The Truth Will Out

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In the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618-907), Zhao He was the Magistrate of Jiangyin District. His fame for solving difficult cases spread at the beginning of the reign of Xiantong (A.D. 860-874). In the District of Huaiyin were two farmers whose farms were adjacent to each other and their families had been good friends for a long time. The one who lived in the east had IWC Ingenieur Replica Watches used his land deed as security when he got a loan from his. neighbour, with the understanding that the deed would be returned when the loan was repaid. The debtor first repaid eight hundred strings of cash (one thousand per string), and since they knew each other so well, he did not demand any written receipt for this payment. But when he brought the remaining amount of the loan his neighbour denied that he had already received eight hundred strings of cash.

The debtor brought his complaint to the District authorities and also to the Prefecture authorities but he could not find justice there. Eventually he went to the District of Jiangyin.
"I am only a District Magistrate ...
... with limited authority," said Zhao He, "how can you expect me to redress the wrong^rou suffered?"
"If I cannot get justice here," wept the plaintiff, "I have nowhere else to go."
"Is your complaint a genuine one?"
"How would I dare to fabricate a serious charge like this?"

Zhao He sent some of his ablest constables to Huaiyin with official documents, claiming that they had caught a pirate who robbed ships on the river. The prisoner had confessed and revealed that he had an accomplice. The description and whereabouts of the accomplice fitted the creditor. The Huaiyin authorities were requested to arrest the man and hand him over to the constables from Jiangyin.

The creditor knew that he was innocent of the charge and was at first not the least afraid. But when he was taken handcuffed to the courtroom and was subjected to severe cross-examination from Zhao He, he broke down and protested that he was innocent.
"All the evidence clearly point to you, and you still dare to deny the charge?" said Zhao, "the stolen goods are hidden in your farm. We will examine them as part of our investigation. Can you make a complete list of the money and valuables'that belong to you so that we can tell which are your possessions?"
The prisoner had no idea that his neighbour would cross the District boundary Audemar Piguet Replica to lodge his complaint, so he readily volunteered the information.
"I have so much grain that belongs to my tenant farmer. I have so many rolls of fine silk that are the product of my own loom. I have so much cash, which my east neighbour paid me to redeem his land deed."

After some more cross-examination, Zhao He said, "You are not the river pirate, but why do you hide the fact that your neighbour had already paid you eight hundred strings as redemption money for his land deed?"
The plaintiff was summoned to confront him with the facts. The prisoner was frightened and ashamed of himself. He confessed and was taken back to his own District in handcuffs and fetters. The land deed was returned and he received due punishment.