"Who are you? Never mind, no need for introductions. With such a dull brain, I don't know how you even made it to the imperial court! Let me explain! First, when we in the Six Doors arrest people, we always have evidence; second, the Six Doors' interrogations are primarily based on questioning, using evidence to extract confessions through torture is utter nonsense; third, your knowledge of brokers and brothels is so extensive, could you perhaps be one of their backers? You should know that according to their confessions, these people all have powerful backers, acting as protectors for organized crime!" Qin Mu explained with disdain. Of course, he wouldn't expose his weaknesses. As for torture, that was certainly possible. But for those with evidence who wouldn't confess, he wasn't so kind; letting them suffer a bit first was more appropriate. At least it would allow him to vent his anger and relieve some tension.
"You...you ignorant brat, spouting nonsense! How could I possibly be your protector!"
"Shut up! Judging from your furious appearance, you are clearly guilty. I am an official of the court! You call me a mere child, and what about everyone else? Such a person who speaks without thinking, who has no sense of propriety, righteousness, or shame, is not fit to be an official!" Qin Mu shouted sternly.
"You...you..."
Before he could speak, a loud "bang!" was heard, and Li Shimin, his face ashen, slammed his fist on the table and stood up!
"He deserves to die!" Li Shimin shouted again, his anger still burning.
"Your Majesty, what has happened?" Fang Xuanling asked cautiously.
"Take a look!" Li Shimin's chest heaved violently, then he suppressed his anger and handed over the documents in his hand.
"Qin Huaidao, are these testimonies all true?" Li Shimin asked seriously while the others were still reading them.
“Every word is true. Your humble servant, the Six Doors, has also seized hundreds of ledgers and other evidence, which are currently being sorted and investigated. In fact, the amount is even greater than the current testimonies. Over the years, there have been at least several thousand victims!” Qin Mu replied solemnly.
"Hmph! We must investigate thoroughly! No matter who is protecting us, don't be afraid, investigate to the end! I will not tolerate this!" Li Shimin glared at the minister who had just spoken to Qin Mu, then turned to Qin Mu and said.
"Your Majesty, I obey your decree! Rest assured, when you established the Six Doors, you said that the Six Doors are for arresting criminals! As long as someone is a criminal, the Six Doors will never let a single person go!" Qin Mu assured you.
"Yes! But you must also be careful not to act recklessly or affect others!" Li Shimin instructed.
"Your subject remembers. The Six Doors' motto is to investigate all violations and enforce the law strictly; it is to protect the interests of the country and the people. For innocent people, we will never interfere!" Qin Mu explained.
"Good! What a fine saying, 'Violations will be investigated and the law will be strictly enforced.' It seems you know quite a bit about Legalism, so I'm relieved! Just now someone said you didn't understand the ways of criminal justice!" Li Shimin said with a satisfied smile. He was joking, of course. Guiguzi had only taught a few Legalist masters; even if Qin Mu only learned a little, it would be enough.
"Hehe! Generally speaking, the way of criminal justice does require the accumulation of experience. However, Your Majesty, rest assured, I have studied a book called 'Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified.' This book has four volumes and fifty-three sections. It records a wide range of content, including human anatomy, examination of corpses, investigation of crime scenes, identification of causes of death and injury, various phenomena of suicide or murder, various poisons and first aid and detoxification methods. It also distinguishes between drowning, hanging and fake hanging, self-inflicted injury and killing, and death by fire and fake death by fire, etc."
Therefore, while I wouldn't claim to be an expert in the ways of the law, I do have some knowledge of it. 'I'll say this with confidence.'
He had indeed read the ancient book "Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified" back then. Although he hadn't studied it in detail, he still knew the contents. At worst, he could just study it again.
"Hmm! I believe you! Qin Huaidao, can you tell me where you learned that these twenty-one shops are problematic?" Li Shimin asked curiously. He also wanted Qin Mu to provide an explanation to shut up these troublemaking officials. Although he disliked these people, he could only settle accounts later.
"Your Majesty," Qin Mu said, bowing, "there's a saying among the people that even innocent people in the trade of carriages, boats, inns, and porters should be killed. This shows how bad their reputation is! Therefore, I immediately launched an investigation and indeed discovered many problems! Furthermore, I believe the court should regulate all industries, register their practitioners, formulate relevant laws, and impose severe penalties. Only in this way can we warn the public and prevent them from taking such risks!" He then explained again the misdeeds committed by those with ill intentions in the carriage, boat, inn, and porter trades.
