There are twelve suspects. Based on the existing clues and evidence, it is impossible to determine who the criminal is, nor is it possible to eliminate further suspects.
What can be done
It’s simple. Zhu Ping’an gave the answer and brought all of them back to the yamen.
Soon, the twelve suspects were taken back to the yamen by Liu Mu, Liu Dadao and other yamen runners and brought to court for interrogation on the serial theft case.
"What? The young county magistrate brought back twelve suspects?! There are butchers, neighbors, and passing peddlers... What is the young county magistrate trying to do? How can you try a case like this? Are you kidding me?"
"Detaining twelve people without any evidence, isn't this just nonsense?"
"The young county magistrate is crazy about solving the case quickly, right?! How can he convince the public by casting a wide net, arresting people randomly, and conducting blind trials?! Can he live up to the words 'a clear mirror hanging high' behind the hall?! Such a county magistrate is not responsible to the Ming Dynasty, the people, or the law at all."
"This is really ridiculous. For five petty theft cases, they actually tied up twelve suspects?! Since the establishment of the Jingnan County Court, I have never heard of a case with twelve suspects! Moreover, twelve suspects would be fine, but they are not trying them separately, but they are trying them all together?! Does he know how to judge a case?"
When County Magistrate Zhang and others received the notice that Zhu Ping'an would be tried in court, and heard that there would be twelve suspects to be tried together, they were all stunned with shock. They could not believe their ears and found it extremely absurd and ridiculous.
"Haha, at first I just wanted to create some trouble for the young county lord to save him from unrest, but I didn't expect the effect to be far greater than expected. The young county lord was greedy for merit and reckless. In order to solve the case quickly, he lost his mind and arrested people indiscriminately. He arrested twelve suspects in a row and even brought them to the court for interrogation. Haha, the young county lord is young after all, and it is easy to get carried away. Little did he know that haste makes waste. It is better to treat the symptoms in a hurry than to treat the root cause in a slow manner. Now, let us wait and see how the young county lord ends up. Haha, when the time comes, we will spread the word and help the young county lord to "publicize" him so that the people of the whole county can hear about his "great achievements"..."
When Yao Zhubu and Zhang Xiancheng were rushing to the court, he could not help laughing and whispered to Zhang Xiancheng's ear.
"Haha, great kindness."
County Magistrate Zhang smiled and nodded repeatedly.
On the way, the clerks from the six rooms saw the two men, and they came forward enthusiastically to greet them, walked behind them, and hurried to the lobby together.
A clear mirror was hanging high. Zhu Ping'an, the county magistrate, sat in the hall. County Magistrate Zhang and Chief Clerk Yao were gloating in their hearts, but they still behaved properly on the surface. They bowed to Zhu Ping'an and sat at the bottom. The secretary and the six clerks bowed in turn and sat in two rows in the hall.
This is the main hall, and all the clerks from the six rooms and three shifts must gather in line; if it is the second hall, only the clerk on duty and the accountant will participate, and other irrelevant clerks do not need to participate, which is equivalent to the simplified procedure of modern courts.
"The court is open! Beat the drum and bring the suspect to the court."
Seeing that everyone was present, Zhu Ping'an nodded slightly and banged the gavel.
The bailiffs beat the drum loudly to signal the court to enter the hall, and as the drum sounded, twelve suspects were brought into the hall.
"mighty!"
Two rows of yamen runners stood neatly on both sides of the hall, hitting the water and fire sticks vigorously and shouting "powerfully".
A mirror was hung high in the hall, and signs reading "Avoid" and "Silence" were placed under the hall. The county magistrate was dressed in his official uniform and had a serious face. The clerks from the six offices and three shifts gathered in the yamen. The two rows of yamen runners were as fierce as wolves and tigers. The sound of drums, the sound of water and fire sticks hitting the ground, and the mighty sounds resounded in the ears...
The suspects were all ordinary people who had never seen such a scene before. They knelt on the ground nervously and saluted.
"Three months ago, a cow was stolen from Zhang Erniu's home in Dazhang Village, a pig was stolen from Zhang Daquan's home, and two sheep were stolen from Li Datou's home; a donkey was stolen from Zhang Ernao's home in Miaozhuang Village, and five chickens were stolen from Liu Laoshi's home. If you are the thief, confess quickly and I will give you a lighter sentence; otherwise, I will punish you severely."
