Chapter 643

Shenjing, Office of the Court of Judicial Review, Zhou Junxing's office.

Zhou Junxing's heart jumped when he heard Zheng Yingquan mention Zhou Yan.

That day, his clansman Zhou Yan came to the capital to take the examination. Because he coveted his power, he visited several times. Initially, Zhou Junxing did not take it to heart.

But in an accidental conversation, Zhou Yan mentioned visiting officials waiting for selection in the Spring Examination. At that time, Zhou Junxing was failing to check the blue-covered books.

After hearing Zhou Yan's words, he had an idea and treated this clansman as an ear and eye among the candidates, and won him over, not only taking him into the villa to live but also letting his son Zhou Zian take care of him.

Zhou Zian drank with Zhou Yan several times and heard Zhou Yan mention Wu Liang and Lin Zhaohe after drinking. He casually told his father, which was just an unintentional act at the time.

Neither Zhou Junxing nor his son expected that as things developed strangely, Zhou Yan would eventually play a great role...

Zhou Junxing finally set a trap, using fine wine and women to make Zhou Yan fall into the snare, set a trap for Wu Liang, and decided to use Zhou Yan's accusation to trigger the great fraud case of the metropolitan examination.

Unexpectedly, when it came to the morning court, Censor Sun Shouzheng of the Censorate was one step ahead of him, impeaching and uncovering the great fraud case in court.

This also put Zhou Junxing in a more favorable situation, saving him from the risk of pushing Zhou Yan to the forefront and bringing himself involvement and hidden dangers.

Before Sun Shouzheng's impeachment memorial, Zhou Yan's complaint seemed insignificant. Even without Zhou Yan's accusation, Wu Liang would have been hard-pressed to escape prison.

Therefore, as the great fraud case became increasingly rampant, many people ignored Zhou Yan's existence.

By the time seventy-three candidates jointly reported the imperial examination matter, in that state of chaos, Zhou Yan was even less noticed.

And this situation was exactly what Zhou Junxing wanted, allowing him to minimize the risk of involvement in the fraud case.

However, Wu Liang's suicide allowed Lin Zhaohe to be acquitted. Yang Hongbin, the Director of the Ministry of Justice, was meticulous and experienced, noticing that Lin Zhaohe's imprisonment stemmed from the accusation of the candidate Zhou Yan.

Zhou Junxing felt a sense of vigilance in his heart...

Zheng Yingquan continued: "Yang Hongbin called up Zhou Yan's statement, read and pondered it carefully, and on the grounds of organizing the case, asked his subordinate about the accusation that day.

Fortunately, in the statement, Zhou Yan only suspected Lin Zhaohe of being involved in fraud because of his close relationship with Wu Liang, and it was not a substantive accusation, so Zhou Yan's statement did not leave any handle.

Yang Hongbin once wanted to interrogate Zhou Yan. Your subordinate estimates that he seems to have noticed something, but there is no solid evidence, so he wants to find flaws in it.

But because Lin Zhaohe was acquitted and Xu Liangxiong confessed and signed, this case can be closed. Yang Hongbin likely has concerns, so this matter has been temporarily shelved.

However, my lord has always been esteemed by His Majesty. In the several major cases in Shenjing previously, His Majesty relied on my lord for investigation and handling, which overstepped the authority of the Three Judicial Offices.

The Ministry of Justice has no good feelings for our Court of Judicial Review. Your subordinate is worried that after the imperial examination fraud case is concluded, will the Ministry of Justice trace the source and bring up old matters again?

Using Zhou Yan's matter to find faults in our Court of Judicial Review, so as to weaken my lord's imperial favor, my lord must not fail to guard against it."

Zhou Junxing's expression was gloomy, and he said: "Yingquan's words are reasonable. Between the various government offices of the imperial court, it has always been a matter of one rising and another falling. If we are in the limelight, naturally someone will have to suffer.

However, Zhou Yan's accusation had no errors or omissions. Wu Liang and Xu Liangxiong have both been convicted, which is enough to show that the complaint was not a wild statement.

