Fenghou

"Of course, I'm considering posthumously pronouncing him the Duke of Chu, and you can discuss the posthumous title."

After Zhang Miao's funeral was arranged, Chen Qing changed the topic to today's business. He asked Cha Ji to step down and said to the three of them, "Mr. Zhang died of illness while in office. We need to discuss, what do you guys think of Hu Yun?"

Zhou Kuan has a straightforward personality, and said frankly: "Your Highness, I'm sorry to say that I am humble, but with Hu Yun's current qualifications and qualifications, he is far from being able to bear the burden of participating in political affairs, and it will make everyone dissatisfied!"

Jiang Yanxian also said: "It's been hundreds of years of officialdom practice not to go to the provinces and counties, and not to go to the province. How can you be a prime minister if you don't understand the people's sentiments at the bottom? Of course, with the exception of Qin Hui, he will become a cancer of the court. If His Highness wants to train Hu Yun, you can first let him serve as a local governor, experience at the bottom for a few years, and then it will not be too late to use him."

Zhang Xiao also said: "Your Highness, he has good abilities, but there is still a problem with his qualifications. His appointment as a political adviser will chill the hearts of other ministers!"

Chen Qing nodded, "I understand everyone's attitudes and opinions. Hu Yun's position as a political counselor is indeed lacking in qualifications, which makes people dissatisfied. In fact, I didn't ask him to replace Zhang Counselor. I wanted him to be the Minister of Zhongshu , in charge of my secretariat, but it is inappropriate for Zhongshu Shilang not to have the title of participating in political affairs, so let him be changed to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and the candidate for Zhongshu Shilang will be considered separately."

Jiang Yanxian said with a smile: "Your Highness is considering Hu Yun's ability, let him be in charge of the official department, we are considering his qualifications, and oppose him as a political advisor. In fact, there is no conflict between the two. Your Highness's compromise is a low position. support!"

Zhou Kuan and Zhang Xiao also expressed their support, and Zhang Xiao asked: "It turns out that the intelligence department is under the supervision of Zhang Zhizheng, can His Highness consider assigning it to the Ministry of War?"

"can!"

Chen Qing agreed, "The Intelligence Department can reduce its size and become an Intelligence Agency, which belongs to the Ministry of War!"

After pondering for a long time, he said to everyone: "In addition, I am considering establishing the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Punishment, changing the Finance Department to the Household Department, the Government Affairs Department to the Minister of Finance, and the Supervisory Department to the Suzhengtai. Specializes in performing ministerial duties, but there is still a lack of a political adviser, do you have a suitable candidate?"

Jiang Yan thought for a while and said, "Didn't Your Highness invite Liu Ziyu to be a political advisor?"

Chen Qing shook his head, "He was hit by a poisonous arrow in his early years, and the poison has not been cleared for so many years. Now there are signs of backlash. Maybe the remaining years are numbered. Now he is resting next to his son in Bazhou, and he is not suitable for official career."

Zhou Kuan said with a smile: "I have a more suitable candidate, please consider it, Your Highness!"

"Who?"

"Jiangling prefect Zhang Shun!"

Chen Qing nodded, "I see, I will think about it carefully!"

……

Back at the Wangfu, just after noon, the late spring sun shone on the lake, sparkling, with tall weeping willows on the shore and a large grassland on the other side, Chen Qing was sitting in the carriage of the mansion and walked slowly along the path by the lake , the warm sun shone on him, and the spring breeze of Hexi was refreshing.

At this time, Chen Qing saw Zhao Qiaoyun walking by the lake, followed by a woman, she didn't look like a person from the mansion, but her back was a bit familiar.

Chen Qing suddenly remembered, this is the palace official Liang, who has served him in the Yanshan Palace for two days, why is she here?

"Qiaoyun!" Chen Qing shouted.

Zhao Qiaoyun turned around and said pleasantly, "The officials are resting today?"

"Rest today!"

Chen Qing turned his gaze to Mrs. Liang, and Mrs. Liang's pretty face flushed slightly. The prince galloped on her body like a wild horse in those two nights, and that feeling was unforgettable and unforgettable for her.

She hastily stepped forward and offered ten thousand blessings, "Slave, Mrs. Liang, sees the lord!"

"Where does Director Liang live now?"

"All of us are temporarily living in the palace outside the city. The arrangement is very good. Thank you for your kindness."

Chen Qing looked at Zhao Qiaoyun, he suddenly had a feeling, and asked with a smile: "Do you know each other?"

