"Impossible! This is impossible! Absolutely impossible! Framed! This is deliberately framed! It is absolutely impossible for Murong Cheng to be a thief! Absolutely impossible!"
Probably after reading the copy of the letter written by Murong Cheng, the magistrate of Yuancheng County, to Meng Haigong, the chief thief of Jiyin, Yuan Baozang almost felt like going crazy. Apart from being unbelievable, he also found it extremely absurd, and said repeatedly "Fushi Chen, this is absolutely impossible! This official is a family friend with Murong Chou, and I know him well. I may believe that Murong Chou committed other crimes, but I am the first one not to believe that he was secretly in touch with the traitor Meng Haigong!" Murong Cheng is not such a person!"
"To tell you the truth, Yuanjun Cheng, the lower official also finds it very unbelievable." Chen Yingliang said very sincerely: "After the lower official and Zhang Xutuo and Zhang Xutuo jointly broke through Meng Haigong's thief city, the lower official led the army to chase and kill the leader of Meng Haigong's thief. The original of the letter was found in the parcel left by the thief head. At that time, the officials also found it unbelievable and extremely absurd. The distance between Meng Haigong’s thief city and Yuancheng is more than two hundred miles. Meng Haigong, the bandit leader secretly passed on the news and made an appointment to start an incident?"
"Yes!" Yuan Baozang nodded quickly, and echoed, "What Deputy Envoy Chen said is absolutely true. Yuan City and Meng Haigong's Thief City are hundreds of miles away. How could it be possible to collude secretly and make an appointment to start an incident?"
"Yeah, I thought so too at first." Chen Yingliang also nodded, echoed Yuan Baozang, and then said suddenly: "But after the officer suddenly remembered a person, he felt that this matter was not ridiculous, on the contrary, it was more serious." possible!"
"Who did Fushi Chen remember?" Yuan Baozang was taken aback.
"Husizheng!"
The name Chen Yingliang pronounced decisively made Yuan Baozang tremble. Taking another look at Yuan Baozang, whose face was turning pale, Chen Yingliang said slowly, "Cheng Yuan, you must have heard about Hu Sizheng, the former servant of the Ministry of War. When the rebel Yang Xuangan rebelled, Hu Si Zheng was in Liaodong at that time, thousands of miles away from Liyang, where Yang Xuangan's rebels launched their troops, but Hu Sizheng still secretly colluded with Yang Xuangan's rebels, and worked hand in hand with them, allowing Yang Wanshuo and Yang Xuanzong to go south, harming the country of Sui Dynasty!"
"Yuan Juncheng, think about it, separated by thousands of miles, Yang Xuangan and Hu Sizheng's two thieves can still work hand in hand, cooperating inside and outside, Murong county magistrate secretly colludes with Meng Haigong's rebel more than two hundred miles away, and meets to plot rebellion. What is impossible?!"
Hearing Chen Yingliang's far-fetched and nonsense words, Yuan Baozang's expression immediately became more dull, and he murmured after a long while: "But..., but, Murong Qiang is Murong Sanzang's nephew, he is a descendant of a famous family, why? Maybe colluding with the thieves?"
"Yuan Juncheng, are you kidding me?" Chen Yingliang said with surprise on his face: "Murong Chou was born in a famous family, so it is impossible for him to treason? According to this logic, then the current emperor's brother Yang Liang, the former King of Han, Guan Wang Yang Xiong's own son, Yang Gongdao, shouldn't he be rebellious?"
Hearing that Chen Yingliang brought up Yang Liang and Yang Gongdao, two of the best relatives of the imperial family, as examples, Yuan Baozang immediately shuddered, and quickly shut his mouth again, knowing that he must not continue to entangle on this topic Otherwise, once it was found out that Murong Cheng really had some kind of secret collusion with Meng Haigong, he would definitely not be able to get away with the capital crime of covering up the thieves! But the fear turned into fear, but Yuan Baozang still refused to believe Murong Tong's thief, and hurriedly asked: "Chen Fushi, where is the original letter, I want to check whether it is forged."
