Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 438 The Three-Mutual System of Recommendation and Redemption (6K views, requesting monthly votes)
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Playing politics is much more complicated than fighting a war.

After all, in theory, war is just a matter of setting clear objectives and having clear rewards and punishments. But politics is about dealing with the unfathomable and insatiable human nature.

Taking power from these tribes that have occupied the area for hundreds of years, and doing so peacefully, is no exaggeration to say that it is as difficult as climbing to the sky.

Chen Mo wasn't very good at this, but he had a cheat sheet.

His first step was to expand the organization.

Chen Mo sat in the main seat, with a huge map of Xiyue unfolded behind him, and people lined both sides, all craning their necks in anticipation.

This is another classic scene captured by the newspaper reporter's camera.

Today, Chen Mo wasn't wearing a formal suit, but only a dark gray stand-up collar coat with the collar unbuttoned and the sleeves casually rolled up to his forearms, giving him a rather relaxed look.

The meeting began in a relaxed atmosphere.

In this communication that would determine Xiyue's future fate, Chen Mo first served a large, fragrant, and soft cake.

“During this period of time, people have been whispering in my ear that Xiyue’s development is not only inferior to Hanhai, but even inferior to Bailu Plain, which was just liberated and was extremely poor. The main reason is that Xiyue’s system is too backward and too corrupt.”

"These managers are just too muddle-headed!"

"I think you've all heard about this to some extent, haven't you?"

Chen Mo smiled and looked around. The tribal elders present all lowered their eyes and lowered their heads, hiding their faces.

Who said that? It was those young punks who went on to study at Hanhai and Bailu and became obsessed with themselves.
However, there are always some people who will play the straight man, or rather, they've already positioned themselves inside the table beforehand.

Elder Zegen, a highly respected elder in Xiyue, picked up where the lord left off.

"You're right, my lord!"

"Recently, some young lads down below have been making a huge fuss, clamoring for reform, saying that the more they reform, the worse it gets, and that revolution is the only way out. They've even incited some ignorant fools who don't know the truth..."

"Ai...you can't say that!"

Chen Mo raised his hand, gently interrupting Elder Zegen's obviously derogatory tone.

"We're all part of the alliance, and our initial goal is for the alliance to develop in a positive direction. It's just that young people are impatient and have a different perspective. You elders should guide them more, create less conflict, and avoid mutual attacks!"

"However, some of what they said wasn't entirely without merit."

“I’ve been thinking about this a lot these days. The slow development in Xiyue might be due to a very real problem: there are too few people to do the work, or rather, to provide services for the territory and for everyone.”

Chen Mo leaned forward slightly, his gaze sweeping across the entire room: "Fellow city lords, the elders are busy all day long, but they simply can't keep up with everything."

"So, I have an idea: we need to expand our management team!"

Is this statement correct? It is definitely correct. The number of officials in Xiyue is indeed much smaller than that of civil servants in Hanhai.

There are two reasons for this.

Firstly, under different systems and management structures, Hanhai has many government management functions that Xiyue does not provide at all, resulting in a much smaller workforce.

For example, in Xiyue, the tribe and the city guard are mainly responsible for collecting taxes and conscripting laborers, maintaining an army for external defense and internal suppression, and occasionally judging cases that are beyond the scope of clan judgment. That's about it.

But what about HanHai and its subsidiary BaiLu? In addition to providing the aforementioned basic national services, their government functions also cover universal education, medical services, social security, household registration management, infrastructure construction, transportation system maintenance, environmental protection, market supervision, technological innovation, cultural promotion, and so on.

According to statistics on the number of people who "eat the government's rice bowl," Hanhai's "civil servants" are at least ten times that of Xiyue.

Another very important reason is that there are a large number of "hidden officials and clerks" in the Xiyue tribal system.

In Xiyue, the city lord's confidants, retainers, stewards, and relatives held a great deal of government power, and many administrative functions were actually undertaken by these leaders' personal associates.

