Prime Minister

Chapter 1149: Supervising National History

Chapter 1149: Supervising National History

After the general meeting, officials took turns to report on their affairs.

In order they are Zhongshu Menxia, ​​Privy Council, Sansi Shi, Sinong Temple, Taijian, etc.

The emperor said to the three ministers of the Secretariat, "Yesterday, Minister Zhang said that each generation has its own system. I think this is reasonable, but it is too shocking to spread it out. The ministers are shocked and suspicious, and the scholars and common people don't know what to do."

"All court systems have their reasons for change, and they are beneficial and detrimental. I praise the Zhou Dynasty, which established officials according to their duties and set salaries according to their titles. There are descriptions of everything, big or small, detailed and important."

"I want to trace the roots to be the source of Dong Zheng and to be the intention of the ancestors to follow the laws and regulations."

The official's words supplemented and modified Zhang Yue's words at yesterday's celebration banquet.

Zhang Yue said that each generation has its own system, and the government thought it was too shocking and worried that people would not be able to accept it for a while. He admired the Zhou system, so the reform of the official system should still be based on Zhou rituals.

The official's intention was very clear. He wanted to take personal charge of reforming the official system.

Only the name and the position cannot be given to others. In view of the reform in the Xining period, Wang Anshi led the way and the power of the prime minister was too great. Now he must take charge of the reform of the official system.

The emperor glanced at Zhang Yue, but saw that he was not unhappy at all. He just said, "Your Majesty is wise."

Cai Que glanced at Zhang Yue who was standing in front of him, and felt that the other party was getting closer and closer to Wang Gui.

The emperor was delighted to see that Zhang Yue did not object, and continued, "Although our dynasty has the name of three ministries, it does not have the reality of three ministries. All power is controlled by the Secretariat."

When the emperor said this, Wang Gui, Zhang Yue, and Cai Que all felt a chill in their hearts at the same time.

The emperor said, "The reform is from top to bottom. I intend to restore the three-province system of the Tang Dynasty. The Zhongshu Province receives the imperial edict, the Menxia Province reviews it, and the Shangshu Province executes it. The three provinces report on the affairs in shifts."

"According to the Tang system, the Shangshu Province did not have a Shangshu Ling, but instead had the left and right Pushe as the prime minister and the second prime minister, and the prime minister and second prime minister each served as the head of the two ministries of Zhongshu and Menxia."

Hearing this, Zhang Yue knew that the government was taking steps to weaken the power of the prime minister.

Originally, the three ministries were in name only, and all power belonged to the Secretariat.

Now that the Zhongshumenxia has been split into two ministries, it is equivalent to dividing the power of the prime minister into two, with checks and balances on each other.

Originally, the posts of Grand Secretary of Zhaowenguan, Supervisor of National History, Grand Secretary of Jixiandian, etc. were posts to confirm the prime minister, second prime minister and last prime minister. Now they have been changed to Shangshu Zuo Pushe, with Zuo Pushe as prime minister and You Pushe as second prime minister.

The emperor said, "The Minister of the Secretariat and the Minister of the Left and Right will replace the Minister of State Affairs and become the Vice Prime Minister. I have not yet considered this matter in detail, so I would like to ask the three ministers what they think first."

To be fair, Wang Gui and Cai Que were both extremely unwilling to do so.

In the past, the Zhongshumen implemented a system of group ministers. Although there were internal struggles among everyone, they were generally okay and some things were covered up by each other.

But if they are divided into two, they will start to undermine each other.

However, the one who suffered the greatest loss was Cai Que, but Cai Que was promoted to the Secretariat by the emperor himself, so it was impossible for him to object.

As for Wang Gui, he thought about it and felt that Zhang Yue would definitely object, so he said, "I have no objection."

After hearing Wang Gui's words, the emperor looked at Zhang Yue with satisfaction. Unexpectedly, Zhang Yue said without hesitation: "I have no objection either."

After hearing Zhang Yue's statement, Wang Gui showed a bitter smile on his face.

Now Wang Gui and Zhang Yue have expressed their views, not to mention Cai Que. Originally, Wang Gui pointed to Zhang Yue to fight for the position, but unexpectedly, Zhang Yue suddenly stopped fighting.

The official was also surprised. He had thought that this matter would be opposed, but he did not expect it to be passed so smoothly. He was immediately overjoyed.

