng Yingquan, the Director of the Court of Judicial Review, heard the news and rushed over.

Yang Yang Hongbin said: "This official, Yang Yang Hongbin, Director of the Sun Dali Temple, is acting on the Emperor's oral decree and the order of the Sun Dali Temple to assist the Court of Judicial Review in investigating the metropolitan examination fraud case.

This morning, this official was ordered by the Minister of the Sun Dali Temple to arrest the suspect Wu Liang involved in the fraud case. I heard that he has been taken away by your Court of Judicial Review, so I have come specifically to ask, where is Wu Liang now!"

Zheng Zheng Yingquan heard Yang Yang Hongbin's cold words, which were quite aggressive, and felt a slight chill in his heart.

He had also heard of the name of Yang Yang Hongbin, Director of the Sun Dali Temple. This person had quite a reputation in the Sun Dali Temple and was not a character to be fooled.

Zheng said: "The suspect Wu Liang was reported by a candidate of this year this morning and is now in the criminal room of the Court of Judicial Review, and Zhou is personally interrogating him."

Yang Yang Hongbin's face changed slightly, and he said: "Acting on the imperial decree, the Sun Dali Temple and the Court of Judicial Review are jointly handling this case. This official wants to enter the criminal room to listen to the interrogation, please lead the way!"

Court of Judicial Review office, Criminal Room.

The room was dark and damp, filled with a strange smell of mold and burnt stench, and the lingering smell of blood...

Because the confession had been fingerprinted, Wu Liang had been taken down from the torture rack and was sitting slumped in a chair, his expression dejected.

His clothes were torn, and he was covered in messy whip marks and blood, but two severe burn wounds on his waist and back had been casually applied with medicine.

Although Zhou Zhou Junxing had used major torture on him, Wu Liang was a key criminal in this fraud case and had to be kept alive.

Wu Liang was forced to confess and fingerprint under torture, but he did not get relief because of this. Zhou Zhou Junxing did not give him a chance to catch his breath and wanted to dig more things out of him.

Before the metropolitan examination, because a blue-covered booklet appeared in the market, candidates taking the examination contacted each other, and visits to candidates for examiners became a trend, in which things could naturally be done.

Wu Liang and Xu Xu Liangxiong had fallen into examination fraud, but there were countless candidates and officials involved.

In Zhou Zhou Junxing's view, a major fraud case having only two main culprits was not only unreasonable but also did not fit the situation, and did not fit the Court of Judicial Review's great merit of shocking the court and the public...

Wu Liang heard Zhou Zhou Junxing suddenly mention Lin Zhaohe, and his heart jumped. He knew clearly that even if he had taken a shortcut in the imperial examination, it had nothing to do with Lin Zhaohe.

Zhou Zhou Junxing's meaning was clearly to involve Lin Zhaohe. He and Lin Zhaohe had only been in Love Shenjing for a few days, and Lin Zhao had moved to his cousin's villa.

Because Lin Zhaohe was closed-door studying, he had very little contact with Wu Liang afterward, and he had not publicized their relationship in front of others.

So, they were both candidates from Hangzhou Prefecture and were close classmates. Not many people knew about it. How could this Zhou Zhou Junxing say it so clearly?

Wu Liang knew clearly that he could not end well in such a situation, so why should he implicate his good friend.

He quickly said: "Lin Zhaohe is my classmate, but after arriving in Love Shenjing, we didn't have much contact, and he has nothing to do with this matter."

Zhou Zhou Junxing sneered: "You are not seeing the coffin and not shedding tears. Someone reported that when you visited Xu Xu Liangxiong that day, you invited Lin Zhaohe to go with you.

Afterward, although Lin Zhaohe moved out of the Hongxiang Inn, before the examination, you two had a banquet at Chunhua Tower, and you took the opportunity to reveal Xu Xu Liangxiong's topics to him.

Lin Zhaohe followed your example, and by guessing Xu Xu Liangxiong's topics before the examination, he became familiar with the theme of the metropolitan examination policy essay in advance, which is why you both passed the metropolitan examination!"

Wu Liang felt a chill in his back upon hearing this. This cruel official of the Court of Judicial Review was like a ghost, how could he know his details so clearly...

He and Lin Zhaohe had a banquet at Chunhua Tower, and only the two of them were there. No one else knew. Why was this person so clear?

And what he said just now was almost half the truth.

That time he and Lin Zhaohe had a drink at Chunhua Tower, he did show Lin Zhaohe the topics he had collected, including Xu Xu Liangxiong's topics.

