The Golden Family, rising from the Western Regions

Chapter 409: Deposing the Prime Minister, Establishing the Six Ministries, and Taking Sole Control of the World
The victory celebration banquet in the palace began at noon the next day.

The Fengtian Hall was filled with banquet tables, and Li Xiao sat in the main seat.

Empress Dowager Qin and Empress Xiao, the founding empress of the Ming Dynasty, sat on either side of Li Xiao.

Consorts such as Wei Fuyao and Suoluheti sat with the others according to their rank.

Although Li Xiao had already read out the investiture of the concubines in the court, that was an explanation to the people of the world. Once they arrived in the inner palace, a formal investiture ceremony was still required, during which they would be granted golden books and seals.

As for Xiao Yanyan's Phoenix Seal, it was already conferred in the court in front of many generals and officials.

Xiao Yanyan was the only one who appeared at formal court occasions; other women were not allowed to.

Because in essence, Xiao Yanyan is also a ruler, while Wei Fuyao and others are subjects. Their different identities naturally lead to different meanings for the people of the world.

Moreover, how could an outside official be allowed to freely view the emperor's inner circle?

Therefore, the investiture of the other concubines was all held in the inner palace.

The eunuch announced loudly: "Xiao Yanyan is hereby conferred the title of Empress of the Great Ming Dynasty, and is bestowed with a golden book, golden seal, and golden scepter; Wei Fuyao and Lie Mingzhu are hereby conferred the title of Imperial Concubine, Han Ying'er is hereby conferred the title of Virtuous Concubine, and Shi Guli is hereby conferred the title of Good Concubine..."

These titles were announced yesterday in the Fengtian Hall in front of numerous court officials.

Therefore, these women already knew their status, but their feelings were still different.

Their families also have different thoughts and intentions.

Sorghaghtani's father, Zhaghganbu, was sitting in the palace at this moment, repeatedly murmuring his daughter's title, a smile blooming on his weathered face.

"Concubine..."

"My daughter has become a concubine of the Ming Dynasty!"

Zhaheganbu's mouth was stretched from ear to ear; he was very happy.

He was the younger brother of Wang Khan of the Kereit tribe. After the Kereit tribe was destroyed by Temujin, he led the remaining tribes to submit to the northern frontier.

Li Xiao did not treat these remnants of the northern desert tribes too harshly. He simply used absolute force to break up their original tribal structure and organized the people into households of a thousand or a hundred in the northern frontier.

Meanwhile, the nobles like Zhaheganbu were invited to Longcheng and treated with great hospitality.

Of course, Li Xiao did not deprive them of the opportunity to make contributions and serve the northern frontier.

Just like Zhaheganbu's eldest son, who was also the elder brother of Suoluheteni, Lieyixi became a commander of ten thousand in the army, which can be regarded as a way to appease and give hope to the northern tribes.

As family members, Zhaheganbu and his wife were also invited into the harem.

He sat upright in the guest seat, his gaze fixed on his daughter, Sorghaghtani—now the Noble Consort Lie.

When they saw her receive the golden book and seal symbolizing the rank of Imperial Concubine from Li Xiao, the elderly couple smiled at each other, their eyes filled with satisfaction and pride.

However, this joy did not last long.

When his gaze turned to Wei Fuyao, who held the same rank as his daughter as a Noble Consort, Zhaheganbu's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"The Wei family..."

He silently repeated the surname that was causing him so much discomfort.

Wei Fuyao's elder brother, Wei Xuan, is now the deputy commander of the Sixth Garrison and concurrently holds the title of General of Zhonghai, which governs the central part of the northern desert.

That land that was once lush with water and grass, nourishing generations of the Kereit tribe.

Although the tribe has now dispersed and its people have moved to other places, Zhahegan still feels a sense of unease when he thinks about his homeland being controlled by the Wei family.

He leaned slightly and whispered in his wife's ear, "Although Sorghaghtani was a concubine like her, the Wei family... is ultimately superior to us."

His wife gently pressed his hand down, but her gaze fell on their daughter's slightly protruding belly, her voice filled with reassuring comfort.

"The imperial physician has examined the baby and believes it will be a prince."

