I Want to Be Emperor.

Summary

The text discusses the historical context of punishment in the Han dynasty, emphasizing the shift from harsh corporal punishments to flogging, which ironically led to more severe consequences. Confucian scholars advocated for minimal punishment based on the belief in reform through education, paralleling modern liberal ideologies. Liu Che, opposing this view, argues for strict punishments to maintain order and deter crime, asserting that leniency benefits the powerful, not the common people. He enforces severe penalties, including extermination for those advocating lighter punishments, to prevent the Han dynasty from becoming vulnerable to corruption and tyranny.

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