Now everyone had no more objections and recorded this law.

Next came the key point—the law abolishing death contracts. This was proposed by Zhao Hanzhang, but after half a month of several discussions, they were stuck on feasibility.

Zhao Ming said, “If a law cannot be implemented, even if established it’s useless. Better not to establish it.”

Zu Ti had a different view. “Regardless of whether we can achieve it now, we should establish the rule first, then work hard. If we can’t do it, there are still future generations.”

Zhao Cheng nodded. “Just look at whether this law makes sense. If the reasoning is sound, there will always be a day when it’s realized.”

Fan Ying looked at him intently and asked, “Does Chancellor Zhao think it makes sense?”

Zhao Hanzhang had established the Imperial Academy. Besides the Imperial University, she also set up the Imperial College, Military Academy, and Medical Academy, making Zhao Cheng Chancellor of the Imperial Academy—recognized as one of the most learned people of the present.

Zhao Cheng nodded affirmatively. “It makes sense!”

Zhao Ming couldn’t help calling out to him, “Zitu!”

Ji Yuan teased, “Zitu, if this law is implemented, all those slaves in your household under death contracts will have to convert to work contracts.”

Zhao Cheng said, “Though they are of slave status, they are also human. People are ranked high or low by the status they’re born into, but these are all imposed by the external world. All things in the world should view each other equally and shouldn’t deprive them of their rights as humans because of this.”

Chen Siniang agreed, “Correct. Masters control slaves with death contracts for two reasons: first, to save costs; second, to intimidate them from acts of betrayal. But whether death contracts or work contracts, the legal code has provisions limiting slaves’ betrayal. Death contracts are merely convenient for intimidating servants from doing illegal rebellious acts. Removing death contracts would actually benefit the court’s population management and reduce rebellion and illegal crimes.”

Zhao Cheng nodded repeatedly—on this point they reached consensus.

Zhao Ming fell silent. Zu Ti’s eyes brightened. Ji Yuan and Ming Yu were shocked, their hearts trembling. He Xun was also very surprised but, after brief consideration, asked, “I’m afraid this law would overturn millennia of power and governance. Will Your Majesty agree?”

Zhao Hanzhang, who had been standing at the door listening for quite a while, walked in. The eight people saw her and immediately rose to bow, all somewhat anxious, not knowing how much she’d heard.

Only Chen Siniang and Fan Ying were most at ease. One had discussed this deeply with Zhao Hanzhang, the other had accompanied her for many years—admiring her while understanding her, so certain she wouldn’t be angry.

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand for them to sit, saying directly, “I have no objections.”

Zhao Ming couldn’t help saying, “Your Majesty, if so, won’t the hierarchy of high and low in the realm be reversed?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “How would it be reversed? The people will only admire those who are righteous, loyal, and filial. Everyone follows propriety in their actions, keeps their promises, isn’t deceived by ignorance, and won’t disregard the law just because it’s the master’s command.”

Zhao Ming said worriedly, “If there’s no hierarchy, servants won’t obey their masters’ orders, soldiers won’t obey generals’ commands, officials won’t obey their superiors’ orders, and all the people in the realm won’t listen to Your Majesty’s words. What would this nation become?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “In one’s position, one plans for that position; receiving one’s salary, one is loyal to that duty. This is professional ethics. Everyone in the world should be loyal, and I am no exception.”

“I receive the people’s support, so I must manage the nation well. This is my professional ethics. Soldiers following military orders is their duty. Officials obeying their superiors’ orders is also their responsibility. If a soldier knows the general intends to rebel against the nation and receives orders to abandon their homeland, shouldn’t they be able to resist? Isn’t loyalty to the nation greater than loyalty to an individual? Similarly, if an official knows their superior has actions harmful to the people, shouldn’t they be able to impeach?”

Zhao Ming quickly said, “Naturally loyalty to the nation is greater than loyalty to superiors, and great righteousness is above small righteousness.”

“Then why doesn’t this apply when it comes to servants and masters?” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Because masters hold servants’ death contracts, slaves in their hands are livestock that can be manipulated, not humans. So the former two can transcend one level to express loyalty and righteousness, but even if servants act for great righteousness against their masters, they’re still mocked. Ultimately, it’s only because legally they don’t count as ‘humans.'” Zhao Hanzhang said, “Since it’s so, we should grant them the qualification of being ‘human.’ They, like us, are all natural persons.”

Zhao Ming opened his mouth but couldn’t speak words of opposition.

Ji Yuan suddenly shed tears and knelt down, saying, “Your Majesty is wise!”

Ming Yu also immediately knelt. “Your Majesty is wise.”

Both of them had once been advisors. Before following Zhao Changyu and Gou Xi, they had experienced an especially difficult period. To get ahead, they had both considered selling themselves, but they had forcibly suppressed the idea.

So they were most able to understand servants’ helplessness and bitterness.

Chengbo was of slave status. Even Zhao Hu, a distant relation, could demand his ritual suicide. Ming Yu was an advisor—back then, Gou Xi killing him would have been just a matter of one sentence.