For example, the city garrison commander's brother-in-law might hold the keys to the granary, the elder's servant might be responsible for assigning corvée labor, and the chief warrior's cousin might control a cut of a trade route...

These people do not hold any government positions.

Even in Chen Mo's Vast Ocean Territory, Helan, who initially presided over government affairs, was originally just the lord's "steward." However, everyone accepted this situation, which can be said to be a characteristic of the old system of the Starry Continent.

There are also vivid examples of this on Earth. For instance, the bald eagle, known as the beacon of human civilization, is one of the key members in charge of foreign affairs, and its title is "the son-in-law of the Grand President".

A combination of factors has created the seemingly "small government" structure of Xiyue.

Now, the lord says we need to expand!
This isn't just a small expansion; it's a comprehensive expansion, a revolutionary expansion.

According to the plan proposed by Chen Mo, in Silvermoon City alone, the number of officials and civil servants will gradually increase from the original three hundred or so to more than two thousand.

The form provided by Chen Mo listed a large number of institutions that had never been seen before, such as the "Public Education Department," "Medical and Health Division," "Road Maintenance Office," "Water Management Section," "Civil Affairs and Relief Office," and "Joint Office for Business Registration and Inspection," etc.

"In Hanhai and Bailu, this has proven to be an effective method! In the future, based on the needs of urban development, we may continue to expand the team of personnel serving the country."

Does anyone have any questions about this?

What doubt could there be about that?
Each new name represents a new set of positions, new powers, and... new spots where one can place their own people!

In the past, each family and clan had children who couldn't get a government job, or illegitimate children who could only go out to find work. Now that so many positions have suddenly appeared, how could they not stuff a hundred or eighty of their own people into these positions to earn a government salary?

Several impatient elders had already taken out their charcoal pencils and started taking stock.

"That boy from the third son's family is literate, so we can get him into the tax office... My seventh aunt's nephew helped out at the herbal medicine shop, so maybe the health bureau could help... Oh, right, we can fulfill the favor the Black Forest tribe promised during the last marriage alliance by giving them two street patrol posts..."

As for the national financial burden... Don't be ridiculous. What everyone is always thinking about is how to put the country's money into their own pockets, right?

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became lively. Even those who felt it was inappropriate dared not utter a word when they saw the fervent gazes of so many elders around them.

Blocking the enemy might not necessarily mean death, but blocking the path to advancement for countless family members would most likely mean certain death.

"Alright, since everyone agrees, let's stick with this charter!"

"Next, let's discuss how to fill these personnel gaps."

In everyone's eyes, this is equivalent to talking about how to divide the cake.

I'm really looking forward to it!

Facing the eager gazes of the crowd, Chen Mo calmly took out a complete version of the "Recommendation System" that had been used by Dongxia thousands of years ago.

First, the people qualified to make recommendations were clearly defined: the current chiefs of the thirteen major tribes, the chief elders of each tribe, the city guards and deputy city guards of each city, a number of powerful ministers, and members of the Xiyue Consultative Council.

Without a doubt, this list includes all the core members of Xiyue's old forces. Taking them down is equivalent to taking down Xiyue.

In the "recommendation system," they were responsible for the first round of recommendations.

The recommendation process is divided into two types: "regular examination" and "special examination". The "regular examination" is held every year, and the recommended candidates are assessed based on two main criteria: outstanding moral character and exceptional ability. Chen Mo directly adopted the ancient names used in Dongxia, which are "recommendation of filial and incorruptible officials" and "selection of outstanding talents".

"Special Division" refers to irregular recruitment. As needed, the lord's office will issue temporary talent requests and urgently select talents from various places to enter the national civil service.

The tribal leaders present calculated that if the recommendation quota were divided up, each person could recommend at least a dozen, or even dozens, of officials. What a huge resource that was!
But having eaten the cake, or rather the sweet date, given by the lord, it's time to take over the baton.

