Han official!

Chapter 44: Prison Records
The kitchen steward's grandson Yi Zong was a teenager of fifteen or sixteen years old. His height had reached Guo Jie's eyebrows. His face was fair, unlike the dark yellow complexion of ordinary common people with plain hats. He was kneeling in front of the kitchen steward's grave, carrying a two-foot sword and looking very sad.

The cook has a shilling, which is his will.

Do not inform the colleagues, keep it secret and quiet, carry him to the tomb, bury him immediately, and bury him in contemporary clothes, all old clothes.

Everything was done quietly and the burial took place immediately. Everyone knew that no fuss could be made, and the burial was done with frugality.

There is no need to put pearls or shells in the mouth, hold objects in the hands, or bury some funerary objects.

The chef died while still thinking about his grandson. He died because of secretly storing armor, and his funeral was as quiet and frugal as possible to avoid causing dissatisfaction among the officials in Chang'an.

"Brother."

Yi Zong wiped away his tears and kowtowed to Guo Jie: "On the day that my grandfather went to the residence of the powerful Jia Ziguang, he repeatedly told me that I should obey my elder brother's care from now on. My elder brother is like a father, so I should treat him as my own."

Righteousness?

Yi Zong, the cruel official during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han?

He was a ruthless man and publicly executed more than 400 people at one time.

Killing in public and in private are two completely different things.

The only people Guo Jie publicly killed were twenty or thirty members of the Yangdi Yuan clan, and he did so secretly by sneaking into the neighborhood at night. The purge of the guards at the pavilion was not considered active killing, but passive self-defense.

The Han court sentenced the person to beheading and publicly executed, and was extremely cautious. The county official's prison warden reported to the county magistrate, who reported to the prefect, and the report was passed up through the chain of command until it was finally reported to the Chief Justice, one of the Nine Ministers, who would examine the case and confirm that it was correct before executing the person.

Yi Zong publicly sentenced more than 400 people to beheading and public execution at one time.

"Yi Zong?"

Guo Jie tried to test his true identity, wondering if he was just a common name or if he was really the cruel official Yi Zong. He asked, "Your sister's name is Yi Shuo. She's skilled in medicine and a famous doctor in Gaojie Duting."

Yi Zong stood up and sat with Ji Shaogong on the screen of the white cloth-covered carriage, his feet on the wheelbarrow. "My elder sister's reputation as a good doctor is not only well-known in Gaojie Duting, but also in the whole of Chang'an. She often visits the residences of nobles and marquises."

The residences of dukes and nobles are usually called "di". The neighborhoods where the powerful and wealthy in Chang'an lived included Xiao Hedi, Beidi, etc.

Xiao Hedi was the residence of Xiao He, the Marquis of Zan, who was ranked first among the meritorious officials. Later, Wang Mang lived in Xiao Hedi. After he was granted the title of Duke of Anhan, he changed Xiao Hedi to Duke of Anhandi.

Beidi was the residence given by Emperor Hui of Han to Xiahou Ying, Marquis of Ruyin. The child who was kicked out of the car by Liu Bang and rescued by Xiahou Ying was Emperor Hui of Han, Liu Ying.

Guo Jie was certain that the young man in front of him was the cruel official Yi Zong, and his sister was Yi Shuo, one of the four famous female doctors in ancient times.

No wonder the cook left a shilling for the funeral.

He was probably worried that the powerful people in his family would send their steward to give him a funeral gift.

Funeral money is money or physical objects given by mourners to the bereaved family.

With so many people around, it was inevitable that the officials would be suspicious. They were worried that the news that a gatekeeper under Dou Ying had secretly stored armor would leak out and cause unnecessary trouble.

"Ugh."

Guo Jie sighed, "I've lived my entire life, and not a single day for myself. I've lived everything for my grandson. Even after I die, I'm still thinking about him. Why bother?"

Yi Zong gripped the two-foot-long sword tightly and secretly swore in his heart that he would kill all the powerful people in the world.

