Chapter 814 811 [Law of Great Harmony and Law of Publication]
"Rulin Shiqu" magazine.
The atmosphere these days has not been very good. Two shareholders are clamoring to withdraw their capital. It cannot be said that they are withdrawing their capital. They are simply withdrawing their shares. They don’t want the money they originally invested, and they want to completely distance themselves from the magazine.
Zhai Wenbi, Zhang Tianzhi and Li Xun sat together with frowning faces.
Those who cried and knocked on the door were not only the students who failed to pass the exam, but also a few scholars from the previous dynasty.
The students who failed the exam were taken to the Ministry of Punishment, and after mutual reports, several leaders were quickly revealed.
The imperial court also kept its word, and only the three who caused the most serious trouble had their university diplomas taken back, stripped of their honors, and would never use them again. The other two leaders had their college diplomas taken back, but their honors were still there, so they could use them as middle school students.
As a graduate, you can take the civil service examination.
As for the scholars of the former dynasty who participated, they were not released so easily and were kept in the Ministry of Punishment for repeated interrogations.
"This morning, the last failed student has been released," Li Xun said worriedly, "but the arrested scholars of the former dynasty are all currently in prison. Family members are not allowed to visit, and even money is not allowed. I don't know how the court will deal with it.
"
Zhang Tianzhi still had some luck: "All the scholars who failed were released, and nothing will happen to the former scholars."
Zhai Wenben said: "My right eyelid has been twitching for the past two days, and I always feel like a disaster is about to happen."
"Brother Xi, don't scare me." Li Xun became more and more nervous.
Zhai Wenben shook his head and said: "Today's people are quite similar to Taizu of the Ming Dynasty. I have read half of the miscellaneous notes. Taizu of the Ming Dynasty once had a literary prison. Lu Xiong, the magistrate of Yanzhou, wrote the word 'Yan' as 'Gun', which is disrespectful.
He was beheaded. Zhongshu Zhan Xiyuan wrote a plaque for Taixue. The word "men" was missing a tick, which was considered to be an obstacle to recruiting talents, so he was beheaded. Hangzhou professor Xu Yikui entered a congratulatory form with the four words "be a leader for the world"
.'Ze' sounds like 'thief', so Ming Taizu thought it was an allusion and ordered him to be executed!"
"Is there such a thing?" Zhang Tianzhi also tightened his neck.
"Absolutely true!"
Zhai Wenben said worriedly: "Your Majesty, please learn from Ming Taizu in doing things, just in case... Oh!"
Literati of the Ming Dynasty often wrote articles to compile articles about emperors, including Zhu Yuanzhang. Many of the outrageous contents in the "History of the Ming Dynasty" edited by the Manchu and Qing dynasties came from the notes of Ming Dynasty literati.
Take the literary inquisition in the early Ming Dynasty as an example. It may have happened, but it was definitely not that extreme.
Let’s just talk about the three people Zhai Wenbi just gave examples. Xu Yikui lived for more than 80 years in the official history. How could he be considered dead because “ze” has the same pronunciation as “thief”? There are also Zhan Xiyuan, the scholar in Zhongshu, and Jiancheng of Taixue.
In the fifteenth year of Hongwu, it was also the time when he wrote an inscription on the plaque discussing his death. However, there are historical records that until the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu, Zhan Xiyuan was still alive and well, and on the order of Zhu Yuanzhang, he wrote an article for Zhou Dianxian's stele and
The title of seal script.
It is estimated that Zhu Yuanzhang offended too many literati, and after his death, he was frantically smeared by literati who wrote books.
No matter what, the three people in front of me scared myself more and more the more I thought about it.
"Bang!"
The door downstairs was slammed open, and then there was a burst of noise, and footsteps sounded at the top of the stairs.
"Definitely dead!" Li Xun was so frightened that he was paralyzed and trembling in the chair of the imperial master.
Zhai Wenbi also seemed to be discouraged, and murmured to himself: "Today, with such a generous mind, you really want to kill people because of your words?"
"Bang!"
The door is wide open.
Several former scholars were escorted in by officials from the Ministry of Justice, followed by many police officers.