The emperor said, "During this campaign against the Tanguts, we defeated the enemy in Lanzhou and killed the Prime Minister Liang Yimai. The Secretariat's planning was very successful. I have decided to appoint you two as Grand Secretaries of the Zhaowen Academy and Supervisors of National History, and also decide on the positions of Prime Minister and Vice Prime Minister after the reform."

The emperor's implication was that from now on Wang Gui would be the Shangshu Zuo Pushe, and Zhang Yue would be the Shangshu You Pushe, and it was settled there.

With the victory in Lanzhou, Zhang Yue had the intention of sidelining Wang Gui, but after the distinction between the prime minister and the deputy prime minister, Wang Gui thought that he could maintain his base whether it was the secretary or the head of the Ministry of Personnel, and immediately said happily: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhang Yue also said the same thing.

Wang Gui said, "Your Majesty, since you are restoring the Secretariat, should we abolish the Privy Council and give power to the Ministry of War? This will also avoid duplication of positions."

The Ministry of War belongs to the Secretariat. If the Privy Council is abolished and returned to the Secretariat, the power of the Prime Minister will not be lost.

After hearing this, Zhang Yue laughed in his heart. Wang Gui, you still know how to fight, but you will definitely not get what you want.

As expected, the government officials said: "Our ancestors did not give military power to the officials, but established the Privy Council to manage it. There is a reason for this, and there is no need to abolish it."

Wang Gui argued: "However, some of the power of the Privy Council can be reduced and returned to the Ministry of War."

The official said, "As agreed."

Wang Gui retreated only after he saw that he had gained some advantage.

……

The three ministers of the Secretariat made a memorial and later withdrew, and the two ministers of the Privy Council, Feng Jing and Xue Xiang, made a memorial.

When Xue Xiang passed in front of Zhang Yue, he bowed respectfully, opposing Wang Gui, but Cai Que was not so respectful.

Wang Gui felt very uncomfortable after seeing this.

Zhang Yue nodded and left. When they walked outside the palace, Wang Gui suddenly stamped his feet, turned around and said, "Why didn't Jixian say anything today? Could it be that he and the emperor had a tacit understanding that he didn't tell us two?"

Wang Gui accused Zhang Yue of having a tacit understanding with the emperor without telling Wang Gui and Cai Que.

Zhang Yue smiled and said, "Shiguan Rong, I don't know about this either. I do have the intention to change the system, but I will never reduce my power."

Zhang Yue was telling the truth. What he meant when he reported to the government was centralization. Power was concentrated upwards, and naturally it was concentrated in the power of the emperor and the power of the prime minister.

But the emperor's blow first hit the Secretariat, thus concentrating the power of the prime minister on the level of the emperor.

"Why didn't Jixian say anything today?"

Zhang Yue thought to himself, you were the one who didn't speak up first, but instead blamed me. You are higher in rank than me, but you don't fight for it. You expect me to fight with the government all day long.

That’s right, in the past I was the one who argued and you stood back and watched. Today I won’t be the first to speak out, is that okay?

Zhang Yue thought for a moment and said, "Let the History Bureau know. If the system is changed to three provinces, then His Majesty will definitely order the History Bureau to be the Minister of the Central Secretariat. I am afraid that if I object, wouldn't it ruin His Majesty's good intentions for the History Bureau?"

The head of the Secretariat was the Minister of the Secretariat.

Wang Gui listened to Zhang Yue's meaning and said with a slightly relieved expression: "I am the Minister of the Central Secretariat, and you are the Minister of the Court."

Zhang Yue hurriedly said: "I dare not compare with the historian."

Shizhong was the highest official of Menxia Province. Zhang Yue's words were a double entendre. He meant that his power in Menxia Province was not as good as that in Zhongshu Province, and he also continued to regard himself as Wang Gui's student.

If Zhang Yue and Wang Gui had a good relationship, he would not dare to consider himself as a disciple. Otherwise, the government would think that the two of them were in cahoots with each other.

It is precisely because the relationship between the two is not good that Zhang Yue said this.

Wang Gui was making a lot of money now, and although Zhang Yue held real power, he was only responsible for urgent and difficult matters that were easy to get into trouble. As long as the other party was not pushing him too far in terms of fame and status, Wang Gui did not think Zhang Yue was overdoing it.

