Chapter 423: Chapter 380, Legalist Vice Family Master
Kong Qiu glanced at Bai Jin and explained, "It can be called Confucian or Confucian School, but it cannot be called Confucianism. How about we call you Vice Family Master then?"
"Cough cough, better to stick with Vice Sect Leader!"
Kong Qiu, stroking his beard, chuckled and said, "Come, let me test you on how to set up the academy."
The two sat in the courtyard, one asking questions and the other answering, time slowly passing.
Every now and then, Kong Qiu showed signs of joy. Setting up a chain of academies is truly brilliant! I want Kong’s School to spread throughout the Human Clan, I want the whole world to be my disciples, I want Guan Zhong and Li Er to look up to me, wahahaha—just the thought of it is marvelous!
Later, Kong Qiu threw himself into the grand cause of education, establishing academies throughout the Lu Kingdom, sending out all disciples to teach, academies rose one after another.
With the Master taken care of, next up was the Second Master. Set them up with something to do, just keep them from causing a ruckus—that alone would suffice, and it wouldn’t conflict with my prior arrangements.
Bai Jin immediately headed for Qi State, arriving in a flash before the towering structures of Qi Country Capital.
Inside, Guan Zhong was flipping through manuscripts.
"Disciple seeks an audience with Master!"
"Come in!" Guan Zhong’s voice echoed.
Bai Jin entered the main hall, grinning, "Master!"
Guan Zhong narrowed his eyes and said, "Speak! Did your Master come up with another plan?"
Bai Jin shook his head repeatedly, "Not at all, not at all!" he said earnestly, "Master, my teacher has changed."
"He has changed?" Guan Zhong chuckled, giving Bai Jin a meaningful look and said, "Bai Jin, you’re still young and naïve, you don’t understand the adult world. Do not believe even if the Primordial World is said to crumble, least of all your Master’s words."
"Master, the current one is the mortal Kong Qiu, not the Saint Tongtian Sect Master; there are some differences from my Master."
"Oh? Tell me, how has he changed?"
"Reporting to Master: After several misunderstandings, my teacher has grown weary. He plans to withdraw from the tribulations of the world, peacefully and attentively pursue scholarship, establish academies, cultivate disciples, and dedicate himself to spreading the Kong Family Academy throughout the cities of the Primordial Human Clan, to set lives on the right path, enlighten sentient beings, and bring peace to the Primordial World."
"Set lives on the right path, enlighten sentient beings, bring peace to the Primordial World," Guan Zhong murmured, stroking his beard and said contentedly, "Academies! If he truly has this aspiration, it is commendable. As long as the Confucian School disciples earnestly pursue scholarship, I shall ignore them."
Bai Jin glanced at Guan Zhong and said joyfully, "Master is generous!" But he knew the probability was small; with the characteristically overbearing Second Master, it wouldn’t be long before he would have criticisms of the Confucian School, or even act covertly in the name of managing Confucian School for my Master. Then, another chaotic battle would be inevitable, so it was still necessary to find something for the Master to do.
Bai Jin proposed, "Master, I was thinking, why not start an academy yourself?"
Guan Zhong laughed heartily, "My path is that of Legalist, grounded in the court; what benefit is there to start a school?"
"Master, laws are established in the court, but Law Enforcers are among the common people. In my opinion, if you do not establish the law enforcement procedures, even the finest edicts you set down would have no foundation."
Guan Zhong put down his book and became serious, "Tell me your views."
"Disciple has thoroughly studied the Legalist school and believes that law is sacred and inviolable. Law is the cornerstone of governance!
To ensure the fairness and justice of the law, it’s necessary to pay attention to the methods, establish legislative, judicial, and law enforcement departments. The law is serious, and so the process must also be rigorous."
Guan Zhong asked further, "How should we go about doing this?"
Bai Jin smiled awkwardly, "Master, this is for you to consider, I only have these few ideas."
Guan Zhong frowned and urged, "Don’t shirk, speak up."
Bai Jin thought for a moment and said, "Master, I have some superficial opinions, please correct me. I think we should establish a new legal system, separate the powers of legislation, judiciary, and law enforcement from the officials.
We will call the legislative body the Legislative Department, the law enforcement the Inspectorate, and the judiciary simply the Court—Legislative Department enacts laws, Inspectorate sorts out cases and apprehends lawbreakers and delivers them to the Court for sentencing. After conviction, it’s returned to the Inspectorate for execution. The three branches do not interfere with each other to ensure the fairness and rigidity of the law."
Guan Zhong thought for a moment, looking at Bai Jin with approval, "You’ve spoken well, it seems you have indeed studied the Legalist school."
Bai Jin replied respectfully, "These are the new doctrines and ideas established by Master, and naturally, I should study them seriously."
"Ha ha—very good! Bai Jin, you’re doing well. To tell you the truth, I had intended to let Guang Chengzi and others descend to help me establish the Legalist school, but it’s a pity they have no interest in Legalist doctrine at all, true hopelessness. You, on the other hand, are the most reliable."
Bai Jin modestly said, "Disciple knows his limitation and cannot compare with the other Chan Sect brothers, and just wishes to learn as much as possible from you, Master."
Guan Zhong laughed heartily, "You have such an eager mind, you have a promising future."
He extended his hand, offering the book in his hand, "This is the most recently perfected Legal Code, containing the culmination of Legalist thought. Take it and study it thoroughly."
Bai Jin quickly took the Legal Code, gleefully saying, "Thank you, Master!"
Guan Zhong looked at Bai Jin and suddenly said, "Bai Jin, the Law Enforcement Team you initially established already had the rudiments of Legalism, and now you have embraced Legalist thought.
I established the legal principles, and you perfected the law, clearly showing your profound connection with Legalism. How about staying on with me to become a Vice Family Master?"
Bai Jin’s mouth twitched, there really was a position of Vice Family Master! Both Master and Second Master had such unexpectedly aligned naming sense.
"Bai Jin, what do you think?" Seeing Bai Jin did not reply, Guan Zhong asked again.
Bai Jin quickly bowed and joyfully said, "Thank you for the great favor, Master, your disciple will gladly heed your command."
Guan Zhong laughed heartily, "Very good! Come, tell me more about the judiciary, legislature, and law enforcement in detail." He turned and walked toward the depths of the great hall.
"Yes!" Bai Jin respectfully replied and followed inside.
The two sat down at a table, one speaking and the other listening, and finally, Guan Zhong summarized the departments suitable for the current society.
After that, Guan Zhong launched a sweeping legal reform in Qi State, establishing Courts and Law Conferences, the Inspectorate, and demonstrated an extraordinary passion for these new departments. He could feel that even though Legalist thought had already been established, whether Legalism could truly flourish and defeat Confucian School, making Kong Qiu submit, was closely related to the operations of these three departments. A wave of reform surged through Qi State, bustling with fervent activity.