Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Using a secondary minister to check the primary minister naturally requires a series of systems.

To avoid the position of Second Assistant Grand Secretary becoming vacant, Zhu Youjian said:
"The Grand Secretary and the Second Grand Secretary will be appointed directly by me, and the cabinet's powers will be allocated accordingly."

"If the position of Grand Secretary is vacant, the Deputy Grand Secretary will temporarily assume the duties of the Grand Secretary."

"If the position of Second Grand Secretary is vacant, other Grand Secretaries shall temporarily fill the vacancy in order of their additional titles as Grand Secretaries."

"Those who serve as acting officials for more than three months will automatically be promoted to substantive positions."

To ensure that even when the emperor neglects his duties, there are still chief and deputy chief ministers.

This concern sounds outrageous, but it is indeed possible.

In the later years of the Wanli Emperor's reign, there was often only one prime minister and only one person in the cabinet.

Zhu Youjian certainly wouldn't do that, but he couldn't guarantee that his descendants wouldn't either.

The courtiers were the same; upon hearing the emperor's proposal, they not only did not object but also actively offered suggestions.

Grand Secretary Han Kuang said:

"I believe the number of Grand Secretaries should also be determined; there should be at least four."

"To ensure that when the positions of Grand Secretary and Second Grand Secretary become vacant, the other two Grand Secretaries can fill the vacancies."

Zhu Youjian nodded in agreement and added:

"Similarly, when the number of Grand Secretaries falls below four, they are automatically promoted to fill the vacancy."

"The Ministers and Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Rites in the two capitals, other ministers from the Hanlin Academy, and academicians of the Hanlin Academy were all appointed in order of succession."

"To ensure that the position of Grand Secretary is not left vacant, so that no one is left to fill it."

"However, the number of Grand Secretaries should also be limited. The number of Grand Secretaries plus Associate Grand Secretaries should be kept to single digits and should not exceed nine."

This clearly upholds the tradition that "only members of the Hanlin Academy can enter the cabinet," and it should be written into the articles of etiquette and law.

Officials from the Hanlin Academy took this for granted, while officials from other departments sighed and complained.

After the emperor allowed ministers outside the cabinet to share the power of drafting proposals through committee positions, some officials had ideas that they could take advantage of the reform of rites and music to abolish this practice.

However, the emperor clearly protected this practice, and with Hanlin officials in charge of the cabinet, they simply could not break this convention.

They could only watch helplessly as this custom was written into the articles and became formal law.

Young and ambitious officials were determined to pass the imperial examinations and enter the Hanlin Academy so that they would have the opportunity to join the cabinet in the future.

Last year's reform of the Hanlin system gave them this opportunity.
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After establishing the rules for the succession of the Grand Secretary, Second Grand Secretary, and Grand Secretary, Zhu Youjian emphasized:

“Official documents issued by the Cabinet, unless they are imperial edicts, must be countersigned by the Secretariat and stamped with the seal of the Secretariat.”

"Any official document not countersigned by the Secretariat is invalid, and the personnel who issued it will be held accountable."

"This point is also written into the cabinet system as a new rule."

This rule, like the idea that an edict issued without the cabinet's approval is a decree issued by the central government, is a constraint on superiors.

Han Kuang, who had just gained the power to govern foreign affairs, opened his mouth, but ultimately did not voice his opposition.

Even the emperor's imperial edicts are subject to the restrictions of the cabinet, so it is only natural that the official documents of their cabinet are subject to the restrictions of the Secretariat.

However, this meant that the power of the Secretariat expanded along with the cabinet, giving it the power to check and balance the cabinet.

Moreover, this power was in the hands of the Grand Secretary, which made Han Kuang somewhat uneasy. He proposed:
"The Secretariat should also establish a committee to decide how to use the seal."

“The normal use of the seal should not be obstructed. If there is a great deal of controversy, I request Your Majesty to make a decision.”

Zhu Youjian had always promoted the system of collective deliberation, and upon hearing this, he immediately nodded in agreement.

"The Secretariat can appoint several fifth-rank scholars to form a Secretariat council."