Moreover, the candidates who failed the examination are leaving the capital in large numbers, stirring up a trend in the city, and Zhou Yan has also left the capital to return home. Even if Yang Hongbin wants to make trouble, it is no longer convenient..."

When Zheng Yingquan heard this, he was a little surprised. According to Zhou Junxing, Zhou Yan had left Shenjing a few days ago.

Now, although the great fraud case has been largely settled, it has not yet been tried and announced.

According to the common sense of judicial administration, as a person related to this case, Zhou Yan should not leave Shenjing before the case is concluded, so that he can be summoned at any time.

But with the sudden change in the fraud case, Wu Liang's death, and Xu Liangxiong's confession, Sun Shouzheng of the Censorate took the lead, and Zhou Yan is no longer considered an important witness. It is reasonable that no one monitors his movements.

But since my lord knew he left the capital, why didn't he stop him, but let him walk away...

On the day before the morning court incident, Zhou Junxing instructed Zheng Yingquan to arrange for the arrest of Wu Liang, and it was precisely on that morning that Zhou Yan came to the Court of Judicial Review to accuse.

Zheng Yingquan has been in such a sinister government office as the Court of Judicial Review for many years, and he would not believe in any coincidence.

But he has been able to stand in the Court of Judicial Review for many years, safe and sound, and can be regarded as a trusted aide by Zhou Junxing.

It is because he has evidence for his progress; he never asks about things he shouldn't know, and he never intentionally spies. This is his way of self-preservation.

And now that the great fraud case has come to an end, there is even less need to know some privacy, otherwise, if the involvement is too deep, he will suffer instead.

As for whether Zhou Yan has really left Shenjing and whether Yang Hongbin will hold on to this matter, it has nothing to do with Zheng Yingquan, and he will not easily provoke involvement...

Shenjing, Ministry of Justice office.

The two bailiffs guarding the door saw Yang Hongbin, the Director of the Ministry of Justice, walking out of the office and hurriedly bowed to salute.

Behind Yang Hongbin followed two servants carrying a sedan chair, on which sat Lin Zhaohe, whose torture wounds had not yet healed.

Ever since Wu Liang committed suicide, Wei Guanyao, the Minister of Justice, rushed into the palace to report, and Jia Cong seized the opportunity to speak out for him, Lin Zhaohe, who was imprisoned, finally waited for a turning point.

Recalling His Majesty's unusual attention to Lin Zhaohe, and in view of Lin Zhaohe's reputation as the third on the metropolitan list, after the incident, Wei Guanyao and Yang Hongbin speculated on the root cause: His Majesty must have designated this person for the first rank.

Otherwise, if Lin Zhaohe were involved in the great fraud case, His Majesty would not be so surprised and angry.

And Wei Guanyao relayed Jia Cong's words in the palace that day, and Yang Hongbin also felt it was extremely pertinent and reasonable.

The two Ministry of Justice officials in charge of this case were both wise and clear-minded people. The current Emperor's reaction was enough for them to reach a consensus on this matter, and how to handle it was already very clear.

In order to strive for stability, Wei Guanyao personally interrogated Lin Zhaohe several times. After the record was signed, he let Yang Hongbin lead men to search Lin Zhaohe's residence to ensure there was no trouble.

Early this morning, Wei Guanyao personally signed the official document to acquit Lin Zhaohe and notified his family to come and pick him up.

Yang Hongbin, as the Director of the Ministry of Justice, personally sent Lin Zhaohe out of the office, which can be considered enough courtesy to him.

The reason why Yang Hongbin did this was not only because he had been entrusted by Jia Cong.

It was even more because he participated in the trial of the case and witnessed Lin Zhaohe's unyielding spirit under torture and Wu Liang's suicide to avoid being a false witness. In his heart, he had his own sense of right and wrong, loyalty and treachery, which needed to be clearly demonstrated.

When Lin Zhaohe's sedan chair walked out of the office accompanied by Yang Hongbin, it had already attracted the attention of many passersby.

Yang Hongbin personally sent Lin Zhaohe to be released, also in the name of the Ministry of Justice office, to show the world Lin Zhaohe's innocence, and naturally also to show and account to the current Emperor...

