Chapter 1238 Human life is greater than heaven
Linghu Defen was already distressed about the loss of goods, but now that he was "shocked to learn the inside story", he became even more angry and furious, and immediately said angrily: "Fang Jun is so brave! He actually dared to set fire to the East Market and burned countless goods. It is a crime for you to die!" ”
As soon as these words came out, all the ministers in the palace were shocked!
Could this old guy have lost his mind and gone crazy?
Even if the fire was really started by Fang Jun, what evidence do you have? This time I suffered a secret loss, and I just kept in mind that I would get my place back someday. Even if I couldn't get it back, I have to admit that Fang Jun did a great job!
But if someone with red lips and white teeth slanders a high-ranking official of the second rank and the head of a feudal official out of thin air, do you still need the laws of the imperial court?
So lackluster!
What's more, people are just waiting for that idiot to jump out in such a hurry, so that he can shoot the first bird and show off the bad breath of being detained by the Ministry of Punishments and labeled as a murderer...
Sure enough, as soon as Linghu Defen finished speaking, he saw the gentle Du Chuke reached out and took off his black gauze hat, turned to the side of Sun Fujia, the minister of Dali Temple, who was standing solemnly, and said loudly: "Someone, Du Chuke, sued Linghu De, the Minister of Rites. Fen Yu The Taiji Palace lied and framed Jingzhao Yin Fangjun, just to avenge his family's property being burned down. There is no evidence for what he said and did. His character is extremely low, his morals are extremely corrupt, and he is extremely shameless!"
The ministers in Taiji Hall were stunned.
For Fang Jun, everyone just impeached him.
What is impeachment?
Impeachment refers to reporting a minister who has acted in a wrong way. This is a power given to officials by the law. However, in this era, impeachment does not mean indictment or prosecution. Therefore, the Yushi Yanguan of the Tang Dynasty had the "rumor" Say something." If the emperor's impeachment must be accepted once it is initiated, then the so-called "heard reports" naturally cannot exist. Just imagine, impeaching an official based on hearsay without any evidence at all. If the emperor had to accept the case one by one, the seventy-two concubines in the three palaces, six courtyards, and the harem would not be favored...
But the lawsuit is different!
This must be based on real evidence, and once the relevant yamen accepts the case, the case must be filed for trial.
Linghu Defen spoke without hesitation, but Du Chuke took advantage of him and launched a lawsuit. Is the evidence sufficient? It couldn’t be more adequate! They don't accuse you of anything else, they just accuse you of making false accusations at will. Can you just say in your defense that you were just joking?
This is Tai Chi Hall!
Sun Fuga, the minister of Dali Temple, looked solemn and said in a deep voice: "Dali Temple accepts the complaint."
He couldn't accept it. His Majesty the Emperor was staring at him from the throne with a deep and flickering gaze. Sun Fujia suspected that if he ignored Du Chuke's complaint, His Majesty the Emperor would probably jump up from the throne and give him a flying kick...< br>
Besides, so many people with sharp ears and eyes have heard Linghu Defen's abuse of Fang Junzhi with their own ears. Don't care whether it is slander or not, but you just say it without any evidence, how is it different from slander? If someone files a complaint with confidence, he must accept it.
Linghu Defen's face changed drastically and he said hurriedly: "Sun Siqing, wait a minute, I'm just talking indiscriminately, joking..."
Sun Fujia looked cold and said slowly: "In the Taiji Hall, we make decisions for the country and stabilize the country. Everything we say and do is solemn and solemn. Is this a place for jokes?"
Linghu Defen was so choked that his face turned red. He quickly turned to His Majesty Li Er and said urgently: "Your Majesty, it is clear to me that I just said something because I was anxious in my heart. I did not mean to accuse Fang Jun. I hope Your Majesty will make a clear decision."
The ministers increasingly felt that Linghu Defen was old and confused, and his skills were really limited. Could it be that as the Minister of Rites, he couldn't even understand the laws of the country?
When Dali Temple accepts the application, it is no longer a question of whether the emperor agrees with it or not. This is a judicial procedure of the country. Once started, it cannot be changed.
Just like Fang Jun being detained by the Ministry of Punishments, the trial of whether he killed Changsun Dan is the same... Unless His Majesty Li Er is willing to use imperial power to intervene in the judiciary, no one can stop it. In order to maintain judicial justice and achieve the eternal hegemony of one emperor, His Majesty Li Er refused to use his imperial power to intervene even when Fang Jun committed a crime, let alone Linghu Defen?
His Majesty Li Er looked ugly and said coldly: "Are there any jokes in Tai Chi Hall? What does Linghu Shangshu regard as Tai Chi Hall? Have you ever had the slightest respect for the empire and me in your heart? It's you who said the words, and there will be consequences. It’s your responsibility.”
