Chapter 145: The Cabinet and the Six Ministries

As Liu Bian's voice, filled with fury, fell, the entire court hall fell into a deathly silence.

No one dared to even breathe loudly; at this moment, the imperial aura radiating from Liu Bian was far too intense.

"So, in the final analysis, it is because I gave them too much power—so much that it has allowed them to breed ambitions they should never have harbored."

"So much that they have come to feel that they can even be disrespectful to me, the very person who granted them that power!"

At this moment, Liu Bian, burning with rage, stood up and walked to the front of the high platform.

His imperial aura erupted completely as he spoke loudly to the assembled officials.

Feeling the imperial aura radiating from Liu Bian, the hundred officials could only grit their teeth and struggle to hold their ground.

They replied to Liu Bian in terror:

"We are terrified; we beg Your Majesty to calm your anger!"

Having quelled the rage in his heart and seeing the officials struggling under his pressure, Liu Bian's voice became somewhat gentler.

"My beloved ministers, all of you may rise!"

"We thank Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, the officials immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Many of them, after standing up, wiped the sweat from their foreheads.

After everyone had risen, Liu Bian scanned them with a gaze full of majesty.

In a dignified tone, he said to the officials:

"From now on, to prevent such situations from arising again, I have decided that the Great Han will implement a system of separation between military and civil administration."

"I will rearrange all of your official positions."

"Effective immediately, our Great Han will implement a new system, abolishing the existing Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers system."

"The positions of the Three Excellencies are abolished; a Cabinet will be established, and the Six Ministries will be added."

Liu Bian's words, like a great bell tolling, boomed into the depths of the officials' souls.

Looking at Liu Bian, their eyes were filled with shock.

In the nearly four hundred years since the founding of the Great Han, no emperor had ever dared to conceive of such an idea.

Yet Liu Bian had just stated it so brazenly.

Now, most of them were worried about their own futures.

They did not know what was so special about the Cabinet and Six Ministries system that Liu Bian had proposed.

It was enough to make Liu Bian abolish the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers system that had been in use for hundreds of years.

Even Yang Biao, Wang Yun, and the others looked at Liu Bian with some concern.

Meanwhile, Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Jia Xu, Cao Cao, and others stared at Liu Bian with faces full of curiosity.

Although they were somewhat shocked by the separation of military and civil administration, they understood the many benefits of doing so.

Moreover, ever since Liu Bian had placed the army under Ma Teng's command and the civil affairs under Tian Feng's management in Liangzhou,

the few of them had already guessed it; they just hadn't expected Liu Bian's actions to be so swift.

However, they did not need to worry that this matter would cause turmoil.

After all, the Great Han was already chaotic enough; as long as this Cabinet and Six Ministries system that Liu Bian spoke of was indeed feasible,

there would be no fear of problems arising in the future.

"The Six Ministries, I will temporarily divide them into: the Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of War, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, and Ministry of Rites."

"The Ministry of Personnel manages the selection, appointment, transfer, and assessment of officials."

"The Ministry of War manages the selection and appointment of military officers, as well as military registers, armaments, and military orders."

"The Ministry of Justice manages the execution of imperial laws and prisons, and may participate in the formulation of imperial laws."

"The Ministry of Revenue manages the nation's territory, farmland, household registers, taxes, salaries, and all financial matters."

"The Ministry of Works is responsible for weapon manufacturing, water conservancy, urban construction, and other matters."

"The Ministry of Rites is responsible for sacrificial rites, reception, education, and other matters."

Liu Bian had taken the Three Departments and Six Ministries system used by later generations and modified it into a Cabinet plus Six Ministries system for the officials.

He then explained to the officials the specific matters managed by each of the Six Ministries.

"Hiss..."

"What a Six Ministries system! It separates all affairs to be handled individually; in this way, every matter has a specialized department to resolve it, which greatly improves efficiency."

After Liu Bian finished explaining, everyone gasped in shock.

Jia Xu could not help but exclaim excitedly.

"Indeed, in this way, the Great Han's official system will be clear, and work will be clearly divided; this is a good thing for both our Great Han and the people of the world!"

At this moment, Xun Yu also echoed Jia Xu's words.

"Indeed, Your Majesty is truly a great talent to have conceived of such a formidable system!"

Behind them, Guo Jia, Cao Cao, and the others also spoke with faces full of reverence.

"My beloved ministers, are you satisfied with this Cabinet and Six Ministries system?"

Seeing this, Liu Bian asked them with majesty.

"Your Majesty is wise; we have no objections!"

Upon hearing Liu Bian's inquiry, the officials looked at him with reverence and shouted in unison.

Seeing this, Liu Bian nodded with satisfaction.

One must know that this Three Departments and Six Ministries system was only conceived during the Tang Dynasty and had been used by later generations for over a thousand years.

From this, one could see its power.

"May I ask Your Majesty, what exactly is this Cabinet?"

At this moment, Xun Yu thought of the Cabinet Liu Bian had mentioned and could not help but ask out of curiosity.

Upon hearing Xun Yu's question, the officials all pricked up their ears to listen carefully.

"The Cabinet is there to help me handle government affairs, responsible for drafting edicts, coordinating with the Six Ministries, and so on."

"The Six Ministries will submit matters to the Cabinet, where the Cabinet members will process them first, before finally submitting them to me."

Seeing Xun Yu's inquiry, Liu Bian explained the Cabinet to everyone.

"For the Cabinet members, I have currently set the number at nine."

After speaking, Liu Bian looked at the officials below.

"Your Majesty, is the power of this Cabinet perhaps too great?"

After hearing Liu Bian's introduction of the Cabinet, Cao Cao said with some concern.

"Hahaha, Mengde asks a good question."

Seeing that Cao Cao had pointed out the biggest loophole, Liu Bian first praised him, then replied:

"After the problems submitted by the Six Ministries reach the Cabinet, all Cabinet members must agree before they can be issued."

"Moreover, all issued orders must be reported to me."

"If even one Cabinet member disagrees, the matter must be brought to me, and I will decide personally."

This was also Liu Bian's supervision of the Cabinet members.

With the system at his disposal, he did not need to worry about betrayal.

What he feared was someone conveying incorrect decisions; that was the reason he required all Cabinet members to agree.

"In this way, do you all feel that this Cabinet and Six Ministries system can be implemented in our Great Han Empire? Do you have any further objections?"

After explaining Cao Cao's doubts, Liu Bian asked the officials.

"We have no objections and are willing to support Your Majesty in implementing the Cabinet and Six Ministries system!"

Upon hearing Liu Bian's inquiry, the officials immediately expressed their stance.

With such restrictions, there was no need to worry about anyone becoming too powerful; after all, once someone reached the position of the Cabinet, no one would be willing to defect to others.

Seeing that all the officials agreed, Liu Bian nodded with satisfaction.

"Since you all agree to the Cabinet and Six Ministries system and the separation of military and civil administration, I now announce that, effective immediately, it is officially implemented within the Great Han Empire."

"We obey the decree!"

The officials immediately responded respectfully. ===== CHAPTER 146 =====