Chapter 190
"Your Majesty, there have been rumors among the people recently that the current Changshui Captain is Xie Chen, the son of the Xie family who died in the Xie family rebellion case. Many officials in the court also think that the Wei Captain looks quite similar to the famous "Xie Jia Yulang" in the past. I request Your Majesty to investigate the Wei Captain strictly and uphold the law of the country." An Imperial Censor stepped out and said.
Dayan established the Censorate to monitor all officials. The highest official was the Chief Censor, who had two Assistant Censors and fifteen Assistant Censors under him, who were responsible for reporting on officials who violated the law.
"Is this true?" Emperor Yongyuan asked in surprise.
"Your Majesty, this matter is of great concern. When the Xie family rebelled, it was Grand Marshal Ding who enforced the law impartially and the Supreme Court handled the case fairly. The late emperor personally ordered the extermination of the Xie family. Unexpectedly, there were fish that slipped through the net. I don't know who was so bold as to help Xie Chen escape to the northwest, allowing him to make repeated military exploits. Now he has become the Changshui Captain who protects our Yandu. If this matter is not investigated, what will happen to the laws of our Great Yan?" an official also said.
"What the Lord Tingwei said is absolutely right." Everyone agreed.
The Tingwei was one of the Nine Ministers and was in charge of judicial decisions. He was responsible for hearing cases involving the emperor and the three ministers, as well as appeals from local counties and kingdoms. He had enormous power.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say. Aren't you too hasty to assume that the captain of the guards is a member of the Xie family before you have even found out the facts? Can you identify ministers in the court based on a rumor among the people? Isn't that unfair?" An official objected and said loudly.
"What Minister Xia said makes sense," Emperor Yongyuan said as if he was thinking.
Xia Yi added: "Besides, the Wei Xiaowei has made great achievements in the war and is a meritorious person. Now that rumors are suddenly spreading among the people, people with discerning eyes will naturally know that they are aimed at the Wei Xiaowei. If the rumors are allowed to seriously hurt the loyal minister, wouldn't it be discouraging the meritorious minister?"
The court judge Yi Chi loudly refuted: "Master Xia, do you think that the officials in the court are blind? Wei Zhongxuan clearly looks like Xie Chen, how could it be fake?"
"That's right, that's right. I've seen the young master of the Xie family before. Who wouldn't remember him if he looked like that?"
"I have seen him too. Of course, the Xie family is well-known in Yandu. Who doesn't know him?"
"I saw it during the captive offering ceremony that day. It really scared me. I thought someone was able to come back to life. Now that I think about it, it was obviously Xie..."
A cough was heard, and the noisy voices in the court suddenly disappeared. Ding Yanhe said, "Your Majesty, since this matter is difficult to resolve, and the Wei Xiaowei is still under suspicion, it is better to put him in prison first and let the court of the Supreme Court conduct a thorough investigation. Naturally, they will know the whole story."
Ruan Qingyun walked in from outside the palace and said, "The Grand Marshal is wrong. I think we should first find out where the rumor came from, instead of imprisoning the Wei Captain. If the Wei Captain has any grievances, then it would be wrong to accuse a good person." He stepped forward and saluted Emperor Yongyuan. "Your Majesty, the Wei Captain and Doctor Lin have been brought here."
Lin Shuge and Xie Chen also saluted Emperor Yongyuan. Ding Wenbo saluted casually and said to Ruan Qingyun: "How do you know that he is wronged, Lord Ruan? I think the Grand Marshal's suggestion is the most appropriate. Put this man in jail. I don't believe he dares not to tell the truth." As he spoke, he looked at Xie Chen with a look of full provocation.
Lin Shuge sneered, "I was wondering why Lord Ding brought his troops to our door today. It turns out that he wanted to arrest officials from the court and throw them into prison, and then torture them severely. Even a person with a strong body would not be able to withstand the severe punishment. In this way, they can be tortured into confessing without trial, and the crime can be pinned on the guard captain."
"Doctor Lin, please don't be partial. Everyone knows that you and Captain Wei have a deep brotherly relationship, so your defense will naturally support Captain Wei."
Lin Shuge asked respectfully, "May I ask who this gentleman is?"
"I am Pan Bingcheng, the assistant censor of the Imperial Censorate."
