Traveling through Du He, Li Chengqian's rebellion begins

Under Zhang Liang's instructions, his adopted sons raised a number of ruffians who secretly did the dirty work for them.

In addition, there is a clear provision in the "Tang Law Commentary" that officials of the Tang Dynasty and their relatives are not allowed to engage in business.

Therefore, Zhang Liang would use these ruffians to open shops, casinos and brothels in prosperous areas, thereby making huge profits.

The expression of Zhang Yong, the military officer in charge of the army, paused for a moment, and then he spoke in a low voice with difficulty.

"Foster father, if we just let the people below confess their crimes, won't the dyeing factory have to be returned?"

"But now the dyeing factory is in the hands of the Longxi Li family. It may be difficult to get them to give it up."

They had spent a lot of effort to obtain the dyeing factory, and now it was in the hands of the Longxi Li family's gang, so it might not be easy to ask them to hand it over.

When Zhang Liang heard about his mother's greedy family, his face was filled with anger.

"Humph!"

Zhang Liang snorted heavily.

He then said to Zhang Yong in a cold voice: "Who made you act so boldly and recklessly, causing the governor Jia Dunyi to get hold of the evidence?"

"If you don't hand over the dyeing factory, you will be captured by him and beheaded in Chang'an!"

When Zhang Yong, the military officer in charge of the army, heard that he would be arrested and beheaded, his face turned pale with fear.

He nodded quickly and said, "Godfather, I know what to do!"

Originally, he wanted his adoptive father to talk to the Longxi Li family and ask them to hand over the dyeing factory, but looking at his adoptive father's attitude, it was obvious that he would not help him.

After all, the relationship between his adoptive father and his mother's family is a bit delicate, and his adoptive father is a duke, so it would be more appropriate for him to speak.

Looking at these two good-for-nothing adopted sons, Zhang Liang wanted to draw out his sword and chop them both to death.

But when he thought about how useful they were to him and how loyal they were to him, he swallowed his anger.

Then Zhang Liang told them a lot of small details, especially the situations that might be encountered in the trial tomorrow.

As Zhang Chao and Zhang Yong listened, their worried faces gradually turned into smiles.

Half an hour later.

Zhang Liang waved his hand tiredly and said, "There is no time to lose, you guys should make arrangements quickly!"

"This time it concerns your life and property, you can't be careless, otherwise I will be powerless!"

Although His Majesty asked him to examine his adopted son, the Vice Minister of Justice Zhang Xingcheng was not on the same page with him, so he still had to make full preparations.

If he wanted to protect his adopted son, he had no choice but to get the confession and the scapegoat ready.

Zhang Chao and Zhang Yong stood up straight and bowed respectfully to Zhang Liang.

"Thank you for saving my life, foster father!"

"The child will leave first."

With these words, the two of them left the study in a hurry.

Zhang Liang squinted his eyes and watched them leaving, then he looked down at the dusty table and ornaments, a look of displeasure showing on his face.

It seems that during the time he was away from Luoyang, his wife did not arrange for anyone to clean his study.

Thinking of his second wife who still had charm, Zhang Liang left the study in anger.

After a cup of tea.

After searching the lobby without finding anyone, Zhang Liang finally found his wife and his newly adopted son in the backyard of the mansion.

Zhang Liang looked at his wife's rosy face and his adopted son's tired face, and his heart was suddenly filled with doubts.

He asked in a deep voice: "Madam, what were you doing just now?"

Li said calmly, "Shen Ji taught me how to dance just now. I was so tired after dancing for a while. It seems that I am not as strong as before because of my age."

After hearing his wife's explanation, Zhang Liang's doubts disappeared.

He glanced at his adopted son Zhang Shenji and said, "You should leave first, and don't come to the backyard if you have nothing to do in the future!"

Although Zhang Shenji was his adopted son, he was an adult man after all, and it was not appropriate for him to go in and out of places like the backyard.

Zhang Shenji nodded quickly and said, "Father, I will leave now."

Then he bowed respectfully to Zhang Liang and Li, and then left the backyard with a somewhat unsteady step.

Li, who was satisfied both physically and mentally, did not try to keep her lover after seeing Zhang Liang driving him away.

She knew that her husband was worried about his other adopted sons, and if she made him angry, some bad consequences might occur.

After Zhang Shenji left the backyard, Zhang Liang rubbed his hands and said expectantly.

"Madam, we haven't seen each other for more than a year. I have to serve you well today."

Li was stunned for a moment, then glanced at him charmingly and said.

"Go take a shower, you stinky body."

As she spoke, she twisted her graceful waist and slowly walked into the bedroom.

"hey-hey."

Zhang Liang grinned twice, then asked the maid to prepare hot water.

It is said that a long separation is better than a new marriage, and this is also true for him, a man in his 50s.

...

The next day.

In the lobby of Luozhou Governor's Mansion.

The serious-looking Minister of Justice Zhang Liang sat on the high platform, while the Governor of Luozhou Jia Dunyi and the Vice Minister of Justice Zhang Xingcheng sat on his left and right.

On the left side of the lobby sat a group of officials from the Ministry of Justice, while on the right side of the lobby sat Luozhou Beijia, Sima, Changshi and others.

In the middle of the lobby, there were five people with different expressions standing.

These people were Zhang Chao, the registrar and military officer, a beautiful young woman, two middle-aged couples dressed simply, and an old man with gray beard.

After the old man told the story of Zhang Chao's crime, he knelt down with tears in his eyes and sought justice.

"Please, the Imperial Envoy, help me and severely punish the murderer who killed my son and his family!"

He was old enough to have one foot in the coffin, but his son, daughter-in-law and grandson were murdered, leaving him with nothing to lose.

If it weren't for the fact that he hadn't yet taken revenge, he would have wanted to die right now.

Zhang Liang said coldly: "Does anyone else have any defense?"

The recorder and military officer Zhang Chao immediately took a step forward and shouted loudly that it was injustice.

"Minister Zhang, I am wronged!"

"I and Cuiping are truly in love, but this old man's grandson wants to forcefully take our daughter away from us, and even threatens and forces Cuiping's parents!"

"In order to protect Cuiping's family from harm, I asked my servants to protect them."

"Not only did the man and his family not restrain themselves, they also came to the house with swords and tried to commit violence and cause trouble. In the end, they were subdued by the servants of the lower official."

"What I said is true, please, Lord Shangshu, I will clear my name!"

After hearing Zhang Chao's attempt to turn the tables, Jia Dunyi and the old man who was crying out for injustice's expressions suddenly changed.

The old man pointed at Zhang Chao angrily and said, "You...you are obviously talking nonsense!"

"My grandson was already engaged to Cuiping. It was you who forcibly abducted my daughter and even had someone beat my grandson to death!"

"After my son and daughter-in-law went to the county government to appeal for justice, you ordered people to beat them to death."

"You executioner, you must pay with your life!"

After the old man finished speaking excitedly, he kowtowed to Zhang Liang and shouted in a miserable voice.

"Please, my lord, give me justice!"