"As long as Sorukha Tieni can give birth to a son, why should she be afraid that she will not be as good as Wei Fuyao in the future?"

These words made Zhahegan nod slightly and smile.

Indeed, in this deep palace, offspring are the greatest asset.

For these maternal relatives, nothing was more important than an outstanding prince who shared the same bloodline as them.

As long as the daughters give birth to many sons, there will always be one who stands out from the crowd. If he happens to catch His Majesty's eye, then the Lie family and even all the remaining people of the Kereit tribe will prosper.

The Xiao family and the remnants of the Khitan people today represent their future, or even a better one.

Zhahegan silently prayed in his heart: May the Eternal Heaven bless my daughter so that this pregnancy will go smoothly and she can completely surpass the Wei family's daughter in terms of offspring.

His thoughts drifted to even more distant places.

His eldest son, Lie Yixi, is now a commander of ten thousand men in the army. Although he seems to be only one step away from Wei Xuan's position as deputy commander, they are actually worlds apart.

If Lie Yixi can achieve further military merits, he will be promoted to deputy commander soon...

With this in mind, his gaze gradually hardened.

Although the Kereit tribe was no longer the same as before, the former generals scattered in the army still held some lingering affection for the old regime.

These connections, though perhaps not openly forming factions, can always be a source of support for the daughter in the palace at crucial moments.

The moonlight outside the palace was cold and clear, but a fire burned in Zhaheganbu's heart—it was the pride of the Kereit nobles, and also the most basic expectation of a father.

Within this deep palace, the honor and disgrace of the family are already closely intertwined with the future of his daughter, and he will never allow the jewel of the Kereit tribe to be overshadowed in this palace.

In contrast to the jubilation of the Lie family, the scene at the Wei family's seats was quite different.

Wei Xuan's wife, Er Feng, sat gracefully at the table, her crimson palace dress highlighting her dignified bearing.

As Li Xiao's cousin, she was very familiar with this occasion.

The two sons, Wei Beijiang and Wei Qin, sat quietly beside their mother. Although they were young, they already showed the composure of someone from a military family.

"Father should be in the northern desert right now, preparing the troops."

Wei Beijiang whispered to his younger brother, "The letter I received the other day said that the army is gathering provisions."

Six-year-old Wei Qin nodded as if he understood, his little hand unconsciously touching the wooden sword at his waist.

Erfeng listened to her sons' conversation, and her gaze softened.

She looked at Wei Fuyao, who was being conferred her title, feeling both gratified and worried.

At this moment, on the northern grasslands, her husband, Wei Xuan, is shouldering an even more important mission.

As the General of Zhonghai, he was stationed in the central part of the northern desert, preparing for the upcoming second eastern expedition.

"He probably hasn't even received the news of Er Ya's investiture yet," Er Feng sighed softly, her tone filled with understanding.

The northern desert region is strategically located, overlooking the entire territory of the Jin Dynasty, making it a key location for this eastern expedition.

As the garrison commander, Wei Xuan must be busy preparing for battle and has no time to spare.

She looked down at her two sons again.

The eldest son, Beijiang, was born during the Northern Frontier Protectorate period, and his name reflects Wei Xuan's determination to protect the Northern Frontier.

The second son, Wei Qin, was born after Li Xiao became king, signifying the protection of the Qin Dynasty and the prince.

If we have another son in the future, he shall be named Wei Ming, as this is the vow of the Wei family to advance and retreat together with the Ming Dynasty.

"When your father returns in triumph, he will surely be happy for his aunt." Erfeng gently stroked the tops of her two sons' heads, her gaze fixed on the north.

On that vast grassland, her husband was preparing for the empire's conquest.

Within this deep palace, the new generation of the Wei family is also quietly growing up.

On the other side, the families of the other concubines also had varying feelings.

When the Ming Dynasty was founded, daughters or sisters were made concubines, even if they were only the lowest-ranking "Talented Lady". From then on, although they could not be called imperial relatives, they could be considered to be related to the royal family.

After all the imperial concubines were officially appointed, the golden books and seals were returned to their respective owners, and the palace was filled with an atmosphere of joy and glory.

