No introduction is needed at all. Bernard immediately recognized Minister Michaela, which shows that he has done his homework in advance, is indeed serious, and has a promising future!
But Sir Humphrey on the other side seemed much more mature. Apart from a polite handshake, a nod and a smile, he didn't say much.
Afterwards, Michaela was led into her minister's office by the two of them. It was a six-by-six-square-meter room with desks, office chairs, filing cabinets, and corresponding office supplies such as paper and pens. She was waiting. With the arrival of the minister.
As an official for the first time, Michaela was still a little cautious and stood there at a loss. It wasn't until Bernard reached out to signal that he realized and sat on the throne belonging to the Minister of Administrative Affairs. Afterwards, Bernard poured a glass of juice for Michaela very sensibly and stood respectfully on the right side.
Haha, is this what it feels like after becoming a high official, being shouted at and hugged by others?
It's so cool. No wonder so many people like to be high officials.
However, compared with Bernard, the attentive private secretary, Sir Humphrey did not move at all. He just stood politely in front of Michaela's left side.
What is he doing?
Michaela, who was inexperienced, could only be in a daze for a while. Fortunately, Tolina, the system elf in the spiritual world, seemed to have some clues and reminded her:
"Michaela, is Sir Humphrey waiting for your question?"
Question?
Yes!
Michaela was awakened and then realized that the first thing a new minister should do when he takes office is to understand the composition of his department.
What?
Bernard and Sir Humphrey in front of me?
Please, don’t you think that the administrative affairs department only has two clerks? They are only responsible for interviewing ministers, and there are other members too!
So, Michaela looked at Sir Humphrey and asked in a tentative tone: "Excuse me, who else is in this department?"
As soon as these words came out, the current Sir Humphrey pulled the corners of his mouth directly to his ears, showing an "elegant" smile, then opened his mouth wide and said eloquently:
"I am the permanent clerk, also known as the permanent secretary."
"Bernard is your principal private secretary."
"And I also have a chief private secretary."
"And he was the private secretary to the permanent secretary."
Michaela, who was already confused, and Torina in the spiritual world said in unison: "Huh?"
Sir Humphrey had no intention of stopping and continued to talk:
"Directly under my jurisdiction are 10 deputy secretaries, 87 deputy secretaries and 219 assistant secretaries. Directly under the jurisdiction of the chief private secretary is the parliamentary private secretary."
"The Prince Regent will appoint two Parliamentary Private Secretaries to you. You will then also have the right to appoint your own Parliamentary Private Secretary."
At this point, Sir Humphrey deliberately made a tactical pause, as if waiting for something.
After Michaela was stunned for a while, she finally spoke and asked an incomprehensible question: "Are you taking notes?"
Sir Humphrey smiled slightly and said: "None of us can take notes, minister. Special clerks will take notes."
At the end, Sir Humphrey did not forget to add: "And he is also a secretary."
Why are there so many secretaries?
Michaela, who was already dizzy, looked at the private secretary Bernard on the side with pleading eyes, but the latter still answered respectfully:
"Minister, this is the structure of our department, for the secretary."
Ha ha?
Obviously, Bernard was unreliable, so Michaela had no choice but to turn to Torina in the spiritual world. As a result, she happened to find that the latter had transformed into a calculator and was calculating something.
"What are you doing?"
Facing Michaela's question, Torina explained while calculating:
"I'm doing the math, about the secretary."
"Bernard plus Sir Humphrey are 2 secretaries."
"The Permanent Secretary's private secretary is Secretary 1."
"The permanent secretary has jurisdiction over 10 deputy secretaries, 87 deputy secretaries and 219 assistant secretaries, for a total of 316 secretaries."
"Not counting the parliamentary private secretaries appointed by the regent and the parliamentary private secretaries appointed by yourself, there are a total of 319 secretaries just based on the above..."
"enough!"
Nowadays, Mikaela has a headache when she hears the word "secretary" and stops Torina on the spot to continue "counting secretaries".
"Hey, Michaela, I'm helping you!"
Torina put down the calculator and said to Michaela sincerely: "Sir Humphrey always uses a set of parallel sentences when he opens his mouth and crams a lot of information into you. That's why I take the initiative to help you organize your secretary."
"Don't mention 'secretary', I don't want to hear those two words right now."
Michaela had to take a deep breath to force herself to calm down, and then asked: "Tolina, did you find anything?"
"Yes, I have!"
Torina said happily:
"As I said just now, according to Humphrey, there are 319 secretaries in our department..."
Halfway through her words, Torina noticed Michaela's expression and changed her words: "319 clerks, and this does not include grassroots staff. Although I don't know much about the administrative department, but just these numbers, don't you think Is it a lot?”
Yes!
Michaela suddenly realized that Silvermoon City had just been recovered and was in a state of exhaustion. As an administrative department, it should emphasize efficiency and hard work to solve real problems. There was no need for so many clerks!
Suddenly, the idea of streamlining the department came into Mikayla's mind. Of course, if you want to streamline a department, it is not enough to know the number of secretaries. You must know the total number of employees in the department in order to formulate a streamlined plan.
