From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 182

The fire in Mingxuanfang shocked the whole capital, waking up countless people and many officials with horror.

In the inner city, Yong'an Bo Cao Ye, seeing the flames all over the sky, also understood what was going on. He couldn't help but be overjoyed, and immediately hugged his young and beautiful concubine and moved around a few more times.

But what he didn't know was that the nine arson suspects had been arrested by Zhou Yuan and put into the prison in Mingxuanfang.

"Sir, the donkeys are here, a total of six, all borrowed from neighbors."

He Xiangnian smiled flatteringly, but he didn't know what the commander wanted these donkeys for.

"Take them all to the prison. I want to judge these bastards. Tonight, they must confess honestly and sign and seal."

Zhou Yuan gave an order and strode into the prison.

So in the dark prison interrogation room, the nine suspects knelt on the ground with their hands tied, and the six donkeys were tied to the side, stamping their feet anxiously.

The four clerks and the governor He Xiangnian stood on both sides of Zhou Yuan, and some key jailers held knives and looked at the suspect coldly.

Zhou Yuan tapped the table lightly and smiled faintly: "Master Shi Jin, you are the lieutenant of the Central Army of the Fifth Army Camp, a military officer of the sixth rank. How could you do such a despicable thing? Don't you know that this is punishable by death?"

Shi Jin snorted coldly and said in a deep voice: "Zhou Yuan, don't slander me. We are just passing by Mingxuanfang."

Zhou Yuan said: "I am not afraid that you will not recognize me. Although I am a scholar, I am proficient in the criminal law of the world. You so-called tough guys in the army may not be able to withstand it."

As soon as these words came out, everyone laughed.

Shi Jin shook his head and said, "You are a corrupt scholar, so you naturally don't understand the honor of us soldiers. If you want to be tortured into confessing, come as soon as possible!"

Another young man sneered, "Is it a clamp, a branding iron, or a whip? We rough people are least afraid of physical pain. Do you dare to kill us?"

Zhou Yuan smiled slowly and said, "You are all heroes. How could I treat you like that?"

He took out a bag of black powder from his arms and squinted his eyes and said, "Do you know what this is? It's a medicine."

"This medicine, it's nothing special. You can buy it. It is often used to breed livestock."

The nine suspects began to feel uneasy.

Zhou Yan continued: "See the donkeys behind you? I tell you, they are all male donkeys."

"Don't think they are obedient now. After taking my medicine, they will be extremely manic."

"At that time, I will strip you naked, tie you to the prison door, and let them treat your butts well."

After saying this, He Xiangnian took a breath of cold air and felt his whole body cold.

Damn... What kind of method is this?

Lord Zhou is simply the living king of hell!

The jailers around were stunned. They have seen many punishments, but who has seen such a horrible thing!

"You dare!"

Shi Jin's face changed drastically, and he shouted in shock: "Zhou Yuan, you...you can't do this, this...this is illegal!"

Zhou Yuan was puzzled and said: "Who knows? There are my people all around, they won't report me, and can you survive tonight?"

"Even if you can survive, don't forget that we have a group of horses in the North City Army and Horse Division, you don't have to worry about not having a good life."

After speaking, he stood up and said sternly: "Come on! Take off their clothes for me!"

"Stop!"

"No! Zhou Yuan! You dog official!"

No matter how much the nine people struggled, they could not escape the fate of being stripped naked.

Zhou Yuan said lightly: "Lock them in a room separately, and whoever confesses will be released."

"Within three quarters of an hour, if someone hasn't confessed, arrange a donkey for them."

Zhou Yuan stood up and chuckled: "Don't think I will entangle with you, I don't have that time."

He strode out, and the jailer also dragged Shi Jin and others into the cell.

Shi Jin was so frightened that his face turned pale. He could not help but yelled: "Don't go! Zhou Yuan, don't go!"

Zhou Yuan would naturally not give them a chance. He knew that if he stayed here, he would give them an inexplicable sense of security.

After walking out of the prison, Zhou Yuan said in a low voice: "After three quarters of an hour, release two or three people one after another and say that these people have confessed."

"Separate interrogation, use accomplices to put pressure on them, this method does not need me to teach you, right?"

He Xiangnian nodded quickly and said: "I know, I know, I know."

Zhou Yuan smiled and said: "If it doesn't work, lead a donkey in, let one of them experience it well, let the others listen to the taste of being output by the donkey, and they will naturally confess."

"Anyway, I want to get their signed confessions before dawn, understand, Lord He?"