Among them, there is a more important reason: Lin Zhaohe is no longer just a suspected candidate, but also an important weight for the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review to compete.

The Court of Judicial Review framed Lin Zhaohe for fraud in the imperial examination, and the main culprit Wu Liang could not bear the interrogation and committed suicide. Comparing the two, the Ministry of Justice observed the details and cleared Lin Zhaohe of his grievances.

With the scholars and people of the world and the officials of the imperial court watching, who is loyal and who is treacherous, who is the source of judicial justice, and who is the turbid flow of cruel officials, can be clearly revealed!

When Lin Zhaohe's sedan chair was carried out of the Ministry of Justice office, a look of relief clearly appeared on his pale and calm face.

He cupped his hands to Yang Hongbin beside him and said: "Since Zhaohe was imprisoned, thanks to my lord's clear observation and mediation, otherwise I would have died under torture and would not have waited for today."

Yang Hongbin smiled slightly and said: "This official is just doing his duty. When Wu Liang committed suicide, the Minister noticed that the case was strange and entered the palace to request the Emperor's will to mediate for you.

It happened that the Earl of Weiyuan entered the palace to see the Emperor. The Earl of Weiyuan had the friendship of the same year as you and the honor of the list, and analyzed the doubts to His Majesty in the palace to acquit you.

His Majesty and the Minister both deeply agreed, and because of the combination of reasons, your case had a turning point."

Lin Zhaohe's expression was solemn, and he said: "What virtue and ability does Zhaohe have to be favored by the three lords, to survive from death, to clear his grievances, this great kindness and virtue will be remembered in my heart forever!"

He turned and said: "My lord, Zhaohe has one request. Now that Wu Liang is dead, the person is dead and the crime is gone.

I want to hold a dharma service for him, take good care of the coffin, and when this winter comes, send his coffin back to his hometown to be buried in the earth, so as to fulfill the friendship of classmates."

Yang Hongbin sighed: "Although Wu Liang acted improperly, took advantage of fame, and caused a great disaster, he was unwilling to be a false witness and committed suicide. He had good thoughts in his heart and blood and courage in his chest, which is very respectable.

His coffin is parked in the righteous village east of the city. I will report to the Minister and issue an official document for you to dispose of his remains."

Lin Zhaohe's expression was agitated, and he cupped his hands and said: "Thank you, my lord, for your fulfillment."

Yang Hongbin added: "The metropolitan examination fraud case is about to settle, and the imperial court will soon reopen the palace examination list.

The nine candidates involved in fraud in this case have solid evidence, and according to the law, they must be stripped of their fame and never enter officialdom, which is sigh-inducing...

You have cleared your grievances, but your fame on the list cannot be missed, which can be considered a great fortune in misfortune."

Lin Zhaohe smiled bitterly and said: "Zhaohe's reputation has been tarnished by the Court of Judicial Review. Even if I get fame, it will be difficult to achieve anything." Yang Hongbin sighed in his heart, because Lin Zhaohe's words were correct, although Lin Zhaohe cleared his suspicion in the Three Judicial Offices.

But candidates who have been detained by the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice and have been interrogated by torture are already like mud and sand in the eyes of the world, and it is difficult to distinguish between clear and muddy.

The jealousy of those failed candidates will spread what words because of this, which is the so-called fear of people's words.

For those who enter officialdom, the most important thing is a clean name and reputation. Others will not care whether you are innocent or not; they only care whether your reputation is tarnished.

Yang Hongbin said: "Life in the world, ups and downs, is always unavoidable, and the Jieyuan Lin should not be discouraged.

That Earl of Weiyuan of yours, who was just a concubine son of the Jia family who struggled to survive, is now famous all over the world and has become the master of the two mansions of the Jia family.

Success and failure in the world depend on heaven and man."

Lin Zhaohe heard these words and muttered to himself: "Depends on heaven and man..."

At this time, a bailiff came to pass a message to Yang Hongbin that the Minister had important matters to discuss.

Yang Hongbin thought that the evidence for the fraud case was complete, and Wei Guanyao, the Minister of Justice, was about to enter the palace to report. He thought that before entering the palace, he wanted to discuss the details with himself.