Linghu Defen was about to speak but stopped, his face was gloomy.
All the ministers felt pity and knew that Linghu Defen was finished...
Naturally, even if Du Chuke's accusation against Linghu Defen was confirmed, it would be impossible for Dali Temple to punish a Minister of Rites. The crime of slander is not based on whether it is true, but on how serious the consequences are. This is the basis for sentencing. Linghu Defen just talked here and did not cause much harm to Fang Jun. Therefore, Dali Temple will definitely let it go in the end. At most, he will give a few words of warning after being convicted.
But how did Linghu Defen get the position of Minister of Rites?
Not talent, but reputation.
This great Confucian of his generation has many peaches and plums all over the world. He is a shining figure respected by Confucians today and one of the only remaining great Confucians. As a result, such a great scholar who flaunted his morality was sued, slandered and framed. This was a devastating blow to Linghu Defen's reputation.
Compared with this, what does it mean to have more goods?
As long as your reputation is there, you can slowly make it back no matter how much money you lose; but if your reputation is damaged, no amount of money can buy it back...
Liu Jie was sweating a little.
He really didn't expect that before he could impeach Fang Jun and fall to the ground, Linghu Defen would get him in first...
He quickly said: "Mr. Du, even so, what does it have to do with Fang Jun not organizing manpower to fight the fire?"
Du Chuke looked at Liu Ji like a fool and said: "The Jingzhao Prefecture has repeatedly ordered merchants and stores in the east and west cities to rectify the heating facilities and standardize the stacking of goods in the warehouses. All the merchants and stores turned a deaf ear to this. As a result, when the fire broke out I was helpless, but I wanted to ask Jingzhao Mansion for help... Mo Could it be that Liu Yushi thought that all the government officials in Jingzhao Mansion were immortals with three heads and six arms who were invulnerable to water and fire? Silk, paper, cloth, silk reeling and other goods could not be saved if they burned, no matter how many lives were added to Jingzhao Mansion. It doesn’t help. If that’s the case, why bother?”
Liu Jie said: "Then why do each merchant store organize their own manpower to put out the fire, and Jingzhao Prefecture still wants to stop it?"
Du Chuke asked back: "In the eyes of Liu Yushi, are those servants and maids not the people of the Tang Dynasty?"
Liu Ji hurriedly said: "Is it the king's land in the whole world? Is it the king's ministers who are on the shore of the land? I was born in the Tang Dynasty and grew up in the Tang Dynasty. How can I not be the people of the Tang Dynasty?"
Even though there is still a term for slavery at this time, and the masters often beat their slaves to death, the situation of slaves in ancient times is gradually no longer the same. Even if the master does not bear criminal responsibility for beating his slave to death, he still has to pay monetary compensation.
What's more, who dares to say in front of His Majesty that the servants in my house are my people and have nothing to do with you, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty?
So you're not looking for death? Why, do you want to rebel?
Du Chuke said: "Since we are all citizens of the Tang Dynasty, our lives are equally precious. How can we waste our lives for some goods that are destined to be burned? The families who organized their slaves to go to Dongshi to put out the fire last night were all their own. You are a cruel and inhumane person! You know that the fire is raging and there is no way to save it, but you still use the life of your own servant to save even half a piece of cloth and half a knife. How cold-blooded is his heart and how vicious is his behavior? "
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The ministers on the side were all helpless.
Du Chuke's words today spread, and as expected, all the family members who went to Dongshi to put out the fire last night were not safe. Although those slaves are as despicable as animals, they are thinking people after all, not unconscious animals. The number of escaped slaves will definitely increase greatly. Even if they do not escape, they will definitely be alienated and distracted...
I thought that if Fang Jun was not here, I could let the censors and officials do their best, but who knew that Du Chuke would come out, and his sharp words were not inferior to Fang Jun's at all, but his calmness was even better!
Du Chuke continued: "What did your Majesty rely on to wipe out the many powerful bandits Kou Dingding in the world? It was not the piles of goods and property, but the countless warriors who came forward to charge forward one after another! It was people! Among these people, there were children from aristocratic families, and some Villagers in the mountains also enslaved domestic servants! The Tang Dynasty relied on the lives of countless people to conquer this vast territory. We relied on the lives of countless people to fight in the south and north to resist foreign humiliation. In the future, we will still have to rely on the lives of countless people to expand the territory, clean up the society, and extend the country! The life of every citizen of the Tang Dynasty is the most precious. How can a mere piece of goods be destroyed arbitrarily? These people are the cornerstone of the empire, and their lives are more important than heaven!" (End of Chapter)