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The candlelight in Wenhua Hall often stayed on until late at night.

Su Ning put down the vermilion brush and rubbed her slightly swollen brow.

The moonlight outside the window was like water, spilling onto the thick stack of memorials that had just been reviewed.

Ma He, who was standing to the side, quietly served him a fresh cup of tea.

"Your Majesty, it is late at night, you should rest," Ma He advised softly.

Su Ning picked up her teacup, took a sip of the warm tea, but her gaze remained clear.

He gazed out the window at the deep night, as if examining through the darkness the devastation and rebirth of this vast empire over the past few years.

"Ma He, do you think these new policies I'm implementing today might have succeeded if it were four years ago?" Su Ning's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible emotion.

Ma He bowed and cautiously replied, "This servant is foolish and dares not presume to discuss state affairs. However... it seems extremely difficult."

"It's not just extremely difficult, it's absolutely impossible." Su Ning shook her head slightly, her tone resolute.

He seemed to be speaking to Ma He, or perhaps sorting out his own thoughts, “If it weren’t for those four years of the ‘Jingnan Campaign,’ which shattered the original structure of the Ming Dynasty, severely damaged the vitality of the country, and also cleansed up too many long-standing problems and deep-seated issues… I’m afraid that my decrees would have been difficult to implement as soon as they left the Forbidden City. Just the ‘Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty’ alone could have made me the second Emperor Jianwen.”

His thoughts drifted back to those years of constant warfare.

The devastation of war is immense; people's livelihoods are ruined, and the national treasury is emptied—this is a terrible price to pay.

But war is also a cruel double-edged sword; while it destroys, it also breaks down strong barriers of interest.

The powerful and influential Huai-Xi noble group, which once held sway over the court and could sway the political situation, had long been decimated by the suspicious and ruthless Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, and was no longer as powerful as before.

What's even more ingenious is that, taking advantage of the nationwide upheaval of the "Jingnan Campaign," Su Ning swiftly and decisively stripped the local vassal kings of their military and political power, leaving no vassal king capable of posing a threat to the central government as he had in the past.

The old obstacles were either cleared away by Mao Zedong, weakened by war, or removed by his own hands.

Thinking of this, a cold smile appeared on Su Ning's lips.

Now, with imperial power highly centralized, he has truly achieved absolute power.

This is precisely why reforms that would be seen as shaking the foundations of the nation and provoking fierce backlash in peacetime can now be implemented so rapidly.

Things that were impossible before have now become a natural outcome.

"Destruction precedes construction... The price of this 'destruction' is certainly heavy, but it also brings the opportunity for 'construction'," Su Ning murmured to himself.

In order to handle the increasingly heavy administrative affairs more efficiently and to ensure that power remained firmly in his own hands, Su Ning began to adjust the central government system.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that Emperor Jianwen has already become a monk."

"Oh? Which temple?"

"It seems to be Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou."

"Order Wang Jin of the Eastern Depot to determine the exact whereabouts of Emperor Jianwen."

"Yes! Your Majesty."

……

On this day, Su Ning summoned several of his trusted advisors.

"I am busy with countless affairs of state, and even working day and night, I still feel that I am not up to the task," Su Ning said to Fang Xiaoru, Tie Xuan and others below. "The affairs of state are complex and require collective wisdom and effort, as well as a clear overview. I have decided to establish a 'Cabinet'."

"Cabinet?" The group looked at each other, unfamiliar with this new term.

“That’s right,” Su Ning explained. “The Cabinet is my advisory body. I will select several Grand Secretaries to serve in the Wenyuan Pavilion to assist me in handling government affairs. All memorials submitted by the Six Ministries and various regions can be reviewed by the Cabinet first, and suggestions for handling them can be attached, which is called ‘drafting’, before being submitted to me for final decision. In this way, I can save my energy from reviewing trivial matters and focus on important military and national affairs.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaoru pondered and said, "Your Majesty's intention is to gather wisdom from all sides, which can indeed improve efficiency. However... how should the powers and responsibilities of the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet be defined?"

Su Ning glanced at him, knowing the old minister's concerns, and said clearly, "Mr. Fang, rest assured, the Cabinet only has the power to make suggestions, that is, the power to 'draft,' not the power to make decisions. The final power to approve and seal is still in my hands. No memorial may be issued without my imperial review and approval."

He paused, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "The Cabinet is my assistant and my advisor, but it is by no means an institution that divides imperial power."

Then, he proposed another supporting agency: "In addition, I need a more direct and confidential working group by my side, called the 'Secretariat'."

This name is more straightforward and better reflects its attributes.

"The members of the Secretariat are all young, intelligent, and reliable officials personally selected by me. I do not value seniority, but only ability and loyalty. They are responsible for compiling summaries of memorials, conveying my will, keeping confidential documents, and tracking the progress of the implementation of various decrees. They are directly responsible to me."

