Dai Zhou’s Devotion to the Law
 
Dai Zhou, courtesy name Xuanyin, was a man from Anyang, Xiangzhou Prefecture in the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD). Because Dai Zhou was an honest and capable official free of corruption, Emperor Taizong (ruling from 626 – 649 AD) gave him key roles and important assignments. In fact, Emperor Taizong appointed Dai Zhou the Minister of the Justice Department. Dai Zhou acted strictly according to the laws and even Emperor Taizong could not force him to make any exception.
 
Once Zhangsun Wuji, the Empress' brother and a chancellor in the imperial court, was summoned to see Emperor Taizong. He forgot to remove his saber before entering the royal court. Because the royal guard in charge of removing visitors' weapons failed to spot Zhangsun Wuji's weapon, Prime Minister Feng Deyi suggested that the guard should be executed, but Zhangsun Wuji's offense should be overlooked. In his letter to Emperor Taizong, Dai Zhou argued that the royal guard and Zhangsun Wuji committed the same offense and that it would be most unjust if they were given different sentences. Emperor Taizong replied, "The law applies to everyone in the country. How can I allow my brother-in-law to get away with different standards?" The emperor ordered both cases be retried. After a few rounds of debate with Dai Zhou, finally Zhangsun Wuji and the royal guard were relieved of the death sentence.
 
At that time, the capital city Chang'an was swarming with candidates for the civil service examinations. Some people claimed that they came from prominent families and should be selected based on their pedigrees. Emperor Taizong made a public notice to absolve those cheaters who confessed and to execute other cheaters who refused to confess. After a while, some candidates who succeeded in this fraud were caught. At the trial, Dai Zhou decided that these cheaters should be banished, which was in accordance with the law.
 
Emperor Taizong refuted, "In my public notice, I said to execute those cheaters who do not confess. You are sentencing these cheaters to banishment. It is like telling the entire country that I am not a man of my word. Have you taken bribes from these cheaters to reduce their sentences?" Dai Zhou explained, "If Your Majesty had already executed them, it would be useless for me to say anything. But Your Majesty is asking me to have them tried, then how can I violate the law?" Emperor Taizong said, "You only care about following the law, but you don't care about my credibility. What can I do?" Dai Zhou said, "The law is the ultimate credibility of the government whereas speeches and notices are based on temporary emotions. It was an emotional decision driven by rage when Your Majesty threatened to execute the cheaters. Your Majesty knew very well that these cheaters do not deserve to die by the law and that's why you handed the case to me. You have governed your rage and will preserve the credibility of your administration if you allow me to sentence these cheaters justly, according to the law. But you would have ruined the credibility of Your Majesty's administration if you insisted on executing them to vent your anger. I will feel sorry for Your Majesty if you decide to execute them." Emperor Taizong was deeply touched by Dai Zhou's words and decided to follow his advice.
 
Although Dai Zhou repeatedly offended Emperor Taizong because he insisted on following the law and standing his ground, Emperor Taizong gave him even more roles and assignments. Later the emperor promoted him to even more prominent, powerful positions in the royal government, and he eventually became a Prime Minister. Dai Zhou was widely praised for his commitment to his work. People said that there were few government officials like Dai Zhou since the establishment of the Tang Dynasty. Soon Dai Zhou was made the emperor's political advisor responsible for admonishing the emperor, the same position as the famous Wei Zheng. Dai Zhou and Wei Zheng took turns serving Emperor Taizong daily as his political advisors. The Great Tang Dynasty reached its zenith in terms of politics and economics during Emperor Taizong's reign. It had a lot to do with the fact that Emperor Taizong humbly took advice from his subjects and highly valued honest and just officials, such as Dai Zhou, who refused to compromise his ethics and integrity in the face of power and threat.
 
不畏权势　法令至重
 
戴冑，字玄胤，是唐朝相州安阳人，因为清廉正直受到唐太宗的重用，被任命为大理少卿，掌管刑狱司法，他处处秉公执法，即使皇帝也不能使他徇私枉法。
 
长孙无忌有一次受到召见，他没解下佩刀就进入了东上合，尚书右仆射封德彝认为监门校尉没有发觉，应当处以死刑，长孙无忌赎免罪行。戴冑上书认为校尉和长孙无忌的罪相同，这样处理不能称之为刑法。太宗说：「法令是天下人的法令，朕怎么能偏袒亲戚！」下令重新定罪，经过戴冑几番争辩，最终长孙无忌和校尉都被免除了死罪。
 
当时应考的人云集京城，有些人假称有资荫冒用谱牒以求受到选拔，皇帝下诏让这些人自首，如果不自首的就要判处死罪。过了不久，一些欺诈得逞的人被查处，判案定罪时，戴冑认为按照法律这些人应当流放，皇帝说：「朕下诏不自首的人处以死刑，你如今却说应当流放，这就等于告诉天下人朕不讲信用，难道你接受了贿赂要减免罪犯的刑罚吗？」戴冑说：「陛下如果当时就杀了他，臣管不著。既然现在交给了臣处理，臣怎么敢违反法令呢？」皇帝说：「你只管自己守法，而让我失信于人，怎么办？」戴冑说：「法令，是向人宣扬大信；言语却是因一时的喜怒而随口说出的。陛下因一时的愤怒要杀他，既然知道不可行才交给法律部门，这是容忍小的愤怒，保存大信。如果为了发泄一时的愤怒而违背信用，臣为陛下惋惜。」皇帝听后大为感动醒悟，听从了他的话。
 
戴冑屡次冒犯皇帝，处处以法令条文为依据，据理力争，皇帝更加重用他，后来升任其为尚书令、仆射。人们都赞美他称职，说自武德以来几乎没有他这样的人，不久被拜授为谏议大夫，与魏徵每天轮流侍奉在皇帝左右。大唐盛世政治清明，繁荣稳定，这与太宗皇帝虚心纳谏和重用戴冑这样不畏权势秉公执法、清廉正直的官员有很大的关系。