Chapter 413 Incompetent Fury
early morning.
When the white fish belly appeared in the east, Lu Zhi, the young minister of Dali Temple, had already walked out of his house and walked towards the street selling breakfast near his house.
It has been a long time since Zhao Duan defeated Zhou Cheng.
In the original case, Lu Zhi, who was promoted by the empress because of Zhao Duan's recommendation, also rose from being a judge in Dali Temple to becoming a dignified young minister in just a few months.
However, even though his identity has undergone earth-shaking changes, Lu Zhi's life is still simple. He still lives in an old house, still likes to walk to the Yamen, and even the shops where he eats are small shops on the street.
"Mr. Lu, are you here? Or are you still the third child?"
In the bun shop, the shop owner saw Lu Zhi coming in and greeted him with a smile.
Lu Zhi nodded, maybe it was too cold, and added:
"Reheat a dime of wine."
As he spoke, he sat at a table in the corner, rolled up his sleeves and listened to the chatter of the people around him - this was his channel to gain public opinion.
Most of the people who come to this shop in the morning are traders and lackeys. If anything happens at the bottom of the city, these people are always the best informed.
"Have you heard? Yesterday, Duke Cao Guo from the north returned to Beijing. When he entered the city, he kidnapped someone and said he was going straight to the palace."
"He seems to be a wanted criminal?"
"What, a wanted criminal should be arrested by the Duke himself? I heard that Duke Cao has a son in the army..."
This kind of shop is a small shop on the ground floor, where all kinds of gossip gather.
People of any era love to hear tidbits from big shots.
Things like "Secret History of the Palace" have never ceased.
Which concubine the emperor slept with and which concubine stole someone else? True or false, are the most talked about topics among the people.
The story of Duke Cao Guogong's son who defiled his wife and was killed, and then covered up the truth sounds like unofficial history.
Lu Zhi listened while eating, frowning slightly, but didn't pay much attention, thinking it was another rumor made up by some people.
What surprised him was that there were actually several customers talking about this matter in the small shop.
Lu Zhi shook his head.
After breakfast, I stacked a few copper plates in a pile on the corner of the table, then opened the thick cloth curtain to block the wind, and came to Dali Temple.
In the early morning, the Yamen had not yet "opened", and many officials in Dali Temple were also chatting about official anecdotes, and they all mentioned the gossip they had heard about Cao Guogong.
However, these people are much more cautious, and they all briefly mention it in a "criticizing" tone, probably:
"Someone is spreading rumors and slandering the Duke again" and so on.
The main character is a coward and loves to gossip.
Lu Zhi put on his official robe, entered the duty room and glanced at all the officials. They all fell silent and began to work quietly.
I was afraid of being criticized by this incorruptible boss who was difficult to serve.
"Do your own thing well and don't talk nonsense."
Lu Zhi said casually, and suddenly heard someone beating a drum outside the Yamen.
Not long after, an old official rushed over from the courtyard holding a piece of complaint:
"Master Shaoqing, please take a look. There is a complaint from a military member... Oh, anyway, take a look."
Lu Zhi held up the paper in confusion, and after scanning his eyes, his face suddenly became solemn.
The person who filed the complaint claimed to be a relative or friend of Lang Shiba in prison, and complained about the injustice of the case in the past.
Is it true? Lu Zhi couldn't help but frown. It should be noted that the yamen's drum of grievance was not just a random one.
Once knocked, regardless of whether it is right or wrong, the purpose is to prevent someone from making false accusations and causing trouble and increasing the cost of prosecution. If the false accusation is proven, severe punishment will be given.
"Open the court and I will interrogate you personally!" Lu Zhi said.
……
Opposite Dali Temple, in a tea shop.
Chen Hong, the old censor who had been on an envoy to Taicang Prefecture with Zhao Duan, ordered a pot of tea and a plate of melon seeds early in the morning, and ate them slowly alone.
"Click, click."
When Chen Yushi was eating melon seeds, his two silver teeth were particularly eye-catching.
When the melon seed shells on the table piled up into a small mountain, Chen Hong heard the sound of people coming down from the Dali Temple across the street.
"It's time."
Chen Hong sighed softly, clapped her hands together, dusted off the debris on her hands, got up and walked out of the teahouse, and stepped into Dali Temple.
He claimed that he heard people talking about Cao Guo's official affairs, so he came to Dali Temple to find someone to inquire about, and "accidentally" learned about the complaint just now.
Chen Hong was "shocked" and "filled with righteous indignation". She immediately slapped her butt and left. When she returned to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, her whole face was red.
After writing an impeachment memorial, Chen Yushi went straight to the palace under the strange eyes of his colleagues, and used his official advice and privileges to attack Cao Mao, Duke of Anguo.