A scholar from the former dynasty pointed at Zhang Tianzhi and said, "He was the one who got drunk in Huafang last year. He cursed Emperor Shengming in public and criticized the government's land distribution policy. Not only can we testify, but the famous prostitutes in Huafang can also testify."
"I didn't, I didn't!" Zhang Tianzhi stood up in panic and hurriedly defended himself.
Another scholar from the former dynasty pointed at Zhai Wenbi: "This guy also criticizes the Holy Emperor, saying that the emperor is so ignorant that he should not set a time limit for the scholars from the previous dynasty to take the imperial examination."
"Also, this time weeping at the door and knocking on the door, they were the ones who connected us. Otherwise, we, the scholars of the former dynasty, had not failed the imperial examination, why would we go to the weeping gate together? They said that they wanted to take the opportunity to ask for your Majesty's orders. Maybe the former dynasty
Everyone can take the exam!"
"Li Xun also slandered the government, saying that officials in the new dynasty were all uneducated and unskilled!"
The leading official from the Ministry of Justice said with a gloomy face: "Take these people away and seize the newspaper to see if there are any articles slandering the imperial court!"
The three people were held up by the police and dragged away like boiled noodles as if their bones had been removed from their bodies.
Regarding swearing, the "Da Ming Law" is very strict.
If someone scolds someone for no reason, he will be punished with ten canes.
Those who scold an elder are punished with one year in prison and sixty canes. Those who scold an elder are punished with one hundred canes.
Scolding one's direct elders, such as grandparents, parents, and parents-in-law, can lead to a maximum sentence of hanging, depending on the seriousness of the case. Even if the emperor grants a general amnesty, such prisoners will not be included in the amnesty.
Swearing at the court, depending on the specific circumstances, can result in a maximum sentence of Ling Chi or execution of the clan!
Nowadays, the "Law of Datong" has been promulgated all over the world, and some regulations have been revised during the implementation process.
Relatively speaking, it is much looser than the "Da Ming Code".
The relevant contents of "Law of Datong" are as follows:
If you curse without reason, you will be punished with a cane (you must take off your pants in public and be beaten in public, the same applies to the following examples).
If you scold an elder, if the elder makes a big mistake, you will be exempted from punishment. If the elder is not at fault, the scolder will be punished with ten lashes. If you scold an immediate elder, if the elder makes a serious mistake, the scolder will be punished with ten lashes. If the elder is not at fault, the scolder will be punished with sixty lashes!
Confucianism governs the world with filial piety, and Zhao Han could only modify it to this extent.
In fact, no matter which dynasty you are in, the legal provisions on swearing are basically not strictly enforced. When someone is scolded, the first reaction is to scold someone. Who can report it to the official after being full?
"Law of Datong" also contains clauses criticizing the emperor and the court.
First, as long as there is conclusive evidence that the person criticizes the emperor and the court (criticism of local officials does not count, local officials can be scolded if they do not do well). Regardless of whether the person is right or not, give him twenty lashes first. If he does it again
, sentenced to half a year in prison. Those who refuse to change despite repeated admonitions will be exiled to the frontier.
Second, regarding the policy of dividing land, those who openly criticize it will be sentenced to half a year's imprisonment for the first offense, their titles will be revoked, and they will not be allowed to engage in franchised business. Those who are convicted for the second offense will be exiled to the frontier.
Compared with previous dynasties, this is already very benevolent.
And so far, no one has been punished for this, mainly because no one has reported it to the government. There is no way to prove it if you complain in private - only fools talk nonsense in public.
Zhai Wenbi, Zhang Tianzhi, and Li Xun were quickly taken to the Criminal Department, and the famous prostitute was also called in for questioning.
Dali Temple personally conducted the trial and found out the details within a few days.
"Poof!"
The tree fell, and the judge of Dali Temple (the seventh-rank judge) made a judgment in court:
"Zhang Tianzhi, male, from Xiushui, Jiaxing, Zhejiang. He insulted the emperor in public, criticized the court's land affairs, and organized the scholars to kneel down and cry at Donghua Gate. The evidence is conclusive. According to the "Law of Datong", several crimes are punished together: forty whippings and half a year's imprisonment.
