Zhang Fei's seemingly reasonable explanation made some of the distinguished guests feel uneasy.
What happened?
Something must have happened during this lunch.
Because of the interrogation in the morning, most people believed that Zhang Fei was indeed biased towards Zhong Yan. However, at the beginning of the afternoon, these few questions caused the case to take a sharp turn for the worse.
In particular, it also confirmed that Zhong Yan had forged the imperial edict.
Coupled with Zhang Fei's change in attitude towards Zhong Yan, this inevitably makes people think a lot.
Zhong Yan was naturally very angry, but he could only bear it. If he lost his temper with Zhang Fei at this time, he would definitely be dead. As long as Zhang Fei found him guilty, those civil servants would definitely support Zhang Fei with all their strength and then beat him to death.
Zhang Fei didn't care about their feelings, but continued to ask Li Shui: "Li Zhubu, you don't need to care about what Deputy Envoy Zhong said, just answer the questions of this judge and tell us what you have seen and heard."
"yes."
When Li Shui first went to court, he was still very nervous. Now he sees that the presiding judge is very nice and is full of gratitude and respect for him. He is on Lu Shen's side anyway, so he is naturally less afraid.
...
...
Zhang Fei asked again: "Regarding the question just now, do you have anything to add?"
Li Shui had just finished speaking, but Zhong Yan interrupted him. He actually added: "As far as I know, Deputy Envoy Zhong was preparing to fight in Suizhou at that time, and there was no sign of retreat. It can be seen that he had no intention of withdrawing his troops."
Zhang Fei nodded, then turned his head to look at Zhong Yan, "Deputy Envoy Zhong, after you occupied Suizhou, did you receive an imperial edict from Prefect Lu?"
Zhong Yan still felt a little resentful, but he just nodded slightly.
Zhang Fei asked: "Did you obey at that time?"
Zhong Yan shook his head and thought, I can't fight with him, it will be a disadvantage for me. He quickly added: "But there is a reason why I do this."
"What's the reason?" Zhang Fei asked.
Zhong Yan said, "Just as Li Zhubu said, the first order from Governor Lu did not involve the troops of Weimingshan, so I wrote back to ask for clarification. As for the second order, I took into account the deployment of General Zhe and other troops. It is definitely not as simple as Li Zhubu said, that is, just withdraw the troops back to Qingjian City."
Zhang Fei said, "What do you mean?"
Zhong Yan said: "In the initial attempt to induce surrender, the commanders of the surrounding armies all knew about this, because we also thought that once Suizhou was recovered, Xixia would never give up. For example, General Zhe Jishi and his men were well prepared in advance.
If I choose to withdraw troops suddenly without consulting them, it will put them in a very passive position, so I must communicate with them first.
Secondly, it was the enemy troops that came, which was also in our plan. I was well prepared and had a very high chance of winning. Even if I didn’t retreat, there would be no danger.”
Zhang Fei nodded and said to Li Shui, "Li Zhubu, I don't have any other questions for now. You can go down and rest first. If I need you, I will ask you to come up."
"yes."
Li Shui stood up, bowed, and then stepped back.
Zhang Fei suddenly looked aside and said, "Mr. Guo, I have to trouble you to come to court again and help this judge to figure out a problem."
Guo Kui was stunned, as if he didn't understand why Zhang Fei asked him to appear in court again, but he still went to court.
Zhang Fei explained: "Did Lord Guo listen to Li Zhubu's confession just now?"
Guo Kui nodded.
Zhang Fei said, "Then Prime Minister Guo should have heard that Deputy Envoy Zhong also involved the issue of forging the imperial edict. Prime Minister Guo has led troops for many years and is very experienced. Can you tell me what is the most appropriate way to deal with Deputy Envoy Zhong's situation?"
Guo Kui first looked at Zhang Fei depressedly, and said, "Your question is too embarrassing."
He thought for a while before saying, "Under normal circumstances, we should strictly follow orders, not send troops without authorization, and certainly not forge an imperial edict to send troops."
At this point, he paused for a moment, then continued, "But under special circumstances, this kind of thing has happened before, not just among military commanders. Some civil officials have also done similar things. When the military situation is urgent, they cannot contact their superiors, or they have not received orders from their superiors, and they do not have the power to make decisions. When faced with a crisis, they can only make up orders and lead their troops into battle first."
