Ming Dynasty man

Chapter 417 Misfortunes Never Come Alone
And what Zhang Tongchang pointed out is indeed what Li Jing did not think of. Li Jing just revised the Daming Law and added some laws to protect the New Deal in the Daming Law, but the legal effect of the Daming Law is under the emperor, so it is difficult bound to the emperor.

The constitution is different. The status of the constitution is higher than that of the emperor. As long as the previous emperor signs and approves the constitution, it will be difficult for the subsequent emperor to overthrow it, unless the dynasty changes, or the emperor revises the constitution after regaining power.

Regarding the change of dynasty, Li Jing believes that there is a possibility of this, but the possibility of the emperor wanting to regain power will become smaller and smaller as time goes by.

With the gradual change in the view of the divine right of the monarch, how could the cabinet ministers easily give up their power and be controlled by the emperor again?If someone wanted to restore the emperor, wouldn't he be taken down immediately?
But these cabinet ministers must be given a reasonable basis for their appointment, and this basis is the Constitution.

After pondering for a while, Li Jing suddenly said seriously: "Tong Chang, during this period of time, you should sort out the system I implemented, and then study the laws of the Ming Dynasty and the laws of previous dynasties, and then we will formulate a constitution."

"Wansheng obeys!" Zhang Tongchang cupped his hands.

After pondering for a while, Zhang Tongchang continued: "However, the laws of the Ming Dynasty and the laws of previous dynasties contain a lot of content. It takes a lot of time to read and ponder thoroughly. I'm afraid I don't have time to be by your side during this period of time." Helped you draft the paperwork."

Li Jingwen nodded silently, knowing what Zhang Tongchang said was true.

Because "Da Ming Law" is not just a simple criminal law, it is a law formulated by Zhu Yuanzhang after summarizing the experience and lessons of the implementation of laws in the past dynasties. It is divided into six laws, namely: official law, household law, ritual law, military law, Criminal law, industrial law.

What Li Jing revised at the beginning was mainly the criminal law, criminal name and criminal punishment.

"Law of the Ming Dynasty" has many names of punishments and punishments, and within the five punishments of cane, staff, imprisonment, exile, and death, there are many tricks.For example, there are many types of death penalty, including beheading, beheading, hanging, Ling Chi, and killing corpses.

Li Jing didn't think these punishments were too cruel. When he was an agent to extract a confession, he had done more cruel things than this, but Li Jing thought it was unnecessary.

For example, in the most severe Lingchi, only the tortured can feel the taste of it. The bystanders have not suffered the pain, and have no idea how painful this punishment is.If it was to punish the criminal, it would just make him suffer a little more, and he would die in the end.

Another example is killing corpses, people are dead, what's the use of killing corpses, let alone killing corpses, so what if they are burned to ashes?
Moreover, Li Jing knew that these punishments would eventually be cancelled, so why wait for future generations to cancel them?
Although many tortures have been canceled, it does not mean that Li Jing's punishment has been reduced. On the contrary, Li Jing's punishment may be heavier.

If Li Jing is not punished, he will be fine. If he is punished, he will go bankrupt, or he will go to jail.

In Li Jing's view, turning a rich man into a poor man is the most severe punishment for him, and putting him in prison for life for those who regard the law as a trifle is the most severe punishment. .

Of course, Li Jing, who should be killed, was absolutely unambiguous, and Li Jing even killed many people who could be killed or not.

Li Jing believes that the means of punishment do not need to be too many, but they must be severe.

There are no ambiguous words in the laws enacted by Li Jing. What is a few years to a few years in prison? How is this number of years defined?Who will define it?If you spend money to bribe, can you reduce the number of years?Li Jing would never allow this kind of situation to happen, and it would be a few years, not even one day less.On this point, Li Jing very much agrees with the "Da Gao" compiled by Zhu Yuanzhang.

In fact, the reason why Li Jing only changed the criminal law and punishment name was because Li Jing was only the bandit leader in Hongshanling at that time, and he had limited power in his hands, and he had no access to some things at all.

For example, the law of etiquette refers to the laws and regulations on sacrifice and etiquette. As the leader of the bandits in Hongshanling, Li Jing has a use for this thing.

But now that Li Jing wants to formulate a constitution, these laws and regulations must be carefully studied. Those related to the national level must be written into the constitution, and those below the national level should be included in specific laws.

However, it is obviously not possible to study these things thoroughly in a day or two.

Hearing Zhang Tongchang said that he could not help him draft documents for the time being, Li Jing knew that Zhang Tongchang was reluctant to take this job. After all, it was easier to get his appreciation and respect when he was by his side.

With a smile, Li Jing said: "There are many people who draft documents, but there are not many talents like you. Especially the formulation of the constitution is far more important than you drafting documents for me. Tong Chang, you work hard, If you can join the cabinet in the future, it will also be regarded as revitalizing the prestige of the Zhang family."

Zhang Tongchang was overjoyed upon hearing this, bowed his head and said, "Thank you for your support, Lord Guo, I will never forget the teachings of Lord Guo in my later life."

Li Jingjing nodded, picked up his teacup and was about to drink tea, when he heard hurried footsteps outside the door.

Zhang Tongchang was overjoyed upon hearing this, bowed his head and said, "Thank you for your support, Lord Guo, I will never forget the teachings of Lord Guo in my later life."

Li Jing waved his hand, picked up his teacup and was about to drink tea, when he heard hurried footsteps outside the door, and then Xiao Wu exclaimed: "Mr. Xu, why are you dressed like this? Could it be Mr. Xu..."

Then he heard Mr. Xu crying: "Fifth brother, my father ordered me to report the funeral to the commander-in-chief."

