Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 369 The tea has gone cold, so let's leave!

On the 14th day of the ninth month of the second year of the Han Dynasty, in the palace of the Prince of Chen.

Guo Tu, who was not involved in the major case, lived a rather leisurely life.

The Court of Justice had 140 officials, of whom 96 were currently in the Prince of Chen's palace. Only 44 remained to maintain the daily operation of the office, which could be considered a total effort.

Since I am not currently in Luoyang and do not have any "case studies" collected by the Court of Justice as typical examples, the revision of the law has been temporarily put on hold, with only some framework construction work still being able to proceed.

Guo Tu handed a bamboo scroll sealed with sealing wax to Man Chong, nodded slightly to indicate that he should open it, and said with a faint smile on his lips, "What does Bo Ning think of this legal framework I have proposed?"

While paper is lightweight and inexpensive, it is susceptible to damage from water, fire, insects, and rodents, whereas bamboo slips, after special treatment, can be preserved for a longer period of time.

The bamboo slips used for official documents in the imperial court were treated with a process called "killing the green," which involved roasting the bamboo strips over a fire to remove the sap that seeped out, and then scraping off the green outer skin. This process not only prevented insects but also reduced the bamboo slips' moisture absorption.

Then, raw lacquer or tung oil is applied to the surface of the bamboo strips. This odor repels insects and forms a waterproof film on the surface of the bamboo strips without hindering writing.

Finally, the written bamboo slips were stored in a bamboo box, lined with absorbent materials such as silk and wood ash.

Although fire prevention is difficult, storing the chests in stone boxes or metal containers for double protection can effectively isolate the fire source.

Bamboo slips treated in this way are far more durable than paper.

"The Hanxing Code?" Man Chong took the bamboo slips with both hands, carefully cut open the sealing wax with a small knife, and frowned slightly as he unfolded them, saying, "The Twelve General Principles?"

The book contains very little, only listing the twelve general principles of the law, with brief annotations for each of the twelve principles.

The core framework proposed by Guo Tu is divided into twelve categories: "General Rules Law", "Guard Law", "Official System Law", "Household and Marriage Law", "Stable and Warehouse Law", "Unauthorized Establishment Law", "Theft and Robbery Law", "Litigation Law", "Fraud and Deception Law", "Miscellaneous Law", "Catching Fugitives Law", and "Judgment Law".

The "General Principles of Criminal Law" is the general principle of criminal law, which clearly defines the five punishments and ten abominations.

During the Shang, Zhou, Qin, and early Han dynasties, the five punishments included tattooing, nose amputation, foot amputation, castration, and death penalty.

Emperor Xiaowen and Emperor Xiaojing gradually abolished corporal punishment that involved mutilating limbs, replacing it with flogging and caning.

For example, the punishment of nose amputation was replaced by two hundred strokes of the cane, and the punishment of foot amputation was replaced by three hundred strokes of the cane.

In reality, if a prisoner is sentenced to two hundred strokes of the cane, although he will not die from the whipping, he will be seriously injured. However, it is still better than being mutilated and suffering a fate worse than death. He will simply have to stay in bed for two months to recover.

However, Man Chong had some doubts about the "five punishments" stipulated in the "General Principles Law". He raised his eyes, his gaze questioning, and said, "Chief Supervisor, this... doesn't seem to be your work?"

That was a rather tactful way of asking the question.

Man Chong, like Guo Tu, was a cruel official at heart, believing in harsh laws and severe punishments. This instilled fear of the law in the people, preventing them from committing crimes and thus greatly reducing the crime rate.

Of course, the Legalist scholars like Guo Tu would never repeat the mistakes made in the Qin Dynasty's error notebook.

Guo Tu shook his head slightly and said calmly, "This is the will of the state. Corporal punishment will be officially abolished and replaced with the five punishments of 'flogging, caning, imprisonment, exile, and death,' and these will be recorded in the written law."

Guo Tu paused, pointed to the "Ten Abominations" on the bamboo slip, and said, "As for these Ten Abominations, they were decided yesterday by me and the state. Those who commit these Ten Abominations or intentional homicide will not be pardoned after being formally sentenced... that is, those who commit the Ten Abominations will not be pardoned!"