Zhang Fei nodded and said, "So how does the court usually deal with this kind of situation?"
Guo Kui said: "Not necessarily, it depends on the specific situation."
Zhang Fei asked again: "Based on Mr. Guo's experience, do you think the military situation was urgent at that time?"
Guo Kui started sweating as soon as he came up. How could you ask a question like this? Can't you be more subtle? You are more direct than a general like me. It seems wrong to answer this question. He hesitated for a while before saying, "I personally think it is quite sudden, but the best way to deal with it is to discuss it with Prefect Lu."
This old driver is different. He tries not to offend either side.
Zhang Fei continued to ask: "If Prefect Lu does not agree, how will Minister Guo deal with it?"
Guo Kui said directly: "I was not in Yanzhou at the time, so I have no way of knowing the specific situation at the time and dare not speak rashly."
"fine!"
Zhang Fei added: "Thank you again, Mr. Guo, for your help."
Guo Kui nodded awkwardly and glanced at Zhong Yan with a hint of apology.
Zhong Yan still nodded in gratitude.
Su Che suddenly frowned and whispered, "It's really strange. Even if Deputy Envoy Zhong knew that Prefect Lu would refuse, he could have sent a letter to inform him first. In this way, even if he sent troops immediately without waiting for Prefect Lu's reply, he would not have angered Prefect Lu so much."
Wang Shen whispered, "Actually, there has always been a rumor about this."
Su Che asked, "What rumors?"
Wang Shen said: "It was because Zhong Yan actually had the secret imperial decree in his hand that he decided to send troops."
Su Zhe was surprised and asked, "Really?"
Wang Shen said, "I heard this rumor before when I was the manager under Han Xianggong."
Chen Qi frowned and said, "But according to our investigation, Deputy Envoy Zhong never admitted to having such a secret decree. The files at the time did not mention this matter, and the emperor never mentioned it either. In addition, the emperor had just ascended the throne at that time, so how could he have issued a secret decree to Deputy Envoy Zhong?"
Wang Shen said: "So this is the rumor, I just heard it from hearsay."
Su Che frowned slightly.
Suddenly, Zhang Fei said, "Send the message to Chen Xiaowu."
Chen Xiaowu?
Who is it?
The people present were confused again.
Chen Qi smiled bitterly and said, "Whether Zhang San is the presiding judge or the judge, the witnesses he summons always confuse people."
But a man in his twenties, wearing a short brown shirt, walked forward. When he stopped, his legs couldn't stop shaking. He was at a loss and didn't know what to do.
Looking at the man's dress, Lu Chen couldn't help but secretly glance at Zhong Yan opposite him, and found that Zhong Yan was also looking at this man, and it seemed that he didn't know him either, and he was also very curious.
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Chen Xiaowu, please sit down."
“Ohhhh!”
Chen Xiaowu nodded, supported the back of the chair, and slowly sat down.
Zhang Fei asked again: "Are you a little thirsty?"
Chen Xiaowu was stunned and didn't know how to answer.
Zhang Fei ordered: "Bring him a cup of tea."
When the tea was served, Chen Xiaowu held it in both hands, took a sip, and felt a little calmer.
Zhang Fei waited for a moment before smiling and asking, "Chen Xiaowu, what do you do?"
Chen Xiaowu raised his head and said, "I'm a soldier."
Zhang Fei asked: "Where are you serving in the army?"
Chen Xiaowu said: "Currently in Yongxing Army."
"How many years have you been in the army?"
"Eight years."
"Eight years? You look about the same age as me, so you must have joined the army very early."
"hey-hey."
Chen Xiaowu scratched his head and smiled innocently, "It's quite early, but I should be older than you."
Zhang Fei asked: "Really? How old are you this year?"
"I'm twenty-seven."
"You are indeed two or three years older, so I still have to call you Brother Chen."
"Ouch! I dare not! I dare not!"
Chen Xiaowu waved his hands embarrassedly.
The people around were so shocked that their eyes popped out of their mouths. Are you trying a case or are you just being friendly with each other?
