Chapter 183 "The Official Is Begging for Mercy"

A few days later.

The official documents of the Political System Council and Zhao Zhen's personal letters were sent to Bozhou.

At this time, Zhao Jun had been in Bozhou for half a month.

He was slow in sending official documents. First, it was normal to travel from Huainan to Bianliang by boat against the current.

Secondly, he deliberately sent them slowly, and waited until the dust settled and the evidence was confirmed before sending all the news back to Bianliang and directly convicting these officials.

But the message from Bianliang to Bozhou was very fast, mainly because it was smooth sailing from Bianliang to the south, so the speed was naturally much faster.

As he appeared in Bozhou, the news spread quickly, and all officials in the East Road of Huainan knew about his arrival. For a time, the officialdom in Huainan was shaken and uneasy.

Zhao Jun was actually unwilling to reveal his identity so early, because he mainly wanted to investigate the consequences of the drought in Huainan in the past two years.

To see whether the government had properly resettled the victims, and whether there were corrupt officials who embezzled disaster relief funds.

As a result, because Guo Chengyou's affairs were exposed in advance, other officials in the Huainan officialdom would definitely prepare for the response work early, and it would be difficult to investigate corruption at that time.

But it still had to be done.

At least for now, the Bozhou officialdom has been cleared up, and Shao Jingxian, the magistrate of Bozhou, has been appointed as the acting governor to stabilize the people's livelihood in Bozhou.

After cracking down on corruption, another wave of anti-gangster storms has arrived. Landlords from all over Bozhou who have colluded with the government and oppressed the people to rob the people's land will be punished and the people's land will be returned immediately.

Strictly speaking, the number of such landlords in the entire Song Dynasty is not large, and it is still due to the large number of floating officials. If ordinary landlords do not have relatives in the officialdom as a communication channel like the Wang family, it is difficult to quickly establish a good relationship with local officials.

Even if they want to collude with the government, they often collude with local officials, deceive their superiors and hide their subordinates, and operate in secret.

Therefore, Zhao Jun in Bozhou required officials from all places to be self-disciplined, to purge local government officials, and to reduce the occurrence of local tyrants colluding with the government to occupy the people's land and oppress the people like the Wang family.

Today, Shao Jingxian in the front yard was questioning the case in court. After Guo Chengyou fell, a large number of Bozhou people came to beat drums to complain. Some were local Bozhou people, and some were from various counties. They sued officials, landlords, etc. and told their grievances.

In the backyard, Zhao Jun looked at the documents handed over one by one. Basically, all the documents that Shao Jingxian had examined were handed over to him for review. If there was no problem with the verdict, he would sign it and it would take effect.

Guo Chengyou was the first to be sentenced. In addition to corruption and bribery, his crimes also included intercepting grain, approving propaganda, violating the law to punish minor crimes, abusing the people, framing rich families, borrowing Hanlin instruments, carrying flags and guns when going out, and using the imperial guards to guard the Zhou Dynasty, etc.

He entered the officialdom through family ties, not through the imperial examination. But basically, the Song Dynasty did not punish doctors, and as long as they were civil servants, they were often treated lightly.

In the past, these charges would probably be dealt with by demotion.

But now Zhao Jun was directly sentenced to immediate execution, and is currently imprisoned in Bozhou Prison, waiting for Zhao Jun to finally announce the time of execution.

At this time, Jiang Dalang came in and said, "Zhiyuan, the court sent a messenger to send an urgent letter."

"Oh?"

Zhao Jun was behind the desk in the backyard room. When he heard Jiang Dalang's words, he raised his head and put down the official document in his hand and said, "Let someone come in."

A dusty messenger came in, knelt on one knee and said, "I am the Caodi of the Jinzouyuan, I meet the Zhiyuan."

Caodi is not a name, but a position. It is the person in charge of delivering messages in the Jinzouyuan. Because the message is delivered by boat, and it is generally transported through the canal, it is called Caodi.

Zhao Jun nodded and said, "Is it the document from the Zhengzhiyuan?"

"Yes."

The messenger opened the letter tube on his back and handed over a roll of documents.

Zhao Jun took it and glanced at it.

The content inside was very simple. The people from the Political System Institute told him that the court would send people to solve some of the things he had investigated in Yingtian Prefecture.

In addition, for the affairs of Bozhou, the government and the Political System Institute meant that he would handle it with full authority and no report was needed.

"Yes."

Zhao Jun nodded.

The messenger said again: "The government has a secret decree."

Then he took out a letter from his arms and handed it to the table carefully.

Zhao Jun took it and opened it, glanced at it, and then nodded and said: "Okay, I know, you go and have a rest, and take my reply back to Bianliang tomorrow. Dalang, the deliveryman has worked hard all the way, and I will reward him two strings of money."

"Yes."

Jiang Dalang agreed.

The deliveryman went back happily.

After everyone went out, Zhao Jun opened the letter from Zhao Zhen again.

