amaotonovel Chapter 426 marks the official commencement of the bureaucratic system of five prime ministers and t
Chapter 426 marks the official commencement of the bureaucratic system of five prime ministers and t
The Left Chancellor was in charge of the three ministries of Personnel, Revenue, and Rites. The appointment and removal of civil officials, the allocation of finances, and the promotion of etiquette and education were all within his responsibilities.
The Right Chancellor was in charge of the three ministries of war, justice, and public works, and oversaw military affairs, judicial matters, and engineering projects, which were crucial to the safety and development of the Qin Dynasty.
The Censor-in-Chief independently supervises all officials, impeaches illegal acts, and oversees audits; he is the guardian of the integrity of the court.
The Grand Chancellor was a member of the royal family or a learned scholar, responsible for compiling history, astronomy and calendar systems, royal affairs, and the transmission and guidance of Qin culture and direction.
She paused briefly, glanced at everyone, and seeing that no one interrupted, continued: "As for the twelve departments, under the jurisdiction of the Left Chancellor, the Department of Personnel and Merit is responsible for managing the assessment, promotion, and conferment of titles on officials. The careers and fates of officials all depend on this department."
The Household Registration and Taxation Bureau managed household registration, taxation, and land statistics, and was the maintainer of the economic foundation of the Qin Dynasty.
The Ministry of Rites and Ceremonies was responsible for the imperial examinations, education, and diplomatic etiquette, and was related to talent cultivation and the image of diplomatic relations.
The Right Chancellor's Military Affairs Department was responsible for managing troop movements, border defense, and the selection of military officers, bearing the heavy responsibility of protecting the country.
The Department of Justice is responsible for enacting laws and adjudicating serious cases; it is a defender of justice and order.
The Bureau of Works managed palace construction, water conservancy, and machinery manufacturing, contributing to the development of the Qin Dynasty.
The Censor-in-Chief oversaw the supervisory offices, inspecting local areas and investigating officials, leaving no room for illegal activities to hide.
The Audit Department examines fiscal revenue and expenditure, prevents corruption, and safeguards the wealth of Daqin.
The Imperial History Office, under the jurisdiction of the State Council, was responsible for compiling national history, organizing classic texts, and preserving the memory of the Qin Dynasty.
The Imperial Observatory was in charge of astronomy, calendar systems, divination, and the exploration of the unknown mysteries.
The Zongfansi (宗藩司) managed the affairs of the imperial family and their relatives, maintaining harmony within the royal family.
The Grand Chancellor directly oversaw the Office of Transmission, which transmitted memorials and secret reports, facilitating communication between the central government and local authorities; it was a crucial hub for information flow.
The crowd listened intently, occasionally whispering and discussing amongst themselves. At this moment, an elderly official couldn't help but stand up, his voice tinged with worry and doubt: "In this way, isn't the Grand Chancellor's power too great?" As soon as he said this, a murmur of agreement immediately filled the court.
Ying Wuyou's lips curled up slightly, revealing a confident smile, and he calmly explained, "Please do not worry. Based on the Five Ministers and Twelve Departments system, the Five Ministers need to take turns, with one minister presiding over the court meeting each month. In this way, we can effectively prevent the excessive concentration and monopolization of power."
In addition, there is a joint signature system, and major decrees require the joint consent of at least three prime ministers to take effect. Every decision is weighed by multiple parties to ensure that nothing goes wrong.
As for the censors, they possess independent power. The Censor-in-Chief can directly submit confidential memorials to the King, allowing the power of supervision to reach the Emperor directly.
Finally, the decentralization of power must be implemented at the local level. The twelve departments should set up corresponding offices in the prefectures and counties for vertical management, so that government orders can be implemented smoothly.
Furthermore, all regions within the Qin territory are divided into several levels: province, city, county, town, and village, with hierarchical management, clearly defined responsibilities, and convenient for overall planning.
The court was silent as everyone pondered the advantages and disadvantages of the new system. Some nodded slightly, seemingly agreeing with Ying Wuyou's explanation; others, however, frowned, still harboring doubts.
