Criminal investigation in ancient times

In the palace, Zhou Yongzheng suddenly heard that the army had arrived outside the city of Youzhou. He pulled the eunuch who sent the message by the collar and said, "Bold! Nonsense, the crime of deceiving the emperor, pull it out and behead it!"

The eunuch hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This is really an urgent report from Youzhou."

Zhou Yongzheng stared at the emperor's throne and said loudly: "I am the emperor! Who dares to oppose me? Immediately call all ministers to the court to discuss matters!"

The eunuch was so frightened that he hurriedly retreated, not daring to delay, and passed on the news.After half an hour, all civil and military officials came to the palace.Several veteran officials in the court have heard a lot of rumors from outside these days, and their impression of the new emperor is getting worse and worse. When they think of the late old emperor and the missing eldest prince, they feel that the rumors are more credible.

Zhou Yongzheng sat on the head and said with a smile: "I heard a joke today. It is better to be alone than to be happy. I told Chongqing's family to listen to it. There are rumors in the market that an emperor did not hesitate to kill his brother and father in order to ascend to the throne... Colluding with the Huns Hahahaha, what do you think of this joke?"

All the ministers looked at each other and knelt down and said: "The minister is terrified."

"Afraid? I'm afraid you already think it's me in your heart!"

"I dare not"

Zhou Yongzheng asked a few questions: "The northern army has already reached Youzhou, why did you just send the news?! If I didn't ask, would I have been kept in the dark?!"

The minister lowered his head and said: "The minister deserves death..."

Several princes were also in the hall because they were uncles, so they didn't need to kneel down so they all stood aside, they were out of tune with the ministers on the ground, and everyone had very different expressions.The third prince touched the finger on the thumb, frowned slightly, and thought: "It's so fast."

Zhou Yongzheng sneered and said: "Don't you dare? Why don't you dare? Now I ask, who can lead the army to fight and solve the siege in Youzhou!"

The hall was quiet, without a single sound, Zhou Yongzheng laughed angrily, "What's the use of you guys, now the rebels are about to overthrow the capital, and there's not even a single person who stands up to resist!"

Kneeling in front of him, Taiwei Shen wiped his forehead with his sleeve, his fat body shaking into a ball.This general Zhenbei rebelled against it as soon as he said it, and he didn't give anyone any time to deal with it. Besides, the matter was caused by the emperor...

Zhou Yongzheng said: "Mr. Shen, I asked you to nominate three generals to lead the troops to the expedition to break the siege of Youzhou. Who do you recommend?"

When Taiwei Shen heard it, his eyes blurred, and he hurriedly cupped his hands and said: "The emperor thinks twice, this Youzhou cavalry has been guarding Youzhou for more than ten years, and has never made a mistake. With them, Youzhou is as solid as gold, and the general of Zhenbei is Can't get in."

"Is it impossible to let them surround Youzhou?! I don't want to lose my face!"

Taiwei Shen hastily knelt down and kowtowed: "I deserve death for my crimes. I...my minister recommended General Chen He, Tao...General Tao Youming, and...Old General Wei Kun."

Zhou Yongzheng looked at the people who had been named and said: "Okay! Several generals lead troops to Youzhou. All rebels who surrendered will not be held accountable. If they continue to resist, they will be killed without mercy!"

The three generals who were called out all had headaches and toothaches. Although they knew Taiwei Shen was forced to do so, they still hated him so much that they wanted to kill him.Still killing Wu's amnesty... I don't know if this little emperor has a brain, how can the Zhenbei army be like an ordinary army, and fight as soon as it is said?Just relying on the [-] "wine bags and rice bags" stationed in Beijing? Dazhou has really been at ease for too long...

After leaving the court, adults in twos and threes gathered together to discuss the matter, and many of them were talking about the gossip in the market.

Zhou Yin left the palace alone, and his attendants were waiting for him at the gate of the palace. Seeing him coming, he followed behind him and said, "My lord, Mr. Li just posted a message and wants to get together with you.

