Only by timely staging one or two extraordinary and exceptional major cases can the effect of deterrence and intimidation be achieved most effectively.

The law of Duke Shang (Shang Jun) is that those who are punished and discarded as ash (or dust) are subject to it. The “discarded ash” refers to minor offenses, while those who are “punished” are subject to severe penalties. Yet, the Duke clearly demonstrates that he is capable of deeply supervising minor offenses. If the offenses are minor and the supervision is deep, how much more so with serious crimes? Therefore, the people dare not commit them.