I am not a deposed emperor of Han Dynasty

Chapter 385: A hundred people were punished, 40 were beheaded, and [-] people were exterminated. Why are the ministers worried? (Please subscribe)
There is no circle without rules. From the Shang and Zhou dynasties, laws provided an important guarantee for royal power or imperial power.

The ability of the Qin Dynasty to conquer the six kingdoms at the end of the Warring States Period was inseparable from the outrageously detailed "Qin Code".

The Han Dynasty inherited the Qin system, which naturally included laws - the "Han Code" was developed on the basis of the "Qin Code" and has many similarities.

There is a "Thieves' Code" in the "Han Code". The "Thieves' Code" clearly states that those who commit rebellion should be punished by being cut in half or beheaded, and the leader should be exterminated.

A cold-blooded and iron-faced man like Prime Minister Wei was willing to let these tens of thousands of people live, and changing their sentence to corporal punishment was already extrajudicial mercy.

"But Emperor Xiaowen has abolished corporal punishment." Liu He replied.

"Your Majesty, there is no problem with this matter. It can be temporarily restored under expediency." Wei Xiang replied respectfully.

Liu He nodded, but did not give his opinion. After thinking for a moment, he asked others: "What do Bing Qing and Zhang Qing think of this matter?"

"Although these soldiers followed the two thieves Fan Tian to commit rebellion, in the final analysis they were coaxed in. The crime did not lead to death... and the corporal punishment was too severe." Bingji said.

"The military disaster has just passed, His Majesty has just ascended the throne, and this rebellion has ended hastily. Your Majesty should appease the world with benevolence and righteousness, and should not impose excessive punishment." Zhang Anshi also agreed.

"So what do Bingqing and Zhang Qing think the punishment should be?" Liu He asked.

"We think that your majesty will not punish you, just to show your majesty's kindness." Bingji said.

"Wei Chen agrees with Duke Bing's memorial." Zhang Anshi followed immediately and said.

Zhang Anshi and Bingji were representatives of Xunli officials, and they were both Confucian scholars. They were both cautious and moderate as officials and people. This is not surprising.

However, Liu He was not completely satisfied with this answer, so he looked at Huang Ba, who had not expressed his position yet.

Huang Ba is now a court captain, and it is his duty to punish and judge cases.

In just a few months, Huang Ba first went from being a death row prisoner to Menxiasi Si Zhi, and then from Menxiasi Si Zhi to being a court official...

This is a promotion speed that is difficult for ordinary officials to achieve according to normal procedures.

To put it cruelly and cold-blooded, Huang Ba turned out to be the individual who made the biggest profit in the process of plundering Huo.

"Huang Qing, as a court captain now, how do you think you should deal with these pavilion soldiers?" Liu He asked with interest.

"It was said at the Salt and Iron Conference in the past that prisons in the Spring and Autumn Period were based on the heart. Those who have good intentions but violate the law will be spared, and those who have evil intentions but comply with the law will be punished." Huang Ba said, shaking his head.

Sure enough, Liu He heard what he wanted to hear.

"I am ignorant and I don't understand what I heard. I hope Huang Qing can patiently answer my questions." Liu He asked with a deliberate smile.

Huang Ba realized that he was a bit unreasonable and quickly apologized. Seeing that the emperor had no intention of pursuing the case, he continued.

"The most important thing in the laws of the Han Dynasty is what is in the heart. Those who have good intentions but violate the law will be exempted, and those who have evil intentions but comply with the law will be punished."

"These soldiers who were coerced into treason cannot be regarded as having "good intentions", but they cannot be considered as having "evil intentions". At most, they are just confused. According to the "Han Code", they should be exempted from punishment."

Huang Ba kept talking, the expression on his face becoming more and more proud.

Although Bingji, Zhang Anshi and others were silent, their inner admiration was beyond words.

They could all see now that Huang Ba was completely established in Tingwei Temple, and he might even be able to rise a few steps higher in the future.

The core of the "Han Code" is "discussing the heart regardless of the deeds". As long as there are no evil thoughts in the heart, then the punishment should be light or no punishment.

Huang Ba, Bingji, Zhang Anshi and others had the same opinion on how to deal with these pawns, but the sources of this conclusion were different.

The former emphasizes law, while the latter focuses on education.

The rule of law idea of ​​"Prison Management in the Spring and Autumn Period" may not be correct, but at least it has clear provisions as a basis. It is not rule by man, but rule by law.

The advantage of having a law to follow is that it can remove the responsibility of the person who sentenced the prison sentence and make the result more convincing.

Liu He did not want these ordinary soldiers to be killed or have their hands and feet chopped off, not because he wanted to gain a reputation for benevolence and righteousness, but from a practical perspective.

