Mianzhou Prefecture

Mianzhou Prefecture

Since the Western Wei Dynasty of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Miancheng has been the seat of prefectures, governments, circuits, states, and counties

for centuries. Until the early years of the national liberation, Miancheng also served as the county seat of Mianyang County for three years.

Mianzhou Prefecture, or the state government office, is now the site of Miancheng Senior High School, located inside the

ancient cypress gate in the west city, covering an area of sixty acres. It was first built in the ninth year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1376). Facing the street

is a screen wall several zhang high, enclosed by wooden fences. On both sides are the east and west corner gates; the east corner gate is open all day

as the passage for officials and commoners to come and go; the west corner gate remains closed year-round, and is only opened when executing death

row prisoners, when convicts are escorted out through this gate to be executed on the river dike outside the ancient cypress gate. Behind the screen wall is a small

courtyard with two stone lions standing on either side, beyond which lies the main gate shaped like the character “八” (eight), with a plaque hanging above inscribed “Yi Men” (Ceremonial Gate). To the east of the gate are the offices of the Three Shifts (Zao Shift, Zhuang Shift, and Bu Shift); to the west are the male and female prisons. In the center

is a large courtyard, behind which is the main hall. The hall has a large gate several zhang high, which is only used for the governor’s inauguration or departure, or for receiving and seeing off guests on ordinary occasions. To the left is a side gate for general access. Behind the main hall is the second hall, where the governor hears cases. The main hall is only used for executing death row prisoners. Flanking the second hall are the Six Offices (Personnel Office, Household Office, Rites Office, Military Office, Justice Office, and Public Works Office). Behind the second hall is the governor’s signing office (i.e., his office). To the left is the East Flower Hall, to the west are the offices of the governor’s two clerks (i.e., secretaries), and further west is the West Flower Hall.

Mianyang Prefecture had four levels of officials: the first-level governor, stationed in Miancheng, was the highest administrative official of the entire prefecture, holding the seventh-rank official position; the second-level Tongzhi (assistant commissioner), stationed in Xindi (Honghu); the third-level Pian (judge), stationed in Xiantao Town; and the fourth-level Limu (clerk of judicial affairs), stationed in Shahu. All major and minor cases across the prefecture could not be concluded without the governor’s signature.

The second and third-level officials could only act on the governor’s behalf to investigate local homicide cases, inspect embankment works, and patrol local security conditions, while the fourth-level official was solely responsible for arresting criminals, preventing banditry, and had little involvement in other administrative matters.

For a long period before the Xinhai Revolution, the administrative and judicial power of Mianzhou was entirely in the hands of the governor.

The governor could disregard the “Collected Statutes of the Qing Dynasty” and various legal provisions, making judgments based solely on personal whim, following the principles that money outweighed law and power outweighed law in handling judicial cases,

and would invent pretexts to extort arbitrarily. If minor details were not satisfied, cases would be delayed or ignored. Sometimes if both the plaintiff and defendant offered bribes, the one who bribed more would win; if one party did not bribe, the one who did would win;

if neither party paid a bribe, the case would remain unresolved for a long time. Legend has it that Wu Yu, a scholar from Miancheng, and Du…

The Mianyang Prefecture had four levels of local officials: the first was the prefect (zhīzhōu), stationed in Miancheng, who served as the highest administrative officer of the entire prefecture, holding the official rank of seventh grade;

the second was the vice-prefect (zhōutóng), stationed in Xindi (Honghu);

the third was the judicial assistant (zhōupàn), stationed in Xiantao Town;

the fourth was the clerk (lìmù), stationed in Shahu. No case, big or small, within the prefecture could be concluded without the signature and approval of the prefect.

The second and third-level officials could only act on the prefect’s behalf—examining local homicide cases, inspecting dike works, and overseeing local public security—in accordance with the prefect’s directives.

The fourth-level official was specifically responsible for arresting criminals, preventing banditry, and had little involvement in other administrative matters.

For a long period before the Xinhai Revolution, both the administrative and judicial powers of Mianzhou were concentrated in the hands of the prefect alone.

