Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 352 The Seriousness of the Law

"The selection of a concubine in Annam was merely a means to stabilize the situation in Annam."

"We can't even speak the language! If we marry an Annamese woman, we'll have to find someone to teach her to speak!" Zhu Zhanhe was holding his bowl, ready to eat, but then he suddenly thought about marrying one, or even several, wives who would have difficulty communicating, and he couldn't eat anymore. He couldn't help but complain.

Faced with this situation, no one knew how to comfort them, so they could only silently suppress their laughter and cover it up by eating.

"Your Highness, we will teach the young ladies language during the selection process." After hearing his prince's complaint, Yao Guan could only add softly.

Admittedly, Zhu Zhanhe knew that Yao Guan was telling the truth. After all, the selected young women were, in theory, meant to be able to directly serve their superiors. Teaching them to speak was a basic requirement for these young women.

"Calculate, calculate, you can all leave now."

"I'd like to say a few more words to Prefect Yao." Although Zhu Zhanhe also had a fondness for beautiful women, he felt somewhat embarrassed seeing the gleaming eyes of his subordinates at the dinner table. So, he directly dismissed them. He waved his hand, and the entire group of military officers were driven out.

"We take our leave!" Seeing that their prince was losing face and was about to send them away, the generals were quick-witted and made their escape.

A moment later, only Zhu Zhanhe, Yao Guan, Xiao Xizi at the door, and the two maids serving him meals remained in the large room.

"Take the food away!" For some reason, the thought that even a high-ranking prince like himself had to resort to marriage to stabilize the region annoyed Zhu Zhanhe. Of course, Zhu Zhanhe admitted that he also liked beautiful women, but this forced psychological gap still made him somewhat dissatisfied. Thinking about these troubles, Zhu Zhanhe lost his appetite, so he immediately ordered the messy food in front of him to be cleared away.

After hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, Yao Guan was the first to put down his chopsticks and bowl, indicating that he was full.

"Yes~" Then, after hearing Zhu Zhanhe's instructions, the two little maids who were serving the meal obediently began to clear the table. Seeing this, Xiao Xizi waved his hand, and immediately a group of eunuchs rushed out and quickly helped to clear the table.

Soon, the previously messy table was cleaned up spotlessly. After that, the two maids thoughtfully served Zhu Zhanhe and Yao Guan each a cup of tea before slowly and reluctantly leaving the room with their food boxes.

"Your Highness." After everyone had left, Yao Guan immediately prepared to continue speaking.

"Prefect Yao, regarding the selection of concubines, just proceed according to the wishes of the Princess and the Dowager Princess. There's no need to inform me further." Zhu Zhanhe didn't want to dwell on the matter of the selection of concubines any longer. So, he quickly shut down Yao Guan's suggestion with a single sentence.

"Your subject obeys the imperial decree!" Seeing that his lord had no objections to the selection of concubines, Yao Guan was naturally delighted. After all, in Yao Guan's view, Annam was far more remote and impoverished than the Central Plains. Selecting suitable women from such a place would be quite difficult. However, for the long-term stability of Annam, he could only ask his lord to choose one or two wives from Annam.

"Is there anything else?" Zhu Zhanhe asked, seeing that Yao Guan had not left.

"Your Highness, I do have other matters to discuss," Yao Guan said earnestly after hearing Zhu Zhanhe's question.

"Speak," Zhu Zhanhe took a sip of tea and casually waved his hand, signaling the other party to continue.

"Your Highness, since Annam has just been pacified, various cases are occurring frequently throughout Annam."

"Your Highness, should we strictly adhere to the newly promulgated criminal law of the Prince's Palace?" To be honest, Yao Guan was also somewhat conflicted about this. After all, the Prince's Palace's criminal law had just been promulgated, and it hadn't even been fully disseminated in some parts of Annam yet! If the new criminal law were to be strictly enforced, he worried that it might cause some unnecessary unrest. This was Yao Guan's point of contention; he didn't want to stir up any more waves on the originally peaceful land of Annam. Or, what if he angered his own Prince, leading to another purge in Annam? He certainly didn't want that.

“Prefect Yao, now that the criminal law of the Prince’s Palace has been promulgated, it must be enforced with the strictest measures from the very beginning!”
Only in this way can the law resonate with the people from the very beginning.

After all, to put it bluntly, we are always outsiders to the people of Annam.

I, too, know the importance of being benevolent to the people, and I am also aware of Emperor Taizong of Tang's saying that the ruler is the boat and the people are the water. However, if we, as outsiders, cannot instill awe in the people from the very beginning...

I am worried that we will have difficulty managing this area in the future.

Furthermore, we must not only strictly enforce criminal law, but also establish positive role models in various government offices to highlight excellence. For example, the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars of Confucianism can be used as examples.

After all, in my opinion, the law must always take into account filial piety and the Confucian Five Virtues.
We outsiders not only want to instill fear in the people of Annam, but also to gain their genuine acceptance from the bottom of their hearts.

Only in this way can we better govern them, truly change them, and transform them from Annamite barbarians into subjects of our Great Ming.

"Prefect Yao, do you agree with what I've said?" Zhu Zhanhe offered a deeper analysis of Yao Guan's question. He hoped Yao Guan would gain a more profound understanding of his ideas. In Zhu Zhanhe's view, only by deeply understanding the mindset of those in power could implement measures more effectively.

"Your Highness is wise!" Although he didn't know what Yao Guan was really thinking, on the surface, Yao Guan showed great agreement with Zhu Zhanhe's ideas. Immediately, Yao Guan expressed his loyalty to Zhu Zhanhe.

"No, no, no, Prefect Yao."

What I need is not your approval.

What I need is your execution.

Or rather, I am not a dogmatic person.

If, in the course of your actions, any issues arise that contradict my ideas, I hope you can use facts to persuade me. You can submit a memorial to me.

But remember, I hope you can list your own improvement measures.” Zhu Zhanhe considered himself a person who could listen to advice. Therefore, he patiently explained his thoughts to Yao Guan.

"Your Highness is truly wise and righteous. Your subject, Yao Guan, receives Your Highness's decree!" To be honest, Yao Guan had never imagined that a superior would speak so frankly and openly to a subordinate like himself. Even more unexpected was that his own prince would actually offer advice to others. Regardless of whether this was true or not, Yao Guan was deeply moved.

In Yao Guan's view, the act of having ministers actively offer advice was something only recorded in historical texts about great emperors. In reality, before the Ming Dynasty, the number of emperors in history who actively sought advice from their ministers, admitted their mistakes, or even issued edicts of self-reproach was negligible! This was the main reason for Yao Guan's agitation!

"Your report is complete."

"Your subject takes his leave." After finishing his work report, Yao Guan composed himself, feeling quite pleased with himself, and then took his leave from Zhu Zhanhe.

"Go ahead." Zhu Zhanhe waved his hand, indicating that Yao Guan could leave.

After he finished speaking, Yao Guan silently stepped back.

As Yao Guan stepped outside, he encountered a burly, unfamiliar man in light armor.

"Prefect Yao~,

"This humble general, Huang Zhong, greets Prefect Yao." After the two approached and met, the burly man in light armor was the first to respectfully bow and greet Yao Guan.

(End of this chapter)