Chapter 120 Establishing the Framework of the Constitutional Court

The morning started in the hustle and bustle and ended in silence.

In the past, if the emperor arbitrarily appointed a person who was not a member of the bureaucratic scholar-official class, he would often be targeted by the entire bureaucratic scholar-official class.

For example, the current deputy privy envoy Wang Deyong, like Di Qing, was also a military officer, and was suppressed by the entire civil service group. Some people even said that he had a unique appearance and had the appearance of an emperor, and framed him as a possible rebel.

This caused Wang De to be cautious in his words and deeds. On weekdays, he was like a clay statue of Bodhisattva in the temple, keeping silent and unwilling to speak, lest he said the wrong thing and be attacked by the civil servant group.

But today, Zhao Jun received the support of the prime minister's group, and the other senior officials did not dare to speak rashly because they could not see the situation clearly. Therefore, the situation was much better than that of Wang Deyong and later Di Qing. They were also more powerful than them, leaving the bureaucrats and scholar-officials in a state of division.

Some people support and some oppose, but overall it is far from Wang Deyong and Di Qing, who can be said to be one person facing the suppression of the entire class.

In addition, Zhao Jun himself was decisive, and the remaining opposition parties were easily divided and dealt with by him. Therefore, the establishment of the Political Yuan and the ruling personnel were passed without any suspense. At this point, the Political Yuan is located above the two governments and three departments. Control all officials!

After the next court, many officials went back and changed into regular clothes, and went back to their own yamen to work. Zhao Jun also went home and put on a purple robe and an official hat with two wings on his head.

I took a picture with the camera that comes with my computer and it looks pretty good.

Zhao Jun brought his notebook with him.

The lifespan of a laptop is generally about five to seven years, but this is also related to the computer configuration, frequency of use, usage methods, maintenance, etc.

It's definitely not maintainable in this state, but if you reduce the frequency of use, don't run large games, just do some data storage and data entry, and be careful not to drop or break it, it should still be fine after ten years of use.

Therefore, he planned to bring his notebook to the Constitutional Yuan every day to work, mainly for data entry, to uniformly screen the data submitted by various yamen, and then send someone to investigate and see the situation.

Enter the palace from Xihua Gate, go all the way east through Chengtian Gate, and arrive at the back gate of Daqing Hall not far away. Passing through the back gate is the back cabinet, which is now the office of the Political Yuan.

Zhao Jun lives just outside Xihua Gate, about four to five hundred meters away from his work, less than eight minutes' walk, which is very convenient.

The size of the back pavilion where the Zhizhi Yuan is located is comparable to that of the Zichen Palace. After all, the Daqing Palace is the largest building in the palace and covers a large area. Apart from the main hall and the left and right east-west halls, there is only one back pavilion standing, so it is naturally larger.

The palace pavilion is grand and tall, towering, covered with glazed tiles, carved beams and painted pillars, surrounded by raised eaves and brackets. There are bells hanging in the corners, which make a crisp sound when the autumn wind blows.

Zhao Jun walked into the hall. The environment of the hall had been arranged long ago. Facing the main door was Zhao Jun's desk. There were several desks on the left and right. There were also side rooms and a large number of small rooms on both sides for storing information. and the workspaces of the other clerks of the Constitutional Yuan.

"Zhiyuan!"

Seeing him coming in, some officials greeted him and saluted him.

The overall framework of the Constitutional Yuan has been completed, and it is generally based on the standards of the Political Science Hall. It seems to be a replica of the Political Science Hall, but it has more power than the Political Science Hall.

Zhao Jun felt that there were still some problems with this framework, so he casually read some official documents sent from various places on his desk and waited for the others to go to work.

Lu Yijian and the others lived far away and were slow to change clothes when they got home. It took half an hour before they all arrived one after another.

"Meeting!"

After everyone gathered, Zhao Jun waved his hand.

There is a conference room in the right wing of the back pavilion, which is specially arranged for meetings.

Everyone followed him into the conference room.

Zhao Jun sat on the main seat, with King Lu Yijian Zeng on his left and right, and then Wang Sui, Cai Qi, Sheng Du, Song Shou, Fan Zhongyan, and Yan Shu took their seats, a total of eight seats.

Zhao Jun himself served as the meeting note taker. After all, he could type by hand and his typing speed was fast, which was definitely much faster than writing with a calligraphy pen.

