Rise From the Humble

Soon, Zhao Zhixian and several police officers followed Liu Dadao and rushed to Chen Dacheng's home.

"Sir, this is the file on Chen Erlang's wife-murder case. Please take a look at it." Zhao Zhixian handed the file he carried to Zhu Ping'an with both hands.

While Zhu Ping'an was flipping through the files, Zhixian Zhao said on the side, "Sir, I have also carefully reviewed the case files of Chen Erlang's case. The witnesses, physical evidence, documentary evidence, and Chen Erlang's oral confession formed a complete chain of evidence, and they were also heard in court. Chen Erlang was interrogated once, and Chen Erlang personally admitted to killing his wife."

Chen Dacheng couldn't help but get excited after hearing what Magistrate Zhao said, and said angrily: "Your Excellency, please forgive me for disagreeing. My brother was beaten into a trick because he was forced to do it. My brother is a weak scholar, and my parents were not willing to beat him." He had only one finger, and he had to be tortured and served with food. He was beaten half to death, so he had to confess aggrievedly."

Zhao Zhixian spread his hands and said helplessly, "Clan Chief Chen, it is undeniable that the previous magistrate used torture when he tried the case, but when I interrogated Chen Erlang, I didn't use torture. When asked in court, he admitted it himself."

"Your Excellency, my brother is afraid of being beaten. Last time he was beaten half to death. If he doesn't admit it, he will be tortured until he admits it. He will be beaten until he admits it. When you bring him to court for interrogation, he is afraid of being tortured again, so he has no choice but to admit it. "Chen Dacheng's eyes were red, and he couldn't help but choked up his voice and said, "My brother is so pitiful. Last time I went to see him in prison, the suave scholar he used to be has almost lost his dignity."

"Clan Chief Chen, please be patient."

Zhu Ping'an comforted Chen Dacheng, and then waved to Zhixian Zhao, "Zhixian Zhao took a step and said."

Zhu Ping'an pulled Zhixian Zhao aside and whispered, "Zhixian Zhao, this is a matter of life and death, so we have to be cautious. Once the punishment is announced, there will be no chance to correct it. As a husband, who would do it because of a sentence? He is incompetent, he has been out for many years and has not passed the examination, but he has the heart to kill his wife; after killing his wife, why should he throw away his head? This is too unreasonable, and..."

Zhu Pingan pointed out the doubtful points of the case to Zhao Zhixian one by one, and then said with a serious face, "So, I also ask Zhao Zhixian to work with me to retry the case. If there is indeed a mistake in this case, Zhao Zhixian will not hesitate to retry it." If the case is indeed correct, then the original judgment will be upheld and there will be no disadvantage."

After hearing this, Zhixian Zhao couldn't help but think about it.

Zhu Pingan brought him together to reiterate the case. It was indeed for his own good and he participated in the retrial. If the case of Chen Erlang's wife's murder was overturned, then not only would he have no fault, but he would also have to be retried; if the case of Chen Erlang's wife's murder was upheld, then At most, it just takes some time and has no adverse impact on yourself.

On the contrary, if Zhu Ping'an does not involve himself in the retrial, but retrials the case by himself, and if Chen Erlang's wife-killing case is overturned, although the former magistrate was the one who originally convicted him, the case is now under his control and he has also tried it. , if the verdict is overturned, he will inevitably be guilty of neglect of duty.

Moreover, Zhu Ping'an has a high official position, and he took the lead in re-examining the case. Even if problems arise in the future, Zhu Ping'an, who is a high official, will be responsible.

Thinking of this, Zhixian Zhao nodded heavily and said with cupped hands: "Okay, then I'll listen to your lord. If your lord wants a retrial, then I will accompany your lord to retrial and thoroughly investigate the case. Whatever I need to do, I will definitely do it." Do your best to cooperate.”

"Thank you Magistrate Zhao for your support." Zhu Pingan thanked him. With the cooperation of Magistrate Zhao, a magistrate who is familiar with the local customs, it will be much more convenient to retry this case and save a lot of energy and time.

"Your Majesty, you have offended me. Your Majesty invites me to participate in the retrial. It is to take care of me. I want to thank you." Zhao Zhixian waved his hands repeatedly, thanked Zhu Ping'an, and then said, "It's just that this case After all, it has been a year. The scene where the witness was found has been destroyed, the victim has been buried, and the body has rotted. Many other first-hand information no longer exists. It is difficult to re-examine the case thoroughly now. It’s heavy.”

Zhu Pingan said calmly and confidently: "Some evidence has been destroyed, but some evidence cannot be destroyed. Although it is not easy, the truth cannot be concealed after all."

"I don't know where your lord is going to start the investigation." Zhao Zhixian asked.

"Start with the victim's head." Zhu Pingan said without hesitation. This is the biggest and most prominent doubt point in Zhu Pingan's case. Other doubt points are highly subjective. Only this doubt point exists objectively. Currently, there are only This doubt can be identified through investigation.

"What? Start with the victim's head?!" Upon hearing this, Zhixian Zhao opened his mouth in surprise and said in confusion, "Sir, the victim's head has not been found since the incident. According to the Chen Erlang confessed to abandoning the forest. The former magistrate sent officers and even offered a reward. After searching for more than ten days, the entire forest was turned upside down, but the victim's head was not found. The lower official also sent people to the forest. After searching, nothing was found. Perhaps he has been buried in the belly of wild dogs and wolves, so how can we investigate?"

Zhao Zhixian believed that a year had passed and the victim's head could not be found despite extensive searches at the time of the crime. Time had passed and it was even more impossible to find the victim's head now.

Zhao Zhixian didn't wait for Zhu Ping'an to answer, and continued, "Moreover, even if the victim's head is found, it can only further prove that Chen Erlang killed his wife."

Zhao Zhixian tactfully reminded Zhu Ping'an that the idea of ​​starting the investigation from the victim's head was wrong and in the wrong direction.

Hearing this, Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but shake his head and smile. Zhao Zhixian actually fell into inertial thinking.

"Mr. Zhao, the search for the head does not start from the woods where Chen Erlang confessed. Moreover, finding the head does not prove that Chen Erlang was killed, but the opposite. The result may overturn the entire case."

Zhu Pingan said slowly, his voice was not loud, but in Zhao Zhixian's ears it was like a thunder.

"Ah? If we don't start the investigation from the woods where Chen Erlang confessed, then where do we start? Finding the head does not prove that Chen Erlang killed his wife, but subverts the entire case?! This, this, where do we start with this... "

Zhao Zhixian felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He stayed there like a piece of wood. His mind was at a loss and his eyes were full of question marks. He felt that his thoughts could not keep up with Zhu Pingan's. I could understand every word of Mr. Zhu's words, but I couldn't. Why can't I understand Master Zhu's words at all?

From the perspective of Zhao Zhixian, Zhu Ping'an's train of thought was like an antelope hanging its horns, with no trace to be found. He couldn't keep up with it at all. Not only could he not keep up, he couldn't even see it, so he couldn't follow it.

If we don’t investigate from the woods where Chen Erlang confessed, how could we start the investigation on such a big day? Also, why would finding the head overturn the entire case?!

There seemed to be ten thousand reasons in Zhao Zhixian's mind.