144 – Governance (3)
“Did you hear that? All the Carolingians shuddered at His Majesty’s screams?”
“It’s been a mess since yesterday. Is there anyone who doesn’t know? Hey, where did you do that without knowing the law, Won?”
“Chuckling, I would have come to my senses if I lived in Dijon for at least two days.”
Citizens of Dijon hear the riots of the nobles and priests in Carolingian, and laugh at them and make them the subject of gossip.
To dare to break the law in front of His Majesty, who acts like a madman when it comes to the law, I’m not ready to live as a Rotaring.
“What do they say now?”
“My nephew, who graduated from college, told me that I would probably receive up to three years of hard labor for causing a commotion in the Governor’s Palace and attacking a soldier on duty…”
“Servant? No matter how noble and priests are…?”
“Isn’t that the same thing as breaking the law?”
“Ha ha ha ha!! These noble people have never worked in their entire lives, but they will come out of the workhouse feeling much better!!”
What pleases citizens above all else is the punishment inflicted on them.
In general, according to the common sense of this world, even if they committed the same crime, the punishment given to the common people, the nobles, and the clergy were all different.
Isn’t it not a universal punishment that aristocrats pay money if they kill a commoner, and that if a commoner injures a nobleman, they are killed?
However, the law of Rotaring is not like that at all.
As the Principality of Burgon was changed to the Kingdom of Rotaring, the laws that were extensively renovated set the same standard for all people regardless of social status.
“If possible, it would be better if they were sold to the plaza rather than to the farm—- yup… The smell…!”
“Ouch…!”
At that time, the citizens who were happily talking about how the Carolingians would end on the outskirts of the city smelled a very disgusting smell, and each shut their mouths and held their noses.
It used to be a noisy street until just now, but now everyone has their noses and mouths covered, so no sound can be heard.
And a cart loaded with barrels of something calmly passes by such citizens.
This foul smell comes from the barrels on the cart, which are filled with filth from the citizens of Dijon.
As the development of Dijon and its suburbs was carried out, environmental maintenance work was also carried out.
Of course, it was invisible, but it didn’t suddenly disappear.
Citizens of Dijon have the duty to collect filth and household waste at [Disposal Stations] Installed in various places and submit it along with tax. It is transported to the salt field.
This policy, which can maintain the cleanliness of the city and provide a stable supply of saltpeter, a material for gunpowder, is implemented not only in Dijon but also in all cities under the direct control of the royal family. Am.
“Damn it, that cart always passes here.”
“Two, the smell still lingers.”
The filth that was immediately discarded separately gathers together and then matures in a shady and humid basement, so the smell is no joke. Above all, is it the cost of disposing of the filth and not even paying taxes?
It’s nice to live in a city because it’s clean, but people still feel more intensely that it’s a loss than a benefit to them due to the nature of creatures called humans.
Above all, gunpowder is a military secret, so most people don’t even know why they collect that filth separately. It seems to be processing.
Nevertheless, the people of Rotaring do not have the heart to violate [The city’s filth and waste disposal regulations].
“It would be nice if it didn’t smell like that.”
It is an obvious fact that the city’s environment has improved since the enforcement of the protocol, except for carriages passing by, and measures have been taken to prevent citizens from violating the law, such as writing down personal information and dates when submitting to the processing center. Am.
In addition, the level of punishment is also very high. Rather than being caught secretly throwing away and being dragged to a workhouse or paying a fine, it is better to just pay a small amount of tax in the name of disposal cost and submit household waste and filth to the disposal site.
Little by little, the cities of Rotaring are starting to shed their medieval tees.
…………
“ㅡTherefore, the 28 defendants, excluding the ringleader, are given a year of house arrest and 80 hours of special law training, and the three ringleaders are sentenced to two years of labor. In addition, the ownership of all armed soldiers escorting the accused at the time Deprive it and put it under the direct control of the Government General.”
“This can’t be like this!!”
“It’s hard work!!”
Aristocrats and priests who were sentenced to labor sentences go on a rampage screaming loudly, while others who are sentenced to house arrest and education are silently watching.
I instinctively realized that if I objected to the punishment or refused to do something, I would be bothered by something, and more than anything, I wanted to get out of the prison where I couldn’t communicate my social status as soon as possible.
“This is a wrong punishment!! Let me see Your Majesty right now!!”
“Did you say it was the wrong punishment?”
“Yes!! I have no intention of accepting a hasty trial by such an idiot, Your Majesty right now—”
“An additional 6 months imprisonment for contempt of court.”
However, one of the ringleaders, who was severely punished, could not afford to think so calmly, and in the end, he insulted the judge and the sentence was added.
And those who kept their mouths shut are greatly relieved inwardly as they are confirmed right in front of their eyes that their judgment is correct.
“I, Ii!! You shouldn’t have any complaints about the trial!!”
“Having a complaint and insulting a judge are two different things! If you have a complaint, file a formal appeal!!”
The judge of the Governor-General of Lutecia said that and presented a certificate bearing the seal of the royal family, guaranteeing the judge’s authority.
The aristocrat, who had been making a fuss until just now, couldn’t figure out in detail what the mark was, but he immediately recognized the seal of the Burgon family and the kingdom of Rotaring, so he immediately held his breath and shut his mouth.
“…You said appeal? What is it?”
On behalf of the frightened nobleman, a priest at his side cautiously questions the judge about the concept of an appeal.
This priest is also one of the instigators of this incident, and he was very dissatisfied with the verdict, so he started an uproar just now.
“It is a system that allows you to formally request another trial if you are dissatisfied with the trial.
“What if I file an appeal?”
“You will not be tried by me here in the courts set up in the Governor General’s office, but you will be tried again by the central royal courts in Dijon. In general, appeals are not permitted to reduce the judicial burden unless there is a dispute. , You guys are entitled to appeal because your status is also your status and the size is so large that disputes of other concepts may arise.”
Rotharing’s law allows only one appeal in all cases.
As time passes and society develops, it will change, but since society has not yet developed so complexly, most cases can be completed with two trials.
“However, I do not recommend it very much.”
“Why is that?”
“Since the matter is a matter, perhaps you will see His Majesty in person. Can you handle it?”
“…? What does that matter?”
The ringleaders do not understand the judge’s advice at all.
I was the king of Rotaling, an enemy country until recently, but it is a great honor to be judged in front of my lord’s eyes, and isn’t it a good thing to be able to directly resolve misunderstandings?
A commoner judge like this could be biased in his judgment with hostility to noble blood, but His Majesty the King, who is half of noble blood, could not have such a biased view.
Anyway, no matter how much it is a Rotaring kingdom, religious priests and noble blood leading the country will be the same as the Caroling Kingdom, but there is no way that the nobles and priests are treated harshly. Prison level would be very good.
“Your Majesty’s standards are strict. You are the one who overhauled this legal system in the first place.”
“Strict! That’s nice! Such a verdict— oh, no… Yes, I can get a fair verdict!”
“Then Your Majesty made this law, so a direct petition to Her Majesty may reverse the verdict.”
“I can directly appeal the governor’s tyranny…!”
However, the nobles and priests who listened to the judge’s advice had a completely different understanding.
Having the concept that the king’s word is living law, they want to seize the opportunity to speak directly to the king, get him acquitted, punish the reckless commoners, and accuse the governor and judge of his tyranny.
“…Do you want to appeal?”
“Of course I should!!”
“Please.”
The judge no longer explains to the nobles and priests who do not understand.
I just look at the poor lost lambs, receive appeals from the defendants, and write down their names in the documents one by one.
And the list included not only the ringleaders, but also some simple participants who were placed under house arrest.