Chapter 860 949 Question

"Mighty."

As the criminals of the Ministry of Justice shouted in unison, they kept hitting the ground with the water and fire sticks in their hands, making "bang bang" sounds. After the main hall, Wang Zhigao, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Ge Shouli, the Left Censor of the Censorate, and Chen Yisong, the Minister of the Dali Temple, walked out from the side of the screen wall and sat in the hall.

Today, there are three tables in the hall of the Ministry of Justice, which is also the standard configuration of the three-court trial. However, there is another table next to it, which is obviously arranged for a specific person.

In ancient feudal society, when hearing some major cases or cases involving the royal family, the three-court trial was generally chosen, which was already cautious.

The three-court trial is actually roughly equivalent to the three agencies of today's public security, procuratorate, and court.

In later generations, the three-court trial was often called the "three-court trial". In fact, the two have the same meaning, but the three-court trial in local areas is generally called the three-court trial, while in the court, it is the three-court trial.

In different dynasties, due to the different status of the rulers, the three officials were adjusted and renamed many times.

For example, it was called the Three Dukes at the beginning. These were the three very important official positions set up by Qin Shihuang after he unified the six kingdoms. They were the prime minister, the general, and the imperial censor, and these three people were in charge of government affairs, military affairs, and supervision respectively.

And when it came to the Western Han Dynasty, this system was inherited and given actual power, becoming one person above ten thousand people.

However, when it developed to the period of Emperor Wu of Han, after strengthening the power of the monarch, the governor was established, and then renamed the Grand Marshal. After continuous reforms, it was formed by the Grand Marshal and the Grand Tutor at the end of the Western Han Dynasty. The three officials of the Grand Marshal were also called the Three Departments.

When it came to the Tang Dynasty, the experience was summarized and the Imperial Censorate was established, and a central department was established to supervise the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple. This was a very useful supervisory agency, so the three officials corresponding to the joint trial of some major cases by the three institutions.

The three judicial institutions can supervise and assist each other. This was a method that Emperor Wu Zetian thought of at that time to strengthen the imperial rule. It was also a very representative legal system in the Tang Dynasty.

From today's perspective, such a system is also very advanced.

When Zhu Yuanzhang abolished the prime minister and strengthened the monarchy system in the Ming Dynasty, there was a system of three-court trial, which was jointly tried by the Ministry of Justice, the Dali Temple, and the Censorate, and then the final trial power was handed over to the emperor.

The initial establishment of the three courts in the Tang Dynasty also laid the foundation for the later period. This also marked the emergence of judicial consciousness in ancient China, which laid a good foundation for the establishment of the system later and opened the way.

Because when the three courts jointly tried a case, there would be three tables, and three judicial officials sat on them. Everyone had a say in the trial process, so the people called it the three-court trial.

Although it was inherited from the Tang Dynasty, the powers and responsibilities of the Ministry of Justice, the Dali Temple, and the Censorate in the Ming Dynasty were still different from those of previous dynasties.

The division of labor of the "Three Law Departments" in the Ming Dynasty is as stated in "Ming History·Criminal Law Volume II": "The Ministry of Justice receives criminal names from all over the country, the Censorate investigates, and the Dali Temple refutes."

The difference in functions can be roughly described as follows: The Ministry of Justice accepts appeals from all over the country, hears important local cases, and hears cases from various central departments.

Since the Ming Dynasty prohibited cross-appeal, all local cases accepted by the Ministry of Justice must have been heard by relevant departments.

The Ming Dynasty's penalties were divided into five levels: flogging, caning, imprisonment, exile, and death. The Ministry of Justice had the right to make the final judgment on cases below exile, but the criminals and case files must be sent to the Dali Temple for review.

Even if the death penalty is reviewed, it must be approved by the emperor.

The Censorate supervises the entire trial process.

In general, the Ministry of Justice actually handles and judges cases, the Dali Temple reviews, and the Censorate supervises the entire process.

However, as for the current Wanli court, because the Wanli Emperor was young, the emperor's final judgment power was naturally not in his hands. The three courts' joint trial, or the court's judgment on the case, could largely influence the final judgment.

In the lobby of the Ministry of Justice today, many tables and chairs were placed after the officers, all of which were officials who came here to watch the trial.

Ordinary people, of course, could not participate in such a trial.

The court officials who came here today were of high rank, led by not only Zhang Juzheng, the chief minister of the cabinet, and Wei Guangde, the second minister, but also the ministers of the other five ministries and other important officials of the court, as well as representatives of honorary nobles such as Xu Wenbi, Duke of Dingguo, Duke of Yingguo, and Marquis of Linhuai.

In addition, the commander of the Jinyiwei, Zhu Xixiao, was ordered to participate in the trial, and behind him stood Liu Shouyou and other Jinyiwei commanders.

