The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 341 Lee Ik Appointed Prime Minister
"Take it and have a look yourself, my dear minister."

Liu Bei handed a silk scroll to Li Yi.

Li Yi unfolded it and found it to be a joint letter from ministers.

The name had been blurred out, but Liu Bei showed the letter to Li Yi verbatim.

The book states briefly:

"Your Majesty's wise judgment—"

“We have observed throughout history that the calamities caused by powerful ministers often stemmed from the benevolence of the previous ruler and were exacerbated by the youth and weakness of the successor.”

"The current Chancellor, Li Yi, holds the highest position among officials and concurrently serves as Grand Marshal and General-in-Chief."

"He commanded the six armies and also established his own government to govern, thus wielding absolute power and authority."

"When discussing matters in the imperial court, none of the officials dared to voice any dissent."

"All major military and national policies were decided by him."

"This is not the old system of the Han Dynasty, and it is the beginning of chaos and turmoil."

"When Huo Guang was in power, he still shared power with Zhang Anshi."

"No one has ever held absolute power like Yi, rendering the emperor's authority almost meaningless."

"Your Majesty is exceptionally skilled and powerful, and is certainly capable of subduing it."

"But after thousands of years, will all the successors be as wise and decisive as Your Majesty?"

"Power is the ruler's most powerful tool."

"Now that he is being used as a vassal, he may become arrogant and domineering in the future."

“Zong Yi had no ulterior motives, but once this precedent is set, future villains will surely use it as a pretext.”

“Whenever we think of this, we are filled with grief and indignation.”

"I humbly request Your Majesty to remove the seal and ribbon of the General-in-Chief, so that he may not be in charge of military affairs."

"The power of the prime minister was separated, and the left and right vice ministers were also appointed to jointly participate in state affairs."

"Furthermore, we believe that major decisions in the court must be made by all the ministers in court, and should not be decided solely by Yi."

"In this way, the superiors and inferiors will live in peace, and the state will be forever secure."

"We dare not speak ill of ministers in private; this is truly for the sake of the Han dynasty for generations to come."

After reading it, Li Yi understood that it was a joint letter from his ministers impeaching him.

The gist of it is that it points out that its power is too great.

In the court, he and Liu Bei were practically the ones who called the shots.

Whenever there was a major event, it would basically be Li Yi who would propose a plan, which would then be submitted to Emperor Liu Bei for approval, and that's how it would be finalized.

The courtiers felt little sense of participation.

The less a person participates in politics, the less benefit they will receive from their ministers.

Clearly, Li Yi's absolute power has blocked the path to advancement for many people.

The ministers pointed out a key problem.
Liu Bei was an entrepreneur, so he could boldly delegate power to his subordinates.

Just like Liu Bang, who initially dared to lavishly enfeoff kings of different surnames.

However, Liu Bang eventually eliminated these kings of different surnames because he knew that his descendants would not be able to deal with them.

They will not obey the leadership of their own descendants.

Now, the ministers have pointed out that Liu Bei is not controlling the position of prime minister.

Do you want to see another Wang Mang or Huo Guang?

Of course, they weren't targeting Li Yi, but rather the position of Prime Minister.

After all, the position of Chancellor was essentially abolished or divided up in the Han Dynasty.

That is, the three public expenses.

If the prime minister with real power is reinstated, the interests of those below him will also be affected.

Everyone pointed out that the prime minister held all the power, while everyone else could only watch helplessly.

"My dear minister, what are your thoughts after reading this?"

Liu Bei asked calmly.

Generally speaking, when a monarch shows a minister a letter impeaching him for having too much power, it is considered a sign of a monarch's power.

At this point, under normal circumstances, this official should have resigned voluntarily; in more serious cases, he might have simply drawn his sword and committed suicide.

But at this moment, Liu Bei did not intend to give Li Yi a warning.

Instead, he wanted to discuss this issue with Li Yi in a practical way.

Liu Bei appointed Li Yi as prime minister and granted him such great power in order to compensate for his sacrifice.

After all, given Li Yi's achievements, he was fully qualified to be made a king.

However, the issues raised by the ministers should not be taken lightly.

Referring to the historical Shu Han,
Although Zhuge Liang, Fei Yi, Dong Yun, and Jiang Wan were known as the Four Chancellors of Shu Han.

But only Zhuge Liang served as prime minister, and he was a prime minister who was in charge of both military and political affairs.

