Chapter 2432 Weighing the pros and cons
Qiu Xinggong had always been rather disdainful of Changsun Wuji.
He is a child of an aristocratic family, but he has been in the army since he was a child, and his blood is full of bravery and fearlessness in the army. No matter right or wrong, what he pays attention to is to face difficulties and die without regrets, just like Changsun Wuji, who hides his sword in a smile. The person behind the scenes can't do it even to death.
In other words, even if you can do it, you will never agree with it.
Seeing Changsun Wuji being aggressive and even threatening him with his family members, Qiu Xinggong sneered and shook out some fierce information. I seriously shook it out regardless of spitting it out. Do you think the Guanlong nobles behind you are monolithic? ?
When the time comes, you will be in a dilemma, but it will be more embarrassing than if I don't say anything right now.
Changsun Wuji was stunned on the spot.
I never expected that just by threatening Qiu Xinggong, such a big inside story would be exposed... Continue to pursue the interrogation and dig out the mastermind behind the scenes?
Stop it!
If it is true that the mastermind behind the scenes is a member of the Guanlong noble family, then it goes without saying that he should be brought to justice and uphold the principles of justice. No one can be above the national law. Moreover, plotting to overthrow the rule of His Majesty Li Er violates all public relations. The wishes of the Long nobles.
But if the Long nobles in question are accomplices, then there will be trouble.
To dispose or not to dispose?
If it is dealt with, such a major case will inevitably lead to death or rebirth, and even the entire family will be implicated. As the leader of the Guanlong nobles, your eldest son, Sun Wuji, did not use this major case to benefit everyone, but instead put his own family at risk. People ruined their families?
Not to mention national law, in the eyes of aristocratic families, there has never been such a thing as national laws and regulations. In their eyes, the laws that bind hundreds of millions of people in the world are just tools to pursue interests.
When something serious happens, you don't help your own family, but instead bring them to justice. You just turn your elbows outward. How can you deserve the position of a leader?
If you don't deal with it, the emperor will not be able to explain it to you.
I have entrusted you with such an important task and tacitly allowed you to seek some benefits from it, but you actually want to protect the criminals who participated in the rebellion. Do you want to live or die?
Changsun Wuji thought about it and realized that once the Long nobles were seriously involved in any of the two cases, he would be faced with a dilemma and a situation where he would be blamed on both sides, and no matter what he did, he would not get any benefits.
Seeing Qiu Xinggong's expression of "If you dare to listen, I will dare to say anything", Changsun Wuji became timid, coughed slightly, turned to look at Sun Fujia, and said: "This man has committed serious sins and he doesn't even know it." Repent, I suggest that he be punished severely, and there must be an explanation under Sanmu. I wonder what the three of you think, Sun Siqing, Zhang Shangshu, and Liu Zhongcheng?”
The three of them shook their heads together.
His Majesty has repeatedly warned not to use severe punishments on distinguished ministers of the imperial court in order to protect the face of the imperial court. If you do something wrong, you can beheaded, but you cannot use torture instruments to humiliate your body.
The words are still ringing in my ears. Do you dare not listen?
Furthermore, these three people are not stupid. How could Changsun Wuji really want to use severe punishment on Qiu Xinggong? This is clearly to pave the way for the leak later - the punishment cannot be used, and Qiu Xinggong refuses to listen to reason, so it is really difficult to find out who is the mastermind behind this...
Sun Fuga said: "Your Majesty has a decree. No matter whether Qiu Xinggong is guilty or not, his meritorious service is unadulterated. Therefore, torture instruments cannot be added to him, out of the love between the emperor and his subjects. Of course, this case is for you, Duke Zhao, to preside over. Your Majesty and others are all jurors, so you have full authority to decide whether to impose punishment or not, and we have no objection.”
It is true that he has an upright temperament and has never done anything illegal, but it does not mean that he is ignorant of politics and court disputes.
First of all, there are big problems with His Majesty Li Er's will. A major case such as privately minting coins must be involved in an act of rebellion. And if such a major crime cannot be tortured and break his defenses, how can it be possible? How about a quick confession?
It is necessary to track down the mastermind behind the scenes, but cannot impose torture. This is somewhat contradictory in itself.
Secondly, any official with a little bit of political sensitivity knows that the top priority of the court at the moment is stability in order to smoothly carry out the Eastern Expedition starting next spring. During this period, anyone or anything that shakes or disrupts the stability of the court will , are absolutely not allowed.
Everyone understood clearly what Qiu Xinggong said. The Guanlong aristocratic family was not monolithic, either they were coveting and jealous of Changsun Wuji's power, or they were intent on supporting the new emperor and plotting to usurp the throne. In short, they could not be exclusive to Changsun Wuji. Fate is a matter of course. When a hurricane strikes and dark clouds come over, Changsun Wuji, the so-called wave of the tide, can only go with the tide. If he wants to go against the trend, the only outcome will be to be shattered into pieces.
In fact, these three people did not care too much whether Changsun Wuji was dead or alive. They noticed Qiu Xinggong's extremely contradictory state of sadness and despair but fearlessness, which showed that the power behind him was very powerful. Powerful, so big that he could be sure that Changsun Wuji would never dare to do anything wrong.