Hearing these words, Li Jing only felt his head thump, his hands trembled, and the teacup fell to the ground and shattered.

Li Jing didn't wake up until Xiao Wu brought Mr. Xu into the house, and Mr. Xu knelt down on the ground and cried bitterly.

Ordering Xiaowu to pull Mr. Xu up, Li Jing hurriedly asked: "Ermo, don't cry, when did you go?"

Xu Ermo wiped his tears and said: "Back to Commander, half an hour ago, my father wanted to feed my ancestors medicine, only to find that my ancestors had passed away."

Li Jingwen nodded silently. During this time, Li Jing would visit Xu Guangqi whenever he had time. The imperial physician told Li Jing yesterday that Xu Guangqi was exhausted and could not survive for a few days, but he didn't want to. Xu Guangqi died the next day. .

Thinking of Xu Guangqi's hard work for Daming all his life, a few days ago, when I was still conscious, I asked Xu Guangqi what wish he had. Xu Guangqi smiled and shook his head. Li Jing couldn't help feeling sad, and tears fell down.

Seeing that Li Jing was sad, Zhang Tongchang tugged on Li Jing's sleeve lightly: "Master Xu, Mr. Xu is here to ask you to make up your mind, you can't be messed up."

Li Jing was startled, and only then remembered the purpose of the Xu family's coming to report the funeral.Wiping away his tears, Li Jing turned his head and said to Xiao Wu: "Send someone to notify the emperor and the officials in the court immediately, tell them that Mrs. Xu is dead, and let everyone go to Xu's mansion for the funeral. In addition, notify the people in the Ministry of Rites, and handle it according to the national funeral ceremony." Xu's funeral."

Hearing that Li Jing asked the emperor to go to the funeral and handle the funeral according to the national funeral, Xu Ermo hurriedly knelt down on the ground, and kowtowed repeatedly: "Nephew thank you, Marshal."

Li Jing waved his hands, choked up and said, "Don't thank me, this is the honor Mr. Xu deserves."

After thinking about it, Li Jing turned to Zhang Tongchang and said, "Tongchang, help me write an essay in memory of Mr. Xu."

Zhang Tongchang nodded, and said to Xu Ermo: "Mr. Xu, don't cry, first tell me Mr. Xu's birthday and life expectancy."

Xu Ermo nodded, knowing that Li Jing wanted to commend Xu Guangqi's achievements in his life. The so-called final conclusion, Xu Guangqi's death must be written by countless people, but Li Jing's memorial is the most important.

Although sacrificial texts are generally written by himself, Xu Ermo knows that Li Jing's literary talents in this area are limited. It's not that Li Jing doesn't want to write, but Li Jing is afraid that he can't write well, so he asks the people around him to do it for him. As for Li Jing's side Those who are willing to do so will definitely follow Li Jing's meaning, and will definitely write a sacrificial oration with hype.

After Xu Ermo wrote down Xu Guangqi's birthday and life expectancy, Li Jing said: "You go back to the mansion first to help your father prepare some affairs, and the emperor and I will go there in a while."

Xu Ermo hurriedly responded, and kowtowed three more times before getting up and leaving.

After Xu Ermo left, Li Jing slumped down on the chair, silently startled.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Wu came in and reported back: "Marshal, the emperor is here."

After hearing this, Li Jingwen got up and asked Zhu Youjian to come in and take a seat.

Seeing that Li Jing was depressed, Zhu Youjian said hastily: "Brother Li, please take care of your health!"

Li Jing nodded silently.

After a while, after calculating that all the courtiers should have arrived at the Xu Mansion, Li Jing stood up and said: "Your Majesty, let's go."

Zhu Youjian nodded slightly, and said in a low voice, "Sit on my imperial chariot."

Li Jing was taken aback and sighed.

Zhu Youjian asked Li Jing to sit in the imperial chariot with him not to put on any airs. The emperor went to the funeral in person. Only when the matter is solemn can he show respect for Xu Guangqi, and the bigger the show, the more important it is.If Zhu Youjian and Li Jing follow the car lightly, then they will not pay attention to Xu Guangqi.

Li Jing's heart was full of sadness at this moment, where did he expect to get these details?
But Zhu Youjian is not a fool. Now Li Jing does not allow him to intervene in political affairs. Li Jing respects Xu Guangqi so much. face?
However, Zhu Youjian is also a little worried. If Xu Guangqi dies and the scene is too big, what will happen when Yuan Keli dies?
You must know that Yuan Keli is Li Jing's teacher, and in Li Jing's mind, he has a higher status than Xu Guangqi. If the scene of Xu Guangqi's death is too big, Yuan Keli will not be able to arrange it. Do you want him and all the courtiers to come? Pingyang Mansion to attend Yuan Keli's funeral?

Zhu Youjian knew that Pingyang Mansion is now sending an urgent report to the capital every day to report Yuan Keli's situation.

Zhu Youjian was with Li Jing every day, and he was very clear about Yuan Keli's current situation. He knew that Yuan Keli's days were numbered, and it was probably just a few days.

If the time between the deaths of Xu Guangqi and Yuan Keli had been longer, Li Jing might not have cared about those details, but with such a short time interval, the scenes of the two were clear at a glance, and Zhu Youjian really didn't know what he should do when the time came.

As the saying goes, blessings never come singly until misfortunes never come singly, and there is another saying that what you are afraid of will come.

Li Jing and Zhu Youjian had just sat on the imperial chariot, and before they left the palace, a guard hurried into the palace gate with a man dressed in filial piety.

Xiao Wu was startled when he saw it, and hurriedly stopped the imperial chariot, and said to Li Jing: "Marshal, Yuan Fucheng entered the palace dressed in filial piety, it seems that Mr. Yuan has already passed away."

(End of this chapter)