"Just in case, I left the original copy of the letter in the camp of Qiao Commandery in Menghai City." Chen Yingliang replied casually, and impatiently encouraged him: "Cheng Yuan Jun, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform meritorious service. It would be a pity to miss it. You Order Murong to be arrested now, and then we will take Murong to the battlefield of Menghai City together, show his solid evidence of collusion in front of Ambassador Zhang, try his crime of collusion and treason, and then write the case as a memorial to His Majesty the Emperor As soon as the report is reported, the merits of the subordinate officials and you who are diligent in state affairs, suppressing rebellion and eradicating thieves, is not a nail in the coffin?"
Yuan Baozang was dumbfounded again, looking at Chen Yingliang suddenly came to his senses, and asked in a low voice: "Vice Envoy Chen, do you want to bypass Ambassador Zhang and take the credit for yourself?"
"Yuan Jun Cheng is really smart, but he made a mistake." Chen Yingliang said with a smile: "I don't mind sharing the credit with you equally, I just want to bypass Ambassador Zhang. Please rest assured Yuan Jun Cheng, Ambassador Zhang, I have to bear it alone, you help me out a little bit over Ambassador Zhang, if there is a chance in the future, the next official will definitely go through fire and water, make a grass ring, and repay the kindness of Jun Cheng."
"Damn it, it turns out that this kid wants to take credit from Zhang Xutuo." Yuan Baozang suddenly realized that Chen Yingliang deliberately refused to let Zhang Xutuo report this matter, and he wanted to take down Murong Chou, who was suspected of treason and treason. , to prove that he is more capable than Zhang Xutuo and more loyal to Sui Yang Emperor, and then even wants to overthrow Zhang Xutuo, the commander-in-chief of the bandit suppression, and replace him! ——Yuan Baozang has not only seen this kind of intrigue between colleagues, but also done it!
The southern line of Wuyang County is bordered by three counties of the Twelve Counties of Henan Province, and there are a lot of official business exchanges between them. Looking at the face of Chen Yingliang's Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Bandit Suppression in the Twelve Counties, if Chen Yingliang asks for other officials, Yuan Baozang might have done Chen Yingliang this favor and shared some credit by the way, but Chen Yingliang wanted to arrest his old friend Murong Chou, so Yuan Baozang was inevitably hesitant again.
In view of this situation, after thinking for a long time, Yuan Baozang said hesitantly: "Vice Envoy Chen, it's not that the lower officials didn't help you with this favor, it's because your evidence is insufficient. If you bring the original letter of Murong Chai's communication with the bandit, look it up. If the letter is not a forgery, then without the order of the deputy envoy, the subordinate officer will personally lead someone to arrest Murong Chen. But what you brought is a copy..."
"It doesn't matter." Chen Yingliang interrupted Yuan Baozang's evasion, and said with a smile: "It's just that, when I came here, I happened to find another ironclad evidence that Murongqiang was a thief. We can use this ironclad evidence to take Murongqiang down first, and then Further investigate into his secret collusion with the rebel Meng Haigong."
"Another ironclad evidence?" Yuan Baozang was even more dumbfounded immediately, and hurriedly asked, "Fushi Chen, what ironclad evidence?"
"In Dong'e County, Jibei County, under the rule of Xiaguan, there is a righteous man named Cheng Yaojin." Chen Yingliang said with a smile: "After he became an official, he organized village bravery to protect the village since Daye six years ago, and often helped Jibei officials and soldiers kill He was brave in fighting bandits and bandits, and was rewarded several times by the Jibei government. The Banjiudian Township Bravery Team he organized was also officially recognized by the local government. The girl who molested and abused was surrounded and beaten by the servants of the evil young man, forced to fight back in self-defense, and accidentally killed the leader evil young..."
Speaking of this, Chen Yingliang paused for a moment, then smiled and said: "Yuan Juncheng, you are a local snake, you must have known who this wicked young man is, so I won't be wordy. Please think about it, Murong's son He has done so many immoral things, not only did he not strictly discipline him, but he also intentionally indulged him. After his son was punished for his many evil deeds, not only did he not repent at all, he also deliberately arrested Cheng Yaojin, a righteous man in Jibei who had made great contributions to murdering thieves. Imprisonment, intending to do harm—is he trying to avenge his unfilial son? Or is he trying to avenge those rebels who died at the hands of Cheng Yaojin? This is not his solid evidence of treason, what is it?"