At that time, Lin Zhaohe only browsed it roughly, and didn't seem to take it seriously. He asked him to transcribe a copy so he could take it back to study and ponder, but he politely declined.

Lin Zhaohe even persuaded him not to be too obsessed with these topics, and to study hard on the classics before the examination, which was the way to be invincible.

Wu Liang recalled the past and felt incomparable regret. Only now did he feel that Lin Zhaohe's words were very reasonable.

Lin Zhaohe's strange calmness and caution when facing the topics made him feel inferior...

He had also passed the provincial examination in Zhejiang Province, and his talent was not ordinary. Even without the convenience of the topics, he might not have been unable to pass the metropolitan examination.

It was because he had a heart of taking shortcuts that he had today's disaster. Now that things had reached this point, why should he implicate his classmate and close friend.

He said: "This official, Lin Zhaohe did not have a private banquet with me, and he never knew about Xu Xu Liangxiong's topics. You must not wrong him.

The person who reported it must be framing him, you must not believe it easily."

Zhou Zhou Junxing sneered coldly: "Bold Wu Liang, you still dare to argue. Give him branding torture!"

Yang Yang Hongbin stood up abruptly and said: "Zhou, Wu Liang's confession still has room for discussion. Do you want to force a confession!"

Zhou Zhou Junxing sneered: "Yang, didn't you hear clearly just now? Wu Liang said with his own mouth that Lin Zhaohe persuaded him to focus on poetry and books and not to be obsessed with taking shortcuts with topics.

This shows that before the examination, Lin Zhaohe knew about the suspicion of examination fraud. They are both inseparable. This villain is cunning and deceitful. Without major torture, he will not confess!"

Yang Yang Hongbin's face changed slightly upon hearing this. Wu Liang was eager to clear Lin Zhaohe's name, but his words actually gave Zhou Zhou Junxing a handle. For a moment, he was speechless.

Zhou Zhou Junxing seized the opportunity and signaled to the executioner.

The executioner was quick, took out a red-hot branding iron from the fire basin, and branded Wu Liang's left chest and elbow, where his clothes were torn...

When Wu Liang first entered the prison, he still had fantasies about his official career. After several whippings, he did not confess, until Zhou Zhou Junxing used two branding tortures.

The heart-piercing pain of the charred flesh completely broke Wu Liang's persistence, making him confess to the Court of Judicial Review's charges.

Those two branding tortures destroyed the rites, righteousness, integrity, and shame that he had accumulated through more than ten years of hard study, and also left a terrifying shadow in his heart that was difficult to dispel.

The branding iron in the executioner's hand had not yet touched his skin, but the red-hot heat of the branding iron had already evaporated the cold sweat on the surface of his skin into water vapor...

Wu Liang trembled all over. He could no longer distinguish between reality and hallucination. The stench of charred flesh and the heart-piercing pain seemed to have permeated his whole body, making him only seek a quick death!

That feeling of instant collapse and humiliation filled all his nerves again, and the shouting and avoidance from the bottom of his heart could no longer be restrained, and he blurted it out!

"I confess! I confess everything..."

Yang Yang Hongbin closed his eyes helplessly, sighing in his heart. Zhou Zhou Junxing had won...

He thought of Jia Cong's regard and worry for Lin Zhaohe, and a heavy sense of powerlessness rose in his heart. This brilliant talent who ranked third in the metropolitan examination had fallen...

Zhou Zhou Junxing sneered triumphantly and ordered the executioner: "Take him down from the torture rack and let him fingerprint the confession!"

Wu Liang was taken down from the torture rack by the executioner, his whole body seeming to have been hollowed out. He stumbled a few steps, and the clerk of the Court of Judicial Review had already picked up his pen and dipped it in ink, waiting for his confession record.

At this time, a weak voice suddenly came from the torture rack on the right: "Xiwen, why did you report and frame me!"

The voice was extremely weak, on the verge of death, and even a little difficult to detect if not listened to carefully.

But when Wu Liang heard it, it was like a thunderbolt, making him stop his steps.

This voice, though weak, carried a bone-chilling coldness, as if splitting his body, extracting his soul, and making him lose all cover and evasion.

They were close friends for many years, studying together in a village private school when they were young, and when they grew older, they studied together in Hangzhou Prefecture, knowing each other's hearts and being like brothers.

Wu Liang never dreamed that the world would play tricks on people, and that one day such heart-piercing words would appear between him and Lin Zhaohe.

Wu Liang turned his head to look and saw Lin Zhaohe, who was covered in blood, seemingly using all his strength to lift his head slightly.

Through his disheveled hair, a weak yet sharp gaze appeared, as if it could pierce his heart.

