Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

The flames of war on the grasslands gradually cooled down amidst a covert struggle of division and disintegration. Meanwhile, within the vast territory of the Cold Abyss, a profound transformation concerning the very foundation of rule was quietly changing the face of countless villages. This was the "Law to the Countryside" project that Xiao Chen was vigorously promoting.

Throughout history, the rule of the Central Plains dynasties has often ended at the county level.

In the vast countryside, governance relied mainly on clan power, local gentry and even local ruffians, with the influence of the government being negligible.

This led to a situation where "the emperor was far away and the heavens were high," government orders were not effectively implemented, the people only knew their clan leaders and not the imperial court, the law became a dead letter, and the law of the jungle and rampant vigilante justice became the norm.

Xiao Chen knew that to establish a stable rule, military conquest and economic interests alone were not enough; the will of the state and the authority of the law had to permeate every capillary of society.

We must ensure that every citizen, no matter where they are, truly feels that the law is above them, officials are behind them, their rights are protected, and their grievances can be redressed.

I. Compile the "Village Rules and Regulations" to simplify complex matters.

Although the "Hanyuan Law" has been promulgated, its articles are rigorous and its legal principles are profound, making it no different from a heavenly book for ordinary people who are illiterate.

Therefore, Xiao Chen ordered the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Rites to work together with the Department of Literature and Education of the Academy of Natural Sciences to extract the contents of the "Hanyuan Law" that were closely related to the daily lives of ordinary people, such as land disputes, marriage and inheritance, loan contracts, fights and theft, taxes and corvée, and public security management. They then compiled these contents into catchy rhymes and short sentences in the most popular and easy-to-understand vernacular, and compiled them into a book called "Village Covenants and Regulations".

For example: "A life for a life, a debt for a debt, it's only right and proper."

"Petty theft is punishable by twenty strokes of the cane and double compensation."

"If the field boundaries are unclear, report to the authorities for measurement; those who illegally occupy the land will be punished."

"Marriage between men and women requires a matchmaker's certificate; elopement is not recognized."

"Paying taxes and grain duties is the duty of the people; those who resist will be severely punished."

The "Village Rules and Regulations" were printed and distributed to various villages and towns. They were even adapted into operas and storytelling performances, and the government-organized "law-propagation teams" repeatedly preached them in markets, temple fairs, and fields.

Children recite in the classroom, and adults talk about it after meals.

Soon, these simple and clear rules took root in people's hearts and became the criteria for people to judge right and wrong and restrain their behavior.

Second, establish "village law offices" to extend their reach.

Xiao Chen ordered that in the entire territory of Hanyuan, every village with more than 100 households must establish a "Village Law Pavilion" and every town with more than 1,000 households must establish a "Township Law Office".

The village court was not a formal judicial office, but rather a grassroots legal service, dispute mediation, and public security management agency.

The local law office appointed one "law official," who was a poor scholar or retired soldier who had undergone special training, was knowledgeable in the law, and was of good character. He received a salary from the government.

Several "township police" were also appointed, selected from the local young and middle-aged people, to be responsible for maintaining public order, arresting criminals, and delivering documents.

The responsibilities of the local law office are mainly threefold:

1. Explaining the law: Regularly convene villagers to explain the "Village Rules and Regulations" and answer their legal questions.

2. Dispute Mediation: For minor disputes such as land, marriage, and debt, legal officials can mediate and reach a settlement agreement, which has legal effect.

If mediation fails, the case will be transferred to the county government for trial.

This move resolves many conflicts at the grassroots level, reduces litigation costs, and maintains harmonious neighborly relations.

3. Public Security Management: Township police are responsible for patrolling the township and handling minor public security cases such as petty theft and fights. They have the authority to impose administrative penalties such as fines and detention. Major cases are transferred to the county yamen constables.

Third, train "legal officials" for professional law enforcement.

The key to bringing the law to rural areas lies in people.

Xiao Chen set up a "Law Official Crash Course" under the Military Academy, selecting students from literate refugees, students from Hanyuan Academy, and even outstanding soldiers for a three-month intensive training program.