Zhao Qiaoyun nodded, "In the past in the Bianliang Palace, Feiyan was my little maid. We were taken captive to the Kingdom of Jin and served as maids in the Palace of the Kingdom of Jin. Then I came out, and she was still in the palace. A few days ago she When I came to report to the princess, I recognized her."

Chen Qing smiled in surprise, "Is it such a coincidence?"

Mrs. Liang also sighed, "Yes! I didn't expect to meet the little princess. It's my luck!"

Zhao Qiaoyun said again: "Ms. Wen is going to go back to her hometown to retire. Eldest sister is looking for a suitable candidate. It happens that Feiyan brings someone here. I think she is very suitable."

"Steward Wen wants to go back to his hometown, so doesn't that mean that Steward Tian also wants to go back together?"

"Exactly! They are old and want to go back to reunite with their children and grandchildren and enjoy family happiness. The elder sister has already agreed."

Chen Qing nodded, "Go ahead! I have no objection."

Chen Qing glanced at Mrs. Liang before returning to the inner house.

When he came to his wife Lu Xiu's living room, he saw Lu Xiu standing in front of the window with a smile on his face.

"What are you looking at?" Chen Qing stepped forward and asked.

"Shh-"

Lu Xiu whispered: "Don't disturb them!"

Chen Qing looked out of the window and couldn't help laughing. He saw his son Chen Ji was loosening the soil in the corn field with a small hoe, and his two younger sisters, Bing'er and Xue'er were helping him water. The cooperation is really tacit, the corn stalk is already half the height of a person, and it grows lushly, the melon field next to it is also covered with vines, the flowers have withered, and small pumpkins are formed on the melon stems.

Standing up, Chen Ji wiped his sweat with a towel. Looking at the gratifying growth of corn and pumpkins, a proud smile appeared on his red face, all of which he planted with his own hands.

The first thousand and 370 chapters and seven divisions of power

The husband and wife sat down and stopped disturbing their brothers and sisters farming. Chen Qing said with a smile: "When I came back just now, I met Qiaoyun."

"Then husband also met Mr. Liang?"

Chen Qing nodded, "When they are together, Mrs. Liang is actually Qiao Yun's personal maid, what a coincidence!"

Lu Xiu smiled slightly and said, "Actually, there are even more coincidences!"

Chen Qing was immediately interested, and said with a smile: "Let's hear it!" "

"Last year, Yingluo received a letter from Taiyuan. She was also her former little maid, who now lives in Taiyuan. She begged Yingluo to help her find her daughter. Where did Yingluo go to help her find her daughter? There was no way. Yingluo arranged for an urgent delivery. I gave her 100 taels of silver, but I didn't expect to find her daughter a few days ago."

"But those little palace ladies?"

"Exactly, these more than 400 little palace ladies are basically born to the palace ladies. The palace ladies were sent out of the palace after they got old, and their daughters were kept. I asked, and a large part of the little palace ladies' mothers are there. Your Highness can Help them find relatives!"

"You mean, let them all go home?"

"Seeing that they are voluntary and willing to stay, I will accept them. If they want to reunite with their families, I will let them go. The same is true for those dozens of eunuchs. If they want to go back to their hometown, I will give them a sum of money to let them go. They are all poor people. They have been enslaved for half their lives, give them a choice!"

Chen Qing admired in his heart that his wife really has the demeanor of a mother.

"Qiaoyun said Mrs. Wen is leaving?"

Lu Xiu nodded, "The couple brought it up last year, and I kept them. They brought it up again last month because they missed their grandson. This time, I won't keep them anymore. I will compensate them for one year's salary and let them return Let’s take care of the elderly in the countryside! In fact, I also understand that they are not going home to see their grandchildren.”

"Is it because of the new palace?" Chen Qing asked tentatively.

"It should be for this reason, they didn't say it clearly, and I didn't point it out!"

Lu Xiu sighed softly, "Actually, it's not just them, all the maids and servants in the house, I'm considering terminating the contract, making up for the rest of the time, and letting them go home."

"So my lady is going to ask Mrs. Liang to bring a group of court ladies and eunuchs over?"

Lu Xiu said helplessly: "That's the only way. The palace and the palace are completely different, and the rules are different. We can only adapt to it."

……

When Chen Qing returned to the study, he was quite restless. He had been fighting outside for the past few months, and he could not feel the changes after the establishment of the kingdom. In fact, everything was changing. Changes in the palace, the servants who have been with them for many years must also be sent home, and the servants and maids will become eunuchs and maids.

The same is true of their officials. In the past, all officials belonged to staff officers, and there were no files in the imperial court, or they were sent to the Xuanfu envoy of Sichuan and Shaanxi. Now all officials have to become kingdom officials, and they want to get rid of the Song Dynasty system. It is the easiest and most mature to establish your own bureaucratic system and directly apply the system of three provinces and six ministries of the Tang Dynasty.