"But we can't be completely without rules when it comes to the nomination process!"

“Aren’t guys like Lind Carson, the former commander of the ‘North Wind’ Legion, who poisoned the people and caused widespread suffering, also elected? If we don’t screen and vet them, such tragedies will inevitably happen again in the future. In that case, the interests of the entire alliance will be lost. Don’t you all agree?”

"Absolutely! The affairs of the league are not child's play; we must be cautious! The likes of Lind serve as a warning!"

"If it weren't for the lord's magnanimity, Xiyue would probably be doomed!"

"We have to choose, we absolutely have to choose this one!"

Chen Mo clapped his hands: "Great!"

"I've come up with a few ways to allow the outstanding young men of each family to give full play to their talents, while also minimizing the trouble for the nominators."

"We need to have a trial period."

Chen Mo spoke slowly and deliberately, and the elders listened attentively. However, Chen Ye and Chen Wangdong, who were listening in, turned pale.

Unlike Xiyue's dual monarchical federal system, Tianqiong is a standard imperial state. Therefore, whenever they hear about a strategy, they subconsciously compare it with their own country's.

As the competition continued, I unknowingly broke out in a cold sweat.

First, the "recommendation system" in Dongxia had a probationary period. One had to work in a low-level official position for at least a year, which was called "probationary appointment".

By the way, you only get half the salary during the probationary period; our ancestors from the Eastern Xia Dynasty did the same thing thousands of years ago…

One year later, if the performance is basically satisfactory and there are no major mistakes, the position will enter the national central review process. For some positions, it is also necessary to take a "countermeasure", which is an exam.

So far, the selection system for bureaucrats in the Xiyue region of the Summer Moon Alliance still aligns with the interests of the local tribes. After all, they have the right to nominate. As for the assessment, how could those peasants compare to us, the scions of tribal families?
Then, Lord Chen's feast arrived.

"The important affairs of the alliance cannot be entrusted to the wrong people. Those who recommend talents for the alliance should be rewarded, but if anyone disregards the interests of everyone and the alliance and deliberately recommends people with ulterior motives or even traitors, they must be resolutely punished!"

That is, joint liability!
If the person you recommend performs well, the league will promote you and give you a raise; if the person you recommend breaks the law or violates regulations, the league will fine you and demote you.

In cases of particularly serious offenses, the perpetrators may even be punished along with the offender.

Is it reasonable? If Lord Chen says it's reasonable, then... it's reasonable!

If this point had been stated from the beginning, the elders would have undoubtedly hesitated. However, now, with the expansion of the official staff—benefiting all family members—and the acquisition of recommendation qualifications—increasing personal power and status—once these two steps have been taken, it will be extremely difficult to reverse course. After all, the benefit of recommending officials is immediate, certain, and tangible, while the punishment of collective responsibility is a future consequence, not guaranteed, and can be avoided or remedied!

If you don't do it, plenty of others will! If you don't agree, plenty of others will!
At worst... at worst, when making recommendations in the future, we can just be a little more careful and choose those reliable, obedient people who are unlikely to cause trouble, which is fine.
With this step completed, the next step, the "three-way mutual avoidance system," will naturally follow.

"Local officials must not appoint members of local tribal families!"

"Otherwise, if an elder causes trouble today and a relative breaks the law tomorrow, how can this city be managed? What kind of state will it become?"

"Let me give you an example. Elder Zegen's grandson has been studying in my Hanhai for so long, with excellent grades, and he is smart and capable. I am willing to personally recommend him! I believe that he has a great chance of becoming a city lord, whether in my Hanhai or Bailu!"

"However, if he wants to return to Stonecastle, he can only become a mid-level official at best. Forget about core positions like city lord, deputy city lord, or city defense captain!"

Elder Zegen stroked his beard and nodded, indicating his understanding.