Li Xiao's gaze swept over the room full of beautiful women and their relatives, and he slowly raised the golden goblet in his hand, his voice steady and powerful.

"Today, at this family banquet in the inner palace, all those present, regardless of their origin or surname, are not outsiders."

He paused slightly, his gaze lingering on the faces of Zhaheganbu, Erfeng, and other family members one by one.

"You are all my own people, the cornerstone and pillar of the Ming Dynasty."

Having said that, he raised his wine glass even higher, his voice booming: "This cup is a toast to all of you."

"I hope we can work together with one heart and one mind to support our nation."

May our Great Ming Dynasty prosper and last forever.

"Your Majesty, we/your concubines will obey your decree."

Everyone in the hall responded in unison. Whether they were concubines or relatives, they all raised their cups, tilted their heads back, and drank the cups to the brim.

"The second cup is to honor our ancestors and thank them for their protection," Li Xiao said solemnly, pouring the cup of wine directly onto the ground.

At this moment, it seemed as if countless heroic spirits were lingering in the wind.

As he raised his third glass of wine, his gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on generals such as Li Dongjiang and Li Dongshan.

Although it was a ceremony to confer the title of imperial concubine, it was also a family banquet of the Li family, attended by members of the Li family and their relatives, including Li Dongjiang.

All that could be heard was Li Xiao's heavy voice saying, "This cup is a toast to all the fallen soldiers, all the meritorious officials, and all the common people of the world."

His voice suddenly became powerful and passionate as he solemnly poured the wine glass onto the ground.

"Without them, there would be no Ming Dynasty today."

"They are the unyielding backbone of our Great Ming Dynasty."

As the words fell, Li Dongjiang, Li Dongshan, and other members of the imperial clan poured wine on the ground, their powerful voices echoing throughout the hall: "We are willing to go through fire and water for the Ming Dynasty."

"I am willing to go through fire and water for the Ming Dynasty."

The others responded in unison. Although they were women of the Ming Dynasty, they possessed a boldness and spirit that rivaled that of men. Their voices reverberated throughout the hall.

In a daze, Li Xiao seemed to have returned to that rainy night in Hexibao.

The dilapidated military fortress, the cold leather armor, and those comrades who will forever remain in the mud.

Back then, the young lord of the fortress never imagined that he would one day possess this vast empire.

The imperial seal on the desk, inscribed with "Bright as the sun and moon, ruling over all lands," gleamed with a warm luster in the sunlight.

He knew that this jade seal carried not only power, but also the hopes of millions of people for peace.

Two days after the ceremony of bestowing the title of imperial concubine ended, at dawn, the Fengtian Hall reopened for court assembly.

The morning light shone through the carved windows, illuminating the civil and military officials standing solemnly in the hall.

This is the second grand court assembly since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and it will determine the power structure of the new dynasty.

"Your Majesty has arrived."

As the eunuch's voice rang out in the hall, Li Xiaolong strode in.

Wearing a golden dragon robe and sitting upright on the dragon throne, he exuded natural majesty.

The next second, the hall resounded with cheers from the court officials.

"Long live my emperor."

Following the old etiquette of the Ming Dynasty, the generals and officials bowed respectfully with their hands on their chests, without kneeling. This etiquette between ruler and subject was very important.

Since ancient times, in addition to their achievements, emperors have needed such daily rituals to demonstrate their imperial authority.

As the founding emperor, Li Xiao possessed natural authority and therefore did not need to demonstrate his power through such ceremonies.

But what about the emperors who succeeded to the Ming Dynasty?

Li Xiao had to establish a set of rules so that future emperors would have something to follow in terms of etiquette.

After the shouts subsided, Li Xiao said in a deep voice, "Everyone, rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The ministers all straightened up.

Li Xiao sat imposingly on the dragon throne, one arm resting on the armrest, the other on the dragon table, his fingers lightly tapping on the surface.

"Dangdangdangdang~"

A crisp sound rang out in the quiet hall.

Li Xiao's gaze swept over the assembled officials below, who were holding their breath in awe, and he went straight to the point: "Our Great Ming Dynasty has just been established, and we must change the old rules and clarify the official system."

"The 'Three Departments and Six Ministries' system of the Tang Dynasty assigned different tasks to specialized departments, making it clear who should do what. It was indeed the best system since ancient times."

