The Most Romantic of the Three Kingdoms

After listening to the twists and turns of the case, Xun Zhen relaxed her posture and said, "So the case is so complicated." Cheng San and his son, who were still kowtowing, stopped, looked up and asked the onlookers, " How do you think this case should be judged? Is this Cheng San's son a beating his father or not?"

The villagers onlookers stared with big eyes, and one of them said boldly, "Although Cheng San's son beat Cheng San, he was actually trying to save his father. This, this,..., although he violated the law, it seems that not to the death penalty."

Wang Jia was furious, turned his head, pointed at the man who was speaking, and shouted, "What does it mean to break the law, but not to die? The law is the law, and if you break the law, you should obey the law! If you don't follow the law Act, if there is another case of beating the father next time, what if the unfilial son who beat the father also said that he was accidentally beaten? How do you ask Xun Jun to sentence it?"

Although this Wang Jia is a countryman, has never read a book, and is illiterate, what he said is very reasonable. Several of the villagers who were in attendance nodded their heads in agreement, agreeing with his opinion.

Xun Zhen smiled and said: "The law is the punishment. The discipline is also the restraint. The law should be as smooth as water, so that **** can be banned. Wang Jia is right, act according to the law, and that is what it should be."

Wang Jia smiled triumphantly and turned to look at Cheng San. Cheng Sanru was struck by lightning. He was in his 40s and had only one son. Hearing that Xun Zhen wanted to punish according to the law, he was about to die. Xun Zhen killed the third clan in one fell swoop, and now has a high prestige in the village. Although he was in pain, he did not dare to intercede for his son again. Many of the villagers onlookers sighed and whispered: "Cheng's family is the only son, and now he will be executed for beating his father, and his family is afraid that it will be the last!"

Xun Zhen saw all of this, and spoke again, saying, "But..."

"but?"

"I'll tell you a story."

The villagers were baffled and wondered why he suddenly changed his mind to tell a story. Fashion, who was listening at a distance, knew it well, and thought: "It seems that Xun Jun has also read "The Spring and Autumn Period", and then he is about to tell the story of Xu Shizizhi."

Sure enough, Xun Zhen said, "Do you know the Spring and Autumn Period? Before this dynasty was Qin, before Qin was the Warring States period, and before the Warring States period was the Spring and Autumn Period. During the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a country called Xu Guo, and the ruler of Xu Guo had a son called Xu Zhi. One day , Xu Guoguojun was ill, Xu Zhi was very filial, so he found a good medicine for him. It was a good intention. Who knew that after taking this medicine, Xu Guoguojun died. . . . You say, this Is Xu Zhi filial or unfilial?"

The villagers looked at each other, not knowing how to answer. "Xu Zhi Killing the King" was originally a famous koan in the Spring and Autumn Period, involving ethics, law, motives, etc., and even a legal expert might not be able to explain it for a while. These Confucian classics, including The Biography of Guliang and the Biography of Guliang, including Dong Zhongshu's "Spring and Autumn" of the former Han Dynasty, have different opinions on this matter, not to mention these illiterate villagers?

Xun Zhen waited for a while, and when no one answered, he added: "Although Xu Zhi poisoned his father and the ruler of Xu, his original intention was filial piety. Then I will ask you: Who else would dare to give medicine to your father in the future?"

- In fact, Xu Zhi did something wrong when he donated medicine. According to etiquette, when a son or a courtier offers medicine to a father or a monarch, two conditions must be met. One is that the son and the courtier must taste the medicine before offering the medicine. According to the "Guliang Biography", Xu Zhi did not taste the medicine before offering it; and according to the contemporary master of the classics, Fu Qian, Xu Zhi actually tasted the medicine, but the doctor he sought was not from three generations of medicine. physician.

- Regardless of whether Xu Zhi did anything wrong, or where he did it wrong, one thing is true, and that is that he is indeed a dutiful son, because after his father died, he blamed himself very much and gave up the successor He chose self-exile and went into exile to Jin State. He wept all day, and died before the second year.

There is no need for Xun Zhen to tell the villagers about these twists and turns. He paused, seeing the villagers with a thoughtful look, and then said: "The former great sage of the Han Dynasty, Dong Gong Zhongshu, thinks that although Xu Zhi poisoned his father , the original intention is because of 'filial piety', so it should not be a crime. This is: the original heart of a gentleman. Now Cheng San is fighting with Wang Jia, Wang Jia stabbed him with a knife, Cheng San's son injured Cheng San in order to save his father, not wanting to fight Father, but it was an accidental injury. This is not the meaning of 'beating the father' as stipulated in the law. I think that the story should be stopped like this, and it should not be a crime."