The letter said that Guo Chengyou was Zhao Zhen's attendant in the Eastern Palace, and he had been with Zhao Zhen since he was very young.

Moreover, he is the son-in-law of King Shu and the descendant of a founding hero of the Song Dynasty.

So I hope Zhao Jun can give Guo Chengyou a break for the sake of Zhao Zhen and King Shu. Even if Guo Chengyou is extremely evil, he should not be executed, but exiled to Lingnan.

After reading the letter, Zhao Jun threw it on the table. The evidence of Guo Chengyou's crimes collected by Zhao Jun in the past half month was piled up on the table next to him.

Opening a page at random, it clearly records how Guo Chengyou, as the governor of Bozhou, colluded with some merchants and landlords in the city, forced buying and selling, embezzled and perverted the law, and even intercepted taxes and grain.

Even if the crime of embezzlement and perverting the law is not punishable by death, he framed Zhang Fu with the crime for the painting of the Zhang family, tortured him to death, and exiled his family.

If it weren't for Zhang Fu's close friend Tian Chang who found Zhao Jun, I'm afraid no one would have overturned the case for Zhang Fu in his lifetime.

The criminal process that Guo Chengyou downplayed fell on the heads of countless ordinary people, which was an insurmountable mountain. It leaves families broken and dead, wives and children torn apart, and everything in sight is devastated.

However, next to these evidences of crime, there is a letter of pleading sent by the Emperor of the Song Dynasty to this corrupt official. It must be said that it is also another kind of irony.

"The Emperor of the Song Dynasty kept saying that the people were his people, and then someone criticized his people so harshly, causing his people to suffer disaster. But the emperor wanted to protect those who abused the people. It was really a characteristic of the Song Dynasty, and it left people speechless. talk."

Zhao Jun sighed, shook his head, and thought to himself: "It's a pity that the phone has never been repaired. If I take a photo and show it to Zhao Zhen and Lu Yijian, Wang Zeng and the others, it will be a big joke in the Song Dynasty."

Wait a minute.

Since my phone is broken and I can’t take pictures, why don’t I find someone to draw it?

It would be a beautiful thing for Zhao Zhen to be remembered forever.

Zhao Jun suddenly thought of it.

Whatever he wanted to do, he immediately sent someone to find a famous painter in Bozhou and asked him to use charcoal instead of a brush to paint the scene realistically.

As soon as the order from the Zhiyuan was issued, the Bozhou government took action and quickly hired a famous painter.

Although the prefecture's requirements were strange, and they had to use charcoal instead of a brush, the artist quickly painted this world-famous painting.

The content of the painting is very simple. It shows Zhao Jun sitting majestically in the hall. Guo Chengyou's criminal evidence is placed on the right side of the table. In the middle of the table is a letter from Zhao Zhen. The name of the painting is "The Official is Pleading for Love".

Even though the title of the painting seems to have nothing to do with the content of the painting, it is obvious that Lu Yijian and the others should be able to understand it if it is sent back to Bianliang.

After that, Zhao Jun wrote another sarcastic letter, asking someone to give the painting and letter to the courier, and ordered him to send it back the next day.

The next morning, after the messenger left, Zhao Jun took his things to the cell.

Today is the day of execution.

Early morning hours.

In the prison, Guo Chengyou was still yelling and cursing.

He has followed the official family for many years and has long understood the official family's temperament.

So he was sure that Zhao Jun couldn't do anything to him.

He has been cursing Zhao Jun for a while now, even when he was dry with saliva.

"Zhao Jun, so what if it was me who harmed the person? I admitted those crimes openly, so what?"

"Who are you, Zhao Jun? You came out of nowhere and stole a high position. When I was serving the official family, you were not even born yet?"

"Don't think that you can do whatever you want with me when you are in power. I tell you, you can't do anything, you straight bitch and thieves!"

In the cell, Guo Chengyou kept cursing with his hands on his waist.

For so many years, Guo Chengyou has never suffered such a big grievance, relying on his background as Zhao's son-in-law and an official in the East Palace.

Zhao Jun, who came out of nowhere to steal a high position, actually put him in jail so violently and humiliated him so much, at least Guo Chengyou felt very unhappy now.

However, just as he was yelling and scolding, Zhao Jun appeared outside the cell door and looked at him with interest.

Next to Zhao Jun was Tian Chang, a little old man.

Tian Chang was very happy at this moment. He had gone to pay homage to his friend these days. He had already sent people to pick up his friend's descendants, but unfortunately his friend's mansion had been sold by Guo Chengyou long ago and he could not get it back.

However, Tian Chang was satisfied to be able to avenge his good friend, and secretly swore in his heart that in the future, as long as he received orders from the Supreme Court, he would go through fire and water without hesitation.

Now seeing the enemy who killed his friend here, Tian Chang said with a smile on his face: "Zhiyuan, this guy seems to be quite unrepentant."

"It's normal. This kind of person won't shed tears until he sees the coffin."

Zhao Jun smiled.