His successors, Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, and Dong Yun, never held such great power simultaneously.

Military power, in particular, was fragmented.

Almost no one could launch a northern expedition as readily as Zhuge Liang.

For example, Jiang Wei and Fei Yi were political enemies.

Whenever Jiang Wei wanted to send troops to Longxi, Fei Yi would prevent him from doing so, and at the same time, he would not allow Jiang Wei's troops to exceed 10,000 men.

The main reason for this situation was that Liu Shan, the last emperor of the Southern Tang dynasty, would not allow the country to have another prime minister with such great power.

Zhuge Liang's strength at that time was such that "all matters of state, great and small, were decided by Liang."

The first person in Shu Han in the true sense.

If Zhuge Liang wanted to, he truly possessed the ability to replace Liu Shan.

Therefore, Liu Shan could trust Zhuge Liang, but he would never trust his successor in the same way.

Jiang Wan, the successor, was at least able to establish his own government, but Fei Yi and Jiang Wei, who came later, had their qualifications for establishing their own government revoked.

This clearly shows that a prime minister with immense power is unlikely to remain in office for long and be accepted by later emperors.

If Liu Shan could understand this problem, how could Liu Bei not?

But Liu Bei had just established a new dynasty, and his ministers were all looking forward to rewards, just as they were looking forward to dividends from shares after the company went public.

We brothers have risked our lives for you, Mr. Liu. You can't treat your brothers unfairly, can you?
Politics is the game where face is the most important thing.

Liu Bei knew that the better he treated Li Yi, his most meritorious official, the better.

The more they do this, the better they can appease their subordinates.

Now, some people with ulterior motives are impeaching Li Yi, hoping to separate his power as prime minister and military commander.

It was Liu Bei's turn to help Li Yi.

Retaining Li Yi's power was not only Liu Bei's way of compensating Li Yi, but also a way to use him to suppress the old brothers who had started the business under his command.

Even a powerful figure like Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang, when he established the Han Dynasty, enfeoffed seven kings who were not of the same surname.

But how could the descendants of these kings of different surnames guarantee their loyalty to the Han Dynasty over time?

Therefore, Zhang Liang chose to retire and cultivate immortality, while Xiao He chose to encroach on farmland and defile himself.

Unlike the two men, Zhou Bo, who was appointed prime minister twice, could only laugh at himself in the end:

"I once commanded a million troops, yet how could I have known the power and influence of a prison guard?"

Without Li Yi's voluntary sacrifice, Liu Bei would most likely have been forced by pressure to appoint a group of non-royal kings.

By then, these feudal lords will control multiple states and counties, and they will also have a large army in their hands.

This posed a significant obstacle to the consolidation of the Han Dynasty's rule and would inevitably become a major threat sooner or later.

Now, a new problem faces the two rulers—

How to solve the problem of the prime minister having too much power.

Liu Bei will not take back Li Yi's power for the time being, at least not in his generation.

But neither of them were young anymore, and they had to think about the future.

"Your Majesty, do you still remember the cabinet system I just proposed?"

Yi Ik once again brought out the cabinet system.

His cabinet system is unlike any other cabinet system in history.

It was formulated and improved entirely based on the productivity, population base, and even the relationship between imperial power and ministerial power of this era.

"As I just said, the Prime Minister holds supreme military and political power and can mobilize the entire nation's army."

“This is what a righteous minister would do.”

The implication is that the cabinet prime minister that Lee Ik created is not much different from the one he currently holds.

Lee Ik now possesses the same power as the prime minister.

Lee Ik has powers that even the prime minister doesn't have.

Rather than saying that Li Yi established a cabinet, it would be more accurate to say that he voluntarily delegated his power to the cabinet.

In ordinary times, proposals and motions are nothing more than his own monologue.

But now, the Prime Minister still needs to discuss and consult with his cabinet members.

The emperor could also directly arbitrate cabinet proposals.

This is Li Yi actively reducing his own power.

"Prime Minister, the cabinet system cannot last."

Liu Bei finally expressed his opinion.

The logic is simple: if Li Yi wants it, Liu Bei will agree.

The cabinet was indeed established, and its administrative efficiency far surpassed that of the original Three Dukes and Nine Ministers.

However, after Liu Bei and Li Yi, those two old men, passed away one after the other.

The cabinet system is bound to have problems.