"But the problem is also obvious: the three 'provinces' check and balance each other too much, and the prime minister, who holds real power, will overstep his authority from time to time."

"Moreover, the number of officials is too large and too varied, like a repetitive stack of beds, which ultimately leads to low efficiency and makes it difficult to implement government orders."

"Therefore, the Ming Dynasty should take the essence and discard the redundancy, and set up the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Works, just like the Tang Dynasty, so that they can be in charge of all kinds of daily affairs in the country."

"As for the three institutions of the Secretariat, the Chancellery, and the Department of State Affairs, in my opinion, there is no need to establish them."

His voice was resounding and echoed through the empty hall, carrying an unquestionable imperial majesty, and finally coalescing into a resounding decision.

"From this day forward, the Great Ming Dynasty will not appoint a prime minister or establish a cabinet."

"The six ministers are all high-ranking officials of the court, directly responsible to me, and all military and state affairs are subject to my decision."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent, with only the occasional clear sound of the bronze bells on the eaves outside the hall.

The officials had different expressions; some lowered their heads in thought, while others had shifty eyes, but none of them showed any surprise.

It should be noted that as early as when Li Xiao was stationed in the Northern Frontier Protectorate, signs of his intention to monopolize power had already emerged.

At that time, according to regulations, a chief secretary should have been appointed to assist in government affairs, but he always left the position vacant and handled all matters, big and small, personally. His swiftness in making decisions and his tight control were already well known to the civil and military officials who followed him.

Now that he has ascended the throne and established a system, abolishing the power of the prime minister and strengthening the Six Ministries, he is merely extending the old style of doing things to the whole country.

Everyone knew perfectly well that while the core of this official reform was whether or not to abolish the prime minister, for the officials, the ultimate goal was the position of Minister, who was directly responsible to the emperor.

Who can be in charge of the Ministry of Personnel in appointing and dismissing officials? Who can control the Ministry of Revenue in allocating national revenue? Who can lead the Ministry of Justice in rectifying the judicial system?

A silent power struggle has quietly unfolded amidst the exchange of glances among the courtiers.

Before the silence had subsided, Gu Zizhong stepped forward, patted his chest, and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

“In the past, Li Linfu, Yang Guozhong and their ilk usurped the power of the prime minister, which ultimately led to the An Lushan Rebellion.”

“Liang Ji, relying on the power of the prime minister, defied the emperor’s orders four times and privately deposed the empress. Even the emperor had to swallow his anger.”

"Such sources of chaos must not be allowed to remain."

He gently touched his chest, and as his gaze swept across the crowd, he deliberately lingered a few more moments on the faces of Zhang Xinghua and the others.

Upon hearing Gu Zizhong's words, Zhang Xinghua and the others cursed him inwardly, calling him a shameless villain and a treacherous minister of the state.

But when it came to shamelessness, they weren't much better than Gu Zizhong, and they all stepped forward to imitate him, saying, "What Lord Gu said is absolutely right."

“As long as the power of the prime minister remains, the allocation of national funds will be further hampered,” Han Jiuyuan said.

"When I was supervising grain transport in Lingzhou, I witnessed the Jin Dynasty's Grand Chancellor privately diverting grain from the imperial treasury to replenish his own coffers. The people were starving, and government orders were difficult to implement. Your Majesty's policy of abolishing the Grand Chancellor is truly a timely rain that saves the people from their suffering!"

When he looked up, his peripheral vision caught a sharp glimpse of Li Xiao on the dragon throne. Seeing the emperor's lips curl into a slight expression of approval, he quickly lowered his head again.

Chen Chong and others also said one after another: "In the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius stood upright in court and the rebellious ministers dared not move. Now Your Majesty personally holds power, and the Six Ministries directly listen to the Emperor. It is like a bright mirror hanging high, which can reflect the true intentions of all officials."

"The abolition of the prime minister has eliminated the breeding ground for factionalism, and I believe it is a great good."

"Your Majesty's abolition of the prime minister is a move to safeguard the clarity of the law, and I obey your decree."

"Your Majesty, we obey your decree. Your Majesty is wise and mighty."

