Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

While the new shoots emerging from the medical branch of Xinghuo Fortress's "technology tree" were still tender, like morning dew, another important sub-item under the "Knowledge and Management" branch, which was crucial to the very foundation of order, also began to sprout and take shape under Chen Xing's guidance. This was the "prototype of law."

The nine-character principle of "build high walls, store ample grain, and delay declaring oneself king" provided Xinghuo Fort with a strategic direction for survival and development. The "Order of Merit" and the "Fort Rules" served as the incentive and constraint framework supporting daily operations. However, as the population exceeded 10,000, the controlled territory expanded, economic activities began to emerge, the integration of Han and non-Han peoples deepened, and internal relations became increasingly complex. The relatively simple "Fort Rules" and the principle of "rewarding and punishing according to merit" were no longer sufficient to handle the increasing number of civil disputes, property disputes, and even minor internal crimes in a detailed and fair manner.

Zhao Tiezhu once stormed in to report that two newly arrived migrant households in Dongtun were embroiled in a bitter dispute over the ownership of a small vegetable patch behind their house, almost to the point of armed conflict. The village head could only intervene by force, but neither side was satisfied, each feeling that the other was being favored. Zhou Dashan was also troubled by the situation at the craft workshop, where two skilled carpenters argued over the right to use a new tool, leading to a work stoppage and delaying the production of a batch of plowshares. Li Shu's household registration office was constantly plagued by trivial matters such as loan disputes, defaults on small transactions, neighborhood squabbles, and even marital discord. These issues lacked clear legal basis, consumed a great deal of energy, and were difficult to resolve in a way that satisfied all parties involved.

"Lord, this cannot continue!" Wu Xuejiu said with a worried expression during a small meeting. "Without rules, there can be no order. Our fortress is growing rapidly, and all industries are just beginning to flourish. If we do not have detailed laws and regulations to define boundaries and prevent disputes, resentment will inevitably arise, ruining the harmonious and progressive spirit of our fortress. Moreover, the 'Fortress Rules' mainly concern major military and political matters and principles of prohibition, which are somewhat lax in addressing the details of civilian affairs."

Chen Xing deeply agreed. He knew that a healthy society needed not only military support and an economic foundation, but also a widely accepted, fair, transparent system of rules that could effectively regulate social relations. Law was the formal embodiment of these rules. It was not only a constraint, but also a guarantee—protecting everyone's basic rights from infringement, ensuring fair transactions, and safeguarding stable social expectations.

"What you say is absolutely right, sir," Chen Xing said thoughtfully. "However, enacting laws is no easy task. It must be timely, simple and easy to implement, able to punish evil and reward good, and more importantly, understood, accepted, and even consciously obeyed by the vast majority of the fortress's inhabitants. It should not be too complicated, leaving the common people at a loss; nor should it be too harsh, losing the essence of benevolence and forgiveness."

"I believe we should first establish a trial law," Wu Xuejiu suggested. "It should be called the 'Spark Law Trial Version.' It doesn't need to be comprehensive; let's start by establishing several regulations concerning the issues most prone to disputes and most in need of clarification. These could include land ownership and transactions, loan repayments, fair market transactions, compensation for injury, punishment for theft, marriage and family, and inheritance and property division. Each regulation should be clearly defined and have appropriate penalties. Promulgate it first, implement it for a period of time, observe its effects, solicit public opinion, and then add, delete, and revise it gradually to improve it."

"This method is sound." Chen Xing nodded. "Then please take the lead, sir, with Li Shu assisting, and gather the wise and respected elders in the fort, the fair managers of each garrison, and the officers in the army who are knowledgeable in military law, to discuss and draft it together. There are three principles: First, all fort residents are equal before the law, regardless of whether they are Han or non-Han, regardless of their origin, or regardless of their merits; second, the crime and punishment should be commensurate, with education and discipline as the main approach and physical punishment as a supplement, and the death penalty should be used cautiously; third, the procedure should be fair, and all disputes should have a complaint, a trial, evidence, and a judgment, allowing for reasonable defense."

