"Suing the county magistrate?"
At this moment, inside and outside the courtroom, there were clerks, the gentry and elders who had just watched the ceremony, and the common people who followed the plaintiff. It was a huge crowd.
The crowd was in an uproar, some staring at the plaintiff in surprise, while others whispered to each other: "Is this... an official suing an official?"
"The old man is so bold!"
"It's Magistrate Jiang's first day in office, and he dares to cause trouble? He's really drunk and confused."
"Strange, why didn't his family and students stop him?"
"He probably sneaked out to get drunk again. It's hard to guard against him."
"Hey, what does 'hen crow' mean?"
"Shut up, don't kill yourself!"
…
Jiang Yushu sat upright, her eyes fixed on the old man in the hall, looking seriously.
Amidst the murmurs, the county magistrate glanced at the county magistrate, picked up the gavel, and slammed it down with a sharp "bang". He shouted, "Silence!"
"No noise is allowed in the court!"
The yamen runners were stationed on both sides of the court, each holding a water or fire stick. One was responsible for carrying out the executions, while the other was responsible for helping to maintain order and waiting to be ordered.
Jiang Yushu's face remained expressionless as she asked again, "Who is here? You claim to be suing the county magistrate. Which magistrate are you suing?"
"I, Jing Yuanshan, am the magistrate of Tuning County. I'm suing—" Jing Yuanshan paused, burped, and shouted excitedly, "Sun Yixiang! I'm suing him, Sun Jie!"
The former magistrate was Sun Jie, whose courtesy name was Yixiang.
Jiang Yushu was furious at being treated as a "hen crowing at dawn." She controlled her temper and asked in surprise, "Are you suing the previous magistrate, Lord Sun?"
"good!"
Jiang Yushu was completely confused. She stared at the man's eyes, trying to tell if he was truly drunk or just pretending to be. "What are you suing for?"
"First, Sun Jie abused his power and withheld salaries from his subordinates. In the past year, my salary has been cut in half." Jing Yuanshan, drunk and furious, his face flushed and his neck thick, denounced fiercely, "Second, Sun Jie abused private punishment and deliberately beat a student with a stick before the county exam. Not only did he ruin the scholar's future, he was seriously injured and died. Today is the seventh day after the death of that poor student!"
Jiang Yushu frowned, "Is there such a thing?"
"It's absolutely true! Who would curse someone to death with such open mouth?"
"Third," Jing Yuanshan, under the guise of drunkenness, completely let out a rage, "Sun Jie is extravagant and indulges in pleasure. When the government office was well-off, he used the excuse of repairs to hastily renovate the front hall and took the opportunity to spruce up his own back hall."
Under the gaze of hundreds of eyes, Jiang Yushu calmly asked, "Anything else?"
"Fourthly, when Lord Han was in office, he was benevolent and patronized talented people. He issued an order: All impoverished Confucian scholars in the county, as well as impoverished students with outstanding literary talent, would receive a monthly allowance of food. The government would subsidize these students, encouraging them to study hard and strive for academic success, bringing honor to Tuning." Jing Yuanshan was heartbroken and deeply regretful. "Unfortunately, the Northern Qi army massacred the city, and Lord Han was tragically killed. He died young."
"However, Sun Jie never provided financial assistance to poor students in the three years between his appointment and his departure. He showed no concern for them! During the siege, the county school was burned down by enemy soldiers and has never been rebuilt. Poor scholars are left with little money and can only study in a dilapidated courtyard. How can they concentrate on their studies when they're hungry?"
As soon as the instructor mentioned "Lord Han", the chief clerk Wen Xi felt uneasy subconsciously and glanced at his brother-in-law. However, Li Qigong remained calm and watched the trial attentively.
After an angry statement, the old teacher was panting, with his neck stiff, looking as if he was ready to die.
After hearing this, Jiang Yushu couldn't help but feel a headache and fell into deep thought without saying a word.
Huang Yichun sighed helplessly, "Mr. Jing, you've drunk too much again! Well, the government has its own considerations when doing things, and it's definitely not what you think."
"Humph, County Magistrate Huang is Sun Jie's right-hand man, so he'll naturally speak for his master in everything." Jing Yuanshan snorted disdainfully, sweating from the wine, and muttered in disappointment, "Officials protect each other, as expected, officials protect each other."