Because the cabinet system planned by Li Yi essentially derived its power from the voluntary delegation of power by Liu Bei and Li Yi.

As emperor, Liu Bei sacrificed some of his power.

As the second-in-command of the Han Dynasty, Li Yi proactively divided his power into several parts.

The later emperor, the later successor.

Is it still possible to achieve the same close relationship as Liu Bei and Li Yi?

The emperor is supreme; how could he not have absolute power?
How should the ministers choose between the emperor and the prime minister?
Li Yi straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, please allow me to report."

"If a prime minister is to be appointed, his authority should be defined first."

"The power to appoint or dismiss them rests with Your Majesty."

"In this way, the Prime Minister remains subject to the control of the royal family."

He suddenly lifted his robe and knelt down, the jade belt buckle clanging against the blue bricks.

"Your Majesty, may I ask, can such a prime minister still threaten the imperial power?"

"Threatening future generations of the dynasty?"

"And how could the officials not support this system?"

"hiss--"

Liu Bei gasped, his brows furrowing slightly.

According to Li Yi, the appointment and removal of the prime minister still rests with the emperor.

That's not much different from how I am now.

However, the fact that the prime minister's power was divided into several parts actually reduced his power.

"What you see..."

Liu Bei stroked his beard and pondered, "Do you realize that this is diminishing my power?"

"Moreover, a prime minister with such talent is a once-in-a-century occurrence, and it is doubtful that one can be selected from the cabinet every year."

Li Yi touched the ground with his forehead: "Your Majesty is wise."

"My example is indeed a minority. I believe that all those who enter the cabinet as prime ministers should first rectify their character before taking action."

"If he truly possesses the talents of Guan Zhong and Yue Yi, he is perfectly capable of serving as prime minister."

Lee Ik only proposed that the prime minister should be chosen from the cabinet.

Although he cannot currently secure the prime minister's freedom from the emperor's appointment and removal, he can at least strive to be selected from the cabinet.

The selection of cabinet members also influenced his later reforms of the Han Dynasty's recommendation system; the two were inextricably linked.

The Prime Minister will definitely work hard while in office.

Because other cabinet members all had the opportunity to rise to power, they all had ambitions, and they all saw this hope.

Naturally, it is not easy for them to be of one mind with the Prime Minister, which greatly limits the phenomenon of forming cliques and engaging in self-serving activities.

No one wants to be second only to the emperor, and that's the kind of fiercely competitive environment everyone is in.

The prime minister who ultimately emerges victorious must be quite capable.

This back-and-forth consolidated imperial power.

And the power of the prime minister can survive stably in the long term, providing the country with outstanding talents who can win in the "chicken dinner" game.

In fact, everything Li Yi did was to protect the power of the prime minister.

It's true that he currently wields absolute power, but the prime minister system will most likely be abolished or its power greatly reduced after he takes over.

The establishment of the cabinet system allowed the "prime minister," a person who holds both military and political power, to exist for a long time.

Why did Li Yi so strongly defend the "power of the prime minister"?

The reason for this is that the emperor plus the prime minister is a dual-headed system.

The emperor has the natural right to inherit the throne, while the prime minister usually rises to the position through hard work.

Therefore, under normal circumstances, the prime minister can maintain a minimum standard of conduct.

Because he already had extensive political experience before taking office.

Except for the first one or two emperors at the beginning of a new dynasty, most emperors were raised in the deep palace and had no experience at the grassroots level. As a result, their overall abilities were not as good as those of the prime minister.

At the same time, even if the emperor acts recklessly, it has a relatively minor impact on his power.

Officials who make even the slightest mistake will be beheaded at best, and their entire family will be exterminated at worst.

It was precisely this system that made imperial centralization of power an inevitable trend in the development of feudal society.

Centralized power is beneficial to national governance, but imperial centralization relies too heavily on the emperor's personal abilities.

People are fortunate to have a wise and benevolent ruler, but they are unlucky to have a ruler like Yang Guang or Zhu Qizhen who cause chaos and turmoil.

Li Yi had no idea how far Qi Han would go after his death.

But he knew that the establishment of the cabinet system would allow Qi Han to go even further than before.

Even if the cabinet becomes corrupt or encounters other problems in the future.

It cannot be ruled out that the problems encountered during the Ming Dynasty may occur again.

But in retrospect, he has made progress.

From a long-term perspective, it can definitely help Qi Han extend his lifespan.