The courses include: legal provisions, official document writing, interrogation skills, moral character, and even basic combat and grappling.

Those who pass the training will be granted the qualification of "legal officer" and dispatched to local village legal offices.

Their salaries were distributed by the government and decoupled from local tax revenue to prevent them from exploiting the people.

At the same time, a strict assessment system will be established, with those who enforce the law impartially and are praised by the people being promoted and rewarded; those who embezzle, pervert the law, and oppress the people will be severely punished.

Fourth, conduct open trials and explain the law through cases.

Xiao Chen decreed that all cases tried by the county government, except those involving confidential information or personal privacy, should be heard in public, and the public should be allowed to attend.

Major cases are even required to be tried in public places such as markets.

This is not only a manifestation of judicial fairness, but also a vivid lesson in legal education.

By witnessing the trial process firsthand, the public understood what evidence is, what procedure is, and what equality before the law means.

In addition, the government compiled some typical cases into a "Record of Judgments," which was printed and distributed to various places for legal officials and the people to refer to.

Cases such as "Zhang San borrowing money from Li Si and not repaying it", "Wang Wu encroaching on his neighbor's homestead", and "Zhao Liu assaulting someone"... these vivid examples bring the cold legal provisions to life, greatly deterring criminals and educating the general public.

Fifth, eliminate bad habits and change customs.

Another important task of "bringing the law to the countryside" is to break down outdated customs and bad habits and establish new social norms.

Xiao Chen explicitly forbade vile practices such as private punishment, infanticide, human trafficking, gang fights, and witchcraft.

The local law enforcement office will investigate and punish every instance of such behavior without exception.

At the same time, good deeds such as respecting the elderly and caring for the young, helping neighbors, working hard to get rich, and establishing free schools are encouraged. Exemplary individuals will be commended by the government to set an example.

The "Law to the Countryside" project has been implemented for several months and has achieved remarkable results.

In remote mountain villages where clan power was originally strong and government intervention was difficult, the establishment of a local law office has forced clan elders to consider the government's laws when handling disputes, and they no longer dare to act arbitrarily.

Local thugs, bullies, and powerful figures have become much more subdued under the close surveillance and severe crackdown by the local police, and some have even fled.

The people were pleasantly surprised to find that with the establishment of the village law office, they had a place to reason with those who had been wronged, someone to turn to for help when they encountered trouble, and a channel to seek redress when their rights were violated.

They no longer need to rely entirely on their clan, nor do they need to swallow their pride.

Their trust in and reliance on the government grew day by day.

"Before, the county magistrate was a million miles away from us, and we couldn't find him if we needed anything. Now it's much better. There's a law pavilion right at the entrance of the village, and the law clerk is right in front of us. He speaks kindly and acts fairly, so we feel at ease!" The words of an old farmer expressed the sentiments of countless people.

Zhenbei City, the Criminal Affairs Office.

Xiao Chen looked at the statistical reports submitted from various places: the success rate of mediation of civil disputes had increased to 70%, the incidence of public security cases had decreased by 40%, the enthusiasm of the people to pay taxes had increased significantly, and there were even cases of people actively reporting illegal activities.

"Your Highness, when the law is brought to the countryside, the people's hearts will be won over."

The head of the Ministry of Justice remarked with emotion, "In the past, the people only knew their clan leaders, not the prince. Now, when the people encounter problems, they seek out legal officials, and when they have grievances, they appeal to the government. This world truly belongs to the prince."

Xiao Chen nodded, his gaze profound: "The law is a vital instrument of the state. Bringing the law to the people, enabling them to know, understand, abide by, and use the law, is the way to long-term stability and security. This is not only about governance, but also about education. We must ensure that every corner of Hanyuan is bathed in the sunlight of the law, and that fairness and justice become the cornerstone of this land."

Bringing the law to the countryside not only establishes rules, but also wins the hearts and minds of the people and lays an unshakeable foundation for generations to come.