Yuan Baozang was completely dizzy, and he came to his senses after thinking for a while, and asked in surprise: "Fushi Chen, what you mean is that you suspect that Murong Cheng arrested Cheng Yaojin to replace the rioter who died at Cheng Yaojin's hands. A thief revenge?"
"Exactly." Chen Yingliang nodded solemnly.
"Vice Envoy Chen, is this too far-fetched for you?" Yuan Baozang smiled wryly, and said, "Is there anyone in the world who handles cases like this?"
"If there is a suspicion, we should investigate it thoroughly. Who doesn't handle the case like this?" Chen Yingliang asked back with a surprised expression, and then said: "My Grandpa Wei and my Uncle Pei also handle the case like this? If there are clues and suspicions, we will We must thoroughly investigate to the end, and Grandpa Wei and Uncle Pei will never stop if we don't find out the truth."
"Grandpa Wei of Vice Envoy Chen? Uncle Pei? Who are they?" Yuan Baozang was a little confused again.
"The grandpa Wei of the lower official is Wei Xuan, Shangshu of the Ministry of Justice, and my uncle Pei is Pei Yun, the doctor of the censor." Chen Yingliang said casually: "They all treated me as if they were my own. I have been taught a lot by them, and I have met many people Their methods of handling cases are lacking. So Yuanjun Cheng, please rest assured that my logic definitely makes sense in front of them."
Yuan Baozang didn't even know what expression he should use to deal with Chen Yingliang, and after a while he cupped his hands and said, "Fushi Chen, I'm sorry, your accusation is too far-fetched, it's hard for me to accept it, and I can't obey it."
Chen Yingliang's complexion finally changed, and he snorted, "Yuan Juncheng, so you don't want to help the lower official?"
"It's not that the lower officials don't want to work for the deputy envoy, it's that the lower officials can't follow orders." Yuan Baozang said without fear: "If the deputy envoy Chen can produce a piece of evidence of Murong Cheng's crimes, the lower officials will definitely arrest him immediately. But this far-fetched charge, and this copy of the thief's document, can't do it."
Chen Yingliang was waiting for Yuan Baozang's words, and immediately pretended to be furious, stood up abruptly and shouted: "Okay! Since Yuanjun Cheng, you must definitely prove Murong Cheng's crimes. I have plenty of ready-made criminal evidence. He, Murong Cheng, was so bold that he dared to set up his son's mourning hall above the hall of the county yamen, which greatly disrespected the court and ignored the court's laws. Isn't this an ironclad proof of his crime?! And his son Murong Ji, who fought With Murong Cheng's influence running amok and doing many evils, Murong Cheng is deliberately covering up and conniving, violating the laws of the country, I have as many witnesses as I want! Yuanjun Cheng, are these enough?!"
Yuan Baozang's sweat was dripping down, but Chen Yingliang yelled again: "Yuan Juncheng, if you are absolutely unwilling to take down Murongqiang, it's okay! I have no right to ask you to take someone down, but I have the right to ask you to take him down." The imperial court truthfully reported Murong Cheng's numerous crimes, and I will report Murong Cheng's evil deeds together with the ironclad evidence that he was suspected of being a thief, and ask the current emperor to order a thorough investigation! At that time, Yuanjun Cheng, what will happen to you? You should think it through!"
Yuan Baozang's face was as white as paper, his family knew about his family affairs, how unclean Murong Cheng's ass was, and Yuan Baozang, who was an official in the same city as Murong Cheng, knew better than anyone else. If Emperor Sui Yang really sent someone to investigate thoroughly, then Don't say that Murong Chou will definitely lose his head, and Yuan Baozang will definitely not get away with a crime of covering up and connivance! It is also possible to pull out the radish and bring out the mud, so that Yuan Baozang, whose buttocks are also very dirty, will suffer even more bad luck, and it is possible to go to jail!