"By the way, the marriage partner should also be avoided!"

“For example, my teacher Morton married the sister of Lord Keller, so my teacher, as an elder of the ‘Consultative Council,’ cannot serve in Shicui City!”

Master Morton nodded silently.

"Finally, there is also the issue of cross-location avoidance."

“Take our Hanhai as an example. If the city garrison of our Linhai City is a talent from the Dingshan City headquarters, then the city garrison of Dingshan City cannot be from Linhai City…”

A sharp, jarring sound shattered the somewhat oppressive atmosphere. Everyone turned to look and saw that Chen Wangdong, the old director from the Sky Dome, had somehow fallen off his chair, his face deathly pale. He tried to get up several times but couldn't.

"Old Chen...are you feeling unwell? Medical worker! Call the medical worker over here!"

"no, I'm fine!"

The old man shakily got up from the ground and sat back down at the table, his face full of apology: "I was so engrossed in listening that I lost my composure. I'm so sorry, my lord. Please continue, my lord. I... I would like to hear more of your teachings."

To be honest, were the restrictive conditions of the "recommendation system" excessive? They were extremely excessive.

Even the bald eagle, which boasts a "separation of powers and perfect checks and balances" system and is adept at using recommendation letters, wouldn't dare to impose so many constraints on itself.

The Three Mutuals Law is based on a core idea: these officials should not be given any opportunities. If you dare to give them any, they will dare to collude and commit evil deeds.

Therefore, extremely rigid and inflexible regulations were implemented through the system of joint liability and the three-way mutual assistance.

The hall fell silent again, but a deeper unease gradually spread, making the tribal leaders present somewhat uneasy.

Seeing the atmosphere gradually cool down, the lord offered his final appeasement policy.

redemption!

"All the tribal chiefs and elders present here have contributed a great deal in the past for Xiyue and for the development of the alliance. In the future, you will entrust more of your sons to the alliance and continue to work hard, even shed blood and sacrifice for it!"

"On behalf of the alliance, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone!"

This was the first time Chen Mo had adopted the posture of representing the alliance in a formal setting.

"Of course, just talking about it is empty talk, something unscrupulous people like to do, and I can't do that!"

“I think that, in any case, we must compensate the chiefs and elders of each tribe in some practical way.”

Chen Mo beckoned, and Xia Yuanfeng handed him a thick document.

"Over the next three years, the alliance plans to explore and develop no fewer than thirty mines of various types within Xiyue, including but not limited to iron ore, copper ore, stone ore, and other metal and non-metal mines."

"Hanhai will provide comprehensive exploration technology, mining equipment, transportation routes, and initial construction, and will also participate in the project with appropriate equity in the form of technology or capital. However, the main ownership and operation of the mine will be directly handed over to the tribes that actively participate in the alliance's affairs."

"Furthermore, as long as the produced ores and sands meet the basic quality standards, Hanhai will purchase them in full at fair market prices."

Xiyue is a large place with abundant mineral resources, but the poor road conditions make mining and transportation difficult. In addition, there are many checkpoints and bandits along the way, so the profits are relatively meager.

Now Hanhai has taken care of the technology, sales channels, and even transportation. Isn't this like putting a golden bowl in your hands?
"We will also build no fewer than two hundred factories, covering metal smelting, textile and clothing manufacturing, wood processing, primary products, building materials and other types. Hanhai will provide the technology and equipment, and each tribe can invest land, capital and manpower to take the lead in the operation."

"In the future, in addition to selling their products on the market themselves, these factories' products will also be included in the alliance's list of preferred suppliers."

"We also need to build more than 10,000 kilometers of highways and more than 5,000 kilometers of railways. We need to continue to build cities, expand ports, and develop wilderness. In the future, countless engineering projects are waiting for us to do, and the tribes that support the development of the alliance will have priority in undertaking and participating in them!"

"Oh, and there's also the [Moon Gazing Golden Pavilion]!"

