If they confess, don't torment them for the time being and treat them well. We are just doing our job, not intentionally to torture them. Guo Shao said to Jingniang seriously in the Xihuamen camp.
Jingniang handed me another letter. One of the three people arrested was a servant, and the other two were on the list, one was a commander and the other was a captain. This letter was written by Li Ergen according to my instructions. Do you want to continue arresting people
Guo Shao still had some difficulty reading letters like this. The habit of more than 20 years in his previous life could not be completely changed by just reading a few books now. Every time he saw the words written vertically, he felt a little skeptical. But he still took it and read it word by word himself.
This is a handwritten letter from Li Ergen asking a colleague to come out to discuss important matters. Arresting people in this way is less risky and more silent. Guo Shao immediately said: Arrest them. With one more person to check, the list can be made clearer and more complete to avoid omissions.
He found that torture was usually very effective, which completely overturned the view he had seen on TV that no matter how hard the torture was used, the person would not confess. Perhaps the hearsay in later generations was either fabricated or those people had received special education and counter-espionage training. However, here, some incompetent state and county magistrates would torture the prisoners into confessing when they could not make a decision. The prisoners knew that if they confessed, they would be disgraced and die without a burial place, but they still confessed under torture; what's more, the generals arrested by Guo Shao were just betraying others.
Huang Binglian of Kaifeng Prefecture had already made Zhao San's case an ironclad case. When the court was in session, the case files were passed around and no one could refute it. In this world, there were very few officials as professional as Huang Binglian to solve cases, and most of the court officials were confused about such matters.
The civil and military officials were at a loss as to what to do. They all turned to the person high above them, waiting for his attitude.
On the high steps, a child in mourning clothes sat on the throne. He had nothing to say. No one would care what a child said, as long as he didn't cry. There was also a woman in the translucent curtain on the side.
At this time, a majestic and quiet voice was heard: Since the deceased was covered with wounds, who concealed the cause of her death, who fished her out of the dry well, who claimed that the deceased died of illness and shielded the murderer
After hearing this, all the ministers bowed their heads, and no one in the court could make a reply. Huang Binglian knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I have not been able to verify this, so I don't know."
After a murder case was exposed, there was no follow-up, and no one was held responsible. It was just talked about in Tokyo. Especially those aunts in the market were particularly interested in such bad things and would inevitably spread them everywhere; it was because of their free spread that there was the saying that good news does not go out, but bad news spreads a thousand miles.
The one-month mourning finally ended, and there were no major events at home or abroad. According to reports from border areas, the Liao Kingdom was silent and there seemed to be civil unrest in Shangjing. The Northern Han was ready to make a move, but without the support of the Liao Kingdom and being monitored by the Zhou Dynasty local army in Hedong, it did not dare to act rashly. A coup d'état occurred in the Southern Tang Kingdom, and it was now unable to take care of itself.
Something unexpected happened in the Zhou Dynasty recently, and it was not easy for all the countries in the world.
On the day when the palace took off the mourning clothes, the Queen Mother issued an edict to inspect the troops of the imperial guards in Beijing. In order not to disturb the capital, the imperial guards were not mobilized in full force, but were inspected in the barracks of each army; within three days, the four main forces and the five divisions of the imperial guards were inspected separately within half a month. The Privy Council made arrangements, with the Iron Cavalry Army being the most elite force of the Great Zhou being the first to be arranged.
The total strength of the Iron Cavalry Army is over 30,000, half of which are in a disbanded state, and 15,000 are on duty; but regardless of whether they are on duty or not, all military officers above the rank of captain are required to participate. The parade ground in the left defense zone in the northeast of the inner city can deploy 10,000 to 20,000 people. Within three days, more than 10,000 Iron Cavalry soldiers will be mobilized to the parade ground to wait for the palace inspection.
Military officers of the Iron Cavalry Army and above the rank of military commander went to the Palace Front Office to discuss matters and check the military orders from the Privy Council.
After the breakup, the military commander Yang Guangyi felt his right eye twitching and felt a little nervous. He saw Zhao Chao, the commander of the left wing of the Control Crane Army, riding a horse to leave. Yang Guangyi and Zhao Chao had a good personal relationship, so he rode forward with his entourage.
I feel like something is amiss. Yang Guangyi stepped forward and whispered.
Zhao Chao sneered: "Women are petty. Since they are going to inspect the army, they still have to worry about the consequences. They are just trying to show off their power. The bigger the scene, the more impressive it is. I have never seen an emperor review the imperial army in five parts."
Yang Guangyi said in a deep voice: I remembered that yesterday I found that one of my commanders had not been on duty in the barracks for several days. I always felt that this situation was very strange. Brother Zhao, you have to think about what those people are going to do.
Are you sick? Zhao Chao frowned and said, "A commander didn't come to duty, and you sent someone to his house to ask why he went there? What's the point of guessing?"
Never mind, never mind, Yang Guangyi shook his head. He looked up and saw a large number of dead leaves floating in the air on the long street. The trees on the roadside were bare, with only a few broad leaves hanging on the branches, which gave off an indescribable bleak and withered atmosphere.