Without thinking, Zhou Yin said, "I pushed it, so I said it's not the right time." Just as he was about to get into the carriage, someone stopped him.Zhou Yin turned around and saw that it was the Eighth Prince.

Zhou Yin: "Myna, why did you just see yourself, where is Nine?"

The Eighth Prince said: "Lao Jiu has gone back first, we two brothers haven't been together for a while, why don't you come to my house and have a seat?"

Zhou Yin hesitated and nodded: "Okay."

The carriage followed the Eighth Prince's carriage into the Eighth Prince's Mansion, the servant lifted the curtain, and Zhou Yin got out of the carriage.Looking around, the palace is still the same, always surrounded by flowers made by the Eighth Prince, when the wind blows, a strong fragrance of flowers floats over, making Zhou Yin unable to bear the sneezes.

The Eighth Prince also got out of the carriage, walked ahead of Zhou Yin, picked a tender pink peony in the flower garden and stuck it in his ear, looking like a fool.

Zhou Yin looked at him and couldn't help laughing.He has been like this ever since he met starlings, he likes good-looking things and good-looking people, he lingers in the flowers, and he prefers masculinity.

The Eighth Prince: "Little Twelve, you've grown up so much in a flash, old mynah."

Zhou Yin said: "Mynah is upright in age."

"Okay, don't fool me. Ever since I became the emperor, I always think about the past. When we were both princes in the palace, the third brother loved us the most, and the fourth brother was the strongest. The fifth brother is the most stable... but now there are many people gone." Both the eldest prince and the second prince died at birth, and the sixth prince fell into the pond and drowned when he was ten years old.

Zhou Yin rubbed his nose and said: "I am younger than you, you have already divided the palace before leaving the palace, and you don't often go to the palace."

The Eighth Prince smiled and said: "You know that the father loves you the most besides the fifth brother. At the beginning, our brothers had eaten your dry vinegar. How can such a small person occupy the father's favor."

Zhou Yin thought of the past years, and his complexion softened unconsciously.Slightly nodded and said: "Father really took me well." The two walked to the gazebo, a man in tulle came in holding the qin, bowed to the two of them and sat on the side playing the qin.

Zhou Yin said: "Mynah still enjoys it this way, accompanied by beauties, and can also listen to the sound of the piano."

The Eighth Prince said: "If you like it, I will give it to you."

Zhou Yin waved his hand hastily: "No way, I can't enjoy it."

The Eighth Prince frowned and said with a smile: "I heard that you have a very close relationship with that patrol envoy Zhang Rui?"

Zhou Yin blushed slightly: "Mynah listens to everything."

The Eighth Prince sighed and said: "Hey, anyway, it's hard to have children in this life, so it's not bad to find a man, who is on top of you two?"

The tea that Zhou Yin drank into his mouth spat out with a "poof", starling, are you not ashamed to ask such a question in public? !

The Eighth Prince squinted at him and said, "Looking at Xiao Twelve's body, could it be that Master Xiao Zhang is on top?"

Zhou Yin said angrily, "I'm on top!"

The Eighth Prince clapped his palms and laughed loudly: "Okay, Mynah is just joking with you, don't be annoyed, don't be annoyed. Tingfeng, you go down first." The man playing the qin nodded slightly, and retreated holding the qin.

"Twelve, do you know why I called you here today?"

Holding tea, Zhou Yin raised his eyebrows and shook his head, "I don't know."

The Eighth Prince looked at him deeply and said, "I heard that He Zixiang met the Huns army on the way."

Zhou Yin pretended to be surprised: "Oh? There is such a thing?"

The Eighth Prince said angrily: "Don't pretend to be like me, you dare say you don't know!"

Zhou Yin clenched his fist and coughed slightly on his lips: "I really don't know that I was detained by the emperor in the palace."

The Eighth Prince rolled his eyes and said: "I suspect that the Emperor really has something to do with the Huns."

Zhou Yin paused and said, "Even if there is any involvement, it has nothing to do with us."

