Medieval: Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Chapter 134 Two Governments and Three Courts

The town government and the governor's mansion were set up, but Peter, touching his increasingly empty purse, always felt that something was missing.

"Having people to handle affairs and fight battles isn't enough," he thought to himself. "We also need people to maintain order, people to offer advice, and finally—someone to remind everyone to be good people."

Thus, three new pieces were added to the power puzzle of the Troskii territory.

The first section, from the Judicial Yuan: From "legal illiteracy" to "three-point agreement"

Peter first abolished the aristocratic courts that treated commoners as less than human beings, and established a new judicial body—the Court of Justice. This court covered both civil and criminal cases, encompassing all matters concerning vassals, serfs, free people, nobles, and clergy. It also stripped nobles and clergy of their legal immunity.

Peter served concurrently as the Chief Justice, with only one subordinate, the scribe Gable. There were far too few literate people in the territory, and not a single legal text to refer to. This is why Henry, after being caught breaking and entering, murdering, arson, stealing chickens and cattle, and poisoning animals, could escape punishment as long as he could persuade the guards—because everyone was legally illiterate!

Medieval law consisted of three main parts: Roman law, canon law, and commercial law.

Rome once had a glorious past and a relatively complete legal system. However, with the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Germanic, Gaulish, Saxon, and Slavic peoples became dominant, and Roman law was abandoned. Each kingdom habitually used its own traditional customs instead of its legal code, resulting in a great deal of inconsistency between laws across kingdoms and even within different territories. This led to the saying, "Five people together, five laws." But from the 12th century onwards, driven by commercial development, Roman law began to revive. Contract law, marriage law, family and inheritance law, criminal law, and procedural law emerged one after another.

Canon law, marked by the 12th-century Edict of Gratianus, expanded its jurisdiction through ecclesiastical courts, demonstrating the judicial authority of the Catholic Church. Later institutions such as the Inquisition and witch hunts were based on canon law.

Commercial law developed with the revival of trade in the 11th century. It originated from local trade customs and was influenced by Roman law, such as the maritime codes like the Amalfi Tables and the Aurelion Code, gradually forming a unified set of rules in Western Europe.

Unfortunately, all three legal systems mentioned above were written and disseminated in Latin. In a small place like Trotsky, without a written text, these systems couldn't be effectively implemented. Peter was forced to simply compile a three-chapter set of "Customary Law of the Trotsky Territory" to routinely adjudicate cases.

But he knew in his heart that these "three rules" were just a temporary measure. "When the opportunity arises, I must go to a big city and invite a few knowledgeable legal professionals back," Peter secretly resolved.

The second section, the Senate: an honorary "retirement club".

Immediately afterwards, Peter announced the establishment of a "Senate." Upon hearing this, several village chiefs and some respected elders were intrigued—Senate members? That sounded impressive!

But Peter quickly defined the nature of this new institution: "This Senate is not that Senate (in ancient Rome). Ours is mainly to honor elders who have made significant contributions to the territory, such as retired artisans, successful merchants, wounded veterans, and even—cooperative clergy and surrendered nobles."

To put it bluntly, this is a "high-class retirement home" that provides honors and stipends but no real power. Peter has his own plans:

Firstly, respecting the elderly and caring for the young is a traditional virtue;

Secondly, the elderly are experienced and can offer advice at crucial moments;

Thirdly, the elderly have limited energy and are not as capable of causing trouble, making them easier to manage.

"Trying to emulate the Roman Senate's assassination attempt on Caesar? Not a chance!" Peter sneered inwardly. "Not a chance with me!"

The third section is the Morality Academy.

Finally, Peter thought of something more ethereal yet crucial: virtue.

These days, the so-called eight virtues of chivalry (humility, honor, sacrifice, courage, compassion, honesty, spirit, etc.) are often dismissed.

Fairness sounds nice, but very few people can truly practice it like Hannah. Most nobles, like von Polgár, would betray without batting an eye.

"We need a department specifically to remind everyone what they should and shouldn't do," Peter pondered. "In the East, this job is called 'Imperial Censor,' a position for upright scholars. But here—"

His self-illumination shone upon Fathers Nicholas and Nicholas in the castle chapel. Using the power of the church to regulate morality was the most natural approach in the Middle Ages, although he had reservations about expanding the church's influence.

Soon, the Confucian Academy was established, and the round-faced Father Nicholas was appointed as its director, with the overly enthusiastic Father Nicholas as his deputy.

Peter defined their responsibilities:

Eight Rules of Public Morality (for Official Duties): Uphold justice, protect the territory, be dedicated to one's work, be loyal to the lord, and refrain from corruption and bribery.

Eight principles of private morality (for private matters): Filial piety towards parents, fidelity between spouses, honesty and trustworthiness, and compassion for the weak.

Violators will face penalties ranging from verbal warnings to public caning and even forced labor. Serious crimes such as embezzlement and fraud will be directly transferred to the Judicial Yuan.

Upon receiving the appointment, Father Nicholas clenched his chubby hands, looking worried: "Sir Peter, just the two of us—if we go out and criticize other people's morals, won't we get beaten up?"

Father Nicholas, standing nearby, had a gleam in his eyes. His previous attempts to "resist temptation" on the post station street had gone unheeded, but now he felt he had finally obtained a "royal sword": "What are you afraid of! We have God's watchful eye, and the Lord's decree! Sir Peter," he turned to Peter, eager to try, "regarding marital fidelity, I think the bathhouse in Zhelyov is a big problem! Should we include it in our crackdown?"

Peter quickly raised his hand to stop him: "Ahem—well, there's no rush. Moral development must be done step by step. Your current focus is on keeping an eye on the newly established departments to prevent anyone from abusing their power for embezzlement and bribery."

Watching the two priests—one apprehensive, the other excited—leave to carry out their orders, Peter rubbed his temples. He knew all too well that with power, even the smallest bit, people would always want to use it for something. With so many new departments and civil servants suddenly appearing in the town government, signs of corruption were probably hard to avoid.

"Do your best and leave the rest to fate," he sighed.

Thus, the basic framework for the administration of the Troskii territory was established: the town government managed affairs, the military governor's office managed the military, the judiciary managed the law, the senator's council provided advice, and the council of virtue managed morality. These five pillars supported Peter's ambitious blueprint for the territory.