At least Li Yi, he can truly prove that I was here.

"Prime Minister, you should think this through."

"Implementing such restrictions would actually diminish your own rights."

Liu Bei spoke up to remind him.

After all, as long as Li Yi wanted to, he could serve as prime minister until his death, and no one could replace him.

However, for the sake of long-term development, Yi Yi voluntarily imposed a constraint on himself in order to help promote and implement the cabinet system.

For the emperor, a "prime minister" whose power is divided poses absolutely no threat to imperial authority.

It could even maintain imperial power.

For example, if a young emperor ascends the throne, in the past you would have had to appoint a regent to oversee the young ruler.

The ministers entrusted with the care of the young emperor were basically like opening a blind box.

With good luck, one becomes like Yi Yin or Zhou Gong; with bad luck, one becomes like Sima Yi.

But by dispersing the prime minister's power through the cabinet, it becomes much harder for him to bully the young prince.

After all, millions of eyes are watching you; if you want to stay put, everyone will definitely disagree.

"I had always intended to retire after achieving my goals, and the establishment of the cabinet system was exactly what I had been hoping for."

Li Yi answered firmly.

In his view, everything is based on strength.

If you can prove yourself, then you will be the prime minister.

"...Ziyu, you seemed to have mentioned cabinet members just now."

"Could it be that there are other members besides the cabinet ministers?"

"Yes."

Li Yi nodded. "By appointing cabinet members, we can further prevent the power of the cabinet from being seized by one person."

Cabinet members are the reserves for the cabinet ministers.

Whether it's dividing the prime minister's power or implementing a cabinet system, the essence is to exploit human weaknesses.

This creates the illusion that because I have an opportunity, I can succeed.

If the power pie is only divided among a few people, it will be easy for those few people to reach a consensus and grab a new piece of the pie.

But if more people are involved in the distribution, it will be difficult for everyone to reach a consensus on their interests.

"How are cabinet members selected?"

"Not for now."

Li Yi pointed out, "We should first consider implementing a cabinet system, and then think about how to further improve it."

The current cabinet system under Li Yi clearly has many problems and drawbacks.

This wasn't something Li Yi hadn't thought of; rather, it was a compromise after careful consideration.

His idea was to first implement the cabinet system.

Then we'll gradually improve it.

For example, with the cabinet system, why isn't Li Yi choosing it now?

Cabinet members are essentially a reserve of officials.

Officials in reserve were selected through the recommendation system based on filial piety and integrity.

The recommendation system was essentially designed to serve powerful families, and over the centuries it produced countless influential clans.

Even top-tier wealthy families like Yuan Shao's family, which had held high office for four generations.

To avoid a repeat of the deeply rotten dynasty phenomenon seen during the Wei and Jin dynasties, Li Yi was bound to take action against the powerful clans sooner or later.

To fundamentally solve the problems of powerful and influential families, it is necessary to take action against the recommendation system.

However, the recommendation system cannot be changed overnight; it requires a long period of accumulation.

Li Yi has already begun developing paper mills, and he will then utilize the cabinet to implement all his reforms.

"It seems that Ziyu has a lot of things he wants to do."

Liu Bei understood Li Yi as always, and he knew that Li Yi had many thoughts at this moment.

Liu Bei and he have supported each other to get to where they are today, and have gone through countless trials together.

"Since you want to do it, then go ahead and do it boldly! I will support you."

"Although I am not sure whether doing so will bring good or bad fortune."

"But no matter what, I will stand with you through thick and thin!"

Li Yi was deeply moved and bowed down.

"I will repay your kindness on the Golden Terrace and die for you, supporting the Jade Dragon."

"Your Majesty, I will certainly live up to your kindness and trust!"

……

Luoyang, Weiyang Palace.

Outside the palace, a biting wind howled, while inside, the assembled officials all wore solemn expressions.

Liu Bei sat upright on the dragon throne, the jade beads hanging from his crown swaying slightly, unable to conceal the sharpness in his eyes.

Li Yi stood below the steps, his expression calm, as if the storm had nothing to do with him.

"His Majesty!"

Wang Lang, his hair and beard bristling, stepped forward first.

"The position of the prime minister is to assist the emperor in governing the country. How can a separate cabinet be established, leaving His Majesty to remain uninvolved?"

"This is a usurpation of the ancestral laws!"

"The cabinet system is absolutely unacceptable."

