Chapter 167 Ending Up as a Human
When the previous emperor executed Bao Xun, the Minister of Justice Gao Rou said that Bao Xun should serve five years of hard labor according to the law.
However, the three officials of the Court of Justice, including the Chief Justice, believed that Bao Xun should be fined two catties.
This private protection made Cao Pi furious, and he tried to execute Bao Xun immediately. Cao Pi called the three officials of the court "ten rats in the same hole, all caught in one net".
The Chief Justice who was protecting Bao Xun was still in the imperial prison, and Sima Zhi's expression was filled with panic for a moment.
Sima Zhi said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, I thought the court judge would interrogate the criminal according to the law and convict him, rather than execute him directly."
"Okay." Cao Rui nodded and looked at Sima Zhi: "Sima Qing, although you did something wrong, the fault is not yours."
"As for the matter of not seeing Huangmen, you have done nothing wrong. I have also figured out this matter." Cao Rui waved his hand: "You can go back."
Sima Zhi looked incredulous: "Your Majesty, are you asking me to...?"
"Go back, go back to your Henan Yinfu Yamen and continue your duties." Cao Rui laughed and said, "Do you still want me to send you off?"
"I dare not." Sima Zhi bowed and slowly took his leave.
Before leaving, he didn't even dare to look at Sima Yi and Dong Zhao.
Sima Zhi's entry into the palace this time was like sailing in a stormy sea, his heart was in his throat all the time.
At this moment, he no longer had time to blame his brother for arranging this incident for him.
When Sima Zhi walked out of the south gate of the North Palace, he took a deep look into the palace. It was true that living with the emperor was like living with a tiger. He really didn't know how his brother and uncle lived in the palace.
After Sima Zhi left, Cao Rui smiled and said, "I didn't punish Sima Zhi. Are you a little surprised?"
"Just now, the Minister of Works said that Sima Zhi did not report in time, the Minister of Defense said that he was innocent, and the Minister of Capital said that he killed without authorization. I think none of them hit the point."
"Lord Dong," Cao Rui looked at Dong Zhao, "You are the oldest. I remember that you are the only one among the four present who rose to the top through the traditional career path, right?"
"Your Majesty, that's right." Dong Zhao nodded and said, "I was selected as a filial and honest official by the county. After I went to Luoyang and served as a Lang in the Three Offices, I was appointed as the head of the Julu County in the sixth year of Zhongping."
"In the sixth year of Zhongping, Emperor Ling of Han was still in power and Yuan Shao had not yet occupied Hebei." Cao Rui nodded: "What was Hebei like at that time?"
Dong Zhao smiled bitterly, shook his head and said, "Tingtao County is the seat of Julu County, and Julu County was the base of the Yellow Turban bandits back then. Zhang Jiao is from Julu."
"After I became the head of the county, the whole county was in ruins, with thieves and bandits running rampant. It was really embarrassing."
Cao Rui nodded: "What about Sikong? How was Wen County at that time?"
Sima Yi replied: "When Mr. Dong mentioned the sixth year of Zhongping, I was only ten years old. Wen County is located in Henei. Although Henei was less affected by the war, it was also plagued by bandits and riots."
"That's it." Cao Rui said, "During the Han Dynasty, scholars, eunuchs, and relatives of the emperor fought constantly in the court. The administration was in chaos and the country was in turmoil. If a local governor killed dozens or hundreds of people and wiped out a few clans of thieves, what big deal would that be?"
"After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, wars and bandits were everywhere and difficult to control. If a governor does not kill and punish decisively, how can he keep the area safe?"
As the emperor's words slowly came out, the four people present had different thoughts.
Cao Zhen recalled his past fighting in the army since he was a child, and Dong Zhao thought of the poor people and lawless tyrants he saw when he first served in Hebei.
Sima Yi and Wei Zhen, on the other hand, were trying to figure out the emperor's intentions.
"In troubled times, such behavior is inevitable and should be commended." Cao Rui sighed, "But now it is the Taihe era, and the Wei Dynasty has been established for seven years. How can we still ignore the law and only care about authority like before?"
"Henan Yin Sima Zhi killed the suspect in prison, but he was still using the common sense of being an official in the past and doing this today. It can't really be called his fault, and I can't just punish him without warning."
Cao Rui looked at Sima Yi and Wei Zhen and said, "Master Sikong, Master Wei, I want to make the governors of all states, counties and prefectures act according to the law. How should we regulate this?"
Only then did Sima Yi discover that the emperor had a hidden little habit.
Compared with directly punishing the various parties involved, the emperor always seemed to think about whether there were flaws in the system, rather than immediately finding trouble with the ministers.
"Can't we punish without teaching?"
It seems that Sima Zhi was in a situation where he could be punished or not punished this time, and he was really treated leniently by the emperor.
Sima Yi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I think that before regulating officials to act according to the law, we should first revise the laws and regulations."
"I also think that today's laws are complicated and lengthy, and even well-educated people cannot learn them all, so people can only rely on their own opinions to make judgments." Wei Zhen also agreed: "There are often conflicts and inconsistencies between the various clauses. How can they be used as a basis when they are contradictory?"
Cao Rui frowned: "Revise the law? Should we call Gao Rou, the court judge, to ask him about it?"
Sima Yi replied: "The post of the Supreme Court Justice is only to enforce the law, and has nothing to do with the revision of the law."
"Then who else is proficient in criminal law?" Cao Rui asked hesitantly.
Sima Yi cupped his hands and said, "Although I am not an expert in criminal law, I do have a general understanding of the origins of the changes in laws and regulations."
"Yes, yes." Cao Rui nodded with a smile, looked at Sima Yi and said, "Sir, tell me, what is the situation of the Han laws used by Wei now? If it is changed, how will it be changed?"
