Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 260 3 Provinces 6 Ministries

The afterglow of the grand banquet bestowing titles and lands upon meritorious officials still lingered over Chang'an, the ink on the edicts granting ranks and lands was still wet, and the court was still immersed in the excitement of rewarding merit and speculating about future power. Yet, Chen Xing had already unhesitatingly shifted the empire's focus to a more fundamental, and perhaps more tedious and complex, area—one that would determine the nation's long-term stability and security—institutional construction. Military prowess can conquer the world, but civil administration is what truly secures a nation. In the early days of the dynasty, everything was in ruins. If an effective, clearly defined, and well-functioning central administrative system could not be quickly established, no amount of reward would be more like a castle built on sand, unable to withstand the erosion of time and the elements.

The tenth day of the third month of the first year of the Qiming era. Only six days had passed since the coronation ceremony, and the atmosphere in the Taiji Hall had already shifted from the clamor of celebration to the somber focus on state affairs. Beneath the steps, meritorious officials who had just received prestigious titles, new faces who had entered the court through the preliminary selection of the imperial examinations and recommendations, and some former officials of the Southern Dynasty who had remained in their posts, gathered together. Many still had the glow of honor on their faces, but their eyes already held a hint of concern and trepidation about the upcoming distribution of "real power."

Chen Xing sat upright on his throne, not in elaborate ceremonial robes today, but in simple black attire, which only accentuated his dignified and restrained presence. On the imperial desk before him lay a scroll of documents bound in bright yellow silk, bearing the imperial seal and the seal of the cabinet—the "General Regulations of the Central Government System of the Xingqi Empire." This was the final draft, the result of numerous revisions and revisions made over the past few days with Jia Wen, Lin Wan'er, and the heads of the six ministries.

"My lords," Chen Xing began, his voice not loud, yet clearly carrying throughout the hall, "the rewards bestowed the other day were to reward the merits of past battles and to reassure the hearts of you, my lords, and the soldiers. However, conquering the world and governing the world are different paths. Now that the world is at peace, the most urgent task is to establish systems and laws, so that government orders can be effectively implemented, all departments can operate in an orderly manner, the people can have something to rely on, and the nation can have a foundation."

His gaze swept over military generals like Chen Wei and Dian Xiong, and also over civil officials like Jia Wen and the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, finally settling on the new faces: "The primary matter to be discussed at today's court assembly is to establish the fundamental structure of the central administration of our Xingqi Empire—the Three Departments and Six Ministries system. This is not a decision made by me alone, but rather the result of gathering the wisdom of the masses, considering the gains and losses of the previous dynasty, and deliberating on the appropriateness of the present time. Minister Jia."

"Your old minister is here." Jia Wen stepped forward, holding a slightly thin copy.

"You shall read the general outline to the assembled officials and explain its key points."

"Your old minister obeys the decree." Jia Wen turned to face the officials, unfolded the document, and began to read it aloud.

The hall was silent, save for Jia Wen's powerful and clear voice. The outline stated clearly at the outset that the purpose of establishing the Three Departments and Six Ministries was to "separate powers and check and balances, improve efficiency, clarify responsibilities and authority, and benefit the government." It then detailed the powers and responsibilities of the Three Departments:

The Secretariat (Zhongshu Sheng) was responsible for confidential matters, drafting imperial edicts, and making decisions on issuing decrees. Its head was the Grand Secretary (Zhongshu Ling), and it had several Secretariat Drafters (Zhongshu Sheren) responsible for drafting documents. Its decisions required review by the Chancellery (Menxia Sheng).

The Secretariat (Menxia Sheng) was responsible for reviewing and rejecting imperial edicts and examining documents issued by the Chancellery (Zhongshu Sheng). Its head was the Attendant-in-Ordinary (Shizhong), and subordinate officials included Attendants-in-Ordinary (Jishizhong) and Gentlemen-at-Waiting (Sanqi Changshi), who were responsible for correcting errors. If an imperial edict was deemed inappropriate, it could be returned for further discussion.

The Ministry of Personnel (Shangshu Sheng) was in charge of execution, overseeing all government affairs of the Six Ministries and the entire realm. Its head was the Minister of Personnel (Shangshu Ling). The Ministry of Personnel was the administrative center; all government orders, after being decided by the Secretariat (Zhongshu) and reviewed by the Chancellery (Menxia), were issued by the Ministry of Personnel to the Six Ministries and local authorities for implementation.

"The three departments check and balance each other. The Secretariat drafts the edicts, the Chancellery reviews them, and the Ministry of Personnel executes them. This can prevent powerful ministers from acting arbitrarily and also make government orders more prudent and comprehensive," Jia Wen explained. This was clearly a lesson learned from history of ministers having too much power or making rash decisions.

Next are the Six Ministries, subordinate to the Ministry of Personnel, which were the implementing agencies for specific tasks:

The Ministry of Personnel (吏部) was in charge of the selection, evaluation, conferment of honors, promotion, demotion, and transfer of all civil officials in the country. It held the most power and was known as the "Heavenly Official" (天官).

The Ministry of Revenue was in charge of the nation's population, land tax, grain, customs duties, grain transport, and warehousing. It was the empire's purse, handling the most complex affairs.

The Ministry of Rites was in charge of rites, sacrifices, the imperial examinations, schools, diplomacy, and some cultural affairs. It maintained the empire's rites, laws, and education.