The first of the ten evils is treason, which means plotting to endanger the state;
The second is plotting a major rebellion, which means plotting to destroy ancestral temples, imperial tombs, and palaces;

The third is plotting rebellion, which means plotting to betray the country and follow a false regime;
The fourth is heinous crime, which refers to beating or murdering one's grandparents or parents, or killing one's uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, maternal grandparents, husband, or husband's grandparents or parents.
The fifth is immorality, which means the extermination of humanity. For example, killing a family of three and wiping out the entire family, even though the victims are not criminals who should be sentenced to death, or using cruel methods such as dismemberment or poisoning to kill people.
The sixth is great disrespect, which refers to disrespectful words and deeds towards the emperor, including but not limited to stealing the emperor's sacrificial items or clothing, stealing or forging the emperor's seal, making mistakes in preparing medicine for the emperor, violating dietary restrictions when cooking for the emperor, building sturdy vehicles or ships for the emperor, cursing the emperor, and treating the emperor's messengers with disrespect.

The seventh is unfilial piety, which means being disobedient to one's immediate family members. This includes having disobedient words or deeds towards one's direct ancestors, such as accusing or cursing one's grandparents or parents; living separately from one's grandparents or parents while they are alive and not providing for them; getting married or having fun while one's parents are in mourning, removing one's mourning clothes and wearing auspicious clothes; concealing the death of one's grandparents or parents and not expressing grief; or falsely claiming that one's grandparents or parents have died.
The eighth is discord, which refers to murdering or betraying relatives of the fourth rank or above (great-grandparents, cousins, and parents-in-law), beating or accusing the husband, elders of the third rank or above (direct elders, uncles, aunts and uncles), and elders of the fourth rank (grandfather's brothers and sisters, father's cousins, mother's parents and brothers and sisters).

The ninth is injustice, which includes killing one's own prefectural governor, governor, county magistrate, or teacher; killing one's own superior official with a salary of 600 shi or above; and upon hearing of one's husband's death, concealing it and not expressing grief, or making merry, or disrobing for good luck; and remarrying.
The tenth is internal strife, which refers to adultery with relatives of the lower rank or above, the concubines of one's father or grandfather, and those with whom one is in league, that is, engaging in unethical sexual acts with relatives of the lower rank.

As for the remaining eleven general principles excluding the "General Principles Law", the second one is the "Guards and Prohibitions Law", which is the system for palace guards and the management system for passes and fortresses.

The third is the "Regulations on Official Duties," which outlines the rules for punishing officials for their duties and misconduct, namely, the rules governing the punishment of official misconduct and crimes committed in the course of their duties.

The fourth is the "Household and Marriage Law," which governs household registration and marriage, namely, the household registration management and marriage and family system.

The fifth is the "Stable and Warehouse Law," which governs the management of livestock stables and granaries, namely, livestock management and warehouse material storage.

The sixth is the "Law on Unauthorized Construction," which is a regulation for military construction and engineering projects, namely, the standard for military conscription and engineering construction.

The seventh law is the "Law on Theft and Robbery," which is a punishment for theft and violence, namely, the punishment of robbery and violent crimes.

The eighth law is the "Fighting Law," which is the law governing litigation in fights, specifically the regulations governing injuries sustained in fights and the procedures for litigation.

The ninth law is the "Law on Fraud and Deception," which prohibits fraud and deception, and includes provisions for punishing acts of fraud and forgery.

The tenth is the "Miscellaneous Laws," which supplements other laws that are lacking, namely, supplementing criminal acts not covered by other laws.

The eleventh article is the "Law on the Arrest of Fugitives," which contains the articles for arresting and capturing fugitives and escaped conscripts.

The twelfth is the "Law on Adjudicating Cases," which serves as a guide for adjudicating cases and imprisoning prisoners, namely the judicial trial and prison management system.

Man Chong was increasingly alarmed as he looked at it.

During the year that Man Chong studied under Guo Tu, he did not learn much about the essence of law from Guo Tu, but rather learned how to become a cruel official.

For example, the law must be strictly enforced, but if the emperor issues an order, the punishment may be reduced or the offender may be exempted.

For example, if there is a law to follow, and if the emperor needs it, then a reasonable charge can be fabricated for the emperor without leaving any grounds for criticism.

