357: Restitution of stolen goods and the Censorate

"Commander, there's something I don't know if I should say or not!" Cheng Xiao asked softly after Pan Han finished thinking.

"Go ahead."

"Currently, the base is developing too quickly, and the systems haven't kept up. That's what allows people to exploit loopholes. If the systems were in place, some things could be completely avoided."

"Hmm, you have a point."

"I had already drafted some regulations before, but I've been busy and haven't had time to perfect them. I'd like to spend some time quietly finalizing the rules." Cheng Xiao was different from Pan Han; she was at the base all the time, so she definitely had a better grasp of the specific situation.

Moreover, she truly regarded the base as her own home and couldn't stand anything that hindered its development.

Since she said there was a systemic issue, then there definitely was.

"We talked about this problem before, but I was also too busy and didn't follow up later," Pan Han said, a bit self-reproachfully.

"Our current military merit system, promotion system, material distribution system, daily Points system, and judicial system all need adjustment and refinement in many aspects." Cheng Xiao took out a small notebook from her pocket, densely filled with notes.

Pan Han took the notebook and examined it carefully; it was incredibly detailed.

Cheng Xiao had definitely put her heart into it.

"You've worked hard," Pan Han closed the notebook and handed it back to her.

"It's not easy, it's rare to hear you say something caring," Cheng Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, acting a little spoiled.

"It seems I thought too simply. Now that the base is larger, relying purely on people to manage it is no longer feasible. Systems must keep up." When Pan Han was in college and working, he never understood why there were so many rules and regulations.

Now he understood.

Every rule was learned through a mistake.

At this point, Cheng Xiao moved closer to Pan Han, wrapped her arm around his, and said, "I've discussed these matters with Qin Laoda and the others before. Actually, sometimes they are also confused; everyone wants the base to develop well. But between personal connections and legal principles, they have indeed wavered. Once we set all the rules, and everyone follows them, then things will be much easier."

"Hahaha! You think I can't tell what you mean??" Pan Han flicked Cheng Xiao's nose.

This little girl was pleading for Qin Zhong and the others in another way.

"That's nonsense! No matter what, Qin Zhong and the others are my family. If I don't speak up for them, what would that make me?" Cheng Xiao suddenly pinched Pan Han's arm, puffed out her chest, and declared righteously.

"I know. You don't need to be nervous. When dealing with Dawn Squad members, we still need to uphold the approach of 'treating the illness to save the patient,'" Pan Han said with a chuckle.

"Look how unpleasant your words are. The few of us are the ones who fought alongside you to build this. If we don't have merits, we at least have toiled. Now it's as if everyone is a parasite of the base. 'Treating the illness to save the patient,' hmph!" Cheng Xiao turned her head away from Pan Han.

Pan Han smiled slightly, not explaining immediately.

He just sighed, thinking that a good person couldn't be a good emperor, surrounded by people pleading for others.

But was Cheng Xiao wrong?

It seemed she wasn't wrong!

She and Qin Zhong had faced life and death together for so many years; if she didn't say a word to plead for them, would she even be human? If Qin Zhong's people were truly to be punished, Cheng Xiao would absolutely stand up and take the punishment with them.

Human nature was like this and did not shift according to Pan Han's will.

"Then tell me, how should this matter be handled?" Pan Han turned Cheng Xiao's face towards him, caressing it.

"Wei Monk is dead and cannot be resurrected, but his matter should still be handled seriously, with additional disciplinary action, to set an example. For the others, I suggest a full return of ill-gotten gains; those who return them within the specified time will be forgiven, otherwise, they will be severely punished," Cheng Xiao said without thinking, blurting it out.

"What about Wang Xiong?" Pan Han saw Cheng Xiao's thoughtful expression and knew she already had ideas.

"A murderer must pay with his life," Cheng Xiao still said readily.

"That's not right. Strictly speaking, he is also a victim. And a victim of the base's unregulated system. To make him bear all of it alone does not conform to the principle of proportionality," Pan Han immediately retorted.

"What is the principle of proportionality??" Cheng Xiao looked confused; she had never heard that term.

"Simply put, it means people should not be heavily punished for minor offenses," Pan Han explained.

This was one of the legal principles of his world, emphasizing that crime, responsibility, and punishment must be unified and self-consistent, and it was also one of the requirements for public power.

"Oh, I see. But given the situation at our base, besides the death penalty, there aren't many other punishments. Should we lock them in a dungeon? Wouldn't that just mean feeding a useless person??" Cheng Xiao's mind was indeed quick, and she immediately began to debate with Pan Han.

"Hmm, that's true," Pan Han had to admit.

In his world, there were many types of incarceration, even life imprisonment, permanently depriving a person of freedom.

But in the apocalypse, freedom was worth nothing!

If they were locked up and still given food, many people might even wish to be imprisoned.

Law belonged to the superstructure; it was most taboo to deviate from actual circumstances and productivity.

Justice was the same; in the apocalypse, feeding people was the greatest justice.

"Then exile them!" Pan Han thought for a long time and realized that currently, the base was only suitable for two types of punishment.

Death penalty and exile.

Even corporal punishments like flogging or spanking were not applicable.

Injuring or crippling someone would affect their work and waste food.

The currency and wage system had not yet been implemented. If there were wages, a fine system could be adopted.

But these were matters for the future and didn't solve Wang Xiong's current problem.

"Exile?? Commander, that's too dangerous. He knows many things about our base. If he were to act against the base in the future, we would essentially have gained a formidable enemy." Cheng Xiao shook her head, completely disagreeing.

Although Pan Han didn't want to admit it, Cheng Xiao was right.

He couldn't take that risk, and Dawn Base couldn't take that risk.

Damn, it's a dilemma!

Pan Han had a headache!

Executing Wang Xiong felt somewhat unjust to him, but there were no other options.

A good person cannot be a good emperor!

"Commander, please reconsider! We are not at that point yet!" Cheng Xiao, seeing Pan Han hesitate, continued to dissuade him.

As a leader, you can do bad things, but you must never do wrong things!

Once a mistake is made, everyone suffers the consequences... After a long silence, Pan Han finally looked up: "Wei Monk's guilt is established. His head will be hung at the main gate of the base for fifteen days as a warning to others. Wang Xiong, a life for a life, is sentenced to death, to be executed immediately."

"Yes, Commander," Cheng Xiao immediately stood up and accepted the order.

"Furthermore, I task you with immediately perfecting all systems. At the same time, establish the Censorate, and you will serve as its director. It will oversee all officials and ensure the implementation of various systems," Pan Han continued.

"Yes, Commander," Cheng Xiao stood tall, saluting.

"Go arrange it. I won't participate in the rest of the matters. I have things to do at home, so I need to go back for a few days."

"Ah? Leaving again?"

"Yes. Something came up. Oh, and you all need to help me find a weapons expert."

"Oh? Is the Commander preparing to build his own equipment?"

"Yes, it seems we can only rely on ourselves for the air force. You can have Asiba help you find one."

"Yes, Commander."

"Alright, stop puffing out your chest. Your bra will pop open."

...