Chen Yingliang grabbed Yuan Baozang by the wrist again, dragged Yuan Baozang and walked out, angrily said: "Yuan Juncheng, let's go, let's go to the county government to see his Murong." How courageous is he? Let’s see how Murong Cheng regards the court’s law as a trifling matter, and also how he bullies the emperor and humiliates the emperor! By the way, his mourning hall is placed in the lobby of the county government office. It's been a few days!"
"Vice Envoy Chen, you have something to say, something to say." Yuan Baozang became even more timid, and hurriedly struggled, bowing and saluting, begging, "Vice Envoy Chen, you and I are both officials of the imperial court, it's too disrespectful to argue like this. , It’s detrimental to the authority, deputy envoy, please calm down, we have something to say, we can discuss anything.”
"Yuan Juncheng, I didn't mean to make things difficult for you." Chen Yingliang said angrily: "I was appointed as the deputy envoy of these twelve counties to arrest and rely on your help in suppressing chaos and thieves. I don't want to have anything to do with you What kind of contradiction. But this Murong Cheng under your command is not quite out of character. It’s okay to run amok among the fish and meat people in the village, and it’s okay to plant and frame wronged and rebellious righteous people. How dare you secretly contact Meng Haigong’s rebels and plot wrongdoings? If officials are not removed, the law of the country will not tolerate it!"
"Vice Envoy Chen, please calm down, let me think about it, please let me think about it." Yuan Baozang bowed and bowed, begging Chen Yingliang to give himself some time to think, and then Chen Yingliang let go of Yuan Baozang, waiting angrily Yuan Baozang's reply.
After racking his brains for a while, Yuan Baozang still felt that he should choose to throw his pawns to save the car, because if this matter got worse, he would definitely have no good fruit to eat. If the trouble went to Emperor Sui Yang, Emperor Sui Yang would send him no matter what. People thoroughly investigated this matter, and when the time comes, Murong Cheng, who has a very dirty butt, will end up with his head on the ground, and he will not escape even if he is accused of covering up and conniving. And once the Murong Tong thief is really found out, and he really has secretly contacted some rebels and rebels, then his end is as simple as being dismissed from office, killing his head and ransacking his home, or even ransacking his entire family is absolutely possible!
There is also a more important point, as a talented official of the imperial court, Yuan Baozang certainly knows some details about Chen Yingliang. He knows that Chen Yingliang once saved Wei Xuan's old life on the battlefield of Xiaohan Dao, and he also knows that Chen Yingliang has been imprisoned by Wen Xi for a long time. The fact that Wei Xuan and Pei Yun treated him as their own, even if it was a bragging, is more or less plausible. When things get serious, the Ministry of Punishment and Yushitai in the Sanju Division will support Chen Yingliang in a clear-cut manner. The remaining Dali Temple will only offend the Ministry of Justice and Yushitai for the unaccompanied Yuan Baozang and Murong Cheng unless they are stupid. Same
The most frightening thing is that Pei Yun is still the world's number one master of framing! When it comes to weaving charges, framing Zhongliang and entrapping innocent people, if Pei Yun claims to be the second in the world, then even the famous treacherous ministers Yu Wenshu and Yu Shiji dare not claim to be the number one! At that time, as long as Pei Yun moves his lips a little, it will be difficult for Yuan Baozang not to be ransacked by everyone!
After weighing these pros and cons, Yuan Baozang finally made up his mind, and hurriedly cupped his hands to Chen Yingliang and said, "Vice Envoy Chen, do you think this will work? Your subordinate is using the excuse that Murong Chou ignores the laws of the country, and immediately sends someone to arrest Murong Chai and imprison him in prison." He will go to the prison and search his study to find evidence of his collusion. Then send someone to go south with the deputy envoy to the battlefield of Menghai City to collect evidence of his collusion. If it is found that his crimes are conclusive and that he really secretly colluded with Meng Haigong's traitors in an attempt to plot against him, then Let's discuss how to deal with him."
