Chapter 341: Civil Service Reform

After the court was dismissed.

The news of Yin Qi being appointed as Crown Prince swept through the whole city like a storm.

Very quickly, the whole city was in an uproar.

The people cheered one after another, and many merchants launched various discount activities to celebrate.

"Haha, I knew it; the Great King is so wise, how could he not choose Prince Qi!"

"That's great, our Great Shang's next Great King will be a benevolent and righteous ruler again."

"With Prince Qi as Crown Prince, our Great Shang will definitely be able to have a revival."

Qi Wang Mansion.

When Yin Qi walked into the mansion, Zhou Ji, Feng Yanran, and Huang Feiyan were already waiting.

They bowed together: "Respectfully welcome the Crown Prince back to the mansion."

"Haha!"

Yin Qi also laughed heartily, stepped forward to help the three women up one by one, and said: "Three beloved concubines, why be so polite between us? Someone, today is a great joy, everyone will be rewarded."

"Long live the Crown Prince!"

The surrounding maids and servants knelt and bowed with joy.

Yin Qi really wanted to share this good news with Princess Longji, but unfortunately, she had already gone into seclusion.

Three days later.

After a series of ceremonies, Yin Qi finally completed the investiture ceremony and officially became the Crown Prince of the Great Shang.

Di Yi looked around at the officials and announced in a loud voice: "I am unwell and need to rest quietly. From today on, the Crown Prince will supervise the country, and all major military and political affairs will be handled entirely by the Crown Prince."

Yin Qi raised his head abruptly, looking at the rosy-faced Di Yi, but he had a bad premonition in his heart.

Di Yi really did not have much time left.

Otherwise, he would not have let him take full charge of military and political affairs just after he was appointed Crown Prince.

The officials were in a commotion, having also guessed it.

In reality, the Human Emperors of past generations were basically no different from ordinary people before they passed away.

Di Yi looked healthy, but his life was already exhausted.

The reason he did not show the appearance of being old and frail was naturally because he was supported by various immortal pills and miraculous medicines.

The next day.

Yin Qi entered Zichen Hall and officially took over the government.

In reality, there was nothing he needed to familiarize himself with, because he had already participated in politics for seven years, and the civil and military officials were all familiar with him, but the necessary procedures still had to be followed.

For three consecutive days, he was receiving the visits of officials one after another.

After all, the boss had changed, so everyone had to express their loyalty.

The fourth day.

Yin Qi summoned Wen Zhong, Shang Rong, and Bi Gan.

"Respects to the Crown Prince!"

Yin Qi hurriedly helped them up and said: "Imperial Uncle, Grand Tutor, Prime Minister, please be excused from bowing. Someone, bring three grand master chairs."

"Yes, Crown Prince!"

The attendants standing to the side hurriedly agreed and brought three grand master chairs.

For this action of Yin Qi, Wen Zhong, Shang Rong, and Bi Gan were also quite moved, and after yielding, they sat down.

Yin Qi smiled slightly and said: "Imperial Uncle, Grand Tutor, Prime Minister, this time I have summoned you, it is to discuss the reform of the civil service. I believe the current official system is too simple, which is not conducive to the transmission and handling of government decrees."

The three of them raised their eyebrows.

They had long known that Yin Qi intended to reform the civil service, but they did not expect it to be so urgent.

Although they were not optimistic, they could not dampen Yin Qi's enthusiasm.

So Shang Rong said: "Crown Prince, please speak."

Yin Qi picked up three sheets of paper, handed them over, and said: "This is the official system I have formulated. I will explain it to you."

The three of them were secretly surprised and hurriedly took them.

This was prepared in advance!

Yin Qi said slowly: "According to my plan, I intend to establish three departments in the court: the Cabinet, the Military Secretariat, and the Censorate.

The Cabinet will select five to seven Grand Secretaries to assist me in handling government affairs.

The Military Secretariat will select five to seven Military Ministers to assist me in handling military affairs.

The Censorate will be responsible for investigating civil and military officials and will only be responsible to me."

The three of them were thoughtful and very quickly understood Yin Qi's intention, which was the separation of military and political power, and at the same time, using the Censorate to supervise the officials, so that he could firmly hold military and political power in his hands.

Yin Qi continued: "Under the Cabinet, I will temporarily set up five ministries: the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Justice.