You are too easy-going as the judge.
But why are you so uncooperative with us?
Zhong Yan also had a lot of complaints. He said that the way he scolded me just now was very authoritative, which was not good for him.
Is it true that in the imperial court, witnesses have the highest status?
Zhang Fei asked again: "Where did you serve as a soldier in the fourth year of Zhiping?"
"I'm in Qingjian City." Chen Xiaowu said immediately.
The casual chat just now made him feel that this court president was different from all other officials, so he was no longer afraid.
Zhong Yan was shocked. My soldiers? How come I don't have any impression of them at all?
Zhang Fei asked: "What position do you hold?"
"Huo Fu." Chen Xiaowu said.
"!"
Zhong Yan immediately looked depressed and said, "I said he was my soldier, how could I not recognize him? It turns out he is just a servant."
The other distinguished guests also looked puzzled.
Fireman?
Half an incense stick ago, the person sitting here was the envoy, a man of the rank of lord. Suddenly, a fireman came.
Sit there.
The gap is so big that everyone is speechless.
Zhang Fei asked, "Since you were working as a fireman in Qingjian City at that time, did you participate in the battle of Suizhou?"
Chen Xiaowu just nodded, "I went! I went!"
Zhang Fei asked with a smile: "Why are you so excited?"
Chen Xiaowu chuckled, "Because I'm a fireman. Generally speaking, when we send troops to Suizhou, we run behind. But that time, I just followed the team and killed them. I thought I had done a great deed, but to my surprise, nothing happened."
Zhang Fei asked curiously: "Really? Do you know why?"
Chen Xiaowu said, "I didn't know at first, but that's what they told us to follow. It was only later that we found out that the other side had agreed to surrender. We didn't have to fight, so we had to start a fire and cook right away. So naturally, we, the stokers, had to follow them."
Zhang Fei asked: "Did they fight at that time?"
Chen Xiaowu shook his head and said, "No, the soldiers standing guard on the opposite side immediately put down their weapons when they saw us coming, and led the way for us."
Zhang Fei asked: "Didn't you encounter any resistance at all?"
"No!"
Then Chen Xiaowu added: "That's not true. When we surrounded the enemy camp, I saw some people pointing weapons at us, but after a while, their leader came out and they put down their weapons."
Zhang Fei asked, "Don't you find it strange? When the people in front saw you coming, they immediately put down their weapons, but the people behind them picked up their weapons."
Chen Xiaowu said: "I don't know about that. Maybe we scared them. We attacked them suddenly and surrounded them in no time."
Zhong Yan held his face with one hand and didn't want to say anything. Your answer is so rough, no wonder you are just a servant.
Zhang Fei smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Brother Chen, for coming to court to testify."
Chen Xiaowu said hurriedly: "It's my duty, it's my duty."
Zhang Fei said: "You go down and rest for now. If you need anything, I will call you again."
"Oh! Then I'll go down first."
"please."
After Chen Xiaowu left, Zhang Fei immediately said, "Pass it on to Tu Run."
Then a man in short brown clothes came into the courtyard.
After he sat down, Zhang Fei asked, "Tu Run, where are you from?"
Turun replied: "I am from Suizhou, but my parents are from Yanzhou. They were taken to Suizhou more than ten years ago."
Zhang Fei asked: "What do you do?"
Turun replied, "I used to be a soldier under General Xiao Weiming."
Zhang Fei asked: "Is Wei called Yishan?"
"Um."
"In the fourth year of Zhiping, you also served as a soldier under Weiming Yishan?"
"Um."
"Did you know at that time that Weiming Yishan had surrendered to the Song Dynasty?"
"Yes. I was the one who used those gold items to bribe Li Wenxi."
"Really? Why would Wei Ming Yi Shan send you?"
"Because Li Wenxi's ancestors were also from Yanzhou, and they have a pretty good relationship with me."
"What was the result?"
"At that time, I thought it was going smoothly. But Li Wenming was very greedy and lustful. When he saw the gold, he quickly agreed."
"What did you think at that time? What do you mean?"
"Later I found out that Li Wenxi didn't try to persuade Wei Mingshan to surrender, but swallowed up the gold."
