After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Now everyone no longer had objections and noted down the law.

The next main point was the abolition of death contracts, proposed by Zhao Hanzhang, but it had been half a month, and discussions on its feasibility had stalled several times.

Zhao Ming said, "If the law cannot be implemented, it would be useless to establish it, better not to establish it."

Zu Ti had a different view, "Regardless of whether we can accomplish it now, we should set the rules first, then strive hard; what we can’t accomplish, future generations will."

Zhao Cheng nodded and said, "It only depends on whether the law makes sense. If it is logical, there will eventually be a day of realization."

Fan Ying looked at him brightly and asked, "Does National Academy Sacrificial Officer Zhao think it makes sense?"

Zhao Hanzhang established the Imperial College, in addition to the Imperial College, she also established the National Academy, Military Academy, and Medical Academy, appointing Zhao Cheng as the National Academy Sacrificial Officer, considered one of the most knowledgeable people at the time.

Zhao Cheng nodded affirmatively and said, "It makes sense!"

Zhao Ming couldn’t help but call out to him, "Zitu!"

Ji Yuan teased, "Zitu, if this law takes effect, all the slaves in your household will have to convert their death contracts to living contracts."

Zhao Cheng said, "Even though they are of slave status, they are still human. Human worth is measured at birth by social status, but these are imposed by the external world. All things in the world should view each other as equals and shouldn’t be deprived of human rights because of it."

Chen Si Niang agreed, "That’s right, the master controls the slaves with death contracts, firstly to save costs; and secondly, to deter them from betrayal. But whether it’s a death contract or a living contract, there are legal stipulations against slave betrayal. Death contracts merely facilitate the deterrence of underlings from illegal rebellion. Eliminating death contracts would, instead, aid the court in managing the population and reduce rebellion and crime."

Zhao Cheng nodded repeatedly, and on this point, they reached a consensus.

Zhao Ming remained silent, Zu Ti’s eyes shone, Ji Yuan and Ming Yu were greatly shocked, nervous, and fearful, and He Xun was also surprised, but after a brief thought, he asked, "This law might overturn millennia of political power, would Your Majesty agree?"

Zhao Hanzhang, who had been standing at the door listening for a while, came in, and upon seeing her, the eight stood up and saluted, feeling somewhat anxious, not knowing how much she had heard.

Only Chen Si Niang and Fan Ying were most relaxed; one had deeply discussed with Zhao Hanzhang, and the other had accompanied her for many years, both admired her and understood her, so they were sure she would not be angry.

Zhao Hanzhang waved her hand for them to sit, and directly said, "I have no objections."

Zhao Ming couldn’t help but say, "Your Majesty, if this happens, won’t the social hierarchy be reversed?"

Zhao Hanzhang said, "How could it be reversed? People will only admire those who are benevolent and loyal, everyone will act with propriety, uphold promises, and won’t be blinded, won’t follow the master’s orders at the expense of the law."

Zhao Ming worried, "If there is no hierarchy, slaves won’t follow their master’s orders, soldiers won’t heed the general’s commands, and officials won’t obey their superiors, what will become of this state if no one listens to Your Majesty?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "Those in their offices manage their duties, those who receive their remuneration are loyal to their tasks, this is professional ethics, people in the world should be loyal, and I am no exception."

"I receive the people’s support, so I must govern well, this is my professional ethics, soldiers following military orders is their duty, and officials obeying their superiors is also their responsibility. If a soldier knows a general is about to betray the country, should they not defy orders and remain loyal to their homeland? Is loyalty to the nation not greater than loyalty to an individual? Likewise, if officials know their superior is harming the people, should they not impeach?"

Zhao Ming promptly said, "Naturally, loyalty to the country is greater than loyalty to a superior, righteousness is above personal interest."

"Then why can’t it be the same for slaves to masters?" Zhao Hanzhang said, "Because the master holds the slave’s death contract, slaves in their hands are like manipulatable livestock, not humans, so the former two can express loyalty and righteousness by surpassing a level, yet slaves, even if acting for righteousness by opposing the master, are ridiculed. At the core, it’s because they are not considered ’human’ by law." Zhao Hanzhang said, "In that case, we should endow them with ’personhood’; like us, they are natural persons."

Zhao Ming opened his mouth but couldn’t voice any opposition.

Ji Yuan suddenly burst into tears, knelt down, and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Ming Yu immediately knelt down, "Your Majesty is wise."

Both of them had been advisors, and before following Zhao Changyu and Gou Xi, they had endured particularly harsh times, each once considered selling themselves for advancement but suppressed the urge.

Thus, they understood the helplessness and bitterness of slaves the most.