The Kaifeng government office was in the southwest of the inner city. When Guo Shao arrived at the gate of the government office, he saw a big drum hanging at the gate, which was said to be a drum for complaining about grievances. However, he had no grievances, so he just took out his name card and asked the officers to take it in to report to the authorities. A man like Guo Shao, who was accompanied by a large group of light cavalry attendants and riding a good horse, was obviously not an ordinary person. The officers would naturally take the name card in to question the officials.
After a while, a group of officials came out one after another. They said that Marshal Guo had come to visit them and they were not welcome to greet him from afar. A chief official in a red robe bowed deeply and spoke with his waist bent, as if he wanted to kneel down to Guo Shao.
Please come in, please come in. Another old man sat on the seat and looked at Guo Shao in awe.
Guo Shao's status was indeed not low, he was a general of the Imperial Guard. But Kaifeng Prefecture was also a majestic place under the feet of the emperor, and a general would not receive such courtesy. Guo Shao suddenly felt very uncomfortable, but when he saw everyone being respectful, he really realized the subtle changes in just a few days.
A group of officials were welcoming them on both sides. Guo Shao walked into the middle gate with two followers and said, "I just want to ask the Left Hall Procurator Huang Binglian for something. Please don't mobilize so many people."
Huang Binglian, a high-ranking official, called out.
At this time, a middle-aged man with a square face and a slender figure came forward, bowed and said: "General Guo, what do you want me to do?"
Guo Shao waved his arms to the crowd and said: "It's office hours, everyone go away. I'm only talking to Huang Tuiguan."
Huang Binglian's position was not very high, but his demeanor was more decent than other officials. He looked neither humble nor arrogant, and said politely: "General Guo, please come to my signing room for a detailed discussion."
Please. Guo Shao was not arrogant.
A group of people entered an old and simple house and sat down. Guo Shao asked his followers to guard the door. Huang Binglian shouted, "Look at the tea."
When the servants brought the tea, Guo Shao did not drink it. He waited for the others to leave. He silently looked at the furnishings on the table. The bright red tablecloth looked like a lot of blood was spilled on it, and there were also the royal seal, red brush, and some miscellaneous things.
Huang Binglian said: The royal decree has been bestowed upon me, and it is placed above us, requiring me and other officials to never forget our heavy responsibility when we solve cases.
Guo Shao thought about it again, and then he said: Huang Tuiguan always abides by the law when investigating cases.
Huang Binglian said solemnly: Since officials hold the power of life and death over the people, they should naturally do their best to make strict and fair judgments. If they always make wrong judgments, they are mediocre; but if they accept bribes and bend the law for personal gain, they are greedy. These two things are taboos for officials when the government is clean and honest, and they harm others and themselves.
Guo Shao praised: "Official Huang is neither incompetent nor greedy, otherwise, Envoy Wang would not have recommended you to investigate the case of Zhao Sanlang's assassination."
Whether it was investigating Zhao Sanlang's case or going to the palace a few days ago to help the late emperor change his clothes, I was speaking impartially. This was the fact, so I had no regrets. Huang Binglian hurriedly said, "I am not mediocre or greedy, but I dare to admit it. My great-grandfather, grandfather, and father had been officials for generations. I have read the files of my ancestors' exoneration, and the family passed down the methods of autopsy, inference, and verification. The petty officials and coroners dare not give me a perfunctory answer, so I am not mediocre. Also, because the Huang family has accumulated wealth from generations of officials, they have good farmland and a large house, and the family is rich. I don't care about those vulgar things, so I don't have to be greedy against my conscience."
Well said. Guo Shao said, it is a waste for Huang Tuiguan to be just a Tuiguan. Today, our dynasty still adheres to the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, that is, rule by people; rule by people means rule by officials first, and power is in the hands of officials. If officials are not selected well, the governance of the country will be in vain. The Great Zhou Dynasty is in urgent need of talents like Huang Tuiguan.
I dare not. Huang Binglian said, I am just asking questions.
Guo Shao glanced outside the door and lowered his voice and said: "But when Magistrate Huang interrogates a case, he will definitely make a clear judgment on right and wrong and uphold justice, right?"
Huang Binglian was silent for a long time, observing Guo Shao calmly, stroking his beard for a long time without saying anything. He finally said: I dare not guarantee it. Let me say this. When some people can completely control our official positions and life and death, how many people can not submit? Unless there is an iron law in the court, other powers cannot interfere with the criminal investigation, otherwise no one who takes this position dares to pat his chest and say that he will definitely distinguish right from wrong.
Guo Shao said seriously: "That makes sense. Huang Tuiguan is very insightful and his reasoning is very advanced. So many people can interfere with the judicial system of Kaifeng Prefecture. How can we talk about the fairness of the law? The law can only be effective for the common people."
Huang Binglian said: That's right. How many people in the world are those who stick to their own opinions? And how long can such people serve as officials? My great-grandfather wrote in a letter home that when an investigation reaches a certain level, those methods of inference and verification are no longer applicable, and one has to use the way of dealing with the world. He did not mention the way of dealing with the world, perhaps he was allowing his descendants to have their own awakening.
Guo Shao sighed: "It is indeed lamentable that no one can guarantee the justice of heaven. Perhaps when the saints formulated these worldly rules, they also saw the huge loopholes in the rules; so they wrote many sage books and classics, hoping that those who hold great power can cultivate the goodness of human nature, and the people above can have a heart of benevolence and righteousness, so that officials can govern the country fairly."
Huang Binglian praised: Marshal Guo is a military commander who can command thousands of troops, but he is also quite knowledgeable about the art of civil governance, which makes me admire him very much.
No, no, I just said it casually, just to make you laugh.
Guo Shao pondered for a long time before saying: There is a case that I would like to ask Judge Huang to investigate.
Huang Binglian asked: What kind of case is this
Rape and murder. Guo Shao looked at his face and said.
Huang Binglian said with a serious face: "There are many such cases in the two counties of Kaifeng every year. It is not uncommon. But the most important thing is who is involved in the case.
Guo Shao said in a deep voice: The rebel leader Zhao Pu confessed that Zhao Sanlang raped and killed his brother and sister-in-law.
Huang Binglian's face twitched slightly, and he thought: It happened two years ago, and the body of the deceased must have turned into bones by now, making it difficult to investigate.
Can we find out whether it was homicide or death from illness through the bones? Guo Shao asked.
Huang Binglian said: It's hard to say. If the injury was caused by a poisoning device, and there were traces left on the bones, as long as there are clues, we can conduct an examination and inference. But if there is death by suffocation due to covering the mouth and nose, as long as there is no bone injury and no skin, blood or flesh, there is no way to investigate. But if there is a witness, there may be some way.
Guo Shaodao, why don't you take over this case, first find out the truth, and then we can discuss and record the case file.
Huang Binglian frowned and said nothing for a while.
Guo Shao said: "In many government offices such as the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice, some officials are too old to work and do nothing. Or we can investigate secretly first, and Huang Tuiguan does not need to sign the file in person." He said calmly, "I just want to know the truth, otherwise some secrets will be buried underground forever."
Huang Binglian hesitated for a while and said: Why don’t I give it a try first.