Zhu Ping'an was in the lobby. He slammed the gavel and spoke gently to the twelve suspects in the hall.
Hey, the magistrate is quite gentle.
The twelve suspects in the hall were like those in a strictly guarded hell. Their tense and anxious moods suddenly relaxed a little, and they all began to protest their innocence.
"My Lord, I am innocent. I am an honest butcher in the village and have nothing to do with the theft. My Lord, please go ask around. People in the surrounding villages know that I always sell meat by the correct weight. I have never shortchanged anyone, let alone stolen anything. My Lord, please be clear-sighted."
"My Lord, I am wronged. I am just a neighbor of Zhang Erniu, not a cattle thief. I am wronged..."
"My Lord Magistrate, please be clear-sighted. I am just a street vendor. I am innocent..."
…
The twelve suspects in the hall all cried out their innocence, none of them admitted it, and they kept talking at the same time, making the hall look like a vegetable market.
Zhang Xiancheng and Yao Zhubu looked at each other with a deep smile on their faces. In their opinion, Zhu Ping'an's way of trying cases was simply a joke. Do you think this is Jiang Taigong fishing, and those who are willing to take the bait will take the bait? If this is how they can solve the case, they are willing to turn their heads off and use them as chamber pots for Zhu Ping'an.
"If you confess, you will be treated leniently. If you resist, you will be treated severely. I will give you some time to think about it... Zhang Dianli, bring me the case file of Wang Tian's assault. There is no need to sort it out..."
Zhu Ping'an looked at the suspects in the hall and spoke slowly, then he ignored them and turned to give instructions to Zhang Danian, the clerk in the prison.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Zhang Danian originally wanted to prevaricate by saying that the files were in a mess and not sorted out, but Zhu Ping'an's words "no need to sort out" blocked his reason for refusal in advance. Zhu Ping'an also had the file registration book in his hand, so Zhang Danian did not dare to use the excuse that the files were lost because they were kept by the previous magistrate, so he had to open his mouth and agree.
Soon, Zhang Danian brought the case file of Wang Tian's assault, and Zhu Ping'an began to read it carefully in the lobby.
Zhu Ping'an was immediately immersed in Wang Tian's wounding case and seemed to have forgotten the twelve suspects in the hall and no longer paid attention to them.
The suspects just knelt in the hall, looking at each other.
Yao Zhubu and Zhang Xiancheng looked at each other, their faces full of laughter. They were too tired to complain about Zhu Pingan. Ask the suspect to confess, and if the suspect doesn't confess, give them time to think about it, while you study other cases? ! Zhu Pingan's way of interrogation and solving cases is simply stupid and idiotic! It's ridiculous!
The county magistrate has become stupid because of reading too much?! He lives in books!! You ask the suspects to confess, and they confess?!
The clerks in the six departments were also speechless about Zhu Ping'an's way of handling cases.
Zhu Ping'an interrogated the suspects in this way, and the suspects felt no pressure at all. They knelt on the ground and felt more and more relaxed.
Half an hour passed.
An hour passed.
…
Finally, Zhu Pingan finished studying Wang Tian's assault case. He rubbed his forehead with a tired look on his face, and finally remembered the suspects kneeling in the hall. While rubbing his forehead, he said tiredly to the suspects in the hall, "Forget it, you can go back for now."
ha?!
Upon hearing this, the corners of Zhang Xiancheng's and Yao Zhubu's mouths almost twitched, and they couldn't help but show their mocking expressions.
All the clerks were too tired to complain.
"Thank you, sir."
The twelve suspects in the hall were completely relaxed. They stood up one by one, thanked Zhu Pingan, and prepared to go home.
Just as the suspects stood up to thank Zhu Ping'an, Zhu Ping'an in the lobby suddenly flew into a rage, slammed the gavel with his hand, and shouted at the suspects, "How dare you, a thief, get up and walk!"
"ah!"
Upon hearing this, one of the twelve suspects reflexively trembled and knelt down with a plop.