At this time, Zhu Xixiao sat in front of the table placed on the side of the hall, staring at the door.

Although the eunuch admiral and the head of the East Factory Feng Bao was not present, the chief of the criminals Xu Jue was present. He also brought the assassin Wang Dachen and the servants of the Gao Mansion. At this time, the two were kneeling separately on the left and right sides of the hall.

In addition, Queen Mother Chen also sent the eunuch Wang Zhen beside him to come, of course, not only to understand the results of the trial, but also to see the reactions of the ministers present.

All officials sat upright and said nothing since the court was opened, leaving the entire hall to the Minister of Justice Wang Zhigao.

As he slapped the gavel, there was a crisp sound of "snap", and he shouted to the yamen runners in the hall, "bring the prisoner", and today's trial officially began.

Wei Guangde and Zhang Juzheng next to him were sitting there quietly, but their eyes were already looking at the door of the hall. As Wang Dachen was carried in by two East Factory guards, a small chaos came from behind.

For the officials here, most of them saw this imperial prisoner Wang for the first time today.

Well, even if Wei Guangde and Zhang Juzheng had seen him before, they only had a quick glance and did not have a deep impression.

Besides, he was suppressed at that time, and his face and figure could not be seen.

Now seeing him again, he really looks like a soldier, with a strong and powerful figure, and a sense of honesty and integrity. He is indeed a candidate for Qi Jiguang to select soldiers.

Qi Jiguang has a very important condition for selecting soldiers, that is, he does not want slick people. He likes honest people who are easy to train and obedient on the battlefield.

As for the first impression that Wang gave Wei Guangde, he said that he was Qi Jiguang's soldier before, and Wei Guangde really believed it.

Now Wei Guangde only hopes that Wang Zhigao will come straight to the point and not ask other messy things, so as not to involve Qi Jiguang.

Although Wei Guangde had already talked about this matter with Wang Zhigao and Chen Yisong privately before the court session.

As for Ge Shouli, forget it. He is an old stubborn man who is simply ruthless.

In the eyes of Wei Guangde and others, today's court trial should be a formality. After all, the person has been under the custody of the East Factory. Even at this time, the people from the Ministry of Justice cannot touch Minister Wang's clothes.

I didn't see that the person was carried in and there were East Factory guards on both sides.

Perhaps Zhang Juzheng also thought so, so he was like Wei Guangde, waiting for the end of this joking interrogation process calmly.

However, the development of the incident was somewhat unexpected.

After Minister Wang was brought to the hall, neither Wang Zhigao, Ge Shouli, nor Chen Yisong spoke. Even Zhu Xixiao, who was ordered to try the case, just sat on the side and watched two yamen runners from the Ministry of Justice come forward and directly pass the guards on both sides to press Minister Wang to the ground.

Then, yamen runners holding water and fire sticks came out from both sides.

Wei Guangde knew that this was the unspoken rule in the yamen, to beat the board.

Regardless of right or wrong, first pin the person down and beat him up, and he will naturally become honest in the future.

Wei Guangde lowered his head slightly, not wanting to see a grown man being stripped of his pants, being beaten with a stick on his bare buttocks, and then screaming and screaming.

With this posture, even a fool would know what it was going to do, this was the treatment of being beaten with a stick in the yamen.

Just as the criminals from the Ministry of Justice were about to strip Minister Wang of his pants, Minister Wang raised his head and shouted at the officials sitting in the hall: "You promised me wealth, why are you beating me?"

This shout was a little abrupt, but the officials on both sides of the hall were in a commotion in an instant, and Wei Guangde also looked at Minister Wang with an unbelievable look on his face, not expecting that the first sentence of the prisoner in the court would be this.

It has to be said that some unspoken rules in the ancient yamen trials were really effective, such as the killing stick before the trial.

In ancient times, there was an unspoken rule that seems strange and inhumane nowadays. That is, if you want to go to the government office to beat the drum to complain, you must first be beaten with a "killing stick". There is actually no clear number of beatings. It can be a few or dozens of beatings. It all depends on the mood of the official. After all, it is an unspoken rule.

As for why there was such an unspoken rule in ancient times, it was mainly set by the government to avoid trouble.

A very important principle in the ancient Chinese system is "the government will not investigate if the people do not report it." No matter how big the matter is, as long as no one reports it, the government will generally not take the initiative to intervene in civil disputes.

Of course, serious cases such as murder and looting are exceptions.

The ancient Chinese dynasties have always been small governmentism. A local official not only has to manage the local area well, but also has to worry about people's livelihood. Naturally, he is not capable of doing everything himself, and naturally hopes to have fewer cases under his jurisdiction.

If the people under his jurisdiction come to the government office to complain for trivial matters, then the government will not have to do anything.

