In fact, in ancient trials, almost every official used intimidation, threats, torture and other similar means to make the prisoners confess, which was allowed by law.
Because there was no advanced technology in ancient times to assist officials in solving cases, and at the same time they had to pursue justice, the simplest method, of course, was to use torture to force the criminals to confess.
Compared to torture instruments, threats and intimidation are relatively merciful.
When Sima Guang came up, he did not talk about the case first, but instead picked on Zhang Fei's identity and bad deeds. His current purpose was to establish his own authority. In fact, this was a very kind method and was by no means bullying.
All officials do this, and most of them are even more cruel than this.
Zhang Fei was also very aware of this, but it was very disadvantageous to him. If he was not allowed to play freely and was instead led by the officials, he would not be able to win the lawsuit.
He suddenly became emotional, not because he was venting his emotions, but because it was premeditated.
He had intended to protect Wei Ada in advance, and he did not reveal anything about Wei Ada's confession, because as a victim, Wei Ada testifying for the murderer would definitely arouse suspicion.
Sima Guang would certainly question this point.
Zhang Fei was waiting for him here.
Moreover, he cleverly pulled the emperor into the situation, a move that really left Sima Guang at a loss as to how to defend himself.
It was impossible for him to suppress a spy and cause the ministers to waver in their power to reject the emperor's decision. He didn't even dare to take the risk and say a word.
The power between the monarch and the minister is a very delicate matter. The other party is just a stupid boy. If I continue to argue with him about this matter, God knows what he will say.
Sima Guang was very angry in his heart. He was confronted by a kid in front of so many colleagues, but he also had to behave very magnanimously and said, "You are right, I admit my mistake."
This is done for the emperor to see. The emperor should do the same, accept advice with an open mind and correct his mistakes when he knows them.
The reason why Wang Anshi laughed was because he knew Sima Guang too well. It was very difficult to make Sima Guang admit his mistake.
Of course, it is even more difficult to make Wang Anshi admit his mistake.
But then again, Sima Guang's admission of weakness did not mean that he had given up completely. It just meant that the situation became more equal, with everyone talking about reason instead of official power.
This is what Zhang Fei hopes to achieve.
Zhang Fei came to Wei Ada and said softly, "Wei Ada, don't be afraid. Everyone here is a gentleman. They are reasonable people."
"I... I'm not afraid, no... not afraid!" Wei Ada said with trembling lips.
He was not as scared as before because he saw that Zhang Fei seemed quite powerful.
Zhang Fei asked: "Wei Ada, do you still remember where you were on the night of the incident?"
Wei Ada nodded and said, "I... I remember that I was keeping watch in the thatched hut beside my field."
Zhang Fei asked again: "Do you remember what you were doing at that time?"
Wea Dadao: "I was sleeping at the time."
Zhang Fei asked: "Did you just fall asleep, or were you in a deep sleep?"
Wei Ada scratched his head and recalled: "It should be when I was fast asleep, I... I was sleeping soundly at that time."
When it came to the point, Sima Guang, Wang Anshi and other gentlemen felt drowsy after listening to it.
That's it
This is not a trial, it's just a normal greeting between neighbors.
But they didn't dare to be careless. This kid was setting traps everywhere, so they had to be careful.
Zhang Fei asked again: "Did you notice someone sneaking into your hut at that time?"
Weada just shook his head.
Zhang Fei continued to ask: "Then when did you know that someone entered your hut and tried to hurt you with a knife?"
As he was asked, Wei Ada was also immersed in everything that happened that night. He relaxed unconsciously and said, "I suddenly felt some pain in my back and arms, and then I woke up. I thought I was bitten by a snake, but after I opened my eyes, I realized that someone wanted to kill me."
Zhang Fei nodded and asked, "That is to say, before this, you did not resist or defend yourself at all."
Wei Ada nodded and said aggrievedly: "How could I know that someone would come to kill me?"
Zhang Fei said: "You just said it hurts a little, but as far as I know, the pain of a severed finger is so severe that it can make a person faint."
Wei Ada said: "My fingers were cut off after I woke up."
Zhang Fei asked: "Can you tell me how the murderer cut off your fingers?"
Wei Ada said: "I saw her slashing at me with a knife, so I waved my hand to block it, and that's how I got my finger chopped off."
Zhang Fei asked: "What happens next?"
Wei Ada said: "Then she ran away, and I didn't have time to see who she was."
Zhang Fei asked: "Is this the whole process?"
Weada nodded.
All officials, including Sima Guang, originally thought that the two of them wanted to collude with each other and overturn their previous confessions. Otherwise, it would be impossible to overturn Ayun's case. But after listening to their questions and answers, Wei Ada said the same thing as before, which was enough to prove Ayun's guilt of murder.