Chen Qing also thought of the gap in political affairs, so he must decide on a new candidate as soon as possible.

Chen Qing sat down on his seat and wrote down a few candidates. The first one was his advisor Lu Cunyi, a great Confucian in Guanzhong, who was also the chief examiner of the imperial examinations. Zhizheng Shi was crossed out. Lu Cunyi was good at learning but not good at governing the country. Chen Qing added Guozijian Jijiu behind his name. This position is more suitable for him.

The second one is Liu Zan, the eldest son of Liu Ziyu, who is currently serving as the governor of the Yanwu Hall. The soldiers would not approve, so Chen Qing could only sigh and crossed out his name.

Chen Qing thought of Niu Gao, Niu Gao was the most suitable candidate to be the privy envoy, his qualifications and prestige were sufficient, but Niu Gao had to sit on Yanshan Road for himself, so he had no time to spare.

Perhaps it is possible to find someone to transition for two or three years. Thinking of the transition, Chen Qing immediately thought of a suitable candidate, and he wrote down the name of Orihiko. It is most appropriate to form a privy council.

The candidate for the privy envoy has been finalized, but this privy envoy is not a member of the political affairs, which is different from the imperial court, and can only serve as the internal affairs hall.

The next one is the candidate for Zhongshu's servant. Hu Yun was unanimously opposed by everyone. The flaw of lack of qualifications was too great, so Chen Qing had to choose someone else.

Chen Qing wrote about Zhang Shun, the magistrate of Jiangling. Zhang Shun once served as the governor of Jingnan Road Shangshuxing. After the revocation of the Shangshuxingtai, Zhang Shun continued to serve as the prefect of Jiangling.

Zhang Shun was a Jinshi during the Xuanhe period. He has been an official for more than [-] years. He started as a master and was promoted step by step to the county magistrate, county magistrate, and then to the general judge. , with a complete resume and deep connections in southern official circles.

Chen Qing gradually understood why Zhou Kuan recommended Zhang Shun. The Neizhengtang needed a representative of the southern faction, but it was not suitable for Zhang Shun to be the Minister of Zhongshu. The Minister of Zhongshu must be his confidant.

After pondering for a long time, Chen Qing wrote down Zhang Xiao's name behind Zhongshu's servant, Zhou Kuan served as the servant, and Lu Qingshan and Jiang Yanxian served as the left and right servants of the minister.

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Qing wrote down Zhang Shun's order of suppressing government and Taiwan, and participating in political affairs.

On the back of Hu Yun's name are written Minister of the Ministry of Officials and Walking in the Internal Affairs Hall.

……

Early the next morning, Chen Qing came to his official room, and all his subordinates stood up together, bowing to welcome His Royal Highness King Yong back.

Chen Qing waved his hands to everyone, and said with a smile: "Don't worry! Take Yanshan Mansion, according to the old rules, every official will be rewarded."

Everyone cheered and stood up, Chen Qing walked into his official room and sat down, and said to Chao Qing: "Go and invite the three political advisers to the meeting hall, and say that I have something important to discuss with them."

Chao Qing hurried over, and after a short while, three political advisers hurried over.

The three of them knew in their hearts that yesterday's discussion in the teahouse was just an informal discussion, but today is probably a formal decision.

Chen Qing asked the three of them to sit down, and passed a copy of the decision he had drafted to everyone to circulate, and everyone read it silently, all in deep thought.

Chen Qing smiled slightly and said, "Now we have the last chance to make comments. Once I promulgate King Yong's order, it will be formally implemented."

Jiang Yanxian asked: "May I ask your Highness, how do you divide the work between the left and right servants?"

Chen Qing said slowly: "The left servant is in charge of the third department of soldiers and criminals, and the right servant is in charge of the third department of officials and household rites. The actual power is equivalent to that of Shangshu Zuocheng. They are also the two hardest jobs."

Jiang Yan nodded first, and didn't ask any more questions. He was most concerned about the newest candidate for political affairs. It seems that His Highness chose Zhang Shun. This person has enough qualifications. Jiang Yanxian has no objection.

Zhang Xiao raised his hand and asked, "Your Highness, the Privy Envoy should be given the title of Adviser on Political Affairs. As a representative of the military, why doesn't Orihiko have this title?"

Chen Qing smiled faintly: "Did the three ignore me? I am General Tiance, and I can represent the interests of the military enough."

The three looked at each other, Zhang Xiao had no choice but to smile wryly: "This rule should change in the generation of Shizi!"