There are more than 7 people. Returning them to their hometowns will not only appease the turbulent people in the world, but also prevent production and preserve a large number of labor forces.

"Huang Qing, let's continue. How do you think these people should be dealt with?" Liu He said.

"The soldiers at the team level and below are acquitted." The soldiers at the team level and below account for more than [-]% of the tens of thousands of people. Dealing with them is enough to do most of the work.
"As for the military princes and captains, although they are very likely to be involved in the rebellion, they are definitely not aware of the rebellion..."

"Although they have no intention of committing rebellion, they still have the greed to take advantage of the fire. They can all be sentenced to severe punishment."

There are a total of 28 captains and 140 princes in the Fan and Tian divisions. Excluding those who have died in the battle, there will probably be more than a hundred people left.

Huang Ba said nothing further, and the rest of the people were silent, waiting for the emperor to make the final decision.

Liu He hesitated for a moment and made the final decision on the fate of these [-] soldiers.

"Han Zeng and Zhao Chongguo are investigating this treason in Beidi County, and they have some clues..."

"The four captains Zhao Pingyuan, Zhang Dingguo, Song Guanghan and He Changle died because of their loyalty to the Han Dynasty. They should be treated as if they died in battle. They should be comforted as they died together."

"Those who surrender to various cities and ministries before the defeat of the two bandits Fan and Tian will be found not guilty regardless of their official position or military merit."

"In addition to this, the other military lords and captains under the two thieves Fan and Tian were all accused of treason and sentenced to death and annihilation of their clans."

"The soldiers at the team leader and below have no evil intentions, but treason is a serious crime. We should not just focus on the heart and ignore the deeds. Therefore, we will treat him as treason and sentence him to the death of his clan!"

After Liu He finished speaking, everyone was shocked.

They thought that from the discussion just now, they could see that the emperor wanted to punish ordinary soldiers lightly. How could they have imagined that the emperor would order so many people to be killed.

As a result, this year and next year, as many as 40 to [-] Han people will die because of their rebellion.

Back then, the number of people implicated in the witchcraft disaster was only over [-]!

Three to four hundred thousand people, the entire population of the Han Empire was only three to forty million.

The emperor's judgment may indeed intimidate the world and make lawbreakers fearful.

However, the killing was too heavy.

Not only will the world fear and secretly curse the emperor as a tyrant, but it may also affect the farming season and production.

Zhang Anshi and others could not help but show worry on their faces, but no one dared to dissuade them.

After all, this is treason, and the emperor will punish him severely. Naturally, he will be angry. Who dares to touch this treason scale?
After all, not everyone can speak out in defense of Li Ling like Tai Shigong did.

"Well, I see that all of you, dear ones, look worried, but why?" Liu He asked deliberately.

Several people hesitated, but still did not speak.

"My dear friends, do you think my killing was too heavy?" Liu He asked calmly.

Zhang Anshi and others finally nodded.

"Don't worry, gentlemen. I understand that governing a country is not about fighting and killing, but about human relations."

"I will sentence the leader of the owl according to the law. Next year, I will change the Yuan Dynasty. After the Yuan Dynasty is changed, I will give a general amnesty to the world and pardon the soldiers and generals below the team rate..."

"However, those who were cronies of the Huo Party and their private soldiers who killed the common people are not included in this list. They will be killed without mercy." Everyone suddenly realized and immediately understood the emperor's intention.

Amnesty is a common method used by emperors to show their favor.

The emperor could issue an edict of amnesty when he ascended the throne, changed his reign title, or established a successor.

There are many restrictions on the emperor's ability to kill people at will, but it is much easier to pardon a person.

In more than ten days, the Yuan Dynasty will be changed. At this time, the emperor will grant amnesty to the whole world, which is justified.

First impose capital punishment to establish the emperor's prestige, and then use amnesty to demonstrate the emperor's mercy.

Whether it's killing people or saving people, there is a basis.

"Your majesty, your sage, will compete with Yao and Shun!" Zhang Anshi stood up first and bowed down.

"Your majesty is wise and wise, and you are better than Yao and Shun!" The rest of the people also quickly stood up and bowed down.

"It is my wish that all the ministers should be safe and be able to kill less." Liu He said, "However, whether the punishment can be exempted or not, the crime must be recorded clearly in the household registration system to see the consequences."

"only!"

In this way, those who want to be killed are the more than a hundred captains and military princes. Behind them are more than a hundred families, which adds up to thousands of people.

Although it is not a small amount, it is a price that must be paid.

Many old, weak, women and children who stayed in their hometowns and didn't know why were originally waiting for their relatives to go back and reunite. Unexpectedly, what they waited for in the end was the annihilation of their families.

