hot!

It’s so hot!

All the officials present were sweating profusely.

It's actually quite cool here.

"Prefect Cai, do you want him to continue the trial?"

Wei Yingfang said to Cai Yanqing with a little excitement.

The faces of the surrounding officials were dripping with embarrassment.

In fact, the officials also understood clearly that Zhang Fei was not targeting any particular official, but the government and the salt administration.

This is why everyone is so terrified. If it was targeting a certain official, they would not be too scared because they have investigated him before.

But the problem is, if the government’s underwear is stripped off, will the people still trust the government in the future?

...

...

This seriously endangers the prestige of the government.

The officials around also looked at Cai Yanqing, as if waiting for his order so that they could pounce on Zhang Fei and eat him alive.

Cai Yanqing sighed and said, "Could it be that Judge Wei has forgotten that we cannot control the imperial court?"

“......!”

Wei Yingfang was stunned.

He seemed to still be living in the old world, where politics and law were integrated, but now they are separated. They can do nothing but watch here stupidly!

However, Zhang Fei did not seem to notice them at this time and was still concentrating on the trial. Next, he summoned a famous supervisor named Chen Xu.

Inquire about the financial status of Huang Tong's family and the specific process of Huang Tong handing over the salt and obtaining the capital for the salt.

The process is the same.

Chen Xu also hesitated and spoke unclearly, and when his explanation didn't make sense, he just threw it aside.

Zhang Fei did not bother with him and summoned a number of officials from various links in the salt administration.

There is no need to delve into the tricks in the salt administration; they are all laid out in the open, and everyone knows the problem, just like the yamen servants.

Just say that it has never been said on such occasions.

The people, who were angry at first, began to look numb.

They feel that this country is beyond salvation.

Very decadent!

Very frustrated!

This is no different from murder for money, except that one is legal and the other is illegal.

As a prosecutor, Chen Qi was like an audience, sitting in the middle, and was really bored. They only prepared a few confessions, because the procuratorate determined that this was enough to convict Huang Tong of selling illegal salt. He couldn't help but whisper to Su Zhe: "What on earth did he do?"

Su Zhe glanced at Zhang Fei and hesitated for a moment, "Actually, this is also good!"

Chen Qi asked curiously, "What do you mean?"

Su Che did not answer but asked: "Everyone says that Magistrate Cai is smart and capable, but why does he have so many problems?"

Chen Qi sighed, "The matter of salt administration is a complicated one, and it is also an important source of national finance. No matter how capable one is, one would not dare to act rashly."

Su Che nodded and said, "The reason why these issues are so complicated is that they are hard to talk about. This is also because in the past, politics and law were integrated, and the prefects had to rely on the central government, which was ultimately just a temporary solution and not a fundamental solution.

But now that politics and law are separated, the imperial court does not need to consider whether those officials will obey his orders. Speaking out these issues openly will also facilitate future sorting and correction. "

Chen Qi whispered, "But will this cause the local officials to become desperate?"

Su Che smiled and said, "Didn't they all push the responsibility to the court? Zhang San didn't bother to argue with them. It shouldn't be necessary to just convict them directly."

"That's true."

Chen Qi nodded thoughtfully.

It sounded terrifying, but Zhang San never asked any question to any particular witness. He mainly talked about the salt law and salt administration. Once the officials passed the buck to their superiors, Zhang Fei did not care.

Naturally, those officials would not do anything desperate.

Before we knew it, the sun was shining brightly. Although it was very cool here, there were too many people. The people watching outside the door were already sweating profusely, but no one chose to leave.

This type of trial is so exciting that it can be considered an entertainment program.

If I don't see the result, I will definitely not be able to sleep tonight.

After a witness left, Zhang Fei suddenly asked Su Zhe, "Does the Procuratorate have anything to add?"

Su Che shook his head and said, "We have nothing to add."

Is it ending?

It’s finally over!

It’s not easy!

The officials immediately perked up.

"Okay then!"

Dong Dong Dong!

Zhang Fei knocked the gavel three times. "The court is adjourned for the time being. Since this case is quite complicated, I need to discuss it with the assistant judges."

