Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 935: Establishing order in the court, a new atmosphere!

This moment marked not only a change in official position but also a profound shift in the philosophy of state governance. It marked the beginning of Gao Yao's shift from a reliance on personal ability and political maneuvering to a reliance on institutional development and the rule of law. He skillfully disaggregated and embedded the immense power potentially concentrated in the prime minister within a system ultimately controlled by the monarch and involving multiple institutions that collaborated and constrained each other.

All officials listened in silence, their hearts surging with emotion. They understood that this was not merely a power reshuffle, but the establishment of political rules for a new era. Civil officials like Xiao He saw a more complex and challenging platform for their development, while military commanders like Cao Shen felt reassured and encouraged by the principle of separation of military and political power.

Gao Yao's voice echoed through the hall. What he described wasn't just a new name for a new official system, but a framework of power designed to ensure long-term stability. Within this framework, imperial power would be more secure, the bureaucracy more professional and mutually reinforcing, and the country's governance would hopefully move towards a higher degree of rationality and order.

In the turbulent power struggles, newly emerged regimes often face the multiple challenges of consolidating their rule, establishing authority, and improving administrative efficiency. In traditional autocratic monarchies, the monarch demonstrated his supreme authority through a strict hierarchy, complex rituals, and awe-inspiring court ceremonies, while his subjects were expected to respond with absolute deference and obedience.

However, Gao Yao, the new ruler who rose to the pinnacle of power with his extraordinary skills and vision beyond his time, did the opposite and carried out a seemingly "heretical" but actually far-sighted reform of the etiquette and system of court attendance.

Gao Yao's most striking move, and one that shocked traditional scholar-officials, was to establish seating areas for all officials within the main hall. This move would have been unthinkable in the early days of any feudal dynasty. In traditional court meetings, the monarch sat aloft on the dragon throne, while officials stood at attention according to their rank beneath the steps. This physical disparity in height and position was the most direct and rigorous embodiment of the core political ethic of "the sovereign is superior, the ministers are inferior." It served as a constant reminder to all officials: the monarch's power is granted by heaven, and you are all servants.

However, Gao Yao took the initiative to break this shackle. He was no mediocre ruler unskilled in the art of power; quite the contrary, it was precisely because he understood the nature of power that he dared to make such a radical change. For Gao Yao, external, formal distinctions of superiority and inferiority were not the core of his power.

His authority was based on his past military achievements, his reputation for clear rewards and punishments, and a clear blueprint for the future, rather than relying on the physical intimidation of his subjects by making them stand for long periods of time. This confidence stemmed from his unwavering belief in his own abilities and a clear understanding of the practical tasks facing the new regime.

So why did Gao Yao grant his ministers the privilege of "sitting during court"? His purpose was not simply to show sympathy for his ministers, but rather contained a very subtle double consideration.

First, there was a pragmatic need to improve the efficiency and quality of decision-making. At the beginning of the new dynasty, a vast amount of work needed to be done. A vast backlog of issues awaited discussion in many areas, including military, economic, livelihood, and legal affairs.

Making elderly or frail ministers stand for extended periods not only drained their energy but also distracted their attention, making court meetings often become mere formalities, preventing in-depth, thoughtful discussions. Granting seats was intended to create a relatively relaxed and comfortable environment for deliberation, allowing ministers to settle down and engage in lengthy analysis and debate on complex national policies. This embodied an ideal political state of "sitting and discussing the truth," the core goal of which was problem-solving, not displays of loyalty.

Secondly, and more crucially, the "paper and pen" rule implicitly implied ideological control and loyalty testing. Gao Yao explicitly mandated that all officials hold pen and paper upon taking their seats. He demanded that officials not simply mechanically record his every word—that would be the job of a clerk—but rather personally record the "essence" of his speech. This seemingly minor stipulation was, in fact, a carefully crafted ideological discipline.

In the traditional system of government transmission, the monarch would issue an oral decree, which would be recorded, polished, and finally translated into a written edict by a secretariat or specialized official. This process would then be distributed through various channels. Throughout this process, the information would undergo multiple iterations, and the ministers would only receive the final, definitive "result." They simply carried out the decree, without the need, and often without the encouragement, to consider the "purpose" and "reasons" behind it.

Gao Yao's mandatory "recording essence" forced every official to think about the source of policy. When a person's hands are recording, it is difficult for their mind to remain completely blank.

He must mobilize his knowledge and understanding to determine what is "essential" and what is secondary. In this process, he naturally ponders: "Why is the king implementing this policy?" "What is the ultimate goal of this policy?" "What is the logic and considerations behind it?"

This not only ensures that the core ideas of the decree reach the minds of the executors most accurately and directly, reducing information distortion, but more importantly, it forces all officials to keep their thinking pace in sync with Gao Yao. They are no longer passive recipients of policy, but instead become "active understanders" of the policy at the moment of recording.

Over time, the entire bureaucracy's mindset will gradually align with Gao Yao's governing philosophy, forming an inherent, deep-seated political identity. This is far more effective and lasting than simply relying on harsh laws to ensure obedience.

While reforming the format of court meetings, Gao Yao also made drastic changes to their frequency. He explicitly declared that daily court meetings would no longer be necessary, instead establishing regular meetings on the first, seventh, fifteenth, twenty-second, and twenty-eighth days of each month. Except in the event of war or other major emergencies, no temporary court meetings would be held. This institutional change also had multiple implications.

First, he decentralized administrative power, granting the bureaucracy greater autonomy. Daily court meetings, where every detail was decided by the monarch, not only placed a heavy burden on the monarch but also significantly limited the initiative of various government departments. Gao Yao's institutionalization and regularization of court meetings signaled his recognition and confidence in the bureaucracy's ability to handle daily government affairs.

On days when the court was not in session, each government office and official could handle affairs independently according to established laws, policies, and their own authority. This not only improved efficiency but also respected the division of labor, and was the prototype of the modern bureaucracy.