"You——" Huang Yichun was angry and glared.
Jiang Yushu raised her hand to interrupt the County Magistrate and calmly asked, "Officials protecting each other? Old sir, don't forget that this official and County Magistrate Huang are 'officials', and you are also an 'official', and a scholar at that. In front of so many people, tell me, who did this official protect?"
"This..." Jing Yuanshan was speechless, still gasping for breath.
Jiang Yushu continued, taking her time, "As a teacher, you should set an example for others with your words and actions. However, you were immoral and disrespectful to the magistrate after drinking. According to the law, I have the right to punish you. From a minor reprimand to a serious punishment with a caning, I can ask my superiors to do the same. Both are legal. But I didn't stop you. I patiently listened to your words and actions."
"In your opinion, who am I protecting?"
"I--" Jing Yuanshan was speechless.
Inside and outside the hall, people crowded together to watch with great interest.
Jiang Yushu quickly made up her mind, carefully choosing her words, and said seriously, "Mr. Jing, first of all, this isn't how you sue another official. If you really want to sue, you should first understand the rules. Secondly, solving a case requires evidence. I've just taken over and am learning everything about Tu Ning. Sooner or later, I'll get to the truth, rather than just accepting one side of the story."
"Everything I said is true. You and Lord Jiang can go and check it out!" Jing Yuanshan vented his anger, feeling refreshed. The drunkenness dissipated a little bit with the sweat. He looked away and no longer looked directly at the female official.
"I will naturally investigate what needs to be investigated."
Jiang Yushu straightened her back and thought to herself: I heard the hens crowing at dawn, and I believe the onlookers heard it too. The teacher openly disrespected the female official.
I never expected that I had just received the seal and was in office on my first day. Before I could start my new job, I received a warning. If I let the drunkard off easily, I would lose all my prestige and it would be difficult for me to lead my subordinates in the future.
To establish authority, one must establish authority.
Even if the teacher is over sixty years old, even if he has taught for half his life and has many students in the northwest, I must punish him!
Thinking of this, Jiang Yushu's face darkened and she said sternly, "Without rules, there will be no order. Princes who break the law are subject to the same punishment as common people, and officials are no exception."
"Tunning Instructor Jing Yuanshan, under the influence of alcohol, was not only disrespectful to the magistrate, but also used one-sided statements to accuse his superiors of several crimes. According to the law, the former should be punished, while the latter awaits investigation. Considering your lifelong teaching and advanced age, I will spare you the caning but fine you three months' salary. Furthermore, you will be suspended from your duties for three months. During this suspension, you must reflect on your actions and repent at the earliest opportunity."
"If you don't repent, I will report the truth to the academician and remove you from your post to uphold the law!" to serve as a warning to others.
"Dismissal, dismissal--" Jing Yuanshan panted, looking both dissatisfied and surprised, his face flushed and swollen, and he didn't move.
As soon as the female official gave the order, discussions broke out outside the hall. Some people agreed, some opposed, and some just wanted to watch the fun... There was a lot of discussion.
Jiang Yushu became calmer. She reached out, picked up the gavel for the first time, and slammed it with a decisive sound, making a shocking sound.
"Silence!" Huang Yichun hurriedly ordered, "Stop making any noise!"
All of the above happened in just two quarters of an hour.
Immediately, Jing Yuanshan's family and students rushed over after hearing the news, anxiously pushing their way through the crowd. The students looked around worriedly, while the family tried to explain, pleading in unison: "Sir, please calm down!"
"My father is addicted to alcohol. When he's drunk, he loses consciousness and makes mistakes without thinking. I beg for your forgiveness, sir."
"Please forgive me, County Master!"
"Sir, you are a straightforward person who always speaks his mind. He was drunk, so please be magnanimous and don't bother with him."
"Sir, are you okay?"
…
Without being told, the yamen runners deftly swung their fire and water sticks across their chests, pushing the intruders outwards and shouting, "Back off! Everyone, back off!"
"Master Jiang didn't summon you, get out!"
"Retreat quickly and don't take a single step forward."
…
In a moment, the noisy and crowded crowd returned to silence.
Jiang Yushu remained calm and composed, ignoring the cries for mercy. After a moment's thought, she turned and asked, "Has the drum for grievances been supervised by someone before? Has the government ever stipulated that 'drunk people are not allowed to beat the drum to complain'?"