So the question is, among those people, are the Guanlong nobles the only ones involved?
Are there any Jiangnan gentry?
Is there any Shandong family?
How many civil servants are there?
How many generals are there?
It’s scary to think about it...
If it were in the past, Sun Fujia was certainly not afraid of difficulties. He was pure, loyal, and courageous. How could he be afraid of those monsters, monsters, and clowns?
However, now he had to act carefully.
If we dig deeper, it will definitely be a major case that is earth-shaking and even shakes the foundation of the empire. When this case breaks out, the whole country is shaken by the military and civilians. The Eastern Expedition can only become an unrestricted stranded. Even if it is not handled properly, it may die prematurely. Ten years later There is no longer any spare capacity to implement this national policy.
To pursue them is to indulge the traitors. These people hide in the dark and carry out private activities. They are a great hidden danger to the emperor and the empire, because their power is too strong!
Sun Fuga couldn't do things with passion alone. Everything had to be considered before and after, and the pros and cons weighed. Therefore, whether to pursue the case or not could only be left to your Majesty's decision. People like them neither had the authority nor dared to make decisions without authorization.
So at this moment, it doesn't matter how Changsun Wuji treats Qiu Xinggong, or even how he covers it up, because the final decision lies in the hands of the emperor.
Even though the Tripartite Justice is the highest judicial institution in the empire, it still has to serve the empire...
As for Zhang Liang and Liu Jie, these two have no intention of judiciary at all and have no intention of getting involved. If this case is further investigated, it will definitely be very involved. When the time comes, the two of them will be in a dilemma and have no choice but to offend others. They will be snatched away by Changsun Wuji and Sun Fujia, so why bother?
At this moment, seeing that Chang Sun Wuji was trying to evade and Sun Fujia was not interested in delving deeper, Zhang Liang and Liu Jie looked at each other and leaned back in their chairs in a tacit understanding, watching with cold eyes and no intention of interfering.
Changsun Wuji looked around and said: "Come, please stay with General Qiu first, so that he can be settled properly. Don't neglect it, otherwise you will be asking questions!"
"Here!"
The officials and jailers of Dali Temple all stepped forward and took Qiu Xinggong down.
Changsun Wuji then turned around and asked Sun Fujia, Zhang Liang and Liu Jie with a smile, "This case involves a wide range of things. It can be summed up as anything more than a simple conspiracy. A single mistake can cause shock to both the government and the public." "Well, we really have a hard time making a decision. How about we go to the palace together and ask for your Majesty's instructions together?"
Sun Fuga hurriedly said: "The official has this intention!"
Changsun Wuji looked at Zhang Liang and Liu Ji again, and they said: "We will go together."
Changsun Wuji said happily: "That's great! In my opinion, once this case is exposed, it will have far-reaching consequences. I don't know how many people are involved in it, which will greatly damage the stability of the government. Solving the case and marching eastward are the two. It is up to Your Majesty to decide how to weigh the time. ”
The three chief justices all nodded in agreement, but they could not help but sneer in their hearts.
If you say this more, isn't it just the impact that Hui Huan was frightened by Qiu Xinggong's words just now?
Of course, seeing through but not speaking out is an essential skill in officialdom. All three of them have been in officialdom for many years, how could they not know this rule?
Immediately, the four people worked together to sort out the files and verified the transcript of the just interrogation of Qiu Xinggong word by word. Until all four were satisfied, they sealed it into the file and came to the palace together to see it.
……
His Majesty Li Er held the file in one hand and stroking his beard with the other, flipping through it carefully, thinking and weighing in his mind while reading.
Changsun Wuji and others were sitting on their knees in the flower hall, sipping tea gently and not daring to make any sound.
After a long time, His Majesty Li Er put down the file in his hand, let out a breath, glanced at the faces of the four people one by one, and said slowly: "Qiu Xinggong hid the coin molds secretly, intending to mint coins privately to collect money. His crime will not be forgiven." , when the owl's head is shown to the public, to surpass Gang! But in view of his outstanding achievements in the past, let him keep the whole body and give him poisonous wine to kill himself. The two cases must be over. Qiu Xinggong will definitely be punished and deter the disloyal thieves! ”
The four of them were silent.
Although I have long concluded that His Majesty Li Er must take the overall situation into consideration, put the Eastern Expedition first in everything, and suppress this case, I never expected that the case would be closed so easily, and Qiu Xinggong would bear all the blame alone. The rest will not be investigated.
Sun Fujia was silent for a moment, then bowed and said: "Your Majesty clearly knows that the motive of this case is vicious and has far-reaching influence. There are definitely more than one or two people involved in the case. If the investigation is not continued, those people will still hide in the dark, and their privacy will be filthy. Sooner or later, It is a serious problem for the empire. Wei Chen suggested that the case should be sealed for lack of evidence and then be interrogated and investigated after the incident. ”
After all, he is an upright person. His position as Minister of Dali Temple has been as stable as Mount Tai for so many years. He has already deeply ingrained the laws and regulations in his mind. He can make some concessions for the sake of the imperial plan and the national policy of the Eastern Expedition, but he cannot tolerate His Majesty Li Er's interference in the judiciary. Directly characterize the case and end it.
The nature of the two is absolutely different. (End of chapter)