The prefect could disregard the “Great Qing Code” and all other legal statutes, making judgments based solely on personal whim and emotion,

adhering to the principle that money outweighed the law and power outweighed the law when handling judicial cases.

He would also invent pretexts at will to extort money arbitrarily, and if the demands were not met, he would simply let the cases pile up and go unresolved.

Sometimes, if both the plaintiff and the defendant offered bribes, the one who paid more would win the case; if only one side bribed, that briber would prevail;

if neither side offered a bribe, the case would remain unresolved for a long time. It is said that Wu Yu, a scholar from Miancheng, and Du...

A dispute arose between Fu Jie and another party over whether to sing the "Five Watches Song" during the funeral of a man surnamed Jin, leading to an argument. The two ended up suing each other over this trivial matter,

and the case dragged on for months without resolution. Later, Wu Yu secretly gave the prefect five

taels of silver, fully expecting to win the lawsuit. However, when the court session began, the prefect ruled in favor of Du Fu Jie.

Wu Yu, panicked, quickly held up his hand with all five fingers spread wide and cried out, “Your Honor, I am in the right (have given a gift)!” trying to remind the magistrate of the five taels he had offered.

However, the prefect slammed his wooden gavel and, pointing both hands in anger, declared, “He has more right (has given more gifts) than you!” It turned out that the scholar Du Fu Jie had given the prefect ten taels of silver.

At the time, the people of Miancheng circulated a folk rhyme: “The yamen’s eight-character gate faces south; those with reason but no money need not come in.”

(gift)!” It turned out that the scholar Du Fujie had given the prefect ten taels of silver. At that time, Mian

On December 3, 1927, the Hubei Special Committee held an uprising in Miancheng, rescuing Lou Minxiu, the then secretary of the Mianyang County Committee of the Communist Party, from prison,

and subsequently burned down the county yamen.

Miancheng was liberated in December 1947. In August 1949, the People's Government of Mianyang County moved from Pengchang to Miancheng, initially setting up temporarily at the homes of Li Xinqi and Li Xindi in Qilicheng.

In the spring of 1950, the government office building was constructed on the ruins of the Mianyang Prefecture Yamen. It faced south with its back to the north, measuring 35.4 meters in length from east to west and 22.5 meters in width from north to south,

with a total floor area of 1,478 square meters. The structure was of brick and wood, featuring a corridor-eave style with two stories.

The building had four entrances on the east, west, south, and north sides, with the southern one being the main gate in an arched shape. Above it was embedded the national emblem of the People's Republic of China, made of cement mortar.

In front of the building stretched a 60-meter-long path flanked by lush green grass and thriving trees, with ancient stone carvings lining the walkway, each uniquely shaped and vividly lifelike.

Stepping inside the building, the bright ceiling and high ridges shimmered under the sunlight. The interior was divided into four large sections by a cross-shaped corridor, making navigation very convenient.

Ascending the stairs on the north side of the corridor, one would reach the second floor, which featured a wooden circular gallery.

The various latticed railings and doors and windows were exquisitely elegant, retaining an antique charm.

national emblem. In front of the gate is a 60-meter-long road, flanked by lush green grass and verdant trees, with

In April 1952, due to the administrative division between Mianyang and Honghu, the seat of Mianyang County was moved north to Xiantao,

and Miancheng thus ended its history as a county seat. The former government office was repurposed as the Mianyang Junior Normal School, and later became Miancheng Senior High School.

Despite half a century of weathering, the former government office building of Mianyang County still retains its timeless elegance.

building, which is of wooden structure. The various intricately carved railings, doors, and windows are delicate and elegant, exuding an

ancient charm.

In April 1952, due to the administrative division between Mianyang and Honghu, the seat of Mianyang County was moved north to Xiantao,

and Miancheng thus ended its history as a county seat. The office of the county people's government was converted into the Mianyang Junior Normal School, which was later renamed Miancheng Senior High School. After enduring half a century of weathering,

the office building of Mianyang County Government still retains its charm.

the office building of Mianyang County Government still retains its charm.