"It depends on the situation at that time, and the situation will change if necessary!"

Zhang Xiao asked again: "The humble official doesn't quite understand the power of Zhongshu Shilang."

Chen Qing said with a smile: "The Minister of Zhongshu holds the power to make edicts. Although we don't have edicts, we have the orders of King Yong. That is to say, the orders of King Yong may not be issued by me in the future, but they need my approval. The second power Just to manage the more than 100 officials outside me, Chao Qing and Wei Ji are too young to be the leaders, they need a supervisor.”

Zhang Xiao said again: "There is one last question about the humble position, who is the leader of the five political advisers?"

"Four to be exact!"

Chen Qing said to the crowd: "Zhou Shenzheng is the servant of the sect, equivalent to the left minister. His duty is to oppose, while the other four take turns to control the ruling affairs, one round every half a year. The author of the ruling affairs is the right minister. Many don't need it." The drafting of imperial edicts and small matters that do not need to be discussed in the internal affairs hall are decided by the author of the ruling affairs.

But what is the big thing and what is the small thing? This requires us to inherit our long-term experience and divide military and political affairs into four categories: A, B, and C. Now the question is, who is responsible for the classification? "

Jiang Yanxian said: "This requires the establishment of a special government office, similar to the authority of the Shizhong. It is responsible for the classification of military and political affairs, and reviews the legality of government orders. It should belong to the Menxia Province."

Zhou Kuan shook his head and said: "Menxia Province is only the final check, raising objections to the content of government orders, but all government affairs need to be classified from the beginning, and secondly, reviewing the legality of government orders is a system issue. I think it should be directly under the jurisdiction of His Highness."

Chen Qingdao: "Set up a Baihutang, and I will directly govern it. There are not many people, six people are enough. They are divided into two groups, one group is responsible for pre-classification, and the other group is responsible for reviewing the legality of government orders afterwards."

Zhou Kuan was silent for a moment and asked: "In this way, His Highness basically loses the power to make political decisions. Does it make His Highness empty?"

Chen Qing shook his head, "I control the military power, the internal guards, the Baihutang, the appointment and dismissal of officials above the third rank, and the financial power of the treasury. In addition, major government affairs of the first category require the promulgation of King Yong's decree, and the King Yong's decree needs my approval. , in fact, I can still ask, I can not approve until you convince me."

After a pause, Chen Qing said again: "Since we imitate the Tang system, the essence of the Tang system lies in the separation of powers between the monarchs. If the dynasty wants to maintain long-term stability, it needs to restrict the monarch's power institutionally. This is not only to limit my power, but also to My children and grandchildren will live forever."

The first thousand 370 eight chapters pros and cons

At noon, Chen Qing once again invited the three ministers to Qingfeng Teahouse for dinner and tea.

After eating, Chen Qing took a sip of tea and asked with a smile, "Is there any preparation for the imperial examination?"

Jiang Yanxian smiled and said: "It's almost the same. It will be officially held in seven days. This year, more than 10 scholars have participated in the imperial examination, which is the largest scale ever. Siwei is a ninth-rank official, and if he is admitted to Mingjing, he will have the opportunity to be a security officer, even if he has entered an official career, followed by the examination of engineering and computing, and he will be able to take up the newly established post of county worker if he is admitted to the engineering and computing department."

Chen Qing frowned, "There are qualifications and qualifications for being a secretary and a county worker. You must have been in politics for more than five years in the county government or the state government. Have you made it clear?"

"I have made it clear that passing the entrance examination is just a qualification. You must have sufficient qualifications before you can hold a job. Moreover, completing your studies in Taixue is also regarded as being admitted to the Engineering and Computing Department. This has been clearly stated."

"There is also a system department!"

Chen Qing knocked on the table and asked, "Is the agricultural and industrial exam I arranged last year implemented normally?"

"It's going on smoothly. There are quite a few people who have taken the exam. The results won't come out until autumn!"

Zhou Kuan said with a smile: "Actually, His Highness's reforms don't need to be so urgent. You can take it a little longer and make changes without knowing it. It will be more calm, and everyone will accept it more easily."

Chen Qing was startled, and asked puzzledly, "Is there something that is difficult for everyone to accept now?"

Zhou Kuan said indifferently: "It's not unacceptable! It's just that 10 people came to participate in the imperial examination, and the Mingjing Division and the Engineering and Computing Division have lowered the threshold of the imperial examination."

Chen Qing looked at Zhou Kuan and said, "Old Zhou is telling the truth, do you have any objections to the two official positions of prison officer and county worker?"