Adjourn...adjourn?

Both the common people and the officials almost popped their eyes out of their heads.

He was so full of dirty words that he wanted to spray them towards Zhang Fei's face.

Judge quickly!

Are you trying to outlast us?

Many generals stood up and prepared to protest.

But Zhang Fei ignored everyone's anger and returned to the lobby at the back with Xu Zhiqian, Cai Jing and others.

The teacups and pastries are already prepared.

Cai Jing and the others were originally very reserved, but seeing that their teacher was eating like a wolf, they no longer cared about their image and ate voraciously as well.

"Teacher, how are you going to judge?"

Shangguan Jun asked in a unclear voice with a pastry in his mouth.

Zhang Fei asked: "What do you think?"

With a gulp, Shangguan Jun swallowed it whole, then shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Cai Bian also said: "The witnesses we just interrogated...seem to have little to do with this case."

Cai Jing and Ye Zuqia also nodded, and even Xu Zhiqian looked at Zhang Fei curiously.

Zhang Fei lamented: "You guys really don't work hard at all!"

Shangguan Jun said aggrievedly: "Teacher, I have tried my best."

"What are you working hard for?"

Zhang Fei said: "You didn't even read the salt law of Hezhong Prefecture."

Shangguan Jun immediately said: "After reading it, the students can recite it by heart."

As he spoke, he directly flipped out a document and said, "Teacher, please have a look. This is the student's notes on the salt law."

"Don't show it to me."

Zhang Fei waved his hand and said, "Compare the salt law with their confessions just now. Huang Tong is selling private salt!"

The four of them looked at each other, not even caring about eating or drinking, and immediately compared their confessions with the Salt Law.

But after looking at it for a long time, I still couldn't figure it out.

Cai Bian said awkwardly: "Teacher, please forgive my ignorance. I really don't know what the problem is."

Zhang Fei raised his head to the sky and sighed, "Why are you still learning the law? Go home and farm."

“......!”

.....

There was even more noise outside, and everyone was discussing what the verdict would be.

You should know that all the legal talents in Hezhong Prefecture are here.

I saw officials such as Wei Yingfang were all in front of Guo Xiaofa.

"In my opinion, it is definitely still the death penalty."

"death penalty?"

"good."

Guo Xiaofa said: "Zhang San is just deliberately making things mysterious. Based on the confessions of He Yanjian and others, it can only prove that Huang Tong deserves sympathy, but it cannot excuse him for selling illegal salt.

In the previous lawsuit, Wu Zhang only reduced her sentence, but did not completely plead not guilty. And there was enough evidence at the time to prove that Wu's mother jumped into the river on her own, and it was not Wu Zhang who pushed her in.

But in this case, all the evidence proves that Huang Tong was indeed involved in smuggling salt, and he should be sentenced to death according to the law."

Wei Yingfang snorted, "So, he went to all this trouble just to embarrass us?"

"Nine times out of ten it is true."

At this point, everyone had some idea in their minds. It must be that Zhang Fei knew that this case was deliberately made difficult, so he took advantage of the situation and retaliated against them, making them feel uncomfortable.

It’s really uncomfortable!

The power of the royal court is a bit too great, and they must appear in court to testify.

......

Half an hour later, Zhang Fei, Cai Jing and others came out from the back hall. They were all energetic and full of confidence.

Chen Qi knew at a glance that they were well fed and well-drinking inside, and whispered, "Chief Prosecutor, we also need a special room for us to rest."

Su Zhe was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded, "That's how it should be."

No one was sitting in the VIP seats, everyone was standing, and all eyes were focused on Zhang Fei.

"Everyone, please take a seat."

Zhang Fei gestured with his hand, then sat down. Suddenly he realized that no one sat down, everyone was standing. So he just let them be.

Xu Zhiqian carefully placed a document in front of Zhang Fei.

"Thanks!"

Zhang Fei nodded slightly, picked up the gavel and knocked it, "Continue the trial."

As he spoke, he looked at the documents in front of him, then raised his head, glanced around, and said loudly: "According to the trial just now conducted by this court president, I found that the government's salt law is a mess and is really incomprehensible."