After everyone is seated.

Zhao Jun looked around and said: "Today is the first day of work and the first meeting of the Constitutional Yuan. I think we should not rush to start government affairs first, but fix the entire framework of the Constitutional Yuan. What do you think?"

"Isn't it enough to just follow the rules of the political hall?"

Wang Sui said.

"That won't work. The Political Affairs Hall is the Political Affairs Hall, and the Political Science Yuan is the Political Science Yuan."

Zhao Jun shook his head and said: "And the Constitutional Yuan of each period should have different frameworks and government standards, which should be changed at any time as the situation changes."

Lu Yijian said, "Then tell me."

Zhao Jun said while typing: "First of all, it is the current planning and strategy of the Constitutional Yuan. Now I have dark eyes. It will definitely not work directly. Although you have experience and I have theories, it may be possible to combine them, but at least I The magistrate should also figure out the situation.”

Wang Zeng suggested: "We can ask various departments to submit all the documents and let them sort them out, and we will manage them and provide solutions."

"How about that?"

Zhao Jun shook his head and said: "Isn't this nonsense? We are here to solve the problems of the country, not to solve the problems of various departments. Matters within their departments should be solved internally. What we need is to assign strategic tasks and ask them to Implement instead of them dumping the problem on us!”

"I see."

Everyone suddenly felt that the goal was much clearer, and they suddenly felt enlightened.

In the past, when they dealt with national affairs, localities would report problems and submit them to the political hall, and then they would solve them.

For example, if there is a natural disaster this year, disaster relief will be needed. This year's tax revenue did not meet the target. Please forgive me for this. Or a censor discovered a corrupt official, reported it to the court, and asked the court to make a decision.

All the affairs of the country are squeezed into the political hall, and each prince handles it on his own. If he can't handle it, he goes to the emperor for decision-making, causing them to become problem solvers.

But in later generations, a huge country has many things going on every day, and it is impossible to trouble the State Council for anything. If the local government can handle it, then handle it. If it really can't be handled, then just report it, and the State Council will give guidance.

If everything was reported as a big deal, what kind of development would there be?

Zhao Jun said: "The goals of the Constitutional Yuan are very simple. The first is to maintain national security, make officials efficient, make politics clear, and reduce or even eliminate local oppression of the people. The second is to improve productivity development, strengthen national strength, and solve problems. Foreign relations, solving economic and agricultural development, etc.”

He looked around and put forward his own opinion: "In general, what the Constitutional Yuan should do is to give guidance in the general direction, handle small problems and each yamen on their own, and build and create departments directly under the Constitutional Yuan. Carry out unified planning and top-down rectification.”

"What do you think we should do now?"

Fan Zhongyan asked.

Zhao Jun thought for a while and said: "It is already September, so we have to complete this year's goal. Everything is difficult at the beginning, and it will definitely not work to start construction directly. In the next three months, I ask all departments to compile the year-end statistics The report is made. A new department, the National Statistics Department of the Song Dynasty, is directly under the Constitutional Yuan to verify the national data. "

"How many people are needed?"

Fan Zhongyan frowned and said, "Before, we said we would streamline officials and solve the problem of redundant officials. Why do we need to establish a new department?"

Zhao Jun said with a smile: "There is no way to do this. Even in later generations, our country will have a Bureau of Statistics for national statistics and national economic accounting work, formulating statistical work regulations, statistical reform and statistical modernization construction plans, and national statistical survey plans, and organizing Lead, supervise and inspect the statistical and national economic accounting work of various regions and departments, and supervise and inspect the implementation of statistical laws and regulations.”

After he finished speaking, he licked his tongue, stood up, walked to the door of the conference room, and shouted: "Here comes someone."

"Zhiyuan!"

A young eunuch ran over with a nod and a bow.

The meeting of the Constitutional Yuan is very important. At present, the staff of the Constitutional Yuan have not been mobilized, so Zhao Zhen sent some eunuchs to wait for orders.

Zhao Jun said: "Get nine glasses of water."

"yes."

The young eunuch was shocked and hurriedly went about his business.

Because Zhao Zhen's character is not strict, people in the palace often do things carelessly.

For example, one time Zhao Zhen didn't even drink water, but he was afraid that Wang Shouzhong would blame the palace maid, so he resisted not drinking water.

