The Great Han Dynasty: From Feng Lang Juxu to the Eternal Emperor

Chapter 329 Regime Reform

New Year's Day in the second year of Yuanshou.

Heavy snow is still falling in Chang'an, and Weiyang Palace is beautiful and covered in silver.

Wei Ning accompanied Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and stood on the top of the gate of Weiyang Palace, staring at the vast white city of Chang'an with a happy smile on his face.

"This winter has been colder than usual, but the impact of snowstorms is getting smaller and smaller."

"The people's ability to resist risks is getting stronger and stronger, and it's all thanks to you."

Wei Ning said with a smile on his face: "It's all thanks to your merits, Father. If it weren't for your support, we wouldn't be where we are today."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty smiled and said: "There is news from southern Xinjiang. Tian Qianqiu told me that in the first half of next year, southern Xinjiang can transport at least 500,000 shi of grain to Chang'an."

"You have chosen a good person. Tian Qianqiu is a capable person. If you train him over time, he will be your effective assistant in the future."

"Huo Qubing's half-brother also did well. Tian Qianqiu said he grew up very fast."

There is no need to think too much about Huo Guang's political ability. With Tian Qianqiu and Huo Guang in southern Xinjiang, basically nothing can go wrong.

"The southeastern coastal counties reported to General Wei Qing that fishermen often get into trouble along the coast, and pirates are occasionally encountered at sea."

These pirates roaming the sea are still insignificant, and the Japanese slaves are just a group of primitive tribes who drink blood and are nothing to be afraid of.

Weining didn't care that these little pirates were useless.

"Wusun, Dayue and other countries plan to send a marriage team to send the princess to Chang'an next year."

In the past, the Central Plains sent princesses to foreign tribes, but now the situation has changed fundamentally. After the Han Dynasty became stronger, the countries in the Western Regions began to move closer to the Han Dynasty.

"I plan to set up envoys and captains in Luntai and Yanqi."

This was the first time in history that a Central Plains dynasty set up management officials in the Western Regions, which reflected the Han Dynasty's increasingly powerful control over surrounding countries.

"This group of captains can be responsible for the economic development of the Silk Road and the economic network connecting the Han Dynasty and the Western Regions."

At present, the focus of the Han Dynasty's economic transportation is still on the countries in the Western Regions.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty informed Weining one by one of the key plans for national development in the next year, and father and son discussed it together.

After he finished speaking, he looked at Weining and asked, "Tell me, from your perspective, what should Dahan focus on developing in China next year?"

Wei Ning thought for a while and told Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty: "My son has two or three superficial suggestions."

"Tell me."

Weining said: "First, it is based on agriculture, supplemented by commercial standardized development."

Agriculture is still the basic foundation of the Han Dynasty, and it cannot be disrupted or stopped. Before the people can completely achieve food abundance, the country should still focus on agricultural development.

Commerce is still relatively weak. Qin Shihuang did not pay attention to commercial development. In the Han Dynasty, Qin Shihuang's governing ideas were still continued, and commercial development was loose and unregulated.

The main reason is that the upper class has a shallow understanding of business. They believe that business is rootless and similar to fraud, which will harm the development of farming.

Therefore, the country does not pay attention to commercial development. It is generally believed that excessive commercial development will have a huge impact on farmers' enthusiasm for farming.

"A country's wealth needs to be circulated. If money loses circulation, it will make the country weak and the people strong, which is not conducive to national development. Regulating the development of business will allow money to circulate and wealth to circulate."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty nodded, but in fact he still disagreed with the theory of focusing on commercial development.

Wei Ning continued: "Second..."

Weining paused and glanced at Emperor Wu of Han, a little cautiously.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty noticed his thoughts and said: "There is nothing that cannot be said. Tell me, do you have any other ideas?"

Weining was silent for a moment and said: "There will be a fundamental change in the national power."

As soon as these words came out, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was stunned, his eyes slowly narrowed, he raised his eyes and glanced at Wei Ning, and said: "What do you mean?" Wei Ning bit the bullet and said to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty: "Father, the Three Lords and Nine Qings The functions of officials under the system are unclear, and the division of responsibilities is unclear. The official system established is bloated and redundant, and they are more like domestic slaves of the Tian family."

"If a country wants to get on the right track, it needs the collective efforts of all officials and the decentralization of power."

"Responsibilities and powers must be clearly divided. For example, if we need to do financial statistics now, Zongzheng Da Nong Mansion can perform this function, and so can the Prime Minister's Mansion."

"Zongzheng Da Nong is also responsible for various functions such as offering sacrifices to heaven in suburban temples, admonishing classes to farm mulberry trees, and financial statistics."

"Another example is the assessment, promotion and dismissal of officials. Only the Prime Minister's Office has this power and responsibility, and other institutions do not."

As Wei Ning spoke, he watched Emperor Wu of Han's expression change.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had no expression on his face from beginning to end, just listening to Wei Ning's statement quietly.

Wei Ning continued: "The prime minister has too much power and threatens centralization of power. The emperor does not fully control the power of employment..."

When Wei Ning said this, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty nodded imperceptibly.

He glanced at Wei Ning and said, "So how do you plan to change it?"

Wei Ning said: "Let the functions of state officials be clearer and make them officials who truly serve the people, rather than being domestic slaves of the Heavenly Family."

"Three provinces and six ministries."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty squinted his eyes and said, "What is the three provinces and six ministries system?"

Wei Ning said: "Depose the prime minister and make Zhongshu, Menxia and Shangshu the three provinces. The powers of the three provinces restrict each other."

"The Zhongshu has the right to make a draft, the subordinate review has the right to reject the issuance, and the Shangshu will implement it specifically."

"The emperor's imperial decree has to go through three provinces, and the three provinces review the emperor's imperial decree."

"The top officials of the three provinces set up a political hall with the same power as the prime minister to discuss national affairs."

"The six ministries replaced Zongzheng Da Nong, Jiang Shaofu and other institutions, as well as the six ministries of officials, rituals, industry, military, punishment, and household."

"The officials are in charge of the evaluation of officials and the appointment and removal of personnel."

"Li is responsible for presiding over the imperial examinations and offering sacrifices to heaven in the country's suburban temples."

"The workers are responsible for the construction of various national projects."

"Every matter concerning the country's military affairs should be reported to the Ministry of War first."

"Penalty is the responsibility of the state."

"The household is in charge of national finances."

The division of six departments can make the division of affairs of each department more clear and precise, which can greatly improve office efficiency and replace the traditional unclear responsibilities and powers of the three officials and nine ministers.

The three provinces replaced the traditional prime minister and greatly weakened the power of the prime minister.

The biggest threat to the Han Dynasty was the power of the prime minister. By the end of the Western Han Dynasty, the prime minister could already coerce the emperor and order the princes. If the political system was reformed early, there would be no threat of the origin of power, and the imperial power would be further consolidated.

Everything is aimed at centralizing power.

Weining is now the crown prince. He naturally represents the imperial power system, and what he naturally considers is the stability of the inheritance of the Liu family and the stability of the emperor's power.

Although Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was powerful, even he was powerless in dealing with Empress Dowager Dou and Prime Minister Dou in the early stage.

If he and Weining die in the future, and the subsequent monarchs do not have their ability, what will happen to the country then?

It is easy to conquer a country, but it is the most difficult to maintain it. If the country is destroyed one day, the Liu family may be in trouble. This is a scene that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty absolutely does not want to see.

(End of this chapter)