"The abolition of the prime minister and the establishment of the Six Ministries is truly a wise strategy for all time."

How much harm did Li Xiao's removal of the prime minister cause to officials?
Quite big.

Li Xiao's decree to abolish the position of prime minister was not a "good strategy" for the officials; it was clearly a dead end that cut off their path to the pinnacle of their careers.

Since the Qin and Han dynasties, the position of prime minister has been the pinnacle of career aspired to by civil officials. Countless people have studied diligently for years, hoping to one day hold the position of prime minister, formulate national policies, and leave behind the name of "wise prime minister" in history.

But now, that road is completely blocked.

What's even more chilling is that this not only ruined his personal future, but also extinguished the last glimmer of hope for checking and balancing imperial power.

Even when there were tyrannical or incompetent rulers in the past, the prime minister could still use the "power of rejection" to reverse chaotic orders and stabilize the court with the prestige of being the "head of all officials".

Now that the Six Ministries are directly under the Emperor's command, without the buffer in between, imperial power is like a wild horse, with no restraint whatsoever.

But who would dare to utter even a single word of "no"?

Li Xiao was the founding emperor, wielding military power to establish his rule over the country, and his influence had long permeated every corner of the court.

His reason for "preserving the imperial power from falling into other hands" was like an invisible knife held to everyone's neck.

To oppose it is to covet the position of prime minister, to plot treason, and to follow in the footsteps of treacherous officials like Liang Ji and Li Linfu.

Under the ironclad rule of "serving a ruler is like serving a tiger," who would dare to risk their family's lives for the crime of "disloyalty"?

Thus, the position of prime minister, which had been passed down for thousands of years, quietly came to an end in Li Xiao's hands.

However, the officials were unaware that behind Li Xiao's seemingly resolute centralization of power, he was actually preparing to establish another institution to replace the functions of the prime minister.

Military Affairs Office.

He knew that although the power of the prime minister was a hindrance to the imperial power, the responsibility of assisting the government and the buffering function that the prime minister had undertaken for thousands of years could not be borne by the emperor alone.

Completely abolishing the power of the prime minister means that memorials from all over the country, important military and national affairs, and local matters will flood the emperor's court like a tide. Even if he is energetic and physically strong, he will inevitably be exhausted in the long run.

Li Xiao was by no means one of those emperors in history who personally handled everything and ultimately devoted themselves to the cause.

He was well aware of the principle that "a balance between tension and relaxation is the key to long-term stability and security." He needed to firmly control imperial power while avoiding getting bogged down in complicated government affairs, which required a more flexible and efficient auxiliary agency.

The cabinet system of the Ming Dynasty has proven ineffective in practice.

Although the cabinet was effective in the early stages, it eventually became completely superior to the Six Ministries, and the chief minister became the de facto prime minister.

The Grand Council, however, proved to be useful after more than a hundred years of practice during the Qing Dynasty.

This institution was not a formal state administrative office; it had no fixed office, no appointed officials, and no clear rank. In essence, it was the emperor's exclusive "private secretariat" and "temporary task force."

Those who served in the Grand Council were all "dispatched" by the emperor, not actually appointed to official positions.

Today, trusted officials such as Hanlin Academy scholars and vice ministers of the six ministries can be selected to serve, and tomorrow they can be sent back to their original posts. They can come and go as they please, without being bound by the system.

Ultimately, all decisions were made by the emperor.

To ensure that imperial power always reigns supreme and to prevent the power of regents from expanding.

Therefore, Li Xiao directly abolished the position of prime minister and the cabinet, and directly established the Grand Council.

However, the selection of personnel for the Grand Council has not yet been finalized, and the most urgent task is to first establish the administrative backbone of the Ming Dynasty.

After finishing the discussion about the prime minister, Li Xiao's face showed a noticeable smile, and he said calmly, "I already know what you all think."

"Our Great Ming Dynasty does not have a prime minister, so the Six Ministries have become the pillars supporting the administration of the country, and their position is naturally of paramount importance."

As soon as he finished speaking, a hint of joy flashed in the eyes of Gu Zizhong and the others.

Although the position of prime minister has been abolished, there should still be one of them in the position of minister.