However, regardless of everyone's attitude, this new system of five ministers and twelve departments has already set sail like a giant ship, slowly embarking on a new voyage in the long river of Qin history. No one knows where it will go or what earth-shattering changes it will bring to Qin, yet everyone is filled with anticipation and trepidation.
After Ying Wuyou finished explaining the new system of checks and balances, the hall remained quiet, save for the soft rustling of robes. Suddenly, Wang Ben stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Princess Jiayang's words are indeed well-considered. However, the duties of the Military Affairs Bureau are of great importance, concerning the stability of the Qin borders. In the future selection of military officers, I wonder if there will be specific criteria for evaluation?"
Ying Wuyou turned his gaze to Wang Ben and smiled, “General Wang’s concerns are very valid. In the future, the selection of military officers will not only be based on their martial arts and archery skills, but also on their military strategy and military management. A martial arts competition will be held in Xianyang every year, and military commanders from various regions can also recommend talents. After layers of screening, the best will be selected to join the Military Affairs Department.”
After he finished speaking, Wei Zhuang also spoke up: "Princess, the Bureau of Personnel and Merit is in charge of evaluating and promoting officials. But the Qin territory is vast and there are many officials. How can we ensure that the evaluation is fair and not influenced by personal feelings?"
Ying Wuyou was well-prepared and explained in detail: "Multiple assessment processes can be set up. In addition to the evaluation of superiors, the public's opinion and their performance during their tenure should also be taken into account. The assessment results should be made public, and if there are any objections, they can be appealed at each level. At the same time, the supervisory office under the Censor-in-Chief will also supervise the assessment process, and once any favoritism or fraud is discovered, it will be severely punished."
At this moment, a young official stepped out from the queue. He was Wang Sai, the runner-up in the previous imperial examination, and currently serving in Xianyang. His expression was tense yet somewhat excited: "Princess, in the new system, local areas are managed at multiple levels, including provinces, cities, counties, and towns. How are the responsibilities of officials at each level divided?"
Ying Wuyou patiently explained: "Provincial officials oversee their respective areas, coordinating military and political affairs and conveying central directives; municipal officials are in charge of people's livelihood, economy, and urban construction; county officials focus on judicial adjudication and tax collection; township officials are responsible for grassroots security and agricultural supervision; and village officials are responsible for managing neighborhood disputes and supervising agriculture and sericulture. Each level performs its own duties while also cooperating with each other."
Chancellor Feng Quji stepped forward, cupped his hands in a salute, and said with a respectful yet cautious expression, “Your Majesty, now that the new system of five chancellors and twelve officials has been established, the selection and arrangement of officials for each position is crucial to the future rise and fall of Qin. I wonder if Your Majesty has any considerations?” As soon as he said this, the already heated discussion in the court instantly became more serious, and everyone pricked up their ears and focused their eyes on King Ying Zheng of Qin.
The King of Qin did not answer immediately. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through the walls of the hall and looking across the vast territory of Qin. After a long while, he said in a deep voice, "The selection of these five ministers and twelve officials must be virtuous and talented, loyal and reliable, able to understand my governing philosophy, and truly work for the well-being of the people of Qin."
Ying Wuyou sensed the King of Qin's gaze and immediately understood that it was a signal for her to cooperate with the performance.
Ying Wuyou stepped forward and replied, "Father is absolutely right. In my opinion, as the chief minister, the Grand Chancellor needs to have extremely high prestige and outstanding coordination ability. Prime Minister Feng happens to be both virtuous and talented and is capable of fulfilling this role."
"Very well." The King of Qin nodded in agreement. "Would Minister Feng be willing to share my burdens?"
Feng Quji's Adam's apple bobbed twice, and he finally bowed deeply: "This old minister...accepts the order."
"The Left Chancellor is in charge of the three ministries of Personnel, Revenue, and Rites. He must be extremely proficient in government affairs and adept at coordinating various parties. Your son recommends Wei Zhuang. In his past tenure, he has made many achievements in people's livelihood and government affairs. Moreover, he is fair and just, and he is sure to be competent for the job," Ying Wuyou said clearly and logically.