Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

"The new system I've created is called the Cabinet System."

"The Grand Secretaries of each hall will form the cabinet and become cabinet ministers."

"The head of the cabinet ministers is the Grand Secretary,"

"It can also be regarded as Grand Chancellor, Left Chancellor, or Prime Minister."

"The next in rank among the cabinet ministers is the second-in-command,"

"It can also be regarded as Junior Chancellor, Right Chancellor, and Second Chancellor."

"The other cabinet ministers are equivalent to vice prime ministers."

"The Censorate was renamed the Inspectorate."

"The Silver Terrace Office was renamed the Court of State Affairs."

"The Privy Council shall remain unchanged."

"One cabinet, three academies, and six ministries—this is the central hub of the new dynasty."

Zhao Yuan did not add any ministerial-level agencies.

It's still six parts.

Financial power was vested in the Ministry of Revenue.

During the Song Dynasty, there was a position called the Commissioner of the Three Departments, also known as the "Chancellor of Accounting".

He is the Chief Financial Officer.

It quickly mutated into a gigantic creature.

He deceived the prime minister above and oppressed the six ministries below.

They can even get involved in military matters.

Before going to war, consider the financial gains and losses first.

It also resulted in large-scale overlap of powers.

These were the main things to be abolished during the Yuanfeng Reform.

With this precedent as a warning,

Zhao Yuan naturally wouldn't set up another one.

As for the Council of State Affairs

It refers to the Office of Transmission during the Ming Dynasty.

This thing wielded immense power in the early Ming Dynasty.

It was the main institution through which the emperor handled state affairs and communicated with both the domestic and foreign authorities.

The Six Ministries were merely subordinate departments of the Office of Transmission.

After the cabinet was formed,

The first thing they did was seize the power of the Office of Transmission.

Then it incorporated the Hanlin Academy.

Then it came to control the Six Ministries—the whole process,

It took over a hundred years,

A powerful prime minister has finally been appointed to the cabinet.

If the Office of Transmission operates normally

There would be no need for the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Zhao Yuan then explained in detail the division of powers and responsibilities among the "One Pavilion, Three Academies, and Six Ministries."

The courtiers were horrified.

Even Zhang Gen and Gao Jingshan were quite shocked.

Once this central framework is implemented...

Imperial power will reach its zenith.

The power of the prime minister was greatly restricted.

This is different from Emperor Huizong of Song's willful and reckless behavior.

Emperor Huizong of Song established his own autocratic rule by undermining the existing system.

Zhao Yuan, on the other hand, institutionalized the centralized power of the emperor.

At the same time, it eliminated the central government's problems during the Song Dynasty.

The central government agencies are no longer redundant and their powers are more clearly defined.

The Six Ministries were no longer mere echoes of the prime minister.

The cabinet system under normal operation

The six ministers could rely on the Tongzheng Yuan (Court of State Affairs).

To compete with those cabinet ministers.

Zhai Ruwen was a Hanlin Academician promoted by Zhao Huan.

I heard that the Hanlin Academy wasn't included in the "One Pavilion, Three Academies, and Six Ministries," so I couldn't help but ask.

"May I ask, Grand Marshal, will the Hanlin Academy be abolished?"

"Won't,"

Zhao Yuan said,

"But there have been some changes in authority and responsibilities."

The Hanlin Academy, that thing...

In the early and middle Tang Dynasty

It doesn't even count as a proper government office.

Everyone there is talented.

Specifically to accompany the emperor in his leisure and entertainment.

To put it bluntly, they were hangers-on kept by the emperor.

After the An Lushan Rebellion,

The emperor trusted no one.

I started to give more important roles to the people around me.

Part-time consultant

And participated in drafting internal regulations.

The Yuanfeng Reforms of the Song Dynasty

The Hanlin Academician became a third-rank official.

Those with the words "By Imperial Decree" in their name

He served as the emperor's advisor and drafter of imperial edicts.

Those bearing the inscription "知制诰"

They can only draft internal documents and cannot hold other positions.

Imperial edicts were special decrees issued personally by the emperor.

Conferring titles upon the Empress and Crown Prince

Promoted to prime minister or minister.

Or perhaps announce it to the people of the world,

These imperial edicts all belonged to the category of internal regulations.

It must be written by a "Hanlin Academician Under the Imperial Decree" or a "Hanlin Academician Drafter of Imperial Edicts".

If they absolutely refuse to put pen to paper...

Then the only option is to remove them and replace them.

To ensure that the Council of State Affairs would not be seized by the cabinet, Zhao Yuan...

The power to draft internal documents of the Hanlin Academy was transferred.

It was handed over to the Ministry of Communications.

Furthermore, the right to draft external edicts (ordinary imperial edicts) was transferred.

It was handed over to the Imperial Edicts Office, a subordinate office of the Cabinet.

The cabinet established by Zhao Yuan

Its power was close to that of the Jingtai, Hongzhi, and Zhengde periods.

They possess enormous power yet are subject to checks and balances.

The Court of Transmission was essentially a weakened version of the Directorate of Ceremonial, but with the added power of the Six Ministries.

It also bears the resemblance to the Tongzhengsi (Office of Transmission) during the reign of Zhu Yuanzhang.

Let's use this analogy...

The cabinet is an elders council.

The Tongzhengyuan is the General Office.

The six ministries are the various ministries and commissions.

The Inspectorate is a powerful weapon.

They were directly under the emperor's command.

As long as they are officials of the Inspectorate.

Even the lowest-ranking official needed to be personally appointed by the emperor.

The cabinet and the Ministry of Personnel only had the power of recommendation.

The new emperor wanted to reform the court.

The Inspectorate is a sharp blade.

It's so easy to cut an opening.

Seeing that Zhai Ruwen still didn't quite understand,

Zhao Yuan explained in detail: "From now on, all those who pass the imperial examinations will first enter the Hanlin Academy."

"On secondment to the Cabinet or the Executive Yuan to observe government affairs."

Chapter 1649 Qin Hui

"To be reappointed as a local county magistrate,"

"To be promoted to prefect, one must serve at least three years."

"He may continue to govern local areas as appropriate,"

"They may be transferred to one of the Six Ministries, or to the Secretariat."

"Or perhaps as a tutor or lecturer."

"If he returns to the imperial court, he will also serve as the Left and Right Spring Palace attendants."

"I understand!"

Zhai Ruwen remained silent.

The Hanlin Academy was a talent-cultivating department.

It will likely produce many prime ministers.