If you die, I will be able to inherit your cultivation.

Zhou Ming did not comment on this, but calmly took back the list and nodded to everyone:

"Fellow colleagues, the Ministry of Justice is still under construction. I plan to temporarily convert the front yard of my residence into the Ministry's offices. Please go back and pack your belongings today, and report here first thing tomorrow morning."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces.

"With the new dynasty established, social order and legal revisions still depend on you all."

"I'll need you all to be quite busy for the next few days, so please stay and eat at my office for now, which will save you the trouble of traveling back and forth."

Upon hearing this, everyone reacted with varying expressions.

Some people looked pleased, thinking that this showed the Minister valued his subordinates and was willing to keep them around him day and night.

Some people secretly groaned, knowing that "eating and living in the government office" meant that they wouldn't be able to go home for the next few days and would be locked up in this house working non-stop.

But whether they were happy or sad, no one dared to show it on their face. They all clasped their hands in unison and replied with a "Yes."

Zhou Ming told everyone to go back and pack their things, then stopped Wu Shijun, who was about to follow the crowd out, and asked him about Zheng Zhigan and Zhang Wenming.

According to Wu Shijun, both men were scions of prominent families in Yongning City.

Zheng Zhigan was the second son of the Zheng family in Youzhou, while Zhang Wenming was from a collateral branch of the Zhang family. Both families were considered well-established and powerful clans in Youzhou.

Zhou Ming nodded without saying anything more, but told Wu Shijun to go back and pack his things first.

After seeing everyone off, he summoned the commander of the guards and Steward Meng, and instructed the guards to guard all entrances and exits of the mansion, especially the office area in the front yard, and that no one should be allowed to enter or leave without permission.

Then, he instructed Steward Meng to have all the east and west wing rooms in the front yard cleared out, set up tables and chairs, and prepare writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and bedding. Steward Meng agreed to everything, bowed, and withdrew.

Zhou Ming returned to his study and sat down behind his desk.

He spread out a blank sheet of mulberry paper, picked up a brush, and slowly ground ink on the inkstone.

The ink swirled in the inkstone, just as his thoughts swirled in his mind.

The six strategies discussed with Su Mingyue in the Qian Yuan Hall last night, ranging from the system of mutual responsibility among the ten households to military merit titles, from the nationalization of land to the severe punishment for minor offenses, each need to be detailed into specific legal provisions.

As the Minister of Justice, he was the only one who could handle this matter.

Zhou Ming picked up his pen and neatly wrote a line of words at the top of the paper: "Draft of the New Laws of the Ming Dynasty".

The moment the pen touched the paper, an autumn wind suddenly rose outside the window, rustling the withered leaves on the old locust tree in the courtyard.

He didn't even look up, and continued writing.

The next morning, before dawn, officials from the Ministry of Justice arrived at Zhou Ming's residence one after another.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, but the front yard was already bustling with people.

Everyone had changed into brand-new court robes, clutching their personal belongings hastily packed the night before, their faces showing lingering weariness and restraint.

Steward Meng and several servants had already tidied up the east and west wing rooms in the front yard.

Each room is fully equipped with tables, chairs, beds, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

When Zhou Ming strolled out from the backyard, everyone had already lined up in the courtyard.

His gaze slowly swept across the faces of the crowd, then settled on two unfamiliar faces.

These two faces were not present during yesterday's roll call, but today they are both standing at the front of the line.

It should be Zheng Zhigan, the Right Vice Minister, and Zhang Wenming, the prison warden.

Zhou Ming looked at the two of them calmly, without anger or accusation, just watching them indifferently.

The courtyard was completely silent; everyone held their breath.

Zheng Zhigan was fine. He met Zhou Ming's gaze with his head held high and chest out, showing no fear on his face. He even slightly raised his chin.

Zhang Wenming was not so calm. He felt uneasy under Zhou Ming's gaze, his hands unconsciously clenching and unclenching in his sleeves, his eyes darting around, and he dared not meet Zhou Ming's eyes.

"grown ups,"

Zheng Zhigan stepped forward first, clasped his hands in a salute, and spoke in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant.

