Southern Ming Rebel Army

Chapter 558 Interrogation

This loophole was discovered by Huang Chongren, who was discussing with Lin Weining and Wen Yunde how to deal with the imperial court's policy of allocating land tax.

When Huang Chongren saw this scene, his face turned pale. If the man next to him hadn't pinched his shoulder, Huang Chongren would have been so scared that he would have collapsed to the ground.

When asked whether it was related to the conspiracy to assassinate the imperial envoy, Huang Chongren couldn't help but think of what Wen Yunde said at the beginning: "The court wants to implement evil policies, we can't just sit and wait for death, it's better to send death squads to intercept and kill them halfway, and directly cut off the court's thoughts!"

This hesitation made the Qingluan Guards who were interrogating him realize that something was wrong, and they asked him again and again, but Huang Chongren kept claiming to be ignorant.

Seeing that there was a sign of improvement in the case, how could the Qingluan Guards let him go? Therefore, several strong men tied Huang Chongren to the torture device and prepared to give him a beating with a whip.

Huang Chongren looked at the whip with tiny barbs, and was so frightened that his legs trembled and he even lost control of his bladder. Huang Chongren cried out, "It was Wen Yunde, it was Wen Yunde! He said he was going to send assassins to kill the imperial envoy. It's none of my business!"

The Qingluan Guards standing aside all had happy expressions on their faces. The big case was about to be solved.

When the news was urgently passed to Lu Ping, Lu Ping jumped up excitedly. For such a big case, even the emperor was furious and ordered him to find out the real culprit. Lu Ping had been anxious for the past few days, and now there was a breakthrough in such a short time.

The excited Lu Ping even fell while running towards the torture room, but Lu Ping didn't even bother to brush off the dust on his body and hurried to the torture room.

Huang Chongren knew that he was indeed being unfair to his old friend by doing this, but this was obviously none of his business now, and he couldn't let his entire family die for Wen Yunde. At this point, it would be his friend who died, and I who would live.

After Lu Ping arrived at the torture chamber, Huang Chongren told him everything the three men had said that day without hiding anything.

After hearing this, Lu Ping clapped his hands and laughed, and said to the Qingluan Guards beside him: "Okay, okay, help Master Huang down and entertain him well."

Then, Lu Ping shouted, "Quick, bring Wen Yunde and Lin Weining to me!" At this point, Lu Ping added, "Separate the two, but make sure they can see each other!"

"Yes, Lord Lu!"

Following Lu Ping's instructions, Lin Weining and Wen Yunde both saw the two parties being taken away, which gradually magnified their fear, because the others were only tried once, while only the two of them were re-tried.

Wen Yunde's face was pale, but he still managed a smile and asked, "Sir, I don't know when I can go home. Many of my family members are officials in the court. I hope you can take care of them."

Lu Ping laughed and said, "You still want to go home? I'm not afraid to tell you directly. I have evidence. If I tell you, I'll see if I can give you a lighter sentence. If I don't tell you, we have plenty of time. Let's take our time!"

Wen Yunde laughed dryly twice and said, "I really don't understand what you said, sir?"

Lu Ping shook his head and said, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, it's true that you won't give up until you see the Yellow River, and you won't cry until you see the coffin, right? Did you say in front of Huang Chongren that you would send assassins to assassinate Lord Wu?"

Wen Yunde's face changed then. He didn't expect that Lin Weining, who took action, did not leak the information, but Huang Chongren, who did not participate, actually betrayed them.

Wen Yunde's mind raced, and he blurted out, "Sir, that was just nonsense from my words. My Wen family is a family of scholars, and many generations have produced good officials. How dare I do such a shameless thing!"

Lu Ping was stunned, and almost laughed out of anger: "Oh, you really are like a stone in a toilet, smelly and hard. You still refuse to admit it. Just for what you just said, it would not be too much to execute your entire family."

Wen Yunde said loudly: "According to the rules of our dynasty, people are not punished for their words. How could I have committed a crime that would have resulted in the execution of my entire family? Your words are totally inappropriate!"

Lu Ping was furious and cursed, "You bastard, I'm giving you face, don't I? Come here, beat you, twenty lashes first to warm up your body!" He then signaled the strong men on both sides to set up the torture instruments and prepare to torture him. Then Lu Ping turned around and walked towards Lin Weining's torture room.

On the other side, after a while, Lin Weining was trembling and sweating profusely. From his appearance, he was indeed terrified.

Lin Weining knelt on the ground and cried, "I don't know. Wen Yunde said he wanted to send someone to assassinate Lord Wu, but how could I dare to do such a thing? I usually like to discuss important matters of the court, but this just shows that I am loyal and have a sense of justice! I really don't know about Wen Yunde's affairs!"

After Lin Weining knew that Huang Chongren had leaked the matter, he immediately thought of a way to get away with it. Huang Chongren didn't know that it was him who did it, but Wen Yunde knew it. However, as long as he could prove that it was Wen Yunde who framed him in order to get away with it, he would be able to get away with it.

Lu Ping frowned and asked, "Do you have any evidence to prove that Wen Yunde sent someone to assassinate him?"

Lin Weining shook his head repeatedly and said, "I really don't know. How could Wen Yunde tell me about such a treasonous plot?"

Lu Ping pondered for a moment, then nodded and said to the clerk beside him: "Have you recorded the confession?"

"My Lord Lu's words have all been recorded!"

"Let him sign it."

After signing the contract, Lu Ping returned to Wen Yunde with the confession. He saw that Wen Yunde was in a very miserable state. He had been tortured and his body was covered with blood. His gorgeous clothes were also tattered. Wen Yunde didn't even have the strength to wail.

As Lin Weining's confession was placed in front of Wen Yunde, he became more and more surprised. At the end, he became furious and his strength recovered a lot.

Wen Yunde panted and cursed: "Lin Weining, you are a villain!!!"

Then Wen Yunde's eyes turned red. He looked up at Lu Ping and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Sir, I confess! It was Lin Weining who sent someone to do it! Everything he said in this confession is false!"

"Tell me, what evidence do you have?" Lu Ping was not in a hurry. He sat on the chair, crossed his legs, and spoke slowly.

Wen Yunde said anxiously: "The people who took action were all Lin family's assassins. The three crossbows were provided by my Wen family, and those people who took action, along with the crossbows, were completely destroyed by Lin Weining!"

"Where's the evidence?"

Wen Yunde was anxious and angry. He didn't know where Lin Weining had taken those people, but he knew that those people must have been killed by Lin Weining.

At this time, Wen Yunde was desperate and shouted, "Sir, there must be someone in the Lin family who knows where the assassin is. Lin Weining couldn't have done it himself, so it must be his subordinates who did it for him. As long as you search his house and interrogate him, the truth will come out!"