Before Liu Bei could speak, Hua Xin followed suit, loudly proclaiming:
"Wang Jingxing's words are absolutely right!"

"A cabinet system is unheard of. If the prime minister is only selected from the cabinet, wouldn't that be treating national affairs like a child's game?"

Kong Rong sneered, and even he, who was usually aloof, could not hide his excitement at this moment.

"Is Prime Minister Li proposing to emulate Wang Mang's reforms and carry out the 'invoking the past to reform the present' approach?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall erupted in an uproar.

There are many voices in the government opposing the cabinet.

It is mainly divided into two factions.

One faction consisted of conservatives and royalists like Kong Rong.

They believed that the emperor was supreme, but the cabinet had stripped the emperor of his legislative power.

This greatly damaged the emperor's prestige and was absolutely unacceptable.

The other faction consists of those who have already benefited from the system. This is because the cabinet ministers have taken away the power of the Nine Ministers and the Secretariat.

Originally, they were in charge of everything, but now they only manage a part.

Of course they were going to get angry.

Liu Bei raised his hand to silence the discussion, his voice calm and steady.

"My lords, please calm down."

He glanced at the crowd and said, “When did I ever say I would stand aside? If I am not satisfied with the matters discussed by the Cabinet, I can simply reject them with a single document.”

"This system is merely to relieve my burdens and make government affairs more effective."

Li Yi stepped forward at the opportune moment, cupped his hands, and said:
"Your Majesty is wise. The nine chancellors of the cabinet are in charge of the powers of the nine ministers, and each performs his/her duties."

"It can both prevent powerful ministers from becoming too dominant and gather wisdom from all sides."

"As for the Prime Minister's restrictions—"

He paused, "The principle of appointing officials based on merit and allowing them to retire upon assuming office is precisely to prevent power from being held for too long and causing unrest."

"Absurd!" Kong Rong exclaimed angrily.

"Since ancient times, the prime minister has been the emperor's right-hand man and advisor. How can he be replaced like a merchant?"

Just as the conservatives were filled with indignation, Xun You suddenly stepped forward and loudly proclaimed:
"In my opinion, Prime Minister Li's suggestion is excellent!"

Everyone looked on in astonishment, only to see that Xun Lingjun, who was known for his exceptional strategies and ingenious plans, was now smiling.

"The power of the Nine Ministers is too concentrated, which easily leads to corruption."

"The current system of nine chancellors with power divided among themselves, checking and balancing each other, is a sound strategy for governing the country."

Seeing this, Xu Shu also stepped forward:

"Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state. If you personally make decisions on every matter, it may harm your health."

"The cabinet handles the trivial matters, allowing Your Majesty to focus on major policies; this is truly a win-win situation."

Pang Tong also stepped forward, holding his scepter, and echoed:
"Indeed, Emperor Guangwu established the Grand Secretariat to reduce the power of the Three Dukes, and today Your Majesty has established the Grand Secretariat to divide the power of the Nine Ministers."

"This is similar in its subtlety and profound effect!"

The conservatives looked ashen-faced.

They looked around and noticed that many officials had a strange glint in their eyes.

Especially those young talents who were originally ineligible for the position of one of the Nine Ministers are now looking at Li Yi with great anticipation, as if they have seen a new hope for advancement.

Yes, Li Yi has more than just the support of the Hebei faction.

Furthermore, there is the support of a large number of officials below the rank of Nine Ministers, who are eager to get a share of the pie.

Li Yi's methods of manipulating people's hearts are truly too clever...

Seeing that the voices of support were gradually overwhelming the voices of opposition, Liu Bei frowned and said in a timely manner:

"Why shouldn't I decide the affairs of the world?"

"If I wish to do it now, why should you all disobey?"

"Furthermore, the matters concerning the cabinet were decided jointly by me and Prime Minister Li."

"Does anyone think that my decision and that of Prime Minister Li were wrong?"

The hall fell silent instantly.

Who dares to publicly point out the mistakes of the country's top two leaders?
Offend two people at the same time?
Seeing that no one objected, Liu Bei stood up, the jade beads on his crown making a clear, ringing sound.

"My mind is made up. A cabinet shall be established immediately."

"Does anyone have any objections?"

Silence remained below the steps.

"Very well, since everyone has no objections."

"In my opinion, there's no better time than today."

"Today we will elect our prime minister."

"Do you have any suitable candidates?"

