Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

There's no rush to write the letter; Li Wu can send Xiao Ran and Li Lizhi back to Kaolao Village first.

The expiration date is tomorrow, so Zhang Dalang is safe for the next two days.

Upon returning to Kaolao Village, Li Lizhi immediately wrote a letter to Li Shimin as requested by Xiao Ran.

Let Li Wu deliver it first.

The Lizheng Palace was quiet on an autumn afternoon. On the soft couch under the window, there was a plain brocade cushion. Empress Zhangsun was sewing a padded jacket for a child.

It was prepared for the young prince, and his fingertips would occasionally be adorned with gold thread, which would shimmer faintly in the sunlight.

Familiar footsteps came from outside the hall. She looked up and saw Li Shimin walking in, still carrying a bit of the autumn chill from outside, clutching a letter in his hand.

"We've come back early today."

Empress Zhangsun put down her needlework and had someone bring over some lukewarm almond milk. "Was that a letter from Lizhi from Kaolao Village?"

Li Shimin sat down beside the soft couch, handed over the letter, and rubbed his temples with his fingertips. The fatigue from days of governing the country seemed to lessen somewhat in the warm light of the bedchamber.
“Look at you, you’ve become Xiao Ran’s ‘mouthpiece’.”

Empress Zhangsun unfolded the letter, and her beautiful and delicate handwriting appeared on the paper. It was only a few sentences long, but the core message was that "Zhang Dalang's glassmaking skills are first-rate in the Tang Dynasty."

She smiled after reading it, placed the letter on her lap, and picked up a silver spoon to stir the almond milk:
"Xiao Ran is quite shrewd. He didn't praise Zhang Dalang earlier or later, but he had Lizhi deliver the letter right after Zhang Dalang was released from prison. He was clearly paving the way for Zhang Dalang's future."

Li Shimin took the almond milk, took a sip, and felt a warm sensation spread through his heart.

“I can see that too. He knows that I value talent, and he also knows that glass can be used as the ‘telescope’ he mentioned—binding Zhang Dalang’s ‘craftsmanship’ with ‘national use’ together. This is a brilliant insurance strategy.”

He recalled that when Xiao Ran was hunting, he mentioned that "only a skilled craftsman can make good glass." He hadn't paid attention to it at the time, but now he realized that Xiao Ran had already chosen the person, who was a prisoner awaiting pardon.

"It's good that he thought of everything."

Empress Zhangsun picked up the needle and thread, but did not sew immediately. Her gaze fell on the glass lamp placed in the corner of the hall.

That was burned by Zhang Dalang; it was so bright that you could see the wick.

“Zhang Dalang is guilty of a capital offense. Without a suitable reason to pardon him, he will still find it difficult to establish himself in the future.”

“But if he becomes ‘a first-class glassmaker in the Tang Dynasty,’ His Majesty can trust him to use his skills, and he can also make a living with his craft. This not only saves Zhang Dalang, but also leaves the court with a useful person.”

Li Shimin put down the bowl, touched the glass lamp with his fingertips, and felt a smooth, cool touch:

“You’re right. He has fulfilled his promise of ‘mutual trust between the monarch and the people’ and has also given me a useful craftsman.”

"If Zhang Dalang really returns on time, I'd like to meet him—to see just how skilled this craftsman, whom Xiao Ran has put so much effort into training, really is."

The autumn wind outside the palace brushed against the window screen, causing it to sway gently, and the candlelight beside the soft couch flickered.

As the emperor and empress spoke, the solemnity of the court setting faded, replaced by a more relaxed, casual atmosphere.

They saw through Xiao Ran's little scheme, but they were happy to follow this "glassy intention" because cherishing talent and keeping promises were the things that should be protected most during the Zhenguan era.

As the morning light shone through the bronze cauldron in the Taiji Hall, Fang Xuanling, the Right Minister of Justice, slowly stepped out of the ranks, holding a memorial from the Ministry of Justice.

His fingers, which were unfolding the memorial, paused slightly, as if he still couldn't quite believe it, and his voice was a few decibels deeper than usual:
"Your Majesty, the prisoners released in the sixth year of Zhenguan have returned. The Ministry of Justice has verified each of the 390 prisoners' records. Not one of them delayed, and not one of them escaped. They have all returned to the prison gates to await Your Majesty's instructions."