The Ministry of War was in charge of selecting and appointing military officers, maps, vehicles, armor, and the transmission of military orders. It shared power with the Military Governor's Office, maintaining a balance of power.

The Ministry of Justice: in charge of laws, criminal cases, and reviewing all cases nationwide. It forms the judicial system together with the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate.

The Ministry of Works was in charge of engineering construction, water conservancy and transportation, machinery manufacturing, land reclamation and land reclamation, etc. The Directorate of Works and the Directorate of Water Conservancy were under its jurisdiction.

Each of the Six Ministries was headed by a Minister and two Vice Ministers, with subordinate officials such as Directors, Assistant Directors, and Clerks, each with their own duties. Jia Wen specifically pointed out that this system, within the framework of the Six Ministries, added or strengthened some specialized agencies. For example, the Ministry of Revenue established the "Maritime Trade Office" to manage overseas trade, the Ministry of Works established the "Directorate of Works" to specialize in technological research and major projects, and the Ministry of Justice established the "Law Academy" to train judicial personnel, in order to adapt to the needs of the new dynasty's development.

Besides the Three Departments and Six Ministries, the outline also clearly defined the Censorate as an independent supervisory body responsible for investigating officials and maintaining order in the court, with Palace Attendant Censors and Supervising Censors under its jurisdiction. The Court of Judicial Review was the highest judicial organ. The Five Military Commissions and the Ministry of War held military power. The Hanlin Academy served as an advisory body to the emperor and a reserve of high-ranking officials. The Inner Palace Administration managed palace affairs.

After reading the document aloud, Jia Wen closed it and added, "This system is not rigid. His Majesty has decreed that the heads of the three ministries may temporarily exercise their powers through additional titles, so that His Majesty can oversee the overall administration. Adjustments may also be made according to the actual situation. If there are any overlaps or gaps in the powers of the various ministries, they may be added or deleted during implementation. Once the general regulations are established, each government office must, within ten days, formulate detailed regulations for its duties, personnel quotas, and procedures, and submit them to His Majesty and the Cabinet for approval before implementation."

A hush fell over the hall as everyone digested the massive amount of information. The system was clearly structured, with well-defined powers and responsibilities. It had clearly absorbed the essence of the previous dynasty's system while making many practical adjustments and innovations. In particular, the checks and balances among the three provinces, the professional division of labor among the six ministries, the independent oversight, and the newly established institutions all demonstrated the new dynasty's enlightened and pragmatic spirit, unlike anything seen before.

Most civil officials looked excited, especially the newcomers who had entered the court through the imperial examinations or recommendations. They saw a clear path to promotion and a stage to showcase their professional skills. The former officials from the Southern Dynasties who remained in their posts also felt somewhat at ease, at least the institutional framework was familiar, and it seemed that practical results were given more weight.

The military officers' reactions were more complex. Top nobles like Chen Wei and Dian Xiong were granted the title of Duke, a prestigious position, but under the new system, their specific authority would primarily reside in the Five Military Commands or local military garrisons, with daily administrative affairs handled by the Six Ministries. This meant a portion of their power was being diverted to the civil service system. However, His Majesty retained the power structure between the Military Commands and the Ministry of War, and their illustrious titles meant their influence remained, so they weren't entirely disappointed. Lower-ranking officers were more concerned about the fairness of the Ministry of War's selection process and rewards/punishments based on military merit.

Chen Xing took in the expressions of everyone present and slowly began to speak: "The system is like the skeleton, the government offices are like the flesh and blood, and the officials are the soul that drives this body. The Three Departments and Six Ministries system aims to select talent for the country and serve the people. I hope that all of you will remain in your positions and perform your duties, abandoning any sectarianism, north-south divide, or old-and-new distinctions, and promoting only the talented and seeking only the effective. Merit will be rewarded, and wrongdoing will be punished. My court will not tolerate mediocrity or corruption!"

His voice turned stern: "From this day forward, the Ministry of Personnel, in conjunction with the Cabinet and the Censorate, will conduct a preliminary evaluation and assessment of existing officials, assigning them positions according to their abilities in accordance with the new system. All government offices must get running as quickly as possible, first dealing with the backlog of administrative affairs, and sorting out the most urgent national matters at present—the detailed implementation of the Equal-Field System, the pilot program of the new tax law, the preparations for the first imperial examination, the supervision of the construction of the new city and palaces in Chang'an, the post-war pacification of the south, the expansion of the navy, the repair of post roads… There are countless tasks, all of which require your concerted efforts!"

"Your Majesty, we obey! We will certainly perform our duties diligently and live up to Your Majesty's expectations!" The officials responded in unison, their voices carrying a new sense of mission and urgency.

The court session adjourned, but the transformation of the empire's central government had only just begun. Countless detailed regulations needed to be drafted, countless personnel positions needed to be adjusted, and countless administrative matters needed to be coordinated. The framework of the Three Departments and Six Ministries was like a newly assembled, sophisticated machine, waiting to be powered and begin its long and complex operation. Chen Xing, as the chief architect and supreme controller of this machine, knew that this was only the first step. How to ensure that this machine operated truly efficiently, cleanly, and stably, and how to prevent its components from rusting and malfunctioning, would be a far more daunting challenge than the formulation of the system itself.

After the court session, Chen Xing returned to the Wenhua Hall, where Jia Wen, the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, and Lin Wan'er, who had been specially appointed to participate in confidential matters, were already waiting. They began to discuss in detail the evaluation and appointment of officials, as well as the first batch of urgent political matters to be dealt with.