"I was in such a hurry when I received the imperial decree yesterday that I didn't have time to inquire about the location of your residence, which caused me to be late for reporting for duty."

"This was my oversight, please forgive me, sir."

He said he would forgive him, but there was no trace of apology on his face.

There was even a faint hint of arrogance on the corner of his mouth.

In his view, he was the Right Vice Minister, a third-rank official, appointed personally by His Majesty.

Even if there is a mistake, it is not up to Zhou Ming, the Minister of Justice, to deal with it.

Zhou Ming glanced at him and said in a calm tone.

"A useless piece of trash who can't even find out his own boss's address is unnecessary for the Ministry of Justice. Go back."

The moment the words left his mouth, Zheng Zhigan's arrogant expression froze.

He stared wide-eyed at Zhou Ming in disbelief.

In his view, the Zheng family, though not wielding absolute power in the new Ming Dynasty, had disciples and former officials scattered throughout Youzhou.

Let alone a mere Minister of Justice, even His Majesty wouldn't dare treat him like this.

He thought that Zhou Ming would at most reprimand him a few times, which was already considered a disrespect to the Zheng family.

At worst, they could give him a warning, make him lose face, strip him of his real power, and bench him.

This is already a complete breakdown in relations; they've become political enemies of the Zheng family.

But to his utter surprise, Zhou Ming didn't even bother to give him a warning and simply told him to leave.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but saw that Zhou Ming had already shifted his gaze away from him and turned to Zhang Wenming beside him, not even bothering to look at him again.

Zhang Wenming's legs went weak under Zhou Ming's gaze, cold sweat trickled down his temples, and he stammered:

"My...my lord, I...I wasn't in the city yesterday. I only received the imperial decree last night, so...that's why I couldn't get here in time..."

Zhou Ming nodded and said nothing more.

Whether Zhang Wenming made up an excuse or was genuinely not in the city yesterday.

At the very least, he gave a plausible reason and was respectful, without putting on airs of a noble family.

For Zhou Ming, he didn't need his subordinates to be particularly capable; obedience was the most important thing.

Zheng Zhigan remained standing there, his face flushed red, staring at Zhou Ming with anger and resentment surging in his eyes.

He was the Right Vice Minister, a third-rank official. Even if he were to be dismissed, it would require review by the Ministry of Personnel and imperial approval from His Majesty. It was not something that a mere Minister of Justice could simply dismiss with a few words.

That's the source of his confidence to stand tall and proud in this courtyard this morning.

But Zhou Ming doesn't play by the rules.

He glanced at the two burly guards at the door and uttered three words in a flat tone: "Throw them out."

Upon receiving the order, the two guards rushed to Zheng Zhigan and grabbed his arms tightly from both sides.

Both of these guards were handpicked by Chunlan from among the old guards of the Marquis's mansion.

Not only is his hand skill impressive, but his cultivation of the Crossing the World Scripture is also among the best.

And since they rarely get a chance to show off in front of their new master, they are both accurate and ruthless in their actions.

Zheng Zhigan struggled desperately, his clothes were torn askew, and his official hat rolled to the ground. His face flushed red as he roared:

"How dare you! You dare..."

"I am a third-rank official appointed by the imperial court! Who dares to touch me without His Majesty's decree!"

The two guards didn't give him a chance to continue shouting.

One covered his mouth, while the other grabbed him by the back of his collar, their movements as swift and efficient as if they were dragging a bag of trash.

They dragged him out of the courtyard at great speed and along the path all the way to the gate of the mansion.

Two vermilion doors were pushed open from the inside, and two guards threw Zheng Zhigan out into the air from the left and right.

Zheng Zhigan fell and rolled several times on the bluestone pavement outside the mansion gate.

His brand-new court robes were covered in mud and bits of grass. He got up and pointed at the gate of the Zhou residence, wanting to say something more, but the two doors slammed shut in front of him.

People passing by stopped to watch, and some with sharp eyes recognized the disheveled figure who had been thrown out as the second son of the Zheng family. They lowered their voices and whispered to each other.