Luoyang, Beigong. Cao Rui was handling some matters with the Zhongshu Jian Liu Fang in the study room when Zhong Yu slowly walked in from outside. Zhong Yu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Grand Commandant Hua Xin, Chenliu Prefect Liu Shao, Anping Prefect Lu Yu, and Central Guard General Huan Fan are already waiting outside." Cao Rui glanced at Zhong Yu, nodded slightly as a gesture, and then continued speaking to Liu Fang. "Mr. Liu, we should take our time in this matter. Slow things down and things will be better. When you go back, you and Zhongshu Sun should sort it out. Make sure to compile the names, resumes, and merits and demerits of the school officials in various places." “Is half a month enough?” Liu Fang bowed and replied, "Half a month is enough. The school affairs are mostly in Luoyang, Yecheng and Xuchang. The archives of Yecheng and Xuchang school affairs are all recorded in Luoyang." "The rest of the school affairs scattered around the country and the important matters they are responsible for are not many. If we report every three months, we can probably report the first three months of this year to Luoyang by the end of this month." Cao Rui nodded gently: "Since the impact on other places is not big, please sort out the ones in Luoyang, Yecheng, and Xuchang for me to see first." "Yes, sir." After Liu Fang got the task, he bowed and walked out of the study.
Liu Fang was actually a little confused. For some reason, the emperor suddenly became concerned about school affairs and even asked for all the school affairs files and lists. Perhaps, Your Majesty wants to separate the school affairs from the Secretariat? This thought only flashed through Liu Fang's mind briefly, and Liu Fang felt a little complicated at this moment. In short, the so-called Zhongshu was responsible for passing down information. The memorials submitted by the ministers to the emperor were sorted out by the Zhongshu Province and then handed over to the emperor. The orders given by the emperor to the ministers and the Shangshutai were also drafted and issued by the Zhongshu Province after being stamped. It is a functional department responsible for confidential matters. In the first year of Huangchu, Emperor Cao Pi changed the school affairs agency that originally reported directly to Emperor Wu Cao Cao to report to the Secretariat. Although this was an act to reduce Cao Pi's own workload, it also increased many people's dissatisfaction with the Secretariat on another level. It is good to know a lot, but in Liu Fang's opinion, knowing so many secrets is not necessarily a good thing. If Your Majesty takes it away, Liu Fang will be happy to see it happen. I just don’t know what Sun Zi thinks about it. A moment later, Zhong Yu led Hua Xin, Liu Shao, Lu Yu and Huan Fan into the study. After all, he was Grand Marshal Hua, so Cao Rui smiled and stood up to greet him, saying, "Grand Marshal, you are here to visit me today. Is there anything you want to teach me? Please take a seat quickly." After Hua Xin bowed, he slowly sat down on the chair. To the old man's surprise, sitting down was extremely comfortable and effortless. Hua Xin cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I came to the palace today to report my views on the revision of the law." Cao Rui nodded in agreement, then looked at the other three people: "Liu Qing, Lu Qing, and Huan Qing are here too. I have met Liu Qing in Chenliu, and Huan Qing is even more familiar to me. Lu Qing has been in Jizhou, and this is the first time I have met him." Lu Yu bowed again and said, "I, Lu Yu, pay my respects to Your Majesty. I am not afraid to see Your Majesty today." Cao Rui smiled and waved his hand: "You three, find a seat. There is no need to panic. I will not eat you." "Thank you, Your Majesty." The three of them bowed and then sat down on the chairs in the back without any prior arrangement. Cao Rui noticed that Liu Shao and Huan Fan were more relaxed, while Lu Yu only sat on a small half of the chair, with a more serious and nervous expression. This kind of thing, just see it and let it go. Cao Rui also sat back at the table and asked Hua Xin, "General, do you have any thoughts to share with me about the revision of the law today?"