Hadn’t Yan Heng been killed on some randomly found pretext?

Zhao Hanzhang helped the two up and returned to the main topic, asking, “The fundamental law I entrusted to you—how many articles have you deliberated?”

“Already deliberated eighteen articles.”

Things like “All land under heaven belongs to the nation; the people have only usage rights, not buying and selling rights” passed easily because there was precedent.

Both Wei and Jin implemented equal-field policies. Regardless of whether they could be implemented, legally they were recorded this way, so passing this wasn’t difficult.

In fact, regarding the fundamental law Zhao Hanzhang entrusted to them, Ji Yuan and the others had secretly discussed it privately. Most would likely also become empty letters, with little possibility of implementation.

Even so, they still discussed it seriously.

Zhao Hanzhang asked, “Which article are you discussing now?”

Fan Ying said, “All beings under heaven are equal, men and women are equal—this article.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked them, “What’s the problem with this article?”

Fan Ying said, “The second half is fine, but Minister Zhao and the others don’t agree with equality of all beings.”

Zhao Ming: …There were so many people with opposing opinions—why single out his name? Moreover, it wasn’t that he didn’t agree with this point, but because, “This provision is unfavorable to the nation, unfavorable to the imperial house, and even more unfavorable for implementation.”

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and said, “Uncle Ming, you and Grand-Uncle clearly proposed this idea of equality of all beings to me. How can you turn around and deny it?”

Zhao Ming said, “I’m not denying it. Your Majesty needn’t twist my words either. Having hierarchy facilitates governance. You could simply record the second half—equality of men and women. Why must you record equality of all beings? Aren’t you afraid that one day there will be someone like Chen Sheng and Wu Guang saying ‘Do kings, princes, generals, and ministers have noble blood’?”

“If Chen Sheng and Wu Guang appear, either someone harbors ambitions and provokes rebellion through instigation, or the emperor governs without benevolence and all the people are as if in water and fire.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “If it’s the former, the rebels certainly won’t last long and aren’t worth fearing. If it’s the latter, between all the people under heaven and one emperor, naturally all the people are more important. As for one emperor—if he’s deposed, he’s deposed.”

Zhao Cheng said, “…But that would be Your Majesty’s descendants.”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Separated by who knows how many generations—any feelings would be long gone. Feelings in this world, besides blood ties, must be maintained through reciprocal courtesy. If he has filial piety and knows to respect this ancestor’s virtue, naturally he won’t be a tyrant. If he becomes a tyrant, clearly he doesn’t respect me as his ancestor and doesn’t recognize my virtue. Such lack of filial piety—what use is keeping him?”

Among the eight people present, six listened with eyes wide and mouths agape. Chen Siniang nodded with a face full of admiration and agreement. Fan Ying had stars in her eyes, both eyes glued to Zhao Hanzhang.

Wang Hao, the Historiographer who had been following Zhao Hanzhang’s left and right like an invisible person, suddenly brightened his eyes, then frantically wrote.

Looking at his emotionless line drawings, Wang Hao felt quite regretful. What to do—he wanted to write unofficial history. No, absolutely couldn’t write it, or at least couldn’t use his name, and he’d have to switch to his left hand. Otherwise, if people knew the unofficial history was written by him, these historical records he was making in the future might also be doubted for authenticity.

Wuwuwu, this was so difficult for him. Fortunately, it wasn’t a big problem—he could already write with both hands anyway. The question was, after writing the unofficial history, how should he handle it?

After these words, Zhao Cheng instantly understood her meaning. Compared to the dynasty’s long-term future, what she cared more about was the people.

The belly full of persuasive words he’d accumulated to speak to her privately were now dismissed.

Taking advantage of Zhao Hanzhang being present, they brought out the fundamental laws not yet deliberated. Zhao Hanzhang herself had only proposed twenty-five articles. They had successively added some more, now totaling thirty-eight articles.

Ji Yuan asked, “Salt and iron being under state management is no problem. What other mineral resources does Your Majesty mention, and should they be more detailed?”

This discussion continued until the sun set in the west. Lai Qing found her way there and carefully reminded, “Your Majesty, it’s getting late.”

Only then did Zhao Hanzhang realize it was well past the time to leave the office. She smiled and said, “Let’s stop here for today. You can organize things in more detail afterward. It’s getting late—perhaps some beloved ministers still have appointments.”

Zhao Hanzhang looked toward Zhao Ming. “Fifth Grand-Uncle is dining in the palace today. Uncle Ming and Uncle Cheng should stay and dine as well.”

Zhao Cheng looked toward Zhao Ming. Zhao Ming bowed and accepted, and only then did Zhao Cheng follow suit.

Walking toward the rear palace, Zhao Hanzhang asked Zhao Ming, “Uncle Ming seemed to have something to say to me earlier.”

“I did originally, but later didn’t,” Zhao Ming paused, but still couldn’t help saying, “In Your Majesty’s heart, which is more important—the people, or the dynasty’s eternal prosperity?”

