Chapter 3: The Great Ming Code is at my disposal

Shen Shuren nodded slightly: "In that case, we should expedite making the Zheng family feel that we are united with them, facilitating their swift arrangement to bring Zheng Sen to Suzhou, so that we can have the opportunity to resolve matters decisively thereafter"

As long as it can facilitate Zheng Sen's prompt arrival in Suzhou, this matter will be one step closer to ultimate success

However, in a year of great disaster, even a little food had to be imported from Japan, which is excessive

After getting up, he first engages in some physical exercise to work up a sweat, and then proceeds to wash up and have his meal

As for why the length is so considerable, it is primarily because the books brought by Shen Fu not only include the statutes from the Hongwu period but also the regulations added later

If the previous step has not been completed, is it not too reckless to proceed with parallel operations for other preparations

He remains quite optimistic at heart

Once the mind is drawn to this misguided path, subsequent negative influences will inevitably surge forth uncontrollably

Shen Shuren was well aware that even if he ultimately managed to deceive the heavens and reach Nanjing without provoking the Zheng family, he would merely have fulfilled Yang Sichang's task at a minimum level, merely earning a meager reward for his efforts

Qing Zhi: "This is a cold cake made from Japanese agar and konjac used in the kitchen, with added mint leaves from Dayuan, said to help cool down and ease digestion—these medicinal ingredients were all brought by the guests who came to visit yesterday."

Shen Fu pondered for a moment and said with some unease, "I haven't heard of such a book, but it seems that the 'Li Lu' in the 'Great Ming Code' contains these contents. How about I first find the 'Great Ming Code' and then confirm it with the clerk?"

Once the system has been established, the next issue is to determine the units responsible for its implementation

Zhu Yuanzhang had a particular aversion to the "changes in the law of succession," which is why the provisions of the Great Ming Code remained unaltered for over two hundred years. However, the early laws were too rudimentary, and many new developments were not addressed at all, forcing the successors to create additional regulations outside the law.

Although committing a tangible crime is not feasible, what if one were to study the "Great Ming Code," meticulously design a case, and find some justifications for the illegality, similar to "acting in defense of justice / justifiable defense"? What would the outcome be?

This remark reminded Shen Shuren, and he immediately had a thought: "Father, since I have decided to take a different path to Nanjing, I should also make some preparations regarding the Zheng family to ease their concerns.

Go find a copy of the "Great Ming Code" immediately

However, Suzhou belongs to the Southern Direct Control.

Shen Shuren calmed down and understood that devising a strategy could not be rushed, so he returned to his room that night and rested first

Fortunately, Shen Shuren deliberately studied with specific questions in mind, reading as if he were using a search engine to directly hit the key points, swiftly flipping past the irrelevant sections.

Although a final solution has not yet been found, the thought process has advanced a step further

As long as it can be achieved, when nitpicking words and adhering to regulations, it may appear to be a crime. However, if we consider it from the perspective of 'Spring and Autumn Annals of Justice, taking its original meaning,' it is not a crime, and thus an appeal can be made. By the way, it is necessary to first confirm whether the appeal is to be made in Nanjing

Zheng Hongkui, in order to secure my cooperation, had no choice but to reveal the details of their plan. He stated that the Zheng family would formally respond to the Imperial Academy, agreeing to allow Zheng Sen to go to Nanjing, assuring me that I need not worry about any coincidences

Shen Shuren let out a sigh

Shen Tingyang, upon hearing this question, was not worried at all; instead, he rarely showed a hint of pride.

Indeed ... time waits for no one. Alas, had I known you were so adept at reasoning and understanding human relationships, I should have trained you earlier in handling the intricacies of official social interactions. Let us proceed with this matter as you suggested.

In accordance with the principle of "silence while eating," no one spoke a word during the meal

The task assigned by Elder Yang has been considered as completed at the very least, and the Zheng family cannot obstruct it

This efficiency is evidently many times higher than that of those who engage in superficial reading.

... ...

Furthermore, when it comes to crime, if one truly leaves a criminal record, how can one still gain admission to the Imperial Academy? Xue Pan acted impulsively without thinking, while I plan my actions carefully and must certainly do better.

Historically, Zheng Sen and his son Zheng Zhilong had completely different attitudes towards the Ming court. Zheng Zhilong was solely concerned with the interests of his family, while Zheng Sen genuinely resisted the Qing dynasty.

Shen Shuren did not express a clear opinion

The potential conflicts that may exist within the Zheng family are also part of the future operational space for Shen Shuren. It is much easier to entice a rebellious teenager to rebel against his father than to directly confront a cunning and shrewd warlord

It is now the end of May, and we must complete everything by July. We also need to account for the time spent on the road, leaving us with little time remaining.

It seems that the new companions chosen by his father are all carefully nurtured by the family, and at the very least, they have received an education

In order to truly exceed the task, it is necessary to make Yang Sichang realize that "even if the Shen family members go, the Zheng family may still evade responsibility." Then, through the actions of the Shen family, Zheng Sen should be lured to Nanjing, which would signify a complete success and provide Yang Sichang with an unexpected delight

For instance, he first confirmed that the Ming Dynasty no longer had the form of "judicial interpretation" known as the "Da Gao"; this was relatively common in the early Ming period, especially favored by Zhu Yuanzhang

The remaining issue is merely how to design the specific case.