Tie Xuan pondered for a moment: "Your Majesty, it seems that the Secretariat is more like your personal scribe and eyes and ears?"

"That's a fair understanding," Su Ning nodded. "The Cabinet operates externally, responsible for the initial review of government affairs and proposing solutions; the Secretariat operates internally, providing close support to ensure that my will is accurately and swiftly conveyed and executed. The two complement each other, but the core lies in..."

He emphasized, “The Secretariat serves me entirely and is an extension of my will, not subject to any external government office.”

This arrangement clearly outlines Su Ning's ideal vision of power operation: the cabinet, as an external brain, provides professional advice and shares trivial matters; the secretariat, as the inner court's assistant, ensures the smooth flow and absolute authority of imperial commands.

Ultimately, he firmly held the power of decision-making.

Through this series of ingenious institutional designs, Suning not only promoted sweeping reforms but also concentrated the power of the empire in its own hands like never before.

He knew that only by holding absolute power and having no scruples could he steer the great ship of the Ming Dynasty, break through the fog of the old era, and sail towards the vast and brand-new future he had planned.

……

Summer of the first year of Tiangong, Nanjing.

The news that the new emperor Su Ning had established a "cabinet" was like throwing a boulder into the already turbulent court due to the new policies.

Wenyuan Pavilion, once a relatively quiet and secluded place for storing books, suddenly became the center of attention in the power structure of the entire Ming Dynasty.

The emperor issued an imperial edict: the Grand Secretariat shall be composed of seven Grand Secretaries, with the rank of fifth grade. Although their rank is not high, they shall "attend to the emperor's side, serve as advisors, draft memorials, and participate in state affairs."

The phrase "participating in aircraft maintenance" is enough to make the hearts of any astute official race.

Although it was explicitly stated that he only had the power to "draft" suggestions, everyone knew that being able to be close to the emperor every day and being the first to read the memorials from all over the country and offer opinions on how to handle them was itself a huge, intangible power!

These seven chairs in the Wenyuan Pavilion had become, in the eyes of many, seven passports to the core of imperial power. For a time, undercurrents surged within Nanjing.

Visits, banquets, and private talks at various government departments, government offices, and the residences of high-ranking officials suddenly increased.

The air was filled with a subtle atmosphere that blended ambition, anxiety, and calculation.

Early in the morning, as soon as the sedan chair of Zhang Dan, the Minister of Personnel, was alighted at the entrance of the Ministry of Personnel, he was "coincidentally" surrounded by several officials.

"Good morning, Minister Zhang!" "Lord Zhang, I recently acquired an antique inkstone. Knowing your fondness for such things, I've come to ask for your appraisal..." "Minister, regarding this year's assessment of officials in Southern Zhili, I have some humble opinions..."

Zhang Dan remained calm, but his mind was as clear as a mirror. He was the "Heavenly Official" in charge of the selection of officials throughout the land. Although the final decision on the selection of cabinet members rested with the emperor, his opinion carried immense weight.

In the past few days, the threshold of his residence has been almost worn down by visitors, with all sorts of requests, some direct and some indirect, coming one after another.

He stroked his beard and spoke in an official tone: "My colleagues are very kind. The selection of cabinet members is a matter of national importance. His Majesty's decision is made with his own mind and consideration. We, as his subjects, should recommend talents with impartiality and recommend virtuous people for the country. We must not harbor any selfish thoughts."

His few words were watertight, highlighting the key was "the emperor's independent decision-making" while also proclaiming that he acted "out of public interest," thus gently deflecting everyone's probing.

……

Inside the Ministry of War's office, the atmosphere was even more somber.

Tie Xuan, the Vice Minister of War, sat in the main seat, with several other officials who also came from military backgrounds or held important positions sitting below him.

Unlike the civil servants who beat around the bush, their conversations were much more direct.

A powerful voice boomed, “Minister Tie! His Majesty has established a cabinet to participate in state affairs. How can it be composed entirely of scholars? It was only after four years of the Jingnan Rebellion that we realized the importance of military strength! Although the country has just been pacified, the remnants of the Northern Yuan still remain. Border defense is of paramount importance! This cabinet must include someone who understands military affairs and is knowledgeable in military matters! Otherwise, how can we ensure that important military and national affairs are not misjudged by those bookish scholars who only know how to spout pedantry?”

Another person chimed in: "That's absolutely right! Minister Tie, you have His Majesty's deep trust and are in charge of the Ministry of War. By all accounts, you should be a member of the cabinet! Even if you are humble, you should still fight for a place for us military officials and for the soldiers on the frontier!"

