Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 325 Because you won’t live long!
The hall was dead silent.

Zhu Biao stared at Xia Zhibai intently, with bloodshot eyes.

He already understood.

Xia Zhibai was dissatisfied with the existing system of the Ming Dynasty.

He believed that there were too few officials in the Ming Dynasty today, and that the control over local areas was too weak.

If this continues, power will only be transferred to local governments.

Once the local governments have held power for a long time, they will lose respect for the imperial court and will selectively execute its orders. Once the local officials in the south unite as one, the imperial court will be helpless against them because the court officials cannot intervene at all.

Even if you can kill people, you can't solve the essence of the problem.

However, the Meritorious Group is now too large, and the Huaixi forces headed by Li Shanchang are too strong. The court cannot suppress them on a large scale, so it can only find another way. By nominating a group of officials from various provincial governments to the court, local indigenous forces can have someone to rely on, thereby weakening the influence of the Meritorious Group and the Huaixi forces.

At the same time, the control of officials entering North Korea over local areas was greatly enhanced.

Further weaken the voice of the meritorious group.

It may even cause conflicts and contradictions between these new officials and the meritorious groups, especially in the south, by emphasizing provincial-level governance, causing cracks in the meritorious groups' control over the south. When the time is right, the existing political structure will be completely torn apart.

Let provincial officials 'autonomously' lead the local chief executive.

Weaken the group-building situation in the South.

But in this case, local officials will be dependent on provincial and state chief officials, wouldn't this allow these officials to have absolute power?

Zhu Biao frowned.

Because this also means giving up personnel rights.

This is absolutely impossible.

Xia Zhibai seemed to have guessed Zhu Biao's thoughts and took the initiative to explain: "Your Highness, do you remember what I said? It is recommendation. Local officials only have the right to recommend, but they do not have the right to determine personnel. The power of personnel has always been in the hands of the Ministry of Personnel and the court. The court can decide whether to use or not."

"Or arrange it to another location."

"But since they recommended him, they will naturally be held responsible if something goes wrong in the future."

"The imperial court is in charge of personnel. At the county level, the prefecture level reports to the provincial governor, and the provincial governor makes the decision. The prefecture-level officials must be decided by the Ministry of Personnel. As for the provincial-level officials, they must be decided by the imperial court, and in most cases, the system of floating officials must be implemented."

"in short."

"In the system, only the third-highest level has the power to make decisions, only the second-highest level has the power to make suggestions, and the first-highest level only has the power to lead."

"The reason for this is to avoid a situation where local officials deliberately 'promote' some officials so that they can be promoted and quickly transferred out of the local area. Although this is still possible, at least the cost for these people to do so will be increased."

“Besides, because only the top three have the power to make decisions, it can also guarantee the enthusiasm of local officials to a great extent.”

"So that they don't have to be afraid of doing nothing, nor do they have to worry about being directly retaliated against."

"The court must both delegate power and take back power."

"What they give up is management power, but what they take back is personnel power and control power."

"Besides."

"With these layers of personnel power, even the officials on the roster will have substantial control over the local areas and can easily form their own power. It will naturally become much easier to deal with local affairs without wasting too much power of the court. Moreover, this approach will also help break the isolation of the local areas and strengthen the court's control over them."

"Whether they are floating officials or officials transferred from the imperial court, some of them are bound to enter the imperial court."

"The power these people cultivate in the local area is actually the power of the imperial court."

“It naturally further strengthened the power of the imperial court.”

"And if there are really big problems in the local area, the court will send these officials out, and the possibility of solving the problems will undoubtedly be much greater. Moreover, if the problems are caused by these people, the court can easily clean them up after tracing back."

"It won't shake the court too much."

"The local situation is like a web now, with various forces intertwined and piled up, but none of them match up. What the court needs to do is to intentionally delegate power and let these forces sort themselves out, and then the court can use personnel power to string these webs together."

"As for those who still ignore it and don't take it seriously." "Then kill them!"

“The benefits of doing this are obvious.”

"The disadvantage is also obvious, that is, there are more factions in the court."

"It is easy to get into a heated argument over matters of interest, with neither side willing to give in. As a result, the court will need the heads of the six ministries to step up and provide a balance. As for matters that the six ministries cannot agree on, the court will then discuss and decide, with the minority obeying the majority."

"The minority obeys the majority. This will be the main way the court makes decisions."

"But the emperor has the power to make his own decisions!"

"It's just that compared to dictating government decisions arbitrarily, it's more appropriate to use the conflicts among ministers to create a balance."

"So if the Ming Dynasty really wants to change, there are many things that need to be changed."

“Even in every aspect.”

“Everything must be institutionalized, standardized, and proceduralized.”

"Only when everyone from top to bottom abides by the rules can the rules be established and people can be convinced."

"To some extent, this is also a restriction on the emperor's power. The emperor still has the power to make decisions and hold the military and political power, but it should not be used lightly unless it is necessary, special, or urgent. Instead, he should use reasonable checks and balances to control the world."

Xia Zhi's eyes were as bright as stars as he slowly told the strategy in his mind.

Today, the world is in a state of disrepair and needs a stable system and a stable order. This kind of stability is not temporary, but a mature and regulated system. Only by establishing such correct rules and regulations can the world gradually get back on the right track.

But in Xia Zhibai's mind, this was just excessive.

But this transition is necessary.

If you want to achieve a harmonious society, certain paths must be taken.

If you are too eager to achieve success overnight, to reach the top in one step, or to accomplish your goal in one fell swoop, you are doomed to failure.

Because the world today simply doesn't support such a big step forward.

We can only move forward steadily.

Zhu Biao snorted coldly, looking somewhat displeased.

In the end, I just want him to be the first to take action.

Let him take risks.

Let him make major changes to the system created by Your Majesty.

Although he is the eldest son of His Majesty and the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, he cannot do whatever he wants. There are some things that even he cannot do. Xia Zhibai has no idea how much effort His Majesty has poured into the current system of the Ming Dynasty.

He was afraid that if he told others about it, he would be met with a rage.

But Zhu Biao was also puzzled. Where did Xia Zhibai get the courage to think he could do such a thing?

The Ming Dynasty practiced filial piety.

As the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, he must put filial piety first and set an example for the world.

Zhu Biao asked, "Why do you think I will do it just by listening to you? Do I look like someone who can be easily persuaded?"

Xia Zhibai shook his head.

"Why is that? I want an explanation!" Zhu Biao stared at Xia Zhibai, desperate for an answer.

Xia Zhibai was silent for a while, then slowly said: "Because you don't do this"

"Not long to live!"

(End of this chapter)