"You've all seen how successful the pilot branches of 【Wangyue Jingge】 have been. Now it's time to expand. We want to open 【Wangyue Jingge】 in every city of Xiyue, and in the future, we want to open it in every city on the mainland."

“During the second expansion, there will definitely be some changes in the equity structure. I think this will be a very noteworthy opportunity for everyone.”

With a loud bang, the long-silent meeting room suddenly erupted into a frenzy.

What does what Lord Chen just said represent?
Mining, factories, infrastructure, and... banks!
This is all money, a massive amount of wealth that is visible to the naked eye.

The lord made it very clear that he was willing to work with everyone to earn this money, but it had to be given to the tribes that supported the alliance's development.

What others say may be a lie, but Lord Chen's credibility is known throughout the continent.

Who wouldn't fully support this?
Power seems to have been somewhat limited? But nothing seems to have been lost; in fact, the power to recommend has become even greater and more legitimate. There are just a few more "minor" and "reasonable" rules.

The tribal elder, who was still somewhat resentful about the various restrictions on appointments, had already come up with a million ways to circumvent the rules under the lure of money.

If locals cannot serve as the chief official of the city, then can we open more branch bases?

If two cities cannot have overlapping appointments of key officials, can three cities operate smoothly? What about four cities?
As long as you're willing to give up, there's always a way to overcome difficulties!
Regardless, we can't turn down the real money right in front of us.

At this moment, even the few who remain clear-headed are no longer just facing pressure from Lord Chen, but also the murderous gazes of a large group of colleagues who have already clung to the lord's coattails.

Even the most stubborn diehards can only numb themselves with the excuse that "we can't beat them anyway."

After a heated, heated, and passionate discussion, the entire reform plan was approved.

Chen Mo stood up, took the wine glass brought by the waiter, and smiled sincerely.

"Gentlemen, the Summer Moon Alliance embarks on a new and magnificent chapter from this day forward!"

"You and I are both witnesses!"

"The future of the alliance will surely be even more glorious!"

"Cheers to the League!"

"For the Alliance!"

A deafening chorus of agreement echoed throughout the hall, and everyone's face was filled with excitement.

Chen Mo smiled as he accepted the greetings from the crowd, his gaze sweeping gently over the faces that were either aged, shrewd, or fervent.

The human heart is as deep as the sea, and desires are never satisfied.

how to say?

Sometimes, being solely driven by profit doesn't seem to be a completely bad habit.

When the three-year period is up, and you find that the recommendation system under the alliance is "slightly" different from what you imagined, the balance of power will shift, and you will have to carefully consider whether to raise an army in rebellion.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

When the meeting ended, it was already late at night. A wind had picked up outside the city, making the flags on the flagpoles flutter loudly.

The elders left in small groups, still chatting enthusiastically, their topics revolving around this "great historical moment"!
Refusing Chen Ye's help, Chen Wangdong, the old director of the Sky Dome, squatted on the hillside next to his residence, looking east and west, and sometimes suddenly stopping, motionless, like a statue that had suddenly turned to stone.

"Uncle...it's getting late, go and rest!"

The old man turned his head, staring blankly at Chen Ye, and after a long while, he murmured something with his dry lips.

"Xiao Ye!"

"Please speak, Uncle!"

"If you know that something might benefit the country but bring disaster to your family, what would you do?"

"..."

"Is there another possibility that the heavens remain unchanged, the other families remain unchanged, the mountains and rivers remain the same, and the sun and moon remain the same, and in that case, only the Chen family is gone?"

"..."

"Do you think I should report today's events to His Majesty the Emperor?"

"..."

Chen Ye remained silent; he didn't know either.

On this evening by the river at the northern foot of the mountain, sighs are faint and the night wind is gentle.

　A friend who's an author has a new book; it's still a bit rough around the edges, but those who like this genre might want to check it out.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)