Chapter 140 I want to sit at the card table
Report...another report...
In the courtyard, it was a hot summer day, but in the main room, Yuan Li suddenly had a premonition of déjà vu.
In a daze, he recalled the night when Zhao Duan came to report.
I had just made a long speech, trying to comfort the other party not to be impatient, saying that Zhou Cheng’s trap was difficult to catch, so you said you found it... Yuan Li’s heart skipped a beat, he straightened his face and frowned slightly:
“It’s a waste to kill an important official of the imperial court. Breaking the law, do you know what you are talking about?”
Having been in a high position for a long time, Yuan Li was used to seeing too many subordinates who exaggerated their reports.
Although Zhao Duan is very capable, he is still young and may have caught some clues, but the words "killing an important minister in vain" cannot be used casually.
Therefore, this sentence has a somewhat percussive meaning in it.
Zhao Duan said distressedly:
"The official was silent because he was wondering whether the evidence he found was a trivial matter that Mr. Yuan said would not be investigated. After all, it only involved a young minister from Dali Temple, a censor, and ten people. Just the deaths of a few implicated officials.'
When Yuan Li heard the first half of his sentence, his body relaxed quietly, thinking that it was indeed not a big deal.
But when he heard the second half of the sentence, the man in Qingyi, who held half of the power in both the government and the public, suddenly raised his head, tilting the tea bowl in his hand and not caring about the splash of tea soup.
Merely?
The deaths of a dozen officials?
He was stunned for a moment, suspecting that he heard wrongly.
When he saw Zhao Duan's confident expression, his breathing became tight.
At this moment, even with the power of his city, it was difficult to contain him. A little shock appeared on his face, but he quickly calmed down and said in a deep voice:
"Speak clearly!"
"Yes!" Zhao Duan stopped talking.
Immediately, he told how his colleagues discovered the missing files, how he found Xue Lin's descendants, and how he learned the truth about the old case.
Yuan Li listened quietly without interrupting.
After he finished narrating, the current imperial censor sat up straight with a sharp gaze:
"Can you believe what future generations have said?"
Zhao Duan said resolutely: "The official believes that there must be something fishy about this matter."
Yuan Li stood up and walked slowly in the hall, as if thinking, and sighed after a moment: "I heard about Xue Lin in the past. Although I had no chance to deal with him, I knew his reputation. Later I heard about it I feel sorry for him being in jail. As for the eunuch Wang Zhen... huh."
He snorted coldly, his evaluation of it was eloquent and quite shameless.
Zhao Duan also got up early and blinked: "Mr. Yuan has also heard about this matter, but has he never investigated it?"
Yuan Li glanced at him and said angrily:
"Thirteen years ago, I was still working as an official in other places. When I returned to Beijing, I would have passed several years earlier."
I see.
Yuan Li and Xue Lin have no friendship. After so many years, it would be boring to delve into the old cases.
If Haitang hadn't investigated it for meritorious service, and if the empress hadn't issued an order, this old case would have been sealed in a dark vault until it was forgotten.
Zhao Duan said respectfully:
"The official investigated this place and realized that it would be very difficult for me to find the clues that had been erased.
Especially when it comes to getting through the various yamen, it is not the director of the imperial yamen, so he boldly went to the door and wanted to ask Mr. Yuan for help. "
Yuan Li was not surprised, he was silent for a moment and said:
"Give me a reason. A reason to help you."
An old case from the "previous dynasty" was tried by Zhongcheng, the appointed censor, and the former emperor's imperial pen sealed the coffin and concluded the case.
Even if he is wrong, Yuan Li has no reason to go to war over this.
Zhao Duan did not hesitate and said:
"As far as I know, Zhou Cheng has a close relationship with Li Yanfu. He is in charge of one of the three law departments, and many things handled by the Metropolitan Procuratorate are also subject to his checks and balances."
Just as back then, Xue Lin could repeatedly dismiss cases reviewed by the Metropolitan Procuratorate, today Zhou Cheng also has a curbing effect on Yuan Li.