"You don't have to worry about food, clothing, and other expenses in the future. You will have a salary."

Guo Jie followed the Kitchen Steward's wishes and said, "Your grandfather and I have long ago agreed that the position of Kitchen Steward will be left to you. I have already obtained the official documents appointing you from the Chang'an government."

Yi Zong remained silent, only bowing his hands to express his gratitude. "Captain Guo."

A junior official beside Zhang Tang hurried over in an oxcart. Seeing Guo Jie's chariot, he was filled with awe. "Official Zhang has sent me here to give Chief Guo a scroll of official documents. He intends to recruit Yi Zong to be a prison recorder."

The junior clerk, feeling the awe of the tiger chariot, added, "You also know that Zhang Shangli is in charge of the prisons. Although the prison recorder's rank is lower than that of the kitchen steward, he can follow Zhang Shangli and serve as a junior clerk in charge of the prisons."

Guo Jie's heart moved, and he bowed and said, "Thank you for the reminder."

If Yi Zong became the prison recorder, he would have placed his own people in the judicial system of Chang'an.

He asked for the land in Hezuo in order to pave a way out, and Yi Zong's entry into Chang'an's judicial system was also an important precaution.

If he failed to buy a title to atone for his sins before being moved to Maoling and was arrested, he could escape from Chang'an Prison through Yizong. The Dutingchang of the city gate was also his own man, so he could easily leave the high-walled Chang'an.

Guo Jie wanted Yi Zong to be the recorder, but he didn't force him. He asked, "Do you want to be the chef of the Gaojie Duting or the recorder of the Chang'an official temple? It's all up to you. I won't interfere."

Yi Zong asked, "Brother, if I were to serve as Zhang Tang's recorder, would I have the authority to interrogate the powerful?"

The registrar is in charge of the documents and is under the registrar clerk.

Guo Jie thought about it and realized that this person was equivalent to the liaison officer of the county's two offices, which was the previous secretary. According to the latest regulations, only the municipal level and above had secretaries, and there were only liaison officers at the county and town levels.

The registrar was Zhang Tang's liaison officer who was responsible for recording and writing materials.

"It can be considered as the authority to interrogate prisoners."

Guo Jie nodded and said, "The Chang'an government has jurisdiction over many dutings, each of which governs more than ten li. Outside the city walls, there are also xiangtings, and the li within those xiangtings. It's impossible for Zhang Shangli to handle all the cases alone. When he's too busy, he'll send his assistants to handle the investigation."

Yi Zong understood it in his heart.

Even if he is a representative, he can still put the powerful into prison.

Yi Zong said solemnly, "Brother, I have decided to become a prison recorder in the Chang'an government. Although this goes against my grandfather's wishes, I don't want to be content with the status quo and be a cook who arranges food and lodging for the rest of my life. I want to interrogate the powerful."

Anyone can hear his hatred for the powerful.

Since his grandfather died at the hands of the tyrant Jia Ziguang, Yi Zong hated tyrants to the core.

Guo Jie secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Yi Zong agreed to serve as the recorder, and he now had a completely trustworthy person in the judicial system.

"drive--"

Yi Zong took the reins from Ji Shaogong and personally gave the carriage to Guo Jie. The carriage covered with white cloth drove past the city wall on the north bank of the Wei River and arrived inside the city, passing by the house of Jia Ziguang where the cook died.

After a big fire, it was reduced to ruins.

"Ah."

Yi Zong snorted coldly and said, "This house was most likely burned by a powerful person. They are unforgivable and have brought chaos to Chang'an. They should be beheaded and thrown into the streets!"

Guo Jie was a little embarrassed. It was he who burned down Jia Ziguang's house: "This was burned by my brother."

"Brother?"

Yi Zong's expression straightened: "You have eliminated harm for the people and defended Chang'an. You should be rewarded with a hundred gold coins!"

(End of this chapter)