Huang Yichun thought for a moment and replied vaguely, "The drum is set up outside, so it's under the supervision of the gatekeeper. Although there's no clear rule, it's common sense that it's not allowed to be played randomly."
"Mr. Jing—" Wen Xi continued, sighing, "Alas, he is a teacher after all, and he is old. I guess the yamen runners dare not stop him forcefully."
"Regardless of the plaintiff's identity, regardless of gender, age, or youth, reporting a crime is no joke!" Jiang Yushu slowly scanned the room and announced loudly, "Orders will be passed down. From now on, the gatekeeper will be in charge of the drum for complaining about wrongdoing. Drunk people are strictly prohibited from beating it."
"If the common people have grievances, they can report them to the authorities, and the government will uphold justice. However, I will not tolerate any nonsense in the court!"
Hoo? It seems the new master isn't a coward... The subordinates stood in awe and quickly responded with "yes," silently reducing their disdain for the female official.
Her mother is a beauty from the water town, and she is the daughter of a minister, a lady from a noble family. She appears to be weak on the surface, but how can she be so calm and courageous when faced with difficulties?
To be a female official, she must have something extraordinary to offer. Li Qigong secretly marveled at this, his thin lips slightly curved as he lowered his head to drink tea.
"The plaintiff in this case is drunk and not fully sober. He has no complaint, and the defendant has already left for Qinzhou to take up his post. The government cannot try the case without any basis."
After she finished speaking, Jiang Yushu picked up the gavel again and slammed it. "Court dismissed!" She stood up, led her confidants, and strode out of the court with her head held high.
Inside and outside the hall, everyone saluted and said, "Farewell, Your Excellency."
Noon: Magistrate's Study
The doors and windows were wide open, the autumn breeze blew, and the fragrance of tea filled the air.
The county magistrate, as the head, summoned the county magistrate, the chief clerk, the registrar and others to discuss official business.
"It seems that Mr. Jing is very dissatisfied with Lord Sun." Jiang Yushu said calmly, "I'm new here and I was completely confused by what he said just now. Please explain the four things he mentioned."
The subordinates looked at each other in confusion, saying nothing and trying to protect themselves.
Jiang Yushu urged, "Why are you hesitating? Come on, speak objectively and impartially."
The County Magistrate had no other choice but to answer, "Well, let me tell you the first thing. Regarding the salary, Mr. Jing was once drunk and made a scene, and Lord Sun fined him, not withheld his salary."
Jiang Yushu was puzzled. "Everything has a reason. Why was the instructor so disrespectful to Lord Sun?"
"This is related to the fourth matter." The chief clerk Wen Xi joined in. Obese people are afraid of heat, and after just two sips of boiling tea, they began to sweat. While wiping the sweat off his face, he explained, "During the tenure of your two predecessors, County Magistrate Han, Tuning was more prosperous before the fall of Tuning. Lord Han was kind and sympathetic, and he could provide monthly food subsidies to poor students. But during Lord Sun's tenure, Tuning was in ruins, and the government was short of money, temporarily unable to support students. Mr. Jing, he, he——"
"He felt sorry for the students and didn't quite understand the county government's difficulties. He was always asking questions and pushing them. As time went on, both sides became unhappy. Over time, they even argued frequently."
Li Qigong sighed and continued, "So the third incident happened. Mr. Jing harbored a grudge and disliked Lord Sun. When the county government office was being renovated, he suggested that the county school be built as soon as possible, and Lord Sun agreed. However, the money ran out before the government office was even completed, and the school has not been built to this day. Mr. Jing was even more unhappy, and he suspected that Lord Sun was using the money for personal gain and secretly spent it on decorating the back office."
Jiang Yushu looked focused and thoughtful. "What about the second thing? How did that student die? Someone died, so it must be a big deal."
"This..." The subordinates stammered.
Jiang Yushu frowned, "Why? Can't you tell me? Or I can't hear it? Tell me quickly."
Finally, the county magistrate, still unable to push his way out of this situation, spoke up uncomfortably, "That student has truly brought this upon himself. He not only offended Lord Sun, but also a captain of the Tuning Guards. Who would dare to protect him?"
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