Chapter 22: Legislative Rules (Part 1)

  Zong Gan Zong Wang chased after Wanyan Hu, but lost him. When he returned, he was scolded by Aguda until his face turned pale. Just as the situation was becoming critical, someone suddenly shouted: "He's back!"

  "Who's back?"

  "They're both back!"

  Zong Xiong drew a knife and rushed out of the village, Ah Gu Da and Sa Gai also hurriedly chased after him. They saw two horses approaching outside the village, one was Zhe Yan Chong wearing short clothes, and the other was Wanyan Hu wrapped in a cloak.

  Zong Xiong let out a loud roar and raised his knife to kill Zhe Yan Chong. Suddenly, Wanyan Hu came over and blocked the way: "Brother! What are you going to do?"

  "Zong Xiong said: 'I'm going to kill this son of a bitch!'"

  Wanyan Hudao said: "You dare to kill him, I will kill you!"

  Muneyoshi was stunned, and an old man behind him burst out laughing. It was actually the real Kōkaku of Japan. Muneyoshi suddenly saw that his sister was wearing a man's outer garment under her kimono and cried out: "Why are you dressed like this?"

  "Mind your own business!" Wanyan Hudao turned around and said to Zheyi Chong, "I'm going to change into a new set of clothes, you go change too. Then we'll go see Father together."

  "What's going on here?!"

  Wanyan Hu shouted: "We're getting married, that's all there is to it!" She raised the bow with the tiger character and shouted loudly: "Yesterday's matter, no one is allowed to mention it again! Otherwise, I won't be polite to him!"

  Zong Xiong was at a loss, turned his head to look at his uncle Abuda and Guo Xiang Sa Gai. Abuda said: "Now your sister is the biggest, listen to her! Yesterday's things, no one should mention it again!"

  Di Yu and the others were overjoyed, drumming up the joyful music. But Ouyang Shi, who was usually the most lively, stood still on one side. Xiao Tienu said from another side: "What are you doing?"

  Ouyang Shidao said: "I don't understand."

  Xiao Tienuo whispered in his ear: "I'll tell you a secret, yesterday the last cup of wine I gave to Old Zhe was drugged."

  "What medicine? What kind of medicine?"

  "Keep your voice down! Do you want to die?! I originally planned to let the medicine take effect on the wedding night, but who knew the old man would run away. However, looking at the current situation, it's likely that the medicine will still work."

  Ouyang Shi wasn't very old, but he was also a sly one. He wasn't the naive young man he used to be. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he said, "So that's how it is! I'm saying, Old Six, when you were deceived into marriage back then, was it also because of this?"

  Xiao Tienu was so angry that she gave Ouyang Shi an elbow and left without paying attention to his bowed waist and miserable cry.

  Zhēi Yàn Chōng's wedding was a grand affair, and after experiencing many twists and turns, it was widely spread among the various Jurchen tribes. Everyone was speculating about what had happened that night behind each other's backs, but no one dared to speak out of turn in public.

  Wuya Shu and Aguda were both magnanimous people, seeing that Zhe Yan Chong and Wanyan Hu were very close after their marriage, Wanyan Hu was even smiling every day, so they didn't ask about the matter of that night anymore, and treated Zhe Yan Chong as if he were a son or nephew.

  Di Yu and others let out a sigh of relief, and the Han Department's operation was also back on track. After Zhe Yan passed the honeymoon period, he called over several leaders and severely reprimanded Ouyang Shi.

  Ouyang Shi laughed and said: "Old Big Brother, don't be like that! How can you say I'm 'bad-hearted' when I've done a good deed?"

  Zhe Yan's face turned stern: "Stop smiling and joking! I'm talking to you seriously now! You've made a mistake this time, and no matter what, you'll have to be punished. Otherwise, the discipline of our Han Department will be gone!"

  Ouyang Shidao said: "How will you punish?"

  Before Zhe Yan Chong could respond, Yang Yingqi said: "Punishment cannot be decided by the superior's whim, but must be based on existing laws and customs. Otherwise, it is difficult to say that it is fair, whether light or heavy."

  Zhe Yan Chong said: "What kind of rules and customs do we have here?"

  "This is one of our biggest problems. Now we have only three hundred people, everyone sees each other when they lift their heads and lower them, one person staring at another, no one has the opportunity to do bad things. But this is only temporary. A country has its laws, a family has its rules, and there must be discipline."

  Cao Guangyi said: "We are Han family, why not just use national law as family rules!"

  Di Yu said: "If you're talking about national law, I don't know whether you want to use the Tang Code or the Song Code."

  At that time, although the Tang Dynasty was destroyed, the "Tang Code" was still used by the Khitan countries. South of the Yanmen Pass, it was the world of the "Song Code"; north of the Yanmen Pass, various countries still followed the "Tang Code". However, when the Khitans used the "Tang Code", they could not have the spirit of equal treatment of all ethnic groups as embodied in the original "Tang Code". Therefore, in the Liao Dynasty, the "Tang Code" was used to rule over the Han people and the remnants of the Bohai State, and its punishments were greatly increased. The Khitans, Jurchens, and others, on the other hand, applied their tribal customary law, which sometimes resulted in discriminatory treatment.

  At this time, Cao Guangyi said: "Now is the Great Song Dynasty, of course, we must use the 'Song Code'."

  "But this is not Song territory, why use the Song Code?"

  Yang Yingqi said: "Which of you understands the Tang Code? Which of you understands the Song Code?"

  Everyone was speechless, and Yang Yingqi said: "We are only three hundred people, we don't need such complex and complete laws. Let's first set some family rules. However, before that, we must appoint a judge."

  Cao Guangyi said: "The biggest judge is naturally Old Folded."

  Yang Yingqi said, "That won't do. Zhao Lao Da is the big boss, if he also becomes a judge, what if he himself breaks the law, who will punish him? So among all these people, only he cannot be a judge."

  "What do you think we should do?" Cao Guangyi asked.

  Yang Yingqi said: "This judge must be a fair and just person, able to convince others, and he can even control the old master, so his reputation must be high. Such a person will naturally be recommended by everyone."

  "Then I'll push my master!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, everyone nodded in agreement. Cao Guang said: "Mr. Di being the judge is the best choice, but there's still a problem - what if Mr. Di breaks the law?"

  "Master, how could you break the law?"

  Di Yu smiled and said: "Even gods can make mistakes, let alone me!"

  Yang Yingqi said: "Actually, it's very simple. Those who are promoted by the method of recommendation will be dismissed by the same method. If Mr. Di is involved in suspicion, then temporarily dismiss his judicial duties, and then we will collectively recommend another one, and let this new judge decide Mr. Di's case."

  "Exactly. That's perfect. Mr. Di, you have no objections, I presume?"

  Among the leaders, Diwu was the oldest in years. He did not decline and said: "Since that's the case, I'll be the judge. However, whether it's the Tang law or the Song law, I'm not very familiar with either."

  Yang Yingqi said: "We are all rough and can only start from simplicity. The first judge must be fair, strict and have enough prestige to convince people and set an example for future generations. As for national laws and family rules, we will discuss and establish them gradually."

  Di Yu glanced at Ouyang Yi and said: "In that case, what does everyone think this first case should be based on?"

  Yang Yingqi smiled slightly and said: "If we consider Zhe Yan Chong as 'lord', then Ouyang Shi is guilty of deceiving his lord. In severe cases, he should be beheaded."