For civil disputes, non-government personnel such as the Lijia and clan leaders are usually responsible for handling them. Only when something is really serious will they report it to the government.

So how to stop the common people from harassing the government for a little thing? The killing stick came into being.

If you are not afraid of being beaten, it must be a big deal. Otherwise, if it is not a big deal, the parties involved will not dare to come and complain.

You know, beating with a stick is not a small matter. There are many tricks involved.

Some people get beaten with a stick, take some medicine, and they can jump around the next day.

And some people get beaten with a stick. Not to mention being bedridden, they need a long time to recuperate, and they may even lose their lives.

Whether today's case is big or not, it is naturally big, but this rule has been in place for thousands of years and cannot be abandoned.

Wei Guangde looked at Minister Wang, who looked aggrieved. His silly look was a little cute, and Wei Guangde wanted to laugh.

Of course, in such an occasion, he certainly couldn't laugh, so he could only hold it back.

He inadvertently turned his head to look at Zhang Juzheng beside him, wanting to see how respected he was now.

What surprised Wei Guangde was that Zhang Juzheng also looked surprised, as if he had not expected it.

Wei Guangde just frowned, thinking, didn't Feng Bao ask Zhang Juzheng for help? Zhang Juzheng didn't know about it either?

"Bang."

The gavel rang again, and Wang Zhigao had already shouted loudly: "Bold lunatic, what nonsense are you talking about."

In any case, today's trial in the Ministry of Justice seems to be a little wrong at the beginning.

Wang Zhigao, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, can't let this situation continue. Didn't he see that many colleagues on both sides have begun to whisper to each other.

If there are problems in the trial of this case, it will be the Ministry of Justice's fault, and he is unwilling to bear it.

What's more, it seems that this pot was made by Feng Bao.

Yes, after the news that the case was related to Gao Gong, most officials did not believe it.

At this time, Zhu Xixiao was already squinting his eyes and staring at Minister Wang to see what he would say next.

But at this time, Minister Wang stared around with his eyes wide open, and seemed to not see the person he wanted to see, and lowered his head in disappointment.

Immediately, Wang Zhigao waved his hand and signaled the officers to withdraw. He did not want to cause more trouble and affect the trial today, so he directly picked up the confession on the desk and asked: "What I have in my hand is the confession you made before. Now I ask you again, who instructed you to enter the palace to assassinate."

Perhaps because he saw that he would not be beaten after shouting, Minister Wang was no longer pressed to the ground, but just kneeling.

After Wang Zhigao's question, Minister Wang answered without hesitation: 'It was Gao Gong who instructed me to do it. '

"What did Gao Gong tell you to do?"

Wang Zhigao asked loudly again, "How did Gao Gong tell you to enter the palace to assassinate, and who was the target of the assassination?"

"Gao Gong told me to enter the palace to assassinate."

Minister Wang paused here, as if he had come to his senses.

Enter the palace to assassinate, who to assassinate?

In this era, everyone knows that assassinating the emperor is definitely a capital crime.

No matter how stupid a person is, he would not confess like this.

Previously in the Northern Pacification Division, he said to the outside world that he was assassinating the emperor, but when he was induced to confess, the eunuch did not let him say that he entered the palace to assassinate the emperor, but only taught him to insist that Gao Gong arranged for him to enter the palace.

You know, such a case, in theory, is generally handled by the factory guards from beginning to end, and it is not the turn of the Ministry of Justice to try the case.

After that, Feng Bao's energy should be focused on serving his master in the palace on the one hand, and urging the factory guards to arrest the servants of the Gao family and complete the chain of evidence on the other hand, but he forgot about Minister Wang.

After all, Feng Bao did not meet Minister Wang in person, and many of the words he gave to his subordinates were very implicit.

The eunuch who was responsible for persuading and teaching Minister Wang naturally could not tell him clearly and let him tell the public that Gao Gong sent him to assassinate the emperor. If he really told him that, Minister Wang would never admit his guilt even if he was beaten to death.

As for the confession, it was just bullying Minister Wang for being illiterate.

After all, there were not many people who could read in this era.

The literacy mentioned here does not mean knowing a few big characters. At least you have to read "Three Character Classic" and "Hundred Family Names" to count.

If someone was caught in the palace, in the eyes of the eunuch, as long as he insisted that Gao Gong sent him to the palace, his godfather would naturally deal with it.

"What is the purpose of entering the palace?"

Wang Zhigao asked loudly, and seeing Minister Wang in the hall silent, he couldn't help but raise the gavel and slam it down again.

"Bang."

"Ah"

When the gavel sounded, Minister Wang came back to his senses from his trance. He just raised his head to look at Wang Zhigao, then his eyes swept across the faces of Ge Shouli, Chen Yisong, Zhu Xixiao and others, and then looked at the officials on both sides.