In the Tang Dynasty, during the reign known as Zhenguan (627-649), a man named Zhang Ti opened an inn in the area of Wei State’s Banqiao. This location was bustling with traders and travelers, so the business thrived, providing Zhang with a stable and prosperous life. However, disaster struck unexpectedly one day in the form of murder, shattering this peace.
On that fateful morning, the inn opened its doors to guests as usual, with people checking in successively. Normally, the innkeeper Zhang Ti would have been up by this time, but he was nowhere to be seen that day. Sensing something amiss, the staff knocked on his door, and after receiving no response, they entered his room only to find Zhang Ti lying face up on the floor, drenched in blood and long dead.
A search for the murderer
The inn erupted into chaos as everyone wondered who could have killed the owner. The previous night, Zhang Ti had been seen tallying the accounts. The murderer had to be among the guests who stayed overnight and left early in the morning. Three travelers who had settled their bills before dawn to set off on their journey were immediately suspected. Upon pursuit, a bloodstained knife was found on one of the travelers named Yang Zheng, leading to the arrest and interrogation of the three men. Initially, they all claimed innocence, but under severe torture, they confessed, seemingly closing the case.
However, upon closer inspection, there were numerous doubts. Firstly, it was suspiciously convenient that Zhang Ti’s wife had been away visiting her mother on the day of the incident. Secondly, if Yang Zheng and the others were the culprits, why hadn’t they fled earlier? And why would they carry a bloodied knife with them after committing murder?
Emperor Taizong himself noted these inconsistencies and ordered an imperial censor named Jiang Chang to reinvestigate the case. Jiang Chang’s ingenious plan soon uncovered the truth. He gathered and questioned everyone who lived near the inn aged 15 and above, then deliberately kept an elderly woman, in her eighties, for further interrogation, allowing the others to leave. A minor government official was secretly instructed to follow this woman and note who interacted with her. Sure enough, the same person approached her multiple times over three days, inquiring about the interrogation at the inn.
On Jiang Chang’s orders, this individual was arrested and thoroughly interrogated, revealing the shocking truth. He was having an affair with Zhang Ti’s wife, and they had conspired to murder Zhang Ti. Choosing a night when the wife had an excuse to be away, they planned their heinous act. That night, realizing Yang Zheng and the others had weapons, the murderer decided to use one of their knives to commit the crime, framing the travelers. He sneaked into Yang Zheng’s room, took the knife to kill Zhang Ti, and then returned it, all while the travelers, unaware, left at dawn.
The truth was finally unveiled, showcasing Emperor Taizong’s wisdom and Jiang Chang’s strategic acumen. This seemingly airtight wrongful case was overturned, saving Yang Zheng and the others from wrongful punishment, while the true perpetrator faced justice. This historic case not only highlights the complexities of ancient judicial systems, but also the cunning required to unravel the truths hidden within them.
Translated by Elaine