The crowd looked at each other, bewildered.

They thought to themselves, "You, the emperor and his ministers, have already settled things in concert."

Who else can we choose?

"Your Majesty, I recommend Prime Minister Li."

"Li Xiang was originally the prime minister of the court, and should rightfully serve as the prime minister of the cabinet."

Soon, the pro-Li faction in the court spoke out.

"I second the proposal!"

"I second the proposal!"

"..."

Whether you support it or not, everyone knows that this is the general trend.

The survival rule for court officials is to learn to choose sides.

It's better to avoid trouble and just accept it.

Liu Bei spoke slowly, his voice neither hurried nor slow.

"The prime minister should be a person with both virtue and ability."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd:
"Anyone who opposes Lee Ik becoming prime minister may raise their hand to petition."

The hall fell silent instantly; you could hear a pin drop.

Wang Lang sat on the mat, his fingers trembling slightly, as if he wanted to raise them, but they remained frozen in mid-air.

He glanced at Hua Xin out of the corner of his eye, but Hua Xin kept her head down, as if she had suddenly become very interested in the patterns on her cuffs.

"So, did you get it?"

Liu Bei asked again.

This time, he walked directly down the steps and stood in front of Hua Xin.

Hua Xin's forehead was beaded with sweat.

"Your subject...no."

"very good."

Liu Bei nodded and shifted his gaze to the next person.

Wang Lang also stood up and said, "No."

So, one by one, each minister stood up, raised their hand, and said:

"No."

"No."

"..."

Only after all the ministers had finished speaking did Liu Bei change his tone and ask again:
"Since no one objects..."

"Then, those who agree that Lee Ik should serve as Prime Minister, please raise your hands."

Originally, after everyone said no, no one objected.

But Liu Bei insisted that everyone reiterate their support.

This is actually a compliance test.

The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment, and then one by one they stood up.

"I agree," Xun You was the first to loudly declare.

"I second that opinion," Xu Shu followed closely behind.

Wang Lang, Hua Xin, Kong Rong, and others had no choice but to stand up again and mechanically repeat the process.

"Your subject agrees."

Liu Bei watched this scene, a slight smile playing on his lips:

"It seems that all of you agree, which is excellent."

He turned to Li Yi and said to him:

"Ziyu, from this day forward, you will be the first Prime Minister of the Great Han Dynasty."

Li Yi bowed deeply:
"Your Majesty and the officials will do their utmost to live up to your expectations."

The difference between the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister can also be seen from their names.

The prime minister is the chief chancellor.

One is the "sovereign," and the other is the "assistant"; the difference in their power is like heaven and earth.

With the prime minister already appointed, the next step is to select the nine prime ministers and the two prime ministers on the left and right.

Liu Bei sat back down, unfolded the bamboo slips in his hand, and slowly swept his gaze over the ministers in the hall.

"The position of Left Prime Minister requires composure, prudence, and skill in managing government affairs."

Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then said, "Lu Su is capable of this task."

Lu Su stepped forward, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "Your subject will wholeheartedly assist you."

"The Right Chancellor is in charge of all military affairs and must be well-versed in military strategy."

Liu Bei turned his gaze to Xun You, "Gongda, I favor you."

Xun You calmly bowed and thanked him:
"I will live up to your Majesty's trust."

Then, Liu Bei announced them one by one:

Xu Shu, the Minister of Revenue, was in charge of money, grain, and taxes, and was primarily responsible for setting tax rates.

The Grand Minister of Agriculture, who was originally in charge of finance, was mainly responsible for local tax collection.

At the same time, if money is needed, a note must first be obtained from the cabinet, and then the cabinet will draft a plan and submit it to the emperor for arbitration.

The following groups are the same as above.

Chen Qun, the Minister of Justice, revised the laws and supervised the prison system.

Gong Xiang Mi Zhu was in charge of iron smelting, water transport, and government-run workshops.

The Minister of Rites was simple and efficient, and was in charge of diplomacy and sacrifices.

Wang Xiu, the Minister of Agriculture, was in charge of land reclamation, water conservancy, and disaster relief.

Shang Xiang Zhen Yao was in charge of regulating trade and currency.

The chief eunuch, Jia Xu, was in charge of supervising all officials and impeaching those who violated the law.

Pang Tong, the Minister of Education, was in charge of the Imperial Academy and the compilation of classical texts.

