Yangzhou Prefecture.

Sitting on a chair in the back hall of the government office, Yangzhou prefect Zhang Huangyan felt very uneasy.

This matter is too tricky.

What are the principles by which local officials handle cases?

Find out the truth? Maintain justice?

wrong!

First of all, there are some things for which the truth cannot be found; secondly, there is no absolute fairness.

The primary principle for local officials in handling cases is to try to satisfy both parties while protecting themselves.

Since ancient times, officials will not investigate unless the people file a complaint.

If the plaintiff is not satisfied, he will continue to sue, which will not only take up a lot of administrative resources, but also affect the reputation of the officials hearing the case.

If the defendant is dissatisfied, he may countersue, with the same consequence.

After hesitating for a long time, Zhang Huangyan picked up his pen and wrote an official document to Zhu Cilang.

The Great Ming Code stipulates that if a prefecture, county or city official commits a crime, his superiors are not allowed to interrogate him without authorization, but are only allowed to present the cause of his crime and seal it in a report. If he is allowed to interrogate him, he must make a report in accordance with the law.

You can interrogate officials if you want, but you need approval.

The crown prince is still regent and has corresponding authority.

After obtaining the prince's consent, Zhang Huangyan wrote official documents to summon the plaintiff and the defendant respectively.

Eight days later.

More than a dozen village representatives appeared in the lobby of the government office as plaintiffs.

There were three defendants: the magistrate of Baoying, the prefect of Gaoyou, and Xu Mingbi, the eldest son of Xu Yifan, a doctor in the Ministry of Personnel.

Xu Yifan had lived in Nanjing for a long time and had handed over all his properties in Yangzhou to Xu Mingbi, so it was only natural to summon him.

The outside of the government office was filled with onlookers.

Amid the discussions, Zhang Huangyan slammed the gavel hard.

The plaintiff spoke first and presented evidence.

As the lobby fell silent, everyone looked at Zhang Huangyan.

This case of a citizen suing an official had a great impact, and they wanted to know how the Yangzhou prefect would try the case.

Under the gaze of everyone, Zhang Huangyan hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Take Xu Mingbi away first."

Everyone was stunned.

The plaintiff is a villager and the defendant is Xu Mingbi. What does it mean to take the defendant away now?

Ren Minyu, the former prefect of Yangzhou and now Zhang Huangyan's aide, stood behind him and whispered, "Master Zhang should ask Xu Mingbi first, as he is the real defendant."

As Zhang Huangyan shook his head, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing an imperceptible smile.

The fact that state and county officials dared to shield the Xu family showed that they had already reached an offensive and defensive alliance.

Xu Mingbi is the key figure in this case. Will he plead guilty? Obviously not!

He does not plead guilty, and neither will anyone else.

Because there is a huge interest group behind them that will try every means to protect each other.

If you play according to common sense, it will be difficult to break this offensive and defensive alliance.

So, he decided to change his thinking.

"Gaoyou Prefecture, I have something to ask you." Zhang Huangyan slammed the gavel.

The Gaoyou prefect bowed and said, "Please ask me, sir. I will tell you everything I know."

"Okay," Zhang Huangyan nodded. "Before, the villagers of Dadong Village went to the state to sue the Xu family for occupying the people's land. Did you handle the case?"

"Your Excellency, I am the one who is conducting the trial."

"I've already read the file." At this point, Zhang Huangyan looked at Huang Zongxi and Wang Zhixin who were sitting next to him, "My Lords, I think the Gaoyou prefecture's actions are in compliance with the law and there is no problem from a legal point of view."

Zhang Huangyan's words were very well said.

He just said that the Gaoyou prefect's actions were in compliance with the law, and did not say that he was not guilty.

Huang Zongxi was about to speak, but Wang Zhixin said first: "Since Lord Zhang thinks it's okay, please continue."

"Okay," Zhang Huangyan ordered, "Come here, ask the Gaoyou prefect to go to the back and rest."

Soon, the magistrate of Baoying was also invited to the back hall to rest.

The people all showed disappointed expressions.

They were greatly disappointed with the prefect's performance.

"I never believed that officials protect each other, but today I have witnessed it."

"That's right. They were sent to the back to rest before the case was even started."

"This case, the original verdict will definitely be upheld!"

Amid the criticism, Zhang Huangyan looked at the last defendant: Xu Mingbi, the eldest son of Xu Yifan, a doctor in the Nanjing Ministry of Personnel.

Xu Mingbi admitted nothing.

He insisted that the land transaction was a spontaneous act of the villagers.

"Xu Mingbi, do you mean that these villagers are making false accusations?" Zhang Huangyan gave a meaningful smile.

"Master Zhang, please understand. They are making false accusations!"

"Since it's a false accusation, why don't you sue me back?"

Xu Mingbi's eyes lit up, and he knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying, "I, Xu Mingbi, have been falsely accused by the villagers of Dadong Village. Please, sir, the prefect, help me."

There was deathly silence inside and outside the government hall.

No one expected the case to develop in this direction.

Especially the villagers kneeling nearby. They were still dreaming of getting justice one moment, but they felt like they were falling into the abyss the next.

Huang Zongxi was about to stand up to uphold justice when Wang Zhixin pushed him hard onto the chair.

Huang Zongxi frowned and asked in a low voice: "How can you and I sit back and watch the people suffer such injustice?"

Wang Zhixin shook his head and smiled: "Don't worry, wait a little longer."

Seeing the two of them talking in private, Zhang Huangyan hurriedly asked, "Do you two have any objections?"

"No, please continue, Prefect Zhang!"

Zhang Huangyan turned his gaze back to the plaintiff and defendant kneeling in the court.

"The villagers of Dadong Village sent out a representative. This official has something to ask."

A young villager raised his hand and said, "Excuse me, sir."

Zhang Huangyan hummed and asked, "Xu Mingbi sued you for false accusation, do you admit it?"

"I have not made any false accusations. Please be careful, sir."

Zhang Huangyan looked at Xu Mingbi and said, "The villagers of Dadong Village are suing you for occupying their land. Do you admit it?"

"I don't have any, please make the decision, sir."

"Okay," Zhang Huangyan said to everyone, "The villagers of Dadong Village sued Xu Mingbi for occupying their land, and Xu Mingbi counter-sued the villagers of Dadong Village for false accusation."

"That is to say...all of you are both plaintiffs and defendants, right?"

The plaintiff and the defendant, the officers on both sides, the jury officials, and the onlookers were all stunned.

Before they could react, Zhang Huangyan suddenly stopped smiling and shouted at the officers on both sides, "Come on, bring the torture instruments!"

The officers could no longer wait and immediately took out the torture instruments and placed them in front.

The most commonly used instrument of torture in the yamen was the cane, also known as the interrogation cane.

Made of whipping sticks, used to whip the buttocks.

The villagers and Xu Mingbi were controlled by the police and had their pants pulled down before being beaten.

Looking at the bloodstains left on the interrogation stick, Xu Mingbi was a little overwhelmed.

He trembled and said, "Why did you suddenly torture me, sir?"

"Oh," Zhang Huangyan sneered, "You are all defendants, and neither of you admits your crimes. It is legal and compliant for me to punish you with criminal penalties!"

"Torture!"

Two rattan-made interrogation sticks made crisp and loud sounds when they hit the two men's buttocks.

Bloodstains soon appeared on the interrogation stick.

The villagers of Dadong Village gritted their teeth and endured it without saying a word.

Xu Mingbi was also a man. He persisted for nine times before he burst into tears: "Master... please spare my life. I confess!"