"Both the Director of the Secretariat and the Chief of the Secretariat are the principal officials of the Secretariat and both have veto power."

"Wang Chengen, you and Scholar Cheng must work together to improve the Zhongshu system."

Wang Chengen respectfully accepted the order, and was very pleased. The establishment of the Grand Secretary greatly enhanced the power of the Grand Secretary.

Don't underestimate this position just because it's only a fifth-rank official position. The actual duties of a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet are also only a fifth-rank official position.

If the Grand Secretary were to be granted the title of one of the Four Ministers, he might even have the power to rival the Grand Secretary in the future.

Han Kuang and others were also afraid of this. They had doubts about the establishment of the Secretariat because they were worried that it would replace the cabinet.

Han Kuang immediately demanded:
"Your Majesty, the chief officials of each department of the Secretariat can join the council; there is no need to appoint a Secretariat Academician."

"The establishment of official positions should be carefully considered to avoid creating redundant officials."

Zhu Youjian nodded, seemingly having taken his advice to heart, and after considering it, said:

"Some officials in the Hanlin Academy also serve as the Imperial Diarist, and they are now also in the Secretariat."

"In this way, the position of Grand Secretary was concurrently held by the Hanlin Academician, who helped handle general affairs."

“The Director of the Secretariat has a lot of dealings with the Cabinet. These people become familiar with the Cabinet while serving as Directors of the Secretariat, which makes it easier for them to become Grand Secretaries in the future.”

"After the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was merged into the Inner Court, the positions in the Hanlin Academy also needed to be transferred."

This decision delighted the officials of the Hanlin Academy.

It also established that the Secretariat was a mini-cabinet, assisting the cabinet in its work and having the power to check and balance the cabinet.

Qian Qianyi, who concurrently served as the head of the Hanlin Academy, said:

"Your Majesty's heavy reliance on Hanlin officials is deeply appreciated by us."

"Your humble servant, as the Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy, is willing to join the Secretariat."

Zhu Youjian glanced at him and knew that he wanted to take the opportunity to improve his status.

However, he also wanted to elevate the status of the Grand Secretary by appointing Qian Qianyi, and immediately agreed:
"The Grand Academician of the Hanlin Academy can naturally concurrently serve as the Grand Academician of the Secretariat."

"Given that there are many Hanlin officials in charge of recording daily life, they will be in charge of recording daily life from now on."

"Wang Chengen, the Grand Secretary, is directly in charge of the Imperial Seal Office."

"The other departments of the Secretariat are each managed by a Secretary of the Secretariat or a Principal of the Secretariat."

"The academicians of the Secretariat have the right to vote in the council meetings of the Secretariat Directorate, while the secretaries of the Secretariat only have the right to attend as observers."

The system of the Secretariat should be thoroughly improved, and the number of officials in the Secretariat should be increased.

The Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet were both worried and relieved about this.

Qian Qianyi's concurrent appointment as Grand Secretary of the Secretariat, while serving as the head of the Hanlin Academy, not only elevated the status of the Grand Secretary but also solidified the institution's rank.

It was equivalent to the Hanlin Academy, belonging to the mid-level government office of the Ministry of Rites.

This government office is separated from the cabinet by the Ministry of Rites, and cannot replace the cabinet's position.

One could even say:

This marked another expansion of the Ministry of Rites faction, giving them control of this important government office.

A scholar from the Hanlin Academy would certainly be able to control the council.

Even if the palace eunuchs held the seal, they were no match for them.

Zhu Youjian was aware of this, but his purpose in establishing the Secretariat was to create a safeguard to prevent the cabinet from taking advantage of the loopholes he had opened to expand its power.

He knew that the expansion of cabinet power was inevitable, and that the transition to a constitutional monarchy would also require granting cabinet power.

However, this process must be controlled and cannot be taken over by the cabinet.

The Secretariat serves this purpose; its power grows as the cabinet expands. Those future Grand Secretaries will have the ability to restrain the power of the Grand Secretaries.

Furthermore, this institution can also be used to train future Grand Secretaries, ensuring that the cabinet does not lack talent. (End of Chapter)