AWB Chapter 390: Abolish the Prime Minister, establish a cabinet, and build the Grand Council!
Chapter 390: Abolish the Prime Minister, establish a cabinet, and build the Grand Council!
“Even a system that has been used for thousands of years is not static!”
"The prime minister system does have its benefits, but human power is ultimately limited. All officials study history, and I, too, study history. You all only know that the prime minister system has been in use for thousands of years, but in my opinion, over those thousands of years, there have been only a few who can be called famous prime ministers!"
"If this system is established simply because this position is needed, in my opinion, there is nothing irreplaceable!"
"If one person is exhausted, then three, five, and with the five Grand Secretaries of the Five Palaces to assist in political affairs, I think that apart from those who are praised as the most famous ministers in history, by pooling their wisdom and strength, we can always find a better and more optimal way to govern the country!"
"Don't you gentlemen even have this little bit of confidence?"
"..."
Gu Jingzhi’s last question left all the officials speechless.
Emperor Xia thought for a moment and then asked pretentiously, "Gu Qing, how will the cabinet you mentioned be organized?"
"Your Majesty, this is actually very simple! Just like the six-ministry structure! Appoint a chief minister and two deputy ministers as the core of the cabinet, and then select five palace ministers to assist in government affairs!"
"As for the so-called Five Palace Grand Secretaries... I believe that only two conditions need to be met!"
"First, after passing the imperial examination and becoming an official, one must have served in the Hanlin Academy! Second, after being transferred to a local government, one must have made outstanding achievements in that area. After being promoted to the fifth rank, one can then be evaluated by the Ministry of Personnel, and the final decision will be made by the three regent ministers of the cabinet!"
"In this way, the core team of the cabinet will be complete!"
"hehe!"
Emperor Xia smiled and said, "This is quite novel!"
In Daxia, fifth-rank officials, unless they were talented people specializing in a certain field or were promoted in a similar way as Gu Jingzhi, had to rely on their achievements in local governance to be promoted.
Increasing the restrictions on the Hanlin Academy is actually also to prevent unqualified people from filling the numbers.
Those who could serve in the Hanlin Academy were either the top three in the imperial examination or Jinshi who passed the examination to become Shujishi.
These two types of people are definitely the best in terms of talent and knowledge. After going through local training... their talent, ability and character can all be demonstrated one by one.
Such a person can be promoted to the title of Grand Secretary of the Five Palaces and then enter the cabinet to assist in state affairs. This will not only improve the efficiency of the cabinet, but also continuously cultivate more useful talents for the court!
Emperor Xia looked at Gu Jingzhi with interest and said, "So, the cabinet's approach can be applied to the military... as well?"
"Uh……"
Gu Jingzhi glanced at Emperor Xia in surprise, then said, "Your Majesty is wise!"
"In fact, the use of this cabinet team in the military is also a very good reform! For example, our dynasty's generals all ascended to the throne through military exploits! But even the greatest heroes will eventually grow old, I believe..."
"and many more!"
Before Gu Jingzhi could finish his words, he heard someone interrupt him.
Looking around, it was the old Duke Li Ye. He glared at Gu Jingzhi with his beard puffed, then turned to look at Emperor Xia: "Your Majesty, the Gu family kid is talking nonsense. We old brothers are still able to lift swords and fight for Your Majesty!"
"Wherever your majesty's flag points, veterans like us will charge into battle!"
"Your Majesty, don't listen to that brat's lies!"
"..."
The corner of Gu Jingzhi's mouth twitched!
"Old Duke! I don't have any other direction!"
Gu Jingzhi said with a smile: "Besides, if we are about to go to war, and we still let you veterans take the field, this... we have to give the young people a chance, right? There are always talented people in every generation, and these talents must be able to be used and trained to become capable generals, right?"
"..."
When Li Ye heard this, he said with a sour face: "Then what are you talking about, Chi Mu..."
Got it!
This is probably the legendary story of a scholar meeting a soldier, right?
Gu Jingzhi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but seeing that Li Ye didn't refute him anymore, he continued, "When it comes to actual combat experience, no general in the court can compare to him. If we set up a Grand Council according to the cabinet's method, and let a group of veteran generals take charge of the military affairs, and let younger generals provide advisory services, the effect will be the same!"
As he spoke, Gu Jingzhi briefly explained the core structure of modern military, and Emperor Xia's eyes lit up after hearing it.
Although being a military advisor was new to him, he wasn't too surprised after seeing the cabinet before him! However, during Gu Jingzhi's explanation, Emperor Xia keenly noticed that Gu Jingzhi seemed to be revealing another point of view!
Separation of military and political power!
That’s right, it’s separation of military and political power.
It seems that it is because too much time has passed, or because the generals do not understand political affairs.
Little did people know that the prime minister was never the head of civil officials, but the head of all officials, and even ahead of the head of military generals. In fact, the prime minister could also hold military power. Especially when encountering some foolish monarchs, it would be easier for the prime minister to hold military power!
The prime minister of the Xia Dynasty did not hold military power because the Xia Emperor was the founding monarch. The generals who held military power today were almost all from the group that started the dynasty.
But this does not mean that the prime minister will not be able to command the army in the future.
Even if there were unrest in some places, the prime minister could order the use of military force under special circumstances.
Now Gu Jingzhi has established a cabinet to divide the power of the prime minister in charge of government affairs, but there is no complete solution for military affairs. If he follows the cabinet's system and establishes a Privy Council or a Military Affairs Council...
Not only can it perfectly divide the power of the prime minister, but it can also take this opportunity to completely separate the military and political powers.
By then, the emperor will be in a high position and hold the final decision-making power...
He looked at Gu Jingzhi with approval. In fact, Emperor Xia himself was terminally ill and didn't have much time left to live. Everything he was doing now was to pave the way for the prince.
Regarding Gu Jingzhi...
He is actually very contradictory.
He was also struggling for a long time about whether to abolish the position of prime minister or not.
Abolishing the prime minister system is obviously beneficial to the centralization of power for the monarch. However, if this position is gone, Gu Jingzhi will inevitably face many constraints when he wants to do things freely in the future.
He would not be able to accept it if the good situation he had built ended up in failure because of a position.
However, after careful consideration, he finally made up his mind to abolish the prime minister system.
However, he didn't expect that Gu Jingzhi could immediately think of a better way to solve this problem after he came up with this idea.
In fact, Gu Jingzhi was also helpless.
He originally didn't want to abolish the prime minister system so quickly. As a man with the heart of a powerful official, how could he be willing not to sit on the position of prime minister?
But since Emperor Xia has spoken, if he doesn't go along with it, there's no telling what means Emperor Xia will use to check and balance him.
Although he was not afraid, he did not want to waste his energy on internal friction. Instead of doing so, he might as well help Emperor Xia abolish the prime minister system. After all, it was he who proposed it.
Moreover, the chief minister of the cabinet is not necessarily that bad. The key lies in who sits in the position, right?
He had no intention of rebelling and becoming emperor. The chief minister and the prime minister... for him, the difference was probably just a title!
At this moment, Emperor Xia and Gu Jingzhi, the king and his minister, seemed to have reached a tacit understanding that no one had spoken out loud. After looking at Gu Jingzhi, he spoke!
"..."