The Eighth Prince said: "I won't play charades with you anymore. I have already found out that those generals in the Northwest are fighting under the banner of Lord Qinghun and Liming. I don't know about Youzhou, but this time Zhou Yongzheng may have made a big fuss. gone."

Zhou Yin: "He's reaping the fruits of his own life, and he can't blame others."

The Eighth Prince said: "Lao Jiu and I intend to promote you as the new emperor..."

The tea bowl in the hand of "Pa Da" fell to the ground, Zhou Yin was startled and said: "Mynah, what are you kidding, you don't know my body!"

The Eighth Prince sighed and said: "I am also worrying about this matter now, your body...can't be cured?"

Zhou Yin said: "It can be cured, I need the Great Luo Jindan, just find it and eat it."

The Eighth Prince: "Don't be sloppy with me, Lao Jiu and I just discussed it, who do you think is suitable to sit on the throne?"

Zhou Yin said nothing, and thought: You have not written anything about this matter, and you have started to count the throne?

"I know you don't believe me, but now that things are coming to an end, people don't want to kill the world for themselves, Lao Jiu and I just want to live a peaceful life, and we don't covet one bit about the throne."

Zhou Yin: "Have you asked Fifth Brother?"

The Eighth Prince played with the teacup in his hand and said: "I've asked, but now only the Third Prince and Xiao Shisan didn't say anything. One of them is an old fox and the other is a little rabbit. It's not appropriate to talk to anyone."

Zhou Yin: "What did Brother Wu say?"

The Eighth Prince put the lid back on the cup and said: "What else can I say, it's just that I didn't care about that position."

Zhou Yin: "Brother...it's better not to participate until the conclusion of this matter is settled, after all, we are still under his command." After speaking, he stood up, looked at the clear sky outside, and the breeze was gentle, "If you make a mistake, you will always Take a lesson, just one thing, neither you nor I can interfere in this matter, nor can we interfere."

The Eighth Prince nodded and said, "See off the guests."

Zhou Yin pulled the peony from his ear with a smile and said, "It's a pity that mynah picked it before it fully bloomed."

The Eighth Prince: "Don't wait for the flowers to fall and break the branches." The two looked at each other and Zhou Yin turned around and left the pavilion, grabbing the petals as he walked.

Looking at his back, the Eighth Prince drank the tea in his cup and said, "This kid is really ruthless."

Zhou Yin returned to the mansion, rubbed his head and said in his heart: "I'm afraid these eight kings and nine princes will be involved in this battle for the throne. Fortunately, I really don't want the throne, otherwise I wouldn't let these old kings die!"

He remembered that Li Qian had sent him a message when he was leaving the palace, inviting him to a party, but now is not the right time, the emperor is afraid that he is suspicious now, and if there is any trouble, he will make a big move, so I better not touch his bad luck at this time.

The dark guard came to report and told Zhou Yin what happened outside the city of Youzhou, Zhou Yin was moved and said, "Zhang Rui also came with the army?" The dark guard nodded.

Zhou Yin couldn't hold back the excitement in his heart, but now that the capital is closed, there are still many guards outside the palace, so it is impossible to leave the capital.He sighed in his heart: Zhang Rui, Zhang Rui, I'm on you.

Zhang Rui, who was far away in Youzhou, was reading a ghost story book in the carriage at this time, and was so frightened that he broke into a cold sweat when he saw the exciting part. He wiped his face with a cloth towel and said, "What time is Zhanqing?"

Zhan Qing: "It's already You hour."

Zhang Rui nodded, opened the curtain and jumped out of the car. He Zixiang also followed him on this trip, but He Guang only arranged a job for him, so he didn't need to charge forward.After all, Aizi is eager, so how could he be willing to be in danger again after experiencing the siege just now.

After relaxing beside him, the soldiers in the army had already started to cook, and the smoke was everywhere, and the whole outside of Youzhou City looked like a villager's house.

The troops have been stationed for three days, and the city gates are still firmly closed. Thirty thousand cavalry are defending Youzhou City, and it seems that they don't intend to fight.