As soon as the words came out, Cheng San and his son were dumbfounded and couldn't believe it. Wang Jia was in a hurry, walked forward on his knees, and shouted: "Why should I not be guilty? It's obviously beating my father, why should I not be guilty? The judge's judgment is unfair, and the villain refuses to accept it!"

Xun Zhen suddenly changed color: "Wang Jia, you and Cheng San have never been on good terms, and today they fought because of words, and even drew swords to stab each other! If it is not Cheng San's son who saves his father, you know that if your sword is real, it will be up to you. With this knife, can I cure you of a fight, or even a fight? Instead of thanking Cheng San's son, you are still harassing him, and you want to sue him for beating his father. Do you really want to put him to death?"

Xun Zhen had always had a pleasant face when the case was concluded, but at this moment her color suddenly changed to anger and anger, Wang Jia was startled, and the scene of the arrest of the third clan members immediately appeared in her mind. On the ground, dare not speak.

Xun Zhen turned around, calmed her anger, and said to him, "You and Cheng San live together in one mile. You should be helping each other. Even if there are some quarrels, you shouldn't throw fists at each other. How much enmity can you use a knife?" He originally sat very casually, but now he stood up, knelt uprightly on the ground, took off the towel on his head and put it on the ground, pulled up his sleeves, adjusted his clothes, and faced the crowd of onlookers. The people also bowed down to the ground and said, "As I have an order in my hometown, it is my fault that I cannot make the people under my rule know the etiquette and abide by the law."

The villagers grew up and grew up for decades. Where have they seen an official apologize to their own family? After being shocked for a moment, including Cheng San, Wang Jia, and Cheng San's sons, they all bowed down in a hurry, saying: "After Xun Jun came to his hometown, he will cut off the third and eliminate the tyrants. Thank you so much! Please get up quickly, it's not your fault, it's our idiots who don't know the etiquette, it's our fault."

If it was said that Xun Zhen's decision to break Cheng San and Wang Jia's cases according to "The Spring and Autumn Period" did not surprise the fashion and that Gong Cao Shuzuo, then this scene has surprised both of them.

The meritorious Cao Shuzuo said with emotion: "Some people in the county say that Xunjun is profound and likes to kill, and that he is a man of little kindness; some say that Xunjun is a man who cares for the villagers and loves his people like a son. There are different opinions. I have never met Xunjun before. I didn't know what to do, and I didn't know which way to listen to. When I saw it today, I realized that the words of 'indecent grace' were unbelievable. Although Xun Jun is not very old, he is similar to me, but his virtue is better than mine. It's more than ten! It really has the style of the elders." He bowed his hands to the fashion and said, "Shi-jun, I'm leaving."

Fashion was surprised and asked: "Farewell? Didn't you say that you have admired the name of Lord Xun for a long time, and came to this hometown today, wouldn't it be unethical to pass by and not worship? We found here all the way from the official temple, and Lord Xun was right in front of you, but you Why did you suddenly say goodbye?"

This meritorious Cao Shuzuo said: "Xunjun's virtue is like the pines on the top of the peaks, and he is high and clean. I am in Guixiang today. After incense and new clothes, see you again."

During the four hundred years of the two Han Dynasties, the people of the former Han were simple and simple, focusing on righteousness and neglecting death. Gradually become unrestrained and unrestrained, willful and candid. These three are in the same line, and later, due to factors such as wars and other factors, they simply developed into Wei and Jin Dynasties. This meritorious Cao Shuzuo's action today is quite similar to that of Prince Youxue's visit to Dai in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and the meaning of returning with enthusiasm. The two have the same effect.

Fashion watched him leave, boarded the car and walked away, thinking in his heart: "This person will leave, and there will be another story in the county in the future."

This meritorious Cao Shuzuo's so-called "unclean body, dare not meet with him", may be the truth, or maybe it is just an excuse, in fact, he just wants to use this to "invite his name", and hope that through his actions, the county can see it. He respected the "sincerity" of the wise men, but no matter what, at least it was a good thing for Xun Zhen, and at least through this incident, the people in the county could know how high his "virtue" was.

Fashion turned his eyes back and continued to watch Xun Zhen's case, and at the same time he couldn't help thinking: "After debating whether Xun Jun was right or wrong in arresting and destroying the third clan at the master's house, the master asked me to resign from the post of the Lijian and come to see Xun. Jun, the implication is that I should join the family of Xunjun. Although I also value Xunjun very much, he was born in a high-class family, his grandfathers are famous all over the world, and he is also talented. Shichijoo, I thought that even if I voted under his sect, I would have to go to his sect and get no reward in a short period of time, but I didn’t expect that it would only be a few days, and it was because of his recommendation that I was appointed. The village chief of the hometown."

