Chapter 472: Shopkeeper Jin Confesses
"Where are the victims who sued Zhou Qinsheng? I will personally try the case." Wei Qing said coldly.
"Sir, you are the imperial envoy, and this time you are in charge of flood control. The responsibility is heavy. Please leave this small matter to me." said County Magistrate Lu.
"This is a matter concerning the victims of the disaster, and it's no small matter. I will uncover the truth and give them justice. I will show no mercy!" Wei Qing said sternly, looking at County Magistrate Lu. "I will now proceed to the court. Lord Lu, bring all the victims and the defendant, Zhou Qinsheng, to court."
"Sir, the disaster victim who filed the lawsuit wants to go back to Hegu County and should not be in the county now..." said County Magistrate Lu.
"Then please give me the petition from the victims first, and I will examine Zhou Qinsheng." Wei Qing said.
"Sir, the victims are illiterate and did not write a petition," said County Magistrate Lu.
No matter what Wei Qing said, County Magistrate Lu could always find a reason to deal with it. He was really an old fox.
Tang Li had figured out that County Magistrate Lu just wanted to detain Mr. Zhou and didn't want them to interfere in this matter.
If Mr. Zhou is detained, the price of grain in Yizhou will go up. County Magistrate Lu is despicable for doing this!
But, is her husband so easy to fool?
"County Magistrate Lu, you said that some victims had sued Zhou Qinsheng, but I have neither seen the victims nor the lawsuit. Could it be that Lord Lu is making up rumors? This matter is related to disaster relief. If someone uses disaster relief as an excuse to harm others, I will not let him off easily. Then I can only try County Magistrate Lu!" Wei Qing said, raising the imperial sword that was used to execute first and report later. The deterrent meaning was very obvious.
The smile on County Magistrate Lu’s face froze.
He didn't expect that the imperial envoy's attitude would be so direct and he wouldn't give him any face at all.
This was in Yizhou, his territory. Could he possibly dare to kill me with the Imperial Sword?!
At first, County Magistrate Lu was very arrogant and confronted Wei Qing.
Wei Qing placed his hand on the hilt of the sword and slowly pulled it out with great intimidation.
County Magistrate Lu began to sweat coldly. Thinking of the imperial envoy's style of doing things, he struggled for a moment, but finally gave in.
"Sir, I am not making up rumors. Someone has indeed sued a businessman named Zhou. I will send someone to find the disaster victim who filed the lawsuit." said County Magistrate Lu.
Wei Qing put away his sword and turned to walk towards the court where the case was being tried.
County Magistrate Lu's back was already soaked with cold sweat. He cast a cold gaze on Wei Qing's back, staring at him for a moment before calling his servants to fetch Jin An and Shopkeeper Tu.
Jin An and Manager Tu happened to be in the county.
After Manager Zhou was arrested, the rice was also confiscated. Many people were short of food, so they sold some of their rice.
If Mr. Zhou closes the business for a few more days, their business will definitely pick up!
Both of them were very happy, so they stayed in the county and prepared to win over the county governor.
If they can win them over, they can make a lot of money.
So, when the people from the County Magistrate's Office found them and said that County Magistrate Lu was looking for them, they happily went.
When I got there, I realized something was wrong. Isn't this a court?
"What...what's going on?"
They were pushed and brought to court.
Looking up, the first person was not County Magistrate Lu, but a young man. The man had a cold expression and an imposing and domineering aura, and looked a little scary.
Because Wei Qing went to Hegu County to provide disaster relief as soon as he arrived, Jin An did not know this imperial envoy.
County Magistrate Lu sat aside instead.
"Sir, these two disaster victims sued Zhou Qinsheng, saying that he sold bad grain to the victims." County Magistrate Lu said.
Tangli stood as a bystander among a group of people watching the excitement.
It turns out that the so-called disaster victim who filed the complaint was the shopkeeper Jin who inflated the grain prices. How ridiculous.
"Sir, I am innocent. I did not sell any bad grain to the victims! You can check the grain I sent you bag by bag. There is absolutely no bad grain!" Shopkeeper Zhou also knelt on the ground.
In the past few days, he was locked up in a big prison. He didn't know why he was arrested, and he was not allowed to see anyone. He was locked up and never saw the light of day.
He was almost dying of anxiety.
Now that he was in court, he found out that someone had framed him, so he naturally had to argue his case.
County Magistrate Lu looked at Jin An and Shopkeeper Tu.
"Could it be that you are making a false accusation?"
Jin An reacted immediately and knelt down quickly. "My Lords, my Lords, I have not made any false accusations. He is indeed selling bad grain. The price of grain in Yizhou is several hundred wen now, but he only sells it for a few dozen. It can't be good grain at all!"
"It's you who hoarded grain and drove up prices, causing grain prices to soar by hundreds of wen! A few dozen wen is the normal price!" Shopkeeper Zhou shouted, "Sir, it's this person who's driving up grain prices and harming the victims. Please, sir, stand up for them!"
