Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 429: Interrogation and forced confession
Sun Chengzong nodded in agreement and asked, "How does Cui Tixing plan to catch these insects hiding in the Ministry of Finance?"

"That's easy. We have Li Laicai and his men in our hands. As long as we can pry them open, the rest is just a matter of following the clues." Cui Yuan asked casually, "Has Mr. Sun been interrogated yet?"

"Not yet." Sun Chengzong shook his head.

"I'm just waiting for you to come." Sun Yuerong added.

"Then let's go over and ask now," Cui Yuan suggested.

"No hurry, it's still early." Sun Chengzong stood up. "It won't be too late to have dinner first."

"That's fine." Cui Yuan made way.

"I just don't know if Cui Tixing can get used to the food in the army." Sun Chengzong said to Cui Yuan with a smile.

"People like us all come from poor families, so what's there to be accustomed to? Before I recognized you as my godfather, even eating meat once every two weeks was a luxury." Cui Yuan subconsciously glanced at Sun Yuerong, then turned to flatter Sun Chengzong. "Besides, it's an honor for a student to have dinner with Mr. Sun."

"Then please follow me." Sun Chengzong waved his hand.

It was military fare, but it wasn't bad at all. It had everything you could ask for: brown rice simmered in oil, stir-fried vegetables with soy sauce, beans fried with salt, and dehydrated cured meat. And besides all that, there were also several jars of rice wine, which had been obtained from who knows where.

To Cui Yuan's surprise, Sun Chengzong not only invited Mao Yuanyi to the banquet but also summoned Li Weidong, the coastal defense guerrilla commander. During the banquet, Li Weidong was incredibly active, practically jumping around. He'd toast after every few words, and after two toasts, he'd offer a few more subtle pleas for mercy.

While Li Weidong was jumping up and down, Cui Yuan kept paying attention to Sun Chengzong's words and expressions. Cui Yuan found that although Sun Chengzong did not directly say that he would let Li Weidong go, he had been hinting to Cui Yuan, hoping to leave Li Weidong a way out.

Cui Yuan didn't quite understand at first, believing Sun Chengzong's attitude was a way to stabilize the Coastal Defense Battalion until the dust settled. It wasn't until he heard that Li Weidong's first action upon meeting Sun Chengzong was to fully disclose the current state of the Coastal Defense Battalion that Cui Yuan realized Sun Chengzong truly intended to retain Li Weidong. Thus, Cui Yuan took the opportunity to express his goodwill towards Li Weidong.

However, Cui Yuan did not really intend to say anything about recommending someone in military affairs. He had already made up his mind that no matter what Sun Chengzong did, he would only report on his work objectively after returning to the palace and try to avoid expressing subjective opinions.

After the banquet, Sun Chengzong released Li Weidong but retained mid-level officers such as Han Zhongqi, Wang Yi'e, and Xiang Shijun, all on the pretext of assisting in the investigation. Instead, Sun Chengzong instructed Mao Yuanyi to select a group of acting officers from the battalion.

Li Weidong knew Sun Chengzong was putting a tight rein on him, but he didn't care, nor could he care. Sun Chengzong could have suspended him and all the officers in the coastal defense battalion simply based on the royal banner displayed in front of the central army tent. Sun Chengzong's decision to let him go was already a gesture of goodwill.

--------

After dinner, Sun Chengzong brought Cui Yuan, Mao Yuanyi, and Sun Yuerong to the tent where Li Laicai and his group were imprisoned. As soon as the standard-bearer of the guarding tent lifted the curtain, Cui Yuan immediately smiled.

In the twilight of dusk, Cui Yuan saw twelve wooden stakes neatly arranged in four rows and three columns in total in the tent, and on each stake was tied a prisoner to be tried with his hands tied behind his back.

"All of you go out." Sun Chengzong waved to the personal soldiers guarding the prisoners in the tent.

"Yes." The guards saluted and filed out, but the tent was not cleared out. Sun Chengzong knew that the people who stayed were all from the East Factory, so he didn't say anything.

"Who is Li Laicai?" Sun Chengzong asked Mao Yuanyi.

"That one," Mao Yuanyi instructed. "The one in the middle."

"Okay." Sun Chengzong followed Mao Yuanyi's instructions and walked straight to Li Laicai. He confirmed, "Are you Li Laicai from the Wuqing Marquis Li family?"