Tie Xuan remained silent, his fingers lightly tapping the table.

He knew that the emperor's original intention in establishing the cabinet was to improve the efficiency of handling government affairs, and that he clearly favored officials who were proficient in government affairs and had outstanding literary talent.

Military generals already wield considerable power, commanding troops in the field and managing departments at home. If they were to further intervene on a large scale in the core power of deliberation and decision-making, it would likely be against His Majesty's wishes.

But he also understands that the military does need to have its own voice at the highest decision-making level.

After a long silence, he said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty is a man of great talent and ambition, and you have a sense of balance. As your subjects, we should do our best to fulfill our duties. If Your Majesty inquires, we should answer truthfully. As for whether or not to join the cabinet... that is not something we can presume to discuss."

Although he did not express his opinion explicitly, he was already weighing whether he should subtly mention to His Majesty the special nature of military affairs within state affairs at an appropriate time.

The Hanlin Academy, the highest academic institution in the Ming Dynasty, was now in a state of turmoil.

Traditionally, Hanlin Academy officials were the most important reserve force for cabinet ministers.

Now that the new dynasty has been established, the abolition of the eight-legged essay and the promotion of new learning have made these "old-style" elites feel a sense of crisis, but they have also seen new opportunities.

The young editors and self-criticism writers gathered together, discussing the matter animatedly.

"Mr. Fang Xiaoru is a man of profound learning and high moral character, and His Majesty treats him with great courtesy. His entry into the cabinet should be a foregone conclusion!"

"Lord Chen Di is the newly appointed Minister of Rites. He is familiar with the laws and regulations and is a popular candidate."

"Otherwise, His Majesty is determined to reform, and what he values ​​is probably not just classical studies and literature. I've heard that His Majesty has been frequently summoning that Imperial Astronomical Observatory Doctor who is proficient in arithmetic and physics recently? Could such a person of 'new learning' suddenly rise to prominence?"

Some people are worried: "If the cabinet is full of people with new learning, won't all our learning be wasted?"

Some were eager to try: "It is precisely in times of change that one can stand out! If one can understand the emperor's intentions and, in addition to being proficient in the classics and history, also learn some new knowledge, there may be an opportunity!"

Even within the prestigious Hanlin Academy, the atmosphere was now inevitably stirred by the pursuit of fame and fortune, as well as the uncertainty of the future.

……

Some descendants of the Huaixi nobles who were suppressed in the later period of the Hongwu reign and gradually marginalized after choosing the wrong stance in the Jingnan Campaign were also unwilling to be forgotten.

Although they knew they had lost the emperor's favor, they still wanted to seize this last opportunity. They tried to use their old connections to send messages to the palace or the emperor's close ministers, hoping to recommend someone to represent their interests, even just one person, so that they could preserve a spark in the future power structure.

However, most of their efforts went unanswered.

The young officials in the Emperor's secretariat, like an impregnable fortress, politely but firmly rejected all requests that did not conform to procedure.

They are accountable only to the emperor; past favors among the nobles are of no use here.

……

Inside the Imperial Study, Su Ning listened to the report compiled by the secretariat members on the recent activities of the court officials, a knowing smile appearing on his lips.

Ma He stood to one side and said softly, "Your Majesty, people outside are fighting tooth and nail for these seven spots."

"I know." Su Ning put down the report in his hand, his tone calm. "Where there are people, there is struggle, especially when it comes to power. Let them fight, let them show their abilities, so that I can see more clearly who is truly for the country and who is just scheming for personal gain."

He walked to the window and gazed at the eaves of the palace in the distance.

"The purpose of establishing the cabinet is to achieve efficiency, but also to maintain balance. Among these seven people, there must be those who are mature and prudent and can stabilize the court, such as Fang Xiaoru; those who are proficient in practical affairs and can handle complex matters, such as Zhang Dan and Tie Xuan; those who are familiar with the laws and regulations and can establish systems, such as Chen Di; and also... young talents who are open-minded, not bound by old ways, and can understand and promote new policies."

He already had a preliminary list in mind, but this list was not fixed.

The events of the last few days, and everyone's words and actions, will be important factors in his final selection.

"Tell the secretariat to compile and send over the resumes, recent performance evaluations, and their memorials or private discussions on the new policies of all officials of the third rank and above, as well as those of Hanlin Academy lecturers and above."

Su Ning instructed, "I want to take another look."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Ma He bowed and accepted the order.

The struggle continues, but the final answer lies only in the heart of the young emperor, who dwells deep within the heavens, calmly observing this ever-changing landscape.

The seven chairs in the Wenyuan Pavilion were destined to carry the expectations of the new dynasty and reflect the emperor's far-reaching plans for governing the country and implementing new policies.

...(End of chapter)