The moment the words were spoken, the hall fell so quiet that the dripping sound of the water clock could be heard.

Li Shimin, who had been leaning back on the dragon throne, leaned slightly forward, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the armrest. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes before he asked:

"They're all back in prison? Even those who were previously judged as 'unruly and difficult to control' are back?"

Although he initially decided to release the prisoners with the intention of "converting people with benevolence," he also secretly thought that some desperate criminals might take the opportunity to escape. He was surprised to hear that "not a single person was absent."

Li Jing, who was below the steps, was the first to recover his senses. "Your Majesty! I can hardly believe this news."

"I have seen countless desperate men on the battlefield, but I never imagined that these condemned prisoners would give up their readily available path to survival and return to prison for a mere verbal promise!"

"This is not just a death row inmate keeping his word; it is clearly His Majesty's benevolent rule over the years, which has truly touched the hearts of the people!"

His tone was full of emotion, completely lacking the seriousness he used when governing the army, but instead showing more emotion at the fact that "the people's hearts can be won over".

Ma Zhou followed closely behind, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, and said in a gentle voice:
“Your Majesty, when I was inspecting the countryside, I often heard people say that ‘releasing prisoners is too dangerous,’ saying that ‘human nature is inherently evil, how can a death row inmate keep his promise?’”

"The fact that all 390 people have now been imprisoned proves that it is not that people are inherently evil, but that they have never encountered a benevolent ruler and never seen compassion beyond the law."

"At this moment, I feel even more at ease than with last year's bumper harvest."

Wei Zheng stroked his beard, his brows slightly furrowed, but not in opposition; instead, he said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, such a grand occasion is unprecedented in history. Even when Emperors Wen and Jing of the Han Dynasty practiced benevolent governance, there was never a case of 'all death row inmates being returned to prison'."

“Your Majesty, when I was checking the roster with the Minister of Justice last night, I also reviewed old cases from the previous dynasty.”

“From the Han to the Sui dynasties, there were instances of prisoners being released, but sometimes half of them would escape or return late and be severely punished. There was never a case where all 390 people were returned to prison.”

"Now, in the seventh year of Zhenguan, we have achieved such a great success. I believe that this is no longer as simple as 'a condemned prisoner keeping his promise'."

Fang Xuanling paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled ministers in the hall, his voice becoming more solemn:
"In the past, Emperor Wen of Han abolished corporal punishment, which was praised as a benevolent and beautiful policy, but there were still people who were afraid of the punishment and avoided it."

"Now His Majesty has not used any torture or sent any soldiers, but has only made the promise of 'returning home to fulfill filial duties and returning to prison upon completion of the term' so that the person awaiting execution is willing to turn back."

"This is because the people of the world believe in Your Majesty's 'benevolence' and the 'rule' of the Zhenguan era!"

At this point, he slightly raised his eyes to look at Li Shimin on the dragon throne, his tone becoming increasingly earnest:

"In my opinion, if this matter is handled properly, it could be an opportunity that far surpasses the 'benevolent governance and praiseworthy story'."

"If the death row inmates are brought back to prison today and the trial is conducted according to the usual procedure, the people of the world may praise Your Majesty for 'strict enforcement of the law,' but it will be difficult to see the true intention of Zhenguan to 'treat the people with trust.'"

“But if we can take this opportunity to pardon his death sentence—not to condone evil deeds, but to reward him for ‘keeping his word’ and ‘knowing how to repent’—then the people of the world will know that the Tang Dynasty not only has the power of the law, but also the capacity to forgive and correct people’s mistakes.”

"Your Majesty is not only a strict and wise ruler, but also a man of his word."

Fearing that his words might seem too lenient, he quickly added a sentence to balance the dignity of the national law and align with his "thorough" style of conduct:

"Of course, I am not advocating for a general pardon. The Court of Judicial Review should be ordered to re-examine the crime—if the perpetrator is a heinous criminal, even if he is trustworthy, the sentence should be reduced accordingly, and the law should not be disregarded."