After greeting the young eunuch to get water, Zhao Jun sat back down and continued: "Statistical data is helpful for us to find problems, solve them, and then seek better development. In the future, the National Department of Statistics, below There must also be a road statistics office, a state statistics department, and a county statistics bureau to collect all statistical data needed by the economy, agriculture, and the Constitutional Council.”

"Will this conflict with the powers of the three departments?"

Lu Yijian pondered: "I remember that in the fourth year of Chunhua, Emperor Taizong, there was a General Department responsible for coordinating the national count. However, because the Third Department also had the same function, it only existed for more than a year. It was eventually abolished and merged into the Third Department. inside."

"This is where Zhao Guangyi is short-sighted. Each government office must have its own statistical data, but the country must also have statistical data so that they can be compared and find out problems."

Zhao Jun said: "This will be the case in future generations, whether it is our country or Western countries. We must not be afraid of trouble with statistical data. We must make more statistics and find out more errors and loopholes. Otherwise, how can we see the results of development and find out the problems in development?" Those questions?”

Now that the position is different, we can no longer just focus on punishing corrupt officials, or discovering the grievances of the people, and then taking action to rectify the injustices and let the people praise them.

Isn’t it nonsense for a country’s prime minister to only deal with these issues every day?

Therefore, in his position, he must have his own government.

The above-mentioned problems must be solved easily when encountered, but the main direction is still to focus on national development.

In order to understand the country's development and formulate future planning directions, it is necessary to understand the country's overall data and find targeted solutions.

Although Zhao Jun actually knew a lot about the problems of the Song Dynasty, such as the harm of three redundancies, land annexation, low combat effectiveness of the army, etc. However, it is still not clear how serious it is and how harmful it is.

He needs to look at the data and conduct on-site inspections to make a judgment.

This is also the way our country's leaders will do things in future generations. Only by discovering problems and raising them can we solve them, rather than just sitting in this position and making decisions with a slap on the forehead.

That's why Zhao Jun chose not to do anything after he took office, but to coordinate data, and then do other things.

When everyone heard that Zhao Jun started talking about Zhao Guangyi again, they looked helpless.

Don't talk about them.

Not even the officials could stop him from scolding Taizong.

never mind.

After all, Zhao Jun was scolding his own ancestors. Does it have anything to do with them?

Lu Yijian and other human rights officials pretended not to hear.

"So this year's strategic plan is just to do statistics?"

Yan Shu asked.

Zhao Jun shook his head and said: "More than that, we must vigorously promote the cross-reference method to prepare for the frontier army's food and grass. After that, we must establish a firearms bureau and a creation bureau to recruit talents and carry out secret manufacturing. Guns, cannons, steam engines, etc. must be prepared in advance Be prepared. In addition, a geological department must be established to explore the country’s mineral resources, especially coal mines and iron ore.”

"Well, this is for the industrial revolution?"

"Yes."

"Only this?"

Lu Yijian asked.

Zhao Jun thought for a while and said: "The power of the Third Division is too heavy."

"You want to dismantle the Third Division?"

Everyone was shocked.

Zhao Jun nodded and said: "Well, let's talk about it later. I think the current division of powers of each department is not clear, and the breakdown of official responsibilities is not clear. This is a big problem. It must be rectified and the responsibility system must be determined. For example, the Constitutional Yuan, I am the responsible person. The Constitutional Yuan is the country’s primary authority and is only accountable to the government.”

"Can you tell me more about it?"

Wang Zeng asked.

"It's very simple. Government agencies should be hierarchical and have clear government functions and official functions. In later generations, we will call this the collective responsibility system and the individual responsibility system."

Zhao Jun explained: “In later generations, we have a large number of ministerial-level departments, which are used to coordinate national affairs and handle a large number of affairs in subdivisions, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Ethnic Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Supervision, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Ministry of Land and Resources, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry of Transport , Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Health, People’s Bank of China, Audit Office, etc.”

"The role of these departments is to implement their own powers in their respective fields, actually solve the people's difficulties, become responsible departments, and provide assistance for the development and construction of the country."

"The national conditions of the Song Dynasty are different. It is still in a feudal society, so it should be rectified according to the current situation. For example, the Privy Council can be a separate department, but there still needs to be the Ministry of National Defense, that is, the Ministry of War, under the Political Council. Today's six departments exist in name only. , we still have to shoulder its responsibility.”

