Zhou Ming did not offer any opinion on this; he simply took back the list calmly and nodded at everyone:

" Colleagues, the Ministry of Justice office is currently under construction, so I plan to temporarily convert the front courtyard of my residence into the Ministry of Justice's workspace. Everyone, return home today to pack your personal belongings and report here early tomorrow morning. "

He paused, sweeping his gaze across everyone's Faces one by one.

" The Dynasty is newly established, and I must rely on you all for public security and the revision of the laws. "

" You will need to work hard for the next few days, so I ask that you temporarily eat and live within my residence. This will save you the fatigue of traveling back and forth. "

Upon hearing this, the group reacted with varying expressions.

Some showed joy, feeling that this was the Minister valuing his subordinates and wishing to keep everyone close by to spend time together.

Others secretly groaned inwardly, knowing that this "eating and living in the residence" meant they wouldn't be able to return home for the next few days and would be locked in this mansion, working around the clock.

But whether happy or worried, no one dared to show it on their Faces; they all bowed in unison and replied, " Yes. "

Zhou Ming let everyone return to pack their things, then called out to Wu Shijun, who was about to walk out with the crowd, to ask him about the situation regarding Vice Minister Zheng Zhigan and Zhang Wenming.

According to Wu Shijun, both men were scions of aristocratic families in Yongning City.

Vice Minister Zheng Zhigan was the legitimate second son of the Zheng family in Youzhou, while Zhang Wenming was a collateral branch member of the Zhang family. Both families were considered deep-rooted, long-standing aristocratic families in Youzhou.

Zhou Ming nodded without saying much, simply telling Wu Shijun to go back and pack his luggage as well.

After seeing everyone off, he summoned the Guard Commander and Housekeeper Meng, arranging for guards to secure all entrances and exits of the residence, especially the front courtyard office area; no one was allowed to enter or leave without permission.

He also had Housekeeper Meng lead people to clear out all the east and west wing rooms in the front courtyard, set up tables and chairs, and prepare brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and bedding. Housekeeper Meng agreed to everything one by one and bowed out.

Zhou Ming returned to his study and sat down behind the desk.

He spread out a sheet of blank mulberry paper, picked up a brush, and slowly ground ink on the inkstone.

The ink swirled in circles on the inkstone, and his thoughts swirled in circles in his mind.

The six strategies discussed all night with Empress Su Mingyue in Qianyuan Hall last night—from the Collective Responsibility System to military merit titles, from state-owned land to light crimes with heavy punishments—each one needed to be refined into specific legal provisions.

And as the Minister of Justice, this task could only be done by him.

Zhou Ming lifted his brush and wrote a line of characters neatly at the very top of the paper: " Draft of the New Great Ming Law. "

The moment the brush tip touched the paper, the autumn wind suddenly rose outside the window, blowing the withered leaves on the old locust tree in the courtyard, making them rustle.

He did not even lift his head, continuing to write.

Early the next morning, before the sky was fully bright, the officials of the Ministry of Justice arrived at Zhou Ming's residence one after another.

The morning mist had not yet dispersed, and the front courtyard was already full of figures.

Everyone had changed into brand-new court robes, holding the personal luggage they had hurriedly packed the night before, their Faces bearing a lingering sense of weariness and restraint.

Housekeeper Meng and a few servants had long since tidied up the east and west wing rooms in the front courtyard.

In every room, tables, chairs, beds, and writing supplies were fully prepared.

When Zhou Ming strolled out from the back courtyard, everyone had already lined up in the courtyard.

His gaze slowly swept across everyone's Faces, then stopped on two unfamiliar Faces.

These two Faces had not appeared during the roll call yesterday, but today they were standing right in the front row of the formation.

They must be Vice Minister Zheng Zhigan and the Prison Official Zhang Wenming.

Zhou Ming looked at the two of them with a calm gaze, showing neither anger nor reproach, just watching them indifferently.

The courtyard was silent; everyone held their breath.

Vice Minister Zheng Zhigan was fine; he met Zhou Ming's gaze with his head held high, his Face showing no hint of fear, and he even lifted his chin slightly.

Zhang Wenming was not as composed; he was so unnerved by Zhou Ming's stare that his whole body felt prickly. His hands unconsciously clenched and unclenched inside his sleeves, his eyes darting around, not daring to meet Zhou Ming's gaze.

" My Lord, " Vice Minister Zheng Zhigan stepped forward first, cupped his hands in a salute, his tone neither servile nor overbearing.

