Chapter 37

"Ziwei descends to the mortal world, to revitalize the universe!" At this moment, someone started the chant, and it quickly spread, becoming a deafening roar. Noticing the fervor on the faces of the people below, Zhang Hao knew that through today's events, his foundation in Wuxian County had become firmly established.

Among the aristocratic families below, some clear-headed individuals noticed this situation. Facing such a divine and mysterious presence, how to deal with it became a difficult problem for these aristocratic families.

Zhang Hao raised his hand, and the cheers immediately stopped. It was evident that in a short time, Zhang Hao's prestige among these people had grown significantly.

"Afterward, I will issue a set of laws called the Qian Law, which will be the various laws of the Great Qian. I will have someone explain the key clauses that are important to you. You must remember them well to protect your rights.

I have promised that under my rule, no one can seize your property, whether through deceit or force. As long as you work hard, everyone can live in peace and prosperity. Even if you lose your ability to work, you don't need to worry; the government will provide support!

Now, please allow my legal advisor, Man Chong, to explain these laws to you."

Man Chong then ascended the platform, his dignified and imposing face tinged with a hint of excitement. Since Zhang Hao conquered Wujun, and after learning that Zhang Hao intended to implement the Qian Law, Man Chong directly recommended himself to Zhang Hao's residence.

Man Chong was a proponent of the rule of law, which aligned with Zhang Hao's views. The Qian Law was a work he had put a great deal of effort into and was extremely satisfied with. Upon learning that such laws would be implemented, Man Chong no longer cared about the Han dynasty and directly joined Zhang Hao's ranks, primarily responsible for implementing the Qian Law and overseeing the judiciary.

With a composed gait, Man Chong reached the platform and first bowed to Zhang Hao, who was seated in a large chair. He then began to explain the laws that were closely related to the people. Using a clip-on microphone, he didn't need to strain his voice.

Man Chong's clear diction allowed the people to hear him clearly. The aristocrats below also showed varying degrees of concern.

The most important legal clause was about the people's land.

Zhang Hao had thoroughly investigated and found that in this era, land development was far from sufficient. Even if the Han dynasty had tens of millions of people, there was still plenty of room for more. The Chinese people were the most industrious. So why had no one been cultivating new land in recent years?

The main reason was that cultivating new land was very labor-intensive due to the lack of agricultural technology, and it required renting oxen. Additionally, the heavy taxes meant that a year's hard work yielded very little.

If any unexpected events occurred, such as illness, the land would often be mortgaged to the aristocratic families, leaving the cultivators with nothing.

Furthermore, newly cultivated land initially yielded very little, and without some savings, the family could not bear the expenses. Often, the hard-earned land would be taken by the landlords through various means.

Because of these numerous examples and the unstable times, the people had lost interest in cultivating new land.

However, now through legislation and government subsidies, Zhang Hao aimed to protect the people's interests.

Of course, this would inevitably place a significant burden on the government. But Zhang Hao was not concerned. By introducing advanced agricultural technology and high-yield seeds from the modern era and implementing land reclamation, these burdens could be avoided.

The people would not be greedy. By promoting faith and strict laws, Zhang Hao aimed to instill a sense of reverence. As long as they were willing to work, with the government's guidance, the use of leased farming tools, and high-yield seeds, ensuring a peaceful and prosperous life for the people would not be a difficult task.

Ultimately, production technology was the greatest weapon.

Zhang Hao's actions had already earned him a high level of credibility among the people. Therefore, when Man Chong announced the laws, many quick-witted people cheered, and some even began discussing plans to start cultivating new land as soon as spring arrived.

Although the government would lease oxen and better farming tools, many people were afraid that if they waited too long, there would be none left.

The aristocrats below also listened attentively, initially worried that Zhang Hao would directly target the aristocracy. However, seeing his divine methods and the various measures announced by the legal advisor, especially the mention of high-yield seeds, their concerns were greatly alleviated.

Other measures included a minimum price for grain sales to protect the people's interests, ensuring that hard work would provide for their basic needs.

Additionally, the people's land belonged to them, and outsiders could not seize it. If the people encountered emergencies, they could apply to the government for a mortgage. They would still be allowed to farm the land and, upon repaying the debt, the land would remain theirs.

There were other detailed provisions, all summarized by Zhang Hao based on his knowledge and laws from the future.

After explaining the laws related to agriculture, Man Chong announced other important laws, starting with one targeting the aristocracy, limiting the number of guards and retainers in aristocratic households. This immediately caused a stir among the aristocratic youth.

Since the Han dynasty, the government had been relatively lenient toward the aristocracy. In recent years, due to the unstable times, aristocratic families had recruited many retainers and guards to protect their property and safety. Now, Zhang Hao planned to eliminate these destabilizing factors, causing unease among the aristocrats present.

However, Zhang Hao would not consider their thoughts; this was a necessary measure.

Man Chong then announced the penalties for violations, with the most severe being the extermination of nine generations. He emphasized that protecting the safety of the people was the responsibility of the government. If the government failed, officials would be punished.

For the aristocratic retainers and guards, they would be granted land. If they were not accustomed to farming, they could join the military or take up other jobs.

Man Chong's final announcement was about the various preferential treatments for soldiers, including dedicated land cultivated by the government, with all the harvest belonging to the soldiers.

After retirement, they would receive a substantial amount of money and grain, and their treatment would vary based on their contributions. The highest level of treatment included not having to kneel before the emperor or bow to officials, and they could directly request an audience with the emperor. Any problems they encountered would be resolved by the government.

There were also tax exemptions for soldiers, among other policies.

Zhang Hao aimed to elevate the social status of soldiers, as their status was currently very low.

With such treatment, there were naturally very high expectations. Strict military discipline and a strong sense of honor were promoted to build an army eager to fight and fulfill its duties.

Man Chong loudly proclaimed that "the duty of soldiers is to protect the country and its people."

These words not only moved many retainers and guards of the aristocratic families but also filled Zhang Hao's soldiers with a sense of honor. They felt that being a soldier was indeed a good thing. Not only were the benefits generous, but achieving success could lead to a better life, and with luck, even divinity.

Thus, even injury or death did not seem so significant.

The soldiers around him became even more spirited, standing tall and proud.

Finally, Man Chong signaled, and soldiers brought in over a dozen prisoners. The people below could see them clearly through a large screen. Many recognized who they were, including the governor of Wujun and the heads and key figures of several prominent families.

Man Chong began to announce their crimes. The governor of Wujun was not a good person, and the aristocratic families were not clean. Even without mentioning their collusion to attack Zhang Hao's estate, there were enough charges to convict them.

Ultimately, these former upper-class individuals were executed on the platform. The gory scene left a deep impression on everyone present.

The people naturally cheered, while the aristocratic families became more cautious and worried.

With this, Zhang Hao's specially prepared "performance" came to an end. The effect was unparalleled!