Chương 472: Two Governments, Three Courts, and One Department

Finally, there is the talent selection system.

The old recommendation system had become completely corrupt and monopolized by aristocratic families.

A nation that is "where the best are not from poor families and the worst are not from powerful clans" has no hope.

The sons of noble families don't have to do anything; they can become officials at the age of twenty.

Children from poor families study hard their whole lives, but they don't even qualify for the exam.

He wanted to reform the imperial examination system and implement a system of selecting officials based on their respective subjects.

The exam will no longer only test Confucian classics.

The liberal arts exam covers Confucian classics, current affairs, and law.

The science exams cover mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

Engineering studies include engineering technology and architecture.

Agricultural science research focuses on agricultural technology and water conservancy.

The medical school exam covers medicine and pharmacy.

Three hundred and sixty lines, the best.

As long as one has a skill, one can enter officialdom through the imperial examination.

The recommendation system will be retained, but strict joint liability will be implemented.

The recommender is responsible for the actions of the recommended person for life; if the recommended person commits a crime, the recommender is equally guilty.

This will prevent nepotism and factionalism.

Would you dare recommend your good-for-nothing nephew?

Okay, if he's corrupt and breaks the law, you'll go to jail with him.

...

At the same time, a merit-based system was implemented, allowing soldiers to obtain titles and official positions through their military achievements.

The title can be inherited, but it cannot be passed down through generations; it will automatically be downgraded after three generations.

Rewarding those who have made contributions and punishing those who have made mistakes is the right way to motivate people.

...

Establish a government-run, free education system that extends from village schools to the Imperial Academy.

All students are enrolled free of charge, with room and board provided by the state.

Graduates of the Imperial Academy were directly assigned official positions.

Over a period of twenty years, a first batch of bureaucrats from humble backgrounds, loyal to the country, and possessing modern knowledge were cultivated to gradually replace the old officials from aristocratic families.

Liu Ce slowly opened his eyes, the candlelight flickering in them.

For the next twenty years, he will be an iron-fisted dictator.

He will use absolute power to forcibly implement these reforms.

He knew that this would affect the interests of countless people, and that countless people would oppose him, curse him, and even try to assassinate him.

Those powerful families will not obediently hand over their land, and those who have vested interests will not easily give up their privileges.

But he doesn't care.

He had witnessed the horrific scene of people exchanging children to eat, and the desolate wilderness where not a rooster crowed for miles.

He was willing to bear all the infamy so that all people could live in peace.

His merits and demerits will be judged by posterity.

He only asks to have a clear conscience.

...

Twenty years later, when these systems are stable, when the country's economy begins to recover, and when the first batch of modern students step onto the historical stage, we can enter the second stage.

The period of consolidation and development will last from twenty to fifty years.

The core objective at this stage is to develop productivity.

Agriculture is valued, but commerce is not suppressed.

Unify currency and weights and measures, establish a national bank, and issue paper money.

To build a nationwide network of roads, canals, and ports, and to establish a postal system.

The government encouraged overseas trade and monopolized the export of bulk commodities such as silk, porcelain, and tea, thereby reaping huge profits.

Use these profits to establish a modern industrial system led by the state.

Priority should be given to developing basic industries such as military industry, metallurgy, shipbuilding, and chemical industry.

To gradually achieve standardized and large-scale production of weapons and equipment.

At the same time, it encourages private industry and commerce, protects private property rights, and allows businessmen to open factories and mines.

The state withdraws and the private sector advances, allowing wealth to be stored among the people.

...

In military terms, a system of conscription combined with a professional military system is implemented.

All men who are 18 years of age or older must serve two years in the military and are then assigned to the reserves after their service.

Outstanding individuals are selected from conscripts to become professional soldiers and form an elite standing army.

The standing army is divided into the central army and the border defense army, which are rotated regularly.

...

On the social front, the slave system was completely abolished, and all slaves regained their freedom and became citizens of the country.

The buying and selling of people is prohibited, and violators will be severely punished.

Establish granaries and charitable granaries to stabilize grain prices and provide relief to disaster victims.

Establish nursing homes and orphanages to care for elderly people living alone and orphans.

Gradually promote monogamy—something he himself cannot do, but it can be done slowly.

For the next thirty years, he will be a strategist.

He no longer needs to do everything personally; he only needs to grasp the general direction of national development.

He wants to cultivate a qualified successor and turn these systems into unshakable national policies.

He wanted to develop industry and commerce, and allow the bourgeoisie and working class to gradually grow stronger.

He wants to vigorously promote education and gradually increase the literacy rate of the entire population.

When productivity develops to a certain level, when the literacy rate of the entire population exceeds 50%, when the industrial and commercial bourgeoisie becomes the main force in society, and when the people's democratic consciousness begins to awaken, we can enter the third and final stage.

...

The transition period will last from fifty to one hundred years.

The core objective of this stage was to gradually limit imperial power and eventually transition to a constitutional monarchy.

A bicameral parliament was established.

The House of Lords and the House of Commons, as the highest legislative bodies of the country, are separate and operate in parallel, checking and balancing each other, with the three major powers of legislation, finance, and oversight vested in the parliament.

The government is created by and responsible to the parliament, while the monarch is a symbolic head of state who does not directly interfere in politics. This preserves the dignity of the royal family and prevents the arbitrary exercise of imperial power, which is the core foundation for reforming the imperial system.

He first established the Senate, which he named the Senate of Elders, as a place for the elite to stabilize and carefully review matters, serving as the ballast stone for the dynasty's major policies.