But how can this be done?

Life is unpredictable, who can predict the twists and turns ahead?

"Bingji."

"Wei Chen is here."

"Issue an edict to Chang'an, Sanfu and other counties in the world to announce to the world the rebellion and defeat of Fan Mingyou, Tian Guangming and Tian Shun."

"only!"

"In addition, Beidi County and Anding County will be exempted from taxes for three years and can rest and recuperate with the people."

"only!"

"I issued an edict to promote Pulei General Zhao Chongguo to the position of General of the Guard and still serve as Minister of the Ministry of War; and promoted General Han Zeng to the position of Censor of the Ministry of War."

"only!"

Liu He spoke quickly, and his servant Fan Ke had already made preparations and quickly drafted the emperor's edict.

Nowadays, Liu He only issues orders to His Highness Greenhouse. From drafting the edict to issuing the edict, someone is in charge, which is much easier than before.

This is the appearance of the strengthening of imperial power.

The emperor is still the emperor, the empire is still the empire, the jade seal is still the same square jade seal, and the courtiers are still these courtiers...

But power shifted.

The upper and lower limits of the imperial power of the Han Dynasty were very high, and the emperor needed to win it through repeated court struggles.

After these edicts were issued today, many things have become clear.

How will the tens of thousands of surrendered soldiers return to their place of origin in the future? Where will the military captain who committed treason be escorted back to Chang'an and imprisoned? Whether Han Zeng and Zhao Chongguo who stayed in Beidi and Anding counties will withdraw or stay...

These specific matters were arranged by the six ministers and the censors Bingji and Zhang Anshi.

After this chaos, the Southern Army and the Northern Army, the two forbidden armies that the Han Dynasty relied on most, lost [-]% of their troops, and it was even less likely to gain Liu He's trust and recognition for a period of time.

So, he immediately issued an edict to transfer capable pavilion soldiers from various Ling counties in Guanzhong to Chang'an, and rely on the thousands of northern and southern troops who stayed in Chang'an to re-establish the system of the Forbidden Army.

Most of the ordinary soldiers in the Southern and Northern armies are regular soldiers who have served for one year. Even if they are all replaced, the combat effectiveness will only be temporarily reduced. It will not be difficult to recover in the coming year.

"My dear friends, the overall situation has been decided now, but there are still many things to deal with."

"The most important thing is to give Huo a result."

Most of the people involved in this rebellion have been "accounted for", but there is still one hardest nut to crack, and that is Huo Yu.

"A few days later, Huo Hui will be escorted back to Chang'an together with the other captains and princes. After he arrives in Chang'an, I will discuss the matter with all my beloved ministers."

"Wei!" Everyone responded quickly.

"Has Huo Guang been at peace in the back house of the General's Mansion these days?" Liu He asked.

"The Prince of the Palace led his swordsmen and halberds to look for defense in the back house of the General's Mansion day and night. No accidents happened. The General is very peaceful." Zhang Anshi replied.

Liu He noticed that Zhang Anshi still called Huo Guang a general and could not hide his awe, so he felt a little unhappy.

That day, after Liu He issued an edict to imprison Huo Guang in public at the court meeting, he never called General Huo Guang or Zhongfu again.

However, there are still many people in the court who cannot change their words.

One is due to inertia.

Second, Liu He did not issue an imperial edict to remove him from the post of general.

Third, there are many people who are far away from the center of the court who do not know that something has happened in the court.

"The Chinese New Year will be over in ten days. Dear friends, you have to work hard and be tired again to put an end to the affairs of Huo Dang."

The emperor was considerate of his ministers' feelings, but Zhang Anshi and others dared not slack off and make excuses. They repeatedly stated that this was their duty.

And they naturally heard the profound meaning of the emperor's last few words, and they all knew that the general Huo Guang, who was imprisoned in the general's back house, would not survive the next year.

"Everyone, step down."

"Wei!" Zhang Anshi and others left, and Liu He immediately said to Fan Ke.

"It will be useful for me to make another copy of the memorials sent by Han De."

"No!" Fan Ke didn't ask any further questions and immediately started copying.

"Han De, after Fan Ke has copied it, you will send the memorial to the back house of the General's Mansion and hand it over to Huo Guang."

Liu He thought for a while and added another sentence.

"Don't forget to wear the heads of Fan Mingyou and those people so that Huo Guang can take a look at his son-in-law who is riding a dragon!"

"Wei!" Han De replied.

At this time, the cloud that was far away in the sky just now floated over, and it had changed from white cloud to dark cloud. I am afraid that the sky in Chang'an is about to change again.

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