Other important points include how to read between the lines, how to discern the situation, how to conduct torture without inflicting severe harm, and how to ensure that one's own, relatives', or family members do not break the law and give others cause for criticism, and even more so, how to avoid implicating or tarnishing the emperor's reputation.

But today, Man Chong witnessed for the first time Guo Tu's profound knowledge of the law.

Man Chong suddenly stood up and left his seat. He walked to Guo Tu's left side and knelt down in worship. His voice trembled slightly with excitement as he said, "Teacher is truly a rare master of law!"

These twelve general principles are concise and to the point, saving legal officials a great deal of trouble. However, it is impossible for a non-legal scholar to summarize the laws of the Han Dynasty for four hundred years in such a concise way!

Just then, a voice echoed from outside the door: "Of course, the chief eunuch has always been a man of great talent, otherwise he wouldn't be so highly regarded by the country."

Guo Tu looked up and saw that the person speaking was none other than Xuan Fan, the clerk of the Court of Justice. However, he did not respond. Instead, he gestured for Man Chong to step back first. Then, he picked up a tinderbox from his side, lit a fire to boil water, and steadily placed the bronze sieve filled with water on it.

Guo Tu and Xuan Fan sat facing each other in silence, neither of them speaking for a moment.

The only sounds in the air were the soft crackling of firewood and the gentle hum of water heating up. Only when the water in the kettle gurgled and boiled did Guo Tu calmly take a small copper box from his left side, open the lid, and carefully use bamboo tongs to pick out a pinch of roasted tea and put it into the teapot.

Boiling water is poured into the teapot, and the tea leaves unfurl upon contact with the water, releasing a refreshing aroma that immediately rises from the spout, soothing the soul.

However, Guo Tu did not serve the tea immediately. Instead, he tilted his wrist and poured the first brew of tea into a water bowl. Then, he picked up the whisk again and poured in the second batch of boiling water. Watching the tea leaves slowly rise and fall in the water, he then poured a clear and bright tea for himself and Xuan Fan.

Guo Tu raised his cup, looked up at Xuan Fan, and said softly with a smile, "Gongyu, please have a cup of tea first."

Xuan Fan, as the Chief Clerk of the Court of Justice, was Guo Tu's deputy and the fourth-in-command of the Court of Justice.

Guo Tu had always valued him highly, and even recommended him to accompany the emperor on his personal expeditions and serve as the emperor's legal advisor.

What Guo Tu admired most about Xuan Fan was his quiet and reserved nature.

A dog that bites doesn't bark, and Xuan Fan is clearly that dog that bites.

However, a dog that doesn't bark shouldn't be used to guard the house, because such dogs are also difficult to tame.

Look, this dog seems to have forgotten who sent him to the emperor's side so that he could get a share of the spoils.

Xuan Fan picked up the teacup, feeling the warmth emanating from the porcelain with his fingertips, but did not drink it. He gently placed it back on the table and said with a light smile, "Recently, the Emperor has often stayed by my side to consult on the law, so I have to rely on tea to keep myself awake. After drinking so much, I'm getting a little tired of it."

Guo Tu narrowed his eyes slightly, his face still bearing a gentle smile, but a hint of sinister intent flashed deep in his eyes, sending chills down one's spine. He smiled and said, "This tea is a gift from the Emperor. It would be best if you, Gongyu, tasted it."

Look how impressive that is!
She had only been in the Emperor's sights for a few days, yet he wouldn't even give her the courtesy of drinking his tea.

Guo Tu's gaze was fixed intently on Xuan Fan's face, as if it were a physical object.

In the past, when Zhang Tang was the Imperial Censor, he was falsely accused by Chancellor Zhuang Qingzhai and Chancellor's Chief Clerk Zhu Maichen, Wang Chao, and Bian Tong. While Emperor Xiaowu still had doubts, he was betrayed by Xian Xuan, a subordinate who was also a cruel official and whom he had personally promoted. In the end, he had no choice but to commit suicide to prove his innocence.

Although Guo Tu was not afraid of death, he did not want to become another stepping stone for the promotion of a cruel official.

Therefore, although he valued Xuan Fan, he always kept a close watch on him.