"Why do you say that?"
"When General Zhong and his men arrived, General Daweiming was holding his weapon and preparing to mount his horse for battle. General Xiaoweiming was puzzled and asked General Daweiming, 'Brother, have you already agreed to surrender? Why are you doing this?' General Daweiming then realized that General Xiaoweiming had already surrendered. Seeing that the army's morale was broken, he did not resist and surrendered with General Xiaoweiming."
"Why do you know it so clearly?"
"Because I was beside General Xiao Weiming at the time."
"Is it just you and General Xiao Weiming?"
"No, at that time everyone was surrounding General Dawei and preparing to go out of the camp to fight. Many people saw it."
"Where is Li Wenxi now?"
"Li Wenxi took advantage of the chaos and ran away with a concubine of General Dawei. He has not been found to this day."
Since Li Wenxi is greedy for the wealth, he will definitely not stay. Otherwise, both sides will come after him.
Zhang Fei smiled and nodded, "Thank you for coming to testify in court. You can go down and rest for a while."
"yes."
After Tu Run left, Zhang Fei summoned more than ten soldiers to testify in court, but they all asked similar questions.
It made some of the VIP guests feel drowsy!
So what?
If you ask a dozen people to tell us about this process, are we stupid? We have to listen to it more than ten times before we can remember it.
Wei Yingfang was even more thinking, if the witnesses have to pay for the carriage and accommodation, the cost of trying a case would be really high! No, could this guy be trying to make money from this?
But there were also some people who listened very attentively, nodding frequently from time to time, with a hint of approval in their eyes.
Guo Kui stroked his beard and smiled, "It seems that this kid is not lying. He is able to become the chief judge because of his ability."
Zhong Gu asked curiously, "Why did Minister Guo say that? If you ask a junior officer about this, you can find out the whole story. Why ask some soldiers?"
“That’s the beauty of it.”
Guo Kui smiled and said, "If we just ask a junior officer, it won't be convincing enough, after all, they were all your brother's former subordinates."
Zhong Gu was stunned at first, then he said: "Those soldiers are also my third brother's old subordinates."
Guo Kui said: "So it is difficult to make it convincing. But compared to the generals, the soldiers are completely unaware of this matter. They can only see one side of the whole thing. But putting these confessions together is the whole process of the matter. Unless they have discussed it in advance, it is impossible to piece together the whole process of the matter. This is enough to make people feel convincing."
Zhong Gu nodded repeatedly, "I see."
Zhe Jizu asked again: "Are these confessions so important?"
“Of course it’s very important.”
Guo Kui said: "You haven't heard it yet, these confessions show two problems. First, Deputy Envoy Zhong didn't know that Li Wenxi was behind all this. If Deputy Envoy Zhong knew it beforehand and lied to the court, that would be bad. It proves that what Deputy Envoy Zhong did was, as Zheng Xueshi said, for the sake of greed and disregard for the overall situation.
Secondly, it shows that Deputy Envoy Zhong was well prepared and was confident of victory, rather than taking risks. This also proves that Deputy Envoy Zhong was not lying and that the opportunity at that time was fleeting. "
Zhong Guxi said happily: "In other words, these confessions are beneficial to my third brother."
Guo Kui nodded.
At this moment, there was a sudden bang, and Zhang Fei said in a clear voice: "Send the four envoys of Hebei Province, Duke Wei, to the court to testify."
Guo Kui almost bit his tongue.
No way!
Even Han Qi came to court to testify.
The others were also horrified, even Cai Bian, Cai Jing and others dropped their pens, and Su Che was also stunned.
What a shocking case this is.
He actually asked Han Qi to come and testify.
In terms of fame and status, Han Qi is undoubtedly the number one, and even Fu Bi is not as good as him.
To put it bluntly, apart from the emperor, who else could invite Han Qi?
Both Zhong Yan and Lu Shen felt flattered.
They all looked up.
But a gentleman in his early thirties came into the courtyard, but there was no sign of Han Qi.
"How can this be the Duke of Wei?"
"Who is this person?"
"Don't you know him? This is the eldest son of Duke Wei, Han Zhongyan, the current Tongpan of Yongning Army."
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