" Yesterday, when I received the imperial decree, it was too rushed, and I didn't have time to inquire about the location of your residence, which caused a delay in reporting. "

" This was my oversight; I ask for your understanding. "

Although he spoke of understanding, there was not a hint of apology on his Face.

There was even a faint trace of arrogance hanging at the corners of his mouth.

In his view, he was the Right Vice Minister, a third-rank official personally appointed by Your Majesty.

Even if he were at fault, it was not for Zhou Ming, the Minister of Justice, to deal with him.

Zhou Ming glanced at him and said in a calm tone.

" A piece of trash who cannot even find out the address of his own direct superior is not needed in the Ministry of Justice. You may go back. "

The moment the words fell, the arrogance on Vice Minister Zheng Zhigan's Face froze.

He widened his eyes, looking at Zhou Ming in disbelief.

In his view, his Zheng family, within this new Great Ming Dynasty, might not be able to claim power over the entire court, but their students and former subordinates were spread throughout Youzhou.

Let alone a Minister of Justice like him, even Your Majesty would not dare to treat him this way.

He thought that at most, Zhou Ming would reprimand him a few times, which would already be considered not giving his Zheng family Face.

At worst, he would make a mountain out of a molehill, beat him down, give him a show of power, hollow out the actual authority of the Right Vice Minister, and force him to sit on the sidelines.

That would already be considered tearing off the mask and becoming a political enemy of his Zheng family.

But he never expected that Zhou Ming wouldn't even bother to beat him down and would directly tell him to leave.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but saw that Zhou Ming had already shifted his gaze away from him toward Zhang Wenming, not even bothering to look at him again.

Zhang Wenming was so stared at by Zhou Ming that his legs went weak, and cold sweat streamed down his temples as he stammered:

" My... My Lord, sub... subordinate was not in the city yesterday. It was only after returning last night that I received the imperial decree, so... so I could not arrive in time... "

Zhou Ming nodded without saying anything more.

Whether Zhang Wenming had made up an excuse on the spot or was truly not in the city yesterday.

At the very least, he had provided a plausible reason, and his attitude was respectful, not putting on the airs of an aristocratic family.

For Zhou Ming, he did not need his subordinates to be overly capable; obedience was the top priority.

Vice Minister Zheng Zhigan was still standing there, his Face flushed red, staring at Zhou Ming, his eyes churning with anger and unwillingness.

He was the Right Vice Minister, a third-rank official; even if he were to be dismissed, it would have to go through the Ministry of Personnel's deliberation and Your Majesty's imperial approval. It was absolutely not something that a mere Minister of Justice could dismiss by just flapping his lips.

This was the confidence that allowed him to stand in this courtyard with his head held high this morning.

But Zhou Ming was a man who did not play by the rules.

He glanced at the two burly guards at the door and calmly spat out three words: " Throw him out. "

Upon receiving the order, the two guards rushed to Vice Minister Zheng Zhigan in a few strides, clamping his arms tightly from left and right.

These two guards had been carefully selected by Chunlan from the old troops of the Marquis's estate.

Not only were their martial arts skills not weak, but their Cultivate of the Dushi Sutra was also among the best.

And having rarely encountered an opportunity to perform in front of their new master, their actions were both precise and ruthless.

Vice Minister Zheng Zhigan struggled desperately; his lapels were pulled askew, his official hat rolled onto the ground, and with a flushed Face, he roared:

" Presumptuous! How dare you... I am a third-rank imperial official! Who dares to touch me without Your Majesty's decree! "

The two guards did not give him any chance to continue shouting.

One covered his mouth, and the other lifted him by the back of his collar, their movements as crisp and efficient as if they were dragging a bag of trash.

They dragged him out of the courtyard at an extremely fast speed, all the way along the corridor to the gate of the residence.

The two vermilion-painted gates were pushed open from the inside, and the two guards threw Vice Minister Zheng Zhigan, his entire body airborne, out the door.

Vice Minister Zheng Zhigan fell onto the bluestone road outside the residence and rolled several times.

His brand-new court robes were covered in dirt and broken grass. He climbed up, pointing at the gate of Zhou residence, wanting to curse some more, but saw those two doors slam shut in front of him with a bang.

The passing commoners stopped to watch one after another. Those with sharp eyes recognized that this disheveled figure who had been thrown out was none other than the legitimate second son of the Zheng family, and they lowered their voices to whisper rapidly to the people beside them.