o the judge to decide who is guilty and who is innocent. If, therefore, a judge is honest, then the people in his district will be at peace; and if the people are at peace, their manners and morals will be good. All vagabonds and idlers, all spreaders of false rumors and all trouble makers will disappear (5).
This claim is, of course, preposterous, for there has never been such a peaceful, crime-free city, and, if there were, there would be no need for the judge. Nevertheless, true or not, the statement makes clear that the judge has tremendous power to at least frighten the people. The judge is seen as a legal extension of the divine law of Heaven. In fact, the author suggests, "His motto should be: 'To demonstrate clearly the just retribution meted out by Heaven, never failing in its hair-fine accuracy'" (6).
Of course, for all intents and purposes, despite claims abou
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