coobybook Chapter 294 proposes the system of three provinces and six ministries.
Chapter 294 proposes the system of three provinces and six ministries.
Thinking of this, Ying Wuyou turned her gaze to Li Ge, who was standing not far away, and nodded slightly.
Li Ge felt Ying Wuyou's gaze, and a surge of confidence welled up within him. He took a few steady steps forward and stood before the crowd. This 40-year-old official was in his prime, possessing both experience and vitality. His face was resolute and composed, his eyes revealing wisdom and decisiveness. Although his official rank was only fourth grade, through his outstanding talent and tireless efforts, he had already become a rising star in the officialdom, a truly promising young man.
Upon receiving Ying Wuyou's hint, Li Ge took a deep breath, first respectfully bowing to the King of Qin seated above, then straightening his posture and speaking slowly: "My lords, what I wish to advocate today is a completely new system—the Three Departments and Six Ministries system. The Three Departments are the Secretariat, the Chancellery, and the Department of State Affairs. The Secretariat holds the power of decision-making, responsible for formulating the major policies of the Qin Dynasty; the Chancellery is responsible for reviewing and strictly examining the policies drafted by the Secretariat; and the Department of State Affairs, as the specific implementing agency, is responsible for ensuring the smooth implementation of all government orders."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "In addition, the Ministry of Personnel also has six ministries: the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Works. The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of the selection and evaluation of officials; the Ministry of Revenue controls the financial revenue and expenditure and household registration; the Ministry of Rites is responsible for etiquette, regulations, education, and the imperial examinations; the Ministry of War governs military affairs; the Ministry of Justice is in charge of criminal laws and regulations; and the Ministry of Works is in charge of engineering and construction. These six ministries have a clear division of labor, each performing its own duties, cooperating and coordinating with each other while also checking and balancing one another. In this way, not only can the administrative efficiency of the court be greatly improved, making government affairs more rapid and efficient, but it can also effectively prevent power from being too concentrated in the hands of a certain department or individual, thereby ensuring the stable operation of the state power."
The officials listened intently, occasionally letting out gasps of amazement. One fourth-rank official stood up and respectfully asked, "This system is excellent, but what advantages does it have compared to the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system?"
Li Ge smiled slightly and patiently explained, "In the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system, the division of power was not clear enough, which easily led to the ineffective implementation of government orders. In contrast, the Three Departments and Six Ministries system separates decision-making, deliberation, and execution, with strict procedures and supervision at each stage. This ensures both the scientific nature of decision-making and the effective implementation of government orders. Moreover, the six ministries each have their own responsibilities, making them more professional and more conducive to the governance of the country."
Everyone nodded in agreement. A fifth-rank official said excitedly, "If this system can be implemented, our Great Qin will surely become even more prosperous. We are willing to fully support the Three Departments and Six Ministries system."
Li Si's sharp, hawk-like gaze was fixed on Li Ge, catching the key information in the other's words. He demanded sharply, "Say it again, what does the Ministry of Rites do?"
Standing to the side, Li Ge calmly replied, "The Ministry of Rites is mainly responsible for the country's rites and regulations, as well as education and the imperial examination system."
Upon hearing the words "imperial examination," Li Si exploded like a powder keg, roaring, "Imperial examination? Is your true purpose to promote the imperial examination?"
Li Si's roar was like a thunderclap in the court, causing the faces of all the ministers present to change drastically. It was well known that neither in past dynasties nor in the present states of Chu, Wei, Qi, and Yan had ever heard of a system like the imperial examination. Although everyone could roughly understand its meaning from the literal meaning, throughout history, entering officialdom had always relied either on recommendations or outstanding military achievements. If the imperial examination were truly implemented, for these long-serving high-ranking officials, it would be tantamount to digging their own graves!
At this moment, all the civil and military officials stared at Li Ge with fierce eyes, as if they wanted to devour him alive. Those hostile and angry gazes intertwined, forming a chilling pressure.
Li Ge clearly had a clear and far-sighted understanding of the current situation. In fact, he had discussed this matter with Ying Wuyou and others beforehand. They unanimously agreed that the opening of the imperial examination system was only a matter of time. The current recommendation system had many drawbacks. Leaving aside the uneven quality of the recommending officials, with the continuous expansion of the Qin territory, many who obtained official positions through recommendation relied either on family influence or on their wealth and connections. Over time, this situation would inevitably lead to the proliferation of various intricate networks of relationships. Many officials in the court would form cliques and engage in corruption. Undoubtedly, this situation would be far from favorable for either the monarch or the ordinary people.
Despite knowing full well that this proposal was likely to provoke hostility and suppression from various opposing forces, some things, once raised, are like a seed planted in people's hearts, which will surely take root and sprout in time. Even if there are many obstacles at present, in the long run, it will definitely be of great benefit to the future implementation of the imperial examination system. It is for this reason that Li Gefang did not hesitate to step forward and put this issue on the table.
His expression was calm and composed as he slowly spoke: "Gentlemen, this is merely a preliminary idea of mine. But let's think about it calmly: isn't the Three Departments and Six Ministries system superior to the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system?"
These words immediately caused an uproar in the imperial court. The ministers split into two factions: one supporting the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system, and the other supporting the Three Departments and Six Ministries system. Both sides held firm to their positions and argued heatedly.
As the two sides argued endlessly, each sticking to their own version of events, Ying Wuyou's bright, star-like eyes subtly scanned the actions of everyone present, silently observing their every subtle change in expression and body language. She knew in her heart that this heated debate was not something that could be resolved in a short time.
After a moment's thought, Ying Wuyou parted her lips, cleared her throat, and raised her voice, saying, "Father, gentlemen, please hear me out. In truth, both the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system and the Three Departments and Six Ministries system possess their own unique characteristics and advantages. Admittedly, in my opinion, the Three Departments and Six Ministries system is indeed superior to the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers system, but even so, we cannot ignore that the Three Departments and Six Ministries system is not without its flaws. Therefore, the final decision rests with you, Father! Furthermore, in my opinion, perhaps by integrating and learning from these two systems, we could create a completely new bureaucratic system that better suits the actual needs of the Qin Dynasty!"
As soon as Ying Wuyou finished speaking, his clear and well-reasoned words, the slightly noisy scene instantly quieted down. However, only a moment later, a wave of discussion, much more heated than before, erupted from the crowd. Various opinions and viewpoints rose and fell, and a new round of debate unfolded once again.