"Sir Pan, my close relationship with the Guard Captain violates the laws of Dayan? The laws of the country are strict, how can personal relationships shake it? If we use personal relationships as an example, who in the court doesn't know each other? According to what you said, if we judge that personal relationships are acceptable, it will definitely be biased. Then, every time the court encounters a case, it must check whether the presiding judge has a personal relationship with the suspect. In this case, who can judge the case?"
He spoke in a resolute and powerful tone, and said to Emperor Yongyuan: "I am afraid that someone is trying to block the way for advice under the pretext of avoiding suspicion. Since the reign of Emperor Wu, our dynasty has been open to advice, and the atmosphere in the court has been boosted. Since then, all the previous kings of our dynasty have followed the teachings of our ancestors. If advice is blocked all the way, in the long run, won't the court become a one-sided opinion? I wonder what Lord Pan's intention is in doing this?"
Pan Bingcheng was so angry that he fell backwards. He was not allowed to speak for the captain of the guards and was accused of such a crime. He was speechless because of such a big accusation. He also implicated the Ding family and was implicated. The Ding family looked at him strangely. He hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I have no such intention. Lord Lin's words are too alarmist."
"Your Majesty, according to the rules of our ancestors, the laws of Dayan are above everything else and we must be extremely cautious. Lord Pan comes from the Censorate and must be familiar with the laws of Dayan. How can you say that this is alarmist? I wonder what is the most important thing in Lord Pan's mind? Is it attacking loyal ministers and framing others? Or is it disregarding the law and forming cliques?" "You...you...Lin Huaiting, you are slandering me. Since I took office..." Pan Bingcheng was so angry that he almost vomited blood. He shook his hands and wanted to curse, but he was afraid that if he said anything else, he would be grabbed by Lin Shuge and scolded again. He was so angry that he couldn't finish his words.
"Okay, since Minister Pan is so fair, you should go to Yongzhou from now on to monitor the prefectures and counties for me and understand the people's sentiments." Emperor Yongyuan said sternly.
This meant that he would be transferred from the central government to the local government, so that Emperor Yongyuan could remove one of the Ding party's arms. "Your Majesty, I..." Pan Bingcheng hurriedly looked at Ding Yanhe, but he saw Ding Yanhe's fierce eyes. He could only nod and say, "I obey your order."
Seeing how eloquent Lin Shuge was, and how he silenced a Censor with just a few words and caused His Majesty to dismiss him, the other members of Ding's party dared not say a word for a moment.
Tingwei Yi Chi said: "I have heard for a long time that Lord Lin has worked hard for the country and the people in the northwest. I didn't expect to find out today that Lord Lin's tongue is good, and it is like a victory arrow."
Lin Shuge was mocked by him and said modestly, "Thank you for the compliment, Lord Tingwei." He actually admitted it directly and shamelessly. Yi Chi had never seen such a person before and said angrily, "Since Lord Lin wants to speak for Wei Xiaowei, then I want to ask you, you must know Wei Xiaowei's background. He looks almost the same as Xie Chen, how can you say that Lord Ding wronged Wei Xiaowei?"
Lin Shuge bowed to Emperor Yongyuan and said, "Your Majesty, since the Minister of Justice asked about this matter, I also have something to say. The Wei Xiaowei's ancestral home is Longxi. When he was young, he was abducted by the Qiang people. He escaped with a trick and was rescued by me. After fighting against the wolf pack and saving the young boy of the leader, he was recommended to the Duwei Mansion. Seeing his extraordinary talent, Duwei Zhao made an exception and appointed him as the captain of the Zhonggu Tunnel. After that, he won every battle, defeated the Qiang people, and destroyed the Shaoliang tribe that abducted him at that time. Everyone in the northwest knows this. How can he be the son of the Xie family in Yandu?"
He looked at Yi Chi, "As for the similarities that the Minister of Justice mentioned, things are similar, and so are people. I heard that Master Xie is a beautiful and elegant man, so he is naturally noble. If the Captain of the Guards is similar to him, he would also be good-looking, which is a blessing for him."
Seeing that Lin Shuge's expression was actually filled with a hint of pride, Yi Chi said, "How do you know whether Wei Xiaowei's words are true? Maybe Wei Xiaowei has also concealed it from you? I would like to advise Lord Lin that you have a bright future. Why do you have to fight against hundreds of officials in the court for a suspect and get yourself into trouble for no reason?"