After a long while, Xuan Fan finally raised his hand again, picked up the teacup, and only held it under his nose to gently smell the aroma of the tea. He said slowly, "'Buying a mat at Mianting, traveling to and from Luoyang, buying tea in Wuyang, carrying lotus leaves from Yang's pond,' this must be Wuyang tea from Shu?"

Xuan Fan raised her eyes and met Guo Tu's gaze directly, her eyes revealing a hint of unwillingness to back down.

I've been drinking this tea a lot lately while traveling with my companions, and I can tell its type and origin just by smelling its aroma.

"Wang Bao's 'Servant's Contract'? It seems that Gong Yu has recently gained the favor of the state, and even has the leisure to study poetry." Guo Tu gave a forced smile, looked back at Xuan Fan, raised his teacup to his lips, and said, "But that tea is not our own. We subjects can't very well ask the state for a cup of tea every day just for our own pleasure, can we?"

Guo Tu took a small sip, making a soft tasting sound, and sighed, "But I, on the other hand, shamelessly asked the state for a few kilograms. When I want to drink, I just boil a kettle of water and pour it for myself. That's why I invited Gong Yu to taste it with me, but unexpectedly... Gong Yu looks down on my tea-brewing skills."

Xuan Fan's face stiffened. Guo Tu was telling him to recognize his own position. In terms of his importance in the emperor's heart, Xuan Fan was still far from being worthy of respect.

"You flatter me, Lord Guo," Xuan Fan quickly said with a smile, lightly patting his mouth with his hand, "It was my oversight and I was impolite."

As she spoke, Xuan Fan reached for the teacup on the table.

Unexpectedly, Guo Tu preemptively reached out and pressed the teacup to the spot.

“Oh, how could I possibly allow Gongyu to drink tea?” Guo Tu feigned fear, but his tone was cold as he said, “You are now the Emperor’s new favorite, look, this tea… it’s all cold.”

Although it is late autumn and the temperature is gradually turning cooler, there is only a cool breeze, and the ceramic surface of the teacup still feels warm.

"The tea has gone cold, so it should not be drunk anymore."

Guo Tu's fear vanished instantly, replaced by a frosty expression. He sneered, "Gong Yu... please go ahead. I won't see you off."

Xuan Fan stared at Guo Tu, took a deep breath, and then turned and left.

After Xuan Fan left, Man Chong slowly stepped in, picked up the cup of warm tea that had originally been poured for Xuan Fan, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

Guo Tu looked at the empty teacup with slight surprise, then burst into laughter, saying, "You won't drink the hot tea, but insist on holding my cold tea... You lost one thing but gained another!"

"Pet doesn't understand the difference between cold tea and hot tea."

Man Chong smiled and pushed the empty teacup toward Guo Tu, saying, "But my teacher taught me how to survive. To me, he is like a parent. How can I forget his kindness?"

Although he was upright, he was not dull-witted.

What Guo Tu taught were all the survival strategies of cruel officials, which were more precious than legal knowledge.

Furthermore, given the emperor's temperament, would he be stingy with a pot of hot water?

Guo Tu's teacup will never cool down, and he has never thought of changing his allegiance or challenging Guo Tu like Xuan Fan did.

Xuan Fan wanted to challenge Guo Tu's position, firstly because Xuan Fan was thirty-five years old while Guo Tu was only thirty-two. If Xuan Fan wanted to advance, he would eventually have to face Guo Tu.

But Man Chong was different; he was only twenty years old, and the two had a teacher-student relationship.

In order to ensure a peaceful end, Guo Tu would do his best to groom Man Chong as his successor, and Man Chong also demonstrated his attitude to Guo Tu through his actions.

Teacher, I really want to improve!
(4182 words)
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Note 1: Wang Bao was a writer of fu (a type of Chinese prose-poetry) in the Western Han Dynasty. He and Yang Xiong were known as "Yuanyun". He wrote "Tongyue" (a type of fu): "When he buys mats at Mianting, he travels between the capital and Luoyang. He is responsible for finding cosmetics for women and selling them in the small market. When he returns to the capital, he carries hemp. He then goes out to the side streets and sells geese with dogs. When he buys tea in Wuyang, he carries lotus leaves in the pond of the Yang family."

(End of this chapter)