"Yuan Jun Cheng said that earlier?" Chen Yingliang finally smiled, and said to Yuan Baozang: "Brother Yuan, please forgive me for offending me on impulse. I hope you will forgive me. Please rest assured, Brother Yuan. When Murong Cheng's crimes of colluding with thieves are found out and reported to the court, you and I will share the credit equally."
"Brother Yu said, without the slap in the face of brother Yu, brother Yu almost went astray, thank you before it's too late, how dare you blame brother?" Yuan Baozang smiled bitterly, and said: "As for the merits, serving the court is the Brother Yu's job, how dare you be greedy for credit?"
"It must be given to brother half, must be divided." Chen Yingliang hurriedly stuffed the sweet dates again, and then said: "Brother, there is one more thing, that Jibei martyr Cheng Yaojin who was accidentally killed when he was forced to defend himself, what is the plan?" How to deal with it?"
After asking, without waiting for Yuan Baozang to answer, Chen Yingliang hastily hinted: "Brother, my younger brother has just been appointed as the Deputy Envoy of the Twelve Counties, and urgently needs to establish his prestige in the Twelve Counties. This Cheng Yaojin can be regarded as a little famous in Jibei County , if the elder brother can enforce the law impartially for the sake of the younger brother, the younger brother will definitely be grateful."
"Fuck you! As soon as I became the deputy envoy, I took aim at the position of Zhang Xutuo's envoy. If there is a chance, I will have to sue Zhang Xutuo and see how he will deal with you!" He muttered viciously in his heart , but Yuan Baozang's face was full of smiles, and he said with a smile: "Don't worry, brother, Cheng Yishi was forced to fight back in self-defense when he saw injustice, and this unintentionally caused the death of Murong Chou's son Murong Ji. Brother Yu already knew this Yes, we will definitely give him a fair treatment."
"Brother already knew?" Chen Yingliang pretended to be surprised.
"Not only do you know, Brother Yu also arranged for someone to investigate the case." Yuan Baozang said something half-truthful and half-truthful, and said without blushing: "And Brother Yu dared to boast to you, Brother Yu, if it wasn't for the name of Brother Yu The officials have been keeping a close eye on this case, maybe that Yishi Cheng has been murdered by that dog official Murong Cheng long ago."
After the hypocritical courtesy, a major event that shocked the entire Yuancheng happened. Usually, it was the Cheng Yamen of Wuyang County who wore the same trousers as the Yuancheng County Yamen. Yuancheng county magistrate Murong Chou, who was pressing the sacks of gold, was arrested on the spot and sent directly to the county jail! When the news spread, the whole city was shocked, and the people who didn't know the truth cheered and celebrated the bad luck of Murong Cheng, who had a bad official voice. Murong Cheng's vicious wife is a liar, so she hurried to the county magistrate's office to find out what happened. Unfortunately, Murong Cheng's wife couldn't even enter the county magistrate's mansion this time, so she was directly stopped outside the door, crying to death. Can see Yuan Baozang's face.
It was also after Murong Cheng entered the prison that Chen Yingliang asked Yuan Baozang to try Cheng Yaojin's case as soon as possible. Yuan Baozang had no choice but to close Cheng Yaojin's case the next day. , sentenced Cheng Yaojin to a misdemeanor of self-defense wounding to death, and was expelled from the city with 80 punishments. The thick-skinned Cheng Yaojin massages his buttocks. Xiangyong, the follower Cheng Yaojin brought to Yuancheng, was also acquitted, and even the confiscated pig iron was returned to Cheng Yaojin and others.
Cheng Yaojin was rescued with great difficulty, and Chen Yingliang, who had achieved his goal, did not delay in Yuancheng, and directly offered to leave and return to Meng Haicheng to continue the thorough investigation of the case of the Murong Tong thief. Send Chen Yingliang out of the South Gate. In the end, Yuan Baozang arranged another subordinate to accompany Chen Yingliang to the south to assist Chen Yingliang in investigating the case of Murong Chou on the battlefield in Menghai City. Of course, Chen Yingliang, who had already made preparations in advance, was not afraid of this at all, and let Yuan Baozang's subordinates follow him in a big way people.