Wu Xuejiu's spirits lifted: "The principles set by the Fortress Lord are deeply rooted in the essence of law! I will begin immediately!"

The drafting process itself was a profound clash of ideas and an enlightenment of rules. The representatives summoned came from diverse backgrounds and had different understandings of "fairness," "justice," and "punishment." Some insisted on the inescapable principle of "paying back debts and avenging murder with one's life," while others believed that intent and negligence should be distinguished. Some argued that Hu people who broke the law should be punished more severely, while the Murong tribe's representatives fought for equality. Regarding land and housing transactions, the debate raged over whether to follow the "first come, first served" custom of displaced people or require formal contracts and official registration. In terms of marriage and family, the Han Chinese "seven grounds for divorce" and the relatively free marriage customs of the Hu tribes also needed to be reconciled.

Chen Xing did not directly intervene in the debate over specific clauses. Instead, he instructed Wu Xuejiu and Li Shu to record the opinions of all parties in detail and guided everyone to consider: What kind of regulations would be most conducive to long-term harmony and production within the fortress? What would make the majority of people feel at ease and that would be fair? What would best establish Xinghuo Fortress's unique image of order in a chaotic world?

After nearly ten days of repeated debates, compromises, and revisions, a draft of the "Spark Law (Trial Version)" with a total of fifty-three articles has finally been completed. Its content covers multiple aspects such as civil, economic, and criminal matters. Although it is rough, it is well-organized and uses language that strives to be easy to understand.

For example, it clearly states that "any unclaimed wasteland that is reclaimed, after being reported, measured, and cultivated for three years, will be subject to perpetual ownership rights by the reclaimer, which can be passed down to their descendants and can be bought and sold according to law." This establishes the basic rules of land property rights.

"Market transactions must be mutually agreeable, with clearly marked prices. Forced buying and selling, and the substitution of inferior goods for superior ones are prohibited. For major transactions, it is encouraged to draw up contracts, witnessed by the garrison manager or the clerk of the household registration office." This regulated market behavior.

"Those who steal property shall be punished by confiscation of their property and forced labor, depending on the value of the property. Those who injure others shall be punished by paying for medicine and lost wages, depending on the severity of the injury, and shall also be sentenced to hard labor. Those who commit murder shall be sentenced to death only after three verifications." This established relatively reasonable standards for punishing property and personal injuries.

"Marriage among the residents of the fortress requires the consent of both parties and must be reported to the household registration office. Divorce between spouses requires unsuccessful mediation before property can be divided according to law. The buying and selling of people as slaves is prohibited." While respecting some traditions, the text incorporates the concepts of voluntariness and equality.

"In case of any dispute, one may appeal to the garrison magistrate or the household registration office. The magistrate and clerk shall conduct a fair trial, allowing both parties to present their statements and evidence. Those who are dissatisfied may appeal to the fortress lord's mansion, where a panel of judges, including Wu Xuejiu, shall conduct a retrial. The establishment of private courts and the use of private torture are strictly prohibited." This established the initial litigation procedure.

After the draft was completed, Chen Xing convened a larger review meeting, reading and explaining each clause to representatives from various settlements, artisan workshops, military centurions and above, and elders of the Murong clan, and soliciting public opinions. The response was enthusiastic; although there were some disagreements on details, the vast majority of people expressed support and anticipation for establishing such a clear and relatively fair set of rules.

After finalizing the draft, Chen Xing selected a day to hold a simple promulgation ceremony in the central square of the fort. On the high platform, Wu Xuejiu solemnly read out the full text of "Spark Law (Trial Version)," and literate clerks posted the copied text around the square and at the notice boards of various settlements, announcing that it would be implemented on a trial basis for six months, and would be revised and improved after six months based on the implementation.

The life of the law lies in its implementation. Shortly after its promulgation, several typical cases quickly tested the effectiveness and authority of this trial law.