The Ministry of Personnel is responsible for the appointment, examination, promotion, demotion, transfer, and awarding of honors for officials;

The Ministry of Revenue is responsible for land, household registration, taxes, currency, official salaries, and financial revenue and expenditure;

The Ministry of Rites is responsible for regulations, sacrificial rites, academies, and foreign affairs;

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for laws and prisons.

The Ministry of Works is responsible for various projects, craftsmen, land reclamation, water conservancy, and transportation."

"Under the Military Secretariat, I will temporarily set up the Staff Department, the Recruitment Department, the Logistics Department, and the Equipment Department.

The Staff Department decides whether to fight and how to fight;

The Recruitment Department is responsible for recruiting and training soldiers.

The Logistics Department is responsible for grain, medical care, clothing, etc.

The Equipment Department is responsible for weapons, armor, etc."

"Under the Censorate, I will temporarily set up the Supervision Department and the Inspection Department.

The Supervision Department supervises officials.

The Inspection Department inspects the world."

It took an entire morning for Yin Qi to introduce this set of official systems to the three in detail, including not only administration and military affairs but also the central and local levels.

Wen Zhong and the others listened very carefully and gradually understood that Yin Qi was not just talking, but had thought it through thoroughly, otherwise he would not have been able to set up such a rigorous and detailed official system.

From now on, each department would be responsible for corresponding matters, and there would be no need for the Human Emperor to appoint people at will, ensuring that functions did not overlap and that there would be no mutual shirking of responsibility.

After Yin Qi finished speaking, Shang Rong could not help but exclaim: "Crown Prince, this official system of yours is truly rigorous and brilliant; this old minister admires it."

Wen Zhong and Bi Gan also nodded one after another.

Compared to before, the new official system had more official positions, and there was no need to worry about the officials resisting.

Yin Qi smiled slightly and said: "Since the three of you approve, then let's implement it according to this official system. Prime Minister, from now on you will be the Chief Assistant of the Cabinet; Grand Tutor, you will be the Chief of Staff of the Military Secretariat; Imperial Uncle, you will be the Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate."

The three of them naturally had no objections, and it was within their expectations.

Next, the four began to discuss the candidates for the Ministers of each ministry and the Directors of each department.

It was not until evening that they finally determined the candidates.

Cabinet: Chief Assistant Shang Rong, Du Yuanxian, Yang Ren, Mei Bo, Zhao Qi.

Six Ministries: Minister of Personnel Zishi, Minister of Rites Chen Xu, Minister of Revenue Yao Zhong, Minister of Works Weizi, Minister of Justice Xia Zhao.

Military Secretariat: Chief of Staff Wen Zhong, Deputy Chiefs of Staff Huang Feihu, Jizi.

Recruitment Department Zhou Jian, Logistics Department Kou Feng, Equipment Department Ma Benqi.

Censorate: Censor-in-Chief Bi Gan; the two Vice Censors-in-Chief of the Supervision Department and Inspection Department were Boyi and Shuqi respectively.

Although Yin Qi did not like Chen Xu, in order to reflect his magnanimity, he still placed him in the position of Minister of Rites, which could be considered a professional match.

If he had removed Chen Xu right away, it would definitely have made him feel that he lacked tolerance and did not fit his persona.

In this civil service reform, Yin Qi also took the opportunity to promote his own trusted aides.

The Ministry of Personnel is the head of all ministries, so it must be controlled in his own hands.

Except for the Staff Department, the other three departments of the Military Secretariat were all his trusted aides, which could balance the Staff Department.

For his promotion of trusted aides, Wen Zhong and the others naturally had no objections.

A new emperor, a new court.

Since Yin Qi was going to succeed to the throne, he naturally had to promote his own trusted aides, otherwise how could he control the government?

Finally, Yin Qi said: "In addition, I also intend to establish the Martial Hall, responsible for handling matters in the cultivation world. Such as hunting down evil demons and suppressing local sects, also directly responsible to me."

After succeeding as Human Emperor, the Heavenly Strategy Mansion would definitely be abolished.

The Cultural Brilliance Hall had already been merged into the court, and the Martial Hero Hall would be transformed into the Martial Hall.

As for the Tianluo Hall, it still existed independently, but there was no need to tell Wen Zhong and the others.

Wen Zhong and the others did not oppose it upon hearing this, because the three of them had not yet realized the potential and significance of the Martial Hall.

Approaching the New Year, busy with various things, I actually didn't notice that there was no update on the 21st! o(╥﹏╥)o

Adding two chapters today to make up for the break. ===== CHAPTER 342 =====