The officials were startled.

The people nodded vigorously, saying that he was absolutely right. According to the trial just now, it was indeed a mess.

"first!"

Zhang Fei glanced at the document, then raised his head and said, "The court stipulates that the salt households must sell the excess salt to the court, but there is no clear stipulation on when to buy it and at what price. This court has checked all the evidence and has not found out at what price the government is buying the excess salt from the salt households, nor what regulations the salt households must follow to sell the salt in their hands.

Secondly, the imperial court only stipulated that salt households must sell their excess salt to the government, but did not stipulate that the government must purchase the salt from salt households. This meant that the government could refuse to accept the salt, which was obviously unreasonable.

Finally, and most importantly, the agreement between the imperial court and the salt households was that the salt households would hand over 120,000 kilograms of salt each year and receive 45 strings of cash as salt capital and two liters of rice per day. This was not a very high price, but evidence showed that Huang Tong did not receive the agreed salt capital.

The reason why he did not get the agreed salt capital was entirely due to the chaotic management system of the government. The government should bear the main responsibility. Therefore, this court ruled that it was because the government breached the contract first that Huang Tong faced a survival crisis and had to sell salt to survive. His behavior did not constitute the crime of selling private salt. He was released in court, and the police station must immediately return the salt and money he confiscated. "

"good!"

"Well judged!"

"As expected of Judge Zhang."

......

The people felt as if they were drinking nectar under the scorching sun, and they were extremely refreshed and shouted excitedly with their arms raised.

The officials were stunned. How could they judge like this?

Is it the judge's responsibility?

Aren't you...it seems like he really isn't.

Politics and law are no longer one family.

this...!

"I object!"

At this moment, Su Che suddenly stood up and said, "According to the law, there is irrefutable evidence that Huang Tong was selling illegal salt. Even if the government is responsible, the imperial court should make a judgment according to the law, rather than changing the law without authorization. Judge Zhang should not have this power."

Zhang Fei has the power to supplement regulations according to some cases and to give judgments at his discretion, but he cannot modify regulations at will. Moreover, the Salt Law is of great importance and cannot be modified.

"This court has not changed any law."

Zhang Fei said: "According to the Salt Law, those who sell 10 kilograms of private salt will be sentenced to death. Those who do not sell salt will be sentenced to death. So the first thing to determine is whether the salt sold by Huang Tong is private salt.

The latest salt law of the imperial court explains that the imperial court requires salt households to pay 45 strings of cash and 2 liters of rice as salt capital in exchange for 120,000 kilograms of salt per year, and that salt households must sell the excess salt to the imperial court. Chief Prosecutor Su, am I wrong?"

Su Zhe nodded and said, "That's right."

Zhang Fei continued, "But all the evidence proves that Huang Tong did not receive enough salt capital and the two liters of rice per day, and the cause of all this is not his responsibility. All the witnesses just now were evasive and their answers were unclear. The key is that there is no written record of the reasons and amounts of these deductions.

Therefore, there is no sufficient evidence to prove that Huang Tong should not get the agreed salt capital and rice. In other words, the government did not abide by the previous agreement.

At the same time, this salt law did not specify that if the court did not abide by the agreement, the salt households would still have to perform their subsequent duties. According to the principles of contract law, when one party does not abide by the agreement, the other party naturally does not have to abide by it.

Therefore, what Huang Tong was selling was not illegal salt."

Chen Qi opened his mouth wide and looked at Zhang Fei with admiration. Is this okay?

Well worth the effort.

"I have no objection." Su Zhe sat down.

The other officials also kept silent.

Want to argue?

Then come on!

See whether you are legally withholding the salt capital from salt households.

Produce evidence.

This will definitely get me into trouble.

Because the expenditures in the government accounts were in full, not a penny less, Zhang Fei did not mention this.

But Zhang Fei suddenly looked at them and said, "In addition, this court president would also like to advise the government that it is best to write the regulations clearly on paper and stamp them with the official seal, so that there is a law to follow, instead of just talking about it. I believe you all know that the king's words refer to the government, not to the people present here."

.