Hua Xin said calmly, "I want to report to your majesty that I can take the lead in revising the law and help your majesty." Cao Rui raised his eyebrows slightly, looking a little surprised. But after a few moments, Cao Rui smiled again. "How did the commander come up with such an idea?" Cao Rui looked at Hua Xin. Hua Xin stroked his long gray beard and said, "I also went back and thought about it for a few days before I came to Your Majesty to recommend myself and take on this task." "The revision of the laws is of great importance. In addition, your Majesty's instructions and the discussions of the ministers in the court all want to make this revision as perfect as possible and eliminate the accumulated malpractices of the Han Dynasty's laws for 400 years." As Hua Xin spoke, the corners of his mouth curled up: "I am honored to be the head of the Three Dukes. I also want to make some contributions to Your Majesty in the Taihe New Dynasty." Cao Rui deliberately teased him: "You are already the Grand Commandant, what else do you need to do?" Hua Xin smiled and shook his head: "I am also thinking about my descendants!" "There are many things to talk about when it comes to amending the law, but if we want to get to the root of it, we still have to integrate your majesty's ideas into the new law. The rest are all details. Such a big thing really needs a Three Dukes to lead it." Cao Rui looked at Hua Xin calmly, as if trying to find out the true thoughts of this old minister. After being stared at by the emperor for a few moments, Hua Xin no longer hid his feelings and said directly: "Take the previous debate in Luozhong as an example. Master Zhong and his people supported the restoration of corporal punishment, while Master Wang and his people opposed it." "I think it would be a good idea for me to make a compromise for Your Majesty." "Hahaha." Cao Rui laughed: "General Hua speaks frankly, what a quick-witted man!" In fact, the position of Sangong is far more about theoretical matters than practical matters. During the Western Han Dynasty, in addition to nominally commanding the Nine Ministers and discussing political issues, the Three Dukes were also top officials in the court and could do some "things" for the emperor. For example, there are solar eclipses, earthquakes, and other disasters. Ministers would submit petitions one after another, saying that the court was not doing a good job in governing. The emperor would make a formal promise and then send one of the three ministers back home. The Three Dukes also represented a kind of political status. They could establish ministries, recruit new officials, and legitimately recommend high-ranking officials to the court, and they could even assist in the administration. But after Cao Pi became emperor, he made a lot of changes. The Secretariat of the Wei Empire evolved from the Secretariat of Cao Cao's Wei Kingdom, rather than being a continuation of the Secretariat of the Han Dynasty. Cao Cao used the Wei Kingdom to manage important matters, and the Wei Kingdom's Secretariat naturally took away the functions of the Han Dynasty's Secretariat. The Han Dynasty's Secretariat was no longer useful, and the Nine Ministers of the Han Dynasty were just decorations. When friends of the previous emperor Cao Pi, such as Chen Qun and Sima Yi, all entered the Secretariat of the Wei Dynasty, the power and responsibilities of the Secretariat became more and more important, and the actual power of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers was also taken away a lot. After all, Hua Xin didn't have much work to do! In addition, the current emperor liked to engage in secret politics in the palace with his assistants and attendants, and he rarely consulted the three ministers. Cao Rui could naturally understand some of Hua Xin's mentality. Cao Rui nodded: "The Grand Commandant just said that he would compromise for the Grand Tutor and the Minister of Justice. I have actually realized the Grand Commandant's painstaking efforts." "Teacher Zhong hopes to restore ancient corporal punishment, thereby reducing the death penalty and punishing crimes." "Situ Wang does not want to restore corporal punishment, but rather to govern the people in a more gentle manner. This is consistent with Situ Wang's philosophy when he was in Dali." "If the general can find a way around this, it would be a great help indeed." Hua Xin nodded repeatedly: "In my opinion, the two of them are arguing endlessly, which actually seems a bit biased."
"Whether it's punishing past offenders to warn future ones or killing one person to warn the rest, the court is actually responsible for execution and mediation. I would like to say to Your Majesty, if there are too many people sentenced to death, then you should pardon more of them. Why do you need to bring up corporal punishment?" "Before I left, I read the Zuo Zhuan: The Sixth Year of Duke Zhao again." After hearing what Hua Xin said, Liu Shao, Lu Yu and Huan Fan, who were sitting below, looked at the emperor at the same time. After hearing this, Cao Rui also began to think. In this era, if you don’t read and study the scriptures, you basically won’t be able to speak clearly. The Five Classics of the Han and Wei dynasties are actually like the idioms used by people in later generations. Just like if you want to explain the complex, fearful, panic-stricken and helpless mood when facing an enemy attack, you only need to use four words: "every tree and grass is an enemy." The Zuo Zhuan, Zhaogong 6th Year, mentioned by Hua Xin just now, talks about Zichan of Zheng State casting a criminal code. Shuxiang of Jin State wrote a letter to condemn it, saying in the letter: "People know that there is a punishment, so they don't fear the emperor." Although Shu Xiang's statement was based on a very early version of the legal system, its fundamental meaning is that if those in power write the law too clearly, the people will not be afraid of those in power, but will be afraid of the law. Cao Rui was not a well-read man, but he was well-versed in the Five Classics and Zuo Zhuan, which were must-learn books. After thinking about Hua Xin's words for a few moments, Cao Rui immediately understood what Hua Xin meant. Cao Rui looked at Hua Xin solemnly: "What the Grand Commandant means is that if the punishment is unknown, then the power is unpredictable?" If the punishment is unknowable, then the power is unpredictable? Hua Xin pondered the emperor's words several times, nodded slowly and said: "I just talked about corporal punishment and death penalty, so your Majesty's statement of 'the punishment is unpredictable, and the power is unfathomable' should also be limited to the death penalty itself." "Other common crimes are not involved." Cao Rui understood Hua Xin's meaning. It was not that the rule of law was not needed, but that the court should have more discretion in the most critical area of sentencing for the death penalty. It turned out that he was the person who personally "led" Empress Fu out of the palace of Emperor Xian of Han for Cao Cao. Used to doing dirty work. Cao Rui nodded: "The Grand Commandant is completely on the same page as me. I will give you a promise now. Later I will order the Secretariat and the Chancellery to assist you in revising the law." Hua Xin was about to speak when he was stopped by Cao Rui. Cao Rui asked: "Then the Grand Commandant must also give me a promise to do this beautifully." Hua Xin smiled and said, "After all, I am already seventy years old. I can naturally control the general direction for Your Majesty, but the specific trivial matters should still be handled by younger officials." Hua Xin pointed to the three people sitting next to him and said: "I think these three people are all wise officials who can do good things for the country." (End of this chapter)