At this time, Guo Shao was walking into the Privy Council from the Imperial City. Wang Pu and Wei Renpu went to the lobby to greet him. Guo Shao clasped his fists and bowed. After greeting each other, he said: "I have the Queen Mother's order. Can we talk somewhere else?"
Please. Wang Pu extended his hand.
So the three of them went into the study room next door and looked at the tea again.
Guo Shao took out a piece of paper from his bosom and presented it with both hands: "The Queen Mother's personal decree, but without the seal, I don't know if it will work or not."
Wang Pu took a look and saw only two lines of words. He handed it to Wei Renpu calmly. After reading it, Wei Renpu said: The Queen Mother has really good handwriting. Guo Shao and Wang Pu looked at each other, and the atmosphere was a little awkward.
Wei Renpu turned around and asked: What do you think, Lord Wang
Wang Pu placed the note on the table, held it down with a paperweight, and said: “I remembered something from the Han Dynasty that I found quite interesting. General Guo, are you interested in listening?”
"Please speak, Lord Wang," Guo Shao said calmly.
Wang Pu said: Emperor Wu of Han did not rule the country in his early years, and the government was still in the hands of the empress dowager after he became an adult. The emperor sent people to the military camp to successfully mobilize troops, but there was no military token; so the empress dowager finally allowed the emperor to rule the country and gave up the power.
Guo Shao had no idea what happened in the Han Dynasty, but he immediately thought of the time a month ago when he successfully mobilized the army in accordance with the imperial decree. It was illegal to do so without any military orders from the Privy Council. Even if the emperor mobilized troops, he would have to go through the various offices of the Privy Council, not to mention that the emperor had not passed away at that time.
But after the success, no one mentioned that, but Wang Pu ridiculed him openly, and Guo Shao suddenly felt a little pressured. He was unable to form a sentence and could not respond to Wang Pu's words. He was simply speechless.
Wang Shijun asked Guo Shao if he thought that the warrant was still effective.
Wang Pudao: The Empress Dowager can mobilize troops with her decree. If the Privy Council does not follow her orders, wouldn't it be embarrassing
Wang Pu is really merciless when he speaks.
Wei Renpu then said: Since it is the Empress Dowager's decree, we will issue a military order to General Guo later.
What General Guo wants to do, our Privy Council has no idea about it. Wang Pu's sharp eyes looked back and forth at Guo Shao's face. Guo Shao said in a deep voice: I originally suggested that the Queen Mother discuss it with the Deputy Privy Councilor first, but the Queen Mother thought it was just a small matter and there was no need to make a big fuss.
Wang Pu stroked his beard, nodded and said no more, then went to write the military order, and Wei Renpu helped to get out the seal and other things.
Guo Shao said on the side: Next time if there is anything, I would like to discuss it with Envoy Wang.
After hearing this, Wang Pu turned around and said with a forced smile: I am very much looking forward to it.
Guo Shao felt a little uncomfortable. He really respected Wang Pu's talent, but his temper was a little hard to figure out. Maybe he was too smart. He looked old, but his eyes were very bright and sharp, as if he could see through everything.
When you are with someone who is outgoing and smart, you can't help but be cautious and not so casual. In contrast, Wei Renpu often looks confused and pretends to be elegant, which makes him much more interesting to be with.
When Guo Shao walked out of the Privy Council with the military order, he felt a sense of relief.
He returned to the left wing camp of the Eastern Tiger Army, where all the generals above the rank of military commander had been summoned. As usual, after meeting Guo Shao, they started to quarrel and talk about their own things.
Guo Shao ignored them and took out a floor plan of Tokyo, still pondering on it again. The 20,000 troops of the left wing of the Hujie Army have been fully mobilized and stationed on the east and west sides of the imperial city, with relatively concentrated forces; the two forces are close to Donghuamen and Xihuamen respectively. The right wing of the Hujie Army is in the southwest of the imperial city, with 10,000 mobilized troops, also in a dense deployment.
He put away the map, turned around and said: General Li, second brother, come in with me.
The two followed him into a room. Guo Shao silently took out two military orders from the Privy Council and handed them over, saying: We may not necessarily go out, but we must mobilize and organize the troops in advance. Remember the time three days later, the morning of August 5. The bell of Donghua Gate rang three times slowly and five times quickly, repeatedly three times. When we heard the signal, we would go out immediately and head straight to the training ground of the Left Defense Zone.
The two men's faces darkened and they clasped their fists in response.
Guo Shao said: "The East Camp is close, so we can just run forward with the infantry. The horses are all in the West Camp, so we can ride over here on horseback. We must prepare the troops early in the morning just in case."
Li Chuyun and others clasped their fists and said: We obey your orders.
Guo Shao also had a military order in his hand, which was given to Han Tong and Gao Huaide, as a way to mobilize continuous waves of troops.
At this time, Guo Shao saw that Li Chuyun and Yang Biao had serious expressions on their faces, so he raised his hands, walked up to them, patted them on the shoulders, and said with a smile: This time we are officially under the order of the Privy Council and we have made proper preparations. We are almost certain to win, so you don't have to be too nervous.
He pondered and said: I have made all the arrangements for the Queen Mother, and there is no problem with the preparations. The key lies in her approach and performance.
There is one more chapter tonight, making a total of 10 chapters.