Chapter Seven: Joy

It is indeed true; looking across the entire Anlu County, where can one find a diligent official like Xi, who can meticulously transcribe the entire Qin law and recite it fluently from memory

In fact, there is another statement that has not been explicitly mentioned.

Until July of this year, Xi's mother passed away, and Xi returned to his hometown to bury her and observe the mourning period. During the more than two months without Xi's assistance, the county magistrate was astonished to find that his workload had actually increased by more than three times! Other officials in charge of governance, judicial matters, and document handling also found that without Xi's meticulous management, there were numerous oversights.

With such thoughts in mind, he happily picked up the pen from the desk, sharpened it, and strode out.

Over the years, although he has diligently devoted himself to his work and has not been involved in any wrongful cases, he has not achieved any remarkable accomplishments. Therefore, the magistrate of Anlu County initially regarded him as an ordinary subordinate

He spoke earnestly, saying: "We, the minor officials of this region, though we do not dare to claim that our actions can assist the great king in unifying the realm, nor do we dare to assert that we can make the State of Qin prosperous. However, at the very least, we must not allow our negligence to lead to the weakening of the nation..."

In the Qin state system, the county is governed by a county magistrate, who administers from the county temple, holding a bronze seal with a black ribbon and a rank of 600 shi. The county deputy serves as the subordinate official, managing affairs from the county prison, holding a bronze seal with a yellow ribbon and a rank of 400 shi

It was arranged as follows: "Anger, your fierce and intimidating voice instills fear in others, so you shall be responsible for questioning the three thieves and intimidating them a little."

However, aside from the official status of the pavilion chief, the case encountered today is not complicated. There are already strategies in place for how to handle the trial, so I asked the county magistrate for guidance

Cheng Xing in Anlu County realized that Xi was indeed his right-hand man in governing the criminal justice system of Anlu, and he could not afford to neglect him

Le, you have a kind face and a pleasant voice, so you are responsible for inquiring with the three volunteers, ensuring that they do not panic and can wait for the news calmly

Xi stopped writing, raised his head, and coldly said: "As the head of the pavilion, to know the law yet break it, shows that he is a reckless person. I have heard that he has some background in his family, and you may not be able to handle him. Let me go and meet him in person."

On this day at dusk, in the official temple of Anlu County, within the main hall of the county jail, the county magistrate of Anlu finally concluded a day of work. As he lifted his head from the mountain of bamboo slips, he heard a minor official at the door reporting that the jailer Xi had returned.

In my view, this case can be divided into two parts. First, it concerns the merchant Bao who reported the case of robbery and plunder. Second, it involves Shi Wu, He Fu, and Ji Ying who reported the case against the chief of Hu Yang Pavilion and sought to claim credit and rewards for the theft... Only by establishing the crimes of the robbers in the former case and the circumstances of their capture can the latter case be adjudicated

The county magistrate frowned, as this matter involved a pavilion chief who knew the law yet broke it, making it somewhat tricky. Moreover, he had been busy with paperwork for the past two months and was eager for Xi to return to share some of the workload. He stroked his beard and said, "Since this is a case you encountered on your journey, and Shi Wu Heifu has also brought it to your attention, let it be for you to adjudicate, how does that sound?"

After stepping out, the county magistrate saw Xi from a distance and laughed heartily, saying: "At last, I have been able to welcome you!"

You are back so soon

Shang Jun said, those who govern by day are kings, those who govern by night are strong, and those who govern by lodging are diminished

In the Qin state system, the large counties established two officials, the Right and Left Commanders, responsible for the suppression of theft and military service. The Left Commander was the fourth highest official in Anlu County, ranking above the County Magistrate. The reason the County Magistrate entrusted this case to Xi for adjudication was to avoid enmity with the Left Commander

However, the county magistrate of Anlu was well aware that this individual, known for his "joy," was not an ordinary subordinate. This person had served as a clerk and an official in Anlu County for many years and was renowned for his competence. Later, he was transferred to the neighboring Yan County to serve as a prison clerk, responsible for legal inquiries and the execution of laws, earning a reputation for impartial law enforcement that even reached back to Anlu.

Anger and joy exchanged glances at each other, isn't it just overtime work? How did it escalate to national affairs?

A country that can handle all its administrative affairs on the same day can claim supremacy in the world; if it takes until the night to complete them, the country can still be strong; however, if it is delayed until the next day, such a country will be weakened

Absolutely no refusal

The family of Left Guard has a significant background in Anlu County, cultivating numerous connections. If the matter cannot be resolved swiftly, it is feared that prolonged delays may lead to complications, providing opportunities for manipulation and corruption.

Indeed, Xi pointed upwards and quoted a saying by Shang Yang

... ...