"My suggestion is to clearly divide responsibilities and establish a personal responsibility system on the basis of the original Song Dynasty. Clarify the leadership terms of each yamen, and the Constitutional Yuan only makes requirements. For example, I set up a Ministry of Agriculture and asked the Ministry of Agriculture to increase the amount this year. 10% of the country’s grain production.”

"Wait a minute."

Before Zhao Jun finished speaking, Song Shou interrupted: "I remember you taught your children about percentages, 10%. Does that mean you want to increase national grain production by one-tenth?"

"Yes."

Zhao Jun nodded.

"How can it be done?"

Song Shou was stunned.

The others also looked surprised.

Although Zhao Jun proposed to go overseas to find high-yielding crops.

But this kind of thing is a long-term plan and may take several years to achieve.

When the original productivity is so high, it is simply difficult to complete such task indicators.

Zhao Jun was dissatisfied: "Why can't it be done? Ease land annexation, improve varieties, establish universities directly under the Ministry of Agriculture, subdivide agricultural disciplines, train agricultural experts, and research more agricultural knowledge. The Institute of Political Science will provide guidance. As long as we move in this direction, we will definitely achieve the mission goal.”

"What if you still can't reach it?"

"If the Constitutional Yuan has provided correct guidance, but they still fail to achieve it, it means that the people below are just eating wine and rice bags. If the ability is not enough, replace them. Corrupt officials should be investigated and arrested. Kill, kill, I don’t need to say more.”

"All right."

Everyone had no choice but to agree. Now that Zhao Jun was the boss, and there seemed to be nothing wrong with what he said, they could only nod in agreement.

"I will make specific regulations for each department in the next few months. Within this year, I will complete the statistics and investigation reports of each functional department. I will also let the word out and tell everyone that various departments will be reorganized next year. Something about reform.”

Zhao Jun looked around the crowd and said: "The names of the departments can still use their original names. For example, the Ministry of War does not need to be changed to the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministry of Rites does not need to be changed to the Ministry of Education, but the responsibilities and requirements of these departments must be clarified. In the future, the Constitutional Yuan must I see that each department has its own internal affairs, instead of just playing ball against each other, you don’t care about anything, do you understand?”

"yes."

Several people saw Zhao Jun's vigorous and resolute actions and subconsciously responded.

Thinking about it afterwards, I felt both surprised and emotional.

Surprisingly, they found that they were gradually beginning to obey Zhao Jun's leadership.

What is emotional is that Zhao Jun's leadership ability has been recognized by them, and it is even better than they imagined.

The reason is that his planning is reasonable and purposeful.

If he makes drastic reforms from the beginning, they will definitely feel conflicted and hope to be persuaded.

But now Zhao Jun does not immediately make system changes, but only clarifies responsibilities and subdivides powers on the original basis.

This is not a bad thing for bureaucrats.

After all, in the past, the emperor deliberately blurred and overlapping the powers of these functional departments in order to prevent the functional departments from having too much power and posing a threat to the imperial power.

Zhao Jun did the opposite, subdividing power and not caring about whether officials had too much power. For bureaucrats, this was a good thing to increase their power.

In this case, naturally no one objected.

And so far, Zhao Jun has not immediately proposed to dismiss a large number of officials, and strictly control Men Yin's entry into office like Fan Zhongyan did, which disgusted 90% of the officials.

This shows that Zhao Jun, at least for the time being, has no intention of disturbing the basic base of the scholar-bureaucrats, nor has he touched their bottom line.

The journey of reform is relatively gentle, which is naturally acceptable to them.

The only problem is that Zhao Jun's handling method is boiling water. On the surface, it increases the power of officials, but after the responsibilities are clearly divided, some departments are dismantled and listed separately.

For example, after the three departments are dismantled, the power of the prime minister will be greatly weakened. Some functions of the three departments will also be transferred out, and the financial power will be greatly weakened.

But this is within the acceptable range.

Anyway, they are not scheming. If Cheng Lin and others object, then let them have a headache.

“This year’s mission is data, and everything is based on data!”

Zhao Jun had better make a summary of the meeting, and then grinned and said: "I heard that your salaries are quite high. Let's first compile the income data of officials across the country. Officials have different levels, and their salaries can be different, but they cannot be different. It’s too far, don’t you think?”

"ah?"

The audience was dumbfounded.

What's the meaning.

Are we going to cut our wages when we first come to power?