"If most of those who have committed crimes are doing so for the sake of livelihood or by mistake, they shall be allowed to return home as commoners, and their names shall be recorded by the state and county authorities, and their behavior shall be observed afterward." "In this way, the great principle of 'mutual trust between the ruler and the people' is fulfilled, and the provisions of the law are not lost."

Fang Xuanling steered the conversation towards the "long-term impact," which was the key point he, as prime minister, valued most in "expanding the significance of this matter":

"Your Majesty, this matter has spread far and wide. The tribes beyond the Great Wall will know that the hearts of the people of the Great Tang are united and will not dare to offend us lightly."

"The scholars of Jiangnan will know that the benevolent rule of the Zhenguan era is true, and they will be willing to submit to the court."

"Even later historical records will state that 'in the seventh year of the Zhenguan era, 390 prisoners were released and returned to prison. The emperor pardoned their crimes to demonstrate his trustworthiness.'"

"This is more than just handling a criminal case; it's about establishing credibility for our Great Tang Dynasty and cultivating benevolence for the Zhenguan era!"

When he finished speaking, the hall was silent for a moment.

Li Shimin's fingertips caressed the armrest of the dragon throne, and his eyes gradually brightened.

Fang Xuanling's words did not rush to mention "pardon," but rather elevated the significance of this matter from a "judicial case" to the level of "the inheritance of benevolent governance in the Tang Dynasty."

This approach not only aligned with his original intention of "governing the country with benevolence" but also took into account national laws and future evaluations, making it precisely the comprehensive argument he most wanted to hear at this moment.

These people were not utterly wicked; Li Shimin personally verified their identities.

Upon hearing Fang Xuanling's words, Ma Zhou took half a step forward. He had always paid close attention to public opinion, and at this moment, he immediately focused on "the will of the people."

“Your Majesty, yesterday morning I was inspecting the East Market of Chang’an when I saw the merchants talking about the ‘return of the death row inmates.’ One old man said, ‘In previous years, when the officials arrested people, there was always chaos. Now the death row inmates have returned on their own. This is because Your Majesty’s benevolence has prevailed over your ferocity.’”

He looked up at Li Shimin, his tone becoming increasingly earnest:
“If Your Majesty pardons these trustworthy people, the people of the East Market will be even more grateful tomorrow.”

“They would say, ‘His Majesty is willing to give a way out even to those awaiting execution, so if we live a good life, His Majesty will certainly not mistreat us.’”

"This is more effective than sending any number of officials to the countryside to educate people. After all, 'seeing is believing.' When the people see the benefits of benevolent governance, they will truly be content to farm and abide by the laws of the country."

Following closely behind Ma Zhou was Wang Gui, the Minister of Rites, who held a tablet and spoke in a calm tone, yet with an undercurrent of consideration for etiquette and moral education:

"Your Majesty, I believe that what Chancellor Fang said, 'establishing trust and cultivating benevolence,' is in line with the fundamental principle of our Great Tang Dynasty: 'civilizing people through rites.'"

"When the Duke of Zhou established the rites, it was to 'distinguish between relatives and strangers, clarify the distinction between the noble and the lowly, and even more so to transform the stubborn and unruly into the virtuous.'"

“Now these condemned prisoners have returned because of their faith. If Your Majesty pardons them, it would be to respond to faith with benevolence and to transform evil with propriety.”

“If the various prefectures and counties promote etiquette and education in the future, they can say, ‘If His Majesty treats death row inmates in this way, how much more so will he treat good citizens?’ This will make the foundation of education even more solid.”

Many ministers agreed with Fang Xuanling's proposal.

In the early years of the Zhenguan era, Li Shimin adopted "eliminating harsh policies and practicing benevolent governance" as his governing principle.

The ministers were mostly Confucian scholars or military generals who had personally experienced the tyranny at the end of the Sui Dynasty, and they were well aware of the principle that "when the people's hearts are lost, the world will be in chaos."

Fang Xuanling's proposal to "pardon those who keep their promises and reward those who know how to repent" is precisely the implementation of this concept.