Those who hold positions in the cabinet and are appointed to cabinet positions may still concurrently hold their original court official positions.

This is mainly because the cabinet system has only recently been implemented and is not yet perfect.

At the same time, both Liu Bei and Li Yi need to strengthen their control over him.

So for the time being, some obedient and trusted old ministers were selected to go up.

Everyone readily accepted the orders, but Liu Bei was still considering the position of Military Minister.

Many of the military ministers already hold military ranks.

The Minister of War and the Minister of War are not the same.

The position of Minister of War was separated from that of Grand General and Grand Marshal.

The Minister of War has more advisory power than the Minister of War.

Therefore, there was no such department or unit in the history of the Han Dynasty.

After a moment of silence in the hall, Li Yi suddenly stepped forward:
"Your Majesty, I recommend someone."

"Oh?" Liu Bei looked up. "Who is it?"

"Taishi Ci".

These words caused a slight commotion in the hall.

Taishi Ci, the once mighty general who dominated Jiangnan, has been in seclusion for many years since he was confined to Yuzhang after contracting malaria.

Liu Bei frowned slightly:

"Has Ziyi recovered from his illness?"

Li Yi nodded:

“He recently wrote to me, saying that he has recovered and is willing to serve me again.”

After contracting malaria in Yuzhang, Taishi Ci returned to Xuzhou to recuperate halfway through the battle of Jiangnan.

This care lasted for four years.

During this period, he missed the most important Central Plains War.

As his health failed to improve, he gradually faded from public view and politics.

Only recently, after Taishi Ci had fully recovered, did he write a letter to Li Yi.

He expressed his desire to continue serving his country.

Back then, it was Li Yi who sent Taishi Ci to Yuzhang. To compensate him, Li Yi took the initiative to recommend Taishi Ci to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
“When Ziyi was stationed in Yuzhang, he fell ill and had to return home. I have always felt guilty about that.”

Li Yi whispered:
"Therefore, I believe that compensation should be provided."

Liu Bei, with his far-sighted gaze, finally nodded:
"Very well, the position of Minister of War shall be filled by Taishi Ci."

"I will issue an edict to summon him to court."

For the next two days, the imperial court in Luoyang was busy preparing for the establishment of the cabinet.

On this day, a brocade box appeared on Liu Bei's desk.

Inside the box lay a jade token, its surface translucent like autumn water.

The front is decorated with cloud patterns in relief, and the back is engraved with the four characters "协理阴阳" (meaning "harmonizing Yin and Yang").

The edges are inlaid with gold wire to depict the Big Dipper, which is fitting for the name "Tian Shu".

Today happens to be the inauguration ceremony of the Prime Minister.

Liu Bei attended in person, and he tied the token to Li Yi's waist sash.

Li Yi lowered his head and stroked the jade token, feeling its warmth and subtle metallic quality.

"From this day forward, only the Prime Minister may wear this jade token."

Liu Bei's voice was clear and resonant, echoing throughout the hall.

The Jade Token is a symbol of the Prime Minister's status.

The assembled officials stood in solemn silence.

Dressed in his prime minister's robes and with a jade token at his waist, Li Yi stood on a high platform and began his inaugural speech.

His gaze was piercing, and his voice resounded throughout the palace.

"Your Majesty has bestowed upon me such special favor, entrusting me with the responsibility of Prime Minister. I am filled with trepidation and fear, as if I were walking on thin ice."

He surveyed his assembled officials and slowly said:
"The Han dynasty has been restored, but the world is not yet at peace."

"The Wei invaders have seized Sichuan, and the Wu rebels have occupied Jiangdong. These are all major threats to the nation!"

"Now that I have received this order, I must reorganize the military and government, strengthen our troops and prepare our horses, and vow to recover our lost territories and restore our land."

The ministers stood solemnly and all bowed in agreement.

Li Yi continued:
"However, the way to govern a country is not solely based on military force."

"In accordance with His Majesty's benevolence and virtue, and in accordance with the hopes of the common people."

"I hereby swear an oath to His Majesty and to all my colleagues—"

"When implementing any government decree, one must first understand the people's sentiments."

"Officials of prefectures and counties should prioritize the people's livelihood. If a disaster occurs, they should provide immediate relief without delay."

"The law is strict and does not spare the powerful and wealthy."

"In matters of criminal justice, we must act in accordance with the law so that the people are free from injustice and the country is free from wrongful convictions."