Shopkeepers Jin and Zhou accused each other, arguing until their faces were red and they looked like they might start fighting at any time.
Wei Qing slammed the gavel: "Quiet!"
Only then did Shopkeeper Jin and Shopkeeper Zhou calm down.
"I already know what you are talking about. There is no need to argue anymore. Did you drive up the grain prices, or did you sell the grain at a bad price? The victims have their say, and the truth is in their mouths. I will know once I ask." Wei Qing said.
Shopkeeper Jin felt extremely guilty.
The reason why he dared to make a false accusation was because he relied on County Magistrate Lu to stand on his side.
But this gentleman's status is obviously much higher than that of County Magistrate Lu.
Could it be... Could it be the legendary imperial envoy?
The imperial envoy can find out the truth with just a simple check!
"Whoever dares to harm the victims will be killed without mercy!" Wei Qing said sternly.
cut……
Jin An broke out in sweat on his back, his face turned pale, and he couldn't even kneel steadily.
"Yes, he must be severely punished. He is not a human being to harm the victims at this time!" County Magistrate Lu also said.
County Magistrate Lu's words clearly stated his position, and the decision would be made by the imperial envoy.
In this game between the powerful dragon and the local snake, the powerful dragon won and they lost the bet.
Many imperial envoys had come to Yizhou before, but Jin An had never seen such a powerful imperial envoy.
It’s over…
Is there any other way?
He needs to calm down!
"Sir, sir, you don't need to investigate. I am willing to plead guilty!" Shopkeeper Tu said hurriedly.
He didn't want to be beheaded, he wanted to save his life, so he confessed immediately.
"It was Jin An. Jin An tricked us into raising the price of grain, raising it from 100 wen to 500 wen. Shopkeeper Zhou is a good man, and his grain prices are normal, and it's good rice. But this means we can't sell the grain we've stockpiled. So, Jin An tricked me into joining him in falsely accusing Shopkeeper Zhou!"
"Actually, I really don't want to do something that harms the victims. I feel uneasy. I plead guilty and beg for forgiveness! I was also bewitched! I was wrong!"
After Manager Tu finished speaking, he kowtowed fiercely towards the court!
Shopkeeper Jin's face was completely pale.
He never expected that Manager Tu would actually turn against him in court.
It's completely over now!
"It was you who proposed hoarding grain. Why are you blaming me for everything? Sir, it was he who misled me! I was confused for a moment!" Shopkeeper Jin said hurriedly, trying to put the blame on Shopkeeper Tu.
The two of them began to shirk responsibility from each other.
In this way, the truth is revealed!
"The victims are suffering so much, and he's still driving up food prices. He's simply not a human being!"
"Five hundred coins for food, this is like ripping the victims' skin and drinking their blood!"
"Swindler, die!"
The onlookers were so enraged that they wanted to rush in and beat up the two profiteers.
Wei Qing slammed the gavel and made a judgment immediately.
Jin An and Manager Tu not only raised grain prices and harmed disaster victims, but also falsely accused others. Their crimes are unforgivable.
Jin An is the mastermind and is sentenced to death by beheading!
Shopkeeper Tu was sentenced to fifty strokes of the cane and lifelong hard labor!
After these two verdicts, let’s see who dares to harm the victims!
Manager Zhou was also acquitted.
"Thank you, sir. You are wise!" Shopkeeper Zhou kowtowed to Wei Qing.
"You have been wronged to begin with. I will handle this impartially." Wei Qing said, "Go and get busy."
"Yes, sir."
Manager Zhou stood up and ran out. When he was at the door of the court, he saw Tang Li.
Suddenly, I understood a little.
It was Tangli who saved him.
"Thank you, ma'am..."
"I won't let Lord Zhou suffer in vain." Tang Li said, "You've been frightened these past few days. Now it's okay. Go back and have a good rest."
Shopkeeper Zhou bowed deeply to Tang Li, then turned and left.
"Your Excellency is wise. If it weren't for you, I would have been deceived by this profiteer!" County Magistrate Lu said in frustration, "I was foolish. Please punish me, Your Excellency!"
"As the governor of Yizhou, how could I be so foolish!"
As County Magistrate Lu spoke, his eyes turned red, as if he wanted to slap himself twice.
Tang Li looked at him and felt that County Magistrate Lu was very cunning.
In this way, all the crimes were put on Jin An, and he became the one who was deceived.
At most, it was a case of poor handling of the case, and her husband couldn't do anything to him.
"I have my own decision on what to do with County Magistrate Lu," said Wei Qing.
Wei Qing left this sentence and left the county magistrate's mansion.
County Magistrate Lu looked at Wei Qing's back, the guilt on his face disappeared and turned gloomy.
He felt a little uneasy, as he always felt that the imperial envoy's last words had a deeper meaning.
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