Ma Zhou mentioned that "the people can only work peacefully when they see benevolent governance," and Wang Gui emphasized "using rites to transform evil," both essentially agreeing that "benevolent governance can unite the people's hearts."

Li Shimin slowly lowered his hand from the armrest of the dragon throne, lightly pressing his fingertips on the armrest. His gaze swept over the bowing officials below, and his bright eyes gained a newfound determination.

His voice initially carried a hint of emotion, then gradually became steady and resonant, like the autumn sun, possessing both warmth and undeniable authority.
“What you all say is exactly what I think.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the officials in the hall raised their heads slightly and saw Li Shimin sit up a little straighter on the dragon throne, his gaze falling on the bronze tripod in the hall, as if he were recalling his original intention when he released the prisoners:

“When I first issued the decree to release the prisoners, some people said, ‘I am too benevolent and may be deceived by wicked people.’ Now that all 390 people have been returned to prison, I realize that it is not that I am too benevolent, but that my people have the inherent nature of ‘trust’.”

"If the ruler treats the people with trust, the people will repay the ruler with trust. This is the foundation of the Zhenguan era."

He paused, then turned to look at Fang Xuanling, his tone more approving: "Prime Minister Fang said, 'To establish credibility for the Tang Dynasty and to cultivate benevolence for the Zhenguan era,' well said."

"Throughout my years of governing the country, what I have sought has never been 'severe punishments to shake the world,' but rather 'benevolent governance to establish trust and reassure the people.'"

"I have personally reviewed the list of these people. Most of them broke the law due to financial difficulties or momentary oversight. They are not heinous criminals."

“The fact that they are willing to turn back on a promise proves that they still have ‘goodness’ and ‘faith’ in their hearts. Such people should be given a way out.”

At this point, he emphasized his words, not in a harsh tone, but rather with an undercurrent of consideration for the balance between "national law and benevolent governance":

"Of course, I have taken Wei Qing's previous concerns about 'abolishing the national law' to heart."

"By imperial decree: The Court of Judicial Review shall immediately take the lead, together with the Ministry of Justice, to review the crimes of all those imprisoned. Those who are guilty of the Ten Abominations, even if they are trustworthy, may only have their crimes reduced, not be pardoned. All other non-serious crimes shall be pardoned and allowed to return home as commoners."

"Furthermore!" Li Shimin added, his gaze sweeping over the officials of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel.
“The prefectures and counties must register the pardoned persons in a roster and regularly check their behavior. If they commit another offense, their punishment will be doubled.”

"Those with agricultural and sericultural skills or craftsmanship skills were recommended by the state and county governments to the workshops and the Ministry of Agriculture for employment based on their talents—this gave them a chance to correct their mistakes and also allowed them to make a living based on their abilities, so as not to betray this 'trust'."

After delivering the decree, Li Shimin stood up, the hem of his dragon robe swaying gently with his movement, conveying a sense of warmth and unity between the ruler and the people.

"I want the world to know that the laws of the Zhenguan era were rules to restrain evil deeds, and the benevolent governance of the Zhenguan era was a grace to those who knew their mistakes and were able to correct them."

"Today's pardon of these trustworthy people is not an act of indulgence, but a declaration to the world—the Tang Dynasty can trust its people, and the people can trust the Tang Dynasty!"

Upon hearing this, the assembled officials bowed in unison, their voices ringing out in unison, "Your Majesty is wise! The benevolence and trustworthiness of the Tang Dynasty will surely endure for ten thousand generations!"

The news spread quickly.

Li Shimin immediately sent someone to deliver a message to Kaolao Village.

Upon seeing the letter, Li Lizhi smiled happily, "The young master was right, he really has pardoned me."

Hearing this, Xiao Ran felt relieved, not wanting Zhang Dalang to abuse his privileges.

"Tell Second Aunt that she's been distracted." Xiao Ran hadn't forgotten Zhang Erya.

"Okay!" Li Lizhi personally delivered the letter to Zhang Erya.

Upon seeing the letter, Zhang Erya burst into tears of joy.

Naturally, there was no doubt about the letter's authenticity. (End of Chapter)