Chapter 123: Pursuit (55)
Elder Cheng turned on the projection screen and had the guards display the evidence one by one on the big screen. He said, "There is no doubt that this is a shameless frame-up. I suggest that the charges against Lin Wen be immediately dropped."
"Lai Juncheng" never expected that a warm-up event would turn out like this.
He argued loudly, "I have plenty of evidence! This villain has violated almost every Imperial law that can be triggered! This is only the smallest of his crimes!"
Elder Xu glanced at Lin Wen and said, "I second the motion."
Elder Wang remained silent.
Elder Ye said, "Then let's skip this stage and go straight to the questioning."
This was a compromise solution, and all three elders agreed.
Questioning is much more direct and is equivalent to a confrontation. Although charges can also be listed, it lacks the multiple accusations clearly established during the review stage and is much less powerful.
Lai Juncheng is now at a great disadvantage due to his failure in the two charges. There are still many neutral officials in the field. They also belong to their own forces and will not be biased towards anyone. They will only vote objectively.
But things had turned out like this, and he had no choice but to grit his teeth and fight on.
Anyway, this kid has done too many lawless things, and he can't get away with it.
Lin Wen was still standing on the podium.
Lai Juncheng came to the questioner's seat below and faced him from a distance.
After a moment of silence, Lai Juncheng began to question.
"Why did you publicly shoot innocent officials outside Changle Town when you first took office?"
Lin Wen replied, "They are plotting a rebellion."
"Based on the evidence so far, they are simply opposing your tyranny."
"Without any evidence, you set up a public trial outside Changle Town and publicly shot 80 imperial officials in front of nearly 100,000 people, and detained more than 300 imperial officials and clerks."
"These are photos from the scene and some eyewitness testimonies."
"They are all outstanding talents of the empire, excellent officials who protect the common people. They have excellent qualities, outstanding abilities, and work diligently, and they have always been highly praised."
"And this person, simply to establish his authority and eliminate dissidents, committed such a heinous crime. His crimes are truly heinous."
Lai Juncheng's assistant presented evidence, which included photos and testimonies from the prisoners and their relatives, and was as thick as a book.
Lin Wen asked Qi Mu to take out the files of all the criminals compiled by Fang Yaobo and handed them over.
This was completed by Fang Yaobo under the coercion of Qin Luoshuang before Lin Wen set off. There are nearly 400 copies in total, all of which are about the crimes committed by various officials among the victims.
It was obviously impossible to read through so much information in such a short time, so the elders just randomly picked a few and displayed them on the big screen.
Lai Juncheng sternly said, "Even if they truly violated the law, they should be brought to trial and convicted! How can they be executed or taken away in public? Where is the face of the empire? Where is the dignity of the empire when they flout the laws of the empire like this?"
Lin Wen said coldly, "They rebelled on the spot, intending to murder the county governor! Murdering 300,000 disaster victims! This is more than just treason, it's an active crime against humanity. Why keep them alive if they weren't killed on the spot?"
Lai Juncheng was furious: "Your nonsense should have a limit. They clearly just embezzled some supplies!"
Lin Wen cursed, "You're talking nonsense! Who allowed you to slander them? They're all good officials, good officials who protect the common people. You said so yourself!"
Lai Juncheng was choked and his mind was confused. He didn't understand why Lin Wen said that.
Lin Wen continued, "It's precisely because they are so outstanding, their quality is so excellent, they never embezzle or withhold supplies, they work diligently, and they have always been well-known. So, why..."
Everyone at the scene was attracted by Lin Wen's strange words and couldn't help but want to hear what he would say next. Even the four elders put down their files.
Lin Wen asked sternly, "Why is it that when it comes to disaster relief, they suddenly become incompetent, deceiving their superiors and subordinates, engaging in corruption and oppressing the people?"
"Why?"
Lin Wen shouted loudly, startling everyone.
"That's obviously because they have a bigger agenda! They want to cause civil unrest! Provoke a rebellion! Drive a wedge between the people of the county, intending for the victims to storm the county government and murder the county governor! This will lead to the interruption of aid, the failure of reconstruction, and the inability to deliver supplies. What are they trying to do? They want to kill 300,000 victims!"
"Then let me ask you, does murdering a county chief and 300,000 people constitute an active crime against humanity? Can you be shot on the spot?"
The officials below looked at each other in bewilderment. Some of the lower-ranking officials couldn't help but reply, "Yes..."
Lin Wen continued, "It's obvious! They are the legendary traitors! Just ask yourself, apart from traitors, which official is so virtuous, not corrupt, not accepting bribes, working diligently, and protecting the people? It's a fantasy, right? Only traitors, with their ideals, are trying to overthrow..."
"cough!"
Elder Cheng stopped Lin Wen from speaking.
"That's all for now. Next question, Lai Juncheng."
All the officials looked unhappy.
Yunzhou Governor Zhao Chaoyang teased, "Sheng Huaixuan, your boy is really outspoken."
Sheng Huaixuan smiled bitterly and shook his head: "This kid is really careless."
Lai Juncheng's face wasn't looking good either, but what was even worse were the reviewers sitting on the review council.
When they got the black material, they thought it would be an easy battle, but they didn't expect that the guy was so tough to deal with. He was an extremely hard bone, and they broke their teeth without paying attention.
Lai Juncheng rallied his troops and said, "You shot the leader of the Seventh Construction Corps and forcibly detained all the members of the Seventh Construction Corps!"
Lin Wen: "He is actively working against humanity, the others are volunteers."
Lai Juncheng's face flushed red, but he also knew that it was pointless to dwell on it here, as every subsequent revelation would be bigger than this one.
He immediately raised his next question: "You forced Imperial soldiers to participate in hard labor! This is an insult to the Imperial military spirit and a violation of Imperial military law!"
Lin Wen: “They are performing their duties.”
Lai Juncheng sneered, "Have you lost your mind?"
Lin Wen asked, "What are the duties of an imperial soldier?"
Lai Juncheng said coldly, "Of course it's to defend our country and protect the personal safety and property interests of the people of the empire from being violated. It has nothing to do with hard labor."
Lin Wen sneered, "Are the victims no longer citizens of the Empire? The flood has infringed upon their interests and threatened their safety. Why can't the Imperial soldiers lend a helping hand?"
Lai Juncheng was furious: "You are making far-fetched arguments!"
Lin Wen said calmly, "Whether it's just a far-fetched argument or not, you don't have the final say."
Lai Juncheng's face was almost distorted, and astonishing hatred burst out of his eyes, almost piercing Lin Wen through.
The fifth update is completed, 13,000 words, Lao Chuan is still awesome, please subscribe, everyone
(End of this chapter)
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