July 16th.

The Shuntian government office in the capital was crowded with people.

Today is the day of the trial of Xue Lian, Marquis of Yangwu, for occupying people's land and slaughtering civilians.

The entire capital was in an uproar, and the onlookers included not only ordinary people, but also officials and even royal relatives.

Inside the government office, Shuntian prefect Wang Tingmei was setting up the court.

"There are four officials in total, including the three judicial officials and the Royal Guards. Is one chair enough for them? Quickly move three chairs from the back."

"The teacups should be placed neatly, and the tea inside should not be too hot or too cold."

"Where's the cushion on the chair? It's so uncomfortable without it!"

"The chairs have to be put in order, that's the rule."

After arranging all this, Wang Tingmei looked outside the yamen.

The area closest to the door was crowded with officials in official robes, each with a different expression.

There is happiness, sadness, ridicule, and worry.

But more of the time...they look like they're just here to watch the fun.

Seeing that everything was almost cleaned up, Wang Tingmei led her people to the back hall.

Arriving at the back hall, Wang Tingmei bowed and said, "Your Majesty, everything is ready."

"Then let's get started."

"As you wish."

Not long.

An official stood up and shouted, "We are here to investigate the case of Yangwu Marquis Xue Lian. Please invite the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice Meng Zhaoxiang, the Minister of the Supreme Court Ling Yiqu, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate Shi Bangyao, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Li Ruolian to take a seat."

(Since the Minister of Justice was not in Beijing, the Vice Minister of Justice took his place.)

Under the gaze of everyone, Meng Zhaoxiang, Ling Yiqu, Shi Bangyao and Li Ruolian walked to the table one after another.

The Ming Dynasty began in the 17th year of Hongwu.

All major and difficult cases were jointly heard by the highest officials of the three judicial departments and finally submitted to the emperor for judgment.

The three judicial departments are the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate and the Supreme Court.

The Ministry of Justice is in charge of criminal justice, the Censorate is in charge of supervision, and the Dali Temple is somewhat similar to the modern Supreme Court and is in charge of reviewing criminal cases.

The trial place is usually chosen outside the Meridian Gate.

The Meridian Gate is an important place in the imperial city and ordinary people cannot go there.

In order to guide public opinion, Chongzhen chose to hold the trial in Shuntian Prefecture.

After the four of them discussed it for a while, they sat down.

Meng Zhaoxiang sat behind the middle table very reluctantly and sighed.

Whoever sits in the middle is the presiding judge.

If it were any other case, Meng Zhaoxiang would have wanted to sit in the middle.

This case won't work.

If it is done well, it will offend the nobles; if it is done badly, it will not only offend the nobles, but also the people, the civil and military officials in the court, and even the current emperor.

It's difficult!

Logically speaking, he holds the lowest official position and it is not his turn to sit in the presiding judge's position.

But at Li Banghua's recommendation, he was forced to become the presiding judge.

What bad luck!

Thinking of this, Meng Zhaoxiang felt a little hatred towards Li Banghua: Just wait, after the Jiannu come out of the pass, it will be the turn of the Three Courts to hear your case.

Shi Bangyao and Ling Yiqu sat on the left and right of Meng Zhaoxiang respectively, while Li Ruolian moved his chair and sat in the corner.

"Three of you, shall we start?" Meng Zhaoxiang looked around.

Ling Yiqu and Shi Bangyao were both experienced officials. They bowed to Meng Zhaoxiang and said, "Minister Meng is the presiding judge. You can start as soon as you say so."

Li Ruo Lian nodded: "I am only responsible for listening."

The corners of Meng Zhaoxiang's mouth twitched, and he said helplessly: "Bring the criminals and witnesses."

As soon as the words fell.

Several representatives of the people of Tongzhou, Xue Lian, Marquis of Yangwu, Wang Aoyong, the governor of Tongzhou, the messengers from the Tongzhou government office, Wang Zhixin, the governor of the East Factory, Jiang You from the Marquis of Yangwu's mansion, and three or four servants were brought into the hall.

After the roll call is completed, the trial officially begins.

Meng Zhaoxiang had a blank expression on his face and spoke in a dignified tone: "Xue Lian, do you know us?"

"I know you, everyone, I hope you are well!"

"That's good. Xue Lian, you occupied people's land and slaughtered civilians. Now there are witnesses and evidence. Why don't you plead guilty?" Meng Zhaoxiang went straight to the point.

Yangwu Hou Xue Lian stood where he was, not panicking at all.

Anyway, the matter has become a big deal, there is no point in panicking.

He put his hands behind his back and smiled faintly: "It's easy to find a pretext to accuse someone of a crime. Please, the three of you, please bring out the witnesses and physical evidence."

"Okay, let's talk about your occupation of the people's land first." Meng Zhaoxiang looked at several representatives of the people in Tongzhou, "Li Ergou, tell me how Xue Lian occupied your land."

"Yes...yes." The people's representative Li Ergou knelt on the ground and kowtowed tremblingly.

"In the summer of the fifteenth year of my dynasty, my five mu of fertile land had a good harvest. One day, Jiang You from the Yangwu Marquis's mansion found me and said that the Yangwu Marquis had taken a fancy to my land and wanted to buy it."

"I depended on these five mu of good farmland for my living, so of course I refused to sell it. So Jiang You sent people to capture my wife and children, saying that if I didn't sell the land to him, he would bury them alive."

"My wife and children are my weak points. I have no choice but to sell my five acres of good farmland at 10% of the market price."

The common people outside the yamen were filled with indignation.

"What a bastard! He even threatened his wife and children in order to seize the land."

"Yeah, it's okay to force them to buy it, but the price is so low, it's so infuriating!"

"Kill him! Kill him!"

Seeing the people getting more and more excited, the policemen who were maintaining order outside immediately drew their swords and shouted: "This is an important place in the court, no noise, keep quiet."

The people immediately fell silent.

These policemen are not joking, they really dare to kill people.

After the outside calmed down, Meng Zhaoxiang looked at Li Ergou and asked, "Why don't you report to the police?"

After hearing these words, Li Ergou fell silent.

Not only Li Ergou, most of the people outside the door were silent.

There is a popular saying in the Ming Dynasty that the change in attitude towards the government begins with the first report to the authorities.

"This is a court, a three-court trial! People from the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, and the Censorate are all here! Say whatever you want to say, no one will punish you."

Li Ergou smiled bitterly: "Oh, of course I reported it to the police. How could I not report it?"

"After reporting to the authorities, the officers from the Tongzhou government office brought Jiang You to my home and beat me up. The officers told me not to cause trouble, or they would kill my family of four."

"The next day, I was forced to sell five acres of good farmland at a low price."

Pah--

Meng Zhaoxiang slammed the gavel and looked at Wang Aoyong, the governor of Tongzhou, Jiang Youhe.

"Jiang You, Wang Aoyong, do you two have anything to say?"

Jiang You immediately knelt down and said, "I am innocent. The facts are completely the opposite. It was Li Ergou who was short of money and came to me to sell his land at a high price. I not only bought his land at the market price, but also gave him an extra ounce of silver."

“Here’s the receipt.”

Jiang You took out a note from his arms and handed it over.

Wang Aoyong held an official position. He did not kneel but bowed his hands and saluted: "I know nothing about this matter. Please investigate and give me justice."