Shen Fu turned and left, while Shen Shuren silently reflected: his understanding of the laws of the Ming Dynasty was surprisingly inferior to that of a mere follower, mistakenly believing that the "Great Ming Code" was solely a criminal law

When Shen Shuren was contemplating an issue, he had a small habit of twirling his pen. At that moment, he casually waved his hand, and the brush in his hand struck the jade chime on the desk, producing a crisp sound. A few seconds later, his attendant Shen Fu appeared at the door, waiting for instructions

But Shen Shuren analyzed with a stammering tongue: "Father, time is of the essence, we cannot afford to be leisurely any longer. Consider this, Elder Yang has asked the Nanjing Guozijian to invite us, although it was merely a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Shen Fu was also not ambiguous: "Young Master, please wait a moment. Is there anything else you would like to instruct?"

He needs to design a case that appears to be illegal but is actually not, ensuring that it will attract the attention of the Nanjing Criminal Department. At that time, the Nanjing Criminal Department will take him away for face-to-face questioning and review

Of course, this is merely inference, without evidence

Before long, Shen Fu successively brought forth the "Great Ming Code," totaling over a hundred volumes. This left Shen Shuren feeling quite overwhelmed, yet he had no choice but to tackle it head-on

He is still recuperating, and his father does not require him to pay morning and evening respects, but at mealtimes, he still has the maid come to check on him, and if he has not eaten, she is to call him over as well

However, when encountering difficult cases, after local adjudication, if they are deemed to have representative significance, they should theoretically be reported. After review by the provincial procuratorate and even the central Ministry of Justice, if it is considered to have promotional value, other regions will be issued "model cases for study" to enhance the understanding of legal provisions

Shen Shuren suddenly felt a bit awkward and quickly changed his words: "Alright, then let's start with the 'Great Ming Code'; I'll discuss the others after I've had a look."

In less than half an hour, he had organized the outline and clarified several key issues that would be useful.

Upon hearing that his son wanted to exploit a loophole in the "Great Ming Code" and set a trap, Shen Tingyang's first reaction was one of disdain

The Hongwu Code consists of thirty volumes, while the "Regulations on Criminal Inquiry" from the Hongzhi period added more than twenty volumes. During the Jiajing and Wanli eras, an additional thirty volumes were added for each, bringing the total to a substantial one hundred and twenty volumes

This key point was only just understood by Shen Shuren this morning while reading the Great Ming Code

Shen Shuren had no choice but to place a bookmark in the book, rise, and follow the maid through the three courtyards, around a pond garden adorned with Taihu stones, to the dining area

Shen Shuren, with a critical and non-wasteful mindset, finished his meal quickly, and the taste was quite good

Xue Pan's trip to the capital was for another purpose, which was to send Xue Baochai to participate in the selection of talents. As for Shen Shuren, if he had committed an offense and wanted to avoid it, why would he specifically run to Nanjing? Zheng Zhilong would certainly suspect it was intentional

Furthermore, regarding how the Zheng family intends to handle Zheng Sen's resignation from his studies, we should also ascertain the details in advance, so that we can act with purpose when the time comes—are we to assume that after we agree to feign illness, they would dare to openly refuse the invitation from the Imperial Academy?

However, it seems that there is no better method at present, so he advised his son to plan carefully before taking action and not to act rashly

But this is of no concern, as the Shen family is wealthy and powerful. When the time comes, Shen Shuren will naturally find a way to have the Suzhou government "voluntarily work overtime to report and request a review".

It is possible that the Zheng family is currently engaging in such covert schemes against the court, of which even Zheng Sen himself may be unaware, as it is his father who is orchestrating the operations

Subsequently, Shen Tingyang assigned another task:

He first skimmed through the entries and generally confirmed that the "Great Ming Code" is actually a comprehensive legal document that encompasses what would later be known as criminal law, civil procedure law, and administrative law. The civil law content is also somewhat present, primarily concerning personal obligations and the identification of land ownership.

Shen Shuren's biological mother has passed away, and by his father's side, there is only a stepmother and a number of concubines.

Shen Tingyang, after listening to his son's words, felt that he had indeed been somewhat hasty

Having just recovered from a serious illness, my body is indeed fatigued. I fall asleep as soon as I touch the bed and do not wake up until the second hour of the day.

The agar and konjac craftsmanship of the Wa Kingdom indeed possesses some unique qualities, being prepared through a secret method involving kombu and konjac.

Some grassroots organizations excel in certain areas, even posting case studies in public announcement booths to explain them to the citizens

As soon as this thought emerged, Shen Shuren himself was startled by it.

And once it is ultimately determined that he is innocent, for instance, in cases of "justifiable defense / acting in good faith," then no blemish will remain, and it can conveniently be discovered that "Oh, you have recovered, then you can enter the Imperial Academy," thus directly turning raw rice into cooked rice.