But Li Xiao changed the subject: "However, our Great Ming already has the Five Military Commissions to manage the army and oversee training. If we were to establish a Ministry of War, the functions of the two would overlap, which would only lead to disputes."

After all, the Ministry of War was a breeding ground for civil officials to usurp military power, and it was also the beginning of the decline of the Ming Dynasty in history.

There was no need for the Ming Dynasty to establish a Ministry of War, and it would be a waste of administrative resources.

The power to command troops was placed in the Five Military Commissions, which managed military households and trained soldiers, while the power to deploy troops was in the Grand Council, which was in the hands of the emperor himself.

As for military pay, provisions, and the forging of weapons and armor, these were controlled by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, with a system of checks and balances.

After a moment of silence, Li Xiao spoke again: "With one of the six ministries gone, only five remain, which may not be enough to support the complex administrative affairs of our Great Ming's vast territory."

He paused deliberately, giving the ministers time to process what he had to say. His gaze slowly swept across the hall. Some people's expressions remained unchanged, but their eyes showed slight disappointment. Some were secretly calculating, while some ministers who came from military backgrounds showed approval.

Once the atmosphere in the hall had calmed down a bit, Li Xiao finally announced his follow-up decision: "Therefore, I have decided to establish new departments based on their functions."

"Our Great Ming Dynasty has a vast territory, with mineral resources everywhere. In the north there is iron from Jinshan, in the west copper from the Yellow River, in the south refined salt from the plateau, in the middle sulfur, and in the east coke."

"These are all vital to the nation."

"These matters were previously under the jurisdiction of the Salt and Iron Bureau, but its authority was too light to bear the heavy responsibility."

His gaze swept over a man standing in the middle of the right side of the column: "The profits from salt and iron, ever since Guan Zhong 'government-controlled mountains and seas,' have been the cornerstone of the national treasury. It was only when Sang Hongyang implemented the state monopoly on salt and iron that the Han Dynasty under Emperor Wu was able to expand its territory."

"For our Great Ming Dynasty, iron and coal are needed to forge weapons and armor, so that we can have iron cavalry roaming freely; salt, iron, gold and silver are needed to fill the treasury, so that we can fight in the south and the north."

"Such an important matter cannot be taken lightly."

The ministers nodded in agreement. Indeed, the resources supplied by the Salt and Iron Bureau in recent years were a key support for the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

"Therefore, I have decided to upgrade the Salt and Iron Bureau to the Mining Ministry, making it equal to the five ministries of Personnel, Revenue, Rites, Justice, and Works, with its chief official being appointed as a second-rank minister."

Gu Zizhong thought to himself, "This name is novel, but it makes perfect sense."

Today, the mineral resources under the jurisdiction of the Salt and Iron Bureau far exceed those of the past. The annual output of ironware from the Mobei Iron Mine alone reaches one million catties, and sulfur and coke are essential for military production. It is indeed necessary to set up a separate department.

Many people subconsciously looked at the pot-bellied figure on the right.

Luo Ping, a military advisor at the Salt and Iron Bureau.

He had held this position for six years, having been in charge of mining since the Northern Frontier period. In terms of seniority and merit, the position of Minister of Mining was undoubtedly his.

But no one knew that Luo Ping was secretly grieving at that moment.

He was wearing a brand-new scarlet official robe. He had been standing there for quite some time and was already panting heavily. His thick palms were sweating and felt cold against the hem of his robe.

Three days ago, Li Xiao summoned him alone in the Imperial Study and told him personally that he wanted to promote him to Minister. He was overjoyed at the time.

But when he heard that it wasn't the Minister of Mining, he was struck dumb.

The Salt and Iron Bureau, which he had painstakingly built, was upgraded to a ministry, yet he, the founder of the bureau, was to be transferred to another place. This was clearly "picking the fruits of others' labor."

Looking at the triumphant emperor on the dragon throne, he felt a surge of grievance and helplessness.

The other party is the emperor, what can I do?

Besides, he only left his comfort zone, but in return, he became a second-rank official, a high-ranking minister.

With the son being a military commander and the father a minister, the Luo family was destined to become a prominent clan that would last for centuries in the Ming Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)