Chapter 1043

Changancheng.

Xin Qiji had returned.

Clad in battle armor, he walked into the great hall with a powerful, tiger-like presence.

"Your Majesty, your subject has escorted the Wang clan back to Changancheng. I await Your Majesty's disposal!"

The court officials erupted into a buzz of noise.

Before this, no one knew that the Emperor had actually sent people to capture the entire Wang clan of the Great Tang and bring them back.

This was truly exhilarating!

Scholars across the world harbored deep resentment toward the four great clans.

These clans had long held a monopoly on the channels for scholarly advancement, not giving students from humble backgrounds a single chance.

Previously, when the Great Qin executed a branch of the Cui clan, it had made the common people of the world clap and cheer.

This time, they had captured the entire Wang clan.

It was so satisfying!

Qin Mu raised his hand slightly.

The great hall immediately fell silent, and the officials stood solemnly, awaiting the Emperor's instructions.

"Bao Zheng."

"Your subject is here!"

"Hand over the entire Wang clan to the Ministry of Justice to prepare for a public execution! Before the execution, issue a proclamation to the world to inform all the people!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

With two sentences, the fate of the Wang clan was arranged.

The court officials were shocked once again.

No one had expected that the reason for going to such great lengths to capture the entire Wang clan was just for a public execution! However, the two methods of disposal were indeed different.

If they had killed all the Wang family members on the Haixin Sandbar,

that would have been equivalent to agreeing to the Great Tang's request and doing a favor for the Great Tang.

Moreover, the Haixin Sandbar was Great Tang territory, so for the Great Qin to do that would have been somewhat improper.

But now,

the Wang family members had been handed over to the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Justice would then publicly execute them in Changancheng.

This had become a grand event that brought great satisfaction to the people!

Bao Zheng received the decree but did not retreat, asking:

"Your Majesty, is it appropriate to define the Wang clan's crimes as destroying the dragon vein and intending to rebel?"

Bao Zheng dared not make this decision on his own.

If the Ministry of Justice was to kill people, there must be a death-worthy crime!

Destroying the dragon vein was originally a crime punishable by the extermination of the nine clans!

However, Qin Mu shook his head.

"Do not use that charge.

The Wang family destroyed the Great Tang's dragon vein and rebelled against the Great Tang; it doesn't have much to do with the Great Qin."

Bao Zheng was confused now.

Most of the crimes committed by the Wang family were done within the territory of the Great Tang.

Since the Great Qin occupied the Central Plains, the Wang family had followed the Great Tang and moved to the south of the Yangtze River.

Finding crimes for the Wang family within the territory of the Great Qin was truly somewhat difficult.

"Your Majesty, your subject is dull-witted.

Then what kind of crime would be best to charge the Wang clan with?"

When saying this, Bao Zheng felt somewhat guilty.

It sounded as if they were fabricating charges specifically to kill this family.

The Wang family members were certainly hateful, but doing this did not conform to the spirit of the Qin Fa.

Qin Mu had already thought about how to deal with the Wang family from the very beginning.

The purpose was not just to let the people vent their anger.

The Son of Heaven needed to imbue the Qin Fa with majesty.

"The greatest crime committed by the Wang clan is that they joined forces with other clans to block the advancement channels for students from humble backgrounds!

They wanted their clans to forever remain above the common people!

This crime is called the crime of being anti-social!"

Anti-social crime?

Bao Zheng was stunned.

Not just Bao Zheng, no one present had ever heard of this crime.

Everyone felt this term was very novel.

What new crime had the Emperor created this time?

It sounded like it had the meaning of acting on behalf of Heaven.

Qin Mu, however, was very serious, his hands resting on the imperial desk.

"A well-functioning society must allow for upward and downward mobility between classes.

There must be many students from humble backgrounds getting promoted, and some nobles with distorted values falling into the dust.

Anyone who blocks this trend has committed an anti-social crime!"

In the great hall, Qin Mu announced the definition of the anti-social crime with resounding force.

This made many people break out in a cold sweat.

It also made more people suddenly realize the truth.

Everyone knew about the rise and fall of dynasties, but they had never been able to figure out what the main trend hidden behind controlling these changes was.

With Qin Mu saying this, many capable officials immediately understood.

It was this anti-social crime!

The more the channels for advancement for humble students were restricted, the more energy this society would accumulate, and sooner or later, it would collapse entirely.

In this way, the Wang clan was indeed guilty of heinous crimes!

Moreover, the decline of the Great Tang was caused by the joint efforts of these great clans.

The Emperor could see through the crux of this world at a glance; his wisdom was unfathomable!

"Your Majesty's words have enlightened us!"

"Your Majesty's eyes see into the subtle; you are truly the greatest wise monarch in history!"

"Your Majesty's announcement of the anti-social crime today will surely ensure the Great Qin's unification for ten thousand years!"

"Your Majesty's depth of thought is something even the sages of old could not hope to reach!"

Bao Zheng was also immensely impressed by Qin Mu's statement.

In the past, everyone had not realized that this was a crime that caused great harm to society.

Until today, when the Emperor announced this crime.

Those who prided themselves on being capable officials and wise men finally understood how much harm such practices caused to society.

In terms of sentencing, it seemed it could be equated to rebellion!

Exterminating the nine clans was not unjust at all!

"Hearing Your Majesty's words has been like a sudden enlightenment, and in an instant, I have understood many principles!

I will go prepare the proclamation to announce this latest crime to the world!

This law will surely be supported by the people of the world!"

Bao Zheng was even somewhat excited.

Having been the Minister of Justice for so long, he had referenced ancient laws to perfect many statutes for the Great Qin.

But a law as uniquely pioneering as the anti-social crime was something even he was seeing for the first time.