Sowing discord, Lin Shuge sneered in his heart, but his face showed no emotion, he just said: "Your Excellency is in the government, you have never dealt with the Qiang people, naturally you don't know the suffering of the people, the guard captain was captured by the Qiang people, first became a Qiang slave, and then used a trick to alienate the relationship between the Qiang chieftain and the prince, causing the entire tribe to fight against each other. I heard this with my own ears when I destroyed the Shaoliang tribe, is it true? In my opinion, this is also the work of the guard captain."
Yi Chi didn't want Lin Shuge to be so shameless. You asked him one thing and he told you another. He even turned the tables and said that he didn't know the suffering of the people. He said that only you and Wei Zhongxuan had the merits to destroy the Qiang people. You really underestimated him.
"Also, Your Majesty, all gentlemen, if there is no evidence to prove that Wei Xiaowei is related to Mr. Xie, I beg Your Majesty to give Wei Xiaowei justice. Otherwise, if today you say that an official in the court looks like a fugitive suspect, and tomorrow I say which gentleman looks like a death row prisoner, wouldn't everyone be arrested and tortured into confessing in prison?" Lin Shuge glanced at Ding Wenbo with a smile on his face and said respectfully to Emperor Yongyuan.
Emperor Yongyuan said: "Since there is no evidence, I naturally cannot hastily imprison loyal ministers and generals. Lord Ding is impatient today."
Ding Wenbo said: "Your Majesty, Lin Huaiting is an eloquent speaker. Anyone who is not blind can tell that he is Xie Chen," he pointed at Xie Chen who looked innocent.
"I am not as sharp-eyed as you gentlemen. I don't see any similarities between Captain Wei and the Xie family. Or maybe there are similarities, but I can't conclude that Captain Wei is Young Master Xie." Xia Yi also said.
Lin Shuge took a look at him and guessed that this person was Xia Yi that Xie Chen had mentioned, and was the same Imperial Censor as Pan Bingcheng who had just been dismissed.
"Your Majesty, I am really terrified by this unexpected disaster. Moreover, it is easy to find a pretext to accuse someone. I have just arrived in Yandu, and I don't know how I offended Lord Ding. He actually wants to put me to death. In this case," Xie Chen said as he lifted up his crimson official robe, knelt down, took off his eavesdropping hat, and said, "I am willing to resign my official position and go to the northwest to be a soldier to repay your majesty for your kindness."
Lin Shuge opened his mouth in shock, "Zhongxuan, what are you doing? Grand Marshal Ding has always been a role model for us because he enforces the law impartially. Wouldn't it make people say that the Ding family bullies others by taking advantage of their power and oppressing the virtuous? They even forced the captain of the guards who defeated the Xiongnu to demote himself. How should Lord Ding deal with this?"
The civil and military officials were all shocked by the two men's concerted efforts, and they all lamented that it was no wonder that these two men could rise to their current status from humble beginnings. Ding Dang was so angry that he gnashed his teeth and wished he could go up and bite Lin Shuge to death.
Ding Wenbo wanted to speak but was stopped by Ding Yanhe. His eyes looked at Lin Shuge and Xie Chen like thorns, and he suddenly laughed without a trace of warmth in his eyes.
Emperor Yongyuan sat at the top, looking at Ding Dang who was holding his breath, Ding Jiazi who had a sullen face, and then glanced at Xie Chen and Lin Shuge who had very clear eyes, and he was overjoyed.
"Why did Lord Wei do this? This time, Lord Wei was punished for no reason because of rumors in the capital. Lord Yi, Lord Ruan, I order you to find out where the rumors came from as soon as possible and clear Lord Wei's name. As for Lord Ding's trespassing into the official's residence, I think you are also trying to rectify the government, so I will fine you half a year's salary as a punishment."
Lin Shuge quickly said, "Your Majesty is wise."
The other officials also said in unison: "Your Majesty is wise."
After the court session, the officials of the Ding Party stared at Lin Shuge as if he were the enemy who murdered his father. How could Lin Shuge not feel anything when being stared at by several people? He looked back, and several officials immediately shifted their gaze and pretended nothing had happened.
Lin Shuge smiled and bowed to several people, and those officials also returned the greeting while enduring the humiliation.
"Brother, what are you looking at?" Xie Chen walked over and asked.
Lin Shuge: "Nothing, just saying hello to the adults."
Xie Chen looked at the official leaving, smiled and said nothing.
"Doctor Lin." someone shouted.
The two turned around and it was Xia Yi.
Xia Yi nodded to Xie Chen imperceptibly, and said to Lin Shuge in front of the officials coming and going, "Doctor Lin, please stay. I have something to ask you."
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