Yang Hongbin said goodbye to Lin Zhaohe and hurried back to the office.

!

Lin Zhaohe's sedan chair was carried down the stone steps at the entrance of the Ministry of Justice office. He looked back at Yang Hongbin's departing back, his eyes thoughtful...

Great Zhou Palace, Ganyang Hall.

Wei Guanyao, the Minister of Justice, stood bowing. Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao behind the imperial desk was carefully browsing the Ministry of Justice documents.

The personnel involved in these case files include the main culprits and accomplices of the metropolitan examination fraud case, as well as a crowd of Spring Examination officials who were convicted of corruption, questioned, and returned.

The content of the case files is the confession and signature of the criminals, the judgment and conclusion of the Ministry of Justice, the sentencing scale of the Three Judicial Offices, and the Ministry of Personnel's disposal opinions on officials who violated the rules.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao saw the confession document of Xu Liangxiong, his face cold and gloomy, and asked: "What is the basis for Xu Liangxiong's sentencing?"

Wei Guanyao heard Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's question, and his heart jumped. Among all the confessions and judgments in this case, the most difficult one is how to dispose of Xu Liangxiong.

Wei Guanyao entered the palace several times to see the Emperor and report the case, just to listen to the Emperor's will and grasp the scale of the judgment.

In this great fraud case, the candidates who took advantage of the fraud can be severely punished, and the officials who were corrupt and ruined can be dealt with without mercy.

These measures can correct the scholarly style and clarify the governance of officials, and all can find grand reasons and rhetoric.

Only Xu Liangxiong, as the chief examiner of this metropolitan examination, has a special status and is related to the face of the Great Zhou imperial examination, which is quite debatable.

Because the main culprit Wu Liang committed suicide, the fraud case has fallen into a very embarrassing situation, and the officials of the imperial court, scholars, and common people are full of doubts and discussions.

If Xu Liangxiong is confirmed to have deliberately committed fraud, in the hearts of the scholars and people of the world, the Great Zhou imperial examination would be so corrupt, and the prestige and face of the imperial court would be gone.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, who has always been diligent in governing the country and self-respecting, absolutely cannot tolerate this embarrassing situation.

And the Ministry of Justice finally took evidence and judged that Xu Liangxiong committed the crime of dereliction of duty and leaking questions, not the crime of deliberate fraud.

Although both are crimes of the imperial examination, the weight of the crime is very different.

Only by judging that Xu Liangxiong was derelict in his duty in the imperial examination but was unintentional can he give the imperial court a clean imperial examination and keep the last bit of face.

Settling the imperial examination fraud case as soon as possible, handling it lightly, letting people forget it quickly, and stabilizing the court situation and people's hearts is the result Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao wants.

Wei Guanyao followed the Emperor's will, privately discussed and pondered with the main officials of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Justice, and before entering the palace to report, he also pondered the details with Yang Hongbin, who was familiar with the case.

Finally, the disposal plan for Xu Liangxiong was decided: remove from office and demote, and move far away to Yunnan and Guizhou as a seventh-grade county magistrate.

Xu Liangxiong is not an ordinary official after all, but a high-ranking official of the third grade. This kind of disposal is no different from a devastating disaster for him.

People in the officialdom, no one can guarantee that they will not have ups and downs in their official career in the future, and be down and out.

Therefore, as long as officials are not guilty of monstrous death crimes, the Three Judicial Offices will always leave some room for disposal, leaving some retreat and face for others and themselves.

According to Wei Guanyao's perception, the disposal is severe enough...

But Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao asked this, which shows that the Emperor thinks this is not enough!

Wei Guanyao replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this judgment method confirms that Xu Liangxiong was derelict in his duty and leaked questions, not deliberate fraud.

Keeping his official status is to preserve the clean name of the imperial examination and keep the heart of the scholars of the world for the imperial examination."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's expression was gloomy, and he said: "Wei Qing's main point of judging the case is correct. Xu Liangxiong was derelict in his duty and leaked questions, disrupting the imperial examination's selection of talents. His crime is hard to forgive. He is not worthy of being an official.

