Humans in All Heavens: Starting with Detective Dee

At this moment, a man who looked like a clerk next to Zeng Tai lowered his head and said, "Master, I think this fellow is a rascal."

"We have no choice but to resort to severe torture."

Zhou Yi knew the plot; just by looking at the actions of the group, he knew what they were talking about.

Although the distance was far and the clerk spoke in a low voice, it was impossible to hear what he was saying.

He shook his head. That advisor was truly a quack strategist, always giving Zeng Tai bad advice.

In the original case, it was first suggested that Zeng Tai severely torture Zhang Chun, and then it was urged several times that Zeng Tai should directly sentence Zhang Chun and Wang Wu.

If Zeng Tai hadn't ignored his advice several times, he probably wouldn't have been accepted as a student by Di Renjie.

This guy also often flattered Zeng Tai, saying, "You are truly a divine being."

Could it be that Zeng Tai, the sycophant, learned those flattering words from his own master?

Having been used to being flattered by this advisor, he applied that same flattery to Di Renjie.

He listened to the advisor's advice.

Zeng Tai roared and slammed his gavel again: "You audacious Zhang Chun, you still refuse to confess? Do you really want me to subject you to severe torture?"

"My lord, I am innocent and have nothing to admit."

After a day of interrogation, the body was found in Zhang Chun's house.

If it were an ordinary person, they would have already assumed that Zhang Chun was the killer.

Throughout the day, Zhang Chun still refused to confess.

Even if you are beaten with sticks.

The longer time passed, the more furious Zeng Tai became. In his view, this was Zhang Chun's stubborn refusal to admit guilt.

Just then, several constables who had returned from outside stepped forward.

"Sir, the suspect Wang Wu has been brought in."

"Take him to the jail first and wait."

After giving these instructions, Zeng Tai's anger subsided slightly.

He then looked down at Zhang Chun: "What? Zhang Chun, you still won't admit it? Be careful, you'll be subjected to severe torture."

With a thud, a pair of clamps was thrown to the ground.

Looking at the clamp in front of him, Zhang Chun shuddered. This thing was even more cruel than sticks.

The pain in the fingers is so intense that it is beyond what most people can bear.

Out of fear, I initially wanted to give in.

But considering that he hadn't actually killed anyone, and that admitting it would mean he'd died for nothing, he gritted his teeth and said, "Sir, I really didn't kill anyone."

These words seemed to reignite Zeng Tai's anger.

"You audacious scoundrel, guards, get him here..."

As he spoke, Zeng Tai picked up a token from the token tube and was about to throw it out.

Opportunities come so cleverly.

Just as the chips in his hand were about to be thrown out.

Seeing this scene, Di Renjie outside the door shook his head in disappointment.

Zeng Tai, sitting in the courtroom, seemed to sense something.

The hand holding the tokens froze in mid-air.

"What am I doing?"

If a prisoner is forced to confess under torture, wouldn't that be a case of forced confession?

Why am I so angry?

Even though he'd served as county magistrate for ten years, shouldn't he at least vent his anger on the case?

Looking down at Zhang Chun, who was already covered in blood from being beaten.

He put himself in the other person's shoes; most people, after being beaten like that, would probably have given up long ago.

Even if you didn't do it yourself.

How many people can withstand severe torture?

During his ten years as a county magistrate, he had seen many cases and many prisoners.

Honestly, I doubt that even he, among others, could withstand such torture—not even one in ten thousand.

Some people, even if they haven't committed a crime, can't withstand torture and will directly confess to their crimes.

Could Zhang Chun really have been wronged? Did he not kill the person?

Thinking of this, he forcibly suppressed his anger, still feeling that he shouldn't be forced to confess.

After thinking for a moment, he put the chips back in his hand.

I wonder if he was thinking of Di Renjie, who was about to arrive in Huzhou.

Given Di Renjie's reputation, he was known for solving cases and was called a detective in the court.

It might not be good for him to make the prisoner confess like this today.

Seeing this scene, Di Renjie, who was outside the courtroom, changed his earlier shake of disappointment to a barely perceptible nod of satisfaction.

This one act of taking back the chips directly determined Zeng Tai's fate for the rest of his life.

Zeng Tai: My dear teacher, I really want to improve.

……

After calming himself down, Zeng Tai looked at Zhang Chun again: "Zhang Chun, are you still not going to plead guilty?"

"My lord, I reiterate, I did not kill anyone."

"Very well, I'll give you one night to think it over."

Then decide whether to plead guilty.

"Guards, take Zhang Chun back to prison."

"Sir, where is Wang Wu?"

Zeng Tai glanced at the sky outside: "It's getting late, let's continue the trial tomorrow."

Having said that, he got up and left the courtroom.

Outside the county government office, Di Renjie whispered to the two men, "Let's go."

Inside the post station in Huzhou County.

These inns were not only for officials; ordinary people could also stay there.

Di Renjie and his two companions lived here.

After a long day, Di Renjie washed his face and called the two men to his room.

"What do you think of Magistrate Zeng today?"

Zhou Yi smiled slightly: "My lord? You've taken a liking to this Magistrate Zeng, haven't you?"

"Oh? How so?" Di Renjie asked curiously.

"I noticed your expression outside the county government office just now."

The moment the magistrate picked up the tally sticks, you shook your head in disappointment.

When he put down the chips, you nodded in satisfaction.

Clearly, they greatly admired Magistrate Zeng.

"You, Di Chun, are quite observant."

Indeed, under those circumstances, Magistrate Zeng was able to suppress his anger.

The fact that Zeng Tai did not force the prisoner to confess shows that he was not the kind of muddle-headed official.

He wasn't just thinking about closing the case as soon as possible; he was determined to find out who the real killer was.

This proves that Zeng Tai was not the kind of official who only thought about extortion and embezzlement.

Li Yuanfang nodded in agreement: "What you say is right, sir. We've been traveling along the Jiangnan East Road all this way."

"I have accompanied you, sir, to meet many prefects and magistrates, but few are like Magistrate Zeng."

"Di Chun? What do you think?"

"Yes, I agree with the adult on that point."

However, his methods of solving cases were still too crude; I couldn't bear to watch them.

Zhou Yi thought for a moment and said.

"Oh? If it were you, what would you do?" Di Renjie asked, and Li Yuanfang also looked at Zhou Yi with great interest.

Previously in Chang'an, before the mission departed for Youzhou, Zhou Yi presented a so-called theory of case-solving, which greatly surprised him.

Now that he's got to the specific case, he'd like to see what Zhou Yi would do if he were the county magistrate.

"First of all, we've already heard most of the details of this case from the crowd in front of the county government office."

The deceased was a guest who was staying overnight, while Zhang Chun was a villager from Xiaoyang Village.

Zhang Chun was arrested early in the morning, and Zeng Tai just kept interrogating him, asking if he would confess.

That's too crude.

If it were me, the first thing I would think about is why Zhang Chun killed someone.

A revenge killing? Obviously not, that person was from Chang'an and was asking for lodging.

It couldn't have been a crime of passion, so could it have been a murder for money?

First, determine the motive for the murder, then immediately search Zhang Chun's house to see if you can find any stolen goods.

Then they examined the deceased's body. How did the deceased die? What was the murder weapon?

I'll figure these things out first before I interrogate Zhang Chun.

Instead of not even going to the county town, they spent the whole day questioning Zhang Chun about whether he admitted to murder.