……
Inside the Shenji camp. When the young prince Tang Ping entered the barracks and clicked Mao, the other military attaches looked surprised.
Shi Meng was stunned for a moment by the burly, thick-and-thin conductor. He looked at Tang Ping doubtfully and said:
"Didn't I give you a few days off? The Duke of Guo has finally come back to Beijing to stay for a few days this year. Why are you coming here if you are not at home with me?"
Tang Ping closed the door of the barracks, turned around and looked at his comrades with a smile, and said:
"The rest of the generals in the army are not on vacation and cannot go home to see their parents. Why am I special?"
Shi Meng smiled bitterly and shook his head. He was not surprised by the young master's character. He thought to himself that it would be great if Mr. Zhao had you as a dedicated person.
As a commander, a visit to the military camp once a month is considered diligent.
Tang Ping sat in the barracks and quietly finished the morning meeting.
After many of his colleagues dispersed, Tang Ping stood up and walked back to his barracks, and then summoned the group of young officers headed by him in the Shenji Camp.
"What happened?"
A group of young military attachés, monk Zhang Er, were confused and asked questions as soon as they entered the door.
Tang Ping asked everyone to sit down at the table, and then with a heavy heart, he told the truth about the murders of the "Beidi Blood Knife" in Jubei City.
A group of high-spirited and sharp-edged officers felt the same way, their blood surged up, and they instantly sympathized with Lang Shiba back then.
When he learned that the prince had rescued Lang Shiba, but was now captured by Cao Mao, thrown into prison, and prepared to be beheaded, an officer clenched his fist, slammed the table, and started clapping the case:
"That's too much!"
Another person who was calmer frowned and asked: "Brother Tang, is this true?"
Tang Ping looked at him with an expression of indignation:
"I learned about this from my father, what do you think?"
Everyone also knew that Tang Guogong and Cao Guogong refused to deal with them. Everyone closed the door, spoke without scruples, and immediately cursed.
Finally someone said:
"Brother, what do you want to do when you tell us this? Just tell us."
Tang Ping looked around at the group of younger brothers and said seriously:
"I don't know the North Blood Sword, but I can't stand this kind of thing. I can't bear it. I need you to spread the truth and at least let the three armies of the Beijing camp know. My second sister said that if there are enough troops, If the soldiers jointly request the order, your majesty may be given a lighter sentence.”
"Leave it to us, the Northern Blood Sword is a true man. It would be too embarrassing to die in the hands of such a person!"
All the officers rushed forward with enthusiasm, or guessed that this was Tang Guogong's intention. They all shared the same hatred and followed the order.
On that day, the news that Cao Mao's son had attacked military subordinates spread rapidly in the Beijing camp.
And it soon spread to the Forbidden Army in the city, which moved countless soldiers who had been bullied by Shangguan, and a restless mood quietly fermented.
……
……
In the afternoon, I went to Cao Guogong's house.
"Bang!"
Cao Mao, who had frosty white temples and deep legal wrinkles, slapped his big hand on the table, causing the cups and cups to shake.
This hungry tiger-like old man stared at the adopted son who was standing in the house and came to report:
"Say it again!?"
Cao Kedi stood respectfully, lowered his head slightly, and said:
"Rumors are spreading in the streets about you framed Beidi Xue Dao. The censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate heard the news and is said to have gone to the palace to impeach you, but he should have called back to His Majesty.
It's just... from what I've seen, the folk rumors are fierce and getting more and more intense. If they continue, more and more officials will notice this matter, and then... His Majesty won't be able to ignore it. ”
Cao Mao said nothing and had no expression on his face:
"Where did the news come from?"
"The child doesn't know."
"If you don't know, go check it!!" Cao Mao suddenly became furious, pointed at him and said:
"Find the connections you can use and check it out for me! I want to know why the rumor suddenly popped up! Who is behind it!
And... you go and pass my order to the capital government offices and other government offices, large and small, to arrest those who spread rumors! Silence these voices! ”
Cao Kedi turned around and left in response, not daring to waste even half a second.
……
At the same time, Baima monitors the backyard.
Zhao Duan, who was playing chess with the old supervisor Sun Lianying, also received the latest news from his subordinates.
"How?" Sun Lianying said calmly without raising her head.
Zhao Duan finished reading the paper with Cao Mao's actions written in his hand, threw it into the brazier nearby, calmly picked up the chess pieces, pressed them somewhere on the chessboard, and said with a smile:
"It's just incompetence and rage."
Thanks to Kenshin Kyoto Fire for the 100-coin reward
(End of chapter)