He looked at Xun Zhen in his eyes, and made up his mind secretly: "I don't say that this kind of knowledge must be repaid, a man can't eat five cauldrons in life, and he will cook five cauldrons when he dies, just for the sake of standing out in the future, he must do his best. Serve for Xun-Jun!"

After Xun Zhen came from Xixiang, all the young chivalrous men were recruited. Fashion was the first "cold man" who had read a book and had some knowledge. Xun Zhen didn't know about his decision. Under the persuasion of the villagers, Xun Zhen straightened up and said to Cheng San and Wang Jia: "Cheng San, you said that you and Wang Jia are not on good terms with each other, but if you live together for one mile, how much conflict can there be? I'll just be an old man for you, and I won't talk about the past! From today, can you live in harmony?"

Cheng San was grateful for his kindness, and agreed without saying, "Yes, yes!"

On the one hand, Wang Jia was afraid of his majesty, but on the other hand, he was moved by his actions just now, and he responded, "Yes, yes!"

Xun Zhen smiled, stood up, put his two hands together in person, made them hold each other's hands, and said happily, "Isn't this all right? Everyone is happy!" Before, he looked around the villagers and said, "You all live in your hometown, you know each other, you should be in harmony with each other in the future, watch and help each other, there will be occasional quarrels and disputes, and you should never use foul language or fight. If you have any difficulties in ordinary times, But come to the official temple to find me, and I will try my best to help.”

The villagers all bowed to their promises.

At this moment, four people divided into two groups, got down from the official road, and walked to the front. Everyone looked at it, but it was Xu Zhong, Xiao Ren and the two villagers who had just left. Xu Zhong and Xiao Ren brought one to Xun Zhen.

The villagers didn't know what this meant, so they quieted down and listened to Xun Zhen's words. Xun Zhen asked, "How?"

Xu Zhong pointed to the man in his forties, who was in his 40s, and replied, "At your order, I followed him, and heard him complain repeatedly, saying that the monarch broke his drapery."

Xiao Ren also pointed to the person he brought with him, the one from Thirty-Five, and replied: "Following the order of the emperor, the villain also followed, seeing him rejoicing, just holding the money bag over and over again. Counting the money is not a pity.”

Xun Zhen nodded in understanding, and asked the man at Thirty-Fourth Five: "Can you plead guilty?"

"What's wrong with the villain?"

"Yilu: 'The stolen loot is worth more than 660 bucks, tattooed for Chengdan and pounding. 660 to 220 bucks, finished as Chengdan pounding'. This cloth is worth more than 600, you If you confess your crimes now, you will be spared; if you refuse to confess, I will punish you severely!"

"The villain is wronged!"

Xun Zhen waved his hand and ordered Xiao Ren to take away the half-heart and three hundred coins from the man, and ordered, "Send it to Ben Ting, and teach Ben Ting Ting to punish him according to the law." When Xiao Ren took the man away, he personally He handed it over to the man in his forties and said, "Just now, because you two disagreed, it was difficult to decide the case. Therefore, I divided your scorpion into two halves. Now that the truth is revealed, the half scorpion will be returned to you. ."

Surprised and delighted, the man in his forties hurriedly took the cloth and handed over the three hundred money that Xun Zhen had given him earlier. Is this cloth a villain's?"

"A horse is several meters long, and it is not easy to weave. I broke it in half. If he really is the master of the scorpion, how can he not complain? You don't have to pay me back the three hundred money, it's just for you. compensation."

The silk is broken into two halves. Although it can still be sold, the price is definitely not as high as that of a silk. The forty-year-old man was grateful, and the villagers onlookers suddenly realized that they all said: "Xunjun is a god!"

Two cases, one shows his generosity, the other shows his wisdom. Not only were the villagers convinced, but the fashion of onlookers was also convinced. Seeing that he had concluded the case, he stepped forward and was ready to meet him. At this moment, more than a dozen people passed by on the official road not far away. One rides on horses, and the rest follow on foot. Xun Zhen looked up and saw the man on the horse in his thirties, full of beards, beautiful clothes with jade belts, and a sword on his waist. He was majestic and mighty.

Xu Zhong did not know him and could not answer. A familiar villager replied, "This is a teacher from Yangzhai."

"Master?"

"Yes, the master of Taipingdao. The man riding the horse is called Bolian, and his brother Bocai is the commander of Taipingdao in this county."