"My name is Li Laicai," Li Laicai said without trying to stand up. He just raised his head in an extremely uncomfortable position and looked up at Sun Chengzong. "May I ask who you are, sir?"

"Governor of Tianjin, Sun Chengzong." Sun Chengzong said.

"It's Governor Sun," Li Laicai said, a little surprised, but also a little delighted. "Aren't you in Zhongwei? Why are you in Beitang?"

"You should know." Sun Chengzong replied indifferently.

"I just don't know," Li Laicai said innocently. "But you've arrived just in time. Tell these people to let us go! There must be some misunderstanding, and I can explain it."

"There's no need to explain. It's better for you to tell the truth." Cui Yuan walked to Sun Chengzong's side, and Sun Chengzong immediately gave up his seat so that Cui Yuan could face Li Laicai directly.

"You again?" Li Laicai turned his head and immediately saw the flying fish on Cui Yuan's robe. Li Laicai took a deep breath and his heart tightened.

"Eastern Investigation Bureau, Ministry of Justice, Cui Yuan." Cui Yuan squatted down at arm's length from Li Laicai. "My name is quite well-known in Beijing, you should have heard of it."

"I've heard of it." Li Laicai's voice began to tremble uncontrollably.

Cui Yuan nodded with satisfaction. "Since I've heard it, let's cut the crap. From the day you scoundrels set foot in Beitang, my people from the East Depot have been keeping tabs on you. I know exactly where you've lived, who you've met, and even what you've done. I want a detailed confession, so you can suffer less and we can save ourselves some effort."

Li Laicai looked away, not meeting Cui Yuan's gaze. Instead, he spoke loudly. "We're just helping our family run their business. Staying in hotels, meeting people, buying and selling, transporting goods—what's so strange about that?"

"Why are you yelling so loudly, you idiot? Who are you yelling for?" Before Li Laicai could finish, Cui Yuan threw back his sleeves, reached out and clamped Li Laicai's chin, and then slapped him in the face. "Stop looking around, look at me when I talk."

It was difficult for Cui Yuan to swing his arms and use his waist and whole body strength to slap someone in this position, but his posture and eyes still frightened Li Laicai.

Li Laicai's voice softened considerably, but he remained stubborn. "If you're willing to listen to me talk about these trivial matters, I'm certainly willing to tell you. But I'm afraid it's a little unreasonable for you to treat me like this, isn't it?"

"You're still stubborn even when you're about to die," Cui Yuan asked, "Do you know where you are now?"

"I don't know," Li Laicai replied. "Please advise, Eunuch Cui." Cui Yuan sneered, "Calculate it yourself first. Calculate how long it took you to walk from where you were arrested to here. Once you figure it out, you'll know where you are."

"How long have you been walking?" Li Laicai didn't quite understand what Cui Yuan meant until he was stunned for a moment, then he opened his mouth as if he suddenly realized something.

"It seems you've figured it out." Cui Yuan patted Li Laicai's cheek, then turned to look at Sun Chengzong. "Mr. Sun, please lend me that confession."

"Okay." Sun Chengzong reached into his arms, took out the confession, leaned over and handed it to Cui Yuan.

Cui Yuan took the confession and beckoned to a Dongchang guard. "Come here, grab this pig's head by the hair and lift it up for me."

"Yes." The guard took two steps to the pillar and roughly pulled Li Laicai's slightly greasy long hair.

Cui Yuan unfolded his confession and held it up to Li Laicai. "Use your dog eyes to look carefully at what's written on it."

Li Laicai's eyes first caught sight of the signature. When he saw the three words "Li Weidong", his breath suddenly stopped.

"Come on, read it. Weren't you shouting very loudly just now? Why are you silent now?" Cui Yuan said viciously, pointing at the key paragraph.

"No, no!" Li Laicai shouted, not caring whether he would be slapped again.

"You mean to say this didn't happen?" Cui Yuan put away his confession and then said something that frightened Li Laicai: "Let me remind you, I know which floating bridge you crossed on which day and at which time."

Li Laicai swallowed hard. "I did visit Li Weidong at the Coastal Defense Camp, but I never said anything like that! He's making a false accusation!"

"He, falsely accused you? What bullshit is that?" Cui Yuan raised his hand and handed the confession back to Sun Chengzong.

"This is a false accusation!" Li Laicai actually met Cui Yuan's gaze. "We went to the fort to visit Li Weidong, only to discover he was embezzling salaries without paying them, and exploiting the soldiers' blood! He's accusing us of this, hoping to use you two to eliminate us. Please understand, and don't let a villain like Li Weidong deceive you!"