Wu Liang trembled all over, as if bearing the judgment of the underworld, and he said loudly: "Brother Yichun, it was not me who reported and framed you, it was Zhou Yan who reported us, I really couldn't take it anymore..."

Lin Zhaohe's weak and sharp gaze was still fixed on Wu Liang.

The atmosphere in the criminal room seemed to be frozen, a mysterious aura pressing on everyone's heart, and even the cruel and arrogant Zhou Zhou Junxing stopped his words and actions for a moment.

Yang Yang Hongbin looked at Lin Zhaohe, who was seriously injured and dying, a strange light appearing in his eyes, and he was secretly shocked in his heart.

Finally, perhaps it was Wu Liang's indignant and urgent expression that infected Lin Zhaohe, and the sharpness in his eyes gradually softened.

He said in a weak voice: "Whoever harmed me is no longer important. I, Lin Zhaohe, have fallen to this point, and I ask myself that I can hardly escape.

It is my fate, I can only die. I have never committed examination fraud, yet I have to bear this stigma. I am not reconciled to die!"

Lin Zhaohe's words, one by one, were like a heavy hammer, slamming into Wu Liang's chest, making his heart ache as if splitting, his heart full of guilt and despair.

Because of his own shortcut, disaster fell from heaven, and he was arrested into the prison of the Court of Judicial Review, suffering all kinds of torture, losing all his elegance, and living a life worse than death.

The ten or so successful candidates and candidates implicated by his confession scolded and insulted him all night, making him lose all face and have no interest in living.

Fame in the imperial examination and passing the gold list had all become an empty dream.

Now his future was destroyed, he was irredeemable, his reputation was ruined, and he would leave behind a legacy of infamy.

He had fallen to such a state, why should he implicate his innocent close friend and classmate, making him end up like himself.

Harming others and himself, increasing his sins, what was the point of him struggling to survive, and with his shameless life, it was better to seek relief...

A crazy thought, after being suppressed for a long time, finally broke through the shackles and permeated Wu Liang's whole body, his eyes instantly turning blood-red.

At this time, Zhou Zhou Junxing was a little impatient and said: "Stop talking nonsense, take Lin Zhaohe back to the cell, wait for the next interrogation, and let Wu Liang confess and fingerprint immediately..."

Wu Liang had just been taken down from the torture rack. Although he was covered in wounds and his steps were swaying, the executioner did not help him, and he stumbled, only leaving the torture rack a few steps.

The two executioners heard Zhou Zhou Junxing's instructions. They were busy untying Lin Zhaohe from the torture rack as they passed Wu Liang.

Wu Liang hunched his body, standing still, because his boiling blood and the cumulative wounds of torture seemed to instantly lose the feeling of pain.

He turned around strangely and quickly, rushing toward the torture rack only a few steps away...

Yang Yang Hongbin's face changed greatly, and he shouted: "Stop him!"

But the matter was too sudden, and everyone in the criminal room was caught off guard.

No one expected that Wu Liang, who was wailing in torture, was far less resilient than Lin Zhaohe, but would make such a fierce move.

A violent collision occurred in the criminal room, the sound so harsh and decisive, as if carrying a crazy sense of relief...

Wu Liang slammed his head into the torture rack, blood splashing everywhere!

Lin Zhaohe, who was being untied from the torture rack by the executioner, saw this shocking scene before his eyes and let out a miserable scream: "Xiwen!" (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 635 =====

For Jia Cong, the current major events were all proceeding very smoothly, so he felt quite cheerful when he left the firearms workshop today.

However, upon entering the city, he discovered that the atmosphere in the capital was somewhat unusual; as the carriage drove along, he saw the Investigation Office's constables active everywhere, their actions and demeanor aggressive and menacing.

When the carriage passed Hancheng Street in the east of the city, Jia Cong saw many yamen runners appearing at the street corners, and feeling increasingly strange, he had Jiang Liu stop the carriage and go out to the street to inquire for news.

Before long, Jiang Liu returned and said, "Third Master, those yamen runners are from the Court of Judicial Review. I asked the nearby shopkeepers and neighbors, and they said they came to arrest a candidate."

"This Rank Jinshi is surnamed Lin, the brother of a silk shop owner, and he even placed third on the examination list. The yamen runners said this person is involved in imperial examination fraud, so they are here to take him in for interrogation."

Jia Cong was shocked to hear this. A Rank Jinshi surnamed Lin who placed third on the examination list—wouldn't that be Lin Zhaohe? This man was the top candidate of the Hangzhou Prefecture; how could he be involved in fraud?