The implication of Zhao Duan's words is that Zhou Cheng is also Yuan Li's enemy. If he can be banned, it will be of great benefit to the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
Yuan Li stared at him condescendingly, narrowed his eyes and asked, "That's it?"
Zhao Duan lowered his eyes and nodded: "That's it."
The hall was quiet for a while.
Immediately, Yuan Qingyi, who looked majestic just now, suddenly smiled, and the sharpness in his eyes turned to appreciation.
He took a step forward, sat back in the chair, and said softly: "I thought you would use the mission His Majesty gave you as an excuse just now."
Zhao Duan shook his head seriously:
"This is a task given by His Majesty to the subordinates, not to Mr. Yuan."
Logically speaking, since the empress ordered Zhao Duan to investigate, it was an "imperial charter" and he could order the Metropolitan Procuratorate to cooperate.
Otherwise, you can file a complaint to the empress.
But truth is just "reason".
When Zhao Duan left school in his previous life, he also thought that "you can travel all over the world with reason" and always have to argue about right and wrong in everything.
After working, I discovered that the operating rules of this world have never been related to the word "principle".
The word "right or wrong" is only important to the person involved, and outsiders never care.
Just like when he watched "Speed 2" in the cinema before time travel, Shen Teng burst into tears in the play, saying that he didn't care about ranking, but what he wanted was innocence.
But even the world in the movie never cared about these, only the results.
Of course he could threaten Yuan Li by suing the empress, but that would create a strong enemy for himself and would be harmful to solving the problem.
Therefore, even if Yuan Li pressed him, he never mentioned the word "empress".
Just talk about what kind of benefits the Metropolitan Procuratorate will gain by defeating Zhou Cheng.
After hearing this, Yuan Li's eyes became more appreciative.
If Zhao Duan borrows the name of the empress, he will also help.
With his big heart, he would not dislike Zhao Duan and have a grudge against him.
But... in my heart, my judgment on him will inevitably be lowered by several levels, thinking that his future achievements will be limited.
If you stay in court and don't know how to win over allies, even if you gain power for a while, it will only be short-lived. "Very good," Yuan Li thought for a moment and said:
"It is indeed beneficial to me to bring down Zhou Cheng, but if the case is not what you investigated, or if there is not enough evidence of guilt, then the intervention of the Metropolitan Procuratorate will break up with Dali Temple.
At that time, the consequences of having a bad relationship with Zhou Cheng will be borne by the Metropolitan Procuratorate. "
The risk is indeed there, but if it succeeds, the benefits will be huge... Zhao Duan didn't say anything and waited for the next step.
Yuan Li pondered for a moment and smiled: "So, you have two choices before you.
First, I can fully assist you with everything you need in this case. Even if the evidence is insufficient, I can help you make up for it. I can also fight for you against any counterattack Zhou Cheng has to do. .
You can enjoy the results and complete the tasks assigned by His Majesty, but...if it succeeds in the end, you will only get a small share of the credit. "
The implication:
Yuan Li also decided that this was a good opportunity and he was willing to take action against Zhou Cheng.
But most of the fruits of victory must go to the Metropolitan Procuratorate.
"What about the second option?" Zhao Duan asked.
Yuan Li said slowly: "As for the second one, I will also provide what you need and help you get it. But that's it. How to defeat him in the future is still up to you or the people behind you. Tell the Yamen to do it.
Zhou Cheng's subsequent series of counterattacks will be borne by you alone. I will not shield you from the wind and rain...
But correspondingly, if it succeeds, you will take most of the credit, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate will only need a part. You can think about it slowly and give me an answer. "
"No need to think about it," Zhao Duan said without hesitation:
"I'll choose the second one and ask Mr. Yuan to make it happen."
Yuan Li looked at him quietly and reminded: "You have to think clearly, there is no turning back. If you continue to investigate, even if you can hide it for a while, Zhou Cheng will find out sooner or later.