Li Laicai spoke with great confidence, thinking that the two people in front of him would be moved. However, he did not expect that both Cui Yuan, who was squatting, and Sun Chengzong, who was standing, seemed to be observing him as if he were a fool.

"I'm telling the truth," Li Laicai continued, "The soldiers in this coastal defense camp are only 60% of their quota, and their warships are incomplete and their weapons are in disrepair. If you don't believe me, go check the coastal defense camp and you'll find out!"

"Haha." Cui Yuan smiled and shook his head. "I always thought you were just a bunch of stupid dogs who couldn't choose a master. I didn't expect that you, a mediocre person, are really capable and even found a way out. I'm telling you again, please listen carefully."

Cui Yuan's voice seemed to be gnashing through his teeth. "From the first day you, a bunch of snakes and rats, set foot in Beitang, my people have been keeping an eye on you. I know exactly where you've lived, who you've met, and what you've done. Furthermore, I know exactly who you've met and what you've done. If you want, I can even show you the files I submitted to the higher-ups."

"This..." Li Laicai's pupils trembled.

Cui Yuan slapped Li Laicai's face hard. "Just because he has problems doesn't mean you, a loser, are good material. Let me tell you, we've already started looking for those two lost boats. How long do you think they can hide?"

"." Li Laicai couldn't respond, nor could he lower his head, so he could only close his eyes and resist in silence.

Cui Yuan raised his hand and slapped Li Laicai twice more. "Open your dog eyes!"

"If you want to torture me, go ahead." Li Laicai's mouth twisted in a grimace from the beating. He opened his eyes, and the pleading look on his face was gone. "We are innocent. We came to Beitang just to do business. We have nothing to explain."

"Hehehe!" Cui Yuan laughed and shook his head. "You're counting on your dog master to pull you out of the mire with a rope? Aren't you afraid he'll trample you to death and then use your corpse to get ashore?"

Hearing this, Li Laicai's eyes flickered, but he still shook his head despite the pulling sensation on his head. "I don't understand what you mean."

"You'll understand sooner or later." Cui Yuan stood up and waved to the guard who was holding Cui Yuan's hair. The guard understood and let go, and Li Laicai's head drooped.

"Sun Zhongcheng, there's no point in saying more. These lackeys won't accept our offer, so why don't we find a place to torture them? That would be fulfilling his wish." Cui Yuan looked at Sun Chengzong. "I want to see how long his stubborn mouth can hold."

"Cui Tixing," Sun Chengzong deliberately raised his voice. "I think it would be best to keep this matter low-key."

As soon as Sun Chengzong finished speaking, the eyes of everyone present were focused on him.

"What does Sun Zhongcheng mean?" Cui Yuan looked puzzled.

Sun Chengzong said quietly, "Things concerning national policy must be questioned. Things concerning honorable relatives must not be questioned in detail. Things concerning these thirteen people and below must be questioned. Things concerning these thirteen people and above must not be questioned in detail."

"Can you explain it in more detail?" Cui Yuan felt as if he had heard this before somewhere.

"It's simple. Kill them all," Sun Chengzong said, waving the confession in his hand. "Then cut off their heads and send them along with this confession to the residences of the lords."

"Kill the dog and send its head," Cui Yuan pondered. "Are you trying to threaten the dog's owner?"

"It's not a threat, just a small warning," Sun Chengzong explained seriously. "Although this case isn't complicated, it's very troublesome to try, especially with someone like Li Laicai determined to rely on his master to resist the interrogation. If you torture him, even if you find out something, the nobles won't admit it. Instead, they'll accuse us of forcing a confession. Then, when the case reaches the Emperor, it'll be another round of disputes."

"Although the lords will be more restrained because of this turmoil and stop interfering in maritime affairs, our mission is considered completed. But we, especially you, Cui Tixing, will inevitably be blamed by the emperor for causing this unnecessary turmoil." Sun Chengzong seemed to be persuading him from Cui Yuan's perspective.

"So, instead of making such a fuss, I think it would be better to kill them all, and then make a letter with their heads and send it to the residences of the nobles along with this confession. The nobles know what they have done, and to cover up their mistakes and protect themselves, they will definitely not go to the emperor to make a fuss over these dogs, and the sea will be peaceful for a while."

(End of this chapter)