Guo Chengyou's crime was so heinous that he would definitely not be able to escape the death penalty. But he thought that his backstage was strong and that no one in the Song Dynasty could touch him.

In fact, this is also the case. It is not that there have been impeachments by admonishers and censors over the years, but he has always stood firm. He was bounced around by many people, but he still acted as magistrate everywhere and harmed so many people. Anyway, he never collapsed.

So with confidence in his heart, Guo Chengyou was obviously not afraid at all.

"Zhao Jun!"

Hearing the conversation between Zhao Jun and Tian Chang, Guo Chengyou looked outside the cell door and immediately rushed over, lying on the pillar, looking at Zhao Jun fiercely and said: "Zhao Jun, let me out quickly, do you hear me?"

"If you let it go as you say, wouldn't it make me lose face?"

Zhao Jun frowned and said: "I am the magistrate of the Constitutional Yuan, and all the officials have to give me some bad treatment. You broke the law knowingly and illegally in Bozhou, and I caught you. If you speak nicely, kneel down and beg for mercy as soon as possible, and confess your crime." If you tell me on May 10th, you may be able to get leniency. You are obviously not taking me seriously now."

"what are you?"

Guo Chengyou said angrily: "My wife is the daughter of King Shu, and my grandfather was Zhongshu Ling. When the official family was still in the East Palace and I was the prince, I served around you. Where did you come from, you are worthy of my attention." inside?"

"It's interesting."

Zhao Jun smiled and said: "No wonder you are lawless and don't have the laws of the Song Dynasty in your eyes."

"Wang Fa?"

Guo Chengyou seemed to be extremely angry and laughed, pointing at the top and saying: "The King's Law, that is the royal law. If the officials want to change it, they have to change it. Can you be allowed to run wild? Do you believe it or not? You have arrested me now, no?" The pardon order from the Japanese officials will be sent to Bozhou soon."

"I believe this. He has already sent it."

Zhao Jun first picked up the document from the Constitutional Yuan and said, "This is the order from the Constitutional Yuan. Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng signed it, which means it is handled according to the law."

Deal with it according to law?

Guo Chengyou was stunned there, his eyes wide open. He never expected that the Constitutional Yuan would issue such an order.

"Actually, even if they give me an order to release you, I won't obey it. Because I am the President of the Constitutional Yuan, and they are just fellow intellectuals of the Constitutional Yuan. I am their superior. What qualifications do they have to order me? "

Zhao Jun said lightly: "Nowadays, all officials are controlled by the Political Yuan. I can remove anyone's office if I want. But I am a reasonable person. Whoever does a good job as an official can appease the local people and do a good job." If the people's livelihood is improved, then I will promote him. If someone is too lazy to do anything, I will dismiss him."

Zhao Jun said with a sneer: "The evidence of your crime and the bad things you have done can be piled up on a table, and it will be enough to sentence you to death several times, so I sentenced you to death, so there should be no problem."

"You dare to kill me? You dare to kill me?"

Guo Chengyou shook the wooden pillar, the chains on his body rattled, and roared: "The officials will not let you go, the officials will not let you go!"

"I said it was me not letting him go, not him not letting me go."

Zhao Jun pointed at himself, then took out another letter and said: "This is a secret letter written by the official to me. I hope I can be merciful. In other words, this is your life-saving straw!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha."

Guo Chengyou said ecstatically: "I knew the officials would not leave me alone. Zhao Jun, you crazy guy, you dare to say that you will not let the officials go. If I sue the officials, you will die without a burial place." . Now that the officials have given you a secret order, why don’t you let me out? If I were in a good mood, I might not complain!”

"You must be out of your mind."

Zhao Jun looked at him sideways and said happily: "Putting aside, I will definitely not let him go. I will definitely scold him severely when I get back. If he has a bad attitude, I may even punch him twice. In front of He said the same thing to me. Even if I was talking nonsense, how could you think I would let you go?"

Guo Chengyou opened his eyes wide, then looked at the edict in Zhao Jun's hand, stretched out his hand to grab it and said: "Zhao Jun, this is an official edict. He asked you to let me go. You are disobeying the edict!"

"oh."

Zhao Jun nodded, raised his head and looked at the lit torch in the cell next to him, and then said with a smile: "This is your life-saving edict."

Then he put the edict on the torch and lit it instantly.

"Now."

Zhao Jun looked at the burned edict in his hand and said calmly: "It's gone."

"Just like you once trampled on other people's lives and separated countless wives and families!"

Zhao Jun let go of his right hand, and the secret edict on fire fell down lightly.

Guo Chengyou watched helplessly as the secret edict turned into a ball of fire, then turned into ashes in the air and fell to the ground. He was even stepped on by Zhao Jun.

"The execution will be carried out this afternoon to avenge the people of Bozhou who were oppressed by him, as well as the people of other state capitals where he once served!"

Zhao Jun left such a sentence, turned around and left.

Tian Chang spit on the ground and left.

Only the desperate Guo Chengyou roared in the cell.