Tang Dynasty Prison Administration

060: Wishes Fulfilled

Su Wen took a few steps with the autopsy report in his hand, intending to go directly to Magistrate Guo, but then stopped and looked at Ye Chu Jiu, saying, "As an elder, you couldn't possibly have missed this autopsy report, could you?"

Ye Chu Jiu said, "This subordinate has read it!"

"Have you identified any suspects?" Su Wen asked.

Ye Chu Jiu said, "Through our secret investigation, we discovered that Qian's husband, Guo Xiao, and Chen Miao's wife, Wu, a neighbor of Gu Zongsheng, are having an affair and are frequently seen in the woodshed in Gu Zongsheng's backyard!"

"Qian's husband, Guo Xiao, is not very capable, but he served in the military and usually helps Gu Zongsheng manage the cloth shop. Therefore, I suspect that his affair with Wu was discovered. If it is found out and he is sentenced to exile, Qian will definitely divorce him. At that time, he will have no way to manage the cloth shop and will have no money!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wen looked at Ye Chu Jiu and said, "Then go and arrest them. It shouldn't take much effort to get the information out of them, right?"

Ye Chu Jiu replied, "Yes, Your subordinate obeys!"

Su Wendao said, "If we don't use severe torture, we can interrogate them separately. We can keep Guo Xiao silent, but if we scare Wu Shi, she should confess everything!"

Ye Chu Jiu responded, "Yes!"

After Ye Chu Jiu left, Xu Ge asked, "Master, since they all know the murderer and the case is so simple, why did the former magistrate close it so hastily?"

Su Wendao said, "The Tang Dynasty law stipulates that cases involving three or more murders must be concluded within one month; otherwise, the county magistrate and county commandant will be demoted or even flogged. To maintain their positions, they naturally have to hastily conclude the cases!"

Looking at the autopsy report in his hand, Su Wen said, "Actually, if the former magistrate hadn't been prejudiced, he probably wouldn't have turned out this way if he had just read this autopsy report and listened to Ye Chu Jiu's words. Four people died unjustly, and the case file says that Gu Zong Sheng's appeal was unsuccessful, so he committed suicide by drowning. Five lives lost!"

Xu Ge said, "Master, I really don't know how many incompetent officials like the former magistrate Ding Feng are in office in this world!"

Su Wen gently patted Xu Ge's shoulder and said, "That's normal. There are always many incompetent people who, perhaps through their parents' connections or other means, seize power. They are countless!"

As he spoke, Su Wen looked at Xu Ge and said, "Xu Ge, pack up. This case should be solved soon. Let's go say goodbye to Magistrate Guo. We originally planned to stay here for the night, but considering that Magistrate Guo might throw a big banquet to thank us, let's not. Let's continue on our way!"

Xu Ge responded and went to pack her luggage!

......

Before long, Su Wen and Xu Ge arrived at the back hall of the county government with their luggage and met Magistrate Guo, who was reading official documents.

Su Wen bowed to Magistrate Guo and said, "Magistrate Guo, I believe this case will be solved in another hour or two. My disciple and I should also set off for Jiaoshui County to take up our posts!"

Magistrate Guo was greatly shocked and exclaimed, "So fast?"

Magistrate Guo rose and bowed to Su Wen, saying, "Chief Justice Su is indeed a genius! He solved this case so quickly!"

Su Wen then handed the autopsy report to Magistrate Guo, saying, "Magistrate Guo, actually, the solving of this case has nothing to do with me. You will understand after you finish reading this autopsy report!"

Su Wen looked around and said with a smile, "I never expected that such a talent would be hidden in this small Ling County. Although neither you nor I can change this, Magistrate Guo can make good use of this person and Elder Ye Chujiu. Both of them are capable individuals!"

After Su Wen finished speaking, he bowed to Magistrate Guo and said, "The journey is long, so I will take my leave now!"

Magistrate Guo, holding the autopsy report, bowed to Su Wen and Xu Ge, saying, "The journey is long; I wish you both a safe journey, and we'll meet again!"

Su Wendao said, "Until we meet again!"

Just as Su Wen and Xu Ge stepped out of the county government building, they encountered a child and a woman. The child, who looked about six or seven years old, ran happily toward Magistrate Guo in the inner hall.

Su Wen then turned to Magistrate Guo and asked, "Magistrate Guo, who are these two gentlemen?"

Magistrate Guo smiled and said, "This is my wife, and this is my son, Guo Ziyi. Come, Ziyi, bow and say goodbye to Chief Minister Su!"

Guo Ziyi bowed respectfully to Su Wen and said, "Guo Ziyi bids farewell to Chief Director Su!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wen stood at the door and was momentarily stunned. He looked at Guo Ziyi, who was bowing at the door, and was completely dazed!

Xu Ge, who was standing to the side, called out softly, "Master, what's wrong? Quickly return the courtesy, or it'll be impolite!"

Su Wen hurriedly returned the greeting to Guo Ziyi, Magistrate Guo, and the three members of the Guo family, saying, "Gentlemen, until we meet again!"

"Until we meet again!" Magistrate Guo and Guo Ziyi returned the greeting, and Madam Guo performed a curtsy.

Su Wen and Xu Ge turned around and left the county office.

As Su Wen walked, a smile crept across his face, and he couldn't help but say, "To be able to pass through Ling County on this journey south is truly a great fortune in my life!"

Xu Ge looked puzzled and bewildered: "Master, is there something to be happy about? I don't know what could possibly make you happy?"

Su Wen, beaming with joy, said, "On this trip through Ling County, I met a prodigy of the Tang Dynasty, and also an old friend. You have no idea how many people longed to see this old friend in person. To have seen him once is enough to make my life complete!"

Xu Ge hurriedly asked, "What old friend? I've been following Master around all this time, how come I've never seen him?"

Su Wen smiled and looked at Xu Ge, saying, "If one day, when your master is on his deathbed, he will tell you. Now, I cannot say... I must not say!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Ge simply smiled and said, "If Master hadn't said anything, I wouldn't have asked. However, since I started following Master, I've never seen Master so happy before. I'm happy for Master too!"

"Ha ha..."

Suddenly, a poem came to mind for Su Wen, so he recited it aloud as he walked: "For thirty years, I have endured danger and peril, yet my integrity remained steadfast despite slander. Throughout history, how many have achieved fame and fortune, yet none have enjoyed the same five blessings as you, sir?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Ge was taken aback for a moment, then stood still and repeated it.

Looking up, she saw that Su Wen had already walked far away, so she hurriedly ran up to him and said, "Master, you can write poetry too? This poem is really good! Who is it about?"

As the sun gradually set, the two figures disappeared at the end of the road.

......

After a long journey of more than ten days, Su Wen and Xu Ge finally arrived in Jiaoshui County, Laizhou, after stopping and starting along the way.

Jiaoshui County is extremely poor, but it has beautiful scenery. It is not a large county, but a small one, after all, it is the lowest grade of county.

After exchanging a few pleasantries and compliments with the county magistrate, Su Wen and Xu Ge rested for a day before getting back to work.

However, there weren't many cases to handle in this small county.

What fell on Su Wen was that he had to start learning what a county magistrate was supposed to do, which meant that he had to do the work of the entire county all by himself.

Water conservancy, conflict resolution, farming, house repair, farmland management, household registration, and all sorts of other miscellaneous tasks were handled by the county magistrate.

There was nothing they could do; the county was just too small, so small that there was only one county magistrate, and below him was the county lieutenant. In addition, Xu Ge served as the temporary elder, and there were only five constables—not a single one more!

The county government was even more shabby, consisting of only two dilapidated tile-roofed houses that leaked when it rained!