"Ah, Sir Humphrey."
Michaela, who thought she had a handle on her opponent, said slowly: "How many people are there in our department?"
"Um?"
Sir Humphrey walked up to the stage with a surprised expression on his face, as if he really didn't expect the rookie minister in front of him to ask such a question.
Bernard on the side intervened at the right time: "Excuse me, Minister, do you want to know the number of people in our department?"
"Yes."
Michaela continued to look at Humphrey and asked: "As a minister, only by understanding your own staff can you better allocate work."
"Well, this..."
Halfway through his words, Sir Humphrey paused his tactics again. Michaela couldn't help but guessed: "500 people?"
Humphrey said nothing.
Michaela continued to guess: "1,000 people?"
Humphrey remained silent.
Michaela was shocked and guessed again: "Could it be 2,000 people?"
Now Humphrey finally spoke: "The establishment is 20,000 people, minister."
"Ah, 20,000 people!"
Michaela was so shocked that she stood up from the office chair on the spot.
What is the concept of 20,000 people?
Equivalent to the strength of 2 divisions.
For the blood elves, due to the impact of the massacre, the population has dropped sharply, and now the total number of people who have returned to Silvermoon City is less than 100,000!
As a result, the Administrative Affairs Department alone had a staff of 20,000 people. It was really, really...
"I can't find the words to describe it, it's so outrageous!"
Michaela held her head in her hands on the spot, showing a hopeless expression.
"Oh, minister, do you have any misunderstanding about establishment?"
Sir Humphrey, who had had enough fun, finally explained: "The establishment is the planned number of people in our department, not the actual number. Coupled with the actual situation of our family, we cannot make up 20,000 people at all."
Huh, luckily, it turned out to be not the actual number of people. It really scared me to death.
Michaela breathed a sigh of relief and asked: "So what are the actual number of people in our department?"
Sir Humphrey finally told the truth: "Including Bernard and myself, there are 412 people in total."
Although 412 people is still a bit too much, compared with the nonsensical "employment of 20,000 people", it is indeed a lot more normal, and Michaela can finally sit back in her office chair with confidence.
Eh?
Perhaps because she was sitting down too hard, the pivot mechanism of the office chair was touched, causing Mikayla to spin around in a circle.
It happened that at this time, Bernard spoke up and said sincerely: "As members of the department, we have been waiting for the leadership of the minister. We hope that you can lead us to move forward courageously instead of spinning around in circles."
Michaela, who had just finished spinning around, immediately glared at him. Bernard also felt himself speechless and lowered his head obediently.
Fortunately, Sir Humphrey spoke up at the critical moment: "Okay, Bernard, our opening remarks are over and it's time to get down to business."
"right!"
Michaela puffed up her chest and said with a sonorous and powerful voice: "The regent appointed me as a minister just to let me do business."
The next second, Michaela lowered her voice and asked, "So what should I do?"
Sir Humphrey immediately ordered: "Bernard, bring over the documents that need to be approved by the minister."
"yes."
After receiving the order, Bernard immediately walked into the secretary's office next door.
As for Sir Humphrey, he pulled up a chair and sat opposite Michaela. He also puffed out his chest and said with a sonorous and powerful voice: "The Prince Regent named me Permanent Secretary just to help you." .”
The next second, Sir Humphrey lowered his voice and said, "So, minister, if you have any questions, just ask me."
Without waiting for Michaela to react, Bernard returned to the minister's office with a large stack of documents and put it on the desk. Then he took out a white paper as thick as a dictionary and handed it to Michaela. in front of:
"Minister, this is the Silver Moon City reconstruction plan. Please review it. If you have no questions, please sign in the signature box at the bottom left of the last page."
Ha, plan!
Finally get down to business!
Michaela opened the plan book enthusiastically, and the first page read "Editor: Sir Humphrey".
He actually made it up!
Michaela glanced up at Humphrey and continued to look at the plan. As Michaela's fingers turned over the pages, the contents of the plan gradually came into his mind.
Half an hour later, even Torina in the spiritual world couldn't help but admire:
"This plan is too comprehensive. Everything from resource allocation to every worker and even every screw can be accurately mentioned. No wonder the entire document is as thick as a dictionary!"
Michaela also noticed that this document was not only comprehensive in content, but also had correct writing format, grammatical order, and even punctuation marks. There was no other word to describe it other than perfect!
After another hour, Michaela finally turned to the last page.
Sir Humphrey asked at the right time: "How are you, Minister? Do you have any questions?"
No matter how much Michaela disliked Humphrey in front of him, he had to admit that this reconstruction plan was indeed: "no problem."
Bernard on the side immediately handed over the pen with both hands and said: "Please make a decision, minister."
After taking the pen, Michaela signed her name in the signature column at the bottom left of the last page of the document, and followed what she just said:
"From now on, all matters in the department will be decided by me."
Sir Humphrey looked at Michaela and replied with a smile:
"Yes, Minister."