Thinking of the Investigation Office constables active along the way, he seemed to understand something...

At this moment, he saw a familiar figure at the street corner and hurriedly jumped off the carriage to greet him.

"Brother Yang, long time no see!"

Yang Yang Hongbin turned his head and, seeing it was Jia Cong, looked somewhat surprised: "So it is Jia Yuzhang. Why are you passing through here today?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Every time I return to the city from the workshop outside, passing through here is the shortest way to the mansion."

"Just now, as I passed by, I heard passersby gossiping that the Court of Judicial Review is arresting the current examination candidate Lin Zhaohe because he is suspected of imperial examination fraud?"

Yang Yang Hongbin knew that the Investigation Office making such a big show of arresting people was precisely to publicize the situation and use the momentum to act.

It wouldn't be long before the whole city knew about this, and as a court official, Jia Cong would know the root cause sooner or later, so there was no need to hide it.

He said, "Jia Yuzhang, you are unaware that during this morning's court session, Censor Sun Shouzhen submitted a memorial impeaching the chief examiner of the metropolitan examination, Xu Xu Liangxiong, for colluding with the current candidate Wu Liang to sell examination questions and commit fraud."

"His Majesty was furious and ordered the Investigation Office and the Court of Judicial Review to investigate this case. The candidate Wu Liang has already been arrested by the Investigation Office and has already confessed and signed his deposition."

"Because someone reported that Lin Zhaohe and Wu Liang were close friends and had frequent contact before the examination, he cannot escape suspicion of fraud, so they are going to take him in for questioning."

"But when they just went to his home to make the arrest, his cousin said that Lin Zhaohe went to a neighboring county yesterday to visit a friend and won't return to check the results until tomorrow, so they missed him."

Hearing these words from Yang Yang Hongbin, Jia Cong felt inexplicably shocked; ever since the metropolitan examination began, everything had seemed calm and peaceful in his eyes.

Now, with the palace examination results about to be posted, a case of imperial examination fraud had actually erupted.

Jia Cong had received daily instruction from Liu Jingan and had once heard him speak of the risks of the imperial examinations; whenever a major fraud case erupts, it usually stirs up a bloody storm and implicates a wide range of people.

Liu Jingan was a man who had experienced many storms; to ensure his most esteemed young disciple could pass through the spring examination peacefully and prevent trouble before it happened, he had Jia Cong close his doors to study and avoid provocation before the examination.

Jia Cong had not expected that in this spring examination, before the palace examination results were posted, a major fraud case would truly erupt. Thinking back now, Liu Jingan truly had foresight...

"Brother Yang, imperial examination fraud naturally must be investigated thoroughly, but this Zhou Zhou Junxing has a poor reputation. With him presiding over the investigation, I fear there will be many unexpected troubles."

"The Court of Judicial Review is the primary authority of the Three Judicial Offices, and Brother Yang is also a clean and strict official. Encountering such a major case, you must exercise much correction to avoid implicating the innocent."

Yang Yang Hongbin nodded and said, "I understand Jia Yuzhang's meaning. You and I share the same heart, and I will certainly act with caution."

"Jia Yuzhang, you are the top candidate of this spring examination, and Lin Zhaohe followed closely behind, ranking third. Do you know this person?"

Jia Cong said, "When Lin Zhaohe and I left the palace examination, we had met once and chatted for a few sentences."

"Although we are not deeply acquainted, his demeanor was calm and composed; he is not an ordinary person."

"Hangzhou Prefecture is a place where the imperial examinations flourish in the south. That Lin Zhaohe could be the top candidate of Hangzhou Prefecture goes without saying regarding his talent; I fear that looking across the world, he is one of the few proud sons of the examination path."

"For such a person to obtain the qualifications of a Rank Jinshi is not difficult; he really has no need to commit fraud and risk his future and reputation. This does not make sense."

Yang Yang Hongbin nodded and said, "Jia Yuzhang's words are very reasonable. Currently, someone reported Wu Liang, which is why he was implicated. I will follow up on this case and try to mediate as much as possible to avoid harming the innocent."

Jia Cong watched Yang Yang Hongbin's departing back, his mood becoming exceptionally heavy. He had originally thought that everything had been going smoothly lately, but in the blink of an eye, such a major event had occurred.

The court had originally scheduled the palace examination results to be posted tomorrow, but now that a major fraud case has occurred and a chief examiner is involved, the posting of the results tomorrow will surely be suspended.

For the next period of time, I fear that a storm is coming, and I do not know how many officials and candidates will be implicated and harmed because of this... (End of chapter)