At that time, a third-grade official will take action with all his strength, even if you have Ma Yan to protect you, it will not be easy.
Just like Pei Kaizhi back then, if I hadn't been in front, you would have been thrown into the prison of the Ministry of Punishment.
Don't think that just because you are dressed in brocade, those important officials in the court will be helpless against you. "
Zhao Duan spoke sincerely: "Thank you, Mr. Yuan, for your suggestion. I know very well that Pei Kaizhi fell because of the action of the entire Metropolitan Procuratorate.
If I were alone, even if I instigated Lu Liang's rebellion and alienated the couple, it would be of no use. I would only be crushed to death by Pei Kaizhi who reacted. but……"
He paused, pursed his lips, and said slowly: "But... back then, I was just a powerless messenger. Now, it's different.
Of course, I know that a mere Lihuatang police officer is still like an ant compared to Zhou Cheng, the dignified Nine Ministers... But..."
He suddenly smiled, a smile that was a little unruly, a little fierce, and a little ambitious:
"But, I also want to be a chess player."
Chess player!
In the case of Pei Kai, although Zhao Duan called himself a "chess player", he was only a chess piece after all, and Yuan Li was the one playing chess.
Only the chess player can eat the biggest piece of cake.
But this time, facing Zhou Cheng's plump cake, Zhao Duan weighed the limited power cards in his hand and became a little eager to try.
If the temple fight is an endless card game, the empress is the dealer who deals the cards.
So this time, Zhao Duan wanted to stand on tiptoe and sit on the card table.
"Mr. Yuan once taught me that if I want to make meritorious deeds, it is better to make a big one instead of focusing on small fish and shrimps. I have listened to this truth." Zhao Duan said.
Quiet.
In the hot summer, the blazing sun in the courtyard seems not as bright and piercing as the young man's eyes.
Yuan Li looked at him quietly, and the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes suddenly became more fine, as if he saw himself when he was younger.
"Okay," he suddenly laughed loudly, and then waved his loose robe sleeves: "As you wish! This time, I want to see if you, a little detective, can bite the big guy to death. elephant."
Zhao Duan saluted respectfully:
"Thank you very much, Mr. Yuan, for this."
Yuan Li glanced at him:
"Whatever you want me to check for you, please submit it."
Zhao Duan took the last page of the dossier information from his arms.
That was when Zhou Cheng stamped the paper and handed over the paper with numerous names written on it with both hands.
"Please help Mr. Yuan to collect the relevant documents of this case.
And on the paper, where are these Dali Temple officials who served in the Metropolitan Procuratorate or the Ministry of Punishment, participated in the trial of the case, or were implicated and imprisoned now.
If it is the deceased, who are his direct descendants...
Although many files have been 'disappeared', such a large case must have left many traces that cannot be erased.
What I want is to reassemble these evidences that have been scattered, disrupted, and buried in the dust of the past.
This was combined to form ironclad evidence that could nail Zhou Cheng to death in court. "
Yuan Li raised his hand to take it and glanced down.
The densely packed clues that spread all over the government offices and even outside the capital gave Haitang and Zhang Han a huge headache.
In the eyes of this current first-class man, there seemed to be no obstacles at all.
"Someone's coming."
Yuan Li summoned someone, it was the "Yuan family coachman" who always accompanied him.
He recounted what Zhao Duan needed and finally said:
"Collect everything before tomorrow and send it to Lihuatang. Remember, be careful and don't alert outsiders."
Act resolutely and domineeringly.
"Yes." The driver of the Yuan family handed over the offer without any hesitation.
Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment and said hurriedly: "Actually, there is no need to be in such a hurry..."
After all, there are so many names, involving many yamen places.
Yuan Li only looked calm and said calmly: "One day is enough."
Zhao Duan was fascinated.
Yuan Li solved the problem that made the three imperial offices helpless with just one sentence.
(End of chapter)