“Select the virtuous and capable, regardless of their background.”

“Anyone with talent and learning, regardless of whether they come from a poor or noble family, can be promoted and employed.”

When those words were spoken, everyone's expression froze.

Did Li Yi just say something about selecting the virtuous and capable, regardless of their background?
But everyone was only momentarily stunned before they overlooked it and didn't take it too seriously.

Because monarchs inherently advocate appointing people based solely on their talent.

The Han Dynasty's system for selecting officials did not explicitly prohibit commoners from becoming officials.

However, with the implementation of the recommendation system, whether local officials would recommend someone like you, a commoner, was another matter entirely.

As long as the recommendation system still exists, even Li Yi could not change the status quo where powerful families monopolize intellectuals.

That's what everyone thought.

Finally, Li Yi raised the jade token high and proclaimed in a loud voice:
"Although I am not talented, I am willing to do my utmost."

"We will live up to His Majesty's trust and the hopes of the people!"

"If I break this oath, may I be punished by both heaven and man!"

All the officials bowed and shouted:
"I am willing to follow the Prime Minister and make this a great undertaking!"

……

After a series of elaborate rituals were completed, Li Yi walked out of the palace gate.

As the sun sets, its afterglow paints the eaves of Weiyang Palace red.

Li Yi stood quietly on the stone steps in front of the palace gate, his hands behind his back.

My gaze passed over the city wall and looked toward the undulating mountains and winding rivers in the distance.

Xun You and Pang Tong walked side by side, and seeing him lost in thought, they stopped and stood still.

"What is on your mind, Prime Minister?" Pang Tong asked with a smile.

Li Yi did not turn around, but said softly:

“I am looking at this land—the land that His Majesty and I conquered together.”

He paused, then said, "What a magnificent landscape!"

Xun You stroked his beard and pondered for a moment:

"The Prime Minister's establishment of the cabinet is indeed a move for the benefit of the country and its people."

"only……"

He paused for a moment, then said, “Although His Majesty has approved the cabinet system, he still retains the power to appoint and dismiss the prime minister.”

"If a new emperor were to be appointed in the future, wouldn't the very survival of the cabinet depend on his decision?"

"At that time, even if the cabinet exists, it will be nothing more than a figurehead."

Li Yi chuckled softly and turned to look at the two of them.
“I understand this principle.”

Pang Tong squinted his eyes:

"So, what does the Prime Minister mean...?"

"As long as I am alive, the cabinet will remain."

Yi's tone was calm yet firm.

Xun You frowned slightly:
"What if the Prime Minister passes away..."

“Therefore,” Li Yi interrupted, his gaze intense, “before I retire, I must ensure the cabinet’s perpetual stability.”

Xun You's expression changed upon hearing this, and he exchanged a glance with Pang Tong.

Both of them understood the weight of those words.

Li Yi's attitude toward the cabinet has never changed.

That means first considering whether it exists, and then considering whether it is perfect.

He was certainly aware of the series of problems that currently existed within the cabinet.

But the cabinet was essentially dividing the imperial power.

The series of problems that arose were all compromises with imperial power.

Just like the temporary postponement of cabinet elections.
According to Li Yi's original plan, cabinet members were the reserve force for officials.

Officials selected through the recommendation system only further strengthened powerful clans.

Placing people from these powerful clans into the newly formed cabinet is a recipe for disaster.

Therefore, we must slow down.

All the issues need to be put on hold, so that Li Yi can have time to prepare.

"...The road ahead is long and arduous."

Li Yi looked towards the darkening sky and said softly:
"I will search high and low for the truth."

After saying this, he turned around and faced Pang Tong.

"Shiyuan, you are now a student minister."

"Now I need you to do something for me."

"Please give your orders, Prime Minister, and I will serve you faithfully."

Upon seeing Li Yi suddenly bring up official business, Pang Tong immediately changed his address, referring to him by his official position.

"I have recently established several paper mills in Luoyang."

"If nothing unexpected happens, we can produce millions of sheets of paper every year."

"Since you are the Minister of Education, I want you to compile books, and remember as many as possible."

"...Uh, what does the Prime Minister need so many books for?" Pang Tong asked.

"Because the more books there are on the market, the cheaper they become."

"Only in this way can ordinary people afford to buy books."

Pang Tong suddenly realized what was going on and gave Xun You a look.

—The new policy began from this point.

(End of this chapter)