European Emperor Cultivation System

Chapter 95

Li Peijun followed all the way, and the sound of the wheels of the bucket cart became more and more dull.Along the way, nothing happened that Li Peijun didn't want to see. It seems that the effect of the meeting is quite satisfactory.

"Okay, today's work has been successfully completed." The merchant aristocrat couldn't help laughing as he rested his hands on the full load of goods.

"I hope all of this is a dream. I can guarantee that today is the day I laugh the most. I almost doubt myself. No, I'm going to the monastery to pray."

The secular aristocrat shook his head, trying to wake up, and suddenly the aristocrat was asked to be a public servant of the common people. The huge gap made him unacceptable for a while.

After all, merchants with fixed stalls have certain relationships with local merchants, so their lives are naturally a little easier. It is not ruled out that there are people like Michael who are living in a poor family and have nothing to do, so their lives are getting worse every day.

The itinerant vendors outside who wanted to enter the city to do business were not so lucky. Most of them could not escape the fate of being exploited. Seeing that the work here was over, Li Peijun turned around and walked towards the city.

It is more convenient to collect the city entry tax for migrants. The tax collectors only need to block the door like guards at the gate, and spread out a leather bag beside them.

Merchants who entered the city lined up one by one and entered the city one by one, throwing a sol or other equivalent hard currency into the leather bag as they passed by.

The collection of the city tax is relatively more maneuverable, so it is a fat job, and the tax collectors arranged are all secular nobles, and their attitudes will inevitably be a bit harsh, and there are many vendors with bad faces who are taxed, all of which Li Peijun You can see it all.

"It seems that it's time to find an opportunity to deploy some people, or it's time to convey the spirit of the meeting to the secular nobles."

Li Peijun wanted to step forward to stop it, but after thinking about it, he decided to give up, and planned to deal with this problem afterwards.

After the problems in taxation were almost picked out, Li Peijun planned to go to observe the trial of the tribunal. It happened that there was a case trial. This situation is a probability event, but Li Peijun was lucky. .

Harfleur's adjudication court is mostly held in public, but because it is not in a crowded place, there are not many onlookers. Only sporadic passers-by will stop and watch for a while, and there are only jurors, judges and criminals at the scene.

Most of the judges are local nobles or monks, and the jury is drawn from the general public to assist in adjudicating cases. This unique system was brought to England and developed after William, Duke of Normandy, conquered Britain in the 11th century.

The case at trial this time was that the poor thief stole his cowhide belt ring while the knight was not paying attention, and resold it to a merchant, and the merchant unexpectedly sold it at a price higher than the market price by a coincidence. The treasures he had scooped up were sold back to the stolen knight.

The unfortunate businessman was thrown into prison by the knight on the spot, and the thief was also arrested a few days later. Both of them attended the trial today as criminals.

The thief was naturally prosecuted for theft. The strange thing is that what the businessman committed was at most disrupting the market order. It should be just an ordinary civil incident. How come he was charged with disrespect to the nobles in the end.

Thinking about it carefully, the knight might be the hindrance. After all, the guy I bought at a huge price turned out to be something that I had stolen before. I would be angry if I thought about it, but the businessman is also an innocent person who doesn’t know, so he shouldn’t be taken into custody because of this. .

Harfleur's civil jury system is not as rigorous and formal as the later generations. After all, commoners will not offend nobles and gentlemen for such trivial matters, and the main judgment of the case is still in the hands of noble judges.

Although the Principality of Norman already has a relatively complete legal system, there are still many deficiencies in the rules for some detailed events, and many places are self-contradictory. Generally, customary laws are mostly adopted for such events.

Things like customary law are a bit of a problem. Aristocratic judges generally follow the convention or simply judge according to their own temperament. Prisoners who offend nobles like this are mostly bad luck.

Sure enough, the jury's inquiry and questioning seemed to be going through the motions. The rhythm of the scene was basically controlled by the nobles, and the case soon entered the stage of sentencing.

