The cabinet structure already has detailed regulations, which is equivalent to a complete skeleton.
The previous assumptions made about its internal affairs were still too idealistic and could not keep up with the reality. This has led to many problems today.
This kind of thing is inevitable. As a fresh policy, it is normal to have some fallacies in the implementation process. It is rare for it to be accomplished overnight.
As mentioned before, officials in the cabinet do not have actual power, but only the right to make suggestions on political affairs. Whether these suggestions can be adopted is actually decided by the emperor.
This will avoid the expansion of the power of the cabinet, threatening the imperial power, and preventing the cabinet from growing into a de facto prime minister.
The current inefficiency problem in the cabinet is caused by the natural opposition between civil and military officials. Although it has achieved the effect of checks and balances, every suggestion will inevitably arouse the vigilance of both parties.
This kind of cabinet is still far from what Zhu Yuanzhang imagined, so some adjustments are inevitable.
He first asked Zhu Gaochi about the specific process of the current operation of the cabinet.
Zhu Gaochi was very familiar with this. After all, he had experienced it personally for two days, so he answered quickly, saying: "After the memorial enters the cabinet, it will be read by the grandson. Many small matters can be decided by the grandson alone. Those grandsons Matters that are difficult to handle should be handed over to the cabinet officials first, and they should discuss a suitable solution, and then return it to the grandson, who will judge whether it is feasible and then make a decision."
Zhu Yuanzhang should have done these things, but Zhu Yuanzhang didn't want to take care of it. He had left it to Zhu Di before. However, Zhu Di went to Shaanxi, and the burden fell directly on Zhu Gaochi.
If it weren't for Zhu Gaochi's intelligence, he might not be able to handle it. Even so, he would need the help of cabinet officials to handle many matters effectively.
"Most matters were handled very quickly by the cabinet department, and the suggestions given did have merit. After the grandson adopted them, they were handed over to the emperor's grandfather for review. However, there were some matters that the cabinet officials also made a fuss about. It’s very cruel, and I often fail to give appropriate advice for a day or two, and my grandson is also helpless about it.”
"Then why do you think they can't give appropriate advice?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was not in a hurry to express his opinions, but asked in a persuasive way. He wanted to cultivate a successor who dared to question and think.
When it came to this, Zhu Gaochi obviously had a plan in mind, and he said without thinking: "This is very simple. Nowadays, the civil and military departments in the cabinet are divided. When a matter does not affect their interests very much, it can often be passed quickly; but when a matter, When their interests are touched, conflicts will arise, leading to quarrels and difficult resolution.”
"Very good, that's the truth!"
Zhu Yuanzhang clapped his hands and said: "Gao Chi, you have to understand that the suggestions given by these ministers may not necessarily be the best, but they must be in their interests, otherwise they will not be passed. And the interests of the ministers have nothing to do with yours and mine." The interests may not be the same. As for these difficult-to-resolve matters, they have not been able to find a balance of interests, so they will quarrel like this. Once they find it, they will pass it quickly. It is just a matter of who gives in. Gao Chi, have you ever thought about it? , if things continue like this, the civil and military officials who were originally opposed to each other in the cabinet will find ways to start to merge."
"this……"
Zhu Gaochi thought carefully, and his little eyes were horrified. Nowadays, there is a deep gap between civil and military officials, so it is naturally difficult to merge. But in the future, when the bastards between civil and military officials see each other in eye contact, merging will be inevitable.
The discussion will be held at that time. This time you will suffer a little loss and meet our requirements. Next time we will suffer a little loss and meet your requirements. In the long run, a new interest group will inevitably be formed.
And this interest group, after fully grasping the operating rules of the cabinet, is bound to greatly threaten the emperor's power.
Even because of the convergence of civil and military affairs, the military and political affairs reached a consensus of interests at a certain level, and the change of dynasty was only a matter of thought.
In an instant, Zhu Gaochi broke out in a cold sweat. Although this kind of thing is impossible to happen now, who knows whether it will happen in the future?
He had not thought of these issues before, and he was even somewhat proud of it. He also took some credit for the establishment of the cabinet. This sense of accomplishment in promoting new things gave him great satisfaction.
Now that he heard Grandpa Huang say this, he finally understood. In addition to being frightened, he also felt admiration for Grandpa Huang.
Grandpa Huang must have thought of these questions before, but he just postponed them until now just to remind me.
Zhu Gaochi was deeply moved and said: "My grandson understands, how can Grandpa Huang solve this problem? Forcibly provoking discord between them is only a temporary solution."
"No need to bother."
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand. Now that the Ministry of Cabinet has been customized, he does not have too many scruples, so he speaks more directly. He said: "You said before that you should give salary and official positions to the Ministry of Cabinet officials. We have already refuted it. This time we have to To refute you, why do these Cabinet officials have to be fixed at just that few people? There are countless capable people in the world, so is it possible that only they can join the Cabinet and others cannot?"
"Grandpa Emperor, I forgive my grandson for being stupid. If the cabinet officials are not fixed, how will they be selected?"
Zhu Gaochi's concept is obviously still fixed on the selection of officials, but this is normal. It is difficult for people's cognition to transcend the limitations of the times, just like the household registration management system designed by Zhu Yuanzhang. The ideal is very full, but the reality is very skinny.
Zhu Yuanzhang was not surprised by this. The fat man could think of this and he was enlightened. However, he was still not strong enough and needed more efforts from him.
"Why do we need to select? As long as we want, no matter who we are, we can join the cabinet to discuss military and political affairs!"
"ah?"
Zhu Gaochi was so shocked by Zhu Yuanzhang's words that he was speechless. He had never thought of this. It was not that he was stupid, but that his thinking was limited.
He had always felt that he needed to be cautious in selecting officials and not make decisions based solely on likes and dislikes, but Zhu Yuanzhang's words clearly told him that as long as you like it, you can do it with anyone.
Of course, he also understood that this was a relatively popular way of saying that not just any cat or dog could enter the cabinet.
After all, this world still belongs to the old Zhu family, and the emperor is equivalent to the head of the family. He never wants the world to collapse and the dynasty to change.
Therefore, the selected people naturally have real talents and knowledge, otherwise how could they catch the emperor's eye?
As a result, the cabinet officials were not fixed and all depended on the emperor's will, so there was no possibility of a fusion of civil and military affairs.
Moreover, due to the uncertainty of personnel, so-called small interest groups will not be formed within the cabinet. Who knows who the emperor will replace tomorrow to participate in military and political affairs.
In fact, as long as the emperor is willing, he can start a court battle at any time and keep all officials firmly in his hands.
Zhu Gaochi thought about it carefully, and felt more and more that Grandpa Huang was unfathomable. In his eyes, the problems that could not be solved were solved perfectly in the hands of Grandpa Huang, even while talking and laughing.
But the doubts that followed did not decrease, but instead increased. Zhu Gaochi sorted it out and found the problem keenly, saying: "Grandpa Huang, according to this method, it is indeed possible to avoid the merger of civil and military forces that threatens the imperial power, but What should we do if we encounter a difficult problem and cannot find a solution for a long time? We can’t replace people midway. Wouldn’t that be a futile effort and a waste of time?”
…