Therefore, regardless of how complex the case may be, it ultimately falls under the jurisdiction of the Nanjing Criminal Department

... ...

After all, the excerpt from "Dream of the Red Chamber" is too well-known; it has even been taught in language classes, so this academic achiever is certainly very familiar with it. Ironically, his current persona is quite similar to that of Xue Pan, the wealthy and unscrupulous young man, and he is also heading to Nanjing.

If I were to do as Xue Pan did, kill someone in Suzhou and then "flee in fear of punishment" to Nanjing, would that be feasible

Shen Shuren also took the opportunity to report on his thoughts

It is rare that you have also considered this issue; in fact, I had already inquired about it long ago. When the Zheng family first came to our door, I cleverly turned the tables and asked in return: 'If everyone chooses to feign illness to avoid studying, it would inevitably be too coincidental, and I fear it would be of no help at all'

Shen Shuren leaned against the mahogany official chair, rubbing his temples with the penholder: "Then let's prepare another set... of documents that delineate the responsibilities of the various government offices."

The Zheng family has indeed invested capital to stabilize the situation

Upon hearing this, Shen Tingyang's eyes brightened once again, and he thoughtfully murmured in approval

Since the matter has already been addressed, it must be executed thoroughly and beautifully

Shen Shuren received support, which was a relief for him. He quickly discussed the specific operations with his father and then immediately began to make arrangements

However, given that the Ming Dynasty has deteriorated to such an extent today, matters that allow for "selective discretion" are generally approached with a mindset of avoiding unnecessary trouble at the local level, leading to a tendency to refrain from reporting anything that is optional to report

While Qingzhi was preparing the dish, Shen Shuren saw a bowl of food resembling turtle jelly, but with a light, bright, and translucent color. He pointed and asked, "What is this?"

This year marks the triennial provincial examination, and the scholars from Southern Jiangsu must arrive in Nanjing by August to prepare for the autumn examination for the degree of juren. I just checked the regulations, and the first few categories of students from the Imperial Academy are eligible for the same treatment as juren and can participate in the joint examination, but they are required to complete their registration one month prior to the autumn examination.

However, after they send Zheng Sen to Suzhou, they will have him linger and rest in Suzhou, making a few public appearances, and then feign illness on the grounds of 'southerners have never traveled north, and are unaccustomed to the climate'

The Zheng family's influence is primarily at sea, while Suzhou is at least located at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Here, they still have the ability to ensure Zheng Sen's safety, and in the event of any disturbance, they can immediately escape by sea. However, if they venture deeper inland to Nanjing, they would not have that assurance.

Shen Shuren continued to brainstorm along the lines of his thoughts and soon developed an improved version

In Suzhou, Shen Shuren found this aspect to be quite advantageous—unlike in other provinces, where the severity of reported difficult cases determines whether they are managed by the Inspectorate or the Ministry of Justice, making it impossible to achieve absolute control.

Isn't it just an excuse to go to Nanjing? With one's identity as a spoiled rich kid and a wealthy young master, there are definitely plenty of alternatives to run away if one wants to stir up some trouble.

After finishing the meal, the maidservant brought in tea. Shen Tingyang waved his hand to signal for his wife and concubines to withdraw. Only then did he inquire about his son's health and what he had done today

Fortunately, he quickly calmed down, took a moment to reflect, and discarded this absurd notion

His first reaction was to associate it with Xue Pan killing someone, being able to easily escape and having Jia Yucun clean up after him, and it was not even a case of fleeing due to guilt

Although Zheng Sen's scholarship cannot participate in the imperial examination, once this window period is missed, the Zheng family can claim illness for a long time, stating that "since the opportunity of the three-year cycle has already been missed, there is no need to rush at this moment"

Agreed

In other words, completing the registration at the Guozijian in July of this year is necessary in order to receive the same treatment as the successful candidates of this year's imperial examination and to participate in next year's joint examination. The court aims to expedite Zheng Sen's transfer to Nanjing, and an important incentive is to ensure that he completes the registration by July.

In the Southern Zhili region during the Ming Dynasty, there were no positions such as the Governor, the Inspector, and other similar officials; the relevant tasks were directly managed by the corresponding offices of the six ministries in Nanjing

Not long ago, although Zheng Hongkui came to gather intelligence, he did present many valuable gifts. On the surface, everyone has not openly torn apart their relationship, and it is still necessary to reciprocate. Whenever you feel ready, you can go to the place where he is staying to pay your respects.

One must conduct an investigation before having the right to speak; one cannot act recklessly

Historically, Zheng Sen was able to delay his arrival in Nanjing until the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, and one significant reason might be that "since he had already missed the opportunity of the twelfth year of Chongzhen, which was comparable to the benefits of passing the provincial examination, he might as well wait an additional three years"

After having breakfast, Shen Shuren stayed in his study and began to ponder over the events of last night

Shen Shuren was huddled in his study, clutching the "Great Ming Code" and feeling stifled, yet as lunchtime approached, he showed no intention of taking a break