The members of this Senate must be divided into four categories, and the old system of lifelong tenure must not be used to avoid the rigidity of the court and the solidification of social classes.

One type is the hereditary nobility, which includes members of the royal family and the founding hereditary nobles. However, there must be a fixed quota, and unlimited expansion is strictly prohibited to prevent the nobles from becoming too powerful.

Secondly, there are meritorious officials of the dynasty, including civil and military officials who have made unparalleled contributions and retired top-ranking officials of the court. It is reasonable for them to enter the cabinet based on their merits.

Thirdly, there are renowned scholars, including prominent Confucian scholars of the time, leading figures of the Imperial Academy and the National University, and top scholars in the fields of literature, history, science and technology, who use their knowledge and wisdom to participate in national affairs.

Fourthly, they must be prominent figures in the real economy, leading enterprises and businesses in agriculture, commerce, and industry. They must have no bad records and have a track record of public service achievements in order to represent the voice of the real economy class.

As for the selection process for these individuals, hereditary nobles and meritorious officials had to be recommended, conferred titles by the monarch, and then registered by the parliament, with each level of the process being carefully controlled.

Distinguished scholars and business leaders were nominated by their respective industries and then rigorously reviewed by the imperial court. No corrupt practices such as buying seats were tolerated, thus ensuring the purity of the Senate.

After much deliberation, Liu Ce decided to set a ten-year term with no possibility of re-election. He also stipulated that one-third of the members would be replaced every five years to ensure a smooth transition and avoid political turmoil caused by a collective change of leadership.

At the same time, a system of impeachment and removal was established. If any member of the Senate is found to be corrupt, mismanage the government, or deviate from the foundation of the state, the House of Commons can request their removal through public deliberation. No leniency will be shown.

Liu Ce also clearly defined the powers of the Senate, stipulating that it would only conduct careful deliberations and would not seize the leading role in legislation.

The Senate can only veto ordinary bills passed by the House of Commons; it can only reject them and send them back for reconsideration, but cannot permanently veto them.

However, major national policies concerning the foundation of the country, such as constitutional amendments, the conferment of titles, border policies, wars against foreign powers, and general amnesty, must be reviewed and approved by the Senate before they can be implemented, in order to check radical policies and safeguard the foundation of the dynasty.

At the same time, the Senate has no right to propose bills on finance, taxation, budget, or people's livelihood on its own, does not interfere with daily financial allocations, can comment on government affairs and question the cabinet, but has absolutely no power to overthrow the cabinet, thus precisely defining the boundaries of the elite class's power and responsibilities.

Reconsidering the lower house, we should name it the People's Assembly, as it is the foundation of public opinion and the core of legislative power.

Its members must be elected by all adult citizens of the country on an equal and direct basis, and seats must be allocated strictly according to the population ratio of each county and prefecture, taking into account regional balance, so that all people in the country can have a representative voice.

The term of office is set at five years, with a full re-election upon expiration. There is no hard limit on the number of consecutive terms, in order to adapt to changing public opinion and ensure the vitality of the government.

The powers of the National Assembly are the core of the government's operation.

Liu Ce was certain that the power to create ordinary laws belonged solely to the National Assembly, and all bills related to people's livelihood, governance, taxation, commerce, and civil affairs could only be drafted and proposed by the National Assembly.

The House of Lords also holds absolute power over the nation's finances. It has no power to amend annual budgets, tax increases or decreases, treasury expenditures, or military spending; it can only choose to approve or shelve them.

In addition, the power of oversight also rests with the National Assembly, which has full authority to impeach officials, question the cabinet, review government accounts, and thoroughly investigate corruption cases. It can also propose the removal of members of the Senate and initiate constitutional amendments, firmly grasping the sharp weapon of public opinion oversight... and so on.

The emperor gradually became a symbol of the state, no longer wielding actual power, and only retaining ceremonial duties.

The army was nationalized and no longer subordinate to the emperor, but to the state.

A constitution was drafted to clearly define the powers and responsibilities of the emperor, parliament, and government, and to implement the rule of law.

By then, he would long be dead.

But the system he established will continue to function.

Liu Ce stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.

A cool night breeze swept over me, carrying the fresh scent of earth after the rain.

The eastern horizon was already showing a hint of dawn.

He sat there for the entire night.

He knew this road would be very difficult.

He cannot pursue communism; the productivity of ancient times could not support public ownership, which would only lead to a collapse of the incentive to produce.

The lesson of the People's Commune is right there—if everyone works together, and no one gets the same pay for everything, who would be willing to put in the effort?

He cannot establish a federal system; with backward transportation and communication, a federal system would inevitably lead to the division of the country.

Without even a telegram, how can you manage a state thousands of miles away?

He cannot implement direct democracy, as most people do not yet have the capacity to participate in politics; direct democracy would only lead to the rampant spread of populism.

How did Socrates die? He was voted to death by the Athenian Assembly.

This is the downside of direct democracy.

He must not be impatient for quick results.

Any reform must be carried out gradually, giving society enough time to adapt.

After a reform is implemented, it should be observed for at least ten years to confirm that there are no problems before the next reform is implemented.

Haste makes waste; this is a lesson learned by countless predecessors with their blood.

He also cannot exclusively uphold Confucianism.

We should encourage diverse perspectives and promote the development of science and technology.

The rigidity of thought is the greatest tragedy for a country.

Why did Europe emerge from the Middle Ages?

Because of the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Enlightenment, their minds were liberated, which enabled the development of science.