A fine of twenty taels of silver will be imposed. If you commit the crime again, you will be severely punished!"
"Zhai Wenbi, male, from Zichuan, Jinan, Shandong. He insulted the emperor in public and organized the scholars to kneel down and cry at the Donghua Gate. The evidence is conclusive. According to the "Law of Datong", several crimes are punished at the same time: forty whippings and a fine of twenty taels of silver.
.If he commits the crime again, he will be dealt with severely.”
"Li Xun, male, from Jiangning County, Jinling Prefecture. He slandered the imperial court in public and organized the scholars to kneel down and cry at Donghua Gate. The evidence is conclusive. According to the "Law of Datong", he was punished for several crimes: forty whippings and a fine of twenty taels of silver.
If he does it again, he will be dealt with severely."
"Do you have any objections? If you do, appeal as soon as possible and let my superior judge the case."
The three of them looked at each other with a sense of joy in surviving the disaster.
Dali Temple actually followed the "Law of Datong" and did not behead them for scolding the emperor.
Li Xun quickly knelt down and kowtowed and said, "Thank you, Lord Judge, for your kindness. The common people have no objections. I promise that I will never do it again in the future."
This guy is really scared. If he offends again, he will have to go to jail for half a year. If he doesn't change his ways after repeated admonitions, he will be directly exiled!
He only has the guts to complain and really doesn't want to go to jail or exile.
However, Zhang Tianzhi complained in court: "I refuse to accept it. Why do they only give me a whipping and a fine of silver, but I have to go to jail for half a year?"
Dali Temple commented: "Because you criticized the land administration."
Zhang Tianzhi asked: "Is it true that criticizing Tian Zheng is punished more severely than criticizing the emperor?"
The Dali Temple judge sneered and patted the "Law of Datong" on the table: "That's how the law is set! What else can you say?"
Zhang Tianzhi hesitated to speak, and finally did not bite the other two people.
At the same time, Zhai Wenbi and Li Xun lowered their heads and did not dare to speak. They had also criticized Tian Zheng privately, but outsiders did not know it. At this moment, they were afraid that Zhang Tianzhi would accuse them.
"Retire from the court and re-examine the case of "The Scholars" at another date." Dali Temple's commentator said.
The stone that had just fallen in his heart was hanging up again. Li Xun dared to ask: "The trial...hasn't been completed yet?"
Dali Temple's commentator said: "Your personal case has been settled, but the case of "The Scholars" has not yet been tried. You guys run a newspaper together, haven't you read the "Public Printing Law"? Regarding running a newspaper, the "Public Printing Law" has
Strict regulations. You are not allowed to slander others, and you are not allowed to make unreasonable comments about government affairs. In the Guangxi imperial examination fraud case, it has basically been found that there is no such thing. This is slander! And you are criticizing the imperial examination in newspapers, which is making unreasonable comments about government affairs!"
Under the laws of the New Datong Dynasty, the imperial court and local officials were separated.
If local governments arbitrarily make local clauses, or if local officials do evil things, newspapers can discuss them. However, they cannot slander, as slander is slander. (This clause is actually unclear, and there is a lot of room for maneuver when deciding the case.)
And those who make irresponsible remarks about government affairs are aimed at the central court. Policies formulated by the central government are not allowed to be arranged by newspapers at will!
The "Da Ming Law" was revised six times before it was finalized. The "Datong Law" has only been revised once so far, and will continue to be revised according to the implementation situation.
Li Xun kowtowed and cried, "Your Majesty, have mercy on me. I will withdraw my shares when I get home, and I will never run a newspaper again!"
If you make irresponsible remarks about government affairs and cause serious consequences, the maximum penalty is exile. This guy was so scared that he almost peed his pants.
However, the Dali Temple judge scolded: "Stand up and the new court will decide the case. You are not allowed to kneel! If you dare to kneel down again, you will disturb the court. If you drag it down, you can make a decision first."
Zhai Wenbi didn't speak anymore. He was even more frightened. There was a manuscript of a novel in the newspaper. The novel had not been revised yet. There were many violations. If he was caught, it would be more serious than slander and untruthful comments on government affairs.
The manuscript of this novel has been placed in front of the emperor!