It was also a coincidence that Yuan Baozang arranged to assist Chen Yingliang in investigating the case, and it happened to be the black and thin man who refused Chen Yingliang's bribe outside the prison. After meeting Chen Yingliang again, the black and thin man didn't say a word except saluting It wasn't until he followed Chen Yingliang to the Yellow River Ferry and boarded the Yanggu official ship transferred by Chen Yingliang, and the official ship also rolled out, that the black and thin man came to Chen Yingliang and asked Chen Yingliang in a calm tone: "Chen Yingliang Deputy envoy, should you do it, or let the humble officer jump into the river by himself?"
"What do you mean by that?" Chen Yingliang was taken aback, "It's all right, what do I want you to do by jumping into the river?"
The black and thin man looked at Chen Yingliang for a moment, and then said calmly: "It seems that Chen Fushi has already made arrangements, and the humble officer is lucky to be able to return to Yuancheng alive to report to the county magistrate."
"This guy has already seen the clues." Chen Yingliang understood in his heart, but said with a smile on his face: "Why can't I understand what you are saying? Why are you so lucky to be able to return to Yuancheng to do business? It's like killing you."
The black and thin man looked indifferent, and suddenly bowed to Chen Yingliang, and said: "Vice Envoy Chen, there is a problem that I don't understand in this humble position, so please give me your advice. Since your backer is so strong, the Vice Envoy, Cheng Yaojin It is indeed a crime that deserves death, so why can you save people in a formal way? Do you have to use such vicious methods? Even though people are saved by doing this, the national laws of the Sui Dynasty have been trampled on again."
Chen Yingliang was silent, then turned to the ship's side, walked to the side of the ship's side, looked at the surging Yellow River with his hands behind his back, and said slowly: "Because if we don't do this, Yuan Baozang and Murong Qiang will definitely let Cheng Yaojin not survive that day! Against unruly enemies, we can only use unruly methods. Control violence with violence, fight poison with poison, although these methods are not desirable, they are sometimes very effective."
"But doing so is against the law of the country!" the black and thin man retorted.
"Of course it is a violation of the national law." Chen Yingliang admitted frankly, and then said: "Some people violate the national law for personal gain, and some people violate the national law for the common people. However, some people do things for the sake of doing things, doing things for the world, and doing things for the people!"
Looking back at the black and thin man, Chen Yingliang said lightly again: "I can see that you are an upright person, and I know that you really want to do something for the court and the people, but you didn't follow the right person, as the saying goes Liang is not upright, and Liang is crooked. Your boss is corrupt and violates the law. You are a small law official, what can you do for the court and the people? I am not as upright as you. I violated the laws of the country. I gave and accepted bribes, but I have a clear conscience , because everything I do is to do things for the court and benefit the people, if I don’t do this, I will have no chance to do things for the court and benefit the people.”
"Some people are good people, but they are useless. Some people are wicked, but they are useful to the family and the world." Chen Yingliang turned his head again, looked at Huang He and said lightly: "I am a wicked person who is useful to the family and the world, you are upright , Don’t accept bribes, you are a good person, I hope you can be a useful and good person in the future, don’t be an abusive good person who can neither seek the country nor save oneself, such a good person is useless, can’t save the people, and can’t save yourself. "
"Thanks for your enlightenment." The black and thin man cupped his hands to Chen Yingliang, and said again: "I know that I won't find anything when I go south this time, I just hope that the deputy envoy can be as good as what he says, and be a villain who works for the court and benefits the people."
"I can guarantee this, and this is also my lifelong wish." Chen Yingliang boasted without blushing, and added: "It's a pity that you are Yuan Baozang's subordinate, otherwise, I really want to keep you by my side and let you Help me do things, help me benefit the common people. —By the way, I still forgot to ask your name, what is your name?"
"The humble job is called Wei Zheng, Wei Zheng and Wei Xuancheng."
The black and thin man replied calmly, but Chen Yingliang, who was pretending to be aggressive with his hands behind his back, staggered and almost fell directly into the rolling Yellow River.