Sima Yi said slowly: "Your Majesty, since Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty pacified the world, Prime Minister Xiao He established the Nine Chapters of Han Code, Shusun Tong added 18 chapters of Side Chapters, Zhang Tang added 27 chapters of Yuegong Code, and Zhao Yu added 6 chapters of Chao Code."
"For hundreds of years, great scholars from all schools of thought have annotated the laws and regulations. By the time of Emperors Huan and Ling, there were countless laws and regulations to follow, far exceeding millions of words."
While listening to Sima Yi's story, Cao Rui shook his head in his heart.
Millions of characters? In this era when bamboo slips are the main medium of text, who can read them all? Unless you are a god. "So you want to simplify the laws? Only keep one law that can be used as a basis?" Cao Rui interrupted.
"Your Majesty is right." Sima Yi nodded and said, "Since the establishment of the Wei Kingdom, the laws it has followed have basically been Zheng Xuan's articles and sentences. Wei Ji and Wei Bo Ji have always been in charge of the ceremonial system. Your Majesty can order Wei Ji to do this."
Hedong Wei Ji was an old friend of Sima Fang, the father of Sima Yi. What many people don't know is that Wei Ji and Sima Yi also had a very good personal relationship.
"Wei Ji?" Cao Rui frowned: "He is so old, can he still do anything?"
Sima Yi glanced at Dong Zhao, who was sitting in a chair with a calm demeanor, and then said, "Wei Ji is only one year older than Wei Wei Dong Gong. It's just that Wei Ji is checking, not that he has to do it himself. It should be fine."
Cao Rui nodded slightly without comment, then looked at the other three.
"What do you think, General?" asked Cao Rui.
The matter of laws and decrees had nothing to do with military affairs. But since the emperor asked, Cao Zhen still squeezed out an idea.
"Your Majesty, why not revise the military laws?" Cao Zhen suggested.
Military law? Cao Rui thought about it and thought it would be okay to revise it. It could also help summarize military theories.
"Who will be responsible for formulating military laws?" Cao Rui asked.
"Your Majesty, why not let Xin Pi lead the revision of military laws?" Cao Zhen replied, "When Emperor Wu revised the Military Order, the Infantry Order, and the Ship Order, Xin Pi was assisting Emperor Wu in the court."
"I believe that if we want to revise the military law, there is no one more suitable than Minister Xin."
Minister Xin? Cao Rui narrowed his eyes and recalled the past with Xin Pi, and for a moment he thought it was not bad.
"Then let Xin Shizhong revise the military law!" Cao Rui replied: "Since it was recommended by the general, the general will go and talk to Xin Shizhong later."
"I obey your order." Cao Zhen bowed.
Sima Yi on the opposite side saw Cao Zhen recommending Xin Pi, and for a moment he began to think in his mind.
Although Xin Pi was also from Yingchuan, he was not of the same kind as the Yingchuan nobles such as Zhong, Xun, and Chen.
In the 22nd year of Jian'an, when Emperor Wu ordered Cao Hong to lead the army to garrison Xiabian, he ordered Xin Pi and Cao Xiu to be Cao Hong's military assistants and to take charge of military affairs for Cao Hong.
In the third year of Huangchu, when the late emperor ordered Cao Zhen to lead the western army to attack Jiangling, Xin Pi was Cao Zhen's general and military advisor.
Xin Pi's political inclinations are not like those of a typical scholar. Instead, he has close relations with people like Cao Xiu, Cao Zhen, and Cao Hong.
Cao Zhen, as a general, recommended Xin Pi to the emperor, and the emperor readily accepted the proposal because he and Xin Pi were familiar with each other.
Why don’t I have such a good friend by His Majesty’s side?
Only Jiang Ji is still possible, but Jiang Ji has gone to Yangzhou now, and Yangzhou is where he can use his talents and perhaps is more important.
Liu Ye?
It seems that I should get closer to Liu Ye in the future.
Cao Rui looked at Dong Zhao and asked, "What do you think, Lord Dong?"
Dong Zhao was more direct: "I don't think this matter can be rushed. The revision of the law will have a huge impact, and the new laws will benefit people for decades or even hundreds of years to come. It's always right to be cautious."
"I suggest that we hold a court meeting among all the ministers and make further progress after extensive discussions."
"Where is Master Wei?" Cao Rui asked Wei Zhen.
Wei Zhen replied: "I share the same opinion as Lord Dong."
Cao Rui nodded and looked at Sima Yi: "What did Sikong say?"
Sima Yi felt a little helpless. It seemed that he could not decide on a candidate for today. "I agree. Things will be smooth if they are slow. We should take our time to revise the laws."
"Then let's talk to the ministers at the next court meeting!" After Cao Rui made up his mind, he continued with the case he had just discussed.
"You are all my trusted confidants, and I have spoken directly to you.
Cao Rui said: "Today's case of obscene worship of the 'Wujian God' is actually about four things: obscene worship, communication between the palace and outside the palace, the harem giving orders to officials outside the court, and Sima Zhi's indiscriminate killing."
"Regarding the issue of obscene worship, I have asked Chen Jiao to draft an imperial edict for each prefecture and county to promote proper worship and put an end to obscene worship."
"I will discuss Cao Hong's crime with him tomorrow regarding his communication with others in the palace."
"As for the order from the harem, I also executed that eunuch. I hope it can serve as a warning to others."
"Sima Zhi killed suspects indiscriminately, so I have shown him leniency and have decided to amend the laws."
Cao Rui looked around at everyone and said: "If the power of administration is used slightly in the court, it will affect more than tens of millions of people."
"I hope you will be extremely cautious!"
The four of them bowed and said, "I will remember your Majesty's teachings."
(End of this chapter)