It is also a coincidence that his subordinate is named, Le often jokingly said to Nu, if we could find someone named "Ai" to handle the paperwork, then our small office would have all four emotions of "joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness".

The county magistrate was immediately overjoyed and hurriedly adjusted his attire, intending to personally go out to welcome him

As for the individuals such as Hu Yangting and Qiu Dao...

"You are truly decisive and efficient, Your Excellency. I have complete confidence in your ability to handle matters." The county magistrate was very pleased and thus felt at ease to take a back seat, allowing Xi to make decisions on his own

The county magistrate helped Xi up and found that he was still the same as before, often keeping a roll of bamboo slips in his clothing for easy reference while eating or traveling. His fingers were always stained with ink; who knows how many laws and regulations he had to copy in a single day

Xiqi shook his head and said, "It seems that during my absence these past two months, you all have become quite lax."

There is no need to wait until tomorrow; anger and joy, you all immediately follow me out, and we will conduct the interrogation overnight

How could a lowly official dare to let the county magistrate personally welcome him, it truly is a great humiliation for me

Tomorrow morning

Nu and Le both responded affirmatively, stating that they would attend to these matters first thing tomorrow morning

After bidding farewell to the county magistrate, he hurriedly made his way to his office, where his two subordinates, the clerk "Nu" and the jailer "Le", had been waiting for some time.

The responsibilities of the county magistrate include assisting the county governor in managing administrative affairs, which is equivalent to the later position of deputy county head and concurrently the head of the court. The prison clerk, on the other hand, is merely a subordinate official under the county magistrate responsible for litigation and criminal matters, akin to the presiding judge of a court. As a superior, it is truly unnecessary to personally welcome them.

Although he was happy, he had no time to joke. While writing the "Feng Zhen Shi" on the desk, which refers to the principles and procedures of the case's interrogation, he said: "You should know that before the interrogation begins, it is necessary to ascertain the names, identities, and places of origin of both the accused and the informant"

He has already heard that the perpetrator, the head of Huyang Pavilion, is actually the nephew of the county's left guard (the deputy director of the Public Security Bureau)

The two returned to the hall hand in hand. The county magistrate expressed his condolences regarding the funeral at the Xi family, but Xi had already moved past the pain of losing his mother. This workaholic did not engage in much small talk with his superior; instead, he got straight to the point, discussing the case encountered today while passing by the Huyang Pavilion, and inquired who would be responsible for it

Xi also stated that the three thieves have now been confined in the county jail, and a physician has been arranged to treat the injured thief and stop the bleeding. The accusers and defendants of both cases have also been brought back by him, and the formal proceedings can soon commence

"Xijun has truly not changed at all," the county magistrate thought to himself

Xi was born in the forty-fifth year of King Zhao of Qin, and is now thirty-six years old. He has dark black hair tied in a crown, a pair of arrow-shaped mustaches on his lips, and is dressed in a narrow-sleeved deep robe, presenting the standard attire of a scholar-official. Upon meeting the county magistrate who came to greet him, he hurriedly performed a bow and humbly expressed his unworthiness.

Nu and Le quickly acknowledged this. Since they learned that their superior had returned, they understood that their days of working overtime and enduring hardships were back again. Fortunately, this prison officer was experienced in handling cases and was fully aware of what methods to employ for different types of individuals.

In the fifteenth year of King Zheng of Qin, Xi once again took up the pen to join the military and participated in the Qin state's campaign against the Zhao state. He was stationed in Pingyang, where he achieved merit and was promoted to the fifth rank of "Dafu." Of course, this title of Dafu is not the same concept as that during the Spring and Autumn period; it merely represents a middle-ranking nobility that is not particularly high. Subsequently, Xi was transferred by the governor of Nanjun back to the poorly governed Anlu County to serve as a jailer, with the hope that he could restrain unlawful activities.

Xi has few hobbies, but he has a particular fondness for reviewing cases and copying the Qin laws, and he can easily resolve any difficult cases. After more than two months without contact with the criminal justice system, Xi feels uncomfortable all over; he is like a rusty steel knife, in urgent need of a case to hone his skills.

Both Nu and Le felt a tingling sensation on their scalps; the person this superior admired the most was Shang Jun, as he liked to emulate him in everything and always spoke highly of him

He stood up and began to instruct the two: "As early as the time of Shang Jun's reforms, it was required that the government must handle the day's affairs without delay, and they must not be postponed until the next day"

The two nodded: "This is natural"

Similar to modern legal proceedings, the litigation and trial processes in the Qin state followed a fixed procedure. For a case to enter this process, it was essential for someone to report it, which would serve as the starting point for a trial. If the victim reported the case themselves, it was termed as "self-reporting," which is equivalent to the modern concept of a "plaintiff."