Qiu Sihai has been in a state of anxiety for the past few days. The news has already spread to the middle of the capital. The emperor said that he sent three generals to help him out of trouble, but he can't wait to see them, and he doesn't know when they will come!Rumors abound in the city, saying that the emperor has united with the Xiongnu and wants to sell half of the Great Zhou. They also say that the current emperor is an evil star descending to earth to destroy the century-old foundation of the Great Zhou...Anyway, there are all kinds of sayings, but there is nothing. Those who say good things will shake the morale of the army.

A few lieutenants came to him early this morning to ask him if it was true, and what he could say, he definitely didn't dare to say yes, so he had to reprimand these generals and tell them not to believe in rumors.He also ordered people to arrest the rumor-monger.

They were all ordinary people, and there were also many beggars and refugees. Many of these refugees came from the border. Most of them had their relatives killed by the Xiongnu, and they hated the Xiongnu to the bone.Seeing that these officers and soldiers did not go to fight against the Xiongnu, but came to arrest them, the common people, they were immediately angry, and shouted at Qiu Sihai as a lackey!

I don’t know which hot-tempered soldier moved his hands at the people, and the people suddenly became violent, and someone shouted: "This is not letting everyone live! The government is forcing the people to rebel!" As he said, he picked up stones on the side of the road and threw them at the officers and soldiers. Later, more and more people joined the chaos.A small figure in the dark sneered, shrank into the alley, and ran towards it. This child is none other than Hu Zi!

Huzi ran from the alley to the end and came to a house where the door was open but no one was there. He walked in quietly, and when he arrived at the house with ease, he saw a dog about one foot square when he opened the haystack. Hole.Huzi looked around, saw that no one was paying attention, so he bent down and got in.

"My lord, my lord! I'm back!"

Hearing the voice, Qing Luo jumped out of the car and said, "Brother Huzi, are you okay!"

Huzi bared his teeth and said with a smile: "Then what's the matter, my lord, everything you told me has been done."

Zhang Rui looked at him with a smile and said, "Good job!" He reached out and took out a bank note from his pocket and threw it to him.

Huzi's eyes widened when he took the bank note... 100 taels? !Oh my god, hurry up, who will pinch him, this, this is not a dream! ! !

Zhang Rui: "There is nothing for you, and there is nowhere to spend money on your body."

Huzi folded the silver and put it in his pocket, but he was still a little worried. He took it out and stuffed it into the sole of his shoe, fearing that it would be damaged by stepping on it.

Zhang Rui said: "Come on, I have something to tell you two, you two... let's go."

Huzi was stunned, his hand trembled, and the banknote fell to the ground.His eyes were slightly red and he choked with sobs, "My lord! I don't want this money anymore, why don't you drive me away?"

Zhang Rui smiled and said: "You guys have no future if you follow me, it's better to leave earlier, Qing Luo, come here."

Qing Luoang looked at him with a small face, his nose turned sore, and big tears fell out of his eyes "papa, papa".

Zhang Rui rubbed his head and said: "Don't be sad, we will meet again if we are destined, I will hand over a secret guard to you two, and let him take you away. Before it's too late, this Youzhou is going to be in chaos. Go to Jiang Zhouzhou, or Xuzhou, it's fine, don't stay here."

Huzi said: "Then what should you do, my lord?"

Zhang Rui looked outside and said: "I still have to wait for the lord, and it would be a burden to bring the two of you, Huzi, remember to take good care of Qing Luo, and don't bully him anymore, do you understand?"

Huzi wiped away his tears and nodded heavily.

Zhang Rui sighed and said, "Fortunately, I picked you up back then, and now you are of great help to me, you two, let's go." After saying that, he turned his head away and waved his hand, his heart ached unbearably.

The dark guard led the carriage that had been prepared earlier, sent the two into the carriage, clasped fists at Zhang Rui, got up and left.

The two children looked at Zhang Rui from the car window and said, "My lord, you have to be good!" "We will definitely visit you when we grow up."

Zhang Rui nodded with a smile, tears streaming down his eyes.