"Ahem! This matter is of great importance. Huai Dao, why don't you submit a memorial first and explain it to me in detail?" Although Li Shimin could hear that there were many problems, he didn't have a specific solution for the time being, so he could only laugh it off.
"Your Majesty, I obey your decree. However, I can only offer some insights. As for the specific solutions, Your Majesty and the court officials must devise a plan." Qin Mu then realized that this matter seemed to have created trouble for him. As he had just said, he knew what was going on, but resolving it would not be so easy. After all, this was not a matter for one family or one region, but a matter for the entire nation.
"Haha! Of course, as long as the officials in the court know the situation, they will all have a solution!" Seeing that Qin Mu spoke honestly, Li Shimin was very happy and satisfied with his character.
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty!"
"Well, we'll discuss this later. My dear minister, continue investigating last night's case. Whoever is involved, punish them severely!" Li Shimin nodded in satisfaction.
"Your humble servant obeys the decree!" Qin Qiong and his son replied and hurriedly left.
Although the trip to the palace took some time, it secured Li Shimin's support. Now, the key is to use the clues to intensify the crackdown and expand its scope. Even if we don't completely eliminate the mastermind, we must make them pay a heavy price.
The interrogation continued, but Qin Mu suggested releasing some information first to reassure the public, since the operation last night was indeed quite large and many people were worried.
A notice posted outside the Six Doors attracted the attention of many people. Some literate people read the notice and learned that the people arrested the night before had committed heinous crimes and deserved to die. They were immediately filled with anger and began to curse and discuss the matter.
Amidst the watchful eyes of the common people, the Six Doors dispatched wave after wave of people, including a team of highly skilled fighters led by the Bu brothers and assisted by retainers from the Cheng and Yuchi families.
The constables from the Six Doors were all strong and tall, dressed in flying fish robes and carrying embroidered spring knives, looking very energetic. Unlike the last time when they left Chang'an, this time they were on business in the city, allowing for closer contact. The constables, with their bulging muscles and tough, well-defined faces, were quite enviable, and some young women and wives even stared at them intently.
For three consecutive days, the Six Doors arrested more than two hundred people and interrogated them overnight before finally bringing the matter to a close.
"I'm exhausted! I've run more ground these past few days than during training!" Yu Chi Baolin complained. He wasn't actually that tired, but he and Cheng Huaimo were constantly leading their men on missions to capture people, and they didn't even have regular mealtimes, so they were indeed very busy.
"Hehe! You guys take a rest first, you'll be busy again in a few days!" Qin Mu said with a smile.
"Is there another big case?" Cheng Huaimo asked excitedly.
"Do you think this case is closed?"
"Didn't they all confess?" Yuchi Baolin asked, puzzled.
"This is nothing more than a gecko shedding its tail! Don't you all think about it? How could these people possibly do something so big and have been entrenched in Chang'an for so many years?" Princess Changning said.
“Yes! These businesses are all quite profitable and quite large. How could they, without any power or influence, have managed to maintain them for so many years?” Cheng Huaimo nodded in agreement.
“But these guys are adamant that they’re the masterminds behind this; even with the exhaustive interrogation Huai Dao mentioned, they haven’t changed their story. How are we supposed to investigate?” Li Chongyi asked. Through their time together, he had been completely won over by Qin Mu. Whether it was training soldiers, instructing others, or planning the arrests and interrogations these past few days, Qin Mu’s abilities far surpassed his own.
Many times, he felt completely lost, not knowing where to start, while Qin Mu came up with all sorts of tricks and bizarre methods, sometimes making him feel his scalp tingle.
The main point is that Li Chongyi discovered he was better suited to following orders! This made him very distressed, and he finally had to admit that he was just that kind of person, whose mind went completely blank when faced with important matters.
Watching the young people discuss and formulate countermeasures, Qin Qiong and Guo Xiaoke exchanged a smile, feeling that they could completely entrust the Six Doors to them. After all, Li Shimin had only given them concurrent positions, serving as the Six Doors' backers.
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