Song Gexing

Chapter 296 Zhao Fang was furious
The case decided by Chen Anmin was not an unjust, false or wrongful conviction, but at most the sentence was too harsh. The Song Dynasty Code provided real leniency for accomplices who confessed, and the death penalty could be commuted to exile.

According to the laws of later generations, those three criminals should be killed by a thousand cuts, so his sentence was actually no problem according to the Spring and Autumn Period.

But the bad thing is that he was frightened by the retrial operation and believed that it would be detrimental to his reputation after his verdict was overturned.

If someone else had just sat back and watched, the prisoner had already been executed for several years anyway. Even if he made a mistake, he would just be reprimanded, and the court would not be able to punish him.

Not to mention that the Song Dynasty did not kill the scholar-officials, even if they killed him, they would not be able to kill him. Instead, he would be found guilty, and the people of Xiangzhou would not accept it, because those three people committed numerous blood debts in Xiangzhou, and the people were extremely angry.

But his family background made him want to suppress the matter and reverse the case, so he went to bribe the officials of Dali Temple. Now he was obviously innocent and became guilty.

It also implicated more than a dozen officials of Dali Temple, who were found out for accepting bribes. It was so lively that Zhao Fang ordered a strict investigation and punishment in a fit of anger.

As a result, the corrupt officials were punished, and he, who did not need to be punished, was also punished and demoted to teach in Xinjiang.

His nephew Wen Jifu was originally going to be punished, but seeing that Wen Yanbo fell ill in bed, Zhao Fang pardoned him for serving his father at home.

Although Wen Jifu's father-in-law, Wu Chong, the Minister of Civil Affairs, did not come forward, it was his son who came forward to bribe Dali Temple officials, and was also implicated in moving to the left to become the Minister of Works.

Wu Chong's son and Wen Jifu's brother-in-law were beaten with twenty sticks, fined a thousand guan, and punished by the Imperial College.

Chen Anmin then regretted that he had harmed so many people in one fell swoop, and these people would all be his enemies in the future.

After Zhao Fang understood the cause and effect, he couldn't help but sigh: "There is nothing in the world, and it is only for mediocre people to disturb themselves. I have deeply realized this today."

Immediately, he issued an order to the senior officials of the imperial court and ministers who had become ministers to discipline their heirs, and said sternly: "This case is about the fact that in order to save face, a large family often makes small things bigger. I am ashamed to say that you are stupid. Is face more important than the law?" Is it still important? If this happens again, I am not afraid of becoming a tyrant and killing him without mercy!"

He said this in front of all the ministers at the court meeting. Everyone bowed their heads and said nothing, and Zhao Fang was so angry that he cursed loudly. He could tell that these ministers really thought that face was more important than anything else.

"You are stupid because of reading, aren't you? What did Sage Kong teach you?"

"Do you only know that a scholar can be killed but not humiliated? Do you only know that the three armies can seize the commander, but the ordinary man cannot seize his ambition?"

"Have you forgotten the premise of these words? You are blaspheming Confucianism and the sages of Confucianism throughout the ages!"

Zhao Fang's roar resounded through the hall, and Zhang Zai finally stood up, bowed solemnly and said: "My Emperor, Holy Ming! A scholar-bureaucrat's ambition cannot be taken away, but only if he knows good and evil, and abides by good and evil, can he express his ambition. "The law is the court's rules for punishing evil and promoting good. Unless this law is incomprehensible to human nature, no one can have a higher dignity than the law."

As soon as he finished speaking, Cheng Yi stepped forward and said: "I agree with you! When facing people who enforce the law and violate the law, scholar-officials should not be afraid of life and death. However, those who enforce the law are fair. When the law understands human nature, no one should be above the law." Law."

"The minister also agrees!"

Cheng Hao stepped forward immediately, and then Su Shi, Zhang Dun and others came out to second the proposal one by one. Zhao Fang almost laughed angrily.

Several of these people are my confidantes, but when faced with the face problem of scholar-bureaucrats, they also choose to stand on the opposite side of themselves.

After Zhang Zai said that the law understood human nature, he came out one by one to second his opinion, but weren't the laws of the Song Dynasty set by you people or the ancestors you recognized.Of course he knew that ancient Chinese law was about natural principles and nothing more than human relationships, and he believed that the law was not as high as the principles recognized by the public.

Therefore, in ancient times, officials who judged cases and were praised as Qingtian were often those who were skilled in the Spring and Autumn period. Those who only judged according to the law were considered unqualified.

The so-called Spring and Autumn Judgment refers to the judges using the scriptures of the Four Books and Five Classics to judge crimes. This is actually a way of using the moral system as legal provisions to judge criminals.

Starting from Dong Zhongshu in the Han Dynasty, the disadvantage is that the personal integrity of the judge is too important, but it is not without advantages.

When the morality of a society is placed above the law, crime will be reduced, and people will voluntarily refuse to be criticized as long as they are not unable to survive.

The so-called proverb that it is better to violate the laws of heaven than to violate the consensus of the people means that people consciously abide by the principles of moral standards.

This is the social form that Confucianism pursues to be simple and honest, and the people's morals are strong, and it is actually the same as a communist society.

There is nothing wrong with this pursuit in itself, but it is extremely difficult to achieve when the moral standards of all people do not meet the requirements.

As for right and wrong, it is actually unclear. Legalists pay attention to strict laws and governing the country according to law. However, in history, Legalists all died violently. It has to be said that this is a divine punishment.

From Shang Yang to Han Feizi to Li Si, as well as the so-called cruel officials in the Han Dynasty, they were all staunch supporters of Legalism, but each of them did not end well.

Confucianists such as Confucius, Mencius, and Dong Zhongshu all died at the end of their lives. Even if their lives were poor, it did not prevent them from living to old age and benefiting their descendants.

"There is no need for the officials to be angry. Zihou and the others did not betray. It took us hundreds of years to develop the dignity of scholars in the Song Dynasty. Only then did we have famous ministers in the dynasty today. Didn't the officials themselves often say that the literary talent of the Song Dynasty is your most important thing?" Are you proud? Future generations will continue to pass on the fire of civilization because of my literary talent in the Great Song Dynasty."

Zhao Fang, who rushed back to the harem angrily, was surrounded by his wives. Xiao Guanyin gently comforted him, and Han Xue and others also agreed one by one.

Zhao Fang wanted to show off his face, but when he saw the pretty faces of his wives, he had no choice but to give up his thoughts and muttered unwillingly: "They want dignity, but the people don't want it anymore. How dare they interfere just for the sake of face?" The law is just, and there is still justice in this..."

Zhao Pan'er smiled and said: "If you interfere with the law, you will be caught justly, but the officials are not selfish enough to demand that they take care of their face. After all, no one is perfect! Don't the officials themselves have shortcomings? If they don't have shortcomings, then they are saints."

"Arrest? Sister Pan'er said it lightly. If this is the case, who knows how many cases there will be. Because of the selfishness of these people, the people have suffered, and I have no idea at all."

These words made everyone quiet, and Zhao Pan'er nodded slightly and said: "What the official said is indeed correct, but compared to those unjust, false and wrong cases, the scholar-officials' lack of self-respect is a bigger thing. I feel that I have sacrificed the interests of some people, Preserving the dignity of scholar-bureaucrats is more important."

Zhao Fang was stunned, looking at him in confusion as if he didn't recognize his favorite, how could she say such heartless words.

"Sister Pan'er, who do you think deserves to be sacrificed? Do the common people deserve to die? Can the scholar-bureaucrats be superior?"

After asking three times in a row, he looked at Zhao Pan'er, with a strange look in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)