Zhao Hanzhang said, “Uncle Ming might not believe this, but I believe that if a dynasty can ensure the interests of the majority of people, the dynasty can continue perpetually.”

Zhao Hanzhang asked him, “Why did the Han Dynasty fall?”

Zhao Ming said, “Because eunuchs monopolized power and treacherous ministers held sway.”

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and shook her head. “Right but not quite, I suppose. You all are accustomed to placing your eyes above, only seeing the chaos at the top of a tall building, but not seeing that the building’s foundation has long since bent. Just one more straw added to the top of the building would make it topple from the base and instantly collapse.”

“Eunuch monopolization of power is only one small reason. Most importantly, officials colluded with each other. Han emphasized the recommendation system. Through this, the powerful formed mutual alliances, monopolizing the official selection system. Those who entered office and advanced further in the court were all people connected to them, thus forming a powerful network of relationships.” Zhao Hanzhang said, “They united together, transferring the taxes they should pay onto ordinary people. Commoners labored hard for a year only to discover they couldn’t even feed themselves, yet still owed taxes to the court. With no choice, they could only abandon their land and leave, becoming refugees.”

“The land they abandoned was occupied by the powerful, who used various means to make it their own, then turned around to purchase refugees as slaves, or directly took in refugees as hidden households to cultivate this land.” Zhao Hanzhang sighed, “The court could no longer collect personal taxes from these people. As for land taxes, they employed the same methods, transferring them onto others again… This continued cyclically. In the end, the vast majority of commoners lost their land, while seventy percent of the land under heaven was concentrated in the hands of less than ten percent of people.”

“Less than ten percent of people controlled the vast majority of the nation’s wealth, but the state couldn’t collect taxes and couldn’t support the military or officials. Instead of demanding money from these people who controlled the national finances, the state turned to oppress the people who could barely survive. Tell me, Uncle, can this tall building not collapse? Can the realm not fall into chaos?”

Zhao Cheng’s eyes moistened as he choked out, “So many people died in the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and now you’re saying it wasn’t rebels causing chaos, but the Son of Heaven forcing the people to rebel?”

Zhao Ming instantly understood. He nodded to Zhao Hanzhang. “I understand now.”

Their gaze couldn’t only look upward—they also had to look down, to see the most ordinary, most suffering people.

Zhao Ming murmured, “The people are the foundation…”

“The people are the foundation…” Zhao Cheng also murmured, “I’ve always believed this too. Through the dynasties, though emperors acknowledged Confucian thought, they only wished to read the Analects and the Doctrine of the Mean, to read Dong Zhongshu’s commentaries, unwilling to promote Mencius and Xunzi…”

Speaking to this point, Zhao Cheng’s eyes sparkled brightly. He grabbed Zhao Hanzhang’s sleeve. “Hanzhang, do you believe human nature is inherently good or inherently evil?”

Seeing this, Zhao Ming quickly pulled at his hand, saying in a low voice, “Presumptuous! This is Her Majesty!”

Was he still thinking this was the past?

Zhao Hanzhang didn’t mind, falling silent for a moment before saying, “If I said human nature is inherently evil, would Uncle Cheng punch me?”

Who knew that Zhao Cheng would laugh heartily and say, “Precisely so, precisely so! Human nature is inherently evil. Otherwise, why would human evil burst forth when facing desperate circumstances?”

“And precisely because human nature is inherently evil, we must educate through virtue and restrain through law, transforming inherent evil into inherent good. This is the foundation of learning, the foundation of virtuous governance!”

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help turning to look at Zhao Ming. “Uncle Ming, where did you find Uncle Cheng? Where has he been these past six months? I remember he used to believe human nature was inherently good.”

Zhao Ming, seeing she didn’t mind Zhao Cheng’s impropriety at all, said coolly, “People change. They can change overnight, let alone in half a year.”

Zhao Ming slapped away Zhao Cheng’s hand and scolded, “Behave yourself. If you have something to say, say it properly. Don’t keep pulling at Her Majesty.”

Zhao Hanzhang saw Zhao Cheng lower his head, completely immersed in his own world, his thoughts wandering who knows where, and said to Zhao Ming, “It’s fine, it’s fine. I don’t mind.”

You can tell from how I address myself.

Zhao Hanzhang led them back to the rear palace for the meal. Along the way, to accommodate Zhao Cheng who was immersed in his own world, she deliberately slowed her pace, discussing half the sources of income for the national treasury this year along the way.

Wang Shi lived in Xuanguang Hall in the rear palace. From Deyang Hall, after passing through Yongxiang Lane, they’d arrive. Oh, right—now Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan both lived in Deyang Hall.

Before even entering the hall door, they heard Zhao Hu’s boastful voice: “This vermilion bird grasping a ring while standing on a tiger jade cup—I spent eight hundred thousand coins to buy it. Its value must be no less than ten million.”

Zhao Hanzhang stumbled, nearly tripping her left foot with her right. Suddenly hearing her father’s voice, Zhao Cheng also abruptly emerged from his spiritual world.