I do not take his life, which is already an extra grace. Even if it is a seventh-grade county magistrate, it is also a public instrument of the imperial court and cannot be granted to a person who acts recklessly.

My intention is decided. Demote Xu Liangxiong to an eighth-grade record-keeper of the Ministry of Revenue, retire immediately, and be expelled from Shenjing within three days, never to be used again.

The nine candidates involved in the fraud case will be handed over to the Ministry of Rites to be stripped of their fame, given fifty strokes of the cane, and never enter officialdom.

The other officials involved in the Spring Examination will be disposed of according to the penalties of the Three Judicial Offices and the performance appraisal of the Ministry of Personnel officials, and cannot be tolerated..."

Wei Guanyao heard Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's oral decree, and his heart could not help but feel cold.

The Emperor's disposal method for the fraudulent candidates and the officials who violated the rules was within expectations.

But the disposal of Xu Liangxiong was really strict to the extreme.

According to the Ministry of Justice's disposal method, Xu Liangxiong was sent to the remote place of Yunnan and Guizhou as a seventh-grade county magistrate. Although he kept his official status, he actually destroyed this person.

His Majesty hates this imperial examination fraud deeply. As long as His Majesty is alive for one day, he will never be able to be used.

His Majesty is only in his early forties, or has twenty years of glory in ruling the country. Xu Liangxiong is in such a wild place as Yunnan and Guizhou, I am afraid that it is a problem to survive for ten years.

But even so, His Majesty still thinks that the judgment is too light.

The third-grade official cannot be demoted to the seventh grade, but must be demoted to the eighth-grade low position, and it is not an external appointment, but a demotion to the eighth-grade record-keeper of the office.

The eighth-grade record-keeper is a small official who manages documents in the record-keeping office of the Ministry of Revenue. Calling it an official is actually no different from a small clerk.

A dignified third-grade Left Vice Minister, overnight became a small document clerk in the office, how to face colleagues and the world.

The weight of the punishment and humiliation is, for an official, not as painful as a sentence of immediate beheading.

But the Emperor's punishment is not just that. Even if Xu Liangxiong is demoted to an eighth-grade record-keeper, he has no chance to continue to be an official.

Instead, he retired immediately and was expelled from Shenjing within three days...

And in the oral decree for Xu Liangxiong, there are also the four words "never to be used again," which means that even if the new monarch succeeds to the throne, Xu Liangxiong will never turn over.

Wei Guanyao is also a high-ranking official of the third grade. Putting himself in his shoes, if he fell into this situation, what should he do? He dared not think down, only felt his back cold.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao looked at Wei Guanyao and said faintly: "Xu Liangxiong was also a proud son of the examination field, talented and overflowing, ranking among the high officials of the Ministry, and his talent was not vulgar.

It is not that my heart is cruel, but that I dare not neglect to treat it. The imperial examination is not peaceful, and the country is not stable. Whether it is an official or a candidate, I want to warn those who come later, cross the thunder pool, and be beyond redemption!"

Wei Guanyao's expression was solemn, and he bowed and replied: "The minister will strictly follow the imperial decree."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao ordered Guo Lin to summon the Hanlin attendant to draft the imperial decree according to the oral decree just now, and pass it to the inside and outside to warn others.

He also gave some instructions on the details of the sentencing document. After Wei Guanyao received the decree and said goodbye, he left the palace to deal with the aftermath of the imperial examination fraud case.

After Wei Guanyao left the palace, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao ordered Guo Lin to take the transcript of the palace examination list. Since the fraud case broke out, this list has been sealed by the Ministry of Rites for many days.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's eyes looked at the first rank, his eyes a little complicated.

He thought for a moment and said: "Guo Lin, pass my oral decree. The imperial examination fraud case has been settled, and the Spring Examination list needs to be reopened and announced.

Order Grand Secretary Wang Shilun of the Cabinet, Minister Chen Mo of the Ministry of Personnel, and Minister Guo Youchang of the Ministry of Rites to enter the palace immediately to discuss the selection of the three ranks of the palace examination..." (End of chapter)