Zhang Yue is a man who knows the rules very well and treats people quite sincerely and kindly, unlike Cai Que, whose ambition is written all over his face.

After dealing with Wang Gui and the other two, Zhang Yue returned to the Secretariat. On the way, he sighed in his heart at the great power of the emperor.

During the time of Wang Anshi, the power of the prime minister could still compete with the imperial power, but now there is no room for competition.

Take the previous example. If the emperor wanted to appoint Cai Que as the vice-chancellor, he had to discuss it with Zhang Yue and Wang Gui and offer them benefits in advance to bribe them.

But now the government first proposed the reform of the official system, and then offered the titles of prime minister and deputy prime minister as rewards.

In the past, the government bribed first and then made demands, but now it makes demands first and then rewards. The difference between the first and the second is that the government uses power to test step by step and press forward.

The government's means of manipulating power were more sophisticated than at the beginning of the Xining period, or even at the beginning of the Yuanfeng period.

Zhang Yue returned to the Secretariat, and a moment later, the imperial edict appointing Wang Gui as the Grand Secretary of the Zhaowenguan arrived.

This is indeed a grand event.

One day, when they heard that Wang Gui had been transferred to Qi, all the officials congratulated him.

Wang Gui smiled the most widely, for him, being promoted to Zhao Wen was what he had wished for, it put his mind at ease and confirmed his identity as the head of the civil servants.

He was promoted to Shangshu Zuo Pushe and Menxia Shilang, which was a standard position for prime ministers. When Zhao Pu was appointed prime minister, he was granted the title of Menxia Shilang.

The Shangshu Zuo Pushe was the official second only to the Three Dukes, and the next higher one could be called 'Prime Minister'.

As for the positions higher than the Minister of the Court, there were the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of the Secretariat. Han Qi was awarded the position of Minister of the Court for his contribution to the establishment of the dynasty. In addition, there was also Wen Yanbo, but this position was generally not given lightly.

The position of Zhongshu Ling, to whom Zhang Yue had previously flattered Wang Gui, also held the title of prime minister, but he had never been granted the title of a true prime minister.

Wang Gui was given an additional fief of 1,000 households, with a total of 400 households in actual fiefdom.

Because the system had not yet been reformed, the three ministries' Shizhong, Zhongshu Shilang, Menxia Shilang, and Shangshu Zuo Pushe were all awarded to the prime minister as their own official titles or concurrent titles.

It is estimated that it will be out of print from now on. After Wang Gui, the official positions will be restructured. The Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministers of the Secretariat and the Left and Right Pushe will become actual positions, and the position of Prime Minister Zhaowen will also become a thing of the past.

In fact, the position of a civil official ended when he reached the position of Prime Minister Zhaowen, and the ones after that just sounded nice.

However, Wang Gui still attached great importance to his historical status. Compared with the prime ministers of previous dynasties who served as Zhaowen Xiang, he would still be not very decent if he did not have the concurrent title of Menxia Shilang.

After Wang Gui was stripped of his power as the Minister of the Secretariat by the Emperor, he was replaced by the positions of Prime Minister Zhaowen and Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

All the officials congratulated each other one after another, but the other officials did not leave after congratulating Wang Gui. Instead, they stayed and sat, occasionally looking at Zhang Yue who was sitting next to Wang Gui and chatting with Shi Deyi.

The one who just came to announce the decree to Wang Gui was Shi Deyi. He was extremely respectful to Zhang Yue and tried hard to get close to him. The officials smiled slightly, knowing what was going on.

After a while, the clerk reported that another imperial edict had arrived.

The one who came to announce the decree was Song Yongchen.

When the officials heard that Song Yongchen was coming, they looked as if they had expected it. They put down their teacups and stood up from their seats.

Then Zhang Yue Wang Gui came out to greet him.

When Song Yongchen saw Zhang Yue, he nodded with a smile, and immediately held up the imperial edict to announce to all officials: "Zhang Yue, a loyal and meritorious official, Guanglu Dafu, Jianxiu Taibao, Shangshu Gongbu Shangshu, Tongzhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, Jixiandian Grand Secretary, Jian'an County Founding Duke, with a fief of 4,000 households and a fief of 1,400 households."

"He is specially appointed as the Minister of Rites, the Supervisor of the National History and the Translator of the Scriptures, and is given an additional 1,000 households of food and 400 households of actual fiefdom."