"Begin the trial!"
"Wei … wu …!"
The sound of "wei wu" and "wei wu" from a gavel had shocked countless evil spirits throughout the ages.
The next morning, at a quarter to seven in the morning, Lantian County's yamen was already surrounded by layers upon layers of commoners. Following Dai Ai's slam of the gavel, the highly anticipated public trial finally began!
The fact that the Vice Chancellor of the Supreme Court was personally presiding over the trial made the people feel the importance the court placed on the case. They all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Bring the criminals Fan Tong and Fan Jianqiang to court!"
In the court, as the main judge, Dai Ai naturally sat at the head of the table, followed by County Magistrate He. Li Zexuan, as an observer, sat at the side and became a spectator. Dai Ai slammed the gavel down again and shouted.
"Bring the criminals Fan Tong and Fan Jianqiang to court!"
Someone spread the word far and wide. A moment later, Fan Tong and Fan Jianqiang were escorted into the courtroom by four yamen runners.
Compared to a few days ago, the Fan father and son were no longer as spirited and arrogant as before. Fan Tong's heart sank when he saw Dai Ai sitting at the head of the table, wearing a dark red official robe (representing a fourth-rank official).
If the presiding judge was a fourth-rank official, it meant that the court had begun to interfere with his case. As for the things he had done in the past, how could they withstand an investigation?
"Are you Fan Tong and Fan Jianqiang?"
Dai Ai's eyes flashed as he shouted.
As the head of the Supreme Court's prison, Dai Ai's aura was incomparable to that of an ordinary county magistrate. His shout sent the Fan father and son into a panic.
"Yes, sir. I am Fan Tong!"
"… Yes! I … I am Fan Jianqiang! "
Fan Tong was relatively calm, but Fan Jianqiang was so frightened by Dai Ai's aura that he almost wet his pants. He even stuttered a little.
"Good! Fan Tong, let me ask you. During the fourth year of Wude, did you and eight grain merchants hoard grain to drive up the price of grain? "
Dai Xuan did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point.
Fan Tong's eyes flashed. He stepped forward and replied, "Sir, I've always been honest in my business dealings. I've never done anything as evil as hoarding!"
"Hmph! You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Men, summon the witness — Hu Jinhua! "
Dai Ai sneered and ordered.
"Here!"
A yamen runner went to bring the witness. When Fan Tong heard the name "Hu Jinhua", his expression changed.
A moment later, a yamen runner brought an old man in plain clothes. Dai Ai asked, "Is the person in the hall Hu Jinhua?"
The plain-clothed old man cupped his hands and said, "Replying to Shangguan, I am Hu Jinhua!"
"Hu Jinhua, let me ask you, six years ago, did you collude with Fan Tong and other grain merchants to drive up the price of grain around the capital?"
Hu Jinhua said with a pained look, "Replying Your Excellency, it's true! Back then, Lord Fan found me and the others and said that he was taking advantage of the drought and the war between the Great Tang and the Turkic Khaganate to stockpile provisions and make huge profits. At that time, the price of provisions around the capital rose from three copper coins per bushel to ten copper coins per bushel! Not long after, the imperial court became aware of this. His Majesty ordered the government to suppress the price of provisions and issued a decree ordering Lantian County Magistrate to investigate the merchants who drove up the price of provisions!
At that time, I and a few others were arrested, stripped of our property, and punished with flogging. Only Fan Tong was spared. Because of County Magistrate Sha's power, after we were released, we immediately changed our names, and never dared to do business again! "
"Nonsense! You … you're lying! I don't know you! "
Fan Tong was furious. His eyes were red, and he wanted to skin Hu Jinhua alive!
"Hmph! This Hu also has the account book of Master Fan's purchase of grain with us. At that time, Master Fan didn't have enough money, so he borrowed some money from this Hu. The account book and the IOU are all here. Whether this Hu is speaking nonsense or not, Sir will know with a glance! "
Hu Jinhua sneered and took out two items from his sleeves.
"Bring them up!"
Dai Ai said hurriedly.
The yamen runner took the evidence from Hu Jinhua and handed it to Dai Ai with a bow.
Dai Ai flipped it open and said angrily, "Hmph! Fan Tong, how dare you lie to me in court! Now that we have witnesses and evidence, what else do you have to say? Men, take him away and give him twenty strokes of the cane! "
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
The two yamen runners charged at Fan Tong like hungry wolves.
Fan Tong was scared out of his wits. He had lived like a prince for so long, how could he withstand twenty strokes of the cane? If he continued, he would probably lose half his life.
"Your Excellency, I plead guilty! I know I was wrong! Please have mercy on me, Your Excellency! "
Dai Ai said coldly, "Take him away and flog him!"
For some people, flogging was no different from a killing blow. They would not tell the truth until they were flogged!
"Bang!"
"Ouch! Your Excellency, please spare my life! "
The yamen was filled with Fan Tong's pleas and the sound of flogging. The people outside the court were enjoying themselves.
A quarter of an hour later, Fan Tong was brought back to the court like a dead dog. Dai Ai did not give him a chance to breathe.
"Fan Tong, today, this official is going to interrogate you about your crimes. There are witnesses and evidence. If you still dare to lie, don't blame this official for being impolite!"
Fan Tong's face was pale. Facing such a cruel and merciless court official put him under great pressure. His voice trembled when he heard Dai Ai's words.
"I won't do it again! I won't do it again! "
Dai Ai nodded. "Then let me ask you again. In the fifth year of Wu De, you colluded with County Magistrate Sha to embezzle other people's land and shops. Is that true?"
"It's true … I plead guilty!"
"Then let me ask you again …"
"I plead guilty …"
The rest of the trial went smoothly. Fan Tong confessed to four crimes in a row. Dai Ai was getting thirsty. He pursed his lips, his eyes focused, and said in a low voice,
"In the sixth year of Wu De, White Star Village was attacked by bandits and suffered several massacres. Did you have anything to do with it? Were you afraid that Bai Xiaodie's case would be exposed, so you asked the bandits to help you kill her? "
Fan Tong, who had admitted his guilt without hesitation, was now shocked. He quickly shook his head and denied, "My … my lord! This case has nothing to do with me! I'm just a merchant. How could I know bandits? My … my lord is wise! I've been wronged! "
He could admit to other crimes. At most, he would be stripped of his property and be punished. However, he could not admit to this crime. If he did, he would lose his life!
The people outside the court saw that Fan Tong refused to admit to his crimes. They began to curse under their breaths.
Dai Ai's face darkened. He said coldly, "I'll give you one more chance. Are you sure you won't admit to your crimes?"
Fan Tong was sweating. "My lord, I've been wronged …"
"Hmph! You won't shed a tear until you see the coffin! Men, summon Bai Yue and Fan Shicheng! "
…
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