He Xiangnian laughed dryly: "Don't worry, Lord Zhou, I can still handle these small things well.”

“Waiting for your good news.”

Zhou Yuan strode away. He still needed to sleep for a while, after all, he had to go to the palace tomorrow.

…

The next morning, the red sun rose.

All the ministers were present in the golden palace of the palace, and the holy monarch sat high.

Empress Zhao Jing was extremely beautiful, but she also had an unapproachable noble temperament that made people dare not look directly at her.

She said lightly: "Has the result of the Liangjiang area come out, Yang Qing?"

The chief minister of the cabinet, Yang Guozhong, immediately stood up and saluted: "Your Majesty, Qu Shaogeng is brave and good at fighting. The 50,000-strong army swept across the Liangjiang area and defeated Cheng Ping and Han Tuo."

"The news from the day before yesterday was that Cheng Ping's subordinates were defeated, and only a thousand elite soldiers retreated to Ningbo Prefecture, fighting a desperate battle. At most three days, the Liangjiang area can be pacified. ”

Speaking of this, he hastily added: "Li Zhaolu, the ambassador of Liangjiang, performed his duties conscientiously, rectified the rules and regulations, and cooperated with Qu Shaogeng to win successive victories, which led to today's victory."

"Therefore, I think that Li Zhaolu should be reused, promoted to Shenjing, and arranged to the six ministries or the Censorate."

As soon as these words came out, the faces of all the ministers changed.

Li Zhaolu was from the Zhejiang Party. If he really entered the six ministries, wouldn't the Zhejiang Party be more arrogant?

Wu Qingrong, the Minister of War, immediately said: "Your Majesty, I think that after the pacification of Liangjiang, it is urgent to restore life and let the people live and work in peace and contentment."

"As the ambassador of dethronement, Li Zhaolu has made great contributions. He should be promoted to the governor of Zhejiang to take over Huang Heng's position and sit in Zhejiang. "

Yang Guozhong smiled faintly and said, "Lord Wu, Li Zhaolu is such a talent, but he is not transferred to the capital, but kept in the local area. Isn't this inappropriate?"

"Officials should be loyal to Your Majesty and the court, and should not sacrifice their public interests for personal gain."

Wu Qingrong's face changed. This old man is slandering me with a veil!

"Your Majesty! I have a memorial!"

Xu Shigong, the Minister of Personnel and the Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion, came out and bowed respectfully.

Empress Zhaojing said, "Please speak, my dear Xu."

Xu Shigong said in a deep voice, "I have been in charge of the Ministry of Personnel for many years and have a lot of experience in the appointment of officials. The two Jiangs have experienced a great chaos, and it is even more necessary for a capable official to take charge. Li Zhaolu has shown outstanding ability in suppressing the chaos this time, and he is very familiar with the situation in the two Jiangs. It is more appropriate for him to serve as the Governor of Zhejiang. "

"In addition, in view of the chaos in the two Jiangs, I suggest that half of the candidates from Jiangnan be admitted in this autumn examination as a punishment."

When this was said, the whole court was shocked. Making a fuss about the autumn examination would affect the foundation of the country.

Yang Guozhong immediately said: "Lord Xu! Absolutely not!"

Empress Zhaojing waved her hand and said: "The autumn examination is related to national policy and cannot be shaken. However, regarding Li Zhaolu, we should listen to the advice of Mr. Xu Aiqing and keep him in Jiangnan and governor of Zhejiang."

Yang Guozhong and other Zhejiang party members were so angry that they realized that the matter of the autumn examination just now was all the trick of old man Xu.

By proposing an excessive decision, another relatively reasonable decision will naturally be passed.

At this moment, Cao Ye finally couldn't help but said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty! I have a memorial!"

Empress Zhaojing said: "Cao Qing, please speak. ”

Cao Ye said loudly: "Last night from 11:00 to 12:00, a fire broke out in Mingxuanfang, which burned for an hour. It was appalling."

"As we all know, Mingxuanfang is the residential area for the families of the imperial guards, and it is the top priority for fire prevention. Now that a terrible disaster has occurred, the new North City Army and Horse Division cannot escape the blame and should be punished."

As soon as these words came out, all the ministers spoke out. After all, everyone saw the fire last night.

And the faces of the Chu Party, including Xu Shigong, Wu Qingrong and others, became ugly.

Is a rising star of the Chu Party going to end before it really rises?

With such an ending, who will dare to join the Chu Party in the future!