The first case was the long-standing vegetable plot dispute in Dongtun. One household insisted on being the first to occupy the land, while the other claimed that the other had encroached on their extended land boundary. The two sides went to the village management office again, threatening to resolve the matter according to the "old rules." The newly appointed village manager did not compromise, but strictly adhered to the provisions of the "Spark Law" regarding "ownership of land and houses is determined by registration and measurement" and "disputes over adjacent ownership require on-site inspection." He personally went to the site with measuring tools and several impartial elderly neighbors to remeasure the original boundaries between the land and the vegetable plot. Ultimately, he ruled that most of the vegetable plot belonged to the first occupant, but that half of it must be ceded to the neighbor for passage and drainage. The ruling was based on legal provisions, the process was transparent, and the result was relatively fair. Although both sides were still somewhat resentful, they could no longer voice their "unfairness" and could only accept the outcome.

The second case involved a blacksmith's workshop. A blacksmith's apprentice reported that his master was secretly replacing good iron materials in the workshop with other materials and selling them to vendors outside the fortress for profit. Upon learning of this, Zhou Dashan did not punish him directly as he usually did. Instead, based on the provisions of the "Spark Law" regarding "embezzlement by a custodian" and "meritorious reporting," he first detained the blacksmith involved, sealed the records, and then had Li Shu send people to investigate and collect evidence. After verification, the blacksmith was sentenced according to the law to compensate for the losses, have his illegal gains confiscated, and be sentenced to three months of forced labor. The apprentice, because his report was true and part of the losses were recovered, received a merit award. This incident caused a stir in the workshop, deterring those who were greedy and encouraging a spirit of integrity.

The third case is more nuanced. A young warrior from the Murong tribe fell in love with a Han Chinese woman in the fortress and wished to marry her. However, some elders in the woman's family, influenced by outdated ideas, were critical of inter-Han marriages and imposed many harsh conditions to obstruct the union. The couple, left with no other option, sought help from the household registration office. Li Shu, based on the "Spark Law" which stipulates "voluntary marriage and prohibition of interference," and with the assistance of the Murong tribe elders and several respected elders in the fortress, mediated the dispute. Ultimately, under the influence of the law and the persuasion of many, the woman's family reluctantly agreed, but the wedding was to be simplified. Although this matter was not entirely satisfactory, the Spark Law provided the most basic legal support for such cross-ethnic unions, and its symbolic significance is immense.

The handling and outcomes of several cases quickly spread throughout the fortress through word of mouth among the stewards and clerks. People discovered that this new set of laws seemed to genuinely "reason," providing a relatively fair platform for resolving disputes, rather than relying solely on the personal likes and dislikes of the stewards or whoever had the strongest fist or the loudest voice. Although it was not yet perfect and deviations were inevitable in its implementation, the sense of security it brought—that there was "a law to follow"—began to quietly take root in people's hearts.

Standing on the fortress wall, Chen Xing looked down at the orderly streets and alleys below and the figures working in the fields in the distance. He said to Murong Mingyue beside him, "Law is like the foundation of this fortress. It is invisible and intangible, but once it is established, people's hearts have a basis, and disputes have a standard. Only then can this fortress truly have the backbone of 'order'."

Murong Mingyue nodded. She understood the importance of rules better than most people: "The grassland tribes also have rules, but they are mostly oral traditions. When problems arise, they are often resolved by the chieftain's decision or by force. Your written laws are clearer and more... constant. However, it will take time for everyone to truly get used to them and trust them."

"That's right." Chen Xing gazed at the rising sunset on the horizon. "The rudimentary form of the law has emerged. The next step is to use time and countless fair judgments to polish and perfect it, so that it truly transforms from mere words on paper into rules and beliefs flowing in the blood of Starfire Fortress. This may be more difficult than building a ten-foot-high wall, but it is also more fundamental."

The setting sun cast a golden glow over Xinghuo Fortress, illuminating the newly posted, still-freshly inscribed "Xinghuo Law" notices. In this chaotic land, a seedling called "Rule of Law" is attempting to take root and grow with its weak yet unwavering strength. It will protect not only bricks and grains, but also the deep-seated yearning for fairness and order in people's hearts.