"I announce that the two criminals will be sentenced to thirty strokes of the cane." The scene suddenly fell silent, and the judge solemnly read out the sentence, which was not as formal as it is in modern times, with a lot of spoken language interspersed between the lines.

"Standing? A court drama like a board?" Li Peijun leaned against the outer wall, watching what happened next.

"Wow, a few hits with this kind of stick will kill someone." Li Peijun looked at the wooden stick that was carried out. The stick should be cut from an adult oak tree. It was one and a half meters long. What's even more terrifying is that , with a lot of metal debris embedded on it.

This is a mace...
Looking at the trembling limbs of the two men in shackles, and the sound of metal clashing desperately echoing in the empty courtroom, Li Peijun couldn't help but shudder.

"Your Honor, I have objections." Li Peijun couldn't stand it any longer, and planned to make a move directly.

"Boom." The noble judge directly slammed the knight's sword on the table, warning the sudden intruder not to meddle in other people's business, "The onlookers must not interfere with the order of the trial."

"Oh? In Harfleur, is there anything my lord can't control?" Li Peijun was not afraid at all, his tone was sonorous, but he took another step forward.

"You? You are the lord?" The nobleman's tone was not as tough and rude as before, but there was a bit of suspicion and awe.

The guy in front of me who is dressed like a commoner doesn't look like a lord who is dressed in splendor, but the combination of the boatman's clothes and the straw hat of the leader is a bit inconsistent. Anyway, the commoner pretends to be the lord Your Excellency, but a capital offense, normal people would not do this.

"Don't believe me? Let me show you something."

Fortunately, Li Peijun copied the manuscript "serving the common people" used in the previous speech onto the parchment scroll, and solemnly stamped his own seal, which happened to be his identity proof at this time.

Common people don't know what a seal looks like, and nobility can't risk their heads to make a copy of it.The noble judge has basically determined that this commoner is the lord.

"Yes, my lord, my subordinate made a mistake in the judgment, please give me your lord." The nobleman stood upright the second he learned his identity, and bowed vigorously to apologize.

"Let's talk about the facts, how will the city's laws and related laws be sentenced?" Li Peijun took over the power of judgment and asked calmly.

"Report Lord Lord, there are no relevant specific implementation regulations, and everything is judged according to past practice." The noble raised his body and tried to squeeze out the brightest smile he could make in his life.

"Huh? According to the rules and regulations of the chamber of commerce, what will be the penalty for selling goods at a price higher than the market price?" Li Peijun continued to ask.

"A fine of twenty soles," said the merchant before the judge could speak.

"Yes, he is right." The noble also nodded in agreement with him.

"Is that so?" Li Peijun thought for a while, "Then follow the regulations of the chamber of commerce and fine him twenty sols. As for the thief..."

Li Peijun asked the reason. The thief was a bankrupt craftsman. Because of his small fortune and lack of skills, it was difficult to make ends meet.

"Well... what should I do?" For such a poor and hateful person, punishment is naturally necessary, and follow-up solutions are also essential.

"Your Honor, how much is that cowhide belt of yours?" Li Peijun turned his head and asked the stiff nobleman, he was so nervous that he was afraid of leaving a bad impression on the lord because of his bad deeds.

"It's not expensive, it's only five sols."

"I remember that the Chamber of Commerce in Hafleur has handmade merchants." Li Peijun asked about the merchant.

"Replying to the lord, yes, do you need anything?" Even though he was dragging his shackles, the businessman reluctantly saluted.

"Listen, you will start working at that handicraft merchant tomorrow to pay off the debt, and when you have saved up five sols and returned it to the noble lord, you will officially resume your freedom. Doubling the cane punishment, do you hear me?" Li Peijun scolded.

"Okay, thank you Lord Lord." The thief directly knelt on the ground excitedly.

"Are you satisfied with the result of this verdict?" Li Peijun asked.

Everyone said in unison, "Very satisfied, the lord is the holy judge."

(End of this chapter)