Sima Guang was very embarrassed. This round of questions and answers really made his face swollen.
Wei Ada answered very honestly.
This made his previous question seem like he was judging others by his own standards.
Sima Guang wondered if they were doing this on purpose to embarrass me. This guy was so abominable, so he asked, "Have you finished asking questions?"
"I have finished asking questions."
Zhang Fei said: "The answer given by Wei Ada just now is enough to prove that Ayun has no intention of murdering."
Sima Guang was stunned. Was I hard of hearing? Did I hear it wrong? He said angrily, "He has already entered the house with a knife and killed someone. How can he not have the intention to murder?"
Zhang Fei said: "I have some evidence to present."
Sima Guang nodded.
Wei A'er came into the hall with a roll of canvas.
The canvas opened, but what was drawn on it was a human figure.
This is really unique.
Zhang Fei said, "Please look, Chief Judge. This is the distribution map of the wounds on Wei Ada's body. I asked Wu Zuo from the Dali Temple to draw it."
Sima Guang immediately looked at Xu Zun.
Xu Zun nodded and said, "I can guarantee that this picture is exactly the same as the wound on Wei Ada's body. Sima Daxueshi can send someone to verify its authenticity."
"That's not necessary."
Sima Guang knew that Xu Zun would not dare to lie about this matter, so he asked Zhang Fei: "What does this prove?"
Zhang Fei said: "Please look at this, Chief Judge. All of the more than ten wounds on Wei Ada were on his hands, legs, and back, and none of them were on his vital parts."
Sima Guang said: "If it hits the vital point, Wei Ada may not be able to stand here today."
Zhang Fei said, "But according to what Wei Ada said, he had no idea that Ayun had entered the hut, and he was not prepared at all. So in this case, Ayun chopped more than ten times, but none of them hit the vital parts. Isn't this strange?"
Sima Guang said: "It was already late at night, and there were no lights near the fields. In addition, it was Ah Yun's first time committing a crime, and he was nervous and failed to hit the vital parts. This is understandable."
Zhang Fei said: "But as far as I know, Wei Ada has always had the habit of snoring when he sleeps. It can be said that his snoring is as loud as thunder. If Ayun really wanted to murder Wei Ada, he could chop off his head when he heard the sound. He would have killed him in one blow, but there is no wound above Wei Ada's neck."
Having said this, he paused for a moment and continued, "Besides that, Wei Ada has more than ten wounds on his body. Except for the severed finger, the rest are all flesh wounds. He will be fully healed in half a month.
As for the injury of the severed finger, Wei Ada has already made it very clear just now. It was he who took the initiative to wave his hand to block the knife. The combined force of the two caused the finger to be cut off. If he had not waved his hand, would he still suffer the pain of the severed finger
Obviously not. When Ayun saw that he had cut off his fingers and severely injured Wei Ada, he immediately ran away and did not continue to commit murder. All these circumstances are enough to show that Ayun had no intention of murder. "
Sima Guang immediately retorted: "Ayun is just a weak woman, how could she have the strength to kill someone? The wound is not deep, so it is not enough to prove it."
Zhang Fei said: "But I have sufficient evidence to prove that she is definitely capable of killing, and is no less powerful than a man. If she really wanted to kill someone, even if she failed to hit the vital point due to the weather, it would be enough to seriously injure Wei Ada."
Sima Guang asked: "What proof do you have?"
Zhang Fei asked, "How heavy do you think I am?"
Sima Guang was stunned by the question and said, "How should I know this?"
Zhang Fei said, "I weigh about 130 kilograms. I wonder if the presiding judge agrees."
Sima Guang looked at Zhang Fei. Although he was thin, he was tall. He nodded and said, "Almost the same, but why are you asking this?"
Zhang Fei said: "The presiding judge must not forget that after Ayun fled the crime scene, she saved Xiaomin halfway, and Xiaomin was drowning at the time. If she was just a weak woman, how could she have saved a drowning man weighing 130 kilograms to shore?"
Many officials were whispering to each other and discussing in low voices.
They may not understand other things, but when it comes to common sense like drowning, everyone knows something about it.
Without some strength, it would be impossible to rescue the person.
Zhang Fei said: "This is enough to prove that Ayun has the power and environment to kill people. It is only because she has no intention to kill that Wei Ada was able to survive."
Sima Guang immediately questioned: "But if she had no intention to kill, why did she bring a knife to kill Wei Ada? The evidence is irrefutable, and she has confessed. We cannot conclude that she had no intention to kill because she did not succeed in the murder."
Zhang Fei smiled and nodded, "What the chief judge said is right. Why did Ayun bring a knife to Wei Ada's straw hut and injure Wei Ada? What was her motive and purpose? This all starts with Fang Datian's case of using marriage as a means of gaining extra income. The whole story of this case stems from this."