After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 705 - 695 Trial_2

Two elderly men, both over fifty, emerged from the crowd and knelt on the ground.

Zhao Kuan saw them and immediately waived the kneeling, letting them stand to reply.

The two elders straightforwardly stood up, then cupped their hands to report their names to Zhao Kuan.

Zhao Kuan glanced down at the reason for their complaint, feeling quite helpless, and asked, "Has your dispute not been mediated by the village chief?"

The two elders indignantly replied, "I don’t agree with the village chief’s mediation."

"That’s right, he’s just trying to smooth things over."

"Alright then," Zhao Kuan asked, "Old Zheng, since you’re the one who filed the complaint, why don’t you start?"

The two elders were arguing over a vegetable plot. They were both displaced refugees from Luoyang who had returned after the war, but this time the resettlement land was in Old Zheng’s village. The two had met while fleeing the chaos, and their families had grown close.

The other elder, whose surname was Fang, had left his previous village where the population was too sparse and had been ravaged by roving armies. The houses there were in disrepair and uninhabitable, so he followed the administration’s arrangement and settled in Old Zheng’s village, moving into an old house next to the Zheng family.

Since both families were small, they later responded to Zhao Hanzhang’s suggestion and paired up to work together.

To show their close relationship, the Zheng family generously offered some vegetable plots they had previously planted, and together with the Fang family, cleared weeds and divided half of the plot.

Not long after the plots were prepared, the families began arguing over what to plant next year. Zhao Kuan asked a few questions and understood that the differences were actually between Old Zheng and Old Fang; their families were quite easygoing, not caring much about what the neighbors planted.

But the two old men were different; they were stubborn. One insisted on planting the same vegetables, the other insisted on planting differently. Then Old Zheng decided not to work with Old Fang anymore and wanted to take back the vegetable plot he had given.

Of course, Old Fang didn’t agree. The plot had been overgrown with weeds and both families had cleaned it, loosening the soil. Why should he just take it back?

Moreover, once something is given, it shouldn’t be taken back.

So Old Fang only agreed not to work with Old Zheng anymore, but taking back the plot was impossible.

Zhao Kuan was getting a headache; he dreaded cases where both sides had their own valid points. Sigh, it seemed the village chief here wasn’t doing well, letting the case escalate to the county government.

Still, Zhao Kuan made a mediation between the two, starting gently, softening their mental defenses before rendering a verdict. The plot already given to the Fang family would remain theirs, and they could decide what to plant. Neighbors should understand and help each other; after all, distant relatives are not as helpful as close neighbors in times of need.

Zhao Kuan had the Fang family give some vegetable seeds to the Zheng family, and that settled the matter.

Old Zheng and Old Fang mumbled a couple of protests, but they agreed, accepting the County Magistrate’s verdict.

Still, both parties were somewhat sulky, turning their heads away from each other as they walked out, one going left, the other right.

Zhao Kuan continued, calling one person after another to the hall, dealing with all sorts of disputes, from minor neighborhood quarrels to serious crimes against officials.

At that moment, the person kneeling on the ground was accusing a low-ranking official from the Inspector Mansion.

"...That Chen Dalang, relying on his brother Chen Erlang’s influence, wants to forcibly take my sister as a concubine," the man kneeling on the ground wiped his tears and said, "A young gentleman dispatched by the academy to help in the village said, if this matter is reported, the County Lord would definitely stand up for me. The governor would not remain indifferent either."

"But just as I had this thought, somehow they found out, and sent people to block me at the village entrance and beat me up. I lay at home for four or five days, and it was with the help of the academy folks this morning that I managed to report to the officials."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuan was so angry that he slammed his gavel and asked, "Is your village chief aware of this?"

"Chen Lisheng is the uncle of Chen Dalang and Chen Erlang, so of course, he knows. He even led people to my home to smash things, telling me not to spread rumors outside."

Zhao Kuan’s face turned cold.

Watching from the side, Zhao Hanzhang’s face also turned cold.

Zhao Kuan looked to the side, summoned two government officials, "You immediately go to Little Chen Village to bring back the village chief and Chen Dalang for questioning. Be alert and inquire more deeply from others."

Standing nearby, Wang Si Niang immediately said, "County Lord, let me accompany them."

Zhao Kuan frowned at her, "Someone died in the east of the city; the County Magistrate went there with people to investigate. He will soon meet with members of the Chen family and Xiao family. Let the two government officials handle the matter in Little Chen Village."

Wang Si Niang, "I’m worried they won’t investigate carefully enough and might be misled by the Chen family. Since this matter involves the Inspector Mansion and the governor, mishandling it could provoke public outrage."

Zhao Kuan thought for a moment and agreed, but he didn’t want to face the crying Xiao and Chen families alone.

He sighed, waved his hand, and let her go.

Wang Si Niang was pleased and immediately set down her pen, leaving with the two government officials.

This case could not be immediately resolved. Zhao Kuan had the government officials take the complaining young man away.

The young man, shivering, asked, "County, County Lord, am I going to be flogged?"

"Why would you be flogged?"

The young man wiped sweat from his forehead and said, "The villagers say that lodging accusations against one’s superiors will lead to flogging."

Zhao Kuan said, "Governor Zhao abolished that rule. In the jurisdiction of Yu State and Luoyang, whether accusing superiors or wives accusing husbands, children accusing parents, no one will be subjected to corporal punishment for filing complaints."

This had been announced, but over the past six months, Zhao Hanzhang frequently made announcements, and not everyone could remember, so most people still didn’t know.

Seeing the young man’s eyes and those of the onlookers brighten, Zhao Kuan slowly added, "However, while there’s no corporal punishment, if it is found that accusing superiors or elders is a false charge, then the crime of false accusation will be punished, which is more than just flogging."

The young man immediately responded, "It’s not a false accusation, County Lord, I absolutely did not make a false accusation. This matter has caused a stir in our village, and many people can testify for me."

Zhao Kuan nodded, waved for him to step down, then checked the time and seeing the Chen family had been waiting on mats, decided to proceed on an empty stomach.

He instructed the government officials, "Bring up the Xiao and Chen families."

The Xiao and Chen families were caught attempting to flee and were now brought from jail, looking rather disheveled. When they met, since the Xiao and Chen families were somewhat related by marriage, they huddled together weeping and wailing.

The main event was about to begin. The young man standing next to Zhao Hanzhang was rejuvenated and stared intently.

He clicked his tongue twice, somewhat admiringly saying, "I didn’t expect County Magistrate Zhao to actually hold an open court session for this case. I thought it would be handled secretly."

Zhao Hanzhang stood with her arms crossed, asking, "What’s so special about this case that it couldn’t be openly tried?"