The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 27: Solving Zhu Yuanzhang’s doubts
"We abolished the position of prime minister because of Hu Weiyong, and appointed four auxiliary officers to assist us in handling government affairs."

"However, the Fourth Auxiliary Officer has many inconveniences, is inefficient in handling government affairs, and has too much power. We want to abolish it."

"As long as the fourth auxiliary officer is abolished, all government affairs will fall on me alone. Even if we have three heads and six arms, we will not be able to do it."

"Can you think of a way for us to solve this problem?"

???

Hearing this question, Chen Jingke had a question mark on his forehead.

what's going on?
Lao Zhu, are you sure you asked the right question?

Is this a question that my little great-grandson can participate in?
Or are you saying that you don’t want me to be Zhu Xiongying’s pupil at all and are deliberately pushing me away?

Seeing his frown, Zhu Yuanzhang felt very proud.

Boy, let me be arrogant, now you know the sky is high and the sky is high, right?

"What? But you can't think of a way?"

"If you can't think of it, just tell us and I'll ask you another question."

No matter, since you, Lao Zhu, dare to ask, why don’t I dare to answer?
Chen Jingke said with determination: "Your Majesty, I really have some ideas."

Zhu Yuanzhang said unexpectedly: "Oh? We heard you right, did you say you have an idea?"

Chen Jingke nodded and said: "Yes, manpower is sometimes poor. It is difficult for His Majesty to read all the memorials in one day without eating or drinking every day."

"So when I learned that His Majesty had abolished the position of Prime Minister, I thought about what kind of official position should be set up to share the work for His Majesty without having the power of the Prime Minister."

Zhu Yuanzhang was even more surprised: "Have you thought about this issue at that time?"

Chen Jingke replied: "Yes."

Zhu Yuanzhang no longer knew what to say, arrogant?This special brew is so arrogant, right?

Two years ago, when he was only ten years old and the son of a doctor, he dared to think about the issue of deposing the prime minister.

Who can believe it.

At this moment, he felt a little regretful. Is it really a good idea to put such an ignorant maniac next to his grandson?

Let's just take this opportunity to drive him away. He won't be able to say anything wrong.

Thinking of this, he became a little impatient: "Have you figured out a way?"

"A little gain."

"Say."

Chen Jingke organized his words before saying: "After understanding the prime minister's power, I divided it into three parts."

"The first is the decision-making power, the second is the power to discuss power, and the third is the execution power."

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but be stunned. This answer was completely beyond his expectation. After careful consideration, he felt that it was so insightful.

I couldn't help but urge: "Keep talking."

"If you want to limit the prime minister's power, you must cut off his duties."

"There are no two days in the sky and no two masters in the country. Naturally, the decision-making power belongs to His Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang especially liked this sentence.

Isn't that right? The emperor is supreme. Why should the prime minister share the emperor's power?

It’s great that this kid has this understanding.

"His Majesty has delegated the executive power to the six departments and central government offices. I think this move is perfect."

"In this way, the relationship between the prime minister and the six ministries is no longer a superior-subordinate relationship, but a competitive relationship, which can effectively prevent them from colluding together."

Zhu Yuanzhang first nodded in agreement, then frowned and said, "Are you saying you want us to restore the prime minister system?"

Chen Jingke shook his head quickly. How dare I propose to restore the prime minister system in the Ming Dynasty? Isn't this an old man who has eaten arsenic and is impatient?

"The prime minister system has been implemented for thousands of years and has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Even if your Majesty splits its power, it will easily become a powerful minister."

"So I think that not only should the prime minister system not be restored, but the remaining political power should not be handed over to one person. It is best to set up an institution."

Zhu Yuanzhang felt a great sense of confidant, and the purpose of setting up the four auxiliary officers was for this purpose. "You have thought of it together with us. This is why we set up the fourth auxiliary officer, but it is not easy to use."

It was only after Chen Jingke traveled through time that he learned that the system of four auxiliary officers had existed in the Ming Dynasty.

In the name of the four seasons, he took turns assisting Zhu Yuanzhang in handling government affairs every month.

However, as the fourth auxiliary officer assisted the emperor in handling government affairs, his power naturally began to expand, and he would soon become the new prime minister.

In order to eliminate this problem, Zhu Yuanzhang asked the four auxiliary officers to take turns on duty every month.

If you work for one month and take three months off, you may be replaced at any time. Now it’s up to you how you can seize power.

Chen Jingke is no longer able to complain about this setting. Anyone who uses his brain knows that it cannot be implemented.

It's very simple. The four auxiliary officers are divided into four groups according to spring, summer, autumn and winter. They work for one month and rest for three months.

A group of people were replaced and rested for three months as soon as they became familiar with the work.

This will inevitably cause two consequences.

First, the fourth auxiliary officer is always unfamiliar with the work at hand, and the efficiency of handling things is very low.

Second, policy continuity is relatively poor.

An official was replaced before the matter he was responsible for was over.

The person who succeeds him will most likely be too lazy to ask, so this matter will be ignored.

If things go on for years and months, nothing will happen unless something goes wrong.

Zhu Yuanzhang was also aware of this problem when he came up with the idea of ​​abolishing the four auxiliary officers.

Chen Jingke saw the problem at a glance. It can be said that Zhu Yuanzhang's fourth auxiliary officer did not solve the core problem.

The seventh-rank officials in front of the prime minister's door, and the people around the emperor naturally have power, which is inevitable.

It is impossible to deny them power. What should be done is to limit their power.

The later cabinet system of the Ming Dynasty did this better.

The cabinet system can be said to be the most advanced political system of the feudal dynasty.

Chen Jingke is not yet arrogant enough to think that he can surpass the ancients and think of a more perfect system than the cabinet system.

So his final solution was to copy the cabinet system.

As for whether Zhu Yuanzhang listens or not, that is his business.

"I have studied His Majesty's system of four auxiliary officers..."

Chen Jingke explained in detail the advantages and disadvantages of the four-auxiliary officer system and the reasons why it cannot be implemented.

Zhu Yuanzhang was not angry, but nodded thoughtfully.

At the same time, his attitude towards Chen Jingke has completely changed. He can think of this more than most people in the court.

No wonder he is crazy, he does have the capital to be crazy.

No, he is no longer crazy, but confident.

"Based on His Majesty's fourth auxiliary officer, the boy has some immature ideas."

After analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the four auxiliary officers, Chen Jingke took advantage of the situation and proposed the cabinet system:
"You can set up an organization, such as a cabinet..."

"The candidates for the cabinet bachelor's degree are selected by His Majesty on his own without consultation by the ministers..."

"Cabinet bachelors have no rank or specific positions. Their duty is to assist His Majesty in handling government affairs..."

Zhu Yuanzhang is the emperor after all, and his political sensitivity is close to perfect.

When he heard the words 'self-selection', 'no rank', and 'no position', he already understood the essence of this system.

But what Chen Jingke said next made him even more applauded for committing the crime.

"If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is allowed to lead the cabinet, it can not only train His Highness' abilities, but also restrict the cabinet bachelors from using their power for personal gain."

(End of this chapter)